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the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, carried by acclamation, that the following resolution should be entered upon the Minutes:

Resolved-That before we conclude the business of this day, we have a duty of a most painful nature to fulfil, viz. to record, on this first opportunity, the unfeigned regret which we feel, and must long acutely feel, for the loss which the several Committees have sustained by the death of their late very active member, the Rev. Charles Pilkington. To all the Societies established in aid of the Church of England, for the diffusion of Christian knowledge, and the enforcement of Christian conduct, no man was ever more faithfully attached, no man more assiduous in his support. On the present occasion, we would more particularly notice, with our highest commendation, his indefatigable attention as a Visitor of the National Schools of this city, and the surrounding district.

With what zeal from the first institution of National Schools, he devoted all the years of his health to their general superintendance, and with what energy he laboured even in periods of sickness, to maintain and increase their usefulness, is known to all present, and has often received, as such conduct merited, our heartfelt acknowledgments.

We are convinced that the Schools within this city in particular (without undervaluing the aid of others, the benefit of whose services we hope the Schools will long continue to enjoy) are mainly indebted, for their high state of discipline, to his unremitted exertions in enforcing

upon the teachers the most strict adherence to a system which has proved itself beneficial above all others in training the minds of the infant poor to an early apprehension and steady practice 'of their social, civil, and religious duties. Nor can we soon forget the judgment he invariably displayed in conducting the public examinations; the happy combination of firmness of tone and kindliness of purpose with which he aroused the attention, and promptly drew forth the acquirements of the young scholars; the excellent arrangement of his Questions, by which he led them on, step by step, to the highest points of Christian truth; and, above all, the affectionate earnestness he evinced to the last, in directing the application of their increasing knowledge to the advancement of their present and eternal welfare.

Books distributed since January 1, 1828: 448 Bibles, 308 Testaments, 1322 Prayer Books, 955 bound books, 493 half-bound, 5691 tracts, and 2000 spelling and script cards, at a cost of 2371. 19s. 2d. to the funds of the Committee, and 3731. 6s. 9d. to the Parent Society.

Amount of Subscriptions for 1828 received, 1947. 158. 6d.

Received for books sold, 1431. 6s. 8d. A Donation amounting to 1127. 14s. (arising from a third of the entire receipts of the Committee) is transmitted to the Society towards supplying the loss incurred by the liberal terms on which the books are afforded to the Committee.

SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL.

Bath District Society.

AFTER a sermon in the Abbey church, by the Rev. C. M. Mount, the anniversary meeting of this Society was held in the Guildhall, on Thursday, January 15th. The Report was an echo of that of the Parent Society; which being read, several resolutions were passed, and, among the rest, a recommendation for the establishment of two additional bishops' sees at Bombay and Ceylon respectively. In the course of the proceedings, it was stated by Mr. Fenwick, that

The Christian Observer charged this Society with being the possessors of slaves, (on an estate at Barbadoes, which was bequeathed to the Society in trust for a particular purpose,) with making use of the whip, and employing a driver to urge them to labour, and that the temporal and spiritual wants of the negroes on their estate were neglected. To these accusations relative to the treatment of the slaves the Rev. Gentleman gave a direct negative; and stated, that the whip was never used but as a means of punishment, that no driver was employed, and that the greatest

attention was paid to the negroes, more especially to their spiritual welfare; which statements, he said, were fully supported by the testimony of the governor of the island. Another accusation was made against the Society on the same subject from a source whence it could scarcely have been expected. In this, the Society was charged generally with being the possessors of slaves, and of depriving their fellowcreatures of their natural rights. Now he (Mr. Fenwick) would ask, what was the meaning of natural rights? He gave up his natural right to wander on the face of the earth as a wild beast, to steal whatever he wanted, or to murder his fellow-beings; to live in society, and enjoy its advantages; children and servants gave up their natural rights to live under the protection and obtain the support of their parents and masters; ladies gave up their natural rights, when they took a husband for better, and, too often, for worse, whom they promised to obey (a laugh). He knew not, then, what was meant by the natural rights of the negroes on the Society's estate. They were not dragged from their houses, and severed from their relatives and friends, but were born in a state of slavery; they were treated with kindness, and appeared to be in as comfortable a condition as the labouring classes of this country. The meeting would perhaps be astonished to hear that this accusation was contained in the Report of the Female Society in Birmingham for the Relief of Negro Slaves (laughter). He wished the ladies of Birmingham would take example from the ladies of this city; who, though they were at least equally zealous in devoting their time and their means to the relief of the temporal and spiritual wants of their fellow-creatures, never forced themselves to meddle in matters beyond their understandings, but left such things to the determination of more masculine minds; without lessening their own usefulness, and without lessening their character as ladies. He was inclined to believe, however, that this accusation had not originated with the ladies of Birmingham, but was owing to the injudicious selection they had made of their Reporter. If the Society were to restore these slaves to their natural rights, it would

NATIONAL

Ar a meeting of the General Committee in St. Martin's Vestry Room, on 4th February, 1829, the following Schools were united: Ashley, Staffordshire; St. Chad's, Shrewsbury; Lee, Kent; Linthwaite, York; Ramsey,

be to restore them to ignorance and barbarism; for their natural rights would restore them to the character of wild beasts.

We have quoted these observations of Mr. Fenwick as a sufficient answer for the present to the invidious attacks which are repeatedly made against the Society on this head. The Anti-slavery Reporter for February has again asserted "the use of the driving whip" on the Codrington estates, in the face of truth and honesty; and has garbled to its own purposes the "statement" which has lately been issued by the members, in reference to these estates. With respect to the accusation of the Christian Observer against ourselves, (No.325, p.36.) that we advocate the cause of slavery as "sanctioned by Scripture," we deny the fact, referring to our journal for testimony against them: and having so done, we leave them to re-consider the purport of the law in Deut. xxi. 10, hoping that their future deduction from it will be less gross, less indecent, and better applied. We shall return to the Reporter next month. In the mean time we have great pleasure in informing our readers, that three bills have lately passed the legislature of Grenada: the first, abolishes all Sunday markets, after the last day of the year 1828, and appoints Thursday and Saturday as market days. The second, admits all free-born, coloured, British-born subjects to sit as petty jurors, with the same qualifications as are required from the whites. The third admits the evidence of slaves in all cases, whether civil or criminal, in the same manner as free persons: but should the prosecution, upon their evidence alone, be such as may lead to capital conviction, a list of slave-witnesses must be given to the defendant four days before the indictment, and the judge must certify the conviction in a special manner to the governor in council.

SOCIETY.

Isle of Man; and Usk, Monmouthshire. The grants voted were as follows:-Horndean, Hants, 251.; Charterhouse Hinton, Somerset, 107.; Ashley, Staffordshire, 307.; and Wilsden, York, 201

BARBADOS.

Third Report of the St. Christopher's Branch Association.

THIS Committee, in presenting their Third Report, have not much additional information to communicate to that contained in the Report of the last year. From the statements of the respective Clergymen, it appears that there are upwards of 500 children in the regular course of education, besides those attached to the several Schools established on the estates. The exami

nations of the children amply bespeak their improvement.

It

crease;

appears also that a desire for reliligious knowledge is generally on the inand that although in many cases the attendance at Church is irregular, still the behaviour of those who attend is uniformly correct and attentive. The celebration of marriage also, and the administration of baptism, are considerably sought after.

Statement of the Receipts and Expenditure, from 1st Sept. 1827, to 1st Sept. 1828.

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' Report of the Committee of St. James's and St. Thomas's Parishes.

UPWARDS of two years having elapsed since the establishment of the Charity School of which they have the superintendence, the Committee feel it to be a duty incumbent on them to present to its supporters a Report of their proceedings, and of the disbursement of the sums that have been placed at their disposal.

The Legislative grant to the parishes having enabled the Vestry of St. James to provide a more commodious Parsonage house for the use of their Rector than the one he had hitherto occupied, early in 1826, the Rector of this parish (after adverting to the ineffi

cient system pursued in educating the Children of the Poor, who, being scattered about the parish in various petty schools, and beyond the reach of his inspection, either from the incompetency or the neglect of their teachers, gained little or no improvement) recommended to the Vestry a consolidation of the Schools; and as the former Parsonage house afforded every convenience for a boarding-school, he proposed that it should be fitted up for this purpose, and that the Children of the Poor should in future be boarded and lodged, as well as clothed and educated; and as the building was

large enough to accommodate a greater number of children than the parish of St. James could furnish, with a view to extend the benefits of the institution, he recommended that the vestry of St. Thomas's parish be respectfully invited to unite in the establishment. The vestry of both parishes cordially concurring in the measure, the sum of 250l. per annum was voted from each for the support of the Institution. The bequest of Mr. Bryant to each parish of 20% per annum for charitable uses, was also directed to be applied to the same purpose; and private subscriptions opened in both, in aid of these funds. The vestry of St. James's added also a further grant of 150l. for repairing and fitting up the school-house. A school committee was appointed, composed of the Rectors, the Representatives, the senior Vestrymen, and the Churchwardens of the two parishes --and a competent master having been selected in Mr. Richard P. Neblett, a liberal salary of 100l. per annum was granted him for teaching, and the further sum of 100l. per annum was allowed Mrs. Neblett for her care of the girls, and teaching them needlework-also, for providing the children's meals, and seeing them decently served up, and for washing and mending their clothes, &c.-including also the hire of servants. The school opened the first week in May, 1826, with 15 boarders from each parish, and 4 day scholars-18 boys and 16 girls; total, 34. Of this number, with the exception of 3 who had been on the Central school, the whole were extremely ignorant: the greater part, even of the alphabet.

The proximity of the school to the church is an advantage in its situation that cannot be too highly appreciated, as it affords the children the opportunity of attending Divine Service on Sundays, both in the morning and evening. Through the kindness of the Organist, they have been taught to sing the Psalms, and they now accompany the Organ in that impressive part of the service, with an effect that is very pleasing.

Upon the death of the Master, Mr. Neblett, which occurred a few weeks after the school opened, Mrs. Neblett was appointed Mistress, and her son,

VOL. XI. NO. III.

Mr. John Austin, Master, to act under her direction.

A member of the Committee visits the school once, and often twice a week, to inspect into the conduct of the master and pupils, and to rectify any abuses as they may arise. The visiting member frequently attends at the hour of dinner, when he has uniformly found a wholesome and plentiful meal provided for the children, and always decently served up. A public inspection and examination held this day, has afforded the Committee an opportunity of witnessing the good order and discipline of the school. They have remarked also, with much satisfaction, the healthiness of the children; and, what has naturally resulted from the salutary regulations as to neatness and cleanliness, the evident improvement of their general appearance and behaviour. The examination which they have just passed, has been, upon the whole, a creditable

one.

The greater part read tolerably well, and answered, without much hesitation, the questions proposed to them on what they were reading. The Church Catechism they all repeated with great accuracy, and many of them the answers to the questions in Crossman's Introduction. Their writing was fair; but the Committee were not altogether satisfied with the progress they had made in arithmetic, and the master was directed to be more attentive in future to that very important branch of education. The specimens of the girls' needle-work, which were exhibited, were, in the opinion of the ladies who honoured the Committee with their attendance on the occasion, all well finished-similar ones having been thought worthy of being presented as their humble offering at the Bazaar held in Bridge-town in aid of the funds of the "Ladies' Association for the Relief of the Indigent Sick_and Infirm." They make and mend all their own clothes, and the greater part of those worn by the boys; and execute any orders for needle-work that may be sent them. The boys are also taught to mend their apparel, and patch their shoes. With a view to Occupy advantageously their leisure hours, the Committee have directed the purchase of remnants of cloth, to

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be made by the girls into cheap articles of clothing, and the money arising from the sale of these, to be expended in little rewards for good conduct; and also that the boys be taught to plait

straw for hats, and to make horsenets. There are now on the establishment 33 boarders, and 4 dayscholars-20 girls, and 17 boystotal, 37.

Statement of Receipts and Expenditure, from March 25 1826, to March 25, 1828.

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