the exception of one hour devoted to reading, writing, and religious exercises.

The children of both schools regularly attend Divine Service on every Sunday, in the Chapel at Ely Place, where their orderly and exemplary behaviour is witnessed by the whole congregation. The Committee have great satisfaction in adding, that the Rev. Dr. Bell has continued to afford his valuable services in superintending the Central School, and paying all possible attention to the details of its management.

The average number of Boys at present in the School, is 486, that of Girls, 235; and the Committee find on enquiry, that, in the course of the year, 229 Boys, and 64 Girls, have left the School competently instructed. Judging from these numbers, they are led to infer, that more than one third of the average number of children in the school, are annually sent forth into the world, furnished with that elementary instruction, and trained to those excellent habits, which are there imparted: and, if the same proportion may be taken for the whole of the National Schools in the kingdom, a very high idea indeed will be conveyed of the vast benefits which the public are deriving from these institutions.

The Central School has continued to lend its assistance freely, to schools in different parts of the kingdom, whenever applications have been made. The number of schools which have been assisted in the course of the year, is 164; some with temporary teachers and instructors, others with permanent masters or mistresses, or by the instruction of persons sent up from the country. Instances have continually occurred in which teachers of both sexes, of a higher class, have requested to be admitted into the Central School, for the purpose of applying the system to higher branches of education; others in which the training masters in the school, have been appointed to conduct grammar schools; and many, in which boys bred in the school, and trained as teachers, have succeeded to the appointment of National Schoolmasters in different parts of the kingdom.

Nor has the direct assistance afforded by the Central School been confined to the limits of this kingdom. In the month of November last, on an application received from the Committee at Calcutta, a master was provided to conduct the National School at that presidency. In August a schoolmaster destined for Van Diemen's Land, was admitted for instruction; in October two native negroes for Sierra

Leone, and several Missionaries, intended to proceed to foreign settlements, have been admitted in the course of the year.

The Committee now proceed to state the result of the information they have received, respecting the continued progress of the National System through the kingdom. The number of schools united during the present year, amount to 107. In the Report of last year, the number stated to be then in union, was 1614. Thus the whole number of schools united up to the present time, amounts to 1721,

In answer to the circular enquiries sent to the secretaries of the different schools, they have received on the whole, very satisfactory information; shewing in their general result, that the numbers receiving education in them are on the increase, and that most beneficial effects are perceptible, both in the children themselves, and in their parents. Respecting the number of children, under a course of education in these National Schools, they have never been able to speak with precision, from the imperfect manner in which the returns have been made. Last year on the best calculation, they were able to make, they reported the probable number to be 220,000. From the number of schools united in the present year, they conceive an addition to be now made to the amount of 15,000: and thus on the whole, the children now actually receiving education in the united schools, amount to 235,000.

But in addition to this, the Committee have always been sensible that a number of schools exist in different parts of the kingdom, formed essentially on the plan of the National Society, but not actually united with it. As to the number of these schools, and of the children receiving education in them, they cannot speak with any accuracy, from the want of direct information. But they are certainly led to conclude, that, when the addition of these children is made to those in the united schools, a result will be obtained of very little less than 300,000 children, now receiving sound religious education in schools either united to the Society, or formed mainly on its principles.

Respecting the National Schools established in the foreign dependencies, the Committee have received some highly gratifying details. At the presidency of Bombay, three schools have been formed for receiving European children. The Central School at Bombay, containing 172 children, the larger portion of whom are boarded, clothed, and fed. That at Surat, and at Tannah, containing 60 children. In addition to these, four schools have been

a

́established for native children, in which "there were by the last accounts, 230 scholars. A special meeting was held in Au. gust in the last year, at which the Hon. M. Elphinstone, the Governor of Bombay, presided, for the express purpose of considering the most effectual means of giving extension to the Native Schools: it was resolved, that a separate branch of the Society there should be formed, which should take this object under its special superintendance. Some prejudices exist. ed in the minds of the natives, which, it was hoped, would be overcome. A consi'derable difficulty was experienced in the want of elementary books in the native languages for the use of these schools; and, in consequence, measures had been taken, to procare the translation into those languages of some of the more useful and necessary tracts. On the whole, the accounts received from Bombay are very satisfactory, as fully attesting the zeal and "benevolent exertions of the British public there, in support of these institutions; and justifying every rational hope, considering the particular circumstances of their situation, of the extensive diffusion of the blessings resulting froar them.

"

At New Brunswick, in North America, and at Sierra Leone, the progress of the National Schools is singularly striking. At the former place, the Society for supporting those institutions, bas, under the powerful patronage of General Smith, the Lieutenant-Governor there, been established into a Corporation, and endowed with some grants of land. In addition to the Central School, at St. John's, seven other schools have been established in different parts of the island; and in them it appears from the reports, that about 700 children are in an actual course of education. At their Central School the numbers have recently so much increased, that the erection of an additional building was necessary, which by the last accounts, was in a state of considerable progress. At Sierra Leone, it appears from a Report lately transmitted to the Governor, and dated in January last, that no less than eleven National Schools are established in that settlement, in which are nearly 2000 persons under instruction, the greater part being natives of Africa. In addition to the children received into these schools, are many adult Negroes, both male and female, who have been captured from the slave-traders; and who thus, in exchange for a condition of the lowest human wretchedness and degradation, are imbib*ing the valuable blessings of sound, moral, and religious education.

In the Island of Barbadoes, the National Schools are thriving under the active and liberal patronage of Lord Combermere. Two schools have been establish. ed, one for whites and the other for negroes, each containing about 150 scholars. They are liberally supported by voluntary contributions, and the National System is practised in them with great success and perfection.

The Committee now direct the attention of the meeting, to the donations which they have made in the course of the year, for the erection of schools in different parts of the kingdom. These dona tions are thirty-five in number; and the sums thus expended in the year, amount to 20287.: they have in every instance endeavoured to measure out their grants, in proportion to the strength and merits of the application, and to the funds remaining at their disposal; and, in many instances, they have lamented the necessity of dealing out with a sparing hand, when every other consideration, but that of the limited state of their means, would have prompted them to make a liberal donation.

Two instances have occurred, in which their grants have extended to the sum of 1507. in the case of two populous parishes of the metropolis, St. George's in the East,* and Paddington. In St. George's in the East, is a great population of 30,000 inha bitants, comprising not less than 2000 poor children who are the objects of gratuitous education. In schools already existing, provision was made for 600 children; and a plan was formed for erecting an additional school-room, into which 420 chil dren might be received. The estimated cost was 1200l. of which not more than half could be raised, at the time when the application was made, by the utmost exertions of the inhabitants.

In the case of Paddington, the popula tion consists of about 5000, and there existed only provision for educating about 130 children. Towards a plan for establishing a National School for 180 boys and 120 girle, a liberal annual subscription of 2001. was raised; but in providing for the expence of the first erection of the building, the means 'proved very inadequate. The utmost sum raised and expected, amounted to little more than 400, while the charge to be met, was not less than 7501.

In eight several instances, they have extended their donations to the sum of 1007.

Amongst the places thus largely aided, were some very populous towns, as Hud

dersfield in Yorkshire, containing 12,000 persons, Windsor, Welchpool, Buckingham.

At Haddersfield, the Committee learnt with satisfaction, that the plan proposed, was to provide for the reception of 300 boys and 300 girls; at Welchpool, with a population of 4500 persons, to provide for 320 children of both sexes; and at Buckingham, with a population of 5000, to provide also for 300 boys and girls, At Windsor, the population to be provided for, consisted of 10,000; a large school was erected at a great expence, but a heavy debt had thereby been incurred, which, without the assistance of the Society, could not be cleared off.

The Committee are unwilling to fatigue the meeting by a more particular detail of their donations in aid of the erection of schools; but will beg leave to refer them to the Report, as it will appear in print, where the details will be given at greater length.

The last topic to which the Committee have to call the attention of the meeting, is the state of their funds. They have already mentioned the magnificent legacy of Mr. Hayes, of the sum of 5000l. Had it not been for this accession to their funds, they would ere this, have found themselves in a bankrupt state, and must either have suspended their operations, or have renewed their demands on that unfailing source of wealth, the generosity of the British public, in a cause of sound piety and benevolence. As matters stand, they find between four and five thousand pounds remaining at their disposal; and they will continue to dispense this sum in that manner which they shall deem, in the exercise of their best judgment, most conducive to the great ends, for the promotion of which it is committed to their charge.

They cannot close the present Report, without briefly recalling to the recollection of the meeting, some facts connected with the institution and the progress of this Society. A period of ten years has now elapsed since the Society was first established, at the time of its commencement, the mechanism of the powerful and admirable system, which the world owes to the Rev. Dr. Bell, was not only spread ing itself in different parts of the kingdom, but was applied to rear the population of the country in indifference to the established Church, or in alienation from its Communion. To direct that mechanism to a better and a sounder purpose, the education of the poor in the principles of the Church of England, was the direct

object for which the National Society was formed. And what has been the consequence? In the short space of ten years, between seventeen and eighteen hundred schools have been established in direct. union with it; others have been formed essentially on its principles; from two hundred and fifty, to three hundred thousand poor children are at this time imbibing the sound instruction there afforded: And they verily believe that they, cannot err on the side of exaggeration when they state, that not less than one million of individuals must have risen into life, and been mingled in the mass of society, carrying with them those sound principles, right feelings, and excellent habits, which these institutions are so well calculated to impart. Nor let it be forgotten, that the Society which has been the central spring of these great movements, and has given such impulse to the public feelings on this subject, has derived no part of its resources from the public purse, but entirely from the pri vate contributions of individuals. Here, then, is a full and convincing proof of what may be effected by the voluntary exertions of the British public, when excited in the cause of genuine, well-directed benevolence, and sound Christian duty. Much has already been effected, but much also remains to be done, The Society would be most happy to be enabled to carry on their operations, in future, from some permanent sources of income, and to be spared the necessity of renewing their appeals to that public which has already so liberally supplied them. But under all circumstances, they trust it will generally be felt, that the great canse of National Education cannot be entrusted to better hands, or promoted by means more calculated, than those which have hitherto been adopted, to give it vigour, permanence, and stability,

The Archbishop of Canterbury trusted, that the Report which bad just been read, would prove highly satisfactory to all who heard it. We are now (said his Grace) coming to that period at which we may judge of the effects of the Institution by experience; we can hardly have attended to the progress of the Society for ten years together without having acquired the means of forming a proper estimate of its merits. It will be in the recollection of many who hear me, that when this Society first started into action, the country was in a state of extensive and alarming agitation-a state which could not fail to bring about important consequences, either good or bad. At the pe