education, -a fund, the benefits of which will not be doled out as an alms, but which will have been secured to the insurer as his legal right.

In the next two classes of insurance, those for endowment of children, providing assistance in their maintenance and education, and securing annuities to commence from almost any period of life, the Society has adopted a principle, which cannot fail of rendering its endeavours highly popular; that of returning the premiums paid in the event of the child or person dying before the age at which the payment is to be made or from which the annuity is to commence; for instance, if a clergyman have paid four pounds a year for eight years, to insure to his child 50%. at fourteen, and the child die at thirteen, the Society will return 321. being the sum he has actually paid. This arrangement prevents total loss; the Society stands to the insurer, in the condition of a party to whom he is obliged, under the penalty of losing his deposits, to fulfil an engagement to confer an advantage on his child. It may not unfrequently happen, that the accumulation of interest upon the sums so deposited, would, if invested in the funds, produce nearly the sum which the Society is bound to pay to the insurer; but the difficulties attendant upon investing small sums in government or other securities is generally so great, as to prevent most persons from practising such economy; and unless some Society, like the present, undertake the charge of requiring the payments intended for the child's advantage to be regularly paid, that good purpose, which many persons desire to carry into effect, of laying by every year a certain small sum to provide for a child's future expenses, will very rarely indeed be begun, or if begun is likely to be interrupted by the most trivial occurrences.

The last class of insurances is that for payment of any sum not exceeding 1000l. to the widow and children of the insurer, or in default of them to his nominee, being a relative. The difference between this and the ordinary life insurance consists in the insurance being limited in favour of the widow and children or nearest

The

relations of the insurer. The restriction thus made, has enabled the Directors to avail themselves of a recent act of parliament, and to enrol the Society under its provisions, which thereby is entitled to the privilege of investing its capital in government debentures at a fixed rate of interest, and to other important advantages, so that nothing can stand between the Society and family of the insurer, to prevent the sum insured being paid to them directly by the Society, without any deduction whatever. Directors have already granted many insurances of this nature, and the readiness with which the proposals to limit the insurer's power of appropriating his insurance has been accepted, encourages the Directors to hope that such insurances will become universal among the clergy. It is a primary object of the Society to effect provision for the widows and orphan children of the clergy, but this benevolent purpose would often be defeated in the ordinary mode of insurance.

It is provided by the rules of the Society, that two-thirds of the surplus capital, or profit, arising from the insurances, shall be applied every five years for the benefit of the insurers; the remaining third will be carried to a fund, called the "Fund in Aid,” formed by the donations and contributions of the friends of the Society. It is a distinguishing character of the Clergy Mutual Assurance Society, that all its officers, excepting one assistant Secretary, not only act gratuitously, but that they are actual contributors of annual subscriptions to the Society. To this Fund in Aid the Directors most earnestly would ask the support of the clergy and laity; its application must depend necessarily upon its amount, which will be increased by that portion of the profits arising from insurances, which is generally devoted in other societies to payment of salaries and dividends to directors and proprietors. The Directors confidently anticipate that they will hereafter be enabled, out of this fund, to reduce the amount of premiums paid in behalf of distressed clergymen and their families, and, if it should be found advisable, to increase the allowance

to invalided clergymen, and in cases of clergymen leaving large families, to make some considerable addition to the sum payable to their widows and children under policies of life insurance.

The demands upon the Society's resources in the first years of its establishment cannot be great; the Directors have, however, taken the precaution to provide a guarantee to the amount of 10,000l. to which the Archbishops and Bishops, and the Directors have subscribed, for the specific amounts attached to their names, which guarantee is enrolled according to the act of parliament.

Local agents will shortly be appointed in the various dioceses, who will undertake gratuitously to give information concerning the views, and to forward the operations of the Society. In several dioceses the Clergy and Laity have formed local boards, and established suitable rules and regulations for their proceedings; and the Directors confidently anticipate that, ere another year is past, this example will be followed generally in the several dioceses and archdeaconries of the kingdom. The Directors have

the advantage of possessing the sanction of the whole bench of Bishops, who have concurred in forwarding the design of a Society, which both offers to the Clergy the strongest inducement to attempt individually to make provision for themselves in the time of need; and which also may be found capable of aiding to a very considerable extent the charitable designs of the Diocesan Clergy Associations, in making provision for the education and putting forth into the world those orphan children, who may have no other support but that which a diocesan fund is able to afford.

Those who wish for further information may procure a circular, gratis, at Messrs. Rivington's, St. Paul's Church-Yard.

N. B. The Society is open to the Clergy, their wives, widows, or children, all of whom are qualified to be assured members; but persons, being relations by blood of any Clergyman, or of the wife, widow, or child of a Clergyman, may make an assurance in the behalf of the persons to whom they are so related. Sons and daughters of deceased Clergymen are admissible into the Society.

DURING the past year, very favourable accounts have been received of the progress of Christian education in the schools for coloured children, established by the Associates in Philadelphia, the Bahama Islands, at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and in the neighbourhood of that city. Much Christian instruction is, doubtless, promoted by these schools, and much more good would be effected, if the funds of the Association were commensurate with the requests for its assistance.

Under the judicious agency of the gentlemen in Philadelphia, who, in concurrence with the Bishop of Pennsylvania, are pleased to direct the concerns of the Associates in America, considerable arrears have been recovered, and transmitted to the trea

surer.

These arrears, by the direction

of the board, have, for the most part, been funded, and a pleasing hope may be entertained, that the original grant made in the year 1767, by the Rev. T. Upcher, of Sudbury, in Suffolk, will more than fulfil the benevolent views by which that gentleman was influenced.

In consequence of the improvement in this part of the Associates' property, the Bishop of Pennsylvania, with the Trustees, have respectfully, but earnestly, expressed a hope, that, by their being authorized to pay a more liberal remuneration to the conductors of the schools in Philadelphia, they might render the education both more effective and more extensive. The Associates, after maturely considering this application, and the merits of other claims upon them, have thought themselves justified in increasing the sala

ries of the schoolmaster and mistress at Philadelphia; and they do not doubt but the benefits will be seen, both in the improved education, and in the increased number of their American scholars.

In the abstract of last year's proceedings were noticed the declining state and sufferings of Mrs. Cormick, who had long superintended the school of the Associates, at Halifax, Nova Scotia.

That report influenced the charitable feelings of an unknown correspondent, who transmitted to the trustees the sum of ten pounds, to afford some additional comfort to Mrs. Cormick, in her last days. It is satisfactory to be able to state that the kind intentions of the donor were fulfilled. Mrs. Cormick lived to receive and be benefited by the gift; and, after evincing christian resignation, died in christian faith and hope.

In consequence of the improved state of the Upcher portion of the Society's property, the Associates have lost no time in considering how far they would be justified in extending the benefit of that increase. Having, for this purpose, entered into correspondence with the Bishop of Nova Scotia, with a view to ascertain to what school in particular, within his diocese, any additional aid might be most beneficially applied, and the Bishop having stated that, under its present management, he could not but consider the Preston school as of more importance than any school for negroes that had ever been opened at Halifax; it was resolved, when the matter had been duly considered by a committee, that, in compliance with the wish of the Bishop, the salary of the schoolmaster at Preston should be augmented according to its necessities, and to the means of the Association, at the discretion of the Treasurer and Secretary.

Of the good management and beneficial results of this school, the most satisfactory reports have, indeed, been received during the past year.

In a letter from the Bishop, his Lordship is pleased thus to express himself:

"Clarke's school at Preston is every

VOL. XII. NO. V.

thing that the Associates can desire, and indeed a pattern for schools. I sincerely hope the New England Company may continue their bounty to it, of which it is eminently deserving."

The state of the school at Hammond's Plains, Nova Scotia, is very satisfactorily reported in a letter addressed to the Bishop of Nova Scotia, from Mr. William Nisbett, catechist and reader at the Blacks' settlements at Preston and Hammond's Plains.

The Rev. Roger Vietts, in a letter, dated Digby, Nova Scotia, July 31, 1829, and addressed to the Secretary, transmits a favourable account, in general, of the school at Digby. He writes well of the master, but adds, that the progress of the scholars is not so great as it would be, if their attendance were more regular.

Mr. Vietts takes pleasure in kindly superintending this school; and it is not doubted but that he will do what may be in his power to direct it to the most extensive and useful operation.

No account has been received during the past year, from the Rev. Thomas B. Rowland, D. D., of the Associates' school at Shelburn, Nova Scotia. Dr. Rowland, in the last letter received from him, dated October 14, 1828, writes:

"I have the pleasure to bear testimony to Mr. Roswell Brown's continued attention to the school, with success, as well on Sundays as on the other days of the week."

With respect to the remaining school on the Associates' list, situated at Nassau, New Providence, Bahama Islands, the Secretary had the pleasure of seeing, in England, last summer, the Rev. John Hepworth, who kindly benefits the school by his superintendence, and from him he received a favourable report of its progress. The Madras system of education was introduced by the Associates into this school, some years back, and is now in successful operation. A bill has lately arrived, drawn in favour of the schoolmaster, by the Rev. Andrew Strachan, co-missionary with the Rev. William Hepworth, on which that gentleman certifies that every duty of the schoolmaster has been duly performed.

TT

An assortment of books, slates, and pencils, has been forwarded to Halifax, Nova Scotia, for the use of the Negro schools established in that country.

On the petition of the Rev. John Evans, curate of Llanover, in the county of Monmouth, and diocese of Llandaff, sanctioned by his diocesan, a parochial library has been formed in that parish, since the last report. The receipt of the books has been acknowledged, and thanks have been expressed by the Rev. John Evans.

The receipt of the books sent to form a lending library at New Church, in Pendle, in the county of Lancaster,

and diocese of Chester, has also been acknowledged with thanks.

The Lord Bishop of Llandaff has presented the Association with 27. 2s., as a benefaction on his Lordship's admission.

The Lord Bishop of Lincoln has presented the Association with 217. on his Lordship's admission.

The Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man has presented the Association with 21. 2s. on his Lordship's admission.

The Associates have desired, through their Secretary, that their benefactors will be pleased to accept their grateful thanks.

DOMESTIC. Our beloved Sovereign's indisposition cast an anxious gloom over the past month; and the mystery which, for a time, was thrown around his sick bed, tended to increase the alarm naturally excited through the country.

The accounts of the revenue for the last quarter present us with a melancholy picture of the state of the country. The deficiency on the present quarter, on comparing it with the corresponding one in last year, amounts to 245,000l.; whilst on the whole year it is nearly a million; and, to increase the calamitous statement, the defalcation is principally in the excise duties-for the quarter, 300,000%.; for the whole year, 1,058,4217.

A bill has been brought into the House of Commons, by Mr. R. Grant, for emancipating the Jews from their civil disabilities, and putting them, in all respects, on a footing with the christian portion of the community: and, notwithstanding the opposition of the ministry, the motion for the first reading was carried by a majority of eighteen. This opposition, it is expected, will be renewed with increased vigour when it is again brought forward, which it is appointed to be on the 3d of May. The principal arguments urged in favour of the measure are, that as the number of Jews now resident in Great Britain does not amount to more than 27,000, and the benefits of the bill are only to extend to natural born subjects,-supposing them desirous, they must, from the smallness of their numbers, be incapable of working any evil to the country: and this we would pass over; if it is right for the few, it would be for the many and they have always hitherto shewn themselves, at least during the last few centuries, peaceably disposed persons, as long as they are permitted to heap up riches undisturbed. Another is, that having admitted both Dissenters and Roman Catholics to every privilege the state possesses, it is illiberal to the Jew to exclude him; there is no just ground for considering him an alien; and this produces the questions, Is Christianity an essential

part of our Constitution, or is it not? If it is not, let the truth be at once declared; and let every person, Jew, Mahommedan, or Pagan, be admitted equally to participate in its privileges, and divide its honours: but if it is, surely it must be a strange inconsistency to permit those who are not merely not professors of it, but who are openly and necessarily its enemies and despisers, to be placed in situations that ought only to be filled by its supporters and defenders. How will the Jew magistrate be careful to preserve the Christian Sabbath from profanation?— the day which, it is well known, is chosen by their nation for all feasts and merry-meetings, as not interfering with their worldly business. How can he legislate for the preservation and peace of a Church which he devoutly believes worships an impostor? It is, indeed, startling to find so large a portion of our senators content tacitly to push religion out of the system of government, to introduce, as it may be said, a religious democracy into the country. But civil liberty is the idol of the day; and the liberalist would readily sacrifice his religion and his country at her shrine :-any thing but himself and his own petty sordid in

terests.

The tranquillity of Ireland, so positively looked for, does not appear: concessions have only increased the demands of the demagogues; the repeal of the union is now loudly clamoured for; and a new Association (consisting of the members of the old Catholic Association,) has been got up to support the pretension. On Easter Monday the Roman Catholics appeared in great numbers at all the vestries held through Ireland, and opposed, in every instance, each item of the sums necessary for the support and reparation of the churches; demanding, in some instances, that the money should be applied to the building of Roman Catholic chapels. The advocates for the measure passed last session confidently affirmed that it would secure the Church of Ireland: she is now gathering the first year's fruits of peace..

FRANCE. Some differences have