formerly prohibited. A priest of this parish called at my door a few days ago, and, to my surprise, told me that he never would obey the Bishop in persecuting any of the free schools." "The moral tendency of our system is no small recommendation; for nothing is more certain than that many wicked parents would not wish to see their evil habits transferred into the characIter of their children, of which the following is a recent instance. A man, who, in consequence of a strict injunction laid on him by father B., had taken his son from the Society's school here, but after a trial of two or three months, had made him resume his attendance there, was accosted in the hearing of a person of veracity, (who gave me the anecdote,) by an acquaintance, and interrogated why he had, contrary to the priest's orders, sent back his son to the school. He replied, "Why, my dear fellow, what could I do? While he attended at that school I had every comfort in him. He was a good boy, attentive to his book, nor would you bear an oath out of his mouth; but ever since I took him from it, in obedience to the priest, he spends his time in the streets in all wickedness, and swears like a trooper. I would not have my son so changed for all the priests in the world; let them say what they will, I will not keep him from the School, and sure such Schools are a blessing to the world." "The people hold the schools in great estimation. They have proved the falsehood of all the stories propagated in order to intimidate them from sending their children to them. They have found, that, even could they pay for their education, their children would not derive the same advantage from other schools as from those of the Society. Many, very many of them, have also found that benefit from the Word of God, in the hands of their children, which has convinced them that it is for their interest to be intimately acquainted with its contents. These operate so powerfully, that when they are forced by public proclamation after mass, or when it is required of them privately at confession, to take away their children from the schools, they soon relapse and send them again; so that materially to injure a school where the people have had time to appreciate its value, a priest must expose himself to the odium of repeatedly appearing its opposer. Extent of the circulation of the Scriptures. The other branch of the Society's concerns, the circulation of the Scriptures, has partaken of a collateral and very considerable increase. The British and Foreign Bible Society, with its accustomed liberality, has granted to the Hibernian Society 1000 English Bibles, 2000 English and 500 Irish Testaments; and also 200 Irish Bibles, for sale or gratuitous distribution: previously to which, there were distributed, in the course of the last year, 1610 Bibles, and 6457 Testaments. When it is considered that the Hibernian Society has diffused these treasures of divine and saving knowledge among thirty two thousand poor and destitute children, and among one thousand two hundred and fifty dark and ignorant adults, and in a part of the kingdom in which the most unwearied efforts are made to exclude the pure light of heavenly truth, and to perpetuate the darkness and errors of superstition, it may be reasonably and confidently expected that, by the blessing of God, the most im'portant, extensive, and permanent consequences will result from this branch of the concerns and operations of the Hibernian Society; that out of the mouth of babes and sucklings God may ordain strength; and that by means of those of mature age, to whose minds knowJedge has been communicated, and on whose hearts truth has been impressed, the Word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified. This last observation naturally connects itself with the encouragement which the society gives to the practice of reading the Scriptures, among those who perhaps never before knew that God hath spoken by prophets, by apostles, and by his dear Son; that this Word is in their own language, and that it is able to make them wise unto salvation. A correspondent observes, "Parties for reading the Scriptures multiply. In the vicinity of many of our schools there are meetings for adults; many of them cannot read; yet they attend on those who can, with the most earnest attention. Never, since the first ray from the Star of Bethlehem beamed on our horizon, has the sacred page been more in request, nor its treasures more diffusively spread abroad, among that class of society and religious denomination to whom it was a sealed book. Blessed be God! It is now very generally known, and is an open fountain, of which numbers drink and live." JUVENILE DEPARTMENT. A Sabbath Day's Journey. It was one Sabbath morning in September, when three brothers, accompanied by a female friend, set out to visit their parents, who resided at some distance from the town where they dwelt. Another week of bodily exertion was past, and a day of rest had again come. The rivulet by which they walked rolled peacefully along; the sun had just risen above the horizon, and was shedding his golden rays on the ground beneath; the grass appeared to have acquired, fresh verdure; the corn, which yet remained unreaped, was beautifully waved by the breezes, and seemed with every thing around to welcome the Sabbath as a universal day of happiness. At length the distant church appeared rising above the trees, and the village was gradually unfolded to view. All appeared still, and a contrast to the hurry and dissipation of the town. Affectionate parents received them into their arms, and mutual joy was the result of the meeting. During the day the house of God was attended twice. In the morning Mr. G. dispensed the word of life from Jer. xxiii. 29, and in the afternoon from John, xvii. 22. He appeared indeed to have acquired the art of speaking a word in seaEvery sentence came with weight from his lips, and the place seemed none other than the house of God, and the very gate of hea son. ven. The shades of evening soon drew near, and it was time to think of returning to the busy scenes of active life. The twilight was drawn over the earth, the moon had not yet risen, and every thing seemed to invite contemplation. Newton's hymn on prayer, commencing What various hind'rances we meet, &c. was repeated by one of the company. "What pleasure," said the youngest, "must Christ, as man, have felt, when he spent whole nights in pouring out his soul before God." "Yes," replied another, "Cold mountains and the midnight air, "Witness'd the fervour of his prayer." The moon now began to rise. "Look," said one, "at that moon. Like it, many a young man begins his course promisingly, and perhaps continues it steadily for a time, but at last, like the moon, sets in darkness."-"Yes," said another, "and consider the moon also as an emblem of God's faithfulness. Men abuse his goodness by forgetting him, and ascribing the regular appearance of the moon to what they term the revolutions of nature; and yet he has never once, to convince them of their impiety, withheld its light when it should shine." In such conversation as this were they engaged, when they passed a meeting-house belonging to a village which lay in the road. They stopped, they listened, and heard the broad accent of a pious countryman enlarging on the patience of Job. "How little worth," thought one, "is all worldLy wisdom and eloquence, compared to the most uncouth language, when employed in this way, and attended with a blessing from on high." They now approached their home. A silvery stream was passed. The moon having attained its height, was reflected beautifully by the water, and silence reigned; excepting a murmur from the town, and the rattling of carriages conveying home, perhaps, the sons of dissipation, who, after a day of what they term pleasure, were returning with bodies emaciated, and souls absorbed in sensuality. When the little company entered the town, what a scene of hurry did it appear! "Ye children of folly and wickedness," thought they, "why are your Sabbath evenings, instead of being devoted to God and his service, spent in strolling about the streets, and associating with bad company?" When I (for the writer was one of the travellers whose journey is here related,) beheld in what their pleasure consisted, I felt thankful that God had not left me to such a disposition, but that my pleasure was of a different kind. It was indeed a Sabbath which will not soon be forgot; and, I trust, an emblem of that Sabbath which I hope to spend in ascribing blessing and honour, and power to him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb for ever. CHARACTER OF OUR SAVIOUR. His nature was so sweet, his manners so humble, his word so wise and composed, his deportment so grave and wiannig, his an swers so reasonable, his questions so deep, his reproof so severe and charitable, his pity so great and merciful, his preachings so full of reason and holiness, of weight and authority, his conversation so useful and beneficent, his poverty great, but his alms frequent, his family so holy and religious, his and their employment so profitable, his meekness so incomparable, his passions without difference, save only where zeal or pity carried him on to worthy and apt expressions; a person that never laughed, but often wept in a sense of the calamities of others: he loved every man, and hated no man; he gave counsel to the doubtful, and instructed the ignorant; he bound up the broken hearts, and strengthened the feeble knees; he relieved the poor and converted the sinner; he despised none that came to him for relief, and as for those that did not, he went to them; he took all occasions of mercy that were offered him, and went abroad for more; he spent his days in preaching and healing, and his nights in prayer and conversation with God. He was obedient to laws and subject to princes, though he was the Prince of Judea in right of his mother, and of all the world in right of his Father; the people followed him, but he made no conventions; and when they were made, he suffered no tumults; when they would have made him a king he withdrew himself; when he knew they would put him to death, he offered himself: he knew men's hearts, and conversed secretly, and gave answer to their thoughts, and prevented their questions; he would work a miracle rather than give offence, and yet suffer every offence rather than see God, his Father, dishonoured; he exactly kept the law of Moses, to which he came to put a period, and yet chose to signify his purpose only by doing acts of mercy upon their Sabbath, doing nothing which they could call a breach of the commandment, but healing the sick people, a charity which themselves would do to beasts, and yet they were angry at him for doing it to their brethren. In all his life, and in all his conversation with his nation, he was holy, harmless, undefiled. THE CHRISTIAN WISH. DANIEL's wisdom, may I know, Mary's love may I possess, Job's submission, let me show, Laz'rus' happy portion share→→→ Mine, be Jacob's wrestling prayer Abra'm's friendship let me prove, Most of all, may I pursue VOL. V.] Saturday, February 20, 1819. SOCIETY FOR PREVENTING PAUPERISM IN THE CITY OF NEW-YORK. [No. 22. The Committee to whom was referred the consideration of the Vice of That they have duly considered the subject, and have to lament that in this city the vice of intemperance, or the inordinate use of spirituous liquors, is a growing evil which has already extended its baleful influence over a great proportion of the labouring class of the community. It debilitates the body and mind, demoralizes the principles, and destroys the health of its unhappy victims, and is undoubtedly the most prolific cause of pauperism. It would exceed the bounds of a report, or the powers of the committee, to enumerate all the evils which flow from the hoper use of ardent spirits. The subject, with all its enormities, does not stem to have been duly considered by the legislature or municipal authorities of this city. Very little on the subject is to be found in the statutes. The third section of the act for suppressing immorality enacts, That no retailer of spirituous liquors, ale, or porter, shall sell or dispose of such liquors on Sunday, to any person, except lodgers and travellers; and that any person offending in the premises, and being thereof convicted before any Mayor, Recorder, or Justice of the Peace, shall forfeit and pay the sum of $2.50 for every such offence. The ordinance of the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the 2d of March, 1812, ordains that no retailer of liquors shall permit any person to come to or remain in his house on Sunday, and there to be tippling, nor shall they at any time suffer any excessive drinking, or persons to be drunk in their houses, under the penalty of ten dollars for each offence. The constables and marshals are authorised and enjoined to enforce this law; and may at any time enter into any retailing house, and if any person shall be found tippling or drunk therein, or guilty of any offence mentioned in this ordinance, to detain him or them, until they shall discover his or her name and place of abode, and then direct and order them to depart said place, and if any such person shall not discover his or her name and place of abode, or will not depart said house, it shall be the duty of such constable or marshal to bring the said person before the Mayor, Recorder, or Aldermen, and if found guilty, shall forfeit and pay the sum of four dollars. These, and the act to lay a duty on strong liquors, are the only penal laws your committee have found for restraining or preventing the vice of intemperance. Such public regulations as facilitate the distribution and consumption of ardent spirits are much to be regretted. There are now in this city 1445 persons licensed to retail liquors ; |