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There are a few blemishes, as in the two Spencerian verses, which introduce the Poem. In the first is this limping line,

" Since the bard of visual ray forlorn."

In the second verse, confine and sublime are false rhymes.

On page the 7th, line the 3d from the bottom, the article is omitted

The "Word of Wisdom, essence of my love," We have observed a few other exceptionable lines; but the author's representation of his disappointments and discouragements, from page 25 to 30, is sufficiently affecting to disarm all criticism, and interest his readers in his favour. We hope this first part of his poem will meet with sufficient success to induce

him speedily to proceed with the remainder, with additional circumspection.

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The Cottage Minstrel: or Hymns for the Assistance of Cottagers in their Domestic Worship. By James Edmeston. 18mo. 6d. Westley.

As Mr. Edmeston is already known to our readers by two small volumes of " Sacred Lyrics,"* little need be said of the present small work, but that it will not disgrace his talents. Our readers will probably recollect, that a gentleman last year held out the reward of 20 guineas for a work of this nature, and

we understand Mr. E. has been the successful candidate. We give the first hymn, "On Prayer Meetings," as a specimen, in our poetical department of this month.

Whatever scarcity may have been recently supposed, we think there can be no more room for complaint, after this publication, Mr. Beck's Hymns for Villagers, and Mr. Cobbin's Village Hymns. (See our Mag. for June, p. 241.)

* See our Mag. for April last, p. 154.

Third Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline, and the Correction of Juvenile Offenders, 1821. With an Appendix, 8vo. 3s. J. and A. Arch.

We last year introduced this Society to our readers by an account (p. 391) of their Anniversary, and are glad to see the progress they have since made in their important undertaking; not only in many parts of this kingdom, but in France, Switzerland, Italy, Flanders, Germany, Russia, and America, where the object is taken up, with more or less zeal, for the reform as well as punishment of criminals.

Two points in this benevolent work parti cularly interest us, as editors of a religious publication, 1. The introduction of religious instruction and moral discipline; the succes of which, particularly in the female department of Newgate, (Appen. p. 191,) by the blessing of God on the zeal of some pious ladies, has been certainly beyond expectation.

The remarks of the Committee on the duties of Prison Chaplains are also just and striking; and we perfectly agree with them, that "there are few stations more eminently useful than that of a Chaplain to a prison," though this seems not to have been considered in the slender provision made for their support. As a model of zeal, of piety, and of kindness, the Committee of the Paris Society particularly point out "the excellent Père Joussony," who shut himself up voluntarily with the slaves in Algiers for 30 years, and died among his charge, "who were dearerto him than life."

The remarks of the Committee on the evils of attending fairs in the neighbourhood of the metropolis are also just and striking, particularly as it respects the multitudes of children and youth who resort to them. This leads us to notice

2. The case of Juvenile delinquents, with which the Metropolis in particular abounds -the great majority of whom are repre sented by the Com Committee, who have the best opportunities of knowing, as "the off spring of ignorance, depravity, and neglect, and the victims of circumstances over which they could have no controul. Numbers are nursed in depravity and tutored in crime." For such offenders a " Temporary Refuge" has been provided; and we are happy to see several instances of its success, particu larly in the child of a poor sailor, who, on returning thanks to the Committee, used this expressive language -" This house has saved me from ruin.". -(See Appendix p. 180 to 187.).

"Small Beginnings not to be Despised." A Sermon, preached for the Benefit of the Port of London Society, on board the Floating Chapel, Thames. By J. A. James. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Westley. THIS discourse, the reader will readily conjecture, is founded on the question of the Prophet Zachariah, ch. iv. 9. “ Who has despised the day of small things?" Applying this text, 1. To the case of Religious Institutions, Mr. James reviews (very briefly of course) the rise of Christianity-of Protestantism of Methodism - of the London Missionary Society-the Baptist Missionthe British and Foreign Bible Society:2dly, To the case of personal religion: and, in the improvement of the discourse, to the Society now before him, of which he gives us the following (among others) encouraging particulars: " More than 60 boats have been seen round this floating chapel at the same time, waiting to convey their crews from the solemnities of public worship to their respective vessels! Six hundred sailors have been beheld at one time listening to the glad tidings of salvation!"

Mr. James apologises for borrowing some ideas from a sermon on the same subject by Mr Jay; but we cannot judge with what necessity, as we have not, at the present moment, the opportunity of comparing them.

LITERARY NOTICES.

Mr. Burder, author of the "Village Sermons," is preparing for the Press 12 SeaSermons, adapted to the use of Sailors individually, or to Masters of vessels, who are in the habit of Sunday reading to their crews. It is expected that the volume will be ready about Christmas.

Rev. Mr. Knowles (Rector of South Somercotes) is preparing for the Press-Short and Plain Discourses, for the Use of Families; in 3 vols. 12mo.

The Rev. Mark Wilks is preparing An English Edition of the Old Cevennol, by Rabant St. Etienne.

Also, preparing for publication, Vol. I. of The Preacher, (to make 6 vols. 12mo.) or Sketches of Original Sermons, from the MSS. of two eminent Divines of the last Century. With a familiar Essay on pulpit Composition.

The Evangelical Diary (a Religious Almanack,) with considerable improvements, will be published as usual with the other Almanacks, Nov. 20.

In the Press. A New Edition of Neale's History of the Puritans, by Toulmin, 5 vols. 8vo. carefully revised, corrected, and enlarged. By W. Jones, author of a "History of the Christian Church."

Contemplations on the Sufferings, Death. and Resurrection of Christ and of his People. from the Manuscripts of the late Rev. Augustus Toplady. Also, a New Edition of Mr. T.'s Devotional Retirement; with an Essay on Job, &c.

A New Edition of Dr. Dick's Lectures on the Acts. 2 vols. 8vo.

Happiness! a Tale for the Grave and the Gay. 2 vols. post 8vo.

Biblical Fragments: intended to promote among her own Sex a taste for Biblical Reading. By Mrs. Schimmelpennick.

Abridgement of the Abbé Rochon's Voyage to Madagascar, with a Portrait of Prince Rataffe. By Tho. Towne.

The Warning Voice, being a Narrative of

A- M-, by Mrs. Hewlett.

Mary Nelson; or the Narrative of a Wi dow's Family. In 1 vol.

Dialogues between Farmer Watson and his Man Harry.

SELECT LIST.

Anecdotes, interspersed with Observations, intended to furnish Entertainment and Instruction for Leisure Hours. By J. Thornton. 2 vols. 12mo. 8s.

Mental Discipline: or Hints on the Cul tivation of Intellectual Habits. By the Rev.

H. F. Burder. 8vo. 4s. 6d.

A New Edition of the Rev. R. Hall's Apology for the Freedom of the Press. 3s. 6d

The Winter Season; being an Attempt to Improve "the storms of Winter." By Jş. Fisher, author of the Spring Day. 8vo. 7s

The Pleasures of Home, and other Poems: By R. Porter. 2d Edit. 12mo. 4s.

Satan's Devices Exposed, in Four Sermons. By Rev. T. Knowles, B.A. 4th Ed. 2s. 6d.

The Consolations of Gospel Truth displayed in various interesting Anecdotes, & By J. G. Pike. vol. 2. 3s. 6d.

An Essay on the Evils of Scandal, Slan der, and Misrepresentation. 12mo. 3s. 6d. The History of Geo. Desmond, founded on Facts which occurred in the East Indies; and now published as a Caution to Young Men going out to that country. 12mo. 7s.

Sermons." Superior Advantages of the Present Period," a Monthly Meeting Sermon, by H. Lacey.-On Christian Unity, by T. Young. On the King's Visit to Ireland, by J. Petherick, Dublin.

Exposition of the Lord's Prayer. By Mrs. Hake. 18mo. 1s. 6d.

The Westminster Selection of Hymns. Part I. 18mo. 1s. 6d.

Eliza Harding, a Tale founded on Facts. By Mrs. Hewlett. 18. 2s. 6d.

T. Johnson's Reasons for Dissenting from the Established Church. 2d.

A Dialogue between a Traveller and Dick Hardy the Hostler. 2 Parts. 2d.

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i

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

:

LONDON.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY.

His Most Gracious Majesty KING GEORGE THE FOURTH, An Annual Subscriber of 1001.

Vice-Patrons.

H. R. H. the Duke of Sussex. H. R. H. the Prince of Saxe-Cobourg.

President.

The Duke of Bedford.

Vice-Presidents.

The Marquises of Lansdown, Hastings, and
Tavistock; Earls Darnley, Rosslyn, and
Fingall; Bishop of Norwich; Lords Car-
rington, Clifford, and Eardley; Chief
Commissioner Adam; Sir J. Swinburne,
Bart. Sir J. Macintosh, M. P. and Sir A.
Johnston; H. Brougham, M.P. Charles
Barclay, Esq. J. Butterworth, M.P. Tho.
F. Buxton, M.P. William Smith, M.P.
John Smith, M.P. W. Wilberforce, M.P.
and William Williams, M.P.

Treasurer-William Allen.
Secretary-

Foreign Secretary-Rev. Dr. Schwabe.
Assistant Secretary.

Mr. J. Millar, Museum Street, Blooomsbury.

Collector.

Mr. B. Lepard, Punderson-pl. Bethnal-green.

A BRIEF ACCOUNT.

THE object of this Society is to promote the education of the children of all the poor, of every class, sect, and country, in moral and religions principles, diminishing crime and misery, and producing general peace and happiness. The system which it acts upon, while eminently calculated to fix in the infant mind the fundamental principles of the Christian religion, does not interfere with the particular opinions or creed of any, being in conformity with that divine precept, "Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them."

as the surest means of

The common means of instruction, being far too expensive to be adopted for the education of the poor upon a great scale, Mr. Joseph Lancaster, about the year 1798, devised a method by which a school, however

1

large, might be managed by one master, and one set of lessons, thus diminishing the expense for each individual child to a mere. trifle; while at the same time the plan communicated instruction with astonishing celerity. In the year 1805, our late venerable. Sovereign honoured Mr. Joseph Lancaster, with a private audience, fully informed himself of the nature of the system, and saw its important bearing on the whole mass of the poor population. It was on this occasion, that the King uttered those memorable words, which will do honour to the name of George, the Third to the latest posterity:-" It is my wish, that every poor child in my kingdom. may be taught to read the Bible." From that period His Majesty not only gave to the British System his royal sanction and patronage, but subscribed 100l. per annum towards its support and propagation. This liberal subscription has been regularly continued by his present Majesty. The value of the British System of mutual instruction becoming gradually more and more known, schools were established in most of the principal towns of the Kingdom, many of which were organised by masters trained and sent by the Committee of the parent Society in the Borough Road: the accounts of the Schools upon this plan, which have been published from time to time in the Reports of the Society, present many interesting particulars of their prosperity, and especially of the extensive moral effects produced by their establishment. In the manufacturing districts, where, from the demand for juvenile labour, the children are soon taken into close employment, the system has proved itself pre-eminently useful, from the rapidity with which it conveys instruction.

This Institution, though in no manner connected with the British and Foreign Bible Society, has powerfully co-operated in its designs, and acts upon the same liberal principles: while on one hand, by the exertions of the Bible Society in their endeavours to introduce the Holy Scriptures into every house and cottage, the deplorable want of education was discovered; the School Society, on the other hand, became the ready co-adjutors of the Bible Society, by providing the means of instruction, without which the gift of Bibles would have been of little avail. It is a fundamental principle of the British System that nothing should be taught which can in any way tend to prevent conscientious and

pious parents, of any religious denomination, from sending their children for instruction;the Bible, in the authorised version, without note or comment, being the only religious book taught in the schools. Care is at the same time taken to secure attention to religious duties, by promoting the attendance of the children at such Sunday Schools as are approved by their parents, and by requiring proofs of their presence at those places of worship which their parents or friends may prefer.

The Society has never been unmindful that both its name and its origin pointed to the British Dominions, as the first and principal object of its attention. Hence the support and management of the Central Schools in the Borough Road, and of the establishment for the instruction of masters

them, was printed under the name of "The Manual of the British System;" a second edition of which is just published, and will be found extremely useful to those who wish to establish schools for the poor. The work has been translated, and published in the different languages of the Continent.

The Committee endeavour to embrace

every opportunity for extending the System abroad as well as at home. They correspond with persons friendly to education in all parts of the world. They receive and communicate information - train masters and mistresses at the Central School-supply teachers, and afford every facility to foreigners to study the plan, and propagate it abroad. They keep a stock of slates, les. sons, and school apparatus for the schools formed upon the System. A small number of persons are boarded and trained in the Central School, and are more immediately under the patronage and controul of the Committee. Others are trained and boarded at their own charge.*

and mistresses connected with them, have always formed the main object of its attention. The flourishing state of these schools, and the good conduct of the children, have been a source of high gratification. These schools, of which that for Boys admits and now contains 500, and that for Girls 300 pupils, have since their establishment given education, the forrner to 13,661, the latter to 7,028 children, making a total of 20,689. The endeavours used to adopt such measures as might eventually lead to the establishment of schools sufficient for the population of the metropolis and its vicinity have been unremitting; and the number of these establishments has every year increased. In the metropolis 43 schools are at present known to the Committee, as being conducted upon the British System, in which not fewer than 5833 boys and 2165 girls receive instruction In SCOTLAND, the British System is still upon principles, and by methods, best calcu-making progress. The school in Edin

lated to impress their minds with religious knowledge, and pious and moral habits. Of these schools 22 have been forined within the last five years.

It was not long after the establishment of the System in this kingdom, that it began to attract the attention of some benevolent and enlightened individuals in foreign parts; and in consequence of the happy restoration of peace in 1814, the intercourse between England and the Continent being resumed, numerous applications were made for information respecting the System. The establishment was visited by many distinguished foreigners, and numerous applications were made for information respecting the plan. In the year 1817, the present buildings in the Borough Road were erected, in which Model Schools for Boys and Girls are kept for the inspection of visitors. In the year 1816, the plan of the schools for children of both sexes, and directions for organising

In IRELAND the System has been widely and very favourably received; and from the liberality of its principle, it has been declared by the Commission appointed by Parliament (consisting of the Lord Primate, several Bishops, and other distinguished characters) to be peculiarly adapted for that country, as "keeping clear of all interference with the particular religious tenets of any, inducing the whole population to receive its benefits as one undivided body, under one and the same system, and in the same establishment."

burgh is flourishing; while in the other large cities, where schools have been esta blished on this System, it continues to produce its beneficial effects. The Committee have also had the satisfaction of affording an opportunity of acquiring a perfect knowledge of the British System to Mr. Cameron, whom the Highland Society has appointed to take charge of a Model School, which they are about to establish at Inverness, and which is intended to supply masters for schools in the Highlands.

[In our next Number will be given an account of the Proceedings of the Society in Fo reign Countries.]

* Inquiries or applications (post paid) may be addressed to Mr. Millar, Museumstreet, Bloomsbury; or Mr. Pickton, at the Royal British School, Borough-road.

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