that from much observation, I am satisfied, that Sunday schools, if properly conducted, are of essential importance to the lower classes of society. 1 have had occasion to inspect several Sunday schools for some years past; and I have particularly observed the chil dren, who at first come to the school dirty and ragged, in the course of a few months have become clean and neat in their persons; and their behaviour,from my own observation, and the report of a great number of teachers, has rapidly improved; [I allude to those schools, where the teachers are gratuitous.] A large school, that I frequently visit, that has upwards of six hundred children, has produced many instances of great mental and moral improvement among the lower classes of society. At this time there are no less than twenty chimney-sweep-boys in that school, who in consequence of coming there, have their persons well cleaned every week, and their apparel kept in decent order; and some of the employers of these boys are so satisfied with the school, that they will take no child but what shall regularly attend it, because they find it greatly improves their morals and behaviour.

In another school, in the Parish of Mary le Bone, there are eleven chimney-sweep-boys. Some time ago, when I happened to be the visitor for the day, a woman attended to return thanks for the education her daughter had received in Drury lane school.And I believe the woman's words were, "She should ever have reason to bless God, that her child had come to that school; that before her girl attended there, her husband was a profligate disorderly man, spent most of his time and property in the publick house; that she and her daughter were reduced to the most abject poverty, and almost starved. That one Sunday after noon the father had been swearing very much, and was somewhat in liquor; the girl reproved the father, and told him, from what she had heard at school, she was sure it was very wicked to say such words. The father made no par

ticular reply, but on the Monday morning his wife was surprised to see him go out and procure food for their breakfast; and from that time he became a sober industrious man. Some weeks after, she ventured to ask the cause of the change in his character; his answer was, "that the words of Mary, (his little girl) made a strong impression upon his mind, and that he was determined to lead a new course of life." This was twelve months prior to the child's being taken out of school, and his character had become thoroughly established; he is now a virtuous man and un excellent husband. She added, that they had their lodgings well furnished and lived comfortably, and her dress and appearance confirmed the testimony. I have made inquiry, continues the witness, of a great number of teachers of Sunday (charity) schools, and they are uniformly of opinion, that Sunday-school instruction has the best tendency to prevent mendicity, (begging) in the lower classes of society. One fact I beg to mention, of Henry Haidy, who when admitted a scholar of Drury lane school, was a common street beggar. He continued to attend very regularly for about eight years ; during which time he discontinued his former degrading habits, on leaving the school,he was rewarded, according to the custom, with a Bible, and obtained a situation at a Tobacconist's. His brother was also a scholar, afterwards became a teacher in the same school, obtained a situation, and to the period of his quitting London, bore an excellent character.

Report of Committee p. 100—2. II. The testimony of Mr. John Cooper.

I have been connected with societies for visiting and relieving the Poor for the last ten years. I and my colleague have been connected with Sunday schools for the same perioʻl, and have been a visitor of a large Sunday school for these last eight years and an half, in which there are between six and seven hundred children instructed; and the beneficial effects

L' Hotel Dieu, in Paris, is said to be an admirable Institution, where fortyeight charitable sisters, attend, with the care and anxiety of mothers, nine hundred sick.

An Association for the relief of the poor has been established by the young men of Richmond, Virginia.

A bill against duelling has been reported in the legislature of Maryland.

ORDINATION.

Rev. Philip Colby was ordained over the third church in Middleborough, Feb. 1. Introductory Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Pratt of Barnstable; Sermon by Rev. Dr. Worcester of Salem ; Consecrating Prayer by Rev. Dr. Sanger; Charge by Rev. Dr. Read of Bridgewater; Address to the church and Society by Rev. J. Bates of Dedham ; Right Hand by Rev. Mr. Paine of Middleborough; Concluding Prayer by Rev. Mr. Pomeroy of Randolph.

OBITUARY.

Died at Austinburgh, Ohio, Nov. 23, Captain Erastus Austin, aged 30. He left, by will, $25 to support the gospel in Austinburgh; $50 to educate orphan children at Bombay, India; $100 to the Missionary Society of Connecticut; $200 to the Foreign Missionary Society, $200 to the Ohio Presbytery, to educate pious youth; and $625 to be disposed of by his brothers to send the gospel to the Heathen.

At Nassau, New-Providence, Rev. Dr. J. B. Thompson, pastor of the Presbyterian church in Augusta, and President of Richmond Academy, aged

31.

In Windsor, Vermont, Hon. Stephen Jacobs, aged 61.

In Charleston, S. C. Rev. Dr. Wm. Hollinshead.

In New-Haven, Rev. Henry Sherman, aged 31.

In Plymouth, N. H. Mrs. Fairbank, wife of Rev. Drury Fairbank. She was an amiable Christian; and her death must be felt not only by the bereaved family, but by many others as a severe affliction.

According to a bill of mortality recently published, there died in Boston in 1816, 904; of which 20 were upwards of 80 years of age.

In New-York, the number of deaths in 1816, was 2779; the number over 80 years of age, 49.

In Baltimore, in 1816, 1317; 150 of consumption, 137 of cholera morbus, 105 of whooping cough, 45 were over 70 years of age, population 60,000.

In Philadelphia, 1816, 2040; 347 of consumptions, 180 of convulsions; 137 exceeded 70 years of age.

In Charleston, S. C. in 1816, 876; of which 67 exceeded 70 years of age, and 4 of these 100.

In Hollis, N. H. in 1816, 62 ; in 1815, 50. Number of inhabitants in 1810, 1529. One fourteenth part of this number have died in two years.

At Jefferson, District of Maine, Mr. Wm. Whitehouse, his wife, and three children, were consumed by fire, in the burning of their dwelling house, in the night between the 6th and 7th of February.

THE Pastoral Letter of the Synod of Philadelphia, and other things of the same character, have been surprising to many intelligent persons. Yet these methods of proceeding are mild when compared with those which were adopted in former ages, for similar purposes. People in general are not sufficiently aware of the kindness of God in the progress of tolerant principles, nor of the obligations they are under for the measure of religious liberty enjoyed in our land. The trial of Mr. Emlyn will afford a picture of the state of things in Ireland in 1703: and it is believed that it will be a useful lesson to people of the present age. But that the case may be properly understood, we shall first give a concise account of the man who was tried as a criminal.

Thomas Emlyn was born in England in 1663; and was educated for the ministry among the dissenters. If we may safely form an opinion of his character from his writings, and from what is said of him by his bio

Vol. V.-No. 4.

grapher, he was a man of strong powers of mind, a sincere inquirer after the truth, amiable in his temper, exemplary in his deportment, and an impressive and useful preacher. He began to preach in England. But before he was settled in the ministry, Dr. Sherlock's "Vindication of the Trinity" was published. His tritheistick manner of explaining the subject shocked the mind of Mr. Emlyn; led him first to doubt the truth of the doctrine, and finally to dissent from it. The Countess of Donegal, in Ireland, being in England, became acquainted with Mr. Emlyn, and invited him to be her chaplain. He complied; and the next year he went with her to Ireland. While on a visit at Dublin, he preached one discourse to a congregation of dissenters, which was then under the care of two ministers, Mr. Daniel Williams, and Mr. Joseph Boyse. By this discourse he gained the esteem of the congregation, and prepared the way for a call to the ministry among them.

Mr.

Williams left the parish and went to England. Mr. Emlyn also returned to England; but soon after received a pressing request to go to Dublin and supply the place of Mr. Williams. In 1691 he complied with the invitation. Between him and his colleague Mr. Boyse, and between him and the parish, there was great friendship for eleven years. In his preaching he avoided a discussion of the questions relating to the Trinity, and endeavoured to instruct his people in things which they could better understand, and which he believed to be of more useful tendency. But on the other hand, he was careful to keep a conscience void of of fence towards God, and to use no language in his preaching which would convey ideas contrary to his own views of truth. His care in these respects was observed by one of his parishioners, who had studied divinity, but afterwards became a physician. The Dr. was a friend to Mr. Emlyn, but became jealous that he was a dissenter from the popular creed. He communicated his suspicions to Mr. Boyse; and with him he visited Mr. Emlyn, and stated to him his apprehensions. Mr. Emlyn had too much integrity to dissemble in such a case. In his narrative of the affair he says, "I now thought myself bound as a Christian to declare my faith openly in so great a point; and freely owned myself convinced, that the God and

Father of Jesus Christ is alone the Supreme Being.-I told them I had no aim to make any strife among them, and offered to leave the congregation peaceably, that they might choose another, if they pleased, to supply my place." But Mr. Boyse stated the matter to a meeting of the Dublin ministers for advice. At their request Mr. Emlyn met them, and freely conversed on the subject. He professed to be ready to give his "assent to the scriptures, but not to their explications of them." Upon this first and only conference of about two hours, they proceeded the same day to cast off a brother with whom they had been long in fellowship.

Mr. Emlyn then caused his parish to be called together, stated to them his case, thanked them for their kindness to him, and requested a dismission. They were filled with surprise and sorrow, and were unwilling to part with him in such an abrupt manner. It was agreed that be should go to England for some weeks, that there might be time for consideration. His affliction was great; he had but recently been called to part with a beloved wife, a son, and a mother, and he had two young children to leave behind him, But notwithstanding all these afflictions, as soon as he had left Dublin, his brethren in the ministry began to display their misguided zeal by raising a publick clamour to prepossess the