rapid and flattering progress. In the first year, the tracts distributed amounted to two hundred thousand, and the income of the society four hundred pounds; during the past year, it has sent from its depot twelve million five hundred and ninety-five thousand two hundred and fortyone tracts, being an increase on any preceding year of eight hundred and eighty thousand two hundred and seventy-six. Eighteen thousand volumes of Church history, fifty-one thousand of Christian biography, ten thousand of the works of British reformers, and fifteen thousand of the Commentary on the Scriptures. The society had also published a periodical called the Weekly Visitor, at the price of one half-penny; four hundred and twenty-seven thousand of which had been sold since last January. The foreign grants of money amounted to four thousand one hundred and eighty-four pounds; being one hundred and fourteen pounds more than the same society had received in the way of subscriptions from the Christian public. The receipts of 1832 were thirty-one thousand three hundred and seventy-six pounds, but those of the present year were forty thousand pounds, being an increase of eight thousand six hundred and twenty-four pounds.

XVII. CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.-In 1800, the "Church Misзionary Society" commenced. Aroused by witnessing the active zeal of other denominations of Christians, several pious Churchmen united to form this institution, for the extension of the Gospel under the forms of the Church of England. This society manifested but little zeal for several years; and, being discountenanced by the prelates and dignitaries of the Church, its labors were inconsiderable. Two missionaries were at length obtained from Germany, and they departed from England to Western Africa, in March, 1804. Three more were sent forth in 1806. The Soosoo country and the Bullomshore, in the neighborhood of Sierra Leone, were the first stations of this society; but both were afterwards abandoned, and the mission established at Sierra Leone. In 1809, two missionaries were sent to New Zealand, at the recommendation of Mr. Marsden, chaplain of New South Wales. Before 1811, the efforts of this society had been exceedingly inefficient; but in that year, the Rev. Melville Horne, late chaplain to the colony of Sierra Leone, preached the annual sermon before the society, from which it appears, that not one Englishman had engaged in the work. He says, "Sorry am I to say that the clergy, and the clergy alone, decline the cross! When not one clergyman will arise in the cause of the Redeemer, what is to be said? Have you, my honored brethren, in Africa, or in the East, one English clergyman who serves as a missionary?" Having

then directed his hearers to contemplate the zeal of the Dissenters, he appeals to them," Have Carey and the Baptists had more forgiven than we, that they should love more? Have the fervent Methodists and patient Moravians been extortionate publicans, that they should expend their all in a cause which we decline? Have our Independent brethren persecuted the Church, that they should be now much more zealous in propagating the faith which they once destroyed?" The appeal was not in vain; the Church Missionary Society has, since that period, been making considerable progress; having not only German agents, but many Englishmen, who receive ordination from the bishop of London, as his diocess is regarded as extending to most of our foreign colonies. Much attention has been directed by this society to schools in India; where Messee, a converted Mahometan, began scriptural instruction, under the direction of Mr. Gowie, a chaplain of Calcutta, in 1812. In 1814, two German missionaries were sent from England to Madras, and from that period others have been sent successively to various places. The schools established by this society, have engaged the greater degree of the attention of its agents; and they have been of incalculable benefit to the rising generation. In their labors, this society has found worthy coadjutors in some of the chaplains of the East India Company, and in some others: yet still, the cumbrous machinery of the Church of England is observed to be ill adapted to the missionary cause; and the successes of this society have not been considered equal to what might have been expected from its expenditure. What is deeply regretted in this society, even by many of its most pious friends and ministers, is, its uncharitable sectarianism; for though its secretaries meet the secretaries of the missionary societies conducted by the Dissenters, for the purposes of conference and prayer, monthly, it is complained, that, in their general proceedings, they studiously avoid any allusions to the extensive labors of others, and that the like care is observed to abstain from recognising the marvellous successes with which they have been honored by the blessing and Spirit of God. It is also regretted that they carry this exclusive policy so far, as not to allow the most eminent agent of the other missionary societies to take any part in their public meetings! It is reported that this unlovely spirit is carried, in a great degree, to foreign countries; and we see that even the late devoted bishop Heber, when he arrived in India, as he has recorded in his journals, required the Church of England missionaries to relinquish their social prayer meeting, which had been held with the missionaries of other societies!

The following tabular view of the Church Missionary Society we extract from the "New Missionary Gazeteer."