larly gratified by the testimony which has been given by individuals, who have travelled through different parts of Ireland, to the evident utility of the Associations formed in that country. A Clergyman, in consequence of what he himself witnessed, has expressed his belief, that the effort now making to promote industry on the plan undertaken by this Committee, is an important preliminary measure toward the general improvement of the country-a measure fraught with immediate benefit; and calculated to pave the way for the more extended exertions of others, and to reduce the mass of human misery in that country.

This testimony is confirmed by Mr. Besnard, who, in the Report of his Tour of Inspection in Munster and Connaught to the Linen Board, expresses himself thus

Your grants of implements have been received, by the various Associations to which they were committed, with the most lively gratitude; and acted on, particularly by the Ladies' Associations, with a persevering zeal which reflects on them the highest degree of credit.

I have been assured by the best authorities, that, in the most remote parts of the country, and among the most humble of the poor class of the Female Population, an anxiety to procure implements for work, and a punctuality in repaying half the cost by instalments of

sons,

money or labour, has been evinced, which clearly proves the wisdom of the measure, and the industrious disposition of those perwhose labour, if properly applied, may be rendered highly valuable, and in the course of time would doubtless do away the necessity which now exists of importing foreign yarn into England.

The Committee have reason to believe, that the impulse which has been given to industry will have prepared many hands to co-operate with manufacturers who may hereafter fix themselves in Ireland; and that a degree of skill in various branches of useful work will have been acquired, and habits of em. ployment established, which will tend to the increasing comfort and prosperity of the individuals, who have come under the direction of the Associations scattered throughout the country.

That the Female Peasantry of Ireland are generally uneducated, none, it is presumed, who have visited that country, will hesitate to acknowledge; and, until something is effected on behalf of THEIR condition, it is morally certain that little good of a permanent nature can result from the efforts which are making in behalf of the country at large. Impressed by this conviction, a number of Ladies, acting under a sense of their obligation to Ireland, have undertaken to add to the list of existing Institutions, a Society, which shall have for its exclusive object the education of their own sex in that country. [Committee.

NOTICES ON THE STATE OF IRELAND.

Eagerness for the Scriptures.

The following passages, which might be greatly multiplied from other sources, are extracted from the Reports of the Hibernian Bible Society.

In consequence of the late discussions in this country, on the doctrines of the Church of England and that of Rome, the sale of the Scriptures is unprecedented.

It has been said, the people will not take the Bible. This is not the fact: they will take it-they demand it: they will not only take it, but, even from their hard-got earnings, they will most cheerfully purchase it. Many have come to this very village, the distance of 20 and 27 miles, to buy that Sacred Book. Not many months since, a number of persons, in a remote part of the country, nearly 30 miles from Kingscourt, raised a sum of money among themselves, procured a horse, and deputed a man to come to this place to get a supply of the Holy Scriptures.

- Shortly after the discussion at Carrick-on-Shannon, some Roman Catholics, about 20 in number, met in a farmer's house in the neighbourhood of Leitrim, for the purpose of considering among themselves the propriety of reading the

existed a general apprehension as to attempting the circulation of Controversial Tracts. The language of unbelief was, "We shall prejudice the people — we shall exasperate their Priests-and the little good which we have been enabled to effect, will be utterly lost." Trials, however, were made at first, perhaps, in a timid manner; and, though impediments still largely exist, it has been found that all the endeavours of a most powerful Ecclesiastical Tyranny have been unable effectually to put down the circulation of such publications. And is there not here an encouragement for renewed exertion in this department of Christian Labour?

But Protestants, who can now look back to the days of their ignorance, and can now glory in the knowledge of God as their God and Saviour, should seek and pray that every hostile and bitter feeling in their minds, and every expression of that feeling with regard to their Roman-Catholic Countrymen,might be done away; and that they might be enabled to exhibit toward them that good-will and charity, which shall designate them as followers of their Divine Master. Let them thus adorn the Gospel, and their faith and hope will not be disappointed, as to the increased and increasing diffusion of religious knowledge throughout this country-and let their language of charity toward their RomanCatholic Countrymen be, Come with us, and we will do you good.

It may be safely affirmed, that the Progress of Education in Ireland within the last few years, and of Inquiry originating in a great measure from that education, is unparalleled in the history of

the world. Societies have been formed for the advancement of education: their

exertions have been greatly blessed by God; and all of them are pursuing their course, amidst the doubts of some, and the fears of others, and the hostility of more, with continued and increasing success. Many Individuals have been awakened to the importance of religious instruction for the peasantry of this country; and, upon their estates or in the neighbourhood where they reside, they have wisely employed their wealth and influence in its advancement. Some idea may be formed of the Progress of Religious Education among the lower classes in Ireland, from the following facts related by Mr. J. L. Foster and Mr. Glassford, in their Letter appended

to the Ninth Report of the Irish-Education Inquiry

About twenty years ago the Scriptures, as we are led to believe, were not read in so many as 600 Schools in Ireland; while, at present, as we have ascertained and stated in our Second Report, they have found their way into 6058 Daily Schools, independent of 1945 Sunday Schools: in all, above 8000 Schools.

It is further very worthy of remark, that, of the 6058 Daily Schools in which the Scriptures are now read, only 1879 are connected with any Societies whatever; whether those aided by the Government, or those supported by individual contributions: in the remaining 4179 Schools, the Scriptures have, of late years, been adopted by the voluntary choice of the Conductors and Teachers, the latter of whom are generally dependent for their livelihood on the pleasure of the parents of their pupils-a signal proof that there is no repugnance to Scriptural Instruction among the people, and not less an illustration of the effects silently produced by the example and competition of better Institutions upon the Common Schools of the country.

The Committee of the Education Society state

Your Committee feel quite satisfied of the beneficial results of the Cheap-Book Department. The printing-presses in Dublin, which formerly teemed with immoral and mischievous publications, are now idle; those productions being quite unequal to any successful competition with the Publications of the Society. The consequence is, that the Schools and Libraries for the Poor are supplied with useful and moral publications, to the almost total exclusion of the pernicious works which formerly so universally abounded. Increased attention is bestowed by the Committees of the Society to improve the quality of their publications. Works of a lighter and more entertaining description were necessary at the outset, to supplant the books which minds of such of the lower orders as were had so long swayed the imaginations and capable of reading; but there is good

reason to believe, that a better taste has exertions which have been made by this been produced, and cultivated, by the Society and by other public Institutions.

Mediterranean.

AMERICAN Board of miSSIONS.

Reasons for suspending the Syrian Mission. THE departure of the Missionaries from Syria was stated at p. 528. In

a Letter addressed to the Board

from Malta, they assign the following reasons for the step which they had taken

Prospect of war-want of an Asylum in case of War-want of Consular Protection-their solitary situation-the Character of the Pacha-pecuniary embar. rassment the prevalence of the Plague the scarcity of vessels for opportunity of removal-and the immediate call for some of them at Malta.

Probable Effect of the Removal of the
Missionaries.

On this subject, they writeOf the effect of our removal, we hardly dare risk an opinion. It MAY give the Ecclesiastical Authorities courage and zeal to attempt the destruction of our Depôt of Scriptures, as well as the suppression of all the copies of them which may still be found in circulation among the people: they MAY be more unrestrained in their measures to root out every vestige of spiritual seed which we may have sown. But we hope in God that the effect of our removal will be of an opposite nature; and that it will lead many to sober reflection-to inquire what harm we have done, what crimes we have committed, what unhallowed ambitious projects we have been setting on footwhether our great object has been to preach ourselves and OUR PARTY, or whether it has been to preach Christ and Him Crucified. We entertain the hope, that the Authorities, finding themselves rid of the HERESIARCHS, will relax in their vigilance and virulence, in regard to those tinctured with our HERESY. Particularly do we hope, that "His Holiness" of Cannobeen may now regard, with less jealousy and alarm, his long-oppressed Prisoner, and be induced to set him once more at large.

The parting scene, at our leaving, was more tender and affecting than we could expect; and afforded a comforting evidence, that, whatever may be the impression which we have left on the general population, there are soME hearts in Syria which are sincerely attached to us. Many, as we passed them, prayed for the Divine Protection on us in our voyage. A considerable number, notwithstanding the Plague, came to our houses to bid us farewell. Our domestics all wept profusely. One thoughtful youth, who was with us daily, belonging to one of the first Greek Families, was full of grief for several days; and earnestly begged us to take him with us, though contrary to the will of his parents: another, of much the same age and standing, who had once been almost

persuaded to be a Christian and afterward became bitterly opposed to the doctrines of grace, came, and with tears confessed his faults, and begged us to forgive him and never to forget him in our prayers: another, whom we have not until lately reckoned among the number of those who love the Lord, hung upon our necks, with strong grief, as if he could not endure the separation. The Great Lord of the Vineyard is able to make the good seed rise, and flourish, and spread in every direction. To Him we commend it. His is the work: be His the glory!

It is added by the Board—

No opposition was made by the Government to the embarkation of the Missionaries, which took place on the 29th of April; nor was any objection made to their being accompanied by the Armenians, Carabet and Wortabet. Not an enemy opened his mouth in triumph. As they passed the streets to the waterside, those from whom they might have expected scoffing and ridicule, exclaimed, with every appearance of seriousness, "The Lord preserve and prosper you!" Benefits resulting from the Syrian Mission.

Mr. Bird takes the following view, in his Journal written at Beyrout—

It is now about four-years-and-a-half since those of us, who have been particularly connected with this Station, came to anchor in this port. We had then no intention of staying at Beyrout, except long enough to obtain animals or a boat to carry us on toward Jerusalem. We were prevented from proceeding; first by the season, next by the advice of our brethren, and by a personal examination of the country, the whole length of it from this place to Hebron, which may be called the present Dan and Beersheba of Palestine. Every succeeding year has brought with it evidence to strengthen the impression that our remaining here was a well-advised measure; for we have not yet seen reason to believe, that in any other place south of Constantinople, there has been so much eagerness to inquire after truth, united with so much safety in declaring it.

The American Mission to Syria has now ceased: for how long, the Lord only knows. At this pause in the work, every one interested at all in the Mission will also pause; and will endeavour to recall some little sketch of its history; and will ask, "What good has it done?"