Chief Justice of Chester, be appointed Auditors to this Society for the year ensuing.

Resolved, on the motion of the Earl of SHAFTESBURY, That the thanks of this meeting be given to the PRESIDENT, At the same meeting

The Rev. Archdeacon CAMBRIDGE,

The Rev. Archdeacon POTT,

The Rev. RICHARD LENDON, and
JOHN ROUND, Esq. M. P.

were elected to fill up the vacancies in the General Committee,

The Committee trust that the above account will prove acceptable to the publick, and that they shall be thought to have made due progress in the great work of distributing universally the benefits of a Religious Education, according to the time and means afforded them. They have acted upon a principle of confidence that those, who have set this powerful instrument in motion, and have entrusted it to their hands, will not suffer it to be arrested in its career, but will assist them with their zealous co-operation in carrying it on. Which co-operation it cer tainly requires, not only in setting it forward at first, but in con tinually superintending its progress, but the work will become sasier as it proceeds,

Mobilitate viget, virésque acquirit eundo.

The expence will become lighter as proper buildings and proper accommodations are procured for the purpose; which are a heavy drawback upon the plan in its beginning, but being once provided, the economy of the System will be brought into practice, and consequently become the means of extending it more generally. They have always considered those, who assist or contribute towards the founding or maintaining the Societies in the Country, as fellow labourers with themselves; and their Subscriptions and Contributions as given to the same general fund. It is one general stock, though at the disposal of the

several Societies, to which each part immediately belongs. The National Society is vigorous whilst it flourishes in these its bran ches. But they must remind those whose affluence enables them to contribute to both, that both have their demands upon them.Some Districts are sufficiently affluent to be able to provide for their own wants; but there are others whose population, and con sequently whose wants are great, which not having the same means within themselves, must therefore apply for assistance to a Society which can act throughout the Kingdom. The National Society has this object, as well as that of a general union in the great work in view; but they cannot make the distribution which they propose without ample support. It will be seen by the above Report that they are already pledged to grant assistance largely that the distributions they have already made must cause a considerable reduction of their capital stock; and since their last General Meeting, a great number of strong claims upon them have been received, to which they shall not hesitate to attend, upon the same principle of confidence on which they have hitherto proceeded, being fully satisfied that they shall not apply in vain for a fresh supply, when their present funds are exhausted: but it is certainly more desirable that such means should continue to be afforded them, as may enable the Committee to proceed with increasing powers to accomplish this great work of National Education; and to such resources they venture to look forward with confidence, whilst they are enabled to shew, as they trust they have done in this Report, that the former liberality of the Publick has been judiciously and successfully appropriated in furtherance of the benevolent object for which it was placed at their disposal.

APPENDIX

TO THE

REPORT OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE.

N. I.

SUMMARY of REPORTS from DIOCESAN and DISTRICT SOCIETIES and SCHOOLS in

UNION with the NATIONAL SOCIETY.

CANTERBURY DIOCESAN SOCIETY:

INSTITUTED 1812.

THE Committee report that measures have been taken very successfully for procuring School Rooms for the Central School: a very convenient and spacious building having been purchased, furnishing separate residences for the Master and Mistress, and three rooms capable of containing 200 Children each; that two of these have been fitted up, the one for Boys and the other for Girls; and that the third is preparing as a Nursery School to receive Children from a very early age, their Parents paying one penny per week, whilst they continue in it; which payment, however, is to cease, as soon as the funds of the Society shall be adequate to this additional burthen.

That this latter institution is designed to obviate the inconvenience arising from the continual introduction of young Children into the Schools, (which is found greatly to interrupt the progress of the other Scholars,) and will be the receptacle for all Candidates for admission under six years of age, who are there to be prepared for the other Schools, to which they will be promoted when they have made sufficient progress.