unto me, Write, from henceforth blessed are the dead which die in the Lord: Even so, saith the Spirit, for they shall rest from their labours. Then the whole congregation kneeled upon their knees, according to the pious custom of the Principality, during the prayers which followed. Such forms of devotion, at a time when we have most cause to acknowledge ourselves to be earth, dust, and ashes," are certainly very appropriate; and it is very desirable that more attention should be paid than generally is, to decency of conduct on such occasions. Annual Report of the Halifax Diocesan Committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, for the year 1817. THE Halifax Diocesan Committee, in presenting to the members of the Society, and to the public, the third Annual Report of their proceedings, beg leave to offer their congratulations and their gratitude, for the prosperity which has attended the affairs of the Committee. 1. The Correspondence with the Parent Society has continued to afford every encouragement to the humble endeavours of the Committee. The approbation of the Society cannot be expressed in a more gratifying manner than by an extract from one of the letters of the Rev. Wm. Parker, Assistant Secretary: "I had the honour of laying the Annual Report of the Diocesan Committee for 1816, together with a copy of their resolution of the 9th of December, 1816, before the Committee of Correspondence, and the General Board. If I was merely to state that the Committee for Correspondence, and the Board, declared their approbation of the proceedings detailed in these communications, I should very inadequately express the sense entertained by the Society of the value of the exertions made by the Diocesan Committee during the past year. I can assure you with perfect sincerity, that the communications were re ceived by the Committee for Correspondence, and the Board, with the highest satisfaction; and that the Report of the Proceedings of the Diocesan Committee, both in regard to the general concerns of the Society, and to the education of children in particular, excited a more than ordinary degree of interest in the minds of the members who were present at the meeting. "I did not fail to invite the special attention of the Board to a passage in your letter of the 25th of March, in which you advert to the premium paid on Bills of Exchange. The Board, who are at all times desirous of con sulting the interest and the convenience of the Diocesan Committee, unanimously passed the following resolution: "Bartlett's Buildings, Tuesday, May 6, 1817. "At a General Meeting, the Right Rev. Henry, Lord Bishop of Bangor, in the chair, "Agreed, That in consideration of the important services rendered to the Society by the Diocesan Committee at Halifax, Nova-Scotia, and of the heavy premium paid on bills of exchange drawn at Halifax on London; and with a view to give encou ragement to the Diocesan Committee, to persevere in their endeavours to promote the objects of the Society, the payment of one third of benefactions, subscriptions, &c. raised in aid of the funds of the Diocesan Committee be remitted." The following list of books, distributed by the Parent Society in the year ending in April, 1817, with a statement of the finances of the Society, and several other particulars, are furnished by the same correspondence. Bibles (exclusive of the Family Bible) 23,627 Other bound Books 56,605 89,498 53,349 733,917 Books, Tracts, and Papers, gratu-}. 262,448 itously distributed Total, 1,219,444 Notwithstanding the extraordinary pressure of the times, the receipts of the last year exceeded those of the preceding year by very nearly ten thousand pounds. At the audit in 1816, the amount ́was 50,2261.; and at the audit in 1817, it was 60,2211. It appears, also, that there has been a very large accession of new members, and that the Diocesan and District Committees are increasing, not only in England, but in all parts of the British empire, and are greatly extending the labours and the usefulness of the Society. The second edition of the Family Bible, announced in the Report of last year as likely to be called for, is now in hand, and the University of Oxford has undertaken to supply it on very advantageous terms. 2. The Committee have great pleasure in repeating their acknowledgments to the several District Committees in different parts of this extensive Diocess. These are nobly promoting the objects of the Society, and encourage the best hopes that, with the blessing of God, their endeavours are already producing important benefits. The correspondence with the Committees at Frederickton, St. Johns, St. Andrews, Newfoundland, Cape-Breton, Prince Edward Island, and with numerous individuals, who are too remote from each other to unite in a Committee, continues to encourage all the hopes that were entertained when they first joined the Society. Their contributions still give evidence of their zeal and successand the books they are dispersing are received with thankfulness, and are rendering very valuable services, even to the remotest settlements in these colonies. The Diocesan Committee feel that they have no more to do than to urge those who have already begun in this good work, to a continuance of their exertions; and earnestly and respectfully to recommend an imitation of their zeal and liberality to all other parishes in the Diocess, with the fullest confidence that the advantages to be expected from such efforts will immediately appear, in the wider dissemination, and in the more prevailing influence of Christian knowledge and Christian morals, with all the blessings which result from the increase of such holy influence. 3. The Distribution of Books and Tracts, throughout the Diocess, has engaged the earnest attention of the Diocesan Committee, and it is with much satisfaction they are enabled to state, that this part of their work is also prospering. The demand for these Books and Tracts has been much greater than could be supplied from the stock at Halifax; and in some cases the Committee have been obliged to forward the applications to the Parent Society. At the commencement of the year, the Committee had, as they then considered it, a very ample stock of books on hand; but such has been the call for them, that, at the close of the year, several of their most valuable articles are entirely exhausted, and they have been obliged to request a new supply from England, to the amount of 500l. So many repeated and earnest applications had been made to the Committee to establish depots of books in different parts of the country, that it was thought proper to try the experiment; and, accordingly, depots have been made at Horton, under the care of Mr. Alport; at Parrsborough, under the care of Mr. Ratchford; and at Newport, under the care of Mr. Wier. These are so likely to answer their intended purpose, that the Committee are desirous of complying with other similar applications, as far as their means will allow. Large demands have also been made upon the Committee for the supply of schools, and especially of those into which the national system of education has been introduced; all of which they have gladly supplied, to the extent of their ability. The Committee have likewise furnished a partial supply of books to several small and remote settlements along the shores of these provinces, whose want of the means of religious instruction was most deplorable; and they have resolved to attempt the supply of all such places more abun dantly, as soon as it may be possible to distribute Bibles, Testaments, Prayer Books, and Tracts, through some careful agent, who may be visit ing the harbours and other settlements on the coasts. 4. On the subject of Accounts, the Committee are not able, at the present moment, to give so particular and satisfactory a statement as they wish; partly owing to the want of returns from distant places, and partly to the large demands that have been made upon them, in the last year, for gratuitous supplies to poor settlements. They have, however, thankfully to acknowledge several very liberal contributions, at Halifax, St. Johns, Frederickton, St. Andrews, and other places; and they rejoice in having been enabled, since the date of the last year's Report, to_reinit bills to the Parent Society in London, to the amount of 3821. 9s. 4d. sterling. 5. On the subject of Education, the Committee have infinite pleasure in communicating the following particulars: At the close of the last year, the endeavours of this Committee to establish a National School in Halifax, as well for the dissemination of the national system of education throughout the Diocess, as for the perfect instruction of the children of the capital of the province, had so far succeeded, that a very able master had been sent from England, in the service of the Society for Propagation of the Gospel: he had commenced his labours in a temporary school-room, which had been hired and fitted up for the occasion; and, in one month, seventy boys had been admitted into the school. Its early promise was flattering, and hopes were entertained that a more suitable building might be erected, and provision made for the education of female children also, if the expectations that were raised should be realized. Long before the close of the year the Committee were satisfied, that the hopes they had entertained from the beginning were not delusive. The excellence of the system of education, as exhibited in the discipline of the school, in the progress of the children, and in the unremitting attention to their religious instruction and behaviour, had excited very general admiration: and the Committee considered it a duty to push forward, by every possible exertion, the erection of the proposed building. A most convenient and valuable lot of ground, in the centre of the town, was given to the trustees of the school, in the most gracious manner, by his Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Dalhousie, subject only to the payment of thirty pounds a year during the life of an aged person, formerly the occupant of the ground. It was determined, in August, 1817, that on this lot of ground a commodious building should be immediately erected, capable of accommodating six hundred children of both sexes, in apartments as completely separated from each other as if they were in different parts of the town. It was necessary to appeal to the well-known liberality of the inhabitants of Halifax; and the Committee have to acknowledge, with the liveliest gratitude, that this liberality was never more nobly exhibited than on the present occasion. Notwithstanding the extraordinary pressure of the times, which bore heavily on every class of the community, more than one thousand pounds was readily subscribed for this undertaking. The work was begun with alacrity in September, and, on the 13th day of January following, the Committee had the happiness of seeing the building opened, in the presence of his Excellency the Earl of Dalhousie, who had been its most distinguished benefactor, attended by his lordship's family, and more than two hundred visitors. On this interesting occasion numerous rewards were distributed, from his lordship's hands, to the children who had been distinguished by their punctual attendance, their diligence, and progress in learning, and their general good conduct during the last year; and the Committee have reason to hope, that every person present was highly gratified. The building, which contains two rooms 49 feet square and 12 feet high, besides sufficient space for the accommodation of the schoolmaster, and mistress, and convenient offices, has been thus rapidly fitted, in the most substantial manner, for the comfortable reception of the children. The debt incurred in bringing it to its present state, after the expenditure of the money subscribed, does not amount to more than three hundred and fifty pounds, and the whole building may be completely finished for three hundred and fifty pounds more. The Committee are sanguine in hoping that some sources will be opened to them, for the supply of such further assistance as they may require. The advantages of the school are distinctly visible. Nearly three hundred boys have already been received into it, and many of their parents have thankfully acknowledged the remarkable benefit which has already been conferred on their children; and it is very comfortable to the trustees to be assured, that the endeavours they have made, in fulfilment of their promise to the public, to enforce the regular attendance of all the children, at their respective places of public worship, have already produced much good effect, and are likely, with the blessing of God, to produce more. Besides several persons who have obtained partial information, at the National School, a full knowledge of the system has been afforded, gratuitously, to six schoolmasters, during the last year; and these have successfully introduced it into their several schools in different parts of the country, with great benefit to the children under their care, and with great satis faction also to the parents of those children. Five other schoolmasters are receiving similar instruction at the present time, besides a respectable schoolmistress and her daughter, who have been selected by the trustees for the charge of the National School for girls. This school will be opened in a few days, under the superintendence of several ladies, who have kindly consented to give some attention to this branch of the institution. Nor are the advantages of the national system of education likely to be confined to this part of his majesty's American colonies; for the Committee have heard with great pleasure of the active exertions which have been made in New-Brunswick, under the very liberal patronage of his excellency Major-General Smyth, for the establishment of a National School at St. Johns, where a large sum of money has already been subscribed for the purpose, and measures have been taken to procure a competent master. The Committee cannot omit to offer their most grateful acknowledgments for the constant and valuable attention of the Building Committee, during the progress of the work, which has rendered very important services to the establishment, and to the public. Nor can they neglect, in the most public manner, to declare the benefit which has been derived from the indefatigable zeal and exertions of Mr. West, the national schoolmaster, to whose very skilful and faithful discharge of all the duties of his office, they thankfully acknowledge, that the prosperity and usefulness of the school are chiefly to be attributed. The Committee have pleasure in communicating part of a very interesting letter to one of their members, from a schoolmaster who received instruction in the National School, and is now placed in the service of the Society for Propagation of the Gospel, at a very remote settlement on the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It will serve to show how intimately all the objects of the Committee are linked together. "I feel it my duty to state to you the present situation of this infant settlement. They have no place of worship, neither did they ever assemble together in any private house, to perform any kind of worship, before the last Sabbath day, when I thought it consistent with my duty to offer to read prayers to them. Forty persons were assembled, exclusive of children, who all seemed desirous to attend public worship on the Sabbath; but I am sorry to state, that I have found only one Bible, and two Prayer Books, in the whole settlement. Many persons have made application to me to procure these books for them." Bibles, Testaments, and Prayer Books, with a copy of Bishop Wilson's Sermons, to be read to the inhabitants on Sunday, and some other books and tracts, for distribution, were iminediately forwarded to this settlement, by the Committee; and it is their anxious desire, to be enavery bled to supply every place, under siinilar circumstances, with abundant means for religious instruction and improvement. For the successful prosecution of their work, in the very ample field which thus opens before them, the Committee earnestly solicit a continuance of the valuable assistance with which they have hitherto been favoured: and they invite all other benevolent persons to lend their aid in so important and so extensive an undertaking. But most especially they request, that all good and pious men will heartily join in their prayers for that blessing from Heaven, which alone can prosper their poor endeavours, and can make them minister to the glory of Almighty God, and to the temporal and eternal happiness of their fellow-creatures. Charles Morris, Brenton Halliburton, Committee of Report. John Inglis, Secretary. Halifax, (N. S.) Jan. 31, 1818. From Buck's Expositor. JOB Xxiv. 22. No man is sure of life. THE celebrated traveller, JAMES BRUCE, after having encountered innumerable perils, in distant regions, in search of the source of the Nile, fell down his own staircase, at his seat at Kinnard, in Scotland, on the 26th of April, 1794. Thus are we sometimes nearest to danger when we imagine we are most safe; which should teach us never to be too confident in ourselves, but to be dependent on him in whose hands our breath is. He had been entertaining some guests, with his usual hospitality and elegance. About eight o'clock in the evening, when his guests were ready to depart, he was handing one of the ladies down stairs, when, having reached the seventh or eighth step from the bottom, his foot slipped, and he fell down headlong. He was taken up speechless; his face, particularly his forehead and temples, being severely bruised, and the bones of his hands broken. He continued in a state of apparent insensibility for eight or nine hours, and expired on Sunday, the 27th, in the 64th year of his age. In conversation, as well as in his writings, he embraced every opportunity of expressing a deep and lively sense of the care of a superintending Providence, without which he was convinced that there could be no safety in human strength or human foresight. His belief of the Christian religion rested on the surest grounds; and such was his veneration for the sacred writings, that, for some years before his death, they seemed to occupy all the time which he to study. gave GAL. vi. 9. Let us not be weary in PROV. ii. 2. Apply thine heart to unwell-doing. derstanding. SIR WILLIAM JONES died April 27, 1794, aged 48. While he was considered as a prodigy of learning; unlike many other literary characters, he was a sincere believer in the doctrines of Christianity; and the testimony he bore to the sacred Scriptures is well known. How was it possible for him to gain It may be asked, such a knowledge of universal literature? ture? In answering this we shall afford a practical illustration of the above passages. "The faculties of his mind, by nature vigorous, were improved by constant exercise, and his memory, by habitual practice, had acquired a capacity of retaining whatever had once been impressed upon it. To an unextinguished ar |