After stating the number of scholars, as above reported, the c ommittee observe

With this most satisfactory statement of all that has been done, they trust that they may justly glory in the expenditure of their funds, and consider their present poverty as the means and the pledge of future wealth. They hope that the solid proof, which is hereby afforded of the extensive good that has been effected, will furnish the most powerful of all inducements with the public, to maintain and replenish those sources from which it has been derived.

With these impressions, the committee will continue, in the exercise their best discretion, to execute the trust reposed in them; and to dispense the remaining funds of the society in that manner which shall appear most conductive to the great purposes for which those funds have been provided.

APPENDIX.

Among the various matters contained in the appendix, we shall notice the two principal.

The usual detailed account of the state of the schools in union with the society, occupies 95 pages. The statements are given in the tabular form, and show-the places, the kind of schools, whether daily, Sunday, evening, &c. the number of boys; the number of girls; the total number; donations; and annual subscriptions. By a little management, these tabular statements might be compressed, with advantage, into much less than half the space which they now occupy.

Extracts are also given in the Appendix, as usual, from the reports of the societies and schools in union. These occupy, in the present appendix, 78 pages; and contain satisfactory details of the progress and efficiency of the system, with many useful suggestions. Under the head of Gloucester, a forcible statement is given of the benefits of education, in an "Extract from Mr. Baron Garrow's Charge to the Grand Jury, at the Gloucester Assizes, on Monday, August 18, 1817."

Address of the Right Rev. Bishop Croes, to the Contention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New-Jersey.

IN complying with the requisitions of the forty-fifth canon of our Church, it becomes my duty to state to you, my brethern of the Convention, the Churches which I have visited since our last annual meeting.

The first Church to which I directed my attention, after the rise of the Convention, was Trinity Church, at Woodbridge. This Church, long vacant, I visited on Sunday, the 31st of August, and preached to a respectable and attentive audience, assembled in a building, neat, and in excellent repair.

On Sunday, the 7th of the succeeding month, I visited, and officiated at St. James's, Piscataway, which has also been long vacant..

On the 10th of the same month, I visited St. Peter's Church, at Freehold, and administered confirmation to twenty-three persons; and, on the next day, I preached at Christ Church, Middletown.

On

In the month of October, I visited St. Michael's Church, Trenton, and admitted to the Holy Order of Priests the Rev. James Montgomery. the succeeding day, I instituted Mr. Montgomery into the Rectorship of that Church; and, on the same day, administered the rite of confirmation to ten persons.

On Sunday, the 19th of the same month, I visited the recently instituted Church at Paterson, as yet vacant, and officiated twice on the occasion; and on Sunday, the 16th day of November, St. Matthew's Church, city of Jersey, likewise vacant; at which Church I also officiated twice.

In the month of January, 1818, I visited St. Michael's Church, Trenton, and preached twice on Sunday the 18th, and once on the succeeding day.

In the month of April, I visited St. John's Church, at Elizabeth-Town, and admitted to the Holy Order of Deacons Francis H. Cuming, of this Diocess.

During the month of June, I visit

ed the Churches in the southern part of the Diocess, in the following order: on Wednesday, the 3d, the vacant Church, at Mullica's Hill; on Thursday, the 4th, the vacant Church at Glassborough, and, on Friday the 5th, Trinity-Church, Swedesborough; at which Churches I officiated. On Sunday, the 7th, I visited the now vacant Churches, at Penn's Neck, and Salem, and preached to numerous and respectable congregations. On Wednesday, the 10th, Lofficiated at TrinityChurch, Swedesborough; on Thursday, the 11th, at the vacant Church at Berkeley; on Monday, the 15th, at St. Mary's Church, Burlington; on, Thursday, the 18th, at St. Andrew's Church, Mount-Holly; and on Friday, the 19th, I intended to officiate at St. Mary's Church, Colestown, but the notice forwarded did not arrive in time. On Sunday, the 21st, I officiated twice at St. Michael's Church, Trenton.

On Sunday, the 5th of July, I visited Trinity-Church, at Newark, and preached twice on the occasion.

I visited also, and officiated at Trinity-Church, Woodbridge, on Sunday, the 2d of the present month; and intended to visit St. Peter's Church, Spotswood; but was prevented, in two attempts, by violent storms.

On Sunday, the 16th of this month, I again visited, and officiated at St. James's Church, in Piscataway.

The state of these Churches, generally, is very much the same as when they were last visited. Some variations, however, have taken place. The congregation of St. Peter's Church, Spotswood, have finished, repaired, and beautified their Church. Measures are in a train to effect the same object, by the congregations of St. Michael's, Trenton, and St. James's, Piscataway. The condition of the Church at Trenton, through the divine goodness, has also very much improved, during the past year, both in increase of numbers, and attention to divine service, and to the doctrines and duties of our holy religion. The Church at Swedesborough has likewise put on a much more promising appearance, especially as to

the attention of its members upon public worship, than had been the case for some time past.

St. Peter's Church, Freehold, has, however, again become vacant, by the resignation of its minister. The same unfavourable event has occurred to the Churches at Salem and Penn's Neck.

The vacant Churches generally, in consequence of the missionary services of the Rev. Mr. Stratton, enjoyed more frequent opportunities of divine service, during the year past, than had been the case for the two preceding years. At present, however, they are deprived of this benefit, as a successor to Mr. Stratton has not yet been procured.

The state of the Diocess, on the whole, therefore, though not as favourable, as could be wished, has not, it is believed, suffered any declension. It has, on the contrary, considering all the discouraging circumstances attending it, progressed as much perhaps as could reasonably be expected. At the same time we ought not to remit our endeavours; on the contrary, we should use double diligence, and while we are exerting our own powers, in dependence on Divine aid, for which we should frequently and earnestly pray, let us trust, that the great Head of the Church will smile upon our labours, and ultimately cause that flourishing state of our Zion to prevail, which we so ardently desire ; but which, without the exertion of those powers, and his blessing-only to be obtained by prayer, and purity of life -we may hope for in vain.

While I am on this subject, let me again remind my Reverend Brethren, of the importance of the Missionary Fund, and, therefore, of the necessity of faithfulness and punctuality in having the prescribed collections made in the churches. It is on this fund, under the Divine blessing, that we are to look for the preservation and final establishment of our vacant churches, and the nurture and growth of the new ones, that may be instituted. Fidelity and perseverance in the means already provided for its increase, will finally produce effects, which can now

scarcely be imagined. It is deeply to be lamented, that circumstances should have occasioned, even a temporary diversion of any part of this fund, from its original purpose. It is hoped, that effectual means will shortly be devised, to render unnecessary such deductions in future.

The attention to the establishment and instruction of Sunday Schools, in the Churches of our communion, as noticed in my last address, has certainly increased since that period. May the promoters and instructors, of institutions so laudable, and which Promise such extensive usefulness to society, and to the welfare, both temporal and eternal, of individuals, persevere in their exertions, and be blessed with the rewards which they respectively merit.

The progress of "the Episcopal Society, for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge and Piety," has suffered no diminution since we last assembled. It continues to distribute gratuitously Bibles, Prayer Books, and Religious Tracts, and the amount of its permanent fund already exceeds the anticipation of its most sanguine friends.

Of candidates for orders George H. Woodruffis, at present, the only one. Mr. Woodruff was admitted in the Diocess of New-York; but, at his request, by a letter dimissory from the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart, was transferred to this Diocess. Daniel Somers, admitted a candidate by the Standing Committee, in August, 1815, has, at his request, been transferred to the Diocess of Connecticut. Other persons are, however, preparing for admission.

The Rev, James Montgomery, Reetor of St. Michael's Church, Trenton, has resigned his sacred charge, and removed to the Diocess of NewYork. The loss of such a clergyman as Mr. Montgomery could not but be regretted. The loss has, however, been repaired, by the removal to this Diocess, of the Rev. Abiel Carter, late Rector of the Church at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and his officiating as a Minister of that Church.

The Rev. Samuel C. Stratton, a

Deacon in this Diocess, has, at his request, by a letter dimissory to the Right Rev. Bishop Kemp, been transferred to the Diocess of Maryland. This event is also to be regretted, as it had not only been the wish, but the expectation of his friends, that, born and educated as he was among us, he would have devoted his services to the necessities of the Church in his native State. We hope, however, that he will, at least be equally useful and acceptable in the Diocess to which he has removed.

The Rev. Francis H. Cuming, having fulfilled a temporary appointment to officiate at St. Michael's, Trenton, on the removal of Mr. Montgomery, has obtained permission to engage as a missionary to the States west of the Alleghany Mountains, and has already entered on his mission.

Licenses have been granted, during the year, to Samuel Sitgreaves, jun. a candidate for orders, in Pennsylvania, to officiate as a Lay Reader, at St. James's Church, Knowlton, and St. John's, Greenwich: to George H. Woodruff, to officiate at St. Michael's Church, Trenton, during the late vacancy in that Church: and to John Grigg and William Richmond, candidates for orders in New York, to officiate in St. Matthew's Church, city of Jersey.

It will not, I trust, be considered as overstepping the line of my duty, should I conclude my address, with calling to your notice the prosperous state of our Church in other Dio cesses, and inviting you to participate with me in the pleasure, which such a state is so well calculate to excite. The accounts which have reached me from every quarter, relative to her affairs, justify the belief, that such is the fact. Peace, harmony, and zeal, among her ministers, and a deep and increasing interest in her welfare and success, among her members, seem almost equally to prevail, whether we hear from the north or the south, from the east or the west.

May her Divine Head, continue and increase these blessings to his Church; may she be adorned with