providing each class with a separate place of meeting. Nor can they omit here to notice, as a collateral benefit arising from the measure now under consideration, that on the preparatory canvass made by the ladies, several adults were discovered who were unable to read; these have since formed themselves into a class, which meets three times a-weck, and is taught by some who have taken a deep interest in their peculiar circumstances. It is gratifying to add, that notwithstanding the shortness of the time that has elapsed since the formation of this class, such progress has been made as to indicate at once the most becoming eagerness on the part of the pupils, and the most honourable and pains-taking attention on the part of the teachers.

After this account of a measure of general interest, the Committee are prepared to report the state and proceedings of the Schools individually; all of which, it will be remarked, are now on the local plan, those not within the town having been previously localized.

The Boys' School in Stranraer had considerably declined previous to the new arrangements. It has since increased to a number greater than ever attended it before. From the short time that has elapsed, the teachers in general can make no decided report concerning the new scholars. Some, however, present very encouraging prospects. An accession of teachers is greatly required for this school.

The Girls' School in town has also experienced considerable increase. The reports of the teachers are in general favourable. A number are employed in proving doctrines; some of whom present their teacher with a written list of passages, varying in number from fifty to 200; others repeat their proofs from memory. On a particular occasion, three girls cited, in support of the same doctrine, one 107 passages, another 186, and a third 207!

The Fisher Street School was, at one time, more numerously attended than it is now, owing to some of the scholars having been induced to attend another school in the neighbourhood, not in connexion with the Society.

The same is the case with the Girls' School in Clayhole, and owing entirely to a similar cause. In this school there are some very promising children, whose proficiency, compared with their years, reflects equal honour on themselves and their teachers. The scholars here are reported as having made considerable advancement in general religious knowledge since last year.

The Hillhead School, in which both boys and girls meet, has advanced from fifty-four to seventy-five. Forty-one of these prove

doctrines. Since last Report, seven boys have proved fifty-eight doctrines, produc ing, in general, from twenty to fifty passa ges in support of each. Four of the girls have done equally well in this department.

The school at Cairn-ryan, when last visited, was much in its former state.

Before proceeding farther, your Committee beg leave to express a hope, that mistaken conclusions will not be drawn from the few instances of extraordinary profici ency which they have felt themselves called upon to specify, on this as well as on former occasions. They have stated these with a view to show what good may be done by Sabbath Schools, in the way of promoting the knowledge of the sacred volume; but should any one be led to infer, that they estimate the beneficial effects of such institutions by the quantity of matter read or committed to memory, they must be allow. ed to disclaim any such sentiment. They are more and more convinced that it is the quality, and not the quantity of what is got, that is the only safe criterion of the good that may be done, and that a few verses accurately learned, or carefully explained, are better than a whole chapter hastily read, or imperfectly repeated. They would, therefore, take this opportunity of humbly suggesting to the teachers, the propriety of devoting more time to familiar extemporaneous catechizing and instruction, as better calculated to secure the object of Sabbath School education than the bare recital of tasks.

The Committee have much pleasure in stating, that the liberality of their consti. tuents has enabled them to continue the Week-day School another year. The great importance of such an accompaniment to your institution cannot need to be shown; nor will any be disposed to question its utility, who consider that during the year forty children have been constantly employed in acquiring elementary instruction, and that twenty-five have been dismissed since last Report, able to read, in their own language, the wonderful works of God."

Your Committee have next to report a measure of, perhaps, not inferior importance to any of the foregoing. The want of a Library has been long felt and deplored by the friends of the Society. This want, it rejoices them to announce, is now supplied. A voluntary subscription was entered into some months ago for this purpose, which was so liberally countenanced, as to furnish not only a valuable collection of juvenile pieces for the children, but also a pretty numerous assortment of a higher rank, for the use of the teachers and subscribers. The library, which consists of about 300 volumes, is accordingly divided into two de

partments; the one consisting of such works as are adapted to the scholars, the other, of such as are suited to those who are more advanced; to the latter, all teachers and subscribers have free access. The books, in both departments, are all of a religious character, and adapted to aid the great end of the Society, namely, the diffusion of true Christian knowledge, and the promotion of experimental and practical godliness. The avidity with which the books are sought after and perused, besides affording evidence that this addition to the establishment is duly appreciated, gives encouragement to hope that the views of its founders will be in some measure realized.

Committee. Hon. and Rev. E. Wingfield, Rev. Dr. Grier, Rev. Henry Moore, Rev. B. W. Mathias, Rev. George Hamilton, Rev. J. C. Lloyd, Rev. E. H. Hoare, Rev. A. Guinness, Captain Flemyng, Benjamin Digby, Simon Purdon, William C. Hogan, Esqrs. Secretaries

Rev. David Stuart, John Synge, Esq. J. E. Gordon, Esq.

With a view to concentrate the efforts now making for the illumination and improvement of the members of the Roman Catholic Church, a meeting was held on the 9th of August, 1823, when it was resolved to form "A Society for Disseminating throughout Ireland the Principles of the Reformation." A Provisional Committee was then formed, and adjourn ed meetings were afterwards held, at which the following Resolutions were adopted, as expressive of the principles and objects of the Society.

That the Society shall proceed by an uncompromising exposure of every erroneous doctrine, and every superstitious practice that can be shown, on well-accredited testimony, to prevail at the present time, amongst the ignorant and too credulous part of the population of Ireland, applying, at the same time, such remedies as may tend to counteract them.

That all the proceedings of the Society shall be conducted in a spirit of Christian love, opposing and confuting error in the plainest and strongest language, yet avoiding every term of reproach, and endeavouring affectionately to convince those who are the objects of its exertions, that its aim is, not to wound their feel

ings, but to improve their temporal and moral condition, as well as to promote the salvation of their souls.

That in all the publications of the Society, it shall be the aim, not only to expose error, but to exhibit and enforce the Scriptural truth with which it is at variance-combining two principles which have been seldom acted upon in conjunction, viz. the refutation of error, and the establishment of truth.

That the objects to which the immediate attention of the Society shall be directed be the following:

I. To open a correspondence throughout the country with such persons as may be disposed to act towards their Roman Catholic brethren on the principles of the Reformation, and to obtain, through their means, authenticated information respecting the following subjects :

1. Assemblies for religious purposes, at wells, stations of pilgrimage, &c. throughout Ireland, and the proceedings which take place at them.

2. Miracles pretended to be wrought -on whom-and the consequences. 3. The sale of charms, scapulars, &c. 4. The extent of Purgatorian Societies. 5. The number, nature, extent, and situation of Convents, Jesuit and other Roman Catholic religious establishments, whether for education or seclusion.

6. The kind of education given to the poor by the Roman Catholic Clergy, when left to themselves; with the description of Roman Catholic publications now in circulation amongst the lower orders.

7. The holidays required to be observed by the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, and how they are usually spent.

8. The opposition made by the Roman Catholic Priesthood to the circulation of the Holy Scriptures among the Roman Catholic population of Ireland.

The FIRST EFFORTS of the Society will thus be directed to collect all possible information on the state and influence of the Roman Catholic religion in Ireland at the present day.

II. To endeavour, by a friendly correspondence, to excite clergymen and resident gentlemen to use every exertion for the purpose of rescuing their Roman Catholic neighbours from the spiritual bondage in which they have been so long allowed to remain.

III. The re-publication of such works as have most ably refuted the errors of the Roman Catholic Church, in that Christian spirit which the Society approves.

IV. The publication of similar new

or the like, in your neighbourhood, specifying what county, barony, and parish they are in.

2. What number of persons usually assemble there?

3. What superstitious ceremonies take place there?

4. Whether any Roman Catholic Clergyman attends there, and if so, whether he is known to derive any emolument from their continuance, and at what it is estimated?

5. Whether any charms, Gospels, Agnus Dei's, &c. are usually sold there, and for whose benefit?

Miracles. II.-1. Whether any miraculous cures have been pretended to be wrought in your neighbourhood, and if so, name any persons who have imagined themselves cured, and obtain their own account of the matter.

3. Whether such cures have been officially announced, and by whom; and if so, by what means are they said to have been performed? specifying when and where.

4. Have any persons, professedly cured, afterwards relapsed? State facts.

Priests. III.-1. What is the amount supposed to be drawn from the people by the Roman Catholic Clergy of the parish for their own support, as well as for erecting and supporting their places of worship, &c.?

2. At what price are the several rites of the Roman Catholic Church administered?

3. Do the Priests sell any scapulars, Gospels, &c.?

4. Are any Indulgences sold in your neighbourhood; and what revenue is supposed to be derived from them?

5. Are any converts from Protestantism said to have been made?

6. What treatment have any who have renounced the Roman Catholic religion received from their friends, or from the Roman Catholic Clergy? State facts.

7. To what extent do marriages take place between Roman Catholics and Protestants?

Purgatorian Societies. IV.-1. Are there any Societies in your neighbourhood usually called Purgatorian; that is, Societies for collecting money in order to have prayers, intercessions, and masses, offered up for delivering souls out of Purgatory?

2. Do the Priests countenance them? 3. Do the profits go to them, or to what purpose are they applied ?

Convents, Jesuit Colleges, &c. V.-1. You are requested to name any Convent or Religious House you are acquainted

with in Ireland, whether for education or seclusion; stating in what county, barony, and parish it is situated; and to what order it professes to belong.

2. Whether it has at any time been supposed to be a Jesuit establishment, and what the grounds of that supposition are ?

3. What number of inmates it contains, distinguishing Superiors, Professors and Members; and also distinguishing foreigners and natives?

4. What extent of land is it supposed to occupy or possess?-what revenue also, and whence derived ?

5. What Roman Catholic clergy attend it?

6. What intercourse have they with the Protestant, as well as with the Roman Catholic population, and what is the avowed object of such intercourse?

Publications. VI.-1. You are requested to name any Roman Catholic publications in circulation around you, whether religious, political, or elementary—where printed, and by whom.

2. What size and number of pages do they contain, and for what price sold?

3. Are they publicly sold, and where? or are they secretly distributed? In the latter case, you are requested to procure a copy or copies for the Society, for which they will reimburse you.

4. What Roman Catholic bookshops, or shops in which books are sold, are in your neighbourhood?

5. Is any, and what opposition made to the sale of Protestant publications in your neighbourhood?

Education. VII.-1. You are requested to state what schools are in operation in your parish or neighbourhood, distinguishing the Roman Catholic from the Protestant;-also the number of children each contains, distinguishing the Roman Catholics and Protestants, from their actual attendance, not merely from the report of the master.

2. What number of children are there who do not attend any school?

3. At what date was each school established, and by what society or individual supported?

4. What books are used?

5. Has any, and what influence been exerted to prevent the Roman Catholic children from attending schools, where the Scriptures are taught; and how far has that influence been successful? State facts.

6. Have any instances occurred where Roman Catholic schools, begun with the apparent design of opposition, have been suffered to decline, after they had suc