TIES. lofophical fociety on the moft extended plan, for industry, religion, and morality, and relieving dif the improvement of ail arts and sciences; a work trefs, they prefent a beautiful picture of the philanwhich, though written in the form of a romance, thropy of modern times. We are happy to find, is fall of the noblest philofophic views. The from the minutes of some of these societies, that plan of Lord Verulam, which met with little at their beneficial effects are aiready confpicuous. tention from the age in which he lived, was def. SECT I. Of RELIGIOUS and HUMANE SOCIEtued to produce its effect in a period not very diftaut. The scheme of a philofophical college by COWLEY had a powerful influence in procurthe eâabi ihment of the Royal Society of Lon. con by charter from Charles II.; and Cowley's pian is manifeftly copied in almoft all its parts fum that in the New Atlantis. The inftitution the Royal Society of London was foon followed by the establishment of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris; and thefe two ferved as models to the philofophical academies of the get reputation in the other kingdoms of Eu The experience of ages has proved, that improvements of a public nature are beft carried on by facieties of liberal and ingenious men, uniting their labours without regard to nation, feet, or party, in one grand purfuit alike interefting to all, whereby mutual prejudices are worn off, and a humane philofophical spirits cherished. Men Baited together, and frequently meeting for the purpose of advancing the sciences, the arts, agricature, manuictures, and commerce, oftentres fuggeft Tuch hints to one another as may be improved to important ends; and fuch focieties, by being the repofitories of the obfervations and ¿scoveries of the learned and ingenious, from time to time furnith the world with ufeful publications which might otherwife be loft: for men of ingenuity and modefty may not choose to risk their reputation, by fending abroad unpatronized what a learned fociety might judge richly worthy the public eye; or their circumftances being ftraitened, they may not be able to defray the expence of publication. Societies inftituted for promoting knowledge are alfo of eminent fervice, by exciting a fpirit of emulation, and by enkindling thofe fparks of genius which otherwise might for ever have been concealed; and by rewarding the exertions of the industrious and enterprifing with pecuniary premiums or honorary medals, many important experiments and useful difcoveries have been made, from which the public reap the highik advantages. Eminent inftances of the beneficial effects of fuch inftitutions we have in the late R. Academy of Sciences at Paris, the Royal Society, and the Society inftituted for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, in London, and many others of a fimilar kind. Hereby a spirit of discovery and improvement has been excited among the ingenious in almost every nation; knowledge of various kinds, and greatly ufeful to mankind, has taken place of the dry and uninterefting fpeculations of fchoolmen; and bold and erroneous hypothefis has been obliged to give way to demonftrative experiment. In fort, fince the establishment of these focieties, folid learning and philofophy have more increafed than they had done for many centuries before. As to thofe focieties eftablished for promoting 1.The SOCIETY for the PROPAGATION of the GOSPEL in FOREIGN PARTS, was inftituted by king William H. in 1701, to fecure a maintenance for an orthodox clergy, and to make other provisions for propagating the gospel in the plantations, colonies, and factories beyond the feas. To that end he incorporated the archbithops, several of the bishops, and others of the nobility, gentry, and clergy, to the number of 90, into one body,' which, under the above title, was to plead and be impleaded; to have perpetual fucceffion, with privilege to purchafe 2000l. a-year inheritance," and eftates for lives or years, with goods, &c. to any value. By its charter the fociety is autho rifed to ufe a common feal; and to meet annually on the 3d Friday in Feb. to choose a prefident, vice president, and officers for the year enfuing; and on the 3d Friday in every month, or oftener, to tranfact Fufinefs, to depute perfons to take fubfcriptions, and to collect money contributed for the purposes aforefaid; and of all moneys received and laid out, it is obliged to give account yearly to the lord chanceller or keeper, the lord chief justice of the King's Bench, the lord chief juftice of the Common Picas, or to any two of thefe magiftrates. Of this fociety there is a standing committee at St Paul's chapter-house, to prepare matters for the monthly meeting, which is held at St Martin's library. Before the incorporation of this fociety, there had been formed, for the promoting Chriftian knowledge both at home and in the colonies, a voluntary affociation of persons of rank and refpectability, who in March 1699 began to hold ftated meetings in London for that purpose; and when the new fociety was formed, they had already tranfmitted to America and the Weft Indies 800l. worth of Bibles, Books of Common Prayer, and treatifes of practical religion, befides fecuring a tolerabie maintenance to feveral clergymen on that continent. This affociation ftill subfifts under the denomination of The Society for Promoting Chriftian Knowledge, and has been productive of much good in the cities of London and Weftminster; but upon the formation of the new fociety, into which all its original members were incorporated by name, the care which the voluntary affociation had taken of the colonies devolv. ed of courfe upon the incorporated fociety. The English colonies in North America were in the 17th century formed and first peopled by religious men, who perfecuted at home by their intolerant brethren, left the old world to enjoy in peace that firft and chief prerogative of man, the free quorfhip of God according to his own confcience. At one time PURITANS were driven across the Atlantic by the epifcopal church; at another, CHURCHMEN were forced away by the prefbyte rians, and at another PRESBYTERIANS, by church. men men just as the revolutions of ftate threw the cities of the Indian miffion are fuch as hardly any. vii power into the hands of the one or the other clergyman educated in a Protestant country can party; and not a few members of the CHURCH be fuppofe able to furmount. OF ROME were chafed to the winds of America by the united exertions of all. It has been often obferved, that people perfecuted for their religion become the more enthufiaftically attached to it; and the conduct of thofe colonifts was in perfect harmony with this obfervation. Their zeal, inRamed by their violent removal to the other hemifphere, kept religion alive and active among themselves; but their poverty difabled them from fupplying fuel to the flame, by making provifion for a miniftry to inftruct their off-pring. The confequence was, that the new Christian commonwealth, without the kindly aflistance of its mother country, would have been, in the words of the Roman hiftorian, Res unius ætatis. Against this danger a timely aid was to be provided by the fociety; which, as it confifted not of fanati cal members, would not intrust the important bufinefs of the mition to fanatical preachers, who, though always ready for fuch fpiritual enter.. prifes, are never qualified to carry them on with fuccefs. The celebrated Berkeley, who had refided fome years in Rhode Island, and at his return was called upon to preach the anniversary fermon before the fociety, informs us, that the illan where he lived was inhabited by an English colony, confift. ing chiefly of sectaries of many different denomi nations; that feveral of the better fort of the inhabitants of towns were accustomed to affemble themieives regularly on the Lord's day for the performance of divine worthip; but that most of thofe who were difperfed through the colony rivalled fome well b1 people of other countries, in a thorough indifference for all that is facred, being equally careless of outward worship and of inward principles. He adds, that the miffionarics had done, and were continuing to do, good Service in bringing thofe planters to a ferious fenfe of religion. “I speak it knowingly (fays he,) that the ministers of the gofpel, in thofe provinces which go by the name of New England, fent and fupported at the expence of the fociety, have, by their fobriety of manners, difcreet behaviour, and a competent degree of useful knowledge, shown themselves worthy of the choice of those who sent them.". Some of the misionaries fent at a later period, down to the era of the American revolųtion, had the fame virtues, and were doing the fame good fervices, which procured to their predeceflors this honourable teflimony from one of the greatest and the best of men. The fociety, however, was incorporated for 9ther purposes. It was obliged by its charter to attempt the cor version of the native Americans and the negro laves; and as foon as the fpiritual wants of the colonists were decently fupplied, it was not inattentive to thefe glorious objects. Its fuccefs indeed in either purfuit has not been fo great as could be wiped. An erroneous notion, that the being baptized is inconfiftent with a state, of flavery rendered the fellif colonifts for a long time averfe from the conversion of their negroes, and made them throw every obstacle in the way or gil who made the attempt; while the difficul He who hopes faccefstully to preach the gospel among a tribe of favage wanderers, muft have an ardent zeal and unwearied diligence; appetites fubdued to all the distretles of want; and a mind fuperior to all the terrors of mortanty. Thele qualities and habits may be acquired in the church of Rome by one from infancy trained up in the feverities of the monaftic orders, and feat to the college de propaganda fide to be initructed in the languages, and inured to the manners and cuf toms of the barbarous nations whole converfion he is to attempt. But in the reformed churches of Britain there are no monaftic orders, nor any coliege de propaganda fide; and yet without the regular preparation, which is to be looked for in fuch inftitutions alone, it is not in nature, whatever grace may effect, for any man cheerfully, and feberly, to undergo all the accumulated diftreffes ever ready to overtake a faithful millionary among favage idolaters. The failure therefore of the fociety in its attempts to convert the American Indious may be attributed, in the first instance, to the want of a coliere de propaganda for training up young men for the American malion. Perhaps another caufe of this failure may be found in the conduct of the milionaries, who, it is to be prefumed, have not always employed in a proper manner even the scanty qualifications they poffeffed. The gospel, plain and simple as it is, and fitted in its nature for what it was ordained to effect, cannot be apprehended but by an intellect fomewhat raised above that of a favage. Such of the mitionaries therefore as be gan their work with preaching to savage and bratal men, certainly fet out at the wrong end; tor to make the gospel understood, and much more to propagate and establish it, those favages should have been first taught the neceflary arts of civil life, which, while they improve every bodily ac commodation, fend at the fame time to enlarge and enlighten the underlanding. For want of this previous culture fuch of the favages as have been baptized into the faith have feldom perfcvered themfelves, or been able to propagate among their tribes the Chriftianity which they had been taught, and that fucceffive milñons have always found it neceffary to begin the work anew. To one or other of thefe caufes, or to both, may juftiy be attributed the little progrefs which reformed Chriftianity has made among the Indians of North America; and not to any want of zeal, attention, or liberality, in the directors of the fociety at home. During the dependence of the United States on the mother country, great part of the fociety's funds was properly expend. ed in keeping abve a juft fente of religion among the Christian colonilts from Europe, who had furely the first claims upon this beft of charities; but now that America is an independent State, able to mal ample provision for a regular clergy of her own, the members of the corporation mult be at liberty to bestow greater attention, and to expend more money than they could formerly do. on the convertion of fuch Indians as have any in tercourie tercourfe with the fettlements which we ftill poffels. To a body fo respectable, we prefume not to offer advice; but we cannot help thinking, with Bp. Berkeley, that the moft fuccefstul miLonaries would be children of Indians, educated in a confiderable number together from the age of 10 or 12 in a college de propaganda fide, where they should be in no danger of iofing their mo ther tongue while they were acquiring a competest knowledge of religion, morality, hiftory, practical mathematics, and agriculture. "If there were a yearly fupply (fays he) of a dozen of fuch monaries fent abroad into their refpective counthes, after they had received the degree of M. A. and been admitted into holy orders, it is hardly to be doubted but that in a little tune the world would fee good and great effects of their mif 11. The SOCIETY in SCOTLAND for PROPAGATING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, was inftituted in the beginning of the 18th century. At that perod the condition of the Scottish Highlanders was truly deplorable, Shut up in defolate flands by tempeftuous feas, or difperfed over a wide extert of country, interfected by high mountains, rapid rivers, and arms of the fea, without bridges or highways, by which any communication couid b. kept open either with remote or neighbouring ¿tricts, they lived in fmali detached companies a hamlets or folitary huts. Being thus fecluded from intercourse with the more civilized part of thefand, they could not enjoy the advantages of trade and manufactures. As their foil was barren and their climate fevere, in agriculture no progrefs was to be expected: and as they were acquainted with no language but Gaelic, in which no books were then printed, to poffels know. Ledge was impoffible. Their parishes being of great extent, often 30 or 40 miles long, and of a proportionable breadth, and sometimes confifting of feveral ifiands separated by feas, which are of fimpatiable, many of the inhabitants were enbrely deprived of religious instruction, or fell a prey to Popish emiffaries. A fingle school in fuch extentive parishes could be of little benefit; yet any parithes were entirely deftitute even of this fource: and where schools were established, the wast of books prevented them from producing the eal effects otherwife to have been expected from them. To all this we must add, that they ived in a ftate of the greateft oppreffion; For though the Highlands formed a part of the Britth empire, the bieffings of the British conftituton had not reached them. The feudal system reigned in its utmost rigour; the chieftains exering the most defpotic fway over the interior Lighlanders, whom at their pleasure they deprived of their lives or property, till 1748, when this defpotic fyftem was abolished. See JURISDIC TION, III. Thus the Highlanders were ignorant, oppreffed, and uncivilized; flaves rather than fubjects; and either entirely deftitute of the advantages of the Chriftian religion, or unqualified to improve them. Hitherto they had been unhappy, ufedels to themselves, and dangerous to the ftate; for they were ready at the call of their chieftains to illur from their mountains, and to turn their arms against their lawful king and his loyal fubjects. This character, however, arofe from their fituation. It was therefore impoffible for benevolent minds to contemplate this unhappy fituation of their countrymen without feeling a defire to raise them to the dignity of rational beings, and to render them ufetul as citizens. Accordingly, in 1701, fome private gentlemen of the city of Edinburgh, who had formed themfelves into a fociety for the Reformation of Manners, directed their attention to the Highlands of Scotland, and endeavoured to devife fome plan for alleviating the diftreffes of the inhabitants. The remedy which promised to be most efficaci. ous was, to eftablish charity fchools in different places. But as the exigency was great, it was no eafy matter to raise a fufficient fund for this purpole. They began therefore with what voluntary fubfcriptions they could procure, hoping afterwards to increafe their capital by vacant stipends and public contributions. A memorial with this view was prefented to the General Affembly in 1704, which received their approbation; and they palled an act, recommending a general contribution. In 1706 they appointed fome of their num ber to inquire more carefully into the state of the Highlands, and in 1707 appointed a telect committee to confer with the gentlemen who had fuggefted the plan. The refult of thefe conferences was the publication of propofais " for propagating Chriftian knowledge in the Highlands and lands of Scotland, and in foreign parts of the world." Copies of thefe propofais, with fubfcription papers, were diftributed through the kingdom; and the contributions having foon a mounted to 1000l. Queen Anne encouraged this infant fociety by her royal proclamation, and by letters patent under the great feal of Scotiand for erecting certain of the subscribers into a corporation; the first nomination of whom was ludged with the lords of council and feffion. This corporation held its first meeting on Thursday 3d Nov. 1709. It was attended by several of the nobility, 14 lords of feffion, many gentlemen of rank, with moft of the ministers of the city of Edinburgh and neighbourhood. A prefident, fecretary, and treasurer, with a committee of 15 directors, were appointed for the dispatch of bufinefs. At their ad meeting in Jan. 1710, a fcheme of management was formed and approved; in which it was propofed, 1. To erect and maintain schools in the Highlands and Islands, in which all perfons should be taught by schoolmafters, appointed by the fociety, to read the Holy Scriptures, to write, and to underftand the the common rules of arithmetic. 2. That the fchoolmatters fhould inftruct their scholars in the Chriftian reformed religion; catechife them at leaft twice a week, and pray publicly with them twice a-day. 3. That not only fuch as were un. abie to pay fhould be taught gratis, but that thofe whofe circumftances required it, fbould have fuch farther encouragement as the fociety fhould think fit. 4. To name fome prudent perfons, to be overfeers of thofe fchools, who should take care that the schoolmafters do their duty, and that the inftructions to be given from time to time by the fociety or their committee be punc tually tually obferved; which overfeers fhould make their report to the fociety quarterly. 5. To give fuitable encouragement to fuch minifters or catechifts as should be willing to contribute their af fiftance farther by preaching to them. 6. To extend their endeavours for the advancement of the Chriftian religion to heathen nations. Having thus formed a plan, they proceeded to eftablish schools in the most useful and economical manner; and as the capital continued to ac. cumulate, the intereft was faithfully applied, and the utility of the institution was more extensively diffultd. Until 1738 the attention of the fociety had been wholly directed to the establishment of schools; but their capital being then confiderably augmented, they began to extend their views of uti lity much farther. The grand obje&t of the allociation was the promoting of religion and morality. But thefe can neither be propagated nor preferved among a people without agriculture, unaccustomed to commerce and manufactures, and confequently without labour or exertion. Languor and debility of mind must always be the companions of idlenefs. The fociety accordingly refolved to adopt the most effectual methods of introducing induftry among the Highlanders, They applied to K. George I. for an enlargement of their powers; and obtained a 2d patent, by which they are empowered, “befides fulfilling the purposes of their original patent, to caufe fuch of the children as they fhall think fit to be bred to hufbandry and housewifery, to trades and manufactures, or in fuch manual occupations as the fociety fhali think proper." The objects of this. fecond patent the fociety have not failed to pursue; and though many obAtacies and difcouragements to their efforts occur. red, yet their perfervance, and the obvious utility of their plans, at length so far overcame the prejudices of the inhabitants, that no less than 94 fchools of industry in various parts of the Highlands and iflands are now upon their establishment, at which are educated 2360 scholars. The fociety, while anxioufly endeavouring to diffufe a fpirit of induftry through the Highlands; were equally folicitous to promote the knowledge of the Christian religion. As the English language had been the only channel by which knowledge was conveyed to them, (a language which was in all refpects foreign to them,) it was judged requi. fite that they should have the Scriptures in their vernacular tongue. The fociety therefore first appointed a tranflation of the New Teftament to be made into Gaelic: A tranflation was accordingly undertaken and faithfully executed, by the Rev. Mr Stewart, minifter of Killin in Perthshire, in 1767. Of this work many thoufand copies have been diftributed in the Highlands. The greater part of the Old Teftament has also been tranfla, ted by the Rev. Dr Smith of Campbelton and os thers, but chiefly by the Rev. Dr Stewart of Luís, at the expence of the fociety. - For fome years paft the funds of the fociety have rapidly accumulated, from the very liberal donations of feverat individuals; particularly Lady Glenorchy A perfon.unknown: 3: L. 5,000 Lord Van Vryhouven of Holland 20,000 Mifs Gray of Teafles 3,300 In confequence of these great additions to their ftock, the lociety have erected and endued no leis than 323 fchools for religion, the first principles of literature and induftry, at the annual expence of L.3214, 10s. Stering; and at thefe feminaries are educated from 14,000 to 15,000 children; who, but for the means of obftruction thus obtained, would in all probability be bred up in ignorance and idleness: They alfo employ 12 miffionary minifters and catechitts in remote parts of the Highlands and iẞlands, or among the ignorant Highlanders fettled in the great towns of Scotiand, at the annual expence of L. 296: They bestow a burfary of L.15 a-year on each of fix ftudents of die vinity having the Gaelic language: They employ two mifionary minifters and one schoolmafter among the Oneida and Stockbridge Indians of North America (being the destination of certain legacies bequeathed to them for that purple,) at the annual expence of L.140. Such is their fixed fcheme of annual expenditure, amounting in all to L.3740, 108. Sterling. The whole of their incidental and annual expences amount to L.4615, 10s. Yet with all these liberal donations, the fociety are fo far from accumulating wealth, that every year their expenditure, notwithstanding the late increase of their capital, exceeds rather than falis fhort of their income. They have depended upon a kind Providence and a generous public to refund thefe anticipations of their revenue, and hitherto they have never been disappointed. Thus has this Society proceeded for almost a century. It was founded by the pious exertions of a few private individuals; and its funds, by faithful management, and generous contributions, have now become of fuch magnitude, as to excite the hope that they will be productive of the most valuable effects. The benefits arifing from public focieties depend entirely upon the management of their directors. The advantages which have accrued from this fociety entitle it to the praise and gratitude of the nation. While eager to increafe the number of schools, the fociety have not been inattentive to their profperity. In 1771 Mr Lewis Drummond, a gentleman in whom they placed great confidence, was commiffioned by them to vifit their schools, and to make an exact report of their state. In 1790, the Rev. Dr Kemp, one of the minifters of Edinburgh and fecretary to the fociety, was deputed to visit all the schools on their eftablishment. This laborious and gratuitous task he accomplished in 4 fummers with much ability and care, and highly to the fatisfac tion of the fociety. At his return he communicated a variety of important information refpecting the ftate of the Highlands and inlands, and the means neceffary for their improvement in religion, literature, and industry; abstracts of which were published by the fociety in appendixes to the annivery fermons preached before them in the years 1789, 90, 91, and 92. The following table exhibits the funds, efta blishment, and expenditure, of the fociety, from a few years after its commencement to near the prefent time. Where the number of scholars is до 1793 1794 3,0803,254 307 343 12,913 T4.370 1 A correfponding board was established at Lon don fo early as 1729, to receive fubfcriptions and lay out fums. That board remained long inace tive; but in 1773 its members began to co-ope rate cordially with their brethren in Scotland: Since that period an annual fermon has been preached in recommendation of the charity; and the preacher is now felected without any regard to the religious denomination to which he be longs; fometimes from the church of Engiand, fometimes from the church of Scotland, and fome times from fectaries of different perfuafions. The meetings of the correspondent board have been attended by many of the nobility and gentry, who have made great exertions to promote the view of the fociety. From its prefent flounhing state therefore, from the indefatigable exertion and laudable zeal of the managers, and from the countenance and fupport which they have received from perfons of the first rank and refpectability in the nation, the benevolent mind may look forward with much confidence and fasfaction to a period not very diftant, when its beneficial effects thall be felt not only in the Highlands, but throughout the nation. HI. The SOCIETY of the SONS of the CLERGY, was incorporated by King Charles II. in 1678, by the name of The Governors of the Charity for Rehef of the Poor Widows and Children of Cergymen. This fociety is under the direction and management of a prefident and vice-prefident, three treafarers, and a court of affittants compofed of for ty members. Several hundreds of widows and children of the clergy have annually received coniderable relief from this useful charity. IV. SOCIETY for the SONS of the CLERGY of the ESTABLISHED CHURCH of SCOTLAND, was inft tated at Edinburgh in Feb. 1790, and was conftituted a body corporate by royal charter in 1792. The fociety, after feveral meetings, are of opinion, that the period in which the families of clergy men feel most urgently the need both of friends and of pecuniary aid, is that which commences with the introduction of the fons either to an univerfity or to bufinefs, and terminates with their etablishment in their refpective profeffions; that many of the minifters of this church, living at great diftances from the feats either of universities or of bufintfs, poffefs incomes which, in the prefent ftate of the country, are inadequate to the purposes of procuring for their fons either the li terary or profeffional education, which might enabie them to come forward with credit and fuccefs in the world; that the fons of clergymen, from domeftic tuition and example, have in general ve ry advantageous means of receiving in their early years the impreffions of virtue and honour, toge ther with the rudiments of liberal knowledge; and that of courfe the public intereft may be pro-moted by enabling this clafs of young mein to ob tain their fhare.in the refpectable situations of life. The views of the fociety have been limited to the fons only of clergymen; as they are of opinion that within the limits which they have fixed, the field of beneficence will be ftili very extenfivej, and the claims for aid as many and as great as their funds can be fuppofed able to anfwer, at least for many years to come. If the fociety that ever be in a fituation to undertake more than the aids which will be neceffary bringing forward the fons of the clergy, it may then be confidered in what manner the daughters alfo may become farers in it's bounty. V. The ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY was inftitu ted in London in 1774, for the recovery of perfons drowned or otherwife fuffocated. We have alrea dy given fome account of societies inftituted in other countries with the same views, and have also inferted the directions of this fociety for the reco very of life, under the article DROWNING, 8. We have therefore only to ftate, that this fociety is founded on the most difinterested principles. The medical practitioners accept no pecuniary recompenfe for the time which they devote to a difficult and tedious procefs; for the anxiety which they feel while the event is doubtful; for the mortification which they too often undergo when death, in spite of all their efforts, at fait carries off his prey; nor for the infults to which they willingly expofe themelves from vulgar incredulity. Their fole reward is in the holy joy of doing good. Of an inftitution thus free inits origin from all interested views, and in its plan renouncing felf-intereft in every fhape, philanthropy must be the only bafis. The good intention therefore of the fociety is proved by its conftitution; the wisdom and utility of the undertaking are proved by its fuccefs: not lefs than 3000 fellow-creatures having, from its commencement till 1794, been reftored, the com munity by its timely and indefatigable exertions. Nor is the benefit of this fociety confined to the cafes of drowning and fufpenfion. Its timely fuccours have roufed the lethargy of opium taken in immoderate and repeated dofes; refued the wretched victims of intoxication; rekindied the life extinguished by the fudden troke of lightning; recovered the apoplectic; restored life to the infant that had loft it in the birth; they have proved efficacious in cafes of accidental fmothering and of fuffocation by noxious damps; in inftances in which the tenderness of the infant body or the debility of old age greatly icflened the previous probability of fuccefs; infomuch that no fpecies of death feems to be placed beyond the reach of this fociety's affiftance, where the mifchief had gone no farther than an obftruction of the movements of the animal machine without any damage of the organs. In confequence of e |