of a great number of their countrymen in Australia, makes it impossible to resist the appeals which have been made from those quarters of the world, for its spiritual and evangelical aid; and when it is considered, that the resources of the Society, increased by the Parliamentary grant, now on the eve of being withdrawn, were then barely adequate to its wants, it is obvious, that unless funds to a very considerable amount can be obtained, it cannot send forth labourers into the vast fields which are already white unto the harvest. Under the influence of these considerations, and anxious to extend the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, this Committee has determined to act, in future, as a District Committee of this Society, and thus bring both these sisters into the close bonds of that attachment which ought to subsist between them as children of the same parent.

as a

The Committee, impressed with deep feelings of veneration for this Society, now more particularly brought under their protection, beg to remark, that acting upon the principle of a reasonable and sound system, the Society first provides for the spiritual wants of its own kindred, scattered over our vast empire, and then by degrees, and through their medium, to a larger circle, and, as its powers increase, to a larger still beyond. Hence it is evident, that the greater its means, the greater its sphere of action: besides which, the members of the church of England must consider, that in addition to the responsible and episcopally-ordained ministers it employs, it sends out with the Bible an accompaniment-the Liturgy of our Church, as the handmaid to the word of God-the one, teaching man sinful and dependent creature, that he must pray to the Almighty for salvation, through the mediation and atoning blood of his divine Son; the other, showing him how he ought thus to pray in words and sentiments fit for him to utter in the expression of his wants, and suited to the majesty of God to hear. In short, the Committee deem this Society, connected as it is with so many and such high considerations, and, amongst others, being the first Missionary Society established in this country, entitled to the paramount attention of the members of that Church, under whose influence it has diffused its blessings, and for which it has ever most deservedly obtained the pre-eminent patronage of the Establishment.

In conclusion, the Committee trust, that this call to support the welfare and success of these Societies, whose object is to promote Christian knowledge by the circulation of the Scriptures, and the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts, may, by the blessing of God, not be made in vain; particularly at a period of such imminent danger to the cause of our holy religion, when unprecedented efforts are made by the enemies of the Church to overthrow it, and infidelity is exerting its baneful influence to darken and desolate the land.

Extract from the Report of St. Mary's Girls' National School,

Nottingham.

THE number of scholars educated in this school since its opening in August, 1831, is 2237.

In the lower school-room, which was opened for a day-school in January 1835, there are 200 scholars, who are instructed in reading, writing, and sewing.

On one evening of every week the school is opened to the higher classes of the scholars, who are taught writing and accounts; of these there are 70 above ten years of age.

In the Sunday-school there are now 600 scholars, who are well grounded in religious reading and knowledge, whose education is chiefly carried on by the voluntary superintendence of twenty-four ladies, who devote their constant attention to this object.

The upper school-room is opened every Wednesday evening, for the reception of the male and female members of St. Mary's Church Society, consisting of 459 poor parishioners, who are members of the Church; upon which occasions prayers are read, and a lecture delivered by the Vicar. After the service, the members contribute whatever sum they are, each of them, able to afford from their weekly earnings, towards a provident fund, which is augmented by donations and contributions from the honorary independent members; and at the close of the year, each poor member receives back his or her accumulated contributions, together with the dividend of the augmentations. Nearly 3007. was paid in this manner last year at Christmas.

The honorary and other members support, also, a sick fund, which during the last year afforded pecuniary relief to sixteen aged persons, during the time of their illness. It will be seen, by the abstract annexed, that this branch of the Society has a balance in hand amounting to 147. 12s. 9d.

There is, also, a benevolent lying-in fund, supported by the monthly subscriptions of the teachers, aided by donations from the honorary members, for the supply of linen to the mothers of school children, in their confinement; an abstract of which is here appended.

The library, which furnishes books for the school children and members of the Church Society to read, at a payment of one penny per week, has this year returned the sum of 3l. 9s. 4d.

Seven thousand tracts, of 150 different kinds, from the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, continue to be weekly circulated among such of the poor of the parish, generally, as are inclined to read them.

Sixty of the scholars continue to be regularly instructed in singing, so as to render them efficient members of the choir of St. Mary's and St. Paul's churches.

It will be seen by the annexed statement, that the institution has been relieved from incumbrances of every kind by the munificence of John Smith Wright, Esq., in consequence of which its efficacy has been very considerably augmented. It has, also, by his means, been enabled to make a valuable present of books, and to pay for additional tuition to the scholars of the Boys' National School on a Sunday; thus making that establishment, which is in great want of support, much more useful and effective.

Indeed, it will be here seen, that every possible benefit, in every possible way (in proportion to its means), is afforded by this valuable institution, to the parents and children of the poor in communion with the Church, by the friends of the Establishment in the parish of St. Mary, calling for the renewed gratitude of the one, and the continued support of the other.

Report of the Norwich District Committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; Diocesan Church Building Association; the National Schools for Educating the Poor in the Principles of the Church of England; the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.

THE Anniversary Meeting of the members and friends of the four Church of England Societies, established at Norwich, was held on the 17th of August, in the Clerical Society's Rooms, in the Upper Close. After the Right Hon. and Rev. Lord Bayning (on the motion of the Dean) had taken the chair, his Lordship, in a most impressive manner, read prayers appropriate to the religious occasion.-The secretaries of the respective societies then read the reports of the committees.-The Rev. S. Stone (in the absence of the Rev. Jas. Brown, from indisposition) read the report of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, of which the following are the principal passages:

"The Norwich Diocesan Committee have great satisfaction in reporting, that the diffusion of christian knowledge in this district, through the instrumentality of the depôt, established in this city for the sale of the Society's publications, continues unabated, viresque acquirit eundo. The average number of books annually sold at it in the four years from 1829 to 1833, was 24,895; and the average annual number sold in the following four years, from 1833 to 1837, was 39,678. The average annual sum received for them in the first period was 4591.; in the second period it was 5771.

"During the last year there were sold 2,527 Bibles and Testaments, 3,329 Prayer-books and Psalters, and 33,785 other bound books and tracts; in all 39,641. And the money received for them was 5967. 12s. 11d. That portion of them which was sold to non-subscribers to the parent society, amounted to

421. Os. 1d. The sum paid to the Committee's agent, Mr. Smith, for conducting the business and for warehouse-room, was 291. 4s. 6d.

"The amount of annual subscriptions to the local fund received since the last audit is 721. 19s. 6d. The balance due to it now in the treasurer's hands is 4387. 4s. 5d. But there is a debt of 300l. 10s. 94d. to the parent society for books received, which, when discharged, will reduce the balance to 1317. 13s. 8d. "As the balance in the treasurer's hands, after paying the outstanding debt for books, will amount to 1317. 13s. 8d., with the prospect of its being considerably increased this day by the collection to be made at the cathedral, this meeting, perhaps, will not object to granting a benefaction to the parent society of 70%., which, with the 10 per cent. charged on the last parcel of books received, will amount nearly to the sum which this Committee have been accustomed annually to grant. There will then be a sufficient sum in hand, it may be hoped, to carry on the local business of this district, without danger of embarrass

ment.

"At the audit of 1834 a gratuity of 51. was voted to Mr. Smith, the Society's agent for the sale of books, in consideration of the zeal and diligence which he had uniformly displayed in his office. In the three subsequent years his zeal for the general interests of the Society, and his strict attention to its business, have been undiminished. The Committee therefore venture to recommend, that the same sum should now be presented to him, as an acknowledgment of the sense entertained by the Society of his faithful and diligent services.

"Since the last published annual report of the parent society, the secretaries have received information, that the rule requiring a benefaction at admission has been rescinded, and that new members will now only be required to pay a subscription of 1. 1s. for the current year in which they are admitted. That the 201. to be received in lieu of annual subscriptions, may be paid in four years at different times. That the Society has determined to provide, at the earliest opportunity, tracts for the use of the aged, sick, and other poor, in the district union poorhouses, peculiarly adapted to their circumstances; and that such tracts shall, for the most part, be printed in a large type, suitable to aged eyes and unskilful readers. That grants have been made to various plans for promoting the great objects of the Society, to the amount of nearly 5,000l. That the expenditure of the last year was 109,4467. whilst the receipts amounted only to 80,9047. And that the number of books issued was 2,235,614."

DIOCESAN CHURCH BUILDING ASSOCIATION.

The Rev. J. D. Borton, the secretary of the Norwich Diocesan Church Building Association, said he was not prepared with a