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containing upwards of 40 scholars, several of whom have learnt to read the Scriptures, who, before they entered the School, were unable to read a letter. The third was opened at PaddingtonChapel on the 5th March, and at present contains upwards of 280 children, and about 35 teachers. The fourth was opened at Hounslow on Sunday the 23d April, when about 30 children were admitted.

The Committee have divided the district into seven sub-divisions, to each of which a secretary is appointed, in order to facilitate the business of the Union, which is going on as prosperous as its most sanguine friends could wish. There are upwards of fifty schools within the district, the greater part of which have joined the Union, and reported their numbers, which amounts to 7032 children, and 703 teachers.

The Committee cannot conclude this report without stating that the spirit of union has been fully manifested by the teachers throughout the whole district, and rejoice in the prospect which lays before them for the cultivation of the barren fields; they also return their most sincere thanks for the very liberal support they have already experienced from the friends of the rising generation; and trust that the good work which has already commenced will be crowned with an abundant blessing by Him who "doth as he pleaseth in the armies of heaven, aud amongst the inhabitants of the earth."

THE central and North London Auxiliary Sunday School Union, the most recently established, reports 43 Schools in the district, of which 29 have already joined the society. Two Schools that were declining have been revived. A donation of £5 has been presented to the Parent Society.

Your Committee have the pleasure to report the formationof the 6 following new Sunday School Unions in the country: The Warrington-The Wilts and East Somerset-The South Lincolnshire and Isle of Ely-The Tunbridge-The BedfordThe Dursley and Cley.

EXTRACT of a LETTER from the SECRETARIES of the
WARRINGTON SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

WITH respect to the present state of our Schools, we are happy to state that each is, upon the whole, in an increasing and flourishing condition. Since the commencement of the Union we have opened two new Schools; one at a village called Moor, and the other at Poulton, near this town: the former belongs to the Methodist and the latter to Lady Huntingdon's connection. Both are considered very promising; each containing 100 scholars and upwards.

THE Wiltshire and East Somerset Sunday School Union has been recently formed, and also an Auxiliary Sunday School

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Union at Trowbridge: your Committee have not yet received any reports.

EXTRACT of a LETTER from the SECRETARIES of the SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE and ISLE OF ELY SUNDAY SCHOOL UNIONS.

WE feel a peculiar pleasure in being enabled to state unto you, and to the friends of Sunday Schools, that a Union has been formed in this part of the kingdom, which is called the South Lincolnshire and Isle of Ely Sunday School Union, and which we trust will, under the influence of the Divine Spirit, be the blessed instrument of bringing many to righteousness.

Our institution was formed in January, 1814, and though we differ in some respects from the constitution of the generality of Sunday School Unions, (owing to our local situation) yet we trust that our plans for the diffusion of knowledge will prove equally acceptable to that Wise Being whose superintending Providence is directed for the happiness of his creatures.

From our reports (which we inclose) you will perceive that we held two half-yearly meetings, by rotation, at the different places in which the Schools are. The business commences at eleven o'clock, and continues until public worship in the evening, when a sermon is delivered to the teachers; the ministers of the different denominations preaching by turns. Our number of Schools at our first half-yearly meeting was eight, consisting of upwards of 561 children, taught by 89 gratuitous teachers. At our second half-yearly meeting, which was held at Wisbech, in January last, the number of Schools was 12, children 886, teachers 121, so that our increase in the half-year was 4 Schools, 325 children, 32 teachers.

Both these meetings proved highly pleasing to all, and we hope have had a beneficial influence on the minds of some.

We are exceedingly happy to find that these meetings are like that noble institution, whose branches are extending to the remotest corners of the earth, the British and Foreign Bible Society, highly calculated to remove party prejudice, and at the same time to cultivate that beloved and amiable principle of Christian charity, which was so eminently conspicuous in the character and practice of our Divine Lord and Master,

NO recent Report has been received from the Tunbridge Sunday School Union.

THE Bedford Sunday School Union has been lately, formed, and has published "An Invitation to assist the attempts of the Bedford Sunday School Union, for the instruction of the Children of the Poor, addressed by the Committee to the Inhabitants of the Town and County of Bedford; from this address your Committee present the following extracts:

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Of all the benevolent institutions of the present agé, none seems better calculated to distinguish and benefit the British nation than the establishment of Sunday Schools, for the instruction of the children of the poor and miserable cottager.

These

institutions tend most to inspire a fear of God, loyalty to the king, and good-will to mankind-as also to the consummation of the desire of our beloved monarch, "that every child in his dominions might be able to read the Bible.

The children of the town of Bedford have for a considerable time enjoyed the advantage of gratuitous sabbath instruction, as Sunday Schools have long been formed, both in the Establishment and among the various classes of Dissenters; but it is to be lamented that hundreds of children in the surrounding villages are entirely destitute of such a privilege. The grand object of the members of this Union is to direct their attention to those forlorn and neglected tribes of their fellow-creatures, and they hope not to rest from their labour until every child, capable of receiving instruction, within the precincts of the county of Bedford, is able to read the Bible. Beholding the general activity which surrounds them-considering the immense practical good and national felicity this system of tuition is calculated to produce, the mem→ bers of the Committee feel themselves imperiously called upon to use every laudable endeavour to accomplish an object so much desired.

The principles upon which this society is founded, and on which they intend to proceed, will, it is hoped, be deemed unexceptionable, and in every respect liberal. Without attaching themselves to any party, they earnestly solicit the co-operation of all-their object is to promote the instruction of indigent children, and thus improve the condition of the rising generation.

The Committee respectfully beg the cordial co-operation of the established clergy and ministers of religion of every denomination, in the various towns and villages throughout the county of Bedford, and solicit the patronage and support of the principal inhabitants of those villages where Schools are established, or may be hereafter formed: the object of the Union being not to make proselytes to any sect or party, but to "instruct the youthful mind, and teach the young idea how to shoot," and to comprehend the meaning of that volume of inspiration which contains the fundamental doctrines of every protestant church.

With these benevolent views the Committee enter an extensive field, and anticipate that success which is inseparably connected with Christian unanimity. The Committee hope to convince the British public, that although an immortal Howard (who supported a Sunday School at his individual expence) is no longer a resident in their neighbourhood, the sacred fire of philanthropy was not extinguished in the county of Bedford when that prodigy of benevolence quitted the world.

EXTRACT of a LETTER from the SECRETARY of the DURSLEY and ULEY SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

OUR first quarterly meeting for prayer to Almighty God to bless our endeavours, was held at Uley in July 1813, when three of the members engaged in prayer, and an appropriate address was delivered by a minister, suitable hymns were sung before each prayer.

Second meeting in October, was held at Cam, conducted on the same plan (as they all are.)

Third meeting in January, was held at the Tabernacle, Dursley, When the secretary delivered the following report:

At the Tabernacle Sunday School are taught 290 children.
Chapel, Dursley Sunday School.....

Uley
Cam

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293

170

130

883

136 of that number admitted since the second quarterly meeting. After the third meeting, it was unanimously agreed to extend the services of the Union to neighbouring villages, namely, Halimore, Cambridge, and Nymphsfield, to be regularly supplied by two teachers from the Union, at which places schools have been established with great success.

Fourth meeting in April, was held at the chapel, Dursley.

Fifth meeting, July, Uley chapel; when the secretary delivered the following report of the number of children taught by the Union:

Dursley Tabernacle, including 10 adults.

Ditto, Chapel...

Cam

...

Uley.

...

ditto..16. .ditto.. 3

• ditto.. 2

...

Halmore 65; Cambridge, 74; Nymphsfield.... 103 ...

Last report....

Increase since last..

329

329

189

165

242

1254

883

...

371

Sixth meeting in October, was held at Cam meeting, after which it was agreed to establish a school at Kingscote, under the direction of the Union, which was accomplished beyond our expectations.

Seventh meeting in January 1815, was held at the Tabernacle, Dursley, when the secretary delivered the report : Dursley Tabernacle School

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Cambridge, 60; Halmore, 50...
Kingscote

110

100

1473

Last report.... 1254

Increase...... 219

Eighth meeting in April was held at the Chapel, Dursley, where it was resolved to extend the Union to Shortwood, from the solicitation of the teachers belonging to the Sunday School long since established there, therefore the next quarterly meeting in July will be held there.

It is worthy of remark, that the children of the three village schools, Halford, Nymphsfield, and Kingscote, have subscribed upwards of three thousand pence for Bibles and Testaments. I rejoice to mention, that at all the village schools established by the Union, the Lord has brought forward some who have kindly lent their hand in the work, particularly Kingscote, where our endeavours have been seconded beyond our most sanguine expectations.

I am happy to say our quarterly meetings have been productive of much good to the institution, by animating our efforts, strengthening our hands in the work, and uniting all in bonds of love and peace. You will perceive by the reports, that the number of children under the teaching of the Union, have very considerably increased since the commencement; but it is not in the number of children I would congratulate my associates in labour, but on the number of those to whom they have been made instuments of impressing on their tender minds a lively concern for their immortal souls. I flatter myself there are many that have, through the grace of God have, imbibed serious impressions; pray with us that their number may be increased, and that in these our imperfect labours, a single eye may be kept to the glory of God.

THE Reports of the Sunday School Unions previously Established, are become increasingly interesting, as will be evinced by the following extracts:

EXTRACT from the REPORT of the NOTTINGHAM SUNDAY

SCHOOL UNION.

THE committee of this Union, hail with great satisfaction, the return of the anniversary of an institution which they are persuaded, has contributed very materially to promote the cause of Sabbath Schools, the best interests of the rising generation, and the enlargement of the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And, while they reflect with pleasure on the fruit which has been already produced, they look forward, with an animating expectation, and with a firm reliance upon the Divine blessing, to

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