interest upon this society. One is, the unspeakable blessings which we have received from the Jews. Every blessing we enjoy at this time, every prospect of eternal happiness which revelation opens upon our souls, we are debtors for to the Jews; and too long have we neglected that people. Another circumstance is, that, in my mind— and I believe almost every one conversant with the Scriptures will agree with me in the opinion—we are not to look for very great progress in the introduction of Christianity into the world, until after the conversion of the Jews. In the proportion, therefore, that I value the Christian religion-in the proportion I feel it dear to me, as the only ground of hope and comfort-in that proportion I look with interest upon this society, which is the harbinger of that glorious period, when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea. am sure we are met for an object, upon which Almighty God must look down with peculiar favour."

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more exalted term!-We are the most valuable and efficient ALLIES of every other society, whose object is the advancement of the Gospel; our success must include theirs. Are we not attempting (and, with God's blessing, we shall succeed) to illustrate, by Jewish preachers, those Scriptures which the British and Foreign Bible Society, with unwearied zeal and activity, is dispersing among the nations? Are we not endeavouring, as humble instruments in God's hand, to silence, by means connected with the accomplishment of prophecy, all the clamours of the infidel against divine truth? Shall these efforts fall to the ground?-No; they cannot. It will ultimately be found, that, though the rising cloud is little, like a man's hand, it will spread over the whole earth, it will descend in showers of blessing."

We might fill many pages from the, excellent speeches of the members of the London Society-of members, too, of eminent talents and rank. We have selected such passages as were adapted to give a concise and impressive view of the objects of the society, and of the motives by which its members are animated.

By the Corresponding Secretary of the Female Society of Boston and vicinity, we have been favoured with the Seventh Report of the London Society; from which, farther intelligence may be expected, in a future number of this work.

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For the purpose of supplying the destitute, within our immediate vicinity, with Bibles and Testaments, and of contributing generally to the distribution of the Sacred Scriptures, we, the subscribers, and those persons who may associate with us, form ourselves into a Society, upon the following principles, and adopt the following

CONSTITUTION.

Article 1. The name of this society shall be, The Plymouth and Norfolk Bible Society.

2. Every person paying annually to the funds of the society seventyfive cents, shall be a member during the punctual payment of his or her subscription; and every person giving to the society five dollars at any one time, shall be a member for life, and liable to no further assessment.

3. The funds of this society shall be exclusively devoted to the distribution of the Sacred Scriptures; and the objects of this charity are, the poor, actually destitute of whole copies of the Bible; the aged poor, who may be in want of fair and legible copies; and generally, all such as are embraced in the views of the Bible Society of Massachusetts.

4. The society may act in its own name, or as auxiliary to the Bible Society of Massachusetts; and it may either distribute Bibles and Testaments gratuitously, or supply them for sale at a reduced price, so as to render them easily attainable by the poor.

5. The officers of the society shall be, a President, Secretary, Treasurer, and five Trustees, to be chosen annually by ballot.

6. The duties of the President and Secretary are indicated by their names, and they shall be, ex officio, members of the Board of Trustees,

in addition to the number above specified.

7. The Treasurer shall collect and receive all the monies of the society, and employ and apply them according to the direction of the Trustees. He shall give bonds in the sum of three hundred dollars, for the faithful execution of his trust; his accounts shall be always open to the inspection of the Trustees, and by them shall be annually examined.

8. The Trustees shall have the exclusive management of the funds and property of the society; of the purchase and distribution of Bibles and Testaments; subject to the instructions of the society at their annual meetings, when the Trustees shall make a detailed report of their proceedings, and of the state and application of the funds of the society. They shall meet semiannually, at such time and place as they may previously appoint. Any five of them, at such meetings, shall constitute a quorum, for the transaction of business.

9. The meetings of the society shall be annual, on the second Wednesday in September, at the hour and place determined, and publickly notified by the Trustees; when a sermon shall be delivered by some person appointed by the Trustees, and a collection made to aid the funds of the society.

10. It is understood that the meetings of the society shall be appointed at different times, in different parishes or towns; the Trustees, in the appointment of a place for the annual meeting, having a regard to the convenience of the members generally, and the advantage of the society.

11. This constitution shall not be subject to revision or alteration, but by consent of a majority of the whole number of Trustees, and the

vote of two-thirds of the members of the society, present at any annual meeting.

At a meeting in Marshfield, of the gentlemen whose names are hereunto subscribed, on the 24th April, 1816, it was unanimously voted, that they would accept the above constitution, for the purposes therein specified; and that they would meet on the second Monday in June next, at twelve o'clock, A. M. at Crooker's Tavern, near the Four Corners, in Hanover, Plymouth County, for the purpose of choosing the officers of the society, and adopting whatever measures may be necessary to its operation; at which time and place, all persons disposed to associate and co-operate with them in this benevolent and

excellent cause, are requested punctually to attend.

William Shaw.
Zephaniah Willis.
John Allyn.
Elijah Leonard.
Jacob Norton.
Nehemiah Thomas.
Nicholas B. Whitney.
Jacob Flint.
Morrill Allen.
Samuel Deane.
Henry Colman.

Attest,
SAMUEL DEANE,
Scribe of the Meeting.

N. B. The persons to whom this constitution may be sent, are requested to use their influence in obtaining members and subscriptions for the society.

SIR-We take the liberty of addressing you on a subject which, we have no doubt, you will consider interesting to humanity. A proposition was laid before some of the members of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, at their last session, for the establishment of a seminary to educate African youth for the Gospel Ministry, by giving them a classical and scientifick education, preparatory to theology. Mr. Mills, so well known as a zealous and successful missionary, interested himself warmly for the establishment of such an institution.

The subject has been long talked of among many enlightened and humane Christians: such a seminary has, however, been already commenced in the city of Philadelphia, among the Africans themselves.

In May last, a Board of Superintendants was organized, for the establishment of an institution of the

nature contemplated. A Committee was appointed to procure funds, by subscription among the coloured people, and ascertain what number of pupils could be had to enter the school. The Rev. Nathaniel R. Snowden, a graduate of Princeton College, and a pupil in theology of the celebrated Dr. Nesbet, was elected Principal of the seminary, which has been styled, Augustine Hall. Mr. Snowden accepted the offer, and, for a small compensation, devoted himself to this laudable undertaking.

On the 1st of June, the seminary was opened, with prayer, by the Rev. Absalom Jones, pastor of the Episcopal Church in this city, and the Principal entered on the duties of his office. The smiles of Providence have, in a remarkable manner, rested on our humble endeavours. Some Africans, who have no children to educate at present, have

subscribed, and paid liberally for the establishment and support of Augustine Hall. There are already, though the seminary has been opened but one month, five remarkably promising African youth engaged in the study of the Latin tongue, English grammar, geography, &c. We had an examination, which was attended by a great number of coloured people, and several other respectable people of this city, among whom were the Rev. Dr. Janeway, Rev. Messrs. Jones, Allen, and others, who expressed very great satisfaction at the progress which the youth had made. The names of the boys are, Richard Allen, son of the Rev. Richard Allen, pastor of the Methodist Church in the city; Jeremiah Gloucester, son of the Rev. John Gloucester, member of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, and pastor of the African Presbyterian Congregation in Philadelphia; Will am Gordon, William Thomas, and Philip Perkins. Many more are expected soon to enter the seminary. Could the funds be procured, many, who are unable to defray the expense, would willingly devote themselves to the Ministry.

This is surely the true way to strengthen the African missions. Let youth, instructed in a knowledge of the original Scriptures, and in general science, be raised up, to display the banners of the Cross, from the mouth of the Nile to the Cape

of Good Hope, and from the Straits of Babelmandel to the mouth of the Gambia, where there are 50,000,000 of our fellow-creatures destitute of the word of life.

There have been combined in this city, many circumstances highly favourable to this object. Through the benevolent exertions of the pious of different denominations, and particularly of the Society of Friends, nearly all the slaves in Pennsylvania have been liberated. Many Africans possess very considerable wealth and very liberal views. There are twelve English schools, in which there are 500 coloured children acquiring the elements of learning. These will be leaders to Augustine Hall. There are three flourishing Christian congregations. One, in six years, has from six to two hundred communi cants; and, on a late communion season, there were thirteen adults added to the same church. Truly, we behold Africa stretching out her hands to God.

We hope you will be willing to as ist us in collecting funds for the promotion of this, which, we trust, you will consider a laudable, charitable, and pious undertaking.

Resolved, That this circular shall be published in the papers of those who are willing to insert it gratis. JOHN GLOUCESTER, Pres't. JAS. R. WILSON, Sec'ry.

Phil. Gaz.

THIS Society was formed on the 20th of December, 1814, by a number of Ladies. The first Orphans were received March 3, 1815: the number is increased to twenty-five. The subscriptions have been unusually generous: four individuals presented a large lot of ground for the Orphan House; between eight

and nine thousand dollars are subscribed to defray the expence of the building. The officers of the Society are females. The Female Societies for benevolent objects, both in Great Britain and the United States, are deserving of particular attention and support.