all sin. I tell my poor countryman so. He no find out the way to heaven-poor fellow! Jesus our Lord, He found a way to heaven for all who know Him.

Jesus Christ love me much. I no love Him once-my bad heart no love Him. I sinned too much for God. I hope the Lord Jesus Christ put in me a new heart and new soul. I then pray to Him, and love Him, and He love me. "I go back to my country. I tell my countrymen, the Book, the Bible make all happy. Englishman, suppose a Christian, he very happy. New-Zealandman's spear make no happy. I tell my poor countrymen, Christians no fight, no use war-club, no spear-they read Book of Books-all true! says, No fight, all love. "I go away-I leave all good friends behind and I very sorry ship go very soon. I go home-I remember kind Missionary. He love me too much-he pray for me every morning and every evening. I pray for Englishman.

"I get home to New Zealand, and I go tell my countrymen, Come, countrymen, into house of worship, where true God is worshipped!'

"I hope you farewell. Good bye. "Your affectionate Friend,

"THOMAS TOO1." Mr. Kendall, who has resided several years in New Zealand, has returned on a visit to England, and has received deacon's and priest's orders, with a view to exercise his ministry in the scene of his mission. Having collected copious materials for fixing the language and preparing elementary books in theNewZealand tongue, it was thought of importance that he should avail himself of the advantages which might be af forded to him in this country, for procéeding on sure principles in the important work of embodying the language of these large and populous islands.

Two chiefs, Shunghee and Whykato, accompanied Mr. Kendall. Shunghee is one of the heads of a powerful tribe, which possesses a large quantity of land at and near the Bay of Islands. His age is about forty-five; his mother who is now living and very old, having told Mr. Kendall that he was born soon

after Captain Cook visited the Bay of Islands. Shunghee and his tribe have always been friendly to the settlers. He understands somewhat of English, but does not speak it. Whykato is one of the chiefs of Ranghee Hoo, at the Bay of Islands. His age is about twentysix. He understands English tolerably

well, and can make himself understood. -The views and wishes with which Shunghee and Whykato have visited England will be best conveyed by themselves, as Mr. Kendall wrote them down from their mouths, without any prompting on his part:

"They wish to see King Georgethe multitude of his people-what they are doing-and the goodness of the land. Their desire is, to stay in England one month, and then to return. They wish for at least one hundred people to go with them. They are in want of a party to dig the ground, in search of ironan additional number of blacksmithsan additional number of carpentersand an additional number of preachers, who will try to speak in the New Zealand tongue, in order that they may understand them. They wish also twenty soldiers, to protect their own countrymen, the settlers; and three officers, to keep the soldiers in order. The settlers are to take cattle over with them. There is plenty of spare land at New Zealand, which will be readily granted to the settlers."-At present they have little notion of our holy religion; but are the subjects of a subtle and deeply-rooted superstition. They have conducted themselves with great propriety in this country.

The two chiefs are about to return immediately with Mr. Kendall to their own country, after having seen and learned much, which, it is hoped, may stimulate them in the civilization of their fellow-countrymen. The party were affectionately and appropriately addressed previously to their departure, by that zealous friend of every scheme of Christian benevolence, the Rev. Basil Woodd, at the Church Missionary House, together with two schoolmasters and their wives, destined for Western Africa. May the blessing of God rest on their labours.

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY. The number of schools belonging to the Society was reported at the last annual meeting to amount to 529, containing upwards of fifty-eight thousand pupils; being an increase during the year, of forty-nine schools, and upwards of eleven thousand pupils.

The funds of the Society, we are grieved to learn, have fallen short of the current expenditure of the year, in the amount of 23627. in addition to a balance of 13427. due to the treasurer

at the last audit. The increase of schools and children would have been far more considerable, if the wishes of the poor, and the applications from respectable gentlemen in Ireland on their behalf, could have been complied with, for the establishment of additional schools. Notwithstanding these checks, schools have been formed in four counties, to which they did not before extend; Queen's county, Cork, Waterford, and Kerry; and there is an immediate prospect of extending them into other counties. Many of the masters, who have commenced the moral and religious cultivation of these new fields of labour, were, at their first connexion with the Society, ignorant of the Scriptares and (being Catholics) prejudiced against the use of them; but they now proceed in the spirit of the Gospel, and with a competent degree of knowledge, to fulfil their arduous and important duties.

In addition to what has been said relative to the increased number of schools, the Committee report, that the circulation of the holy Scriptures has also been proportionably enlarged; and that the reading of them in Irish and in English by the Inspectors and Schoolmasters at convenient times, to such as are willing to attend-together with the instruction of adults-continue to be vigorously and successfully prosecuted. These branches of the Society's concerns have made it necessary to print, in the course of the last year, an additional number of 40,000 of the Society's spelling-books: and for the use of the adult population who have no desire to read English, and are partial to the old Irish letters, an edition of the spelling-book in the Celtic character has also been prepared and published. The Society has been assisted with a further donation of 9000 English and 1000 Irish Testaments, from the British and Foreign Bible Society.

The Fourteenth Report of the Society, from which we have abridged these particulars, goes on to mention the visit of Mr. Steven to Ireland, and the hostility, manifested on the part of the bigotted part of the Roman Catholics, to the plans of the institution. To these we have before adverted. The Report proceeds to state, that by means of the plans and exertions of the Hibernian Society, the attention of the gentry and landed proprietors in Ireland has been directed to the moral and CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 227.

religious education of the children of the poor. The schools were at first, and during several successive years, entirely supported by the friends of this institution; but of late, an annual subscription from benevolent and public spirited individuals, has been afforded to schools which have been formed in consequence of their respective applications; and a disposition to adopt the regulations of this Society for the education of the poor, and to afford pecuniary assistance for the promotion of this object, has evidently been on the increase. It appears, also, that the labours of the Society are hailed by the insulated Protestants in the Catholic counties in Ireland, as a merciful dispensation of Providence to preserve them and their offspring from the seductions of Popery, to which they have been imminently exposed. The elective franchise, being for a long time exclusively connected with Protestantism, continued the name of Protestant to many, who, neglecting the use, and being ignorant of the divine truths of the Scriptures, became slaves to the superstitions observances of the surrounding multitudes, and, at the point of death, frequently took refuge in their delusive hopes. But the schools of this Society appear to have occasioned a very beneficial change. The children of these persons having been taught the Scriptures, have communicated their knowledge to their parents; in consequence of which, a zeal for more than the name of Protestantism is now nearly becoming general.

The following are extracts from the Appendix, which contains the most interesting passages from the Society's correspondence during the year. One of its agents in Ireland writes:

"I intended to have added other interesting occurrences which have passed within my own observation; but as time calls on me to close with the present sheet, I defer these in order to relate an interesting narrative I have had from T-, master of the school in K—, county of M. As I have the notes of the communication before me, I give it nearly in his own words.

school (one of ours) and were provided with an English and Irish Testament; and that in confession that day, the priest had engaged him by promise, to commit both to the flames on his return home. The poor man seemed agitated, being loath to burn the books, and terrified at breaking his promise to the priest. I said nothing, anxious to see the conflict in his own mind. The man had the Irish Testament in his hand, a large fire was before him, and he stood apparently undetermined, when a wretchedly wicked neighbour of his entered the house, who, on learning the case, urged him vehemently to obey his priest and burn the book. The book was accordingly cast into the flames. I was so overpowered by surprise and horror at the action, that for some moments I could not stirwhen, darting to the fire, I snatched up the book, which, to my astonishment, had not suffered the least injury from the fire. I then solemnly addressed him on the heinousness of the sin of attempting to destroy God's best gift to man-the revelation of his mercy to sinners, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The poor man seemed much distressed, and requested that I would read to him part of its contents. I read the First Epistle general of St. John, and the eighth of the Romans. He called upon the Lord to forgive the wicked act he had been just guilty of, in attempting to destroy so blessed a book, and begged of me to consent to remain with him until the next day, and that he would invite his neighbours to hear the book of God. I consented. His neighbours were soon collected, and I read to them for a long time. After the people retired, he would frequently ask me with much concern,

Do you think God will forgive me?' and as my reply, I read to him the fifteenth chapter of Luke, also the eleventh of Matthew, the 27-30th verses; and these precious promises gave him hope. He escorted me on my way next morning, to the distance of three miles, and seemed fixed in his determination that his son should persevere in reading and learning to understand the Scrip. ture; and that he would contrive to have him attend my night-school next winter, and cheerfully pay me for instructing him.'

From P. C., an Inspector. "We inspected Mr. H-'s school at G. This is one of the best

schools I ever saw. He had eighty Testament readers in one class; forty of whom, repeated ten chapters each, and some of the others thirty. He had one boy who committed as many as sixty chapters to memory, in the course of this quarter; and, what is still more astonishing, he had another child, only four and a half years old, who repeated nearly six chapters at this inspection; and I was told by his parents and master that this was the third quarter in which he had had tasks to learn. There is scarcely a question I put to them respecting the Gospel, that they did not answer satisfactorily.

"I have often, within these five years past, visited this part of the country, and never saw, or expected to see, so great a reformation wrought in the minds of the people here, as there is now; but, blessed be God! there is nothing impossible with him. Both old and young are studying the word of God, and striving to become wise thereby. Scarcely a day passes in which there are not applications made to me for Bibles or Testaments. The people, who, not long since, were enemies to the Scriptures, are now reading them, and attending our night schools, in order to become acquainted with the word of God.

"On the 8th instant, I again visited H's school, and gave him a general inspection. He had one hundred and sixteen pupils present, eighty-one of whom, were Testament readers: the major part of which class, repeated from sixteen to twenty-four chapters each; although it is but two months since he was inspected before. The child mentioned above, as having repeated nearly six chapters, could, at this time, repeat seven; and the boy who repeated at last inspection sixty, now repeated sixty more. H— has now, in the Testament class, ninetyone .pupils. No person can have an idea of the good done in this and other places, by means of your humane and charitable Society."

From J. R., an Inspector. "The labours of the Society have proved very beneficial in this and every other part to which they have been extended. The children who are educated in the schools have been made great blessings to their parents and neighbours in reading to them at night. The little children are so fond of the Testament, that they get more of the tasks

than is required of them by the Inspector. What a blessing it is, to find a reader and a Testament in every cabin, and the old men and women blessing the Society for the great charity which they have bestowed on their children, and more especially for imparting to them the knowledge that enables them to comfort their parents in old age with the word of God in the English and Irish languages!

"I am happy to have it in my power to state another striking instance of the change wrought in the children's hearts, especially those educated in the Society. A short time ago, as I am informed, their chief employment was dancing, playing cards, dice, and every other wicked employment, as is the case in every part of the country: but the result of their being educated in the schools, and the study of the Testa. ment, has been so effectual, that their delight is now to meet in the different houses in the village to read the Testament. It is delightful to hear small children, not ten years old, saying'Mother, it is not for cursing or swear. ing that we are met, but to read the word of God; and we read in the same word, that God delights in little children learning his will.'"

From W. R., a Schoolmaster. "I am sorry to say, that the flourishing state and hopeful prospect of this school is greatly obstructed by the tyrannical proceeding of the Catholic bishop and priests. The desire of the people for education is every day increasing. At the last inspection of my

night school, fifty-nine scholars were able to read Irish. Hitherto they have never had the happiness of hearing or seeing the word of God, so as to be able to form a judgment for themselves of its divine contents. The general beliaviour of the people here has been much improved by their increased knowledge of the word of God; so that instead of meeting as in former times for the purpose of card-playing or gambling, sedition or conspiracy, they have of late been occupied in reading the Scripturres and recommending the practice to their friends and acquaintance. Such was their desire to learn the mind and will of God as he has been pleased to reveal it in his own word, that I have been requested by some who reside several miles from my school, to bring them Irish and English Testaments, and to read to them at their homes by night, which I have frequently done. But, I am sorry to add, that these pleasing prospects have been blasted by the breath of the priest of this parish, who, on Sunday last made this practice the subject of his canonical discourse, and strongly condemned those individuals who were so employed; assuring them that it was sufficient to bring them to the devil; and that, if they did not relinquish the vile practice of reading the Bible and harbouring those who disperse it, he would cut them off from the church. This terrible denunciation has, for the present, produced the intended effect; and ignorance and vice seem likely to resume their reign."

FOREIGN.

THE Conference of sovereigns at Troppau has commenced; but no authentic particulars have yet been published respecting the objects or results of their deliberations. The Emperors of Russia and Austria are there in person; the Crown Prince of Prussia represents the King of Prussia, who has been too unwell to attend; and ministers from all the allied powers have assisted at the conferences. The deliberations, it is supposed, may have reference to the affairs of Spain and Portugal, but more especially to those of the Neapolitan kingdom. We most

earnestly hope that nothing will induce the allied powers to undertake a hostile interference in the concerns of these states. We are not, however, without serious fears on the subject, especially as it has been stated in the course of the late negociations between Naples and Palermo, that the inseparable union of the Two Sicilies is guaranteed to his Neapolitan Majesty by a secret article of the Congress of Vienna, with an express stipulation that no representative government shall be established in Italy.

FRANCE. The trials of Gravier, Bouton, and Legendre, for the base,

and cowardly plot against the duchess de Berri, have ended in the conviction and capital condemnation of the two former: the latter is acquitted.

The elections under the new law have been proceeding quietly in France. The result is likely to be favourable to the moderate, or ministerial party, and affords a hope that ministers may be able to rescue themselves from that state of dependence on the ultraroyalists, into which recent events had thrown them, and which might have been fatal to the tranquillity of the country. The great body of the French naturally feel alarmed by any arrangements which threaten the revival of exploded claims: the prevalence of the ultra-royalist party, they conceive, would lead to that issue.

POLAND.-The Polish Diet has rejected, by a majority of 120 voices to 3, a sketch of a new criminal code presented to them by the Emperor of Russia. The Emperor, in his speech at closing the session, upbraids the representatives of Poland for thus declining the favour he had intended them by the laws which his ministers had dictated; and urges them to repair the mischief as far as possible by promoting tranquillity and good government in their respective neighbourhoods. The Marshal of the Diet addressed the Emperor in an exculpatory oration, in which he ascribes the reluctance of the deputies to accept the new penal code, to their wish to have a longer time for deliberation, in order to come to a just decision. It would appear from these circumstances that the representative bodyin Poland is really a deliberative assembly, capable of acting as a check on the imperial power; at least, that it is by no means in a state of servile and abject dependance on the will of the conqueror.

SPAIN. The first session of the Cortes has closed with a speech from the throne, delivered by commission. As far as appears on the surface, the new machine works easily, and all parties profess the utmost good humour towards each other. The Cortes and the King seem both to be popular; and certainly, in his official conduct, the latter has done nothing to the prejudice of the new constitution. The enactments during the session have been generally enlightened and useful; though, as might naturally be expected under all the circumstances of the case, some of them have been of a more rapid and sweeping kind

than was perhaps quite judicious: The partial disturbances which have occurred in the provinces, have, it is said, been quelled: measures have been concerted for strengthening the naval force of the country, with a view especially to the protection of its commerce; and a variety of plans are under consideration for regulating the internal affairs of the nation. Among other interesting topics, the liberty of the press, and the introduction of trial by jury, have excited great attention. The army establishment is fixed at 424,000 men, with discretion to raise 12,000 militia. But the most important regulation which has yet been carried into effect, is the sup pression of the monastic institutions. Every monk in sacred orders is to receive a pension according to his age; and a provisionof 100 ducats per annum is held out to nuns, to induce them to renounce their vows. No new convent is to be founded, nor any novice proposed, nor any person to be permitted in future to assume the monastic habit. The government has already taken possession of a vast number of convents. There can be no doubt of the serious evils resulting to Spain from its overgrown monastic institutions, which have not only been a considerable drawback upon the productive industry of the nation, but have checked the progress of civil and religious information, and tended to keep the country enveloped in the ignorance and bigotry of the middle ages. But we fear that, in the present zeal against them, no small portion of religious indifference and infidelity has mixed itself with the professions of liberality and patriotism. We dread exceedingly the sudden revulsion of a nation like Spain, from a state of pitiable darkness to a false and intoxicating philosophy, which is, if possible, tenfold worse. It is some guard against this result, that a system of national education is about to be adopted. We have already mentioned that the inquisition has been wholly suppressed; and that all exclusive privileges, whether they regard a man's standing in the eye of the law, or his liability to public burdens, have been abolished.

NAPLES and SICILY.-The dispute between Naples and Sicily has not yet terminated. Palermo surrendered last month to the Neapolitan commander, General Pepe, who, on taking possession of the torts, granted favour