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per cent. upon the "members' prices," to compensate the Committee for " differences, expenses of carriage, shop," &c. &c. The public, or non-subscribers, are charged 10 per cent. upon the "cost prices" of the Society, for the same reason. So that there are three prices for every book, which are marked in pencil on the blank leaf of every bound book before it is placed on the shelf; and the purchaser has only to be asked whether he be a double, single, or non-subscriber, in order to determine the price to be demanded of him. For example: the Bible, nonpareil, h. is marked 2s. 6d.-2s. 10d.

-4s. 6d., being the price to double, single, and non-subscribers, respectively. Every book of the Society can thus, at all times, be obtained, by any person, with the same facility as is afforded by any other regular shop. The accounts are regularly settled every week with the treasurer, and are kept in a very clear and simple manner, in a day book, cash ledger, and book ledger, in which last is entered every book received and issued, and with which, and the invoices, "the stock," when "taken," is compared. The treasurer accounts with the Parent Society for the "differences" between the "cost prices," and the "members' prices," of all books sold to the "public," and to "single subscribers."

the

Connected with the Committee and Depository at Bath are seven corresponding secretaries, placed in the centre of so many circles, into which the district is subdivided. Each corresponding secretary (a clergyman) takes charge of a small depôt, and opens an account with the depository upon principle of "sale or return." He is supplied with such books as he finds most in request in his own and the surrounding parishes of his sub-division. A weekly communication is kept up between him and the depository, by means of some local carrier, or market person; and through this medium, notices of meetings, &c. and communications to the clergy, are cheaply, quickly, and quietly made. The corresponding secretary settles his accounts with the treasurer quar

terly, and returns such books as he cannot dispose of. A considerable aggregate of local subscriptions, in small sums of 5s. and 2s. 6d., is obtained by each corresponding secretary, in his own neighbourhood, among the yeomanry: thus adding to the friends and supporters, as well as to the funds of the Society. Notices, printed on large sheets, in black and red letters, and pasted into frames, containing a list of Bibles, Testaments, Prayer books, &c. &c. and their reduced prices, are hung up in the porch, or other conspicuous place of each church in the district, for the information of the public.

A confidential and intelligent agent, -the master of the Blue Coat School (National,) is dispatched at least once a year throughout the district, visiting every corresponding secretary, and most of the clergy within it. He receives payment for bills, and subscriptions to the Parent and District Societies, as well as for other Church Societies; takes orders for books; gives information and advice as to the formation and conduct of National and Sunday Schools; forwards the District School Returns, and performs such other duties as tend to promote the general welfare of the Church and her Societies. The expenses of his journey are very trifling. The Whitsuntide holidays afford him leisure for the excursion.

In order to keep up the public interest in the Society, as well in the city of Bath, as in the more remote parishes of the districts, Annual meetings are held. Those in Bath are always atThe tended by the Lord Bishop. Ichildren of the National Schools of the city and suburban parishes, amounting to 2,200, attend divine service, with the committees of the two Societies; adding a considerable effect to the occasion.

The other meetings are held during the summer, at some of the larger villages in the long-extended district, the bishop, for the most part, presiding also at them. The effects of these country meetings are very conspicuous, the good will and kindly feeling to

• Small books, under 3d. each, when sold, are entered collectively as

"Tracts."

wards the Church and her interests being, on such occasions, unequivocally displayed.

of

The Bath and Bedminster District Committee forms one of the "Bath and Wells Diocesan Association District Committees of the Society, within the Diocese of Bath and Wells. The Diocesan Association holds its annual meetings at Wells, the District Secretaries assembling for conference at the Palace the previous day. The Diocesan Meeting takes place after divine service, and a sermon before the Lord Bishop and the Association, at the Cathedral Church, the Mayor and Corporation usually being present. The condensed reports of the District Committees forming the association, are then read, and the various resolutions moved. The Diocesan Secretary publishes the Diocesan Annual Report, which contains the necessary details of each District Committee; and distributes it in such proportions as each District Secretary requires. The expense is borne by a Diocesan Fund, formed chiefly from the collections at the cathedral, and a yearly quota paid by each district; by which means every committee is enabled to furnish its subscribers with an account of the operations of the Society, throughout the whole diocese, at a much cheaper rate than it could print its own individual report.

The organization of the Society in the Diocese of Bath and Wells, and the District of Bath and Bedminster, may be considered as complete, so far as arrangement can go. It is conceived that a similar organization might be obtained in every diocese and district in the kingdom. The resources of the Society, great as they are, might undoubtedly be increased to sevenfold their amount, were but some such uniform and universal system adopted. In the first place, the

very existence of the Society is unknown in many of the remote parishes of every district, while in several of the more considerable towns little more, if so much, is heard of it than the name. Depositories,* in this case, and Corresponding Secretaries in the other, are the obvious remedies: while the energy, promptitude, and regularity, of District Committees would be greatly multiplied by the formation of Diocesan Associations patronized and attended by the Bishops, the principal Clergy, and gentry of each diocese. To complete the structure of the Society, some Provincial Officers are needed to superintend its rural interests. It is not reasonable to expect that the business, daily accumulating, of such a Society as this now is, can be managed with due effect in all its branches by the Parochial Clergy alone, on whom the burden of the labour at present rests, and who have their own weighty and responsible duties to perform. For it may be seen, very clearly, that the quantity of business done in any place, does never, and will never, exceed the amount of leisure or attention which the District Officers will, or can pay to it. The provincial business, therefore, of the Society, any more than its metropolitan, cannot, with due attention to its interests, be allowed to depend altogether upon the voluntary labours of its friends; while at the same time its voluntary labourers may be greatly increased under the influence of Corresponding Secretaries. In addition to the Diocesan Secretaries, three or more Provincial Secretaries might be appointed with salaries, who should divide the kingdom among them. Being duly accredited to each District Committee, they would examine its condition, point out defects, propose a more energetic and extended line of action, as the case might require; attend at public meetings, and

The expenses of a Depository are very slightly increased by almost any extension of business. It is evident that the trouble of entering an account of 20%. is little more than one of as many shillings; the manual labour of selecting and packing the books being the chief difference, Hence the disproportionate expense of small Depositories, and the policy of one Large Central Establishment with numerous Corresponding Local Depôs.

On the subject of Depositories, vide Society's Annual Report for 1824, pp. 32, 33, and "Address of the Bath Committee." Appendix, v.

Monthly Register.

take the labour of negotiating the union of districts into Diocesan Associations; and the sub-division of districts into Corresponding Circles. The áccounts of each committee might at the same time be inspected and settled on behalf of the Society; a pleasure which the Parent Board has never yet enjoyed. Nor is that happy day likely to be seen during the present generation, when the 32,000l. of outstanding debts of committees and members shall be liquidated, so long as the Society, unlike other large commercial bodies, employs no travellers to collect them. At the same time, no error is more to be avoided than that of substituting a mere mercantile interest in the place of that great moral and religious influence which the present system of clerical and christian The extension exertion produces. of the Society's operations will be so far valuable only as it increases while it concentrates these moral effects. If the appointment of provincial travelling secretaries were in one year to produce nothing more than the payment of the arrears due to the Society, or any considerable moiety of them, the poundage would be well earned. But if, by their exertions, only 107. on an average could be annually added

to the funds of each of the 300 committees, not merely the pecuniary, but the moral effect would be very considerable, especially if obtained through the Corresponding Secretaries.

For

not only would the sum of 3000l. be annually gained, but probably 6000 or 9000 friends, by whom it was subscribed in small sums, be numbered with the great body of the Society, and become supporters of its designs, and of the holy cause in which it is engaged.

It would be tedious to mention all the benefits which might fairly be

expected to follow from such appoint-
ments. A uniform, steady, energetic,
and universal operation cannot, in
fact, be carried on without superin-
tendence and direction, not alone from
the centre in London, but locomotive
and detached among all the sub-divi-
sions. Though not in name, yet in
effect, this is practised by other socie
ties, who send yearly deputations into
every district, and almost every town,
in the kingdom.

The exertions of the Provincial Se-
cretaries need not be confined to this
Society. How does the Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel languish
for want only of more activity in its
behalf! We have but to see the sums
collected throughout the country for
a variety of missionary purposes, to be
convinced that the people are not un-
willing to support Societies for dis-
seminating the Gospel abroad. Having
no hold upon local sympathies, the
Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel can make no progress, unless
an effective plan of circumambulatory
However the
exertion be adopted.
practice may be deprecated, the fact
is obvious.

The Church Building, the National, the Negro Converting, the Clergy Orphan and Sons of the Clergy Societies, would all be infinitely served in every place, by an organized system of operations, duly superintended and visited by Provincial Secretaries; while their local interests, intimately connected with those of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, might, through its means, be incalculably enlarged throughout every diocese, as they are proved to be in that of Bath and Wells, by the institution of Depositories, aided by Corresponding Secreta ries, each with a Local Depot; and the whole combined into one Diocesan Association.

The stock in the Bath Depository to the extent of nearly 3001. is the property of the Committee: they have been enabled, this year, to make the following grants from their surplus funds: 501. in aid of the Society's vote for New South Wales; 251. to the West Indian grant; 251. for augmenting the Parochial and School Libraries in the District; and upwards of 60. besides "differences," to the Parent Society, and various smaller grants to Schools.

One journey + Upon the reunion of the Bath and Bedminster Committees, the debt of the latter to the Parent Society amounted to 1641., and was counted hopeless.

of the Secretary, and of the Travelling Agent, furnished with proper accounts, secured the ready payment of the whole amount.

VOL. XVII. NO. IX.

4 E

eye,

POLITICAL RETROSPECT.

DOMESTIC.-The infamous coalition of Lord North and Fox was positively public virtue, when compared to the alliance offensive and defensive between the radico-whigs and the O'Connell tail of ferocious Papists. But we rejoice to say that, since our last, the Lords have made a noble and patriotic stand, and the Melbourne Cabinet will soon, probably ere this meets the public be consigned to the "tomb of all the Capulets." The fact is, the existence of the Church, the Throne, and the Peers, was compromised in the revolutionary measures propounded by his Majesty's government. Had" the Municipal Corporation Bill," as passed in the Lower House, become the law of the land, the influence of rank, wealth, and talent, would have been sacrificed at the shrine of the Moloch of Democracy and the Peers have become a dead letter, a mere by-word in the country. Had the Irish Church Bill in like manner received the sanction of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, the Protestant Faith would have been abolished in Ireland, and our own altars would have felt the shock.

Had

THE KING given his assent to these two infamous bills, we do not fear to say, he would have signed his own death-warrant.

But the Peers have done their duty! The descendants of those noble Barons, who extorted the MAGNA CHARTA from King John, have used their hereditary privilege to preserve that CHARTER inviolate from the hands of King Mob! and we cordially thank them.

The majority was so overwhelming (nearly five to one) that Lord Brougham in despair declined to divide the house, although he threatened their Lordships with the indignation of their high mightinesses the Birmingham blacksmiths. But the Duke of Wellington shewed that he had still a campaign in him-and "VAUX et præterea nihil" drew in his horns.

The English members of the Lower House, we ought never to forget, have invariably resisted, by a sound majority, the innovations of the radical movement. What then have we to fear?

Britons will never bow their necks to the yoke of Irish Papists.

Parturient montes. Mr. Spring Rice has been delivered of his melancholy Budget. The relief afforded to the suffering classes reminds us of the near-sighted gentleman, who gave a pair of old stockings to a wooden legged beggar; and the financiers of Downing-street exhibit as much sympathy for the overburthened taxpayer, as the Club of Philanthropists, who proposed to furnish the starving poor with toothpicks gratis during the winter months! Verily these men

"Play such fantastic tricks before high heaven,

As make the angels weep."

But nil desperandum. The Lords, we repeat, have done their duty. It remains for the people to do theirs, and in case a general election is determined upon, to condemn every revolutionary candidate to a political death without" benefit of clergy."

IRELAND. This unhappy portion of the empire continues the prey of anarchy, popery, and incendiarism. The arch-fiend gloats on the misery which his own accursed practices have occasioned, and as long as he can finger the rent, though torn from the very heart's blood of his deluded victims, like Mokanna, he exults in his own bad eminence. Old Mina is sadly wanted in Ireland, for we are quite sure nothing will ever tranquillize that country but the extirpation of popery, and the banishment of the Agitators.

SPAIN. The Royal party are gradually recovering from the shock occasioned by the death of Zumalacarreguy; and we expect ere the wane of another moon, that Evans, and the St. Giles's Banditti, will be satisfactorily disposed of. "Twere a consummation no honest man could regret. At all events, their case is desperate, for a radical whiggo-revolutionary faction has sprung up in Barcelona, and elsewhere, equally hostile to Christinos and Carlists, but signally opposed to foreign interference; so that it would not surprise us, if they united with the

forces of Don Carlos, for a time at least; and then ye mercenaries,

"A fico for you,—the fig of Spain !!"

FRANCE.-The celebration of the three glorious days was signalized by an attempt to assassinate the beloved Louis Philippe. This atrocious action has created an immense sensation, and enabled the "best of all possible Republics" to throw off the mask; and the French king now stands before Europe in all the naked deformity of a plotting tyrant. For he is pursuing, with ten-fold rigour, the very measures which drove Charles X. from the throne, and which he made an excuse for his usurpation. The reputed constructor of the "Infernal machine," named Fieschi, is himself dangerously wounded by the bursting of some of the barrels; but he resolutely main

tains that no one is implicated in the plot but himself. Amongst the sufferers are, killed,-Marshal Mortier, (Duke of Treviso ;) General la Chasse de Veriguy; Capt.Villati, Aide-de-camp to the Minister-at-War, &c. &c.

Wounded,-Generals Colbert, Heymez, and Pelet, Colonel Raffe, &c. The Duke de Broglie received a ball, which lodged in the collar of his coat. Marshal Molitor's horse was killed under him; and the horse on which the king rode was wounded in the neck.

We cannot help reprinting our note on France of last month: "The Citizen King has endeavoured to get up another assassination plot. The wolf may

REALLY come at last."

This sentence was absolutely written on the very day, almost the hour, at which the explosion took place.

UNIVERSITY, ECCLESIASTICAL, AND PAROCHIAL INTELLIGENCE.

TRIBUTES OF RESPECT.

REV. PROFESSOR SCHOLEFIELD.-The congregation attending St. Michael's church, in this town, has recently presented the Rev. Professor Scholefield with a handsome service of silver plate, consisting of a coffee-pot with lamp, milk jug, sugar basin, and waiter; altogether weighing 150 ounces. The coffee-pot and waiter bear the following inscription: "To the Rev. James Scholefield, M.A. Regius Professor of Greek in the University of Cambridge. Presented on the 15th day of July, MDCCCXXXV., being the twelfth anniversary of the commencement of his labours as Minister of the church of St. Michael, Cambridge. Offered to him as a tribute of respect and gratitude for his zealous and faithful services as a Christain Pastor, by his affectionate and attached congregation."

REV. T. ROWLANDSON. - The parishioners of Leyland have presented a very splendid tea service, and a set of table spoons, bearing the following inscription :"Presented to the Rev. T. Rowlandson, by his late parishioners, as a token of their esteem and regard for his services, as Curate of Leyland, during eleven years.— July, 1835."

REV. W. B. JAMES. The parishioners of St. Bride, Fleet-street, have presented to their late esteemed Curate, the Rev. W. B. James, M.A. a handsome silver tea service, bearing a suitable inscription, in testimony of their high regard for the zealous discharge of his ministerial duties.

DORKING. For upwards of thirty years the inhabitants of this delightful place have contemplated the erection of a new church, and on no less than five different occasions committees have been formed, and subscriptions entered into for this purpose; but obstacles arose either from prejudice, or from the squabbles of interested parties, which, up to the present hour, have defeated this most praiseworthy and desirable undertaking. At length, however, a spirit of concord animates the councils of the parish; the preliminaries of the undertaking have been brought to a successful issue, the treaties are ratified, and Mr. Bothwell has contracted to complete the work according to the original designs of W. M. Brookes, Esq., for the sum of 4,771. Of course the

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