SUNDAY SCHOOL SOCIETY. From the 25th August, 1825, to 24th November, 1925, applications have been received from and grants of books made to 123 Sunday Schools, containing 11,195 Scholars of these 123 Schools, 53 were not previously in connexion with the Society. These 53 Schools are situated as follows: In the Province of Ulster Schools. Brought forward.. 45 County of Cork..... County of Antrim Armagh In the Province of CONNAUGHT County of Mayo 5 ....... Cavan..... Roscommon.. Waterford Total Total Schools assisted, not pre viously in connexion with the Society The Books granted to the above-mentioned 123 Schools, were as follows: 3116 Testaments. 2521 Spelling Books, No. 1. 2217 Do. Do. No. 2. 54 Hints for conducting Sdy.Schools 1284 Alphabets. 682 Freeman's Card. The total number of Books granted gratuitously, and sold at reduced prices. from 24th August, 1825, until 24th November, 1825, is as follows: 342 Bibles 3628 Testaments. 4432 Spelling Books, No. 1. 3257 Do. Do. No. 2. 1548 Alphabets. 766 Freeman's Card. 77 Hints for conducting Sdy.Schools VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. The most remarkable circumstance which has occurred in our foreign relations since we last went to press, is the sudden and unlooked for death of the Empe. ror of Russia. This is said to have taken place at Tagenrog on the Sea of Azof, where he was making preparations for a grand review of the different corps d'armée stationed in that part of his vast dominions. The particulars of the event have not yet transpired, and of course conjecture is as yet vague as to the line of policy to be pursued by his successor. Whether Alexander, having consolidated his immense empire, and taken a more decided station among European Potentates, than any of his predecessors, has been removed to accelerate the fall of the Ottoman Empire by the hand of a new Constantine, or whether 'the false prophet' will have a still further time given before his destruction, it is not for us to conjecture; but it must have a considerable influence on the politics of Europe, even though the successor of Alexander pursue the same course as the deceased sovereign, and we hope most fervently that the Supreme Disposer of events will turn it to the preservation of amity and concord among the nations of the earth. With respect to the distinguished individual who has been remov. ed, we are too near him to give a distinct or decided opinion, even were we called on to do so. That he has been useful to his own dominions, and justly popular there, we have no doubt; that he was an important instrument in the hand of Providence, to assist in the overthrow of the gigantic despotism which frowned on Europe, and to check at a later period the torrent of revolutionary violence, we feel grateful to Providence; but we fear that he was but an instrument:-the sanction which he afforded to the lawless interference in the affairs of the Peninsula, mus render his motives suspicious in the eyes o every lover of liberty, while the Christian who remembers his patronage of the Bible Societies, and his encouragement of Missionary exertions, and contrasts it with his recent estrangement from both, must fear that he used the sacred Scriptures, not as the power of God unto salvation, but as a political engine to soften those manners, and cultivate those minds, which had resisted the philosophy of Catherine, and the despotism of Paul. The fate of Grecce, humanly speaking, must be influenced most seriously by the policy of Alexander's successor ;- we regret to find little that is cheering from that quarter desultory courage against the Turks, rendered useless or ineffectual by intestine commotions, temporary elevations of worthless leaders, and a want of nnited co-operation in all parties. But little advantage has been gained by the invading army, but it is assuredly only the weakness of their enemies, that gives strength to the Greeks. The equivocal character who rules Egypt, has not yet put forth his strength, and probably anticipates an independent sovereignty, by suffering his masters and their foes to waste their power in the contest. In France, the contest between the general, perhaps the infidel feeling of the people, and the intolerant claims of the Roman Catholic priesthood, seems to be drawing to a crisis. That the influence of the clergy, is not what it has been, and is not what the government would wish to make it, is manifest, not only from the language of the journals, but by the urgent complaint of the priesthood, lamenting that they have lost all political power, and must be indebted for whatever influence they possess, not to their inalienable rights as the divinely appointed deposito ries of the true faith, but to their personal character and exertions. France, we fear, has not a sufficient basis of sound scriptural religion, to found a gradual reform upon. Scepticism and indifferrence are the residuum of the retiring revolution; and if the mass be to be leavened, it will be from the little flock of Protestants, who have preserved the faith once delivered to the Saints. In Spain, anarchy and proscription still continue; and from the apparent necessity of the continuance, we may hope that the tyranny, ecclesiastical and civil, which have so long laid waste that country, is in imminent danger, and cannot for its support, trust even to the arms of the French. The Brazils have been recognized by the King of Portugal, who bas ceded, in full sovereignty, that country to his son, though he retains, for his lifetime, the barren title. The progress of religious and political freedom in the New Would, is, indeed, most interesting; springing, as if mature, from the womb of the darkest slavery; the New States manifest a tempered regard for the liberties of persons and conscience, which is most gratifying. Bible Societies, and Education Societies, are in action. Buenos Ayres has decreed complete and unlimit ed toleration; and even Mexico has disclaimed temporal obedience to the See of Rome, thus overturning its power, while they profess its faith. Hence may follow true Protestantism; for we ought never to forget, that we allow to others the same liberty of thought which we claim for ourselves; and that in our reformation we but exercised the right of an independant Christian Church, which we could not have surrendered, though it might have been usurped : let Rome too bave no motive to retain her influence, and she will not long impede the progress of truth. We wish that we could say as much for our own country; but the darkness still broods over it, which is partly political and partly religious. The New Association has continued its sittings; and although much of the evil is counteracted by the disunion of the leaders, still, the violence of the speeches, and the broadness of the assertions disseminated extensively through the medium of the daily press, must produce on the ignorant and unstable minds of the commonalty, effects most deplorable. We hope that the gradual spread of employment and capital will give some objects to the peasantry more useful than the harangues of their agitators. After a severe contest for the vacant representative in the peerage, Lord Farnham has been returned by a considerable majority, and against the influence of Government. Without venturing an opinion on the political character of the noble peer, we cannot but express our satisfaction that so warm a friend to the religious and social interests of his native country, has a seat in the Legislature. The public mind has been much agitated by the recent London failures, arising from the Bank having limited its too large issues. Measures the most efficacious are being resorted to; and Government has ordered a most extensive coinage of gold to supply the deficiency.Notwithstanding the general panic and * See a pamphlet by the Abbé de Menais. distress, it was a truly gratifying and cheering sight to witness the alacrity with which the principal merchants of the various trading towns in England came forward to protect the public credit, and to mutually assist each other. If Solon's description of a good commonwealth be applicable to a commercial community, Great Britain has lately exhibited a most splendid instance of excellence. We regret to hear that some towns in Ireland have participated in the distress. The appendix to the Report of the Commissioners of Education, has made its appearance; and although our views upon the subject differ essentially from those set forward in the Report, we have to express our gratitude for the mass of information which the evidence contains. It is rumoured that Government purposes immediately instituting some schools on the plan proposed, to try its efficiency. POETRY. FUTURITY. AN IMITATION OF THE 11TH ODE OF THE FIRST BOOK OF HORACE. Presumptuons Man give o'er! To man unknown, by man untold— Begin whilst we are here; snows, The time now wisely use, Nor mercy's calls refuse; What may be lost by that delay. Nor think of days in store, But snatch th' escaping hour, nor e'er suppose Another day begins, when this will close. MISSIONARY HYMN, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye, through his poverty, might be rich.” 2 Cor. viii. 9. He came from the mansions, the mansions on high, From the throne, from the bosom of GOD! The realms of adversity heard his first sigh, In infancy's fragile abode. O Bethle❜m! thy manger once cradled that head And Pity assigned Him her lowliest bed, On whom the vast universe hung. Yes, moved by the love that filled ever his heart, Alone in affliction he stood; And deigned from the wealth of the Godhead to part, To pour it in treasures of blood. Then haste, let the sons of calamity know Hail kindred Immortals! in regions of night We'll send you his Gospel, his Gospel of light BEDELL THE CHRISTIAN'S WREATH. Not now allured by mortal themes, The "Rose of Sharon" first I'll chuse, That saving wisdom, such as blest He who, with sweet harmonious close, And next I'll cull from Judah's plains I'll seek the Palm whose branches strowed To Salem the Redeemer's road, Next will I sprig of Olive fair From out the sacred garden bear; Then may this bright and holy wreath γγ. ERRATA. The haste with which our publication of this Month has been printed, has occasioned the following errors of the press, which our readers are requested to correct: page 3, line 21, after "and" insert "the peculiarities thence derived have proved the " page 6, line 3, for "faith" read "creeds." line 45, for "negotiates "read" negotiators." ON THE ADVANTAGES OF AN UNION AMONGST IRISH PROTESTANTS. The student in physical enquiries meets not unfrequently with phenomena that would indicate a deviation from the laws of nature, and disturbances that would seem to threaten the dissolution of the universe; but a very little science never fails to connect the aberration with the general principle, to discover antagonist forces preserving the system in equilibrium, and tracing the eccentric variations to the influence of the laws they would seem to violate -to find what ignorance would regard as sources of decay, steadying the universe into permanence and order. Similar discoveries reward the student in moral philosophy; he finds a similar provision made to prevent the social universe from suffering under disturbing forces, and those very forces compelled to minister to its stability he finds intelligence active even in mental darkness; order springing into existence from the midst of tumult; and the elements of social happiness, like the egg of the oriental mythology, generated and preserved in the very bosom of chaotic violence. The passions of human nature, counteracting one another, give stability to the machine which they seem calculated, "weak masters though they be," to plunge in confusion and disorder; and all things are made to "work together for good," contributing, though indirectly, to the general advantage. In comparing, however, these subjects, we must remark some important differences. In physics, we are not left to conjecture, for a single step; the existence and result of the combined and |