funds, to make the annual appropriation for Bibles and Common Prayer Books for distribution. It will probably amount to about $400 or $500. "Brief as is our report, we rejoice to find in it matter of congratulation, and ground of hope that, by God's blessing, our society has not been, and is not, without efficiency as an humble instrument in his hand for promoting his glory, the good of his church, the best interests of society and the commonwealth, and the spiritual and eternal welfare of our fellow-men. The circulation of more than 1200 Bibles and Common Prayer Books, during the past year, and of more than 14,000 since the establishment of the society, cannot have been unproductive of great good in these noble objects of Christian enterprise, exertion, and liberality. We would gratefully acknowledge the blessing of God in the accomplishment of any such good which may have been realized; and humbly pray that the same blessing may more and more largely attend all efforts for advancing the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom.

66 Signed by order of the board,

"J. H. HOBART, President. "Attested, "BENJAMIN T. ONDERDONK, Sec'ry. "New-York, Feb. 21, 1827."

which passes before us; we are excited by some short-lived success, or depressed and rendered miserable by some equally short-lived disappointment. But our energy and our dependence are both in vain. The stream bears us on, and our joys and our griefs alike are left behind us; we may be shipwrecked, but we cannot anchor; our voyage may be hastened, but it cannot be delayed; whether rough or smooth, the river hastens towards its home, till the roaring of the ocean is in our ears, and the tossing of his waves is beneath our keel, and the lands lessen from our eyes, and the floods are lifted up around us, and the earth loses sight of us, and we take our last leave of earth and its inhabitants, and of our further voyage there is no witness but the Infinite and Eternal.

And do we still take so much anxious thought for the future days, when the days which are gone by have so strangely and uniformly deceived us? Can we still so set our hearts on the creatures of God, when we find, by sad experience, that the Creator only is permanent t? Or shall we not rather lay aside every weight and every sin which does most easily beset us, and think of ourselves henceforth as wayfaring persons only, who have no abiding inheritance but in the hope of a better world, and to whom even that world would be worse than hopeless, if it were not for our Lord Jesus Christ,

By Bishop HEBer.

LIFE bears us on like the stream of a mighty river. Our boat, at first, glides gently down the narrow channel, through the playful murmurings of the

tained in his mercies?

From the Church Register for March 17, 1827.

The trees shed their

blossoms over our young heads; the flowers on the brink seem to offer themselves to our young hands; we are happy in hope, and we grasp eagerly at the beauties around us; but the stream hurries us on, and still our hands are empty.

Our course in youth and manhood is along a wider and deeper flood, and amid objects more striking and magnificent. We are animated by the moving picture of enjoyment and industry

Peninsula.

THE peninsula between the Chesapeake and Delaware bays, is a tract of country about 200 miles in extent, and between 80 and 90 at its greatest breadth. It is divided under three different governments, the entire state of Delaware, the eastern shore of Maryland, and two counties of Virginia, being included within it. "Though our country," says a resident, " is for the most part a dead level, it is girded round by the finest bays. It is inter

sected by noble rivers, and filled with a thousand deep and green retreats of polished rural life. It may be safely asserted, that there is no section of the United States where a larger number of retired gentlemen of correct literary taste can be found than on this peninsula." Anterior to the revolution, the Church of England, as it was then called, was in a very flourishing condition throughout the peninsula. In those parts belonging to Maryland and Virginia, it was established by law; and though not so established in Delaware, was supported liberally, and contained a large proportion of its respect able inhabitants. Between 1735 and the revolution, many substantial, and some beautiful, edifices were built of brick, several of which have bid defiance, in a large measure, to decay, though deserted almost from the latter period to the present. When the war which separated this country from England began, there were about sixty churches of brick or frame on the peninsula, some of which were large and overflowing with worshippers. Some of them were then enjoying the services of faithful pastors: of these, a portion were ejected for loyalty, and for refusing the oaths of allegiance to the local governments which were made necessary by the times; others were at the same period, near the end of their earthly career, and soon disappeared from the scene of their labours. Some, however, had not character enough to retain their hold on the affections and support of their people, when the protection and support of the local government was withdrawn from them. The list of the clergy in the United States, appended to the Journal of the General Convention for 1792, and which was the earliest list published, gives the names of but thirteen clergymen on the eastern shore of Maryland, several of whom were young men, recently ordained by the newly consecrated bishops, although there were twenty parishes; and of these, some of the largest, having two or three churches, were unsupplied. In Delaware, as appears by the same list, there were but three clergymen, though there were from twelve to fifteen churches.

The three parishes of the Virginia shore, containing six or seven churches, had three resident clergymen. Thus on the whole peninsula there were, in 1792, but nineteen clergymen for the supply of about sixty churches. In many cases the churches were opened only once in four or five weeks, and then only for one service; perhaps not one of them all was opened on every Sunday through the year, and except on the principal fasts and festivals of the church, they were rarely, perhaps never opened on week days;→→ many of them were altogether closed for years. This destitution was doubtless owing, in the first instance, to the inability of the parishes to obtain clergymen. They had, before the revolu tion, chiefly looked to England for their ministers. This fountain was now dried up, and other springs had not opened upon them, and can hardly be said, even now, to have more than begun to flow-the peninsula having furnished but a very small proportion of ministers of the church. This inability to obtain clergymen had, when they at length became able to increase their number, a reaction, through long disuse of public worship, and other means, in rendering their support more burdensome, and therefore less easily and more reluctantly assumed; and thus to these and other causes of a kindred character, is owing the many deserted and decaying churches, which, once the ornament and the pride of that country, are now to the pious Christian soul-harrowing monuments of the piety of their fathers, and of the want of it, in no small degree, among their children. We know well that there are still many pious members of the church in that country-we know well that these things are to them a source of sorrow, not so manifest, perbaps, to the sight of a stranger, because of their long familiarity with it, and of long acquaintance with the difficulties which impede the removal of the evil. The traveller in going from Pennsylvania down the line which divides Delaware from Maryland, can see, within a few miles of that line, the disfigured and tottering remains of five churches, and the spots where stood three or four

and applied to the use of the church; but in the further prosecution of the business, some new difficulties have arisen, which, it is feared, will retard the recovery of the remaining property for some time to

come.

Massachusetts.-Since the last General Convention, the church in this state has continued to flourish, but not without some adverse circumstances.-St. Paul's church, in Boston, has been involved in great difficulties; but, by a kind Providence, and by the exertion of its members and friends, it has been restored to peace and prosperity beyond expectation. The church at Cambridge, which, owing to its dilapidated state, was for some time closed, has been thoroughly repaired, and was reopened for divine service in July last The Rev. Professor Otis, of Harvard University, about the same time, received priest's orders, with a view to the care of that church. Episcopalians who send their sons to this university, may now be assured, by the blessing of God, of uninterrupted ser vices in this church.-The missionary society in this state, which, for many years, had but a nominal existence, has, since the last General Convention, become effective and useful. Ten of the clergy of this state have performed missionary duty under the direction and patronage of this society. By their labours two new churches have been formed; three expiring churches have been revived; and in two other towns, our liturgy is regularly performed with the prospect of establishing churches, in one place immediately, and in the other at no very distant period. Three new churches have been formed; one in each of the following places: Leicester, Lowell, and Northampton. Four new houses for public worship have been erected, and two of them consecrated, viz. those at Leicester and Lowell.-There are now in this state 25 churches and congregations, many of them small; eighteen clergymen with cures, and seven without cures, making

25; and 1300 communicants. Since the last General Convention, there have been reported 722 baptisms, and 197 confirmations-The church in this state appears to be increasing, and its importance to the interests of pure and undefiled religion is more than ever before felt and acknow ledged.

Rhode Island. It does not appear that any material alteration has taken place in the condition of the church in this state since the last General Convention. Through the blessing of Divine Providence, the four principal congregations continue to prosper and increase. Some additions have been made to the holy communion, though not as many as at a former period. In the Narragansett Country, the church is still in a state of depression. Little success has as yet attended the exertions of the

Church Missionary Society, to promote the cause of piety, and extend the influ ence of our holy religion.-Sunday schools are in successful operation in all the churches. At the last convention, measures were taken to commence a fund for the support of the bishop. An interest has lately been excited in favour of the Society for Domestic and Foreign Missions; and societies auxiliary to that excellent institution, have been established in several of the parishes.

Connecticut. The number of parishes in the diocese is 74. The aggregate of confirmations is 1156; and the number of communicants reported to the last convention is 4233.-The present number of clergy is 53, exclusive of the diocesan.— Much interest has recently been excited in favour of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society; and auxiliary associations have been formed in many of the principal parishes. Some of these have subscribed very liberally, when their means are considered; and no doubt is entertained but that, ere long, the diocese of Connecticut will do all that can be reasonably expected of her, in support of the interesting cause of missions.-The Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge in the Diocese continues to give aid to two or three missionaries, who are usefully employed in collecting new congregations, and in visiting small or decayed parishes-The establishment of Sunday schools has become general, and their usefulness is apparent. A well digested system of instruction is, however, greatly needed. The clergy still continue to hold an annual convocation, in which the interests of religion, and the best means of promoting it, are discussed in an informal way. Were the usefulness of these meetings visible only in uniting the clergy more closely in the bonds of Christian fellowship, in making them to be "of one heart and one soul," and in obviating party feelings and divided counsels, in that body to which men look for an example of unity and brotherly love, they would deserve to be perpetuated. Such has been the benefit experienced from them, that their discontinuance would be regarded, by the clergy of the diocese, as a serious injury to the church. But the event of most import ance to be recorded in the history of this diocese, since the last report, is the establishment and organization of Washington College. This institution is the result of exertions, continued under many and great discouragements, for more than twentyfive years; and at last, with complete success. Its charter was obtained about the time of the last meeting of this convention. Since that period, the sum requisite for its endowment, fifty thousand dollars, has been raised within the limits of the diocese. The college was organized, by

the appointment of its officers, as soon as the funds were secured; and on the 23d of September, 1824, the course of instruction was commenced. The erection of the collegiate edifices, and the improvement of the grounds, were also begun. The Aculty of the college consists, at present, of a president, a professor of belles lettres and oratory, a professor of chemistry and mineralogy, a professor of ancient languages, a professor of botany, a tutor of mathematics, and a teacher of the modern languages of Europe. The present number of students is sixty-five. The college buildings, two in number, contain, besides the chapel and other public apartments, accommodations for about one hundred students. The library belonging to the institution, together with that of the Rev. Dr. Jarvis, deposited there during his ab. sence in Europe, amounts to about five thousand volumes, to which the students have daily access. In the several depart ments of science, every desirable facility is offered, in the possession of a suitable philosophical and chemical apparatus, a valuable cabinet of minerals, and an extensive botanic garden, with a green-house filled with exotic plants. The several examinations, and other literary exercises, of Washington College, evince a profi ciency in study not surpassed in any similar institution, and have already gained for it a large share of the public confidence. A great proportion of the students have Latty formed themselves into an" Associatiom aziliary to the General Theological Seminary;" the object of which is, to raise funds for the support of candidates for orders pursuing their studies there. While the flattering commencement of this college is regarded as an auspicious event to the church, it must not be forgotten, that its future prosperity will depend on the support given to it by Episcopalians in various parts of our coun try.-The Episcopal academy at Cheshire has lately been deprived of its principal, Dr. Bronson, by death, but will soon be re-organized. There is a flourishing academy, under the superintendence of the Rev. Mr. Sherwood, at Norwalk; and two others, one at Sharon, and the other at Granby, directed by persons belonging to our communion.

New York-The work of the Lord con tinues, by his blessing, to prosper in this portion of his vineyard. The diocese consists, at present, of 114 clergymen (the bishop, 92 presbyters, and 21 deacons) and 153 congregations; being an accession, since the report to the last General Convention, of 25 clergymen, and 29 congregations.-Twenty-six missionaries are, at present, employed in this diocese.-It has pleased God to remove by death, since the last,General Convention, the Rev. CaJeb Hopkins, who had recently removed

from Pennsylvania, and become the offi ciating minister at Bath, Steuben county, and Angelica, Allegany county; the Rev. William S. Irving, deacon, while travelling in Europe for his health; the Rev. James L Yvonnet, deacon; and the Rev. Isaac Low, deacon. Of these gentlemen, the first was an aged presbyter, who, having come into this diocese, with ample testi monials, from that of Pennsylvania, had been a few months very faithfully and usefully employed, when he was called hence. The others were young men, just beginning, with talents and acquirements of the most respectable order, to devote themselves piously and zealously to the work of their choice, when they were lost for ever to the church on earth-It is truly gratifying to be able to state, that the sentence of suspension on the Rev. Timothy Clowes, LL. D., stated in the report of this diocese, in 1820, to have been passed, has, since the last General Convention, been revoked; and that gentle. man is now very respectably and usefully settled in another diocese.-A similar sentence has, within the last year, been passed on the Rev. Augustus L. Converse; but was revoked, after a few months, on the most satisfactory evidence that the ends of discipline had been fully answered, and that his restoration would be productive of no injury, but of positive benefit, to the church. This diocese was, for nearly two-thirds of the time since the last General Convention, deprived of the blessing, heretofore so largely enjoyed, of the bishop's visitations. In September, 1823, he was under the necessity of sailing for Europe for the benefit of his health. In October, 1825, it pleased God to restore him to his diocese, so far recovered as to enable him to enter on his accustomed course of episcopal duty During the last summer, and the present autumn, he completed an official tour of between three and four thousand miles, and visited 65 congregations, independently of those in the city of New-York. The number of persons confirmed by him, principally since his return from Europe, is about 2209. Add to these 72, confirmed by Bishop Croes, and the whole number of persons confirmed since the period embraced in the last report, is about 2272.-And here it is proper to state, than in addition to services rendered to this diocese, as above noticed, during the absence of the diocesan, by several of his right reverend brethren, Bishop Croes, agreeably to the request of Bishop Hobart, performed with great kindness and promptitude, such episcopal acts as are essential to the conducting of the ordinary course of ecclesiastical affairs.-The missionary and parochial reports, since the last General Convention, furnish the following aggregate: baptisms (adults 654, children 3573,