taken as suddenly! are you ready, are you now fit to die? If not, you will be ruined for ever, if you now die. It is no matter to you, how others are prepared, as far as your own soul is concerned. God has spoken to you in this judgment: and if any of you are cut off in your sins, or your formality, or your half service, you cannot plead ignorance as an excuse. If you are sent to the left hand of the Judge, what will you have to say?

Thou Lord didst warn me, awaken me, rouse me, but I was resolved to pay no heed-I was determined to slumber in my trespasses-to live in violation of thy will-to die in contempt of thy laws. Thou didst tell me, I was left to REPENT, to PRAY, to TURN To thee, to live as a sincere Christian; but I cared not for thy counsel, and now I am TAKEN TO BE DESTROYED. Reader-take care to get ready betimes. "He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy *.”

(Sent by a friend from Hornsey.)

SUCCESSFUL CASE OF RESTORATION, BY MEANS OF THE METHOD ADOPTED BY THE HUMANE SOCIETY.

ON Sunday morning during the frost, an accident occurred at the eastern end of the Serpentine, which nearly proved fatal to a young gentleman, the son of a silversmith. The ice broke where he was skaiting, and he fell into the water, the depth of which was eighteen feet. He grasped one of the numerous poles which the Humane Society had scattered on the ice for the preservation of the lives of the public, by which he supported himself until relieved from his dangerous situation by the men and boat which belong to that Society. He was instantly taken to the receiving-house of the institution above named, where Mr. Woolley,

* Proverbs, xxix. 1.

one of its medical assistants, promptly attended; and we rejoice to say, that in two hours the young gentleman was sufficiently recovered to be removed to his father's residence.

The exertions of this truly Humane Society are unwearied, and are deserving of all praise,—and of the gratitude of the public, on whom the Society has, for many years, been conferring its benefits.

How strange it is, that, for the mere pleasure of skaiting, any person should be found, who would risk his life when the ice is in any thing like a doubtful state of hardness. How grievous it is, that there should be so many persons who are so forgetful of the purposes for which the Sabbath was ordained,-for the accident was on a Sunday. We do not know the young gentleman who was thus mercifully saved,--but we trust that he will remember his deliverance to the last day of his life,-and be found for the time to come worshipping God on every Sabbath day;—and among his faithful servants every day.

V.

"TO SWING."

IF the following short, but most melancholy narrative, can be of any use in deterring your peasantry from similar excesses, and guarding them from similar misfortunes, the editor will be doing good by making it public.

I am curate of a small parish in Hampshire, and hearing that there was a great gathering of people in my immediate neighbourhood, I rose early in the morning to use my influence with my parishioners to keep out of the mischief. The first thing I saw was seven persons, all married men, with bludgeons in their hands, repairing to the general assemblage of labourers. I begged, entreated, and implored them to remain where they were; I brought out their wives and children to assist me, but it was all in vain; they treated me with respect, but were determined;—and I

lost sight of them; in forty-eight hours from that period, this was their condition:

John Symonds, (wife and four children) skull fractured in five places, quite insensible, and life in imminent danger.

Francis Dorking, a widower, (five children) committed to Devizes jail for machine-breaking-will be tried for his life.

William Farmer, left cheek cut down to the bone with a yeoman's sword-three cuts in the arm, so bad that his arm was taken off that night.

John Freeling, absconded, with three warrants out against him for capital offences, and seven children and wife left to the parish.

Abraham Tucker, trampled upon, and cannot possibly recover-was just married.

Daniel Jones and John Vigor, considered before the time of Swing to be two excellent young men ; they were led into drunkenness-plundered housesare committed to take their trial, and will, in all probability, perish on the gallows, leaving nine children to deplore the madness and folly of that fatal day.

It falls to my unhappy lot to visit daily these miserable mothers and deserted children, and if the boldest peasant who had taken up his bludgeon against the magistrates and the law could see it, I believe his heart would die within him, and he would return in humbleness of spirit to the plough. It is a fearful thing to be cursed by the poor; but, day and night, these unhappy people call down the curse of heaven upon SWING. Copied from the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, December 18th, 1830.

WINTER CLUB.

To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor.

MR. EDITOR,

As nothing can be more desirable, in a temporal point

of view, than the extension of provident institutions among the poor, and as the knowledge of the plans of existing societies may lead to the formation of others, I beg leave to submit to you the Prospectus, and an outline of the proceedings of a society formed in the spring of the last year, and which has succeeded even beyond the hopes of the founders.

We had altogether about 607. deposited by 150 individuals-the largest deposit being no more than 55s. 6d., and only eleven others exceeding 20s. A bonus, raised by subscription among the gentry and farmers, was granted, of 3d. upon every shilling, up to 40s.; beyond which sum no premium was allowed, either to any individual, or any one family: and, in the month of December, orders were given to different tradesmen, according to the wishes of the depositors, to supply them with goods to the value of their deposits with the bonus. These orders were afterwards sent in by the tradesmen, and paid by the treasurer.

The amount of the bonus must necessarily depend on circumstances; and even if there be none, still this means of procuring comforts and necessaries in winter is well worth the attention of the poor; for there must be interest for the money; and the money, probably, without some such plan, would never have been saved. Our ledger consisted of a good-sized copy-book, ruled thus

And each depositor received a ticket of stiff cartridge paper, ruled according to the pattern sent,* and had the name written on the back.

* Nearly the same as that printed in our January Number.

The following Prospectus was printed at the expense of an individual, and is, of course, necessary only on the formation of a society.

Many persons are now enquiring when the deposits will be received again, and wishing that they had deposited more during the past year.

I am, Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

M. W.

"BATHEASTON PROVIDENT SOCIETY.

"The object of this Society is to induce Mechanics and Labourers residing in the parish to make weekly deposits of such sums of money, however small, as they may be able to lay by during the summer, and which shall be expended for them by the Directors of the Society in the first week in December in every year, either in the purchase of coals or of such articles of clothing or bedding as the Depositors may require for themselves or their families, or in the payment of their rent at their own option. And in order to induce persons to make deposits, a small addition will be made by the Directors of the Society, to each deposit, in proportion to the amount thereof.

"Deposits will be received every Monday evening, between six and seven o'clock, at the school-room, and the money so received will afterwards be placed by the Treasurer in the Savings' Bank till the first week in December, when the total sum deposited by each person with the addition to be made thereto by the Directors, will be expended for the benefit of the depositor in the manner above mentioned.

"Depositors will be at liberty to withdraw their deposits at any time, upon giving one week's previous notice; but in that case, no addition will be made thereto; and if any depositors leave the parish, their money will be returned to them without any addition.

"No one will be permitted to make a deposit, who