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friends of the Society, that the appointment is still open to such a desirable individual as may offer to fulfil the duties connected with it.

RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE.

Your Committee have already stated, that there has been a considerable addition made to your Schools, and Scholars; and they have now the grateful duty of announcing, that, with this increase of responsibility, the Lord, whose is the gold and the silver, has provided adequate means to defray the expenses. The Receipts for the year have amounted to £9,170. 9s. 5d. and the Expenditure to £8,679. 13s. 2d.; but as, at the termination of the former year, the Society was indebted to its Treasurer, and Agent for Ireland, in the sum of £685, 88. 5d., there remains, after including a Bill for £150. credited in the Irish, but not paid in time for insertion in your English account, a balance against the Society, amounting to £94. 12s. 2d.

Your Committee feel it right to mention, that a large sum has been received, during the current year, in the way of Legacies; and, among these, one of £500. (less duty,) from the Estate of the late Rev. J. Crosse, Vicar of Bradford, Yorkshire; in the obtaining of which Bequest, at that amount, the Committee have to express their obligations for the kind interest manifested by the Solicitor to the Estate, Mr. Charles Shearman; and the sum of £50. from the Powerscourt Fund, in Ireland, by the Right Hon. the Earl of Roden; but, recognizing the great principle, that all good is derivable from God alone, they consider it but of little importance from what source he is pleased to bring them aid; and they cheerfully and gratefully place the future guidance of the Insti

tution in his hands, whom they have proved to be "a very present help in time of need."

Among the Donations, your Committee have to announce a further one of £100. from the Irish Incorporated Society of London; and the sum of £30. from Hobart's Town, Van Dieman's Land, through the Rev. A. M'Arthur, being the fourth contribution from that distant Colony, for the promotion of Scriptural Education in Ireland.

It is a gratifying duty which your Committee have to perform, in stating, that, with the increase of anxiety for the connexion of Schools with your Society in Ireland, there has been, according to their circumstances, a corresponding desire to aid its funds; so that nearly all the new Schools are attended with little more expense to your Society, than that incurred by Inspection, and the supply of Books, the Patrons paying the Master's salary. And it will not fail to afford sincere pleasure to our friends in England to know, that a sum little short of £900. has, this year, been contributed by the parents of the children in your Schools, exceeding that of the former year by £200.; whilst it is but justice to the Nobility, Clergy, and Gentry of the Sister Island, to mention, that, in addition to their Subscriptions and Donations, as stated in the Report, a very large amount is expended by them upon the Schools inspected by this Society, which does not appear in the audited account.

NEW POST OFFICE ACT FOR IRELAND.

For many years, this Society enjoyed the privilege of free postage in Ireland; but the old Post Office Act

having been repealed during the last year, this important advantage was withdrawn. Your Committee are happy, however, in being able to state, that His Majesty's Post-Master General has allowed this Institution the benefit of a clause in the new Act, which permits, at his discretion, letters to and from charitable Societies in Ireland to be forwarded at the reduced rate of two-pence for each letter.

APPLICATION FOR SCHOOLS.

Your Committee are anxious to impress on the attention of this Meeting, and the Christian public in general, the loud call which exists for increased aid to the funds of this Society, arising out of the number of applications for new Schools, which your Committee, at present, are under the painful necessity of refusing. In one or two instances, the Schools of a whole district have been offered to be placed under your guardianship; and, in order, in some degree, to meet the growing demand, your Committee have consented, as far as the means placed at their disposal will warrant, to pay the Teachers of such new Schools as are in most destitute circumstances, and anxious to retain a full Bible system of education, upon a reduced scale, allowing sixpence per quarter for each pupil which passes examination; and from the experience already furnished them, your Committee have no hesitation in saying, that if an augmentation of funds should authorize such an extension of the Society's operations, a vast increase of Schools, and Scholars, will be effected in the ensuing year; and thus will be secured, for multitudes, the reading of that Book, which, through Divine teaching, is able to make men wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

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Your Committee would, therefore, in closing their Report, earnestly invite the friends of Bible Education, throughout the United Kingdom, to rally round the standard of our Emmanuel, which, in his own words, bears this inscription, "Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me;" and, with a Christian spirit, contend for the faith once delivered to the saints;" not merely around our own fire-sides, and immediate neighbourhoods, but by using every exertion to make known the salvation of the Gospel throughout the world; and, especially, to train up the Children of Ireland in the ways of God, through the medium of the Holy Scriptures, assured, that, in doing so, you will enjoy the unalloyed satisfaction of knowing, that the means employed are sanctioned and appointed by Him, whom you love, and desire to please; and that you will thus be applying such remedial measures to the disordered and distracted condition of Ireland, as will, in the estimation of your Committee, best secure the peace and happiness of both countries.

They would particularly request a continuance of the sanction and support of the old friends of the Society, assuring them, no change whatever has occurred in the constitution or practice of the Institution; that, aiming at the glory of God, and the salvation of men, they desire to unite with all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, in effecting the simple but blessed purpose of bringing sinners to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world, by offering to them those Scriptures which it is their bounden duty, as well as high privilege, to read, and to form their own judgment of their sacred contents. And, humbly relying on Divine strength, it is the calm and deliberate determination of your Committee, in the name of the Insti

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tution, and notwithstanding the opposition to their efforts by superstition, and the spirit of the world, to go forward with their long tried Bible plan of education for Ireland, believing that the language of the Psamlist is really applicable to, and enjoyed by your Society, "The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge."

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