2. You are carefully to avoid all assemblies of the people at fairs, or markets; confining your attention, as much as possible, to families and individuals; endeavouring to impress upon travellers whom you meet with on the road; or labourers during their seasons of rest or refreshment, or on sick, afflicted, or distressed persons, to whom you may obtain access, the inestimable value of that revelation of mercy which proclaims forgiveness of sins, and admission to everlasting life to all who, with true repentance, and humble faith, seek for pardon through the all-atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord.

3. You are diligently to improve any opportunities which may offer of reading the Holy Scriptures at wakes, carefully selecting such portions as may best improve the solemn scene of mortality presented to your view, by exhibiting the evil and consequences of sin:-the shortness and uncertainty of life :-the duty of seeking the Lord while He may be found :—the readiness of God to receive all who return to Him: the love of God in sending His Son into the world to save the world-the encouragement given to the ignorant to ask wisdom of God and the assurance that our heavenly Father will give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him. But you are to take especial care not in any way to countenance the irrational and sinful practices which so often prevail on these mournful occasions; and in case you are prevented from bringing the word of Life before the persons present, you are meekly and quietly to withdraw.

4. You are ever to keep in view the precise character which you are required to maintain, and the office which you are sent forth to fulfil, namely, that of a Reader of the word of God. You are not sent out as a Preacher, nor as a Disputer, but simply as a Scripture Reader. You are, therefore, to set before your hearers the plain testimony of Holy Writ, in the very words of the inspired volume. You are, as far as possible, to answer the questions which may be asked by your hearers in Scripture language; referring to the Bible itself, quoting chapter and verse, and endeavouring affectionately to impress upon every inquirer, that the expressions you use, are the very declarations of the word of God, and not any private opinions of your own. You will be supplied with the sacred volume in the English and Irish languages; and in case you discover that the English version is not understood, or does not excite the attention of the hearers, you are to try how far they may be induced to listen to the Irish version. You are to endeavour to reply, in a mild and affectionate manner, to the objections of any who may oppose themselves; and to "be ready always to give an answer to him who asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;" but you are neither to commence an attack upon the peculiar sentiments of others, nor to attempt, at any time, by artifice or misrepresentation, to induce any to suppose your character or profession to be different from what it really is. You are frankly to avow, on all proper occasions, that you are a Scripture Reader, belonging to the London Hibernian Society, and to embrace all fair opportunities of explicitly stating, that the sole objects of that Society are the establishing of Schools, and circulating the Holy Scriptures in

* Assemblies of persons who meet together in Ireland, at the honse of a deceased person, to wake or watch before the funeral.

Ireland; that the conductors of that Society are desirous of giving instruction to every class of the community, without any distinction of party, or sentiment, and that the only books they provide for their Schools are English and Irish Spelling Books, and English and Irish Bibles and Testaments; and you will endeavour to obviate the objections which are made to the Society; to encourage parents to send their children to the Schools, and adult persons to attend the Evening or Sunday Schools; and in case any breach of the Society's rules shall come to your knowledge, you are to report the same to your immediate Superior, that it may be corrected.

5. You are at all times to consider yourself under the controul of that person, under whose superintendence you are placed, and obey those directions which you from time to time receive from him: you will receive from him such copies of the Holy Scriptures as he shall think you ought to distribute, and will account to him for such distribution you will consult him upon all important occasions,-obey his directions as to the district in which you are to travel,-submit your Journal regularly to his inspection, requesting him to peruse the same, prior to its transmission to the Society's office, and accompany it with such observations as he may think proper: you will regularly insert in your Journal each day's proceedings, recording the places where you read the Holy Scriptures-the portion read on each occasion-the conversation excited-the names of the parties present-and any other circumstances, either of an interesting or discouraging nature; remembering always to state facts and circumstances exactly according to truth, that, in case it should ever be deemed necessary, you may be able solemnly to affirm, before proper authority, the truth of the statements which you have recorded.

6. You are diligently to take heed to your own personal religion, and to go forth to the work and service to which you are appointed, in dependence upon the Divine assistance and blessing, and as in the sight of Almighty God. You are ever to remember, that a light and careless frame of mind—an angry and unsubdued spirit and temper—or an unholy walk and conversation, will defeat the very object for which you are appointed, and will eventually, if indulged in, remove you from your employment. Be very diligent, therefore, in cultivating personal religion; be regular and fervent in prayer to Almighty God, to pardon your past transgressions, for Jesus Christ's sake, and to give you His Holy Spirit, that you may understand His word-embrace His promises and walk according to its precepts. Let that blessed Book which you are sent to read to others, be the subject of your own daily study; carefully compare one part of Scripture with another, and examine your own heart, and life, by that unerring rule. Make a point of attending on public worship, regularly, on the Lord's day; and join with the people of God in partaking of the Lord's supper. Whenever you begin to read the Holy Scriptures to any, adopt the words of the Psalmist, and pray either openly, or secretly, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law," and close your reading with some similar short address to Almighty God for His blessing. In this spirit of faith-of prayer-and of holy industry, you are to go forth, day by day, remembering that you, and those to whom you read the word of

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God, must shortly all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, to give account of the deeds which are done in the body: often meditate on the solemnities of that day, live in habitual preparation for its approach, "be stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

CURSORY INSPECTORS.

Having been already engaged as a Scripture Reader, you are of course well acquainted with the duties of that office, and you are to continue to employ all the time which is not required for the inspection of the Society's Schools in the discharge of the duties of your former employment.

In addition to the duties of a Scripture Reader, you are now required to inspect all the Schools in the district to which you are appointed, in regular succession, acccording to the directions from time to time given by the person under whose superintendence you are placed, and you are to endeavour, as much as possible, to visit and inspect every School within your district, once a month, aud, as far as practicable, to examine one School every day.

You are, according to the instructions given by your immediate Superior, or, in case no such instructions are given by him, according to the best of your own judgment, to vary your route, so that you may visit the several Schools without any previous intimation, and when not expected; you are carefully to examine the different classes, especially the Senior Spelling Book and Scripture classes, in order to ascertain whether they understand the grammatical meaning of the lesssons they are required to commit to memory. You are to observe whether the School is kept in proper order - whether the Rules and Regulations are attended to-whether any improper books are introduced into the Schools, and, in short, any books, except the Holy Scriptures, and the Society's Spelling Books. You are to make entries of all such matters on the back of the class paper, and insert a copy of your observations in your next communication to Dublin.

You are to wait upon those Clergymen and Gentlemen in your district, who are favourable to the Society's objects, and patronize its Schools; communicating unto them, in a respectful manner, the observations which you have made, receiving any directions or testimonials which they may wish to communicate to the Society, and recording, in your Journals, any circumstances of importance which may arise. You will also pay respectful attention to the Committees of the Auxiliary Societies within your district, and transmit from them any testimonials which they may think proper to communicate, either in your own favour, or with regard to the Society's general operations, or with reference to any particular Schools.

You are carefully to read over, and seriously to meditate upon the different instructions given to the Scripture Readers, with reference to their general duties, and their personal religion; remembering always, that every step you are advanced in the Society's service, it becomes you the more sedulously to advance in the Divine life, that you may more faithfully discharge the trust reposed in you, to the glory of God, and the welfare of your fellow-men.

TESTIMONIALS.

From a Clergyman. March 9, 1833.

The Schools under your Society, in the parish of T-, where I have the privilege to exercise my ministry, have been, by the Divine blessing, productive of a great deal of good, both to the children and to their parents; and I hope nothing may interfere with the labours of your Society, as I find both the system, and especially the visits of the Inspectors, very useful. Mr. R an Inspector, who has been in this quarter for some time, was very attentive.

The School at T has been closed for the last quarter, on account of the illness of the Teacher; however, I have had sufficient experience of it during the last three or four years, to make me give my testimony, most sincerely, to the advantage it derives from being in connexion with your Society.

The quarterly inspections hold out a constant stimulus to both the Teachers and Scholars; and the latter look to it quite as a pleasure, from the kind encouraging manner in which the inspection is conducted. I trust they will ever find a real advantage from the Scripture instructions they thus receive, and the large portions they commit to memory. There are very few Roman Catholics in the neighbourhood, but there is not any objection made to their attending the Schools and reading the Scriptures, &c.

From a Layman. March 5, 1833.

It gives me great pleasure in having it in my power to inform the Committee, that the Schools under my patronage are reviving from a check which they lately received, owing to incidental circumstances, together with the malicious breaking, by night, of fourscore panes of glass, and some of the sashes of one of the School Houses; and an unparallelled opposition from the Roman Catholic Priests, four of whom are now stationed in this important district, where two formerly did the duty; but, thank God, instead of damping my zeal, these exertions, on the other side, seem to increase my energy, and render me, if possible, more anxious for the welfare of those institutions, which, I hope, will, ere long, prove a lasting, as at present they are, a temporary blessing to this part of the country. We have 112 Scholars upon the books, and, in my opinion, the lower classes of society in this neighbourhood are daily becoming more sensible of the advantages derived to them from those valuable institutions; and my hope is, that the time is not far distant when they will all be as anxious to receive, as the London Hiber nian Society is to impart instruction.

From a Clergyman. Feb. 13, 1833.

The Schools here go on with perfect regularity and good order; the gross number in one, is 67, and the other 32. The attendance is not as regular as we could wish, owing to the usual interruptions caused by

country business; and, also, by the constant opposition of the Roman Catholic Priest. Were it not for this, our rooms would not hold the number that would flock to us. We have no adults in our Schools; but I can safely testify to the good effects of education on those children who have attended with regularity. In conduct and appearance they are quite different from those whose interests are neglected. I can most conscientiously recommend your Society to the public for support, particularly at this important crisis. I consider your system and arrangements excellent; and what most particularly calls for my approbation, is the plan of inspection. Other Societies have, no doubt, adopted this plan ; but I have found your Inspectors the most useful of any that have come under my observation: they seem humble, pains-taking, correct men, and not above their business. As a Clergyman, I feel the value of this Society. I can go on with it without any compromise of principle; and yet, I think, without giving just cause for that Anti-Christian opposition which Scriptural Education meets with from the Romish Priesthood. I have heard this Society accused of being of a Sectarian character; I can only say, in answer, that I never perceived any thing of the kind.

From a Clergyman. Feb. 16, 1833.

The Schools are, at present, as far as I can judge, in a good state, and the children making excellent progress in general. But the more important advantages resulting from the labours of your Society, arise from the great circulation you have given to the Sacred Scriptures, which are incalculable, as there is scarcely a cottage in the whole neighbourhood, indeed I have never yet been in one in this parish, in which the Word of God is not to be found; and though other Societies have contributed to this extensive circulation, I feel bound, in answer to your Letter, to state, that it proceeds principally, as far as I can judge, from the labours of your Society. I should think every one who becomes acquainted with your institution will feel that it is entitled to their warmest support.

Having said thus much, I must here observe, that the Association for discountenancing Vice has been, for many years, most active and beneficial in circulating the same blessed Word, not only in this parish, but in all others with which I am acquainted. The Sunday School Society, and the Kildare Place Society, have been also most useful.

From a Clergyman. Feb. 15, 1883.

I am happy to say, that the Schools are not, by any means, retrograding, if not advancing, in their utility and efficiency in promoting Scriptural knowledge and truth in our land. In my own School, there is some increase of numbers. In my humble opinion, no system of general education has such high claims of support on Christian benevolence as that of the London Hibernian Society.

From a Clergyman. Feb. 22, 1833.

I have to state, that the Schools in connexion with your Society, in this parish (D- and G- Female Schools,) are in a most