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I study brevity; and, therefore, merely suggest hints that may be enlarged and improved by others. I am authorized to say, that the Committee of the Religious Tract Society will give all possible encouragement and facility to the intentions and exertions of such local institutions as I have recommended; and I earnestly pray, that the wisdom which is profitable to direct, may influence the readers of this Address; and that the blessing of God may attend every endeavour which aims at his glory, and the extension of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ !

LONDON

S.

FEMALE PENITENTIARY.

We have the pleasure to inform our readers, that this laudable Institution continues to experience, from the zeal and liberality of the public, an increasing degree of Countenance and support; and that, already, several females, chiefly very young persons, are sheltered under its wing. To every one who is anx rous to promote the moral reforma tion of society, to relieve the most wretched description of our fellow creatures, and to impart to them the means of their eternal salvation, the existence of such an Institution cannot but be a gratifying circumstance but to the female part of the community it presents itself under aspects of uncommonly strong and peculiar interest. We are persuaded, that no virtuous female can contemplate the subject but with a heart throbbing with the mingled emotions of sorrow and compassion. We cannot, therefore, but entertain the most encouraging and gratifying expectations from the ardour and exertions of female benevo lence; and rely, in a considerable degree, upon these, for the support as well as for the success of the Institution. Ye highly-favoured women, whom a merciful Providence hath preserved in the path of Virtue, and shielded from the shafts of Reproach, who are blessed with all the mild charities of vistuous and

domestic society, and cheered by the hopes and consolations of a divine religion, say, Can you be insensible and inactive to such a cause as this? Oh, no, Your it is impossible ! hearts, full of sensibility and tenderness, cannot but kindle into a flame of gratitude to your great Preserver and Benefactor, and, as a suitable expression of that gratitude, into ardent benevolence towards those unhappy females whom we most earnestly recommend to your attention. We should neither do justice to your feelings, nor to our own, if we did not anticipate with heart-felt satisfaction, the happy effects of your zeal and activity in this interesting cause. Yes. We see you, animated as by one heart, step forward to save these perishing daughters of affliction. We see the tears of sympathy and compassion glistening in your eyes, and your liberal hands attesting the generous emotions of your souls. We hear you, in the native eloquence of the heart, pleading the cause of suffering humanity, awakening the insensible, stimulating the inactive, exciting liberality in the selfish, and imparting to the benevolent mind a more ardent zeal, and a more active energy. We behold you, in short, employing all the peculiar influence of your sex, and in all your relations as wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, in promoting the interests and success of an Institution which, we wish you never to forget, is founded for the relief of the miserable of your own ser exclusively.

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It is scarcely necessary to add, that a charity of this description cannot be maintained but at a very considerable annual expence. So great, however, is our confidence in the liberality of the public, that we cannot, for a moment, entertain apprehension, that the existence of the present Institution will ever be endangered, or its utility circumscribed, by the uncertainty or scantiness of its resources. On the contrary, we cherish the pleasing hope that it will be liberally and even munificently supported, and, by the divine blessing, crowned with such antple success as may afford effectwaf

encouragement to the erection of new similar institutions, not only, if necessary, in the metropolis, but also in all the large and populous towns throughout the United Kingdom.

ABOLITION

OF

THE BRITISH SLAVE TRADE. THIS grand measure, so long desired by the friends of justice, huDeeply impressed with the senti- manity, and religion, and which ments of his address, and earnestly crowns with triumph the laborious desirous to employ their best efforts and persevering efforts of Mr. Wilin resisting the progress of so alarm- berforce and others for many years ing an evil, a numerous and respect- past, received the sanction of able Meeting, held at the New Lon-alty on the 25th of March :- a day don Tavern, on Thursday the 1st of January, 1907,

Mr. Ald. LEA in the Chair,

came unanimously to the following

Resolutions:

That an institution be now formed, which shall be denominated "The London Female Penitentiary;" the object of which shall be to afford an Asylum to Females who, having deviated from the paths of virtue, are desirous of being restored, by religious instruction, and the formation of moral and industrious habits, to a reputable station in society: That each Subscriber of a Guinea or more, annually, be a Member: That each Subscriber of Ten Guineas or more, be a Member for life: That the external management of the affairs of the institution be entrusted to a Committee of Thirty-six Gentlemen, together with a Treasurer and Secretary: That to a Committee of Twenty-four Ladies be exclusively confided the management of its internal economy: That Wm. Alers, Esq. No. 7, Fenchurch Street, be Treasurer: That Thomas Pellatt, Esq. Ironmongers' Hall, Fenchurch Street, be Secretary.

The Committee will consist of Gentlemen, of various religious denominations, selected from the general List of Subscribers.

Subscriptions will be received by the following Bankers: Mess. Hankey and Co. Fenchurch Street; Down, Thornton, and Co. Bartholomew Lane; Foster, Lubbock, and Co. Mansion-House Street; Fuller, Chatteris, and Co. Lombard Street, Hoares, Fleet Street; Ransom, Morland, and Co. Pall Mall; Smith and Holt, Broad Street.

XV.

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never to be forgotten in the annals of this free country! While we most sincerely congratulate our readers on this important event, we to the great Ruler of the world, as would wish to direct their thoughts the Author of every blessing, "from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed;" and to recommend the most devout acknowledgements to the

Father of Mercies.

THANKSGIVING.

pressed a desire that a particular
Many serious persons having ex-
day might be mentioned, on which
those who conceive the Abolition of
the Slave Trade to be a national
blessing, may unite their praises with
those of their fellow-Christians in
all parts of the kingdom, we have the
pleasure to state, that it has been
agreed by some very respectable
persons, ministers and others, both
various other
in the Established Church and among
denominations

of

Christians, to propose that, on the First Lord's Day of June, it be recommended to such persons to of fer up to God their hearty thanks for this glorious event, in their private retirements, and in their re

spective families. The ministers of whether to take notice of it in their the gospel will use their discretion of various descriptions will think it public devotions; doubtless, many a privilege so to do.

THE AFRICAN INSTITUTION.

This great and important mea. sure, the Abolition of the Slave Trade, is certainly an act of national Justice; but Humanity suggests the propriety of repairing, as far as it inay be practicable, the wrongs we

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have inflicted upon Africa. It is now proper to embrace the opportunity which the abolition affords, for extending the benefits of commerce, of agriculture, and other arts of social life, to that immense and injured continent.

Impressed with such sentiments, a very numerous and respectable Meeting of Noblemen and Gentle men was held on Tuesday, the 14th of April, at Free Masons' Hall, in London; when his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester presided. Several of the Bishops, and a considerable number of the Nobility, Members of Parliament, Clergymen, Dissenting Ministers, and other Gentlemen, were present. His Royal Highness opened the business with an appropriate speech; and many very important and interesting thoughts on the subject were advanced by Lord Spencer, Mr. Wilberforce, the Rev. Mr. Owen, Mr. Wm. Sinith, and several other speakers.

It was unanimously resolved,

That this Meeting is deeply impressed with a sense of the enormous wrongs which the Natives of Africa have suffered in their intercourse with Europe; and from a desire to repair those wrongs, as well as from general feelings of benevolence, is anxious to adopt such measures as are best calculated to promote their civilization and happiness:

That the approaching cessation of the Slave Trade, hitherto carried on by Great Britain, America, and Denmark, will, in a considerable degree, remove the barrier which has 80 long obstructed the natural course of social improvement in Africa; and that the way will be thereby opened for introducing the comforts and arts of a more civilized state of society:

That the happiest effects may be reasonably anticipated from diffusing useful knowledge, and exciting industry among the inhabitants of Africa; and from obtaining and circulating throughout this country more ample and authentie information concerning the agricultural and commercial faculties of, that vast continent; and that through the ju

dicious prosecution of these benevolent endeavours, we may ultimately look forward to the establishment, in the room of that traffic by which the African Continent has been so long degraded, of a legitimate and far more extended commerce, beneficial alike to the natives of Africa and to the manufacturers of Great Britain and Ireland:

That the present period is eminently fitted for prosecuting these benevolent designs, since the suspension, during the war, of that large share of the Slave Trade which has commonly been carried on by France, Spain, and Holland, will, when combined with the effect of the Abolition Laws of Great Britain, America, and Denmark, produce nearly the entire cessation of that traffic along a line of coast extending between 2 and 3000 miles in length, and thereby afford a peculiarly favourable opportunity for giving a new direction to the industry and commerce of Africa:

That, for these purposes, a Society be immediately formed, to be called THE AFRICAN INSTITUTION :

That the Nobility, Clergy, and Gentry of the United Kingdom, be generally invited to become Members hereof; and that a Subscription be opened in the Metropolis, and all the Cities and Chief Towns in Great Britain and Ireland, for supplying the expences of the institution:

That his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester be requested to do the Society the honour of accepting the office of Patron:

That a Committee be immediately appointed to draw up Laws and Regulations for the government of the Society, and to report the same to a General Meeting, to be held for that purpose, at Free Masons' Hall, on the 12th day of May next:

That the following Noblemen and Gentlemen be requested to be Members of the said Committee:

His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester; Earls Spencer, Moira, Euston; Viscount Howick; Lord Grenville; Bishops of London, Durham, Bath and Wells, St. David's; Lords Holland, Ellenborough, Erskine, Valentia, Teignmouth, Head

ly, H. Petty, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, Right Hon. T. Gren-
ville, G. Canning, J. C. Villiers, Sir
J. Newport, J. Foster, N. Vansittart,
J. Smyth, Sir P. Francis, K. B. Sir
Samuel Romilly, General Vyse, H.
Bankes, Esq. M. P. T. Bernard, Esq.
T. Babington, Esq. M. P. T. Baring,
Esq. M. P. R. Barclay, Esq. Henry.
Brougham, Esq. J. H. Browne, Esq.
M. P. Col. Barry, M. P. T. Clark
son, Esq. C. Grant, Esq. M. P. Rev.
T. Gisborne, W. Huskisson, Esq.
M. P. S. Lushington, Esq. M. P.
J. B. S. Morritt, Esq. Z. Macauley,
Esq. M. Martin, Esq. M. Montague,
Esq. M. P. W. M. Pitt, Esq. M. P.
Granville Sharp, Esq. R. Sharp, Esq.
M. P. J. Simeon, Esq. M. P. W.
Smith, Esq. J. Stephen, Esq. R.
Thornton, Esq. M. P. Rev. John
Venn, S. Whitbread, Esq. M. P.
W. Wilberforce, Esq. M. P.

That the said Committee be empowered to solicit subscriptions, and to appoint a Treasurer and Secretary pro tempore, and bankers to receive subscriptions, subject to the approbation of the next General Meeting, at which the choice of Offiers, in such mode as may, upon the report of the said Committee, be adopted, shall take place:

That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to W. Wilberforce, Esq. for his unwearied exertions, during many years, to expose the injustice and cruelty of the African Slave Trade, and to procure its abolition by the Legislature of Great Britain; That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to Granville Sharp, Esq. for his zealous, early, and persever ing efforts in opposition to the African Slave Trade; and for his generous endeavours, at first unsupported, though at length successful, to establish the claims of Africans resident in Great Britain, to the common rights of legal protection and personal freedom:

That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to Mr. Thomas Clarkson, for the zeal, activity, and perseverance which he has uniformly exerted in promoting the Abolition of the African Slave Trade:

That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, for his zealous,

able, and eloquent support of the cause of Africa, both in and out of Parliament.

Our readers will rejoice in the prospect which this new institution presents in behalf of Africa; and though the object proposed is not strictly religious, yet we insert the Proceedings of the Meeting at large, because we not only highly approve of such a just and benevolent plan, but hope that the introduction of civilization will facilitate the pro gress of the glorious gospel in the extensive regions of Africa.

A Short Account of the Act of Par

liament lately passed, entituled, "An Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade,"

It is enacted, That from May 1, 1807, the African Slave Trade, and all manner of dealing and trading in slaves at, to, or from, any part of the coast or countries of Africa, shall be utterly abolished, prohibited, and declared to be unlawful.

If any British subject, or other person resident in the United Kingdom, or in any place belonging to his Majesty, shall be concerned in buying or selling, bartering or transferring, any person for a slave, he shall forfeit 1001. for every such offence.

Any vessel fitted out in this kingdom, or in the colonies, or navigated or employed for carrying on the Slave Trade, shall be forfeited, with all its boats, guns, tackle, apparel, and furniture,

All persons are prohibited from of Africa, the West Indies, or Ameremoving, as slaves, any inhabitants rica, from one place to another, or being concerned in receiving them: and any vessel employed in such removal shall be forfeited, as also the property in the slaves; and the owners of such vessel shall forfeit

1001. for each slave.

Any inhabitant of Africa, unlawfully carried away and imported into any British colony, shall be forfeited to his Majesty

All insurances on transactions

concerning the Slave Trade, are now unlawful; and any person making

2

1

such an insurance, shall forfeit 1007. for every offence, and treble the amount of the premium.

The Act not to affect the trading in slaves exported from Africa before the 1st of May, 1807; and landed in the West Indies by March 1, 1808.

To record the cruelties attached to the Slave Trade, their termination by the late act of parliament, and the memory of those honourable characters by whom this event was brought to pass, a fine Print is now engraving by Mr. Collyer, of the Royal Academy; at whose house, Constitution Row, Gray's Inn Lane, the drawing may be seen.

Account of the Society for the Relief of the Poor Africans in London.

SOME Africans in London, applied, by memorial, April, 1805, to the Rev. Dr. Duncan and his people, Peter Street, Soho, expressing their earnest desire to meet together for worship, as they had been rudely gazed at when they attended public ordinances individually and separately. The desire was cheerfully granted; free-seats were provided for them in the meeting-house, Peter Street; and teachers were procured to instruct them in reading, writing, arithmetic, and especially in the

principles of Christianity. A lecture was established, chiefly for their benefit, every Lord's Day Evening, and carried on by various ministers. The Rev. R. Hill opened it in May, 1805. Several friends united in the good work; Rules for the government of the Society were drawn up; a Committee was chosen; and Subscriptions were raised to relieve the Africans in poverty, sickness, and old age. Ninety-two Africans have joined the Society, and attended the means of grace occasionally, Some of them, it is hoped, have expe rienced the power of the word; and others are enquiring after knowledge. Twenty-two have attended the school; nineteen have been relieved when sick; two have died, and the Society contributed towards their funeral. The Managers of the Shakespeare's Walk Lecture have liberally granted seats in that Meeting to the Africans in the neighbourhood. We subjoin the names of the Committee; and request the Religious Public to give countenance and support to such a laudable Institution : The Rev. Drs. Duncan, Hamilton, Rippon, and Rutledge; Rev. Messrs. Greig, Jerment, Platt, Rae, Smith, Spilsbury, Stollery, and Waugh; A. Maitland, Esq. Messrs. Allday, Lepard, Moore, Nelson, Steward, and Tassie. Mr. Niven, Treasurer, No. 15, King Street, Soho, Mr. Dobson, Secretary, Dean Street, Soho,

Missionary Annual Meeting.

The Thirteenth General Meeting of the Missionary Society will be held in London, on Wednesday, May 13, and the two following Days; when the various Services are expected to be conducted as follows:

WEDNESDAY MORNING. The Rev. Mr. NEWTON, of Witham, in Essex, to preach at Surry Chapel.

WEDNESDAY EVENING. The Rev. Mr. JACK, of Manchester, to preach at the Tabernacle.

THURSDAY MORNING. The Members of the Missionary Society will meet at HABERDASHERS' HALL, STAINING LANE, Wood Street, to hear the Report of the Directors for the past Year, to choose Directors,

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