least to do all they could. They conceived the establishment of schools would do something towards removing the ignorance of the lower classes, scarcely one of whom had at that time received the first rudiments of instruction, and prepare the way for the reception of that seed that would spring up into everlasting life. But here was presented to their view, a world lying in the wicked one, scarcely a cultivated spot amidst the ocean of sand to cheer the sight, and well might the spirit faint under the solemn and appalling contemplation. Inspired, however, with zeal for the honour of their crucified Redeemer, and love for the souls of their fellow-creatures, they were determined not to leave undone the little they had in their power. Schools were considered as the first measure to be adopted; but their limited means of supporting them, precluded the hope of their ever being extensively useful; when an original idea suggested itself, of making their schools, after one years continuance, circulate throughout the different parishes of the principality. These institutions were supported exclusively by the munificent liberality of Mrs. Bevan, while she left their superintendance and direction to the prudence and discretion of her reverend friend. They soon became well attended; and, as they were known to remain but one year in each parish, every one was desirous of sending their children; as an ability to read was a privilege hitherto confined to their masters and superiors. Mrs. Bevan, in letters which are still in existence, requested Mr. Jones to apply the whole of her extensive property, reserving only a small portion for her own support, to this benevolent object; and at her death, she bequeathed ten thousand pounds to trustees, to be per petually devoted for the support of pious individuals, members of the Church of England; who were to

afford gratuitous instruction in reading, writing, and the first principles of Christianity, to the children of the poor throughout the principality. Seldom has a bequest been better applied. Mr. Jones, before his death, had the satisfaction of seeing nearly nine thousand Welch children, who were before entirely ignorant, receiving daily instruction; and by the proper and judicious management of the funds, they have since that period very materially increased. To be taught to read the Bible was the great object the founders had in view, conscious that that alone was able to make them wise unto salvation. The immediate consequence was, that this book became scarce in proportion as these schools extended themselves, till at last, the difficulty of getting a Welch Bible became so great, as to oblige the trustees to make application to the Society for the Promoting of Christian Knowledge for an additional supply, and, eventually, for a fresh edition. This was partly promised; but the expense proving too great it was delayed, till the pressing wants of the principality induced the Rev. Mr. Charles, of Bala, in Merionethshire, one of the trustees of these schools, to enter into correspondence with the late Rev. Mr. Scott on the subject; but this not succeeding, to the desired extent, Mr. Charles was obliged to visit the metropolis, and make those efforts, and consult with the ministers of various denominations on this interesting subject, which at length issued in the formation of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Thus arose this noble stream, whose waters have been for the healing of the nations, and whose triumphant progress will, we trust, never be arrested, till that period shall arrive when it will be no longer necessary to say, "know the Lord; but when all shall know him from the least to the greatest."

H. B.

MY DEAR FRIENDS,

THE route has at length arrived; your departure is at hand-and I am anxious to offer you a word of exhortation, as a farewell testimony of my attachment and regard. Your stay here has been unusually prolonged: I would fain hope that it has been attended with profit to many, and that you will yet look back upon it, with sincere gratitude to the Giver of all good. The life of a soldier is one of change, uncertainty, and danger; and it is your bounden duty to endeavour, by the grace of God, to improve all the circumstances of it. You have no permanent place of residence, but are constantly shifting your quarters; let this remind you, that there is upon earth no continuing city-no rest-no fixed home-no favoured spot, where you can uninterruptedly enjoy repose. You know not when the order for marching may arrive; perhaps it is just when you are beginning to feel the comfort of good quarters or when you are begin ning to recover from the fatigue and expense of a long march-or when the peculiar circumstances of yourselves and families render a removal very painful. Equally uncertain is your enjoyment of life, and every blessing connected with it; and perhaps it is when thoughtless man is saying," soul, take thine ease; eat, drink, and be merry," that he is doomed to hear the cry,-"this night shall thy soul be required of thee." You, as soldiers, are exposed to more than ordinary danger: you have to encounter the colds, and damps, and heats of a long march, and frequently to endure the want of many necessaries: you may be called to put down insurrection when you are at home, and to be 'partakers of all the horrors of war abroad;-your destination may be

a country whose climate is most unhealthy-and in order to reach it, you may have to traverse a sandy desert, or to pass over thousands of miles upon the bottomless ocean. Thus changeable, uncertain, and dangerous is the life of a soldier. But is he destitute of hope and comfort? Is there nothing to cheer his desponding spirits-nothing to recruit his exhausted strength? O yes, there is!-In the Bible he has his "food and medicine, shield and sword;" in the Bible he has the orders of the great Captain of salvation, and in implicitly obeying them, his safety and happiness are to be found; in the Bible, he has all the plans of attack and defence accurately noted down, so that he need never be at a loss how to resist the devil effectually, and to assault him boldly and successfully; in the Bible, he reads of his own sin and guilt, and misery and desert- and also of God's truth, holiness, justice, and mercy; in the Bible, he reads of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Saviour of the lost-the only mediator between God and man-the only advocate with the Father-the only propitiation for sin; in the Bible, he is informed that the wages of sin is death, but that the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord; in the Bible he learns, that if he really believes the truth revealed in it, he must have joy and peace, and an hope full of immortality; he must be a good soldier, in the fullest sense of the expression-an affectionate husband- kind a parent-a faithful friend-a loyal subject-a useful man. To this blessed book, which so wonderfully displays the love of God to our lost race, I have endeavoured to direct your attention, and that of your dear children ; and I would humbly pray, that

the instruction given you from it may be made an eternal blessing to you all.

Although during your residence at Kilkenny, you have enjoyed a good measure of health and ease, yet you have had your trials: some of you have lost beloved and promising children, in whom you took great delight, and to whose future welfare you anxiously looked forward with a parent's love: some of you have spent much time in hospital, afflicted, either in the ordinary course of Providence, or by disease produced by debauchery: others of you have lost your comrades, and have been reminded by their death or discharge, that eternity is at hand--that sin is a hard task-master-that it blinds - deceives pollutes - and degrades the soul. One strong young man was cut off almost in a moment, without any previous warning another young man was discharged on account of his constitution being broken down by drunkenness. All of you have seen and felt enough to know that the hope of enjoying uninterrupted comfort upon earth, is vain; for you daily witness some trial, some cross accident, some disappointment by which unhappiness is produced, and the enjoyment caused by other things greatly diminished. It will never be otherwise, for sin and misery go hand in hand: “ man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upwards," and he can never expect to be exempt from it whilst he lives here. It is, however, the privilege of every one who unfeignedly believes the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, to be comforted under it, to wait for a happy issue out of it, and to look forward to heaven, as the place of his everlasting rest and happiness. My heart's desire and prayer to God has been, and I trust shall be, that his good word, which you have so often heard publicly and privately with your outward ears, may be so

grafted inwardly in your hearts, that it may bring forth in you the fruits of good living, to his praise and glory; and that you may draw from it at all times, the comfort and encouragement which it afforded to Joshua, Gideon, David, Cornelius, and all those other holy men who were not prevented by their military occupations from serving the King of kings, and promoting his cause upon earth. Follow their faith, see what the grace of God enabled them to do, and learn to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, for you may be assured that none ever trusted in him and was confounded; neither can a single instance be produced of his leaving or forsaking those that trust in him. How can it be? Has he not given his own dear Son to die for guilty man; and shall he not, with him, freely give his people all things? As we are now about to part, and as it is probable we shall not all meet again, I am anxious to call your attention to the following particulars :

1st. Read constantly the Holy Scriptures, with which you are well supplied: they are able to make you wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus:" they enjoin the practice of every duty, and never fail to afford joy and peace to the soul which believes them.

2ndly. Be careful in securing the constant attendance of your children at your excellent regimental school, in which I have observed, with great satisfaction, the unremitting diligence of the serjeant schoolmaster. Early neglect can scarcely ever be remedied afterwards: and when such a provision is made for the instruction of your children, by His Royal Highness the Duke of York, aided by the efficient support of your kind officers, great would be your condemnation, if they should have cause to charge that neglect upon you. Encourage them also in the

practice which has proceeded so successfully, of committing portions of the New Testament to memory: a store of valuable instruction will thus be laid up for their future years, and what is evil will be excluded.

3rdly. Slacken not in your support of the Missionary cause, which has so fully experienced your generosity*: still go on with the punctuality, and steadiness, and unanimity, and respectful attention to the wishes of your worthy commanding officer, which have hitherto been conspicuous in your benevolent exertions. None of you feel the loss of what you have generously given, and much of it has been saved from the haunts of vice and intemperance.

4thly. Avoid the temptations to which you are exposed in all places : "Evil communications corrupt good manners:" beware how you associate with the profane, the licentious, and the drunken, who are never more gratified than when they succeed in drawing into their snare the young and the inexperienced. What confidence can an officer place in an idle dissolute soldier? What hope of promotion can such entertain-or how can he prove a blessing and comfort to his family? Is not his prospect, in reference to eternity, still worse? What has he to expect but to die, labouring under the agony of an accusing conscience, and then to endure everlasting woe? Those of you who are still unmindful of your best interests, who are living in opposition to the will of God, and are alike ignorant

*This distinguished regiment remitted the sum of eighty-four pounds in fourteen months to the Church Missionary Society,

and unconcerned about the way of salvation, think before it is too late; entertain not the vain idea, that God will extend his mercy, and forget his justice. It is in Jesus Christ, and in him only, that God the Father is well pleased; and it is only on account of his obedience unto death, even the death of the cross, that pardon and peace will be granted to any individual: his "blood, and nothing else, can cleanse from sin," and He only 66 can make intercession." But do I not address some who know the truth, and have by it been made free? that is, delivered from the love of sin, and from the idea of being accepted before God, in consequence of what they have done. Ever remember, that it is by the grace of God you are what you are, and show your gratitude for the unspeakable blessing you enjoy, by walking humbly with God-by cultivating a spirit of prayer by faithfully discharging the duties of your station - by building up each other in your most holy faith. Put on the breastplate of faith and love-wear as a helmet the hope of salvation-fight the good fight of faith and may the great Captain of salvation enable you to triumph over all the enemies of your peace, and to lay hold on eternal life.

Accept my sincere thanks, for your patient attention to the instructions I have endeavoured to give you; and be assured I shall always feel a lively interest in your welfare, and in that of your wives and children. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.' Believe me to be your faithful Friend and well-wisher,

Kilkenny.

PETER ROE, Chaplain.