eighteen, which, in the course of a single year, had been the means of instructing nearly ten thousand persons to read the Scriptures in their native tongue.

"Before these Circulating Welsh Schools commenced, English Charity Schools had been tried in Wales but all that the children could do in three, four, or five years, (though few could stay so long,) amounted, in general, to no more than their being able to read, very imperfectly, some easy parts of the Bible, without knowing the Welsh of it. Welsh Bibles had also been circulated among them. Upon one occasion, in North Wales, when the Circulating School began, the teacher was surprised when the children brought excellent new Bibles with them. These had been received from some charitable persons, by their grandfathers. They were, however, unable to use thɛm; nor did the Bibles see the light till these, their grandchildren, were happily taught to read them."

"At these Circulating Schools, so anxious were the people to learn their own ancient language, that persons of all ages attended, from six years of age to above seventy. In several places, indeed, the older people formed about two-thirds of the number in attendance. Persons above sixty, attended every day; and often lamented, nay, even wept, that they had not learned forty or fifty year sooner. Not unfrequently the children actually taught their parents; and sometimes the parents and children of one family resorted to the same Circulating School, during its short continuance in a district; while various individuals, who, from great age, were obliged to wear spectacles, seized the opportunity, and learned to read the Scriptures in Welsh, at that advanced period of life."

"The number of persons taught by this cheap and expeditious method, was also very remarkable. By an abstract at the end of these volumes, it appears, that in the course of twenty-four years only, viz. from 1737 to 1760 inclusive, there were instructed in reading the

Welsh Bible, no less than one hundred and fifty thousand two hundred and twelve persons."

From the preceding information, it appears, that the laurel of honour belongs to Thomas Charles, as the first establisher and father of Adult Schools. But the man who is equally entitled to share the praise of his country, will appear, in the subsequent pages of this History, as having established the first schools for the same purpose in England, without the least previous knowledge of what had been done in the Principality of Wales; and that too without the advantages naturally resulting to a clergyman, from his elevated station, influence, and superior education. They had equally to encounter the rooted prejudices which so generally possessed the public mind-that the aged could not be instructed; and these two philanthropists were alike successful in removing this bar of obstruction, and evincing to the observing multitude, that the field was open to their cultivation; into which the benevolent pressed forward with avidity, and joined hand to hand in this new work of charity and love.

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In the city of Bristol, the design has been embraced with cordiality, and patronized by the pious of various denominations. Here, the electric spark of Christian benevolence kindling into a flame, hath spread on every side may it diffuse its glowing brightness, till every dark corner of the land be irradiated with its effulgence.. Many persons are now coming forward, in various parts of the kingdom, kindly disposed to take an interest in whatever may tend to the domestic, the moral, and religious improvement of their indigent fellow-creatures.

Many strangers, when visiting Bristol, have felt a desire to see these schools; either from motives of curiosity, to gain information of the principles on which they are conducted, or to observe the progress made by the learners. But in passing cursorily from school

* The first Annual Report of the Society for the support of the Gaelic Schools in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

to school, only conversing with those who conduct them thither, it is not easy for such to obtain the information they desire. Many too, who have no opportunity of personally visiting them, have expressed a wish of being acquainted with more particulars than were generally known. These circumstances have induced the writer of these pages to devote a few evenings, to lay before the public a brief Narrative of the Origin and Progress of this highly useful undertaking; hoping it may be one means of exciting an energy in the minds of many who have not yet had their attention turned to the subject; or who may have anticipated, with the prevailing discouragement, difficulties that exist much more in imagination than in reality; and which, could they be prevailed upon to make the experiment, by establishing one school, would doubtless soon diminish.

The object of the founders of these Institutions, as well as of others who have ardently embraced the promising design, is calculated, by its importance and extent, to awaken and call into action the energies of every Christian and every patriot, who has it in his power to promote so great and so good a work, either by his pecuniary contributions or personal services. I hope there are few who possess the ability, that will not be found to possess the will, to exert their influence in some way suited to their stations and capacities, in forwarding a work so replete with benefit to mankind, and thereby participating in the blessings which will unquestionably descend upon the heads of all who conscientiously endeavour to promote the glory of God, and the good of their fellow-men. This is an employment worthy of a rational being, and consistent with the gracious designs of an all-wise Creator, to whom we are individually accountable for the right occupation of the talents, whether few or many, with which he has entrusted us.

To give a clear account of the commencement of these schools in England, it seems necessary to go as far back as the year 1804; when, to the credit of the British nation, was founded, in London, that great and

noble Institution, the British and Foreign Bible Society, for the distribution of the Holy Scriptures, without note or comment, amongst the poor of this, as well as the remotest empires of the world; the most distant regions of ignorance and superstition, where the Christian religion had never shed its celestial radiance, or the doctrines of the ever glorious Gospel of the blessed Redeemer been promulgated. Subsequently to the formation of this Society, which consisted of individuals of all religious denominations who were disposed to unite in this laudable undertaking, there were established, in many counties and cities, Auxiliary Societies, to carry more completely into effect the great and beneficial purposes of the parent Institution.

One of these was formed in Bristol; and as the minds of its members were now employed in devising the best means of discovering those individuals amongst the poor, who were not in possession of the sacred Scrip tures, in order to supply them, it was found requisite to establish a subordinate Institution, under the patronage of the Auxiliary Society's Committee, which was called the Bristol Bible Association, chiefly composed of serious and well-inclined young men; whose Committee divided the city and its environs into fifteen districts, and appointed Sub-committees, whose business it became to explore the streets, the lanes, and the courts to enter the habitations of the poor, the cottages of misery, and the chambers of wretchedness. Amongst the unnumbered objects who excited their sympathy and Christian commiseration, they met with many who could not read the Bible.

On the 13th of the 2nd Mo. (February) 1812, prior to the existence of the Bible Association, the Bristol Auxiliary Bible Society held their second anniversary meeting at the Guild-Hall; a number of interesting letters were read from its correspondents : one of them (from Keynsham,) which gave a list of persons who did not possess the Holy Scriptures, contained the following sentence-" We have been ne

This

cessarily obliged to omit a great number of poor inhabitants who could not read, and are therefore not likely to be benefited by the possession of the Bible." attracted the attention and awakened the commiseration of William Smith, who attended the meeting, and whose name must necessarily stand prominent in the future part of this Narrative: his mind dwelt continually on the deplorable situation of those who, through their inability to read the sacred records, were deprived of this great Christian privilege.-On the 17th, a poor man requested Smith to procure him a Bible; and he being for some time at a loss to know of whom he could obtain one, determined, on the following day, to apply to Stephen Prust (a very respectable merchant in this city, and a member of the Auxiliary Bible Society's Committee,) who humanely gave him a Bible. This business being effected, W. Smith embraced the present favourable opportunity of disburdening his mind to a man who was alive to the claims of piety and poverty, and who has, from that hour, been the steady friend of W. Smith in his subsequent exertions and labours in this cause. was at this time, and to this friend of humanity and religion, he first opened his heart upon the subject of instructing the adult poor to read the Holy Scriptures, and asked his opinion whether it would be possible to teach them; he was answered in the affirmative, that it was not only possible, but probable; and recommended to make the trial upon a small scale: at the same time S. Prust observed to him, that if he succeeded, his name would be enrolled amongst the benefactors of mankind. Honourable as such an enrolment might be, we have reason to believe that his mind was actuated by a sublimer motive: he was not a votary of fame-he thirsted not for human approbation or applause; his exertions sprang from a disinterested desire that the footsteps of those who were the objects of his pious commiseration and solicitude, might be directed to the paths of virtue, and preserved in the way of salvation.

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