and animosity, destructive to their present comfort as well as future peace of mind; but who now, whilst learning to read, are imbibing from the scriptures, as well as the little books employed in teaching, the principles of piety and virtue; which, we have reason to hope will, whilst their hands are engaged in their daily labour, be providentially brought to their recollection, with sufficient force to prevent their joining in with the temptations they may be exposed to; and, by these means, become examples to their more unguarded and corrupt associates.

With how much greater pleasure and satisfaction will they return to their labour, in the morning, after receiv❤ ing additional improvement-having their minds stored with a few additional sentiments, that may inspire them with increasing hopes of becoming more useful in society, and better prepared for the life to come! How pleas ing is it to see the aged poor anxious for the privilege of reading their Bibles; condescending to sit down to be instructed in the use of letters, by those young enough to be their children, and even their grandchildren! A joyful acquisition to many of them has been the little they have learned. I heard one of them who had learned, at eighty-five years of age, to read the Bible, say that she would not part with the little learning she had acquired, for as many guineas as there were leaves in her Bible, notwithstanding she ranked among the poorest of the poor. Many have acknowledged, with tears of gratitude and joy flowing on their furrowed cheeks, the greatness of the blessing hereby conferred upon them. Surely we may say with Solomon-“Learn ing to the wise, is like an ornament of gold, and a bracelet on the right arm." It is so to the truly wise-to those who are wisely disposed to employ it for the good purposes for which it was bestowed to read and to understand the things that belong to peace and salvation it will be to such the unfading ornament of youth and of old age. Gladdening will it be to the hearts of all true christiaus, in more elevated stations, to see the poor

of this world made rich in grace; to behold them, when the lamp of life shall faintly glimmer in the socket, treading the christian paths, illuminated by the resplendent beams of the sun of righteousness; and, when the curtains of the evening shall be drawing closely upon them, be able to sing of judgment and of mercy, even under the pressure of poverty and bodily affliction. May the God of all grace abundantly bless these labours of love to all who are made partakers of them, that they and their benefactors may rejoice together; rendering, upon the altar of their hearts, the offering of thanksgiving and praise to God, who alone has a right to receive it! When these shall meet in the kingdom of transcendent glory, earthly grandeur, even crowns and diadems, will be forgotten the rich and the poor will be equalized, and pure eternal love be the indissoluble bond of union, cementing their immortal spirits to each other, and to the countless myriads of saints and angels, who, with seraphic melody, proclaim hallelujahs to God and the Lamb for ever!

In prosecuting the plans for instructing the adult poor to read, we have, as might naturally be expected, met with a variety of opinion on the practicability, the propriety, and even the dangerous consequences of the scheme; and the idea of instructing persons far advanced in age has excited even the ridicule of prejudiced individuals; but, if any person into whose hands this narrative may come, should be disposed to inquire-What benefit can possibly result from teaching persons of sixty, seventy, eighty, or more years of age, to read the Bible, I would request leave to observe, that we do not seek for such; nevertheless, the instances already mentioned, are so many excellent and valuable proofs of the practicability of persons very far advanced in age, receiving that instruction, which requires an exercise of the memory which many well informed individuals have boldly denied. One of these learners, seventy-seven years old, observed to her teacher-“ It is never too late to learn a good thing." But I would take the lib erty of asking the inquirers before mentioned, how can

we refuse these aged applicants the privilege of learning to read, when they come forward with earnest solicitations to be instructed, for the very purpose of deriving edification and comfort from the perusal of the holy scriptures? If they should enjoy that acquisition for only the last year of their lives, it may prove to them a most invaluable blessing. Let us not, therefore, deny them the balm that may sooth their minds under the combined affliction of poverty and of age. It may happily be the means of conducting their feet to the true fountain of spiritual health and strength, (to the knowledge of the Redeemer's kingdom;) this will be a staff to lean upon, when their hoary heads are bending toward the silent grave, and their footsteps fast advancing toward their eternal home. Under these considerations, will not every christian ardently exclaim-O! let them read of the wisdom and goodness, of the love and mercy of their omnipotent Creator: Let them employ their latest breath in proclaiming their Maker's, their Redeemer's praise?

One strong feature of that generous and christiau benevolence, which of latter times so ardently seeks to extend amongst the poor and ignorant the inestimable blessings of education, and a knowledge of the sacred writings, has occurred in the French Prison, at Stapleton, near this city; where one Frenchman and one American have evinced a great solicitude to instruct their fellow-prisoners of each respective country, and have actually entered upon that laudable employment. This circumstance, it is to be hoped, will be productive of important benefits; not only amongst the thousands confined within the walls of that prison, but, at some future period, perhaps not very distant, the good cause in which they have voluntarily engaged, may, by this cir-s cumstance, be carried by the instructers, as well as the instructed, to the adult poor both of France and America, where it may spread as it is now doing in this country; that thousands and tens of thousands may hereafter trace the hand of Infinite Wisdom and goodness, which has thus been graciously pleased to educe good out of

evil, and make even the prisoners of war the instruments of diffusing still more widely the glad tidings of the gospel from sea to sea, and from river to river, to the very ends of the earth; that grace and peace may be multiplied unto all men, "Through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and goodness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and to virtue; whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these they may be made partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." That, finally, the prophecy of Isaiah may be fulfilled in all the earth-" The Lord shall comfort Zion; he will comfort all her waste places, and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord: joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody."

The following letters will serve to shew the degree of ardour which exists in the mind of that generous man, Benjamin Burritt, the American prisoner, who has so benevolently endeavoured to improve his companions in captivity.

To the Committee of the Bristol Auxiliary Bible So-ciety."

#GENTLEMEN,

Stapleton Prison, Sept. 20, 1813.

"I received from your society, by the hands of Claude Guiot, three Bibles and ten Testaments; for which I return my sincere thanks. I believe the books are profitably employed by my school; and have taken the liberty to write, upon the margin of each, the name of the person, and, Presented from the Bristol Society.' You will find annexed, the names of the persons who have received books, and the country to which they belong.

A

My ardent wishes and constant endeavours are to promote the designs of your society; that whilst the assisting arm of kindness is extended, we may receive from it permanent good. Paul may plant, and Apollos water, yet God gives the increase: unless we labour as well as pray for this increase, we neglect his law, and our most important interest. It is pleasing to discover a gradual reformation in the conduct of some of my scholars, and a satisfaction to know that they are better men. In the place of selfishness, profaneness, noise, and obscenity, are substituted the modest inquiry for information, and desire to promote reciprocal benevolence. Those who are able to read and understand, are classed; and we read in the Testament twice a day. The school in which I am engaged, is instrumental in promoting your desirable and important designs amongst the unfortunate prisoners: yet, labouring under inconveniences, and, I may truly say, almost insurmountable difficulties; and I believe it is my duty to make them known to your useful Institution, at the same time with no small degree of delicacy.

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"The French prisoners in general, though I am happy say with some exceptions, are opposed to our pursuits; and they occupy every convenient place for a school, with their mechanical business. For the place which I now occupy, comprising two tables about nine feet in length and two and a half in width, I pay fifteen shillings per month. I have taught the school two months, at one shilling and sixpence each scholar per month; they are mostly unable to pay me, and what I have received has been barely sufficient to pay for the place and tables; yet I have the satisfaction to find, that my constant at tendance and indefatigable exertions have been successful, in promoting useful knowledge. In this pursuit I expect no emolument, only a comfortable subsistence, with the means to do good. A trifling assistance would enable me to improve my school, without which, I fear it must decline. Destitute myself of every thing but a prison's allowance-far from affectionate pious parents,