beneficial plan. In the year 1810, a Hibernian Sunday School Society, was formed, which was immediately cherished by extensive patronage, and has already been exceedingly useful in scattering the rays of heavenly light over the chaotic gloom that has long enveloped the lower classes of the community in that interesting, but neglected country.

In tracing the growth of the Sunday School Institution, it would be an unpardonable omission to pass by in silence that noble ramification of it, the instruction of ADULTS. A few years ago, had any one proposed such a design, a thousand voices would have exclaimed, in a strain somewhat similar to that of the wondering and doubting Nicodemus, "How can a man be taught when he is old? But this is the age of a daring and restless benevolence, which no exertions can weary, and no difficulties can appal. The first scion was planted by Mr. Charles, upon the mountains of Wales, in the summer of 1811. "God prepared room before it and caused to take deep root; the hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like goodly cedars."

The account of his commencement, and success, shall be given in his own words :

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My maxim has been for many years past, to aim at great things, but if I cannot accomplish great things, to do what I can, and be thankful for the least success, and still to follow on without being discouraged at the day of small things, or by unexpected reverses. For many years I have laid it down as a maxim to guide me, never to give up a place in despair of success. If one way does not succeed, new means must be tried; and if I see no increase this year, perhaps I may the next. I almost wish to blot out the word impossible from my vocabulary, and obliterate it from the minds of my brethren. We had no particular school for the instruction of adults exclusively, till the summer of 1811; but many attended the Sunday Schools with the children, in different parts of the country, previous to that time. What induced me first to think of establishing such an institution, was the aversion I found in the adults to associate with the children in their schools. The first attempt succeeded wonderfully, and far beyond my most sanguine expectations. The report of the success of this school soon spread over the country, and in many places the illiterate adults began to call for instruction. In one county, after a

public address had been delivered to them on the subject, the adult poor, even the aged, flocked to the Sunday School in crowds; and the shopkeepers could not immediately supply them with an adequate number of spectacles. Our schools in general are kept in our chapels; in some districts, where there are no chapels, farmers, in the summer time, lend their barns. The adults and children are sometimes in the same room, but placed in different parts of it. When their attention is gained and fixed, they soon learn; their age makes no difference if they are able, by the help of glasses, to see the letters. As the adults have no time to lose, we endeavour (before they can read) to instruct them without delay, in the first principles of christianity. We select a short portion of scripture, comprising the leading doctrines, and repeat them to the learners, till they can retain them in their memories; and which they are to repeat the next time we meet."

Thus commenced that excellent institution, which is imparting the elements of knowledge and the benefits of religious iustruction to thousands, who have passed the meridian of life; which in many cases, by teaching the aged to read, seems to add a lengthened twi

light to their day of grace; and by revealing to them the things that belong to their peace, just as they are about to be hid from their eyes, accomplishes the words of inspiration, "In the evening tide it shall be light."

Soon after this time, as if the plan had been carried in the bosom of the Severn, and from thence received by the Avon, it appeared in the city of Bristol. The individual destined to the high honor of establishing it there, was a man of obscure and humble origin. The rays of spiritual light do not always strike first on the tops of the highest mountains. Men in less elevated stations have often been employed as the almoners of divine bounty. The apostle, referring to the first preachers of the gospel, could say, "Ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise: and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty." At the Second Anniversary of the Bristol Auxiliary Bible Society, among other intelligence communicated to the meeting, a letter from Keynsham was read, which contained the following

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sentence: "We have been necessarily obliged to omit a great number of poor inhabitants who could not read, and therefore are not likely to be benefited by the possession of a bible." This statement reached the heart of an individual present, by the name of William Smith. To be deprived of the inspired volume by an inability to peruse it, appeared to him worse than for a man to be dying of the plague, through ignorance of the way applying a remedy, which in itself was within his reach. His benevolent mind meditated

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upon their situation. He longed to relieve them, but scarcely dared to hope that the case admitted of relief. In this dilemma he consulted Stephen Prust, Esq. a respectable merchant in the city, whose name stands high in the long list of Bristol philanthropists. The object of his enquiry was to ascertain whether it were possible to instruct the ignorant part of the adult poor to read. It is of immense importance, that when the seed of benevolence begins to germinate, it should be cherished by the genial influence of a kindly atmosphere; a nipping frost at that critical juncture, would cause it to perish in its bed. In the advice, the patronage, and support of Mr. Prust, the