be collected in the different 'provinces' of France, if new members were to be added to them, and if the gospel was to be preached in districts where it had never before been heard, there must of necessity be a supply of men thoroughly furnished for the work; and that supply, in the actual state of theological instruction in both countries, could only be afforded out of some well-conducted institution, like the Ecole Theologique, of Geneva. Accordingly, in many instances, the demands of the Paris committee, when agents were wanting for their different stations in France, have been supplied from the Genevan school. Young men are also sent from the Paris committee, to be instructed and prepared for the work of evangelization, or for the ministry, by their brethren at Geneva; at this time there are five such pupils. It appears to this committee one of the most pleasing and encouraging features in the two societies, that they carry on this mutual co-operation; and, in order to give a further testimony of their perfect unity of purpose, and agreement upon the great articles of an orthodox faith, the committees of the two societies have resolved to send the same individual, as their representative to this present meeting.

The 'evangelization' of France being the great object with both societies, they agree in giving the following instructions to their agents; You shall confine yourselves to the simple statement of evangelical truth, which is summed up in the following doetrines,—the fall of man, and his state of condemnation; justification by faith; regeneration; the necessity of sanctification; in one word, salvation, as the free act of grace and mercy of one only God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.'

The corresponding committee which was formed here in 1832, seeing the unity of purpose, and concord in the two associations, and in order to meet the growing magnitude of their common object, remodelled and extended its plan in 1835, and put itself in correspondence with both sociétés, under certain rules, which were adopted at the time, by a meeting of the subscribers and contributors to its funds.

The expectations of the central committee have, by the blessing of God, been realized, hitherto, in proportion as opportunities have been available to make the sociétés evan

géliques known. It will be seen by the treasurer's account, which accompanies this report, that remittances have been made to the two societies to the amount of £1,200, I within the space of two years. This sum has been sent nearly in equal proportions to the two societies; to that of Paris £627. 2s. 6d., and to that of Geneva £572. 17s. 6d.

It will be understood by the contributors to these societies, that the central committee does not exercise any control over the proceedings of either. The principle upon which the committee acts, is to assist the societies, by means of pecuniary aid, to carry on their own work in their respective countries. Having confidence in the persons who conduct the proceedings, both at Geneva and Paris, the central committee deem their most desirable course to be, simply to place the funds collected in this country at the disposal of the directors of the two societies, whose local relations must render them the fittest managers of their grand work.

The reports and correspondence which have been received by the central committee, relating to the management of the societies, are highly satisfactory. With an ardent zeal, no want of caution and discernment on the part of the numefous agents, has hitherto been discoverable. Wherever an effectual door is open, there the societies direct the attention of their missionaries, and the work of evangelization is carried on in conformity with the laws. The examinations taken at a recent trial of one of the Paris society's agents, who has finally been acquitted by a decision of the Supreme Court in Paris, show the excellent spirit in which the agents of the Société Evangélique de France are acting; submitting themselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, they rejoice in being counted worthy to suffer for the name of the Lord Jesus. The society's agent, whose case has brought on a decision so important to the cause of religious liberty in France, was condemned, on the 10th of October, 1837, by the police tribunal of Montargis, for holding a religious assembly in that place. The Court of Assize at Orleans reversed that decision, and vindicated the great principle of liberty of conscience in matters of religion. A final appeal was made to the Court of Cassation in Paris, and the decision of the Court of Orleans was confirmed a few days ago. But although the so

ciety's agent was acquitted, there is yet too much reason to fear, from the tenour of the preamble of that decision, that religious liberty for Protestants is far from being secure in France. It is on this account that the Central Committee have alluded to the case of Montargis, to impress upon the friends of the cause the necessity of employing the present favourable moment. It is three hundred years since the scriptures found their way into the dominions of France, and brought many to the true knowledge of the Saviour; a long interval of spiritual darkness followed the extinction of that light, by the revocation of the edict of Nantes. A fresh opportunity is now afforded to rekindle the divine light. The time for diffusing the scriptures, and proclaiming their great truths, is most favourable, but it is precarious. It need not be said how vast the field of France is,-how urgent its spiritual wants, how cogent the duty of promoting the efforts now making under the direction of its own zealous associations, to disseminate, while the day lasts, and ere the night cometh, the precious tidings of our common salvation.

The Committee proceed to lay before the donors and subscribers in this country, a statement of the present proceedings and finances of the two foreign societies.

The Société Evangélique de France has employed, during the past year, ending April 1838, in all forty-six agents; sixteen of these are ordained ministers, and are stationary in different districts of France; eleven are evangelists, or scripture readers, or lay-assistants, (it is one of those, M. Doine, placed at Montargis, who has been the subject of the recent important process); six are schoolmasters, and three school-mistresses; and the remaining nine are colporteurs. The Society, besides these, has maintained five pupils, at an expense of £25. per annum each. The whole expenditure for the maintenance of the forty-six agents, is 51,920 francs, which averages 1128 francs, or about £45. each, per annum: some of the ordained ministers have as much as 2000 francs, or £80. per annum, but the average cost of the society's agents, is no more than £45. a-year each. The hire of rooms, expenses of books and printing, and of other things necessary for carrying on the work of the society, made the total expense of last year, amount to 68,520 francs, whilst the receipts up to

the time when this statement was made, were only 55,000 francs, and, although more donations were expected, the Paris Committee is fearful of finding a deficit of 8000 or 10,000 francs, at the close of the year's accounts. The most satisfactory circumstance in their finances, is, that out of 55,000 francs, 31,000 francs have been contributed in France itself. The whole amount of subscriptions in Protestant France, for religious purposes of every description, did not exceed 40,000 francs, ten years ago; the last estimates shewed that this amount had increased to 110,000 francs, or £4,400 annually, and it is expected the accounts of the present year will show a still greater increase. The Central Committee cannot but congratulate the friends of true religion in France, upon this cheering progress of its local contributions; no uncertain indication, it may be hoped, of a corresponding increase in the numbers and piety of the Protestant body in that country.

The number of agents employed, during the year, by the Société Evangélique, of Geneva, is thirty-seven, viz. six ordained ministers, one evangéliste," eleven teachers, nineteen colporteurs. The sum expended for their maintenance in one year, together with all expenses attending the establishment of divine worship in towns and villages, the fitting-up of school-rooms, the purchase of books, &c. amounts to 39,506 francs, or about £1580. The theological school has five professors, of whom three only are paid, and a fourth receives a trifling remuneration: it also maintains three masters in the preparatory school, and contains, at present, twenty-six students, five of whom are allowed 600 francs a-year each, and eight more 300 francs upon the foundation. The whole expense of the Theological School last year, amounted to 20,125 francs, or £405. Finally, from the latest communications received by the Central Committee from Geneva, it appears, that during the past year the Society has received from all its departments, and expended about 80,000 francs, or £3200.

1 Since this Report was sent to press, it has been ascertained that the contributions during the past year, ending April, 1838, to the several religious institutions of Protestant France, have reached the sum of 361.452 francs, or about 14,4187., that is to say, they have more than tripled within the last two years! Of this sum the Société Evangélique has 75,719 francs, the balance due to the treasurer being 3,266 francs.

Of this sum about £500 has been furnished through this committee, and the remainder chiefly by local exertions.

The whole number of agents, therefore at this time employed by the two societies, in different parts of France, is 85. The sum total expended by them, from April 1837, to April 1838, is not far short of 150,000 francs, or about £6000.

The operations under the heads of "colporteurs," for the distribution and sale of the sacred scriptures, and tracts on the elementary truths of the gospel; and under that of “evangelization," for the preaching of the word, the settlement of churches, and the administration of the sacraments, -extend, more or less, into about thirty provinces of France. Churches of Protestants have been formed in several places; to some of these schools have been added. An instance has occurred of an entire commune, consisting of several hundred people, with their mayor at their head, inviting a Protestant minister to officiate among them, and preparing a building for the purpose. In other places, churches are erecting, in order to give permanency to the work of conversion proceeding in the several parts.

Associations of a kindred character, some connected with the parent institution at Paris, some independent, but all bearing on the same great work, have been formed in different provincial towns of France; and several ministers of the National Protestant Church are exerting themselves, with an abundant blessing from above, in aiding the spread of a pure faith in France.

The Central Committee cannot but consider the circumstances thus summarily stated, and which will be more fully explained by the deputation from the Societies, now present, as a subject of praise and thanksgiving to the great Head of the church, and as the first fruits of an abundant harvest to be reaped in France. In that country whose shores are now brought within a voyage of twelve hours, and by continued improvements in modes of conveyance, its metropolis may shortly be brought within a twenty-four hours' journey of our own,-in that country whose destinies generally influence the continent of Europe,―the truths of the everlasting gospel are once again beginning to revive: but while the harvest is truly plenteous, the labourers, as yet, are but few.