MR. RAIKES had very soon occasion to answer another inquiry "from Bradford in Yorkshire." His letter is dated "Gloucester, June 5, 1784," and agrees in substance with the foregoing: yet, as it may serve to complete the interesting information upon the subject of the Sunday School, the last which we can receive from the inventor himself, we shall insert it.

Having found four persons who had been accustomed to instruct children in reading, I engaged to pay the sum they required for receiving and instructing such children as I should send to them every Sunday. The children were to come soon after ten in the morning, and stay till twelve: they were then to go home and return at one; and after reading a lesson, they were to be conducted to church. After church they were to be employed in repeating the catechism till half past five, and then to be dismissed, with an injunction to go home without making a noise; and by no means to play in the street. This was the general outline of the regulation.

"With regard to the parents, I went round to remonstrate with them on the melancholy consequences that must ensue from so fatal a neglect of their children's morals. They alleged, that their poverty rendered them incapable of cleaning and clothing their children fit to appear either at school or at church; but this objection was obviated by a remark, that if they were clad in a garb fit to appear in the streets, I should not think it improper for a school calculated to admit the poorest and most neglected. All that I required, were clean faces, clean hands, and the hair combed. In other respects, VOL. I.-No. 2. B

they were to come as their circumstances would admit. Many children began to show talents for learning, and a desire to be taught. Little rewards were distributed among the most diligent; this excited an emulation. One or two clergymen gave their assistance, by going round to the Schools on the Sunday afternoon, to hear the children their catechism? This was of great consequence.

"Another clergyman hears them their catechism once a quarter publicly in the church, and rewards their good behaviour with some little gratuity.

"They are frequently admonished to refrain from swearing; and certain boys, who are distinguished by their decent behaviour, are appointed to superintend the conduct of the rest, and make report of those that swear, call names, or interrupt the comfort of the other boys in their neighbourhood. When quarrels have arisen, the aggressor is compelled to ask pardon, and the offended is enjoined to forgive. The happiness that must arise to all from a kind, good natured behaviour, is often inculcated.

In

"This mode of treatment has produced a wonderful change in the manners of these little savages. I cannot give a more striking instance than I received the other day from Mr. Church, a considerable manufacturer of hemp and flax, who employs great numbers of these children. I asked him whether he perceived any alteration in the poor children he employed. Sir,' says he, the change could not have been. more extraordinary in my opinion, had they been transformed from the shape of wolves and tigers to that of men. temper, disposition, and manners, they could hardly be said to differ from the brute creation. But since the establishment of the Sunday Schools, they have seemed anxious to show that they are not the ignorant, illiterate creatures they were before. When they have seen a superior come, and kindly instruct and admonish them, and sometimes reward their good behaviour, they are anxious to gain his friendship and good opinion. They are also become more tractable and obedient, and less quarrelsome and revengeful. In short, I never conceived that a reformation so singular could have been effected among the set of untutored beings I employed.'

"From this little sketch of the reformation which has taken place, there is reason to hope, that a general establishment of Sunday Schools, would in time make some change in the morals of the lower class. At least it might, in some measure,

prevent them from growing worse, which at present seems but too apparent.

"I am, Sir, &c.

"R. RAIKES."

It appears, from the first letter of Mr. Raikes, that the Sunday School originated in 1780. For three years, the schools gradually extended in his neighbourhood, to which they appear then to have been confined, and where several clergymen, besides the minister mentioned by Mr. R. very laudably contributed to the success of the scheme, by their personal attentions. The report of that success, in and about Gloucester, could not fail to draw attention from other parts of England. In 1784, the plan was adopted in Yorkshire, by several manufacturing towns. In Leeds, 1800 children were speedily collected. In this year the Sunday School at Stockport was opened, which has since exceeded in magnitude any other single establishment of this kind, and has recently been distinguished by the patronage of a branch of the Royal Family.

In 1785 was established, in London, a "Society for the support and encouragement of Sunday Schools," by donations of suitable books, or rendering them of easy purchase, also by remunerating teachers in districts too poor to reward them.

Clergymen of rank now did themselves honour by advo cating this cause. Among these, the Rev. Dr. Kaye, Dean of Lincoln, was distinguished by a "Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Nottingham." At the same time, the Rev. Mr. Hearne, one of the Rectors of Canterbury, exerted himself zealously among the indigent population of that place. A very gratifying account of his success was given by him in a letter addressed to the Dean of Canterbury, Dr. Horne, afterwards Bishop of Norwich, who interested himself in this cause. The letter is preserved in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1786 (V. 56, p. 257), and also given in the Selections from that Magazine, just published (V. iii. 115), and is well worthy of perusal. Mr. H. candidly states his constant use of Dr. Watts's Songs in the Schools, and the countenance he received from a Dissenter" and a 66 Quaker." About this time it was estimated that no less than 250,000 children, in different parts of England, were under instruction by Sunday Schools.

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The late Bishop Porteus, then Bishop of Chester, recommended the formation of Sunday Schools in his extensive diThis prelate had early conceived a very favourable

ncese.

opinion of the plan, as we are informed, in his Life just published, and in several instances privately encouraged it.

"But, as an act of prudence, he determined not to give it the sanction of his public approbation, till, as he observes, time and experience, and more accurate inquiry, had enabled him to form a more decided judgment of its real value, and its probable effects.' When, however, repeated information from various quarters, and particularly from some of the largest manufacturing towns in his diocese, had convinced him that such institutions, wherever the experiment had been fairly tried, had produced, and could not fail to produce, if discreetly regulated, essential benefit, he no longer hesitated in promoting them generally throughout his diocese. With this view, as the wisest and most effectual mode of giving publicity to his sentiments, he addressed to his clergy a very excellent letter, containing, in a short compass, a plain, temperate, and judicious exposition of the advantages of Sunday Schools, and of the rules by which they should be conducted." Life of Bishop Porteus, p. 93.

Mr. Raikes appears to have been highly favoured in the circumstances of his death, which happened April 5, 1811, in his native city of Gloucester, without any previous indisposition, and in his 76th year. Thus he came to his grave in a full age, and might, surely, have solaced his life's decline with the promise of his great Exemplar----Blessed art thou, for these cannot recompense thee, but thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

In tracing the origin of Sunday Schools, and the life of Robert Raikes, we cannot fail observing that Providence often employs the smallest circumstances, and the efforts, even of individuals, to accomplish its most grand and extensive designs. Who that observed Robert Raikes, surrounded with a number of ragged miserable children, talking with a poor woman respecting their awful situation, agreeing with teachers to pay them himself, would have supposed that he was laying the foundation of a building, the basis of which should cover the earth, and the top of which should reach unto heaven? If we were asked, whence has the present zeal for the diffusion of religious knowledge arisen? whence those Societies which are the ornament of our country, and the benefactors of the world? we might lead the inquirer to that street in the suburbs of Gloucester, where the idea of Sunday Schools entered the mind of Raikes 33 years ago, as their more immediate or remote origin. What continual accessions of felicity may

we conceive the spirit of Raikes to receive in the mansions of glory, as he welcomes to heaven an increasing number of those who have been instructed in Sunday Schools! O, may all the teachers of Sunday Schools, with their founder, attended by an innumerable company of the children whom they have taught, meet in heaven to ascribe all the glory unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and

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MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

Moravian Missions.

WE hear that the Rev. Mr. La Trobe, Secretary to the Brethren's Society for Missions, has lately sailed for South Africa, to visit the two stations they have in that country, viz. Gnadenthal and Grunekloof; he is accompanied by several new Missionaries.

On Wednesday, November 8, Messrs. Threlkeld and Ellis, having been designated by the Directors of the Missionary Society to labour in the islands of the South Seas, were set apart to their important work at the Rev. Mr. Leifchild's Chapel, Kensington. Mr. Hackett commenced the service by reading and prayer; Mr. Leifchild delivered an introductory discourse on the difficulties and encouragements of Missionaries; Mr. Platt asked the questions; Dr. Waugh engaged in the ordination prayer; Mr. Hyatt delivered an impressive charge from Acts xx. 22--24.; and Dr. Nicol concluded.

They are to sail in the Atlas, a government transport, with 200 male convicts, to New South Wales. Two more Missionaries and their wives are expected soon to follow them. A lady has lately presented, by the hands of Dr. Haweis £200. towards the expenses of this Mission.

Evangelical Magazine, Dec. 1815.

THE following extracts of letters from the Missionaries of the United Brethren, though not of a very recent date, are taken from the two last numbers of the Periodical accounts of their Missions (72 and 73.) Ir is believed that they contain matter which has pot