(CIRCULAR.) Cambridge, March 28, 1817. SIR, THERE being too much reason for believing the funds of a considerable proportion of the parochial charities in the kingdom, have not been applied according to the intention of the donors; in some instances from ignorance, and in others from a less defensible cause, the legislature deemed it expedient in 1812, to pass an act, by which the trustees and others, having the management of charity estates, are required to return to the clerks of the peace in the respective counties such an account of these charities as is stated underneath. Upon taking this act into consideration at the last quarter sessions of the peace held for this county, it appeared to the magistrates, that a very considerable number of those, who have the management of these charities in this county, have totally neglected the duty imposed upon them by the act. The magistrates therefore, came to a determination to adopt such measures as will attain the object the legislature had in view when the act was passed; and being of opinion, that the best mode of calling the attention of the parties concerned, would be through the medium of the officiating clergymen in the county, have desired me to request you will, within fourteen days after the receipt of this letter, call a meeting of the churchwardens, overseers, and those who have the management of the charity estates in your parish, and acquaint them with what is required by the act, of the magistrates' determination, and that it is expected the returns required by the act be made by the first day of May next; immediately after which, compulsory steps will be taken against all those, who shall persist in neglecting to pursue the directions of the act after this notice. Considering the importance of the subject, and the beneficial result that must arise from carrying the act into execution, and more particularly in the present state of the country, the magistrates feel assured that you will not object to render assistance in forwarding so desirable an object. your I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, Clerk of the Peace for the For The Officiating Clergyman at A particular account of each charity, shewing, 1. Whether the same consists of a donation in an estate or money. 2. If an estate, a description of it, where situate, and the gross annual value. 3. For what purposes the produce of the estate is appropriated. 4. The names of the present trustees, or other managers of each charity. than the Bishop of Quebec has been in traversing trackless forests and marshes, and navigating dangerous. lakes and rivers, at all seasons of the year, in order to visit remote settlements, and to become acquainted with his distant clergy; and in the discharge of this important duty, he has been admired scarcely less for his personal intrepidity, and endurance of fatigue and hardships, than for his zeal and ability in preaching the Gospel, and in disseminating the doctrines and discipline of the Church. The Bishop, in the part of his Charge alluded to, explains to his Clergy the reasons which have hi 5. The names of the donors of therto induced him to abstain from each charity. 6. Where the title-deeds or wills relating to each charity are depo sited. calling them together on his visitations, (viz. the expense and fatigue to them, and the cessation of duty in their parishes, which must have been the consequence of their attendance upon him;) but he does not expressly state, (because they well know) that he has taken upon himself that to which he would not expose them; and has, from the time of his consecration, regularly visited all the churches in his diocese, however remote from the ordinary route of safe and convenient travelling, and that too amid the perils of war, and in the seventieth year of his age. I remain, Sir, Your very obedient servant, Hemel Hempstead, SACRED POETRY.. ON CHRIST'S ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM. OPE, O Salem, ope thy gate; Strew His path with budding Palm, No blood-red banners wave on high, He the world from sin shall save, Let then loud Hosannahs fill, THE RESIGNATION. Long have I view'd, long have I thought, And held with trembling hand this bitter draught: "Twas now just to my lips applied, Nature shrank in, and all my courage died. But now resolv'd, and firm I'll be, Since, Lord, 'tis mingled, and reach'd out by Thee, I'll trust my great Physician's skill; I know, what He prescribes, can ne'er be ill; I own Him wise and good, and do submit. Since 'tis thy pleasure, Lord, it shall be mine. Thy medicine puts me to great smart, I must, and will Thy sovereign touch endure. But yet I still will pray, "Thy will be done." My heart itself, as its delight, is thine ; My little all I give to Thee, Thou gav'st a greater gift,-Thy Son, to me. He left true bliss and joys above, Himself He emptied of all good, but love For me He freely did forsake More good, than He from me can ever take. A mortal life for a divine He took, and did at last even that resign. Take all, great God, I will not grieve, I hear Thy voice, Thou bad'st me quit I will not murmur at Thy word, Nor beg Thy angel to sheath up his sword. NORRIS. THE LAMENTATION OF ADAM ON HIS LEAVING PARADISE. And must I go, and must I be no more Can no reserves of pity me restore? To live in Eden, let me there but die. Fair Place! thy sweets I just began to know, Ah! why does Heav'n such short-liv'd bliss bestow? I ask not to be chief in this blest state, Let Heav'n some other for that place create: An humbler, meaner place, 'tis all I crave. But 'twill not do, I see, I must away, My feet prophane this sacred ground; A curse to be immortal, and not here. "Tis done-Now farewell thou most happy place; I ne'er again in you shall view my face, To thee, my happy rival, I resign. Norris. O whither now, whither shall I repair There's nothing left that's pleasant, good, or fair; Had I lost lesser, and but seeming bliss, Senseless and thoughtless now I'd be, NORRIS. THE RETURN. Dear contemplation, my divinest joy, When I have conquer'd thy steep heights with pain, And yet I must; my passions would rebel, So angels, though they Heav'ns glories know, NORRIS. |