Al4l [VROM A CORRESPOADt.NT.I The SPREAD of the HOLY SCRIPTURES Is becon most encouraging. We have seen with much rileasure how universally they are sought for and che rished. Amongst the many instances of this, we have been favoured with an extract of a letter from Kishuiyah, A Brahmin, to the Rev. A. Cvnmerer, a Missionary at Tranquehar, in which he mentions having requested the favokrr, because, " I am so fond of reading, ant wish to know the whole circumstances of Christianity." We find similar thaires expressed by Pariah lonian Catholics at Vehlmsy, and by heath e ns at Neualiatatn, who understand the English langniree, and read the English anti Tatted Bible with 1 ! great delight ; and likewise by the Gentoos anti Mahrattas who have frequently received, and are applying for the translations into their languages. At Cochin the Malayalim translations are read daily in the schools and in families. At Doosoon Millie), the Rajah Tangooloo, by his letter to J. Adams, Esq. freely approves the general use of the Scriptures, and the de sire he has for a copy of this Malay translatiete in a letter front the Rev. J. Twisleton, at Colombo, in Ceylon, of April 3, 1!-1 hi, lie says, " It would be desiralde that a copy of the new Version should be in every house where persoes can read; for as there are no other books, they will of ee cessity take np the Gospels during many a leisure hour, and consequently get some knowledge of Christianity." At Canton, in Jan. 1815, 31r. Morrison writes, that "the Chinese residing in the islands to the South, receive them with guest readiness.' Mr. Milne was then going to Malacca, to endeavour to form there a permanent seat tier our Extra Ganges Mission. " You cannot," says 31r. Supper, of Bat•tvia," think st ith what eagerness some Arabian merchants and Sheiks read the Bibles they received of me ; for whole nights they sit in cumpany together, reading this book of books. One of them actually de layed his departure on a journey, to reed it with tranquillity and attention, and promised to recommend it to his country - men, and implored a thousand blessings upon it; many Chinese of Java read it with the warmest gratitude. The success in America is not so extraordinary; but at Philadelphia the female society have very zealously promoted this great cause. A hundredth part of the zeal and humanity of a Howard, exerted by each of ns, wonill convey this book to the most secluded mansions of those countries. Although the Bible alone has not yet converted whole nations, it may he the first step in the grand undertaking ; and though in countries denominated Christian, much ignorance and vice may remain after the Bible has been generally distributed, no one Can say that it may not have extirpated mulch which would have taken root, had no exertions been made to repress it. Its operation is gradual and noiseless; its province is the heart; and its best fruits are those mild and humble virtues, which ask no notice but from the eye of God. "We know," says the second report from Virginia, April, 1815, "'that it is the will of heaven, because God has revealed it, that the Kingdom of Christ shall become ' •ersal; and that the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters do the sea. Bearing this in mind, when we contemplate the events that are now taking place; when we learn that the Holy Bible is read in the Court of Persia; that it is making its way in China; and in a word, that it is translated into almost all the dialects of Asia; that it is communicated to the wandering tribes of Africa; and that the remotest and darkest forests of Siberia are made glad by the joyittl sound of salva tion, it can hardly he domain raati to conclude that the ' time to fasour Zion, yea, the set time is come that the angel is now flying in the midst of heaven, who has the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and tongue, and kindred and people, Rev. 11. 6; and that, 'ere long, the whole race of man, united in the wor ship of one God, and acknowledging the redeeming mercy of his Son Jesus Cluist our Saviour, will, with something of the spirit and feelings of the angels when they announced the ad • vent of the promised Messiah, as with one voice in one raptur ous song, proclaim, Glory to God in the Highest; on earth peace, good will towards men!' NATIONAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. A numerous and respectable Meeting of this Institution for the relief of persons in the middle classes of life, was held on Friday se'nnight, at Canonbury-house, Islington, for the purpose of forming an Auxiliary Society in that &strict. His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex took the chair, in the absence of the Duke of Kent, who was pre ventei from attending by private business. The Report of the pi oceediugs of the Society were then read by N.r. Herve; from which it appeared, that fia individuals had received pensions to a very great amount, and that wee, al re spectable tradesmen had been relieved by louts of looney. The Meeting were particularly gratified to learn, that the Princes Charlotte, who had four yeats ago heroine the Patrouesa of this Society, eaplainedits object to Prince Leapnid: and that he had voluntarily come forward as one of its Patroi;a. The Earl of Pomfret was glad to bear what had been done, and moved that a Society in aid of the patent institution be formed at Islincton. The Rev. Mr. Rowell, in 5 ecnndin74 the motion, expressed his satisfaction at the numerous benevolent Insult:omA which ireat Britain could boast of. lie was extremely happy at the formation of the present Institution, when he remplabei ed it was to ex tena relief solely to those who, by untoi eseen accident had been reduced flout a state of affloence to all the horror': cf 'levet ry Awl woe. He could not doubt the b:snes Meat feelings, of the prk•ent Meeting. Religion and experience taught us, goo:Ito others we confessed a briirlit on ourselves; for We thereby received an inexpreasible pleasure. The illation was then put and carried unanimonsly. The Rev. Dr. Cohlver observed, it was a well-known fact, that those in the middle class of life were unable to bear tl.e an-cries of the poor, in consequence of their habits being (lit*. ferent. To retie ve them from that ruin which vi as Lail:Zing over Ciotti was the object of the Institution. It was an object em bracing the views of (7hristaius of every denomination. We meet, t.qt as the friends of this or that party, no. to advocat: our peculiar tenets in religions belief, but to plead the cause of humanity, and its that glorious catise to siderilicr those petty distitetions which divided the religions world. The rauee was that of humanity--a cause certainly calling fur all Ili energies of the !lonian mina, and for all the exertions we cuu d possibly eras c. He "as P'"" ru sec hominy Ladies present and from their pleasant looks he had no doubt of much success to the Institution. Tile Rev. Mr. Jones said, no one 'eserved the na ue of a ma. •st hose heart was not kiudleil with enthusiasm in the great c et benevolence. He was likused ver muck to see so wally La- THE NATIONAL REGISTER. dies present. lie trusted there were none present disposed to art like a Lady at his Chapel that mcruing, who had pot a far- thing into the collection-box, wrapped tip in a piece of white 1 1 paper. Such conduct, such pitiful tlexterity at dceeivinz, de served the execration of every honest mind. lie 11141Vell, that the Thanks of the Meeting be given to his Royal Highness the Ditk e of Sussex, for the honohr he has done• the Meeting in taking the Chair. The motion was carried with loud and re peated cheers. The Doke of Se. , ex returned hi' warmest thanks to the Meeting, fin• the honour they bad done him in appi tiring of his feeble eseitions in the Chair. He gloried in being a Briton, when he remembered the many. the almost incredible t sett ions his comn es men had made in behalf of suffering humanity.- - ( - , lppiamses.)-- He lamented the alarming pressure of the pre sent crisis, which had prevehted many benevolent pei•ofe from so bseriliing io bettaif of the indigent; and thanked the Lades for the handsome foamier in which they had come forward on this occasion: and trusted that they would show by their liberality to-day, that they knew not only how to sympa thize with, but also how to relieve, their pourer brethren. -• And now, laidies, (said his Royid Highness) I observe some of you very y ming ; let me hope you, will ail soon get Inisbands ; and, by the attraction yon will then naturally have, lead them to be friends of, and subscribers to, Oils Society. I thank you all for the high honour you hits e 11011 e me in approving of my con duct in the Chair; and while 1 now take my leave of you, allow me to say, that should you at any other time assemble tocether for the purpose of promoting the cause of humanity and benevo lence,you cannoto bilge me more,or do me more heartftlt pleasure, than by commanding my services. 1 consider it nuipiestitma bly the highest honour to be the humble instrument of doing good and promoting the interest of my fellow-mortals." His Roy - al Highness then left the Chair amidst much applause. DRAII:I7'IC I? EC; 1 S TER. HAY ALA atiET. Thursday the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester ho noured the Haymarket Theatre with their presence ; when they were received with loud cheers. immediately after the curtain drew up, the whole of the performers, decorated with knots of white ribbon, sang' God save the King ;' to which the following appropriate addition was made in honour of the happy pair, by Mr. Colman Great George! thy Peoples voice, Now hails thy daughter's choice, Till echoes ring ; This shout sttll rends the air, May she prove bless'd as lair! Long five the Noble fair! God save the King! y The Duchess was observed to be deep s affected, and to shed tears, at hearing the name of h.l r Father, in the first verse ; the tender idea with whi h this sensibility was associated was instantly caught by tine spectators, and their long and continued cheers at once recognized and applauded the filial 'affection from which it proceeded. ENGLISH OPERA, A new Operetta, in one Act (another Plant from that productive soil the French Stage), was on Monday night produced at this Theatre, under the English title of Old Customs ; or, Nem Year's GO. - - The plot is very trifling, and yet forms the basis of a very pleasing superstructure. Mr. Mel: ilk, a rich uncle (Mr. BARTLE Y), has fallen in love with Miss Velour, his nephew's mistress (M iss L. KELLY), and has obtained the consent of her father (Mr. W. S. ('II AY. TERLY) to marry her. In order to secure the execution of his pur pose, he banishes his nephew (Mr. WRLNTB) from his presence, and enters into an engagement with the young lady's father; by which, who soever retracts, is to forfeit sisal Such is the -tare of affairs when the Rieee opens, on a Christmas morning, by tile solicitations of the Uncle's footman to obtain Christmas boxes. The nephew steals in and leaves a Comedy of his own composition. as an offering to his irritated relative ; with a letter from his mistress to the same Gentleman, informing hint, that lie will find in a basket containing presents of the season, which she has prepared for him, a secret packet which she entrusts to his care, and on which the happiness of her life depends. This, it is explained, is the correspondence which has taken place between her and her lover, and which she hopes will induce 3 r. 3Liville not to press his own suit. The basket is brought during his absence; and immediately after, the servant's mother talrs.Guovrsuximes to see her son, bring ing his little sister, a baby, with her. She leaves the child in his arms, while she makes some other call. In a short time, it falls asleep, and the embarrassed footman can tind no other bed for it than Miss Bekaa r's basket, which remains still unvisited. His toaster returns; and having read the young lady's letter, hastens to the basket to examine the packet which it announces. Ile finds the child, and naturally conceives that it is the important trust which she commits to his care. After some contention with himself, he resolves to make the lovers ultimately happy ; and when the young. Ldy arrives with her father, a conver sation occurs between them,filled with equivoques, which convulsed the audience with laughter, but approached rather clJser to indelicacy than any which modern authors have ventured to introduce on our stage; the nephew forces his way into the house, and a new series of cquivoptes arises from the questions which he puts respecting the " banding of his brains," which the Uncle finds too substantial for an intellectual pro duction. At last, however, he gives up the lady, to whom he r, nuts the bond, conveying the penalty ; her h alter fidlows his example, and all seems likely to conclude happily, when he reveals the pretended se cret of the lov, ra, and produces tha child. The Nephew is thunder- Finnic, the young Lady indignant, and her Father furious. Bat the real mother Mrtunately returns, and all is explained and amicably .settled. Out of these materials the Translator (Mr. Beasely) has produced a piece highly laughable. The Performers exerted themselves to tile utmost, and were well received throughout. There is some pretty music hi it, composed by Mr. M Ci;rri ; and the piece was gik en out for repe tition without a single dissentient voice. During the periiirmance of Old Cqstmns at this Theatre last Thursday night, the aucheule were annoyed by a single individual in the Pit, who dose to express his dis approbation in a noi , y manner. At the close of the piece, Mr. Hartley (at whom the :rreatest portion of abuse was levelled) pointed out to a friend the person who had amused himself and disturbed the house. This being noticed by a party around the young Gentleman, Mr. B. was assailed on his re-appearance in the Maid and the Magpie, With a peremptory call for an apology. Mr. Hartley immediately male forward, and said— " That if an apoi .gry was eal;,d for by the aur:eure, sit aced as he was, in the .;sable capacits of Stace A.rnager and Per former, be should cheerfully iezkrowledec any error in 4 1)(11i. We to their coin..:Ands ; bai be.ng called try a an:., c AUGUST person, who had only distinguished himself by his annoyance to the puulic, must decidedly against what might be other iseicalltd unanimMts approbation, he ft It, that if any apology vas due, it was trout the person who Low called upon him : that it snore was required, he should he most happy to meet the tientlemon, or any rated of his, at the con.:lnsion of the entertainment ;and endrd by saying Further than this no man can a Farther than this no ma:, ought Ingo—Furthe r than this will not go !" The Address was frequently intemtpted by cries of "r turn hint out," " name Lim:" and shouts of " bravo ;" and on making his bow to the audience, Mr. Bartley was cheered repeatedly by their unanimous applause. The l) u l:e and Duchess of Gloucester honoured this Theatre on Friday night with their presence, to witness the performances of T 1 a Siege of _Belgrade, and The Maid and the Magpie. On their entree they were greeted w►th rapturous and reiterated bursts of applause, which they returned in a manner the most of able, elegant, and gratifying. The house boasted an elegant display of fashion:ll)les. At the conclusion of the Play. as well as at the entrance of the Royal Pair, " God sane the Kilg" was sung bp the vocal strength of the Cont. puny, and loudly chortissed by the whole of the auditory. The tollowing additional verse, written by Mr. Arnold,. was greatly applauded:— Lung may the Royal Line, Proud Star of Brunswick shine; While thus we sine, Joy may the Daughter share. Bless'd by a Nation's pro) es-, Bless'd be the Royal Pair; God save the King. It was announced that Mr. Incicdon was engaged for a few nights at this Theatre, previous to his quitting the country tin- America; and that he would make his first appearance on Tuesday next, in the charactez of Artaba nes, in the Opera of Artaxerxes. Miss Merry has been engaged for three years at Drury. lane Theatre, as thiprincipal singer. Miss S. Booth, while pertiaming the character of .4n. wile, in The Maid and the Magpie, tbr her own benefit, at the Plymouth Theatre, overcome by her feelings, fainted in reality, and was removed senseless from the stage, and the curtain dropped amidst shouts of approba tion and regret. Ineledon, whom some of the London Papers have fixed at Paris, performed on Thursday at the Birmingham Theatre; and, after singing a number of his most popular songs, addressed the audience, stating, that in all proba• bility it would be the last time he would ever appear be fore them, as he was about to proceed to America ; as it was impossible for him to obtain employment at either of the London NVinter Theatres, without submitting to " a species of degradation unworthy a man, and disgraceful to a Briton." The Duke of Wellington is making the most of his short stay in this country : he goes about from place to place with his characteristic activity. On Thursday se'nnight he came to town from Cheltenham ; un Friday he went to Hatfield; on Saturday he returned to Lon don; Tuesday he proceeded again to Hatfield, to be at a ball given by the Marchioness of Salisbury ; NVedausday, his Grace went to Wanstead House, to be present at the christening of Mr. Long Wellesley's second son, on which occasion a grand entertainment was given.—The Duke and Duchess arrived at eleven, and at twelve o'clock the ceremony of baptism was performed by the Rev. Mr. Gilley, Rector of Wanstead. The sponsors were Lord Fitzroy Somerset and the Marquis of Worcester. Tho former being absent, Mr. Wellesley stood for his Lordship. At one o'clock waltzing and country dances commenced, and at half-past two the company sat down to the ban quet. Every cover was of massive silver. Two rooms were appropriatd—in the grand hall 144 sat down, in the saloon adjoining '2BO. The Duke of Wellington re tired before supper ; his Grace set off post for town. Dancing re-commenced at three, and did not conclude till nearly seven in the morning. The Duches of Wel lington stayed until the party broke up. A great number of fashionubles from London, and all the genteel fa milies for twenty miles round, were present.— Thurs day the Lord Mayor gave a grand dinner to the Duke of Wellington, for the purpose of presenting to him the resolutions unanimously voted by the Court of Common Council for the victory of Waterloo. There were present, on this occasion, amongst other distinguished persons, the Dukes of Kent taut Sussex, Earl Darnley, Lord Erskine, and Lord Clifton, Alder men, &c. &c. The following incidents, which occurred to the Duke of Wellington, on his recent visit to Bristol, hear ho nourable testimony to the benevolence cf his disposition: A Mr. Tripp, a respectable butelier, with his sou, a lad about nine yea's of age, were both on one horse; the son, in the hurry and coutashin of the moment, was apparently in great hazard of being thrown. when the Duke starting up, caught the child in his arms, took him into ills no n enrriage, and shitiug the remainder of the procession rntieied him to stand behind with his valet. A soldier had pre.st-1 tin ough the crowd, and ut the doOr of the carriage begged permission to slial,e hands the limo, a pri% liege he claimed flout having been his companion in arms. " A Imtil day you mid Me had of it, your honour, this day seven y ears!"—" Wltree was that my lad ?"--" At Talavera, your hommr."---Ah! I bud gime forgotten; it was the of July awl to whot rep went did you belong s" asked the Doke. •"lit the td e t..trdk,'' replied the soldier. " And aby are yen absent tout dr"— . ok at my shoulder, your honour," said the seldic r-• 6e hod his arm in his country's cause. The Dukr ic.medtately i;;.‘c Lou a pound mac.