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house, lo prepare matters for the monthly meeting, which is heldat St, Martin's library.

Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Know-ledge, was in-t it uteri in the beginning of the 18th century. Atthat period the condition of the Scottish Highlanders was trulydeplorable. Shut up in desolate islands by tempestuous seas, ordispersed over a wide extent of country, intersected by high-mountains, rapid rivers, and arms of the sea, without bridges orhighways, by which any communication could be kept open eitherwith remote or neighbouring districts, they lived in small de-tached companies in hamlets or solitary huts. Being thus secludedfrom intercourse with the more civilized part of the island, theycould not enjoy the advantages of trade and manufactures, or themore important advantages of instruction in the principles of Chris-tianity . It was therefore impossible for benevolent minds to con-template this unhappy situation of their countrymen without feel-ing a desire to raise them to the dignity of rational beings, and torender them useful as citizens. Accordingly, in 1701, some pri*■yate gentlemen of the city of Edinburgh , who had formed them-selves into a society for the Reformation of manners, directedtheir attention to the Highlands of Scotland , and endeavoured todevise some plan for alleviating the distresses of the inhabitants.The remedy which promised to be most efficacious was, to estab-lish charity-schools in different places. But as the exigency wasgreat, it was no easy matter to raise a sufficient fund for this pur-pose. They began therefore with what voluntary subscriptionsthey could procure, hoping afterwards to increase their capital byvacant stipends and public contributions. A memorial with thisview was presented to the General Assembly in 1704, which re-ceived their approbation ; and they passed an act, recommendinga general contribution. In 1706 they appointed some of theirnumber to enquire more carefully into the slate of the Highlands ,and in 1707 appointed a select committee to confer with the gen-tlemen who had suggested the plan. The result of these con-ferences was the publication of proposals “ for propagating Chris-tian knowlege in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and inforeign parts of the world.” Copies of these proposals, with sub-scription-papers, were distributed through the kingdom ; and thecontributions having soon amounted to 1000/. Queen Anne en-couraged this infant society by her royal proclamation, and by let-ters patent under the great seal of Scotland for erecting cei tain ofthe subscribers into a corporation ; the first nomination ot whomwas lodged with the lords of council and session. r l his corpo-ration held its first meeting on Thursday third November 1709.It was attended by several of the nobility, 14 lords of session, manygentlemen of rank, with most of the ministers of the city of Edin-burgh and neighbourhood. A president, secretary, and treasurer,with a committee of 15 directors, were appointed tor the dispatchof business. At their second meeting in Jan. 1710, a scheme ofmanagement was formed and approved : in which it was proposed,J. To erect and maintain schools in the Highlands ami Islands, inwhich all persons should be taught by schoolmasters, appointedby the society, to read the Holy Scriptures, to write, and to un-derstand the common rules of arithmetic. 3. That the school-masters should instruct their scholars in the Christian reformedreligion ; catechise them at least twice a-week, and pray publiclywith them twice a-day. 3. That not only such as were unable topay should be taught gratis, but that those whose circumstancesrequired it, should have such farther encouragement as the societyshould think fit. 4. To name some prudent persons to be over-seers of those schools, who should take care that the schoolmastersdo their duty, and that the instructions to be given from time totime, by the society or their committee lie punctually observed ;which overseers should make their report to the society quarterly.S. To give suitable encouragement to such ministers or catechistsas should be willing to contribute their assistance farther bypreaching to them. 6. To extend their endeavours for the ad-vancement of the Christian religion to heathen nations.

Society of the Sons of thb Clergy, was infcorpornled byKing Charles II. in 1678. by the name of “ The Governors of theCharity for Relief of the Poor Widows and Children of Clergy-men.” This society is under the direction and management of apresident and vice-president, three treasureis, and a court of assist-ants composed of forty members. Several hundreds of widowsand children of the clergy have annually received considerable re-lief from this useful chanty. J

Society, Royal, Humane, was instituted in London in 1774for the recovery of persons drowned, or otherwise suffocated. Wehave already given some account of societies instituted in othercountries with the same views, and have also inserted the directionsof this society for the recovery of life, under the article Drown-ing. We have therefore only to state, that this society is foundedon the most disinterested principles. The medical practitioners ac-cept no pecuniary recompense for Ihe time w hich they devote toa difficult and tedious process; for tiie anxiety which they fee Iwhile the event is doubtful ; for the mortification which they toooften undergo, when death, in spite of all their efforts, at last car-ries off his prey; nor for the insults to which they willingly ex-pose themselves from vulgar incredulity. The benefit of this so-ciety is not confided to the cases of drowning and suspension.Its timely succours have roused the lethargy of opium taken inimmoderate and repeated doses, rescued the wretched victims ofintoxication ; rekindled the file extinguished by the sudden strokeof lightning ; recovered the apoplectic ; restored life to the infantthat had lost it in the birth ; they have proved efficacious in casesof accidental smothering, and of suffocation by noxious damps ; ininstances in which the tenderness of the infant body or the de-bility of old age greatly lessened the previous probability of suc-cess; insomuch that no species of death seems to be placed be-yond the reach of this society’s assistance, where the mischief hadgone no farther than a obstruction of the movements of the ani-mal-machine without any damage of the organs. In consequenceof every necessary assistance, allordediiy this society, similar in-stitutions have been established at Algiers, Lisbon, "Philadelphia ,Boston, Jamaica, Dublin, Leith, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Birming-ham, Gloucester, Shropshire, Northamptonshire , Lancaster, Bris-tol, Whitehaven, Norwich, Exeter, Kent, and Newcastle. Thesociety has published an 8vo volume with plates, consisting ofcases, correspondence, and a variety of interesting matter relating •to the object of this benevolent institution.

Society, Philanthropic , was instituted in September 1788.Tt aims at the prevention of crimes, by removing out of the wayof evil council, and evil company, those children who are, in thepresent state of things, destined to ruin. It proposes to educateand instruct in some useful trade or occupation the children ofconvicts, or other infant-poor, who are engaged in vagrant or cri-minal courses; thus to break the chain of those pernicious con-federacies, deprive the wicked of successors, the gaols of inhabi-tants, justice of its victims, and by all these means add citizens tosociety. This institution is not only calculated to decrease viceand infamy, but lo increase useful industry ; so that those childrenwho would otherwise succeed to their parents’ hereditary crimes,and become the next race of beggars and thieves, will now betaught to supply by honest means their own wants and the wantsof otheis.

Society, Royal, or London , is an academy or body of per-sons of eminent learning, instituted by Charles II. for the pro-moting of natural knowledge. The origin of this society is tracedby Dr. Sprat, its earliest historian, no farther back than to“somespace after the end of the civil wars” in the 17th century. Thescene of the first meetings of the learned men who laid the foun-dation of it, is by him fixed in the university of Oxford , at thelodgings of Dr. Wilkins, warden of Wadham college. But Dr.Birch, on the authority of Dr. Wallis, one of its earliest and mostconsiderable members, assigns it an earlier origin. Accordinglo him, certain worthy persons, residing in London about 1645,being “ inquisitive into natural and the new and experimentalphilosophy, agreed to meet weekly on a certain day, to discourseupon such subjects, and were known by the title of The Invisibleor Philosophical College.” In 1648 and 1649, the company whoformed these meetings were divided, part retiring lo Oxford andpart remaining in London : but they continued the same pursuitsas when united, corresponding with each oilier, and giving a mu-tual account of their respective discoveries. About 1659 thegreater pait of the Oxford society returned to London , and againuniting with their fellow-labourers met once, if nottwice, a week atGresham college , during term-time, till they were scattered bythe public distractions ot that year, and the place of their meetingmade a quarter for soldiers. On the restoration in 1660 tlrei meet-ings were revived, and attended by a greater concourse of meneminent for their rank and learning. They were at last takennotice of by the king, who having himself a considerable taste for

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