May has not yet arrived, but the "May meetings" have
begun, and Exeter Hall, Willis's Rooms, the Hanover-square Rooms, and St. James's Hall are the scenes of these gatherings so characteristic of ,England.
The Malta Protestant College for Educating the Natives of the Turkish Empire—rather an extensive mission—met in Willis's Rooms on Wednesday. It was attended, among others, by Lord Shaftes- bury, Lord Ducie, and Sir Henry Rawlinson. The report supplies some very curious statements. The Malta College was founded in 1846, for the purpose of evangelizing the people by means of a native missionary agency, and since its foundation 268 free and paying pupils have been admitted into the institution, of whom 88 were foreigners, chiefly from the East, and 68 Oriental by birth and parent- age, the remainder being of English extraction, at least on the pater- nal side, but with only few exceptions born and residing in the East. The number at present on the roll of the college is 64, among whom are pupils from fourteen different nations (including four young Bulgarians), and some sent by Dr. Livingstone from Central Africa. Since its establishment the college has supplied a number of well- trained youths, who are filling important spheres of labour in the Turkish Empire; 15 agents (13 foreign and 2 English) have been prepared for the work of the gospel, and are employed by various societies, either English or American, in missionary stations, the maintenance and education of each free pupil costing about 401. a year. France maintains in Turkey above 20 schools and colleges, conducted by Jesuits or Sisters of Mercy; Russia pays an annual tribute to nearly all the schools of the Greek Church, exceeding 200; America maintains in Turkey more than 150 schools and colleges for the free education of the natives ; while England. only supports four. America spends 28,0001. a year in education and missions among the 4,000,000 Armenians, but there are still 50,000,000 of Moslems, and
13,000,000 of the Greek Church, almost entirely unprovided with Protestaneteachers.
The Home Missions of the Church of England Society met on Wednesday. The object of this society is to promote the employ- ment of additional curates iu populous places. It enjoys a revenue of upwards of 27,0001. a year, and is in a flourishing way, having district and diocesan feeders all over the country. It really does work; for in 1860 it expended nearly 22,0001. upon 420 additional curates, and next year 25,0001. is to be spent in this field. It is found that the poor contribute very fairly to the funds, considering their limited means. The Archbishop et Canterbury and York, the Bishops of London and Oxford, Lord Lytteiton and the Duke of Marlborough took part in the proceedings.
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