half the population, absenting
themselves from the public worship of God!_

There are in the city 4 theatres and 2 circuses: most of which are
opened from 4 to 6 nights every week. The number of shops and other
places licensed to sell liquor by the small measure, is three thousand;
or about one to every SEVENTH DWELLING-HOUSE! In addition to the
violations of holy time, occasioned by steam-boats, and other public
conveyances, by butchers, grocers, and other traders purchasing their
stock from boats arriving from the country, upwards of ONE THOUSAND
_shops, and other places, are opened for the sale of liquor or other
things on the Sabbath_!

Nor is this view peculiar to New-York. A critical investigation of facts
in other cities will develop similar results. In London, the whole
number of churches and chapels of all denominations is estimated at 400.
"If we calculate," says a late English writer, "that the average
attendance is 500; which is certainly the greatest extent we can allow,
and add 250 more for the fluctuating hearers, it will give a result of
300,000 persons. The population of this metropolis is estimated at
1,274,800. From which subtract the feeble minority above, and we find
NINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FOUR THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED _persons neglecting
the public worship of God_! It appears that of the commercial papers
published in London on the Sunday, there are circulated, on the lowest
estimate, 45,000 copies; and that upon the most moderate computation,
between two and three hundred thousand readers of these papers are to be
found in the metropolis alone. While the great number of pressmen,
distributers, master-venders, hawkers, and subordinate agents, of both
sexes, and of all ages, who are employed on the Sabbath, all tend to the
most flagrant breach of the day of rest."

In the mean time, the number of deaths in New-York is about _five
thousand_ annually: in London, about _thirty-three thousand_.

CONTRIBUTORS.

The following Gentlemen, (of five different Denominations,) among
others, are expected to contribute Sermons for this Work:

_Rev. Drs. Mason_, _Milnor_, _Mathews_, _Spring_, and _Bangs_, and _Rev.
Mr. De Witt_, New-York City; _Rev. Dr. Richards_, Professor in the
Theological Seminary at Auburn; _Rev. Dr. Proudfit_, Salem; _Rev. Dr.
Chester_, Albany, and _Rev. Mr. Beman_, Troy; _Rev. Dr. M'Dowell_,
Elizabethtown, N.J.; _Rev. Dr. Miller_, Professor in Princeton
Theological Seminary;