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    reprinting of scarce and valuable tracts by former writers * and to the publication of original works by living authors . The Country Societies , having smaller funds and more limited means of distribution , purchased their books of the Parent Society ; and though some change has taken place by the Country Societies printing some works for themselves , yet the former practice has to a great extent continued to the present time . The multiplication of books on the Unitarian doctrines by writers of ability and reputation , has tempted the managers of the London Society to give novelty and variety to their

    Catalogue by the occasional insertion of some of these . The same plan was adopted by the Provincial Societies ; and the London Society had in consequence to supply the latter not only with its own books , but also with

    such copies of the other publications as they required for their subscribers . The consequence has been , that its funds have been in a very great measure diverted from their original purpose of printing ) to that of buying the books of others for the

    accommodation of the Country Institutions , which could not otherwise so readily obtain them . The Committee has , on this account , been able for some years to print but few new works , and has been obliged to suffer some valuable tracts which were once in their Catalogue to remain out of print .

    The London Society , when first established , being the only association of the kind then in existence , derived support from subscribers from every part of the kingdom . It possesses still a considerable proportion of country members : but the rise of the

    Provincial Societies has prevented its acquiring a progressive increase to its funds from contributors of this class , and they have operated in many instances to lessen them by withdrawing some to whom it was more convenient

    to pay their money to , and receive their books froin , the local associations - It is also to be remarked , and the fact may be received as some

    impeachment of the zeal of Unitarians , that the efficient support the Society has derived from the metropolis , considering the great number of Unitarians which it contains , had been very

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    inconsiderable , and that of late years , instead of extending , it has been gradually on the decrease . The Society , taking these circumstances into consideration , has , at its late Quarterly Meeting ' s for business , been deliberating upon the necessity

    of taking some steps to give , if possible 5 new life and vigour and efficacy to its proceeding's , and to endeavour to interest the Unitarian public , especially in London , on its behalf . At a

    meeting held on the 1 Ith of November , a Special Committee was appointed to inquire into the present state of the Society , and consider the best means of promoting its renovation and more extensive usefulness .

    The Committee made its Report to a Special Quarterly Meeting held on the 9 th of December , which was then unanimously adopted ; and it was again resumed and confirmed at a

    regular Quarterly Meeting held on the 13 th of January instant . In conformity with the suggestions and recommendations of the

    Committee in this Report , the Society has resolved , that in its future circulation of books , particular regard shall be paid to the distribution of its ovvu works . With a viewxto the disposal of the present stock , and the wider dissemination of its publications , it has been determined to form two sets

    of Unitarian tracts from the books which are its own property- ^ -the one in octavo , which will extend to about ten volumes , and the other in duodecimo , which will comprise about thirteen volumes , and these are to be extensivel y advertised . It has also been resolved , that in future the ca *

    pital of the Society shall be applied to the reprinting of scarce and valuable Unitarian books and tracts , and especially of such as may be approved of those which have already been ad - mitted into the Society ' s Catalogue , and to the publication and the purchase of such useful and approved books and tracts as could not

    otherwise be printed , or so extensively circulated . As an increased capital will , in the first instance , be necessary , in consequence of the exhausted state of its funds , for carrying this plian into execution , the Society has determined to make an appeal to the Unitarian public , to solicit that pecuniary as-

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    32 London Unitarian Bovi Society *

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1825, page 32, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2532/page/32/