this argument as to the Indians being the authors of these works, these observations follow:]

By referring to those American writers, who have affected to believe that all our antiquities belong to the ancestors of our Indians, it will be seen that this doctrine has uniformly been brought forward, to rebut the absurd opinion that our climate is debilitating to both body and mind. Were our countrymen thus hardly pressed by the venal writers of Europe, that they have needed resort to such unfounded conjecture, for a refutation of the stupid slander? No-they had no such need. Had they looked, they might have beheld the genius of their country, with pride in her port, and exultation beaming from her eyes, pointing to the hills and the plains, on which her energetic sons won the prize of their independence, while she displayed the long catalogue of their names, recorded in characters of light by the historic muse, and destined to descend with accumulating honours through every coming generation; and when the first race of statesmen, orators, and heroes had departed, she might have been heard to speak of men still left behind, worthy to protect and transmit the rights and privileges received from their fathers. Is it possible that our

countrymen can look upon the broad and expanding empire, in which it is their happiness to have been born, and think upon the admirable institutions under which they live, and the wealth and strength by which they are surrounded and protected, and witness the monuments of art, and the trophies of science, which are every where rising around them, and still feel occasion to search for arguments to confute the foolish assertion that man has degenerated in these western climes? Nay, not so. But rather, if to have made more abundant provision for the security of civil rights and social enjoyment, than any former age has witnessed, can constitute a claim to the noblest attributes of human nature, let us confidently declare that man, instead of degenerating in this new hemisphere, has ascended at least one step higher in the scale of his true dignity, and that he seems here destined to achieve his purest triumphs.

[The article then proceeds further to examine "the fragments of history, which have been saved from the deluge of time," already enumerated, and to answer the questions that have been stated, as they naturally present themselves to the minds of those who have become acquainted with our antiquities.]

TH

NINTH AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS. (From May, 1813, to 1817.) HUS far it has been attempted to give a pretty exact view of the facts, which compose the narrative of the first years of the Society's labours: But as conciseness is

our primary object, without attempting to compress within the same limits a faithful representation of all the transactions recorded in its subsequent and expanding annals, we shall endeavour to exhibit a succinct general view of what has since

occurred in this extraordinary history; and trust that, should any interest be excited in favour of the Institution, it may lead to a knowledge of the annual reports themselves, which compose the most brilliant page in the history of the World.

Beginning with Denmark, we will first notice the more remarkable occurrences in that part of the North of Europe, which have taken place since the period of the last anniversary. The excellent Foreign Secretary, who resided at Copenhagen, contributed, with the Rev. Ebenr. Henderson, who had obtained permission to reside there, his valuable services in cherishing the spirit of piety, and seconding the exertions of the friends of the cause in that zealous quarter: 120l. were given from the British funds to the Fühnen Society, which in consequence dis persed a large quantity of Danish Bibles and New Testaments, through Norway, Holstein and Jutland: and 501, was applied by Mr. Henderson, as the Society's agent, to the purcha-e of Bibles and Testaments, for distribution, as occasions might offer. He procured also, according to his instructions from London, 300 copies of the Greenlandish New Testament. These steps were only preliminary to the formation in May, 1814, of a National Society at Copenhagen, under the patronage of the King of Denmark, of which his Excellency Count Schimmelman was elected President, and the venerable Bishop Mûnter, Bishop of Zealand, a Vice President. One auxiliary was afterwards established at Sleswick Holstein, and another, and very flourishing one, formed at Odensee in the Isle of Fühnen, under the auspices and Presidency of the Crown Prince, Christian Frederick, who expressed the most lively interest in the wel fare of the Institution. To the former, a donation was made of 300l. by the British and Foreign Society;

and more than 50 auxiliaries and Bible associations have been formed, between the Little Belt and the Town of Altona, dependent on the Sleswick auxiliary, which has established also a depot for Bibles, and a Biblical Library. But as the demand for the scriptures soon exceeded the power of the New Institutions to satisfy it, the Committee ordered out a supply, and agreed with the Copenhagen Society to print an edition of 10,000 copies of the Danish Bible, contributing itself 500l. to the expense. In this field of exertion, the cause has been greatly indebted to Mr. Henderson, who assisted in laying the foundations of the National Society, who visited Iceland for the purpose of distributing the scriptures there in 1815, and was afterwards extremely useful to the Holstein auxiliary.

Measures equally successful were pursued in the adjoining Kingdom of Sweden, through the instrumentality of the able and enlightened coadjutor of the British Society, Dr. Brunmark. By his assistance three new Societies were established under the designation of the Gothenburgh, the Westeras, and the Gothland Bible Societies, which were patronised by the Bishops of the several Diocess, where they are situated. This was immediately followed by the establishment of a Society in the metropolis, under the patronage of the King and the Crown Prince (now King of Sweden), who graciously consented to be the first honorary Member. The proceedings at Stockholm were distinguished by great activity and judgment, and the British Society supported by several donations, amounting to 1000l. The Deputies of the Clergy at the Diet in 1815, recommended the Bible Society to the attention of their Brethren; and the Archbishop of Sweden declared, in the subsequent year, his determination to establish

associations in every part of his Diocess. Besides the auxiliaries before mentioned, others have been established at Upsala, for the Province of Nevike; the Diocess of Skara, one of the most populous provinces in Sweden; for the Government and Diocess of Vermeland; and by the Bishop of Hermosand for his Diocess. These Societies, and also another since established at Wexio, have been aided by different grants from England, amounting to an additional sum of 8501. The cause in Sweden has been eminently indebted to the zeal and energy of Count Rosenblad, one of the first Ministers of State. The establishment also of a Norwe ian Bible Society, under the most respectable patronage, has been lately announced.

After the formation of the Society at Abo, and the countenance afforded the Institution by the Russian Government Mr. Paterson, with the concurrence of his friends at Stockholm, natural y directed his .ttention to the Russian metropolis. The firt overture was sanctioned by the advice of Baron Nicolai, the Russian Ambassador at Stockholm; and Prince Galitzin, to whom the application was made, at Petersburg, by Mr. Paterson, on the 23d of August, 1812, to establish a National Society, and who has since become its illustrious supporter, in the first instance readily promised his patronage to the cause amongst the Protestants, in different parts of the Empire. Mr. Pinkerton was at that time at Moscow, owing to the state of his health, which had obliged him to retire from Karass 'n 1809. Having opportunities as Preceptor in several families of distinction, he had exerted his influence, at the suggestion of the Foreign Secretary, to establish a society at Moscow; and a meeting for the purpose had been contemplated in the ensuing winter.

Mr. Paterson conceived it expedient to consult Mr Pinkerton personally on the most effectual means of premoting his plan at St. Petersburg. He accordingly proceeded to Moscow, but was compelled to retire with the fugitives, at the moment the French army, in the memorable campaign of 1812, was about to enter that city. Notwithstanding, however, the obstacles which such a crisis presented, and as a solemn proof, how little the Redeemer's Kingdom is under the influence of those fleeting events, by which earthly kingdoms are upheld, at this extraordinary juncture, the Petersburg Bible Society, an event fraught with the most incalculable blessings to the empire, was set on foot, not only by the countenance, but sanctioned by the authority of the Emperor. It was truly delightful," says the account of the meeting, “to see the unanimity which actuated this assembly, composed of Christians of the Greek Church, Armenians, Catholics, Lutherans, and Calvinists; and all met for the express purpose of making the Gospel of the Grace of God sound out from the shores of the Baltic, to the Eastern Ocean, and from the Frozen Ocean to the Black Sea, and the Borders of China, by putting into the hands of Christians, and Mahomedans, of Lamites, and the Votaries of Shaman, with many of the Heathen Tribes, the Oracles of the Living God."

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The consequence we have since witnessed of this important and decisive measure, were such as the most ardent anticipation could have presaged. The sacred flame in five years has been communicated from: the heart, in every direction through this vast monarchy, to its extremities, animating the Russian population, and the heterogeneous nations, hordes and tribes, of which the Empire is composed, to the confines of China and the Pacific, with a

more sudden ardour in the cause of Religion, than the Christian World has experienced since the days of Constantine. Nor has it stopped here; the excitement which has been experienced amongst the Nations under the immediate influence of the Empire, on the borders of the Caspian and Black Sea, has promised the most extraordinary effect on the Heathen World.

It would be tedious to describe particularly the establishment and operations of the different auxiliary Societies, which were formed at Moscow, and other important and convenient situations in the Empire; while the British Society, in the language of one of its Reports, was content" to fan the generous flame, which had been kindled," and to assist the national and affiliated Societies, with such donations as its funds would admit.

The Rev. Mr. Pinkerton was deputed in the summer of 1816, with credentials from Prince Galitzin, by the approbation of the exalted Monarch (whose distinguished patronage of the Society has immortalized him amongst the benefactors of mankind), to make a tour through the southern provinces of the Empire; which, with the Germanic part of his Mission, comprised an extent of nearly 7000 miles. His narrative, which is one of the most interesting documents on the records of the Society, is replete with truly gratifying intelligence. He visited the Committees at Moscow, Voronez, Theodosia, and Kamenez, and was highly pleased by their zeal and activity. He then proceeded to the Don Cossacks, where a Society, under the patronage of Count Platoff, and commanding the most promising support, was projected. Thence he directed his course to the Crimea, and was present at the formation of the Tauridian Society at Sympherpole; a moral wild, comprehending a population

of 200,000 Mahomedans, and 100,000 Christians and Jews. Seventy-six Mahomedans and five Jews subscribed to this establishment. It has since been joined by the Greek Metropolitan, and several persons of distinction, at Swastopole in the Crimea. Odessa, a flourishing city in that vicinity, possesses great facilities for conveying the Scriptures through all the maritime parts of northern Asia. Mr. Pinkerton, pursuing his important tour, found every where the population of the country animated by his presence, and the fields ripe for the harvest. An important Society, called the White Russian Auxiliary, was established at Moghiley, at the formation of which, the Duke of Wurtemburg, Governor of the Province, and the Commander in Chief of a large division of the Russian army, Prince Barclay de Tolly, assisted, with a numerous suite of Generals and Officers. Poland also, Mr Pinkerton had the satisfaction to witness the formation of a National Society at Warsaw, under the patronage of the Emperor of Russia, then on the spot, to whom the cause is so extensively indebted, and who consented to become Patron of the new Institution, of such incalculable importance in that quarter. Measures have since been adopted, for the formation of Societies at Cracow, Cherson, Grodno, Pernan, and Fellen in Livonia.

In

Of thirteen editions of the Scriptures, in whole or in part printing in Russia, eight have been completed, and some nearly finished at the period of the third anniversary of the Russian Society: 87,000 copies had issued; and 174,000 probably

now.

The following translations have also been made. In the Calmuc, St. John's Gospel, the first Book ever printed in that dialect. In the Samogitian (a nation converted to Christianity in the fifteenth century), the

New Testament by the Catholic Bishop of Samogitia. In the Moldavian, a dialect of modern Greek, for ihat country and Wallachia, the New Testament. In the Tartar dialect at Astrachan, the seat of a Bishop, Vice President of the Society there, from whence it may be distributed through Persia and Georgia, and the countries East of the Caspian, the Gospel of St. John. Both Persians and Georgians evince a readiness and even anxiety to receive the Scriptures. A translation has been made also, into the modern Russian, at the pure suggestion of the truly illustrious and benevolent Monarch himself. The Holy Scriptures are now circulating in twenty-five different languages, and various new translations are in contemplation.

In a contemporaneous view of the other parts of Europe, several of the Germanic states, Prussia, Holland, and Switzerland, afford intelligence no less gratifying. A late tour of Dr. Steinkopff, confined to countries, the theatre of his own great and immortal exertions, presents a chart, though comparatively small, as he himself modestly describes it, in the vast sphere now occupied by the Society, yet comprehending a population of nearly 30,000,000, and exhibiting for the most part an uniform scene of effiçient labours, under the highest patronage in the cause of the Bible Institution. To notice the new and important districts, which have acceded in its recent progress to this spiritual territory,Holland, since the establishment of the kingdom of the Netherlands, has embarked in the system, in a very exemplary manner. Amsterdam is the seat of the National Society, which is patronised by the Prince of Orange. Flourishing auxiliaries have been added to it at Rotterdam and the Hague: and, exclusive of Branches and Associations, which are every where multiplying,

particularly in the North, sixty Societies are already enumerated. In Prussia.the Bible Society, previously formed in 1814, was converted into a National Establishment, under the auspices of the King, and the first Officers of State; and in one year afterwards, twelve auxiliaries, in different parts of the Prussian dominions, were in operation. A Saxon Bible Society also has been formed under the Presidency of his Excellency Count Hothenthal, the Minister of Religion, the patronage of the Government, and an universal impression in its favour. Mr. Pinkerton, who was present on this interesting occasion, had previously witnessed an event,no less gratifying, at Hanover, under the patronage of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge. "The Lutheran, Calvinistic, and Catholic Clergy, joined hands," says Mr. P. " on this interesting occasion, to promote the good cause; and some, though they had been many years teachers of the same Religion, in the same city, yet had never before had an opportunity of speaking to each other A Society has been established at Brunswick, with distinguished support, and another for the Grand Dutchy of Berg, comprehending a district in Germany, equally famous for the extent of its Manufactories, the diversity of its Religious denominations, and the pious character of its Inhabitants. The sphere in which the latter Society operates, includes a great population of Catholics, unanimous, however, as elsewhere, in the principle of union.

In the Kingdom of Wurtemberg, where a Society, under the patronage of the King, to provide or the protestant population, has been established, 7000 copies of the New Testament have been distribute!, with the special sanction of the episcopal authority, at Elwangen, by the Rev. Leander Van Ness. This