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style better adapted to the present state of learning than that formerly existing, has been undertaken by a Greek ecclesiastic, and is carrying on at the expense of the Society in London. The Syriac, Arabic, and Armenian languages are used by numerous bodies of Christians in the Turkish empire, and for these also large editions have been prepared, and extensive distributions effected. The operations of the Society in this quarter of the world have been carried on by the Rev. H. D. Leeves, and Mr. Benjamin Barker, the Society's agents, whose exertions, directed by prudence and discretion, have been eminently successful. Nor must the exertions of the Bible Society in the Ionian Islands be overlooked in this survey. This institution has rendered, as might, from its locality, be anticipated, very important services in the distribution of the Greek Scriptures.

In South America, it was last year announced that the Holy Scriptures had found admission. This opening has not been in vain; the demand for them in this quarter is now most extensive; and the facilities for the operation of the Parent Society, in this new and almost unbounded field, great and encouraging. Applications crowd upon the Committee with more rapidity than they are able to meet them. From Lima especially the most gratifying accounts have been received. The Bible is eagerly sought there, and a remittance of 2991. has been received from thence, accompanied with the most urgent request for further supplies. 5000 Bibles were requested; and indeed one correspondent has written, that were 10,000 sent, they would all meet a ready sale. Who can refuse to indulge the hope, that a day of clearer knowledge and purer light is beginning to dawn upon the benighted inhabitants of this immense continent?

The indigenous population of some parts of these same countries seem likely soon to participate in the benefits of similar operations, a version having been proposed and commenced in their behalf in the Peruvian language.

Before concluding a view of the Bible Society's operations, we must look literally to the "ends of the earth," and the most distant "isles of the sea." Letters have been received from the Missionaries in Labrador and Greenland, expressive of their warm gratitude for the seasonable supplies of the Scriptures which the Esquimaux and Greenlanders have received through the intervention of the Society; while the printing of the New Testament is at the saine time carrying on, by its aid,

in those islands of the Southern Ocean, which, from their recent profession of Christianity, offer at the present moment so interesting a spectacle. Some copies of the Acts of the Apostles in the Tahitian language, have just been received in this country, the Gospels having been previously printed.

Next to the operations carried on immediately by the Parent Society, it becomes necessary to notice those conducted by similar institutions in foreign countries, not indeed auxiliary to it, but closely connected with it. Most of them have been established by the instrumentality of the Society in London, have adopted the same fundamental regulations, and have been largely assisted by its grants of money and books.

Of these societies, that established among the Protestants of France, is one of the most interesting. The number of its auxiliary and branch societies has increased to seventy-five; the associations in Paris alone amount to the number of thirty-four; and in other places many new ones have been added. Nor is it the least gratifying part of the statement to find that some of these are Ladies' Associations. A very excellent address on this subject has been published by the ladies' committee at Paris, which will be found translated in a recent number of our work. The distribution during the past year has extended to 4,050 Bibles, and 8,304 Testaments. On occasion of a supply of the Scriptures being sent to Paris from London, it is observed, "We saw the moment approaching when we should have been obliged to suspend our issues of Bibles, had not your Society come to our assistance by this fresh grant. Our warehouses and our depositories, in various places, are unable to answer the great demands." Many pleasing instances of the beneficial operations of this most important society and its auxiliaries have been from time to time recorded in the Monthly Extracts.

The Netherlands Bible Society have distributed in the last year above 8000 Bibles and Testaments; they have, moreover, extended their attention to the Indian possessions of their country, where a translation into the Javanese language has just been completed under their auspices.

In Germany and Switzerland Bible Societies are established in most of the principal towns, which are making silent and steady progress in supplying the inhabitants of their respective cantons and dis

tricts with copies of the Holy Scriptures. Where all are active in their own spheres, it might appear unjust to particularize; but the societies of Wuertemberg and Basle seem peculiarly to deserve honourable mention, having so far enlarged their spheres of action, as to have found the means of distributing, the former 97,811, and the latter 146,630 Bibles and Testaments in various languages. The tour of Dr. Steinkopff in these quarters, during the past year, has been productive of the best effects.

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To the Societies of Prussia, Denmark, and Sweden, the same remarks are applicable as to those of Germany and Switzerland. A brief account of the proceedings of each particular branch may be gathered from the detailed Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Suffice it here to observe, in general, that, by means of these institutions, depositories have been established at every central point of Protestant Europe, which promise, under the Divine blessing, to prove permanent sources of supply, whence the inhabitants of these countries may confidently expect that their children, and their children's children, will be able to draw abundantly of the waters of Eternal Life. Nor are these benefits confined to any particular communion. Many members of the Catholic church enjoy them in common with their Protestant brethren: and many enlightened ministers of that church see with delight their flocks enjoying the fruits of the labours of such men as Dr. Leander Van Ess. Of this indefatigable servant of Christ, it will be sufficient to state one fact, that, in the course of the past year, he has been instrumental in putting into circulation nearly 50,000 Bibles and Testaments, making the grand total, since the commencement of his labours, upwards of 500,000 copies.

Of the great Bible Society established in the Russian Empire, it is difficult to speak fully, and yet briefly. Its various auxiliaries, forming a chain of Biblical institutions from Georgia to Archangel, and from Riga to the interior of Siberia, continue their important operations. During the past year, the Moscow committee has distributed above 4,500 copies of the Scriptures; that at Woronesh 6000; that at Riga above 2000; and similar results might be collected from other points. Versions have been completed, or attempted, in almost every dialect spoken throughout this vast extent of country; and those before in existence have been reprinted; some of them have reached a

second, a sixth, and even a fifteenth impression. One single circumstance, the recent translation of the Scriptures, for the first time, into the Modern Russ language, enabling at once so large a portion of the inhabitants of the empire to read of the wonderful works of God in their own tongue in which they were born, is almost in itself sufficient to indicate the peculiar blessing of God upon this great society. When we consider the struggles which other nations of Europe, under circumstances not very different from those of Russia at the present day, have had to make for similar versions, we shall be better able to appreciate the extreme importance of the peaceable acquisition of such a work as the modern Russ translation. Twenty thousand copies of the New Testament in this dialect have been already printed; and an edition of 10,000 copies of the Pentateuch is now carrying through the press.

One other important institution remains to be noticed, the National Bible Society in the United States of America. Its auxiliaries amounted, by a recent statement, to 396; and 307,205 copies of the Scriptures had been distributed since the establishment of the Society. Many places, however, it is remarked, have been discovered, where hundreds, and thousands, and tens of thousands of families are still destitute of the Scriptures. The exertions of the friends of the Society continue, nevertheless, to increase, and to be crowned with success in various quarters. From Philadelphia especially, in addition to domestic operations, opportunities being afforded of frequent communication with South America, supplies of Spanish Scriptures have been from time to time forwarded to that interesting quarter of the globe.

Such have been the operations of the Parent Society, and of the foreign institutions connected with it, during the past year. The unlooked-for opportunities which have presented themselves, both for preparing new versions, and giving an increased circulation to those already in existence, have seemed indeed to say, in the language of Scripture, "Go in, and possess the land, for I have given it unto you; fear not; " while, at the same time, they afford a pledge that every country now inaccessible to the light of Divine truth, shall not always remain so. They encourage us to trust that He who before his anointed Cyrus opened the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron asunder, and delivered Babylon, deemed impreg

nable, into his hands, will also grant his word a free course; that word which is a spiritual weapon, mighty through God to the pulling down of every strong-hold in which ignorance, error, delusion, and iniquity, have been, and now are, but too firmly entrenched.

PARIS BIBLE SOCIETY. Whatever relates to the progress of true religion in France deserves to be regarded with intense interest, especially at the present anomalous period of French history. Amidst many dark clouds, we have had the satisfaction of witnessing various hopeful indications, of which the formation and progress of the Paris Bible Society are among the foremost in importance. The Fifth Report of that Society contains the following particulars of its progress during the last year.

The sum received from auxiliary societies amounts to 9387 francs, and far surpasses their contributions in any preceding year. By following up the system of establishing branch societies, which the Committee has uniformly recommended, the Auxiliary Society of Castres alone, in the department of Tarn, was enabled, at the close of the first year of its establishment, to remit the sum of 1500 francs.

"Nor can we," says the Report, "pass over in silence another class of subscribers, who will no doubt awaken a lively interest in their behalf; we mean the pupils attached to our Protestant schools and institutions. We more particularly allude to those belonging to the churches of Bourdeaux, Nismes, Asnières, Chatillon sur Loire, the obscure villages of Sulzern in the Upper Rhine, and to various establishments in this capital. The donations of these dear children will be regarded by you as doubly precious, when considered as affording a speaking proof of the excellent feelings which animate the rising generation, and as announcing the dawn of a new life and godly zeal among all the Protestant churches of France. May the Lord vouchsafe his blessing to these generous children; and preserve in their hearts a holy ardour for distributing the word of life, and for every thing which is good and well-pleasing unto God!"

The associations established in the capital have already produced the sum of 1222 francs by subscriptions, and 625 francs by the sale of Bibles. The number of copies disposed of during the year amounted to 12,251; making the aggregate number of

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volumes circulated by the Society since its establishment 42,129, besides the copies which Auxiliary Societies may have obtained from other sources. The number of Bibles and New Testaments issued by the different Bible Societies in France is estimated at 50,000; "yet," add the Committee, "what has hitherto been done is but trifling, when compared with what still remains to do;" for, how much soever we may be inclined to underrate the Protestant population of France, we are far, very far, from having satisfied all the wants of our religious brethren in this country.

NEWFOUNDLAND SCHOOL

SOCIETY.

We announced in our Number for August 1823, p. 521, the formation of this Society, and presented an outline of the proceedings which took place on that occasion. We cannot too strongly express our conviction of the great necessity which existed for such an institution; and we rejoice to find, that it is liberally patro. nized by his Majesty's Government, and is daily gaining the confidence and support of the public. The Society has just published its first annual Report, from which we collect the following account of the progress of its operations during the year.

The British population of Newfoundland is about seventy thousand souls, and there are not more than sixteen schools in all the island-that is, one to about four or five thousand inhabitants. It must be obvious, that such a state of things is utterly incompatible, not only with intellectual advancement, but with moral and religious culture.

In furtherance of the objects of the Society, the Committee have been engaged, during the past year, in circulating infor mation throughout the country, respecting the need of schools in Newfoundland, and have endeavoured to obtain the necessary patronage and support to their institution. Mr. Codner, the friend and founder of the Society, has advocated its cause, either personally or by his friends, at those places which are more especially connected with the Newfoundland Trade, namely, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Greenock, Liverpool, Birmingham, Lichfield, Bristol, Hereford, Gloucester, Exeter, Dartmouth, Bridport, Teignmouth, and Torquay. In addition to contributions at home, the Society has called forth considerable interest in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, where, an auxiliary

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has been established, which has remitted the sum of 351. The whole amount of the receipts during the past year, is 11401. Encouraged by this success, and believing it to be the promise of greater prosperity, the Committee have engaged two schoolmasters and a schoolmistress, who have been duly instructed in Dr. Bell's system of education, and have sailed for Newfoundland.

It having been represented by the Committee to Lord Bathurst, the principal Secretary of State for the Colonial Department, that the Society, in order to commence its labours with advantage, would require a grant of land in some convenient place in the colony, to be appropriated for the site of the intended schools of the Society; and also, that it would be exceedingly desirable to procure for the schoolmasters and schoolmistresses, going from this country to Newfoundland, a free passage on board his Majesty's ships of war or transports; his Lordship was pleased to communicate his compliance with their request. His Lordship has also promised to issue such instructions to the local government of Newfoundland, as he may consider adapted to the purpose of supporting the extension of school establishments on the proposed footing, within that colony. His Majesty's Government has also testified its cordial approbation of the views of the Society by a pecuniary grant of 500l. towards the expense of the buildings, and of 1001. per annum for the salary of the master.

The Committee particularly mention the prospect of general advantage likely to result to the population of Newfoundland, from the wise and truly British system of government lately established by the Legislature in its favour-a system which, by substituting civil for naval authority, confers on our fellow-subjects there an equal participation with ourselves in the civil and judicial privileges of our common country. By thus wisely giving to Newfoundland a native government, a solid foundation is laid for the gradual rise of those institutions, which are at once the earnest and the effect of moral improvement and social order.

The Committee remark, that," while they record with feelings of the most grateful respect the considerate and welltimed liberality of his Majesty's Government, they are nevertheless bound to declare, that it is to the piety, benevolence, and feeling of the British public that they must look for the substantial and permanent support of their institution ;" an in

stitution, they add, “ fraught with incalculable benefits, not only to the present settlers in Newfoundland, but to generations yet unborn."

Subscriptions are received in London by Messrs. Whitmore and Co., Lombard street; Messrs. Hatchard, Piccadilly; Messrs. Seeley, Fleet street; and Mr. Nisbet, Berner's street: by Samuel Codner, Esq., Teignmouth; Messrs. Sanders and Son, Exeter; Mr. W. Richardson, bookseller, Bristol; and by the Secretary, Percival White, Esq., Clapham. Communications may be addressed to the Assistant Secretary, Mr. Mark Willoughby, at the Society's office, No. 13, Salisbury

square.

SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE WIDOW
OF THE LATE REV. JOHN SMITH
OF DEMERARA.

We are requested by the Committee for managing this Subscription to state, that the amount of the donations already received for the benefit of Mrs. Smith is 8241, 19s. 9d.; that, though disappointed in the smallness of this amount, the Committee have sufficient proof that there is no want of proper feeling on the subject, but that the failure has originated in the supposition that the subscription would be so general as far to exceed what should be required; and that, to obviate this error, the Committee 'make a further and earnest appeal to the religious public for subscriptions, stating, that their object is to raise the sum of 2500l. to provide therewith a life-annuity for Mrs. Smith of about 150%.; and that this sum it is fully believed the friends of missions will deem but a reasonable provision for the widow of a persecuted missionary, having herself also suffered in health to a degree perhaps irreparable.

AMERICAN MISSION TO THE

BURMAN EMPIRE.

The differences with the King of Ava having brought the circumstances of the Burman empire prominently before the British public, our readers will feel interested in the following particulars respecting the only Christian mission hitherto made to that extensive and populous country, that of the American Baptists. We trust that the painful circumstances which have brought us into closer, though hostile, contact with that nation, will at least have the ultimate good effect of exciting towards these unhappy Pagans the sym

pathy of British Christians, and especially of our Anglo-Indian countrymen, their immediate neighbours, for the supply of their spiritual necessities, so soon and as far as circumstances may permit.

The American Baptist Mission to the Burmese was formed in 1813, at Rangoon, the chief sea-port of the empire, about 670 miles south-east of Calcutta; and several missionaries have been appointed to the station. The necessity for native teachers to perpetuate and extend the mission, has led to the establishment of an association in the city of Washington for the maintenance of a Burman missionary, the annual expense of which is estimated not to exceed sixty dollars.

During the first half of 1822, Mr. Judson was chiefly occupied with the translation of the New Testament into Burman. He had attempted this work after about four years' residence in the country; but laid it aside, from a conviction that a fuller acquaintance with the language was necessary for the production of a good translation. In the early part of 1821, after nearly eight years' study of the language, he entered, with settled purpose, on the work. Family prayer also was held every evening, in Burman; and public worship on Sunday afternoon, when from thirty to forty persons attended.

About this time an important change took place in the circumstances of the mission. Reports of Dr. Price's medical and surgical skill had reached the ears of the King; in consequence of which an order was dispatched from Ava, requiring his attendance at the palace. The improving state of the mission rendered the absence of any of the missionaries from Rangoon at that time very inconvenient, but their duty was clear. Mr. Judson had proceeded far in the translation of the New Testament, and thus writes of the state of the people in August 1822 :-" This morning I administered baptism to the eighteenth Burman convert. Two more still remain; the one deterred by the fear of Government, and the other by fear of her husband. Add to these a desirable number of hopeful inquirers; and I feel that I am leaving, at least for a time, one of the most interesting fields of labour that was ever opened to a missionary. But the path of duty seems to lead to Ava."

Mr. Judson and Dr. Price, leaving the mission in charge of Mr. Hough, set out for Ava on the 28th of August, and reach ed that place on the 27th of September. They were favourably received by the King, with whom and some of his chief CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 273.

courtiers conversations were several times held on the subject of Christianity. About four months were spent in Ava. Leaving that place in January 1823, the missionaries arrived at Rangoon early on the 2d of February. A piece of ground had been obtained, and Dr. Price and Mr. Judson were to return to Ava, and settle there under the sanction of the King. No disposition to tolerate the Christian Religion had yet been manifested by him, but he had never persecuted the disciples of any creed; and it was hoped that the removal of the missionaries to Ava was only a preliminary to the unimpeded introduction of the Gospel into the Burman empire.

WESLEYAN MISSIONS IN THE

WEST INDIES.

The Committee of the Wesleyan Missionary Society have published an account of the objects and effects of their missions among the slaves in the West India colonies, chiefly for the use of members of the West-India proprietary, who may wish to obtain information on the subject. From this account we extract the following interesting statements.

"To those who think that religious principles are the basis of all improvement in the condition of our fellow-creatures of any class, we can appeal with confidence for the proof of our success; and can state, that in the minds of the many thousand Negroes we have enumerated, and in upwards of 10,000 children of this description, 6,000 of whom at least are taught in Sunday schools, and the remainder catechized without being taught to read, either from objections on the part of their owners, or from the want of opportunity, the principles of religion have displaced the darkness and ignorance of African superstition, and that they are made acquainted with all the leading truths of the Christian religion, and their application to the heart and to the life. This, considering their natural ignorance and their peculiar circumstances, has been a work of no small labour and sacrifice; a work of prayer, and tears, and persevering exertion, by the men whose names have been cast out as evil, and of whom of late in some of the colonies the most opprobrious epithets have been thought fitting and characteristic. That work, however, has been achieved; and from year to year rays of indirect light and influence have been shed into the surrounding mass of ignorance and vice, from those who have exemplified in their holy lives 4 H

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