where they were well received, both by natives and by Chinese.

Various Biblical operations were carried forward in Tahiti, New South Wales, Africa, Madagascar, and the West Indies, serving the cause of the Scrip

tures.

In South America and Mexico several thousand copies of the Scriptures were disposed of amidst fearful political agitations; though an edict was issued by ecclesiastical authorities in Mexico, prohibiting the circulation of the Scriptures, and requiring those who possessed them to deliver them up to the priests.

The American Bible Society proceeded with great zeal, the resources augmenting, and the issue increasing in the numbers of Scriptures. The Bible cause was advanced also in British North America, in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Lower and Upper Canada.

In the United Kingdom the operations of the Society were much enlarged, in the formation of 14 new Auxiliaries, 20 Branch Societies, and 87 Associations. The friends of the Society were increased in Scotland. To Ireland, for its poor and its schools, there were grants made in the past year of 17,330 Bibles, and 80,200 Testaments. The receipts reported at the Annual Meeting were £86,259 10s. 6d. ; and the value of its grants amounted to £33,547 11s. Ild.; and its issues were a total of 365,425 copies of the Scriptures, 164,193 Bibles, and 201,059 Testaments. Besides these were issued on the Continent by the Society, up to this period,

221,059 Bibles, and 893,228 Testaments; total, 1,114,287 copies of the Scriptures.

Among those who addressed the Annual Meeting, held May 6, 1829, were the Bishops of Lichfield and Coventry, Chester, Calcutta, and Winchester, the Rev. Dr. Singer and Rev. J. Burnet, from Ireland, Rev. W. Jowett, from Greece, Rev. Dr. Townley, Mr. Buxton and Mr. Wilberforce.

THE TWENTY-SIXTH YEAR OF THE SOCIETY,
1829-1830.

MERCIES and triumphs attended the Bible Society in its wonderful progress of benevolence, to bless all nations with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Difficulties, and trials of faith arose in the way, but almost every effort was crowned with success.

Dr. Pinkerton made another tour, visiting the Bible Societies in Brussels, through Germany, Prussia, Switzerland, and France. His letters relating to these numerous Societies afford reason for gratitude to God, and joy in the preciousness of the Holy Scriptures.

Circumstances now arose, regretted by the Committee; to dispense with the "laborious and longcontinued services of the Rev. Dr. Van Ess, whose active agency in distributing the Holy Scriptures among Roman Catholics on the Continent, has eminently promoted the object of the Society." Many facts connected with his important labours show the blessed effects of the Word of God.

Russia greatly needed the Scriptures; and much zeal was displayed by a few faithful friends of the Bible; but discretion was required, in circulating the sacred books, in that singularly governed empire. The British Society, however, made several grants of the Scriptures, in the Russ, Finnish, German, and other languages, to be distributed among its people.

Encouraging reports were received from the Bible Societies in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Poland, and Prussia. These indicated the blessing of God upon the Scriptures.

Malta continued in all its vast importance as the principal depôt for the Scriptures in Greek, Italian, Armenian, Syriac, Coptic, Arabic, Turkish, and Amharic. And Corfu, Greece, Smyrna, Turkey, Georgia, and Tartary, presented interesting openings for the circulation of the sacred books.

The Bible Society in Calcutta sustained a severe loss in the removal of its secretaries, the Rev. F. Goode through illness, and the Rev. T. T. Thomason by death; but the Society proceeded in various translations, and in its circulation of the Scriptures.

The Serampore Missionaries persevered in their important labours; and the Bible Societies at Madras, Bombay, and Colombo, continued their operations with diligence and zeal, circulating many thousands of copies of the Scriptures in various languages of the East.

China was contemplated by the Missionaries at Malacca; and the Rev. Mr. Kidd states,-" Our printing press is employed very extensively for the

supply of several other Chinese colonies-including Singapore, Rhio, Batavia, Pinang, and, as far as practicable, China itself."

The Rev. Mr. Tomlin diligently studied the Siamese language, hitherto unblessed with the Word of God; and August 27, 1829, the Rev. Mr. Thomason reported," My brethren, Messrs. Tomlin and Gutzlaff have nearly completed a translation of the New Testament into Siamese, under very favourable circumstances."

Tahiti was now blessed with the New Testament; and arrangements for the printing of the Old Testament were being made, as the translation was nearly finished. The Malagasse translation of the Bible was reported as nearly finished-both these by the London Missionary Society.

In New South Wales, Van Dieman's Land, Sierra Leone, Demarara, Berbice, Jamaica, Antigua, and several other of the West India Islands, the cause of the Bible was supported, and considerable numbers of copies were circulated among the people.

South America was regarded with growing interest, by the Committee of the Bible Society; but only a little could be done in its provinces in the circulation of the Scriptures. The same also may be said concerning Mexico.

The American Bible Society, "desirous of cultivating the most friendly and intimate correspondence with the British and Foreign Bible Society, appointed the Rev. Dr. Milnor, Secretary for Foreign correspondence, to attend the Anniversary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, to express

its sincere respect and affection for that venerable Institution." Dr. Milnor stated in a letter, "our Auxiliaries have increased during the year, from 598 to 645; our receipts from all sources have been 143,000 dollars, and our expenditure 147,000 dollars. The books printed were more than 360,000, of which, 170,750 were Bibles, and 173,750 Testaments in English, 500 were the Gospel of Luke in Mohawk, and 15,000 of St. Matthew in Hawaian, There were put in circulation upwards of 200,000 copies in various languages."

British America still nourished its Bible Societies; and Auxiliaries flourished in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, at Quebec, Montreal, and Newfoundland.

Domestic proceedings were carried forward with undying zeal and devoted labour, by the Committee and officers of the Society. One of the most important arrangements of the Committee was the appointment of Mr. Greenfield, to the office of Editor of translations. New Auxiliaries and Associations, to the number of 133, were formed this year, by the Society's Agents, Messrs. Dudley, Brackenbury, and Ackworth. More new friends were rising up in Scotland to aid the Society; and grants of 22,000 Bibles and 27,500 Testaments were made to schools and the poor of Ireland.

In this state of prosperity, the Society held its twenty-sixth annual meeting, reporting its issues to have been 140,593 Bibles, and 84,860 Testaments from its depository, with 21,706 Bibles, and 87,263 Testaments on the Continent, making a total of issues, 434,422 copies of the Scriptures.