to consider it as such an invaluable blessing, that we have much cause to exclaim, in the words of our great Redeemer: Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. The Bishops of Ekaterinaslof, Koursk, Tobolsk, and Irkutsk, desirous of blessing their respective flocks by the distribution of the sacred Scriptures, have ordered a great number of copies for this purpose.'

From the same. Simpheropol, May 31, (O.S.) 1816.

THOUGH fully persuaded that the intelligence of the establishment of a Bible Society in any spot on the surface of the globe, will ever prove cause of the most lively gratitude and joy to the Members and Friends of the British and Foreign Bible Society, yet surely when they hear that a Branch of this noble institution has been planted, and is taking root in the centre of a moral wilderness, such as that from whence I now address you, their feelings of joy must be peculiarly excited, and their faith in God's promise confirmed. Of the planting and watering of such a Branch in this city of the peninsula of Tauridia, amidst a popu lation of 200,000 Mahomedans, and 100,000 Christians and Jews, I have the great happiness this day to inform you. This auspicious event for the inhabitants of the Crimea, took place this afternoon, in the presence of a large meeting of the most respectable persons of this city, of all religious confessions. The Meeting was opened by a chorus of sacred music; after which his Excellency the Privy Counsellor Gegulin, late Governor of the Crimea, a man universally honoured and beloved, rose, and in a most pathetic and appropriate speech, explained the object for which the audience were assembled. The number of Subscribers to the Tauridian Branch of the Russian Bible Society, is already upwards of 200, of whom 76 are Mahomedans, and five Caraite Jews! The Catholic Priest informed me, after the Meeting broke up¿ that he needed not fewer than 300 copies of the Bible immediately for the colonists established in different parts of the Crimea. A gentleman who has much to do among the Tartars, assured me, that many c demands had been made of late for Tartar and Turkish Bibles, and that in the ancient Tartar metropolis, Bakcheserai alone, he could dispose of at least 200 copies.

JUVENILE DEPARTMENT.
A child's reflection.

BEHOLD my affectionate parent, viewing, with anxious thought, his tender offspring. Concerned for our present happiness and future felicity, I hear him, with tender emotions of soul, begging the Divine Benediction to be bestowed on his family,--fearing he should be called to leave us in the wilderness without the guide of our youth; committing us, with the most affectionate concern, to the care of God his Saviour, entreating his favourable protection! I sit and hear his valuable instructions-warning us of the

evil of sin, and of the snares of the world! O that each of us paid proper attention to his pious counsel! I read in his countenance the deep concern he feels lest his advice should be lost, and our precious souls undone ! I view his exemplary conduct to win our affections to the ways of God, and to endear the precious word of truth to us, which is the stimulus and rule of his practice.

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What gratitude is due-what love should we show-and what obedience should we render to such a parent and friend!—and how does my heart pity those parents, whose affectionate care and anxious solicitude are neglected, or treated with disrespect! How do I pity those children living in heathen countries and elsewhere, who have no such concern exercised by their parents, no such admonitions, no such example shown, and whose lasting welfare is neglected and forgotten! Their parents, living without God in the world, either totally neglect their charge, or, if they correct their children, it is not from any concern for their best interest, but to gratify their own revengeful temper, which is irritated by something done or said by the child, to which, perhaps, he was encouraged by their example; and which probably, would have given them pleasure at another time, and have excited expressions of applanse. Perhaps, all the family is in gross darkness! The house, the word, and ordinances of God are neglected -no prayer used-no knowledge of the state they are in, or of the way of salvation. O, what a wretched scene! O what obligations am I under to my pious parents, who care for my soul, and who discover their concern in so many endearing forms!--How thankful am I that Managers and teachers of Sunday Schools are increasing in their concern and zeal for the welfare and happiness of numbers of those wretched objects, who are otherwise in a 'hopeless state! and are searching them out from their cells of mental darkness-their scenes of helpless misery, to teach them to read the word of life, and to feed them with knowledge and understanding! Go on and prosper, ye devoted servants of the Lord! Take the charge of the souls of those spiritual orphans, and bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord! They cannot recompense you ; but you shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just!

From the Christian Monitor.

VIEW OF THE STATE OF RELIGION

In the Churches under the care of the Synod of Virginia. CHRISTIAN BRETHREN-After a free conversation upon the state of religion, we are happy in being able to congratulate the churches under our care, upon the general prosperity of our charge. At the same time, we would earnestly desire to render our devout acknowledgments to the great Head of the Church, from whom the blessing is derived, and to whom the praise is due.

We have to lament, indeed, that some of our congregations ap pear to have grown remiss and negligent in their attendance upon the ministry of the word; and we would solemnly exhort all such

to be zealous and repent, lest the anger of the Lord should rest upon themselves and their descendants to the latest generations.

On the other hand, we have been consoled and refreshed by the intelligence, that in many of our congregations there is a silent and gradual progress in the things of religion. The number of praying people is increasing-family worship is observed-the children are catechised-the walk and conversation of members are in some good measure such as become those who profess godliness-attempts are making to establish Bible Classes and Sunday Schools-societies are forming for the support of missionaries and candidates for the Gospel ministry-and the general interests of religion are pursued with increasing diligence and zeal. Such is peculiarly the case in the congregations of Norfolk, Petersburg, Winchester, Leesburg, Fredericksburg, and Richmond.

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In some other of our churches also, the state of things is still more encouraging. In that of Winchester an unusual degree of religious excitement has prevailed for some time past, and many have been added to the church, of such we trust whose names are in the book of life. In that of Leesburg too, there is reason to hope that the Lord has heard the cry of his people, and is visiting them in mercy. Several have already been anxiously awakened to at sense of their sinfulness, and led to seek sal vation through the righteousness of Christ. A deep and solemn attention to the means of grace is still prevailing, and many are anxiously inquiring what they shall do to be saved.

We are further gratified to learn, that several new churches have been erected within our bounds, and that the number of those who attend upon their service is generally increasing. We are also particularly pleased to hear, that there is a fair prospect of organizing a new congregation in the county of Princess Anne, under circumstances that promise to advance the interests of religion in that section of the state.

In addition to these interesting notices, we are most happy to observe that the Theological Seminary under our care continues to enjoy the blessings of Heaven. The contributions to its funds for the year past, have been unusually liberal; and the number of its students is constantly growing. At the same time, associations of pious females and others are forming around us, still further to enlarge its resources and extend its usefulness. But above. all, it affords us the highest satisfaction to find that candidates for the Gospel ministry are becoming more numerous than at any former period, and that our churches may soon enjoy the benefit of their labours.

Notwithstanding these flattering prospects, however, we have but too much reason to apprehend that many parts of our state are almost destitute of the means of grace. There is indeed a woful famine of the word of the Lord in many corners of our charge, and the cry of souls perishing for la şk of knowledge is in our ears.

In several counties within our bounds the glad tidings of the Gos pel are seldom heard, and the privileges of public worship, with the countless blessings that attend it, but rarely enjoyed. In the mean time, our population is rapidly increasing around us, and no adequate means of instruction are provided to meet the wants of the rising generation.

It is a consolation indeed, that in the midst of these discouragements there are some hopes of relief, and the means of procuring it are perhaps within our reach. In many of these places now overspread with moral darkness, the inhabitants are beginning to feel their way for the light of the Gospel, and may we not hope that the day-star is rising in their hearts? "Send us missionaries, let us hear the word," are sounds which come to us from a thousand tongues. And shall we then remain insensible under these afflicting appeals to our hearts, as men and Christians? Shall we turn a deaf ear to the cries of our own kinsmen according to the flesh? Shall we see them suffering and bleeding in the way, and pass by on the other side? Or shall we not rather regard their entreaties as the calls of Providence to redouble our exertions for the salvation of perishing souls ?

We would therefore affectionately and solemnly call upon the members of our charge, ministers, elders, and brethren, to renew their diligence and zeal in the great work which God has confided to our care, the work of promoting the prosperity of his church, and cause, in our land. Let us come forward with united hearts and hands, with all the means that we possess, to provide missionaries, to diffuse religious knowledge throughout the community, and to extend the means of grace and the blessings of the Gospel in all the various modes which love and duty can suggest. At the same time, let us be careful to purify our own hearts by faith, that we may be better instruments for the work before us. And above all, let us be instant and fervent in prayer to Him from whom cometh all our help, that he may send more labourers into his harvest, and that the land of our charge, with the whole earth, may soon become as a watered garden, and as a field which the Lord hath blessed.

Signed by order of the Synod,

JOHN H. RICE, Moderator. Fredericksburg, Oct. 30, 1816.

We have the satisfaction to announce, that the Board of Managers of The American Society for evangelizing the Jews, have appointed Mr. J. S. C., Frey to deliver Lectures statedly to the Jews in their behalf; and that Mr. Frey has consented to deliver one every Lord's day evening, in the North Dutch Church in William-street; the use of which the Consistory have kindly granted for that benevolent purpose.

The collections to be then and there taken up are to be for the use of the gove named Society,

[IN No. 15, we gave some interesting intelligence from South Africa, contained in two short letters from the Rev. J. READ, mentioning a missionary journey which he, in company with others from Bethelsdorp, had made into Caffraria in April last, the joyful reception they met with from the people of that country,—and the design of establishing a mission among them, with the most encouraging prospects of success.

We now insert the continuation of that correspondence, in which Mr: Read gives a narrative of the above mentioned journey.

The details of this correspondence are considered by the conductors of the Evangelical Magazine of such importance, as to justify the occupying a whole sheet of the commencement of their November Number with them, to the exclusion of the usual matter.]

Narrative of the Journey of Mr. Read and others to Caffraria. Bethelsdorp, May 21, 1816.

Honoured and dear Brethren,

I HASTEN SO give you an account of our excursion into Caffra ria; which, I doubt not, will be interesting, and cause every heart to glow with holy admiration at what the Lord is doing upon the earth. Surely the time is not far distant when all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.' You must bear with me in my details, and make what abridgments you think proper, before you print them.

We left Bethelsdorp on the 1st of April, and took a new route to Theopolis, by a road which our people were cutting, through immense woods, on the banks of the Sunday River, which was to make about six hours difference in the distance to that new station. We arrived at the New Ford at sun-set, and got safely through, though the water was so high that it came into the waggon; but the road being unbeaten, we spanned out*, to stay till the morning.

*The phrases spanning in and spanning out, signify putting their oxen, to the wagons, or taking them off. VOL. II.-No. 18.

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