B. Extracts from the Minutes of the British and Foreign Bible Society. ON the 1st of November, Mr. Charles thus writes. "I have sent you one part of the Bible, as correct, I believe, as I can make it. My assistants left me last week. Since then I have gone over it all myself the second time, and have made some additional corrections which escaped our notice the first time. In correcting the press, more may be observed; but none, I believe, of any consequence. I have really bestowed upon it every attention in my power, and spared no pains or labour to send the Committee a correct copy. I have particularly examined every word, every letter, and every stop. I have compared eight different impressions together, in the Welsh language, and three in English, deemed correct ones, to help me to fix the stops, the placing of which, in some instances, materially affects the sense. I found some words omitted in this impresssion (that of 1799) which have been replaced: others were changed through carelessness, which have been duly restored. The stops in general we found properly placed, more so than in any other impression. In those we have altered, we had the English copies for our guides. The alterations in the spelling consist mostly in the omission of one of two letters, where one was quite sufficient ; as hyny instead of hynny, &c. We found the negative prefix di often put where the prepositive dy ought to have been. This error we have corrected in very many instances. The remaining parts shall be corrected uniformly with this, and I hope every part will be ready long before it is wanted." N. B. In this letter Mr. Charles also notices the exertions of the Bishop of Bangor in his diocese, in behalf of the Society. His Lordship had sent off the plans transmitted to Mr. Charles to the Rural Deans, and instructed them to solicit the benefactions of the well disposed to the views of the Society. Nov. 6, Mr. Tarn writes to Mr. Charles: "In behalf of the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, I beg leave to communicate their warmest acknowledgments to yourself and friends for your diligent attention to the correction of the Welsh copy of the Bible, which came safely to hand yesterday. "The Committee fully approve of the remuneration made by you to one of your assistants; and as you have been put to some expense for their board, they purpose making you an acknowledgment, when they have the pleasure of seeing you. "An answer has been received from the Syndicate, who have accepted the order of the Committee; but as their furnaces, &c. for the stereotype, are not so forward as they expected, it will be unnecessary for you to use extraordinary exertion in correcting the other parts; although there is no doubt but when the necessary preparations are completed, they will proceed rapidly.” December 3. Read a letter from the Rev. Thomas Charles, declining any pecuniary remuneration for his services in preparing the copy of the Welsh Bibles, C. From the Records of the British and Foreign Bible Society. No. 1.. From the Lord Bishop of London to Lord Teignmouth. I HAVE the honour of enclosing to your Lordship a letter I have just received from Dr. Gaskin, Secretary to the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge; and also an extract of a letter from Mr. Roberts, a respectable Welsh clergyman, to him. The facts he states are, without doubt (if correctly stated), of considerable importance; and I think your Lordship will agree with me, that the first step should be to put a stop to any further progress in the edition and the distribution of it, till strict inquiries are made into all the circumstances of the case, which certainly deserve very serious consideration. I have the honour to be, &c. No. 2: From Dr. Gaskin to the Lord Bishop of London. My Lord, Bartlett's Buildings, Jan. 9, 1805. I TRANSMIT the enclosed extract to your Lordship, by direction of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, and have further to add, that Mr. Roberts is a very respectable clergyman, and an eminent Welsh scholar, and was employed by our Society in correcting the press of our last Oxford edition of the Welsh Bible and Prayer Book, to which he had been recommended by the Principal of Jesus College. This communication is directed to be made to the several Bishops whose names appear as Vice-presidents of the British and Foreign Bible Society. I am, my Lord, &c. No. 3. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. John Roberts to Dr. Gaskin. December 31, 1804. I WOULD now beg leave to trouble you with an article of intelligence, which I think demands serious notice: The Society established with the designation of the "British and Foreign Bible Society," is now about to print an edition of the Bible in the Welsh language. But (horrendum est dictu) it will be an edition that will do much harm. The orthography of the copy prepared for the press is very much changed and altered, and makes the language a different dialect from that of the Bible in present use. I judge of it by the specimens which I have seen in some other Welsh publications. This measure I consider pregnant with many bad consequences, and methinks should not be suffered to be carried into effect. It is an innovation that I am sure will not be approved of by the worthy Bishops who have entered their names as Vice-presidents to the Society. Were they made acquainted with it, I do believe that the evil may be nipped in the bud. I have, therefore, taken the liberty of troubling you with this account of it, as I think you may have an opportunity of communicating it to their Lordships. The present orthography of the Welsh version of the Bible has been thought, for centuries, not only unexceptionable but a model of purity and correctness, and considered as the established standard of criticism and pure language. Any b departure from this national standard will be particularly inconvenient to the public. The whole care of the edition in question, I understand, has been committed to two leading characters among the Methodists, and this new system of orthography is introduced by them: and I cannot help thinking that the Society is misled in the execution of its charitable designs. Pocket Bibles are not so much wanted as Bibles with large types. This new edition seems more intended for the use of children and itinerant preachers than that of Christian families. No. 4. From Lord Teignmouth, to the Rev. Mr. Owen. Dear Sir, Clapham, January 10, 1805. THE enclosed, from Mr. Agutter, I received yesterday, and the others, from the Bishop of London, this morning. Mr. Roberts may be right in his opinion of retaining the ancient orthography (judicent periti); but a mere alteration in it will not justify his apprehensions or insinuations. If you think it necessary to have an earlier meeting than usual, for the purpose of taking the business into consideration, I can attend any day next week; but I suppose the edition is not so far advanced as to make this necessary. At all events, you will agree with me in the propriety of laying the papers before the Committee at their next meeting. I could say much upon the business, but I reserve my opinion for a verbal communication with you. I am, &c. No. 5. From the Rev. Mr. Agutter to Lord Teignmouth. My Lord, Asylum, Jan. 9, 1805. I TAKE the liberty of addressing your Lordship, because I |