W. M. WATTS, CROWN COURT, TEMPLE BAR.

OF THE

BRITISH AND FOREIGN

Bible Society,

FROM ITS INSTITUTION IN 1804, TO THE CLOSE

OF ITS JUBILEE IN 1854.

COMPILED AT THE REQUEST OF THE JUBILEE COMMITTEE,

BY THE

REV. GEORGE BROWNE,

DURING TWENTY YEARS ONE OF THE SECRETARIES OF THE SOCIETY.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON.

SOLD AT THE SOCIETY'S HOUSE, EARL STREET,

BLACKFRIARS;

BAGSTER AND SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW;

AND ALL BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

1859.

P

-19 DEC 1973

LIBRARY

Printed in Great Britain

PREFACE.

THE following work was originated in connection with the Society's Jubilee. On that occasion, a "Statement" of the Society's proceedings up to that time, was, at the request of the Committee, drawn up by the Rev. G. J. Collinson, then holding the office of Clerical Secretary of the Institution. This document, prepared with much care, was found to be too long for the immediate object contemplated, and only a small part of it, therefore, was printed. At the same time, a wish was entertained and expressed by many friends of the Society, that a work should be prepared, approaching more in its character to that of a "history." The project came under the notice of the Jubilee Committee, and was favourably received. About the same period, the weakened health of the author of these volumes, compelled him to notify to the Committee his desire to be re lieved from the pressure of the full duties of a General Secretary. He was, in consequence, allowed to retire from office, and a smaller amount of service allotted to him; and, in connection with this, he was requested to undertake the present work.

A task, thus unexpectedly and honourably imposed, he did not feel himself at liberty to decline.

In preparing a history of the "British and Foreign Bible Society," it was requisite to bear in mind, that the design had been already, though but to a certain extent, anticipated. A sketch of the first fifteen years of its operations had been given to the world, by the eloquent pen of the Rev. John Owen, A.M., the first Clerical Secretary of the Society. The "Annual Reports" of the Society contain an extensive summary of its proceedings. Its "Monthly Extracts," commenced in August 1817, and conVOL. I.

a