even beyond this, Huet tells us, "There have been some who would place paradise in the third or fourth heaven: in the heaven of the moon; in the moon itself; in a mountain adjoining the lunar heaven; in the middle region of the air," &c. The Mo, hammedans confound it with their bowers of bliss; and the Jew. ish Rabbis have held that it reached to the seventh heaven, where the four rivers were of milk, wine, balsam, and honey. Sir W. Ouseley, with all his learning and inteiligence, does not presume to determine which is right.—Christ. Obs.

CHINESE LITERATURE IN RUSSIA.-Ever since the year 1728, when the treaty of peace and commerce was concluded between Russia and China, our Government has maintained at Pekin an Archimandrite and four Ecclesiasties, to whom as many young men were added, to learn the Chinese language, and to serve, in the sequel, as interpreters. as well on the frontiers as in the department of foreign affairs at St. Petersburgh. Hitherto no persons have returned to Russia from this establishment who have done any important service to literature; but the Archimandrite Hyacinthus, who has lately returned from China, differs from all his predecessors. Astonishment is ex-’ cited by the zeal with which he has applied to the Chinese and other languages, and by the important works which he has composed during his residence at Pekin-viz. 1. A General Histo ry of China, from the year 2357 before the birth of Christ, to the year 1633 of the Christian era, 9 vols. folio ;-2. A Geogra phical and Statistical Description of the Chinese Empire, with a large map, in the five principal languages spoken by the peo ple, in 2 vols. folio;-3. The Works of Confucius, translated, into Russian, with a Commentary ;-4. A Russian and Chi nese Dictionary;-5. Four works on the Geography and History of Thibet, and of Little Bucharia;-6. The History of the Land of the Mongols ;-7. The Code of Laws given by the Chinese Government to the Mongol Tribes ;-8. An accurate Description of the City of Pekin;-9. Description of the Dykes

and Works erected to confine the Waters of the Yellow River, followed by an accurate Description of the Great Canal of China. Besides these Chinese works translated into Russian, the Archimandrite Hyacinthus has written several treatises on the manners, customs, festivals, and domestic employments of the Chinese, and on their military art, and on the manufactures and branches of industry in which they excel.

The interest which the Emperor Alexander takes in every thing that can contribute to the glory of the empire and of his government, and to all that can extend the sphere of useful knowledge, gives reason to hope that the Russian Government will afford the learned Archimandrite the necessary means to print the literary treasures which he has brought with him from China.-Literary Gazette.

TRAVELS OF M. BERGGREEN IN THE EAST.-M. Berggreen, Chaplain to the Swedish Legation at Constantinople, who commenced in 1820 a tour in Asia and Africa, has been ob liged to return to Sweden, after a severe illness; but he has brought with him, from the Maronite convent of Antara, situated on Mount Lebanon, where he passed some time, many curious observations, and a copy of the pretended Holy Scriptures of the Druses; a book filled, he says, with abominable doctrines. The geography of Mount Lebanon is very different from the account given of it by Volney.--Literary Gazette.

COAL IN SYRIA.-A stratum of coal, of considerable thickness, has been discovered in Syria, a few miles inland from the coast; and a pit or mine has been opened, from whence the Pacha of Egypt is preparing to draw supplies for the steam-boats which he is intending to employ on the Nile and its branches.

ELECTRICITY.-It has been ascertained that by using a small spirit-lamp under the rubber, and another under the prime conductor, of an electrical machine, their power is greatly increased and they can be rendered effective in the dampest wea ther.--Christ. Obs.

Asiatic Entelligence.

CALCUTTA.-Societies for the Extension of Christianity.-These institutions having now published their several Reports for the present year, it becomes our duty, and an agreeable one it is, to mark the progress they have made. We shall commence with the' Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society.—The most prominent object in the Report is the happy extension of the Bible Society system in India. A considerable time since, Madras and Bombay were left, by the Calcutta Society, to their own independent exertions and means; and in this way opportunity was obtained for better attending to the Presidency of Bengal. Last year's Report announced the establishment of a Bible Association in Calcutta, and a Branch Society in Benares. The former of these institutions has held its second anniversary, and passed through another year of spirited exertion, (see page 58, of our present volume): and the Benares Society has also maintained the character with which it started. Its contributions have amounted to Sa. Rs. 2618. During the past year, two new Branch Societies have been formed, one at Cawnpore, and the other at Meerut. The Cawnpore subscription list presents an amount of Rs. 2784 14 in donations, and 713 in annual subscriptions.

These Societies have divided amongst themselves, all the stations of the Upper Provinces, they have established in some of them corresponding members, as agents for the collection of funds, and distribution of books. Through these, and other channels, 11,000 Copies of the Scriptures, or portions of them, have been distributed; and 47,000 remain in store. No new work has issued from the press, but the following are in progress. 1. The whole Bible in Hindoostanee, of which the Pentateuch only is printed, of the Old Testament; and of the New Testament, as far as the Romans. 2. Separate edition of Genesis in Hindoostanee. 3. The Book of Psalms in Hindoostanee. 4. A new edition of the New Testament in Arabic. 5. A new edition of the same in Persian. 6. A new edition of the Gospels and Acts in Bengalee.

The Funds of the Society are in a highly prosperous state.

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The Bengal Auxiliary Missionary Society.-This Society has erected a new Bungalow Chapel on Mr. Lindeman's premises, and ano, ther on the main road of Bhobaneepore, and continues to maintain the preaching of the gospel in the chapel at Mirzapore. In each of its chapels, a Christian school is conducted. Tallygunge was occupied as a missionary station for about ten months, and was then resigned to the Calcutta Diocesan Committee. Whilst the station was occupied, an eager attention was given to the preaching of the gospel, tracts obtained an extensive circulation, and the schools were well attended. Kidderpore has been the fixed residence of one of the missionaries, during the past year, and from it has come the first native convert the Society has had the privilege of introducing into the Christian Church. (See Friend of India, vol. vi. p. 159.) His conduct has been very satisfactory; and his wife, from being an opposer, has become a candidate for baptism. The deportment of others, too, is such as to warrant the hope that the work of conversion will proceed. Good attention is given to the preaching of the gospel, and the schools afford pleasing evidence of their utility. "One boy receiving the Pentateuch as a loan, read 22 chapters in about two days, the principal events were so impressed upon his memory, that he recited nearly the whole of them as they stand recorded." Last cold season, Messrs. Trawin, Hill, and Warden, went on a missionary tour as far as Gour, and at some places were welcomed by those whom they had addressed the year before. Missionaries were requested to be sent amongst them. At Chinsurah, missionary labour is still carried on, and the schools are peculiarly prosperous; beside those supported by Government, there are three mission schools, in which christianity is taught the number on Sabbath morning is from 200 to 250. At Benares, Mr. Adam is doing all he can in preaching, distributing tracts, and conducting schools, though hitherto with but little marked effect. The Society appears to be upwards of 5,000 Rs. in debt.

Calcutta Baptist Missionary Society.-During the year reported, two persons have been received into Church membership; one a convert from Mussulmanism, whose attention was first directed to the Gospel by Bagchee the native preacher; and the other a man who had been many years excluded from the Church at Serampore, and who has, it is hoped, been gradually restored to the feelings of personal piety. The native church, connected with this Society, now

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consists of ten members, of whom 5 or 6 have been converted through its instrumentality. Worship has been maintained in the four native chapels belonging to the Society, in Calcutta ; and in doing this, considerable assistance has been received from two of the members of the Calcutta Juvenile Society—an institution of much promise. The native chapel in Bow-Bazar has been devoted to the regular performance of Christian worship, as to a Christian ́~ rather than a heathen congregation, with the hope that it may become the resort of such as wish to know the way of the Lord more perfectly, and yet may not have obtained courage to apply for personal instruction; and also, that the heathen may have a better opportunity of witnessing the impressive solemnity of the ordinances and services of Christianity. The Missionary labours at Doorgapore have been somewhat relaxed through the frequent indisposition of Mr. E. Carey, the Missionary who has resided there and we are sorry to add, that he has been compelled to seek restoration to health by recourse to a change of climate. Still the work is carried on, and though no decided conversion can be recorded, there have been pleasing instances of respect and attention. At Howrah, the gospel is preached to the natives on two days of the week, by the Society's preachers, Paunchoo and Bagchee one Bungalow chapel has been opened, and another is in preparation, behind the English chapel, for the accommodation of those persons whose ignorance of the English language prevents their mixing with an English congregation. Tracts, and portions of Scriptures, have been largely distributed and amongst the members of the English congregation has been excited a concern for the spiritual necessities of the people, and especially the children, male and female, around them. At the close of last year, Messrs. Yates and Penney, accompanied by Paunchoo, proceeded down the river, as far as Ghatal, on a Missionary excursion, and were much interested by the anxiety, expressed by the numerous inhabitants of the villages in their route, to hear the gospel. At Chinsurah, Mr. Fenwick has been actively, and, we believe, gratuitously, engaged in disseminating the knowledge of the gospel, in connection with the Society. The Harmony of the Gospels in Hindoostanee, has been published during the year, but the care of printing tracts has been committed to the Calcutta Religious

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