me much—but yet He love sinner! Ah, true that pass every thing." Mr. Johnson, having observed some declension of spirit in the communicants, assembled them all in the church before the morning service, on the day of administering the Lord's Supper. The scene which followed will be best described in his own words: "When the clock struck nine, the whole, except the sick, came in twelve different parties, according to the division of the town, to church. My heart rejoiced when I saw this scene. When they had entered the church, the churchwardens came and told me that all who were well had come. I went; and, as some had been re-admitted, I read and explained such passages of Scripture as were suited to humble them; and exhorted them to carefulness and watchfulness: I also read and explained the Commination Service, and concluded by urging them to self-examination and repentance; and, when my conscience was satisfied, I concluded with prayer. Two young men then came forward, and said that they had quarrelled, and desired to make peace with each other before they came to the Lord's Supper: this was soon effected, as each said that he was in the wrong! A woman said to me, that she had spoken ill behind another woman's back, and wished to beg her pardon, which, of course, I advised her to do: she went and did so, and the offended woman forgave her with cheerfulness. I was so delighted with the simple mode in which they thus dealt with one another, that I scarcely could forbear shedding a tear of joy on seeing that my children walk in truth. O that these beloved people may continue in their simplicity!" The youths under education at the Christian Institution were about twenty-four in number. They make considerable progress. Mediterranean Mission. This sphere of Christian labour is increasing yearly in importance, and begins to awaken deep interest in the breasts of all who are anxious for the conversion of the Jews, the subjugation of the Mohammedan Antichrist, and the revival of the ancient Christian Churches. The Committee and the representatives of the Society are anxious to avail themselves of every opportunity for pouring into the hearts of the afflicted the consolations and instructions of the Divine Word. In this quarter, however, they must necessarily proceed with much caution, and wait with patience the dawn of a brighter day. Mr. Jowett had resumed his correspondence in various quarters, and rendered every aid in his power to the circulation of the Scriptures by. the Bible Society. He had it in view to undertake, as soon as circumstances would allow, a journey in Syria. His volume of "Christian Researches" has awakened, as might be expected, new interest in the field of his labours; and has greatly enlarged the views of his readers, with respect to the nature and difficulties of the work to be done, and the best means of accomplishing it. The translation of the Scriptures into Maltese is proceeding with the advantage of additional and learned aid. Authority has been given to Mr. Jowett by Government to establish a press in Malta, under regulations rendered necessary by local circumstances. Two founts of Roman types have been procured from Paris: founts of Greek and Arabic will be sent from this country. A printing press has been forwarded, and had safely arrived. The use of the press is rapidly increasing; and it will, doubtless, prove one of the chief instruments for reviving knowledge and truth on the surrounding shores. The Bashaw of Egypt has an Arabic press at Caïro; and has been reprinting the Society's Arabic tract on the System of Mutual Instruction. The interesting information given in the Report respecting the Society's other Missions, we must postpone to a future Number. SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE last Report of the Society just distributed among the members, announces, that the affairs of the Society continue in a prosperous state. The number of subscribing members has materially increased since the last Report. Above 15,000 names now appear upon the list, of which 743 have been added since October, 1822. The receipts and disbursements have been larger than in any former year, and a proportionate increase will be found in the general circulation of religious books. A few particulars only are stated respecting the proceedings of Diocesan and District Committees, the number of them not allowing of details. Among these particulars we notice the following:-The Bishop of Durham has presented a donation of 100%., to be continued annually during his life, to purchase Prayerbooks for the use of his diocese. Religious education is spreading ra-. pidly in every part of that diocese. CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. rapidly increasing. This fact must afford consolation to every Christian mind. The Rochester Committee observe, that the lower orders of the community are becoming daily more sensible of the value of our Liturgy, and that the demand for Prayerbooks has consequently much increased. This Committee has supplied books to the hospital of the Marine Barracks at Chatham; and, through the parent institution, to his Majesty's troops in Chatham garrison. Four parochial libraries have been established in this district, which appear completely to answer their design.-In the Report of the Blackheath Committee, an account is given of eight lending libraries in this district, and we learn with much pleasure, that those useful institutions are resorted to with avidity, and that few books are at any time remaining on the shelves. Since the publication of the last Report, the Society has been deprived of the services of its venerable Secretary, Dr. Gaskin, who for seven-and-thirty years had paid the most unremitting attention to its concerns. The Rev. W. Parker, M.A. Rector of St. Ethelburga and the Rev. W. H. Coleridge, M. A. Student of Christ Church, Oxford, have been appointed to fill the office as joint secretaries, with equal salaries. -The Bath Committee have transmitted to the Board a comparative statement of their sale of books during the last three years, by which it appears that a vast increase has taken place since the establishment of their depository for the sale of the Society's publications to the public. Their subscribers, also, have increased, within two years, from 135 to 192; and a spacious gallery in the new Church at Bath has been The Special Committee have been assigned to the children of the Na- enabled to defray the charges of a tional and Sunday Schools.-The very large issue of anti-infidel books Coventry Committee state, that the and tracts, and of a considerable institution of Parochial, and in some sale of other religious publications. instances of Private, Lending Libra- In addition to the six well known ries has been productive of much tracts on the Evidence of Christiadvantage in this district, and has anity, which were placed long ago created a more than ordinary de- on the Society's catalogue, thirtymand for books.-The Report of the four new tracts upon the same subLewes Deanery Committee mentions, ject were procured and published by that the tracts which were lately circu- the Committee; and 943,300 copies lated to counteract the growing spi- of these books and tracts were printrit of infidelity are now but little re-ed for the use of the public. The quired in this neighbourhood; while greater part of this stock-namely, the demand for religious books is 677,491 books and tracts-has been circulated through the country. The surplus, 265,809, remains in the Society's stores. But the issue of books by the Special Committee has not been confined to anti-infidel publications. One thousand and fifteen Bibles, (exclusive of the Society's Family Bible),757 Testaments, 1451 Prayerbooks, 2517 other bound books, and 113,116 Tracts, have been disposed of at cost price from the shop in Fleet-street; and a considerable supply of the same articles is still in hand. The total number of books and tracts issued by the Committee, since its appointment, is 798,201, and the stock undisposed of exceeds 300,000. The money remaining at the disposal of the Committee will be more than sufficient to defray the expenses of the shop in Fleetstreet during the time that the Society has resolved to continue it, and will enable the Committee to make an adequate trial of the plan for selling the books on the Society's catalogue to the public at reduced prices. The Board have received the sum of 1000 in augmentation of the fund of Clericus, for supplying soldiers on foreign stations with Common Prayer Books and Religious Tracts. A grant of 1507. has been made to the District Committee at Bombay, to assist them in translating into the dialect of that part of India some tracts selected from the Society's catalogue. The whole number of Bibles, Common Prayer Books, and other books and tracts distributed between April. 1822, amounts to and April, 1823, 1,400,711. The Society's proceedings on the mournful intelligence of the death of the late Bishop of Calcutta, and the appointment of his successor, which occupy a considerable part of the Report, have been already detailed in our pages. The Report speaks in the highest terms of the hopes entertained by the Society of benefit to India from the exertions of the new bishop. "On his virtues to and attainments they venture found the most sanguine expectations; and they look forward with confidence to his powerful and zealous aid in the prosecution of their designs." The Bishop of Calcutta left London on the 16th of June, on his voyage to India. The last Report from Calcutta, after an affectionate tribute to the memory of the late Bishop and Archdeacon, gives a general view of the proceedings of the Committee during the year 1822. Great care has been taken to keep up a supply of books and tracts for distribution, and of elementary works for young people. A large number of Bibles, Prayer-books, and Tracts, has been distributed during the year among the patients in the general and military hospitals: the jail also has received supplies, as well as the military and other schools at Fort William, Dum Dum, and other places; and many persons have been furnished with a small select library. Lending libraries have been established at several of the principal stations in the archdeaconry. "This measure," says the Committee, "has been of great utility, if we may judge from the constant demand which has been made for the books, and the evident satisfaction with which they have been reccived." The number of books and tracts received during the year 1822, amounts to 16,723, of which 5,974 have been sold or gratuitously distributed.— It is observed by the Calcutta Committee, that, notwithstanding the vast quantity of Prayer-books circulated in India since the establishment of Committees, the demand is still so great that they have been unable to meet it from their own resources. The importance of education begins to be more justly appreciated by the natives of India. In the circle of Cossipore the Diocesan School Committee have resolved to appoint a superintendent as soon as they can find a competent person. They are preparing to establish two additional schools, at Ben Hoogly and North Burnagore. This Committee are diligently engaged in translating sound religious tracts into the languages of India. No less than 14,000 have already been printed. The discourses of our Lord in the Hindoostanee tongue were just completed. The Third Report of the Bombay District Committee presents a most favourable account of their exertions. In the distribution of the Scriptures, and other books and tracts, great attention has been paid to the wants of Europeans in this presidency; and hospitals, schools, and regimental establishments have been supplied. At several out-stations in this archdeaconry, depôts of the Society's books and tracts have been formed, and placed under the care of the chaplains. The Bombay District Committee have dispersed no less than 33,941 copies of the Scriptures, liturgy, and other books and tracts, since their establishment in June, 1816. Three lending libraries have been formed in the archdeaconry of Bombay. Considering the peculiar situation of clergymen in this country, as well as that of the military who form their chief spiritual charge, it is presumed that much benefit will be derived from the establishment of these libraries. The Society's Family Bible continues to be in great demand at Bombay. Copies of the Arabic Bible have been distributed in the Persian Gulph. The assistance afforded by the supplies of the cheap schooltracts used on the National system, continues to be of great importance. The number of persons educated in schools, where the books of the Committee are wholly or partially used, exceed 1,200; of whom about one-third may be natives. In closing their Report, the Board again congratulate the friends of the Church of England, on the growing prosperity of the Society; adding, that "if there is nothing in the transactions of the last year which exceeds the bounds of reasonable expectation, there is yet much to gratify the sober Christian, and to encourage his efforts in the dissemination of religious truth." BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. IN our Number for September, we abstracted that part of the Society's Nineteenth Report which relates to the chief European Societies. We have reserved for our Appendix some interesting miscellaneous particulars, together with an outline of the progress of Bible Societies in the other quarters of the globe. The Committee advert with pleasure to the labours of Doctor Leander Van Ess among his Roman Catholic brethren. It appears, that, up to May 1822, he had circulated 456,870 copies of his New Testament, besides 8,934 copies of Luther's German Bible, and a number of copies in the Greek, Latin, and Hebrew languages. His supporters, among persons of his own religious persuasion were on the increase. He writes; ". How wonderful is the CHRIST. OBSERV.- APP. love of God towards wretched and sinful man! From all quarters I receive encouraging letters, written by Catholic clergymen, who approve of my exertions and struggles in the Biblical cause; but I exclaim with the Psalmist, Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us; but unto thy name give the glory.'" The presses at Venice have furnished the Committee with 3,700 Armenian New Testaments, and 2,000 copies of the Psalter, all of which have been forwarded to Malta, Smyrna, and Constantinople. The Corresponding Committee of Gibraltar have found means to circulate no less than 3,175 copies of the Scriptures. Of these, upwards of 1,500 copies were Spanish, 500 Italian, and 400 Portuguese. At Barcelona, 10,000copies of the Spanish 5 P New Testament, of Father Scio's version, have been printed. At Madeira, the sale and distribution of the holy Scriptures have continued without interruption, and facilities for promoting the same object at Teneriffe have not been neglected. The Bible Society at Malta, though embarrassed in its operations by the present disturbed state of Greece, continues assiduously to distribute the Scriptures, through various channels, to the surrounding islands and maritime nations. Its issues amounted, in November 1821, to 7,303 copies. To the Ionian Society the Committee have forwarded a further supply of 1,000 Greek New Testa ments, and 200 Hebrew Bibles. In Constantinople and its vicinity, about 1,300 copies of the Scriptures, in various languages, have either been distributed or sent into Syria and Armenia for circulation. In Syria the operations of the Society had sustained a temporary interruption from the appalling catastrophe which had befallen the city of Aleppo and the surrounding territories. Mr. Barker, however, previously to his retreat from that city, had found means to distribute among its inhabitants 1,000 copies of the Arabic New Testament and Psalter. On his arrival at Smyrna, he recommenced his exertions, and distributed, in conjunction with the Rev. Samuel Favez, chaplain of the Dutch factory in that city, the stock of the Scriptures which had been sent thither. Mr. Leeves also visited Smyrna during the progress of a tour, which he had undertaken in behalf of the Society. The lamentable effects of the war met his observation at Scio, Ephesus, and other places; nor were opportunities wanting for affording spiritual relief to some of the unhappy sufferers. To their use he devoted, on the part of the Bible Society, a present of Greek Testaments. The printing of the Amharic version, destined for the use of Abys sinia, is now in active progress, the difficulties which had retarded it having been at length surmounted. It was proposed to print in the first instance the Four Gospels, and that of St. Matthew had already passed through the press. The Committee acknowledge their obligations to their honorary librarian, Mr. Platt, for the care and attention with which he continues to prosecute the laborious task of editing that important work. In the course of last year, Mr. Platt proceeded to Paris, at the request of the Committee, to examine the Oriental MSS. of that city, for materials to assist in the prosecution of another department of their Abyssinian labours, the publication of a correct edition of the Scriptures, or parts of them, in the Ethiopic language. The aid which he procured was such as will, it was hoped, enable the Committee to proceed in a short time to an edition of the Four Gospels of this version. The Bible Societies in the East Indies have been enabled by the liberal contributions of their respective supporters, and by the assistance afforded them by the British and Foreign Bible Society, to carry on with vigour their operations in the continental, as well as insular regions, with which they have established a connexion. The Calcutta Auxiliary has completed the Malay Old Testament, and nearly the whole of the impression is on its way to its destination. The number of missionaries has been progressively increasing, and schools are rapidly advancing in Sumatra, Penang, Malacca, Batavia, Amboyna, and other places. The printing of the Old Testament in the Hindoostanee had advanced nearly to the end of Leviticus. The Hindoostanee New Testament had been submitted to the revision of the Rev. Mr. Bowley. The Calcutta Committee had resolved to print, without delay, 4,000 copies of the Gospels and Acts, and 1,000 of the whole New Testament in Ben |
