the needy, those whom this Society are most anxious to reach, can in this way alone be thoroughly supplied. They have therefore drawn up, and concluded to present on this occasion, a proposition for such an important undertaking. The proposition will be submitted by a member of the Anniversary Committee, who is familiar with the purposes of the Board.

Further reasons for this important movement, should the Society found it, will be early given through a printed address, accompanied with various resolutions and suggestions from the Board as to the carrying out of the supply in its details. The address will be sent to all the local societies, and to many of the members as well as other individuals, who may be looked to for co-operation in the work.

New Books.

The first to be noticed is the Imperial Quarto Bible referred to in previous Reports. This is the largest and most expensive book ever published by the Society, and is designed to be the standard copy, as to the text, in all future issues. In preparing this book, a collator was employed, and a careful comparison made of the Society's various Bibles, and then of those which came from the authorized presses of Oxford, Cambridge, and the Queen's Printer in London. Every thing pertaining to the text has been well considered by the Committee on Versions, during an examination of nearly three years. The proof sheets were then repeatedly and separately read by two of the most skilful of proof readers, under the inspection of the collator. And while nothing has been attempted which should alter the meaning of any text, much has been done in removing minor discrepancies which had grown up, in a greater or less degree, in all copies extant. The Board feel confident that no

edition of the English Bible, since the first in 1611, has ever received such an amount of attention, as this now published, as to the text; and the manufacture of the book in all its departments is in keeping with its verbal correctness. The aim has been not only to secure a correct standard copy, but to have its form and size of type such as to adapt it to the pulpit, and at the same time to serve as the book for family record, for which ample provision as to tables is made.

Another book in course of preparation, and nearly completed, is a Royal Octavo Bible with References, and large faced pica type. In the text it is strictly conformed to the Imperial Quarto standard. Its form and size are such as to make it a book proper for the chapel or lecture room, for the pastor's study, and particularly for use in family worship. It may be questioned whether the Society has ever published a book calculated to be more generally acceptable than this. It will, Providence favouring, be ready for delivery in the course of a few months.

The Managers have been led to publish, in the course of the year, the Book of Psalms by itself in octavo form, with large type (great primer), and in flexible binding. This book is designed for the aged and infirm more particularly, but has such a large, lumino us page, that few who see it fail to secure one or more copies. So acceptable has it proved, that the Board have recently, on request of many, resolved to prepare the New Testament in like style, to be bound in three or four volumes.

They have also published, the past year, another small Testament, designed more particularly for children of Sabbath and other schools.

The Gospel of John and the Book of Acts have also

been published in Spanish, for the use of schools in the Spanish port of Hayti, and in South America and Mexico. This was done on request of a lady who had spent some time among the people mentioned.

The Second Book of Kings in the Choctaw language has also been published at the Society's House, under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Edwards, of the Choctaw mission. It is so published as to correspond with other portions of the Choctaw Scriptures before published under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Byington.

There is also in course of publication at the Bible House a new and revised edition of the Ojibwa New Testament, under supervision of the Rev. Sherman Hall, formerly a missionary among the Ojibwas.

The Managers are also preparing a new Portuguese Testament, under the supervision of the Rev. A. De Mattos, of Jacksonville, Illinois. This is mainly from a translation made in London from the Greek. The same is also to be published in Portuguese and English, in parallel columns. The many Portuguese emigrants in our own country and in our mission service, as well as the opening demands from Brazil, render the prospects highly favourable in regard to these books.

Testimony of Distinguished Laymen to the Value of the Scriptures.

The pamphlet with the above title, mentioned in previous Reports as having been published in English and in German, is now in course of preparation in the Spanish tongue. To some classes of persons, particularly to the young who are looking for eminent and successful examples in public life, this book is found highly elevating and useful. The names of most writers here given are widely known and respected, and their united

testimony to the truth and value of the Scriptures is unequivocal and earnest. It can hardly fail to make salutary impressions on those who give it their attention.

Library.

The number of volumes added to the Library the past year is eighty-seven. Among this number is a liberal grant from the British and Foreign Bible Society of forty-two copies, most of them translations made the present century into foreign tongues. In the Appendix will be found a list of the additions made. It is gratifying to see what extensive provision has been made, since the organization of Bible societies commenced, for giving the Inspired Word to the nations of the earth. It can probably be said in truth that in this Library alone are found translations so many and various that more than three-fourths of the entire race, if able to read, could here find the revealed will of their common Creator. What a foundation is thus laid for the conversion of the world to the only true religion!

Gratuitous Issues.

As a part of the gratuitous issues of the year, it is proper here to state, that the discounts on the sales to auxiliary societies, according to the rule of prices heretofore published, have reached the sum of $17,045 15. This is a real donation to the various auxiliaries, with the view of encouraging them to efforts in the work of distribution; an object which we are glad to perceive has been very generally gained.

We may also include in this statement the amount of debts cancelled during the year, which is $5,162 39, as already remarked in this Report.

Besides these, there have been issued from the Parent

Depository, as direct donations, 40,614 volumes, which is 5,168 more than were donated during the thirty-ninth year. These grants were made on the application of local societies engaged in supplying their fields, of kindred institutions which had opportunities for wisely distributing the Scriptures, of responsible individuals living amidst destitution which no local organization existed to remove, and of missionaries, agents, and other persons residing in foreign places. Many donations, also, of a miscellaneous character have been made, such as furnishing the pulpits of feeble churches, the reading rooms, and halls of various associations, hotels, steamboats, railroad stations, canal boats, prisons, almshouses, &c. All applications which gave assurance of a right purpose have been cheerfully responded to, in the exercise of a disposition to meet every needy case, and to embrace every opportunity for scattering abroad the Bread of Life.

A few instances, as specimens of the different classes of grants, are given in the following enumeration.

The Blind.

Eighty-eight volumes in raised letters have been donated to persons, who could thus only read for themselves the precious Word of God.

The whole number during the year is

of these expensive volumes issued much greater than that reported on any former occasion, but the number paid for, either in whole or in part, by those requiring them is also unusually large, thus diminishing the proportion granted.

Sunday Schools.

Besides a great many donations for individual schools, the following have been made: