ASIA.

TO this most extensive field for Missionary exertions we now turn our attention, with a solicitude, in some degree, proportioned to the immense claims which it makes on our benevolence, and which are derived not only from its vast extent and population, but from other circumstances, which more directly relate to ourselves, as Britons and as Christians. For, for what purpose, but the manifestation of his own glory, has the great Disposer of nations placed under the control of the British government so great a portion of these regions, and also preserved to us that commercial intercourse with the great empire of China, which other nations have nearly lost? Surely the friends of Missions can be at no loss for a satisfactory reason for these arrangements of Divine Providence! An attentive view of this subject must necessarily present to our minds the most powerful motives to impart to those unnumbered myriads of our fellow-creatures, by every practicable means, that precious Gospel, which forms the glory, and we trust will prove the defence, of our native land, to the latest posterity.

The events that have transpired since our last annual solemnity, are of a mingled nature. While we have to lament the loss of a beloved Brother, removed from the scene of those interesting labours for which he was matured by his qualifications as to language and local experience, and to adore in silence that dispensation which our dark and limited minds cannot comprehend, we have to acknowledge with gratitude the goodness of our God, in carrying safely across the ocean several of our dear Brethren and sisters, who have reached the shores of India in health and safety*.

In the former event, we behold a devoted servant of Christ called from the work in which he delighted on earth, to the unmixed felicities and nobler services of the church triumphant. In the latter, we behold the prayer recommended to the disciples by Jesus himself answered, and "more labourers sent forth into the harvest." But, O with what emphasis are we compelled, with such a scene before us, to add-" The harvest truly is great, but the labourers ARE FEW !"

* The Brethren Gordon and Lee, with their families, sailed from Philadelphia in May, 1809, and arrived at Calcutta in September. The Brethren Pritchett, Brain, and Hands, sailed from the Cape of Good Hope, Dec. 7, 1809. (To be continued.)

DOMESTIC.

The Annual Report of the New-York Bible Society.

THE Managers of the New-York Bible Society, in obedience to an article of the Constitution under which they act, beg leave to lay before the Society an account of their transactions during the past year.

In performing this duty, for the first time, the Board have the satisfaction of presenting to the Society sufficient evidence of the utility of the Institution, and abundant encouragement to perseverance in the promotion of its important object--the distribution of Bibles among those who are destitute of that invaluable treasure. The funds placed at the disposal of the Managers, although ample evidence of the liberality of the friends of the Institution, and adequate to many useful purposes, do not warrant an expectation that the business of the Society has been conducted on a very extensive scale. All, however, that could be done, the Managers have endeavoured to perform.

This Association has no pretensions to a comparison with the British and Foreign Bible Society. That unrivalled Institution contemplates the universal diffusion of the Holy Scriptures, until there shall be no speech nor language where their voice is not heard; until their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world: and it has already remarkably succeeded in its advances toward that splendid object. The New-York Bible Society, content for the present to co-operate with similar Institutions in this and in other countries, as an auxiliary to the PARENT ASSOCIATION which set the example, and so liberally extended to others its patronage, directs its exertions more immediately to the supply of those wants which occur within the bounds of this State. These wants, however, are numerous. The Managers have discovered, by the inquiries which they have instituted, that great numbers in the City, and in the frontier settlements, are destitute of Bi bles. In some instances, this arises from choice, but generally it is to be attributed to poverty, or carelessness, or to both combined. These wants, as will hereafter appear more in detail, have been in part relieved by the distribution of nearly two thousand copies of the sacred volume. The Managers have not, however, confined the bounty of the Society within the limits of the State of New-York. They have cast it upon the ocean, by donations of Bibles to mariners. They have extended it to the western limits of this Continent, by sending Bibles to a settlement forming at the mouth of Columbia river-and to the East-Indies, by a donation of a thousand dollars, to aid in the translation of the Bible into the several languages of Asia.

The Board will now proceed to lay before the Society a more particular account of their transactions, under the following heads :-Procuring Bibles.-Distributing Bibles.-Correspondence.-State of the Funds.

Procuring Bibles.

Particular inquiries were made for the purpose of ascertaining, whether it would be eligible for the Society to purchase types; and considering the delay, expense, and uncertainty incident to any proceedings

for importing stereotype from Europe, the idea was entirely relinquished. Means were also employed to ascertain where the best and cheapest Bibles could be procured at home; and those printed by Messrs. Hudson, Goodwin, & Co. Hartford, were, on the whole, preferred. From them have been procured two thousand copies, and two thousand more have been ordered. All Bibles procured for the use of the Society, are stamped on the cover and upper edge of the leaves with the name of the New-York Bible Society, and deposited in the Book-store of Messrs. Williams & Whiting, who have generously offered, without any compensation, to take the trouble of delivering them as the Managers shall direct.

Distributing Bibles, within the City.

Each Manager is furnished with a certain number of printed orders, to be delivered to those who shall apply for a Bible or Bibles, and satisfy the Manager, to whom the application is made, that the applicant is a proper object of the Society's bounty. Every applicant receiving such order, signed by one of the Managers, may receive one or more Bibles, as the order may specify, at the place of deposit. Agreeably to this 760 Bibles: arrangement, there have been distributed about

A Committee appointed to ascertain what Bibles are I wanted by the poor in the Alms-house, Hospital, and Prisons, and under the care of the Widows' Society, and Orphan Asylum, and to supply these wants, have distributed among them

There have been distributed among the Africans, independently of orders given by individual directors, 40 Bibles, by order, to Messrs. Rice & Thompson; and 36, by order, to Mr. Brewster,

Making in all, distributed in the City, since the erection of the Bible Society,

In the Country.

96 do.

76 do.

932 Bibles.

A Standing Committee has also been appointed to ascertain what Bibles may be wanted throughout the country, and authorized to supply these wants. The Committee having opened a correspondence with several persons in different places, who take an interest in promoting the object of this Institution, have accordingly distributed 1009 Bibles, in manner following:

To Rev. Mr. Osgood, Missionary at Buffaloe, &c.

Rev. Mr. Chapman,

Rev. Messrs. Forrest and M'Aulay, Delaware,

Mr. John Caldwell, to be sent W. Newburgh,
Mr. Prince, Plattsburgh,

Mr. Thurston, W. Catskill,

Col. Tuttle, Montgomery County,

Elder Lahatt, Rensel. and Montg. Co.
Sent to a settlement on Columbia River,
Ship America,

Mr. Cumberland, 60 miles W. Cattskill,

250

100

50

25

24.

25

20

37

25

6

6

A correspondence has been opened between this Society and the several Bible Societies of Philadelphia, Connecticut, Merrimak, Beaufort, Charleston, Baltimore, New-Jersey, and Albany, with an offer of mutual co-operation and support.

From the Young Men's Bible Society of this City, a communication has been reeeived, covering one hundred dollars, with a request, that it should be transmitted to Bengal, accompanied with such donation as the Board might choose to make, to assist in translating the Bible into the Asiatic languages.

A letter has been accordingly addressed to the President and Secretary of that Society, informing them that the Managers had voted one thousand dollars to the object, which, together with the one hundred dollars received from them, should be transmitted to the Rev. Messrs, Garey & Co. with all possible speed.

A letter has also been addressed to Messrs. Carey & Co. which is to accompany the sum ordered for their use, in aid of the great work of translation in which they are engaged.

With the British and Foreign Bible Society, a correspondence has been commenced, and the Directors of that Institution, with their characteristic liberality, have granted to the New-York Bible Society, a donation of 100 pounds sterling, for which the thanks of the Managers have been returned.

Funds.

From the account of the Treasurer, which is annexed as a part of this Report*, it appears, that,

The total amount of subscription is,

Dolls. 5219 25

Of which there is still unpaid,

Leaving in the Treasury a balance of,

Of this sum there are appropriations, for Messrs. Carey

375 4844 25

1336 28 1-2

3507 96 1-2

& Co. Bengal,

For 2000 additional Bibles, ordered,

Which will reduce the funds to,

1207 95 1-2

To this sum are to be added, for the ensuing year, the annual

This Report is omitted, as the substance appears above.

On a review of the foregoing statement, the Managers cannot help congratulating the Society, on what, they think, may justly be styled an auspicious commencement of their labours. They cherish the hope, that what has already been done will be considered both as an encouragement and a pledge of greater exertions in future; and that the Christians of this wealthy metropolis, will proceed, with growing zeal, in the path on which they have entered, until there shall not be a family or an individual within their reach, destitute of a copy of the Word of Life.

Signed by order of the Managers,

SAMUEL MILLER,

ALEXANDER MLEOD,}

New-York, Nov. 26th, 1810.

Secretaries.

The Report of the Trustees to the Hampshire Missionary Society, at their annual meeting, holden at Northampton, August 30, A. D. 1810.

THE Members and friends of the Hampshire Missionary Society will unite on this anniversary with the Trustees, gratefully to notice the divine goodness towards this institution. The smiles of God from the beginning have attended our endeavours; they are continued. The Missionary cause prospers.

Six Missionaries were employed in the summer of 1809, One of them, Rev. David H. Williston, finished his mission of fourteen weeks, pre