pose of aiding translations and publications of the Scriptures in the various dialects of the East, arrived most opportunely in Bengal. It was intended to appropriate them to the expense of preparing and printing editions of the Gospel in Malayalim, Chinese, Persian, Hindostanee, Bengalee, Mahratta, and Sanscrit. Of these, some had issued from the press at Serampore; others are printing; and all are in a state of preparation. Works of such magnitude could not be undertaken without a very considerable expense. The committee therefore have resolved to appropriate, for three years, an annual sum of 1,000l. to this important object. The supply of 500 English Bibles, and 1000 English Testaments, sent to India, had proved most acceptable; as several of the chaplains in Bengal had expended large sums in providing Bibles and Testaments for the British soldiery, and other Europeans there. The committee have therefore renewed this grant.

It has been the object of the committee, not only to supply the want of the Scriptures, whenever it has been stated to exist, but to provide new editions whenever they could foresee the probability of their doing it to advantage, as far as a prudent management of the funds of the society would admit. Editions of the New Testament in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian, have therefore been published; and other editions in Dutch, Danish, and modern Greek, are now in the press.

Some remarkable instances were noticed in the Third and Fourth Reports, of the readiness of the Spaniards to receive copies of the New Testament. The accidental arrival of a Spanish frigate, during the course of last year, afforded a proof no less gratifying, of the same disposition. The earnestness with which the crew solicited copies, the joy expressed in receiving them, and their immediate perusal of them, proved the high value they set on the gift. Several of the officers, and about 300 of the men, were present; and the priest of the frigate himself accepted two copies for his own use, and recommended the perusal of them. The number of Spanish Testaments distributed to the prisoners of that nation, previous to their return to Spain, and most gratefully received, was 775.

As to the Italian New Testament, the committee are

assured it may be beneficially distributed in Malta, Sicily, and Italy, and 500 copies have already been sent to a respectable correspondent at Malta.

The object of printing Dutch and Danish New Testaments, was to supply the prisoners of war of these countries, and the Danish and Dutch colonies, now under our government. For the immediate supply of the Dutch prisoners, the committee purchased a number of Bibles and Testaments already printed.

The number of Portuguese in this country, and the facilities for communication with Portugal and the Portuguese colonies, have led to the printing of the New Testament in that language.

As to the New Testament in modern Greek, the prospect of an extensive circulation of it is very encouraging, particularly among the Greeks dispersed throughout the Turkish empire, and a large population of the same people at Smyrna, amounting to fifty or sixty thousand families, amongst whom scarcely a single copy of the New Testament was to be found. This work will have the correspondent original text in parallel columns.

Measures are taken for printing, in the north of Sweden, 5,000 copies of the New Testament in the Lapland language.

A considerable number of Bibles and Testaments, sent to the German colonies on the Wolga, were received with joy and gratitude. They were given, free of all expense, to those only among the poor who could read. A further supply of Bibles and Testaments has since been sent from Halle to the same quarter.

The types and paper presented by the society to the missionaries at Karass, for an edition of the Scriptures in Turkish, have reached the place of their destination, notwithstanding the war.

Besides this, a great many copies of the Scriptures have been sent for sale, or gratuitous distribution, to the East Indies, the Mediterranean, Quebec, Halifax, Prince Edward's Island, the West Indies, the Spanish Main, Gibraltar, the Cape of Good Hope, Madeira, and Stockholm.

The committee purchased a number of New Testaments for the refugees from Finland at Stockholm, which were received by them with "indescribable joy."

Since the last report, another large edition of the Welsh Testament has been printed. Bibles and New Testaments, in English, have been sent to the Isle of Man, for sale at reduced prices, for the accommodation of the poor; and have been given largely within the United Kingdom among prisoners of war, convicts, &c. The Naval and Military Bible Society, the Hibernian Bible Society, the Cork Bible Society, and the Wigan Bible Society, (the latter under the patronage of the Bishop of Chester,) have been largely supplied with Bibles at the cost prices. The London Female Penitentiary, and some schools, have received aid in this way. Individuals have been supplied with Bibles at the cost, or reduced prices, for charitable distribution. The accommodation of prisons, hospitals, and work-houses, has also engaged the attention of the committee, and has led to a correspondence with the sheriff's of the different counties, and the chaplains and gaolers of various prisons, who have paid a gratifying attention to the applications of the committee.

An Auxiliary Bible Society has been formed at Reading, under the patronage of the Bishop of Salisbury, and has been supported with a liberality and union which entitle its promoters to the respect and gratitude of the parent institution. A similar Auxiliary Institution has been formed at Nottingham.

The funds of the Society have been enlarged during the year, by the great increase of annual subscriptions, as well as by legacies and donations.-The congregations in the connexion of the late Rev. J. Wesley, have collected to the amount of 1,2781.-The sum of 1,000l. three per cent. consol. has been transferred to the society, by Mrs. Ann Scott, relict of the late Rev. Jonathan Scott, of Matlock. Upwards of 7001. have been received from the Presbytery of Glasgow, being a collection made through that Presbytery. The Reading Auxiliary Society has already raised a considerable sum. A Bible Society, instituted at Greenock, has presented a douation of fifty guineas. A fourth donation of 90 7, has been received from the Association in London for aiding the institution. A second contribution, amounting to 181. has been made by the teachers and children of the Holburn Sunday School, who have agreed to appropriate a smail

weekly donation in aid of the society. And various legacies have been bequeathed to the society in the course of the year. There is also a prospect of further additions to the funds by the active zeal of its friends in Scotland. The Presbytery of Glasgow have unanimously appointed an annual collection to be made at all the churches and chapels within their bounds. The Presbytery of Paisley have unanimously adopted a similar resolution. The committee nevertheless wish to guard against an impression, that the funds of the society are more than adequate to its exigencies.

The liberality of individuals has made a very valuable addition to the library of the society.

The committee conclude with expressing their confidence, that the liberal support, which has enabled the society to make such exertions, will still be continued. Every annual report has verified the prospects held out of the increasing utility of the institution. Its example still continues to stimulate zeal, and to excite emulation; and when the editions of the Scriptures now in the press, shall be completed, they will, directly or mediately, have produced or assisted in producing, editions of the Bible, either in whole or in part, in not less than twenty-six languages and dialects. The field for exertion is still ample; and the society will not consider it exhausted, while the inhabitants of any part of the globe are in

want of its assistance.

"The Gospel of Salvation," adds the Report, " was a free, unmerited boon to mankind; let us therefore rejoice, that, under Providence, we are become the honoured instruments of its dispersion. It must be most gratifying to the members of the society, to receive applications for its aid and support, dictated by a spirit of Christian confidence and unity, from their fellow-labourers in the same cause, dispersed through various parts of the world: but it is still more gratifying to possess the disposition to comply with them, and the means of indulging that disposition to the most liberal extent. Let us therefore hope, that neither will ever be wanting. Five years only have elapsed, since the British and Foreign Bible Society was established; and, during that period, the calamities of war, from which providence has mercifully protected Vol. III.-No. I.

H

our country, have been more or less felt in every kingdom of the continent. But these calamities, even when they have operated with the greatest pressure, have not been able to extinguish that zeal, which the society had either kindled, or promoted, for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures: insomuch that its institution has become a central point of union for individuals and societies animated with the same spirit, however variously circumstanced, or widely dispersed. Like a city set on a hill, it has become conspicuous; and the rays of light which have flowed from it, have been reflected with undiminished lustre. What success may attend its operations, for improving the religious and moral state of man- kind, cannot be ascertained. For surely it may be permitted to hope, that the blessing of God will not be wanting to an institution, which has for its single object, to promote his glory by the circulation of the Holy Scriptures; nor its endeavours in this line of duty be unattended with correspondent success. At present the members of the society may be allowed to enjoy the gratification of knowing, that it has been the instrument of communicating the words of eternal life to cottages and prisons, to kindred and aliens, to the poor and the afflicted in our own and foreign countries; and that, through its means, the people which sat in darkness have seen a great light, and to them which sat in the shadow of death, light is sprung up.

"Many tracts are yet unexplored; and it may be necessary to retrace some which have been already pursued: but, whatever the variety or extent of them may be, your committee have the fullest reliance, that the zeal of the friends of religion will supply means adequate to increasing exigencies. Nor can any inducement be wanting to those who remember the words of the Prophet, peculiar ly styled Evangelical: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth the good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion,-Thy God reigneth!'-Isaiah lii. 7."