Kentucky Bible Society. Thus the Board | tioned, the Committee recommend to the have now one duodecimo and two octavo Board to offer to the same Society the use of an octavo set also. Whether Lexington, which is the seat of the Kentucky Bible Society, is the best place which could have been selected for a printing establishment in that part of the state, is a question which the Committee are not called on to decide; but they believe that, with the exception of Pittsburgh, it possesses superior advantages to any town west of the mountains; and it may reasonably be doubted whether the Pittsburgh Bible Society possesses equal resources for printing Bibles, either on their own account, or on account of the board, with the Kentucky Bible Society; which, from present appearances, promises to become a great and useful institution. There are other places besides Lexington, at which plates might be conveniently located; but the value of the plates is so great, and the reputation and future success of the So

sets to dispose of. An important question here presents itself, which is, "Ought the octavo and duodecimo sets to be separated." The Committee believe that the Board acted wisely in procuring the large plates. The smallness of the Bibles hitherto distributed by our Bible Societies has been a subject of constant complaint; and it appears from reports of Bible Associations in England, that the poor, when they subscribe for Bibles, generally prefer those of a large type, although the price is proportionably high. Many of the poor read imperfectly, and find a large type far easier to read than a small one; while to many of the aged, the small type is entirely illegible. At the same time the small type is the cheapest, and answers for a large majority of readers. If we separate the sets, one district will be supplied with the small type only, and many of its inhabitants will feel the want of the impor-ciety will so materially depend on the prutant advantages enjoyed by the more fortunate district which possesses the Scriptures in a more legible form: at the same time, another district will have an edition large and handsome indeed, but too expensive for gratuitous distribution. If, to remedy this inconvenience, it be proposed to place the two sets at such a distance from each other, as that an exchange of Bibles may constantly take place, the question immediately presents itself, Why incur the expense of two printing establishments, and the risk and trouble of a constant interchange of Bibles, when one establishment could supply each district with Bibles of the size desired? If it be admitted that the plates ought to be sent only to such districts, as in the language of the Convention, "are now scantily supplied at a discouraging expense," and that the large and small plates ought not to be separated, then it only remains to fix on the places in which the plates ought to be located, and the conditions on which the Society ought to part with them. The Board have already promised the Kentucky Bible Society the use of a set of the duodecimo plates; and, for the reasons already men

dence with which these plates are distributed, and the wisdom with which the use of them may be regulated, that the Committee hesitate in recommending at present any new location. The Society is yet without experience, and possesses little local infor mation or acquaintance with the character and resources of its Auxiliaries. But little inconvenience can result from postponing the location of all the plates, except the two sets sent to Lexington, until the Board shall be put in possession of such information as may be necessary to make a judicious loca tion. At present we are ignorant of the terms on which paper can be procured and Bibles printed in different parts of the United States; and it is possible that we might send the plates to a Society which could procure Bibles from another state cheaper than it could print them."

(To be continued.)

Although so large a portion of this Number is devoted to Intelligence, still many articles are unavoidably excluded. We shall endeavour to provide for them in our next.

[When original articles of biography are rection of the learned and famous not at hand, we shall occasionally select Dr. Major, who was then theoloone for our pages. The following is gy professor at Glasgow." from a very interesting article in the Religious Monitor," entitled "Biographical Sketches of the Reformers in Scotland."-Ed.]

MR. JOHN SPOTTISWOOD.

The doctrines of Luther were now making progress, not only in England, but also in Scotland. They attracted the attention of Mr. Spottiswood, and he assented to them, in so far as he understood them. But he perceived MR. JOHN SPOTTISWOOD, one of how dangerous it was to profess the Reformers in Scotland, was them openly in his own country, born in 1509. He was the se- during the persecutions which cond son of William Spottiswood were carried on in the reign of of the shire of Berwick, who lost King James V. Being disgusted his life in the disastrous battle of with the cruelties which were Flodden, along with king James then exercised, and abhorring IV. and many other of his coun- the thoughts of appearing as a trymen, September 9, 1513; and of Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Hop-Pringle, of Torsonce, on the borders of Selkirkshire. He is said to have been left an orphan by the death of his father.

clergyman in a Church which was, in many respects, directly opposite to the religion of Christ, he withdrew himself privately into England, where the Reformation had already made a considerable progress, and where a greater degree of liberty, with regard to religion, was then allowed. He went thither, most probably about the year 1534, when he had entered into the twenty-third year

The persons to whose care young Mr. Spottiswood had been committed, sent him, when he had arrived at a proper age, to the university of Glasgow, where he made good proficiency in his education, and took his literary of his age. degrees. But as his mind was He now intended, it has been early impressed with a serious said, to follow some secular emsense of religion, he applied him-ployment; but the wise and soself chiefly to the study of divini-vereign Disposer of all events ty. Mr. Crawfurd says, that he had determined, that this sincere was for some time under the di- inquirer after truth should have VOL. II....No. 4.

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his mind farther enlightened, and ness. Notwithstanding the sevethat he should serve him in the rities of the late reign, the Progospel of his Son. Providence testants in Scotland were numeso ordered, that he was intro-rous and powerful, as a proof of duced to Archbishop Cranmer, which the cardinal, a short while who afterward in the reign of before the king's death, had prethe English Queen Mary, suffered sented to him a list of three hundeath as a martyr to his religion. dred and sixty principal nobleThis great and good man was men, barons, and gentlemen, much pleased with Mr. Spottis- whom he accused of heresy, and wood; he admitted him into his craved that he should be allowed familiarity, and fully instructed to prosecute them. and confirmed him in the Protes- Another circumstance which tant faith. afforded encouragement to Mr. Mr. Spottiswood was in Eng. Spottiswood and the Protestant land about eight or nine years, party was, that King Henry VIII. but the particular manner in immediately upon his hearing of which he was there employed, is the death of his nephew, the not sufficiently evident. It may Scottish king, entered very keenbe presumed, that if he had not ly into a design of effecting a received clerical orders before, marriage between the infant he now received them from the Queen of Scotland, and his son hands of the archbishop. It is Edward, who was afterward the probable that he resided chiefly pious King Edward VI. He used in the Archbishop's family as one various means to accomplish his of his chaplains, and assisted him purpose. He not only sent an in the various parts of public bu- ambassador to Scotland, to make siness, in which, from the nature proposals, but granted liberty to of his office he was necessarily the Scottish noblemen who had engaged. It must have been in been detained prisoners since the some such situation that he be- battle of Solway-moss, November came a person well known at the 24, 1542, to return home, upon court of England. their having given a promise of

But whatever his employments exerting their endeavours in his were, his affection was always behalf. As he chiefly confided strong towards his native coun- in the Protestant party, he also try; and the time at last arrived, sent divines from England, to when his desire could be proper- preach the doctrines of the ly gratified. Several encouraging Reformation, and recommended circumstances concurred; King some of these divines by special James V. had died, December 14, letters, to the Earl of Arran. In 1542, and his successor was a all these circumstances it may be daughter, only seven days old. supposed, that Cranmer heartily The Earl of Arran, a reputed approved of Mr. Spottiswood's Protestant, was made regent, or return to Scotland, and that King governor of the kingdom. Cardi- Henry was not ignorant of it. nal David Beaton, the head of But Mr. Spottiswood had found the Popish party, had been dis- among the Scottish prisoners at graced by the governor, and was London, one with whom he bea prisoner in the castle of Black-came intimately acquainted, and

who was always afterward his | tyranny, and abuses of the Roman steady friend and powerful pro-antichrist." tector. This was William, fourth In 1543, we find Mr. SpottisEarl of Glencairn, a zealous Pro-wood in Scotland, happy with his testant. It was most probably in Protestant friends, in the enjoythe company of this nobleman, ment of their religious freedom. and of the other released prison-But to gratify his friend, William, ers, who arrived at Edinburgh in Earl of Glencairn, he was induced the middle of January, 1543, that again to make a visit to England. Mr. Spottiswood again visited his The occasion was, Matthew, Earl native country. of Lennox, an accomplished young He chiefly resided, after his nobleman, and who was remarkreturn, in the house of the Earl able for his courtly manners, came of Glencairn, officiating, it may be home from France in the month presumed, in his clerical capa- of April. His views were of city; and he would not fail, on a very elevated nature. The every proper occasion, to speak French court had taught him to in favour of the match with Eng-expect, that he might be married land, on which the prosperity of to the Queen Dowager of Scotthe Protestant interest seemed so land, and made governor or regreatly to depend. gent of the kingdom. He thereScotland had never indeed be- fore, for some time, laboured to fore enjoyed such bright pros-promote that alliance with France, pects with regard to religion, as which the Papists had now in conduring the greatest part of the templation; but finding at last, year 1543. Preachers, especial- that both the Earl of Arran and İy from England, abounded, who the Cardinal were his enemies, openly declared the true princi-and that the French had deserted ples of the gospel. In the month and deceived him, he changed his of March, an act of parliament political conduct, and favoured was made and published, render- the match with England. ing it lawful for every person to Still, however, his ambition

read the Old and New Testa-aimed at what was reckoned a ments in the mother tongue. And high object. He sought to prothe treaty of marriage of the cure for himself in marriage the Queen of Scots with the Prince Lady Margaret Douglas, niece of of England, was ratified by act of parliament, August 25.

"Then," says Mr. Knox, "might have been seen, the Bible lying on almost every gentleman's table. The New-Testament was borne about in many men's hands. The knowledge of God did wonderfully increase, and he gave his Holy Spirit to simple men in great abundance. Then were set forth works in our own tongue, besides those which came from England, that did disclose the pride, the

King Henry VIII. She was the daughter of Margaret, Henry's sister, who after the death of her first husband, King James IV. married Archibald Douglas, commonly called the great Earl of Angus, and this young lady was the only child of that second marriage. Henry had taken care that his niece should be educated at the court of England, and she yet remained there.

The Earl of Lennox applied to her father, who was then in Scot

land, and it appears from the let-brother persuaded Mr. Spottisters of Sir Ralph Sadler, that the wood to accept of the ministerial Earl of Angus referred the matter charge of that parish; and had entirely to the determination of interest enough to procure that the English king. his acceptance of it should be al

But the Earl of Lennox was lowed, though his Protestant anxious to find proper persons to principles were pretty generally transact his affair at the court of known. He continued minister England; and William, Earl of of Calder till his death; and the Glencairn, recommended to him book of the baronage of Scotland Mr. Spottiswood, as one who says, that he took great pains in would be very useful to him in teaching his people the princithat country. ples of the Protestant faith.

Mr. Spottiswood accordingly In the winter of 1554, when went to England, it should seem, Mr. Knox was at Calder, Mr. in the beginning of the year 1544. Spottiswood, because of the situHe was successful in his mission. ation of public affairs at that time, The Earl of Lennox soon after could not invite him to preach in followed; and the marriage was the parish Church, but made no

solemnized in summer 1544. It may be remarked, that the eldest son of this marriage, in which Mr. Spottiswood was so greatly instrumental, was Henry Lord Darnly, the second husband of Mary Queen of Scots, and father of King James VI.

Mr. Spottiswood remained with the Earl of Lennox some months after the marriage, and then re

turned to his native country, with

a resolution never more to forsake it.

objection to, and it may be presumed, heartily approved of, his Calder-house, where the prior of preaching in the great hall of St. Andrews, and many other

noblemen, resorted to him. And

in the spring of 1555, Mr. Knox, being a second time at Calder, in cairn's house of Finlayston, again his way from the Earl of Glenpreached, and also dispensed the sacrament of our Lord's supper to great numbers of people, who convened there from the adjacent He now found another very valuable friend in Sir James Sandi-parts of the country, and from lands, Lord St. John, afterward Edinburgh. They came to enjoy the first Lord of Torphichen. He the privilege of receiving the was brother to Sir John Sandi-holy communion, in the manner which their consciences aplands the Knight of Calder. He proved. and his brother were men of an eminent religious character, and Douglas, in his book of the zealous promoters of the Reform-peerage of Scotland says, that the ation. Mr. Spottiswood was al- sacrament of our Lord's supper most constantly with them, and was celebrated in Scotland for with a young nobleman of great the first time in the Protestant hopes, the Lord James Stewart, form, in the great hall of the prior of St. Andrews.

At length, in the year 1547, when the parish of Calder became vacant, Sir James and his

house of Calder. But this evidently was a mistake, for it appears from Knox's History, that it had been before celebrated in