their Chemical Phenomena, and the Character of their Products, as determined by the Condition of the Earth during the Period of their Formation; being the Substance of some Lectures delivered before the University of Oxford, with much additional Matter. By Charles Daubeny, M.D., F.R.S. 8vo. 16s.

Researches into the Physical History of Mankind. By James Cowles Prichard, M. D. Second Edition. Two vols., 8vo. 21.

Remarks upon the Recent Accusa tions against the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society. In a Letter to a Clergyman in the country, from a Lay-Member of that Institu tion. 8vo. pp. 48. Is.

Critica Biblica; comprising Remarks, Illustrative, Critical, and Philological, on the Sacred Scriptures; the Outlines of a Scripture Encyclopædia, on a Phi, losophical Plan; Biblical Biography; Scripture Geography and Bibliography; a Scripture Almanack; Characteristic Notices of Biblical Works; Sacred Poetry; a Digest of the Principles of Biblical Translatio; and a variety of other Matter, adapted for the assistance

of Ministers and Students. Edited by William Carpenter. In 4 vols. 8vo. with Maps and Plates.

Elements of Logic; comprising the Substance of the Article in the Encyclopædia Metropolitana, with Additions. By Richard Whateley, D. D. Principal of St. Alban's Hall, and late Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford. 8vo. 12s.

A Popular Introduction to the Study of the Holy Scriptures, designed for the use of English readers. In Two Parts. Part I-Rules for Reading the Bible. Part II.—Helps toward a right understanding thereof; comprising Introductions to the several Books, a Summary of Biblical Antiquities, Geography, Natural History, &c. By William Carpenter, Editor of the Critica Biblica, the Scripture Magazine, Calendarium Palestine, &c. With Maps and Plates, pp. 656. 16s.

Miscellaneous Pieces on Various Religious Subjects. Written by the Rev. Andrew Fuller. Collected and arranged, with occasional Notes, by J, W. Morris. Intended as a Suppplment to his Memoirs of the Author. 8vo. 7s.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I BEG you to believe, that I feel very sincerely obliged to you for the kind manner in which you have accepted my services this day. I felt it my duty, not only from the respect justly due to the Gentlemen who addressed me, but from a hope, iu however small a degree, to do some service to the cause of God, not to decline the invitation I received to attend here. Drawing towards the close of life, I consider scenes like these, and opportunities similar to the present, as affording an employ, ment very congenial to my declining years. After having devoted a considerable portion of my life to the service of my country, and having occupied one of the most important public offices in the state, I feel it due to God humbly to endeavour to devote my remaining years to His glory; it was from Him that I received health and strength to discharge the duties of my former station; and, while any portion of that health and strength remains, I am bound to dedicate to His glory all the

powers I may still continue to possess through His mercy.

Before I take my leave of you, I feel myself called upon to say a few words respecting a subject which has already been brought under your notice. I mean, the divisions of opinion which have unfortunately arisen in our Society, and the accusations that have been made against it. In his very able and satisfactory statement, my houourable friend (the Rev. G. T. Noel) divided the questions at issue into four points: and I shall follow his arrangement, as embracing all that appears to be material on the subject. These were,

1st. The Apocryphal Question.

2d. The charge of having promoted or circulated, in certain cases, Erroneous Translations of the Scriptures.

3dly, The Character of Foreign Societies connected with ours: and,

4thly, The charge of Misapplication of the Funds of the Society, especially with regard to the Salaries allowed to the Secretaries and other Officers.

With respect to the Apocryphal Ques.

tion, as I consider that point finally settled by the Resolution of the General Meeting in May, I shall not add a word to what was said, excepting that the Committee, with the most anxious labour and indefatigable perseverance, endeavoured to go to the bottom of the question; and that the discussions which ensued, though often tedious and painful, were conducted with Christian charity and with mutual kindness and respect,-those who absolutely condemned the circulation of the Apocrypha in all cases, and those who contended for the propriety of admitting it to a certain extent and for certain purposes, giving each other credit for sincerity and good intentions towards the great object which the Society had in view; and only differing as to the interpretation of one of its fundamental Rules, and as to the most efficacious mode of distributing the Word of Life.

As respects the alleged inaccuracy of some of our Foreign Translations, I shall add only a few words to what has been said. It is not to be expected that the learned will be agreed as to the critical accuracy of any Translation: neither our own excellent Authorized Version, nor any other that I am acquainted with, has escaped abundant criticism. With respect to the New Versions published by the Society, they have been, in all cases, prepared by men who appeared most competent to the task, they have been carefully revised before they went to the press; and if any doubt was afterwards suggested of their correctness, it has been referred to the consideration of the ablest scholars in the respective languages which this or other countries could furnish,-and their opinion has decided the proceedings of the Committee. I know not what more prudent precautions could be taken, nor to what higher tribunal we could appeal.

Under this head of charge may be included the allegation of a breach of one of our fundamental Rules, by the publication of editions of the Scriptures with Notes or other additions. Nothing of this kind has ever been done by the Parent Society; unless it can be 30 called, that a few copies of one edition of the English Bible were issued with the Translators' Preface prefixed, as had been usual in the larger editions published by the authorized Printers :-this, however, was discontinued, as soon as discovered. But it is true, that in a very few instances, the Foreign Societies have been guilty of a breach of this Rule,

either from adherence to the customs of their countries, or from misapprehensions as to its extent and importance; and this has been done even in the case of editions printed partly at our expense:-but this practice has, in every instance, been repressed, as soon as it came to the knowledge of the Society, and as far as circumstances rendered it practicable.

With respect to the Foreign Societies, I must first observe, that much misapprehension prevails as to the nature of their constitution, and connexion with our Society. It appears to be thought that the Parent Society is in all cases answerable for the acts of those Societies, and even for the individual characters of their Members. Nothing can be more erroneous. They are distinct and independent bodies; formed, indeed, in most cases, at the instigation and by the assistance of our agents, and assisted by our funds in the great work which, in co-operation with us, they are carrying on; but regulated by their own laws: and their members are subjects of different governments and states, by some of which the formation of Associations and Societies is viewed with peculiar jealousy, and in which the same liberty of thought and action is not allowed, which, by the blessing of Providence, we enjoy in this country. Still less can we be answerable for the individual characters of their Members. Neither abroad nor at home is any test imposed upon those who may be willing to become Subscribers to the Society, nor can any scrutiny take place into their sentiments and conduct.

In the Foreign Societies are generally comprehended the most distinguished and important Members of the Church and State: and they have been formed under the immediate patronage of every Sovereign in Continental Europe, excepting those professing the Roman Catholic religion.

Among such bodies, difference in moral character, as well as in religious tenets, must be expected to prevail: but I can venture to assert, that the cause of the Gospel has been incredibly promoted by such a union of patronage; and that without it, the circulation of the Scriptures would, in inany cases, have been wholly suppressed, or confined within very narrow limits.

I will also assert, that our Agents have, to the best of their knowledge, endeavoured to associate themselves with the purest and most unexceptionable characters in the countries which they visited: and indeed it is only

reasonable to suppose that such would be the persons who would most warmly hail the formation of a Bible Society, and labour most ardently in its operations.

It is incredible, however, to what a height of absurdity the exaggerations and misrepresentations respecting the Foreign Societies have been carried. In an Edinburgh Paper,* which I hold in my hand, under the head "The British and Foreign Bible Society," is contained the following passage :

"In our last, we gave a short account of the article in the Christian Instructor on this subject, and alluded, also, to a pamphlet which has just been published by Mr. Haldane, whose views are still more comprehensive, and whose details are still more revolting. By this pamphlet it appears, that almost all the infidels in Europe are the chosen correspondents and ac. tive agents of the British Bible Society, and that the Word and Name of the Most High are made engines and weapons to further the basest political intrigues,-to fill the pockets of individuals, whose god is gain, and to fleece the poor of their earnings, in order to circulate the labour of Atheists, and to support, in ease and affluence, the profligate infidel and incorrigible hypocrite.'

The Editor states, as you observe, that almost all the infidels in Europe were in the pay of the British and Foreign Bible Society; that is to say, in other words, that all the infidels in Europe are actively employed in disseminating the Scriptures. He who can believe this, can believe any absurdity, however gross. Is it probable, is it conceivable, that infidels could be exerting themselves in promoting the circulation of the Gospel of Christ? O no! the infidels of Europe are too wise in their generation; the kingdom of Satan is not so divided against itself. The infidels of Europe do not sow the pure seed of the Gospel to produce the fruit of their own poisonous

tares.

It is wonderful that any men, still more that men of learning and understanding, should suffer themselves to be imposed upon by trash like this! But let us consider the injury it does. These Edinburgh statements, and such as these, are triumphantly copied, and commented upon, in the Roman Ca tholic Publications, of which have one in my hand.†And here they are

The Edinburgh Observer, Tuesday, July

25, 1826.

+Vide Catholic Miscellany.

in their place because the Pope has said that the Bible Society ought no longer to be suffered to exist. But let those who sanction them reflect on the evil they occasion; let them reflect, that they are making themselves the tools of Jesuitical artifices, and instruments of carrying into execution the Bull of the Pope for the suppression of the circulation of the Scriptures.

Let me now say a few words respecting the Misapplication of the Funds of the Society and, in the first place, with respect to the payment of the Secretaries. And for once I feel some consolation for the absence of all those Gentlemen, in the liberty which it gives me to speak with greater freedom of their situation and characters.

The first Secretaries of the Society were, the Rev. John Owen, a man whom it is impossible to mention without sentiments of admiration and regret; the Rev. Joseph Hughes, a Minister of the Baptist denomination, and perhaps the earliest proposer of the formation of such a Society; and, the Rev. Dr. Steinkopff, Minister of the German Lutheran Church, a' man whose primitive and simple piety, and overflowing benevolence, render him the delight of all who know him. These persons were chosen in accordance with the Rules of the Institution, that all Denominations of Christians should be invited to co-operate in the work, and that it should extend its operations abroad as well as at home. At the commencement of the Society, their labours were not considerable; but from year to year they increased in a most astonishing manner, till at last they called for nearly the whole of the time and talents of the Secretaries, and left them little opportunity of attending to any other pursuit. On Mr. Owen especially they fell with particular weight; and, in the ardour of his devotion to the cause, he sacrificed to it every prospect of professional promotion and beneficial employment, which talents like his might be expected to command. He sacrificed (as I have heard, and believe) an income of £1200 a-year to the cause of the Society, to say nothing of his prospects of rising in the Church and, during the whole of his life, refused to accept any salary from the Society.-What was the result? Having worn out a healthy constitution in its service, and dying in the prine of life, a victim to his labours, he would have left his family in not been rescued from distress by the a state of absolute penury, if they had kindness, and, I may say, the grati

tude of some of the more affluent Members of our Body! Could it be expected that another Secretary would undertake the service on such terms? Would it have been just or reasonable to permit him to do so? Surely not! It was accordingly decided by the Committee, and unanimously approved by a General Meeting, that a salary of £300 per annum should be given to the new Secretary, the Rev. Mr. Brandram; and that the other two Secretaries, who for nineteen years together had performed their laborious duties without any remuneration, should be requested to accept of the same sum,→ a sum, which I think no one will call too great, and which indeed must be considered an inadequate compensation for the talents required and the sacrifices occasioned by such a situation. With respect to the sums allowed to the Foreign Agents, (of whom, I know only four,) it could hardly be expected, that, in addition to the same sacrifices of time and labour and emolument which are required of those who occupy themselves in the cause of the Society at home, they should also expose themselves without remuneration to the inconveniences, and, in many cases, the hardships and dangers of foreign residences, and of continued banishment from their country, their families, and friends.

Every one, alive to the cause of the Bible Society, must be acquainted with the name of Dr. Pinkerton, a most important and efficient Agent of the Society, who has several times not only visited almost the whole continent of Europe, with no small danger to his life and injury to his health, but who has had the principal share in founding several of the most important Societies in Europe, and who, in particular, rendered material assistance in forming the Russian Bible Society, an Institution which has promoted the circulation of the Scriptures in above thirty languages spoken in that vast empire, and has printed above 500,000 copies of them in whole or in part. To Dr. Pinkerton the Society has allowed £400 per annum.

The next I shall mention is Mr. Leeves, a Clergyman of the Church of England, who resides, as the Society's Agent, at Constantinople, and has a most delicate, critical, and dangerous post; where he continues to promote the translation and circulation of the Word of Life in a country of the most absolute despotism. For such a service no one can say that £300 per annum is too large an allowance. His

situation requires the greatest discretion and prudence; and I have heard the British Ambassador, Lord Strang ford, express the highest opinion of his upright and amiable conduct. The like allowance of £300 per annum has been made to Mr. Barker, the brother of the British Consul, late at Aleppo, now at Alexandria; and who, in addition to the dangers of the plague and the other hazards attending a residence in that unhappy country, narrowly escaped being a victim to the terrible earthquake which desolated the city of Aleppo.

The only remaining Foreign Agent is Mr. Matthews, who has recently embarked for South-America: having engaged in the service of the Society for the term of three years, to conduct and promote the circulation of the Scriptures in that extensive and interesting part of the globe, at a salary of £200 per annum, together with necessary expenses.

Mr. Thomson, who, for the purpose of promoting the establishment of Schools and the distribution of the Scriptures, has twice traversed nearly the whole interior of South-America, has accepted a gratuity of £200, which was voted him for his services during three years, including the superintendence of a translation into the language of Peru, as well as a service of extreme labour and great personal hazard, in travelling through countries in an unsettled state of society and government, and among some of the wildest and most tremendous mountains in the world.

The Rev. Mr. Armstrong was sent out also as an Agent to the Society in South-America; but having, on his arrival at Buenos Ayres, been appointed Chaplain to the British Residents in that State, he will be enabled to render most important service to the Society, without any expense for salary.

I must mention one person more, who has been considered as an Agent to the Society, though he is not properly so, I mean the pious and venerable Leander Van Ess; a man to whom the knowledge of the Scriptures on the continent of Europe is, perhaps, more indebted, than to any other indivídual, excepting Luther only. To this man, by whose personal labours no less than 500,000 copies of the Scriptures have been distributed; £300 a year has for some time been allowed; which has always been considered as a part of the expenses incurred by the Society for circulating the Scriptures in Gerinany.