which began to be circulated in last September, is nearly sold off, and a new stereotype edition has proceeded as far as the Acts. It is also in contemplation to print Luther's New Testament into rabbinical Hebrew. To the translation first mentioned, your Committee had previously vo. ted L. 300, and to this sum L. 200 have been added, making a total of L. 500 transmitted to the London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews." "The total sum contributed during the past year by Auxiliary Societies, is L. 1918:6:1 from sixtynine Societies; of which L. 1318, 12s. Id. have been received from those in the country, and L.599, 14s. from those in the city and suburbs." To the Report is added an Appendix, containing a mass of uncommonly interesting intelligence; extracts from which we shall take the earliest opportunity of laying before our readers. LADIES' BIBLE SOCIETIES. From the Monthly Extracts from the Correspondence of the British and Foreign Bible Society, we learn, that the Manchester, Ladies' Bible Society has already obtained 3696 Subscribers, and collected L. 469, 17s. 14d. The Duchess of Kent has, in the most handsome and con descending manner, accepted the of. fice of Patroness of that Institution. The Ladies of the Association, just established at Douglas, Isle of Man, have collected, in their first month, L. 34, 16s. 4d.; and a second Ladies' Association has been formed in that Island. | The consequences are traced in those habits of cleanliness, economy, sobriety, and decorum, which are progressively extending throughout the bulk of the population, in an increasing attention to the duties of religion, and in an evident extension of those great principles of moral order, which attach the lower classes of society to their superiors, and cement more firmly the whole mass of the community. The total amount, collected by the Southampton Ladies' Associa tion, from October 1816, to July 1818, is L. 680, 8s. 3d.; and the to tal number of Bibles and Testaments distributed, 1103. The Poole Ladies' Association has voted L. 100, on which no return is required. ) The Exeter Ladies' Association is under the patronage of the Duch. ess of Bedford, Countess Fortescue, Lady Ebrington, and many other distinguished individuals. The city is divided into 53 districts, to each of which collectors are appointed; and the result has already been suf ficient to prove the necessity for such a Society, and the beneficial effects which may be confidently anticipated from its operations. PROPOSED UNION OF SECEDERS IN A General Meeting of the Burgher and Antiburgher congreations of Leslie, was held on Monday evening, November 2. 1818, and was numerously attended. The business of the evening was preceded by solemn prayer after which the Presi dent, Mr William Robertson, stated the object of the meeting to be, "To consider the expedieney of an union between the different bodies of the secession, and the means to be adopt The following is the abstract of Total number of Collectors 456 The meeting, having unanimously resolved, that such an union was highly desirable, agreed upon an address strongly expressive of their sentiments, and appointed a Committee, to promote its circulation, and to watch and aid its effects. A similar meeting was held at East Linton, on the 12th of November, composed of members from the Antiburgher and constitutional congregations of Haddington, and the Burgher congregation of East Lin ton, To consider the best measures to be adopted, in order to bring these religious bodies into a state of Christian union and fellowship;" on which occasion several appropriate resolutions were unanimously pass ed, and signed for circulation by Mr William Gray, president. At Dundee, also, the elders of the two congregations met on the 30th of Sept. and formed themselves into a society to promote the same objects; after which each congregation assembled at its own meeting-house, on the 19th of October, when a num ber of resolutions, favourable to the accomplishment of the union, were passed. Meetings for the same important purpose, and at which similar measures to those we have mentioned were adopted, have been held at Lanark, Buckhaven, and Dubbieside; and we hope, in some future number, to be able to furnish our readers with one or two of the best addresses which have been published on these occasions. On the desirableness of the proposed union, there can be but one sentiment; but we are prompted by our fears as well as hopes to ask, how will it be accomplished? The oath in question suspends civil privileges on religious qualifications, and will never be taken-at least we hope it will never be taken-by the Antiburghers; consequently, an union between them and the Burgh. ers must depend, either upon the oath being disavowed by the latter party, or its being rescinded by an act of parliament. The other proposed union, to which we have alluded in the title to this article, will, perhaps, excite greater surprise than that we have described. An overture has been presented to THE GENERAL ASSOCIATE SYNOD of the secession, addressed to the various bodies of the Dis senters in England, for the purpose of opening a correspondence with them, in order to pave the way for a general union of the English and Scottish Dissenters, on a firm and scriptural basis. Its author, the Rev. A. Allen, of Cupar-Angus, intends presenting a second address to the different bodies of Dissenters in Scotland, inviting them to co-operate in the important project. We quote a short passage from the address to the English Dissenters, already published. "Both the profession and the practice of religion should be entire ly matter of choice, not of force. After all, from what we have seen and heard of your associations of late years, we do not apprehend there is any such material difference between you and us on this head, as some might be apt at first hand to sup. pose. We are no established church. We make no laws to bind the conscience; but merely as Christ's ser vants, to publish what laws he has given to bind it. We seek no civil sanctions to our decisions, for turning them into matter of civil law. The power which we assign to church courts, appears to us to be little more than what you yourselves commonly practise in your associa tions. But allowing there should be some small shades of difference between you and us on these heads, this can be no bar in the way of our friendly correspondence and intercourse together." 1 leave so many unfortunate fellowcreatures, without being able to be. stow upon them a single copy. In the town prison of Marienwerder, among other criminals, I found a young woman under sentence of death. At first, after her sentence was passed, President Von Wegner told me, she seemed to be in a dread. ful state of despair. At last, this good man sent her a Bible, which she most gladly accepted, and diligently perused. Its consolatory doctrines have restored some degree of tranquillity to her guilty and dis. turbed mind, and shed upon her soul a beam of hope beyond the scaffold, which awaits her. I found her, seemingly in deep penitence, with her Bible lying at her side, knitting cotton stockings. Her looks, and the few words which she with difficulty uttered, were full of contrition." CALCUTTA AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY. [From the Government Gazette.] The Seventh Anniversary of this truly Christian Institution was held at the Town-hall, on Saturday, February 21. 1818. The Report of the Committee's proceedings during the last year was read by Mr Udny, and excited a lively interest in the respectable company who were assembled for the occasion. It is indeed highly satisfactory. We will not enter into the detail of the Society's operations, as the Report, with its Appendix, will soon issue from the press. It shows progress that steady, efficient progress, which is at once most gratifying to the friends of the Institution, and honourable to the managers of its con all denominations and persuasions, and comprehending within its grasp people of all countries and languages. It is pleasing to witness its operations in these parts, where the light of Divine truth, is only beginning to penetrate, and where so very much is in all respects to be accomplished for the melioration of numerous classes of our fellow subjects in India. We would not omit one pleasing feature in the new Report. The public have already observed, in the Reports of former years, how each successive year has been marked by, the formation of some new Auxiliary. This is the first Report which announces the establishment of Bible Associations among the poor. Those who have attended to the Reports of the Parent Society, must have noticed what very essential aid has been afforded at home by the establishment of these Associations. Three such institutions are reported to have arisen during the last year; one at Bellary, and two at Madras. The example will be followed, we trust, in many other places. The combinations of the poor not only benefit the funds of the Society, but greatly extend the interest which is felt in its prosperity, and augment the energy with which it acts. It is desirable that the poor should be every where encouraged to give of their little. Union in the same sacred cause strengthens the charitable feeling; charity confirmed stimulates to increased activity; augmented activity in benevolence is productive of the richest blessings to "them. who give, and to them who take;" and thus the happy effects of Bible principles become more diffused. can only add, that we were grato observe, at the meeting of last Saturday, an unusual collection of the Scriptures, translated into different languages, placed on the table. In addition to those which were produced as specimens of the Oriental Versions, published by the Calcutta Society, we perceived a number of new versions recently printed at the that description. expense of the Russian Bible Socie | circumstances did not correspond to ty at St Petersburgh. These are honourable documents of that Society's labours, and shew with what extraordinary activity they are pursuing their grand object of distributing the Word of Life among the inhabitants of that extensive empire. The Rev. Dr Marshman having presented the Meeting with a copy of the Pentateuch complete, in the Chinese language, beautifully printed at the Serampore press, with moveable types; Resolved unanimously, that the cordial thanks of the Meeting be given to Dr Marshman, for his valuable and acceptable donation of the Penteteuch, translated by himself into the Chinese language. From W. B. Martin, Esq. late the Hon. I HAVE the pleasure to acquaint you, that the additional supply of Testaments was received at Am. boyna early in the month of March; and that, on the 24th of that month, they were distributed to the inhabitants of the island, of whom a considerable number had been assembled for this purpose in the church. This intention, however, I was afterwards compelled to relinquish, as I found it impossible to confine the distribution within the narrow limits which a rigorous adherence to it would have prescribed; for, so great was the eagerness pervading the community to reap the benefit of a liberality which they had not before experienced, and of which they could not soon expect to witness the recurrence, that, on the day appointed for the distribution, instead of the comparatively small and select number of individuals designated by the lists, the church was crowded by a multitude of people of both sexes, and of all ages, imploring, with an earnestness of supplication which could not be resisted, the unreserved communication to them all, of an advantage which all appreciated, and which all had been prepared and were qualified to enjoy. I could not, therefore, refuse to yield to their solicitations; and with the assistance of the Rev. Messrs Kam and Carey, the Deacons of the Church, and several of the native chiefs and school masters, whose knowledge of individuals rendered the exercise of some discrimination practicable, I distributed as many as could be, in their opinion, granted with propriety. With the exception of 150, reserved for the use of the schools, the rest were given in compliance with written applications, which furnished the means of ascer taining the character of those who made them. In order to prevent the Society's liberality from being abused to mercenary purposes, and to insure, as far as possible, the distribution of the Bibles to such only of the inhabitants as are qualified, by their knowledge and acquirements, to appreciate the value of this donation, I had caused lists to be prepared of the Burghers and inferior inhabitants, exhibiting the names of married in. From the Fifth Report of the Virginia dividuals belonging to each class, who were most distinguished for respectability of connexion and charac. ter, and whose solicitude to obtain possession of a copy of the Scriptures was, therefore, most likely to have proceeded from conscientious and religious motives; and I proposed to exclude from an immediate participation in the gift, all, whose Bible Society. THE Managers take pleasure in acknowledging a donation of fifty dollars from the Bible Society formed by the students at Hampden Sidney College. It is most gratifying to see young, men laying restraints on youthful indulgencies, and practising self-denial, for the purpose of sending the treasures of heavenly wisdom to the destitute and benight | ed, instead of expending the pecuniary allowances of indulgent parents in gratifications which enervate the understanding, and foster the bad passions of the heart. In proportion as a spirit of such exalted charity prevails among the youth of our country, we shall entertain good hopes concerning our Republic. their means and results, are calculated to excite common feelings in all who bear the Christian name; to soften and subdue the malignant passions of the heart, and bestow the blessings of civilization, and a pure religion, on all who dwell on earth. The Bible Society enables Christians of every different form of worship to unite in promoting true religion. It is but one Institution in Eu rope, Asia, Africa, and America. It is the same in Britain and Russia, in Bengal, and the United States of America. Surely we may well rejoice, when we see an Association The First Annual Report of the American Bible Society is well cal culated to gratify, in a high degree, all who take a deep interest in the prosperity of this great National In. stitution. The Managers acknowledge the receipt of nearly thirty-breathing the spirit of heaven itself, eight thousand dollars during the first year. In turning the attention from the goodly scene, exhibited in our coun try, to that presented abroad, much is perceived refreshing to the eye, and gladdening to the heart. The British and Foreign Bible Society goes on in its career of charity with unabated zeal. Its liberality and zeal demand the admiration and ap plause of the world. The Bible Society of Russia every year doubles its resources, and great. ly enlarges the sphere of its labours. The National Societies of Swe den, of Denmark, of Prussia, of the Netherlands, are prosperous and zealous. The four quarters of the world witness the liberality and zeal of Christians, employing their united efforts in promoting the highest interests of their fellow-creatures. And it is a scene of moral grandeur, which none can contemplate with out feelings of rapture and exulta tion. On glancing over the history of mankind, and especially survey. ing the events of the last twenty-five years, in which the highest energies of the human mind, and the utmost force of man's physical power, have been employed in the work of destruction, it is delightful to turn and behold so many Institutions spring ing up in all parts of the world, which, by the unity of their design, the benevolence of their purpose, and the salutary tendency of all VOL. VI. stretching its arms over seas and continents, holding in its embrace the most distant nations, and infusing into them its own charities. The time is not distant when the blessed effects of this book shall be felt from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean; when the lessons which it gives shall be learned, the hopes which it inspires be enjoyed, the consolations which it affords be received, by free men, spread through our vast regions, and making the western wilderness vocal with the praises of Him who was, and is, and is to come, the only true God, our Saviour. From the Governor of Cape Breton, to the Right Hon. Lord Teignmouth, dated May 20: 1818. + I sometime since acknowledged having received the bountiful supply of Gaelic, as well as English and French Bibles and Testaments, sent by the London Bible Society, under your Lordship's Presidency; and have the satisfaction to assure your Lordship that it has, with one class, fully answered my expectations of the use for which it was liberally be stowed. With respect to the great mass of our population, the Highlanders, they received the beneficence of the Society with the utmost gratitude. Persons have been hired, and sent from distances of eighty to one hundred miles, to entreat for the Sacred Volume; and K |