last August, and in little more than two months after, an active member of it thus writes:

"Several applications have already been made for Bibles, and there appears to be a great desire in the vicinity of Montreal for the word of life; and we hope, by the blessing of God, that a bright day is beginning to dawn on this part of the globe."

From the Moravian Missionaries in Labrador, your Committee continue to receive the most pleasing accounts of the gratitude and delight with which the Scriptures are read by the Esquimaux Christians, at the three stations of Hopedale, Nain, and Okkak.

The following communication from the last of these places will be read with particular interest:

"To the venerable British and Foreign Bible Society, we beg to present the thanks of our Esquimaux congrega. tion, for that invaluable present made to them of a printed translation of the Epistles of the Apostles, in the Esquimaux language. Many exclaimed, 'Ah! we are not worthy that these benevolent men should think of us also, and do us so much good; that they should send us the precious Gospel in our own language.' These, and similar expressions of thanks were heard, while we distributed among them the copies of this work. Many tears of gratitude and joy flowed down their cheeks. We most cordially join them in thanks to that worthy Society for this repeated proof of their kindness toward this mission. Our schools are diligently attended; the benefit bestowed upon young and old, by teaching them to read the Scriptures, is great indeed. The children read them to their parents in their dwellings, where they daily prove a rich pasture to their souls, even when absent from us at their hunting and fishing places, and depriv ed of the usual means of instruction."

Domestic Operations.

In reporting the domestic operations of the Society, your Committee will

best discharge their duty by referring to the List of Contributions from Auxiliary Societies, and to the several Locat Reports.

It is pleasing to observe, that, notwithstanding the pressure of the times, on all classes of persons, those contributions have actually increased; and an addition has been made to the number of the Auxiliary establishments, by the formation of four new Auxiliary and two Branch Societies.

It is due also to that active and most useful Institution, the Merchant seamen's Auxiliary Bible Society, to state, that it prosecutes its duties in a very diligent and successful manner, and has paid, during the past year, 7501. for Bibles and Testaments purchased from your depository.

Of the Auxiliary Societies themselves, your Committee would remark, that in order to render them respectable, efficient, and productive, it will be of great importance that their Committees should hold frequent and regular meetings, watch over the distribution of the Monthly Extracts and Reports, lend their aid in the formation and direction of Bible Associations, and otherwise exert themselves to keep alive the spirit of attachment to the object of the Institution, and of anxiety to promote its success.

As the chief strength of the Auxiliary system is to be found in the Bible Associations; and the latter are now very greatly sustained by the co-operating efforts of female exertion, it will not be matter of surprise or of blame, that your Committee should point to Ladies' Bible Associations, as claiming particular attention, and entitled to be regarded as having, by their discreet and well-regulated zeal, deserved the commendation and the gratitude of all who wish well to the Parent Institution.

Scotland has co-operated, through the medium of her Bible Societies, with the Parent Institution; and the cause continues to draw forth the liberality of Christians in that northern division of the island. The Presbytery of Glas

gow also perseveres in its Annual Collection. In your last Report, the return on account of its tenth collection was stated to be 4651. 17s. 4d. After the Report was printed, an additional sum of 118. 15s. 3d. was received. This year the Presbytery has remitted on account of its eleventh collection, 5621. 15s. 5d.

In Ireland, the Hybernian Bible Society is advancing with a progressive increase of pecuniary support and active operation. The receipts of the last year (which exceeded those of the preceding by 2501.) amounted to 3,9331. 15s. 5d. the disbursements to 3,9041. 4s. 1d. The number of Bibles issued, was 8,055; of Testaments, 12,927: making a total of 20,982; and giving an excess of 1,700 over the number of copies of the Scriptures issued in the preceding year.

The Auxiliary Societies, Branch Societies, and Bible Associations, in connexion with the Hibernian Bible Society, or under its general patronage, are eighty-three: this is an increase of forty-three in the course of the past year, and has risen from either the reorganization of old Societies, or the formation of new ones.

The following is a summary of them as they exist in the four provinces of Ireland :

In the province of Leinster there are eleven Bible Institutions in direct connexion with the Parent Society. In connexion with these, there are twenty Branch Societies, or Bible Associations, making in all thirty-one Bible Institutions in Leinster.

Ulster has within its bounds eighteen Auxiliaries and Associations in direct connexion with the Parent Society; and these have sixteen Branches or Associations in connexion with them: making a total of thirty-four Bible Institutions in this province, besides five additional depositories opened for the sale of the Scriptures.

In the province of Connaught there are four Auxiliary Societies, one in

Sligo, two in Galway, and one in Roscommon; and a Bible Association.

In every county of Munster there exists one or more Societies or Associations in connexion with the Hibernian Society. Your Committee, in reflecting on the deficiency still subsisting in the organization of a Country which so peculiarly needs the offices of Bible Societies, cannot but unite with that of the Hibernian Bible Society in considering it as "calling loudly for renewed liberality, and more general co-operation from all who love the Bible, and who desire that the power of its doctrines may be felt in every heart, and that its law may universally become the standard of morals, and the rule of conduct."

Legacies have been left to the Society, in the course of the year, to the amount of 52551.

The following Works have been completed in the course of the year :

Copies.

tion of the Prussian Bible Soc. 5000 German Bible, large type 5000 Hebr. Old Test. printing at Halle, 2000 Ditto, ditto, printing in London, 1500 Modern Greek New Testament,

printing at Constantinople. 10,000 Ditto, Old ditto, translating at do. Transcription of the Turkish Bible into Greek characters, at ditto. Albanian translation of the New

Test. under revision, at ditto. Carshun New Testament, at Paris, 5000 Turkish Bible, 4to. at Paris. Malay Bible, 8vo. Arabic Charact. 5000 Ditto ditto, Roman Character,

5000

5000 4000 2000

itself with rigorous exactness to the dissemination of the Holy Scriptures, without note or comment, should have gained the suffrages and acquired the co-operation of the Christian Community, is what might beforehand have been reasonably expected; but that these suffrages should have been given with so ready a zeal, and this co-operation afforded with such persevering activity, is a result, on which, considering the divisions that have for so many ages existed among those "who profess and call themselves Christians," the conductors of the Institution could never have presumed to reckon it is a result which argues the predisposing influence of a power beyond that of human argument or persuasion: It is the Lord's doing; and it is, as it ought to be, marvellous in our eyes.

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And if, in the wide range which the operations of the Society are now taking, and amidst the peaceful triumphs with which they are so generally attended, some difficulties should have arisen which your Committee were not prepared to expect, and some counteractions have been experienced which they are more inclined to deplore than to describe, they see nothing in this hostility, whether open or covert, whether it proceed from Catholic or Protestant

quarters, which ought to lead the Mem

bers of the Society to suspect the soundness of its principles, or to diminish their confidence in its ultimate success. Whatever be the number, the influence, and the policy, of those who set themselves in array against the march of the Institution, they are-to use the lofty, but just and temperate language of the pious and learned Bishop of Zealand-"too feeble to cause the shipwreck, or even a retrograde movement, of an undertaking which every circumstance declares to be favoured by Providence, as a means of diffusing the light of Christianity, and that spiritual rule and hope which are the richest sources of happiness to mankind."

In tracing the course which the Institution has described, your Committee

observe, with grateful satisfaction, the increasing testimonies which it continues to elicit, in favour both of the Truth which the Holy Scriptures reveal, and of the Charity which they inculcate.

"In the work of the Bible Society," says Prince Galitzin, “all labour, from a deep conviction of the Divine origin of the Bible, of the substantial spiritual advantages which it affords, and of its indispensable necessity to the knowledge of salvation." "The Bible," exclaims his Excellency the President of the United Netherlands' Bible Society," the Bible-the light of history, the guiding star of philosophy, the parent of every improvement, the nurse of virtue and morality, and the most effectual restraint of evil; the Biblethe purest source of hope and consolation in affliction, and the immoveable support of immortal man when looking forward into eternity-the Bible is the Divine centre of our union, the foundation of our work; and its distribution, in every place and to every individual, the genuine and sublime object of all our operations." And the late President of the Ministry in the Cabinet of France speaks of the Bible itself as "the code of the sublimest religion and the purest morality; and its dissemination, as an end toward the attainment of which all Christian Communions ought equally to direct their steps."

That the minds of individuals of such high distinction should thus move in accordance with the views of your Institution; that in the expression of their convictions in behalf of its principles and its object, the Greek, the Protestant, and the Catholic, should have manifested but one feeling, and have spoken substantially but one language-is a consideration in which your Committee do rejoice, yea, moreover, and they will rejoice. They regard it as denoting the fitness of that instrument which Providence has put into their hands, for exalting the character and extending the influence of Christianity: and while, with the pious and enlightened Land

grave Charles of Hesse, they behold, with sacred joy, the tendency of the Institution to cause "the sincere inquirers after truth to unite in one point, to meet as brethren in Christ their centre"-with the same distinguished Prince, they devoutly pray "that the Lord would hasten this desired consummation, by uniting in Himself all the various sects and denominations; that faith and love may absorb every inferior object; that there may be but one fold and one Shepherd; and that He may see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied in the establishment and prosperity of His kingdom to all generations!"

In the prosecution of an undertaking, which has hitherto been attended with such signal encouragement, and on the accomplishment of which such glowing expectations are suspended, your Committee would suggest, as of vital importance, the most undeviating observance of the regulations of the Society through the whole extent of the system, and the most unrelaxing exertions to recruit its funds and to provide for the complete attainment of its object.

To the simplicity of its design, and the conscientious fidelity with which that design has been pursued, the Institution is, under Divine Providence, indebted for silencing hostility, conciliating prejudice, and generating attachment and confidence both at home and abroad and it must be by a perseverance in the same line of conduct, that it shall continue to maintain its present high and unimpeachable character, diminish the number and the opposition of its enemies, and strengthen itself by fresh accessions of friends and adherents in every quarter of the world.

Large as are its funds and vast as has been its expenditure, the demands upon its generosity, and even its justice, very greatly exceed all the means which have been, or which still are, at its disposal. To maintain in its Depository an adequate stock of Bibles and Testaments in various languages, for such uses as cannot be provided for by the

Foreign Bible Societies; to employ a number of agents, more or less dependent upon the Society's funds, to carry into execution its purposes in countries where, without such accredited instruments, the work must languish or remain wholly unperformed: to furnish the entire means of translating and printing the Scriptures in some cases, to bestow liberal grants in others, and to minister aid, as it may be needed, toward their circulation in all-require pecuniary resources, which can be supplied only from the united contributions of the rich and the poor; each giving, according to the measure of their temporal ability, toward the communication of spiritual benefit to men of every name and nation under the whole heaven.

To economize the resources consigned to their disposal, your Committee have regarded as an important branch of their general administration; and, in pursuit of this end, they have, among other things, been particularly attentive to interpose a check wherever they deemed it necessary, on the practice of gratuitous distribution, and even of an excessive reduction of price. In doing so, they have found themselves greatly sustained, and they feel persuaded that they shall be still further sustained, by the concurrent approbation and efforts of their Auxiliaries and Associates both at home and abroad. On this subject they would cite two authorities; from each of which it will appear how faithfully the interest of the Society has been consulted, yet how necessary it is to sacrifice, in some cases, its pecuniary interest to its benevolent object :

"At the desire of your Committee," writes Leander Van Ess, "I have considerably lessened the gratuitous distribution of bound copies: hence it arises, that the number distributed is comparatively small. I exhort all my correspondents to pay the amount of binding, which indeed is sometimes done; but, in consequence of this condition, a Voice, I may more correctly say, a Cry, of vehement desire and hunger for

Testaments, gratuitously bound, was raised by those unable to pay for them. Thus, at the very period when I refused bound Testaments gratis, the call for them has become more importunate and incessant on every side."

"In August last," says the Secretary of the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society, "fearing lest even the Sacred Scriptures might, by a profuse and inconsiderate distribution, be unprofitably con sumed, I thought it expedient to warn our zealous labourer, Mr. Bowley, of the danger there was of throwing away our precious stores, and coming to an end of our editions before the time. His answer is striking and satisfactory -Permit me to beg of you to picture yourself in the midst of an annual Hindoo Fair, as I was the other day at Mirzapore, surrounded by, on a moderate calculation, 40,000 people; pent up, literally, so closely as to be unable to move, by reason of the pressure of those Heathens, soliciting for the Words of Eternal Life, which were TRANSLATED, PRINTED, AND SENT TO YOU PURPOSELY FOR DISTRIBUTION AMONG THEM-Could you, Reverend Sir, permit me to ask, in such circumstances, have refused those who could read, (of which you had previously satisfied yourself,) and were importunate with you for them?" "

Considering these as but specimens of the difficulties, to which distributors must be inevitably reduced under the influence of unqualified restraints, your Committee find it necessary to allow a discretionary relaxation of a rule, the expediency of which, in the majority of cases, is universally admitted; and, in doing so, they naturally lay the funds of the Society open to almost indefinite demands.

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They are not, however, in the slightest degree inclined to anticipate a deficiency of means for the accomplishment of a work, so pure in principle and so beneficent in tendency; and, in the performance of which, they are authorized, scarcely more by promise than by experience, to calculate on the blessing of God and the progressive co-operation