Livonia, including a population of 106,000 souls, not 200 New Testaments were to be found. The event of this journey was the regular establishment of four Bible Socie ties; viz. at Dorpat, Reva!, Mittau, and Riga, Mr. Paterson was greatly assisted in establishing these societies, by the personal influence and exertions of Count Lieven, and Baron Vietinghoff, two of the directors of the St. Petersburg Society; and the several institutions are patronised and con⚫ ducted by some of the first characters for station, learning, and piety, in the districts to which they belong.

The Rev. Mr. Pinkerton was in the mean time not less zealously employed in promoting, with similar aid, the formation of a Bible Society at Moscow.

This important event took place on the 4th of July, O.S. On that day, the Bishop of Dimitrieff, and Archbishop Vicarius of Moscow, Augustine, accompanied by five of the first clergy, together with a number of the most respectable nobility, met in the Hall of the College for Foreign Affairs, and unanimously formed the Auxiliary Bible Society of Moscow.

Connecting the formation of the Moscow Bible Society with the awful visitations which that ancient capital had so lately experienced, the Committee are at a loss to express their mingled emotions of astonish ment and gratitude. They can only exclaim, *It is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes!"

The distinguished services of Mr. Pinkerton are spoken of with merited commendation. To the above societies in Russia, must be added one recently formed at Yaraslaff.in the interior of the country, under the patronage of the bishop and other persons of distinction.

"The Committee of the St. Petersburg Bible Society, under whose direction the operations of these societies are conducted, have displayed throughout, and continue to display, an extraordinary degree of energy, liberality, and wisdom. Under their superintendance, the Moscow Bible Society has begun its labours most auspiciously, by opening a correspondence with the most respectable bishops, governors, and men of character, and by proceeding to distribute the Scriptures in the Sclavonian language for the benefit of the native Russians. The Dorpat, Reval, Mittau, and Riga Bible Societies, are proceeding to print the New Testament in the dialects of these respective countries: while, the St. Petersburg Committee are printing, at their own charge, the CHRIST, OBSERV. No. 151.

Bible in the Finnish, German, and French languages, and the New Testament in the Armenian and Polish. They have also resolved to appropriate a considerable part of their funds towards enabling the Holy Synod to furnish a supply of the Scriptures in the Sclavonian language, in proportion to the existing wants. And, finally, they have undertaken the charge of printing the New Testament in the Calmuc, at the expense of the British and Foreign Bible Society." The printing of the Armenian Testament has awakened great attention among the Ar menians, and a fervent desire to possess that invaluable treasure. They have subscribed liberally to the funds of the Society. Their archbishop, who resides at Astracan, has taken upon himself to revise the sheets as they leave the press; and there is good reason to hope, that the distribution of the Scriptures among that widely scattered people, will, under the blessing of God, he attended with the most beneficial effects. The Committee of the St. Petersburg Society have distributed to the prisoners of war the Scriptures in various languages, furnished by the British Society. They have also distributed English Bibles and Testa ments to the poor British; particularly to the sufferers in Moscow, and various parts of the interior, end to the British seamen at Cronstadt and other stations.

In the mean time, they have notified, through various parts of the empire, the plan of the Society: the result has been, the opening of numerous channels for the distribution of the holy Scriptures, and pledges of co-operation from persons of the first consideration, both lay and ecclesiastical; and among these last from Armenian, Russian, and Catholic prelates. A circular address of the Catholic bishop of Podolsk, contains the following passage:→→

"I will cheerfully devote my time and talents, as well as part of my income, (small as it is,) to the fartherance of an object, which by the assistance of God, cannot but prosper. With such views I address you, reverend brethren, pastors of our flocks; that ye, who are the first leaders of the people, the first who stand in need of these books, and, following the example of David, ought to meditate in the law of your God day and night, may likewise be the first to inscribe your names in the list of the Bible Society, the first to present their donations or annual subscriptions, each according to his ability and inclination."

To each of the Bible Societies established

at Dorpat, Reval, Mittau, and Riga, the 30

Committee have presented a donation of 3004; to the Bible Society at Moscow, 500%; and to the St. Petersburg Bible Society, a second denation of 1000l.

The Turkish, or rather Tartar, New Testa ment, which was printing by the Missionaries at Karass, and for which the British and Foreign Bible Society furnished the types, ink, and paper, is now finished, and preparing for distribution.

To the poor in Sweden, various copies of the Scriptures, to a considerable extent, have been forushed, through the Rev. Dr. Bronnmark. The 300 Swedish Bibles, and 600 Testaments, forwarded to Reval, and the 1000 German Testaments forwarded to Riga, at the Society's expense, have been distributed; the former among the poor Swedes, and the latter among the German inhabitants of Courland, Livonia, and Esthonia

**Grants have also been made, through various chanels, to the Catholics in different parts of Germany and Switzerland The sums allotted to this object amount to 800l.; -3001. of which were assigned to the Rev. Leander Van Ess, Catholic Professor of Divinity at Marbourg, in order to supply 8000. Testaments for the use of Catholic schools. This excellent man states, that the Testaments furnished by the Society had conduced to "the moral and religious improvement of the people," and to their consolation under the pressure of these eventful times."

The recent calamities of Germany drew the attention of the Committee to the spiritual wants of that empire, and they placed various sums of money at the disposal of individuals and committees, at Altona, Bremen, Berlin, Halle, Nurenberg, Leipsic, Dresden, and Herrnhut, in order to supply the poor exiles from Hamburg, and the sufferers by the war in Germany, with copies of the holy Scriptures: and these supplies have been most thankfully received.

The Committee close their statement of transactions in Europe, by reporting the formation of a Bible Society at Amsterdam; the objects of which are to ascertain and supply the want of the holy Scriptures in the Eng lish language among the indigent members of British churches in that country; and to promote the establishment of a National or Dutch Bible Society. Of this Society the Hereditary Prince of Orange is the Patron, the Earl of Clancarty President, and the Vice-Presidents and Directors consist of Englishmen and Dutchmen of the first respectability. The Committee have en

couraged it with a grant of 500 English Bibles, and 1000 English Testaments; and promised the sum of 500l. on the esta blishment of a National Bible Society for the United Netherlands.

2. ASIA.

The Corresponding Committee at Calcutta has a general object, viz. that of promoting translations of the Scriptores generally; the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society has, as its primary end, the limited object of supplying the native Christians of India. With this previous explanation, the Committee details the principal facts transmitted to them by the Rev. Mr. Thomason, the Secretary of both Institutions.

The Corresponding Committee have adopted measures, by which it is hoped that the revision of the Arabic New Testament and Pentateuch will be effectually accomplished.

Mr. Thomason has proposed to Meer Seid Ali, the Persian translator, employed at Shiraz by the late Rev. Henry Martyn, very liberal encouragement to induce him to come to Calcutta, and add a version of the Old Testament to the New, which had been finished at Shiraz, previously to the decease of Mr. Martyn. The Corresponding Committee have taken every precaution to secure the safe arrival of Mr. Martyn's ver sion of the New Testament, by directing quadruplicates to he made of it before its transmission from Shiraz.

In the mean time, the Hindostanee version of the New Testament, by the same excellent hand, assisted by Mirza Fitret, and which has been admired by all good judges of the language, is in progress. The four Gospels have been printed separately, to the number of 4000 copies each: the impression of the entire work is designed to be 2000. A large proportion of the Go spels has been in circulation for some time. As soon as St. Matthew's Gospel was struck off, the copies were distributed. They have been received with thankfulness, and read with avidity, in many parts of the country; chiefly through the activity of the Rev. Mr. Corrie, and his coadjutor, Abdool Massech, a convert from among the native Mussulmen, and a fruit of Mr. Martyn's ministry.

The Bible Depository, furnished with the Scriptures in all languages, is in full activity; every week parcels of boxes, filled with the Scriptures, are sent off to some part of the country,

With respect to the transactions of the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society, the native Portuguese have been largely provided

with New Testaments; and "the present has been always thankfully received, and in some cases with tears of joy;" 5000 copies of the Tamul New Testament, through the almost incredible industry of the Missionaries of Serampore, are ready tor distribution Two thou-and copies of the Cingalese Testament, designed as a present to the Bible Society in Ceylon, had been put to press. The imperfect state of the version, which is undergoing revision at Colombo, influenced the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society in printing so small an edition.

The Malayalim version is in progress; and, in the mean time, 500 copies of the Malayalim Gospels, printed at the expense of the British and Foreign Bible Society, have been put into a channel of distribution, and will prove a seasonable though small su ply for the Syrian Christians

Or the four classes of native Christians, therefore, with a special view to whom the Calcutta Society was originally tormed, a bountiful provision has been made for three." Every practical effort is making in behalf of the remaining class of Christians, who are in the mean time furnished with a small tem ́porary supply, which will be received by them with the most heartfelt joy."

The Society has also undertaken a large edition of the Armenian Scriptures, at the earnest request of Johannes Sarkies, a principal Armenian at Calcutta, who has himself come forward with 5000 rupees, as the united subscription of his countrymen to that work.

The Missionaries at Serampore had not advanced far in making types for this Armenian Bible, when a new call arrived from another quarter. The Resident at Amboyna sent the Society a memorial in behalf of the Amboynese Christians, accompanying his letter with a handsome subscription in aid of an edition of the holy Scriptures for their service. The Am boynese use the Malay Bible in the Roman character, and are computed (in Amboyna alone) to be about 20,000 The Committee of the Calcutta Bible Society felt the inportance of this call, and determined on applying to Government for pecuniary aid. The answer of the Government was lavourable. They announced their resolution to give 10,000 rupees in aid of the Malay Scriptures; and added, that having recently heard of a similar plan in progress at Ba tavia, they recommended to the Committee to open a correspondence with Batavia, and report the result to Government, who will then decide on the appropriation of the money.

To this intelligence is added the gratifying statement, that the Malayalim Scriptures have advanced to the end of St. Paul's Epistles; that the Cingalese New Testaments would be finished in a few weeks; that a large shipment of the three first Gospels had been made for the island of Ceglon; and, that ten presses were in constant use at Serampore, for printing the Scrip tures.-The Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society have, in addition to their former grants, instructed the Calcutta Corresponding Committee to draw for 1000

A society was established at Bombay on the 13th of June last, under the designation of "The Bombay Auxiliary Bible Society;" the objects of which are," to promote the circulation of the holy Scriptures; and especially to supply the demands of the native Christians on the western side of the Peninsula of India." This establishment has been effected under the direct patronage of the Recorder, the Members of Council, and some of the most respectable persons in the Presidency, and with the countenance and encouragement of his Excellency the Governor, Sir Evan Nepean, Bart., one of the Vice-Presidents of the Parent Society, who has contributed 1000 rupees in aid of its funds.

Mr. Morrison, at Canton, advances rapidly in his work of translating the Scriptures into the Chinese: the first edition of the Acts had been distributed; a corrected edition was in the press; and it was expected, that in the course of the last year the whole Testament would be printed. The Committee, understanding that a channel of conveyance was likely to be opened through Russia to the Chinese empire, lave ordered a supply of copies both from Canton and Serampore, to be forwarded to the St. Petersburg Bible Society.

3. AFRICA.

A society has been formed at the Cape of Good Hope, under the auspices of the Governor-General, Sir John Cradock, which unites the education of the poor with the distribution of the Scriptures; and in reference to the latter of these objects, the Com mittee of that newly-formed Society have opened a correspondence with the Pareut Institution.

The distribution of the Scriptures sent hence by the Society, in Cape Town and the Vicinity, appears to have been made with judgment and good effect.

Copies have also been gratefully receive

by the Military in Cape Town, particularly by the 93d regiment of Highlanders; who desired their thanks might be presented to the Committee, and insisted upon paying the cost prices of the Bibles and Testaments, to avoid putting the Society to expense.

On the 11th of November, 1812, was formed, under the sanction of his ExcelJency the Governor, at the Government House in Port Louis, Mauritius, "The Bible Society of the Islands of Mauritius Bourbon, and Dependencies." This Institution appears to have been established in a spirit, and upon a basis, which promise to render it a very useful Auxiliary to the British and Foreign Bible Society, in promoting the circulation of the Scriptures among the African Islands. In what degree the Scriptures may be supposed to have been wanted in the Mauritius itself, may be inferred from this, that many persons were living in the island, at the advanced age of sixty and seventy years, who never saw a Bible. The avidity with which the Bibles and Testaments are purchased, is said to be beyond all description; 100 copies were sold in one day, and twice as many snore could have been disposed of with the greatest facility. Daily messages of gratitude and thanks were received from the inhabitants, for the attention of the British and Foreign Bible Society to their eternal welfare, in supplying them with the means of Scriptural knowledge.

An Auxiliary Bible Society has also been instituted at St. Helena, of which Thomas Greentree, Esq. is the Treasurer, and the Rev. Samuel Jones, Chaplain to the colony, is Secretary. The first communication of this Society was accompanied with a contri"bution of 1601. sterling.

4. AMERICA.

The object of the Society continues to excite attention and liberality in the West India islands, particularly in Jamaica. Contributions have been received to the funds of the Society in the course of the last year from different parts of that island; among them 2831. 10s. 5d. from the corporation of Kingston, and 100%. from the Justices and Vestry of the parish of Westmoreland. To these should be added, the sum of 551. Ss. 6d. sterling, from a Society under the designation of "The Jamaica Auxiliary Bible Society of the People of Colour"

In North America, many new societies have been formed. Three of them, viz. “ The Nassau Hall, the Virginia, and the Rhode

Island Bible Societies,” have officially noti• fied their establishment to the Committee; who have, on their part, acknowledged the communication, and accompanied their letters of acknowledgment with a donation, in the first case of 501., and in the two latter of 100%. each.

The Louisiana Bible Society is another newly-formed Society, from which great 'good may be expected. Its operations will be among a free population of 100,000 souls (of which about 70,000 are Roman Catholics), and about 40,000 slaves. "The Catholic bishop in Louisiana, with the other principal Clergy of the Roman Catholic Church," expressed themselves "perfectly willing to have the Scriptures circulated, and even to aid in the good work themselves." The Committee have granted the sum of 100l., to be laid out in the purchase of French Bibles and Testaments from the Philadelphia Bible Society, for the use of the Bible Society of Louisiana.

With regard to the Bible Societies previously in existence, they appear to proceed with good success. The annual Reports of the Philadelphia and New York Societies, display the evidences of unabated ardour and progressive labours; and the accounts they furnish of the other sister institutions in the United States, are equally satisfac tory.

But if evidence were wanted of an interest taken by those Societies in the object of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and of the salutary influence which such a feeling is capable of producing, that evidence would be 'furnished by the generous conduct of the Massachussetts Bible Society, in their recent transmission of 1551. sterling, in order to replace a supply of Bibles, designed for the British Colonists in Nova Scotia, but which had been captured and sold by an American privateer, The Committee are anxious to record their admiration of this gratifying triumph of Christian principle; and, with their brethren of Massachussetts, express their hope, that the conduct to which it has led " will remind both nations, that we are fellow-Christians, followers of a Master, who has solemnly commauded us to love one another,"

The Committee further announce the formation of a Bible Society at Halifax, designated "The Nova Scotia Bible So ciety," under the patronage of his 'Excellency the Governor, Sir J. C. Sherbrook, and other characters of distinction. The fruit of the establishment of this new institution

has already appeared, in the transmission of 2001. sterling to the funds of the Parent Society. A Branch Society has been added at Liverpool, denominated "The Queen's County Auxiliary Bible Society," of which the Rev. John Payzant is the President; and its management is entrusted to respectable characters, both civil and military. Two other Auxiliary Societies, on a smaller scale, have announced their formation, and remitted contributions; one at Pictou, in Nova Scotia, and the other at Quebec. Collections have also been transmitted to the funds of the Society from Montreal.

Thanksgivings continue to be presented from the Christian Congregations under the care of the Moravian Brethren in Labrador. They represent the copies of the Scriptures which they have received in the Esquimauz language, as "an invaluable gift," and as having tended to promote a great eagerness to learn to read, both in children and adults.

5. GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. The Society's Contributors and Supporters have been greatly increased by the formation of Auxiliary Societies, Branch Societies, and Bible Associations. The Committee particularize the Oxford and Oxfordshire Auxiliary Bible Society, under the patronage of the Lord Lieutenant of the County, the Chancellor of the University, several heads of houses, nobles, and dignitaries, &c. as shedding a peculiar lustre on the tenth year of the Society's history.

Since the last annual meeting of the Society, there had been formed in England and Scotland about 40 Auxiliary Societies, with numerous Branches and Associations, all under patrons of high name and extensive influence.

The numerous institutions previously formed have continued to transmit large contributions to the funds of the Parent Society. The whole amount received from this source had amounted to the immense sum of near 53,5001. It will appear from this that the zeal of the Auxiliary Societies, in behalf of the general cause, continues undiminished; and, in various instances, their exertions have been considerably augmented. For much of that vigour which has characterised them, the Committee are authorized, by those Auxiliary Societies, to say, that they are indebted to the seasonable visits and zealous services of their Secretaries.

In Wales and Scotland, and also in Ireland, considerable exerions are stated to have been made during the last year; and

they have been attended with corresponding success. The Hibernian Bible Society in Dublin, has, within that period, increased its branches from 37 to 53, and issued 50),000 Bibles and Testaments: by its exertions, the Scriptures are now on sale in more than 100 towns in Ireland.

The distribution of the holy Scriptures from the Society's Depository in London, through various channels, has kept pace, during the last year, with the other exertions of the Society. The principal of these channels are the Auxiliary Societies. It would, however, be injustice to Bible Associations to overlook their services in promoting, and in many places without expense to the Society, the distribution of the holy Scriptures.

In estimating the value of Bible Associations, the Committee are at a loss to deter mine, whether more is derived to the funds and operations of the Parent Society, by this popular instrument, than is communi cated through the feelings which it excites, and the moral improvement to which it leads of the lower orders of the public. The Committee specify the Tindale-Ward and the Southwark Auxiliary Societies, as furnishing instances of organization so complete, activity so regular, and a system so productive, that they may be appealed to with propriety, as exhibiting an advantageous specimen, both of the principle and of the operations of Bible Associations.

The amount of copies of the Scriptures issued from the commencement of 1813, to March 31 of the present year, is 167,320 Bibles, 185,249 Testaments; making the total issued, from the commencement of the Institution, to that period; 390,323 Bibles, 595,002 Testaments; in all, 985,525 copies; exclusive of about 41,525 circulated at the charge of the Society from Depositories abroad: making a total of 1,026,850 copies, already circulated by the British and Foreign Bible Society. To this may be added 122,000 copies printed or printing by Societies on the Continent of Europe aided by the Parent Society.

The Committee could, with pleasure, expatiate on the feelings of joy and grati tude which have been displayed by an interesting class of the Society's objects, Foreign Prisoners of War, on receiving the Bibles from the hands of their enemies. The circumstances which have changed the condition of these captives, have afforded the Committee an opportunity which they have not neglected to improve. Numerous Prisoners of War bave been supplied with