posal. In the year ending August 9, 1829, this Institution distributed 5653 copies. In the pious wishes of its excelcellent President, your Committee anticipate the ready concurrence of all the subscribers, when he says

May our Society, in distributing the Bible, never imagine that it has done enough merely in furnishing the Written Word: but may its members call to mind, that it is the duty of all who promote the circulation of the Bible to pray with increased ardour for true hunger and thirst after the Word of the Living God; and for the raising up of multitudes of Evangelists, who, with the Word of God in their hands, shall cry out-We pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled unto God! Should the Lord be pleased to favour His Church with such a visitation of His grace, a new field will be opened for the activity of Bible Societies.

Elberfeld Dr. Pinkerton was delighted with the increased activity of the Committee of the Berg Society: their issues had been 7000 copies. In the neighbouring States of Hesse-Cassel, a promising door of usefulness appeared to be opened.

Frankfort-Mr. Claus, the Society's Agent, has greatly commended himself to the Committee, by his devoted attention to the interests of the Society confided to him: he has, in a judicious manner, sought out new channels for the dissemination of the Sacred Volume, and kept his attention steadily fixed on such as he had before supplied. The Depot under his charge has been supplied with 8984 Bibles and 15,825 Testaments, and his total issues have amounted to 20,239 copies... With reference to one of his journeys Mr. Claus observes

On none of my tours have I had less reason to say any thing on the subject of the omission of the Apocrypha, than during my late journey into Nassau. The Clergy almost universally acknowledge the Canonical Scriptures as containing the sum of all wisdom, and are careless about the want of the Apocryphal Books: some, however, appeared to fear lest the people would not willingly receive Bibles without them, but I satisfied them by my own experience on that head.

In the same Letter he writes

The Bibles and Testaments sent to Waechtersbach were soon disposed of. The Rev. Mr. Calaminus of that place wrote, under date the 3d October-" The Bibles and Testaments transmitted to me have already been distributed. In the first two days after they arrived, nearly the whole of the Bibles were disposed of; aud I have witnessed several affecting and touching proofs of the anxious desire, which, in spite of all the unbelief that has, alas! spread so much among us, still exists here to possess the Word of God. I have met with children, who had hoarded up

a few kreutzers by degrees; and have joyfully brought them to me, in order to obtain the Book which they so much prized. Even Jews have pressingly applied to me for Bibles; and, accordingly, I have distributed several copies among them, for which they cheerfully contributed something. I was the more ready to do this, as a very peculiar spirit animates the Jews residing here: their children not only frequent the Schools of Christians, but even, at the request of their Parents, attend the religious instructions which I impart they read in our Old and New Testaments-learn passages and hymns by rote-and give me (as well as the Christian Children) an account of our and their doctrines of Faith."

From a person holding the situation of District Commissioner of Eisfeld, in the Duchy of Saxe Meiningen, Mr. Claus had received a painfully-interesting account of the impoverished state of the inhabitants of the Seventeen Villages of which the District is composed. The writer observes

There exists a deep religious feeling among the rude inhabitants of the forests: and it is desirable, as much as possible, to nourish the same in the present turbulent times; for what will become of man if he is here deficient! With a view of ascertaining their wants, I have called upon the Schoolmasters (for there are Fourteen Village Schools, containing 2500 children, under my inspection) to make a report; but several have declared, that, under the present impoverished circumstances of the fathers of families, it was utterly impossible for them to purchase the Bibles wanted out of their own means.

Halle-Professor Tholuck has requested a small depôt for the use of the

Students. Dr. Pinkerton writes:

He is much encouraged in his labours, as Professor of Divinity in Halle; a great change for the better having taken place since my visit two years ago: he has now about One Hundred Students attending his Lectures, of whom about thirty he considers decided in their attachment to right principles. He lately returned from Rome; where he spent about a year as Chaplain to the Embassy, and where he exerted himself in favour of the spread of the Scriptures.

At the Orphan House, I found that the Chancellor, Niemeyer, and the principal Director of the Canstein Press, Burgold, were both dead since my visit in 1827. The present Director expressed his willingness to supply us with Bibles without the Apocrypha. This is so far well; because, when the public see that even the Canstein Institution issues Bibles without the Apocrypha, it cannot fail to diminish, in some degree, the strong prejudice which still exists among the Lutherans to Bibles in this form.

Hamburgh-To Correspondents there have been forwarded 425 copies. The Hamburgh Society has now circulated 40,857 Bibles and 5774 Testaments.

Herrnhut-Of Bp. Fabricius, Dr. Pinkerton writes

His Issues, from January 1 to July 14, have been 2110 copies; making the amount of copies distributed since the year 1814, 11,314 Bibles and 38,202 New Testaments, of which the greater part have been either sold or sent into Bohemia. . . He has met with gratifying encouragement, in some instances, of the cessation of that strong feeling which existed for the Apocrypha.

Koenigsberg-The Society writes in the following gratifying strain

Several parishes have informed us, through the medium of their Ministers, that they are ready, without hesitation, to accept Bibles without the Apocrypha; it being their sole object to have their hunger after the Bread of Life appeased.

The Rev. Mr. Bergfield writes

...

Although the Apocryphal Books are not in your Bibles, I find no difficulty in circulating them; because the people can get them cheap, and the poverty in these parts is very great, especially in the country. You have no adequate idea how scarce the Word of God is in most parts of this country: in most families there is only an old tattered New Testament, which serves for all the children and children's children, when they go to the Minister for instruction, previous to Confirmation.

Leipsic Arrangements were made, by Dr. Pinkerton, with Mr. Tauchnitz the printer, for an edition of the Bohemian Bible, to consist of 5000 copies and 5000 extra New Testaments; and likewise for an edition of the Servian and Polish Testaments, the first to consist of 2000 and the second of 5000 copies.

Liegnitz-In the course of the year the Society circulated 1206 copies.

Lubeck-The Society has issued, in all, 4516 copies.

Minden-The Society has circulated, in all, 4838 copies, with 1278 Van Ess's Testaments. The President writes

Bibles without the Apocrypha gradually meet with more acceptance, and that too among the poorer and lower classes of the people.

Moettlingen-Pastor Barth, who had made a successful attempt with the circulation of your Society's Bibles, earnestly petitioned, through Dr. Pinkerton, for an additional supply, and received 200 Bibles and 300 Testaments.

Munich-Professors Schubert, Puchta, and Schnorr have undertaken to receive copies of the Scriptures for the sake of 1700 Catholic Students at the University, of whom upward of 600 are studying Theology; while many, from their great poverty, are destitute of the Scriptures. These Gentlemen have, likewise, most

kindly engaged to act as a Committee, for a person whose occasional services have been engaged to make short excurfor the distribution of the Scriptures sions, for the purpose of opening channels among Roman Catholics in this vicinity. A new edition of Gossner's Testament, consisting of 5000 copies, has been provided; and, from the journeys already accomplished, considerable demands have been made. Much affecting information has also been obtained of the want of the

Scriptures, and much has been the gratitude for copies most seasonably supplied. Nurenberg-From the Report, made up in November last, it appears that the Central Society had circulated, in the year, 4736 copies of Bibles and Testaments; and that, of the Bibles, 316 had been on account of your Society: during the five years of its establishment it has issued 18,179 copies: it has now 76 Associations. The Society gave to Dr. Pinkerton a very satisfactory account of the disposal of copies formerly received, and requested the following fresh supplies: 1000 German Testaments, 800 Bibles, 150 Hebrew Bibles, and 150 Greek Testaments.

Osnaburgh-The Society's Correspon. dent writes

The longer I am engaged in the circulation of the Scriptures, the more applicants do I find they even come to me with tears; and I only wish that I could give you an idea of the scenes which I daily witness.

Potsdam-The Society has, in all, distributed 7400 copies. Its Secretary, with a few more of its members, have expressed a willingness to receive your Society's Bibles.

Stettin-The Society, in the twelve years of its operations, has issued 13,141 copies.

Wuertemberg-The Society had circulated in the eleven months preceding Dr. Pinkerton's visit, 19,596 copies; being an increase of more than 2000 on the issues of the previous year: the total distributions, according to the last statement, amount to 203,019 copies.

Denmark.

From the Copenhagen Society no communication has been received. From the Fourteenth Report of the Sleswig Hol stein Society, it appears that it has circulated, since its establishment, 54,309 copies; and, including consignments to other Countries, 80,000. To Mr. Reicke, who has offered to act for your Society

Norway.

The Society's Correspondents at Christiana write

We resolved to print a Circular, for the purpose of privately calling upon a number of Ministers, with whom we are acquainted, in the Diocese of Aggerhuus, as well as other Christian Correspondents, to co-operate with us... The replies of these Clergymen (twenty-five in number) were encouraging. They received our Circular, as an invitation to cooperate in the work of the Lord, with joy and gratitude, and invoked the blessing of God on this benevolent arrangement of the Society.

The Danish Bible has been completed during the year; and 300 copies have been voted to Dr. Bugge, Bishop of

Drontheim. This individual has sent in a satisfactory account, with a remittance for a former grant of 500 Danish Testaments, and has received 1000 additional copies.

The little Society at Stavanger has circulated 790 Testaments; and has been furnished with 300 Bibles and 2000 Testaments, Danish. Mr. Lange has accounted for supplies entrusted to him; and 1000 Testaments, with 100 Bibles,

have been confided to him.

Sweden.

The Rev. Mr. Wählin, in transmitting the Report of the Swedish Bible Society, gives a gratifying account of the reception which the Swedish Bible printed by your Society has met with. He writes

His Excellency Count Rosenblad has, in a Letter to me, expressed his full and decided approbation of the late edition of the Swedish Scriptures; on account of their uncommon correctness, good paper, the beautiful types, and excellent ink. If these Bibles can be obtained at a moderate price, I have no doubt that they will be in great demand in Sweden and Finland; and may, in a short time, pave the road for a total exclusion of the Apocrypha in those Countries.

The arrival of supplies of the Swedish Scriptures has been most gratefully acknowledged by the Arosian, Carlscrona, and Wexio Societies. It was in these provinces, that such gratitude was felt by the poor inhabitants for the Bibles and Testaments sent to them, that they could not, in the time of war, view the English as their enemies; and petitioned, and obtained permission, not to use the War-prayer against the British Nation. (Owen's History : vol. ii. p. 322.)

From the Report of the Swedish Society, it appears that the total number of

by it, from its first establishment to the 11th of April 1829, is 106,687 whole Bibles, 177,100 New Testaments-in all, 283,787 copies; while its issues have been 273,518. This Society has put more copies of the Sacred Volume into circulation in Sweden, since its establishment, than were issued in that Country during the first three centuries after the

Reformation.

Russia.

Of the Russian Bible Society nothing has transpired during the year; but, from a Correspondent in St. Petersburgh, a been received, and your Committee have series of very interesting Letters has cheerfully attended to his urgent applications.... In settling his books to January 21st, the following statement appeared :

Brought into circulation, 8568 Bibles, Testaments, and Psalters, at a cost price of 18,361 rubles: 3000 Testaments out of this number were furnished by the British and Foreign Bible Society, at two separate grants; and many of the other New Testaments were purchased by the money arising from the sale, at low prices, of the books given by the Society.

A grant of 2000 Testaments was made in September; and, at the close of November, he sent information that they were all gone: 2000 Russ, 1000 German, and 1000 Finnish were then ordered for

his use. The lamentable want of the Finnish Testaments appears in the following passage in one of his Letters :

Last week two of my friends travelled into Finland, about as far as from London to Exeter and back again. They took with them 160 New Testaments, which they purchased of me at a reduced price; every copy of which they gave to poor families who could read, but who never possessed a copy of the Sacred Volume in their lives. They stopped at one place containing 1000 souls, yet only one New Testament could be found among them all! I make no comment; but my friends are preparing for another trip, and intend to penetrate still further into the abodes of ignorance and poverty: therefore I do earnestly entreat the Gentleman of your Committee to send me 1000 Finnish New-Testaments from Stockholm, by the first ships next spring.

Roman Catholics.

After having so frequently had occasion to notice the laborious and long-continued services of the Rev. Dr. Van Ess, the Committee particularly regret to announce to the Society at large, that circumstances have arisen which have eventually led to the dissolution of their connection with an individual whose active agency in the important department

assigned to him, of distributing the Holy Scriptures among Roman Catholics on the Continent, has eminently promoted the object of the Society... Your Committee indulge the hope that the circulation of the Scriptures, from the measures already adopted, and the arrangements which will be made on Dr. Pinkerton's next visit to the Continent, will not be materially impeded. There have been forwarded to the Depôt, during the year, 26,284 copies of Bibles and Testaments; and the total issues from it have been 22,689.

Your Committee proceed to give a few particulars of his distributions, and extracts from his correspondence.

- applies for 350 copies for his parishioners and school. There is a large House of Correction in the place where he lives, in which many convicts are confined. Here it is that the Word of God wholly supplies the place of Christ, who sat at table with pub`licans and sinners in order to bring them to salvation. It is also very gratifying to learn from this Clergyman, that the Testaments which he received on a former occasion have produced an abundant harvest in his Congregation, and have prepared a new and fruitful field.

requests to be supplied with 250 New Testaments for his schools. This valuable Correspondent has been recently transferred from his former living to his present place as Dean; and, in this latter capacity, has Seventeen Schools under his inspection.

writes: "It is now six years since I have been, under the peculiar guidance of the

Lord, appointed to superintend the Protestant Congregation here, which a short time before renounced the Roman-Catholic Faith; and...am, in this district, which comprises eight villages, surrounded by Catholics, and am frequently applied to by them for New Testaments, and in particular for whole Bibles: the number of those is very great who have not a copy of the Sacred Volume in their houses...I am not afraid of any offence being taken at the want of the Apocrypha; but I am rather of opinion, that, by judicious and Christian instruction, I may contribute to have it thrown aside."

-after receiving a consignment, lamented the indifference of his Congregation to the treasure; but he adds : "Nevertheless, after making my first rounds, for the purpose of informing the overseers of the districts of the treasure which I had received, and of inducing them, when they had to make collections for the poor, to note down such families as had no Bibles, and to refer to me; and after I had myself paid several visits among the peasants in the country, and among all the inhabitants of the suburbs-one father of a family, and one mother of a family, came after another; so that the consequence is, that I have already disposed of the whole of the 100 Bibles which I received from you. God be praised for this quick distribution of His Sept. 1830.

Holy Word! He has chiefly bestowed it upon the poor and the truly indigent. He has permitted me, and a friend who assisted me in the distribution, to witness many a convincing proof of heartfelt joy on the part of those who obtained the Holy Scriptures; and to receive a sum in payment which exceeded our expectations; while He has not suffered us to hear a single objection made against the omission of the Apocrypha."

-writes: "I have ascertained, that, through the exertions of my predecessor, the Sacred Scriptures have been circulated in almost all the houses belonging to my parishthat many take great delight in reading them -and that they find in them what, according to 2 Tim. ii. 16, they ought to find there." And again: "Although the Rev. Mr. K., according to one of his Letters, has circulated from this place 22,000 New Testaments, yet, as some copies become in time useless, and there is particularly a demand for them among the Younger Clergy, for their schools and for upgrown persons, I anticipate many applications being made to me.

Dr. Pinkerton writes

The exact number of Van Ess's Testaments

printed in this Office [that of Messrs. Von Seidel, of Sulzbach), up to the present time, is 508,130 copies. The good which has been done, and is doing every day, in the Families and Schools of the Catholics of Germany, through the reading of the Word of Truth, is not easily to be estimated.

Such opportunities as have offered for introducing the Scriptures into Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Austria, have been cheerfully improved; and if those oppor

tunities have not been more numerous, they have not been diminished during the past year. Natives of these Countries, visiting or residing in England, have, with much readiness, accepted copies of the Sacred Volume; and a distribution of considerable magnitude was made by the friends of the Society not long since at Plymouth and Falmouth. An edition of 5000 Bibles has been completed in the Italian Language.

Your Committee have been rejoiced to hear that the operations of the Corresponding Committee at Gibraltar, which had been suspended by the awful epidemic which raged in that place and swept have been resumed. An effort is making away some valued friends of the Society, to extend the circulation of the Sacred Volume; and the Secretary writes

Many of the Spaniards are very much disposed to receive the Scriptures; and although they are strictly watched by persons who are opposed to the spread of divine knowledge, yet there is abundant evidence that hundreds of them, who have been supplied from Gibraltar, regularly read the Bible themselves, and persuade others to purchase it. 3 F

RELIGIOUS-TRACT SOCIETIES, PROCEEDINGS OF THE RELIGIOUS-TRACT SOCIETIES OF LONDON & THE CONTINENT.

Ir appears from the Thirty-first Report of the Religious-Tract Society, that the Committee are greatly enlarging their assistance to the Continental Societies, and giving increased efficiency to Tract Distribution. We subjoin an abstract of the chief intelligence given in the Report.

Visit of Rev. R. W. Silthorp.

The Committee have long been anxious to extend their operations in Germany and the surrounding Nations; feeling it to be a work of great importance, to assist in circulating the pure truths of the Gospel in those parts. They have frequently corresponded with pious Ministers and Laymen, on the objects of the Institution; and, from time to time, grants have been made, to the full extent which your funds would justify. The Committee have had to regret a want of stability in the proceedings of several of the Continental Societies, and they

feared that local efforts were not sufficiently made: grants were applied for, and gratefully received; but when expended, all operations, in many cases, were at an end, until another grant arrived. It appeared to the Committee a positive duty to HELP their Brethren, but not to bear the whole heat and burden of the day: they thought that their assistance should GENERALLY be granted in proportion to the extent of local effort. In order that the wishes of the Committee might be realized, their respected Secretary, the Rev. R. W. Sibthorp, undertook, at his own expense, to visit many of the stations on the Continent, where Tract Operations have been carried on. They have reason to be thankful to their friend for his kind and efficient services, and the successful manner in which he endeavoured to promote their object.

Grants of Stereotype Plates to the Continent. Mr.Sibthorp proposed, on the part of the Society, to furnish various Institutions on the Continent with stereotype plates of Tracts, suitable for circulation in the respective neighbourhoods; and to defray the expense, in whole or in part, ac

cording to circumstances, of a certain number of copies. On this subject the Committee remark

The aid granted by their Secretary, being in Stereotype Plates of Tracts approved by your Committee, will prevent the diffusion of error by the funds of the Society, and will also be a great saving in expense. There will be more unity and greater local exertions in the Continental Societies, which the Committee trust will lead to beneficial results. It is clearly understood by all the Societies, that the original Stereotype Plates of Tracts paid for by your Institution will entire controul. remain its property, and subject to its

Assistance of this kind was offered and accepted in Alsace, and at Bâsle, Elberfeld, Bremen, Hamburgh, Leipsic, Berlin, Nurenberg, and Sleswig; particulars of which are given in the Report.

France.

The Report of the Paris Tract Society for 1829 shews the steady progress

of the Institution: its income amounted

to upward of 12,000 Francs, and its cir

culation to 303,150 Publications: the total number distributed is 1,225,190. Your Committee have circulated, during the year, 32,256 Tracts.

The Alsacian Society has been exceed

ingly active: during the year, more than 30,000 Tracts had been put into circulation. The Secretary, in reference to the stereotype plates of Twelve Hand Bills, presented by your Committee,

says

Sixteen Thousand Hand Bills were printed for the first trial: the reception which they met with was so encouraging, that, after only four weeks from the printing of the first editions, we printed another edition of Fortyeight Thousand Bills.

The First Report of the Society statesThe seed has been accompanied, in a good number of instances, by the quickening power of the Spirit of Christ. In town and in the country, and even in some solitary and sequestered places, persons have been led to real conversions by reading Tracts; without having, at the same time, the use of any other external Means of Grace. The great increase of attendance at Meetings for Religious Worship which has taken place, and the spirit of seriousness which has marked the worshippers, are ascribed, in a great measure, to the circulation of Religious Tracts.

Switzerland.

The Rev. C. F. Major, at Básle, has published a variety of useful Translations