any other language than what is consistent with the most scrupulous regard to truth. I might add that such a deviation, knowingly committed, would appear to me doubly reprehensible, in proportion as the object of the institution is of so sacred a nature, and so many obvious topics present themselves, in strict alliance with truth, on which to ground an appeal to public patronage and support. The part of the Rev. Mr. Boudier's speech to which I exclusively confined my comments, was, where that gentleman asserted, that however a considerable proportion of distinguished characters, and dignitaries of our Church might originally have given to the British and Foreign Bible Society, the sanction of their name and support, that sanction had for the most part been subsequently withdrawn. I have often had occasion to observe how unac quainted the opponents of the Society are with the existing state of its history and operations, and as often cherished the persuasion, that a candid examination of both must necessarily lead to a renunciation of the prejudices entertained against it. The assertion of Mr. Boudier was so opposed to fact, as to excite, I believe, general astonishment; and without wishing to impute to him any thing beyond an unintentional error, yet it was an error of such magnitude, and so calculated to prejudice the subject, that I availed myself of the first opportunity to correct so palpable a misrepresentation. In refutation of it I enumerated the distinguished names that are to be found on the list of the parent Society's vicepresidents, containing no less than eleven prelates; and in proof that this was not a mere nominal sanction, I further submitted to the meeting some recorded and well authenticated testimonies of their cordial and avowed approbation. Such is the real statement of the case. To this act of defence I solely restricted. myself; my object was simply to prove that the desertion so confidently asserted, was a gratuitous supposition, and in opposition to decided fact; but that the clergy of the Established Church generally supported the institution, I never maintained. It is not for me to undertake the vindication of others, who are so competent to plead for themselves; but I must confess, though I listened with the utmost degree of attention to the several principal addresses, I cannot recall to my memory the language attributed to Mr. Spooner. Mr. Dudley and myself saw no published account of the proceedings, but what was contained in the provincial paper, which abounded with many inaccuracies, and was altogether so loose and imperfect a delineation of what we delivered, that we both expressed our formal protest against it. With respect to the "Sketch of the Proceedings," I must beg not to be considered responsible for what I never saw, and did not revise. But I trust I may be allowed to add that I never wit. nessed a public meeting, where an avowed opponent (for so Mr, Boudier proclaimed himself to be), was treated with more decorum and respect; where his remarks were listened to with more patience; or answered with more forbearance; and every objection more candidly and dispassionately considered. In one of his arguments, as will appear by a reference to his speech, he strenuously urged, that there was no necessity for the proposed Society, because Warwick was adequately supplied with the Scriptures; whereas the specific object of the meeting was the establishment of a County Society; at the same time its applicability to Warwick itself, may be inferred from the following fact, that though Mr. Boudier assumed only 200 Bibles were wanted, in a population of 8000 souls, (a circumstance which I do not believe can be asserted with truth, of any town throughout the kingdom) it was officially stated at the public meeting, as the result of a survey, and that only a limited one, that 270 families were found to be wholly destitute of the sacred Scriptures. Without entering upon further topics, allow me to express an earnest hope, with a candour which I trust will neither be misinterpreted nor resented, that if the Bible Society is doomed to continue the fruitful source of controversy, it may be suffered, so far as that controversy may be admitted within the pages of a "Christian Remembrancer," to be conducted according to the rules of manly and legitiinate argument; and that no motives be attributed, or imputations cast, which the friends of the British and Foreign Bible Society can consider to be a violation of personal courtesy, or as militating against the still more sacred requirements of truth. I would respectfully allude to passages such as these, in the number for December last, as infringing upon this principle. "Among the former were the whole body of the Dissenters, and of the Churchmen who admire and resemble the Dissenters." P.743. "Was not the Bible Society instituted for the purpose of uniting them (the Dissenters) gradually to the Church." P. 749. Besides it may be fairly questioned whether the rapid strides of Socinianism be so ungenial to the sentiments of the Bible Society, as your correspondent seems to imagine." P. 724. The weapons of controversy are of themselves sufficiently keen and pointed; and when we add to them the accompaniments of passion or of unjust surmise, we resemble those tribes who are reported to have tinged with poison the extremity of their darts, that the breast, which might possibly escape the effects of the weapon itself, might REMEMBRANCER, No. 38. experience its projected destruction by the sure and more efficacious operation of the poison. T. S. GRIMSHAW. Burton Latimer, Jan, 19, 1822. To the Editor of the Remembrancer. SIR, HAVING understood that the Society for the Building and Enlarging of Churches, did not interfere in the management of any building to which they made a donation, it was not without surprize, that I learnt a prejudice existed in some parts of the kingdom against the Society upon this very ground. The complaint which I have heard made against the Society is this, that when the Committee of management voted a sum of money towards the erection of a Church, together with their money, they sent an architect, who took the whole management of the proposed building upon himself, and in some cases had involved the parties concerned in so much additional expence, that instead of being benefited, they were in fact injured by their application to the Society. an I have also heard dissatisfaction expressed, and an objection raised against a proceeding of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. The objection is founded on idea, that the funds of the Society are misapplied, in being made subservient to the circulation of improper books. Such, for instance, as Robinson Crusoe, and others, upon the Supplemental Catalogue, which do not seem to be immedi ately connected with religion. I must confess to you that I suspect both these reports to be the inventions of those who are labour. ing to raise prejudices against all genuine Church institutions; however this be, they are getting into extensive circulation, and ought to be authoritatively refuted; and M therefore if any of your correspondents, who are well acquainted with the proceedings of the above mentioned Societies, will have the goodness to state whether there is any real ground for them or not, he will confer an obligation upon many of your country readers, and particularly upon your humble servant, C. N. We are obliged to C. N. for asking these questions; and beg leave to return the following answers. The Society for Building and Enlarging Churches and Chapels, has not interfered, either directly or indirectly, in the appointment of any architect, builder, or surveyor; and its grants are laid out under the sole direction of the local authorities, at whose request they are voted. The Society for promoting Christian Knowledge has not expended one single farthing in the circulation of Robinson Crusoe, or of the other books of entertainment and instruction, to be found on its Supplemental Catalogue. The purchasers of such books pay for them at prime cost. The funds of the Society are exclusively devoted to the distribution of religious publi cations. To the Editor of the Remembrancer. Sir, KNOWING your readiness to admit any thing into your very useful Miscellany, that is of essential interest to the Clergy, I beg leave most ear. nestly to call your attention to the present operation of the act 57 Geo. III." For consolidating and amending the Laws relating to spiritual Persons," &c. Owing, Sir, to the very extraordinary changes which have taken place, particularly in the prices of all articles of agricultural produce, the Curates are in general better provided for, throughout the king dom, than those Incumbents who have received their preferment since the year 1813. I am myself a Rector, and was obliged to allow my Curate a stipend of £150 per annum, with the parsonage-house, and other advantages. I was induced, also, conscientiously to make to the Bishop a return of £1200 a year, as the gross value of my living; but, owing to the extreme distress of the farmers, the utmost that I could possibly collect, about a fortnight since, for tithes due at Michaelmas last, was £139 15s. 9d. and yet I am compelled to pay rates, taxes, &c. in addition to my Curate's salary. I am, indeed, truly thankful, that I possess other sources of income; but many of my reverend brethren, "who have laboured long in the vineyard, and borne the heat and burden of the day," will speedily be ruined, unless my Lords the Bishops, take this matter into immediate consideration, and do something effectual on the opening of Parliament. I wish not to excite any interest or compassion for certain individuals, who leave others, without any plea of necessity, to perform their sacred functions, while they themselves are spending the income of their respective livings in idleness and dissipation, or in wandering about from place to place. I wish to call the attention of the Legislature to the very severe case of the aged and infirm; of those, also, who have families to provide for, and who have obtained licences for non-residence, on account of chronic diseases, unhealthy situations, and other sufficient causes. My case, I wish you to understand, is by no means singular, with respect to the smallness of the sum collected for tithes. The Clergy, in general, it may be said, will not this year, receive one-eighth of the sums compounded for. A Rector in Kent, who is resident, and whose living was estimated at £1200 per annum, did not last year receive To the Editor of the Remembrancer. I HAVE no wish to discuss the Sir, As your valuable publication no doubt meets the eyes of some of the learned judges of the land, if you will give place to the following remarks in your next, you will much oblige your constant reader, Brila. When a sinner has perpetrated such crimes as have rendered his life a forfeit to the laws of his country, it is the custom of the Judge, after passing sentence of death upon him, strongly to exhort him to pass the few remaining hours of his life in prayer, and such other offices of religion, as may be most likely to make his peace with God. This is undoubtedly charitable and humane, and done with the best intention, but does it not tend to confirm the notion of the value and efficacy of a death-bed repentance? and that, not only in the mind of the unhappy criminal himself, but in the minds also of the numerous persons, of all ages and descriptions, who are usually collected together in a court of justice, and who, perhaps, are more likely to be affected by the short, but solemn, address and manner of the Judge, than by the best discourse delivered from the pulpit. merits of the Bible Society, but as it is impossible to judge of the propriety of its Committee's acts, unless they are stated correctly, I, as a friend and member of that Society, request your insertion of a few observations upon such versions of the Holy Scriptures as have been condemned as erroneous by some of your correspondents. A person who forms his opinion of their proceedings from Alpha's letter, must consider them either as purposely betraying their trust, or from ignorance incompetent to discharge their duty; neither conclusion, I feel confident, will be adopted by any candid person, who is really acquainted with the subject, whether he be friendly or hostile to the constitution of the Society. Its sole design is the circulation, to the greatest possible extent, of the Word of God; and it is well known, that it has pursued its object with unexampled zeal and activity, in every quarter of the globe. Consequently, in many languages, it has been under the necessity of adopting new translations, but in most Christian countries, approved versions have been in use before the Society's existence, and these it has printed verbatim, judging that if the version recommended was, upon the whole, a faithful copy of the original text, it would be inexpedient to sanction any private correction of it, though aware that the very best is capable of improvement. Thus, at home, it has pledged itself to distribute no other in the English language, than the version of our own Church; and abroad, it has printed for Roman Catholics, approved translations from the Vulgate,-in France, De Sacy's; in Italy, Martini's; and in Spain, that of Father Scio, who was the tutor of the present Sovereign. The Society's Protestant Spanish Testament is an exact reprint from that of Sebastian de la Enzina, published at Amsterdam, in 1708. It is said to be only the revision of a much earlier one by Cassiodore de Reyna, printed at Basil in 1569, described by some as following that of Erasmus, but by Father Simon as influenced by that of Geneva. The same critic speaks in more favourable terms than is usual with him, of the Italian Bible of Diodati, which, notwithstanding his residence there, and his connection with Beza, has been less affected by that Reformer's Latin Testament, than our own authorized version. text does, the doctrines of the Reformed Church. I learn from your note to my former communication, that I am mistaken in supposing that the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge had printed Ostervald's version. The reason of this I presume to be, because Martini's is used in Guernsey and Jersey, and not disapprobation of the translation, for Ostervald was much connected with the Society, and his Reflections upon the Bible, in two large volumes, which were originally published by the Society, are still upon its list. Of course, such a work will much more fully convey his sentiments than his Bible. I apprehend that upon enquiry, it would be found, that he was not a Calvinist, though a minister of the Reformed Church. Alpha describes the Icelanders as heart-broken by the alterations made in the version published by the Bible Society. This is a strong expression; but he does not state upon what authority the information rests, and he does not intimate that he has himself visited the island. Mr. Henderson, who went there for the purpose of distributing the Scriptures, uses very different language. He allows, indeed, that in the edition of 1807, a number of orthographical alterations were introduced, together with several new words and phrases, which appeared better to the corrector of the press, Justiciary Thorkelin, than those found in the former edition. Had Mr. Henderson stopt here, we might have drawn Alpha's conclusion; but he continues in the next sentence, There are two Bibles in use among the French Prostestants; in Paris that of Ostervald, and Martini's in the southern and western provinces. Your Caen correspondent is surprised at the Society's preference of the former, but it has in fact shown no partiality; for it has printed both. It probably is not known by him, that whatever variation there may be between them, neither is an independent" it must be allowed, at the same original work. The only Protestant translation is that of Olivetan, as early as 1535, which was used, and afterwards corrected by Calvin; it has been revised several times, and was modernized and altered both by Martin and Ostervald, in the last century; but I am not aware that either has strained any passage to favour, more than the original time, that the alterations are of no great importance, and would not have been mentioned here, had it not been that they are disapproved of by the generality of the Icelanders, who are, nevertheless, thankful for the gift, and peruse it with assiduity and profit." This observation applies to the first edition. In 1818, the Bible was printed |