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AT the last Annual Meeting, the Members of the British and Foreign Bible Society were encouraged to indulge the pleasing hope, that the pacification of Europe, which then happily prevailed, would lead to a more extensive adoption of the principle of their Institution; and your Committee, in reporting their Proceedings during the eleventh year of its establishment, have the satisfaction to be able to state that this expectation has been amply verified.

The Bible Societies which have been instituted on the Continent, during the period in question, are equally numerous and important

Your Committee will first notice, in regular succession, those Societies, the formation of which was materially assisted by the presence, advice, and exertions of their zealous and active coadjutor, the Rev. Robert Pinkerton, during the course of his return to Russia, beginning with the Netherlands Bible Society, established at Amsterdam under the Presidency of His Excellency Mr. Roel, Minister of the Interior. Among other encouraging circumstances attending its formation, it is gratifying to remark that many Catholics subscribed themselves Members of it.

The example of Amsterdam was almost immediately followed by the inhabitants of Rotterdam, at which place a Bible Society was instituted on the 4th of July. Of this His Excellency Mr. Van Hoogstraaten, Member of the States General, is President.

The Grand Duchy of Berg Bible Society is the next in order. It was established at Elberfeld, which, with Barmen, is situated in Wupper Valley, equally famous in Germany for Vol. III.

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the extent of its manufactories, its diversity of religious denominations, and the pious character of its inhabitants. In the cause of the Bible they were all united. The sphere of operation of this Society includes a very large popu lation, of which a great proportion are Catholics.

It is affecting to add the information reported by Mr. Pinkerton on good authority, that many thousands of them never saw a Bible; and that among some, even the meaning of the word Bible was totally unknown.

"In Hanover, as in Petersburgh, I saw," says Mr. Pinkerton, "the Lutheran, Calvinistic, and Catholic Clergy, join hands to promote the good cause; and some of these persons assured me, after the Meeting, that though they had been teachers of the same religion in this city for many years, yet they had never had an opportunity of speaking to each other. Oh! what a blessed plan, which is capable of bringing together the long divided parts of the Christian church!

"When the chief Catholic Priest entered the room, he came straight to. me, grasped my hand in the most cordial manner, and with a countenance beaming with joy, said, 'I rejoice that I have an opportunity of uniting in such a glorious cause. I am decidedly of opinion that the Scriptures should be put into the hands of every class of men, and that even the poorest and the meanest should have it in their power to draw divine instruction from the Fountain Head.""

This worthy Clergyman accepted the office of a Director of the Society with great pleasure, and promised that he would labour to promote its object to the utmost of his power.

The Zeal of Mr. Pinkerton was no less favourably received at Berlin, where the Prussian Bible Society has been established under the Presidency of His Excellency Lieutenant General Von Dierecke, Tutor to the Crown Prince of Prussia. The Plan of the Society having been presented to his Prussian Majesty, he was graciously pleased to approve it, and to confirm its Laws; and as a further proof of the interest which his Majesty feels in its success, he has granted to the Society the freedom of the Letter-Post.

It may be proper to add in this place, that the Bible Society which had existed at Berlin since the year 1805, and with which your Committee had maintained a most pleasing and useful Correspondence, has now merged in the national Institution of the Prussian Bible Society.

From Berlin Mr. Pinkerton proceed ed to Dresden, where he had the happiness to witness the establishment of the Saxon Bible Society, under the Presidency of his Excellency Count Hohenthal, the Minister for Religion. For a most interesting account of the formation of this Institution, your Committee must refer to a letter from the Rev. Dr. Dæring, Chaplain of the Court of Saxony, regretting that the limits of their Report admit only the following selection from the conclusion of it:

"Thus the Saxon Bible Society was formed. Universal was the impression, and loud the gratitude expressed both towards the Parent Institution in London, and its worthy Member, Mr. Pinkerton. Tears of joy glittered in many an eye, and the name of the Lord was glorified. May he command his blessing on this holy union!"

Mr. Pinkerton, in passing through Warsaw, held also a preliminary meet ing in the palace of Prince Czartorisky, a nobleman of the first rank, talents, and respectability, for the purpose of forming a Polish Bible Society; at which meeting, certain regulations were proposed and adopted, subject to the approbation of His Majesty, the Emperor of Russia.

Of Poland, it is asserted, there is such a want of the Scriptures in that

country, that a copy of the Bible is scarcely to be obtained at any price. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the proposed Institution will be regularly formed, and that its exertions will be commensurate to the spiritual wants of the people, and bestow on them that blessing which they so greatly need.

Mr. Pinkerton, before he left Warsaw, made judicious arrangements for the distribution of 250 Polish Bibles, and 500 New Testaments, as well as of a number of German Testaments and Bibles, which had been consigned to his charge for that purpose by your Committee.

The Societies which have been enu. merated, were established in less than three months after the last Annual Meeting. Of all, it may be observed, that the proposal for their institution received a most ready and cheerful acquiescence; that at the Meetings convened for this purpose, the greatest joy and harmony prevailed; and finally, that from the rank, abilities, and respectability of the Presidents, VicePresidents, and Directors of these Associations, there is every reason to hope, that their example will have an extensive influence, and their exertions a most beneficial effect.

Your Committee, anxious to assist both the establishment and operations of these Societies, have made the following giants to them: viz.

1. s. d. Netherlands Bible Society, 500 0 0 Berg

Hanoverian Prussian Saxon.

ditto, 600 0 0

ditto,

500 0 0

and they have since granted 100%. to the Prussian Bible Society for its Auxiliary at Potsdam; and the like sum to the Saxon Bible Society for promoting an edition of the New Testament in the Wendish dialect, for the use of the poor Wendes or Vandals in Lusatia.

RUSSIAN DOMINIONS.

The course of their Report having conducted your Committee towards the Russian dominions, they will now

advert to the transactions of this Society, in connexion with the North of Europe, beginning with the Bible Society at St. Petersburgh, which has now assumed the title of "The Russian Bible Society." Of this Institution, formed under the immediate patronage of his Imperial Majesty, and superintended by a nobleman not less distinguished by his piety and abilities than by his high rank, it may be generally observed, that its proceedings are conducted with a zeal and energy which promise substantial benefits to the inhabitants of the widely extended Russian Empire. The great object to which its exertions are directed, is, to procure a large number of copies of the Holy Scriptures for distribution at the lowest rate; and for the accommodation of various classes, its Committee have ordered them to be printed in seven different languages, while the Committees of Auxiliary Societies, in connexion with the Parent Institution at St. Petersburgh, are printing them in several other dialects. The number of Bibles and Testaments now printing by the Russian Bible Society, is stated at 92,000 copies.

The Moscow Bible Society, which almost rivals that at St. Petersburgh in the number of Subscribers and Con. tributors, has undertaken the charge of an edition of 5000 Bibles, and the same number of Testaments, in the Slavonian language, for the use of the native Russians, and the printing of the New Testament is now nearly finished. In the course of 260 years, not more than 50,000 copies of the Slavonian Bible have been printed.

The Committee of the Auxiliary Society at Moscow have also cheerfully undertaken, at their own expense, the printing of 5000 copies of the Georgian New Testament.

The Russian Bible Society has voted a sum for assisting the Committee at Revel, in printing an edition of the Bible in the Revelian Esthonian dialect.

The Committee of the Bible Society at Dorpat have established a kind of Bible Associations in correspondence with it, one in every parish, under the direction of the Pastor.

The Committees of the Societies at Mittau and Riga are occupied in printing 14,000 Lettish New Testaments. To the four Bible Societies of Mittau, Riga, Dorpat, and Revel, 1000 copies of the German New Testament have been ordered from St. Petersburgh, by your Committee, at the expense of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

Your Committee have granted the sum of 2007. to the Russian Bible Society, in aid of its Auxiliary Society, formed at Arensburg, the capital of Oesel, for that and the neighbouring islands. The scarcity of the Scriptures is described to be so great in these parts, "that even some, who are teachers of others, are destitute of a Bible."

Among other works now in the course of execution by the Bible Society at St. Petersburgh, your Committee point out to the particular notice of the General Meeting, the printing of the Persian Translation of the New Testament, by the late revered and lamented Henry Martyn.

A copy of it was brought to St. Petersburgh by His Excellency Sir Gore Cusely, Bart. Ambassador Extraordinary from his Britannic Majesty to the Court of Persia, who has obligingly undertaken, during his continuance in Russia, to superintend the press.

Your Committee have had the satisfaction to assist the printing of this important work, by a grant of 300%. to the Russian Bible Society.

Various intelligence from the Crimea, received by the Committee of that Society, authorises the pleasing expectation, that the circulation of the Tartar New Testament, printed at Karass, with the aid of the British and Foreign Bible Society, will prove a blessing to the Mahommedans in that quarter, where also a Turkish edition of the Scriptures is much wanted. A Mufti, whose title designates his con⚫ nexion with the Mussulman priesthood, and to whoin a Tartar New Testament had been presented, ac cepted it with exultation, and with many expressions of gratitude; he has become an annual subscriber of fifty rubles to the Society at St. Petersburg,

and has signified an anxious wish to become a Member of it. He has also expressed a solicitude to obtain a copy of the Bible in his own language, the Turkish.

Your Committee are proceeding with a version of the Calmuc New Testament, the translator of which, residing at St. Petersburgh, the Bible Society in that city has kindly undertaken to print it, at the charge of the British and Foreign Bible Society. As this dialect is likely to be understood by other Mongolian tribes in Siberia, and the confines of China, they look to the beneficial effects of this work with pleasing anticipation.

The two following facts cannot fail to excite a deep and anxious interest: That the number of professed Christians in the three provinces abovementioned, exceeds half a million; and

That in the 2000 churches which they contain, there are not 200 copies of the Bible.

The Members of the Society will therefore learn, with no small satisfaction, that not only an edition of the Georgian New Testament is printing at Moscow, as beforementioned, but that the Archbishop most heartily agreed to promote the establishment of a Georgian Bible Society on his arrival at Tiflis, the capital.

Your Committee have further to report, under this head, that the first Annual Meeting of the Russian Bible Society was held at St. Petersburgh on the 20th of last September. Ön this solemn and interesting occasion, the first Dignitaries of the Greek, Catholic, Armenian, and Georgian churches attended, in their sacerdotal garments, united in amity and peace.

The proceedings of the day were conducted by the universally beloved and respected President, Prince Galit zin.

For particular details on this interesting subject, your Committee must refer to the Appendix. It is sufficient to state here, in the words of Mr. Pinkerton, "that the universal silence which prevailed while the Report of the Committee was reading, burst in mutual expressions of astonishment, gratitude, and joy, over the

gloriously simple principles and blessed effects of their beneficent Institution."

The immediate effect of this Meeting was the accession of three Metropolitans, five Archbishops, and two distinguished Laymen, to the list of Vice-Presidents to the Society.

The total number of Auxiliary Bible Societies connected with the Parent Society at St. Petersburgh, is now nine; two of which have lately been instituted at Woronesk, and Kaminesk, in the south of Russia, and others are in contemplation.

At a meeting of the Committee of the St. Petersburgh Society, subsequent to the General Meeting, the project for Bible Associations was considered, and unanimously approv ed; and each Vice-President and Director had his district assigned to him, in order to carry the plan into effect.

The Armenian Bible, in quarto, for the accommodation of the Armenian inhabitants in Russia, who have subscribed liberally to the Institution, is now printing; and a specimen of it has been received in this country.

Your Committee have agreed to assist this desirable undertaking, by a donation of 500. As a further proof of the interest which the Armenians take in the publication of the Scriptures, it is only necessary to mention, that they have subscribed for half the edition of the New Testa ment, consisting of 5000 copies, now printing.

Your Committee will conclude their Report respecting Russia, with the following quotation from a letter addressed to the Right Honourable the President, by His Excellency Prince Galitzin,

"The object of the Society is from day to day becoming more generally known and understood from its benefi cent effects; its funds are increasing by the subscriptions and donations of many thousands of new Members and Benefactors. Thus our Institution is enabled, as it advances, to extend the sphere of its operations, and through the increasing aid which it receives

from all classes of people in the Empire; among whom the Russian Clergy, by their own liberality and persussion of others, are peculiarly distinguished. The peasantry in the villages lay together their rubles and kopecs, to support the good cause of the Society; thus manifesting, that they have right ideas of its pious work. The demand for Bibles increases from day to day so much, that the Society knows not how to satisfy it. Such, my Lord, are evident marks of the grace of God, that bringeth salvation to all men, and leadeth them, therefore, to the knowledge of the word of life."

Such a description cannot be heard without suggesting the most heartfelt prayers to God, for his blessing on an Institution formed for supplying the spiritual wants of the almost innumerable subjects of the Russian Empire; and in consideration of the vast and extensive field of operation, and the energy with which the Russian Bible Society continues to prosecute its object, your Committee have voted a third donation of 1000/. in aid of the general fund of that Institution.

SWEDEN.

Your Committee, having closed their Report respecting Russia, have now to solicit the attention of the General Meeting, to the proceedings in Sweden, in reference to the object of this Society. Of the activity displayed by the Evangelical Society at Stockholm, no further, proof is necessary than that it has printed 40,600 Testaments, and 13,500 Bibles.

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Your Committee, anxious to assist these meritorious exertions, granted the sum of 300l. to this Society, to aid the printing of a pocket Swedish Tes tament, on standing types, which was much wanted; and a further sum of 2007. to enable the Society to extend the distribution of Bibles among the poor in Sweden.

The three Auxiliary Bible Societies of Gothenburg, Westeras, and Gothland, mentioned in the last Report, are no less actively employed in circu

lating the Holy Scriptures within their several departments.

The exertions of all have been assisted by donations from the British and Foreign Bible Society, in proportion to their respective spheres of operation.

Your Committee have now to report, with feelings of unfeigned regret, an event which cannot fail to excite a general correspondent sympathy, the death of the Rev. Dr. Brunnmark, in August of last year.

In concert with the Reverend Secretary of the Evangelical Society, at Stockholm, he formed the plan of a General Swedish Bible Society, which was afterwards submitted to the King, with a request that he would become its Patron; to which His Majesty was pleased to signify his gracious assent; and the Crown Prince, at the same time readily assented to be the first Honorary Member of the Society The sudden journey of the King towards the western frontiers of his kingdom, prevented His Majesty putting his sign Manual to it before he left Stockholm.

Your Committee have now the satisfaction to announce, on the authority of a letter from His Excellency Count Rosenblad, that the New Bible Society at Stockholm obtained the Royal confirmation on the 22d of February last. This venerable Nobleman is the President, and has already demonstrated the deep interest which he feels in the success of the Institution, by the mea sures which he has adopted for promoting the formation of Auxiliary Societies in Sweden, as well as for the establishment of a Bible Society in Norway. His Excellency's letter bears ample testimony both to the merits of Dr. Brunnmark and Mr. Paterson. Your Committee, upon receiving the Plan of the Constitution of the Swedish Bible Society, voted the sum of 500% in aid of its funds.

DENMARK.

The prospect in the neighbouring kingdom of Denmark is not less promising than in Sweden.

On the 224 May, 1814, a most