defray the expense of Compositors and other expenses incident to printing; and the Committee therefore hope you will have the goodness to forward the 300 reams of paper, and ink, requested by the Rev. Messrs. Fyvie, at your earliest convenience.

I am also instructed by the Committee to request that you will have the goodness to send out to our Society, in the way of gift, 50 Minion Bibles 12mo. and 50 Pocket Bibles, as we have various demands for English Scriptures, which we are unable to meet; and our own resources are, and always will be, entirely expended in our efforts to circulate the Scriptures in the Languages of India. In this department, every succeeding year brings larger demands with it than the former; and we never can hope more than partially to satisfy the unceasing avidity with which the Natives solicit copies or portions of the Scriptures. May God, in mercy, grant that the time may be near at hand, that the benefit of the seed thus sown may appear in a plenteous harvest, to the glory of Jesus Christ, their Saviour and our Saviour, their God and ours!

From the Fourteenth Report of the American Bible Society.

(Concluded, from p. 403 of No. 158.)

In Tennessee, much has been accomplished the past year toward supplying the State; yet much remains to be done. Some new Societies have been formed in the newly-settled part of the State, and two Agents are now engaged in forming others.

In Alabama, two counties have been supplied; and a Convention of Delegates has been called for the purpose of taking measures for the entire supply of the State in course of the ensuing year.

In Mississippi, one county is supplied; and explorations have been made in three or four others. It is the design of your Board to send an Agent to that State, as early in the autumn as practicable.

In Louisiana, an attempt has been made to supply the State: much has been accomplished toward it the past winter. One Agent has been employed in New Orleans and its immediate vicinity, and two others in the interior of the State.

In Indiana and Illinois State, Societies have been formed; and your Board have in each State one Agent. Much remains yet to be done; yet a spirit prevails among the friends of the Cause there, which affords much hope as to the completing of the supply in the coming year.

In Missouri, one county has been supplied, and investigations are going on in three others. Agents have been earnestly solicited for that State; and it is hoped that one or two will be sent there the coming year, and that others will be procured on the ground.

In Michigan Territory, one county has been supplied; and an Agent is to be sent, the coming summer, to assist in supplying others.

In Arkansas Territory, three Auxiliaries have been formed; and to these have been made donations of Bibles, with the hope that they will be promptly distributed.

To East Florida, a quantity of Bibles, in English and in Spanish, have been forwarded; a part of which are to be conveyed to the interior; and all of which responsible individuals have agreed to see put in immediate circulation.

In this cursory survey of the different States and Territories, it is obvious, that while few parts of the Country have completed the supply

of their respective destitute families, almost every part has commenced this supply. It is evident, also, that much more has been done in the way of exploring Biblical wants than in supplying them. All this is what was to be expected during the first of the two years contemplated for the general supply. Much preparatory work has been performed. The coming year is to be the year for making distributions.

A large stock of books has been prepared, and the facilities for printing and binding greatly enlarged. Fourteen Agents are now in the field, under the direction of the Parent Society; and many more under the direction of Auxiliaries. The work of supplying all the destitute families in the United States with the Bible within two years from May last, is still practicable, if the friends of the Institution will all co-operate in this work. Yes, with prompt and energetic effort on the part of all, the requisite means can be raised, the requisite books can be prepared, and they can be distributed.

But your Board hope it will be seen and felt, that without this effort, both on the part of the old States and the new, this cannot be done. If many of those Societies which have purchased books on credit do not pay for them within a few months, the work cannot be done. If those Societies which have pledged donations do not, in some good measure at least, redeem these pledges, the work cannot be done. If those counties which are yet to be supplied do not enter on this supply at once, the work cannot be done. The great danger, as to a failure in this enterprise, is from the "thief of time," procrastination. Conquer this enemy, and the work is done every family has its Bible by May 1831.

In closing this Report, the Managers say, that it has been a year which the Lord has delighted to bless with the riches of His word. Of the 238,000 books distributed by your Society the past year, an unusual quantity have been among the destitute. Oh, how many a family in our own States and Territories, since your last assemblage, has been furnished with the Sacred Volume! How many, who were accustomed to disregard the ordinances of Heaven, have, by the combined agency of the Bible and those who dispensed it, been led to the doors of the sanctuary, and become hearers of the word! How many youth and children, who were growing up in ignorance of Revelation, have been found in these visits of mercy, and guided to the Sabbath School! How many a vessel in our harbours, and on our lakes and rivers-how many a fort, and hospital, and prison-has attracted the feet of those who bore in their arms the record of God's love and pardon to perishing men!

And, when looking abroad over Europe, and along the coasts of Asia, Africa, and the islands of the sea, the rays of Revelation are seen penetrating, in greater or less degree, almost every portion of the human family. Not only Protestants, but Romanists, Greeks, Jews, Mahomedans, and Pagans, are, with increasing numbers, receiving the word of God, and inquiring for themselves as to the momentous truths which it contains.

Every motive which can be presented, from the past success of Bible Societies, and from the opening prospects of success in future-every thing desirable in a knowledge of the Creator and Judge of the Worldevery thing valuable to the souls of a ruined race, urges the friends of the Bible to persevere in their labours, until the ends of the Earth shall see the salvation of our God.

PRINTED BY R. WATTS, CROWN COURT, TEMPLE BAR, LONDON.

MONTHLY EXTRACTS

FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

From Mr. William Acworth.

Oswestry, Oct. 29, 1830. I HAVE at length completed my engagements, undertaken at the desire of the Committee, in the Principality of Wales; which have occupied me every day, except the one I spent at Chester, for the last three months. Having travelled nearly 2000 miles since I left the metropolis, and seen every town of Wales with the exception of one or two, I feel justified in stating, that the interest felt in the principles and proceedings of the British and Foreign Bible Society is not only undiminished, but increasing among all classes of the population. The greatest disadvantage with which we have had to contend, has been the difficulty of obtaining places sufficiently spacious to contain the persons anxious to attend the Public Meetings; and, in many instances, the pressure of the crowds, who have sought admission into them, has been so fearful, as to endanger the safety of those who had already entered. Though not disposed to admit that the families of any one District of the 13 Counties which I have visited are adequately supplied; yet, after having attended nearly 100 Public Meetings, and listened to the Reports then read, I feel justified in assuring the Parent Committee that 250,000 copies of the Holy Scriptures have not been sent from our Depository, into the Principality, in vain. Though sensible that our obligation to circulate the Holy Scriptures does not arise from the certain hope of that divine blessing which may be expected to accompany them, yet the feelings of that individual are truly not to be envied who can contemplate unmoved the efforts made by those, who, having themselves received the light and comfort which the Scriptures are adapted to impart, exhibit the most ardent desire to communicate the sacred boon to others. And, in this town, it has been my happiness to discover a most intense solicitude for the distribution of the Holy Scriptures. In the once-renowned, but now almost depopulated town of Caerleon, I believe there is not more than one or two families of either wealth or influence, and yet every family in the parish subscribes something to their Branch Society; and, by their united efforts, the sum of 70%. was last year remitted to the Parent Institution. And in the Valley of Aberdare-where I expected, two years ago, when I attended the first Meeting, which was held to form an Association, that little could be done-I was delighted to learn, that the names of more than 800 Subscribers have been enrolled on the lists of the Collectors, and above 2261. collected, to promote the objects of the Society. I may say, that the general effect of one of the longest tours, that has, perhaps, ever been taken in behalf of the Bible Society in this Country, has been to deepen my conviction, that Local Bible Associations are entitled to the patronage and support of every friend of virtue and religion, and every true lover of his species.

If any part of this communication should find its way into our Monthly Extracts, I should wish therein to be recorded the sentiments of gratitude with which I cherish the recollection of the hospitality and kindness which the Servant of the British and Foreign Bible Society has experienced from the friends of the Institution, of every Deno

mination.

From the Seventeenth Report of the Westminster Auxiliary Society.

ONE of the earliest Free Subscribers to the St. Clement Dane's Association lately died. He was an aged black man, supposed to be ninety years old, and by trade a shoe-black. He was first known to us by his name being set down, at our Annual Meeting, for a free subscription of one shilling a-week. This was considered too much to receive from a person in his circumstances; and a Member of the Committee visited him, to converse on the subject. It was found he could not read, and was paying one shilling a-week for a person to read to him: the Bible, with a few other religious works, formed his library. This poor man conceived, in the charity of his heart, that all who were asked to give or lend were bound to do so; and he reduced this truly benevolent maxim to habitual practice; for he would bring to his miserable home his more miserable fellow-countrymen, and give them bed and board free of expense. Such hospitality is not less praiseworthy that it occurred in a sphere so humble and obscure! Before he became convinced of the value of his soul, he used to pursue his calling on the Sabbath; but when his views were changed on divine things, the Sabbath was preserved inviolate, at the risk of losing his employment. A Member of the Committee visited the black circle assembled at the funeral of this poor African; and the fervent devotion of one of them, who led the company in their address at the Throne of Grace, was truly affecting.

One Lady in another District, engaged in collecting, relates the following anecdote, as showing the benefit of Bible Ascociations; and hoping to induce others to come forward in the sacred cause of benevolence and salvation to perishing sinners. "After being fatigued in visiting many houses, I had nearly given up the work, when I entered (by the merest chance, as the worldling would say, but surely directed thither by an ever-watchful Providence) a miserable garret, where I was told a poor woman had been long confined. My first inquiry was, of course, if she had a Bible; and being answered in the affirmative, I next asked if its consolations sustained her in her trials. This was an almost hopeless query; for, among the mass of human beings I had that day met with, scarcely one seemed at all impressed with the use of a Bible. But what a refreshment was it to the weary spirit, to hear the reply! "What should I have done without the word? I have esteemed it more than my necessary food; for it testifies of Jesus." To be brief: on subsequent visits I have found this young woman a real Believer, living the life of Faith in the midst of suffering of the most intense kind; enduring privations of every sort; with a husband out of work, and children crying for bread. Humanly speaking, in this Christian city this disciple of Christ might literally have sunk into an early tomb for want, had it not been for this Bible visit. Much of deepest interest might be added, but I forbear; and conclude, by beseeching all those who have half-an-hour in a week to spare, to arise to the work of the Lord."