The Directors have accordingly selected a missionary, who is about to sail for Canada. The Jews. The second part of the Essays addressed to the Jews, written at the request of the Directors, by the Rev. Greville Ewing, has been published, copies of which have been distributed; and the Society enjoys the satisfaction of having produced, in that work, an admirable mean of introducing the Jewish people to a clear and compendious acquaintance with the Christian dispensation, whenever their attention shall be seriously awakened to that momentous subject". BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. The Committee of the British and FoTeign Bible Society, fiuding it requisite to establish some general principles for supply ing Auxiliary Societies with Bibles and Testaments, and being desirous of holding out to such societies the greatest possible encouragement to ascertain the want of the Holy Scriptures in their respective districts, and to supply it according to their discretion, have adopted certain regulations, which it may be useful generally to state. Auxiliary Societies shall be entitled to receive, gratuitously, if they require such a supply, Bibles and Testaments estimated at prime cost, to the amount of half the sum remitted by them to the parent institution, within the year. The members of Auxiliary Societies whose subscriptions amount to one guinea or upwards, annually, or to ten guineas or upwards at one time, may purchase Bibles and Testaments from the Depository of the Auxiliary Society, within the year, at the reduced prices, agreeably to the rules of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in pro portion to the share of its aggregate funds remitted to the parent institution. In order to facilitate such supplies, Bibles and Testaments shall be forwarded, as re quired, to the different depositories; the same to be accounted for half-yearly. The Committees of Auxiliary Societies shall have the further privilege of purchasing to any amount, at prime cost. placed on the same footing, whether they contribute directly to the parent institution, or to any of the auxiliary societies. find it to their advantage so to modify their Auxiliary societies will now, therefore, constitution, as to transmit the whole of their funds, after deducting their incidental ex penses, to the parent society; as in that case, they will be entitled, by the above regulations, to receive, gratuitously, Bibles and Testaments, estimated at prime cost, to the amount of one half of the sum so transmit. ted; and will, moreover, be enabled to supply their subscribers according to the full rate of privilege enjoyed by such as contribute to the parent society. The parent iustitution thus entrusts much of its interests to the prudence and liberality of the auxiliary societies. But as one common feeling animates the discretion and generosity of the auxiliary the whole body, the Committee leave it to societies, to determine to what extent they shall avail themselves of the above regula tions in the supply of their local wants. And, they only recommend that economy in gratuituous distributions which shall restrain itself to the supply of real wants; and they request such auxiliary societies as may retain' any portion of their funds, to transmit, at the close of every year, their unapplied balance to the parent institution, in furtherance of the general, and, more especially, the Foreign objects of the society. To populous districts it is recommended to form Auxiliary Societies; which may ex tend themselves by Branch Societies, em• bracing the less populous districts of their neighbourhoods. The objects of the society may be further promoted by Bible Associa tions, formed by such persons as cannot well afford to become members either of the parent institution, or its auxiliary societies. The regulations proposed for these different institutions resemble, în their main fea tures, the laws of the parent institution. An additional rule of great importance and efficacy is the following: "That the Committee divide this town [or this neighbourhood] into districts, and appoint two or more of their members for each district, who may associate with themselves It will appear from the above regulations, any active subscriber, for the purpose of that subscribers throughout the empire are soliciting subscriptions and donations from the inhabitants thereof." Another important regulation is-"That, Ministers and other friends of the so- for the purpose of giving full effect to the eiety, who have an opportunity of employing benevolent design of the British and Foreign the Essays for the benefit of the Jews, may Bible Society, in their liberal grant of the be furnished with copies, gratis, on applying Scriptures for distribution among the poor, to the Secretary, or to any of the Directors. the Committee shall make it their business to inquire, by means of sub-committees associated with any active subscribers, what families or individuals residing within their several districts are in want of Bibles or Testaments, and unable to procure them; and that it shall be the duty of the Committee to furnish them therewith at reduced prices, or gratis, according to their circumstances." The most effectual method of promoting branch societies is stated to be, to delegate a few of the committee of the auxiliary society to visit and excite the inhabitants of the neighbouring towns or districts. A similar plan may be adopted in the case of Bible associations*. These various regulations are accompanied by an address to the following effect. The foregoing hints are submitted to all zealous friends of the British and Foreign Bible Society throughout the empire. By the adoption of such plans as are therein sketched, three very important objects may be attained, which it is earnestly recommended to the friends of the institution ever to keep in view, ; 1. The increase of the society's funds. By far the most efficacious method of accomplishing this object, as has been repeatedly found by experience, is the personal application recommended in the preceding plans to the inhabitants of the place and nigh bourhood where the society may be formed. 2. An accurate knowledge of the state of the poorer classes, with regard to their possession or want of the Scriptures.--The subcommittees, formed for the purpose of making these inquiries, by entering the habitations of the poor on this benevolent errand, will have abundant opportunities, both of communicating and receiving benefit. These inquiries should be directed to ascertain first, whether they possess copies of the Scriptures, and in what condition; secondly, if not, and yet desirous of possessing them, whether they have the means, in whole or in part, at once or by degrees, of purchasing copies; thirdly, if any, and how many, of the family can read. Without inquiries of this nature, the deficiency of the Scriptures, as has been proved, will be but little known, and consequently but scantily supplied; and one of the principal objects of the various societies in a considerable degree frustrated. 3. The most prudent and efficient manner of supplying the want of Bibles, among the poorer classes, will be suggested. The plan The Edinburgh Bible Society acknowledges the receipt of more than sixty pounds sterling from various associations, in which the contribution is one penny a week, CHRIST. OBSERV. App. of selling the Scriptures to the poor has been tried; and has been found to possess several important advantages (where practicable) over gratuitous distribution. When purchased even at a low rate, they are generally held in higher estimation, and more carefully preserved, than when given. The expediency of extending this mode of sup. ply as widely as possible, is forcibly urged by the consideration, that, if sold at an average but of one half of the cost price, and the money so received invested in the purchase of more books, and this repeated till the whole fund and stock be exhausted, the number of copies thus circulated will be nearly double that which could have been gratuitously circulated by the expenditure of the original sum. This average of one half may be obtained by carrying the price, according to the circumstances of the parties, from one fourth to three fourths of the cost price, or even from one eighth to seven eighths. If the parties cannot pay inımedi ately, they may be allowed to discharge the small debt by weekly instalments; which will enable a very large proportion of the poor to purchase the Scriptures, and render it unnecessary to give them, excepting to a very few. The effect which the adoption of this system will have in accelerating the supply at home, and in enabling the society to enlarge its exertions abroad, must be obvious to every considerate person. SUFFOLK AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY. At a numerous and respectable meeting of gentry, clergy, and inhabitants of the county of Suffolk, convened under the patronage of the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Norwich, and held December 10th, 1811, at the Shire Hall, in Ipswich, for the purpose of considering the best mode of forming a Bible Society, in this county, auxiliary to the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Rev. Thomas Cobbold, A. M. in the Chair, as representative of the Lord Bishop of Norwich, it was unanimously resolved to forta a society to be called "the Suffolk Auxiliary Bible Society," for the purpose of disseminating the Holy Scriptures within the county, and of co-operating with the British and Foreign Bible Society iu promoting their distribution abroad. The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Norwich was chosen president and the Duke of Grafton, lord lieutenant of the county; the Marquis Cornwallis; the Earl of Dysart; the Earl of Bristol; the Earl of Yar mouth; Lord Charles Fitzroy; Rev. Lord Henry Fitzroy; Lord Calthorpe; Lord Henniker; the Hon. J. Vanneck; SirT. C 5 Ꭱ Bunbury, Bart. M. P.; Sir W. Dolben, Bart.;, a contest which would make heaven resound Sir J. Affleck, Bart.; Sir R. Harland, Bart.; Sir W. Rowley, Bart.; Sir J. C. Hippesley, Bart. M. P.; Sir W.Middleton, Bart.; and B. G. Dillingham, Esq. vice-presidents. At the opening of the meeting, the following letter was read from the Bishop of Norwich, addressed to Mr. Cobbold. "It will be impossible for me to make my appearance in person, at the meeting to be holden at Ipswich, on the 10th of this month. May I request the favour of you to take the chair in my stead? I can with truth add, that I shall have a particular satis faction in being represented by a clergyman, whose steady and judicious attachment to our excellent ecclesiastical establishment renders him a peculiarly proper person to promote the success of an institution, so inseparably connected with the best interests of this establishinent. I am, dear Sir, "Sincerely your's, "H. NORWICH." Mr. Cobbold, in opening the business, observed, that the cause which is now to be advocated before you, is, perhaps, the grand est and most momentous that ever challenged the attention of mankind in any age or country. The question is, whether by far the greater portion of mankind shall still remain in ignorance with respect to a future state, immersed in idolatry, wickedness, and barbarism, for want of a Divine Revelation to enlighten their understandings, and better their hearts; or whether we shal! be instrumental, in the hands of Providence, in rescuing them from their deplorable and degraded state, by a free communication to them of the Holy Scriptures? The Rev. Mr. Julian, in the course of his speech, remarked with much feeling, that this was an institution spotless in its origin, and pure in its design; and that it might shine forth, like the sun in its meridian splendour, diffusing light, and happiness, and joy, throughout the universe, it was the bounden and imperious duty of every Christian, of whatever sect or denomination, to yield it his cordial and firm support. It was an institution whose great and only object was that of glory to God, and salvation to sinners. It breathed the very spirit of the heavens-it breathed the very spirit which prevaded the angelic choir, when they proclaimed a Saviour born-it breathed glory to God in the highest, and, on earth, peace and good will to man! The only contest ought to be, who should most support-who should most endeavour to extend its influence. That would be a contest on which angels might look down with pleasure ; with hallelujabs, and the depths of hell to shake; a contest worthy of the followers of the great Redeemer. We should gladly have followed all the speakers through the course of this day's discussion, and especially the three Scantaries of the parent society, who were present, and spoke, as usual, with great elicit bet after the detailed accouat Watch we have given of a similiar meeting at Car bulge, this would be impossible. In the course of the proceedings, the following letter was read from Sir W. Dolben, formicry for many years Member of Parliamem for the Univer sity of Oxford, and who was prevented by the infirmities of age (he is eighty-four) from attending the meeting in person. 46 Gentlemen,-I earnestly request you to offer my unfeigned respects to the venerable and patriotic society now assembled at Ipswich for the glorious purpose of disseminating the words of Eternal Life, throughout the known world; for making their sound go forth inte all lands, and their words unto the ends of the world.' It does indeed appear to me (looking at the generous co-operation of those who have thought proper to separate themselves from the Established Church, with those who remain in it,) to be the opening of that blessed epoch foretold in the Scriptures, when we shall be one fold, under one Shepherd, Jesus Christ the rightëons.' "I feel myself highly honoured by being thought worthy of a place among the vicepresidents; but as my age and infirmities will not admit of my personal attendance, I would wish to decline it in favour of one who may be zealous and active in the discharge of its duties; and have no doubt that my friend Sir James Affleck, (to whose Christian character I can bear most honourable testimony), will cheerfully accept and faithfully fulfil them. Should you, however, feel desirous of retaining my name for this glorious office, you are at liberty so to do; but in this case you must, I fear, be satisfied with my earnest wishes for the prosperity of your institution, rather than with any active services I can render wards it. "I have requested my friend Mr. Clarkson, who stands forward in this, as in all other good works, to deliver to you these my acknowledgments; and with the most fervent prayers for the completion of this glorious undertaking, I remain, "Gentlemen, "Your most honoured and grateful servant, "Bury, Dec. 9th, 1811. W. DOLBEN." In the report of the proceedings of this meeting which was inserted in the Suffolk Chronicle, certain offensive expressions were attributed to Mr. Owen, of which the ene mies of the institution gladly availed themselves; and a publication has appeared, the sole object of which is, to convert those expressions into a means of injuring the society. We are happy, however, to be able to state, that the whole originated in a misconception of the reporter, and that Mr. Owen did not use the words ascribed to him, nor any words to the same effect. This we state, not only on the authority of Mr. Owen himself, who has publicly disavowed them, but on the authority of several most respectable persons who were present at the time. Books were opened to receive names for subscriptions, and sums nearly amounting to 1200. were put down. AND SOCIETY FOR THE SUPPORT OF GAELIC In our number for March last, we gave a The Highlands and Western Islands of Scotland comprehend not less than one hundred and sixty-two parishes. The islands. form thirty-one of these, and there are about one hundred and thirty-on -one on the main land, The president of this society is the Earl of Moray; the vice-presidents, Sir James Miles Riddell, Baronet; Rev. David Johnston, D. D.; Charles Stuart, M. D.; Robert Scott Moncrieff, Esq. The treasurer, John Campbell, Esq. Tertius, W. S. The Secretaries, Mr. Christopher Anderson; Mr. Robert Paul, Mr. John Campbell, Gaelic Secretary. Each subscriber of Half-a-Guinea annually, shall be a member of the society. A subscriber of Ten Guineas at one time, shall be a member for life. An annual subscriber, of Three Guineas, or a benefactor of Twenty Guineas, shall be a governor. We are persuaded that all Highlanders, in every part of the world, who read our work, will be forward to testify that attachment which glows in them with such peculiar warmth to their native country, by aiding this institution where the Gaelic language is either preached or generally spoken. The total population of these is at present estimated at nearly four hundred thousand, of which between ninety and one hundred thousand inhabit the islands alone. Notwithstanding the various sources of depopulation, it now appears, that the inhabitants of these parts are, in fact, annually on the increase; nay, in the course of the last sixty years, (that is, since 1750,) the popular tion of almost every Highland parish, and every island, has been doubled. It is well known, that the least cultivated parts of a country are always most thinly peopled; but the disproportion between the extent of country and the number of inhabitants, is, in this instance, so great that the generality of persons will be able to form but a very faint conception of it. The Hebrides alone, for example, contain above two millions of square acres; and over this surface the population before mentioned is dispersed. Some favoured islands, such as Isla, Tyrie, &c. contain about ten acres to an individual; but the proportion in others is from fifty to one hundred and fifty, and some extensive tracts on the main land contain at the rate of above two hundred acres to each individual inhabitant (being between three and four to a square mile !) Several of the parishes are more extensive than some counties in the Lowlands. Some of them resemble rather a province, requiring the labours of a body of men, than a district for the inspection of a single person. Thus the parishes of Lesmore and Appin, of Kilmanivaig, of Kilmalie, and of Kilmorac, are, each of them, about sixty miles long, by from sixteen to forty miles broad! The island of Mull, which is the third of the Hebrides in point of size, was divided, in the sixteenth century, into seven parishes; but since that period great alterations have taken place, and there are at the present day only three parishes in it, containing about nine thousand souls, scattered over a tract of at least four hundred and twenty square miles. The parish of Lochbroom, in which one of the society's circulating schools has commenced, comprehends a district of country, of the roughest and most difficult in Scotland, as extensive as the whole synod of Ross, which employs the labours of twenty-three ministers, besides schoolmasters and catechists! Another peculiar feature of this country is its uncommonly numerous divisions, by salt and fresh water. Rapid rivers, extensive arms of the sea, and high mountains, intersect the main land, while the seas which surround the islands are unusually stormy, if not dangerous.. The Western Isles belonging to Scotland, from the Mull of Cantyre to Cape Bunbury, Bart. M. P.; Sir W. Dolben, Bart.;, a contest which would make heaven resound At the opening of the meeting, the following letter was read from the Bishop of Norwich, addressed to Mr. Cobbold. "It will be impossible for me to make my appearance in person, at the meeting to be holden at Ipswich, on the 10th of this month. May I request the favour of you to take the chair in my stead? I can with truth add, that I shall have a particular satisfaction in being represented by a clergyman, whose steady and judicious attachment to our excellent ecclesiastical establishment renders him a peculiarly proper person to promote the success of an institution, so inseparably connected with the best interests of this establishment. I am, dear Sir, Sincerely your's, "H. NORWICH." Mr. Cobbold, in opening the business, observed, that the cause which is now to be advocated before you, is, perhaps, the grand est and most momentous that ever challenged the attention of mankind in any age or country. The question is, whether by far the greater portion of mankind shall still remain in ignorance with respect to a future state, immersed in idolatry, wickedness, and barbarism, for want of a Divine Revelation to enlighten their understandings, and better their hearts; or whether we shal! be instrumental, in the bands of Providence, in rescuing them from their deplorable and degraded state, by a free communication to them of the Holy Scriptures? The Rev. Mr. Julian, in the course of his speech, remarked with much feeling, that this was an institution spotless in its origin, and pure in its design; and that it might shine forth, like the sun in its meridian splendour, diffusing light, and happiness, and joy, throughout the universe, it was the bounden and imperious duty of every Christian, of whatever sect or denomination, to We should gladly have followed all the speakers through the course of this day's discussion, and especially the three Secre taries of the parent society, who were present, and spoke, as usual, with great effect; but after the detailed account which we have given of a similiar meeting at Cambridge, this would be impossible. In the course of the proceedings, the following letter was read from Sir W. Dolben, formerly for many years Member of Parliament for the Univer sity of Oxford, and who was prevented by the inurmities of age (he is eighty-four) from attending the meeting in person. Gentlemen,-I earnestly request you to offer my unfeigned respects to the venerable and patriotic society now assembled at Ipswich for the glorious purpose of disseminating the words of Eternal Life, throughout the known world; for making their sound go forth into all lands, and their words unto the ends of It does indeed appear to the world.' me (looking at the generous co-operation of those who have thought proper to separate themselves from the Established Church, with those who remain in it,) to be the opening of that blessed epoch foretold in the Scriptures, when we shall be one told, under one Shepherd, Jesus Christ the righte ons.' "I feel myself highly bonoured by being thought worthy of a place among the vicepresidents; but as my age and infirmities will not admit of my personal attendance, I would wish to decline it in favour of one who may be zealous and active in the dis charge of its duties; and have no doubt that my friend Sir James Affleck, (to whose Christian character I can bear most honourable testimony), will cheerfully accept and faithfully fulfil them. Should you, however, feel desirous of retaining my name for this glorious office, you are at liberty so to do; but in this case you must, I fear, be yield it his cordial and firm support. It was satisfied with my earnest wishes for the ject was that of glory to God, and salvation "I have requested my friend Mr. Clarkson, who stands forward in this, as in glory to God in the highest, and, on earth, my acknowledgments; and with the most proclaimed a Saviour born-it breathed other good works, to deliver to you these peace and good will to man! The only con fervent prayers for the completion of this test ought to be, who should most support- glorious undertaking, I remain, who should most endeavour to extend its influence. That would be a contest on which angels might look down with pleasure ; "Gentlemen, W. DOLBEN." |