confirmation, in four congregations committed to my charge, fourteen only possessed Bibles." My two shepherds," another minister writes, "one of whom is a Roman Catholic, diligently read your New Testament, whilst tending their flocks, and one of them declares that he had not obtained, till now, a proper knowledge of Jesus Christ.". The head of the Protestant clergy of the duchy of Nassau has issued an animating address to the deans, schoolinspectors, and parish ministers, calling upon them severally to examine into the want of the Scriptures in their respective districts. "If there be 'any labour," says the Rev. Doctor Mueller in his address, "which may be emphatically called sowing seed for eternity, it is certainly this; the Lord will accompany it with his abundant bless ing, and the most pleasing fruits will appear, to the heartfelt joy of every faithful minister, and of every teacher of the young."-The Hanoverian Bible Society had advanced towards the completion of its edition of Luther's version, in large types. The issues from this institution amount to 16,784 copies. The conductors of one of its auxiliaries, established at Celle, declare, that the more they distribute the Scriptures, the more they perceive the want of them. "The old and young," writes one of the directors of the Osnaburg Society, "contribute with alacrity; parents often bring their children a distance of several miles to obtain Bibles. The peasantry evince a warmer interest than ever in the cause. Legacies are bequeathed, and handsome donations presented." The Detmold Auxiliary has disposed of sixty-six Hebrew or Hebrew-German New Testaments, to the Jews. The Hambro-Altona Bible Society has circulated, since its establish ment, 18,839 Bibles, and 1908 Testaments, and has commenced a new edition of Luther's version, consisting of 20,000 copies.-The Rostock Society has been exempted from the duty of postage.

From Prussia an official letter ascribes to the direct influence of the Bible Society a growing spirit of harmony, which is observable among all classes of Christians in that country. Dr. Pinkerton confirms the general tenor of this opinion, by the following remarks: "The cause of the Prussian Bible So. ciety, and of every other Christian and humane institution, continues to prosper in Berlin, and genuine Christianity is now making very encouraging progress in every part of the Prussian dominions, but especially in this city. Here, within the last ten years, God has raised up a number of able preachers and professors, who are unanimous in the defence of his cause, and the pleasure of the Lord prospers in their hands."

-From the presses of the Canstein Institution at Halle has lately issued a beautiful edition of the Hebrew Bible after Simonis, which was out of print.— The Thuringian Bible Society at Erfurt has distributed in seven years 6805 Bibles. The annual issues of the Berg Society vary from 1000 to 2000 Bibles, besides Testaments.-The Elberfeld Committee had resolved, notwithstanding the exhaustion of their funds, to undertake a new edition of 10,000 copies of the Psalter.-The Cologne Society state that there is "a growing desire felt for that Divine light and consolation which flow from the word of God." The issues of the Scriptures by the Cologne Society, among Protestants and Roman Catholics, school children and soldiers, have been very great. Among the soldiers more especially, a strong desire has been manifested for the possession of the sacred treasure; and the regimental chaplains contribute their utmost efforts to gratify it.—The Neuwied Bible Society continues to receive the support of the prince and his family. "The introduction of the Testament into several Catholic pa rishes (writes the treasurer of the society), is a subject of real exultation. Exclusively of the Catholic clergymen, noticed in our Report, several others have applied for New Testaments, for the purpose of distributing them among the youth at school."-The Silesian Bible Society at Breslau has supplied the prisons of several fortresses with the Scriptures. The commanding officers assured the Committee of the satisfaction which they felt at being enabled to co-operate in promoting the benevolent design of the institution.-The First Report of the Freystadt and Sprottau Society states, that the schoolmasters having represented to their youthful circles the Divine blessing attending the Scriptures, had the gratification of seeing the children, both of the rich and the poor, come forward with contributions, amounting to 100 dollars, accompanied by assurances that these should be annually repeated.

The Bible Societies in the Danish dominious continue to receive the sanction of his Majesty the King, who has facilitated their proceedings by various privileges. The total number of Bibles and Testaments issued by the Danish Society since its formation amounts to 44,169 copies in the Danish language, and 10,000 in the Icelandic. Among the recent contributors to this institution appear 120 students of the university of Copenhagen, candidates for holy orders, or students in divinity. Dr. Boisen, bishop of Lolland, whose diocese comprehends 120 parishes, writes: "By the use of the Bible in schools and at the catechetical instruc

tions of young persons, especially previous to the act of confirmation, a love of the Divine word has been excited, and a desire to possess it has been inspired. We have not less than twelve Bible associations in this diocese. I have circulated, in this year alone, 2500 New Testaments." Dean Helgasen, secretary to the Icelandic Bible Society, says: "It is a well-founded opinion, that every family throughout this island is now in possession of a Bible or a New Testament. The sacred volume is read with diligence, during the long winter evenings. The revision of the Icelandic New Testament is almost completed, and it is hoped that means will be found to enable us to print it; an object equally desired by the whole population."-The West-Indian possessions of his Danish Majesty have been supplied with Creole New Testaments, for the use of the Negroes. The Faroe islands will shortly receive the Gospel of St. Matthew in their own language, printed in parallel columns with the Danish version. The translation of the Pentateuch into the language of Greenland, undertaken by the late Bishop Fabricius, has passed, on the death of that prelate, into the hands of the Rev. Mr. Wolff, late a missionary among the inhabitants of that remote region.

The Swedish Bible Society has issued, during its seventh year, 20,000 Bibles and Testaments, from the depository at Stockholm, of which 1,803 Bibles and 265 Testaments were distributed gratuitously. Dr. Wingärd, bishop of Gothenburg, has recommended his clerical brethren to preach an annual sermon with particular reference to the Biblical cause, and to exhort their respective congregations to exert themselves in its behalf. The Ladies' Association at Stockholm has pursued its benevolent exertions with vigour. The president of the Swedish Bible Society, his Excellency Count Rosenblad, writes: "We are making rapid progress in our labours, though with limited means. I feel more and more the importance of making every effort to pro-, mote this great cause, as my time on earth cannot be very long, and I know not into whose hands it may be consigned. I perceive the present to be a serious crisis, which will perhaps determine for centuries the moral state of mankind. God is abundantly sowing the good seed; but the enemy is no less active in sowing tares. Had not Bible Societies been established, through the merciful providence of God, to counteract the evils of ignorance and infidelity in spiritual things, to what a state of moral degradation must the world have sunk at this moment! What an awful responsibility shall we incur, if we

do not improve the present favourable opportunity!"

The Norwegian Society had completed the distribution of 6,000 copies of the New Testament, before its new edition of 10,000 copies had left the press. Measures have been adopted for carrying into effect the translation of the New Testament into the Norwegian Lapponese dialect. The Committee of the Drontheim Society remark: "The desire for the word of God is great in our country, and it is a subject of daily concern to us, that for a long time we were not able to furnish even those of our countrymen with New Testaments, who have been willing to pay the full value of the books. May the power of the Most High give success to the British and Foreign Bible Society, and may His peace and comfort bless every heart that willingly co-operates in making known his glorious name throughout the earth."

The Committee, in 'presenting a comprehensive view of the progress of Bible Societies in the vast provinces of the Russian empire, chiefly copy the address delivered at the opening of the last anniversary meeting of the Russian Bible Society, by its pious and noble president, his Excellency Prince GaJitzin. "The word of God in our native land," said he, "is increasingly made known, is cordially offered, and willingly accepted. It may truly be said, that the word of God is taking deep root in our beloved and native land; it is now become the foundation on which the education of our youth is built; the military search for it with great earnestness, and they are generally supplied with it gratuitously. Many peasants and persons of the lower classes receive this Book as the gift of Heaven, and read it with faith unto salvation. The number of promoters of this cause increases, and the clergy, as formerly, take a distinguished part in it; even among the heathen there has repeatedly been discovered a particular attention to the Gospel, the reading of which has produced good impressions upon some of them. The Bible Society stands fast and unshaken on the rock of the Divine word itself, which is appointed to be preached unto all nations, to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people;' and it marches onward, and girds itself, and prospers in its cause. The sums received and expended by this society, which now amount millions of roubles, bear ample testimony to this; and notwithstanding the hundreds of thousands of copies printed and circulated by it, still the demands for the sacred Book are not yet satisfied." Nine editions of the modern Russ Psalter, each consisting of 10,000 copies,

to

have followed the first edition of 15,000 copies, mentioned in the last Report. The first editions of the whole New Testameut, in the Mongolian, the Calmuc, the Tscheremissian, and the Mordwashian, will probably leave the press in the course of the present year; the Gospel of St. Matthew, in the Zirian language, and the Lettonian Bible, on stereotype plates, have considerably advanced; and the translation of the four Gospels in the Ossitinian dialect is undergoing revision. The TartarTurkish Bible, the execution of which was entrusted to the missionaries at Astrachan, has advanced in the printing nearly to the end of the Pentateuch. Of the New Testament in the MandjurChinese, the Gospel of St. Matthew is completed. Of the Persian version of the

are

for

Old Testament, the greater part of the Pentateuch has been completed. Of the Servian version, the New Testament has been completed; and preparations in progress at Astrachan printing the Old Testament in pure Tartar. The auxiliary societies in the Russian empire amount in number to 57, independently of 150 associations. These institutions have advanced far towards effecting the promulgation of the Holy Scriptures in more thau thirty languages and dialects.

So far the proceedings of the chief European Bible Societies. We reserve a few miscellaneous particulars, together with the progress of Bible Societies in the other quarters of the globe, for another number.

FOREIGN.

WAR IN SPAIN.-The Constitutional Government and Cortes, entrenched in Cadiz, have held out, amidst their disasters, with a firmness which is honourable to them. In a military view, however, their cause appears nearly hopeless. The Constitutionalist generals are, one after another, forsaking their colours; Corunna and Pampeluna have surrendered; and Cadiz itself is strongly blockaded and besieged by sea and land, and is threatened with an impetuous and obstinate attack from the French and Royalist army, who have already taken the Trocadero, a post of considerable importance, which separates the outer from the inner harbour, and gives free access from the French lines at Port St. Mary to the Isle of Leon and the town of Cadiz. The negociations also are stated to have failed; neither the French authorities, nor the still more uncompromising and prejudiced Regency, being disposed to offer such terms as the Constitutionalists can accept or dare confide in. Thus apparently reduced to extremities, any hope of maintaining their cause must, we apprehend, depend chiefly on the mistakes and disagreements of its opposers. For, though it has still zealous friends, and though, even amidst the defections of so many of its military defenders, it can still number some who gallantly espouse it; particularly Mina, who has continued to display great perseverance and generalship in harassing the enemy in

Catalonia; and though' also the Government and Cortes remain firm, and Cadiz, for any thing we know, may be able to endure the threatened assault; yet these circumstances, taken alone, would furnish but slender grounds of confidence respecting the success of the Constitutional cause, if its opponents were moderate, decisive, and united in their plans. This, however, is far from being the case. The French authorities feel the necessity, even for their own sakes, of a certain degree of concession, nominally at least, to the cause of liberty; while the Regency, and their ultra-royalist friends, encouraged it is said by Russia, are warm and consistent advocates for pure unsophisticated despotism. On a recent occasion, the Duc d'Angouleme greatly offended his Spanish allies by a decree for liberating persons arbitrarily imprisoned for political offences, against the operation of which the Regency have protested. In case, therefore, these conjoined interests prevail over the Constitutionalists, there seems no probability of their agreeing on any ulterior measure between themselves. To sum up some of the difficulties of the crisis, an infectious fever is said to have broken out in a detached part of the French army. Should it extend its ravages, can we regard it in any other light than as a just retribution for the original falsehood by which, under the pretext of a "sanitary cordon," a hostile force was first drawn towards this unoffending country? The dread

of so formidable an enemy, concurring with the various circumstances above mentioned, will probably lead the invaders to make the most prompt and vigorous efforts to bring the war to a close.

By the latest accounts from Catalonia, the French troops under General Moncey appear to have sustained a serious check from the forces under the command of Mina.

DEATH OF THE POPE.-An event has taken place, which in former ages would have created a powerful sensation throughout European Christendom, but which, in the present state of political and ecclesiastical affairs, produces only a comparatively limited degree of interest. Pope Pius VII. expired on the 20th of August, in the eighty-second year of his age, and the twenty-fourth of his pontificate. He bore the character of a man of great bigotry, but conscientiously devoted to the doctrines and interests of the church over which he presided. In his conduct he was mild and amiable; and where he considered that his duty called him to make a stand, he was firm and inflexible. He conducted himself with great favour towards the English in his capital, and testified warm gratitude for the services he had received from the measures of the British government in the late continental struggle. Yet, as if more than ever to convince the world of the inveterate hostility of Popery to the progress of light and liberty, Pius VII. was the restorer of the order of the Jesuits and the anathematizer of Bible Societies! Protestants may differ in opinion as to the most efficient method of counteracting Popery-whether in Ireland or elsewhere--but they cannot be too closely united, or too earnest, in opposing its characteristic spirit and evil effects. The last few weeks have added a new proof of the guile or the weakness, or both combined, of many of its adherents, in the vaunted miracles of Prince Hohenlohe, of Bamberg in Germany, whose prayers and religious quackery are alleged to have wrought various wonderful and supernatural cures of bodily maladies, not only on the continent, but in Ireland, and even in England!

To explode such a system of fraud and folly, and to open even Popery to the light of a new Reformation, so as at least to diminish those superstitions and absurdities which, in the present

state of human intelligence, expose it to the contempt even of its professed friends, would be indeed a task worthy of a new and enterprizing pope. And, considering the character of the events which have marked the page of European history in the quarter of a century during which the late Pope wore his crown, we might have hoped that a new pontiff, coming to the post with recent experience and less tenacious reminiscences, would at least endeavour to re-enthrone his religion in the hearts of its nominal votaries in enlightened countries, by some sacrifices of long-standing prejudices to the public intelligence and the public welfare. But, in the present aspect of Europe, we despair of witnessing any thing approaching towards liberality of sentiment, or even of policy, among those who are accustomed to influence pontifical elections. Austria is avowedly the patron of the new system of darkness and despotism in politics and religion; France, where infidelity and superstitious mummery almost divide the land between them, is thrown by her present rulers as a dead weight into the same scale; and Spain, Portugal, and Italy, even if they had strength to oppose the tide, are disposed to drift with it. We can hardly expect, therefore, that the college of cardinals will be disposed to elect a man anxious for reform, or intrepid enough to begin it. Discouraging, however, as are present appearances, we are sanguine in hoping that Popery must soon begin the work of amendment in its own defence, if Protestants will continue, without hostility or angry controversy, universally to promote Christian education, and the diffusion of that Holy Volume" which is able to make men wise unto salvation."

SOUTH AMERICA.-The French government, it is reported, have in contemplation a scheme of operations in Spanish America, with a view to crush the infant liberties of those countries, and to appropriate to themselves an accession of colonial territory, as a cession from Spain for French services in that country, or as a pawn for the blood and treasure expended in the invasion. Mr. Canning, in an official dispatch, several months since, explicitly deprecated such an usurpation. Independently of the injustice of such a scheme, should such a scheme be in

agitation, this country would justly withstand it for commercial reasons; and not less for reasons of humanity, if slavery is to be re-instated on the enfranchised soil, and a new harvest of blood and tears is to be sown for Africa, in order to enrich the new proprietors of South America.

DOMESTIC.

The topic last touched upon leads us to inform our readers of the progress which the cause of the gradual abolition of slavery in our colonies has made since we last alluded to the subject. In our number for May (p. 329-331), we presented a brief outline of Mr. Buxton's motion for the amelioration and gradual abolition of slavery, and of Mr. Canning's amendment and concessions. The whole debate has just been given to the public (see List of New Publications), with a copious collection of highly interesting notes, illustrative, or corrective, of various parts of the speeches. The work is published under the sanction of the London "Anti-Slavery Society," and will, we trust, be read by every person who feels interested in this great cause. In common with various other publications of the Society, it contains facts and reasonings, which, however they may, for a time, be misunderstood-we would not willingly say misrepresented—in some quarters, must eventually, as the public begin to reflect seriously upon the subject of slavery, either in the abstract or the detail, work the utter subversion of that pest of nations, that stain upon our common nature, that bitter satire upon our professed Christianity. We may probably have another opportunity of adducing some important facts and statements from this publication; but at present our object is to inform our readers of the result of the discussions with his Majesty's government subsequently to Mr. Buxton's motion. These we find related as follows, in a paper just circulated by the above-mentioned society.

"In specifying the measures which his Majesty's Government have sig nified their intention of adopting, the Committee will not confine the specification to what actually fell from Mr. Canning during the debate on Mr. Buxton's motion. Subsequent communications have enabled them to modify the statement then made, so as to present, if not a particular and de

tailed, yet a clear general view of the present purposes of his Majesty's Government. They are as follow:-That the existing obstructions to manumissions, arising from stamps or fines, or other fiscal regulations, shall be removed;-That the slaves shall be protected by law in the possession, aud also in the transmission, by bequest or otherwise, of any property they may acquire;-That means shall be provided of religious instruction for the slaves, and of Christian education for their children;-That the driving system shall be peremptorily and entirely abolished, so that the whip shall no longer be the stimulaut of labour;— That an end shall also be absolutely put to the degrading corporal punishment of females; and that measures shall be taken to restrain, generally, the power of arbitrary punishment, and to prevent its abuse;-That, the means of religious instruction being provided, the Sundays shall be given up to the slaves for rest, recreation, and religious instruction and worship (Sunday markets being abolished); and that equivalent time shall be allowed them, on other days, for the cultivation of their provision grounds;

That the marriage of slaves shall be authorized, and sanctioned by law; and that they shall likewise be protected in the enjoyment of their connubial rights.

"In respect to the proposal of causing the slaves to cease from being mere chattels, and attaching them, under certain modifications, to the soil, it was said, that whatever reform of this kind was introduced must be prospective only, as its retrospective operation might disturb the present tenure of property, and take away, in many cases, the only security on which money had been advanced. The question was therefore reserved for further consideration.

"The admission of the testimony of slaves in courts of justice was also thought to be beset with so many difficulties as to require a more deliberate investigation. At the same time, Government professed themselves friendly to the principle of admitting the testimony of slaves, subject only to such modifications as the interests of justice might for a time require.

"The propriety of relieving Negroes and Persons of Colour from the operation of that unjust principle of Colonial law which subjects them to be dealt with as slaves, unless they shall