Trustees by a respected American in Paris, for the aid of this Society in distributing the Scriptures in France. The Committee, to whom the subject was referred, having considered the very depressed condition of Christianity in that country, the great scarcity of Bibles, and the difficulty of obtaining them among the common people, the influence which the French nation will always have over the opinions and manners of the civilized world, and the peculiar importance of recovering it to the knowledge and belief of the gospel; and having learned that an edition of the New Testament had been commenced which required foreign assistance for its completion, recommended to the Trustees an appropriation of such funds as could be conveniently spared for this purpose. It was considered, that the present was a favourable opportunity for repaying an obligation which we had contracted to Europe. It is probably recollected, that at the establishment of our Society a donation was made to it of £100 sterling by the British and Foreign Bible Society. Whilst this liberal act was received with gratitude, the opinion of many was, that in the prosperous state of this country, we ought not to employ the funds of another for our relief. Under these impressions, the Trustees resolved to apply the donation just named to the distribution of the Bible in France; and it is believed, that better services cannot be rendered to Christianity than by giving its records to a great people in the heart of Christendom, where the prevalent ignorance of our religion almost surpasses belief.

Extract from the Second Annual Report of the Board of Managers of the KENTUCKY AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY, presented April 2, 1818.

The managers have done very little during the past year, as it respects the ultimate object of the Society. They conceive, however, their efforts have been directed, and with effect, to a most noble object, which, when accomplished, will enable the Society to prosecute its grand designs with the happiest result.

At our last meeting, it was stated to you that hopes were entertained that the American Bible Society would locate a set of their Stereotype Plates at Lexington. Since that period some doubts arose in the minds of the Managers of the American Bible Society, whether it would be most advisable to locate the Plates designed for the western country at Pittsburgh or at Lexington. The final determination of the managers has been in favour of this place.

As the American Bible Society are about to send out two sets of types, [Stereotype Plates,] it will doubtless be expected that we should immediately use them both. Unless we should be able to effect this, neither the views of the parent Society, nor the demands of our fellow-citizens will be complied with. Our funds are yet small; but in this noble undertaking we must cast ourselves upon the blessing of Almighty God, and the liberality of our fellow-citizens; resources which we hope will never fail in so good a cause.

We cannot forbear mentioning, that we esteem the location of this large printing establishment in Lexington, and in the midst of the western country, as a circumstance which calls loudly for the gratitude of the christian public, and anticipates a greater blessing to our town and country than any event that could have taken place. Let this Society prove herself worthy of the trust committed to her hands; and let each of us leave it as a dying charge to our children to perfect that which we have but begun.

Extract from the First Annual Report of the HERKIMER BIBLE SOCIETY, presented at the Annual Meeting, February 10, 1818. As this is the first Annual Meeting of the Society, but little information of our own operations can be presented, nor would this be the proper place to exhibit them. Our limits are small, circumscribed with other large and operative societies, whose benevolence has on every side extended, in some measure, even to us. Great things are not to be expected; but the liberalities of some villages and of some individuals, I trust will not be overlooked in the proper place. Should this Society really be found to be small, should the inhabitants be found to be better supplied with Bibles than is usual, yet this should be no objection to the existence of such a society. It should not in the least degree paralize our exertions. But I trust this region is no better supplied than others. That there are hundreds, if not thousands, in this country who have no Bibles, at least the families are but partially supplied with the word of God. But should we have no necessities of our own, who that has a feeling heart or a pious mind, can survey the distant regions of death, without reaching out a benevolent hand to rescue from Satan the children of darkness-to recover from ruin the sons and daughters of gloom and despair.

The good effects of this institution are already beginning to appear. No inconsiderable attention is already excited among us, especially among the people of colour in this Village. The encouragement of having Bibles has stimulated them to learn to read them, and some, who ten months ago scarcely knew their letters, I have heard reading the word of life. Should one such soul be saved by these means, it would infinitely over balance our whole exertions.

Extract from the Third Report of the Board of Managers of the BIBLE SOCIETY OF RENSSELAER COUNTY; read before the Society May 25, 1818.

During the year past 132 Bibles and 90 Testaments have been delivered by the Treasurer to the departments for distribution, and there remains on hand 298 Bibles and 150 Testaments. Since the organization of the Society 819 Bibles and 210 Testaments have been issued by the Treasurer for distribution.

The balance in the hands of the Treasurer, at the date of the last

Annual Report, was $86 95, The receipts of the year have been $214 18, and the expenditure $217 16, leaving a balance of $83_97 in the Treasury. The Treasurer's account, (annexed to this Report,) will furnish the particulars of the receipts and expenditures.

Since the Society was organized there have been $1,152 43 received, and $1,068 46 expended. It ought to be observed, that the principal item of expenditure of the last year was a donation of $200 to the American Bible Society. The Managers are persuaded, that the Society, on consideration, will approve of this donation, as it goes to increase a fund devoted to the noble and truly charitable design of distributing the Scriptures among the destitute,wherever they are to be found. We have reason to believe that there are many destitute of the Bible in this county, and some might think that this should have prevented our making the donation. But let it be remembered, that although no Bibles or Testaments have been purchased the last year, a considerable stock remains on hand; more, it is feared, than will be called for this year, unless greater exertions shall be made in the departments. Extract from the Second Annual Report of the Managers of the FAYETTEVILLE AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY; read before the Society June 11, 1918,

Soon after the commencement of the second year the Managers received the first remittance from the Parent Society. This consisted of 200 Gaelic Bibles, substantially bound and handsomely printed. These Bibles, from the circumstance of none having been printed in this country, were sought after by the Natives of Scotland, and in many instances by their descendants, with the greatest avidity. They appeared to have recovered a long lost treasure, or to have met a long wished for friend. The consequence was that the whole, with the exception of a very few, were immediately taken up, and used, as we hope, to edification. Among the applicants for these Bibles were some, and indeed many, who were abundantly able and willing to pay for them. They alleged that they had no Bible in their houses, and the reason was, that none could be procured. The Managers therefore concluded that they ought to accommodate them, and receive a fair price in return-they therefore sold to such as preferred paying for them, at the rate of $2 per copy. They were however careful and even conscientious in bestowing them gratuitously, wherever this was necessary, and they directed their Agents in all instances to do the

same.

This first remittance of Bibles being so soon distributed; and there remaining many, even without the knowledge of the Managers, who had not been supplied, and who ardently wished it-the Managers lost no time in ordering a second supply from the Parent Society. And here they take a lively pleasure in announcing the promptness and cheerfulness with which their order was attended to. Although that Society had none on hand, yet they lost no time in procuring the necessary supply from the British and Foreign Bible Society. A second remittance of 200 Gaelic Bibles has therefore just come to hand, which will in like manner be soon distributed.

But these, cheering as they may be, are not the only instances which the Managers have to record of the fidelity and promptness of the Parent Society. The Managers well knew, that not only Gaelic, but English Bibles were greatly needed in this section of the country. They therefore ordered a supply in our own language; and they were happy in receiving 200 of an edition printed by the Parent Society. These have all, with the exception of a very few, been also and in like manner distributed. But this supply, as the Managers have found, has been by no means adequate to the wants of the people. Applications, and indeed pressing requests, have poured in upon us from a variety of quarters. We have had satisfactory information that more than 600 English Bibles may be readily distributed in a neighbouring county. These persons, in our view, have taken a correct view of the subject-that not only every family, but every individual composing that family, should have their own Bible. They represent themselves as able and willing to pay a fair price for them, and refuse (as they ought to do,) to receive them on any other terms. The Managers have therefore concluded to gratify them, and have forwarded their order for 1000 more, which they have been informed will be forwarded as speedily as possible. To sum up the whole-the Managers have received 400 Gaelic and 200 English Bibles. Of these nearly 200 Gaelic and 200 English have been distributed, and measures are in a state of forwardness for the distribution of the other 200.

Extract from the Fourth Report of the Managers of the BIBLE SOCIETY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, Virginia, June 5, 1818.

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Our National Institution has, a few days ago, celebrated its second anniversary, with prospects most encouraging to the friends of the Bible. Its resources are rapidly increasing. It is becoming more and more an object of laudable ambition to be recognized as a Director or Member for life. May we not cherish the pleasing expectation that at no very distant period, such will be the accession of wealth, and talents, and piety, to our National Society, that it will shed a new and an additional lustre round the American name! Rising in our horizon, like a new star of the first magnitude, it mises soon to rival and even to excel in brilliancy all those which adorn the American hemisphere. Distinguished as America now is for the freedom, the mildness, and justice of her government, the wisdom of her statesmen, the skill and intrepidity of her soldiers, she will then be still more distinguished by the zeal and diligence with which she diffuses through the world the word of eternal truth. The idea now most naturally associated, in the minds of other nations, with the American name and character is, that of civil liberty; soon, we fondly hope, it will be, the distribution of the Bible.-Without dissolving the association of civil liberty with the American name, one yet stronger may be formed, between that name and her Bible Societies. Without descending one single degree from that elevated rank which she has gained among the nations of the earth by her generous and

devoted attachment to her Republican Government, she may gain an elevation still higher by her enlightened zeal and persevering diligence in circulating the sacred Scriptures. The Sun does not deprive the moon and the stars of their light, but only conceals them from view by his superiour splendour. May the lustre, surrounding the American name, derived from Bible Societies, be like that of the sun, rendering her other glories less perceivable, only by its superiour brilliancy.

Anxious to aid in producing these happy results, your Managers cannot avoid embracing the present opportunity of recommending to their constituents, to cherish that zeal and employ that diligence which will, in some degree, be worthy the noble cause in which they are engaged. With this view let us use increasing industry in supplying the wants of this county. Let us inquire for those families and individuals not yet furnished with the Bible; and when found, let us exert our utmost ingenuity in rendering the donation agreeable and useful to them. Let us recommend it as the poor man's treasure, as a balm to the wounded spirit, as the voice of mercy and peace to the afflicted, as the word of God, as the guide to Heaven. If all other efforts fail, let us entreat and persuade them to receive it as the gift of God.

Our surplus funds we can send to the Treasurer of the American Bible Society, to be appropriated, by the wisdom of its Managers, in that way best calculated to answer the purpose for which they were given.

Extract from the Sixth Annual Report of the Board of Managers of the OTSEGO COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY; June 11, 1818.

Your managers have bought, within the last year, 320 Bibles and 200 Testaments, which, with those bought and distributed since the formation of the Society, amount to 1302 Bibles and 519 Testaments. There is now on hand 183 Testaments.

Since the formation of our Society in 1812, we have distributed 1261 Bibles and 500 Testaments. And by reports from several parts of the county, we believe that 2000 more may be distributed. Extract from the Seventh Report of the BIBLE SOCIETY OF SALEM AND VICINITY, June 10, 1818.

In laying before you, on the present occasion, a brief statement of our proceedings the past year, it gives us much pleasure to say that the Society has never been more useful in its own operations, in addition to its more extensive effects through the medium of the American Bible Society, of which it is now a branch, and to whose funds it has contributed three hundred dollars the year past.

There have issued from this Society 430 Bibles and 82 Testaments within the year; a larger number than has been usual. These, we trust, have been disposed of in a way the most likely to be useful. They have been taken principally by single copies, or in small