Old Testament into as many; and have begun a translation of the New Testament into two more. The Rev. L. Sebastian, many years resident at the court of Persia, is advanced to nearly the end of the Epistles in a Per. sic translation of the New Testament, from the Greek, intended for the Christians dispersed over Persia, who are stated as very desirous of possess ing the Scriptures, in a plain transla tion. Sabat has completed the translation of the New Testament and the Book of Genesis into Arabic. The Hindostanee translation of the New Testament, by Mirza Fitrut, under the superintendance of the Rev. H. Martyn, the four Gospels in Persian by the Rev. L. Sebastiani, and the three first Gospels in Telinga, translated by the late Rev. A. Desgranges, are in the press, At Bombay, the printing of the Malayalim Version of the Gospels, in September last, was advanced as far as the 12th chapter of St. John, Of the Gospels translat. ed by Dr. Leyden into five of the dialects of the Eastern Archipelago, none have been printed, in conse. quence of the death of Dr. Leyden in java. With a view to procure the best version of the Scriptures in the purest dialects of Arabia and Persia, the Rev. H. Martyn undertook a jour ney into those countries; and by the last accounts was at Shiraz. Sabat's Arabic translation of the New Testament having been shewn by Mr. Martyn to a learned Arab at Bushire, he pronounced on it the highest eu. Mogium. It appears that the printing of Oriental manuscripts, (chiefly ow ing to the skill and disinterestedness of the Baptist Missionaries,) can be executed at Serampore, at an expense much less than at any other press in India, or even in Europe.

Of the distribution of the Tamul and Portuguese Scriptures, mentioned in the Seventh Report, the Committee have received most pleasing intelligence. Nothing could exceed the gratitude of the native Christians at Tanjore and Tranquebar. A single fact will prove the extreme scarcity of Tamul Bibles. A catechist, in the congregation of Mr Kohloff at Tan. jore, had been employed twenty four years in teaching the Gospel, without

possessing the Old Testament. The Portuguese Bibles and Testaments were equally acceptable. Among those who received a Bible in Eng. lish, Malabar, and Portuguese, was a Roman Catholic Priest, who had fre quently recommended the perusal of the Holy Scriptures, in his sermons.

The Committee, to encourage the efforts making in India, have voted an additional sum of two thousand pounds; the total of their grant to Calcutta, for the current year, being thus five thousand pounds.

The Committee expect that a trans. lation of the Old Testament in the Cingalese dialect, will be undertaken by a competent person at Ceylon, They have voted five hundred pounds to the Rev. Robert Morrison, at Canton, for promoting the translation and printing of the Scriptures in Chinese. III. AMERICA.

The donations to Eible Societies in America have been respectfully acknowledged. The Committee have received satisfactory Reports of the proceedings of the Societies in Philadelphia, Connecticut, New-Jersey, and New-York. The zeal excited for the diffusion of the Scriptures, continues undiminished. The most perfect cordiality subsists among the various Bible Societies in the United States: and since their existence in America, the sale of Bibles to indi. viduals has considerably increased. The Committee have agreed to assist "The Bible and Common Prayer book Society," of Albany by a donation of Scriptures to the value of fifty pounds. Anxious to aid the circulation of the Scriptures in America, and aware of the expense of the Philadelphia Society in providing stereotype plates, for the Bible, they have granted a second donation of one hundred pounds to that society; and trust it will be accepted as a pledge of the union they desire to maintain with their American brethrer. in promoting the interests of Christ's kingdom.

IV. THE UNITED KINGDOM. The approbation of the Society has been most extensively manifested, by the zeal and co-operation of the Auxiliary Societies noticed in former Reports, and by the still more numerous Societies formed during the last year.

The Auxiliary Societies formed since the last meeting amount to fifty one, besides sixteen branch Societies, and their contributions to the parent Society to upwards of 18,500. besides upwards of 9,700/ from Societies previously formed,

The Committee rejoice to see the zeal for disseminating the blessings of Revelation keep pace with that charity which has provided so many institutions for relieving temporal distress; and while they gratefully acknowledge that liberality which aug. ments the funds of the institution, they are equally sensible of the benefits to be derived from the exertion of its Auxiliaries, in supplying the local wants of their respective districts with the Holy Scriptures.

The Committee express their regret, that it has not been in their power to comply with the application for Bibles and Testaments in the degree required, though every possible exertion has been made by them, to procure a sufficient quantity. In addition to the two Universities, they have now obtained the assistance of his Majesty's Printers. They there. fore trust, that the inconvenience from this cause will be speedily removed. But though the supply has been so inadequate to the demand, a muchlarger number of Bibles and Testaments has been issued in eleven months, ending the 21st February last, than in thirteen months preced. ing, viz, 35,690 Bibles, and 70,733 Testaments, making the total number issued up to that period, 140,415 Bibles, and 291,524 Testaments, exclusive of those circulated at the charge of the Society in various parts abroad.

V. DISTRIBUTION OF BIBLES. Considering the poor of the United Kingdom as having particular claims on the Society, the Committee have invited clergymen and dissenting m.nisters to encourage Bible Associa. tions, and to investigate the state of the poor in their several vicinities; and they have engaged to return Bibles and Testaments, at the cost price, to the amount of one half of any congregational collections they may re ceive within a year. The Committee are of opinion, that the plan of selling

the Scriptures to the poor, where practicable; has been found to possess several important advantages over gratuitous distribution

The list of the Society's benefactions in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, is too long to be inserted at present. Suffice it to say, that their benevo lence has visited every quarter of the globe, and has contributed to cheer almost every form of misery to which man is heir. The correspondent at one of the principal naval stations, who had so frequently received the acknowledgments of the Committee for an unwearied attention to supply soldiers and seamen, foreign troops,prison. ers of war, convicts, and others with the holy Scriptures, has devoted the same active exertions to this object, during the last year. In the course of that period, 3,850 Bibles and Testaments, in various languages have been distributed by this correspondent alone; who has received satisfactorytestimonies that they were no less gratefully received than eagerly sought.

The Committee have reason to be lieve that the Scriptures distributed in the variousmodes above stated (which will, probably, not fall short of 32,000 copies) have proved real blessings to many who have obtained them.

The distribution of the Gospel of St. John among the Esquimaux, in Labrador, was repaid with tears of gratitude; and having been limited to such only as could read, an uncommon eagerness was excited in others to learn to read, that they might obtain similar presents.

The Committee have taken an anxious interest in the state of Ireland, and have granted a further donation of Bibles and Testaments to the amount of 5007. to the Hibernian Bible Society. They have also passed a resolution to encourage the formation of Auxiliary Societies in that country, by the promise of aid in proportion to their own exertions.

The funds of the Society have been augmented by various contributions and collections. The legacies of the year have amounted to 1,6177.

The Committee have nominated Granville Sharpe, Esq. the Rev. John Owen. the Rev. Joseph Hughes, the Rev. C. F. Steinkopff, Rev. John Jan

icke of Berlin, Thomas Hammersly, Esq. Rev. Professor Dealtry, and Richard Phillips, Esq. governors for life, in consideration of the essential services rendered to the Society.

"From the facts now reported, the members of the Society are authorized to adopt the gratifying inference, that as the institution advances in years, it increases in means, influence, and respectability. Like the little cloud which the prophet's watchman saw from Carmel, rise out of the sea, and spread by degrees over the face of the heavens, cheering the Israelites with the prospect of fertilizing showers, the British and Foreign Bible Society, small in its origin, has attained a conspicuous elevation and magnitude, and has been hailed as the harbinger of good tidings, and the dispenser of blessings, by the people of the north and the south, the east and the west."

"The theatre on which the Society displays its operations, is that of the whole world. Considering all the races of men as children of one common Father, who, "maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and 'sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust," and who wills, "that all men should come to the knowledge of the truth;" the British and Foreign Bible Society offers the records of eternal life to the bond and the free, to Hea thens and Christians,-in the earnest hope that they may become a lamp unto the feet, and a light unto the paths, of those who now receive them, and of generations yet unborn."

"To support the character which the British and Foreign Bible Society has assumed, to realize the hopes which it has excited, to foster and enlarge the zeal which it has inspired, are obligations of no common magnitude, and which cannot be discharged without correspondent exertions. Immense portions of the globe, now the dominions of idolatry and superstition; regions where the light of Christianity once shone, but is now dim or extinguished; and countries where the heavenly manna is so scarce that thousands live and die without the

means of tasting it,point out the existing claims on the benevolence of the Society.

"To supply these wants, fill up these voids, and display the light of Revelation amidst the realms of dark. ness, will long require a continuance of that support which the British and Foreign Bible Societyhad derived from the public piety and liberality: and perhaps the persevering efforts of succeeding generations. Let us not, however, be weary in well doing; "for in due season we shall reap, if we faiat not."

"Let the British and Foreign Bible Society, uniting its prayers with those which are daily offered up at home and abroad for the blessing of God on its proceedings, humbly hope, that it may become an instrument of his providence, for accomplishing his gracious promises; and that, by means of the Scriptures distributed through its exertions, or by its influence and encouragement, nations now ignorant of the true God, may learn to draw water from the wells of salvation." The prospect is animating, the object holy; its accomplishment glorious: for the prospective efforts of the So. ciety are directed to a consummation (whether attainable by them or not, is only known toilim who knoweth all things) when all the ends of the earth. adopting the language of inspiration, shall unite their voices in the sublime strains of heavenly adoration, "Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever: Hallelujah! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth’”

The nett receipts of the year have amounted to upwards of 43 500, the nett payments to nearly 32,500, leav ing a balance of 11,000 against which there are engagemen's to be placed, amounting to 14,000. The society, therefore, with all its ample means, possesses only the semblance of wealth. If its income were multiplied tenfold, that income would find abundant employment in supplying the wants of an universe thirsting for the waters of life.

ary.

Several

It is one of the most happy and encouraging circumstances of the present times, that Christians are awakened to a just view of the im portance of educating young men For the Gospel ministry. voluntary associations have been formed for this purpose in Massachusetts; but no institution,except the Theolog. ical Seminary at Andover, promises to be more efficacious in promoting the good work,than the Seminary describ. ed below: provided the Iberality of

Christians shall furnish it with means proportioned to the excellence of the object, and the demands of our vacant churches and settlements. We would direct the attention of all Christians, whom God has favored with property, to this infant, but highly important and laudable institution. ED. PAN.

Extracts from the proceedings of the Ecclesiastical Convention, assembled at Windsor, Vt. on the 21st day of October A.D. 1312, for the purpose of taking into consideration the expediency of establishing, in this part of the country, a seminary for the educa tion of poor and pious young men for the Gospel ministry.

THE Convention met, according to adjouruinent, at the house of General Abner Forbes.

VOL. V. New Series.

Whereas it has, for some time past, been contemplated by many of the friends of religion in the western parts of the state of New Hampshire, and the eastern parts of the state of Vermout, to establish an institution with a view to assist in the education of poor and pious young men for the Gospel ministry: And nevolent persons have proposed to whereas many well disposed and becontribute of their substance to this desirable object;-with a view, therefore, to concentrate the exertions of the friends of Zion in this laudable undertaking, a Convention of Pastors and Delegates of the churches of the Orange and Coos Associations, and of representatives from the General Association of New Hampshire, the General Association of Massachusetts Connecticut, and the General Con. Proper, the General Association of vention of Congregational and Pres. byterian ministers of the State of the third Wednesday in October, A. Vermont, convened at Windsor on D. 1812. by previous appointment, do agree to adopt the following constitu. tion of a seminary for the purposes aforesaid.

tablished at such place, within the Art. I. An Academy shall be és. limits of the Orange and Coos Asso. ciations, as the Trustees, whose ap. pointment is herein after provided for, shall think will most conduce to the

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