to the very evils which it professes to remedy; and that its continuance is in a civil point of view as impolitic, as in a religious it is criminal.

We call, therefore, upon every one who has any regard for the honour of God and of religion, any gratitude to those brave men who have encountered unnumbered hardships and dangers in our defence, to step forwards and use all the influence which they possess to terminate these abominations. A few of our Admirals and our Captains have dared to be singular, and have exhibited a bright and brave example of naval discipline and Christian conduct in their own vessels, though surrounded by a fleet of ships in which the most awful immoralities were committed. Let others imitate their example, let Christians exert their influence, and then, in spite of all that the impure and the unholy may devise, this reproach shall be rolled away from our land, and the instruments in so great a work will have a name to live when all the fame of their unchristian comrades is lost in forgetfulness; for, most assuredly, them that honour God he will honour, but they that despise him shall be lightly esteemed.

lish this volume, which he has the assurance to call a respectful Letter. Exclusive of the Author's immediate circle, there can be but one opinion upon the subject. This Letter is neither respectful nor decent. For instance, it insinuates, in the very title-page, that the Speech on which he animadverts is imputed to his Lordship; whereas it is a matter of public notoriety, that it was actually spoken by his Lordship-that it expresses his Lordship's known and avowed sentiments-sentiments not hastily taken up at the impulse of the moment, but which he had long before publicly stated, and the previous annunciation of which could not be unknown to one so deeply read in the Monthly Extracts of the Bible Society as Mr. Norris is. As, however, it may gratify some of our readers, we will just insert a report of his Lordship's speech from the chair at the fifth Anniversary of the Cinque Ports Auxiliary Bible Society, November 6, 1817; four years, be it remembered, before that on which Mr. N. has presumed to animadvert; and will add a note of Lord Castlereagh on the same subject, which is at present painfully interesting to our minds.

In addressing the Meeting (which was by far the most numerous since the formation of the Institution), his Lordship took a

comprehensive view of the object and con

stitution of the British and Foreign Bible

Society, and expressed, in the most clear and decided manner, his increased attach

ment to both.

The Noble President adverted also to the

high station which he had the honour of holding in the government of the country, and the consequent duty which devolved upon him to maintain inviolate the trust

thus reposed in him by his Sovereign. With this impression, and with the firmest attachment which he entertained to the Established Church, he could not, from a sense of duty, lend his support to any society which stood opposed to it. In uniting with the Bible Society, however, he conscientiously believed he was supporting the interest of the Established Church in particular, and that of Christianity at large. He was a warm friend to a kindred Society,

because its object was the extension of that Church of which it was his happiness to be a member; and he cordially gave his support to the Bible Society, because, its operations being unlimited, it could extend itself where the other could not; and, by uniting the energies of Christians of all persuasions, it was, in fact, carrying the word of life to every nation and every clime. His Lordship concluded an able and energetic speech, by stating, that his motive for supporting the Bible Society, was the same as that assigned by his venerable Sovereign, who, on one occasion, expressed the hope, that he should live to see the day, when every subject in his realm would be able to read his Bible; and his Lordship, acting upon the same principle, hoped the day was fast approaching, when every man throughout the whole world would be able to read the Bible, and have it to read, in his own language.

The following letter was then read from the Right Honourable Viscount Castlereagh. "Dover Castle, Nov. 6, 1817.

"MY DEAR LORD,

"Having received an invitation from the Committee of the Auxiliary Bible Society, to attend their Meeting this day at Dover, and having heard that your Lordship is to preside on that occasion, I request your Lordship to have the goodness to express my regret at being prevented, by public business, from attending in person, and my willingness to become a member of the Society, as well as my wish to promote, by any means in my power, the prosperity of so laudable an Institution.

"I am, my dear Lord,

"Yours very sincerely, "CASTLEREAGH." "To the Earl of Liverpool, &c. &c. &c. Dover."

The present publication contains little that is new, and less that is interesting. A captious irritability and a determination to censure is every where evinced: there is a good deal of insinuation and inuendo, which intimates a sad want of right moral feeling-a species of jesting which is not convenient, and which is very unbecoming in a clergyman. Some assertions are made which compel us to doubt the correctness of the author's memory; there is a reference to certain circumstances which every friend of the Bartlett's Buildings Society and the Christian Remembrancer would

and

wish to be forgotten. We allude especially to the Welsh Bible and the French Testament. A more complete failure was never witnessed than that of the Christian Remembrancer on the latter subject; and Mr. Norris makes but a poor return to its conductors for their kind attention to his meagre verses, by thus bringing their sins to remembrance. The circumstance, indeed, is not of much importance; Mr. N.'s volume has dropped pretty nearly still-born from the press, and we should not have thought it worth notice were it not possible that our silence might have been misrepresented.

The following remarks, however, of the British Critic, for March 1813, appear so important as to the general question, that we beg leave to recall them to Mr. Norris's recollection, and with them we shall close the present article.

"If authority could decide a question perfectly cognizable by common sense, we should be inclined to bow to the authority which (very unhappily, we think) opposes itself to the Bible Society. Or, if acute and subtle argument could possibly make us believe white to be black, we should doubtless be staggered by the logic which has (with equal unhappiness) been wasted on this subject. But, as it is, we can only lament, and deeply lament, that invincible propensity to take different sides on every question, which breaks out even in the clearest and plainest concerns of human life.

"If it be a clear point that Bibles and Testaments, unsophisticated and uncommented, cannot possibly do harm;

"If it be clear that such a gift cannot be vitiated by the giver;

"If it be certain, that a society selling

cheap Bibles and Testaments, and also

other excellent works on theology, cannot

possibly be hurt by having a great part of its expense voluntarily borne by another society; it is and must be clear to us

"1. That the Bible Society is a good thing.

2. That it tends to assist, rather than to injure, the excellent Society for promoting Christian Knowledge.

"Ten thousand volumes of controversy

cannot, in our opinion, invalidate these plain truths, and therefore of such volumes we take no notice, that we may not perplex our readers and ourselves in vain."

MOSCOW BIBLE SOCIETY.

THE Ninth Anniversary of this Institution was held at Moscow, Feb. 26, when the Archbishop of Moscow, the Bishop of Dimitroff, the Governor General of Moscow, the Marshal of the Nobility, with many other nobles, generals, and clergy, as also several ladies of the first families, graced the assembly, which consisted of about 1600 persons.

The Archbishop of Moscow, Philaret, delivered an address, of which the following are extracts.

"Shall I make mention of another class of persons, who look for something more of the Bible Society than a mere official Report?-Why not speak of them? why not speak, in the presence of all, of that which has probably reached the ears of every one? Therefore, I shall speak plainly. Notwithstanding that the object of the Bible Society is clearly defined: to furnish every person with the salutary books of the sacred writings, who is desirous of obtaining them in the language or dialect which he best understands-notwithstanding the simplicity of the means employed; to collect pecuniary assistance, print editions of the Holy Scriptures, and bring them to the possession of those who seek to obtain them in the easiest way, by public sale, in different parts of the empire, by correspondents, at the lowest prices; and, in cases of need, gratis-notwithstanding the publicity of its operations; a few of its members assemble from time to time in order to undertake new editions, direct their execution, and the correspondence regarding their circulation, and once a year, as at present, call a General Meeting, with a view to make publicly known what has been done during the past yearnotwithstanding that the Society has been thus employed for many years, in the most populous parts of the empire, and under the special care of the most pious of monarchs, yet there are persons to be found, yea, to be found not far distant from the Society itself, who are still ignorant of its object, and who in their ignorance demand What sort of a Society is this? What is its object? What effects are we to expect from its operations?'

"Let such doubting inquirers see and hear as we do, without suspicion; for, in the face of the Bible Society, we speak that which is spoken of it in private, and its face changes not, because its eye is invariably and exclusively fixed on the Bible, the treasure of God's saving word; and it knows not any other objects of which to be afraid of being accused. Farther, we fear

SEPTEMBER 1822.

not to declare, in the presence of the Bible Society (though what has been said of certain persons who differ in their opinions from her, has not been said with a view to reproach or condemn them), that coldness towards the Bible, Society cannot be without a mixture of coldness towards the Bible itself, that is, of coldness towards true Christianity, which the Bible propagates.

"But there are people also who view the Bible Society with suspicion and anxiety, because the Bible is dear to them, and Christianity beloved by them; and they are concerned lest this treasure should be expended improperly, lest this Ark should be touched by unhallowed hands. In this way they show their concern for Christianity; but is not the Bible Society concerned about the same thing?

"The Bible Society is bound on every occasion to preserve and manifest the purity of her motives and actions; and those who support her ought to be at the trouble, in order to prevent their doubts from being converted into an unjust condemnation of a pure and good work, of examining carefully into the matter of which they doubt : to all such the door of the Society stands always open.

"But perhaps they will reply-' We do this-explain to us the need of an Institution of this kind, in a work so ancient and so established as Christianity and the Bible.' Why this new Institution? you demand. But what is here new?-Dogmas? precepts?-But the Bible Society propagates none; it only puts into the hands of those who wish for it a book, out of which the true church always drew, and still draws, both orthodox dogmas and pure precepts of life.

A new Society.' But this Society introduces nothing new into Christianity, nor does it change any thing in the church. What is the difference betwixt a typographical establishment, which printed the sacred books and brought them into circulation, under the superintendency of the ecclesiastical Government, and a Society which does the very same work under the inspection of the same ecclesiastical authority? The difference consists merely in this, that the Society, by its greater resources, is capable of doing the work more effectually than it was formerly done. But are new facilities, in executing a common work, to be condemned merely because they are new?

"Still it is objected-Why is this Institution of foreign origin?—In reply to this question, we might point out to our beloved countrymen many things, and put to them the same query concerning them:

Ꮓ Ꮓ

As

Why are these things not merely of foreign origin, but altogether foreign?' But, in order not to depart from our present subject, Is not the art of printing books itself of foreign origin? Did our pious ancestors reject this useful art on this account? in the present case, did foreigners suggest the idea of increasing the printing and facilitating the purchase of the sacred books before we did? But was it really before we did? Was this very idea not in action among us in Russia, even before it produced the Bible Society in England? For instance, in the year 1803, when an edition of the Bible was printed off in the holy synod's printing-office, each copy of it costing nine rubles and a half, the holy synod made a representation to Government on the costliness of it, and by an Imperial Ukase it was ordered to be sold for seven rubles and a half; but in order,' as it is expressed in the Ukase, that this high price may not put it out of the power of the poor to procure this holy book, means shall be employed to produce another edition, which, by its cheapness, shall be accessible unto this class of people.'-Now, who sees not, from this example, that the spirit which now animates the Russian Bible Society is not a strange spirit, but the very same by which our pious Government was actuated even before the existence of Bible Societies?"

the Society's affairs in the four great provinces of Ireland, affords us the following results. There have been formed, in connexion with your Society, during the last year, one Auxiliary Society, three Branch Societies, and twenty-three Bible Associations, making in all twenty-seven Bible Institutions.

"The total number of Bible Institutions, of every description, now in connexion with your Society throughout the kingdom, is ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN, being an addition of thirty since last anniversary, or of twenty-five to the alphabetical list which accompanied your last Report. This steady progress to the occupation of the whole country, by these beneficent institutions, is highly encouraging. Still much remains to be done. There are yet six counties which possess no institution in connexion with your Society, and eight more in which your Bible establishments are confined to only one town and its immediate vicinity."

"The sum received in free contributions amounts to 26167. 10s. 6d. ; making an excess over that of last year, of 1437. 138. 9 d.

"The receipts from the sale of the Scriptures have been 29787. 14s. 0‡d. and from the sales of Monthly Extract, &c. 841. 78. 3d.; making the total receipts of your Committee, for the last year, 56797. 11s. 10d.; being 1745l. 16s. 5d. more than the receipts of the preceding year. One source of this increase is peculiarly gratifying, namely, the donations and annual subscriptions, which are 355l. Os. 11d. above those of the former year. The Committee, therefore, have the satisfaction of announcing to you, that the funds of your Society never were in a more flourishing condition."

"The issues from the Depository of the Society have been, for the last year, 8701 Bibles, and 11,964 Testaments, making a total of 20,665 copies. This total falls short of the issues of the former year, by 317 copies; but it is gratifying to the Committee to state, that the number of Bibles issued is 646 above that of the former year. It is also to be observed, that in the total of issues now reported, the sales exceed those reported at the last anniversary, by 1461 Bibles, and 835 Testaments, or 2296 copies; the excess of the preceding year consisting of gratuitous supplies to prisons, hospitals, and other similar public institutions. These institutions having once been liberally supplied, have not required, during the last year, so great an expenditure of the Society's funds. The issues of the last year, added to those of the former years, make a grand total of 295,695 copies issued since the commencement of the Society."

The Report next calls the attention of

the assembly to a cursory survey of the magnificent operations of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and then proceeds as follows:

"It is not to be expected that an Institution such as the Bible Society, should be permitted to pursue its course without animadversion. The last year has been peculiarly fruitful in objections: but with the discussion of these your Committee are not disposed to detain you.

It

"They are persuaded, that the best answer to every objection with which the Society can be assailed, is to recur to the fundamental principles of its constitution. It is a voluntary association of private indivi duals, for the procuring and disseminating of the pure unalloyed word of God; which lays claim to no authority, which offers violence to no man's conscience; but which, in the spirit of Christian meekness, solicits the assistance of all who approve of its object, and leaves others, without censure or uncharitable judgment, to follow the dictates of their own consciences. seeks to combine the efforts of Christians of every denomination, because any difference of opinion among the individuals that compose the Society, can have no tendency to alter the books, which they merely purchase and sell again, or distribute gratuitously. It depends solely on the liberality of the public, from year to year, as it has no fund laid up for permanent support, nor any other resource than the spontaneous benevolence of Christians; which circumstance furnishes the most effectual security for the prudent, conscientious, and economical employment of the funds intrusted to it."

The Report and Appendix contain several interesting anecdotes, of which the following may be considered as a specimen :

"A person, after making his purchase, pulling his Testament out of his breast, where he had carefully deposited it, and looking on it with seeming pleasure, said, 'I know well that the price I am charged for this book is not the price of the paper: God bless those that paid the rest for me."" "I hope and believe the more general diffusion of the Scriptures must have a good effect upon the poor in my district; but it is not in the course of one year that it can be very visible.The Association has certainly been the means of rousing a spirit of economy and exertion in the lower ranks here, that must, in the end, tell to their advantage; and it has been of incalculable use, in bringing the different ranks of society more in contact with each other, which must be of use to all."

From the Down Auxiliary Society.

"Down, December 4th, 1821. "The wife of a poor labourer (whose residence is in a neighbouring parish, and

who has a family of eight children) came to me a short time since, and told me that she had been hearing a sermon the preceding evening; the text was taken from Isaiah, But, alas!' she exclaimed,' when I went home I had no Bible in which to look for the text.' I asked her, would she buy one? She answered, that above all things she desired a Bible; but added, ‘I am too poor.' I asked if she could subscribe two-pence a week towards purchasing one? She received this proposal with gladness; but alleging her poverty, she added, was still afraid to engage it.' I encouraged her, and said, I would take the money as she could give it. She consented, and immediately desired me to insert her name for one.

she

"When she communicated this to her husband, he was exceedingly angry, and said with an oath, Where will you get the money?' She answered, We will keep it from our food!'-Accordingly the Lord enabled them to pay fire-pence weekly, and when the half was paid I gave her the Bible, which she gratefully received. The evening after I gave it to her, being Sabbath evening, her husband and children all seated round the fire, she opened the Bible and read to them. She had not read very long, before she observed the tears roll down her husband's cheek. She closed the book, being unable to proceed until she had given vent to her feelings; and her husband exclaimed, I would not want that book for five shillings;' and when the price of the book was all paid but a shilling, the husband himself came to pay it, and said, 'That is the last shilling for the Bible, and I would not want it for ten.""

MERCHANT SEAMEN'S AUXILIARY BIBLE

SOCIETY.

THE great object of the founders of this Institution was to awaken in the minds of the sailors themselves a desire to possess and peruse the Word of God; and we cannot but congratulate the Committee and their constituents on the eminent degree of success which has attended their exertions. The Fourth Annual Report, which we have just received, contains a number of most interesting and encouraging statements and anecdotes, from which we select the following, with the earnest hope that they may both encourage the present labourers, and excite others to engage in the same important undertaking.

"A respectable man, who keeps a lodging-house for seamen in London, said, a few days ago, that he had forty prime seamen at his house waiting for ships, and that he counted twenty-five Bibles amongst them, most of which had been purchased of the Society."