stimulate our exertions to promote the object of our association in the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, till "all the ends of the world shall remember, and turn unto the Lord, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

FIFTH REPORT.

Notwithstanding the unpropitious state of affairs on the continent, the committee have still sufficient documents thence, to prove the continuance of the deep interest excited by the establishment of this society; and of a zealous and successful co-operation in promoting its great object.

A letter from the Bible Society at Basle, the only one received, dated October, 1808, states, that the New Testament, which had been printed with standing types, by the assistance of the society, had received the fullest approbation; that the Old Testament would be completed by the end of the year; that the demands for this Bible were so numerous, as to exhaust the first impression; and that a second and third edition would be wanted. A company of active Christians in Basle had determined to print the New Testament, for the benefit of the Grisons, who have a peculiar dialect, in which scarcely a copy of the Scriptures can now be procured, intending that it should be gratuitously distributed, or sold cheap. They had also supplied the Protestants in the interior of France with a number of French Bibles at reduced prices; and the returns had enabled them to undertake a new edition of the French New Testament. It was their wish to have printed the whole Bible, had their funds been sufficient. However, the supply of a set of stereotype plates, now preparing by the committee for the use of the society at Basle, will materially assist this desirable object.

The printing of the Bohemian Bible at Berlin has been completed, and its rapid circulation has greatly exceeded the expectations of the Berlin Bible Society. They earnestly wish to be enabled to print the Scriptures in

the Polish dialect, but lament the insufficiency of their funds, in consequence of the general and severe distress. The committee have therefore cheerfully supplied for this purpose the sum of 8007. The society at Berlin, encouraged by this grant, have increased their impression to 8,000 copies of the Polish Bible entire, and 2,000 extra New Testaments.

A new association has been formed at Stockholm, under the sanction of the king and privy council, called the "Evangelical Society." One of its objects, for which there is a distinct and separate fund, is the circulation of the Scriptures. The poorer classes in Sweden were in great want of Bibles: and this society proposed to print an edition of the Scriptures in the Swedish language; but the smallness of their means obliged them to confine themselves to the New Testament. The committee have voted 3001. in aid of their fund, for the express purpose of printing the Swedish Bible on standing types.

The ministers of the United Brethren at Sarepta, encouraged by the grant of 600 rubles, and a promise of further assistance, had commenced the translation of St. Matthew's Gospel into the Calmue language; and it is expected that they will not desist till they have completed the New Testament.

Nothing more strongly marks the general approbation of the society, and the beneficial influence of its example, than the establishment of similar societies in distant parts of the globe. A Bible Society has been formed in Philadelphia, for the purpose of distributing the Scriptures in Pennsylvania, and in the contiguous states; and with the hope of producing similar establishments throughout the several states in the American Union. The assistance of the British and Foreign Bible Society being urgently solicited, the committee voted 2007. and intimated that their aid would be enlarged, in proportion as the Philadelphia Society extended the sphere of its operations. That society had begun to order a supply of Bibles and Testaments for distribution, in Wesh, Gaelic, French, and German; and, as these could not be had within the United States, the committee have furnished them at the cost prices.

The intelligence of the supplies granted for the pur

pose of aiding translations and publications of the Scriptures in the various dialects of the East, arrived most opportunely in Bengal. It was intended to appropriate them to the expense of preparing and printing editions of the Gospel in Malayalim, Chinese, Persian, Hindostanee, Bengalee, Mahratta, and Sanscrit. Of these, some had issued from the press at Serampore; others are printing; and all are in a state of preparation. Works of such magnitude could not be undertaken without a very considerable expense. The committee therefore have resolved to appropriate, for three years, an annual sum of 1,000l. to this important object. The supply of 500 English Bibles, and 1000 English Testaments, sent to India, had proved most acceptable; as several of the chaplains in Bengal had expended large sums in providing Bibles and Testaments for the British soldiery, and other Europeans there. The committee have therefore renewed this grant.

It has been the object of the committee, not only to supply the want of the Scriptures, whenever it has been stated to exist, but to provide new editions whenever they could foresee the probability of their doing it to advantage, as far as a prudent management of the funds of the society would admit. Editions of the New Testament in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian, have therefore been published; and other editions in Dutch, Danish, and modern Greek, are now in the press.

Some remarkable instances were noticed in the Third and Fourth Reports, of the readiness of the Spaniards to receive copies of the New Testament. The accidental arrival of a Spanish frigate, during the course of last year, afforded a proof no less gratifying, of the same disposition. The earnestness with which the crew solicited copies, the joy expressed in receiving them, and their immediate perusal of them, proved the high value they set on the gift. Several of the officers, and about 300 of the men, were present; and the priest of the frigate himself accepted two copies for his own use, and recommended the perusal of them. The number of Spanish Testaments distributed to the prisoners of that nation, previous to their return to Spain, and most gratefully received, was 775.

As to the Italian New Testament, the committee are

assured it may be beneficially distributed in Malta, Sicily, and Italy, and 500 copies have already been sent to a respectable correspondent at Malta.

The object of printing Dutch and Danish New Testaments, was to supply the prisoners of war of these countries, and the Danish and Dutch colonies, now under our government. For the immediate supply of the Dutch prisoners, the committee purchased a number of Bibles and Testaments already printed.

The number of Portuguese in this country, and the facilities for communication with Portugal and the Portuguese colonies, have led to the printing of the New Testament in that language.

As to the New Testament in modern Greek, the prospect of an extensive circulation of it is very encouraging, particularly among the Greeks dispersed throughout the Turkish empire, and a large population of the same people at Smyrna, amounting to fifty or sixty thousand families, amongst whom scarcely a single copy of the New Testament was to be found. This work will have the correspondent original text in parallel columns.

Measures are taken for printing, in the north of Sweden, 5,000 copies of the New Testament in the Lapland language.

A considerable number of Bibles and Testaments, sent to the German colonies on the Wolga, were received with joy and gratitude. They were given, free of all expense, to those only among the poor who could read. A further supply of Bibles and Testaments has since been sent from Halle to the same quarter.

The types and paper presented by the society to the missionaries at Karass, for an edition of the Scriptures in Turkish, have reached the place of their destination, notwithstanding the war.

Besides this, a great many copies of the Scriptures. have been sent for sale, or gratuitous distribution, to the East Indies, the Mediterranean, Quebec, Halifax, Prince Edward's Island, the West Indies, the Spanish Main, Gib raltar, the Cape of Good Hope, Madeira, and Stockholm.

The committee purchased a number of New Testaments for the refugees from Finland at Stockholm, which were received by them with "indescribable joy."

Since the last report, another large edition of the Welsh Testament has been printed. Bibles and New Testaments, in English, have been sent to the Isle of Man, for sale at reduced prices, for the accommodation of the poor; and have been given largely within the United Kingdom among prisoners of war, convicts, &c. The Naval and Military Bible Society, the Hibernian Bible Society, the Cork Bible Society, and the Wigan Bible Society, (the latter under the patronage of the Bishop of Chester,). have been largely supplied with Bibles at the cost prices. The London Female Penitentiary, and some schools, have received aid in this way. Individuals have been supplied with Bibles at the cost, or reduced prices, for charitable distribution. The accommodation of prisons, hospitals, and work-houses, has also engaged the attention of the committee, and has led to a correspondence with the sheriffs of the different counties, and the chaplains and gaolers of various prisons, who have paid a gratifying attention to the applications of the committee.

An Auxiliary Bible Society has been formed at Reading, under the patronage of the Bishop of Salisbury, and has been supported with a liberality and union which entitle its promoters to the respect and gratitude of the parent institution. A similar Auxiliary Institution has been formed at Nottingham.

The funds of the Society have been enlarged during the year, by the great increase of annual subscriptions, as well as by legacies and donations.-The congregations in the connexion of the late Rev. J. Wesley, have collected to the amount of 1,2781.-The sum of 1,000l. three per cent. consol. has been transferred to the society, by Mrs. Ann Scott, relict of the late Rev. Jonathan Scott, of Matlock. Upwards of 7001. have been received front the Presbytery of Glasgow, being a collection made through that Presbytery. The Reading Auxiliary Society has already raised a considerable sum. A Bible Society, instituted at Greenock, has presented a donation of fifty guineas. A fourth donation of 907. has been received from the Association in London for aiding the institu

A second contribution, amounting to 18. has been made by the teachers and children of the Holbura Sunday School, who have agreed to appropriate a smali