ble race. It was not until about fifteen years ago that any considerable share of public attention in this country was directed to the religious principles of the people, or any systematic attempt made to instruct them universally on this point. Since that time the experiment has been tried upon a larger and a still increasing scale; and it may be confidently asserted, that, as far as it has gone, it has fully justified the expectations of its advocates."

The Society hope by their efforts, to counteract the sale of evil tracts, and to supply their places with those of a wholesome and religious kind, which, by their cheapness, may drive the venders of seditious and licentious ones out of the market.

The plan which it pursues is nearly similar to that already tried in London, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow, and other places.

Donations and subscriptions will be received by Messrs. George La Touche and Co. Dublin; or at the Depository, No. 12, Lower Sackville Street, Dublin; and by Messrs. Pugett, Bainbridge and Co., Warwick-lane, London,

ETHIOPIC PSALTER,

The following is a translation of a curious Ethiopic Letter, addressed, by direction of the late King Itsa Takley Gorges, to Henry Salt, Esq. Consul of his Britannic Majesty, at Grand Cairo, who had forwarded to Abyssinia, by Mr. Pearce, some copies of the Ethiopic Psalter, placed at his disposal by the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society.—

"May this epistle, which has been sent by Pearce Nathanael, reach the prince of nobles and priests, Salt. How is thy health, my lord and friend, exalted as heaven and earth? May the Lord refresh thy days! Amen, and Amen.

"The book of the Psalms of David is exceedingly good, and very beautiful: so say all the men of Ethiopia. It is, however, the custom in Ethiopia, with the Psalms of David, to have the meditations of the Prophets (fifteen sections); the Song of Solomon (five sections); and the seven daily Hymns to our Lady Mary, written with illuminated head-pieces, With the Psalms of David, therefore, write those that are to be written; namely, The fifteen sections of the Meditations of the Pro

phets; five of the Song of Solomon; and the Hymn of Mary.

"With regard to the Book of the Psalms, which you sent me prior to this, it is said to be small, (that is, printed in a small letter,) though it is esteemed. There is, moreover, no red writing, with which they adorn and beautify all the books of both the Old and New Testaments. In the same manner, also, make the writing of the Four Gospels in both red and black ink, that the men of Ethiopia may admire them; and that thou mayest obtain the salvation of the self-existing God, as Elias and Enoch did, for ever and ever. Amen.

"This epistle, which has been written by Wáhá Denghel, brother of Leësta, whom you loved, is, my lord, to inquire after your health; from one who is desirous of your arrival, and speaks the word of truth, O Salt, prince of princes!

"Remember me in your prayers, and love me; for I shall love you mucheven as you have loved my brother Leësta. And may the Lord preserve you, both in your going out and coming in, henceforth and for ever! Amen. (Psalm cxxi. 8.)

"I, Wáhá, shall pray for your prosperity, though distant from you.

"P.S. Make cases for all the books, singly; for no one can suppose you unable, and all believe you to be the chief."

HIBERNIAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Patron, the Lord Primate. President, the Archbishop of Dublin. Vice-Presidents: the Archbishop of Tuam; the Marquisses of Downshire and Hertford; the Earls of Charlemont and Charleville; Viscount Lorton; the Bishops of Cloyne, Meath, Clogher, Down, Kilmore, Elphin, Kildare, Killaloe, Raphoe, Limerick, Ferns, Killala, Dromore, Lord Calthorpe; Robert Shaw, Esq. M. P.; Right Hon. Charles Grant, M. P. Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant; James Stewart, Esq. of Killymoon.

The last Report of this Society, after mentioning some improvements in its plans, presents the following, among other pleasing results of its exertions:

"In Dublin, and in various parts of the country, measures are in forwardness to organize associations on a plan similar to that which has been adopted with so much success in the sister island, and your Committee confidently hope, that

a foundation has been laid for a report of great and extended benefit at your next annual meeting.

"In the mean time, your Committee would direct your attention to some of the effects of the arrangements described above.

"The first effect which they shall notice, is the entire liquidation of the debt of the Society. At your last annual meeting, the debt due by the Society amounted to 1,4851. 10s. Id. That debt s now liquidated, and the books imported by the Society are paid for, up to the 31st December last. And here your Committee cannot but inform you of an act of great and noble generosity on the part of his Majesty's Printers in Edinburgh. These gentlemen had agreed to allow the Society five per cent. discount on all books purchased by it, pro. vided they were paid for within one year after the date of the invoice. This stipulation, however, the Committee, owing to the embarrassed state of the Society's funds, were not able to fulfil; the debt due by this Society being on the average of more than two years standing. Yet, when money was remitted to bring the account to a balance, his Majesty's Printers unexpectedly, and unsolicited, deducted the full discount, amounting to upwards of three hundred and seventy pounds."

"Another effect of the changes mentioned above, has been an increased issue of books. During that part of the year on which the old system was acted on, the issue of books was at the rate of about 5,300 annually: during the latter part of the year, after the introduction of the new system, the issue was at the annual rate of about 14,000.

"Your Committee now go on to mention the other transactions of the year. In the month of July, they ordered the printing and circulation of the Monthly Extracts from the Correspondence of the British and Foreign Bible Society, with the addition of extracts from their own correspondence. This measure has since been carried into effect, to a very considerable extent, and will, they trust, produce the most beneficial results."

❝ Your Committee feel peculiar pleasure in adverting to the revival of the Dublin Branch of the Hibernian Bible Society, which had so long been dormant. They congratulate the Society, they congratulate every well-wisher of the Gospel, every lover of his country,

on their having to state that the highest authorities of the city, and many of its most estimable private characters were present anxiously and earnestly countenancing and promoting this most desirable event."

"Your Committee beg to acknowledge with gratitude, a donation from the Ladies' Box Association, of 431. 3d., and another donation of 481. 8s 4d. from the Ladies' Auxiliary Society. They also beg to acknowledge the receipt of a legacy of 1007. left by the late Mrs. Taylor"

"Your Committee have also other instances of liberality to record, which, although they cannot, from their nature, appear on the face of your accounts, will, they trust, have a more permanent existence in your grateful recollections. We allude to the continued liberality of the Irish Government, in permitting books for the Society, not only Bibles and Testaments, but reports and other documents from the British and Foreign Bible Society, to be imported free of duty; and also, a similar liberality on the part of the Post-Masters-General, in permitting that our correspondence through the post-office, should be free of charge. Another instance of liberality, which it would be unpardonable in your Committee to omit, is that of the proprietors of the Wexford coaches, who have granted to the Wexford Auxiliary Society, the privilege of receiving their parcels of books from your depository free of expense of carriage.

"The receipts of your Society for the past year, have amounted to 2,702l. 13s. 11d.; being 3401. 6s. 2d. more than the receipts of the former year.

"The issue of books for the last year has been 2,988 Bibles, and 6,341 Testaments; making a total of 9,329."

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.

This Society has just issued a circular, of which the following is the substance:

"The population of Ireland," they remark," is estimated at about five millions and a half; of whom about four fifths, or upwards of four millions, are Roman Catholics. From various causes, the blessings of the glorious Reformation have only flowed through that part of the United Kingdom in a very poor and shallow streamlet: the consequences have been, that ignorance, vice, wretchedness, and bigotry, have

maintained, and even extended their ascendancy; and civil discontent, inflamed by the animosity of religious dissentions, has too often rent asunder the ties of nature and society.

"The great body of the Irish within the pale of the Church of Rome is composed of the lower classes of society. In their unenlightened minds, ignorance and superstition undeniably reign; and being totally unacquainted with the source of those correct principles of action which civilize and moralize mankind, their general conceptions on such subjects are scarcely more just than those of benighted heathens. Yet it is an indisputable fact, familiar to those who have visited that interesting country, that the Irish character exhibits a frankness, an energy, and a quickness of perception, which afford obvious facilities for moral instruction and improvement.

"The attention of the gentry and landed proprietors has, of late years, been directed to the amelioration of the temporal condition of the poor, but their moral and religious education has not been equally promoted. The lower orders in Ireland are, in general, without opportunities of having their children educated; and when opportunities occur, they are prevented from benefiting by them from poverty. Thus the condition of the great mass of the population is characterized by gross ignorance and immorality: their children are rising into life, without instruction to enlighten, or principles to moralize them; and the Catholic religion, by systematically and determinately withholding the holy Scriptures from the people, prevents the diffusion of truth, and perpe. tuates mental degradation and depra vity."

tain from the instruction of the rising generation, and the diffusion of scriptaral knowledge, may also be fully enjoyed by the inhabitants of Ireland.

"Its primary efforts have been directed to the establishment of schools. It has had many difficulties to encounter, from the opposition of the Roman Catholics to a system of education which has the Bible alone for its foundation, its rule, and its strength. In the year 1812, however, the Society reported, that it had under its patronage-schools, 55 - children, 2,250. God has been pleased to increase these important and benevolent institutions, from that time to the present, according to the annexed statement:

19,312

⚫27,776

32,516

1817 ........ 347 ........ 1818........ 392 ........ "All the schools are subjected to a quarterly inspection, by which the punctuality of the masters in the discharge of their duties is ascertained, and payment is made to them respectively, according to the actual number, attenddance, and proficiency of their pupils. The schools are also visited by many of the clergy of the Established Church, and by other respectable individuals, who kindly condescend, by such supervision, to promote the designs of the Society. In the district where Irish is the colloquial language, the Society's schools have an Irish class; and the children, after being taught to read in the Irish spelling-book, have the New Testament in the same language put into their hands. A collateral, but very important branch of the Society's con

1st. To establish schools for the education of the children of the poor in Ireland, without respect to any peculiar system of religious instruction.

2d. To the circulation of the holy Scriptures in the English and Irish languages, without note or comment.

"These being the sole objects of the Hibernian Society, it looks with confidence to the members of every religious community for co-operation and support, under a full persuasion, that by the application of these pure and unexceptionable means, the benefits and bless. ings which have resulted to Great Bri

ed to adults. The masters of the schools have a class of adult pupils, on mornings and evenings, on Sundays and holidays. Many of the age of sixty and upwards, now listen, for the first time, with pleasing astonishment, to the wonders they learn from the New Testament; and others have become Irish readers in the different villages where they reside. The more intelligent inspectors of the Schools, are likewise employed as village readers. Every night they collect the young and the old in the villages nearest the schools, and read the New Testament to them: the masters of the schools are also occasionally employed

in this important work. The Society is particularly engaged in circulating the Scriptures in Ireland. The constant use of them in the Schools, in the tuition of adults, and in the public reading of them by the inspectors, masters, and others, affords the best facilities for prosecuting with effect this part of the Society's plan; and in addition to its own occasional expenditure on this object, the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Hibernian Bible Society, &c. have, by their grants of Bibles and Testaments, enabled the Committee to disseminate the sacred volume very extensively.

"From the schools, the sacred Scriptures extend an enlightening and purify ing influence to the cottages, and pene trate the strong holds of ignorance and superstition. The New Testament is the school-book for the children; their parents are pleased at hearing it read to them at home; and in many instances, both parents and children have experienced divine consolation and support, in the cabins of abject poverty, in sea. sous of sickness, and at the hour of death. The Committee of the Sligo Branch of the Hibernian Bible Society thus conclude their Annual Report: Your Committee have been credibly informed, that in several remote villages in your county, numbers of persons, anxions to receive Scripture-knowledge, meet together after the close of the evening schools; not as formerly, to witness scenes of idle amusement, drunkenness, and gaming; or to enter into illegal combinations and dangerous conspiracies; but to hear the sacred volume read aloud to them, and to listen to those sublime precepts, which inculcate love to their neighbours, loyalty to their king, and reverence to their God!"

LONDON SOCIETY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE JEWS. The following is Mr. Nitschke's reply to the question, "Which division of the present Jewish race affords, under the Divine blessing, the greatest hopes of success?"

"At this time the Jewish Nation," he remarks," may be suitably divided into the following five classes.

"1. Enlightened persons, who lay aside the Mosaic Law and the traditions of the elders, profess pure Theism, and endeavour to introduce among their nation the principles of mere morality.

They properly aim at natural religion; most of them are disciples of the late Jewish philosopher Mendelsohn; though many of them still observe the revealed law of God. This class, which has spread much, and consists of the best informed part of the Jews, wish to make common cause with the Christians, while they do not desire to believe in the name and salvation of the Son of God, and are enemies of the cross of Christ. Among them little hopes can be entertained of gaining entrance with the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ; and though they manifest moral sentiments, they would probably become only nominal Christians. The adherents of this party have recently built synagogues at Berlin and Hamburg, and regulated their divine worship agreeably to Christian usages, singing hymns accompanied by an organ, and having sermons delivered from a text of the Old Testament.

"2. The Sabsaids, a mystical sect, who abound in fanciful notions, and suppose to find in these more wisdom, than in that wisdom which is from above, and which makes known to us the mystery of godliness.

3. The Karaits, who, from their religious principles, as far as I am acquainted with them, might probably be convinced with less difficulty of the truths of salvation in Christ, and be less averse to embrace these truths.

"4. The orthodox Jews, as they call themselves, who stedfastly adhere to the Mosaic Law and to the tradition of their elders, and who still constitute the majority of this nation, especially in Poland, They live, generally speaking, in the greatest blindness and ignorance of heart, and are hardened in unbelief: nevertheless, among them it is not improbable that the light of the Gospel will first dispel the darkness of unbelief, when the Lord by his almighty fiat says, Let there be light.

5. That not inconsiderable party among the Jews, who have no religion at all, are Atheists, aud live without God in the world, maintaining themselves chiefly by usury and fraud, and manifest neither a religious nor moral disposition.

"With the Portuguese Jews, who are regarded the nobility of this nation, and with theOriental Jews, I am unacquainted; nor do I know whether any adherents of the former sect of Chasadim in Poland are still in existence.

It may be difficult to decide, to

which division of the Jews the Society should chiefly direct its attention. We know not the times and seasons, which the Father has put in his own power, for restoring the kingdom to Israel; but we ought to observe the signs of the present times, as an emotion is perceptible among this nation which has not been observed at any former period.

"The Spirit of the Lord must direct the undertakings of the Society, and open doors for successful labour among the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and we ought frequently to unite before the Throne of Grace in fervent prayer and supplication for them. Deliver, O Lord, the people of Israel from their blindness, lead them to know thee, and to enjoy thy salvation; that many of them may with us attain to the possession of the glorious inheritance which is promised and reserved for us in heaven."

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE

SOCIETY.

From the Eighth Report of the Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland, and Monkwearmonth Auxiliary Society, Sept. 21, 1819.

"Your Committee have uniformly kept in view the plan of supplying every vessel belonging to the port, with a Bible, for the use of the crew, placed in a proper box, fixed in the steerage. During the past year, 70 large Bibles, with boxes, have been distributed, making a total of Bibles distributed among the ships, since the plan was first acted upon, on the 4th of June, 1817, to the amount of 220, at an expense of 847. Is. 8d. to the Society. The reports of the Sub-Committee, who have distributed Bibles during the past year, contain the most satisfactory accounts of the esteem in which the Bibles formerly distributed, are holden; and of the grateful feelings with which every successive distribution of Bibles is received."

From the First Report of the Branch Society at Van Dieman's Land.

"Hobart Town, May 8th, 1819. "The meeting which was advertised for this day, for the purpose of instituting an Auxiliary Bible Society in Van Dieman's Land, as a branch of the Society of New South Wales, took place at the new church at twelve o'clock.

"His honour the Lieutenant governor, having, at the desire of the meeting,

taken the chair, addressed them in explanation of its object, and in earnest recommendation that this growing settlement should follow the example set generally by the British Colonies, in the institution of societies to co-operate with the National Society for the diffusion of the Scriptures.

"The Lieutenant-governor proceeded to propose the resolutions, which were supported by the Deputy Judge Advocate, and received unanimous assent."

From the Rev. Dr. Pinkerton.-" At the first sight of Athens, the birth-place of those arts and sciences which have contributed so much to meliorate the condition of Europeans, and render their quarter of the world superior to all others, one is filled with sensations of wonder and regret at the view of the Acropolis, the Academic Groves, the Temples of Minerva and Theseus, the Areopagus, with the surrounding mountains of Hymettus, Pentelicus, Parnes, Egaleos and Citharon; the mind retires into the ages of antiquity, and the memory brings up before it a multitude of images of the greatest men and the grandest events recorded in profane history. But it is not in an epistle of this kind that I can indulge in feelings and reflections on these remembrancers of attic greatness: I have a theme of a different kind, and one which is still dearer to my heart than even that which I have now touched. I have news to communicate which will fill your hearts with joy: Athens also is become the seat of a Bible Society!

"This was an event which I dared not anticipate before my coming here; and which I did not even find myself at liberty to propose to a single individual, until the third day after my arrival. But the God, whose we are, and whom we serve in the cause of the Bible, can make all hinderances give way, and erect monuments of his mercy wheresoever he pleases.

"The Athens Bible Society was formed yesterday. The Committee is composed of twelve of the most respectable men in the city-all Greeks. The Archbishop, though absent at Constantinople, was nominated president of the institution, which honour, it is hoped, he will not refuse to accept; Mr. Logotheti, the British Consul, and Mr. Tirnaviti, were elected vice-presidents; with six directors, two secretaries, and a treasurer. "The immediate sphere of this Society's