Correspondence with London, Petersburg,

and Calcutta.

In conformity with one of the Regulations, which recommends that a -friendly correspondence be maintained with the British and Foreign Bible Society, and with other Bible Societies, the Committee took the earliest opportunity of acquainting the Society in London with their plans. The Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society hailed this communication with joy; and, with their accustomed promptitude and liberality, resolved, that the sum of 5001. be placed at the disposal of this Committee; accompanied with a donation of a very large stock of the Scriptures, amounting to 5955 copies, in nineteen different languages. By their Correspondence, and by further grants of the Scriptures, particularly 500 copies of the London Edition of Archbishop Martini's Italian New Testament, the Committee in London have constantly rendered to this Society the greatest encouragement and assistance.

Your Committee opened, at the same time, a Correspondence with the Russian Bible Society, through the medium of that distinguished traveller and member of the Petersburg Committee, the Rev. Robert Pinkerton. To this your Committee were induced, from considering the ardent interest felt in Russia by all ranks of persons, from the Emperor to the Peasant, in the cause of the Bible; and from viewing also the facilities of communication and cooperation through Odessa. The reply of the Petersburg Committee fully justified the expectation that had been entertained of them: "We most gladly," they write, "lay hold of the fraternal hand which you stretch out toward us; and shall most willingly co-operate with you, to the utmost of our power, in promoting the best interests of the human race.'

As an

earnest of friendship, they have presented the Biblical Library of Malta with copies of several Versions printed in Russia; while, by their account of the various other Versions in the course of printing, they have pointed out to us the line of future co-operation with their plans.

The communication from St. Petersburg here referred to,

is

printed at pp. 299 and 300 of our last Volume.

The Report proceeds :—

The opening of the direct trade between Malta and the East Indies, afforded an important opportunity, which was not lost upon this Committee. Shortly after the formation of this Society, a Letter was addressed by the Secretaries to the Committee of the Auxiliary Bible Society of Calcutta; requesting the favour of copies of the various Versions printed in the East; and stating the advantages of mutual correspondence, especially through means of the Bible Society at Bombay. On this latter point the greater stress is to be laid, as it may eventually lead to co-operation on the shores of the Red Sca; especially in that ancient Christian Country, hitherto too little known, Abyssinia. Your Committee are happy to learn that their communications have been favourably received at Calcutta; while, with respect to Abyssinia, they have further the pleasure to report, that, in London and Paris, very rapid advances have recently been made toward the means of furnishing a complete Bible in the Ethiopic Language.

With respect to these more remote and extensive communications with London, Petersburg, and Calcutta, your Committee cannot but rejoice and feel grateful for this auspicious commencement of their labours. They have no fear of being complained of, as if travelling beyond the natural limits of their province: on the contrary, they feel a confident persuasion, that the further these bonds of Christian Amity are drawn over the face of the whole earth, the more they will increase in strength.

the Mediterranean Shores, your ComTo the countries bordering upon mittee devote a more immediate atlably important, is this sphere-this tention. And how vast, how incalcuamphitheatre of nations! How animating the call to labour, when it is considered, that a line of coast, equivalent the globe, encircles us on every side, perhaps to half the circumference of at a distance of not many days' sail; solid continents-the whole of the communicating, moreover, with three Old World!

Intercourse with Greece and Smyrna.

In the Ionian Islands, your Committee found friends and correspondents already existing. It has, therefore, been their constant care, to maintain a sufficient supply of the Scriptures in a situation so favourable, in every respect, for the distribution of the Sacred Volume.

At Salonica they have established a small depôt of the Scriptures, chiefly in Hebrew and Modern Greek. The Committee have also laid before persons in that city a copy of Greek Rules, for the establishment of a Society there; but the adoption of such a measure will require time, and a better acquaintance with the nature of Bible Societies. The vast population, and, in particular, the great number of Jews in that city, render the progress of this work peculiarly needful.

In Smyrna, your Committee had early promise of encouragement, from the interest taken in Bible Societies by the British Chaplain, the Rev. Charles Williamson. From the commencement of these Institutions in England, and in the world at large, it has been the happiness of Smyrna to have had a series of Chaplains, four in number, who have attached themselves to this service. To the first of these, the respectable and learned Rev. J. F. Usko, the British and Foreign Bible Society, and indeed the Greek Nation at large, are indebted for that edition of the Ancient and Modern Greek Testament, which has been circulated under the high sanction of the Patriarch's approbation and recommendation. The present Chaplain continues to fulfil those expectations which were excited in the Committee, during his passage through Malta, at the close of last year.

In the months of May and June last, the Rev. William Jowett, one of the Secretaries of this Society, was absent from the Committee on a journey to Smyrna and some parts of Greece, for the purpose of furthering the object of the Society. The report of his proceedings which he has rendered to the Committee, furnishes several useful particulars for the guidance of future measures. The extensive commercial relations of the

Greeks with almost every great city of Europe; the increasing degree of freedom which they enjoy, and which they use so honourably to themselves, in giving the blessings of literature and useful knowledge to the rising generation; the number of literary institutions among them (several of which Mr. Jowett visited, inviting their co-operation with the Malta Bible Society); their connection, in respect of Ecclesiastical Rites, with the Church of Russia, that Grand Empire so entirely devoted to the cause of the Bible-all these are circumstances which augur well for the progress among them of this grand, but simple work-the universal diffu sion of a knowledge of the Divine Scriptures.

But the subject of incomparably the greatest interest which has attracted the attention of the Committee, is, the formation of the Bible Society of Smyrna, which took place during Mr. Jowett's visit to that city. The establishment of so valuable an ally is wholly owing to the zeal and judg ment of the British Chaplain, who had taken the most effective mea sures for informing the minds of the Subscribers upon this interesting object.

This gentleman has, subsequently, visited Constantinople, in prosecu tion of the general objects of the 30ciety; and from that Patriarchal Seat your Committee have had the pleasure of receiving good accounts of his proceedings. He has also forwarded to the Biblical Library at Malta three copies of a translation into Modern Greek, of various passages from that great father, St. Chrysostom, recommending the universal reading of the Scriptures, printed at the Greek Printing-press of that Patriarchate.

Having been informed of the edition of the Greek Bible printing at Moscow, Mr. Jowett, assisted by Mr. Williamson, requested of the Committee of the Russian Bible Society, that 500 copies should be sent to Smyrna, to meet that ardent desire which Mr. Jowett, in his journey, witnessed among the Greeks, to possess this work. Your Committee, for the encouragement of this large distribution, have engaged to bear so much of the expense as shall enable the Greeks, especially the poorer youths

in their Schools and Colleges, to purchase at a low price.

Extracts from Mr. Jowett's Report of his Journey are given in the Appendix. The Report, at length, was printed in our last Volume, pp. 383-389.

Italian and Arabic Scriptures.

Shortly after the commencement of the year, the Committee received, after much anxious delay, a large impression of Archbishop Martini's Italian Testament, printed at Naples. The copies of this valuable work, in number amounting to 1720, have since been in a course of gradual distribution. A considerable part of them is ready for sale, with the other Scriptures, to applicants at the Depository.

About the same period, the Committee received from the British Consul at Aleppo, and from an English Medical Gentleman some time resident in Mount Lebanon, accounts relative to the Arabic Scriptures, of much importance. On this subject, also, the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society have forwarded various inquiries to be prosecuted by this Committee; as it is their wish to effect a much more complete and perfect edition of the Arabic Bible than that which has hitherto been in circulation, and which was originally printed, under the patronage of the Bishop of Durham, from the Version in Walton's Polyglott.

Journey of the late Rev. C. Burckhardt, in Egypt and Syria.

Some account of Mr. Burckhardt's objects, and of his earlier proceedings, was given at pp. 245 -247, 389, and 390 of the Volume for 1818. His death was mentioned, and further communications promised, at pp. 12 and 13 of the "Survey" in the last Number.

Of Mr. Burckhardt the Report thus speaks, before his death was known:

The commencement of the present year was rendered peculiarly inter

esting, by the arrival of the Rev. Christopher Burckhardt, a Swiss Clergyman, who came recommended by that leading friend of this Society, Henry Druinmond, Esq. His object being to travel in Egypt, Syria, Asia Minor, and Greece, solely to make known and promote the object of the Bible Society; your Committee, deeply convinced of the unspeakable importance of such a tour, and fully persuaded of the talents and Christian resolution of Mr. Burckhardt, voted him, at two several times, a supply of 755 copies of Bibles and Testaments, in thirteen languages. In the distribution of these, he has entitled himself to the warmest thanks of the Committee. In Alexandria, he perseveringly went from house to house, principally selling at a low price, occasionally giving a copy of the Scriptures. By the time of his arrival at Cairo, his business was so well known beforehand, that many flocked to his room immediately, to purchase of him. The information which he has collected, especially relative to the desirableness of a Coptico-Arabic Bible, expressed to him by the Coptic Patriarch, together with the know. ledge which he has diffused and the spirit which he has excited, will serve as a guide and assistance to future travellers in those parts. The last accounts state his arrival at Tripoli, in the East: at Jerusalem, his stay had been short. The Committee indulge the hope, that his progress will be marked with increasing interest; that he will be heard of, as exploring scenes of labour hitherto little known, and supplying spiritual wants which must otherwise have long languished in secret,

he "had the melancholy task of burying him, on the 14th of August." Subsequently, Letters, of a considerably prior date, have been received by the Committee, in which Mr. Burckhardt had given the fullest details of his operations in Egypt and Syria. They are such as to increase the bitterness of sorrow, at the loss of so valuable a correspondent and coadjutor. After a short career of eight months, devoted, with the greatest activity, and with a truly Christian spirit, to the noblest of causes, Mr. Burckhardt has left to his friends the memory of an example which must impel them to redouble their efforts, that the Word of the Lord may still huve free course and be glorified.

As the Correspondence of Mr. Burckhardt is thus finally closed, it has been judged expedient to add such extracts from his latest Letters as may have reference to the Malta Bible Society.

We shall extract, from the Appendix, the whole of his Correspondence which is there given, such parts excepted as have been already printed in our last Volume. From Jaffa, under date of May 20, 1818, Mr. Burckhardt wrote:

I have sold, or distributed, in Egypt, nearly half the Bibles, the distribution of which was entrusted to me by your benevolent Malta B ile Society. Among others, I sold at Caïro about twenty Arabic Bibles. A larger number was in request; principally among the Copts, but among others also, Turks, Arabs, Franks, and Jews. As Arabic is the general language of the country, so that almost every body is under the necessity of learning it, the Bible Society could not, in my opinion, do better than furnish Egypt, and especially Caïro, with a great quantity of Arabic Bibles. Of the Hebrew New Testament I have sold fifteen in the same country.

I sold all the Greek Testaments which I took to Caïro. They begged me also to bring copies of the Old Testament, as soon as it should be translated; and, on my return to Alexandria, it was necessary to reopen the cases, in order to content

without

any difficulty, excepting some they told me, that it is neither very prophetic passages. As to the style, old nor obscure; and that nothing is wanting but the insertion of the Apocryphal Books for the Catholics and Copts, the pages to be numbered, and each book noted at the top of the page; with a trifling change also at the beginning of the first page, where they are shocked to find the Mahomedan phrase, "In the name of God, the pitying, the merciful." It seems, however, pretty generally understood, that these are not essential points; and if the Bible Society would print a new edition, with these corrections, it would finally stop the mouth of punctilious and ill-designing people, who seek to discredit the Word of God, because they cannot endure its light, which might judge and confound them.

The Plague will, perhaps, furnish my apology for having done almost nothing; and for not having sent you a Letter, during my second stay at Alexandria. What I effected may be summed up as follows: I sold some Testaments; and gave orders to send to my friend, M. Waser, at Caïro, a small box containing thirty Testaments in different languages; among them, ten Armenian Testaments,

there came a Rabbi, and several other Jews, who purchased copies of the Hebrew New Testament. I remarked, that the Fathers of the Latin Convent spent almost a whole morning in reading the Spanish Testament, to see (as they said) whether there was not some heresy in it.

which the Armenian Patriarch of Caïro desired of me, and for which he will pay. I did this, because it seemed to me that I had taken too small a number, in proportion to the wants of Cairo. M. Waser has the character of being an excellent man, and he will render you an account of the manner in which he employs these Bibles. Note, The Armenian Patriarch desired these ten Testaments for a School.

I return once more to the article of the Jews. In our days, their number is not very considerable at Caïro, a large part of them having been killed by the Plague many years ago. I am informed, on good authority, that the population of Egypt at large does not exceed two millions and a half. As to the number of Jews, I am assured (but the truth I cannot answer for) that at Caïro there are 2000; and at Alexandria not more than 500 souls: so that the Jewish Population may be estimated at about the thousandth part of the whole population of Egypt. As to their occupation, they are all either Merchants or Mechanics.

I had the happiness to find, among the European Jews, enlightened persons, who bought Bibles, and, above all, Hebrew Testaments. One among them, a person so much respected, and so liberal, that I cannot suppose him to have had a view to gain, begged me to let him have two copies over, in order that he might send them to his relations in Trieste.

At length, I took my departure for Caïffa, not having been able to find any ship which was going direct for Jaffa. But our Captain landed us at Sour, having for excuse the contrary wind.

From Sour I found an opportunity for St. Jean d'Acre, where the Chancellor of the Austrian Consul procured for me a firmân from the Pasha, which cost me nothing; and by means of which I travelled, and visited the Holy Sepulchre, without paying the customary expenses of Pilgrims. From Acre I embarked for Jaffa, where I rested a few days at the house of the Austrian and Russian Agent, and sold, during this interval, some Bibles and Testaments to the different Convents, and to several individuals here, as also to an inhabitant of Acre. Among others,

From Jaffa I went in eighteen hours to Jerusalem, going during the night on horseback; and arrived early on the eve of the Feast of Pentecost.

Is was a joy to me to distribute at Jerusalem the Holy Scriptures, in twelve or thirteen languages, precisely during the three days of the Festival instituted in honour of that memorable day when Jesus Christ commenced the building of his Church, by means of the intrepid testimony which St. Peter, moved by the Holy Ghost, gave to the Resurrection in this very city. Nor ought I to pass over in silence, that the men of Bethlehem were the first to receive the Word of God. Having in my travels rendered some small services to a poor old man of that place, he published my arrival in all the village. Another Bethlehemite assisted me in opening the cases of Bibles; and, the day following, a number of them came to see my books, so that my little room was filled with people. But, as I had no more Arabic Bibles, having had the weakness to sell them all in Egypt and at Jaffa, to persons who instantly besonght me to grant them a copy, I had nothing to give the Bethlehemites but some of the Epistles of St. Paul to the Romans and Hebrews, in Arabic. However, the day following, I went to Bethlehem, and presented the Priests and Superiors of the Greek and Latin Convents with New Testaments, in Spanish and Greek.

Almost all the men of the Latin Rite speak Italian. The population amounts to 3000 souls, or 650 men, of whom half are of the Greek Rite, and the rest of the Latin.

I consigned upwards of fifty Greek Testaments to the Priests of the Greek Convent, and left with them your address.

I am informed, that the number of Greek Ecclesiastics resident at Jerusalem amounts to 200 persons. The Greek Pilgrims, as also the Arme