for life, having lost arms or legs, or have wounds which render them unfit for further service, or for obtaining a living by labour; and some of them related very bitter stories of their own sufferings, and still more so of others who fell to rise no more. Yet one, who appeared to be likely to get well, when I asked him what he thought he should do, said he intended to continue his soldier's course, and I should suppose he would be ready enough to go to Sebastopol."

BIBLES FOR THE JEWS.

Mr. Lowitz, who is employed by the British Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews at Gibraltar, had consigned to him a case of Scriptures when he passed by Malta; and he has given us an account of the way in which they have been disposed of in the course of his labours amongst the Jews of Africa, some of which have been imported into the interior of Morocco. In his account he says-" It is gratifying for me to notice the different spirit with which the Jews bought them in some of those places on my second visit, from what they did on my first, when their Rabbies had interdicted them, on the supposition that my Bibles contained many things favourable to our holy religion. However, after a deal of reasoning and remonstrance on my part, and due examination on theirs, these Rabbies recalled their edict, and pronounced my books sound and good in every respect. The Jews then readily bought them, though at a very reduced price. As for New Testaments, they can only be circulated gratis amongst them. In the main, I think it a matter of thankfulness to be permitted to disseminate the incorruptible seed of the word of life in that country without hinderance; and we look to God alone for His blessing and increase upon the seed thus sown in that and in every other Mahommedan land.”

LIGHT FOR YORUBA.

The Rev. H. Townsend, of Abbeokuta, speaks very gratefully, in his own and the name of the brethren associated with him in the Missionary work there, of the supply of the portions of Scripture already translated into the Yoruba tongue. They are distributed and sold according to the condition annexed to the kind gift.

A large portion of them are already in the hands of natives of both sexes, who read, and understand what they read therein. The commercial habits of the people lead them to make long journeys, in which those who can read carry their books with them, and read them to those far beyond the direct instruction of Missionaries.

There is not a copy left of St. Luke, Acts, and the Epistles of St. James and St. Peter, sent out bound together. Another Missionary applied for a copy for his own use, having had his stolen; but there was but the one copy Mr. Townsend has for his private use. From Lagos the greatest share of the 500 copies of the Book of Genesis was received a short time since. Of these there are now only seventeen copies left. St. Matthew's Gospel, received at the same time, did not sell so fast, as their having St. Luke made St. Matthew's Gospel appear to be less necessary to them. On account of the sale of copies of Genesis and St. Matthew's Gospel, £9 2s. 6d., a small sum in England, but large in cowry-shells, the money of this country, have been remitted to the Parent Society. They have since received 500 copies of Exodus, of which upwards of 100 copies have been sold.

BIBLES IN FRANCE.

(From a Correspondent in Paris.)

I think you will like to hear anything about the Bibles with which I have been supplied through

your kindness since last year. The Lord, "full of grace," has permitted me to give thirty-four Bibles and twenty-two New Testaments into the hands of English, German, and French Protestant and Roman Catholic men and women in and out of the hospitals,

and, and the prison. Besides this number, my dear friend has distributed six Bibles out of my depôt; and has written a few lines concerning the persons who have received the word of God. There are a great many most interesting cases to report about the love of Christ, and of the constraining power He is working in the hearts of poor sinful creatures, and how He blesses every step we take for Him, the living God.

Extracts from the Letter above referred to.

a young workman of 22, fond of reading and writing; anxious to learn, and, before leaving the hospital, read pretty well. Had no Bible; attended no church; had never partaken the Lord's Supper. Anxious for all these, came to see me on leaving Hospital. Gave him a Bible. He promised to keep it for life, and gave me his address, that I might send a Scripture Reader to him.

a Swiss Protestant woman, very much surprised that prayer was not repeating words by rote. Great respect for religious books. In a thunderstorm, placed them all around her on the bed, and repeated the Lord's Prayer twelve times! Very careful for her children's religious instruction. had no Bible: was extremely pleased to have one. Since she left · Hospital she has come from a great distance regularly to attend Bible instruction twice a week.

She

a Roman-Catholic servant. She claimed my visits when I was free to see people of all creeds in the hospital, and by her firm bold speaking of the

truth about me was one great means of the Protestants having ladies of their own faith to visit them in all the hospitals. Two years and a half ago she left Paris (as we thought) to die among her relatives. She has a cousin, a priest. In September last she returned in perfect health. She has begun to attend our evening Protestant service with the family she has entered as servant, and full of anxiety about the difference she finds between the Bible and Romanism.

woman.

"—. I meant to give this Bible to a young Swiss put it into my hands at evening service. On my way home I met three workmen, bearded, and wearing their blouses; they were talking so loud, that in the stillness of the night I could hear their conversation long before I came up to them: it was about confession to a priest, fasting, &c. I passed them, and the thought struck me, 'I have the lamp. for their path: if I do not give it to them, their souls may be lost by my fault.' I ran back and said, 'Forgive my boldness, Messieurs, but I heard your conversation in passing: here is the only book that answers such questions satisfactorily; it is the word of God: allow me to offer it to you freely.' They looked very much surprised. One read on the back, by the moon's rays, 'Bible.' 'Ah,' said he, 'we know that.' But the others said, 'Take it, take it.' They all bowed and thanked me heartily.

THE RAILWAY BIBLE ASSOCIATION.

One of the most interesting, and certainly the most remarkable Meeting, was that of the Chester Railway Bible Association, held at the station, in the secondclass waiting-room, the general manager occupying the chair. The Report stated, that since the commencement of the Association nine months before, nearly £30 had been collected in Bible subscriptions

and free contributions. There is a depository at the station, and all the proceedings are conducted by the officials of the railway. The meeting at such a place, while the trains were arriving and departing, was indeed a novel sight, and may be regarded as a testimony to the value of the Bible, and an admission of the claims of the Society which circulates it. May every great railway station in the kingdom have such an Association, and such a meeting.

EVENINGS WITH THE EDITOR.

EVENING THE TWENTY-SIXTH.

Editor. ISRAEL IN THE WORLD* is a very original and instructive book.

Augustus. In what way is the subject treated ?

Ed. The second title of this work explains it to be, "The Mission of the Hebrews to the Great Military Monarchies." The author rightly terms it "a most important subject." Aug. But what is this mission?

Ed. Let me read a few paragraphs ::-"Great men, intoxicated with past success, or with present power, began to be imbued with the lust of conquest. There were wants which they desired to have gratified; there were new acquisitions to make or there was the simple ambition of governing multitudes, and the feeling of pride which made them abhor the existence of others, superior, or even equal to themselves. The Nimrods of antiquity-mighty men of war-whose patriarchal influence was augmented by feats of valour, and secured by the exercise of indomitable will, strove to extend their rule beyond its natural limits, and to make men one large family dependent upon themselves. What Nimrod, and others like him, were assaying to do, in the first dawn of history, was continued on a larger scale by the monarchs of Assyria and Persia. We should be wrong, also, in estimating Alexander in ancient, or Napoleon in modern times, as merely unreason

London: J. F. Shaw.