New Testaments arrived in a village, the people hastened to the spot, and it was difficult to prevent their carrying off the books by force. This zeal will, doubtless, appear somewhat extraordinary; and we are even tempted to doubt the veracity of the reporter. But what will remove all doubt is, that, according to the Report, this ardour is every where the same. There are Bible Societies in Sweden and Denmark: the labours of the agents sent to Iceland present the most striking details, and the inhabitants are eagerly employed in learning to read, that they may obtain, as the reward of this exertion, the book of life. Now it is obvious how well men, whose education has been thus cultivated, are qualified to comprehend the Bible, and with what skill they will clear up its difficulties, when they shall have learned to read. Besides, it is not easy to reconcile the striking details of which the Report speaks, with what is said in the Society's Eleventh Report; namely, that there are few Bibles in Iceland, and that in considerable parishes there was not one to be found *.

"The reporter, continuing his boastful statements, assures us, that in Asia, the Pagans and Mohammedans display an extraordinary eagerness to procure Bibles; that they come with money in their hands, and fall on their knees to implore them. The state of things is still more favourable at New Orleans, and in Louisiana, where Surely the ingenuity of the writer might have succeeded in solving this apparent difficulty. Between the date of the accounts contained in the Eleventh Report, which is here quoted, and that of those contained in the Twelfth Report, which is first referred to, Dr. Henderson had conveyed to Iceland the impression of the Scriptures printed for its inhabitants, at Copenhagen, by the British and Foreign Bible Society. Iceland had been destitute of Bibles: it was happily supplied before the Twelfth Report was published.

persons of every rank and of every colour literally flock in crowds, to request with loud importunity, what they call the Book yes, by way of eminence, the Book. Book. Assuredly we, also, regard this holy book as, in a distinguished sense, the Book; but literally we do not believe one word of these crowds flocking for Bibles. Would not one be tempted to laugh a little, were it not for the seriousness of the subject, at reading in the Report, that the Gospels have been received in Labrador by the Esquimaux, several of whom can read, and that the Negroes also in Berbice are learning to read? That' several of whom can read' is truly an admirable story! It calls to our minds a work of M. Gregoire, intended to prove that the Negroes are distinguished literary characters. Even Petion and Christophe call for Bibles, and at St. Domingo they are praying for the success of the English Society!!-It is impossible to deny that all these particulars partake a little of charlatanism."

After a variety of remarks, in the same style, on the alleged cooperation of the Catholic Metropolitan of Russia with the Bible Society, and the Charge he is said to have issued on the subject; and on the accounts given of the zeal of two Catholic priests, Mr. Van Ess and Mr. Wittman, in the same cause, and of the desire manifested by the priests of Goa for copies of the Scriptures; the writer comments at some length on the Reports of the Swiss Bible Societies, particularly those of Basle, the Pays du Vaud, and Lausanne; and concludes with an attack on Mr. Frederick Leo, and his edition of the New Testament for Catholics, according to the version of le Maistre de Sacy. This version, he alleges, "agrees in several points with the version of Mons, condemned at Rome and in France, and has even some resemblance to Protestant translations." "I believe,

therefore," he adds, "that we ought to distrust the New Testaments which M. Leo distributes. Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes."

I have little doubt, sir, that the sarcasms of this flippant writer have led many persons in France to regard the statements which have been published, of the success of the British and Foreign Bible Society, as altogether fabricated, to serve some unworthy purpose. And yet what but the grossest ignorance of this country, and of what is passing in it, could ensure a moment's credit to such a writer? In Great Britain, no man can pretend to doubt that the Moravian Brethren have formed missionary establishments, and instituted schools among the Esquimaux of Labrador; that they have effected the translation of the Gospels into the language of that inhospitable region; that this translation has been printed by the British and Foreign Bible Society; and that many of the Esquimaux are thereby enabled to read in their own tongue the wonderful works of God. As little can any one pretend to doubt that in Berbice and many other parts of the West Indies, through the indefatigable zeal of British missionaries, Negroes have been taught to read; and that by the bounty of the Bible Society the Scriptures have been put into the hands of many of them; nay, that even in St. Domingo the art of reading has been extensively propagated, and that, by the express desire and at the expense of Christophe, one of the chiefs of that island, 5000 copies of the New Testament in French, with the English in parallel columns, have recently been transmitted by the British and Foreign Bible Society, for the use of the reading population under his government. The other facts, on which this writer attempts to pour contempt and discredit, are equally matters of notoriety: they are not the mere vaunts of artful and designing partizans, as this writer would insinu

ate, but historical statements which require no aid from embellishment, and which it may be added, as far at least as concerns the Society's Reports, receive none. Nor can I doubt that it is the simplicity and manifest truth of these Reports, no less than the magnificence of their details, which excite the animosity of this "friend of religion and the king." He dreads the effect of those efforts in France, which are sapping the very foundations of ignorance and infidelity in other parts of the world; and he hopes, by calling into his service those most powerful weapons (for such they are, at least with our neighbours on the other side of the channel), sneer and ridicule, to oppose an effectual barrier to their progress.

But supposing the facts to be truly stated, this writer would still intimate that all this display of munificence--all this profusion of Bibles-is of no avail, or is rather of injurious tendency. "How well," he would exclaim, "are these Esquimaux, or these Icelanders, or these West-Indian slaves, when they shall have learned to read, qualified to comprehend the Bible, or to solve its difficulties!" But it is not necessary that they should comprehend all the mysteries of Providence and Grace, in order to learn to fear and to love God; neither is it necessary that they should unravel the critical difficul ties of the original text, before they can understand the awful declaration, that the "wicked shall be turned into hell, with all the nations that forget God;" or the encouraging invitations, "Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out; "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved:" or the impressive admonitions, "Lie not one to another;" "Love, forgive your enemies;" or the plain narrative of our Saviour's miracles, sufferings, and death. From the first promulgation of the Gospel it was preached to the poor; and all the sneers of

French infidelity, and all the arguments of popish bigotry, will prove equally unavailing to convince, not only the immediate friends of the Bible Society, but every man who is fairly open to conviction, that the poor and illiterate of the present day, and of every region of the earth, are not as capable of benefiting by the "gracious words" which proceeded from the lips of our blessed Saviour and his apostles, as those to whom they were addressed, not only in the streets of Jerusalem and the mountains of Judea, but "throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bythinia."

But I need not dwell longer on the ignorance and misrepresentations of a writer who tells us, that the Bible Society arose "at a period and in a country distinguished by religious indifference." Before I conclude, however, I would advert for a moment to the humiliating fact, that it is from the charges, sermons, and tracts of bishops and divines of the Church of England, that this Roman Catholic writer draws his materials for preventing the circulation of the Scriptures in France. Can there be a stronger

presumption of their being engaged in an unhallowed enterprise, than that they are hailed by bigoted Papists, and even by infidels, as their best and most efficient allies? In thus contributing to linder, by their writings, the diffusion of the pure word of God among those who are destitute of it, does it never occur to them that haply they may be found fighting against God? This is a warfare, however, in which they cannot succeed. Even if the kings of the earth were to set themselves in array with the hostile part of the bishops and clergy of the Church of England, aided by the Pope and the whole body of Jesuits, to oppose this work, their strength would prove weakness. Happily, however, many of our temporal rulers are disposed to aid, with all the resources of empire, the dissemination of the word of God. The domestic opponents of this cause can, therefore, look for efficient associates abroad only among the followers of antichrist; and, if united with them in their unholy labours, is there not, alas, too much reason to fear that they will also share their predicted fortunes?

S.

An Inquiry into the Abuses of the Chartered Schools in Ireland. With Remarks on the Education of the Lower Classes in that Country. Second Edition. Lon don: Underwood. 1818. 8vo. pp. 206. price 6s.

We have derived much important information from this work; and we earnestly recommend its perusal to all who are interested in the moral and political improvement of Ireland, especially to the members of both houses of Parliament. It is the production of Mr. Robert Steven, a name well known in the

CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 195.

annals of benevolence. This gentleman, though engaged in the pursuits of commerce in one of its most busy and clamorous haunts, has found leisure to take a prominent part in many of those extensive plans of Christian philanthropy which distinguish the present æra. He stands, indeed, in the foremost rank of those who not only contribute freely of their money, but who devote, what to men engaged in business is far more valuable, a large portion of their time, to the promotion of such objects. Although the style and manner of this estimable individual may occaZ