LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL INTELLIGENCE, &c. &c. 1 GREAT BRITAIN. IN the press-A trauslation from the Chinese of the Sacred Edict, &c., by the Rev. W. Milne;Journal of a Voyage 10 New-Zealand, in company with the Rev. Samuel Marsden;-Observations on the Canonical Scriptures, four vols. 8vo., by Mary Cornwallis; an Account of the Rev. R. Morrison's Chinese Dictionary and his own, by Dr. Montucci; Summary of the State of Spain at the Restoration of Ferdinand VII., by Captain C. Clarke;-Philanthropy and other Poems, by the Rev. J. Cobbin, A.M.;-Theological Enquiry into the Sacrament of Baptism, and the Na.ture of Baptismal Regeneration, in five Discourses before the University of Cambridge, by the Rev. C. Benson, M. A. Preparing for publication:-Lectures on Scripture Doctrines, by the Rev. W. B. Collyer, D.D.;-The Bibliographical Decameron, by the Rev. T. F. Dibden;-The first volume of the Elgin Marbles, with an Historical and Topographical Account of Athens:-A Series of Practical Lectures, on the leading Doctrines of the Gospel: price, to Subscribers, 58.; by the Rev. H. C. O'Donnoghue, A. M. There are at present in the University of Cambridge 1359 members of the Senate; and 3275 members on the boards, being the largest number on record. The number in 1804 was but 2122; and in 1748 but 1500. The general Committee of the Waterloo Subscription have come to the resolution to allow an annuity of 67. to every man who lost a limb in the battle; 107. per annum to every widow; and for children, according to age, 41. per annum, till seven years old, and up to 151. at fourteen. Sir H. Davy's invaluable Safety Lamp has been introduced upon the Continent, where it has been attended with the same happy results as at home; and some partial attempts have been even made with it for lighting mines, by, means of their own gas. Monuments of ancient splendour con tinue to be discovered in searching the ruins of Pompeii. An extensive public building has been found ornamented with paintings, some of which are very valuable. The pavement is Mosaic, formed in part of small white and coloured stones, and in part of large slabs of marble of various colours. Several inscriptions have been traced, which ascertain the use of this monument: one of them indicates that the right of luminum obstruendorum, (a right recognized by the Roman law, and preventing in certain cases, neighbouring proprietors from having lights or prospects near the contiguous estates), had been purchased at the price of several thousand sesterces. Some va luable statues have also been discovered. The King of Bavaria has issued an ordinance to prevent the abuses of lotteries. He states, that the circumstances of the kingdom, and the practice in other nations, do not allow of his entirely abolishing this species of gaming; but he strictly prohibits all persons from employing any arts for inducing the public to purchase shares. The number of office-keepers is to be moderate, and the conductors respectable men: puffing advertisements, and other publications of a tendency to excite the passions of the people, are disallowed; no Jews are to be admitted in future as collectors; the hawking or offering for sale of tickets is to be rigorously punished; and children are to be entirely prohibited from adventuring. Among the improvements in the administration of justice in the island of Ceylon, the trial by jury, which was introduced into the island in 1811, is stated to have produced the happiest effects on the character of the natives. The right of sitting upon juries has not been confined to Europeans only, but is extended, without distinction, to all the natives of the country. The heights of the principal Himálaya mountains, hitherto inaccessible to Europeans, and long supposed in India to be the most elevated in the world, have been lately measured by observations; A third in its vicinity, (above Eng.Feet. the valley of Népal) (Above the sea) 18,452 23,052 The Himalaya chain is visible from Patna, on the southern bank of the Ganges, as a continued well-defined line of white cliffs, extending throngh more than two points of the compass, at a distance of abont sixty leagues, while, at an equal distance, Chimborazo, the highest of the Andes, is seen as a single point, the rest of the Cordillera being invisible. The peak of Chamalasi, near the frontiers of Thibet, is visible from various stations in Bengal, the most remote of which is not less than 232 English miles. LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. THEOLOGY. A Series of Pastoral Letters on Nonconformity, from a Dissenting Minister to a Youth in his Congregation. 12mo. 3s. Gd. Fifty-two Lectures on the Catechism of the Church of England: to which are added, three introductory Discourses on the Subject, addressed to the Inhabitants of the Parish of Hinxworth, Herts.; by the Rev. Sir Adam Gordon, Bart. M. A. 3 vols. 8vo. 1. 11s. 6d. The Clergyman's Companion in Visitin the Sick; by W. Paley, D.D. Archdeacon of Carlisle. 12mo. 5s. 6d. Baker's Sermons extracted from the Lectures of Bishop Porteus. 8vo. 9s.. A Farewel Sermon, preached to the Congregation of St. James's Church, Bath, on Sunday the 23d of March, 1817; by the Rev. R. Warner. 2s. Parochial Instruction; or, Sermons delivered from the Pulpit, at different times, in the course of thirty years; by James Bean, M.A. 8vo. 10s. 6d. Practical Discourses; by the Rev. Joshua Gilpin. A Selection of Sermons and Charges; by the late Rev. Edward Williams, D.D. 8vo. 10s. 6d. Memoirs and Remains of the late Rev. Charles Buck; containing copious Extracts from his Diary, and interesting Letters to his Friends: interspersed with various Observations, illustrative of his Character and Works; by J. Styles, D.D. 5s. MISCELLANEOUS. The Traveller's Guide to France and the Netherlands; containing the various modes and expenses of travelling in those countries. 18mo. 4s. A Catalogue of new and second-hand Books, in all Languages and Classes, for the year 1817; by C. Brown. 2s. A Catalogue of Books in the Arts and Sciences, Antiquities, Biography, History, Law, and Parliamentary Papers, Theology, Topography, Travels, Voyages, &c.; by A. Maxwell. 5s. The British Plutarch; by Francis Wrangham, Esq. 6 vols. 8vo. 31. 3s. The Annual Register for 1816. 16s. A Geographical Sketch of the principal Mountains throughout the World; exhibiting at one view their comparative elevations, and grouped according to their respective chains; founded upon the most exact geographical and barometrical admeasurements. 8s. The History of the British Revolution of 1688-9, recording all the Events connected with thatTransaction in England, Scotland, and Ireland, down to the Capitulation of Limerick, in 1691; by George Moore, Esq. 14s. Thoughts on the Laws relating to Salt, as they affect the Fisheries, Agriculture, and Manufactures of the Kingdom; by Samuel Parkes, F.L.S. M.R.I. Member of the Geological Society. 7s. 6d. 8vo. Remarks on the first Chapter of the Bishop of Llandaff's Horæ Pelasgicæ. Observations on the West-Indian Islands, Medical, Political, and Miscellaneous; by John Williamson, M.D. 8vo. 11. 5s. Observations on the Laws and Ordinances, which exist in Foreign States, relative to the Religions Concerns of their Roman Catholic Subjects; by the Rev. J. Lingard. Letter to William Smith, Esq. Member for Norwich; by Robert Southey. 29. Modern Greece, a Poem. 8vo. 5s. 6d. Letters from Mrs. Elizabeth Carter to Mrs. Montagu, between the Year 1755 and 1800, chiefly upon Literary and Moral Subjects, from the Originals in the Possession of the Rev. Montagu Pennington, M.A. her Nephew and Executor. 3 vols. 8vo. 11. 7s. Odin, a Poem; by Sir W. Drummond, 4to. 18s. Phrosyne, a Grecian Tale: Alashtar, an Arabian Tale; by H. Gally Knight, Esq. 8vo. 3s. 6d. The Speech of the Right Hon. Robert Peel, on the Catholic Question. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. ON Wednesday the 7th of May, as we stated in our last Number, was held, at Free-Masons' Hall, London, the Thirteenth Anniversary of the British and Foreign Bible Society. The Right Honourable the President, assisted by the Rev. D. Wilson, read a selection of passages from the Report of the past year, containing the most interesting facts which had occurred in the course of those proceedings, now become too considerable and voluminous to be recited in detail. The issue of copies of the Scriptures, from March 31, 1816, to March 31, 1817, had been 92,239 Bibles. 100,782 Testaments; making the total issued, from the commencement of the institution, to the last mentioned period, 746,666 Bibles, 929,328 Testaments: in all, 1,675,994 copies, exclusive of about 100,000 copies circulated at the charge of the Society, from depositories abroad; making a grand total of one million, seven hundred and seventy-five thousund, nine hundred and ninety-four copies, already circulated by the British and Foreign Bible Society. The Receipts of the year have been- 6754 9 3 The Right Honourable the President having introduced the Report, conclud ed his remarks with expressing his pleasure that the venerable Bishop of Durham still continued his unabated attachment to the objects of the institution, and his regret that increasing years deprived him of the satisfaction of attending the anniversary. He also lamented the absence of the Rev. John Owen, and still more the cause that kept him from the meeting. In him, his lordship added, the Society had found a historian worthy of its excellence; and he mentioned the circumstance because the labour of literary composition, superadded to those indefatigable exertions which have so much contributed to promote the interests of the Society, had injured his health and impaired the vigour of his constitution. A letter of apology was read from Lord Exmouth, in which his lordship remarked: "I have always felt a sincere interest in the success and prosperity of the Bible Society, as tending to do more good to the human race than any society I have known or heard of; and my regret not to be able to attend it, is therefore the more sincere. I shall always feel happy to assist its laudable efforts." Mr. Wilberforce, after various prefatory observations, concluded as follows: "6 My Lord, this country has been AuxiliarySocieties,&c. &c. 55,532 0 7 distinguished in various lines. We have Total net receipts, exclu sive of sales - 62,286 9 10 The expenditure of the year 89,230 9 9 about 35,000 0 0 been great in our victories; great in before them. This will be peculiarly gratifying to those who, like myself, feel a more than ordinary measure of cordial attachment to that land of liberty. Germany also, in which the great religious Reformation first had its rise, is prosecuting the good work of circulating the holy Scriptures with more than common ardour. Germany is imitating onr example, and emulating us with a rivalry which knows nothing of base or vulgar competition. This blessed flame, which we have happily kindled on the Continent, has spread into much darker regions. We see it even infusing life and action into the immense and torpid mass of the Russian empire, and awakening Siberia herself into motion, and communicating to it a kindly warmth. "Thus, my lord, we proceed in our blessed course, carrying along with us from country to country, a rich donative of light, and happiness, love and joy; and behold fresh prospects of peace and comfort continually opening before us. With these delightful views it is impossible not to be thankful to God for our having been engaged in such a service. It is a work which we may truly affirm is co-extensive with the earth we inhabit; and our labours may be said, in some humble measure, to resemble those of that great Being whose word we circulate, and who spreads undivided, operates unspent.' "My Lord, I must not attempt, for I am unable, to express the feelings which animate me; but I cannot sit down, without stating for myself, and it is a feeling in which I doubt not every one else will participate, that I propose the printing of this Report with the more pleasure, from the kind manner in which it mentions our dear and excellent friend, whose absence we so much regret; I mean, the Rev. Mr. Owen. In that afflicting dispensation, which has prevented him from having the gratification of continuing to labour in our cause, we must, at the same time, recognize the mercy of Providence, which did not lay him by till he had gone through an almost unequalled amount of labour and service. He laid the foundation; he was permitted to see the superstructure rise to heaven itself; and still more, he was enabled to complete the History of our achievements, in a work which, though laborious, could not, even to the compiler himself, be without gratificaFor it is always gratifying to tion. trace any great work from its outset to its consummation; to mark its gradual progress; to see the obstacles it has overcome. And this work of our friend's will hereafter, I doubt not, be justly accounted, through succeeding ages, an imperishable record of one of the most extraordinary dispensations of Providence which ever was vonchsafed to enlighten and to bless the world. "Under this impression, it is with delight I see the Report pay this tribute of affection and gratitude to a man to whom we owe so much. When he is no longer able to come to us, we go, as it were, to him, into our sick friend's chamber, and there endeavour to pour the strains of gratitude and consolation into his ear, when that tongue, which has so often delighted us, is silent." This motion being seconded by the Lord Bishop of Salisbury, the Bishop of Gloucester moved thanks to the President, and pointed out the duty of joy and gratitude to God, who, in the midst of unexampled difficulty and universal distress, had maintained the prosperity of the Society; inferring from this circumstance, in conjunction with the general tenor of the Report which had been read, the propriety of persevering in patient hope. Had difficulties arisen, had opposition increased in any part of their sphere of operations, had their funds in any instance appeared to lessen, or to be directed to other channels, surely they ought to derive from these little checks the right lessons of humility, and become more anxious to pursue their work in a Christian spirit, and to compensate for partial failures by more strenuous efforts, and, if possible, by greater sacrifices. With this determination to persevere should be associated the firm principle of faith and implicit dependance upon God. "Is it nothing," said his lordship, "that bigotry in one part of Christendom, and superstition in another; that Mahometan pride and Pagan idolatry have begun in various quarters to give way? Has not the hand of God been almost visibly with us for good, and his presence among us of a truth! Has the Sun of Righteousness shone so long with uninterrupted splendour, and sball an occasional cloud make us doubt his continued favour for a moment? Shaff we not rather cast ourselves still more simply and unreservedly upon his long experienced protection, and be assured that the cause of his word will find in hìm a rock which shall never be shaken the Rock of Ages, against which all the force or the devices of the powers of darkness shall never prevail?” His lordship ended his remarks with a for cible and affectionate address to the members of the Society to make a spiritual and practical use of the sacred Volumes which they distributed to others; especially as the infidel, the careless, and the worldly-minded were apt to measure the value of the Society by the effect which this professed regard to the Bible produced upon the life and deportment of its adherents. Sir Thomas Dyke Acland particularly alluded to the co-operation and sympathy of that happy land of liberty and simplicity, of loyalty and religion, which had so admirably seconded the efforts of the Society, and whose best feelings were almost identified with our own. In his progress through that country, he had frequently the happiness to hear his native land mentioned in a manner most gratifying to his national feelings, and to public spirit and generous conduct; a successful struggle in the cause of justice, and the glory of its arms, were topics which called forth continually a well-earned praise; but a praise in some countries diminished by the imputation of selfish interest, or grudgingly yielded, and mixed perhaps with somewhat of jealousy of her pre-eminence, and anxiety respecting her in fluence and authority. But there were two topics which, in Switzerland especially, excited unqualified admiration; first, the emancipation of Africa from the slavery of the body; and, secondly, the emancipation of the world from the darkness and ignorance of the mind. When it was said, with gratitude and praise, that England had abolished the Slave Trade, and established the Bible Society, there remained behind no petty sorrow for her acknowledged superiority, but a desire to imitate her conduct, and emulate her benevolence. The guiding spirits, and providential instruments of these two achievements, were present before the Society; and he could add, from his own experience, and he believed there were those dear to his lordship, who, at this moment, experienced the same, that the name of his lordship, as President of the Bible Society, was a passport, not through Switzerland alone, but he be lieved through every nation in Europe. Lord Teignmouth replied: “For thir- teen years it has been my pleasing of fice to report the progress of an institution, continually advancing in interest, respectability, and usefulness—such, by the Divine favour, has been the effect of the disinterested benevolence of its principle, the catholic spirit of its constitution, the restrictive wisdom of its regulations, and the integrity with which its concerns have been administered. The British and Foreign Bible Society' is no longer an experiment: experience has decided for it more favourably than its warmest advocates ever anticipated, and has pronounced it one of the greatest blessings to the human race, that Christian charity ever devised. "Permit me for a moment to take a slight view of that magnificent scene which it has been the means of exhibiting to the world, and which has been most amply delineated in the Report. We may behold princes and potentates, the noble, the wise, the learned, and valiant of the earth, proclaiming their homage to the word of God, and aiding and encouraging the circulation of it, by their influence and example. We may see dignitaries and pastors of every church, Christians of all confessions, cordially uniting, and contributing, according to their several means, their talents, their time, their labour, their wealth, or their pittance, to promote this beneficent work, animating and encouraging each other in the career of benevolence, themselves animated and supported by the prayers and benedictions of thousands, who have benefited by their charitable labours. If I were to name a particular instance, out of many, in which the benevolent spirit of our institution shines with particular lustre, I would advert to the affectionate intercourse which it maintains with kindred Societies all over the world, exciting emulation without envy, and provoking each other to love and good works. And may we not hope that this kind and harmonious feeling, so cordially displayed in the Correspondence and Reports of Foreign Bible Societies, may gradually extend its benign influence, softening the asperity of national jealousies, and insinuating that spirit of conciliation and good will among nations towards each other, which the whole tenor of the Gospel inculcates, and the interests of humanity require? If such should ever be the blessed result of our endeavours to promote the happiness of mankind, 3 G |