many. But although the whole ex- RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. a national deavouring to establis'a The schools in which the clergy. Christian religion is taught, are not at all disturbed. The Pagans sometimes request us to admit their children, in order to teach them to read the classical writers, and write their characters. We have in this province sixtytwo Christian schools; of which 35 It is meare boys, and 27 girls. lancholy to think we cannot increase these institutions; the poverty of the The inhabitants is the occasion of it. emperor has sent for two new Lazarist Missionaries to Pekin, who left Cantop last summer, in order to go to the apital. By these letters we find that the horde of rebels who troubled the empire in 1803, are entirely dispersed; and that the late reports of civil war, rumoured abroad by some misinformed merchants, deserve no credit, The British and Foreign Bible Society of individuals and congregations, which "The spirit of emulation exeisel in "The following summary of facts "The German Protestant edition of tee conceived that the aid of the So-、 of the effect of this donation have been tures. "Your Committee have next to mention the establishment of a BibleSociety at Berlin, under the direction of persons of high rank, and with the express approbation of his Prussian Majesty. "Your Committee have fulfilled their engagement, by remitting the sum of col. which they had conditionally promised, to aid the printing and circulation of Protestant Bohemian Bibles; and they have also engaged to tional donation of reol. in the event of assist the Berlin Society with an additheir undertaking to print an edition of the Polish Bible, which they have in contemplation. "Your Committee have formerly reported the influence produced by the Society on the Roman Catholics in Germany, and the authority conveyed by them to that at Nurenberg, to furnish 1000 e pics of the Protestant edition of the New Testament for sale. or donation, amongst the Roman Catholics in Swabia and Bavaria, at the This donaexpence of this Society. tion was been most thankfully accepted by the correspondent of your Committer, a clergyman of the Romish persuasion. "The same inflence has led to the institution of a Bible Society at Ratisbon, under the direction of Regens Wittman, and supported by the contributions of Roman Catholics, for the express purpose of printing and circalating the New Testament among the poor of the Romish persuasion; thousands of whom had never before an "In the course of foreign colamnuriopportunity of reading the Scriptures. cations, a correspondence has also been opened with the Secretary of a regious Protestant Society, established at Basle; whose enquiries have been particularly directed to as. eriam, how Tar Bibles were wanted by the pooter classes in the French part of Switzerland, and even in France itself. The result of these enquiries has been commonicated to your Committee; and they have been induced by it, to remit to the Society at Basle two several sums of 50l. for the purpose of purchasing French Protestant Bibles, to be sold, or gratuitously distributed, at the discretion of the Baste Society. "A communication having been received from a respectable minister in the Russian Province of Esthonia, stating, that a great want of the Scriptures in the Esthonian, Finnish, and Swedish languages prevailed; together with a very eager desire of obtaining them, and offering his services both for distributing Swedish Bibles, now procureable from Stockholm, and also for establishing a Bible Society in Esthonia, your Committee resolved to grant a donation of 150l. for assisting the circulation of the Scriptures, upon being informed that a Bible Society has been established in Esthonia. "The proceedings of your Committee for supplying the French and Spanish prisoners of war in this country with the Protestant versions of the Scriptures in their respective languages, will naturally follow the preeeding statement. For this purpose they have directed 2000 copies of the New Testament to be printed in the Spanish language, and coo extra copies of the Gospel of St. Marthew only, for the purpose of immediate distribution amongst the Spanish prisoners. Some of these extra copies of St. Matthew have been conveyed to the Spanish prisoners; and the Committee have the satisfaction to be informed, that they have been gratefully received. A contract has also been entered into for stereotyping an edition of the French Bible; but as the performance of this undertaking will eccessarily be a work of time, the sum of recl. has been expended upon the purchase of French Testaments, in order to supply without delay the prisoners of that mation. Your Committee, with a view to the accommodation of the natives of Germany residing in England, have directed 1000 copies of the German New Testament, printed by the Society at Nurenberg, to be procured for them; and also 100 copies of an octavo. Bible and as many New Testaments, from the Hailish institution. "At the recommendation of a very respectable clergyman in Ireland, 16co copies of the New Testament have been nsumitted to him, for the purpose of supplying the Roman Catholics with this portion of the Scriptures, at a moderate price. "The zealous exertions of the friends of the Society in Scotland were poticed in the former Report; and they have now the satisfaction to state, that these exertions have been continued with unremitted activity, and with a degree of success which has largely contributed to increase the Society's funds. In this good work, the Presbyteries of Glasgow and Edinburgh have signalized their zeal and liberality; and entitled themselves to the grafeiul esteem of every friend to the Society. "The attention of your Committee has been forcibly attracted to the state of the Highlands in Scotland, with respect to the deficiency of Bibles in the Gaelic language. The information laid before them stated, that very few families were in possession of a compiete Bible: that its price exceeded the ability of the poor to purchase it; and that in fact it was not easily procurable at any price. After the maturest deliberation, your Committee were of opinion, that another edition of the Scriptures in Gaelic, in addition to that publishing by the Society of Scotland, was highly desirable; and that the funds of the Society would admit the appropriation of the sum required for the execution of it. They accordingly adopted a resolution, That 20,000 copies of the Old and New Testament in the Gaelic language should be printed; and they are now engaged in carrying this resolution into effect. "Your Committee have to express their sincere regret that the publication of the Welch Bible should have been delayed, from causes which it was not in their power to controul. This delay has been principally occasioned by impediments connected with the mechanical process of the undertaking. It is now confidently trusted, that all obstacles to the completion of this work are removed; and that the progress of it will advance without farther interruption. "Your Committee will next report, that two editions of the English New Testament have been printed for the Society; and that the Members of it may now he supplied with copies, at the regulated prices, by application to the Depositary. The object of the institution cannot be more beneficially promoted than by the charitable distribution of them, either by individuals, or by local Societies expressly formed RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. for that benevolent purpose. A large edition of the complete Bible is now in the press; and, it is hoped, will be completed in the present month *. "It is with particular satisfaction your Committee acknowledge a donation lately received from an Association in London, "for the purpose of contributing to the Fund of the Society," by small monthly subscriptions, as it affords them an opportunity of doing justice to the liberality of the individuals which compose it, and of recommending Associations upon the same considerate and economical principle throughout the country. They have further the gratification to add, that the different denominations of Christians at Birmingham, have united for the express purpose of procuring subscriptions in aid of this institution. "Your Committee having thus renorted a summary of their proceedings during the last year, anticipate with confidence the satisfaction which the Members of the Bible Society cannot 423 fail to participate with them, at the progress of the institution towards the attainment of its object, the circulation of the Holy Scriptures. And what object can be more important?— what more worthy the united efforts of all Christians? If it be "the solema duty of this imperial nation to diffuse Christian knowledge throughout the world at all times," if the Scriptures, as we all believe, contain the doctrines of salvation, if there be thousands, and tens of thousands, even amongst those professing the religion of Christ, and capable of reading the sacred records in which it is contained, who are yet prevented by poverty, or other circumstances, from possessing them, an institution, the sole object of which is to supply these wants, can stand in need of no recommendation. Such an object will sufficiently account for the deep interest which the Bible Society has excited in the United Kingdom, and authorizes the fairest hopes that it will continue to receive the support of the friends of revealed religion." Abstract of the State of the Society's Funds, March 31, RECEIPTS. 1806. DISBURSEMENTS. Balance in hand, Mar. 31, L. d. 1805 15T0 19 1127 9 O Stereotype Testaments from the Cambridge Press French Testaments To the Rev. J. F. Oberlin, of Waldbach, for distributing Bibles Society at Basle, for distrihuring French Protestant Bibles 20 ICO . 8934 18 24 *It is now finished. L. 8934 18 24 AMERICAN INDIANS A PAMPHLET has lately been published in America, and re-published in London, entitled, "Accounts of Two Attempts towards the Civilization of some Indian Natives;" from which it appears, that about ten years ago, Committees of the Quakers residing in Pennsylvania and Baltimore were appointed to promote the improvement and civilization of the Indians. These two committees acted independ-ently of each other; the former in places about 250 miles N. W. of PhiJadelphia; the latter in the territory between the Mississippi and Ohio. The Quakers were induced to make this benevolent attempt to meliorate the condition of their Indian brethren, by a view of the miseries to which they were subjected by their attachment to hunting, and the habits of intoxication introduced and encouraged by the white traders, although their country, with little cultivation, would abandantly supply all the necessaries of life. The Committees having opened a friendly communication with the chiefs of those nations, endeavoured to impress their minds with an idea of the benefit to be derived from introducing among them a knowledge of agriculture, and of some of the most useful mechanic arts, and urged them to hegin to cultivate their lands, and to raise corn and other grain; also horses, cows, sheep, hogs, and other animals. In this endeavour the Committees so far succeeded, as to obtain the concurrence of the Indians in the plans proposed for their improvement. They then sent home some ploughs and other implements of husbandry among them, and engaged suitable persons of their own persuasion to instruct them in the use of these utensils, to direct their labours in a proper channel, and, by cultivating a farm of their own, to add the influence of example to precept. The consequence has been, that the object of these useful associations has been in a great degree accomplished. The women and girls have been reclaimed from field labour, and trained to demestic services; the men and boys have been drawn off from hunting, and instructed to pursue agricultural and mechanical employments; habits of drunkenness have been in a great degree repressed; and, such an improvement has been introduced into their whole system of life, as promises to be the beginning of permanent and increasing prosperity. These facts ought surely to stimulate our exertions in behalf of our Red Brethren; and we shall rejoice to see them give birth to an association for promoting the civilization and improvement of the North American Indians within the British territory. In the "accounts" above alluded to, several sneeches of Indian Chiefs are inserted. We were particularly struck by one of these which was delivered to the Baltimore Committee, and in which the speaker dwells on the pernicious effects produced by the introduction of spirituous liquors among the Indians. We can only find room for an extract from this speech, with which we shall close the present article. "Brothers and Friends, "Since the introduction amongst us, of what you call spirituous liquors, and what we think may be justly called poison, our numbers are greatly diminished. It has destroyed a great part of your Red Brethren. "This liquor which they introduce into our country, is more to be feared than the gun and the tomahawk. "Brothers, "When our young men have been out hunting, and are returned home loaded with skins and furs; on their way, if it happens that they come where some of this whiskey is deposited, the white man who sells it, tells them to take a little drink. Some of them will say, 'No, I do not want it.' They go on till they come to another house, Extract of a Letter from Baltimore. "Dear Friend, Nov. 1904. I received your very acceptable present of twenty pounds sterling by RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. Mr. P. I thank God for putting it into your heart to send me such aid for my publishing many more religious tracts. Previous to my receiving your kind assistance I had, at sundry times, published 21,000 religious tracts, exclusive of a great number of similar pieces in the public papers. With the concurrence and assistance of my friends I have travelled several thousand miles, and distributed tracts and small books even among the Indians, many of whom, in different tribes, have been taught to read the Scriptures; having schools established among them. Though I have travelled among these people by day and by night, in frost and through snow, and had little else to lie upon but the boards! yet, such has been the care of Israel's Shepherd, that I never had one hour's indisposition." Extracts from the Periodical Accounts of the United Brethren. THE Moravian Brethren have long laboured among the negroes in Jamaica, and have lately received encouragement from a few of the proprietors of estates, to visit and instruct their slaves. The 44th of the Brethren's Periodical Accounts relates several pleasing accounts of the interviews held with them by the Missionaries; from which we extract the following: “Jan. 15th, Brother Howell visited the negroes on Elim estate. As soon as he entered the negro-town, the negroes began to call out, "There comes massa, there comes massa," with evident tokens of joy; and, without asking whether he would preach to them, they assembled at the usual place, made the needful preparations, and took their seats. The Missionary was quite enlivened by this agreeable reception, and spoke to them, with a warm heart, of the great love of our Saviour, and his desire to receive and save poor sinners. Many came afterwards, to express their fears that massa would go away and live at Carmel, being the oldest Missionary. turning, he visited on Two-mile-wood estate, where he found many of the old baptized negroes in a very happy state of mind, declaring their love to and faith in Jesus, and their desire to depart and be with Him. In the evening, there was an after-celebration of Epiphany at Bogue, when one adult was received into the congregation, and three were added to the candidates for baptism. A very numerous and XIV. In re 4.25 attentive auditory was present, gathered together from different estates, an i we hope, not without a blessing. Feb. 27th, we received a letter from the proprietor of Peru estate, in which he gave his cordial assent to a plan submitted to him, for making a further trial to preach the gospel to his negroes, and expresses his best wishes for its success. March 24th, we began to read to our negroes the daily lessons for the Passion Week, and on Maunday Thursday had a blessed participation of the Holy Communion with our fellow Missionaries at Carmel. On Good Friday, between two and three in the afternoon, being the usual dinner-time for the negroes, they met to hear the history of our Lord's crucifixion and death; and in the evening, a considerable auditory assembled, to whom a discourse was delivered on the words, It is finished. In the Easter-week, we received a letter from the attorney on Elim estate, stating, that the proprietor had given directions for every accommodation to be made, in order to furnish the negroes with an opportunity of hearing the gospel, and being instructed in the Christian religion; to which he added, that he himself felt great satisfaction in being able to promote so laudable an undertaking. The accounts from the settlements on the coast of Labrador are very satisfactory, From Okkar the brethren write thus: "We can assure you, that our merciful Lord has heard your and our prayers in their behalf, and now begins to give us fresh proofs of His wonder-working grace in the hearts of the poor Esquimaux, by nature so dark and perverse, that we fall down adoring at His feet. The fire, kindled at Hopedale last year, has spread even to this cold and dreary region; and we see it beginning to bura bright in the hearts of our Esquimaux congregation, in a manner never before perceived. "For the beginning of this new period of grace, the Lord made use of the visits of our Esquimaux Brethren and Sisters from Nain, who, in the most artless but impressive manner, related to their countrymen here what the Lord had done for and upon them at Nain, and how graciously He had led them during the winter. Our people heard it with astonishment, began to consider their own state, and we perceived, with inexpressible joy, how they submitted to the convictions wrought in their souls by the Hol 3 I |