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dred men could be employed in our field, at this moment, to the best advantage, and we have but nine. Pray for us, and do what you can, for I am fully persuaded that, some later, all will have occasion to rejoice who shall have extended a helping hand to us. The work of the Lord is truly wonderful, and overcomes all opposition."

The measures commenced some years ago for securing a revised edition of the New Testament in French are well known to the Society. Such an edition was issued by the Board of the preceding year, as stated in the last nAnual Report, and " a number of copies sent to France for distribution and examination." The result has not been such as to warrant the Board in attempting to extend the circulation of this edition. The Corresponding Secretary has placed copies in the hands of several persons competent to judge of its merits, and of the desirableness of circulating it, with a view to the recommending of some course of action in regard to it, but has not been able to arrive at any satisfactory conclusion. The whole question is therefore left for further consideration. Dr. Devan's views upon the subject were indicated in a letter to the Corresponding Secretary, dated Lyons, July 6, 1850. He says:

"Permit me to ask for instructions as to the disbursement of said bill, [meaning funds received from this Society.] You are aware, doubtless, that I have received a box containing 100 French Testaments issued by the. American and Foreign Bible Society. But for reasons which I have already communicated to the Rooms, I should think it unwise to distribute that book until it should have met with some further revision, and this will require considerable time, to do it as it ought to be done. In the mean time what is to be done? If I may be allowed to suggest, it would be that you let me employ the funds at once, in the distribution of the present very good current French versions."

Instructions in compliance with Dr. Devan's suggestion were immediately sent to him, and your funds were thus employed in spreading the Word of Life among the destitute. In the communications received from Dr. Devan from time to time, he has given the most painful views of the spiritual darkness and gloom with which he is surrounded, and has urged in terms of the most earnest importunity your increased liberality on behalf of the French people. From no quarter of the world have the Board received more pressing solicitations, and they are convinced that it is the duty of this Society to do more for France, so soon as its means will allow. They beg to call the attention of the friends of Bible distribution to the wants of a great nation, made superstitious and infidel by a corrupt Church, and doomed to its present or a worse condition, until regenerated by the preaching of a pure gospel, and the distribution of God's uncorrupted Word.

The whole amount appropriated to France during the last fiscal year was $921 51.

ITALY.

• It has been announced in reports of former years, that a translation of the New Testament into the Italian language, for this Society, was in course of preparation by the Rev. Dr. Achilli. This work, which was interrupted by a call for more active labors on the part of Dr. Achilli, during the brief existence of the Roman Republic, when the Bible and preaching were free in Rome, and by his imprisonment in the dungeon of the Inquisition on the reinstatement of Papal authority, when the Bible and preaching were again proscribed, has been resumed since his Providential deliverance, and is now completed. A part of it has been received, and the Epistle of James has been printed for examination as to the general merits of the translation. This, however, has been done within so brief a time that no expressions of opinion have been received by the Board in relation to it. The methods of examination and issue are necessarily made over to the Board of the coming year.

It is manifest that the calls for the distribution of the Scriptures among Italians will increase from year to year, and the friends of the Bible should prepare themselves to engage in the important work. Italians abroad, exiles from Italy for freedom's sake, in many cases have become interested in the Bible with all the warmth of a first love, and the methods by which these exiles communicate with their friends at home, and propagate their opinions, are beyond the control of the spiritual police of Italy, and of the foreign bayonets under which that police is sheltered. It is too late in the world's history to prohibit the circulation of Bibles. The word of God is not bound. Ten thousand avenues open at its approach, that it may have free course and be glorified.

ORISSA.

This interesting portion of India has from time to time received the appropriations of this Society for Bible distribution, and has largely repaid the spiritual cultivation which has been bestowed upon it. The missionaries of the English General Baptist Missionary Society laboring there, among whom are the Rev. Amos Sutton, D.D., and his wife, well known and greatly beloved in this country, are a band of godly and devoted servants of Christ, whose praise is in the churches of every land. Their seat of operations is at the very Mecca of Hindoo idolatry, beneath the shadows of Juggernaut, and there it has pleased God to bring many sons and daughters to himself through their pious instrumentality. A long letter from the Rev. John Buckley, interesting for the spirit which it breathes and for its illustrations of the nature of the work of evangelization there going on, is given in connection with this Report.

During the late visit of the Rev. Dr. Sutton to this country, he made application to the Board for the aid of this Society in a work of Bible distribution to which he proposed to devote himself personally. Dividing

Orissa into five parts, it is his plan in the course of five years to traverse the whole country himself, distributing the Word of God, and accompany ing the precious gift with suitable oral instructions. The expense to this Society he estimates at from $1,000 to $1,200 per year, or $6,000 for the entire period. It is believed by the Board that no dispensation of funds could be more judicious, and they have accordingly made the first appropriation of $1,000. With the blessing of God, large ultimate harvests may be looked for from such a cultivation.

In this connection it should be stated that the interest in the Orissa mission which has been manifested by this Society, has won for the Society an encouraging measure of regard among the Free Will Baptists of this country, who are in close fraternization with the General Baptists of England. In many cases their pulpits have been open to the agents of this Society, and their contributions have been liberal. The Board believe that this Society would warmly welcome the Free Will Baptist brethren to closer sympathy and co-operation in the work of Bible distribution.

BURMAH.

Under this general head are embraced our Bible operations in the several languages and dialects spoken in Burmah Proper, and in the Provinces of British Burmah. The annual statement of Mr. Thomas S. Ranney, Missionary Printer at Maulmain, has been received, and many interesting items of intelligence are gleaned from it. There have been issued at Maulmain, Tavoy, Mergui, Akyab, and Sandoway, during the last year, (1850,) in Scriptures and parts in of Scriptures, 6,901 copies, in the Burmese, Peguan, Sgau Karen, and Pwo Karen languages. There were printed at Maulmain during the year (1850) 4,000 copies of the New Testament in Sgau Karen, second edition, 12mo, revised by Rev. Messrs. Vinton and Mason; 300 copies of Mr. Mason's English Preface to the same, (pp. 12;) 500 copies of the Gospel by Matthew in Pwo Karen, second edition, 12mo, revised by Mr. Mason; and 5,000 copies each of the Ten Commandments, and How do we know there is an Eternal God? which are Scripture extracts in the Burmese language; making in all, of Scriptures and parts of Scriptures, printed during the year at that press, 14,500 copies.

In regard to the practical work of distribution, the information received from the mission stations is much less ample than it should be. A branch of service so important to the cause of missions as is that which is supplied by this Society, should be furnished with such intelligence as would enable the Society to bear directly to its patrons and friends a full and satisfactory statement of the means and appliances by which the destitute are reached, of the reception which the Scriptures meet when distributed, and of the fruits resulting, so far as these are from time to time developed. The attention of missionaries is respectfully called to this important mat

ter, and amid their many duties they are urged not to overlook this. It will at once be seen that the work of raising funds would be greatly facil itated, if this Society were able to maintain a closer connection between its patrons and the practical work which their benefactions are accomplishing in distant parts of the world. It is not to be understood, however, that this suggestion is intended to have any special application to the mission stations of Burmah. It relates to a lack of intelligence which is felt with reference to our operations generally in connection with foreign missions, and in the hope that the suggestion may lead to the desired improvement.

BURMESE SCRIPTURES.

In regard to the work of distributing the Burmese Scriptures, concerning which there has been so much of solicitude and inquiry in this country, Mr. Ranney's letter furnishes some general statements which will be received with interest. In his letter of January 18, 1851, he says:—

The work of distributing the Burmese Scriptures is performed almost wholly b Burmese Assistant Missionaries, who are daily employed in zayats, in going from house to house, or itinerating in jungles in the interior. These men, as a class, are men of prayer, of advanced piety and approved cleverness, such men as American Christians would cordially embrace as brethren in Christ. Among the thousands and tens of thousands of Burmese and Talaings, though few have abandoned idolatry and embraced the Christian religion, yet of that few there are a goodly number who may be classed among the first in the land, who command the respect of their countrymen, and are listen d to as St. Paul would have been, where the unlearned and ignoble fishermen of Galilee might have been contemned. Having such men for assistants, though sickness and death have reduced our mission circle the past year in a degree unparalleled, there has been no decrease in the circulation of the Scriptures. That the Word of God is exerting a mighty influence in these Provinces is apparent enough, and few men can be met with who would deny that the Sacred Scriptures are the gift of an Eternal God to a fallen world. Reason is convinced, while the will remains unchanged. Unceasing and fervent prayer is needed that the heart may be reached.

Such statements are eminently encouraging, and justify the hope that when in the providence of God Burmah Proper shall be open again to missionary labor, there will not only be a large demand for the Burmese Scriptures, but such spiritual results as will repay a thousand fold the toils of the translator, and the faith and prayers of those who have borne this unspeakable gift to a benighted empire. Should Mr. Kincaid effect a footing at Ava, it is his intention, as mentioned by him to the Corresponding Secretary, to put the Sacred Writings into wide circulation through the commercial and other facilities which are furnished at the great Burman metropolis.

KAREN SCRIPTURES.

In his letter already referred to, Mr. Ranney says:

The printing of the Sgau Karen New Testament has been completed, and it is in rapid circulation. More than half the entire edition (of 4,000 copies) is already bespoken for the Karens of Burmah Proper and Arracan. The printing of THE WHOLE BIBLE IN THAT LANGUAGE will doubtless be commenced in a few months, either in Maulmain or Tavoy.

The important announcement here made will be received with unmingled satisfaction by the friends of this Society. From the time when the Karen apostle, Ko Thah-byu, awaking to a new life under the regenerating power of the Spirit of God, went forth to the jungles of his countrymen on his missions of mercy,, and the dying Boardman, from his couch on the bank of a wild mountain stream, witnessed the baptism of thirtyfour Karens as the first fruits of evangelical labors among that interesting people, the triumphs of divine grace, continued gloriously to the present hour, have commanded the admiration of the Christian world. Their language has been reduced to writing; schools have been established among them, some of them of high grade, where young men have been fitted for the service of government, and others, theological schools, where candidates for the ministry have been trained for their work; a population of sixty or seventy thousand has been altogether redeemed from the superstitions of heathenism, and from twelve to fifteen thousand converts, embraced in Christian churches, honor a Christian profession. For such a people the whole Bible has been prepared, that they may read in their own tongue the wonderful works of God. The Board are not in possession of the details of the translation, and are unable to say what part has been borne in the noble work by different hands. In the ultimate revision the Rev. Francis Mason has been for some time engaged, and his known qualifications, both as a translator and as a devoted missionary, promise a version as satisfactory as is attainable thus early in the Christian history of such a people.

The Board have the happiness to inform the Society that the privilege and honor of presenting this first edition of the Karen Scriptures to that people have fallen to the lot of the American and Foreign Bible Society. At the solicitation of the Corresponding Secretary of this Society, a statement of the wants of the American Baptist Missionary Union for the year, in the department of its Bible operations, was furnished at an early period by one of the Secretaries of that body, and it became the purpose and aim of your Board, as expressed in reply, to meet those wants if possible. Particularly was it made an object to meet the large demand of $6,500 on behalf of the Karens, of which sum $3,500 was to be expended in giving to that people the first edition of the whole Bible. By the blessing of God this Society was able to pay the whole $6,500, and the work of printing is doubtless at this moment going on, sustained by your benefactions, on the other side of the world. The great treasure of a whole Bible will soon bless the homes and the hearts of the Karen converts, and their joyful thanksgivings and Christian edification will be the ample reward of the friends and patrons of this Society.

The Board regret to say that no intelligence has reached them from the printing establishment at Tavoy, though there is reason to suppose

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