But these, cheering as they may be, are not the only instances which the Managers have to record of the fidelity and promptness of the Parent Society. The Managers well knew, that not only Gaelic, but English Bibles were greatly needed in this section of the country. They therefore ordered a supply in our own language; and they were happy in receiving 200 of an edition printed by the Parent Society. These have all, with the exception of a very few, been also and in like manner distributed. But this supply, as the Managers have found, has been by no means adequate to the wants of the people. Applications, and indeed pressing requests, have poured in upon us from a variety of quarters. We have had satisfactory information that more than 600 English Bibles may be readily distributed in a neighbouring county. These persons, in our view, have taken a correct view of the subject-that not only every family, but every individual composing that family, should have their own Bible. They represent themselves as able and willing to pay a fair price for them, and refuse (as they ought to do,) to receive them on any other terms. The Managers have therefore concluded to gratify them, and have forwarded their order for 1000 more, which they have been informed will be forwarded as speedily as possible. To sum up the whole-the Managers have received 400 Gaelic and 200 English Bibles. Of these nearly 200 Gaelic and 200 English have been distributed, and measures are in a state of forwardness for the distribution of the other 200,

Extract from the Fourth Report of the Managers of the BIBLE SOCIETY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, Virginia, June 5, 1818. Our National Institution has, a few days ago, celebrated its second anniversary, with prospects most encouraging to the friends of the Bible. Its resources are rapidly increasing. It is becoming more and more an object of laudable ambition to be recognized as a Director or Member for life. May we not cherish the pleasing expectation that at no very distant period, such will be the accession of wealth, and talents, and piety, to our National Society, that it will shed a new and an additional lustre round the American name! Rising in our horizon, like a new star of the first magnitude, it promises soon to rival and even to excel in brilliancy all those which adorn the American hemisphere. Distinguished as America now is for the freedom, the mildness, and justice of her government, the wisdom of her statesmen, the skill and intrepidity of her soldiers, she will then be still more distinguished by the zeal and diligence with which she diffuses through the world the word of eternal truth. The idea now. most naturally associated, in the minds of other nations, with the American name and character is, that of civil liberty; soon, we fondly hope, it will be, the distribution of the Bible. Without dissolving the association of civil liberty with the American name, one yet stronger may be formed, between that name and her Bible Societies. Without descending one single degree from that elevated rank which she has gained among the nations of the earth by her generous and

devoted attachment to her Republican Government, she may gain an elevation still higher by her enlightened zeal and persevering diligence in circulating the sacred Scriptures. The Sun does not deprive the moon and the stars of their light, but only conceals them from view by his superiour splendour. May the lustre, surrounding the American name, derived from Bible Societies, be like that of the sun, rendering her other glories less perceivable, only by its superiour brilliancy.

Anxious to aid in producing these happy results, your Managers cannot avoid embracing the present opportunity of recommending to their constituents, to cherish that zeal and employ that diligence which will, in some degree, be worthy the noble cause in which they are engaged. With this view let us use increasing industry in supplying the wants of this county. Let us inquire for those families and individuals not yet furnished with the Bible; and when found, let us exert our utmost ingenuity in rendering the donation agreeable and useful to them. Let us recommend it as the poor man's treasure, as a balm to the wounded spirit, as the voice of mercy and peace to the afflicted, as the word of God, as the guide to Heaven. If all other efforts fail, let us entreat and persuade them to receive it as the gift of God.

Our surplus funds we can send to the Treasurer of the American Bible Society, to be appropriated, by the wisdom of its Managers, in that way best calculated to answer the purpose for which they were given,

Extract from the Sixth Annual Report of the Board of Managers of the OTSEGO COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY; June 11, 1818.

Your managers have bought, within the last year, 320 Bibles and 200 Testaments, which, with those bought and distributed since the formation of the Society, amount to 1302 Bibles and 519 Testaments. There is now on hand 183 Testaments.

Since the formation of our Society in 1812, we have distributed 1261 Bibles and 500 Testaments. And by reports from several parts of the county, we believe that 2000 more may be distributed. Extract from the Seventh Report of the BIBLE SOCIETY OF SALEM AND VICINITY, June 10, 1818.

In laying before you, on the present occasion, a brief statement of our proceedings the past year, it gives us much pleasure to say that the Society has never been more useful in its own operations, in addition to its more extensive effects through the medium of the American Bible Society, of which it is now a branch, and to whose funds it has contributed three hundred dollars the year past.

There have issued from this Society 430 Bibles and 82 Testaments within the year; a larger number than has been usual. These, we trust, have been disposed of in a way the most likely to be useful. They have been taken principally by single copies, or in small

numbers, for particular objects of charity, or by persons who would attend themselves to the distribution.

Thirty-six Bibles were taken by Mr. Thomas Savage, for distribution in the western country. Jonesborough and its vicinity, in the county of Washington, seem to have become a field for our charity. About 40 have been there distributed the last year, under the care of a gentleman from this town, by whose faithful attention we are much obliged. Some of these have been sold at a low rate, and the receipts accounted for.

Some Bibles have also been distributed in the same way at Franconia, N. H. which were received with strong expressions of gratitude.

About 50 have also been distributed in the county of Hancock.

Some charity schools, particularly the female school for coloured people, in Salem, have also received assistance from us.

The remainder were distributed in this county, where several families were still found without a Bible.

The whole amount distributed since the formation of the Society is 2430 Bibles, and 482 Testaments.

There are now in the treasury, at the disposal of the Society, two hundred and six dollars 77 cents, besides an investment of thirteen hundred dollars in United States stock, &c.

Extract from the Annual Report of the BIBLE SOCIETY OF MAINE, May 7, 1818.

Since the 5th of June, 1817, 264 Bibles have been distributed; 100 have been sent to the Oxford Bible Society, 66 have been sold to subscribers, and 256 remain on hand.

The whole number of Bibles distributed by this Institution since its establishment, is 3450, together with 261 Testaments.

To put the Bible without note or comment into the hands of men is an attempt to instruct and improve them, which is liable to no objections that must not be first advanced against the scriptures themselves; those sacred oracles, that are able to make us wise unto salvation, that are most propitious to the present happiness of human beings in all the various relations in which they are placed, and that strike the only effectual blow at vice and the evils of which it is productive.

Let therefore the great experiment be made, must every well wisher to his fellow-creatures exclaim. Lex the word of God have a free course, and let it be seen what the effect will be of passing its purifying streams over the corruptions of mankind. Those who believe its prophecies know that this experiment will be made; and that the word that shall go forth shall not return void; but it shall accomplish the pleasure of the Lord, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto he sends it.

Extract from the Fourth Report of the NEWARK BIBLE SOCIETY, June 25th, 1818.

On this occasion the Managers are happy to state, that the institution committed to their direction has not ceased to flourish-and its concerns were never more hopeful than at the present time. Hitherto the smiles of Heaven have succeeded our humble endeavours to diffuse the Word of Life-and in proportion to the evidences of usefulness to our fellow-men, have our hearts been cheered, and our labours made light. As the benevolent objects of the Society have become distinctly known, so has its influence extended, and its means of doing good augmented. Public beneficence has kept pace with its growth-tenderness and brotherly affection have characterized the Society-and the utmost cordiality and coincidence of sentiment have distinguished all the deliberations of the Board.

It is scarcely necessary for the Managers to remark, that two years have elapsed since this Society became auxiliary to the AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY-a Society not less distinguished for its liberality than for its exertion-a Society which may truly be said to be a national monument of christian labour and benevolence. Consequently our field of operation has been retrenched-our labours located to the Society's immediate vicinity. While we have supplied the wants of the needy among ourselves, our surplus funds have been consecrated to the use of the National Institution. And though much has been done by us in this place and its vicinity, we are sensible there still remains great room for the exercise of our charity and benevolence.

From the report of the Treasurer of this Society, it appears that at the commencement of the year now expired, the unexpended funds, at that time amounted to $9 59. That subsequently, at the delivery of the anniversary address, $82 2 cents were collected; and $142 have been received from annual subscriptions; which, including some small donations, &c. make the receipts of the Society to amount the present year to $256 37 cents. The disbursements during the same period amount to $231 4 cents; leaving in the hands of the Treasurer, at the present time, only $25 83 cents. The principal items of expenditure are $118 46 cents paid to the Philadelphia Bible Society, for Bibles furnished our order the preceding year to the Rev. Mr. Burr Baldwin in his missionary tour in the Western country; and a donation of $100 to the American Bible Society. The Managers notice with thankfulness a number of private donations from their fellow townsmen.

NEW JERSEY BIBLE SOCIETY.

The eighth anniversary of this institution was celebrated at Burlington, New-Jersey, the 26th August, 1818. The meeting was attended by a numerous and respectable assemblage of citizens of

both sexes. No religious exercises were performed except the reading of a chapter in the Bible. The venerable President of the Society, Dr. Elias Boudinot, opened the business of the day by an address, the substance of which, we understand, will be shortly published. After the reading of the Annual Report, addresses were delivered by the Rector of St. Mary's church, Burlington, Rev. Dr. A. Green, President, Rev. Dr. Charles Wharton of Nassau Hall College, and Rev. Dr. S. Miller, Professor of Theological Seminary at Princeton.

A resolution was unanimously passed by the Society, recommending the establishment of Bible Associations in every city, town, and neighbourhood throughout the State, where the numbers, sentiments, and circumstances of the people may render the same expedient and practicable.

MR. PRESIDENT,

Rev. Dr. Wharton's Address.

It is with great diffidence that I rise to address you before this respectable assembly. It would indeed be presumption in me to flatter myself, that whatever I can say respecting the design, the excellence, and the advantages of Bible institutions, should add new feelings to the high and sacred estimation in which they are now held. The pious acclamations with which the establishment of these Societies has been welcomed by the voice of Christendom, and the astonishing, I had almost said, the miraculous success which has attended their operations, are sufficient evidence of the deep, and I trust lasting impression, which their importance has made upon the public mind and the hearts of their members.

In viewing the rise and progress, and in looking forward to the probable issue of these associations, the only danger is, lest the mind should be carried beyond the bound of temperate exultation; or, recollecting the ages that are past, should experience too painful a sensation that this blessed work has been so long deferred. But, Sir, as from many other distressing recollections, so from this also, may spring up fresh motives for excrtion. When we behold with the eye of pity, the manifold and awful calamities which, from the early days of Christianity, have grieviously afflicted and debased its professors; leaving them little more than a name : when we strive to account for the numerous and destructive heresies, the disgusting immoralities, the puerile hallucinations, and the contemptible superstitions, which in many ages of the church have obscured the splendour of her doctrines, the purity of her morals, and the rationality of her worship, we do not immediately perceive that these mighty evils sprang, principally, either from the difficulties in procuring, or from withholding from the general use the volume of revelation. True indeed it is, that, within the four first centuries of the Christian era, the gospel had been preached to all the civilized world. Beyond the frozen Caucasus its standard had