there is no other word of affirmation than "truly;" and, formerly, they had an abhorrence for strong liquors: they called brandy "mad water ;" and if one of their countrymen was drunk, they said, to ridicule him, that he was become a foreigner. Now we see, if not often, yet more frequently than formerly, drunken Greenlanders; and most of them are able to roar out, in their intoxication, all kinds of sailors' oaths. How much the bad example of some Europeans hinders the good effects of the Mission, is shown by the answer of a Greenlander, mentioned by Wolf. He had sent for the Greenlander, to give him a serious reproof for his disorderly way of life. Reprove your country. men," said he "they should be better and wiser than we; but they are much worse. When you have corrected them, then call me to account!" 66 It can therefore scarcely be wondered at, considering the defects in the establishment of the Mission, that no more has been done toward the moral and intellectual improvement of the Green landers; but we must be rather surprised, that so much has been effected by it. Wolf expresses himself as follows: "I, for my part, do not know in what country it should be more encou raging to be a Teacher, than in Greenland. The Greenlander has understanding enough to see that the European must labour diligently and incessantly, and struggle with many difficulties, before he acquires sufficient knowledge of the Greenland language-before he can instruct, edify, and comfort the children of the country. For this reason he loves and respects the honest Missionary, who, by indefatigable industry, has so far succeeded: I might almost say he honours him as a superior being. If we add, that the Greenlander has much respect for religion, (I might say of many of them, that they have a true sense of the value of religion; and I have never met with a scoffer of religion among the Natives, except one, who was hypochondriac,) how much good might a conscientious Teacher effect there,, if other obstacles did not oppose him?' Keports of Societies. SEVENTEENTH REPORT OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY, DELIVERED AT FREEMASON'S HALL, LONDON, MAY 2, 1821. Secretaries, Rev. JOHN OWEN, A. M., Rev. J. HUGHES, A. M., Rev. C. F. A. STEINKOPFF, D. D.-Treasurer, JOHN THORNTON, Esq. In our last number, we presented a view of the state and progress of Bible Societies on the Continent of Europe, and the Islands of the Mediterranean, and the Levant. We shall now finish our abstract of this voluminous and interesting Report. CALCUTTA. In the Ninth Report of the Calcutta Bible Society, very interesting accounts are given of the labours and successes of that diligent and persevering Auxiliary. Of their new undertakings, the Committee announce, as already in progress, an edition of the Old Testament in the Hindoostance (or Oordoo) language, and another in the Malay, with the Arabic character, after a careful revision by the Rev. Mr. Hutchings. To the former of these undertakings the Calcutta Committee attach great value. "Such a work," they say, "will be found an invaluable treasure; and, to gether with the Rev. Mr. Martyn's translation of the New Testament, will furnish a complete record of Divine truth to the immense population of Hindoostan." In the Hindoostanee department they have printed a large edition of the Gospel of St. Matthew, and another large edition of the same Gospel in Hindoostanee and English. This latter work will be very acceptable to that numerous body of natives, which is said to be increasing in various parts of the country, who are anxious to acquire a knowledge of the English language In Calcutta the work is in great request, and large supplies are on their way to the schools of the Church Missionary Society, established at Chunar, Benares, Agra, and Lucknow. Two other use. ful works of a similar nature have also issued from the Calcutta press-the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. John, with the English and Bengalee on opposite pages. These books are likewise said to be in great request. Mr. Ellerton's valuable translation of the New testament into the Bengalee language, has been completed this year. One thousand complete Testaments have been distributed, while, in cónformity with a judicious practice of printing a larger number of the Gospels in their respective editions of the Scriptures, the Committee have distributed from seven to eight thousand copies of the latter, and thereby multiplied greatly the Scriptures among the people. Of the Gospels altered by the Rev. Mr. Bowley from Martyn's Hindoostanee translation, so as to make them more intelligible to the Hindoo natives around Benares and Ghazeepore, by the disuse of Arabic and Persian words, three have been printed, and the fourth is in the press. In adverting to the Teloogoo Testament, the Report observes, "that Mr. Pritchett is now diligently proceeding with the translation of the Old Testament." Your committee with pain remark, that the pleasing hope of the completion of this work has been disap pointed by the lamented decease of that pious and intelligent labourer in the translation department. May He who has removed him be graciously pleased to raise up others in his place! The Armenian Scriptures have proved highly acceptable to the persons for whose use the edition was printed. A large majority of the Armenians residing in Calcutta have been supplied; and copies have also been sent to Madras and Bombay, from which latter place they were despatched by an Armenian merchant to Bussarah and Bagdad. "It is pleasing," says the Secretary, "To reflect, that the Scriptures will be no longer inaccessible to that interesting people, which has virtually been the case for a long course of years, on account of the great scarcity of the work. They are now provided with this sacred treasure, and the Society has thus far amply performed its part, in placing the Scriptures within reach of a Christian church which pos sessed the strongest claims to their earliest attention." Your Committee have not failed to maintain its usual correspondence with this its earliest and most powerful Oriental Auxiliary, though, from the increasing relations of the Parent Society, its communications with Calcutta have been neither so frequent nor so detailed as it is the wish of your Committee to make them. They have, however, attended to the wants of that station, both as it respects European Scriptures and printing paper. Of the former 5,000 English and 500 Portuguese Bibles bave safely reached their destination. SERAMPORE. Of their valuable fellow-labourers, the translators at Serampore, your Committee are happy to state that they continue to receive the most satisfactory intelligence of their progress in the work of Oriental translations. Two versions, the Assamese and the Multanee, have been recently presented by them as candidates for the premium of 5001. offered by your Society for the first 1000 copies of an approved version of the New Testament into a language of India in which it had not before appeared; and the claims to such premium have been accordingly granted. Other versions are announced as nearly ready to be presented for a similar remuneration. It should be observed, that the sums thus awarded, are only sufficient to reimburse the average expenditure of bringing so many copies of each new version through the press. Since this Report was prepared, your Committee have received the seventh memoir of translations (dated December 1, 1820,) from the Committee at Serampore: and although no measures can be taken upon it till it has undergone the usual consideration, they cannot delay extracting from it the following very interesting particulars : "The whole of the Scriptures are now published and circulated in five languages, and the New Testament in fifteen. The languages in which both the Old and New Testaments have been published, are the Bengalee, the Sanscrit, the Hindee, the Orissa, and the Mahratta; the ten additional languages in which the New Testament has been published, are, the Chinese, the Seik, the Pushtoo or Afghan, the Telinga or Teloogoo, the Konkuna, the Watch or Multanee, the Assamese, the Gujuratee, the Bikaneer, and the Kashmeer. "Besides these fifteen, in which the New Testament is completed, there are six other languages in which it is brought more than half through the press. These are the Kurnata or Canarese, the Nepal, the Harotee, the Maruwar, the Bhugelkhundee, and the Oojjuyinee version. About ten months more, they have reason to hope, will bring these through the press; and thus in twenty-one of the languages of India, and those by far the most extensive and important, will the New Testament be published. The remaining versions, now in hand, are the following ten, which are all in the press: the Jumboo, the Kanouj, the Khassee, the Kousulee, the Bhutuneer, the Dogura or Palpa, the Mughudha, the Koomaoon, the Gudwal, and the Muni poor." They are also reprinting editions of the New Testament, to the amount of 20,000 copies, in the Bengalee, the Sanscrit, the Hindee, the Mahratta, and the Orissa; the first four of them are in the chief languages of India, and those widest in circulation; and in all five of them, the Scriptures are more sought than in any other languages in that part of India. The expense is represented at nearly 5000l. sterling, while the balance in hand is little more than 1000/ In connexion with this part of their Report your Committee have to state, that, viewing the establishment of the Missionary College, by the Lord Bishop of Calcutta, as pregnant with great advantages to the religious improvement of India, they have offered a grant of 5,000l. in aid of that department which is to be appropriated exclusively to the translation and printing of the Holy Scriptures. BOMBAY. The Fifth Report of the Bombay Auxiliary Society evinces, that its labours have been neither intermitted nor ineffectual. The translation of St. Matthew's Gospel into the Mahratta has been finished, and copies of it have been circulated. The Rev. Messrs. Skinner and Fyvie, Missionaries of the London Missionary Society at Surat, having completed the translation of the New Testament into Gujuratee, and wishing to print it at their own press, the Committee of the Bombay Society, on receiving the opinion of a competent judge in favour of the translation, presented the Missionaries with 2,000 rupees, to be returned in copies when printed. It is proper to add, that, on application from these Missionaries for paper to print both the Old and New Testament in the above language, your Committee, satisfied with the statement of these translators, and with the autuori ties by which it was recommended, have recently granted them, through the medium of the Bombay Society, 500 reams of European paper. Many Armenian Bibles and Testaments have been distributed among the Armenian Christians under the Bombay Presidency. The Armenian Christians are in general very desirous of possessing the Scriptures in their own language. The Armenian Archbishop, who was lately in Bombay, received with thankfulness many copies of the Scrip tures in Armenian and Arabic, and encouraged the members of his church to read them. At Surat, the Archdeacon and Priest of the Armenian church gladly accompanied one of the members of the Bombay Committee in visiting the Armenian Christians in that city, in order to ascertain and supply their wants; and every house so visited, found to be without the Scriptures, was furnished with at least one copy of the New Testament. The Syrian Christians in Travancore have been supplied with Syriac Testaments, by means of the large supplies furnished from your depository; and the Armenian Archbishop from Etz Miatzen, on quitting Bombay, took with him some copies for the use of Christians in Persia and Turkey, who speak that language. A liberal distribution of the English Scriptures has taken place in the course of the year: many of the soldiers have cheerfully paid the price for them. And it is mentioned to the credit of the Honourable Company's Bombay European Regiment, that, in the formation of a Branch Society at Poonah, by the Rev. Mr. Robinson, this regiment contributed, within the first month of its establishment, upwards of twenty-two rupees: a sum, of but little consequence, compared with the interest excited, and the disposition which it manifests. tained through the intervention of the Calcutta Society; and its operations in that Presidency form part of the details of the Calcutta Report. From this document it appears, that the Associations in Madras have continued to justify the commendations bestowed upon them in former Reports. "Humble in rank," observe the Calcutta committee, "and comparatively few in numbers, they faithfully pursue their meek and steady course, holding forth the light of Divine truth in the dark regions wherein they are placed.” The European soldiers, stationed at Bellary and in its neighbourhood, have derived much benefit from the Branch Bible Society established there; and instances have occurred of Hindoos seeking for, and even being willing to purchase, the sacred word. The Madras Tamul Bible Association have been no less diligent in their department of labour. Much inquiry after Christian knowledge has, through their means, been excited among the heathen around them, and desire manifested to possess our Scriptures. One of them, in a letter written to request a copy, thus expresses himself: My hunger and thirst after this book are great." Another instance mentioned in the Report of the Anniversary of that Association is too remarkable to be passed unnoticed: "While the people were breaking up, a respectable Mohammedan, who had listened to the discourses with much attention, came up to the Chairman's table, and very joyfully asked for a subscription paper: he got one, and put down his name for one rupee per month. 'This,' said he, with joy visible in his aged face, 'I shall pay as long as I shall be in this place: it is a good charity.'" The chain of Institutions on the Peninsula is at length completed by the formation of the Madras Auxiliary Society. This establishment took place on the fifth of May last, in the College Hall, amidst a numerous and most respectable assembly. The Honourable Sir John Newbolt, Chief Justice, who presided, addressed the meeting with great spirit and animation; as did also Sir Samuel Toller, Advocate General, and others. One of the first measures of this Society, was, to appoint a Sub-Committee of Translations, consisting chiefly of gentlemen acquainted with the languages of India, and authorized to procure for themselves assistance whereever it can be had, from European or native scholars of every description. Your Committee, desirous of testifying their friendly disposition towards an Institution which they had long regarded as an important desideratum; and in the formation of which they saw every thing to authorize the highest expectations of its zeal, its wisdom, and its efficiency, presented it with a donation of a thousand pounds. Subsequently to the date of this grant, your Committee have learnt, that the Madras Society has already succeeded in strengthening itself for its future operations by the establishment of a Branch Society in the great military station of Trichinopoly ; an acquisition which must be regarded as of the highest imporfance. CEYLON. The Eighth Report of the Colombo Auxiliary Society gives, on the whole, an encouraging view of the state and prospects of that Institution. The heavy loss sustained by the removal from the Island of its late President, Sir Robert Brownrigg, and its Secretary, the Rev. George Bissett, appears to have been in a great measure repaired by the friendly zeal of their successors, Sir Edward Barnes and John Deane, Esq. The sentiments expressed by the two former gentlemen, on quitting their stations, were very honourable to their feelings and principles: to those of Sir Robert Brownrigg, from the rank he held as Governor, your Committee attach no common importance : "It has been," said he, "my unceasNov. 1821. ing desire, and I have felt it my bounden duty, from the moment of my entering on this government, to do my utmost towards the propagation of Christian knowledge. The establishment of a Bible Society in Ceylon, and the translation of the Scriptures into the language of the country, appeared to me the surest means of attaining this object. That the pious work may continue to prosper, will be my constant hope and prayer. And, to prove the sincerity of my wishes, I request to be continued an honorary and subscribing member." The new edition of the revised Cingalese Testament, amounting to 3,500 copies has been completed; two copies of it accompanied the Reports furnished to your Committee. The translation of the Old Testament into the same language, is now proceeding without interruption; and the Colombo Committee entertain a confident hope, that the whole of the Pentateuch will, in a very short time, be translated and ready for publication. In the mean time, the printing of 2,000 copies of the Book of Psalms has been completed; 1000 copies of the Book of Proverbs have also been printed; and. the press is now occupied in preparing a similar number of copies of the Book of Exodus, which are in a state of forwardness, and will soon be completed. In the Branch Society at Galle, the subscriptions have nearly doubled the amount of the preceding year. The Branch Society also at Trincomalee continues to flourish under the able superintendence and management of Colonel O'Connel, the Commandant, as President, and the Rev. T. Ireland, Chaplain to the forces, as Secretary. In connexion with this Branch a subordinate and separate Society has been formed, through the active exertions of the Collector and Commandant, in Batticaloa. Notwithstanding, however, the liberal efforts of the several members of the Colombo Society and a grant of three hundred pounds from your Institution, 22 |