XVIII. SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.-In 1803, the "Sunday School Union" was formed; the design of which is to stimulate Sunday school teachers to greater exertions; to improve the methods of tuition; to increase the number of Sunday schools; to furnish suitable books and stationary at the lowest prices; and to correspond with ministers and others, at home and abroad, for the purpose of promoting the establishment of Sunday schools, and local Sunday School Unions. Both the foreign and home success of this society shows that it has richly received the Divine blessing. In their report of 1830 it is stated, there were reported to the Union seven thousand and eighty-five schools; seventy-nine thousand seven hundred and fifty-three teachers; eight hundred and five thousand four hundred and fifty-six Sunday scholars in Great Britain. But this is believed to be not more than half of the schools and scholars in the kingdom, without including Ireland. The trade account of the society, for the year 1830, was six thousand and eighty-nine pounds, eleven shillings, and nine pence, and the benevolent fund account, nine hundred and eighty-five pounds, seventeen shillings, and eleven pence.

The annual meeting of this society for 1833, was held at Exeter hall. The report commenced with a sketch of the progress of the foreign Sunday schools in France, Denmark, Malta, New South Wales, South Africa, America, Canada, New Brunswick, the West Indies, and Jamaica. In France, the Sunday schools were stated to be extending among the Protestants. In Denmark two schools had been established near Copenhagen. In Antigua, there are in the Wesleyan Sunday schools one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two scholars; and from Jamaica it is said that the Sunday schools at no period have afforded such cheering prospects of their still greater efficiency and universal establishment throughout the islands of the West Indies as at the present moment. With reference to home proceedings, the report stated that in the present year nine hundred and fifteen pounds had been voted for the Jubilee fund, in addition to the three hundred and forty pounds voted in 1822. The expense of erecting Sunday schools was estimated at the sum of ten thousand pounds, and the committee proposed that means should be devised for establishing a permanent Sunday school building fund. The missionaries' labors were next detailed, and the sum of the statement was, that eleven unions had been visited, and seven new ones established, in little more than half a year. The committee having been engaged during the past year in arranging a plan for establishing a library, have agreed to devote one hundred and fifty pounds for the purchase of books, and that the library should be opened on the 1st of July next. following summary of the returns of Sunday schools was given: from

London auxiliaries, five hundred and twenty-two schools, six thousand nine hundred and seventy-three teachers, and seventy-four thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight scholars; Great Britain, seven thousand two hundred and thirty-two schools, one hundred and two thousand six hundred and sixty-nine teachers, eight hundred and sixty thousand four hundred and ten scholars; the Sunday school Society for Ireland, two thousand six hundred and forty-two schools, nineteen thousand one hundred and forty-two teachers, two hundred and six thousand seven hundred and seventeen scholars; the London Hibernian Society's Sunday schools, eight hundred and seventy-nine schools, and sixteen thousand four hundred and thirty scholars-making a total of eleven thousand two hundred and seventy-five schools, one hundred and twenty-eight thousand seven hundred and eighty-four teachers, one million one hun. dred and fifty-eight thousand three hundred and fifty-four scholars, and showing an increase on the last year of three hundred and twenty-nine schools, twelve thousand four hundred and eighty-six teachers, and twentytwo thousand nine hundred and fifteen scholars. The sales during the past year were stated, from the depository accounts, at seven thousand and seventy pounds, three shillings, and two pence. The balance in hand of the Benevolent Fund was stated to be two hundred and seventyeight pounds, six shillings, and ten pence, and in the general account it was mentioned, that the grant to the Benevolent Fund for trade profit, this year, amounted to three hundred and fifteen pounds, fourteen shillings, and five pence.

XIX. BRITISH and Foreign BIBLE SOCIETY.-In 1804, the "British and Foreign Bible Society" was instituted. This wondrous society originated in the endeavors of the Rev. Thomas Charles, of Bala, the principal leader of the Calvinistic Methodists in Wales, to supply his countrymen with the Holy Scriptures in their native language. The subject being mentioned at a committee meeting of the Religious Tract Society, its secretary, the Rev. Mr. Hughes, suggested the idea of a general society for supplying the whole world with Bibles! The friends. present approving the proposition, measures were taken to call a public meeting, which, on the 7th of March, 1804, was held at the London Tavern, consisting of about three hundred persons of different denominations, including some worthy Quakers. For the purpose of carrying their resolutions into effect, it was deemed advisable to seek the patronage of some person of rank. Dr. Porteus, then bishop of London, yielded to the application; gave his cordial sanction; and recommended lord Teignmouth as president; an office which that distinguished nobleman

has ever since filled with honor. Several other prelates gave their names, which were enrolled on the list of presidents. The Rev. Joseph Hewes, M. A., a Baptist minister, and its original projector; the Rev. Josiah Pratt, A. M., of the Church of England; and the Rev. Charles F. A. Steinkopff, D. D., minister of the Lutheran chapel in London, were appointed secretaries. The fundamental law of the society declares its title as given above; and, also, that its object is exclusively to promote the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, without note or comment, both at home and abroad; and, further, that the copies circulated in the United Kingdom, in the English language, shall be those only of the authorized version. The constitution of this society admits of the co-operation of all persons who are disposed to concur in its support; and it is ordained that the proceedings of this society shall be conducted by a committee, consisting of thirty-six laymen, six of whom shall be foreigners residing in London and its vicinity; half of the remainder members of the Church of England, and the other half members of other denominations of Christians. The presidents, and all clergymen and dissenting ministers, subscribing to the society, may vote at the meetings of the committee. The British and Foreign Bible Society has had many enemies; especially among the high Church clergy of the establishment, and not more than about a sixth part of its prelates and clergy have, at any time, been reckoned among its friends. But to detail its history would require volumes. It has been the means of originating similar institutions in most parts of the world in which the Bible is believed, conveying immortal blessings to all nations. Either in England or in foreign countries, directly at the expense of the society, or indirectly by grants to societies abroad, or to individuals, this astonishing institution has reprinted the Holy Scriptures in forty-four languages; in five languages it has printed translations of the Scriptures: in seventy-two languages and dialects in which they never had previously been printed; and in thirty-two new translations commenced or completed; making a total of one hundred and fifty-three different languages and dialects!

It may be here added, that during the last year (1832-1833) the distributions of this society, from the home depository, amounted to three hundred and forty-three thousand one hundred and forty-five copies. The distributions on the continent, during the same time, were two hundred and forty thousand seven hundred and forty-three copies-making the total issues of the society, in twenty-eight years, seven million six hundred and eight thousand six hundred and fifteen.

The receipts of the last year were eighty-one thousand seven hundred and thirty-five pounds, sixteen shillings, and four pence.

In respect to the operations of other continental societies, it may be stated that the distributions of the Paris Bible Society, being confined exclusively to Protestants, are not very extensive. The committee, however, manifest a willingness to furnish Bibles to all who make their wants known. Offering the past year to furnish, gratuitously, a copy of the Bible to every newly married couple, and a Testament to every new communicant; one thousand four hundred and ninety-four of the former, and three thousand five hundred and eighty-eight of the latter, were in this way disposed of. The distributions of the year amounted to eleven thousand nine hundred and forty-eight copies, making, with those previously distributed by the society, one hundred and thirty thousand.

The Geneva Bible Society has put in circulation nineteen thousand nine hundred and twenty-one Bibles and Testaments, including an edition of the modern Greek New Testament, which has been sent to Greece. The Basle Bible Society has circulated, in all, one hundred and sixty-one thousand five hundred and seventy-five copies. In one canton in Switzerland, containing one hundred and seventy thousand inhabitants, every family has been furnished with a copy.

The Prussian Bible Society, and its auxiliaries, distributed last year nine thousand three hundred and sixty-seven Bibles, and thirty-seven thousand five hundred and seven New Testaments; making a circulation, in seventeen years, of five hundred and thirty thousand copies.

The Netherlands Bible Society has established an auxiliary at Surinam, in South America; and measures are in train for publishing, at Java, parts of the Old Testament in Javanese, the New Testament having been already published by the Batavia Bible Society.

In Sweden, the Bible cause is highly prosperous. Last year, eight thousand Bibles and twenty-two thousand five hundred Testaments were printed by the Swedish Bible Society, making in all, since the formation of the society, three hundred and forty-one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven copies. The society's presses are still at work, preparing for future demands.

The Danish Bible Society circulated, last year, three thousand two hundred and twelve copies, making its total issues one hundred and twenty thousand four hundred and seventeen.

From St. Petersburg, in Russia, were distributed, last year, five thousand eight hundred and twenty-three Testaments, making, since 1828, the number of twenty-two thousand copies. Most of these books were put in circulation through the exertions of that devoted minister, the Rev. Mr. Knill.

From Malta, four thousand two hundred and sixty-one copies of the Scriptures were issued the past year, principally in French, Italian, Arabic, Greek, and Hebrew. A part of these books went to Algiers and other places, on the north coast of Africa.

The translation of the Old Testament into modern Greek is rapidly going forward in Greece, under the direction of Mr. Leeves, the Bible agent, the Rev. Mr. Jewett, and others. The number of New Testa ments issued by Mr. Leeves, in the course of the past year, were two thousand two hundred and eighty-eight.

The issues from Constantinople and Smyrna by the agent, Mr. Barker, during the same period, amounted to five thousand four hundred and eighty-four copies. Many of the copies were procured for schools.

A large number of Bibles and Testaments, in Arabic, Syriac, and Turkish, or portions of them, have been sent to Shoosha, in Armenia, to be distributed by the missionaries located in that region. Measures were taken to print the Armenian New Testament at this place, but the work has since been transferred to Moscow, where it is in press, and the Gospel of Matthew already issued.

The Bible Society of Calcutta is still in active operation. The issues from its depository, the past year, amounted to fourteen thousand six hundred and sixty-one copies. Efforts are made to circulate portions of the Word of God in the interior cities and villages, and with encouraging

success.

The Bible Society at Madras has undertaken to print twelve thousand copies of the New Testament in Tamul, as soon as the translation is completed.

The distributions of the Madras Bible Society, for the year, were nineteen thousand three hundred and twenty-four copies, in whole or in part, and in no less than fifteen different languages.

XX. BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY.-In 1805, the "British and Foreign School Society" was instituted. This most noble institution, the design of which is the "education of the laboring and manufacturing classes of society, of every religious persuasion," arose out of the zealous exertions of Joseph Lancaster, an ingenious schoolmaster of London, and who is generally considered the inventor of the system of mutual instruction. His own exertions were surprising; and he soon enjoyed the patronage of the king, and of the royal dukes of Kent and Sussex. A society was formed in 1805, and a noble building for a model school was erected in Southwark, and schools were soon established in different parts of the kingdom upon the same plan. It is a law