written in haste, immediately after the arrival of the Brethren at Huaheine, and when the Perseverance, the vessel which conveyed them to that island, was on the point of departure. The danger, however, does not appear to have been very imminent, as four of the single Brethren were left, no doubt with their own consent, at Otaheite; these, however, the letter states, were expected shortly to follow them: whether they did so or not, the Directors have not yet been informed. Our hope is, that if they could retire to a place sufficiently remote from the scene of conflict, they would be able, at the conclusion of hostilities, which are seldom of long continuance, to resume their labours. They were kindly received by the chiefs of Huaheine, to whom they were not altogether strangers, as two of the Brethren had formerly visited that island, and their preaching had been favourably received. The Missionaries conclude their letter by "praying that the Lord may over-rule this unexpected, and, to them, painful dispensation, for the further good of the Missionary cause." In this wish the Directors sincerely unite, and are not without hope that the dispersion of the Missionaries may tend to the more extensive diffusion of the Gospel in the southern isles. Since our last meeting, Mr. Henry Bicknell, one of the first Missionaries who offered his services to the Society, and who has been a diligent and faithful labourer at Otaheite from the first, arrived in England. He left Otaheite in May, 1808, and proceeded to Port Jackson, in hope of obtaining a suitable partner in life at that settlement; but not succeeding, he came home, and has since been married to a pious young woman, with whom he sailed in the CANADA, a ship sent out by government with 100 female convicts. Mr. and Mrs. Bicknell were accompanied by four other pious women, who are now on their way to Port Jackson, and who will reside for a time in the colony under the care and direction of the Rev. Mr. Marsden, the active and zealous chaplain of the settlement. The single Brethren at Otaheite, who have expressed an earnest wish to enter into the married state, (a measure which appeared to them and to the Directors expedient, not only for their own comfort, but for the perpetuity of the Mission,) will have an opportunity of visiting them at Port Jackson, and of uniting themselves with pious partners, whose assistance and example at Otaheite, or any other island where they may settle, will, it is hoped, contribute to the stability and prosperity of the Mission. They are also accompanied by Tapioe, a native of Otaheite, who, having a strong desire to visit this country, arrived here about three years ago, after a long succession of dangers and disappointments. By the assistance of this Society, and other gentlemen who felt interested in his welfare, he has received considerable instruction, with a view to his being qualified to teach his brethren. The Directors acknowledge, with gratitude, their obligations to Government, who, on the application of Sir Joseph Banks, readily granted a free passage to the seven persons just mentioned; and also assisted the Taheitan stranger in his equipment for the voyage, furnishing him also presents for his countrymen, on whom it may be hoped the favours conferred on him may have a beneficial effect. A hope is also indulged that the conversation of the good women who sailed in the Canada, may be rendered useful to the female convicts, for the instruction of whose children they had commenced a school on board the ship before they left Spithead. By conversation with Mr. Bicknell, as well as from the journals last received, there is reason to conclude, that although positive instances of conversion cannot be produced, yet that a considerable degree of knowledge concerning the true God, and the method of salvation by Jesus Christ, has been generally diffused among the Taheitans. There is also reason to hope that a few individuals have died in the Lord. A seaman who touched at the island was brought under serious impressions, by hearing the Missionaries. He has since proved himself a zealous disciple of Christ, and has been very useful to many of his shipmates*. Although the superstitions and cruelties of the Taheitans are yet continued, a consciousness of their evil seems to be entertained, and their chiefs are anxious to conceal them from the Missionaries. A spelling-book in the Taheitan language, sent over by the Brethren, has been printed in London, some hundred copies of which Mr. Bicknell has taken with him, and which will be very serviceable in the teaching of the children. On the whole, the Society must patiently wait the Lord's time for that success which it is humbly hoped will ultimately crown the persevering labours of the Brethren. * He visited the island in a South Sea whaler. On his return home, from fear of being impressed, he entered on board his majesty's ship, the Volun taire. He was afterwards removed to the Ganges, where he was made a signal blessing to his shipmates, so that sixteen, or more, it is said, were awakened to a sense of religion by his instrumentality. His good conduct procured for him the offer of promotion; but he declined it, requesting only to be made the ship's corporal, in which office, having the care of the boys, he hoped to be made useful in training them up in the fear of God. ASIA. TO this most extensive field for Missionary exertions we now turn our attention, with a solicitude, in some degree, proportioned to the immense claims which it makes on our benevolence, and which are derived not only from its vast extent and population, but from other circumstances, which more directly relate to ourselves, as Britons and as Christians. For, for what purpose, but the manifestation of his own glory, has the great Disposer of nations placed under the control of the British government so great a portion of these regions, and also preserved to us that commercial intercourse with the great empire of China, which other nations have nearly lost? Surely the friends of Missions can be at no loss for a satisfactory reason for these arrangements of Divine Providence! An attentive view of this subject must necessarily present to our minds the most powerful motives to impart to those unnumbered myriads of our fellow-creatures, by every practicable means, that precious Gospel, which forms the glory, and we trust will prove the defence, of our native land, to the latest posterity. The events that have transpired since our last annual solemnity, are of a mingled nature. While we have to lament the loss of a beloved Brother, removed from the scene of those interesting labours for which he was matured by his qualifications as to language and local experience, and to adore in silence that dispensation which our dark and limited minds cannot comprehend, we have to acknowledge with gratitude the goodness of our God, in carrying safely across the ocean several of our dear Brethren and sisters, who have reached the shores of India in health and safety*. In the former event, we behold a devoted servant of Christ called from the work in which he delighted on earth, to the unmixed felicities and nobler services of the church triumphant. In the latter, we behold the prayer recommended to the disciples by Jesus himself answered, and "more labourers sent forth into the harvest." But, O with what emphasis are we compelled, with such a scene before us, to add-" The harvest truly is great, but the labourers ARE FEW !" The Brethren Gordon and Lee, with their families, sailed from Philadelphia in May, 1809, and arrived at Calcutta in September. The Brethren Pritchett, Brain, and Hands, sailed from the Cape of Good Hope, Dec. 7, 1809. (To be continued.) DOMESTIC. The Annual Report of the New-York Bible Society. THE Managers of the New-York Bible Society, in obedience to an article of the Constitution under which they act, beg leave to lay before the Society an account of their transactions during the past year. In performing this duty, for the first time, the Board have the satisfaction of presenting to the Society sufficient evidence of the utility of the Institution, and abundant encouragement to perseverance in the promotion of its important object-the distribution of Bibles among those who are destitute of that invaluable treasure. The funds placed at the disposal of the Managers, although ample evidence of the liberality of the friends of the Institution, and adequate to many useful purposes, do not warrant an expectation that the business of the Society has been conducted on a very extensive scale. All, however, that could be done, the Managers have endeavoured to perform. This Association has no pretensions to a comparison with the British and Foreign Bible Society. That unrivalled Institution contemplates the universal diffusion of the Holy Scriptures, until there shall be no speech nor language where their voice is not heard; until their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world: and it has already remarkably succeeded in its advances toward that splendid object. The New-York Bible Society, content for the present to co-operate with similar Institutions in this and in other countries, as an auxiliary to the PARENT ASSOCIATION which set the example, and so liberally extended to others its patronage, directs its exertions more immediately to the supply of those wants which occur within the bounds of this State. These wants, however, are numerous. The Managers have discovered, by the inquiries which they have instituted, that great numbers in the City, and in the frontier settlements, are destitute of Bibles. In some instances, this arises from choice, but generally it is to be attributed to poverty, or carelessness, or to both combined. These wants, as will hereafter appear more in detail, have been in part relieved by the distribution of nearly two thousand copies of the sacred volume. The Managers have not, however, confined the bounty of the Society within the limits of the State of New-York. They have cast it upon the ocean, by donations of Bibles to mariners. They have extended it to the western limits of this Continent, by sending Bibles to a settlement forming at the mouth of Columbia river-and to the East-Indies, by a donation of a thousand dollars, to aid in the translation of the Bible into the several languages of Asia. The Board will now proceed to lay before the Society a more particular account of their transactions, under the following heads :-Procuring Bibles.-Distributing Bibles.-Correspondence.-State of the Funds. Procuring Bibles. Particular inquiries were made for the purpose of ascertaining, whether it would be eligible for the Society to purchase types; and considering the delay, expense, and uncertainty incident to any proceedings for importing stereotype from Europe, the idea was entirely relinquished. Means were also employed to ascertain where the best and cheapest Bibles could be procured at home; and those printed by Messrs. Hudson, Goodwin, & Co. Hartford, were, on the whole, preferred. From them have been procured two thousand copies, and two thousand more have been ordered. All Bibles procured for the use of the Society, are stamped on the cover and upper edge of the leaves with the name of the New-York Bible Society, and deposited in the Book-store of Messrs. Williams & Whiting, who have generously offered, without any compensation, to take the trouble of delivering them as the Managers shall direct. Distributing Bibles, within the City. Each Manager is furnished with a certain number of printed orders,' to be delivered to those who shall apply for a Bible or Bibles, and satisfy the Manager, to whom the application is made, that the applicant is a proper object of the Society's bounty. Every applicant receiving such order, signed by one of the Managers, may receive one or more Bibles, as the order may specify, at the place of deposit. Agreeably to this arrangement, there have been distributed about 760 Bibles. A Committee appointed to ascertain what Bibles are There have been distributed among the Africans, indepen- In the Country. 96 do. 76 de. 932 Bibles. A Standing Committee has also been appointed to ascertain what Bibles may be wanted throughout the country, and authorized to supply these wants. The Committee having opened a correspondence with several persons in different places, who take an interest in promoting the object of this Institution, have accordingly distributed 1009 Bibles, in manner following: To Rev. Mr. Osgood, Missionary at Buffaloe, &c. Rev. Mr. Chapman, Rev. Messrs. Forrest and M'Aulay, Delaware, 250 100 50 |