To this must be added the results of the system.

"Besides this ocular testimony, wè have some important facts:—

tence, is an event of such rare occurrence, that my informant, in a period of ten years' attention to the concerns of the prison, could not call to his recollec tion a single instance of it." pp. 93, 94. "Great attention," it is added, is paid to the promotion of moral and religious improvement, by a supply of useful books, and by the regular performance of Divine service, at which all the prisoners are required to attend."

The following passage, on the effects of solitary confiuement, is remarkable and interesting.

"There is not, probably, any degree * of personal severity, which produces so powerful an impression upon the human mind, as solitary confinement. Its effect in the Philadelphia prison has been invariable without one exception, those who have been subjected to this dreaded discipline, have returned to their labour with remarkable regularity. No instance has occurred of its being necessary to inflict it upon the same man twice.

"The prisoner who is sentenced to this punishment, is confined in a narrow cell: his allowance of food is much di minished: the turnkey brings it to him in the morning, and retires without speaking a word. Thus condemned to his own thoughts, he has an opportunity of reviewing his past misconduct; and ́its folly, if not its wickedness, are before him. While his body is reduced by the scantiness of his diet, his mind is unsupported by the stimulants of society: in short, he must reflect. A few days are hardly elapsed before a change is visible; and the proudest spirit will solicit enlargement, with promises of the utmost industry and quietness: and it is observed, that those who for violence and insubordination are once subjected to it, become the least troublesome of the prisoners.

"The effects of the new system-have been seen in no particular more evidently, than in the diminution of disease among the convicts."

"The physician's bill, which formerly amounted from two hundred to three hundred and twenty dollars per quarter, at present seldom rises above forty.

In the four years preceding the commencement of the new system, 104 prisoners escaped; in the four suc ceeding, (except on the day of its establishment) not one escaped.

"But the most extraordinary manifestation of the efficacy of the alterations, is the decreased number of crimes, and the decreased atrocity of those which are committed. The Duke de Lianeourt gives us the following table -[the first column contains the number of crimes, under the old system, from January 1787 to June 1791; and the second column, under the present system, from June 1791 to March 1795.] Murder Manslaughter Robbery Burglary Larceny Forgery Counterfeiting Misdemeanor, 1st degree Ditto, 2d degree .. 13 Receiving stolen goods,1st deg. 20 Ditto ditto 2d deg. 6

Horse stealing
Defrauding
Bigamy

Violent assault to kill
Harbouring convicts
Disorderly houses

0

5

37

77

16

374

163

5

10

6

4

3

5

On the Penitentiary at Millbank we need not dwell, because a Report of a highly gratifying nature has recently been presented to parliament on the subject. We have reason to believe that several of the defects complained of by Mr. Buxton are already remedied; that more are in a course of cure; and that there exists in the con ductors of that institution a sincere desire to pursue an enlightened

GREAT BRITAIN. PREPARING for publication: Introduction to the Critical Study of the Holy Scriptures, by T. F. Horne;-The State and Progress of Religious Liberty, by the Rev. R. Brooks;-An Essay on the Principles of Christian Evidence, by the Rev. Professor Mearns;-Scripture Parables, by the Rev. J. Cobbin;A Classical and Topographical Tour in Greece, by Edward Dodwell;-A Translation of Shakspeare into French, by Sir John Byerly;-The Second Part of the Life of Mr. West, by Mr. Galt; A Sketch of the late Epidemic Fever in London, by Dr. Bateman;-Sketches of the Philosophy of Life, by Sir Charles Morgan;-Manual of Chemistry, by Mr. Brande; -History and present State of Galvanism, by Dr. Bostock; Spanish America, by Capt. Bonnycastle; -Memoirs of Lucien Bonaparte;-and A Life of Howard the Philanthropist. In the press: A Second Journey through Persia and Constantinople, by James Morier;-A System of Divinity, in a series of Sermons, by Dr. Dwight of Connecticut;-A Manual of Prophecy, by the Rev. P. Roberts;-Lectures on the Gospel of St. Matthew, by the Rev. Oliver Lodge;-A Familiar View of the Life of David, by the Rev. H. Lacy;Narrative of an Over Land Journey from India, by Lieut.-Col. Johnson;-Travels in Canada, and the United States of America, by Lieut. Hall;-Historical Memoirs of Rob Roy and the Clan MacGregor, by Dr. M'Leay;-The History of France, by Miss Thurtle :-The Recluse of the Pyrenees; a Poem, inscribed to his Royal Highness the Prince of Saxe Cobourg;-Sermons, by the Rev. Charles Moore;-Meditations of a Neophyte;-Consolations for Mourners, in five Sermons by the late Rev. John Hill;-A History of the Synod of Dort, by the Rev. T. Scott, of Aston;-and A spelling, pronouncing, and explanatory Dictionary of the New Testament.

Dr. Burney's Library-The Commit tee appointed by Parliament to examine into the nature and value of this valuaDie collection, which is to be added to

the British Museum, has valued it at 13,5001, Among the large manuscript collection of classical and other ancient authors, is the Townley Homer, which, though not older than the 13th or 14th century, is the earliest manuscript of the Iliad now extant. It is valued at from 6007. to 8007. There are two manuscript copies of the Greek Orators, of great rarity and value; and two beautiful copies of the Greek Gospels, of the tenth and twelfth centuries. The whole number of manuscripts under this head amounts to 385. Exclusive of these, there is a large number of valuable criticisms and memoranda in Dr. Burney's own hand, with many original letters from Isaac Casaubon, and notes and scholia in the handwriting of Bentley and various other eminent men. Among the printed books, the whole number of which is from 13,000 to 14,000 volumes, the most distinguished branch consists of the collection of Greek dramatic authors, which are arranged so as to pre sent every diversity of text and commentary at one view; each play being bound up singly, and in so complete but expensive a manner, that it has occasioned the sacrifice of two copies

of every edition, and in some instances of such editious as are very rare: the same arrangement has also been adopted with regard to Harpocration, and some of the Greek grammarians. It appears that this collection contains the first edition of every Greek classic, and several of the scarcest among the Latins, and that the series of grammarians, lexicographers, and philological writers, in both languages, is unusually com plete. Another branch of this collection comprises a numerous and rare series of Newspapers, from 1603 to the present time, amounting in the whole to 700 volumes, which is more ample than any other that is supposed to be extant. It is valued at nearly 10007.-The great copiousness of Dr. Burney's library in Greek literature, may be collected from a comparative specimen of the editions of several authors in that collection and in the library of the British Maseum. For example :—

Travellers, Naturalists, and Topogra phers; by the Rev. C. C. Clarke. 9s.

A System of Book-keeping, adapted solely for the Use of Saving-banks, with Tables: to which is now added a Supplement; by G. Booth. 58.

North of England and Scotland in 1704. 5s.

No. I. of the Seraph: a Collection of Sacred Music, suitable to Public or Private Devotion; by John Whitaker. $8, with a. Plate.

Lectures on the English Poets, delivered at the Surrey Institution; by Wm. Hazlitt. 8vo. 10s. 6d.

Considerations sur les principaux Evénements de la Revolution Françoise; Ouvrage posthume de Mad. la Baronne de Stael; publié par M. le Duc de Broglie, et M. le Baron de Stael. 3 vols. 8vo. 11. 16s.

A Translation of the same Work into. English. 3 vols. 8vo. 11. 16s.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE

SOCIETY.

WE now proceed with our brief view of the proceedings of the Society for the last year, as exhibited in the Report presented at the last annual meeting.

ASIA.

The Corresponding Committee at Calcutta continue to print and circulate the Scriptures with diligence and success. Among other undertakings, 3000 copies of the Arabic Malay Bible have been completed. The Roman Malay was also expected to be finished before the close of the year. The Hindoostanee Testament in the Nagree character was considerably advanced; and an engagement had been entered into to print 2000 copies of the four Gospels in the vernacular language of Bengal, particularly with a view to the supply of the schools lately established. The supplies from London, with the aid of the press in Bengal, have enabled the Committee to engage to furnish with a copy of the Scriptures, either by sale at a reduced price, or by gratuitous distribation, every person in the country who might not be otherwise able to procure one. In consequence of this determination, copies of the Scriptures to a large amount, and in fourteen languages, were dispatched in the course of 1816 from the Calcntta depository to twenty different stations in India. So eagerly have the natives received the Scriptures, that of 5000 copies of Martyn's Hin. doostanee Testament, printed in 1814, so few were left as to render it necessary to order a new edition. The British and Foreign Bible Society, with a view to encourage the translation and circulation of the Scriptures in India, have sgreed to appropriate the sum of 5001,

for the first one thousand copies of every approved translation into any dialect in which no translation has previously existed. The resolution was prompted by the zeal and liberality of William Hey, Esq. of Leeds, and other respectable individuals, who, struck with the proposal of the Baptist Missionaries at Serampore, to execute twenty-six versions with this moderate encouragement, raised and presented to the Society the sum of 14751. with a view to begin this excellent work, and to excite further attention to the subject.

At Madras, though no Bible Society has yet been formed, respectable contributions continue to be made, and transmitted to the Calcutta Society. The Rev. S. Lee's Syriac New Testament had arrived, and was likely to meet with discreet circulation, under the friendly superintendance of the Resident in Travancore, Colonel Monro." The translation also of the whole Scriptures into the Malayalim was rapidly proceeding, as well as a version into the Tamul. Among other pleasing incidents, it appears that the deposed Rajah of Travancore has been so much impressed with the Scriptures, which he received through the medium of Appavoo, a converted and most zealous native, as to direct a chapter to be read to him daily; and the High Priest of the Jainas has desired a visit from the Rev. Mr. Rhenius, to explain the Gospel more perfectly to himself and his people.

The Colombo Society has found suitable persons to continue the translation into the Pali dialect, and the revision of the translation into Cingalese, which it might have been feared would have fallen to the ground, owing to the death

of the much lamented Mr. Tolfrey *. Much benefit has accrued from the dis. tribution of the Scriptures in the jails. The natives begin eagerly to receive copies. The contributions derived from the inhabitants (always respectable), have been much augmented by the services of an auxiliary committee at Jaffna, and a very liberal donation from the Archdeacon of Bombay, who, to gether with the Bishop, has expressed "their great satisfaction at the religious exertions that are being made in the island."

The Bombay Society has extended its labours to the Christians at Surat, at Kaira, and the neighbourhood of Poonah, as well as southward, on the Malabar Coast, among the native Christians at Cananore, Mahé, and Cochin. At the last of these the Committee have presented to the Syrian churches the Go. spels which had been sent from London for that purpose, and respecting which the Syrian Bishop and his Clergy have expressed their most cordial satisfaction. By extending its labours also to the Persian Gulf, the Society has opened its way to the very limits of the sphere occupied by the Russian and other European Bible Societies: so that the Scriptures are likely eventually to circulate from the banks of the Thames to the Ganges.

We conclude these Oriental details with adding only that the Chinese Scriptures are finding channels of hopeful communication; and that a promising Bible Society has been formed at Port Jackson, under the sanction of the Governor, which bids fair greatly to benefit not only New South Wales, but the neighbouring islands, with which it will cultivate a friendly communication.

AFRICA.

Of this quarter of the globe we are obliged rather to lament its necessities than to specify its exertions. We cannot, however, but notice with pleasure a favourable commencement at Sierra Leone. The officers of the African Company on the Gold Coast have transmitted a contribution, in gold dust, amounting in value to more than 1001. to promote the objects of the Society.

By a recent dispatch from Colombo, a copy of the Cingalese Testament, completed, has been received, together with intelligence that the Old Testament also has been commenced.

AMERICA.

Here, however, the cause of the Bible Society continues to flourish. The Scriptures are rising in estimation among a great proportion of the northern division of that large continent, with its islands and settlements. The National Society for the United States (for we are sorry we cannot particularly mention local institutions) contained in September last about 200 auxiliaries. To the auxiliary societies previously existing in British North America have been added the Niagara, Society, the Prince Edward Island Society, and the Midland District (Upper Canada) Society. The Moravian Missionaries on the west of Labrador, are proceeding diligently with the translation of the New Testament in the Esquimaux language: the parts already translated and printed have been perused with great interest and thankfulness.

It is gratifying to add, that among the Negro population in several West-India islands the Scriptures have been gratefully received; in Saint Domingo, especially, a large number of copies have been circulated in the schools and the army, under the express sanction and authority of the government,

DOMESTIC.

Of the Domestic Occurrences of the Society during the last year, little need be said. When, indeed, it is considered, that at the period of the last anniversary the number of Auxiliary and Branch So cieties amounted to 500, independently of Bible Associations; and that scarcely a county in the island was destitute of one or more of these auxiliary establishments; it could not be expected that many new institutions would remain to be formed. Some, however, of those which have been recently organized are of much interest and importance; among which we must particularly mention"The Merchant Seamen's Anxiliary Bible Society," which was formed on the 20th January (vide Christ. Observ. for that month), and has begun its operations with such zeal and activity, that within two months of its formation 133 outward-boundships, containing 1721 men, had been visited at Gravesend by its agent, and supplied with 580 Bibles and Testaments. The agent had, in almost every case, met with a cordial reception. On one occasion, a common seaman exclaimed, with visible emotion, "Thank God, there are some who care for our poor souls!" The captain of a Swedish