the Society at home may expect to produce correct versions of the Scriptures, in the various languages of the East; and to open channels for their circulation among millions of people, who might otherwise have remained utter strangers to the words of eternal life. In America the Society is assisted in the prosecution of its object by the Bible Societies of Philadelphia, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, South Carolina, Maine, &c. all produced by its example, aided by its funds, and acting in avowed communication and harmony with it. In addition to these regular and organized bodies, the Society has correspondents of various descriptions, both among the clergy and the laity, in different parts of the world, actively engaged in promoting its designs, by dispersing, at its expense, the sacred oracles of divine truth to 66 men of every nation under heaven."

In the

Nor are the extension of this Society, and its localization in so many regions more astonishing, than the effects which it has been enabled already to produce. The machine has been worked with such a degree of rapidity, and Providence has so abundantly favoured its motions, that the reports of its facts, as annually detailed, may justly be classed with the most extraordinary records of exertion and success. short compass of six years, it has issued from its depository in London, nearly 230,000 copies of the Scriptures, independently of those which have been printed under its auspices, without the limits of the united kingdom. In England it has printed the Scriptures, at its own expense, in the English, Welsh, Gaelic, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Danish, Mohawk, Esquemaux and Modern Greek and Manks languages, and is now printing them in the native Irish. In Europe it has largely aided the printing of them in the German, Bohemian, Polish, Icelandic, Swedish, Turkish, Laponese, Lithuanian, French, Romanesc, Kalmuc, Esthonian, and Livonian languages. In Asia it has promoted, by liberal and repeated contributions, the translation and publication of them in Hindostanee, Bengalee, Persian, Mahratta, Malyalim, Sanscrit, Chinese, Telinga, Tamul, &c. The result of these operations has been, that many countries, remotely distant from each other, and from the parent source of supply, have already been furnished with copies of the Scriptures in their respective languages; and means have been created for insuring, under the auspices of Divine Providence, a diffusion of the same blessing among those nations, on which the sun of revelation has never yet risen.

Nor has this splendid display of British munificence been without its merited tribute of admiration and gratitude. Appealing as it does to the best feelings of the heart, it has drawn them forth on innumerable occasions in the most animated effusions which language could convey. The impres sions made by this catholic Institution on the objects of its kindness both at home and abroad, have manifested themselves in addresses, replete with expressions of the most genuine pathos. Whoever can read without emotion the foreign communications which enrich the Society's Annual Reports, must either be enslaved by the most rigid prejudice, or utterly destitute of all christian sensibility. A higher gratification can scarcely be imagined than that of which the members of this Institution so largely partake. To receive acknowledgments for the best of all gifts, from persons of every language and communion, on continents and islands, whether kindred or aliens, bond or free, friends or enemies; and those acknowledgments expressed in the language of their hearts, and written in their tears, is a felicity which it was reserved for Christians of the nineteenth century to reap, through the medium of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

In a future number we propose laying before our readers a selection of such facts and testimonies as will at once illustrate and confirm the remarks we have made on this important Institution. In the mean time, we recommend to the consideration of every christian Philanthropist, the following observations which appear at the close of the Society's Sixth Report.

"It is now about two hundred and seventy years, since the light of Revelation shone with full lustre on this country; for it was then that its inhabitants first obtained the invaluable privilege of perusing the Bible in their own language. The moral and religious effects which have flowed from the use of this privilege, prove, what is in itself most evident, the influence of the Holy Scriptures in promoting the best interests of individuals and society, and hence afford the most solid ground of encouragement to the circulation of them in the greatest practicable extent.

"The establishment of the British and Foreign Bible Society will undoubtedly form a distinguished era in the annals of the nineteenth century. It is to the honour of this country to have produced a religious Institution, for such the British and Foreign Bible Society may with strict propriety be denominated, the utility of which has received the most am

ple and gratifying acknowledgments, both at home and abroad; an Institution founded on a principle so simple, so intelligible, and so unexceptionable, that persons of every description who profess to regard the Holy Scriptures as the proper standard of faith, may cordially and conscientiously unite in it, and in the spirit of true christian charity, harmoniously blend their common endeavours to promote the glory of God; an Institution which has excited the emulation of thousands to disseminate the knowledge of divine truth, and has given birth to the most extensive and respectable associations for the express purpose of aiding its exertions, and co-operating in the promotion of its glorious object; an Institution, which secures an adherence to the integrity of its principle, by regulations so precise and defined, as not to admit of dubious interpretation.

"Referring to the notice which has been taken of the first promulgation of the Scriptures in this country for public use, it is impossible not to recollect the eager delight with which this new and precious privilege was embraced and enjoyed. It is matter of real gratification to be enabled to remark, that the spirit which prevailed at that memorable era, is not extinct. The facts stated in the present and former Reports prove the high veneration in which the Bible is held throughout the united kingdom, and the public sense entertained of its supreme importance to the temporal and eternal welfare of mankind. It is no slight recommendation of the British and Foreign Bible Society, that it has been the means of exhibiting this proof in a conspicuous view, as well as of cherishing and enlarging the feeling to which it applics. Who that loves his country and fellow-creatures, but must rejoice at the notification of facts which may fairly be considered as affording an omen so favourable to the prosperity of both?' Blessed are the people,' says the Psalmist, that know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy counte nance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day, and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.'

Schools of Industry and Instruction for Female Children.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHILANTHROPIST,

SIR, Ar the present moment of commercial difficulty, when by the stagnation of our manufactories multitudes of industrious

parents are deprived of the means of supporting their families, I am sure you will esteem yourself happy in being able to direct the public attention to every design tending to the benefit of that numerous class.

The importance resulting to society from the training of female children in habits of industry, has been duly appreci ated by those benevolent characters, who have in various parts of the kingdom, instituted schools for teaching knitting, spinning and needle-work; but, as the articles made in these schools cannot usually be disposed of to any material profit, the maintaining them is often attended with considerable expense to the patrons, and of course little pecuniary benefit to the children.

Since, by the introduction of machinery, spinning by the hand has been laid aside, no source of employment has been discovered which promises to afford occupation to so many thousands, as the platting of straw for the manufacture of hats and bonnets-the manufacture of straw-plat has for many years been carried on in parts of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, and it has also furnished a considerable article of commerce from Italy to this country. It is only, however, of late date, that straw hats have become an article of universal request; this increase in the demand has proceeded from a great improvement in their manufacture: formerly, strawplat was made of the entire straw, which rendered the hat heavy, and gave it a coarse appearance; but by the late improvement of splitting the straw, the plat may be made of every degree of fineness, whereby it is possible to have as great a variety in the quality of the plat, as may be procured in that of lace. Straw-plat has been made of so extraordi nary a fineness, as to produce upwards of £23 sterling per lb. weight, affording a profit to industry alone, superior to any manufactured goods of steel, gold or silver.

To encourage the manufacture of this country, govern ment has imposed a very high duty on straw-plat imported from Leghorn. It is estimated that the employment of sixty or even a hundred thousand children would not over-stock the market, when it is considered that not only females of all ranks wear straw bonnets of a quality according to their means of purchase, but that in the summer time straw hats are very generally adopted by men. To our own consumption must also be added the demand for the East and West Indies, and a considerable quantity has already been exported to South America.

I beg leave to add, that if any benevolent persons should be disposed to establish a school for female children on this plan, I shall be very happy to render them any assistance in my power.

I am, Sir,

30, Ludgate Hill,.

Dec. 19, 1810.

Yours, &c.

WILLIAM CORSTON.

Some Remarks on a Communication from WILLIAM Roscoe to the Duke of Gloucester, President of the African Institution, dated March 20, 1809.

It is with diffidence I commit to paper some thoughts on the communication of a person of such very superior talent as William Roscoe; but entertaining, as I do, sentiments on the important object contemplated by the African institution, very different from those which the communication contains, I shall not think myself justified, on the score of personal respect, in waiving the duty of stating my opinion, crude as it may be, on a subject of no light consideration to the welfare of an injured race. William Roscoe possesses too liberal and enlightened a mind to admit that either a name or personal authority, abstractedly considered, has any weight whatever in the scale of fair discussion, however grateful it may be when corroborating a pre-conceived opinion.

From the commencement of this undertaking, I have attended the sittings of the Board, under strong impressions of anxiety that the Directors might in the outset adopt a plan of proceeding, not only conformable to the professed object of the institution-namely, "to promote the civilization and happiness of the natives of Africa"-but also such as may be wisely adapted to the gradual improvement of a race of savage and uncivilized men.

My objection to the plan recommended by William Roscoe refers more particularly to the succession of the steps he has proposed to be adopted by the institution, than to his plan of intercourse with Africa in toto, inasmuch as he seems to make "the spirit of interchange and traffic" a preliminary, and indeed primary, consideration in the business of civiliza