Correspondence of Rev. Mr. Pinkerton.“

REV. R. PINKERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE. (continued.)

317

Kamentz-Podolsk, July 10 1816. After having been detained eight days in the quarantine upon the Dniester, I was again set at liberty, and without loss of time began to pursue my journey towards Kamentz Podolsk. in the district town of Balta I halted for about twenty-four hours, and procured for the Society in Petersburg an excellent correspondent, in the person of a worthy old priest, who has already collected more than 1000 rubles to promote its object. He added his testimony to that of many others, that the scarcity of the Sacred Writings in these quarters was very great, and would seem altogether incredible to those who only know that the people are called Christians, but who are unacquainted with their spiritual state, and how rare a thing it is to find a Bible among them in any language. From Balta I continued my rout through Sampol and Mogyley, two towns on the banks of the Dniester, inhabited principally by Jews. The chief Catholic priest in the district of Mogyley being a Director of the Bible Society in this place, has undertaken to further the objects of the Institution in that quarter,

It is hoped that your Committee will endeavour to procure a number of Hebrew New Testaments, or of such parts as are published for distribution among the Jews, who are very numerous in Moldavia, and in all the southern provinces, as well as in Poland, where they are reckoned at about half a million of souls. On my arrival in this city, which is the capital of Podolia, I met with a very hearty welcome from the Catholic Bishop, Vice-President of the Bible Society established in this place. He said, among other things, that I had arrived very opportunely, for that they were just preparing for their Annual Meeting.

On the ninth, in the afternoon, the anniversary of the KamentzPodolsk Bible Society was solemnized in a large hall of the Dominican Monastery. The Meeting was very respectable, and composed almost exclusively of Catholics, among whom were eight of their chief clergy. The Bishop delivered an impressive speech, in the Polish language, on the excellency of the Holy Scriptures, and the utility of reading them in preference to other books.-In fact, the moral of this excellent speech was, That the Bible is the best book in the world for promoting the temporal and eternal good of man, and that therefore it ought to be universally circulated and read. The particulars which the Bishop added respecting the progress of Bible Societies in general, and of the Russian Bible Society in particular, strongly excited the astonishment and admiration of all present. The Report being then read, showed that the number of promoters of the Institution in this quarter was increased during the preceding year, (it amounts to about 250,) and that the insufficiency of the copies of the Holy Scriptures as yet procured, had been the greatest hinderance to the operations of the society. but that the Committee were now in expectation of soon procuring a liberal supply of Polish Testaments, and 2,200 Bibles and Tes-taments in other languages, in order, in some degree, to supply the

318

Letter from Mr. Pinkerton at Lemberg.

great need and demand existing for them. The Committee of Directors was then chosen for the ensuing year, and their number in town and country augmented to eighteen. After this many came forward and put down their names and subscriptions as members of the Institution. Reports, and other publications of the Committee at St. Petersburgh, were also distributed among the audience, in order more extensively to spread the knowledge of the real object and beneficial influence of Bible Societies. The meeting then broke up, amidst universal joy and satisfaction at what had passed; and, while some were loud in their prophetic exclamations respecting the future prosperity of the institution, all seemed highly pleased with the transactions of its second Anniversary.

P. S. I ought to have mentioned before, that while in Theodosia, I used means for obtaining a copy of the Turkish Testament in the Armenian Character, from Anatolia; and that at Kischenau the Armenian Metropolitan undertook to write to the Armenian Patriarch on the subject, and to endeavour to obtain a correct copy from Constantinople. He further assured me, that the Old Testament was already published in the modern Armenian language in Venice, and that the New Testament was expected soon to follow.

Lemberg, July 27, 1816:

On the 22d of July I left Kamentz-Podolsk; and, crossing the Russian frontiers, entered the Russian dominions near the fortress of Choczim. I directed my course through the Buckovina, and through Galicia, straight for this place, where through the merciful protection and help of God I arrived three days ago. The route I took was purposely chosen in order to obtain accurate information concerning the state of the Holy Scriptures in these countries. My journey, though not more than 300 English miles, has been one of the most fatiguing and dangerous which I have had since leaving Petersburg; and there being no post-roads in those directions, I was obliged to pay extravagantly for horses, in order to get forward. The towns of Krzyvce, Buczocz, Podhayce, and Narajow, through which I passed, abound in Jews, who seem to be in good circumstances, and the majority of them are qualified to read. On arriving in this beautiful city, the capital of Galicia, I soon made the acquaintance of the only Protestant clergyman in it, the General Superintendent, Von Fuchs, who is chief pastor over all the Protestant churches in Galicia, and who gave me a most friendly and hearty welcome. He made me acquainted with some of the chief men in the city, and among others, with His Excellency Baron Von Hauer, chief governor of the province of Galicia; a nobleman of the most amiable and condescending manners, liberal in his sentiments, and universally beloved. His Excellency gave me a most friendly reception at his beautiful villa, in the neighbourhood of this city. I explained to him the object of my journey, and my views respecting the formation of a Bible Society in this capital, for supplying the province of Galicia with the Holy Scrip.

Missionary labours al Detroit, (Mich. Ter.) 319

tures, provided a Parent Institution should be established in Vienna. His Excellency most cordially agreed to the proposition, and promised every assistance to promote the establishment of a similar institution in this place, as soon as permission should be granted by the Austrian government. Professor Vinovatter, and several others, have also concurred with him, by promising their hearty co-operation.

To show you how much such an establishment is needed in Galicia, I would beg to remark, as the sum of my observations during my travels through the country, and of the information which Ï have been enabled to draw from the best sources in the city, that the population of Galicia is reckoned at three millions of souls, of whom twenty thousand are Protestants, and the rest Catholics and Jews, the former mostly Poles; that among the Catholics there are no Bibles to be found, except a few copies of the Vulgate, in the possession of the clergy; and that a copy of the Polish Bible is not to be found among the people, nor indeed any where, except adorning the collection of books of some rich nobleman, or covered with dust in the library of a monastery.

The 20,000 Protestants which Galicia contains, are divided into twenty-four congregations, of which three are Calvinistic; but, alas! all three are at this time without pastors. These twenty-four congregations compose about 4000 families, of whom their Superintendent affirmed, that at least one half were without Bibles, but that, should the British and Foreign Bible Society have compassion on these poor families, many of them quite unable to purchase a Bible, and scattered over an extent of country 500 by 200 English miles, and bestow upon them a grant of Bibles for their families, and Testaments for their schools, (for there is a school attached to each church,) they would certainly be received with the greatest joy and gratitude; and he, the Superintendent, would most willingly charge himself with the distribution of them.

(From the Religious Remembrancer.)

DOMESTIC MISSIONS.-No. 1.

Abstract of the First Report of the Board of Missions, to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.-May, 1817.

MR. JOHN MONTEITH was appointed a missionary, three months in Detroit, and one month on missionary ground on his way. On the 27th of June, Mr. Monteith arrived at Detroit; and he states he was so cordially received by the people, that it appeared unnecessary to bear any longer the character of a missionary. He is now settled in that place, and has entered on a wide field of usefulness. "The profaneness of the soldiers," says Mr. Monteith, "exceeds any thing I ever imagined. There is no Sabbath in this country. But what is remarkable, though I have openly and plainly held forth the peculiar doctrines of the gospel, both in public and in private, I am apparently treated with the greatest respect by all descriptions of people, and have not heard a word spoken

Lately a student in the General Assembly's Theological Seminary.

320

Prosperity of the Bible cause in Russia.

against religion. It meets with no opposition, but the practice of the people."

In his second communication he says "I am about 200 miles distant from any Presbyterian minister. I feel the weight of my task. Ignorance and wickedness prevail around me, and there is scarce an individual to give me assistance. All the Christian zeal perceivable is among the Methodists. The army is without a chaplain, and I have more than I am able to perform. My success has been great in reforming morals; but no conversions have appeared I am not at all discouraged, but am anxious to have assistance Salvation belongeth to the Lord."

As Mr. Monteith travelled in public conveyances, he had no opportunity for acting as a missionary in his way to Detroit. But he obtained from the people of that place, after agreeing to settle among them, their consent to spend a month in missionary labours in the destitute settlements in the surrounding region. He accordingly visited Raisin, the Rapids of the Miami, Sandusky, Cleaveland, and other places, and preached very frequently. This tract of country through which he passed, he deems very suitable missionary ground; and he is of the opinion that it is important immediately to occupy it by our missionaries. If a missionary sent to that country were acquainted with the French language, he might do good by conversing with the French privately, "After much inquiry," he says, "I have not been able to find a single French Bible in the place:" and speaking of the settlements of Fort Meigs and Raisin, he observes, they are utterly neglected, yet I am confident that Societies could now be formed in both places. The people are anxious for it."

Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Edinburgh, to his Correspondent in Princeton, N. J.

"Our last accounts from Russia are most encouraging. The appearances in the character of the Emperor are more and more favourable. He lately asked the Prince Galitzin, why he did not go on faster with the Bible Society-adding, "What do you want? Money! It is at your service; would my personal attendance at the meetings of your Committee promote the cause? I will attend most willingly." By the last letters from Mr. Henderson who is at present at Petersburg-he says the Russian Bible Society is distributing the Bible in twenty-five different languages, that in consequence of the Russian envoy at Constantinople taking a warm interest in the Bible cause, copies of the Word of God are pouring into the various islands in the Archipelago. The envoy at Constantinople conducts the correspondence with the Bible Society personally. In the Russian army too, a great interest has been excited about the dissemination of the Word of God."

The Female Cent Society of the Reformed Dutch Church at Greenwich, (N. Y.) have lately contributed 111 dollars, to the funds of the Theological Seminary of that denomination.

The Theological School Society of young ladies at Kingston, Ulster county, (N. Y.) have contributed twenty dollars for the same object.

THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.

VOL. III.] Saturday, August 16, 1817.

[No. 21.

We have recently received from England the June Magazines, which give an account of the late Anniversary Meetings of the several great Institutions, held in London in the month of May. These publications only make mention in very brief and general terms of the intelligence communicated, and in some instances present abstracts of the speeches delivered on the occasion. Enough however is detailed to afford a cheering view of the benevolent and extensive enterprises still pursuing in that country for advancing the cause of religion and humanity. To give summaries only of all the interesting matter furnished in relation to the several Societies, would far exceed the limits of the present Number. We shall, in the course of this publication, present our readers with copious extracts from those Magazines, together with such other important details as may occasionally come to hand. We now begin with

THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

On Wednesday, May 7, was held the thirteenth Anniversary of this Institution, at Freemasons' Hall, London: at which their pious and noble patron, Lord Teignmouth, presided, who was supported by the Bishops of Salisbury, Norwich, Gloucester, and Cloyne, the Earl of Elgin, Lord Gambier, and several respectable Members of the British Parliament.

The Report briefly mentioned the flourishing state of the Society, and its rapid extension through the world. The spirit of peace had poured on the world a rich abundance of moral and intellectual blessings. Christian knowledge is now confined to no country : the African and the Asiatic-the Hottentot and the Hindoo, are enabled to trace the mind of God in the pages of Scripture, and rejoice in there contemplating a sublimer revelation than in sun, moon, and stars. The crescent of Mahomet sinks before the rising beams of Christianity; a Mahometan aged 40 had learned to read, purposely that he might read the Scriptures. The first Bible sold in Africa was to a Hottentot. An African said of the Scriptures, "These are the weapons that will conquer Africathey have conquered me." The Report stated the formation of various Bible Societies at home and abroad, particularly in Russia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, &c. and even among the Catholics, thousands of whom now read the Bible: also in the East and West Indies, America, and Africa, where a Hottentot of 50 years of age learned to read that he might read the Bible. The Report concluded with giving thanks to God for a disposition to encourage the

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