sented to the Eatooa before they presume to take their own repast. When a priest denounces the necessity of a human sacrifice, or, as on the inauguration of the king, custom requires such offerings, the manner of selecting them is by a council of the chief with the ratirras. The occasion is stated, and the victim pitched upon; he is usually a marked character, who has been guilty of blasphemy, or some enormous crime, or a stranger who has fled to the district for shelter from some other part on account of his ill conduct. The decision of this council is kept a profound secret, and perhaps the only one which is so. They watch the opportunity of the night, when the culprit is asleep, and dispatch him, if possible with one blow of a stone on the nape of the neck, to prevent any disfigurement of the body; a bone of him must not be broken, nor the corpse mangled or mutilated. If a man has been bit and disfigured by a woman, he becomes noa, unclean for ever, and can never be offered in sacrifice. The victim is placed in a basket of cocoa-nut leaves fastened to a long pole, and carried in a sacred canoe to the morai, when the eye is offered to the king with great form and ceremony.

Such were, and alas! in some of these islands, such, in general still are, the gods and superstitions of this part of the world. Christianity, however, has of late years made rapid progress in the South Seas; and at this time nearly the whole of Otaheite is converted to the worship of the true God, and to a knowledge of and belief in his Son Jesus Christ! The Mission from this country to the Sandwich Islands has been established with good judgment, and conducted with much energy and prudence.-The smiles of Heaven have hitherto rested upon it, and the prospect is encouraging that these ignorant and degraded Pagans may now be brought to accept the blessings of the divine salvation. Judicious efforts for the spread of the gospel never have been without the divine blessing, and, we trust they always will realize the promises of grace.

The ancient Religion of the South American Indians, in the neighbourhood of Peru, &c. is now nearly extinct; but then the Peruvians, like the Mexicans, formerly had very splendid temples dedicated to the Sun, in which they offered various costly sacrifices, and presented oblations of wine, fruits, and other products of their country. But there was nothing cruel in the religious rites of the Peruvians, if we except the sacrifices of small animals; and even they are now almost laid aside.

The Religion of the Siberians, and of some other remote parts of the world, is now greatly changed from what it formerly was; and is for the most part mixed up with so much of the Catholic rites and notions, as not to merit a distinct notice.

APPENDIX,

COMPRISING A CONCISE VIEW OF THE

MOST IMPORTANT

BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS

IN OPERATION AT THE PRESENT DAY,

FOR THE GENERAL DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE.

The following view of some of the most important moral institutions in operation at the present day, whose professed object is the promotion of the best interests of mankind, consists entirely of statements of facts without comment.Those who may not conceive all these institutions advisable, will certainly not be unwilling to examine their opera tions.

BIBLE SOCIETIES.

British Naval and Military Bible Society, formed in 1780. Object.--To distribute the Scriptures among the sailors of the navy, and soldiers of the army.

In the progress of this institution, a vast number of Bibles and Testaments have been distributed agreeably to the original design; and their good effects have been seen and acknowledged by many. Some of the captains in the navy state that corporal punishments have almost entirely ceased to be necessary on board their ships, since the introduction of the Bible, and that they have found by experience, that those men who read the Bible most, are the most courageous in battle.

From the last Report of this Society, the Committee state, that the call for Bibles during the year, by the soldiers and sailors had been greater than their funds could supply; but that they had distributed 13,142 Bibles and Testaments.

Note.--The compiler being much occupied, this Appendix is prepared by another hand.

British and Foreign Bible Society.

THIS magnificent institution was formed at London, March 7, 1804.

Object.--To promote the circulation of the Scriptures in some of the principel living languages.

The sphere of its activity.--1st. The United Kingdom of GreatBritain and Ireland, and the European Continent, and afterwards in remote regions.

Each subscriber of one guinea annually shall be a member.

Twenty pounds subscribed at one time makes a member for life. The amazing rapidity with which the influence of this society extended, from the first year of its institution; the greatness of its exertions, and the vast number of Bibles and Testaments it has distributed among different nations, and in different languages, has given it a name and rank nearly unrivalled among the religious institutions of the age. All we can do here is to give the principal results of its operations.

The following are the foreign countries or parts, where the British and Foreign Bible Society have encouraged Bible Societies, either by pecuniary aid, or by example: Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Wirtemberg, Prussia, Poland, Saxony, Hanover, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Russia, Livonia, and Holland.

In most of the countries or circles above named, several distinct Bible Societies have been formed; So that the whole number of parent Bible Societies in Europe amount to about ninety. In Asia the British and Foreign Bible Society have five auxiliary societies; in Africa, two; in America, one, viz. that of Nova Scotia, which has at least fifteen branch societies. In the West Indies two. This Institution bas within the British dominions 729 Auxiliary and Branch Societies independently of Bible Associations.

The British and Foreign Bible Society has printed, or aided in the printing, or circulation, of the Scriptures, in part, or in whole, in one hundred and twenty seven different languages, or dialects.

In the 18th Report of the Society (1822) it is stated, that the foreign societies, aided by the British and Foreign Bible Society, have increased their issues from 739,045 bibles, to 880,955, and froin 721,736 testaments to 361,377; these make a total of 1,742,332, and show an increase in the course of the year, of 141,910 bibles and 140,000 testaments. The total number issned on acoount of the Society, at home and abroad, has increased from 1,307,044 bibles to 1,433,823; and from 1,963,118 testaments to 2,130,151; making an increase during the year, of 126,779 bibles, and 166,033 testaments, and a total of 3,563,974 copies.

The total issue of books from the beginning of the society, have amounted to no less than six million fifty-six thousand three hundred and six copies of bibles and testaments.

The expenditure for the eighteenth year (1822) was 401,977 dollars. The total expenditure of the society during the eighteen years since it was framed, is four million four hundred and thirtyeight thousand seven hundred and thirty-six dollars.

Swiss Bible Societies.

The German Bible Society at Basle was instituted in 1804. From the presses of the society at that place there had issued during the

year preceding the last report, 9987 French and German Bibles, 700 psalters of the Protestant version, and 3606 testaments.

The Bible Society at Bern in Switzerland, was instituted in 1814. Since it was formed it has issued 15,667 bibles and testaments. The poor, it is said, have shown the most affecting emotions of gratitude for the gifts of the society.

The Bible Society of Lausanne and Neufchatel have lately printed an edition of 10,000 copies of the revised version of Ostervald's Bible.

Hibernian Bible Society, formed in 1804.

The last report of this society states, that during the past year 26 new auxiliaries had been added to it, making the total number of Bible Institutions in connexion with it, 113.

The issues from the depository of the society during the year have been 8701 bibles, and 11,964 testaments, making a total of 20,665 copies. The amount of receipts for the year were 25,240 dollars.

Connecticut Bible Society, formed in 1909.

Object.-To aid in distributing the Holy Scriptures, without note, or comment, to such as need Christian knowledge.

The last Report of this Society states, that during the year ending in May, 1823, the Society had distributed 2047 Bibles. The num ber distributed in the state was 577. The number sent out of the state chiefly to neighbouring states, were 1470. The expenditure for the year was 765 dollars.

Finnish Bible Society, formed in 1812.

From the last report of this society it appears, that 3,000 bibles of the Finnish version had been printed during the year from standing types! and that two editions of the New Testament amounting to 11,200 copies had also been finished. A quarto edition of the Finnish Bible was on the point of leaving the press; and plates for a stereotype edition of the New Testament had considerably advanced.

Wirtemburg Bible Society, formed in 1812.

This society is patronized by the King. From the report of 1821, it appears that the society had sent abroad during the year, 2162 bibles to various places, and that there remained in the depository, at the time of the report, 12,438 bibles and testaments.

Russian Bible Society, formed in 1813.

Upwards of 200 auxiliary societies are connected with this institution. This society has proceeded with a degree of energy in some proportion to the vast extent of territory which had a right to claim its exertions. The ultimate publication of the scriptures in more than thirty languages, is an object which at the present time occupies the exertions of its Committee. Already translations of he scriptures are advancing in many new dialects; but the most important translation is that of the New Testament into modern Russ, the language of the country. This work is completed, and published. Three editions amounting to 30,000 copies have been printed. Great effects are expected from the prompt and energetic measures

P

pursued by this national institution. This society at the end of the seventh year had printed ninety-one editions of the Bible or of parts of the scriptures, in twenty-six different languages, to the amount of 411,000 copies. In the course of its seventh year it had issued 68,539 copies.

Prussian Bible Society, formed in 1814.

This Society enjoys the patronage of the king. From the last report (1822) of the Central Society at Berlin, it appears, that since its first establishment, it had brought into circulation 58,241 Bibles and Testaments.

This society has 40 auxiliaries, which circulated during the year previous to the report 20,593 bibles and testaments.

Norwegian Bible Society, formed in 1814.

This society is under the patronage of the King of Sweden. An edition of 6000 copies of the New Testament has been printed by this society, and is distributing in every part of the kingdom. The disposal of this edition goes on so rapidly that another will soon be printed.

Saxon Bible Society, formed in 1814.

Since the formation of this Society, they have circulated 20,000 German and 3000 Wendish bibles; and 6034 German and 1000 Wendish testaments. At the time of the Report in 1821, this society had in press an edition of the German bible of 1600 copies, also an edition of 5000 copies of the Wendish bible.

The collection in aid of the Society made in the churches, amounted, for the year, to 3212 dollars.

Hambro-Altona (German) Bible Society, formed in 1814.

The number of members of this society by the last account, wee 356. This society has printed, since its formation, 10,000 copies of Luther's version of the bible, and 4000 extra testaments. The sphere of their operations, includes a population of about 200,000 souls.

Danish Bible Society, formed in 1814.

The last Report says that Denmark presents an almost unbroken chain of effective Auxiliary Societies, acting in their several districts under the sanction of His Majesty the King. The number of Auxiliaries are 36.

The Sleswig-Holstein Bible Society which labours in the German part of the Danish dominions, has issued during the six years since it was formed, 33,650 Bibles and Testaments.

Swedish Bible Society, formed in 1814.

This society had issued according to the last returns 170,000 copies of the scriptures from its presses at Stockholm. This society has its auxiliaries in every part of the kingdom. One of these societies on a late survey of its district, found within its limits 13,900 families which were destitute of the scriptures. Of these 4385 were unable