gerness they sought the possession of those holy books; and to bear their invocations of blessings "on the English and on the Bible Society, who did not forget the poor Christians of countries so distant from their own." They were even clamorous in the expression of their feelings I only regret how inadequate I am to paint, in a proper manner, the natural sensations of those poor people, who by the liberality of the Bible Society, have been supplied with a real comfort, the possession of the Word of their God and Savior.

How consoling the reflection, that this calamity may prove the instrument, under God, of carrying home to the hearts of some of the poor sufferers, among whom these sacred volumes were distributed, the precious truths which they contain!

Freland.

LONDON HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.

ilar practices. Her grandfather, grandmother, mother, and mother's brother, were confined in the prison of this town, under charge of murdering her mother's other brother. The grandfather died in the prison, before trial: her uncle and mother were found guilty: the uncle was executed, and the mother respited while on the scaffold, and afterwards transported for life. While she remained, with other convicts, in our prison, from the time of her being respited until the moment of her de parture, she received religious instruction, and the most humane attention from the ladies, who, in this town, devote themselves to every good work. On her departure, one of them took charge of her female child, has since clothed and supported her, and, latterly, bound her apprentice to a mantuamaker with a fee of twenty pounds. From her becom ing the ward of this truly Christian young la dy, she received education in the Society's school, where she made a rapid proficiency in learning to read and work; but, what was far better, she gave evidence, in a changed demeanor and disposition, and an affectionate attachment to her Testament, that the God of mercy had pitied her forlorn condition, and made her a partaker of His grace. Her Christian benefactress rejoiced daily in the in

1. Priest R. is making the Scriptures his daily study, and is an advocate for the schools. The other day, he met one of the scholars going to school, and asked him what book it was he had. "It is a Will, Sir," said the boy. "What Will?” rejoined the Priest. "The last Will and Testament, that Jesus Christ left to me, and to all who desire to claim a title in the property therein bequeathed,” replied the boy hat did Christ leave you in that Will?" "A kingdom, Sir."-"Where does that kingdom lie?" "It is the kingdom of heaven, Sir. "And do you expect to reign as a king there?" "Yes, Sir, as joint-heir with Christ."– "And will not every person get there as well as you?" "No, Sir: none can get there, but those who claim their title to that kingdom upon the ground of the Will" The Priest asked him several other questions, to which the boy gave such satisfactory answers as quite astonished him. "Indeed," said he, "you are a good little boy: take care of the book, wherein God gives you such precious promises: believe what He has said, and you will be happy here and hereafter."

2. Among the many female children in the Society's schools here that are of great promise, there is one, every circumstance of whose life is such a display of the reign of grace, as it would be unpardonable to pass by. The child alluded to had for her parents and im mediate relatives the most infamous characters. Her father, was hanged for robbery and housebreaking; and her brother, I believe, for simVOL. XIX.

not in vain; and related to me, with eyes full of tears, expressive of the gratitude of her heart, the many proofs that her little ward was indeed a brand plucked out of the fire. I could fill my sheet with these interesting details; but shall confine myself to a recent circumstance, which indicates that the is not only deeply impressed with a sense of the misery of her state as a sinner, hat of the riches of that grace which shines in the person and work of the Savior. A few Sabbaths since, her benefactress, going to the chapel here before the commencement of service, perceived her young ward, sitting remote from the few who had then assembled, reading her Testa ment, and seemingly absorbed in the subject which she was perusing: on coming up to her, she inquired where she was reading: she answered the fifth of Romans: "Why did you choose that chapter?" her reply was, "Oh, I delight in it much"-"On what account?" "It meets my case: see, is not this delightful" (pointing to the 6th verse,) For, when we were yet without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. She then added, “I am, indeed, a sinner, and without strength: but here is the blessed remedy-Christ died for the ungodly,

3. After travelling some time in company with a man going to the same place, we sat down to rest, and I introduced my Bible, and read a few chapters, from the 59th to the 56th chapter of Isaiah. During the time I was reading he shed tears, and appeared much distressed in mind. I asked him the cause. He answered, that he had abundant reason to shed tears; for what I had read shewed him his wicked. ness, and the love and mercy of Christ for his soul. He then informed me, that he was married a few years ago to a very prudent young woman, who was educated at one of the Free-Schools, where she obtained a Bible, as a reward for her diligence and good conduct.. 21

In this memoir, you will perceive, that the whole of the Sacred Scriptures have been published in five of the languages of India; the New Testament, and certain parts of the Old in ten more; that in six more, the New Testament is brought more than half through the press, and that, in the remaining ten, some one of the Gospels is printed, and in several, all four of the Gospels.

The expense which has attended this work has been defrayed by the liberality of the public in Britain and America, among whom we feel eminently indebted to the generosity of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and we rejoice to say, that, on the publishing of the last memoir, which stated that a version of the New Testament could be brought through the press for two thousand dollars; it pleased God to stir up the late excellent Mr. Hey, of Leeds, to attempt raising a fund to meet the expense of the twenty-six versions therein mentioned, which, for fear of over. burdening the public, we have since reduced to twenty-four; and on his lamented death, the Bible Society was pleased to take up the plan and guarantee its fulfilment.

While we humbly hope that the Bible Society will be enabled to fulfil its generous res. olution, and meet the expense of these versions of the New Testament as they issue from the press, we can scarcely expect that they will be able to do much more. For the expense of printing the Old Testament, there. fore, in the few languages wherein it is now =going forward, and that of printing further editions of the New Testament now in the press, we are constrained to appeal to the Christian public at large, both in Britain and America.

The

as Batticaloe, which is distant from Jaffnapatam, about 240 miles, and from Trincomalie 103 miles, is the Tamul or Malabar. same language is spoken in the neighboring continent of india, from Cape Comorin as far north as Madras, by a population supposed to amount, on that coast, to eight or nine milhons of people The population of the district of Jaffna alone, is supposed, by gentle. men in his majesty's civil service, who have long resided here, to amount to 200,000 inhabitants,

Respecting the population of the districts of Manar, Calperteen, Wanny, Trincomalie, and Batticaloe, in all of which the Tamul language is spoken, our information is not so definite as respecting this district. The population is, however, very considerable,amount. ing, in the five last mentioned districts, probably to not less than 75,000. The Tamul language is also spoken by many thousands in Colombo, and is the vernacular language of the Mohammedans in every part of the island. The whole number, therefore, who speak the Tamul language in the island of Ceylon, amounts, probably, to little less than 300,000. Here, then, is a vast field for the distribution of the Tamul Scriptures!

It is impossible to say what proportion of this vast multitude can read the printed character, which differs, in some degree, from the written. The missionaries judge that, in every neighborhood, some will be found who can read the printed Scriptures, and many others who will be disposed to hear them read.

We have under our care, 24 free schools, in which are taught about 1,150 children, besides 72 boys and 13 girls, in our charity boarding schools. For all these schools, we need the Scriptures in Tamul for daily use,

pore missionaries had put to press, on their own responsibility, with the hope and expectation, that the Christian public would furuish the requisite means for defraying the expense.

Memorial from Ceylon.

This memorial is dated Jaffna, Nov. 9, F 1821.

After a suitable introduction, the missionaries express their thanks to the Society, for the valuable present of three boxes of En. #glish Bibles and Testaments sent to them the year before. Part of these had been disposed of among those of the children in the charity boarding school, who read English, and among other persons acquainted with the language. -Respecting the prevalence of the Tamul language, the missionaries say:

The language spoken by all the northern part of Ceylon, even as far to the south-east

After mentioning their opportunities for a

their views in respect to the best manner of doing so, the missionaries notice the different translations and editions of the Tamul Scrip

tures.

It appears, that there have been printed in all, eight editions of the New Testament in Tamul viz. five at Tranquebar; one at Colombo; oue at Madras; and one at Serampore. The first edition of the Tamul New Testament was translated by Ziegenbalg and Grundler, Danish missionaries at Tranquebar, and printed in the year 1715. The second edition of the same was printed in 1724. The third edition about the year 1739 The fourth was printed in the year 1788; and the fifth and last in 810.

A translation of the New Testament was also made at Colombo, the capital of this island, by the Dutch clergymen, and printed in the year 1759. The translation differed, very considerably, from the one made at Tranquebar by the Danish missionaries. It was considered a good one at that time, and

was, perhaps, better adapted to Ceylon, than the Tranquebar New Testament.

The edition of the New Testament printed at Madras, in 1722, was a revision of the Tranquebar New Testament, and not a new translation. The Serampore edition of the New Testament, was also a revision of the Tranquebar. It was printed in the year 1813. It is the edition principally used by the missionaries in this district. But even this is now nearly out of print.

The venerable Ziegenbalg, before his death, which took place February 25d, 1719, had translated into Tamul, the greater part of the Old Testament. In this work, he was assisted by his fellow-laborer, Grundler, who survived him but a little more than one year. After the death of Ziegenbalg and Grundler, the translation was carried on and finished by the Rev. Benjamin Shultze and his associates. In 1724, they printed, at the Tranquebar press, the first edition of the Psalms of David in Tamul. In 1727, the printing of the whole Tamul Old Testament, in three parts, was completed. The translation was plain and generally understood; but it needed many corrections Accordingly, it was carefully revised by the Danish missionaries, about fifty years after, and a second edition printed at Tranquebar, in the year 1777.

About the year 1786, it was carefully revised by the Rev. Messrs. Swartz, Fabricius, and Breithaupt, and reprinted at Tranquebar. From that time to the present the translation has undergone no material alterations. It is on the whole a good translation, though un. doubtedly susceptible of many improvements.

A complete edition of the Old Testament in Tamul has never been printed at any place except Tranquebar. The five books of Moses were, however, translated by a very learned preacher, by the name of Philip De Melho, and printed by the Dutch at Colombo in 1790 The translation is very elegant, but being made in what is called high Tamul, is not understood by the common people, and of course is of little use for distribution, except among a few learned natives, to whom it is said to be very acceptable. reprinted.

This translation has not been

The Psalms of David have also been twice printed in Tamul, in the Book of Common Pray. er; once at Serampore, in the Prayer Book prepared by the Rev. Christian David, and printed at the expense of the late Governor Brownrigg of Ceylon; and once in the Prayer Book translated by the itev. Dr. Rottler, and printed at Madras in 1819. The Serampore edition was printed in 1818. The Psalms con. tained in it are merely copied from the Tran quebar Bible, while Dr. Rottler's is a revision of the same translation.

All the editions above-mentioned, both of the Old and New Testaments, (with the exception of the Psalms in the Book of Common Prayer,) are now nearly out of print; while the demand for the Tamul Scriptures is rap idly increasing. To satisfy this demand in part, the Madras Bible Society has determined to print an edition of 1,000 copies of the Old Testament from the Tranquebar translation,

As the present translation of the Old Testa

ment and, the different translations of the New, are found to be susceptible of improvement in many places, a new translation of the whole Bible in Tamul has been commenc. ed at Madras, under the direction of the Madras Bible Society The book of Genesis is already printed: the other parts of the Bible will not be printed until this specimen has undergone a thorough examination by learned natives in every part of the country where the Tamul language is spoken; and by such Europeans as may be qualified to judge of the correctness of the translation. 'This is done in order to render the new translation as free from error, and as acceptable as possible to every part of the Tamul country Though the Tamul spoken at Madras differs, in some degree, from the same language spoken in and about Tranquebar; and though the Tamul of Ceylon differs in some degree from both; yet is hoped that, with proper care, a translation of the Scriptures may be made, that will be eventually adopted by all parties as a standard translation. Whether these hopes will be realized or not, experience must determine. While there will continue to be something like different dialects of the spoken language, the importance of hav ing a common standard of Tamul for all print. ed books is so great, as to justify many efforts and many sacrifices to accomplish so desirable an object.

Should, however, the present efforts that are making to form a standard of Tamul fail of success, it will become necessary to have three translations of the Scriptures. One for the region of Madras, another for the south towards Cape Comorin, and a third for Ceylon. We sincerely hope that it will not be found necessary to adopt the latter course, as it must necessarily be attended with much additional labor and expense

When we came to Ceylon we expected soon to have a printing press in operation. For this purpose we procured a fount of Tamul types from Serampore, and were supplied with a fount of English types from America; a printing press was also sent out by our patrons; but it has never reached us, and the probability is that it is lost.* Mr. James Garrett was also sent out to us in the capacity of a printer. He was, however, under the necessity of leaving the island in compliance with an order from Lieutenant Governor Barnes Mr. Garrett is now at Bombay, and has the care of the printing establishment of our brethren at that place, in the absence of Mr. Bardwell, who was obliged to return to America.

Thus in the providence of God, we have been repeatedly disappointed in our expecta tions concerning a press in this district. While we daily feel the necessity of a large supply of the Tamul Scriptures for this people, and particularly for our schools, we lament that we have not a press in active operation to supply this necessity.

We rejoice, however, that the Bible Society at Madras is so actively engaged in this great work. They are proceeding in it as fast as

*This press is now in operation at Bombay. At one time it was supposed to be lost. Ed.

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