tion. This will immediately appear from the statement given by Lord Teignmouth, p. 21, of the foreign agency of his Society: nor do we conceive it necessary to prove, at any length, the innocence of that liberality which is applied to such an extension of the knowledge of the Bible.

In the second case there appears much difference of opinion; and it is to the home influence of the Bible Society that Dr. Wordsworth is chiefly inclined to object. Indeed, if the ancient Institution had been capable of removing the spiritual wants of all the ignorant within the limits of our own country, we should deprecate any interference from another quarter. At the time, however, when the new Society was formed, its means were not thus ample; nor, if we rightly remember, was there any appearance of an intention to enlarge them to such an extent. We observe, with pleasure, the steps which are now taking to extend its influence, by forming committees in the chapter of every cathedral, and by a general appeal to the clergy. But this resolution has been adopted within a few months only; nor do we see that those churchmen who, members already of the ancient Society, have contributed their names to the new, for the sake of a larger diffusion of the Scriptures, can be justly charged with blame. A wish has indeed been strongly expressed that the means furnished to the Bible Society had been thrown into the treasury of the other institution. But let it be candidly asked, whether this could have been effected? Would the Dissenters have contributed to a society, into whose bosom they could not be received? Would that Society have accepted such contributions? In truth, neither of these suppositions appears probable; nor can we conceive, that this union of means would have taken place, if the Bible Society had not been formed. But the loss of the co-operation of the clergy is also lamented by the patrons of the ancient Institution. We have already reprobated this defection; nor can we stigmatize in too strong terms the member of the Church who voluntarily keeps aloof from the Society which has for one of its leading objects the maintenance of the Establishment. But, on our plan, every clergyman is bound in the first instance to support that Society. We do not see, however, that his subsequent assistance of the Bible Society can have the ill effects which are so much feared. The distribution of Bibles by Dissenters is freely allowed by Dr. Wordsworth, both at home and abroad. And it might be expected, that the concurrence of Churchmen with Dissenters in an ob e t thus allowed, would not vitiate what in its own nature is lad ble. It might rather be said, that if any sinister influence is a prehended in the management of this object, the presence of Churchmen will tend to check the mischief; and that their accession to a Society composed, in a great measure, of Dis

senters, will be compensated by their salutary inspection of its proceedings. This may be well applied to an apprehension which is gaining ground, that, notwithstanding the declared object of the Bible Society, some of its managers have a connection with another Institution for the dispersion of Religious Tracts, and that doctrines may thus be indirectly propagated which are hostile to the Establishment. If there is any truth in this opinion, it must be speedily known; and, in this case, it will be the bounden duty of every Churchman to withdraw from the new Society without a moment's delay.

Similar will be the caution of the subscribing Churchman in the third case; and he will take care to ascertain, whether any political objects are connected with the ostensible designs of the Bible Society. Suspicions indeed are abroad; many of them utterly wild and extravagant. We will notice one, however, which, if it has any foundation, is of the utmost importance. It is supposed then, that by drawing the members of the Establishment into a co-operation with themselves in a cause externally Christian,by a temporary disguise of those party feelings which may hereafter be made to act with increased force and effect,-by softening the mind through the previous influence of religion, and disclo sing political views at the moment when the Establishment is, in a certain degree, disarmed of her caution, the Dissenters may hope to succeed in their claim, hitherto unattainable, of an exemp tion from the Test-Laws.

We know not the truth of this; but we have the rather stated the suspicion, on account of the unusual agitation which has been observed in the meeting at the London Tavern, when any Churchman, of distinguished rank, comes forward to insert his name in the lists of the Society. Of this pleasurable commotion a strong specimen is said to have been afforded at the last assemblage. But who shall decide upon the motive? While the politician traces it to some projected change of the laws by which the Establishment is maintained, the common Christian will refer it to that satisfaction which is likely to be felt when a supposed prejudice is thus openly and candidly disavowed.

These are the most important points which have occurred to us on this disputed subject. The summary of them will be as follows: Dissenters are at liberty to form a Bible Society-They may be joined also by those members of the Church who are not received by the ancient Society-Churchmen, confessedly sound, are required by the original and paramount claims of that Society, to give it their first support-They may, however, conscientiously become members of the new Society for the sake of a supplemental good, not otherwise attainable-But they are bound, at the same time, to watch the proceedings of the Society, and to quit it if temporal

objects shall appear to be connected with its religious professions; or if its religious cbjects should be found, whether by connection with other associations, or by the tendency of their own principles, to be in hostility with those of their more immediate Institution, the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge.

In proposing these principles we shall probably be unacceptable to the more zealous and bigoted partisans on both sides. For these, however, we care little; and we shall be happy if this dispassionate view of the question appear neither unserviceable nor unacceptable to Dr. Wordsworth and Lord Teignmouth.

We shall close the whole with a statement of the funds of the Society, which, notwithstanding his parade of figures, have been misunderstood by Mr. Dealtry, appealing to every sincere member of the Church for that assistance which is conscientiously due to so ancient and well tried an Institution.

'I suspect that Mr. Dealtry has by no means well considered the application of the term "receipts" in his calculation, and the proper nature of many of the items which it covers. If that had been so, I think he never could have remarked, that "it should be particularly observed, that the funds and subscriptions of both societies received their greatest augmentation in the same year, viz. in the year ending in March, 1809," (p. 21.) In fact, many things tended to swell the " receipts" of that year, quite distinct from the prosperity of our Society, indeed quite opposite to it. For, first, with regard to the amount of subscriptions quoted in the Report for the year in question, it ought to be known, that the Society, from its great necessities and poverty has been compelled recently to make extraordinary exertions for the recovery of arrears. Thus the amount of subscriptions received in the year referred to by Mr. Dealtry was

£. 3413

While that in the year immediately preceding was only 2697

Which leaves therefore a difference of

9 0

£. 716 9

'A sum of which, you will see, but a very small part can be accounted for by any accession of subscribers to the latter of the two years. It is to be attributed to those exertions which I have mentioned. The year in question then is richer by that sum at least than it ought to be. Subsequent years will not possess the same advantage: the money cannot be had over again. And it is plain also, that not only is this year positively richer than it ought to be, but relatively also. Its excess of riches is the result of the poverty of the several antecedent years in which the arrears were incurred.

'Similar considerations are applicable to the amount of "receipts" for arrears for packets of books, which in the year particularly specified by Mr. Dealtry were £. 2952 15 7 While in the year immediately preceding they were only 1376 167

Making an excess in favour of the year 1808 of £. 1575 19

'Again: another thing to be remarked is this:The receipts for packets in the year 1808 were Ditto for 1807

Now, though this increase is the pride and glory of our Society, yet, in any calculation respecting the actual funds of the Institution, it must be very cautiously appealed to. In fact, in a religious sense, it is our riches, but in a financial sense it is our poverty. The greater our "receipts" are of this kind, the smaller does our monied capital become. Every pound begets its corresponding loss of cash to the Society. At any rate, such an increase may well indeed be adduced as a proof of the growing sense among ourselves of the value of our Society, and the increasing zeal and efforts of its subscribers, and of our need of much further support and patronage; but it supplies at best a very inadequate medium of proof, that "the Bible Society does not injure ours by drawing away its subscriptions." (Mr. D. p. 16.)

Look down to the foot of the report of receipts for the year 1808, and you will see another item, which has still less right to come into Mr. Dealtry's calculation, and to be blended with his average of " receipts" in the years subsequent to the establishment of the Bible Society. The article which I allude to is

The produce of sale of 17657. 38. 3d. three per cent. cons.11951. 138. 9d." a part of the capital stock of the Society. How much more triumphant and decisive would Mr. Dealtry's calculations of averages have become, than even now they are, if he had possessed a copy of the Report (not yet printed) of "Receipts" for the year 1809. There he would have seen, among other particulars of a like character, a sum not less than 30007. instead of 11951. 15s. 9d. added to the receipts of that year from the sale of capital. This would indeed have made a very noble accession to his averages; but yet, it would supply, surely, a very indirect and imperfect species of proof, that "the Bible Society does not injure ours by drawing away its subscriptions," (p. 16.) still less would it shew that the permanent state of our receipts and finances is in a flourishing condition. Such a statement of accounts, in any private concern, it is clear, would only be indicative of a rapid approach to bankruptcy and ruin.' pp. 64, 67.

'The number of subscribing members admitted in the year between the spring of 1789 and that of 1790 was 129; and in like manner of the rest, thus:

The Bible Society, it must be remembered, was instituted in the month of March, in the year 1804, (Mr. D. p. 19.) Now look at this statement, and you will see, that the number of our admissions in that ycar was less by 72 than in the year immediately preceding; and that it was not till 1807 that we again reached the numbers of 1803.

Again: compare the number of admissions in the ten years preceding, and in the five subsequent, to your institution, and you will perceive, that till your Society began, ours was making (and especially in the later years) a rapid and tolerably regular progress. The admissions were, in the second half of that ten, nearly twice as many as they were in the former, the excess being 518; while the number admitted in the five subsequent years exceeds that of the preceding five only by 19. How "highly favourable," (Mr. D. p. 22.) then, the influence of your Society may appear to have been, in this respect, let all men judge. If against this poor number 19, we set off the deduction of those who have actually withdrawn their names from us, in consequence of their becoming members of the Bible Society, I think we have good cause to 66 attach very little value to the favours in this way conferred upon us," (Mr. D. p. 22.) It is by no means clear, that you did not give a very severe shock and check to our course, when it was in the most thriving and prosperous condition.'

ART. VI. Travels of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan (commonly called the Persian Prince,) in Asia, Africa, and Europe, during the Years 1799, 1800, 1801, and 1802. Written by himself in the Persian language, and translated by Charles Stewart, Esq. With a Portrait of the Author. 2 Volumes. 8vo. pp. 738. London. Longman and Co. 1810.

T is difficult to imagine any character whose first impressions

Europe. There is so much value in even the most commen knowledge, that the pride of man is secretly gratified by the surprise of a stranger at objects which are familiar to us, even where that familiarity confers no merit on ourselves; and this is perhaps the secret charm, which, fortunately for travellers, makes their society courted in foreign countries, and which constitutes in no small degree, what