I wish that I were better informed of the studies and employment of this excellent man, that I might write a sketch of his life as accurately as I could of his death; this event will be lamented by those who love the cause, in proportion as they know his life to have been blessed, at least that small part of it which was spent in Egypt and Syria. We have seen many here who appeared to be well adapted to take Bibles and Testaments into Egypt; but most showed some fear, either of the Bashaw or Mussulmen, or of the different Christian denominations, or of the Jews: but our esteemed Burckhardt left Malta on board a Greek vessel, with six large cases full of Bibles and Testaments, in various languages, without any fear: he read, conversed, and distributed, in the most open manner; and Divine Providence, which, without doubt, conducts these grand and important objects, assisted him in every step, as well in giving him a right discernment in his enterprises, as in preparing the people for the reception of the word of truth. On his arrival in Alexandria, Mr. Burckhardt landed courageously, with all his cases, which he took to an inn, where he with difficulty obtained a little garret, which hardly held him and his cases. After two or three days, the masons came to make some alteration in the inn, and began to pull down his room; but he. thinking the situation favourable for the sale and propagation of the Scriptures, would not quit the house, but removed, with his health-giving merchandise, into a shed belonging to it. There he conversed with every one that passed by, peasants, strangers, and merchants, both foreign, and from the interior of the country. The seamen, who are very numerous at Alexandria, came so often to him, that he wrote to us, saying, that "the Greek Testaments, which he had dispersed, would only be like so many drops thrown into the sea; so great was the demand for the word of God."

In his hours of leisure he walked all over the the place, visiting the Patriarch, or the Archimandrite, or the Greek Priests, mixing also, often, with the Turks, Copts, Jews, &c. Thence he departed for Grand Cairo, on board a country boat, surrounded by a great number of Bibles. After experiencing some dangers, he arrived, took a little lodging, and, as before, exposed his wares to public sale. Here he found, that, not only was his mis sion known to all, but that he was really waited for: and Jews, Turks, Syrians, Copts, Christians, and Pagans, went to visit him, and, what is of more importance, to profit by him. A few days after his arrival, he wrote to me thus: "My dear friend, I have now nothing more to give to these people; all my stock is expended. If I had had with me twice or thrice as many copies of the Scriptures, I could have disposed of them without the smallest difficulty. In this central situation he had the pleasure to arrange various things for the future success of our Malta Bible Society, in those extensive countries, with the Bishops, Patriarchs, and other persons of rank. The Coptic Patriarch has requested an edition in

6

the Coptic-Arabic, for the use of his flock, which most useful measure will, I hope, be attended to.

From Cairo he went to Jerusalem, where he visited all the conyents and public places, and furnished them, every where, with the word of God. He there commenced, for the Bible Society, a collection of the books printed at Mount Lebanon, either in Arabic, Syriac, or other tongues, but particularly manuscripts, as printed works are scarce. This, I hope, he has completely done; and, by means of a friend in Cyprus, I have received, within these last few days, a case full of them, which are now in the quarantine. This was done with a view to obtain a version of the Bible in the Vulgar Arabic, which is most generally used by the Modern Egyptians and Syrians. At length, leaving Jerusalem, going by Syria, and visiting the places on his road, he came to the great and commercial city of Aleppo, in the neighbourhood of which the fever attacked him; and thus, alas! we have been deprived of his invaluable services.

The memory of Mr. Burckhardt will always remain dear to us; and all the common friends to the cause, who knew him, or had any knowledge of what he has done in the Levant, have shed tears for him. By means of a friend, who left this place yesterday, we have written to announce the sad event to his father in Switzerland, and have inclosed him the last letter his son wrote to us, which was from Antioch.

ANECDOTE.

At the first anniversary of the Cumberland and Carlisle Sunday Union, Mr. Wawn, in acknowledging the thanks of the meeting, voted to him, delivered a speech highly honourable to his understanding and piety. Among many other pertinent allusions, the worthy gentleman begged leave to digress for a moment, to relate an anecdote of an aged female.

'Poor Mary,' said he, I shall never forget poor Mary! She was returning home, the picture of penury and want, thoughtful, yet serene and placid, when she was joined by a lady of affluence and piety, but who was the subject of some afflictive visitations and was threatened with more. She immediately began to relate her sorrows and apprehensions to poor Mary, who heard her with much attention, and then with all the tenderness of Christian sympathy besought her to be comforted, and reminded her of the goodness and fidelity of that God who had promised never to forsake his people, exhorted her to be grateful for the many mercies she now enjoyed, and to confide in the unchanging mercy and love of God for all future ones. By this time they reached the door of her humble dwelling. Mary begged the lady to walk in, and taking her to a closet said, 'Pray, Ma'am, do you see any thing?" The lady replied 'No.' She took her to another closet, and re

peated her question, Pray, Ma'am, do you see any thing? The reply again was 'No.' She took her to a third closet, and once more repeated her question,' Pray, Ma'am, do you see any thing?" the lady replying, with a look of surprise bordering on displeasure, 'No.' Then Madam,' said poor Mary, you see all I have in the world. But why should I be unhappy? I have Christ in my heart, and heaven in my eye. I have the unfailing word of promise that bread shall be given me, and water shall be sure,' whilst I stay a little longer in this vale of tears; and when I die a bright Crown of Glory awaits me through the merits of my Redeemer.'

THE ARCHBISHOP OF JERUSALEM.

The Syrian Archbishop of Jerusalem, Gregorio Pietro Giarve has lately arrived in this country, and has taken up his residence in Frith-st. Soho.-He is in the dress of the Apostle St. James, with the blue turban, a loose robe, &c. His long beard, and venerable apostolic appearance, attract great notice, and excite much curiosity. We learn that the Archbishop's object in visiting England is to solicit assistance, and obtain some of the machinery, to establish a printing press at Mount Lebanon for the purpose of preparing and there distributing correct editions of the Sacred Scriptures in the Syriac language. Although Mount Lebanon is under the dominion of a Christian Prince, nearly all the rest of Syria is governed by, and composed of Turks. Not a few of these have lately become Christians, for the fanatic fury of their faith seems every day abating. To gain many, very many, from Mahometanism over to Christianity, little more seems wanting than to distribute copies of the Bible amongst the Syrian Turks in their own language; but to prepare such works has been found heretofore generally impracticable. The editions of the Bible printed in this country for most parts of the East, have from their total inaccuracy been utterly useless. We believe we may venture to say, without any offence to the learned, that none but a native ought to attempt to be a corrector of the Syriac press. A single mistake in the placing of a point, may make the same word convey a meaning the most ludicrous, for what the author intended to be of a precisely opposite character. As the Archbishop undertakes himself to be the corrector of the press about to be established, and as the learned prelate has travelled far, relying on the liberality and Christian feeling of England, we sincerely trust, that the stranger's reception here may be such as his sacred mission and character eminently deserve.

From the Quarterly Extracts of the Amer. B. Society for Feb. 1819.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.

The Board have resolved to appoint annually "a committee of five persons, to be called "Auxiliary Society Committee," whose

duty it shall be to devise and suggest to the Board of Managers such measures as in their opinion will promote the establishment and animate the exertions of Institutions Auxiliary to the American Bible Society." This Committee is authorized to correspond with the different parts of the country, for the purpose of gaining all necessary information on the subject. The present members of that Committee are as follows. Rev. James M. Mathews, Rev. James Milnor, Rev. Joshua Soule, Mr. Theodore Dwight, and Mr. John Cauldwell.

The following copies of the Scriptures have been printed for the Society during the last quarter:-2000 octavo Bibles, 4000 duodecimo brevier Bibles, 5750 duodecimo minion Bibles, 1500 octavo Testaments, 2000 duodecimo bourgeois Testaments. Additions to the Biblical Library, received from the British and Foreign Bible Society, in November, 1818.

Long Primer Bible, 2 vols. marginal references, in boards; small pica do. calf; royal small pica, do. do.; small pica do. with marginal references, do.; brevier do. with marginal references, do.; minion do. 24mo. calf; De Sacy's French Testȧment, calf: Martini's Italian do. do.; Irish Bible, do.; French and English Testament, do.; Malay do. do. ; Chinese do. in case, printed at Canton; Blaney's English Bible, 3 vols. quarto. interleafed, Oxford, 1769.-Printed by the Russian Bible Society, Sclavonian Bible, calf; Georgian Testament, do.; Calmuck St. Matthew, do.; Armenian Testament, do.; Dorpatian do. do.; Lettish do. do.; Revalian do. do.; Finnish, do. do.; Persian do. do.

January, 1819. Donation by Leonard Kip, Esq. of NewYork, the New-Testament, in the Hindoo language, octavo; ditto in the Mahratta do. do.; ditto in the Penjabee do. do.

New-York, February 3, 1819. Donation by John L. Hodge, Esq. of Philadelphia, the English Bible, London, octavo, 1642, ruled-printed by Robert Barker.

Form of a Bequest to the American Bible Society.

I give unto the Treasurer, for the time being, of the American Bible Society, formed in New-York, in the year eighteen hundred and sixteen, the sum of dollars, for the purposes of the said Society, and for which the receipt of such Treasurer shall be a sufficient discharge.

Extracts from the Fifth Annual Report of the Auxiliary New-York Bible Society, presented November 16, 1818.

At the preceding Anniversary, 65 Testaments, 78 French, and 233 English 12mo. Bibles remained for distribution, under the general system adopted by the Board. To these were added, by purchase, 20 octavo, 300 English 12mo. Bibles, and 500 Testa

ments.

In the course of the year 200 English 12mo. Bibles and

VOL. VI.]

Saturday, May 15, 1819.

[No. III.

MISCELLANY.

On the Excellence of the Christian Religion, as a Source of National Happiness.

:

WHEREVER the majority of a people are allowed to remain in a state of ignorance and vice, there undoubtedly the greatest deficiency of national happiness is to be felt a fact which no theorist on government can reasonably dispute: it has proved itself in numerous instances, and is founded on the experience of ages. No administration can be safe, no social intercourse can be maintained, where no hold is to be laid on the mind of the people ;-and such is the mind that is ignorant and vicious. Unawed, unrestrained, by religious impressions, it is ready to break out into the wildest extravagances. It feels not, nor acknowledges, any reverence for divine authority, and, therefore, affords no security for public utility or social happiness. No law of mere human appointment, no edict published by a mortal prince, will ever avail to check the excesses of mankind, or reduce them to rational obedience. God himself has raised barriers against the depravity of human nature, and when these are impiously broken through, the greatest disorders in morality, and the most awful calamities that can befall a nation, are certainly to be dreaded.

It is a grand characteristic of our holy religion, that it is calculated to promote the mutual good of a whole community and of every individual member,-of the Sovereign, and of the nation. It teaches the duties of all ;-it considers the whole race as one great family, of which God is the Father :-disregarding the petty distinctions that originate among themselves, it enforces his authority as Supreme;-without respect to persons or offices, it delivers his precepts to the world, with sanctions which none but the Deity can give, with threatenings whose terrors, and with promises whose invitations, are equally extended to all. It addresses itself to the conscience and judgment of every man ; and, where the corrupting influence of prejudice has not prevailed, it carries conviction with it. The unbiassed mind perceives and acknowledges the beauty and harmony of its parts,-its admirable suitableness to the various wants and interests of our nature, --and the sublime ideas it communicates of the great Ruler of the world, and the magnificent system of his operations.

The tendency of the Christian religion to promote the happiness of mankind, appears from the broad principle on which it uniformly recommends and inculcates every social duty. What can be more inimical to every species of bigotry and exclusive benevolence, than the spirit that dictates such precepts as these: "Whatsoeverye would that men should do unto you, do ye likeI

VOL. VI.