lieutenant, to consult with him on the best means c doing so effectually. They had a long conversation o Bible operations, and the first lieutenant, particularly seemed au fait of the good doing by this Society, an Bible Societies in general. Both he and the captai applauded the Society's system of giving the pure wor of God to the people. They observed that sailors wer like children-that all would wish to have a copy the New Testament, but many could not read; beside the gift of so many books would be too expensive The agent replied that the Committee would no think so, provided a good use was made of them; fo they were supplying with Testaments all our soldier and sailors in active service in these countries, and wer desirous also to extend their munificent gifts to thei brave allies, the French, and even to the Turks, provide they would take them; but the truth was, thei depôt in Smyrna could not spare, just now, a Nev Testament for every sailor on board that could read It was agreed that fifty copies should be granted ove and above the six already given, and that the firs lieutenant should distribute them to the different messes. This officer said, "Do not think that we are without any religion: we have, every day, prayers on board, and the crew will read the New Testaments with pleasure."

It was afterwards learnt that the captain himself called the crew before him, and distributed equally amongst them the New Testaments given him; so that fifty-six messengers are now proclaiming salvation. through Jesus Christ to several hundred individuals. who may shortly be called to face death in the present awful contest. Besides which, the six Bibles taken on board were bought by the officers; and the captain, in a polite note, thanking the agent for the New Testaments given his crew, and sending the money for the six Bibles, begged for another Bible, which was also paid for.

Eight New Testaments were given to as many sick soldiers in the French hospital, and one of them, who was very polite, and quite the gentleman, turned out to be the Duc de- who enlisted four months ago as a common soldier; it being the rule, that all those who have not attended a military college have to serve a year in that capacity previous to being promoted as officers. The agent had also the satisfaction of distributing thirty New Testaments among a batch of 500 French soldiers who touched there on their way to Sebastopol. He met six of them in the street, who landed for an hour or two, and took them to his depôt. There they had some talk, and finding that they were anxious to have Testaments, he gave each one, and twenty-four more to take on board to their comrades. Half of these Testaments were in German, for he found that amongst the soldiers there were many who only read the German language.

Thus 101 copies, including the seven Bibles sold, were promulgated in the course of ten days, and have fallen into the hands of those who never, perhaps, saw the Scriptures before. And how many more, besides the actual possessors of them, will they not benefit? for soldiers and sailors are composed of very large families, amongst which the New Testaments now given will, no doubt, circulate incessantly.

THE BIBLE IN THE HEBRIDES.

The Gospel of Mark has just been printed in the Papuan language for the use of the natives of Aneiteum, New Hebrides. From the want of proper materials, and the pressing urgency of other Missionary duties, it was printed in Sydney. This is the first entire book of Scripture printed in this language; but other portions of it are in a state of preparation, and the printing of them will be proceeded with as fast as possible.

Our readers will doubtless rejoice to learn that the Bible is being opened to another tribe of the great

human family; that another radically distinct lan guage is being added to the many in which the word of God is now printed; that the ignorant and de graded inhabitants of this island, one of the most remote and unknown of the isles of the Gentiles, are now daily reading in their own tongue, wherein they were born, the wonderful works of God. The Lord has been favouring this Mission very graciously dur ing the past year.

This island has for the most part been without foreign residents during the last twelvemonths. The Australian gold-fields have attracted the most of the floating population from these seas for the last year or two; but the tide is again slightly turning. Some favourable opportunities have occurred of disposing of Bibles in sandal-wood vessels, where they were much needed, and where they were gratefully received.

Some time ago an English vessel called there, the captain of which had his wife on board, a French lady, whom he had recently married at the Mauritius. The Missionary stationed at the harbour, Mr. Geddie, made up a parcel of tracts for the men in the vessel, and enclosed a French Bible. The captain accepted them cheerfully, and promised to distribute them. A few days after, when the vessel was about to sail, he called upon the Missionary, and informed him how delighted his wife was with the French Bible. She had been brought up a Romanist, and had never seen, or at least never read, a Bible before. She had been reading it constantly from the time it was brought on board.

A short time since, a vessel from California to Sydney called at this island for a few days. Among the passengers was an Italian Count, who had taken an active part in the late struggle in Italy, and, on the return of the Pope, had been obliged to leave his native land. He has been travelling through differ

ent parts of the world, and waiting for a favourable opportunity to return home. He spoke English imperfectly. On learning that he had no copy of the Scriptures, Mr. Geddie presented him with a French Testament, which he politely accepted. He had read the Pentateuch, but had never read the New Testament. "This," said he, “is a forbidden book in my country, but I shall read it here without asking the Pope's leave."

If the Holy Spirit accompany the reading of that copy of His word with saving power, as we earnestly pray He may, this nobleman, should he return to Italy, will return a different and a vastly better reformer than when he left his oppressed native country.

THE BIBLE IN BRADFORD.

The following passage is from one of the Colporteur's letters

"By the time the meeting takes place I shall have obtained about 2000 subscribers in Bradford, and I have now sold 993 Bibles and Testaments. I have found 260 destitute in Bradford, who either bought or become subscribers. Of these about ninety are Roman Catholics. We have seventy-two districts, all supplied with collectors. May God bless them in their work, and make them a blessing! Let us pray, like Moses of old, 'Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children!

E

Miss Amelia Perkins never did anything.

Let me not, however, be misunderstood. When I say that she never did anything, I mean that she never did anything that she designed to be for the comfort or assistance of others. There were no duties that she habitually performed; no place that she occupied; no one looked to her, or depended on her for anything; no one seemed to be the better for her; she seemed to have no more to do with the course of that stream of life on which she floated than the least little piece of weed may have, that being detached from its stem, goes sailing down its native brook towards the sea.

Miss Amelia Perkins was moderately good-looking, and to strangers had rather a pleasing manner. She thought it unladylike ever to bustle and be in a hurry, as her sisters sometimes were: she often said, people could do what they had to do without that. Accordingly, she was never in a bustle; but then, as I said before, she never had anything particular to do.

She felt that it was a painful thing to be in straitened circumstances, and soon confided this pain to me. She said it often weighed on her spirits, and remarked that her sisters, being less sensitive, did not so much feel the trial of it. "And it seems so hard," she said, "to have so little to spend on one's clothes; the others, not having much taste in dress, don't mind it. Besides, being so much older, it matters less to them."

"Excepting your sister Bessie," I observed.

"Oh yes, Bessie," she replied; "Bessie."

"Well;" I remarked, "is it not natural that Bessie should like to be well-dressed?"

"Oh, Bessie," she repeated; "why, Bessie is so very plain, that it would be absurd in her to expect to be admired; even if she were handsomely dressed."

I replied that I had always heard it said, that the handsomer people were, the less dependent they were on dress.

Miss Amelia did not appear to agree with my remark, and when I went on to say that I thought Bessie a remarkably happy person, and one who seemed particularly contented, she replied that she supposed Bessie was satisfied with her lot: she saw no reason why she should be otherwise; and then she said that all her sisters were very fond of Bessie. "In fact," she continued, "everyone must see what an unfair difference they make between us.'

I could not but open my eyes at this, and purposely misunderstanding her, I said, "You mean, perhaps, that they always ask Bessie to do the errands, and write the letters,