kindly received. The Patriarch is aged; and was lately elected, for the third time, to the Patriarchal Seat. He received copies of some of the new Translations of the Scriptures with the utmost pleasure, and distributed them among distant friends as valuable presents.

The arrival of Dr. Pinkerton at Constantinople, in September, gave Mr. Connor an opportunity of frequent and very profitable intercourse with him. After much consultation together, it was determined that he should undertake a journey of investigation. His intention was to proceed, by the first vessel, to Smyrna, thence to Candia, Rhodes, and Cyprus-along the Southern Shores of Caramania, by Sataliah and Anemur, to Tarsus-thence to Antioch, Aleppo, Damascus, Mount Lebanon, and Jerusalem. His ulterior steps would depend on circumstances. He was to take Introductory Letters from the highest Ecclesiastical Authorities at Constantinople. His object would be, To disperse the Scriptures to open channels for their wider circulation to distribute Tracts-and to investigate the state of those Countries. He hoped that his visit to the Syrian Archbishop would tend to further his plans for the good of his people. His aim was, to spend the Passover at Jerusalem.

In pursuance of this plan, Mr. Connor left Constantinople at the same time as Dr. Pinkerton. After a few miles they parted-Dr. Pinkerton making his way toward Odessa, and Mr. Connor setting sail for Smyrna. On the 31st of October he embarked, but did not reach Smyrna till the 14th of November; and was there detained for a fortnight, for want of an opportunity for Candia.

Communications of the most encouraging nature have been transmitted by Mr. Connor*. He had been received in the Islands of Candia, Rhodes, and Cyprus, by the Dignified Ecclesiastics and other Members of the Greek Church, in the most friendly manner. They

These communications are printed in the Missionary Register for last month (April, 1820). See pp. 166-169.

all entered with zeal into the subject of the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, and assisted in the most effective measures for supplying the Greek Population with them. This population, in these three Islands, is upward of 200,000.

Having spent the greatest part of the month of December in these Islands, Mr. Connor was about to proceed from Cyprus to Beirout, on a visit to the Syrian Archbishop of Jerusalem, and with the intention of being present at the Holy City, at the season of the Passover. From Jerusalem he proposed to visit Damascus and Aleppo.

If I find myself (he writes), on my return to Aleppo, in vigor of body, it is my full intention to visit the Churches on the banks of the Euphrates and the Tigris, and shall probably go down to Bagdad or Bussorah. Our Resident at Bagdad, Mr. Rich, is a friend to the Bible Society.

It has struck me, that, through the channel of the Bombay Bible Society and Mr. Rich, a ready and safe conveyance of the Scriptures to the Churches of Mesopotamia might be carried on by way of the Tigris and Euphrates. By operating through Trebisond, from Constantinople, on the north, and through Bagdad, from Bombay, on the south, the whole line of country from the Persian Gulph to the Black Sea might be readily put in possession of the Word of God. I shall endeavour to establish depôts in Syria and Mesopotamia,

And these are not the speculations and projects of an enthusiastic imagination, but the decisions of a sound mind on the leadings of Divine Providence: for most true it is, that the Word of the Lord is already beginning to have a free course opened to it, far beyond the hopes and expectations of Christians, into the very heart of those countries which uphold the dominion of the False Prophet.

In the want of suitable Labourers, to enter on the calls of service everywhere heard round the Mediterranean, the Committee thankfully availed themselves of an arrangement made by Mr. Jowett and Mr. Connor with the Rev. Charles Williamson, Chaplain at Smyrna. Mr. Williamson undertook to promote the objects of the Society, by journeys of investigation at its expense,

so far as his duties as Chaplain might allow. In pursuance of this plan, Mr. Williamson spent between four and five weeks, in August and September last, in a journey and voyage, to the north of Smyrna, as far as Kydonia and Mytilene. Mr. Williamson has since resigned his Chaplaincy, and is now engaged in the service of the British and Foreign Bible Society: with a view to the same labour, the Rev. Henry Leeves is about to proceed to the Mediterranean.

Your Committee rejoice in this increase of Labourers. The representatives of Bible and Missionary Societies will render to one another mutual aid. They cannot, however, but remind the Christian Scholars with which our country now so happily begins to abound, that a more honourable post cannot be obtained than that of sharing the toils of their Brethren in these seas. "Pray for those," Mr. Jowett writes, "who are labouring almost alone, and enduring the bitter sacrifice of many personal and domestic comforts." The death of Mr. John Silk, who was preparing, as has been before stated, for a Mission to Abyssinia, has disappointed the hopes of the Committee respecting his labours: and they cannot but repeat their earnest invitations to the Younger Clergy and the Students at College, who feel for the increase of their Master's gracious dominion, to enter on the labours so invitingly opening before them. Mr. Jowett is shewing to the Younger Members of his own University, as Mr. Connor is shewing to those of Oxford, in the highest sense in which the words of our Lord can be used, that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

In passing from the Mediterranean to India, the eye and the hopes of the Christian rest on that great supporter of the Mahomedan Delusions, the Kingdom of

PERSIA.

One of the most inquisitive and intelligent of the Natives of that Country, who resided lately in England, was furnished with such Books as might tend to open his mind and affect his heart; but it is to the abundant diffusion of the Scriptures among this people, that we must look,

under the blessing of God, for the melioration of their state and the true enlightening of their minds. The entrance on this great work which was made by the late illustrious Henry Martyn, and the bold and able attack which he made on Islamism at its head-quarters in Shiraz, will be held on record in Persia to the latest age; and the time will come when his memory will be cherished among its Natives, as the primæval Benefactor of their country.

Your Committee cannot refrain from quoting, on this subject, the sentiments of the Rev. Dr. Paterson, addressed to the Secretary, from St. Petersburg :

A Lady has sent me Mr. Martyn's Memoirs. How mysterious are the ways of Providence! He was just the very man for Persia; and one cannot help thinking, that if he had remained a few years at Shiraz he would have been the means of the real conversion of many to Christianity. The accounts which have arrived from those parts since seem to strengthen this conviction; and I cannot help lamenting that another Martyn has not been found to follow up the work which he has begun. Surely, it is impossible for pious young Clergymen of the Church of England to read his Memoirs, without catching a portion of his spirit. Can no one be found, endowed with Martyn's spirit and possessing his qualifications, whom you could send to follow up his labours in Persia? Remember, that, as a Society, you are pledged to carry on this Mission; and not to rest satisfied, until the countries in which Mr. Martyn's dust lies become the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ.

The Committee have great pleasure in adding, that Professor Lee is preparing for the press, with as much despatch as his other numerous and important avocations will allow,'the late Mr. Martyn's Controversy with the Learned of Persia. When completed, as Mr. Lee proposes, the volume will exhibit a more entire view of the sophisms of Mahomedanism, with their just refutation, than has yet appeared. It will be published in both Persian and English.

CALCUTTA AND NORTH INDIA MISSION.

The Second Report of the Calcutta Corresponding Committee, delivered on the 8th of May last year, has been received; with a Sermon, preached for the Society,

by the Rev. T. T. Thomason, at the Old Church in Calcutta, on Whitsunday. To the information contained in these documents, respecting the state and prospects of the Mission, your Committee will add such intelligence as has since arrived of further proceedings.

The Corresponding Committee remark, on the general aspect of the Mission

On a review of the events of the last year, the Committee have much to record, which will gratify those who are interested in the Missionary Cause. It has pleased God, not only to smile on their undertakings, but to encourage them with opening doors of usefulness, of a nature which they could scarcely have anticipated.

They have entered, therefore, within the Presidency, on an enlarged scale of operations; and local support to their plans is increasing with the extent of the exertions.

For an ample supply of Christian Labourers, which is the first great department of Missionary Work, the Corresponding Committee have been very urgent; and with their requests your Committee are complying to the utmost of their power.

The Stations under the superintendence of the Calcutta Corresponding Committee are gradually increasing. They may, at present, be considered as Twelve in number Calcutta, Kidderpore, Burdwan, Buxar, Benares, Chunar, Lucknow, Bareilly, Meerut, Delhi, Agra, and Titalya. In these several Stations, there were, at the date of the last despatches, Twenty-nine Christian Teachers, European and Native; and there are now on their passage, for their further supply, Six others.

The arrival of the Rev. Messrs. Jetter and Deerr at Calcutta has been already mentioned, with their destination to Burdwan. They reached Calcutta on the 5th of September last. Captain Manning had, during the voyage, afforded them every facility for the instruction of such as were willing to receive instruction. Their imperfect pronunciation of English was, however, a bar to their usefulness; as it disqualified them