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) I (Published by Request.)

To THE VARIOUS BIBLE SOCIETIES IN BRITISH NORTH AMERICA, .

IN CONNEXION WITH THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Dear Friends—In the allotment which God has given me in-his kingdom, as a servant of the British and Foreign Bi- ble Society, 1 have now spent three years and a halfutiiong you, endeavouring to encourage and animate you in the bles- sed work in which you are engaged, ofcirculatiug the Holy Scriptures. 1 am now about to leave this quarter, and to direct my steps to the flu distant regions of Mexico and South America, with little prospect ofever seeing you again. Per- mit me, therefore, whilst bidding you adieu, to make a few observations upon the objects in which we are engaged.

In regard to the greatness of the work [in which it has pleased God to employ us, that of distributing his \Vord to our fellow-creatures, 1 know not well what to say. Much have I said upon it on many occasions, in my various rounds among you, both in public and in private. But all my ad- dresses on this subject have been, 1 am fully persuaded, only as the effusions of children on matters dimly understood by them, and far above their reach—None of us comprehends the full nature and eternal importance of this work as We ought, neither as to its imperativeness on us as a duty, nor as to its immense hearings on all the economy of God in this world, and over the universe, and over all eternity. May God enlighten our minds,and lead us to see these things as we ought to see them, to feel them as we ought to feel them, and to act upon them as we ought to do!

We are all, however, notwithstanding our’comparative blindness and indifference, well aware and fully persuaded that the book with which we are concerned in this work is God’s Book, and that it is our duty, on the one hatid, to study it, and, on the other hand, to convey it as extensively as we can to others.

We know that it is our duty to study this book. And do we in truth and earnestness study it P—Do we read it large-

’ ly, anxiously, and prayerfiil‘ly? These are questions which every member of'a Bible Society should put to himself, and should be able to answer, in some measure, satisfactorily.— lfotherwise, our Bibles and our Bible labours will rise up in the end against us. May God make us wise and faithful in this day!

That we ought to convey the Scriptures to our fellow-crea- tures around us, we fully acknowledge by our combinations to ther to form Bible Societies. We should all be thank- fu to God for having put into our hearts to labour in some degreeJ-‘in this work. But to what extent do we labour? How much ofour money, and ofourtinie, and ofour labour, do we actually give to this service? Will Christ be satisfied with us on these points, and call us good and faithful ser- vants, when we are examined at his courting? Unquestion- abl ', we shall have to give in our accounts on these matters, an we wo’ulil do well to look over them carefully in good time. Our’Lord is not a hard master. He knows we see things darkly. Hitherto we have all but dimly seen the im- portance of this holy work, ofstudying and of distributing the word ofGod. But having been led to see things better

i than formerly, as to the value ofthe Holy Scriptures for our- selves and for others, we ought to make advances in our studying and giving the oracles of God. We ought to do more now than heretofore, and thus onwards should we move, and more and more, as we see and understand better our ac- tual position and duty in the Inatter before us. The more we have it given us to see these things in their importance, the more our Lord expects fi'om us. Our present duties, therefore, are not to be regulated by past things, but by our advanced knowledge of what ought to be done.

The duty ofthose who possess the Bible in this country, and who may be supposed to know Inore or less ofits value, is to put others all around them in as favourable a position as themselves, that they also, having the word of God, may know the way ofeternal life. The most effectual way.ofdo- ing this is to have little Bible Societies all over and over the country, and so extensively as that the limits of one Bible Society may touch on the limits ofothers all around. And there are means for doing this; for in every quarter over these Provinces there are some friends ofthe Bible, who seek their own salvation and the salvation of'othcrs. Such per- sons form a nucleus in their own place for a Bible Society, and they should be ready to join in this work, and to draw in others, and many, to their aid.

The people ofthose countries are not in circumstances of poverty, so as to need money to help to procure the Scrip- tures. They are nearly all able to pay for them. What they want is to have their attention drawn to the object, and to have Bibles within their reach. Comparativer small con- tributions, therefore, are here required to get the Scriptures into_ a general circulation, so far as giving the Scriptures gratis, or at reduced prices, are concerned. But money is required to enable agents to go through the country and or- ganize Societies, and to keep them in active operation.— Again, time and labour are required on the part of the friends of the Bible in every little Society that is formed.

' Agents can only visit the country in a general way. But there is required a visitation of every house, ofeach given town- ship or village, and this not once, but from time to time.— The first visitation is to get the Word ofGod into ever ' house. Other visitations are to extend the numbers and use ofthe Scriptures In everyfamily; and further, and not least, to stir up all who are privileged with the possession of the Word of God, to contribute money as thank-offbrings to God for the Bible, in order that these offerings may be employed in sending the Bible. over the wide world, among the millions of nominal Christians destitute ofit, and among the millions pflieaiheii who never have seen It at all, and who are perish- in In their idolatries.

_ ime, then, and labour, are required from the members of Bible Societies for these godly visitations and efforts. And let each one Consider how much time, and how much labour he gives, as well as what money, to promote the Sacred Bi- hle Cause. It is to be feared that the contributions of time and labour are more scanty still than our scanty Bible sub- scriptions. And wherefore? Because we do not feel suf— ficiently the importance ofour work.

From this view ofthiiigs,l would humbly and earnestlv

call upon all the larger Bible Societies over these countries to exert themselves, in order to pave, as it were, the entire country With Bible Societies. By the larger Bible Societies, I mean those which occupy the position ofAuxiliai-ies to the Parent institution. Again, lwould call on all the larger Branch Societies to form Bible Associations in all convenient places in their neighbourhood. And, further, 1 would call upon all the members ofBible Societies, and particularly the members ofCommittees, to contribute time and labour, for Visiting from .house to house, within the sphere of their respective Societies. . This appeal is made in order to get the Scriptures amply Into every house, and for this we see that some money, tlme’.andlab0llr WOUlda I am sure, be amply repaid in sub- stantial goodto the country, political, moral, and religious.

But there is another claim lying on us, and pretty largely for our money, and for time and labor. The great bulk of our fellow creatures over all the world are in entire destitu- tion ofthe Word of Life. And to whom do they look for it but to us who have it. And to whom does God look ‘0’

serve and honour-him in this matter, but to us? Oh. tifen let us awake to our duty, and our high privilege, and profit: able service! -

The sums contributed by individuals, and in all Bible dis- tricts, have, hitherto, been very small in comparison of what they ought to have been—But now it is high time to awake out of'sleep, and properly to consider our ways and to act like men of understanding, high moral principle, and true Bible greatness in this concern. The times of past igno- rance God Will pass over; but now, as already hinted, we are called on from our knowledge of this subject, to act after a new, and different, and nobler manner, in order that the word (if God. thmugh US, may have free course, and thence, by the Spirit of God working, be glorified.

Perhaps no country in the world is more highly favored in temporal things than are these British American Provin- ces. In travelling through different countries I had been called on to weep with those who weep, from the prevalence of want. But In travelling over these provinces, l have only

to rejoice with those who rejoice; and 1 do rejoice at the abundance which every where reigns over these parts. May God prosper these Provinces more and more! But. at the same time I pray that he may enable them to see their duty, to contribute oftheir supplies after a suitable manner towards the great object of'circulating God’s holy word over all the world. These provinces should send lorth from them to the funds of the Parent Institution an annual sum of no mean amount, considering the advantages oftheir circumstances. And I doubt not but this will be the case, as soon as the ge- neral attention ofall who have the Bible is drawn towards this duty; and thus to draw it, is the object of our present address. , .

1 would, therefore, humbly and most earnestly supplicnte all the liible societies in these provinces, greater and smaller, so to labour and contribute, and so to arrange their accounts, that there may be a sum sent from all ofthein every year t0 the Parent Society, in the form ofa free contribution, over and above their payments for books received. _

It would greatly tend to increase this fi‘ee contribution, were all the Ministers connected with the various Bible So- cieties to preach a sermon annually, and make a collection in belialf'of' this general object. By means ofthose sermons, also, a greater knowledge ofthe Bible cause and operations would he diffused among all classes.

The Parent Sooiety is hampered on every hand for want of funds. The Heathen cry for the Bible, and are more ready to receive it than we to give it. This state of'things should be reversed, and may God reverse it speedily ! We should be the urgers in this case, and so shall we be when we see our duty herein, with all its advantages.

The whole world may, with sufficient accuracy for our purpose, be divided into Christendom and lleathendoni. Now, the greater part, by far, of Christendom is still in al- most entire destitution of the Scriptures, and only a few spots are to be found where the Bible is diffused in any happy measure. These spots we may, for distinction’s sake, call Bibledorn. Now, the actual position of things at the present day is this: first, in Bibledoui itself, the Scriptures are as yet far from being generally distributed; scondly, us noticed above, the greater part of Christendom is nearly without the \Vork of God altogether; and, in the third place, all Heathendoni, including the great majority of mankind, is in entire ignorance of ib. Holy Scriptures. \Ve see,

, therefore, what powerful CIilHilB there are upon those Who

possess the word of God to use great exertions, and to act nobly in this honourable service to which they are called. Let lis, therefore, all arouse, and let us hasten by our incli- vidunl and combined exertions to diffuse the Holy Scriptures, as early as possible, over all the world.

The annual free contributions to the Parent Society are only about £50,000, and at that sum they have been nearly stationary for several years. Surely they should not be al— lowed to remain tints stationary; they should be made to rise from year to year, and in somewhat ofa very perceptible nature. I have endeavoured to point out how these Provin- ces may contriliute their part towards this increase. I have spoken freely, as to friends, and I trust my little notices will be received in the spirit of friendship. I feel encouraged in making these observations from what has'already been done in these Provinces, and from the good disposition l have seen over them to enter on this Bible work when efforts were Iiiade in its favour. Much has already licen done among you in this good cause, as is testified by the long list ofBihle Societies in this quarter, which nnuuully appears in the Parent Sooiety’s Reports. On the part ofthat insti- tution, therefore, I offer a very sincere tribute of thanks to all the Bible Societies in these Provinces, for their exten- sive co-operatiou with it in its Bible work.

In my various movements through these Provinces l have been treated with great kindness by all parties, and I beg most sincerely to thank all my friends forall their attentions. I shall think often ofmy various tours through these coun- tries when 1 am fin" from them, and on, the kindness I have received. My future field oflnbour will be ofa very differ- ent character from this quarter, and much courage and hen- venly wisdom will be required for acting aright; and 1 may add, there are many personal dangers in those parts. My friends in these Provinces will confer an additional favour on me, ifthey will occasionally pray to the God of all grace and power that I may he guided, preserved and prospered whither] go. and that 1 may finally obtain the giory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Atid may the same glory be the portion ofall into whose hands this address may come !

\ I reinnin,

‘ My Dear Friends,

Respectfully and gratefully yours, JAMES THOMSON. Montreal, 3lst May, 1842. r

EXTRAORDINARY SCIENTIFIC ENTERPRISE.—-’l‘l18 expe- dition of M. De Castelnau to the central regions of South America, under the sanction of the French Government, being decided upon, it may be interesting and useful to give some idea of this vast undertaking. It embraces no- thing less than on exploringjourney across this continent at its greatest width, from Rio Janeiro to Lima, a line of'no less than 1,000 leagues, one-half of which has never yet been visited by any European. The return is to he made along the Mnranon or Amazon river, and the interior of Guiana. This wide tour will excite public curiosity in the highest degree, as it embraces a country OffitllUlOllS-hlSIOI‘V, but told with so many circumstances and incidents as almost to create in some minds a doubt as to whether it was fabu- lous. Our traveller will have to cross the country of the warlike Amazons, in whose existence La Condninine, the great astronomer and traveller, who visited the Maranon in the last century, believed. He will also have to visit the em- pire ofthe Grand Wapiti, who plays so great a part in the thousand Spanish chronicles, and also the mysterious Eldo- rado, in search of which so runny brave men, including Sir W. Raleigh, faced appalling difficulties and dangers. inde- pendently of these imaginary, or at best apochrvphal objects, the scientific explorer will have an ample fieldifor the exor- tion ofhis talents and observation. The study ofthe monu- ments of the imperial race of the Incas, wlmSe civilization was the wonder offar remote ages, and whose history is still a closed book, seems likely to be exposed to us, with the migrations ofthe people ofthe earlier ages. To these add the fixmg ofthe. magnetic equator, the study ofthe benefi- cial products of these regions, particularly that invaluable medicine bark, observations or: the various races of men, on the brute animals and plants, and the atmospheric pheno- mena of these Wild regions. These subjects must all at- tract the attention and researches of M. de Castelnau, who is qualified for his great task by having passed five years in the least known parts of North America among the red men of the deserts, and by his numerous works on natural history. This great enterprise was planned under the auspices ofthe late Duke of Orleans, and is now adopted and pntronised bv the duke de Nernours, anxious to accomplish the views and wishes of his august brother.— Galignuni’s Messenger.

Dem—The dew, celebrated through all times and in every tongue for its sweet influences, presents the most beati- tiful and striking illustration ofthe agency of water in the economy of' nature, and exhibits one ofthoso wise and boun- tiful adaptations, by which the whole system of'things aui- mate and inanimate, is fitted and bound together. All Hodies on thesurface of the earth radiate, or throw out rays of heat In straight lines—every warmer body to every colder: and the entire surface is itself continually sending ruvs upwards through the clear air into free space. Thus, on. the earth’s surface, all bodies strive, as it were, after an equal tempera- ture (an equilibrium of heat), while the surface as a whole tends gradually towards a cooler state. But, while the sud shilleshthls cooliilig will npt take place, for the earth then re- ceives in genera more iaat than it ire of-}‘- n i clear sky be shut out by a canopy ofclsuds, thes’eawill drug: and again throw back a portion ofthe heat, and prevent it from being so speedily dissipated. At night, then when the sun is absent, the earth will cool the most; on clear nights also more than when it is cloudy; and when clouds dnlv partially obscure the sky, those parts will become coolest which look towards the clearest portions of the heaVcns Now, when the surface cools, the air in contact with it must cool also :and, like the Warm currents on the mountain side,

must: forsake a portion of the watery vapour it has hitherto

bishop Whately.

retained. This water, like the floatingmist on the hills, descends in particles almost infinitely minute. These pal- ticles collect On every leaflet, and suspend thc’ipselves frorp , every blade of grass, in drops of“ pearly dew. And mai t here a beautiful adaptation. Different substances are en- dowed with the property of radiating their neat, and ofthus becoming cool with different degrees of rapidity; and those substances which in the air become cool first, also attract first and most abundantly the particles of falling dew. _ Ihus, in the cool of a summer’s eVening, the grass-plat is wet, while the gravel-walk is dry ; land the thirsty pasture and everv green leaf are drinking in the descending IHIOISIUI‘B, whife the linked land and barren highway are still uncon- scious of its fidL—Prqfessor Johnstonc, on flgrtcultural Clic- mistijj.

BLACK THE WORST COLooa roa PAINTING Woon-Woa'K iN THE OPEN Aim—There is nothing that will prove this evil more than by observing the black streaks ofa ship after being in a tropical climate for any length of time. It Wlll be found that the wood round the f-istenings is in a state of decay, while the white work is as sound as ever; the plnliks that are painted black will be found split iiiall directions, while the fi'equeut necessity of caulking a ship In that sitti- alinn likewiSe adds to the common destruction ;‘and .1 am fully persuaded that a piece of wood painted white Will be preserved li'om perishing as long again, if exposed to 'the weather, as a similar piece painted black, especially in a tropical climate. I have heard many men oficonSIderable experience say, that the black is good for nothing on wood, as it possesses no body to exclude the weather. This is, indeed, partly the case; but a far greater evil than this at- tends the use of black paint, which ought entirely to exclude its use on any work out of doors,viz. its property ofabsorh- ing heat. A black unpolished surface is the greatest absor- ber and radiator ofheat known; while a white surface, on the other hand, is a had absorber and radiator ofthe same ; consequently, black paint is innre pernicious to the wood than white. \Vood haviiiga black surface will imbibe con- siderably more heat in the same temperature ofclimute than if that surface were white; from which circumstance we may easily conclude thatthe pores of wood ofany nature will have a tendency to expand, and rend it in all directions, when exposed under such circumstances ; the water of course being admitted, causes a gradual and progressive de- cay, which must be imperceptibly increasing from every change of weather. The remch to so great an evil is par- ticularly simple, viz. by using white instead ofblack paint, which not only forms a better surface, but is a preventive to thcaction of'lieat, and is more impervious to, the moisture. The saving ofexpense would also be immense, and I am convinced that men ofpractical experience will hear me out in my assertion—Trans. Society of Arts.

NAMES snow OCCUPATions.—Sutor is the Latin and old English for shoemaker; Latimer, a writer of Latin, or, as Camden has it, “ an interpretmir.” Chaucer is also said to signify a member ofthe general craft. Leech, the Saxon for physician, is still partiallv retained in some parts of the country in cow-leech. Thwai/Ics signifies a fellerofwood; and Barker is synonymous with Tanner. Jenner is an old form of joiner; Webbc, and Webster, of VI cover; and Banister, of Balneator, the keeper ofa bath. Shearmrm is one who shears wo‘t'steds, fiistians, &c., an employinth known at Norwich by the designation of shearmaiicrafl. Lorimer is a maker ofbits for briilles, spurs, &c. Pitcher was a maker of pilches, a warm kind of' upper garment, the “ great-cont” of the fourteenth century. Sanger and Sangster mean singer. flrkioi‘ight was in olden times a maker of meal-rltests,an nr- ticle offiii'tiiture in every house when families dressed their own fiour. Coker was a maker of charcoal; and Parli'gcr a maker of parchment. Conder was a person who paraded the sen—shore to watch the approach ofthe immense shoals of pilchai'ds and herrings, and give notice thereof to the fisher- men at a distance by certain understood signals. Kidder is an obsolete word for buxter. Lavender for lnIinrlress.(Cliali- cer,) Flirner for baker, Hellier for tiller, aml Crowflirr for a playeron the crowd, a species of violin.—Lowrr’s Essays.