The Express.
London, England, 1856-05-08 00:00:00

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this society was held yester-
day, at Bairn-hall. The weather was very unfavourable,
but it did not produce any marked effect oa the attendance,
which was nearly as great as on former oesesiona The
chair was taken at 11 o'clock by the Earl of SHATTIMBEHT.
On the platform were—Lord Teignmouth, the Bishop of
Carlisle, the Bishop of Cashel, the Hon. and Rev. Lord W.
Russell, the Rev. Conon Stowell, the Rev. Canon Bicker-
stub, Dr. Meehan from Americe, Mr. S. Gassy, and the
Revs. G. Brows:, J. Specs", G. Clayton, de.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the petcvedir gs, said that
among all the religious societies I. this country there was
none that *ensiled that in the magnitude sad importune
of its operations. By the °penis"; of successive countries tar
fields of agency its duties and labours were bents cou-
tinselly multiplied. A short time ago Chloe wee
opened to them ; now the whole of the Tuthill pro
visas invited their efforts. The Turkish salad ap-
peared to have been prepared for the reception el the
truth, aad • very hopeful rg e wee to be found fa the •
unparalleled fast thuds/fag the past year 1,300 copies of
the Scriptures bad been bought and paid for by native
Moslems. (Cheer,.) The greatest obstacle to the opera-
tions of the accisty's agents in China was the opium trade—
a trade which originated with the ladies government; and
was carried en for government purpose.. (Hear, hear.)
How was it possible for the natives, who perceived the
mural and physical mischiefs resulting from that vile traffic,
to reconcile the conduct of the government be this respect
with the cireulation of the scriptures in China ? (Hear,
hear.) It was the duty of all religious etnietiee, and of
every men who eared for the progress of true Christianity,
to jobs I. mesaorialisieg the government, sad pritesting
egainst their sealant, arta this foul blot was removed.
(Cheep) Before sitting down be mutt advert to
what he considered to be one of the aces
subtle, and, at the same time, one of the
most tremendous daggers which now beset the °potations el
that society and the spread of true religion within these
• reams, and which was sow embodied in • p.rliamentary
motion hefts the Hutu of Commons, the object of uh th
wee to obtain what wee Veined a new and improved
translation of the Hagfish OH.. (Hear, hear.) Suppl-
ing all the difficulties of the task to have been overcome,
and the new mein to ban been sent fort, to the
world, he would ask whether it would be possible that
thenceforward there would be, not merely in this country,
bat in North America and in all the British colonies, an
authorised version of the scriptures—a version which would
be received by common consent by all who spoke the
Anglolialon language ? (Hear.) Let the common content
which now existed with regard to the scriptures be des roved,
and a deadly wound would be inflicted on the cause of the
propagation of the truth among ell nations that spoke the
English tongue. Moreover, the many millions of copies of
the Scriptures which were already in circulation would at
eau become discredited and lone their vela*, and they.
would have to begin their work over again. (Hear, hear.)
Let the meeting consider, too, the *coerce from which this
proposal came. (Hear, hear.) They bad bad a sample of
this new translation, and from the anxiety which was evinced
in this to depart from the literal rendering, it was manifest
that what was desired was, not • translation, but • commen-
tary on the language of Holy Writ. (Hear) He admitted
that the authorised version of the Scriptures hid some de-
fect., but notwithstanding thue defeats, it was admitted by
common manna to be the hest translation of the Scriptures
ever male into any 'ensnare on the face of the earth.
(Cheers.) It was impossible that the mess of the commu-
nity could ever have a critical knowledge of the original,
and one effect of what was now proposed would be to destroy
the exercise of private judgment by rendering it necessary,
amid ooefiicting views, for slmoet every one to have recourse
to some 1 d pundit for the removal of his doubts. So
great was the threatened evil, in his estimation, that he con-
sidered it ten times more dangerous then eve. trectarianfau
or popery. He hoped that the attempt would be resisted to
the death, end that the Anglo•Seno race netts red over all
puts of he British Empire, and their brethren in the Vetted
State., would continue to be one language, and one mouth,
and one miad, as regarded the clrcuiation of the Scrip-
tell& (Chews.]
The Rev. S. B. Bunotru then read the versus, se..
mittee for the put year. From We it appeared that the
receipts of the year sidles March 31, 1856, had exceeded
those of any preerdirg year (including the special fond.).
The amount applicable to the general purpcme of the
society was 65,6241. 13e. 91.. and the amount received for
bibles and testaments 63,1001. 16s. 4d.; making the total
receipts fr na the ordinary sources of income 128,7251.
10e. led. ; being 4,2471. Os. 71. more than in the last year,
and 3,0691 11.. 3d. more than in any former year To this
was added the sum of 1501 10s 2d.. further contribetioea
to the Jubilee Fend, and dos 1,5621 le. 7rl. added to the
Chinese New Testament Fund ; making a grand total of
130,4381. 7.. 10d. The issues of the society for the year
were as folklore :—Fron the depot et home, 952,145 from
depots abroad. 522,249; total, 1,474,394 copies; heirs an
increase of 23,618 copies over those of last veer. The total
ions, of the society now amounted to 30,863,901 copies.
The ordinary payments bad amounted t 0126 099/.0..14 . end
the payments oa aceount of the Jubilee and Chinese New
Testament Funds to 9,7141.0 a. 9d. asking the total ezpeadi-
tare of the year to amount to 134,813/.oe. 10d. The society
we. under ingagenseats to the extent of 89.9i01. 5..
The Bishop of Cast.tati, in moving the adoption of the
report, adverted at some length to the playing of military
bands is the saris on Sunday, and expressed his conviction
that the constituencies of the country would apply • remedy
to the evil. This attempt to intr-oduce into England a
foreign mode of keening the Sabbath would, be had no
daubs, be entirely defected by the right-minded portion o
the English community, and be believed that, great as was
the nower of Sir Benjamin Hall, be would find that Exeter
Hell was greater. (Closers.)
The Rev. Cain] STOWELL having seconded the motion,
the report was adopted unanimously.
The meeting was afterwards addressed by the Rev.
Canon Biakersteth;theßev.Jameelpenee,Lord Teigemontli,
the Rev. Mr. Landoll% end the Rev. (*.Clayton, &a., and
several resolutions were adopted.
The proceedings terminated as usual with a vote of thanks
to the chairman.

' ASSOCIATION IN AID OP THE DEAF AND DOR.—
The 1 meeting of this association was held yesterday
at the Freemasons' TIMM, Lord Robert Grosvenor in the
chair. The report stated that the eseociation had a risia-
denary who west sang the poor 'Aimed, and who wee is-
strained in all mem to place itimeelf ander the clergyman
of the parish. The agents of the association were princi-
pally metal in removing the prejudice which existed sgainst
employing the deaf sad dumb. A church had been esta-
blished in which there were two services every Sunday. A
Bible elms was also held on Sundays. There had been
established week-day lectures en various subject. ; about
80 persons attended them. The «moils' bad daring the
last year associated three deaf and dumb gentlemen with
themselves. The encomium were obliged from want of
fends to part with a paid secretary. Ths amulet stated
that the sub,criptima ameuated to 3481. ie. 10d , sad that
the expenditure was WV. 18.. 7d., leaving 111. 14, 9d. due
to the secretary, which, with the outstanding debt., made a
debt as the moiety emeentine to 82/. Bs. Id. The report
was adopted, and after sddreues ft se various scission, and
the re-election of the committee of the put yea., the pro-
ceedings lambasted.
EXPLOSION IN Wootincn Aasexa..-00 Tues.
day evening, at eight o'eloek, an explosion took place in
one of the new-erected rocket sheds at Woolwich Anneal.
It appears that a mat named William Powell was in the eat
of drillieer a hole is a description of rocket know. as the
" Tourbrlon " when the friction canoed the tonihurtible
material to limits, and an explosion, which was heard at
ions distance. ensued. Of the twenty persons at work to
the shed the following were more or lee. idueed
Powell. William Ellis, William Martin. Richard Viger,
Jobs Miller, James Bartlett,' Andrew Miller, Jabs Pratt,
Retry Marsden, James Bogg, William Colville, and Henry
Connell. The sufferer. wee' immediately conveyed is an ant-
balance waggon to the Royal Ordnance Ethepitel, end on ia-
quiry at seven o'clock last evening we learnt that, although
two ere ly injured, they ere ezpieted to reviver. It
is to be feared that the occident arose from the sae of the
steel gimlet instead of a copper borer in (Hilton the holes.
At the coroner's inquest held on the bodies of the men killed
by a similar explosion in Ncv. mbar last, the jury coademeed
the use of the firmer toot, and It wee then *fated that
" nor par borers " would be used for the future—it appear.,
however, that this alteration has not been carried out.

NAPl.3ll.—'. Intelligent* bag been received from
Nagle'," aye the Chmeete " that a Dumber of ves-
sels are leedtag at that port with e'en for Frazee. Tlie
duty of a dealt per easter; temporarily imposed by the
'grimmest of the Two Sicilia, on the elp,rt %Von aeon,
baring hi ea &sad too high, has, Ogee the retifiettioe of the
tresty of pesos, bete reduced to five initial. This retiactito,
autosatiare te me-half, gives promise of a great loressee of
business Is bresdatuffe from that port"

Tee AUSTRIAN LEGATION.—We have reason to
believe thatOonnt Hadolph d'Apposy to &Printed to us-
aved hie Bicelimey Count Collntedo. ce Asor;ea minister
at the Coon of Bt. James's. Count d'App.)N y, eti,h the
coast's' cad family, ate expected is London from Vienna
at the sad of the month.
The matt picket arrangements rabetiotied by the
Uslted IS•atte lagisletsro with Commodore Vanderbilt will
oases a meekly exassaiostioa by steam Images America
bad Kogiastt by way of Southamptoo.