Star.
London, England, 1823-09-29 00:00:00

11113 LE SOCIETY.

PORTSMOUTH, SEPTEMBER V.—Yesterday was held,
at the Beneficial Society's Hall, Portsea, the Sixth An-
niversary of the South-East Hants Branch of the British
and Foreign Bible Society ; and the Fourth of the Ports-
mouth, Portsea, and Gosport Ladies' Association. The
Chair was taken by the President, the Hon. Sir GEORGE
GREY, Bart. K.C.B. who opened the Meeting by stating
the Ftleasui e he felt on witnessing a more numerous as-
semblage than he had ever before seen on such an oc-
casion. The Report of the Branch Society was then
read by the Rev. W. S. DESAUTOY. It stated, that the
Society had issued du►ing the past year 252 Bibles, and
449 Testaments. Of this number, 40 Bibles were a

grant for the use of schools established on board his
Majesty's ships in ordinary, and 12 Bibles, at the request
of the worshipful the Mayor, for the benefit of the pri-
soners in Portsmouth Jail. Of the remaining copies,
IEI9 Bibles and 115 Testaments have been sold to the
Ladie; Association ; and 91 Bibles and 334 Testaments
to Charitable Institutions—making the total number of
copies of the Scriptures supplied to the town and neigh-
bourhood, since the formation of the Branch Society,

3,389. The financial statement of the Society, for the
past year, read, was-2511. 3s. received ; remitted to the
_Parent Society, 2911. 13s. incidental expenses, printing,
&c. 161. 10.:. Tile Report concluded by stating, that
from the Parent Society, during the year ending 25th
.March, 1823, issued 123,127 Bibles, 136,723 Testa-
ments—making the total number of copies of the Scrip-
tures is',ued at the expense of the Society 2,875,474.
The Report of the Ladies Association was next read
by the Rev. C. T. MILEHAM. It state.), that they had
received 431. 6s. 90. in subscriptions for. Bibles and
Testaments, purchased at reduced prices by those for
whose benefit the Society was principally instituted ;
that the free subscriptions amounted to 1001. 7s. 6d. of
which 63/. Is. Bd. had been remitted to the Branch So-

ciety, in aid of the Parent Institution, and the remainder
employed in the purchase of Bibles and Testaments.
The amount of subscriptions-for Bibles and Testaments,
since the formation of the-Associ4tion, is 4291.95. 110.1
—the free subscriptions 7381. 17s. 41,1. During the
past year, 149 Bibles and 58 Testimeuts were issued ;
making the total number of 1416 Bibles, and 1000 Tes-1
taments, disposed of at the cost.piices.
The adoption of these Repoits was moved by THOMAS
RE4.I. PLarr, Esq. the Deputation from the Parent So-
ciety. He remarked, that he appeared there instead of
the Secretaries of the Parent Institution ; for the appli-
cations which were making everywhere for theif as-
sistance, required a kind of omnipresence to attend
them all. He then gave a brief sketch of the opera-
tions of the Society abroad, and remarked, that where
no Missionary could introduce himself, the person who
goes under the protection of the lb itish and Foreign
Bible Society, may find the means of doing good. The
Bible has been translated into five dialects, where no
Missionary could expect to meet with a favourable re-
ception. He gave a very interesting account of the
translation of the Scriptures into the modem n dialect of

Abyssinia. A French Consul, desirous of obtaining some
book in that language, determined to have the Scrip-
tures translated. Ile found an old man in a garret at
6iro, the instructor of the late Sir William Jones, and
in ten years he completed the work. This translation,
which is highly approved, is now printing in England.
He informed the Meeting that a complete copy of the
chineie Scriptures had been presented to the Society.—
He combatted, very ably, the objections brought against
the translation made under the patronage of the Bible
Society, and shexecl that the same objections were
made against the early anslations in England, and on
the Continent. lle concluded by observing, that the•
good done in Europe alone, was a sufficient proof of
• the usefulness of the Bible Society, many places being
- now supplied where Bibles could not be found.. This,
and many other similar motions, were passed unani-
mously ; after which the Meeting bloke up.

On the 20th of July la.t, a school, on the Bell and
Lancasterian system, was opened at Caraccas, in the
Republic of Colombia.
SHORT Sraccurts.—" The eld blunt commander at
Cadiz," says Selden, in his Table Talk," chewed himself
a gond orator, who, having to say something to his sol-
diers, (which he was not used to do) made them a speech
to this purport : • What a shame will it be, you Englbh-
men, that feed upon good beef, io let those rascally
Spaniards beat you, that eat nothing but oranges and
lemons.'" With this we may class the speech, more
remarkable for its spirit than its'elegance, addressed, by
the commandant of a local regiment in Lancashire, to
a Lady, on presenting the cchmrs to his corps : " Ma-
dam, we receir'n'ern.wi gratitude, lnd delend'em
wt' fortitude; and if e►er we arc called into actual sat-

vice, and t' dolours are shot away, will bring epatiq
(Poles) back again." The noble address 9f La Roche,
jaequelin to his soldiers is one of the finest specimens of
the laconic : It I advance,•follow rite; eirsagii
me; if l flinch, kill me."