JOHANNA.

One of the Comoro Islands, in the northern part of the Mozambique Channel.

William Elliott, Teacher.

time, the Prince and his chief attendants manifested much anxiety to become acquainted with the English Language. They were introduced to Dr. Philip, and Mr. Campbell, who was then at the Cape,

Of this Island, the Author of the Nar- when the Acting Governor said-" The rative lately referred to says.

This delightful place was visited by Sir William Jones, in his way to India. Those who have read his interesting description of the Island, know nearly as much as any one could say regarding it, and a great deal more than most would be able to say; for he had the talent of analizing every subject with skill peculiarly his own. He travelled into the interior, on a visit to the King; and he compares the scenery to any thing that he had seen in Wales or Switzerland.

The inhabitants, who are of Arabic Stock and zealous Mahomedans, are lively and intelligent; having among them some share of literary acquirement.

Sir W. Jones's account of the Island will be found in the Fourth Volume of the Octavo Edition of his Works.

A way has been lately opened, in an unexpected manner, for the advantageous establishment of an English Teacher in the Island. The eldest Son of the King left Johanna, with his attendants, in order to perform that pilgrimage to the tomb of the prophet at Mecca, which all zealous Mahomedans are anxious to accomplish once in their lives. Being shipwrecked near the mouth of the Red Sea, they reached Muscat, where they found a vessel bound to Penang: thence they proceeded to the Cape of Good Hope in an Indiaman, which touched at Penang in her way from Calcutta. At the Cape, they were treated in the most hospitable manner, by the Government and inhabitants; and a vessel was appointed to carry them home to Johanna. In the mean

Prince and his suite have been prevented from visiting Mecca, by shipwreck and the loss of their property. I hope the next pilgrimage which they undertake, after receiving instruction from you, will be to Jerusalem"-intending, no doubt, to express his hope that they would abandon the False Prophet, and become Christians.

They applied very diligently to the study of English; and were ready to suffer any privations, that they might make good progress in it before their return. The Prince has talents, and much public spirit.

Mr. Elliott came out from England, with a view of settling near Algoa Bay; but altered his intention, and was estaa Schoolmaster in blishing himself as Cape Town. He assisted Dr. Philip in the instruction of the Prince and his attendants, and had expressed his desire to become a Missionary. It had become a general wish, among the principal persons in the Colony, that a suitable Teacher might be found to accompany them to Johanna. Mr. Elliott accepted this office; and sailed with them, on the 18th of May. He was furnished, by Dr. Philip, with a number of Books, chiefly relative to the Arabic Language, and among which were some of considerable value. The late Rev. Benedict La Roche, of the Church Missionary Society, was then at the Cape, on bis return to Europe; and supplied these Books out of such as he had with him.

Abyssinia.

THE preparation of the Scriptures for this country was stated, in the last Survey, to be in progress. Instead of printing the Gospel of St. John, both in Ethiopic and Amharic, which was first proposed by the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Four Gospels, in those languages, are on the point of being put to press, the types having been all prepared.

Into the Tigrè Dialect, the late Mr. Pearce had translated, at the time of his death, the Gospels of St. Mark and St. John.

In the preparation of the Amharic Gospels for the press, progress is making towards a New Grammar and Dictionary of that language; all words and idioms not found in Ludolf being carefully noticed.

By the dispersion of these Books among the Scholars of France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Greece, a general interest, it may be hoped, will be excited in behalf of the Ancient Church of Abyssinia and it is by the union of feeling, and talent, and piety, that we may expect the Christians of Europe to contribute, under the Divine Blessing, to the revival of the full influence of the Gospel on the Eastern Coast of Africa.

Mediterranean and Black Seas.

THE disturbed state of Turkey and Greece has given a peculiar degree of interest to this quarter of the Missionary sphere. That the convulsions which still agitate the Turkish Empire will issue in the increase of facilities for promoting the Kingdom of God, the Christian can feel no doubt. His efforts in this great cause may, indeed, for the present be retarded, and his movements kept in suspense: but he will, in the mean while, be on the watch to improve every opportunity which may open before him; and will cast his bread upon the waters, assured that he shall find it after many days.

Some remarks, in the Twenty-first Report of the Church Missionary Society, in reference to the Eastern Churches, may lead us to pray that the present sufferings of the Greek Church, in particular, may be blessed of God to her restoration :

"The revival of the Christian Churches bordering on these great internal Seas, is an object most important in its probable influence on the extension of Christianity throughout the Continents of Africa and Asia. They have long ceased to be instrumental in the propagation of the pure Faith of the Gospel, and have presented a distorted picture of that Faith to the Unchristianized Nations: yet every Christian Church was a designed instrument for the maintenance and propagation of the Gospel in the world. Had every Church, as planted in the gracious Providence of God, done her duty in promoting the glory of her Lord, the World would, doubtless, at this moment, have yielded, from all its kindreds and tongues, the honour due unto His Name: and it is by the revival of Truth, and Purity, and Zeal, in the Christian Churches that this great work must be accomplished. The Western Churches of the Protestant World, whether in Europe or America, are fast rousing from their slumbers: and while they direct their efforts, as opportu nities offer, immediately toward the Heathen, they are anxious that the more ancient Churches of the Eastern World should gird themselves for that service, in reference to the surrounding Mahomedans and Heathens, which has been long expected at their hands."

On another topic the Committee remark

"Before they quit this Mission, the Committee would remark that this scene of Christian Labour allures many visitors. Some of these, anxious to render their journeyings and voyages subservient to the Cause of Religion, have proffered such co-operation to the Committee as they might have it in their power to render. The Committee will always gladly avail themselves of assistance of this nature; and they beg to suggest to Gentlemen who may visit these shores, in pursuit of health or knowledge, that, by the circulation of the Scriptures and other suitable Books, by conversation with the various classes of Natives, and by maintaining everywhere the devout and affectionate spirit of true Christians, their Travels will be consecrated to a purpose far higher and nobler than that of any gratification or improvement merely personal."

This subject deserves attention. From travellers who are but little interested in the moral and religious state of the countries which they visit, the Societies which are aiming to meliorate the condition of such countries can expect little aid; and it will be well, if their plans, and the agents who are carrying them into execution, escape misrepresentation at their hands. The Traveller will be satisfied with a superficial knowledge of that which interests him but little; and, in the matter of religion, if this be not concern of the first importance to himself, he will conclude that his readers will be as indifferent on the subject as himself: and, in this way, much time and money are sacrificed, and many invaluable opportunities of acquiring and communicating important information lost, which might have been productive of the most salutary consequences.

BIBLE SOCIETIES,

The statements of the Seventeenth Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society relative to the Bible Societies in this quarter, with some communications || from its representative at Constantinople, || the Rev. Henry Leeves, were printed at pp. 253-255 and 421-423 of our last Volume.

Books: there remained in the Depository 143 Bibles, 4348 Testaments, and 605 separate Books.

From Russia, 500 copies of the Septuagint were expected; and Martini's Italian Bible was eagerly looked for from London.

and to extend its benefits, it has been resolved to issue a Printed Circular, every two months; as they are aware that the operations of the Society have been successful, in proportion as its object has been understood.

Ionian Bible Society.

Pocket Editions of Martini's Italian Testament, of Hilarion's Modern Greek Testament, and of the Psalter in Italian Mr. Leeves arrived at his destination in and Latin, have been suggested to the Britthe early part of January. Having beenish and Foreign Bible Society, and will driven from his house in Pera, by a fire be printed. The Committee had been in the pracwhich broke out in the beginning of March, he and Mrs. Leeves were received, tice, for a considerable time, of circulating for some weeks, into the Palace of the among their Correspondents round the British Embassy, by His Excellency Lord Mediterranean, extracts, in English and Strangford. In the latter part of March, Italian, of the Letters received from Engthey removed to Therapia on the Bospho- land and the Continent. In order to rerus. Under the protection of Lord Strang-lieve them from the labour of this plan ford, they continued here, in comparative security, though distressed by every day's intelligence of the sufferings of the Greeks, and the degradation and death of the most eminent of their Laity and Clergy. A total stop was put to the Editions of the Scriptures carrying on at the Patriarchal Press; the Patriarch himself having been put to death and the Office closed. Through the kind intervention of Lord Strangford, the Manuscript of Hilarion, so far as it had been revised, was placed in Mr. Leeves's hands. In the beginning of September, Mr. and Mrs. Leeves reached Odessa in safety. Hilarion, who had been appointed to a Bishopric, had retired to his See: he had nearly finished the revision of the New Testament, and proposed A Quarterly Circular, containing local to meet Mr. Leeves at Bucharest, who and general information, is printed, in would pass on his way to Paris, whither it Modern Greek and Italian. It is entitled has been determined that he shall proceed" Periodical Accounts of the Ionian from Odessa, in order to carry the work Bible Society." The first appeared at Midthrough the press in that city. summer. It is remarked, in this PaperA delay was occasioned, in the first inWe are induced to hope, that the eatablishment of stance, in the printing of this work, by the Bible Society at Cerigo will not fail to diffuse a the scrupulous revision which it under-propitious influence on Candia, went ; and the delay has been continued by the events just mentioned. It is expected with eagerness throughout Greece; and will come down on that afflicted people, it may be hoped, like rain upon the mown grass; as showers that water the earth.

The formation of this Society in the Island of Corfu, on the 20th of July, 1819, and of its Auxiliaries, in those of Cephalonia and Zante, took place while Dr. Pinkerton was present. Ithaca and Paros followed, some time afterward. One was formed at Cerigo, in May last; and another, which would complete the Circle of the Seven Islands, was about to be esta blished in Santa Maura.

This anxiety of the Greeks of the Ionian Islands to diffuse, among the Members of the same Church who are groaning under oppression, the blessings of the Scriptures, will be witnessed with pleasure.

Nor are they negligent of the wants of those nearer their doors. It is remarked, in the First Report of the Society

It appearing that the individuals most desirous of profitting by the Divine Word were of the poorer classes, the Committee did not fail to publish a Circular, in which is given to every Ionian, in a necessitous condition, the right of receiving a copy of the Divine Scriptures gratuitously, in the language most familiar to him. This measure has proved the fertile source of the happiest conse. quences. Widowed Mothers, Fathers in declining age, Young People, solitary Heads of Families, who have not the means of covering their nakedness, and

dwell under miserable roofs-now read the Gospel,

or hear it read to them, in their native language ;

which is to them like healing balm to a festering had arrived from various quarters, as

wound.

Athens Bible Society.

Of this Society, the Archbishop Dionysius is President.

There is an eager desire for the Scriptures among many of the inhabitants of Attica, the Peloponnesus, Boeotia, and the neighbouring countries.

Smyrna Bible Society.

The death of the Rev. Charles Williamson, the late Chaplain, left the concerns of this Society in a confused state. The Rev. Pliny Fisk, American Missionary, was requested by Mr. Leeves to take charge of the stock, which he found to amount to 2700 Bibles and Testaments.

sembled, the next morning, for business; and, in the afternoon of that day, Four Missionaries were dismissed to their labours, with suitable Instructions.

Messrs. Dieterich and Zaremba, two of these Missionaries, were appointed to the vicinity of the Black Sea; in order to attempt the projected Mission among the Armenians. They were to proceed, in the first instance, to St. Petersburg.

JEWS' SOCIETY.

No intelligence has been received from the Rev. Melchior Tschoudy, since he left Alexandria, to which place he sailed from Malta. From Alexandria he proceeded to Beirout.

Mr. Wolfe, who had studied under the Society, sailed for the Mediterranean, under the patronage of a liberal individual. He passed, by way of Gibraltar, to Malta; which place he left, on the 25th of August, for Alexandria. ters from him, at Caïro, had reached Dr. Naudi. at Malta; with a Journal of his proceedings. He had been well received at both Alexandria and Caïro; and was about to set forward for Jerusalem.

Let

large stock of materials for communicating to the Christian World a view of the moral and religious state of the Mediterranean. These he has been employed in arranging and digesting. A Volume of Christian Researches will, in consequence, appear, probably by the ensuing Anniversary of the Society.

The Gospel of St. John, in Maltese, is proceeding at the press.

William Jowett, Representative of the Society. Dr. Cleardo Naudi, Compiler of Tracts. The health of Mr. Jowett, during his residence in England, has continued to be Dr. Naudi has pursued his usual lasuch as to restrain those exertions, which bours, in the preparation of Tracts in he was anxious to make for the benefit of Italian. Mr. Jowett brought with him a the Society. Part of his time has been Tract on Redemption, which had repassed in London, and part at Cambridge ceived the benefit of revision by an acand in Norfolk. He visited as many As-complished Italian Scholar: he has carsociations as his strength would allow; at- ried this Tract through the press, since tending, in March, the Anniversary of his return; and an edition of 2000 cothat at Bristol-in May, those of Cam-pies has been forwarded to Malta: there bridge, Lincoln, Hull, York, Leeds, Shef- is every reason to hope, that, with the Difield, and Huddersfield-in the beginning vine blessing, this Tract will prove very of June, that of the Manchester and East serviceable in the Mediterranean, in giving Lancashire, where he could only preach-Christians just views of that great subject. and, in October, that of Norfolk and Mr. Jowett has begun to revise the Tract Norwich.

Our notice of his Sermon before the Society, at its Twenty-first Anniversary, will be found at p. 181 of our last Volume; and at pp. 187, 188, 190, and 191, the substance of Addresses by him at the Annual Meetings of several Societies.

Mr. Jowett had sent home, during his residence abroad, and brought with him, a

on the Scriptures, for a new edition. By the series of Tracts which has been long meditated, and which are now in a course of preparation, "we shall become," he says, " Preachers of the Truth to many hundreds of thousands who read the Italian Language."

Mr. and Mrs. Jowett, with their three Children, will set forward, in a short

The state of this Society, and of Padre The Lexicon in Modern Greek and EngLuigi Camilleri's School at Casel-Zeitun,lish compiled by Mr. Lowndes, is nearly was reported at pp. 436-438 of our last completed. A translation, by him, into Volume. Modern Greek, of Mason on Self-Knowledge, is ready for the press.

* The remainder of the Survey, and the List of the Contributions to the Church Missionary Society, will be given in the Number for February.