THE BIBLIOTHECA BIBLICA IN BENGAL. THE Bibliotheca Biblica is a Repository for Bibles in the Oriental Languages, and for Bibles only. They are here deposited for sale, at moderate prices; and lists of the various versions are sent to remote parts of Asia, that individuals may know where to purchase them; the commerce from the port of Calcutta rendering the transmission of books extremely easy. Those who desire to have copies for gratuitous distribution are supplied at the cost prices. This Institution is under the immediate superintendance of the Rev. David Brown, late Provost of the College of Fort-William, who was himself the Founder: and it is supported by all the translators of the Bible in India, who send in their versions, and by the College of Fort-William, which sends in its versions. There have been already deposited in the Bibliotheca Biblica four thousand volumes, in the following languages: These translations have been chiefly furnished by the following persons : Dr. WILLIAM CAREY and Mr. JOSHUA MARSHMAN; two men, whose names will probably go down to the latest posterity in India, as faithful translators of the Holy Scriptures. These have furnished the Shanscrit, Bengalee, Orissa and Mahratta. NATHANIEL SABAT, from Arabia, has contributed the Persian. The first Persian translation (which is also in the Bibliotheca) was made by the late Lieutenant-Col. COLEBROOKE, Surveyor-General in Bengal; and it "blesses his memory." MIRZA FITRUT furnishes the Hindostanee. There is another Hindostanee translation by the Missionaries at Serampore; and Mr. JOANNES LASSAR is author of the Chinese. There will be a large accession to this honourable catalogue in a year or two. It is astonishing how much this simple Institution, like the Bible Society in England, has attracted the attention of the public, Native and European, wherever it has been announced. The Superintendants have recently sent to England for the following supply of Bibles, which is now collecting for them, viz. Malay, andAs many copies as can be procured. Attached to the Bibliotheca Biblica is a TRANSLATION LIBRARY, containing books for the use of the Translators of the Scriptures. As this Library is not complete, many of the necessary works not being procurable in India, a list of the volumes required will be published; in the hope that learned bodies and individuals having duplicates, will be pleased to present them to the Bibliotheca Biblica in Bengal. This Institution was first organized by the Rev. Mr. Brown, with a full reliance on the patronage of the British and Foreign Bible Society, which has cordially embraced his views, and of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, and of the Universities in the United Kingdom, which we hope will enrich its Translation Library. The Rev. David Brown, Senior Chaplain of the East-India Company in Bengal, formerly of Magdalen College, Cambridge, has now been twentyseven years resident in India; and is the zealous promoter of Sacred Learning in the East. He is educating his THREE SONS in India, solely with the view of qualifying them for the important purpose of extending the knowledge of Christianity in Asia. Being himself a Hebrew scholar, his first object has been to ground them well in the Hebrew and Syriac Languages; rightly judging that a knowledge of these forms the best foundation for ability to produce accurate translations of the Scriptures in the other Oriental Tongues. But they have now added to these first languages the Arabic, Persian, and Hindostanee, which they pronounce like natives of the East. They have had the advantage of the best teachers in the different languages, particularly of SHALOM, an eminent Hebrew scholar from Arabia. So that this little Institution in Mr. Brown's house, may be called the HEBREW SCHOOL in Bengal. It is understood to be Mr. Brown's intention to send his three sons to England, at the proper age, to finish their education at the University, and to enter the Church; with the view of their returning to exercise their ministrations in India. Mr. Brown himself has now seen two or three generations pass away in Calcutta ; how short is a Calcutta generation! and has exhibited to a large and refined society the doctrine and the example of a faithful minister of the Gospel. Marquis Cornwallis first recommended him to the Court of Directors as a proper person to fill his present important situation, and this he did from a personal knowledge of his truly upright and disinterested character. In the many Governments which have succeeded, there is not one, as the Author believes, which has not recorded a public testimony to the merits of their Senior Chaplain. Marquis Wellesley, in particular, honoured him with his confidence and esteem, to the end of his administration. It was under the auspices of that Nobleman, that Mr. Brown instituted the "Calcutta CHARITABLE FUND for distressed Europeans and others;" of which it may be truly said, that it has been a Fountain of Mercy to thousands in Bengal for |