distributing many copies of the Holy Scriptures and useful Tracts, he has added to our general knowledge of the States of Barbary some valuable and interesting particulars, which may hereafter serve as a foundation of various practical measures. The Church Missionary Society has felt the advantage of the System of Research thus far conducted, with sufficient force to desire that it should be, in its proportion, steadily pursued. In fact, the former Volume may be considered as a general Survey of the whole of the Mediterranean Sphere; the particular divisions of which will require, each of them in succession, to be filled up, so far as shall be found practicable, more in detail. On this plan, it would be desirable for the public to be furnished with an exact view of the circumstances and opinions of the following principal countries:-the PAPAL STATES, together with the Nations more immediately in relation with them-MODERN GREECETURKEY IN EUROPE AND ASIA-ARMENIA, and the neighbouring regions—PERSIA-SYRIA and PALESTINE (the review of which is, in the present Volume, in a considerable measure, executed)-ARABIAEGYPT and NUBIA-ABYSSINIA-and the BARBARY STATES. An intelligent investigation of the condition of these various regions, prosecuted by the different Missionaries in a truly Christian spirit, with accuracy of observation, sound judgment, meekness of temper, and a practical determination of mind, would furnish to the conductors of Missionary and Bible Societies, and to Missionaries actually on service, an invaluable depository of information, on which to form their opinions and direct their mea sures. It is, however, fully to be borne in mind, that such a System of Research forms only a part-a small, and continually decreasing part, of the work of a Missionary. Enough has, indeed, been already effected, to open an introduction to immediate and important labours. The various Christian Societies of our own Country, of the Continent, and of America would probably all of them concur in this judgment, and many of them are acting upon it. But the spirit and the measures of all need a vast enlargement. It is high time for the faithful members of Christ to be instant in their supplications to Him, who is the great Head over all things to the Church-that He would vouchsafe to pour out the gift of His Holy Spirit more abundantly than ever, preparing all the Nations by a feeling of anxious expectation of some great event, and at the same time sending forth a numerous company of Evangelists to visit all the dark places of the Earth in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ. |