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 SEVENTH MEMOIR 
 
 RESPECTING 
 
 CI)e Cranslattons of tl)e g^acreti g^crtptureg 
 
 INTO THE 
 
 LANGUAGES OF INDIA, 
 
 Conducted hy the Brethren at SeramporSk 
 
 Ud 
 
 NEARLY Five years have elapsed since the Serampore 
 Brelhieii, whom recent circumstanceb"^' constrain to act as a 
 C niinittee for conducting Translations in certain of theLan- 
 g,iiages of India, published their last Memoir respecting the 
 progress made in them ; and ihey now feel themselves com- 
 pelled to lay the state of these Translations before the Pub- 
 lic at large, in the hope of obtaining that aid which they tind 
 themselves under the imperious necessity of soliciting for the 
 sake of carrying them forward. In these circuibstances there- 
 fore, they feel it their duty to submit to the various Bible So- 
 cieties in Europe and America, to the Christian Public at 
 large, and to every one in particular who feels interested in the 
 Scriptures being given to the heathen, a concise view of what 
 has been already done, and of the advantages possessed for ac- 
 
 * Tlie circumstances alluded to are, tlie dissolution of the Correspond- 
 ing Committee ot the Bible Society, from its bein^ no longer necessary; and 
 their generous request to the Comiiiittee of the Parent Society that they 
 XToul i con.^ider the Serampore Brethren as a distinct body, and as such 
 transmit their future grants directly to them. 
 
2 Seventh Memoir respecting Translations* 
 
 •J %^: t 
 
 complishing the rest under the blessing; of Him who has Hk 
 theito so graciously sniilerl on their humble attem|),ts. 
 
 Twenty-six years have einpsed since the commencement 
 of the first of these translations, that in the Bengalee lan- 
 guage ; and sixteen since they submitted to the public their 
 plan of extending them to the vai lous languages of India. Cir- 
 cumstances therefore enable them now to judge with a de- 
 gree of certainty relative to this work, paiticularly as in this 
 period their attempts to introduce the gospel into various pro- 
 vinces of India, have made them better acquainted therewith, 
 as well as impressed them more deeply witli the importance 
 of the wojk. 
 
 Jn their last Memoir it was stated that the \diole of the 
 Sacred Scriptures were published m tzco of the languages of 
 India, and tiie New Testaaient in teveti of them. They now 
 have the happmess of stating, that the whole of the Scriptures 
 are published lujite of them, and tlie New Testament in j^/« 
 teen. Of the slate of succeeding editions, Scc. in these lan- 
 guages, they proceed to give a brief account. 
 
 Languages in zdiich the whole ^^oiptures are ptihlished, 
 
 1. In Bengalee, the Jifth edition of the New Testament 
 containing live thousand copies, which Mas printed off about 
 three years ago, is nearly exhausted ; and of the different parts 
 of the Old scarcely a single copy has been left for some 
 time past. The continual demand for this version, there- 
 fore, has rendered it necessary to lose no time in printing a 
 new edition of the whole Scriptines. This edition, which 
 will form the sixth edition of the New Testament, and the 
 third oi' i\iti Psalms and some other parts of the Old Testa- 
 ment, will consist of four thousand copies, and of the New 
 Testameul two thousand extra, the demaud being so very 
 
Seventh Memoir respecttj'g Translations. S 
 
 Ifreat. With the view of studying economy in an edition so 
 large, the Serampore Biethren have prepared a new fount of 
 types, which while perfectly clear and legible, are of a mode- 
 rate size : and with these they are printing this new edition in 
 double columns in a larg;e octavo page, which they hope will 
 bring the whole five volumes into one volume of about thir- 
 teen hundred pages royal octavo, or two very moderate vo- 
 lumes, and the New Testament into a neat duodecimo of 
 about four hundred pages. For this edition tliey are pre- 
 paring a paper of a suitable size made of the sun (crotoleria 
 juncea) \\hich though inferior to English paper in point of 
 color, is equally impervious to the worm, and far more dura- 
 ble, being made of the raw material the fibre of which possess- 
 es a superior degree of strength. Independently of the ad- 
 vantage arising from thus comprizing the whole bible in one 
 portable volume, this edition will secure a saving of more than 
 half the paper, and full two-thirds of the expense of binding. 
 This appears so important a consideration when the demand 
 for the Scriptures in India is so constantly increasing, that the 
 brethren think few things will more effectually serve the cause 
 of religion and the interests of those Societies in Britain and 
 India who so generously labor to evangelize the heathen, than 
 endeavouring to ascertain by what means the largest editions 
 of the Scriptures can be given to the numerous millions of In- 
 dia, at the least possible expense; and a careful examination of 
 the various characters current, enables them to hope, that in 
 most of the languages ot India the Scriptures may be ulti- 
 mately brought into one volume without injuring their legi- 
 bility, or rendering the volume too unwieldy for common use. 
 The present edition of the Bengalee Scriptures, which will 
 they trust receive considerable improvement in going ihrougli 
 the press, they expect will be completed within two years. 
 
 2. In the Sungshita, the last volume of the Old Testa- 
 ment was printed off above two years ago. The First £di- 
 
 A2 
 
4 Setenth Memoir' respecting Tramlaliont, 
 
 tion of the New Testament is quite exhausted ; and the nu«» 
 merous calls for the Scriptures in this language by the literati 
 oHndia, especially those in the western provinces, have induc- 
 ed ihe Seranipore brethren to put to press a second edition 
 of the whole Scriptures. This will be likewise printed in 
 
 double columns in the large octavo size, and the whole Scrip- 
 tures be couioiized in one volume. It will consist of Two 
 Thousand copies, with an exlra number of two thousand for 
 the New Testament. 
 
 3. In the Hnidee also the last volunie of the Old Testa- 
 ment was published nearly two years ago. The edition of 
 the New Testament being nearly exhausted, and the Rev. 
 John Chamberlain having prepared another version of the New 
 Testament in this language, for which his long residence in 
 the western provinces of India, and his intimate acquaintance 
 with their popular dialects, eminently fit him, the brethren at 
 Serampore have resolved in this edition to print his version 
 of the New Testament instead of their own, as a comparison 
 of independent versions made by persons long and intimate- 
 ly acquainted with the language, will be of the utmost value 
 in ultimately forming a correct, chaste, and perspicuous ver- 
 sion in this widely extended language. Of this edition of the 
 New Testament, which is more than half through the press, 
 ihey are printiiig three thousand copies. 
 
 The Kj/t'/iee character, an imperfect imitation of the De- 
 va-Nagwree, being far more read in some parts of the coun- 
 try, than the Deva-Nagwree itself, particularly by the trad- 
 ing part of the community, the brethren at Mr. Cliamber- 
 Iain's particular request, have caused a fount of types to be cut 
 in this character from the best models they could procure ; 
 and are also printing Three Thousand copies more of the 
 Hiudee version in this character, that it may meet the wants 
 of those who, already la miliar with it, are too old to acquiie 
 
Seventh Memoir respectiny Translations. 5 
 
 tlie Deva-N aorwree. That in the latter character is advanced 
 
 o 
 
 as far as the Acts. 
 
 4. In the Orissa language the whole Scriptures have been 
 long published. The first edition of the New Testament be- 
 ing exhausted, and die demand for this version still increasing, 
 tiie Serampore brethren have put to press a second edition, 
 which is now more than half through the press. It consists 
 of four thousand copies. 
 
 5 Thi last volume of the Old Testament in the Mahrat' 
 id language was published many months ago, so that a ver- 
 sion of the whole Scriptures in that language is now com- 
 pleted. Of the First edition of the jSew Testament, not a 
 single copy being left, they have put to press a second edi- 
 tion in a duodecimo size. A certain number of copies how- 
 ever, are printed with double columns in the large octavo size 
 to bind up with a second edition of the Old Testament, which 
 thev hope to put to press in that size when this edition of the 
 new is finished. — In these Five Languages the whole of the 
 Scriptures are now published and in circulation ; in the last 
 four of them, second editions of the New Testament are in 
 the press, and in the first, the Bengalee, begun twenty-six 
 years ago, the sixth edition of the New Testament. In the 
 following ten languages the New Testament are published or 
 nearly so ; and in some of them the Pentateuch, and other parts 
 of the Old Testament. 
 
 Languages in which the New Testament is published. 
 
 1. In the Chinese language the translation of the Old Testa- 
 ment was completed several years ago. In addition to the 
 New Testament, the Pentateuch, the Hagiographa, and the 
 Prophetic Books, are now printed off. The Historical Books, 
 which will complete the whole Scriptures, are in the press; 
 and as the work becomes gradually more and^more easy, the 
 
6 Seventh Memoir respecting Translations* 
 
 whole of the Cliinese Scriptures will probably be publishea 
 before the end of the ensuing year. 
 
 2. Jn the SA/M language, beside the New Testament, the 
 Pentateuch and the Historical Books are printed off; and the 
 Hagiographa is advanced as far as the middle of the book of 
 Job. So strong however has been the desire of this nation 
 for the New Testament that the whole edition is nearly dis- 
 tributed, and a second edition wiU probably be called for be- 
 fore the Old Testament is wholly published. Beside the 
 Mugs on the borders of Arracan, no one of the nations of 
 India has discovered a stronger desire for the Scriptures than 
 this hardy race ; and the distribution of ahnost every copy 
 has been accompanied with the pleasing hope of its being 
 read and valued. 
 
 o. In the PuJitoo or Affghau]anguage, the nation suppos- 
 ed by some to be descended from the Ten Tribes, the New 
 Testament has been printed off. The Pentateuch is also ad- 
 vanced at press as far as the book of Leviticus. 
 
 4. In the Telinga language, often termed the Teloogoo, the 
 New Testament was published two years ago, and the Penta- 
 teuch is printed as far as the book of Leviticus. This trans- 
 lation however, when the Pentateuch is tinished, the Seram- 
 pore brethren intend to resign to the Madras Au.siliary Bible 
 Society, now one is formed at that Presidency. 
 
 5. In the Kunkuna language, the New Testament was 
 completed above eighteen months ; and the Ptntateuch is ad- 
 vanced at press as far as the book of Numbers. As th.s pro- 
 vince comes inmiediately under the care of the Bombay Bible 
 Society, it is inttuded on the completion of the Pentateuch 
 at press, to relin(|uish this translation to them. 
 
 G. In the IVucIt or Mooltanee language the New Testa- 
 ment has been piuUod off' these eighteen months in its own 
 character. But as the opportunities of the brethren for dis- 
 tribuihig lliis version have been exceedingly limited, and tl>ey 
 
Seventh Memoir respecting TrausJalions. 7 
 
 have little prospect of being able soon to establish a mission 
 in that province, ihey have dismissed the pundit, and discon- 
 tinued this translation, till these circumstances, with those of a 
 pecuniary nature, shall be more favorable. 
 
 7. In the Assam language also tlie New Testament has 
 bten printed off nearly two years ; and the vicinity of this 
 country toBengal- rendering it highly desirable to proceed with 
 the translation, an edition of the Old Testament has been put 
 to press in the large octavo size with double columns, which 
 M'ill very considerably lessen the expense, the character being 
 similar to the Bengalee both in form and size. The simul- 
 taneous progress of tlie Si/ngskrita, the Bengalee, and the 
 Assamese versions. in precisely the same size, tends to facili- 
 tate the labor of bringing them through the press. 
 
 8. In the Gujuratee language, the New Testament is now 
 happily brought through the press, thirteen years after retain- 
 ing the first pundit in tiiis language. It makes between eight 
 and nine hundred pages, and is printed in the Deva-Nagwree 
 character. Tlie province of Surat however, being so near to 
 Bombay, aird the Serampore brethren having at present no 
 missionary there, they intend to resign this translation to their 
 brethren of the London Missionary Society who are now stu- 
 dying the language, that they may give their attention more 
 fully to those in which no others are engaged. 
 
 9. In the Bikaneer language also the New Testament is 
 now finished at press, it contains eight hundred pages, and 
 is printed in the Nagwree character. The Bikaneer version 
 was begun nearly seven years ago. 
 
 10. To these we may add the New Testament in the 
 Kashmeer language, which version has been in ha»id nearly 
 eight years and will be finished at press in about a month. It 
 is printed in a neat type of its own as mentioned in a former 
 memoir. In these Ten languages the New Testament may 
 be considered as being published. 
 
8 Seventh Memoir rei^pectwg Translations, 
 
 Beside these fifteen in whicli the New Testament is com- 
 pleted, there are six other languages, in which it is brought 
 more than half through the press. These are, the Kurnntay the 
 Nepal, the Harotee, the Marwar, the Bhughulkntid, and the 
 Oojein version. About ten montlis more they have reason to 
 hope, will bring these through the press ; and thus in Tvventy- 
 oi'e of the languages of India and those by far the most ex* 
 tensive and important, will the New Testament be publish- 
 ed. It IS ihe intention of the brethren to relinquish the first 
 of these, the Kurnata, to the Madras Bible Society on the 
 New Testament being completed, that they may be able to 
 attend to the remaining languages in w hicli no version is begun 
 by any one beside, with greater intenseness of mind. 
 
 The remaining versions now in hand are the following tea 
 which are all in the press : 
 
 The Jumhoo printed to John. 
 The Kanouj to John. 
 The Khassee to John. 
 The Kiwshul to Mark. 
 The Bhuluneer to Mark. 
 
 TheDogura or Palpa to Mark^ 
 The Mftgudha to Mark. 
 The Kiimwon to Matthew. 
 Tlie Gudwal to Ditto. 
 Tlie Muni'poora to Ditto. 
 
 In these ten versions therefore a sufficient progress is made 
 to render the completion of them in no way difficult. 
 
 In this state of the w ork the brethren feel constrained to ac- 
 knowledge with the deepest gratitude the goodness of the Fa- 
 ther of Mercies, \\\iO has so graciously preserved them and 
 those who have assisted them in this work till the greatest 
 and riiost d.fficult part of it has been thus completed. And 
 thev feel it their duly to express their obligations to the pub- 
 be boll) in Britain and America for that generous aid which 
 has carried them through their work far beyond the high.est 
 expcctalions they had formed sixteen years ago, on first ad- 
 dressing the public on the subject. Nor does it lessen thei)' 
 satisfaction to contemplate iiow many in this period have beea 
 
Seventh Memoir respecting Translatiotis, Q 
 
 stirred up and encouraged in various denominations to as- 
 sist in this important work. From the beginning their ob- 
 ject has been, as they then declared, to secure the completi- 
 on of the work regardless by whom it was done if really ac- 
 complished; which has made them encourage all uf other de- 
 nominations to en2;age therein within the verge of their ac- 
 quaintance ; and when they have had reason to believe that 
 any version would be carried through, they have gladly relin- 
 quished it to others, unless the language appeared sufficiently 
 important to deserve the labor of two simultaneous versions, 
 as is the case with the Chinese, and some few others. 
 
 That the progress already made, renders the rest easy of 
 accomplishment, if life be spared and means afforded, will 
 appear evident to those who consider that the Twenty- One 
 languages in which the New Testament is either pubhsh- 
 ed or nearly brought through the press, comprize not only 
 the parent languages which originate most of the dialects 
 in India and indeed throughout Eastern Asia, the Sifng- 
 skriia and the Chinese; but also the principal branches 
 sprung from them, which pervade the greatest extent of po- 
 pulation, and from which the neighbouring dialects have 
 been formed, although now so varied in their terminations as 
 to form distinct languages. The New Testament being 
 printed off in these, the other ten, which have precisely the 
 same mode of construction, and above nine-ttrnths of the same 
 words, would be perfectly easy, were they now to be begun. 
 But the progress made in printing these, sufficiently shews 
 that a beginning is made in ihem all, and that in some of 
 tliem, two or three of the gospels have been brought 
 through the press. The principal difficulties of this work 
 therefore, which at the begmning created so much anxi- 
 ety, have now been nearly overcome. To those who have 
 brought one edition of the New Testament through the press, 
 any part or the whole of the Old Testament can create little 
 
 B 
 
10 Seventh Memoir respecting Translations, 
 
 difficulty, if it be advisable to proceed therewith. And a 
 second edition of the New Testament in any one of them, 
 must be rather a work of debght than of difficulty. In al- 
 most any language a iirst edition, if it be at all correct, re- 
 moves so many of the difficulties of a Ian;!iia;ie as almost to 
 secure the rest as matter of course. 
 
 Relative to second editions however, or even to carrvincr 
 the translation through the whole Scriptures in each one of 
 these languages, the brethren intreat perinission to submit to 
 the public the following ideas, lies|)ectiMg the leadin;.*, langua- 
 ges of India, and those which are spolct^u ihrougii the largest 
 extent of country, they apprehend, that there can be but one 
 opinion on this subject aniDug all who feel interested in the 
 planting of the gospel in India. In these, not only should 
 the whole of the Scriptures be given ; but successive and im- 
 proved edjlions of them be published as they may be requir- 
 ed, till the version be rendered complete, and the country 
 evangelized. Finlher, in the languages of those countries 
 into which missionaries liave been sent, although they may 
 be com;)aratively sn)a!l, it seems desirable not only that the 
 whole Scriptures should be given; but that succeedmg ver- 
 sions should be published as they may be needed. Wales 
 contains a far less number of inhabitants than the populati- 
 on among whom some of these lapguages are current, that 
 of Orissa for example, yet what vvisilom would there have 
 been in denying to Wales the whole Sciiplures or even succes- 
 sive editions of ihem ? But res[)ecting those countries which, 
 while not very large in CNitc^nt, are aa yet without anv one ei- 
 ther European or Native to carry to them the woid of life, it 
 may not be improper to delay proceeding with the rest of 
 the Scripttues, till Piovidejice may [)Ul it into tlie heart of 
 some one to carry the word of life into thesu countries. Tlie 
 Ne\v Testament once printed, it can be distributed to those 
 of its iuhabiiauts' who may be met with in other parts of lu- 
 
Seventh Memoir respecting Translations. 11 
 
 dia, and these may carry it into their own country, and pos- 
 sibly make way for the dissemination of the gospel there ; 
 since it is but for one or two of those natives to meet with 
 the Scrij>luies while sojourning in other parts, and to be in- 
 structed iii them by some one wlio is acquainted with the 
 truth as it is in Jesus, and if their hearts be touched, tliey 
 may at once perform the work of niissionaries i'or ilieir own 
 count) y, and like the? E.iiiopiun Eunuch, carry thitlier the 
 gospel they themselves have received. Moreover a ver- 
 sion of the New I'estament contains a sufficient quantity of 
 matter to form a key to any language; the grammatical termi- 
 nation'!, ihe construction, and the orthography ex';ibi;ed by 
 so large avoUime, will con) pletely prevent the knowledge of 
 any language being lost, and open the way for its being carried 
 further whenever tliis may aj)pear desirable. Till there be 
 therefore an immediate prospect of the g )spers being carri- 
 ed into any province, the biethien conceive it will not be un- 
 vvise to pause fur a season at the completion of the New 
 Testan:ent. 
 
 It may be hoped also, that in some instances wherein the 
 terujinations of two or three of these languages nearfy ap- 
 proximate, and the words in all three are nearly the same, 
 one version will be ultimately found to suffice for two or 
 three of these provinces, and thus the labor and the expense 
 be in some degree lessened when second editions may be 
 required. If this can be effected only in a few instances, the 
 fact is worth ascert.aining, which can be done effectually by 
 circulating a first edition of the New Testament in each of 
 these dialects, and waiting relative to a second, till due ex- 
 amination shall have been made. 
 
 In comparing this Memoir with that published five years 
 ago, the reader will perceive that in several of the languages 
 therein mentioned the translation has been discontinued. On 
 discovering the tow state of their funds, and weighing the 
 
 B 2 
 
1 2 Seventh Memoir respecting Translations, 
 
 heavy expense which the second editions of the Scriptures 
 now inlhe press in the Sz/ngskr/ta, the Bengalee, tlje Hfndee, 
 and the Orissa languages, in which they were so imperiously 
 required, would necessarily involve after every degree of eco- 
 nomy was studied, they were constrained, though with the ut- 
 most I egret, to give up several which they had begun, as they 
 feared to continue them all lest the expense should appear 
 to I he public too heavy a burden. In discontinuing these 
 however, ihey have been guided by a due consideration of the 
 importance and the distinctness of the different languages in 
 which they are engaged, as well as of the ease with which 
 pundits could be again procured should the public enable 
 ihem to take up these again. Should any language retained 
 appear less important therefore, than some of those dropped 
 for the present, the reason may be sought in the difficulty with 
 which pundits in this language could have been obtained, had 
 they been once dismissed. 
 
 Having thus briefly stated the progress which has been 
 mac^e under the Divine blessing in the work of publishing 
 the Scriptures in the various languages of India, they beg 
 leave to add a few observations relative to the importance 
 of this being attempted, and the means afforded for doing 
 it as constituting this attempt an imperious duty, since " to 
 him that knowelh to do good and doth it not, to him it is sin." 
 On this subj ct they have occasionally seen remarks thrown 
 out, too vague and indistinct indeed to need of a refutation, 
 and yet capable of distressing the minds of those partially 
 acquainted with the nature of the circumstances which ren- 
 der the work both easy of accomplishment and a sacred duty. 
 The following observations on the subject are not intended 
 as a refutation of any thing which has appeared on the sub- 
 ject, therefore, but merely to convey information to the 
 minds of those who really desire to see India under the in- 
 fluence of the word of God. 
 
Seventh Memoir respecting Translations. 13 
 
 1. It seems important that the whole of India should 
 obtain the light of the gospel, and that as speediit/ as possible. 
 As a nation we are debtors to the whole of India, and not 
 merely to one or two provinces ; and the whole of it is in 
 nearly the same circumstances. It is in a state of almost 
 equal darkness : the whole is filled with the same monstrous 
 delusions, that God and his creatures are one, or rather that 
 there is no Creator, — and hence no Law-giver able to save 
 or to destroy — nor a Supreme Judge of all, separately 
 from the creatures he has made. Nor is this darkness likely 
 to be removed by the light of truth being confined to one 
 place or one province. A city is not illuminated by filling 
 abundantly with light a single house, or even a small street 
 therein, but by distributing light through all its principal 
 parts. To enlighten India effectually, the Scriptures must 
 be given in the dialects of its different provinces ; and their 
 effect in dispelling the terrors of superstition and drawing 
 general attention to the gospel, will be more speedily pro- 
 duced by enlightening various provinces at the same time, 
 than by its light being concentrated in one province or city. 
 That one city in India should indeed renounce Hindooism, 
 or manifest any very general attention to the gospel, while 
 the rest of the country continue bound by the chains of cast 
 and of superstition, will not be expected by those who are 
 thoroughly acquainted with the state of things. — The dia- 
 lects of India are also nearly of the same nature, all of them 
 almost equally allied to the Smigskr/ta and all of them 
 capable of receiving a translation of the Scriptures: and 
 through the leadings of Providence within these few years 
 past, and the success with wdiich the counsels and the arms 
 of Britain have been crowned, nearly all the provinces of 
 India wherein these various languages are spoken, are now 
 rendered easy of access. It is therefore exceedingly to be 
 
14 Seventh Memoir respecting Translations, 
 
 desired, tliat the whole of India should be enlightened by 
 ihe gospel with as little delay as possible. 
 
 2. It is impossible for this to be fully effected zoith' 
 citi the Scjiptiires beip^ trandaledinto the various languages 
 current in India. Kespectiiig the number of these the m- 
 fornialit.n formerly obtained was very defective. It was 
 once supposed, that in a country which equals Europe both 
 in extent and in the number of iis inhabitants, there were not 
 iT)oie than ten or twelve different dialects current, although 
 the Biitisli Isles alone comp-rize five, and require five trans- 
 la ions of the Scriptures for the u?e of the comiiion people. 
 1 he bounds fixed to its various provinces by iis Mahome- 
 dan conquerors, however, could by no means change their 
 lauiiuages; and prior to the appearance of a Musulman ar- 
 ir.y on its holders the Hindoos had possessed their own coun- 
 try above two thousand years, undisturbed by any beside their 
 Babylonian or Gjecian invaders, who, whatever were their 
 predatory conquests, could interfere but little with the vari- 
 ous languages spoken in the country. It was during this 
 long period, in which Europe and Western Asia were con- 
 vulsed wiih revolutions, that the various dialects of India 
 were formed and too firmly fixed in their respective provin- 
 ces for a conqueror to make any great impression on them. 
 It is now demonstrated that during the seven centuries in 
 which they held India, the jMusuhnims were able to affect 
 its langunges merely as spoken in its chief cities. And even 
 in these, that deference wh.icli the conquered naturally have 
 for their masters, and which led the chief Hindoo inhabitants 
 in some degree to incorporate their language w idi their own, 
 little affected the natives in the interior of the country, who, 
 seldom accustomed to the sight of thrir Mahoniedan masters, 
 continued to speak the language which their forefathers had 
 spoken fr^m age to age. I'his may be naturally inferred 
 from the state of things in Calcutta relulive to the language 
 
Seventh Metr.oir respecting Translations. 15 
 
 of lliose mIio now rule the country ; although a few of the na- 
 tives have acquired the English language, it is a fact that 
 notwiihstandid^ the length of time which the British havepos- 
 s«"ssed India, English is not become the laiiguage of the na- 
 tives in a single street, or in ihe snia!!e.-l comei of the ci y. 
 1 lie languages of India therefore, may well be supposed to 
 be now, nearly what ihey were two thousand years ago, and 
 the hope of rooting out or of changing la. iguages, which have 
 been fixed in their various provinces fur uiore than two thou- 
 sand years, is completely futile. Tha only method of con- 
 veying information to its inhabitants, appears to be, thai of 
 carefully a-certainmg the language in whicii they aie accus- 
 tomed to convey ideas to each other, and making that the 
 medium through which to convey ideas contained in the Sa- 
 cred Sciiptures. 
 
 The exact number of these is not easily ascei tained ; but 
 nearly Foity have been already found, mcluding those in the 
 south of India. ^IliLit such an extent of country and population, 
 shjuld contain so great a number, will not appear strange to 
 those wiio atund lo tlie hints found in the Greek writers res- 
 pecting the numljer of nations into which the inhabitants of 
 India were then divided, which in some instances is said to 
 have exceeded a hundred. Poius boasted that he had six 
 
 hundred chiefs or rajahs subject to his sway *, and though 
 we may suppose that many of these resided in one province, 
 }et it will not appear strange that there should. have been 
 among these nearly forty languages, when Midmdutes's arm}', 
 assembled from Asia ^J inor, is said to have contained so great 
 a number as twenty-two. That a continent which so j istly 
 deserves the name of Asia Major, should be divided by a 
 still greater number of languages, will appear to follow al- 
 most of course. And that while their system of suptrslilion, 
 their manners and customs, and even the form and fashion 
 of their gaimenis^ have coutinued The same from geneiation 
 
1 3 Seventh Memoir respecting Translations, 
 
 to generation, any of their languages should have perished, or 
 have undergone any very great alteration, is not likely even 
 in the nature of things. 
 
 If the tidings of salvation therefore be ever fully imparted to 
 the inhabitants of ihe various provinces of India, this must be 
 effected by giving them the Scriptures in their own languages, 
 small as may be their extent or circulation. To give them in 
 that of some neighbouring province, may enable a few indivi- 
 duals acquainted with the language of their neigliboui s to un- 
 derstand them ; but will do little towards the gospel's obtain- 
 ing a permanent abiding in the country itself. Of this the 
 Welch, and more recently the Gaelic and the Irish languages, 
 furnish sufficient proof. The currency of the Scriptures in the 
 English language, was not sufficient to make them the means 
 of salvation among the Welch. After nearly a hundred and 
 fifty years had elapsed, it was deemed necessary to give them 
 the Scriptures in their own vernacular dialect small as was its 
 extent of circulation ; and from that time they have brought 
 forth fruit abundantly. Nor did their being in the general 
 language of Britain, render the Scriptures intelligible to 
 those who spoke the Gaelic in the Highlands of Scotland, 
 the Native Irish in the remoter parts of Ireland, or the 
 Manks in the Isle of Man. After generation upon gene- 
 ration of these has passed away, unblessed by the Oracles 
 of truth, the friends of mankind liave at length deemed it 
 Worthy of the labor and expense to publish the Scriptures 
 in these languages, notwithstanding their limited extent ; and 
 this after the English language had been cultivated around 
 ihtm, with the Scriptures cuirent therein, for more than 
 two hundred years. 
 
 3. Winle there appears no way of permanently enlightening 
 the various provinces of India uitliout giving the Sacred Scrip- 
 tures in their different languages, there is nothing which zvill 
 so mnch obsi-st the endeavors of the Living Treacher in attempt' 
 
Seventh Memoir, respecting Translations^ 17 
 
 big to evangelize a province. The sphere of labor occupied bjr 
 any missionary who has not the Scriptuies to distribute in the 
 language of the province, will be found exceedingly narrow. 
 Should he succeed in attracting the attention of a few, so as^ 
 even to raise a small church, unless he has tlie Sacred Scrip- 
 lures ready to nourish their minds and to enable them to 
 hold forth tlie word of life amidst their neighbours, they can 
 effect but little ; they moj/ gradually die away, and the little 
 handful of proselytes become extinct. But with the Scriptures- 
 in their hands, however imperfect a first translation may be, 
 tven natives will be able to appeal to their neighbours in the 
 most powerful manner, den>onstrating to them that their faith 
 is not without foundation ; and while they nourish their own 
 minds with the words of sound doctrine, and train up theiv 
 children in the perusal of the Scriptures, able to make them 
 wise unto salvation, they can circulate them far and wide a- 
 mong their own countryn>en. This consideration is strength- 
 ened by the fact, that a deep reverence for writings deemed 
 sacred, is a prevalent feeling thronghout most of the pro- 
 vinces of India. Literature is not as yet so widely diflFused 
 among them, as to take away a regard lor books in general ;^ 
 but writings which come recommended to them by an idea 
 of their being Divine^ attach to themselves a strong degree 
 of veneration. In Bengal no opposition has ever been made 
 to the Sacred Scriptures ; many have manifested indifference 
 relative to them, but few have ever treated them with con- 
 tempt. 
 
 4. While a translation of the Scriptures into the dialects 
 ©f India, will so increase the efficiency of the missionary's 
 exertions in attempting to plant the gospel, it may in some 
 instances effect this important object without the aid of a 
 Missionary from Europe, The similarity is great between 
 the various languages derived from the SMngskritiif : and a 
 
 C 
 
IS Seventh Memoir respecting Translations. 
 
 Native of India to whom one of them is indigenous, as he 
 is aiieaily acquainted with iii«e-tenths of the woidi it con- 
 tann, can easily acquire a aeighbquring one. It is not uu- 
 commju iudeed to i^eet with intelligeut natives who un- 
 derstand three or four of these languages, vyhich tl^ey have 
 apq 'ired in th*j course of busiaess. Further, India possess- 
 es e' en at the present time, Natives who have frQn> the 
 heart obeyed tiie g is.)el ; and there are Youth novi' risiiig 
 aai )ug the^e, who, h >in their parents or elder relatives havuig 
 embraced Cluistiauity sjiifteen or eighteen years ago, have 
 grown up in the perusal of the Scriptures. For these the Col- 
 lege lately instituted at Serampore, provides the means of im- 
 proving their minds in knowledge both h>M«an and divine. 
 Among those therefore, who have tlius turned from idols tQ 
 serve the Hving and true God, or among their children still 
 jn >re fully inibued with the knowledge of the Sacred Oracles, 
 lUiy [jerhaps be found such as taking a version of the Scrip- 
 tures, will enter another province of India with the language 
 pf which they are familiar, and there diffuse abroad thp know- 
 ledge of that way of life in which they have been trained up 
 from their youth : for which work their intimate acquaiijtance 
 with the habits and ideas of their countrymen, their tieing 
 accustomed to the climate, and hence able to travel on foot 
 from village to V^illage and from house to house, with various 
 Other circumstances, fit them far beyond foreign missiona- 
 ries who may arrive from Europe or America too late in life 
 to sustain the heat of the burning climes of India. 
 
 5. Further, it is passible in some cases for a version of 
 the New Testament in some of the languages of India, even to 
 create its own expounders. If blessed to this end by its Divine 
 Author, it will be found quick and powerful, sharper than 
 any two?edged sword. But has the Divine Spirit ever thus 
 blessed the mere perusal of the Sacred Scriptures I This 
 is 110 uwcomipon case even in Britain and America^ where 
 
Seventh Memoif respecting Tramlationsl IQ 
 
 tliere is no \tant of living instructors : and in India more 
 than one instance could be pointed out cVtn among our own 
 countrymen, wherein the Scriptures have been made the on- 
 ly means of bringing the mind to a knowledge of the Re- 
 deemer. Nor would it be difficult to name the villnge in 
 tvhich a New Testament in the Bengalee language, le^t at 
 a shop many years ago for public peiusal, was the means of 
 bringing five or six persons to the kiioM ledge of ihe Savioui* 
 of men, of whom tvvo died some years ago in the enjoyment 
 of Christian hope, the others ai e at this day respectable a- Chris- 
 tians, and one of them a highly acceptable preacher. If su< h be 
 the case, what a powerful means of spreading the knov\ ledge 
 of Christianity throughout Eastern Asia may the Scriptures be 
 rendered ! How great might be the effect of an editjon of 
 the New Testament intioduced into a nation, to whom it may 
 ti^ scarcely possible at present lor missionaiies to obtain ac* 
 cess 1 A Thousand copies might pervade almost a \\hole coun- 
 try ; and a Copy might convey the news of salvaition to a man of 
 reading in the most unobtrusive maimer ; it might be perused 
 by him at a season in which a missionary could not obtain 
 access to him, in a moment of retirement, when the mind, 
 sickened with the enjoyments, or wearied with the cares and 
 oppressions of the world, might listen with joy to the Savi- 
 our, declaring himself the only rest *' for the weary and hea- 
 vy laden." The sacred invitation might bs consulted repeat- 
 edly, and weighed with that attention scarcely capable of be- 
 ing given to the fleeting voice at a first or even a tenth address 
 from a man of a foreign nation and accent. It could more- 
 over be read to an intimate friend, or amidst a family circla 
 inaccessible to a foreigner. If the Scriptures should enlight- 
 en the mind of one individual, he might impart his ideas to 
 others, — -and these to others in their turn, till a number 
 of living preachers were created by the Scriptures them- 
 eelves ! Thus, through the Divine blessing, might the Sa- 
 
 C 2 
 
so Setenth Memoir respecting Translations, 
 
 cretl Scriptures themselves diffuse a knowledge of Ciiristia-' 
 nity in countries as yet scarcely accessible to foreign Missi- 
 onaries. 
 
 Were it not indeed for encouragement of this nature, what 
 could we reasonably expect from the Two Htmdreu Thousand 
 copies of ihe New Testament, which have been with so niucli 
 wisdom and piety distributed by Leander Von Ess among the 
 Roman Catholics in Germany ? These go forth unaccom- 
 panied by any living instructor, as a preacher could at i>ie- 
 sent scarcely gain admission into these countries, who yet re- 
 ceive a copy of the written word. But are these copies of 
 the Scriptures sent forth without the living preacher, sent in 
 vain ? Had the British and Foreign Bible Society judged thus, 
 would they have encouraged the distribution of the Scriv>tuits 
 by this excellent man, as they have so wisely done from the 
 beginning? Do these copies of the Scriptures, however, find 
 those converted to whom they come ? Are they not envelop- 
 -ed in darkness scarcely less palpable than that whicli covers 
 the natives of India? It is evident however, that all hope of 
 fruit from this amazing distribution of the Scriptures in Ro- 
 man Calliolic countries, must be founded on the expectation 
 that iheDivine Spirit will render the Scriptures tiiemselves the 
 means of enliditenin^ the mind and changing the heart. But 
 are these influences of the Divine Spirit confined to countries 
 called Christian? — may we not humbly hope that God \Nill 
 pour out his spirit on the Heathen also ? Should he not in- 
 deed, what can be effected by the labors even of the living 
 preacher? But is not this hope imperative on us as to pro- 
 viding the Sacred Scriptures as far as it may be in our pow- 
 er ? From a review of all these circumstances it appears im- 
 possible more effectually to promote the cause of God here, 
 than by endeavouring if possible to carry the translation of 
 the Scriptures into every dialect current in India. 
 
 G» Nor may it be improper to add, that while the 
 
$eve?ilh Memoir respecting Translations, 21 
 
 Scriptures impart to one missionary the efficiency of many, the 
 expense of a version of the New Testament is not equal to 
 that of even One missionary for three years. Ueiative to the 
 living messenger of the gospel and the written wordy tilings 
 at present are precisely the reverse of what they were in the 
 days of the apostles. While the ext<?n3ion of knowledge is such 
 almost throughout the whole world, or at least throujih that 
 part of it wh.ch is under European influence, that, compared 
 wiih the state of things in the days of the Apostles, the abi' 
 lity to read is increased more than a hundred fold, the expense 
 of furnishing a Hundred copies of the Sacred Scriptures at 
 Uie present day, must be far less than that of preparing 
 Oiie in the Apostolic days. Then, after the canon cf Scjip- 
 ture was campleted, when each manuscript copy, (fur such 
 a! ne existed,) was the labor of yeai s, what must have been 
 the expense of preparing for any country one hundred co- 
 pies of tiie New Testament alone ! Surely to furnish even 
 Ten Thousand copies at the present time, occupies less time, 
 and involves a less portion of labor, than preparing only One 
 Hundred in manuscript, although each copy is read with 
 such superior ease. This seejns to point out the path 
 qf duty relative to evangelizing every nation which possesses 
 a written language. God is pleased to suit his gifts to the 
 various periods of his church ; the present age he has not 
 favored widi the gift of working miracles, nor with that of 
 tongues ; but the Sacred Scriptures may be made to speak 
 in every tongue, and so multiplied as to find their way to every 
 town and village, and almost to every house: they may even 
 exercise a kind of ubiqnitijj and speak in ten thousand places 
 at the same moment. 
 
 This peculiar feature in the present age will strike the mind 
 still more strongly, when we also consider the vast disparity 
 between the expense of sending forth living messengers of the 
 Gospel at the present day, and that of their going forth iu 
 
S2 Seventh Memoir respecting Translations, 
 
 apostolic times. Then, as long as the gift of tongues was 
 continued, a man often went forth with little or no previous 
 preparation : a heart filled with the knowledge and the love 
 ti' the gospel, enabled multitudes to go forth at their own 
 charges into countries and climates little dilferent from iheif 
 own, recommended to the grace of God indeed by the be- 
 lieving brethren with whom they were connected, and follow- 
 ed hy their ardent prayers; but, from the age and the nature 
 of the work in those days, expecting no pecuniary supplies 
 from their breihien to follow them. This in the present day 
 IS almost wholly impracticable. A certain degree of prepa- 
 ration is generally necessary ; and from the distance of India 
 both from Europe and America, before missionaries can reach 
 the scene of operation, the expense of a long voyage is una-^ 
 voidable. When they have arrived there, the mifriendly naf- 
 ture of the climate renders it impossible for the foreign mis- 
 sionary to travel from place to place without an accumulat- 
 ed degree of expense. When we add to this the disadvan-*r 
 tage of speaking a strange tongue acquired when the organs 
 of speech have ceased to be flexible, and the enfeebling ef- 
 fect of a burning clime on every exertion made to convey 
 the word of life to others ; it will appear that even when life 
 is spared, and the expense of preparation and the voyage \s 
 not rendered abortive by death, still the diftieulty and expense 
 of furnishing a living preacher must be nearly ten times 
 greater than that which lay on the churches in apostolic 
 times. Contrast this with the superior facility of imparting 
 copies of the written word at the present period ; and while 
 the necessity for living instructors is fully acknowledged, it 
 will still strike the mind, that since the difficulty and expense 
 with which the one is furnished in the present age compar- 
 ed with the other, is as a Thousand to One, the widest extent 
 of operation should be given to the written word in aiding 
 Uie exertions of living instructors. If the Great ^ead of the 
 
Sev'enih Memoir respecting Trandations, S3 
 
 Ciiurch, suiting his gifts to the present state of mankind in 
 their increasing attention to letters, has rendered the diliu. 
 81011 of the written word so easy and inexpensive, compared 
 with thdt of sending forth and supporting the living messen- 
 gers of the gospel, wisdom itself dictates that the latter 
 should be employe J chiedy with the view of giving efficien- 
 cy to the former; and that th«y should bs occupied princi- 
 pally in the work of circulating the written word through 
 the various countries now without the gospel, till, the wh )le 
 earth being filled with the word of God, this disposition of 
 them be no longer necessary : — and we may reasonably ex- 
 pect, that while they are thus employed, God will by their 
 ineans raise up numerous native preachers in various coun- 
 tries, to whom the Scriptures will be absolutely necessary, 
 and who with them in their hands will be able to assist in the 
 work in a most extensive degree, as was the case even in 
 apostolic times. 
 
 The importance of the work being evident, it only re- 
 mains to enquire whether advantages exist for carrying it for, 
 ward sufficient to warrant the attempt ; and this can easily be 
 seen by briefly noiicing those which have been for years hi 9, 
 train of preparation and through Divine goodness are now 
 in full operation. 
 
 1. Advantages are enjoyed for Printing any Version what" 
 every and that at a moderate expense. The necessity of suit- 
 able Founts of Types to print the different versions is self- 
 evident ; and this was severely felt on first engafjing in the 
 work. This necessity however, Divine Piovidence has now 
 met in the most effectual manner. Besiile ditferetu founts of 
 pev^z-Nagwree, the most ancient of thd Indian charaders and 
 %\\e origin of all the rest, when the founts in hand are finished, 
 the Serampore Brethren have now tzi-elve alphabets, em- 
 bodied in as many different founts, the letters in all of 
 which as far as they are found, being substaulmlly the same 
 
f 4- Seventh Memoir respecting Translations. 
 
 in name, order, and power, with those in the Deva-Nagt*- 
 ree alj)habet, much as they may differ in form from that and 
 from each other. These are, tlie Orissa, the Telinga, the 
 Tamul, and the Cingalese, which embrace the language 
 current in the South of India, and the three last of which 
 have been employed for printing editions of the Scri,)tures at 
 ^Madras, and Ceylon, — the Bengalee, the Mahratta, and 
 iheKj/t'hee, which render the Scriptures legible to nearly thir- 
 ty millions in the central part of India; — the Mooltanee, the 
 Goojuratee, and the Shikh, current in the more western part ; 
 — the Kashnieer, current in the north west;— and the Buvm 
 vian which is read throughout that vast empire, as well as by 
 the Chrisiian brethren in the Mug country, and the inhabit- 
 ants of Arracan. In addition to these may be added, a 
 new fount of Arabic now employed m printing a version 
 of the Malay Scriptures ; and a fount of Version in prep*- 
 raUon under the eye of the best judges of that character in 
 Iinlia. Willi these various founts of types, there are few ver- 
 sions of the Scriptures in any of the languages of India which 
 cannot be printed with ease. The labor of twenty years 
 lias also formed a Printing Establishmenl comprizing Sevens 
 leen Presses, and workmen of every description; and the va- 
 lue of it in reducing the expense of a version is by no means 
 inconsiderable. To this is now added the advantage of a 
 Paper Manufactory on the spot. The importance of tbis 
 to the diffusion of the Scriptures throughout India has been 
 long felt : it is vain to expect that the Scriptures can be print- 
 ed in snflicient quantity for extensive distribution on paper 
 brought liflef n thousand miles: the expense will fall too heavy 
 on the Christian public. A first edition of which the number 
 is necessarily small, may be thus printed ; but how can second 
 and succeeding editions, in which the number of cojiies it may 
 be hoped uiil continually increase, be given on paper import- 
 ed from iiiilaiu r The paper fomeily made in India however. 
 
Seventh Memoir respecti/fg Translations » €5 
 
 became so quickly a prey to insects, that some have prefer* 
 red a small luniiber on English paper, to a far greater which 
 a few years might consign to destruction. But a persever- 
 ance for twelve years in attemptijig to produce a superior kind, 
 has been so far crowned with success, that, as already observ- 
 ed, paper equally impervious to the worm with English paper, 
 and of a firmer texture, though inferior in colour, is now made 
 of materials the growth of India. The advantage of thus 
 procuring for these versions, paper made on the spot, and 
 hence free of all expense of carriage, will not appear small 
 uhen the number of versions requisite is considered and the 
 increased number of copies in every succeeding edition. These 
 circumstances united, seem themselves to encourage perse- 
 vering exertion in a work so important to the evangelizing of 
 India, independently of other things. There are however 
 
 others more inti.i:atelv connected with the work itself, amono^ 
 which are, 
 
 2. The mimher of learned Natives now trained up and ac* 
 custQ.^usd to the work oftrandation. These, who are in <ye- 
 neral well acquainted with SMngskrn«, have in some in<. 
 stances an acquaintance with three or four of the lan«^uaa-es 
 derived from it, beside their own. They, moreover, have 
 now acquired a pretty clear idea of translation, as consisting, 
 not in the exchange of a number of words for an equal number 
 in another language, but in transfusing into one, preciseiv the 
 ideas expressed in another. This is a matter of such import- 
 ance, that without it the very nature of a translation is mis- 
 understood. Yet it is by no means easy to convey this idea 
 to the mind of a native, though ii man of learning. To do 
 this effectually, is often the labour of years spent in the most 
 assiduous instruction. But when this has been once attained 
 in the case of able pundits eminently skilled in the parent lan- 
 guage as well as their own vernacular dialects, the work of 
 Uauslalion is thereby exceedingly facilitated, ^ome of these 
 
 D 
 
26 Scz'enth Memoir respecting TrcuisJatlons, 
 
 Avil! take a \)\ece hi the Beuixalee language, possibly relaiing 
 to general knouiedge, and render it into auolher dialect, 
 uith a fidelity and a happiness of expression, scarcely imi- 
 lable by a European alter years of the severest study. When 
 such men are already prepared, it is wise to employ their 
 knowledge and talents hi forwarding the most important of 
 all objects. The loss of such men a lapse of many yeais or 
 even of an age might fail to supply. 
 
 S. hi the course of soman!/ years a certain degree of erf e- 
 rience in the zcork lias been necei>.^ari!t/ obtained. There are dif- 
 ficulties in the work of translating the Scriptures which can- 
 not be easily surmounted without a considerable degree of ex- 
 perience. Passages, the general meaning of whicli may be 
 strongly felt, often create difficulty in rendering ihem into ano- 
 ther language, of which feu who have not made the tjial, have 
 an adequate idea. There are also Vajiations in the 'ie-xtof diT* 
 jerenl kinds; not only are there passages in which the origi- 
 nal is acknowledged to differ much from the sense given in the 
 authorized English version ; but many wherein ihe original 
 itself is understood ditlerently by eminent biblical ciitics This 
 iei]uires cauLiuii in those who conduct a tiansialion of th.e 
 Scriptures: without 6onie acquaintance with the oiiginal, the 
 sense of many passages can scarcely be given in any way, and 
 in the present i sge for critical emendations, there is danger 
 lest a strong attachment to studies of this nature should create 
 almost a new text, lu tlje comse of years however, a degree 
 of experience may be acquired favorable to ihe work: that 
 examination of the original Scriptures which three or four 
 versions successively requue, gives an opporlunity for weigh- 
 ing })a&sages, which one scarcely iitiords. Ideas relative to a 
 doubtful pass^i^e or a various readinr^, which in a first version 
 seemed nuliibUable, may be Ufighed m a second or tinrd, and 
 liie novelty of tlu in havijjg disappeared, they may perhaps 
 appear lo have little besides to recommend them. There-ure 
 
Seventh Memoir respecti/fg Translations, 9J 
 
 iudeed difficulties found in translating the Scriptures into 
 tlie languaiies of [ndia even where the meaning of the 
 text is perfectly clear ; and these are so numerous, that 
 to surmount them req lir^is nearly as much practical skill 
 and e.Aperience as tiie exercise of a distinct art or profession, 
 These it is not easy to describe to those who are unacquaint- 
 ed with tiie work. Perhaps some idea may be conveyed by 
 the fact, tliat although the translation of the New Testa- 
 nieut into the Bengidee language N^as not put to press till the 
 translator hnd been seven years in the country, he himself, 
 in the second edition, altered nearly every verse therein to 
 render it conformable to the Indian i(iiom. Whatever be the 
 learning or talents possessed by any vvho may engage in the 
 work of rendering the Scrij)tures into the lanjjuages of 
 India, therefore, experience in the work is by no means 
 imimpor;aut. Opporiunities for the acquisition of experi- 
 ence of this iiature however, do not often occur; and when 
 they have occurred, to improve them to the utmost for the 
 cause ol God, seems a sacred duty. 
 
 4. Tliere are certain things which may be highly im- 
 proved for the advancement of these versions. Among 
 these is, the assistance to he derived fiom our own country' 
 men in various parts of India who are acquainted with any 
 one (yf its dialects. It has long been the study of the bre- 
 thitn how the knowledge possessed by these friends, might 
 be brought to bear on this great object; and it has occurred 
 to them that few would be unwilling to examine a version of 
 the Scriptures in any dialect with which they are acquainted. 
 Then' assistance therefore was solicited about two vears aso 
 in an article published in one of the Numbers of the *^ Friend 
 of India" but effectually to secure their help, a circular 
 letter has since been drawn up more fully requesting it, which 
 has been aheady sent to some and will be sent to others as 
 occasion may offer. In this letter they are invited not only to 
 
 P2 
 
ti^ Sevenlh Memoir respect in y Translations^ 
 
 contribute assistance themselve<?, but to put a version or part 
 of a version into the hands of any respectable native near 
 iheni competent to the task of examining it, with tlie assur- 
 ance that every expense shall be defrayed which may attend 
 this in the way of copying or otherwise. "^i'hey are ready 
 to hope that this will gradually bring to bear on this import- 
 ant ol.ject, nearly all the knowledge of this kind possess- 
 ed by their countrymen in the various provinces of India ; 
 and that if it does not render accurate the various versions of 
 the Scriptures in these dialects, it will do as much towards 
 effecting this as circumstances at present will permit to be 
 done. This letter is given in the Appendix. 
 
 5. But relative to the completion of these different versi- 
 ons of the Scriptures in the dialects of India, their hope un- 
 der the Divine blessing rests chiefly on the exertions of the 
 Natives themselves. To bring these exertions to bear on the 
 Scriptures is one object of the New College at Seramporc. 
 Indeed for an object so important as that of pei feeling the va- 
 rious versions of the Scriptures in the languages of India, al- 
 most equal to Europe itself in extent and population, prepa- 
 ration ought to be made and suitable means provi^Ied. A work 
 of this nature ought not be left to chance, nor to the mere 
 operation of the common course of events. As well might 
 David when he had set his heart on building the house of 
 God, have left all the materials, the gold, the silver, the brass, 
 the iron, the wood, and the various kinds of precious stones 
 precisely where he found them; particularly as he was told 
 by the prophet, that he himself was never to complete the 
 house. Such however was not David's feeling ; he loved 
 the house of his God too well to slacken his diligence on 
 that account ; he prepared of all things for the building al- 
 most without weight and number, and this the Divine Spiiit 
 has been pleased to record in terms which endear David and 
 Jiis example to this very day. Thus should provision be 
 
Seventh Memoir respecting Translations. QQl 
 
 made for bringing all that philological knowledge into this 
 work in which the natives of Indi-i are so profonn d. This 
 accurate knowledge of the structure of language in general, 
 as well as of the Swngskraa and its cognate dialects, ought 
 not to be left wholly in the possesst^n of idolaters ; it ought 
 if possible to be transfused into Native Christian Youth, 
 who are now growing up in an acquaintance wjlh the Scrip- 
 tures. Where philological knowledge so highly valuable as 
 that possessed by the learned in India does exist in any 
 countrv, it ought to be obtained by tlie advocates of truth. 
 To deny it iheni, if it can be imparted, is to betray the cause 
 of truth and righteousness, and to sin against the best inter- 
 ests of mankind. How important is it then that this know- 
 ledge should be imparted to them at the period when the 
 word of God is about to be given in every dialect of India ! 
 And how possible it is to impart this knowledge in the ful- 
 lest manner, when their own superstitions are done away, the 
 proficiency made by the Native Christian Youths who have 
 already entered the College, sufficienily demonstrates. 
 
 6. it seems reasonable that ISlative Christians in In' 
 did should not remain for ever zcithont a knowledge of the 
 Languages in which the Sacred Scriptures were given; 
 a little reflection may indeed convince us, that a knowledge 
 of these will ever b^ desirable. Translations of the Scrip- 
 tures, however excellent, can never equal the original : were 
 there no other difference, it will always form an important 
 one, that there are many words both in the Hebrew and the 
 Greek Scriptures, which have more than one meaning. Now 
 to suppose that any translator, however faithful and able, 
 shall in every instance express precisely the idea intended by 
 the Divine Spirit, and with exactly the same force, is to sup- 
 pose, that every translator is infallibly guided in the whole 
 of his w^ork by the Spirit of God, which would be equiva- 
 lent to a new inspiration. The probability of discrepancy 
 
50 Setentli Memoir respecting Translatiam, 
 
 will appear the stronger, if we consider that the Scriptures dif«» 
 fer widely from all human writinjrs ; in the latter, a transla- 
 tor of congenial taste and even equal genius, if he should 
 not express precisely the idea conveyed by his author, may 
 in some instances express it with superior force and energy. 
 But in a tiansiation of the Holy Scriptures to express an idea, 
 more forcibly ihan it is expressed in the oiigiiial, is a depar- 
 ture therelrom, and, as fai as it extends, a mis'epresentalion of 
 the mmd of God as revealed ni lus word. Wliile tlje bulL 
 of mankind in every country, llierelore, must make them- 
 selves acquainted vvith the Divine will dnough the medium 
 of a translatioUj it seems de^i^able that in every nation which 
 embraces Chiistianity, there should be, even to ibe end of 
 time, certain prrsons able to refer to tlie ori^niais themselves, 
 lest other uise, as every exposition may possibly recede some- 
 what from the original, ihe genuine meaning of the Sacred 
 Oracles should be at length entirely lost among them. If 
 this be to be deprecated respecting any single nation, how 
 much more respecting the whole of India, in extent equal to 
 Europe itselt ! Surely it cannot be desirable that the whole 
 of this vast continent, when they receive the Scriptures as 
 the way of salvation, the rule of life and practice, should be 
 wiihout a single person capable of examining their original 
 nieaning. Yet this may be the case should no Native of lu- 
 dia become acquainted with the languages in which they were 
 delivered. It seems importiint therefore, that knowledge of 
 this kind should be imparted to Native Christian Youth wiih 
 as little delay as possible. When the gospel is made known 
 to the natives of India, the Scriptures given them in their \er- 
 nacular tongues, and a knowledge of the oiigmals iheuiselves 
 imj)arted to them, they may be safely commended to the gtace 
 of God ; and uniler [lis divme guidance and blessing, though 
 foreign missionaries should no longer visit ihem, the gospel 
 may no more perish, from India than it did from England at 
 
Seventh Memoir respecting Translations. SI 
 
 ihe Reform ition. or frojii the various countries of Asia Mi- 
 nor when no longer visited by Jewish evangelists. 
 
 Nor let it be deemed strange for the natives of Eastern Asia 
 to apply to the study of Greek and Hebrew. As to Hebrew 
 it is more naturally iheirs tiian ours: it belongs to Asia, and 
 justly forms a principal part of Oriental Literature. That 
 one of the most ancient languages of Western Asia should 
 be deemed less congenial to the ideas of its eastern inhabitants* 
 than to those of the most distant isles of Europe, can arise only 
 from our want of retiection. The manners and customs des- 
 cribed in the Sacred Writings assimilate far more with those in 
 India, than with those existing in modern Europe ; and numer- 
 ous words occurring therein, are at this day used in India in 
 their proper and natural sense. But the capacity of Native 
 youth to acquire the Hebrew language,is placed beyond all dis- 
 pute by the fact, that there are already to be found many na- 
 tives of India eminently skilled in Arabic, so much more com- 
 plex and copious than the Hebrew. — To the Greek language 
 theSiingskijta scholar has an unerring clue. No two languages 
 of diilerent origin resemble each other more strongly. In its 
 nouns, the singular, dual, and plural numbers, in its verbs, 
 the active, passive, and middle voices — its twenty prepositions 
 almost the same in sound as well as in force and meaning, — 
 its wonderful facility for compounding words and expressing 
 the nicest shades of idea, render the Swngskr/ta quite a coun- 
 terpart to tile Greek language; while its grammatical struc- 
 ture is GO accurate and exquisite, that, compared with the 
 most concise of the Swngskrita grammars, the fullest Greek 
 grammar now in use, is little more than an imperfect sketch 
 con)pared with a finished picture. To a youth trained up 
 in the study of Swngsku'tr/, therefore, the acquisition of the 
 Greek language can form no hardship. The cultivation of 
 both the original languages by a select number of Native 
 Chjistiau Youth prcviouiiy Uaiued up in ^zingski/tf^^ can 
 
32 Seventh Memoir respecting Translations. 
 
 easily be secured in the Collej^e at Serampore ; and their ap- 
 plication of this knowledge in future years to the iniprov- 
 inent of the versions of the 8acrcd Scjiptures, iu the perusal 
 of which they have been trained up from their infancy, we 
 j«ay hope will ultimately impart to them that ahnost inimita- 
 ble fehcity of expression given to the English version by our 
 British Divines in the reign of king James, and which could 
 scarcely have been imparted by any beside persons born and 
 educated m Bjilain. 
 
 7. The colli'ttion of such Works as exist in the Fopular Lan- 
 guages of the country whether in prone or verse y may greatly as- 
 sist in this work. Although from some of these, highly valuable 
 facts may be gleaned relative to ihe antiquity, the history, the 
 geography of India, the intention is to collect them, not so much 
 for the sake of the ideas they contain, or the information they 
 may convey, as for the sake of ascertaining wiih precision the 
 difierent languages of India with a view to the Translations of 
 the Sacred Scriptures. This collection will form a considerable 
 feature in the Library of the College at Serampore ; and from 
 the number of works already obtained, and the generous readi- 
 ness of friends in various parts of India to aid herein, there is 
 reason to think that such a collection of works in the popular 
 languages of the country will soon be made, as has not yet been 
 fouiid in any one library in liidia. These works will form a 
 rich treasure for the examination of Native Christian Students 
 who may possess a philological taste, and furnish possibly 
 the best means of deciding relative to the different lanouaires 
 of India. From all these means united, therefore, tliey humbly 
 hope that utidcr the divine blessing, as great a degree of im- 
 provement in the versions of the Scriptures in ihe various lan- 
 .guages of India, may be anticipated, as can be reasonably ex- 
 pected in piesent circumstances. 
 
 There is indeed a certain season wherein every thing can 
 bt doue to the greatest advar.taii;e : and this is not whoU 
 
Seventh Memoir respecting Translations, 33 
 
 ly inapplicable to the ultimate improvement of the versions 
 of the Sacred Scriptures. Our excellent English version 
 uas net brought to its present degree of perfection in the 
 age of Tindal, nor during the reign of Edward the Sixth, — 
 nor even in the long and peaceful reign of Elizabelhi Could 
 this have been accomplished indeed,'till the learned certainly 
 knew what they had to alter, and what words or phrases to 
 substitute in the room of others f Who will' say that the reign 
 of Elizabeth, wherein the Scriptures were so thoroughly ex* 
 amined by all parties, was not in some degree necessary to 
 prepare the best philologists of that age for the formation of 
 our present excellent version, early in the seventeenth cen- 
 tury ? How much more may this be expected to be the case 
 in India t How few Europeans have as yet made Indian 
 philology their study for any number of years ? And as for the 
 Jsatives, from whom the ultimate improvement of these ver- 
 sions may be so justly expected, their minds must imbibe di- 
 \ine truth, become acquainted with the contents of the Sa- 
 cred Writings and enter into their nature and meaning, be- 
 fore they can bring to any degree of perfection the various 
 versions of the Scriptures. 
 
 If these versions however be at present imperfect, still the 
 most imperfect version ever made under the dii'ection of those 
 who understand the literal meaning of the Sacred Scriptures 
 and their design in producing repentance and faith in Christ,' 
 has contained the substance of all Christian doctrine, and 
 has been capable of making men wise unto salvation. Who 
 will say that even the Rhemish version of the New Tes- 
 tament, which, according to Fulke and other divines of 
 Elizabeth's reign, contains so many false renderings intended 
 to pervert the pure doctrines of the gospel, was never the 
 means of salvation to one soul amidst the many thousands 
 who have made it their study ? How much more then may 
 we hope that a version will prove the means of salvation to 
 
3^ Seveuth Memoir respecting Translalluns^ 
 
 lieathens which may be conducted under the direction of 
 those who desire to set every truth in its clearest light, though 
 it should hereafter admit of numerous verbal alterations. Not 
 a verse of the Bengalee version of the New Testament, was 
 left unaltered in the second edition ; yet Krishiwo, who was 
 brought to the knowledge of the truth while reading it, long 
 preferred it to the second edition as a daily manual of devo- 
 tion. Further, when a version is once in circulation, not on- 
 ly will every European Missionary w ho may labor on the spat, 
 be able to examine it and enrich it with his remarks ; the Na- 
 tives themselves will become gradually able to compare it 
 with some version of the Scriptures iu a neighbouiing lan- 
 guage, the Bengalee, the Hindee, 8cc. which may have gone 
 ihrouj^h various editions; an ability to read which, if not to 
 read that in the parent S«ngskr2t«, will be possessed by some 
 few in almost every province, although the bulk of the inha- 
 bitants may be acquainted witli no language beside their own 
 dialect. If a version of the Sciiptures be brought to a good 
 degree of correctness in a few of the leading languages of In- 
 dia, therefore, those in the others will soon obtain the 
 same degree of correctness, it being easy to transfuse ideas 
 published in one of these cognate languages into all the rest. 
 Thus a version of the Scriptures once put into circulation in 
 any one of the Indian languages, is almost certain of beconu 
 ino^ giadualiy correct, while it may make thousands wise unto 
 salvation iu the coarse of its thus working itself pure. 
 
 'Jlie bretbren who form the Committee for conducting and 
 printing these Tianslalions, now hitreat permission to sub- 
 mit to the public the siaie of the Fund intrusted to them for 
 this purpose, which, will be foimd to contain a balance of 
 souieuhat more than One Thousand Pounds. But this balance 
 is so much more than absorbed l)y the editions now in the 
 press, that the woik must have stopped had they not borrowed 
 lands on their own credit to carry it forward. The sum al- 
 
Sevenlh Memoir respecting Translations » 35 
 
 ready expended on these editions, with that which must be ad- 
 vanced before supplies can be received from Europe, exceeds 
 by several thousand pounds the balance now in hand, as will 
 appear from the following particulars. 
 
 The gracious providence of God in stirring up the mhid 
 of the late excellent Mr. Bey of Leeds to interest himself so 
 deeply in the Indian versions, on reading the last Memoir, as 
 to propose a fund for meeting the expense of those of the 
 New Testament therein mentioned, calls for the warmest 
 gratitude to the Giver of all good : nor is it less matter of 
 gratitude that the Bible Society have taken up this plan with 
 the determination to carry it into effect. The Ten versions of 
 the New Testament already mentioned as the least advanced,* 
 however, have necessarily a certain outlay made upon them. It 
 is evident, that before a version can be put ta press, types and 
 paper must be prepared to print it, and that when begun, the 
 wages for printing must commence. Hence the Bible Soci- 
 ety at Calcutta, on every version they have requested the 
 brethren to print, have made an advance before-hand to m-et 
 the expense of the outlay. On these ten versions, as some 
 of them are already advanced to St. John's Gospel, it will not 
 be beyond the truth to say that the outlay on them has been 
 already Fifteen Hundred Pounds. But on the Eleven others, 
 (exclusive of the three for which the live hundred pounds have 
 been already voted by the Bible Society,) of which four are 
 finished and copies sent to the Bible Society, one in the Re- 
 velation, and the other six likely to be completed within a 
 twelve month from this time, the oiitlay already made is very 
 considerable. And as the sum is not paid till each version be 
 printed otf and delivered, the expense of bringing them through 
 the press lies in the mean time wholly on the brethren who 
 conduct them. While their previously providing this sum 
 
 • Sec paj^e 8th of this Memoir. 
 
3^ Seventh Memoir respecting Translations. 
 
 however, lies lieavy on the brethren who conduct them, still as 
 the Bible Society, in generously undertaking to carry into ef- 
 fect Mr. Hey's plan, have ultimately provided for the expense 
 of them when brought througli the press, the brethren consider 
 these versions of the New Testament as happily taken off from 
 the general fund in their hands for translating and printing 
 the Scriptures. 
 
 For the versions of the Old Testament now going for, 
 ward in the Tel/iiga, the Kuiikuwa, the Sliikh, the Pushtoo, 
 and the Assam languages, they have been constrained to make 
 an outlay from the general fund to the amount of nearly nine 
 hundred pounds, that they might put them to press. As the 
 two hist of these languages will ha relinquished when the 
 Pentateuch is finished, this sum will probably meet the ex- 
 pense of printing the Pentateuch in them and that of the con- 
 ducting the rest of the Old Testament in the Shikh, Push- 
 too, and Affghan languages for some time longer. The Old 
 Testament in the Chinese language is as yet carried forward 
 by the grant of a thousand pounds made by the Bible Society 
 for that express object. 
 
 But the new editions of those versions which have been 
 the longest in circulation, the Bengalee, the SMUgskr/tfZ, the 
 H/adee, the Mahratta, and the Ojissa, are those which form 
 the heaviest part of the burden now lying on the general fund 
 for translation. These new editions however are absolutely 
 necessary to the diffusion of the light of the gospel in In- 
 dia. The first four of them are in the chief lanojuages of 
 India and those widest in circulation; and in all five of them 
 the Scriptures are more sought than in any other languages 
 in tiiis part of India. Nothing therefore can at present be 
 of greater importance to the cause of God here, than a sup- 
 ply of the Scriptures in these languages. The desire for them 
 has been such that the foimer editions of the Old Testa- 
 
Seventh Memoir respecting Translations, -47 
 
 ment in the Bengalee and S?<ngskrita are now exhausted, 
 as well as those of the New. Hence to print less than two 
 thousand copies of the Old Testament in Swngskraa, or of 
 four thousand in Bengalee, would only have increased the ex- 
 pense, since from the wish for them being st» nmch in- 
 creased, a small edition would have been distributed almost 
 as soon as printed off; and another edition begun immediately, 
 would have increased the expense to answer no valuable pur- 
 pose. But a version of the Old Testament, containing two 
 thousand copies, no Society have ever yet been able in India to 
 bring through the press for less than Three Thousand pounds. 
 From the arrangements they have made, however, the brethren 
 are ready to hope that they shall bring the SMngskr/ta version 
 containing two thousand copies, through the press for about 
 Two Thousand pounds, and that even the Bengalee version of 
 four thousand will not greatly exceed Two Thousand Five 
 Hundred. If this can be done, the two principal editions of the 
 Old Testament containing Six Thousand copies, will coma 
 much within Five Thousand pounds sterling ; but of this sum 
 full Two Thousand must be expended for paper, types, and 
 wages, before supplies can arrive from Europe, particularly 
 as the largest of these editions, the Bengalee, has advanced 
 to the book of Numbers. 
 
 For the same reasons the edition in Bengalee of the New 
 T'estament required an increased number, as the last edition 
 including tive thousand was distributed within four years. Six 
 thousand copies as a supply for the increasing numbers who en- 
 quire for them among at least twelve millions of people, did not 
 appear too great Nor did the Hiiidee appear to deserve a less 
 number, particularly when the one-half is in the Devcr-Nagw- 
 reeand the other three thousand in the Kyt'liee character. The 
 Swngskrna New Testament, which will be circulated among 
 the learned in Qyery part of I-idia, seeme.l to demand an editi- 
 
38 Seventh Meaoir respecting Translations* 
 
 on of at least two thousand.^* The Orissa, in which the 
 opportunity for distribution is so great, could now scarcely 
 have less than four thousand ; nor could the second edition 
 of the Mahratta be brought below three thousand. These 
 five editions ot the New Testament will form a supply of 
 Twenty Thousand copies in those languages of India in 
 which they are most needed; and while ilns ill be a sup- 
 ply of the most seasonable kind, it may suffice for some years 
 to come, unless it should happily lead to a spirit of enquiry 
 far beyond present expectation. These twenty thousand 
 copies of the New I'estament the brethren hope to bring 
 within Four Thousand pounds sterling. Of this sum how- 
 ever, nearly one-half will be needed before supplies can be re- 
 ceived from Europe, as one of the versions containing six 
 thousand copies, the Hi'ndee, will they trust be finished at 
 press before that period, and one or two more be consider- 
 ably advanced. From this statement it will be evident, that 
 independently of the versions of the New Testament not yet 
 finished, this new supply of the Scriptures in the live lan- 
 guages in which they are most read, will require an out-lay 
 of nearly Five Thousand pounds sterling before November 
 next. The balance of the Fund now in hand however is 
 little more than One Thousand pounds ; and no other way 
 remains of carrying forward diese new editions so essential to 
 the enlightening of Intlia, but that of the brethren's obtaining 
 
 the other Four Thousand pounds on their own credit, which 
 
 must bear interest till ugain replaced. 
 
 In these circumstances they beg leave earnestly to appeal 
 
 to the Christian public both in Europe and America, and 
 
 particularly to the various Bible Societies, and those friends 
 
 * The brethron liail int^ndeil to print 4900 copies of the Funsskrita 
 New 'lestainent when t lie fiiht pajj^cs ol tlii^ memoir were put 'o ores-. ; 
 but 0:1 asceriuininy: tlie very low state cl" tlio Fund, they (eared to y;o l^e- 
 yonU two tUousatid in the present edition. 
 
Seventh Memoir respecting Translations, 39 
 
 in America and Britain who have already so liberally encou- 
 raged these translations. They humbly hope that their 
 rendering themselves responsible for these sums through their 
 confidence in the good faith and liberality of the public, 
 rather than suffer the work to stop, will not be imputed to them 
 as a crime, since they have done it purely from a desire to ad- 
 vance the cause of God, and this on the matuiest considera- 
 tion, grounded on a knowledge of the circumstances of the 
 country. To give the Scriptures to India indeed has formed 
 their chief object from the time they arrived there, from a full 
 conviction that this would prove one of the most effectual 
 means of evangelizing the country : and in doing this it has 
 constantly been then' care to render the burden of expense 
 on the public as light as possible, that they might be encourag- 
 ed to carry for\;ar i the work. With this view they have tak- 
 en on themselves the expense of ending the various founts of 
 types formed, that the public might have nothing to meet 
 beside that of printing and paper ; — and with the same 
 view they have been labouring for more than twelve years to 
 produce paper, durable in its texture and impervious to the 
 worm, at a cheaper rate than paper can be imported, which 
 they have now ihe satisfaction of doing athttle more than half 
 that price. In these various experiments however, including a 
 Steam engine and Paper mill, full Fifty Thousand Rupees 
 have been expended wholly with a view to the translations. 
 When in the paper manufactory, and in forming the various 
 founts of types, therefore, they have sunk scarcely less than 
 Eight Thousand Pounds Sterling, for which they never desire 
 any other recompense than that of seeing the work done, — and 
 have now to render themselves responsible for nearly as much 
 more, that the woi k may not stop, they feel assured that they 
 need add no more to a generous public who have hitherto 
 ever exceeded their hopes. 
 
 They r?joice however in the prospect that this call on 
 
46 - Seteiith Memoir respecting Translations. 
 
 the liberality of the public for aid in thus publishing the Scrip- 
 tures will not be permanent, and perhaps never be again ne- 
 cessary to the same extent. In two or three years ihe greats 
 est ptrrt of the yet unpublished versions (jf the New Testa- 
 nieijt will ihey trust be brought through the press ; after 
 >vhich the chief expense will be that of carrying forward the 
 translation of the Old Testament in such of the languages as 
 demand ihetn, — and of publishing successive editions of the 
 Islew, as they may be needed. The present supply in the five 
 languages in which the Scriptures are chiefly sought, how- 
 ever, will probably suffice for several years ; and at any rate 
 they are not likely to occur simultaneously to the same extent 
 again. They therefore conclude by intreating those who have 
 so liberally assisted them in this work, both in America and 
 Britain and particularly the British and Foreign Bible So- 
 ciety to accept their warmest thanks, with the assurance 
 that whatever they may be further pleased to intrust to their 
 care, shall be applied with the utmost faithfulness, not only 
 to the w ork in general, but to that particular part of it for 
 which any donation may be expressly designed. The fruits of 
 their liberality may be either transmitted directly to the Com- 
 mittee for conducting the translations at Serampore, or con- 
 signed to theicare of the Secretaries or any of the Members of 
 the Committee of the Baptist Missionary Society in Britain, 
 — or in America, to those of the Baptist Convention, who will 
 faithfully transmit them to the brethren at Serampore. 
 
 Serampore, ^ 
 Dec. Ij 1820. i 
 
CIRCULAR ADDRESS. 
 
 THE Brethren who fonn the Committee for cotidnotiirj: Tr.in«ilatioPs at 
 Serarapore, Jiavinj;; been for inany years enj^a^ed in the 1 raii^btion of the 
 Scriptures, li-*ve felt convinced, in proportion as tliey have applied to this 
 work, that in no way can tlie best interests of Indid be more ettVi-liiaUy 
 promoted, than by a version ot the Scriptures beino' triven ii possible in the 
 dialect o every province and tribe in India, notwiihstaudin^ the ditficul- 
 ties which attend the completion of the work. 
 
 With these difficulties it is impossible that th'^y should be unacquainted, 
 engaged in the work as they have been for so many years. Hut if ditlicul- 
 ties are suffered to deter from an undertaking- of this nature, there can be 
 little liopp that liirht will ever be diffused throu'^hout India, or that tiienu« 
 Bierous tribes ot Eastern Asia, wliich comprize a full half of nianUind, will 
 ever en oy those blessings with which Britain is so hi<?h|y favored. 'I'hey 
 have found in the course of their work that the dialects of India and of 
 Eastern Asia, numerous as they appear, may almost all be traced to two 
 sources, the Swni'skrita and the Chinese ; and therefore that a knowledge 
 of these two lan<^uages, sheds a prodigious dej;ree of lijiht over the vari- 
 ous lanonages of India. This circumstance among other things enables 
 them to view the difficulties in the way of accomplishing it, as easily sur- 
 mountable by a course of steady perseverance; particularly it steps be 
 taken to bring into operation that knowledge of the various dialects ot In- 
 dia already possessed by our countrymen here. They humbly trust that 
 the College rect utiy established at Serampore, in which Native Youths of 
 talent and ability, conversant with the various languages of India, will be 
 instructed in the languages wherein the Scriptures were originally writ- 
 ten, as well as in their own classic tongue, will prove hiirhlv iuiportant in 
 this irreat work, which can be brought to due perfection only by efforts 
 continued through a snccession of years. But they feel assured that as- 
 sistance of the most important kind may also be obtained from their coun- 
 trymen in various parts of India ; and it is with the view of respectfully 
 soliciting this assist.mce in the improvement of the versions of the Scrip, 
 tures they have already published, that you are now addressed. 
 
 This request they feel encouraged to make from the consideration that 
 the Word of God is equally tlie portion of allChristians, by whatever name 
 or denomination they may be known. It is indeed to jnen that this glori- 
 ous revelation is made; and every man who loves his race is bound to in- 
 terest himself to ihe utmoot of his power in causing to be made ^or bis fel. 
 low-raen of every nation, a faithful and perspicuous version of the Divine 
 ^Vritings. The Committee for conducting Translations at Serampore, 
 therefore, wish to interest iu this inipoiiaui work, every tVieud to liia 
 
Scrlptiires in India who feels witling: to contribute his aid in the improve- 
 iTient of even a sin;^ie version, with whom they wish to exchanjn^e ideas on 
 the subiect in the most free and candid manner, for the sake of improving 
 the various translations of the Divine Word wliich they may conduct. 
 
 How to secure this, so as to bring- to bear on the Sacred Writings that 
 knowle.i}?e of the dialects of India now possessed by gentlemen who reside 
 in its various provinces, has long been with tliem matter of serious consi- 
 deration, parlicularly as they wish to include the assistance of learned Na- 
 tives in various parts of India in examining and judging relative to the 
 style of j^uch versions as are made in their respective dialects. The una- 
 voidable distance of those so capable of affording this assistance, from them 
 and from each other, increases the difficulty of frequent communication. 
 They however humbly trust that the foUowingplan will obviate most of the 
 difficulty which exists in the present case. They respectfully propose, 
 
 1. That every gentleman willing to correspond with them on the subject 
 of Translation*, be intreated thus to contribute his aid to the improvement 
 of some one of tlie Indian versions, and therein to obtain the aid of every 
 learned Native over whom he has influence- 
 
 2. That such gentlemen be not called upon to incur any expense in exa- 
 ininins; any version of the Scriptures; but that whatever expense they may 
 thus incur, be defrayed by the Committee for Translations at Serarapore. 
 
 3. That an interleaved copy of any one version of the Sacred Scriptures, 
 or of a single book in the language with which any gentleman may be best 
 acquainted, be sent him, on his kindly requesting it. 
 
 Hy thus combining all the help procurablein exafniningr the various versi- 
 ons, as editions are successively printed, most of the translations of the 
 Scriptures will, they trust, ultimately be brought to a happy degree of per- 
 fection. ^Rut whether it be sooner or later, the Committee feel determined 
 by Divine assistance never to withdraw their attention from this object till 
 it be accomplished. They beg leave to observe, however, that in thus at* 
 tempting to promote this important work, they have no wish to interfere 
 with any friend who may be already conducting a trans>iatiou in any of the 
 dialects of India; on the contrary, to every such friend tliey cheerfully 
 tender tliat assistance they respectfully solicit from otliers, their grand 
 M ish being, to see the work accomplished by whomsoever it be done. 
 
 They therefore respectfully intreat your assistance, dt ar Sir, and that of 
 any friend near you, whether European or Native, in examining any one 
 of the versions they have already brouj^ht through the press, a copy of any 
 part of which interleaved, and particularly of the version in the 
 lai?guage, shall be thankfully sent you on your kindly intimating your 
 
Slate of the Translation Fund, from JaneSO, lBl6,to April 
 30, 1820. 
 
 Dr. 
 
 TRANSLATION FUND, June SO, 1S16. 
 
 Cr. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 By Balance In hanl, • 
 
 Cnller^ted inRnu'land, 2 
 
 American Unard of 
 ('oMiinissioiiers, . , 
 
 Bible Society, . . • 
 
 Ms. Rpheoca Cox, . 
 
 Donation from D- Ca- 
 rey, toward trie Guju- 
 ratee translation, . . 
 
 A Friend, 
 
 Mr. Robert Gordon, . 
 
 Mr. Wriulit, . . . . 
 
 Sir E. H East, . . . 
 
 Rs. 
 
 J. F 
 
 1739 
 
 3 11 
 
 5,891 
 
 7 6 
 
 4170 
 
 1 6 
 
 8000 
 
 
 
 4900 
 
 
 
 100 
 
 
 
 209 
 
 12 
 
 100 
 
 
 
 103 
 
 
 
 . 50 
 
 
 
 Sa. Rs- 44,300 8 11 
 
 DlSBtlRSEMENTS. Rs. A. P. 
 
 To Pundits' Wages, . 9385 2 C 
 
 Cliinese writers, cutters, 
 and paper, for print- 
 in?, 397?, 10 10 
 
 Printing Memoirs, . . 100 
 
 ('harases Extraordhiary, . 8 11 
 
 1000 copies of the Hindee 
 Ha;?iogjrapha, . . 2O0O 
 
 1000 copies of the Mahrat- 
 ta Historical Books, . 3000 
 
 5000 copies of the Ben-^a- 
 lee New Testament, 800^ 
 
 26,4r57 7 15 
 Balance, 17.893 1 1 
 
 Sa. Rs. 44,360 8 11 
 
 Dr. 
 
 TRANSLATION FUND, June 30, 1817. 
 
 Cr. 
 
 Receipts. A??. A. P 
 By Balance, . . • 17,89^ 1 1 
 Bible Society, . . . 8000 
 Ditto ditio, .... 8000 
 Bapti&t American Board, 2059 14 6 
 
 Sa. Rs. 35 ,C5i 15 
 
 Disbursements. Rs. A. 
 
 To Pundits' Waj^es, . 13,705 2 
 Chinese writers, cutters, 
 
 and paper, . . • 2012 1 
 Rinding for the last three 
 
 years, 4875 
 
 Sundries, 31 12 
 
 2},625 9 
 Balance, 15,327 14 10 
 
 Sa. Rs. 35,952 15 7 
 
Dr. 
 
 TRANSLATION FUND, April 30, 1818. 
 
 Cr. 
 
 RrcEiPTs. 
 
 Is 
 
 J. P. 
 
 V,\ Balance, • . 
 
 15,?.27 
 
 11 10 
 
 Mrs. Webberly, . . 
 
 . lUO 
 
 
 
 iSiLile Society, . . . 
 
 8000 
 
 
 
 D.tto ditto, . . . . 
 
 8000 
 
 
 
 A Fneid, .... 
 
 . 100 
 
 
 
 Bii^duce of Interebt, 
 
 . 1151 
 
 13 1 
 
 Sa. Rs. 32,679 11 11 
 
 Disbursements. /?5. A. P. 
 
 To Pundits' Wages, . 13,533 2 
 Chinese writers, cutters, 
 
 and paper, . • . 1561 5 6 
 
 Mall rat ta Haj^ioRrapha, 2000 
 
 Slukh Pentateuch, . 30u0 
 
 SMn^'skrito Ha^^noi^rapha, 200 ) 
 
 Hindee Prophets, . . 30 
 
 Bindiug to April 30lh, . 582 5 
 
 25,676 10 8 
 
 Balance, 7003 1 3 
 
 Sa. [is. 32,679 ll U 
 
 Dr. 
 
 TRANSLATION FUND, Aphil 80, 1819. 
 
 Cr. 
 
 Receipts. Hs. A- P. 
 
 By Balance, .... 7003 i 3 
 
 268 Dollars trom Ameri- 
 ca, 547 G 
 
 Money collected in Enj?- 
 land fiom Oct. 1814, to 
 Sc^pt.? 817, =£5189 4 2 
 Exihaufje at Vs7d. and 
 2«. 8d. the Rupee, 39,090 10 3 
 
 Sa. r:s. 47,241 1 6 
 
 Disbursements. Ps. A P. 
 To Pundits' Wa^es, . 15,658 
 Chinese writers, cutters, 
 
 and paper, . . . 1841 14 4 
 C'harjres Extraordinary, 59 2 3 
 l^indinjr, ..... 1201 
 Mahratta Prophets, . SOOU 
 Slukh Historical Books, 3000 
 4000 copies of the Four 
 
 Gospels in Hindee, . 3250 
 lO^.O copies ot"Mattlievv& 
 
 Mark in Beu<i;alee, Mr. 
 
 Ellerton's translation, 750 
 Matthew in the Roman 
 
 Malay 500 copies, . 300 
 Advance on the Assam, 
 
 Telaij^a, KwnkMnaand 
 
 Pnshtoo Pentateuchs, 7000 
 Iutercst,Comuiis&ion,i>i.c. :iS3 1 9 
 
 36,112 2 4 
 Balance, 10,7i)8 15 2 
 
 Sa, Hi. 47,241 
 
Dr. 
 
 TRANSLATION FUIs'D, April 3J, 1820. 
 
 Cr, 
 
 Receipts. l>'s. A. P 
 By Balance, . . . 10,798 15 2 
 Received from the Cor- 
 responding- Committee 
 of tiie Bible Society, 17,839 6 
 
 Sa. Rs. 28,638 5 2 
 
 Disbursements. Ps. A. P. 
 
 To Pundits' Wages . Ii,6l7 9 d 
 
 Chinese writers, cutters, 
 paper, postage, &c. . 863 IS 
 
 Printin*; lOOJ Arabic 
 Malay Matthew, . . 500 
 
 Binding 500 ditto in lea- 
 ther and 500 in boards, 625 
 
 Printing 3000 copies of 
 Mr. Cfiamberlain's Hin- 
 dee Four Gospels, . 2,690 
 
 Interest on money bor- 
 rowed, 943 14 7 
 
 Coniiuission on disburse- 
 ments, 263 9 
 
 Balance, 
 
 50,413 14 4 
 8,224 a 10 
 
 Sa, li$. i:8,638 5 2 
 
4B21 Tfl 7211 
 
 J J -5-95 32180 FS 
 
Princeton Theological Semir 
 
 1 1012 01114 1225 
 
 DATE DUE 1 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GAYLORD 
 
 
 
 PRINTED IN USA