primary object, as it most certainly ought to be in instructing immortal beings, it needs no proof, for it is self-evident. However, I beg your attention for a moment to the following particulars, making no apology for the great length of this letter, as you desired me to be particular.-1. The time necessary to teach them to read the Bible in their vernacular language is so short, not exceeding six months in general, that it is a great pity not to give them the key immediately which unlocks all the doors, and lays open all the divine treasures before them. Teaching them English requires two or three years' time, during which long period they are concerned only about dry terms, without receiving one idea for their improvement.-2. Welsh words convey ideas to their infant minds as soon as they can read them, which is not the case when they are taught to read a language they do not understand.-3. When they can read Welsh, scriptural terms become intelligible and familiar to them, so as to enable them to understand the discourse delivered in that language (the language in general preached through the Principality;*) which, of course, must prove more profitable than if they could not read at all, or read only the English language.-4. Previous instruction in their native tongue helps them to learn English much sooner, instead of proving in any degree an inconveniency. This I have had repeated proofs of, and can confidently vouch for the truth of it. I took this method of instructing my own children, with the view of convincing the country of the fallacy of the general notion which prevailed to the contrary; and I have persuaded others to follow my plan, which, without one exception, has proved the truth of what I conceived to be really the case.-5. Having acquired new ideas by reading a language they understand, excitement is naturally produced to seek for knowledge; and as our ancient language is very deficient in the means of instruction, there being few useful books printed in it, a desire to learn English, yea, and other languages also, is excited, for the sake of increasing their stock of ideas, and adding to their fund of knowledge. I can vouch for the truth of it, that there are twenty to one who can now read English to what could when the Welsh was entirely neglected. The knowledge of the English is become necessary, from the treasures contained in it. English books are now generally called for;

*What a contrast, I may add, to the present state of Ireland!

there are now a hundred books, I am sure, for every one that was in the country when I removed from England, and first became a resident in these parts. English schools are everywhere called for, and I have been obliged to send young men to English schools, to be trained up for English teachers, that I might be able, in some degree, to answer the general demand for them. In short, the whole country is in a manner emerging from a state of great ignorance and ferocious barbarity to civilization and piety, and that principally by means of the Welsh schools. Bibles without end are called for, and read diligently, learned out by heart, and searched into with unwearied assiduity and care. Instead of vain amusements, dancing, card-playing, interludes, quarrelling, and barbarous and most cruel fightings, we have now prayer-meetings, our congregations are crowded, and public catechising is become pleasant, familiar, and profitable. One great means of this blessed change has been the Welsh schools.-6. By teaching the Welsh first, we prove to them that we are principally concerned about their souls, and thereby naturally impress their minds with the vast importance of acquiring the knowledge of divine truths, in which the way of salvation, our duty to God and man, is revealed; whereas that most important point is totally out of sight by teaching them English; for the acquisition of the English is connected only with their temporal concerns, and which they may never want, for they may, as the majority do, die in infancy. In my opinion, in the education of children, it is of the utmost importance, in the first place, to impress their minds with a sense that they are candidates for another world, and that the things pertaining to their eternal felicity there are of infinitely greater importance to them, than the little concerns which belong to our short existence. The neglect of this is, I apprehend, a very great defect in the education of children.

"What I have put down here is, I apprehend, equally applicable to the Irish and the Highlanders as to the Welsh. Praying for your success, I am, yours respectfully," &c.

In the course of the same year in which the above letter was written, Mr Charles turned his attention to the importance of establishing adult schools, of which I had the pleasure to receive the following notice, dated the 18th of December, 1811

"I am much obliged to you for your kind favour received by this day's post, and I rejoice at the persevering efforts made to teach the poor Highlanders. The schools go on

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here with increasing success, and the effects of them in many parts of the country are visible, in the increase of the knowledge of the sacred Scriptures, and melioration of the morals of the plebeians in general.

"I have of late turned my attention more than ever to the aged illiterate people in our country. On minute inquiries I find there are very many who cannot read, and of course are very ignorant, though I had before given general exhortations on that head, and invited them to attend the schools, but with very little success. At last I determined to try what effect a school exclusively for themselves would have. I fixed upon a district, where I had been informed that most of the inhabitants above fifty years of age could not read, and I prevailed on a friend to promise to attend to teach them. I went there after a previous publication being given of my coming; published the school, and exhorted them all to attend. My friend went there, and eighteen attended the first Sunday. He found them in a state of most deplorable ignorance. By condescension, patience, and kindness, he soon engaged them to learn, and their desire for learning soon became as great as any we have seen among the young people. They had their little elementary books with them whilst at work, and met in the evenings of their own accord to teach one another. Their school is now increased to eighty persons, and some of them read their Testaments, though it is not three months since the school commenced. Children are excluded from this school; but we have another school for them. The rumour of the success of this school has spread abroad, and has greatly removed the discouragement which old people felt from attempting to learn, from the general persuasion that they could not learn at their age. This has been practically proved to be false; for old persons of seventy-five years of age have learnt to read in this school, to their great joy. Several other similar institutions have been set up since, and promise similar success."-_*

*In the last letter with which I was favoured from this indefatigable man, he says, "The tidings respecting the charity schools are favourable, and our schools are more crowded than ever with adults as well as children." "I have to lament much that I have in a degree spent half my time, though very busy, yet not in that line in which I see now most good might have been done. Now my strength begins to fail me for great exertion. Last summer (1813) I was laid aside for two months by great debility of body, owing, my doctors say, to over-exertion. Through mercy I am considerably recovered, but still incapable of pursuing my usual labours with that assiduity and exertion I used to do." During the following spring, Mr Charles often said, while superintending an edition of the Welsh Scriptures, As soon as I have finished this, I shall be content to lay my head on my pillow and die." This work was finished on the 19th of August, and Mr Charles died on Wednesday morning, the 5th of October, 1814.

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MANKS.-If it had in any instance been practicable directly to abolish a colloquial dialect in Britain, one might have expected to have witnessed success within the very narrow limits of the Isle of Mann; and, indeed, about the year 1740, it was confidently affirmed that the ancient Bishop of Sodor and Mann (Wilson) had found means to bring the Manks into disuse." How this assertion came to be made, what it could possibly mean, or with whom it originated, I cannot ascertain, but it was certainly far from the truth. On the contrary, the Manks is such an interesting case, and one so much in point, that I make no apology for inserting some account of it here in reply.

Even so early as the beginning of the seventeenth century, J. Philips, a Welshman, and Bishop of Mann, is said to have translated the Scriptures into Manks; but if he did, no remnant of his translation was known in the last century. It certainly was never printed, though the book of CommonPrayer, by him, in manuscript, was then extant. But, notwithstanding the confident assertion already quoted, so far was Bishop Wilson from being accessary to such an idea, that the first book ever printed in Manks was by him, and of his composition-his "Principles and Duties of Christianity," in Manks and English, published so early as 1699. Indeed the two individuals who are now quoted by way of eminence, as the Bishops of Sodor and Mann, are Bishops Wilson and Hildesley; and it is certain that, with the former, the Manks translation of the Scriptures originated, and under the latter it was completed.

The translation of the New Testament, in particular, into Manks, was first concerted in 1722, between Bishop Wilson and Dr William Walker, one of his vicars, while they were wrongously imprisoned in the gaol of Castle Rushen by the governor of the island; and under their direction the Gospel of Matthew was completed and printed. The other Evangelists, with the Acts, were left prepared for the press by this venerable man, who was fifty-eight years Bishop of the Island, and died, in 1755, at the very advanced age of ninetythree. Of the parts now mentioned, Dr Walker was the translator.

The principal place, however, is due to Dr Mark Hildesley, Bishop of Mann, who succeeded him. Immediately upon entering on his charge, the translation of the whole Scriptures was taken up by Dr H. with the deepest solicitude and ardour. The number of translators employed may serve of itself as one evidence of his zeal in his cause. The

Old Testament remaining untranslated, he divided it into 24 parts, which were first given to 24 different persons, viz. his vicar-general, archdeacon, rector, a chaplain,* fourteen vicars, four curates, and one gentleman, who seems to have had no clerical appointment. These were all resident in the island: the twenty-fourth individual, to whom the minor prophets were committed, was one of the episcopal ministers in Edinburgh at that time, the Rev. William Fitzsimmons. The work, thus far completed, was then committed to the care of Dr Moore and Dr Kelly, after-mentioned.

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Dr Hildesley himself applied with great assiduity to the Manks, and succeeded so far as to conduct the public service in what the islanders called “ very pretty Manks.” “I would give five hundred pounds," said he, were I enough master of it to be able to translate, and I believe I shall give half as much to promote the improvement of it in those who can. Having applied with success to the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, and secured, through his own zealous exertions, the liberal aid of various other persons,for which he was good-naturedly called the mendicant Bishop,-it was not long before the Gospels and the Acts were ready and circulated. Upon which the Bishop writes to Mr Moore, after-mentioned," the vast eagerness and joy with which the first specimen has been received and sought for, have amply convinced me of the utility of the undertaking, had I had no previous persuasion in my own mind of the real benefit it must needs be to the souls of the far greater part of the people of my charge." As this good man proceeded, his ardour continued to increase; and no wonder, for it met with many things which were well calculated to promote it. My whole heart," said he to a correspondent," is set on Manks translations." Hic labor, hoc opus est. A poor woman in this parish, upon her son's reading a chapter to her, cried out with great exultation, "We have sat in darkness (dorraghys) till now.'

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In this design, however, Dr H. had to encounter both ridicule and indifference, if not opposition; as indeed all have had to do, in a greater or less degree, who have endeavoured to promote the translation and circulation of the Scriptures in any of the Celtic or Iberian dialects. None of these things moved him, however, as appears in his letter of the 21st Dec. 1763, to Mr Moore. Now, Sir, in answer

Not the Bishop's chaplain, for he is recorded never to have kept one, but officiated himself, every Sabbath, in his own chapel.