"The chronology of the patriarchal ages, computed from the sums of years recorded in Genesis, is a point of considerable importance in all collations of the Hebrew text, especially since the Hebrew, Samaritan, and Greek copies are found to differ so much in the computation of time; and consequently, have given rise to several discordant systems. The only hopes of discovering the true and original reckoning, have been placed in he supposed existence of manuscripts differing from those hitherto known; and hence an Oriental copy of the Hebrew Pentateuch has long been a desideratum. The Indian Roll contains the entire text of Genesis, which is sufficient for the purpose; and its derivation from Jews of very early settlement in India, (perhaps the remnant of the ancient dispersions in the time of Nebuchadnezzar) determines this to be an Oriental copy in every sense of the word, and its testimony in this respect must be interesting. The question is, Does this copy agree with the Western Hebrew copies, in the sums of years recorded in Genesis?—the answer is declared in the affirmative; and is a fact of that importance, that the entire text of those verses has been accurately and faithfully copied from the Roll, and inserted in the Collation, for the satisfaction of the learned."

"Dr. Kennicott was solicitous for copies of the Hebrew Scriptures from the Jews of India and China. He notes a very ancient copy of the Pentateuch at CAI-FONG-FU, in the province of HO-NAN, mentioned by Le Long, Bibleoth. cap. 2; and to enrich his collations with so great a treasure, he corresponded with persons of great weight and influence both at Madras and Canton, to which latter place he sent a copy of Vander Hooght's Bible, with hopes, at least, of a collation; but it appears his laudable endeavors proved fruitless in those remote countries. The discovery of an Indian copy of the Hebrew Pentateuch was reserved for the eventful period of the nineteenth century, and for a Discoverer, (guided, as it were, by an apostolic spirit, to the very place where it had been reserved from time immemorial,) the excellent CLAUDIUS BUCHANAN, whose track led him also to the discovery of Syriac manuscripts of the Old and New Testament, no less important to sacred literature."

"The Collation was made at the desire and charge of the Donor of the manuscript, the Rev. Dr. C. BUCHANAN, and at the recommendation of the Rev. Dr. MARSH, Margaret Professor of Divinity, and other learned gentlemen of the University." Dr. Marsh, having examined the manuscript, and Mr. Yeates's Collation, gave the following opinion in a Note:

"A MANUSCRIPT Roll, of the Hebrew Pentateuch, apparently of some antiquity, and found among the Black Jews in the interior of India, must be regarded at least as a literary curiosity, deserving the attention of the learned in general. And as this manuscript appears, on comparison, to have no important deviation from our common printed Hebrew text, it is of still greater value to a theologian, as it affords an additional argument for the integrity of the Pentateuch." After a further illustration of the subject, Dr. Marsh adds: "the manuscript appears for these reasons to merit particular attention. A description and collation of it therefore must certainly interest every biblical scholar."

Mr. Yeates makes grateful acknowledgments to the Syndics of the University Press, for printing the Collation, as well for his benefit, as for the cause of Biblical Literature. In this connection, we are reminded of our obligations to Mr. Yeates for the Collation, and to the University of Cambridge for its reception on this side of the Atlantic.-Before the publication of the RESEARCHES, I had exchanged letters with Dr. Buchanan on the subject of his Inquiries in India. On the 18th of November, 1811,

I informed him, that his "Memoir" and his "Researches," had been reprinted in America, and were attracting that attention and exciting that interest among the numerous readers in our country, which writings of so philanthropic, pious, and literary a character may justly claim. In this letter I observed, that, of all his discoveries no one had so strongly arrested my attention and excited my curiosity, as the "Old Copy of the Books of Moses, written on a Roll of leather," found among the Black Jews in the interior country of India; that no sooner did I learn, by his Appendix to the "Star in the East," that he had discovered such an ancient manuscript copy of the Pentateuch, than I exclaimed with Archimedes, Evonxa; that his pleasure, in this discovery, ought as much to have exceeded that of the philosopher of Syracuse, as the value of religious exceeds the value of mathematical truth. "If this manuscript "-it was subjoined-" should throw light on the most ancient parts of the Holy Scriptures, or if it merely confirm the correctness of the Hebrew Bible from which our version was made, it will render an important service to the cause of truth and of our holy religion. In one of the Notes, which, as editor of the American edition, I affixed to the Memoir, a presumption was expressed, that this manuscript was in the Buchanan Collection at the University of Cambridge. It is very highly gratifying to be assured of this fact, as we now are, by a Note in your Researches, and especially to learn, that the collation of this Roll of the Pentateuch is now finished, and is to be printed at the expense of the University. The publication will do great honor to that venerable seminary. In the mean time, in the apprehension that we may not obtain a copy of this work in America, or, if we should, in consideration of the peculiar advantages with which its readings may be compared with those of Vander Hooght, Kennicott, and with the Septuagint, Samaritan, and other versions by the Oriental scholars formed under your auspices at Cambridge, I take the liberty to solicit the favor, that you would procure such a comparison to be made, and honor me with a communication of the result. All I would presume to ask is, that a comparison of the text in your manuscript be made with other copies, in the passages pointed out by president Stiles, in his Letter to Sir William Jones, for the purpose of ascertaining the patriarchal chronology. Not knowing what are the conditions of the proposed publication of the Roll of the Pentateuch, you will pardon me, Sir, for inquiring what those conditions are, and whether our Universities may yet become subscribers to the work; as also for respectfully suggesting whether (if it be too late for subscription) these Universities, particularly the Universities of Harvard, in Cambridge (Mass), and of Yale, in New Haven (Conn.), the two oldest and most respectable Seminaries in New England, may each be honored with a copy as a donation. It certainly would be most gratefully received, and diligently examined; for, much as we are in our infancy in letters and arts, the oriental languages are considerably attended to among us, and the study of Biblical Literature has of late become sensibly revived. . . . It may be grateful to you, Sir, to be informed, that since the first impression of your Memoir in February last, a second edition has been printed; that the profits of the American editions, both of this work and of the Researches, are devoted to the benefit of the Natives of India; that contributions are going forward in our country for the translation of the Bible into the languages of the East; and that several young men from our Universities have devoted themselves to the Indian mission.-Believing that the cause in which you are engaged is the cause of truth, and that it will prevail, and praying that you may live to witness the celebration of the Christian rites at the

temple of Juggernaut, and holy sacrifices and a pure offering presented at the now sanguinary and polluted altars of Moloch, and that the blessings of millions ready to perish may come upon you, I am, Sir, with great consideration and respect, Your obedient," &c.

In a letter dated "Kirby Hall, Borobridge, Yorkshire, 31 December, 1811," Dr. Buchanan wrote, that he had had a slight stroke of paralysis in his right hand, which made it painful for him to write; but he very obligingly made answer to my last letter. "It gives me much satisfaction to hear that my Researches and Memoir are published in America for the benefit of the Translations in India. I shall request the University of Cambridge to present a copy of the Hebrew Collations (to which you refer) to the Universities of Harvard and Yale, America, as soon as they are published, which is not yet the case. They will be left at Messrs. Cadell & Davies, Strand, London, to await your order."

The copies were accordingly sent for, and at length procured and presented to the two Colleges. A Note of acknowledgment was received from the President of Harvard, inclosing the following Vote:

"At a meeting of the Corporation of Harvard College, Nov. 28, 1815, “The President laid before the Board a letter from the Rev. Dr. Holmes, which was accompanied by the late edition of Yeates's Collation of the Indian Copy of the Hebrew Pentateuch, just received from Cadell & Davies, with whom it had been deposited to be delivered to the order of Dr. Holmes, but in consequence of the war had not been obtained till now. It appears that we are indebted for this work to the University of Cambridge, England, at the instance of the late Rev. Dr. Claudius Buchanan, Dr. Holmes having in a letter to Dr. Buchanan, soon after the issuing of Proposals for printing the Collation, expressed a desire that our University might have a copy, either by subscribing or by receiving it as a donationVoted, That the thanks of the Corporation be presented to Dr. Holmes for his provident kindness in taking effectual measures to procure for our public Library this interesting work; and also that the thanks of this Board be given to the University of Cambridge, England, for their valuable donation, with the expression of our high respect.

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PROFESSOR KINGSLEY, in a sketch of the History of Yale College, lately published in the American Quarterly Register, takes notice of the Collation of the Hebrew copy of the Pentateuch presented to the Library of that College, of which he is Librarian. He also commemorates the antiquarian President, who seemed to anticipate, though he did not live to witness, the discovery of the manuscript in the very place which he indicated. Having mentioned the letter of Dr. Stiles to Sir William Jones, and the intended answer by Sir John Shore, he remarks: "It deserves to be here stated, that the opinion of President Stiles, as to the existence of such a manuscript, was afterwards fully confirmed." After mentioning Dr. Buchanan's discovery of the Hebrew copy of the Pentateuch in the recordchest of one of the synagogues of the black Jews in the interior of Malayala, its Collation by Mr. Yeates, and its publication at the University press at Cambridge in England, he adds-"a copy of it was sent to Yale College Library." The worthy professor never lost sight of this subject. In a recent letter to me, he writes: "I have often, when looking at this volume, thought of the high gratification which the sight of it would have given President Stiles, and the enthusiasm with which he would have run over its

pages. It will remain a memorial of the literary sagacity of one, to whom this College is deeply indebted, and a respect for whom will always be increased in proportion as his character is understood."

JAMES WINTHROP, Esq. for many years Librarian of Harvard College, a learned antiquary, was highly gratified by the perusal of Yeates's Collation soon after its reception. On this occasion he wrote to me: "I return Yeates's Collation with

many thanks. It appears to agree wonderfully with the printed Hebrew text. The confirmation is strong, and the agreement of chronology establishes that point."

DECREASE OF POPULATION IN HEATHEN NATIONS.

[Communicated by a Missionary at the Sandwich Islands.]

I WISH to direct the attention of the Christian public to the distressing fact, that heathen nations decrease rapidly before the march of civilization; to assign some causes for the fact, and to speak of the influence which a fact of this kind should exert on the conduct of Christians.

No one at all conversant with history or acquainted with heathen nations, will deny that such is the fact. Look at South America. Where is her once numerous population? Gone, gone forever! Where are the former occupants of the West Indies? Perished,-swept as with the besom of destruction. And how is it with the once numerous tribes who lined the shores of the Atlantic, where she washes what is now called New England? Where are the warriors who once spread terror through the whole country, or who hunted their game where smiling villages with their numerous, busy population are now seen? Not a vestige remains of them to show the traveller where once they kindled their council-fires, or lay in ambush to surprise and destroy their unsuspecting foe. And I surely need not ask, what are the prospects of the remaining tribes of Indians at the West and South! Thrust from the ranks of civilized nations, when about to assume the only standing which could prevent their irretrievable ruin, and trodden to the dust by the very men who had sworn to protect them, the heart of every Christian and philanthropist in the land bleeds in anticipation of their speedy and utter extinction! So at the Sandwich islands, and other islands of the Pacific where men from Christian countries have commenced the work of civilization. Two, at the lowest computation-I think three-die, where one is born; and full half who are born, die before they reach the age of three years. And this mortality obtains where means of civilization are most abundant. A member of this mission in a recent visit to Tahiti saw a missionary of the London Missionary Society, who had labored a few years on one of the Friendly islands, unfrequented by men from other countries, and he stated the increase to be as two to four, or as great as the decrease at Tahiti, and the Sandwich islands. Wherever civilization has gone to the aid of the heathen, professedly to raise them from their degradation, they have sickened at her approach, and her embrace has been to them the embrace of death. Did heathen nations know the result of their intercourse with men from lands professedly Christian, they would cry out like the Ekronites on the approach of the ark of God-would flee from contact with men of other countries as they would avoid the plague.

But why is it so? Why should the heathen shrink away and die at the approach of civilization? Most certainly there is no necessity that such should be the result. The heathen are ignorant, and uncivilized, and they need the aid of civilization, and they might derive incalculable benefit by their intercourse with men from Christian countries. The cause, then, why they derive no benefit from such intercourse, must be sought in the character of foreigners who visit them, and in the course they have seen proper to pursue.

One reason why the intercourse of foreigners with heathen nations has proved so disastrous, may be found in the fact, that the wants of the heathen have in consequence greatly increased, while the facilities for supplying those wants have been withheld. Merchants visit uncivilized nations and make a display of their trinkets and goods; others land on their shores and build houses, and purchase horses, and live after the style of their own country. The people see the superiority of the method of living adopted by their visitors, and they pine for these untried gratifications. Still, even if they may contrive to obtain these foreign commodities for a season, they cannot be said to derive benefit, permanent benefit, unless they are put in a way to supply their own wants. But those who profess to desire the civilization of the heathen, are not forward to teach them the arts and usages of civilized life. They would keep them in ignorance, would render them dependent that they might the more easily take advantage of their necessities. How was it with the Cherokee and Choctaw tribes of Indians? While they continued their savage mode of life, were roving in their habits, idle, and intemperate, and of course, wasting away, little fear was expressed as to their influence on the community around them; they might indeed be vicious, and idle, and improvident, but they were a surer prey to the harpies who hovered about them, ready to seize and bear away the last pittance in their possession. But no sooner did these tribes cease their wandering habits, and resolve on cultivating their soil, and becoming skilled in the arts and usages of civilized life, than they were compelled to feel the iron hand of oppression wresting from them their all, and driving them naked into the wilderness. And I aver that this is the very spirit with which Christians have approached heathen nations.

But the chief reason why the intercourse of foreigners with heathen nations has proved so disastrous, is found in the fact, that many of them have introduced almost every vice which can disgrace and ruin soul and body, while they scarcely practise a single virtue before the heathen. This is a most affecting truth. Multitudes-not of the lower classes of society only-but men who would be thought gentlemen, intelligent, and honorable, and who may have occupied a high rank in society at home-I say, multitudes of these men no sooner land on heathen shores, than they plunge headlong into scenes of dissipation; wallow in the slough of sinful indulgence. The miseries thus entailed upon the heathen are shocking beyond description, and are nearly irremediable. To specify,-look at the Sandwich islands. For fifteen years the gospel has been preached at these islands, and every means employed to heal the maladies of the soul and body. Yet, after all, notwithstanding the force of example in their teachers, notwithstanding medical assistance and instruction to parents in rearing their children, notwithstanding every agency we can bring to bear upon the people, and notwithstanding the favorable changes which have actually taken place among them, the people are not healed; disease and death are not prevented; the people continue to decrease. why? Disease has contaminated their blood; the seat of life is tainted,

And