Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

COMMUNICATION.

BATH, (Maine) MAY 19, 1814.

We congratulate the religious public, and indeed our Country, that a quantity of English and Dutch Bibles and Testaments, taken in the Falcon among the goods; this day sold at auction, have been exempted from the ordinary disposition of captured property. They were shipped to the Cape of Good Hope by that munificent and truly Christian Institution, "The British and Foreign Bible Society." Messrs. Crowningshield & Son, of Salem, are owners of the privateer America, which captured the Falcon and sent her into this port. Every facility was afforded by these gentlemen to the design of purchasing the books for "The Bible Society of Massachusetts," in order that they might proceed on their destination. And we record it to the honor of the several owners, and of the gentlemen, who attended the sale, that, with exemplary liberality, no attempt whatever was made to enhance the price, when it was understood that the books were to be purchased by the Bible Society. We observe with pleasure this decorous respect for the motives and labors of members of our beneficent Institution. It will encourage them to persevere—and the issue may yet be, that, amidst all the contentions of a quarrelsome world, and their eager pursuit of wealth, the meek and benevolent disciple of Jesus will feel animated to entertain and pursue his object, confident that his fellow men are convinced he aims at their welfare.

At this sale, while the pound sterling of the Invoice in some cases brought twenty dollars, the Bibles were purchased for only twenty cents on the sterling pound—a sum barely sufficient to legalize the bidding. We repeat, with high satisfaction & gratitude, that this transaction affords a laudable example in all cases, which may occur, wherein property of a destination and nature so peculiarly sacred and interesting, is by events of war placed at the disposal of American cruisers or their owners. Five hundred Dutch and four hundred English Bibles with three hundred Testaments are thus renewedly consecrated to the employment of spreading the knowledge of the way of life in the southern extremity of Africa.