sburg in consequence of the duty which you have been pleased to
confide to my hands, namely, that of editing at the Russian capital the
New Testament in the Mandchou language which has been translated by Mr.
Lipoftsoff, at present Councillor of State and Chinese Translator at that
place, but formerly one of the members of the Russian mission at Pekin.
On my arrival, before entering upon this highly important and difficult
task, I, in obedience to your command, assisted Mr. Swan, the missionary
from Selinginsk, to complete a transcript which he had commenced some
time previous of a manuscript translation of the principal part of the
Old Testament into Mandchou executed by Puerot, who, originally a Jesuit
emissary at Pekin, passed the latter years of his life in the service of
the Russian mission in the capacity of physician. The united labours of
Mr. Swan and myself speedily brought the task in question to a
conclusion, so that the transcript has for a considerable time been in
the possession of the Bible Society. I will here take the liberty of
offering a few remarks upon this translation; but as the work is not at
the present moment before me, it is impossible to enter upon a critical
and minute examination of its merits. Nevertheless, having either
transcribed or at various times perused it, I have formed a general
opinion concerning it which, though very probably a faulty one, I shall
lay before you in a few words, which at any future time I hope you will
permit me to recall, if fresh lights upon the subject compel me to
believe that my original conclusion was an erroneous one; having no doubt
that those who are embarked in so noble a cause as the propagation of The
Great Truth, will be at all times willing to excuse error when confessed,
as by the confession of error the truth becomes more glaringly manifest.

The merits of this translation are, upon the whole, of a very high order;
but it would be an untruth and an absurdity to say that it does not
exhibit defects and blemishes of a striking and peculiar kind--peculiar,
from the singular fact that those portions of the original which, being
narrative are exceedingly simple as to idea and style, have been
invariably rendered in a manner the most liable to censure, exhibiting
not only a slovenly carelessness in regard to diction, but not
unfrequently a disregard of accuracy when the slightest particle of
attention was only necessary to render the meaning which the s