The annual meeting of this society was held in the Hall of the Mechanics' Institution on November 5th, 1849. His Honor Charles Joseph La Trobe, Esq. in the chair.

The Report presented by the Secretary showed that the Society had been the means of circulating the word of God to an increased extent during the year, no less than 1,223 copies having been sold by it; a great portion of this number, viz. 718 copies, had been disposed of by the agent, who is employed by this Society in going from station to station through the Bush, and selling to all who are willing to become purchasers, copies of the Bible for the same prices that they can be obtained in Melbourne. By this means, the seed of the truth has been sown among a large number of persons, who could not otherwise have been provided with copies of the written word, and through God's blessing we may hope that many souls will be thus rescued from that gross ignorance of God which is, alas! so prevalent among us.

The employment of the agent has been attended with considerable expense; his horse, cart, salary, &c. have cost, during the year £92 0s. 11d. while the subscriptions have only amounted to £83 7s. 8d.; the Bishop was however, enabled to appropriate £20, to supply the deficiency, from the proceeds of a grant of Bibles, which was placed at his Lordship's disposal by the parent society on his departure from England.

A collection was also made at the meeting amounting to £28 11s. 9d., and great confidence was expressed by the different speakers, that such liberal assistance would be obtained from the public, as would enable the society, not only to continue the labours of its present agent, but probably to employ another. The necessity for and value of such agency is admitted on all hands, for it is a lamentable fact that there are many families in the Bush, and even in the towns and villages of our adopted country, who do not possess a Bible, and who are so indifferent to that knowledge which is able to make them wise unto salvation, that they do not take any trouble to obtain possession of one until, by God's blessing, some Christian visitor, or the Bible agent brings the matter before them, and is thus made the instrument in God's hand of leading them, not only to possess, but also to read the holy word of God.

The tenth anniversary meeting of this Society was held at the Hall of the Mechanics' Institution on Monday evening: His Honor Charles Joseph La trobe, Esq., Superintendent of the Province, who has long been Patron of the Society, in the Chair. The proceedings having been commenced with prayer offered by the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Melbourne, the Secretary read the Report. After some preliminary remarks, it was stated that such success had attended the operations of the Society, and so large had been the demand for the Scriptures, that the considerable stock possessed at the commencement of the year had been nearly exhausted, and it had become necessary to apply to Hobart Town for additional copies.

- The three orders sent to London during the previous year, to the number of 2637 copies had been fulfilled; this supply, however, included 200 German Bibles and 20 Chinese Testaments, which had been sent as a grant from the Parent Society. Speaking of the operation of the Society in this Colony the Report proceeds: - "The Bible agent, Mr. Brian Abbey, continued his labours for the first half of the past year. He visited Seymour, proceeded onward to the Broken River, and then to the Ovens River during the month of January. He proceeded to Albury during February, and finding his stock too much decreased to continue his journey, he returned to Melbourne in another direction. In May, he reported that he had journied in furtherance of his work to Kilmore, to the Campaspie, and to the Murray River, visiting station after station, till about 30 miles from Swan Hill, a journey extending to 240 miles. During the month of July, he advanced to the Swan Hill and returned by the River Loddon, Mount Macedon, and so back to Melbourne. On his return your agent deemed it desirable, for the sake of his family, to resign his office. As the stock of Bibles remaining with us was low, your committee deferred for the present to fill his place."

"In Melbourne, at the general depot and the Church of England depot, sales have been effected to the number of 869 copies, at a value of £70 18s. 8 1/2d. The sales of the Bible agent have been 449 copies, at a value of £22 1s. 6d. During the year large orders were sent to London, in number, 929 Bibles and 1,500 Testaments, at an estimated value of £335 2s. 6d. The committee remitted three drafts to the amount of £200, to meet the orders sent to London and £37 0s. 2d. also has been paid to the Hobart Town Auxiliary, for the supply obtained from them. The whole issue of Bibles during the past year is 2038. The stock at present on hand is 1418 Bibles and 649 Testaments."

From the Treasurer's account it appeared that the income of the society was as follows: -

By Balance of preceeding year £32 13s. 4½d.

By Collection at public meeting £17 12s. 9½d.
By Donation from his Honor C. J. La Trobe, Esq. £10 0s. 0d.
By Proceeds of a grant by the British and Foreign Bible Society to the Lord Bishop of Melbourne and handed over to this Auxiliary £20 0s. 0d.
By Sales by the Rev. A. Morison £1 2s. 2d.
By Sales by the Depository £26 19s. 11½.
By Sales by the Bible agent, &c. £23 1s. 6d.
By Sales of the Church of England Book Depot £43 18s. 9d.
By Sales by Schools £8 13s. 0d.
By Remitted Portland Bay £24 0s. 0d.
By Remitted Geelong £25 2s. 5d.
By Sale of Horse £8 0s. 0d.
By Subscriptions £85 18s. 6d.

Total £327 2s. 5½d.

The expenditure £301 5s. 4½d.

Leaving a balance of £25 17s. 1d.

The Report concluded with an abstract of the last Report of the Parent Society. This we have already referred to in our notice of the annual meeting of the Society in London, in the Messenger for November.

The following resolutions were then unanimously passed: -

1. "That the Report now read be adopted."

2. "That the meeting, while it rejoices in the extended diffusion of the Bible throughout the world, as shown by the report of the Parent Society, would express its peculiar interest in the exertions which have been made and are now making, for the circulation of the word of God in Italy."

3. "That this meeting reverently recognises the necessity for the Holy Spirit's influences to give effect to the Word, and the obligation of Christians everywhere to pray for an enlarged bestowment of his grace."

4. "That this meeting records its unabated attachment to the Catholic principle upon which the British and Foreign Bible Society is based; and appoints the following officers and committee to conduct the affairs of this Auxiliary Bible Society for Victoria, during the ensuing year.

Patron - His Honor C. J. La Trobe.
President - The Right Rev. Lord Bishop of Melbourne.
Vice-Presidents - Rev. James Clow and Captain Lonsdale.
Treasurer - Robert Smith, Esq.
Secretaries - Rev. Daniel Newham, Rev. Alexander Morison, and Mr. Andrew Ross.
Committee - Messrs. J. W. Bell, H. Budge, W. Baker, S. Crook, Carnaby, J. Dinwoodie, J. Guthrie, N. Guthridge, John Lush, A. Langlands, Germain Nicholson, J. R. Pascoe, H. Patterson, R. Willan, and Dr. Wilkie."

5. "That this meeting respectfully acknowledges the kindness of His Honor C. J. La trobe, in occupying the chair upon this occasion, and trusts that the divine blessing will continue to rest upon this institution, of which he is the patron."

His Honor then returned thanks, after which the Secretary stated that the collection made in the Room amounted to £18 16s., and the meeting closed with singing the Doxology. The large Hall of the Mechanics' Institution was completely filled with a respectable and attentive audience.