blishing twenty more, to contain 2500. In September, 1817, the number of Scholars on the books was 2900, and the general attendance 2465. Vizagapatam, a town on the sea coast of the Northern Circars, 483 miles from Madras, and 557 from Calcutta-1805-John Gordon, Edward Pritchett, James Dawson.-In this Station, first formed in 1805, by Messrs. Cran and Des Granges, Messrs. Gordon and Prichett have successfully laboured; as did Mr. Lee, afterwards settled at Ganjam, but since returned to Europe for the recovery of his health. Mr. Dawson joined his associates in 1815.---Mr. Prichett has finished his translation of the New Testament into Telinga, or Teloogoo. It is adopted by the Calcutta Bible Society, and highly spoken of in its Seventh Report. ---Mr. Prichett arrived at Madras, in March, to superintend an edition of 2000 copies. Bellary, a town in the Mysore---1810---John Hands, William Reeve, Joseph Taylor.---There are seven Native Schools at this Station, containing about 300 children. The Scriptures are taught in them all. It is intended to establish more. The translation of the Scriptures into Canaara is proceeding; and will be completed, it is hoped, in two or three years. The Calcutta Bible Society has granted 1000 rupees in aid of this work. The formation of a Bible Association at Madras led to the formation of one at Bellary. An Auxiliary Missionary Society and a Tract Society are also established. Madras-1805-W. C. Loveless, Robert Fleming, Cornelius Traveller. It being found requisite that Mr. Knill should remove to a cooller climate, and the Mission in South Travancore requiring more labourers, Mr. Knill proceeded thither, and Mr. Fleming has taken his place at Madras. At the beginning of last year there were seven Native Free Schools, containing about 500 children. An Auxiliary Missionary Society has been formed, and has raised £200. South Travancore-1805-Richard Knill, Charles Mead.--Mr. Ringletaube laboured, first at Palamcotta in the Tinevelley Country, and afterward at Magilady in South Travancore, till 1816. Mr. Knill will now labour in this prolific field. Another Missionary, the Rev. C. Mault, sailed from Liverpool, on board the Westmoreland, the ship in which Mr. Campbell and Mr. Philip were proceeding to South Africa. Surat. (See "Surat," under the Stations of the "Baptist Missionary Society.")-1815.---James Skinner, William Fyvie.--Mr. John Donaldson, who arrived at Bombay, in September, 1817, and soon after joined the mission, died in peace, on the 21st of March, at Bombay, after an illness of two months. The Station at Ganjam, a town on the Orissa Coast, has, for the present, been relinquished, in consequence of the ill health of Mr. W. Lee, which ultimately obliged him to return to this country. Royapettah, near Madras, appears also to have been relinquished. UNITED BRETHREN. By the Brethren's "Concise Account" of their Missions, it appears, that they attempted to form a permanent establishment. in 1760, at Nancawery, one of the Nicobar Islands; and that, after a persevering but fruitless attempt, they were under the necessity of relinquishing it altogether. WESLEYAN MISSIONS. Madras---James Lynch.---Mr. Lynch has purchased premises for a Mission House and a Place of Worship, in the neighbourhood of Madras, between St. Thome and Royapettah, in the midst of a large Heathen population. He writes: "My congregations are increasing. I preach on Thursdays, and twice on Sabbath days; and read and expound a Homily every Tuesday; and I sincerely recommend the latter to all my brethren. Bombay---1816---John Horner, Joseph Fletcher.---Historical and Scripture Tracts, in Mahratta, are in contemplation. The American Missionaries will supply the Scriptures in that tongue. (To be continued.) BAPTIST MISSION. Surat. Our readers are aware that Carapeit Chator Aratoon has vi sited Serampore, and that he resolved to return to his station by land; although the hostilities then carried on in the north of India rendered the attempt very hazardous. The following letters were received from him, while on his journey homeward. Agra, Jan. 30, 1818. On the morning of the 27th of November, I arrived at Benares, (the Babylon of India.) As soon as I had landed, I inquired for the house of our brother Smith, to which I was immediately directed by the by-standers. They assured me that he passed there twice every day on his way to Ram-ghat to preach and distribute tracts, and that many people attended his discourses. Assisted by a youth with whom the by-standers furnished me as my guide, I soon reached his house, and found him and his family well. After morning prayer, brother Smith took me to the house of two Hindoos, whom he often visits. After a short conversation we left them, and returned home. Brother Smith has several persons who frequently visit him. On November 30, being the Lord's day, we went to Sirole, and after morning worship there with some military friends, we came back, accompanied by several people, to the river side, where, after singing hymns, and a solemn supplication, I addressed a short discourse to the congregation, from Mark xvi. 16. after which brother Smith baptized a native convert. We then returned home, and brother Smith administered the ordinance of the Lord's supper, when eight of us partook the bread and wine in remembrance of our Lord's agony and death. It was a solemn day! I wish one of you, or our dear brother Ryland, had been present at this idolatrous city, to have witnessed such a day of grace at such a place! Rejoice and give thanks for his tender mercy towards you, "for many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." During my stay at Benares, I had several at my boat to inquire about the gospel, some of whom heard with attention, and seemed greatly pleased. However, after spending a few days with our brother Smith, I left him on the 4th of December, and arrived at Allahabad in the evening of the 11th; where the next morning I had the pleasure of seeing brother Mackintosh and family. The next day I left Allahabad, and arrived at Cawnpore on the 24th of December, where I remained three days, and passing Furrukabad on January 3, arrived at Agra on the 16th, where I had the happiness to see our dear friends Mr. and Mrs. W. they are zealous friends of Jesus and his cause. I saw here brother Abdool-Musee, with whose conduct and conversation I was much pleased. He preaches thrice a week to a congregation of nearly fifty persons. M. W. has kindly prepared every thing for my journey, and I hope to leave this on the ninth of February, with as good a convoy as could possibly be expected. I am to go from hence to a place called Boondee, which is eighteen or nineteen days' journey distant, and from thence pursue my route to Surat. As soon as I get safely across the country infested by the Pindarees, I will inform you-but by what conveyance I cannot say. I was favoured with yours of December, and beg you to remember me very affectionately to all that were so kind as not to forget me. Agra, Feb. 15, 1818. After plentifully supplying the different stations with scriptures, tracts, &c. I saw the great need I had of them myself, and began to regret that I had given away more than I ought. However, my fears were soon dispelled by obtaining a supply of nearly one thousand three hundred scriptures and scripture extracts in various languages, which I received from our dear friend Mr. W. And now, my dear brother, I have so many scriptures with me, so good a convoy, and the supply of all my wants, that I lack only one thing, the all-sufficient grace of our Lord Jesus. Farewell, farewell. This day I am to leave Agra for a place called Shah-poora, the furthest quarters of the British army, and more than twenty days' journey from this. I will try to write to you as soon as I can, but from what place I cannot say. After my arrival at Shah-poora, I shall see if the difficulties of the journey are more than I can bear. If they are, I will not attempt to proceed further up, but shall soon return. If you print my Goojuratee Catechism, be so good as to send one thousand copies to Benares, where brother Smith will be able to distribute them in a few days; for Goojuratee is spoken at Benares and Mirza-poora. LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Malacca. Mrs. Beighton, in a letter to a friend, dated Malacca, 26th Sept. 1818, says, "We had a very quick passage from the Cape to Madras, and experienced a very kind reception. Mr. and Mrs. Loveless and Mr. Knill received us with tears of joy. Had you or any of my dear Christian friends from England, been with us, your hearts would have melted with pity for the many thousands of idolaters which appeared to our view. Before I went on shore, I dreaded landing, because of the dangerous surf; but, eventually, we were not much alarmed, some men having prevented our sight of the waves by a large cloth. The schools are very pleasing; I visited them several times; they are well conducted. I heard many of the native children, who had not been more than one year at school, repeat nearly all Dr. Watts' Hymns for Children, likewise many parts of Scripture with great accuracy. I am much hurt to say, they shame many children in England! The chapel is well attended, and there is a large field for labour. "We thought ourselves happy in obtaining a vessel for Malacca so soon; but it was small, and we were greatly annoyed by the cock-roaches, and, when the weather was bad, almost suffocated with heat. I cannot relate all the inconveniences of so long a voyage; but, when compared with our mercies, they are as nothing. We had a pleasant passage to Penang, and were treated with great kindness by the Governor," &c. "Mr. Slater is gone to China for the recovery of his health. Mrs. S. and child remain with us (at Malacca,) Mr. and Mrs. Medhurst and son make part of our family, likewise Mr. Thomsen. Mr. Milne has three fine children; so you perceive we have a large family at the same table, the children excepted. Provisions, &c. are extravagantly dear. Messrs. Milne, Thomsen, and Medhurst, labour very hard for the conversion of the poor heathen." Extract of a letter from Mr. Medhurst, at Malacca, to a friend in London. August, 6, 1818. At this press was thrown off the first sheet that ever Malacca produced of the Malayan Scriptures; how rejoiced was I to witness it! it was followed with many prayers. Formerly all Malay books were transcribed an endless labour, the source of numerous mistakes, and raising their price so high, that the people in general lived and died in ignorance. I consider this as a memorable era; and hope it augurs the future improvement of the Malayan, Chinese, and European inhabitants of the Peninsula. WESLEYAN MISSIONS. Renunciation of Idolatry by two Budhist Priests. Don Andries de Silva and Don Adrian de Silva, were both born of parents who were Portuguese Catholics, and who had them baptized in their infancy. However, when they grew up to youth, they were placed under the care of two Budhist priests, by whom they were educated, and initiated into all the rites and ceremonies of their idolatrous system. This faithless practice of their parents, which is too common among our nominal Christians, entirely estranged them from the religion into which they had been baptized; and hence they grew up as confirmed heathens as any in the dark jungles of the interior. At a proper age, they were regularly appointed to exercise the functions of the Budhist Priesthood, and were attached to a celebrated temple. Here they continued to lead their deluded disciples for several years; and perhaps would have remained in that situation all their days, had not the late attention which has been excited to Christianity attracted their notice, and led them seriously to reflect on the faith from whence they had revolted. After some time they earnestly requested baptism. On this point it is said---" In making this request to us, they were not aware that they involved us in a difficulty; as, from their having been baptized in their infancy, it would have been contrary to the usages of our branch of the Christian church to baptise them a second time. Notwithstanding which, having seriously deliberated on the subject, we concluded that some outward ceremony ought to be observed, in such a case, to mark their change, especially in the sight of the world; and as we had never heard of any provision on that head among the moderns, we thought it would be useful to borrow an idea from the expressive ablutions of the sacred Scriptures; and accordingly appointed them religiously to wash their hands, in the presence of the congregation, to signify their total separation from the filth of heathenism, and VOL. VI. 2 H |