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for a considerable time I have been quiet alone. The care of all the schools, preaching to the English, and various other avocations, pressed so heavily upon me, that often I was obliged to miss a day in translating; this has made the work proceed considerably slower than it would otherwise have done. We are now revising the 10th chapter of Exodus.

Brother Hands has finished the printing of Matthew, and is now going on with Mark, and will, I hope, in another six months at farthest, be restored to us again.

Schools.-This is perhaps the most important sphere of a missionary's labour. Here we seem to be sowing the acorn; it may be for our children, or our children's children, to see the sturdy towering oak. These institutions, there can be no doubt, are silently undermining the strongest holds of Satan, and will prepare us ultimately to storm, in the most effectual manner, his well built and best fortified citadels. Unadulterated truth instilled into the youthful mind, will do more than the machine of Archimedes, it will turn the world upside down.

In addition to our former thirteen native schools, we have lately established another at Mokai, a very populous town, distant about twelve miles from Bellary. This is in a very prosperous state, nearly seventy children attend daily the schoolmaster is a superior and diligent man. Many of the boys will soon have committed to memory both our Catechisms, and the whole of the Sermon on the Mount.

We have in the past year formed an adult school also. This has hitherto been conducted on rather a limited scale; but sufficient encouragement has been afforded to stimulate us to persevere, and not "be weary in well doing." Four or five, who, a few months ago did not know the alphabet, will very soon be able to read, with tolerable accuracy, the New Testament in Tamul. It is our intention that they should, if possible, learn to write also. These people all attend our Tamul congregation on a Thursday evening; one man in particular has discovered a very pleasing spirit-confesses the folly of idolatry, and wishes to understand the nature of Christianity. Adult schools, where practicable, are surely highly worthy the attention of missionaries, and may, if conducted with prudence and perseverance, be the means of delivering many a poor Pagan froin that extreme ignorance, in which otherwise he must perish for lack of knowledge, with that cutting language on his lips, "I looked on my right hand and beheld, but there was no man that would know me; refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul!"

One of the catechists has just been round to all the schools, and his report of their present state is very favourable. In several towns immense congregations assembled together, to hear him preach the gospel; all the books he took with him were received with the greatest avidity. The schools, except one or VOL. VII.

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two, seem all to be in a thriving state; hundreds of the children have now a large knowledge of the Christian doctrine, and the way of salvation, so that they may grow up to call the Redeemer blessed.

The schools established in Bellary and its immediate vicinity, are pretty much under our eye, and we are able to see well to their different movements: all the children in these schools, that are capable of committing catechisms, &c. to memory, come to the mission-house every Monday to repeat what they have learnt during the week. This we find an admirable plan for promoting diligence and progress in divine knowledge. O! that the Father of Mercies, may smile upon these institutions, and give them his rich blessing.

In addition to the above, we have very recently commenced a Sunday school for children, which promises very extensive benefits. The good people have made a considerable collection for the purchase of a Sunday School Library, suitable reward books, &c. &c. Fifteen young persons have volunteered their services. as teachers, and nearly eighty children have attended regularly twice on the Sabbath since the commencement.

Catechists.-Ryadass, and Anunderayer, continue to afford us satisfaction and pleasure by the outward consistency of their moral deportment. O, that in the last day they may be found to have been faithful stewards of the manifold grace of God. In our great work they are capable of rendering the greatest assistance. They have both good abilities for public speaking, and great fluency; their knowledge of divine things is very extensive, and it is our daily study and prayer that they may live more and more under its practical influence. We cannot help taking a peculiar interest in these two men, because so much depends on their personal piety, stedfastness, humility, and ardent concern for the advancement of Christ's kingdom in the world. Therefore may the Spirit, in all his gracious and copious influences be poured out upon them. The very God of peace sanctify them wholly. I pray God, that their body, soul, and spirit, may be preserved, blameless, unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We keep them pretty well employed. No day scarcely ever passes by without their having some intercourse with the heathen, in order, if possible, to make known unto them the way of salvation. They talk with all strangers that come to our house, and endeavour to show unto them the necessity of a divine atonement. Part of the day they occupy in copying tracts or translating. They always attend all our public services with the natives, and are in general the chief speakers. Besides this, Ryadass goes several times throughout the week into the public bazaars, and other places of general resort, where he reads the scriptures, and preaches unto the heathen that they should turn

from lying vanities to serve the living and true God: and Anunderayer often goes and visits the people in their own houses, where he has long conversations with them on the great concerns of their souls.

Thus, my dear Sir, you see how eminently useful these men may prove to this mission. O then unite with us in praying for them, that they may be divested of all sinister views and motives -that for that warmth of temper and hastiness of spirit, so peculiar to the Hindoo character, may be substituted the humility of the gospel, and that meek and quiet spirit which is of great price in the sight of God; and that they may, day by day, feel more of the constraining influence of Christ's love shed abroad in their hearts-judging that if one died for all, then were all dead-and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again.

MADRAS.

Extract of a letter from the Rev. C. Traveller.

Madras, May 12, 1819.

The heathen are inquiring, becoming serious, and some are converted; one is united in church-membership with us, and continues steadfast, notwithstanding the fierce persecution he has had to experience. I hope, ere long, he will become a herald of salvation, and through him the word of life will be sounded forth in all the regions round about. The brethren have placed him under my care for instruction, and he is now studying books on divinity, writing English exercises, translating catechisms into the Tamul language. I have given him your sermons to translate, some of which he has preached to native Christians, and heathen, in their own tongue. I thought it prudent that he should do this at first, it being a means of storing his mind with divine truth. It will also teach him the method observed in the composition of sermons. I trust God will keep him faithful; his conduct since under my care, has been consistent; his disposition humble, and his concern for his countrymen such as affords satisfactory proof of his conversion to God, and his desire to honour Christ: pray for him, I beseech you, that he may continue an ornament to the cause of our blessed Redeemer.

Since my arrival at Madras, I have had two public disputations with Brahmins, who actually requested an investigation into the Christian religion, when I undertook to prove the infinite superiority of the Christian scheme of salvation to any other, and the absurdity of idol worship, even upon rational principles, and the guilt attached to all who adhere to it. My house, on the first evening, was numerously attended with both Brahmins and others of different castes, besides a number of the descendants of Europeans.

On the second, it was crowded to excess, and my verandas, both back and front, were occupied by the natives. After making a number of inquires with a view to ascertain the natural and moral tendency of their religion, and then to institute a comparison between it and the Christian, we were detained. The question I proposed appeared too intricate for the Brahmin's solution; and being unable to give satisfaction, on being urged repeatedly to do so, he was severely animadverted upon by the numerous friends he had called together, and has since been the object of sport and derision of the greater part of his countrymen who were present on the

occasion.

ASIATIC ISLANDS.

From the Rev. Joseph Kam, Vice-President of the Amboyna Bible Society, to the British and Foreign Bible Society.

Amboyna, May 21, 1819.

Last month I received the first fruits of your labours for the good of this populous colony-six boxes with the New Testament in the Malay language. We are very desirous of receiving the old Testament likewise, and I hope you will supply us with it; for to this day I do not possess a copy of it as my property.

In consequence of the dreadful circumstances which have lately taken place, our society, as well as the work of God in general, has suffered very much in this colony; yet through infinite mercy, we enjoy at present a comparatively better state of peace and quietness. By the arrival of the New Testaments we are also again able to open new subscriptions among our religious friends, assisted by our present excellent Governor Kruythoff: he is very favourable to the propagation of religious knowledge among the natives of this colony, who manifest a great desire after the word of God in their own language.

The idea of our present Governor, as well as of many of our old members, is, that we should attach ourselves to the Auxiliary Society of Batavia, in order to facilitate our correspondence with the Parent Institution, in London.

When I lately arrived at a large Negary, (village,) the name of which is Lileboi, north-west from Amboyna, upwards of 800 persons, in order to convince me of the reality of their faith in the only true and living God, brought all their idols before me, and acknowledged their foolishness. I advised them to pack them all up in a large box, (into which they formerly used to be put for their night's rest,) and to place a heavy load of stones upon them, and to drown them in the depth of the sea, in my presence. They all agreed to follow my advice: a boat was made ready for the purpose; and with a great shout they were carried out of the Negary, and launched into the bosom of the deep. After this business was over, we sang the first four verses of the cxxxvi. Psalm. --This is the fruit of the gospel of Christ.

ABYSSINIA.

The February number of Extracts from the Correspondence of the British and Foreign Bible Society, contains the fac-simile of an Ethiopic letter, addressed, by direction of the late king ITSA TAKLEY GORGES, 10 HEN BY SALT, Esq. British Consul at Grand Cairo, who had forwarded to Abyssinia, by Mr. PEARCE, Some copies of the Ethiopic Psalter, placed at his disposal by the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society. The following is a translation of this curious document. "May this epistle, which has been sent by Pearce Nathanael, reach the prince of nobles and priests, Salt. How is thy health, my lord and friend, exalted as heaven and earth? May the Lord refresh thy days! Amen, and amen.

"The book of the Psalms of David is exceedingly good, and very beautiful-so say all the men of Ethiopia. It is, however, the custom in Ethiopia, with the Psalms of David, to have the Meditations of the Prophets; (15 sections ;) the Song of Solomon; (5 sections ;) and the seven daily Hymns to our Lady Mary, written with illuminated head-pieces. With the Psalms of David, therefore, write those that are to be written: viz. The fifteen sec. tions of the Meditations of the Prophets; five of the Song of So lomon; and the Hymn of Mary.

With regard to the Book of the Psalms, which you sent me prior to this, it is said to be small, (i. e. printed in a small letter,) though it is esteemed. There is, moreover, no red writing, with which they adorn and beautify all the books of both Old and New Testaments. In the same manner also make the writing of the four Gospels in both red and black ink, that the men of Ethiopia may admire them; and that thou mayest obtain the salvation of the self-existing God, as Elias and Enoch did, for ever and ever; Amen.

"This epistle, which has been written by Wáhá Denghel, brother of Leesta, whom you loved, is, my lord, to inquire after your health; from one who is desirous of your arrival, and speaks the word of truth, O Salt, prince of princes!

"Remember me in your prayers,and love me, for I shall love you much; even as you have loved my brother Leësta. And may the Lord preserve you, both in your going out and coming in, henceforth and for ever, Amen. (Psalm cxxi. 8.)

"I, Wahá, shall pray for your prosperity, though distant from

you.

"P. S. Make cases for all the books, singly; for no one can suppose you unable; and all believe you to be the chief."

HOLLAND.

NETHERLANDS MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Summary of the Report from the Directors of the Missionary Society at Rotterdam, for 1819.

The Rev. E. Kist, of Dordrecht, opened the business of the day with a short but impressive discourse upon Ps. lxxviii. 7. in

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