After a grievous dispersion and absence from these Islands, (say the Missionaries,) and the variety of gloomy occurrences relative to the Mission which beclouded our prospects and grieved our hearts, we have been, by the good hand of our God upon us, mercifully preserved in the perils, hazards, and changing scenes through which we have been led since our leaving these Islands, and are now brought back to them in safety, and permitted again to combine our efforts for the accomplishment of the grand object of the Mission. After lamenting the loss of Mrs. Henry, Mrs. Davies, and Mrs. Hayward; and expressing much gratitude to Governor Macquarie, and the Rev. Samuel Marsden, for their favour toward the Mission; they say Our little society here, at present, consists of seven men and four women; all, through mercy, in tolerable health, as are also our children. We are about commencing the building of a vessel, as strenuously recommended to us by his Excellency Governor Macquarie, the Rev. Mr. Marsden, and other friends in the colony. As to our Missionary Efforts, the state of our affairs has been such hitherto, that we could not take long journeys among the natives to instruct them; but have been under the necessity of confining our labours chiefly to the neighbourhood of our residence. We have, however, conmenced a school for the instruction of youth; and purpose, as soon as practicable, to bring it upon the Lancasterian plan. We have as yet not above 20 scholars; but we hope their number will soon increase. We have Divine Service for the natives, in their language, regularly every Sabbath, preaching in the forenoon, and catechising in the afternoon. These exercises are at present but thinly attended, the most of the inhabitants of this place having gone to Taheite with the king (also the chiefs and people from the Leeward Islands) who, by the instigation of two chiefs who came over for him, went to that Island the 13th of August. After detajling some interesting particulars respecting King Pomarre, which we shall give in our next, the Missionaries add There are others whom we trust the Lord is drawing to himself from among this people. There is one man, in particular, of whom we entertain good hopes. He has rot as yet requested to be baptized: but it may be ewing to his ignorance of the propriety and necessity of receiv ing that sacred rite. We have little doubt of his heart being changed by Divine Grace; but we do not like hastily to baptize any: we wish to have good evidence of real conversion before we do it. One of our domestics who departed this life the other day, we hope died in a safe state. He was a lad that had long enjoyed the means of instruction, but seemed regardless and obdurate till a little before his death, when he seemed to be brought to repentance, and his mind to undergo a great change: he prayed and cried for pardoning mercy through Christ, as long as he was able. Indeed, we trust there are several of these people now in glory who have been taken off by death, while apparently the subjects of Divine Grace, but before we had obtained satisfactory evidence of this, so as to be able with confidence to pronounce thein such. Besides what we have mentioned, we might notice several other things that, we are persuaded, you would deem very encouraging; but we wish still to keep to the maxim we have hitherto, perhaps too rigidly, adhered to, viz. to say too little about such things, rather than too much. Thus, honoured Fathers and Brethren, we have given you a brief but correct account of the state of the Mission and our circumstances, which we hope will prove acceptable and satisfactory to you. We now earnestly entreat a continued interest in your prayers, and request you will not fail to write to us by every opportunity that offers, and regularly transmit us the Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Publications; which we always find to have a tendency to quicken and refresh us. We rejoice in the prosperity of your undertakings, and in the prosperity of all other Missionary Societies, and others formed for good purposes. The account we have received of the Bible Society, and its astonishing success, gives us peculiar joy, and excites in our hearts much thankfulness to the Author of all good. Surely, the latter-day glory not only begins to dawn, but to shine with considerable effulgence.-May the Lord crown every effort for the spread of truth, and the advancement and establishment of his kingdom, with abundant success! We remain, honoured Fathers and Brethren, your brethren and humble servants in the Gospel for Christ's sake. Miscellanies. THE CAR OF JUGGERNAUT BROKEN IN PIECES! ABOUT the close of the year 1801, a civil servant of the Honourable Company, holding the station of Collector in one of the southern provinces under the Presidency of Madras, sent his peons (armed servants) to the great pagoda of the province, with orders to break the Car of Juggernaut in pieces, and to sell the wood: on the plea, that it had been the property of a rebel chief, lately executed. The Bramins remonstrated against this sacrilege, claiming the car as the property of the god: and they repulsed the peons. The Collector, however, apprised them that he should renew the attempt. On learning this, the Bramins sent him au intimation, and caused the same to be circulated in the province, "That if he offered such a profanation to the Car of the God, holy Bramins would cast themselves headlong from the lefty tower of the Pagoda." Upon this, the Collector sent a formal message to the Bramins, informing them, that he heard of their vow to kill themselves, and that he and his family would attend at the Pagoda, to witness the tumasha (or spectacle). Accordingly, on the day appointed, a great multitude assembled at the place; and the Collector and his family, and all his peons and retinue, also attended. The tower over the gateway of the Pagoda was the place from which the Bramins threatened to precipitate themselves. Within full and convenient view of this tower, chairs were placed for the Collector of the province and his family. The awful moment had now arrived. The Bramins appeared on the top of the tower, and the Collector had given the order for the demolition. The Bramins, with loud imprecations and menacing gesticulations, endeavoured to intimidate him. They made several demonstrations, rushing repeatedly to the verge of the tower, (the top of which is flat), and as often retiring again. But the Honourable Company's Officer was more firm to his purpose. He broke the Car of the Idol in pieces before them, and ordered the wood to be sold. Upon which, the Bramins silently withdrew from the tower, and the crowd quietly dispersed! The above account is related on the authority of the Honourable Company's Officer who held the command in the adjoining district, now in Eng. land; and is given in a note to Dr. Buchanan's "Address to the Missionaries of the Church Missionary Society." LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. DR. BROWN'S History of the Propagation of the Gospel among the Heathen since the Restoration, in 2 vols. 8vo. will appear, it is expected, in the course of February. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. (N. B. Associations are printed in Small Capitals.) BOXWORTH (Cambridgeshire) by Rev. Charles Nor mau ...... LOLWORTH (ditto) by ditto READING PENNY BALLINCOLIIG (Cork) of Artillery Men: one By Rev. Francis Thurland, B. A. New College, GOSFIELD (Essex) by Rev. John Thurlow, M. A. Rev. Robert Wolseley, Abbot's Bromley Mr. Thomas flughes, Bunhill Row 4 7 6 3 11 () 10 17 0 CHESTERTON (Cambridgeshire): oue Year; by Rev. Subscriptions at Freemasons' Hall, Jan. 7th... ton.... Society of Ladies in Shropshire: by the hands of C. S. Pertenhall Church, near Kimbolton: Collection by ... BRISTOL: Fourth Remittance: (making 20001. in all) 150` 0. 0. ...... By Mr. Whyte, Tower: one Quarter .... By Miss Payne, Eambs' Conduit Street: half Year "LADIES' ASSOCIATION" half Year: by Mrs. Gason, Lincoln's Inn Fields. . Children of John Butler, Esq. Tavistock Square; and their Companions... By Mr. James Starling, Berner's Street, Commercial LOCK: one Quarter; by Miss Dod, Treasurer KENNINGTON: one Quarter By Mrs. Gollee, Wheler Street.. By Rev. William Goode, M. A. Ladies at Clapham: one Quarter: by Mrs. Joseph 18 19 4 22 1. 69 9 0 |