afterwards formed part of a flying column that was sent to restore order in other disturbed districts. There were 800 men in his regiment, and 500 were killed or disabled by disease, and the sword of the enemy; but God mercifully shielded him from all danger. And now in the Providence of God he has been brought to Cuttack. Surely it is for some wise and gracious purpose. Oh! that the precious seed sown in Sabbath-schools, at Loughborough, may in this distant heathen land spring up and bring forth fruit unto life everlasting. You will see from these statements, that while our great work is to seek the conversion of the natives, we have opportunities of benefitting those who have been brought, though on a very different errand from ourselves, from the midst of gospel light to a land of heathen darkness; but if the Lord meet with them here what a blessing!

In this country, as well as at home, we have often to weep with them that weep. The affecting death a few days ago, of an interesting young person, who attended our English service will illustrate this. I was with her a good deal the last two days of her life, and hope she found mercy of the Lord. She was in her 19th year, and was on the point of marriage, but now, Oh how changed! Instead of the bridal dress, which was prepared she is at tired in a shroud; instead of being a happy bride, and receiving the congratulations of all her friends, she is an inhabitant of the dark cold grave. The wedding cards were received by post just as she was breathing her last! A few days before her death she referred to one of the last sermons she heard, Mr. Stubbins preach from the solemn words "Prepare to meet thy God." And in her delirium she sometimes spoke of her future prospects. She supposed it was Sabbath evening, and that she was going with her friend to the chapel. I was present when he saw the lifeless corpse of her whom he expected so soon to welcome as his wife, and as he bent over it and kissed the cold cheek, and wept, till, like David and his men, he "had no more power to weep," and had to be taken away. I could not suppress the gush

467

ing tear. It was a very_touching scene. I interred her in the Protestant burial ground, and many who heard the words of warning uttered at the mouth of the grave were offering their congratulations the next day to the newly-married (the immediate relatives of course excepted). Such is life. Oh that the affecting changes which we witness may lead us to number our days and apply our hearts unto wisdom. Another affecting and awful event occurred in Orissa not many days ago. I refer to the death of a public officer, whose magisterial jurisdiction extended over half a million of people. I suppress names for obvious reasons, but the gentleman in question had outraged social decency, and set at nought the law of God, by living with an Englishwoman who was not his wife. His virtuous countrymen were indignant and ashamed on account of his conduct, and the heathen were emboldened in their wicked course by his example, and embarrassed the Missionary and his native associates by pointing at an Englishman holding an important office, as no better than themselves. Death overtook him in his sinful career, and for several days the scene was too awful for words to describe. None who witnessed his indescribable anguish, and who heard the horrid language that he used can ever forget it. Such accounts should be published in detail, that as the Scripture says, others " may hear and fear and do no more presumptuously." I do not feel at liberty to publish a detailed and full account privately communicated to me, but the circumstances as I have mentioned them are Do secret here. Those who were present believed that the mercy vouchsafed to the dying thief was not denied to the unhappy man at the last hour, but the lesson such things teach, is that "the wages of sin" are beyond expression, awful. "The short course of vain delight," and in this instance it was a short course-has a frightful end.

I must turn from this melancholy but instructive scene to a very different one. Last evening we had a large native christian feast at Society pore. All the arrangements were made by

So.

our native friends, and the expenses were defrayed by subscription. The Mission families and some other friends were invited to unite, and did Addresses were delivered on subjects previously selected. Makunda spoke on the worth of the soul. Jagoo on the truth of Christianity, and Mr. Taylor on godliness being profitable for this life and for that which is to come. Many excellent and important remarks were made. Suitable hymns were sung, and I closed the whole with solemn prayer. I thought of the lovefeasts of the ancient church, and could not but tell our dear native friends that, as in apostolic times, there were "spots in their feasts of charity," so it was most important that we should all examine ourselves lest there should be such "spots" amongst

us.

J. BUCKLEY.

ITALY.

PUBLIC SALE OF THE SCRIPTURES IN NAPLES.

From the British and Foreign Bible

Society Reporter.

THE great and rapid changes which have occurred in Naples have rendered that city, so long jealously guarded againt the introduction of the Scriptures, accessible to the agent of the Society. Writing towards the close of September, the agent thus mentions the strength of the prejudices derived from superstition, but adverts, at the same time, to the toleration recently decreed :

"I have been waiting for several days, for, owing to one cause or another, the steamer is longer in dis charging its goods than was expected. The work of the week, too, has been interrupted by the Feast of St. Januarius, the patron saint of the city of Naples. I felt so sure of success, that I brought a Colporteur with me, provided with a certificate of good conduct, and a regular licence as a book hawker, so as to be in some degree independent, in case of any difficulty about advertising the Bibles. Tomorrow I hope to know whether this attempt to introduce the word of God into this great city is to be successful. Certainly, if one may judge from the outward aspect, no city needs the Bible

more than this; and I trust that, in the good providence of God, it will soon be in the possession of copies. One or two to whom I have spoken give me little hope of success; but, after all, it is not in the hands of man. If there is any serious obstacle in the way, I shall, for the present, return to Tuscany; indeed, in any case, I shall not stay here long, as I know not what may be needed in the north of Italy.

"I went to see the miracle, as it is called, of the blood boiling. It was a painful sight to witness. First, & crowded assemblage of immortal beings clamouring to the saint to perform the miracle; then, when the priest held up the case to show that their prayers had been heard, not merely women with outstretched bands, and tears streaming down their cheeks, were vociferating their thanks, but strong men were sobbing like children.

"I can easily conceive of a priest so working upon the feelings of a Neapo litan mob, that if a Bible Colporteur were found among them, he would not live to tell the tale.

“Here, according to a new decree, the press is free. All existing relig ions are tolerated, but no Bible, Prayer Book, or Catechism, can be printed without the sanction of the Archbishop."

Very soon, however, it is announced, that during the seven days immedi ately following the opening of the cases containing the Scriptures, 1,100 copies were sold.

A gentleman who had resided some years in Naples, thus testifies to the marvellous changes which have there been witnessed :

"A wonderful, I may say, miraculous change has taken place bere within the last month, so that, where nothing but gross darkness and superstition prevailed, the truth is now spoken and listened to by thousands of people of all ranks of society. If any one had told me, six months ago, that before the end of September a preacher, in the public square of Naples, would be denouncing Popery and exposing its superstitious, even attacking the gross imposition of the liquefaction of St. Januarius' blood, and that he would not only be permitted to do this, Lut

that he would be listened to and applauded by the lowest ranks of the population, I could hardly have believed him; yet so it is; Gavazzi has already delivered five discourses, which are enough to make the ears of every one who hears him tingle; and, moreover, he has now obtained two churches belonging to the expelled Jesuits, and has a staff of monks and priests, who, with him, are to preach the gospel every Sunday. I returned to Naples only last week, and have not yet heard Gavazzi preach; but he called on me a few evenings ago, and told me, that on Sunday next, if he were not prevented by his duty to the sick and

469

wounded, he meant to commence his lectures, either at the church of Gesu Nuovo or at that of St. Sebastian, both of which belonged to the Jesuits.

"I have sent to Leghorn, where there is a depot, for 200 Bibles and New Testaments on my own account; but what are these among so many thousands? Gavazzi said that if he had 2 000, he could distribute them in a week among the wounded soldiers alone. It is out of the question to ask these poor men to buy them, for they have scarcely the means of living; but Gavazzi says they would all willingly read, or listen to others who can read."