Nov. 11th, 1820. Columbo.-I hear from Negombo, that our Assistant Missionary has adopted a new method of doing good, by assembling, under the trees on the Fort Green, the numerous individuals who are continually coming down from Kandy, to purchase salt at the stores there, and preaching to those Gentiles the unsearchable riches of CHRIST. Many listen with much attention; and some may thus receive into their hearts, the Truth as it is in JESUS."

14th. I applied for medical advice, as the change of air appears to produce no favourable effect on my health, as was expected, and as is generally the case in this Island. It is thus our duty to use every means, in humble dependance on the divine blessing, although I confess I have but little expectation from any thing which does not imply an entire restoration of constitution. Nothing is too hard for the LORD, and I have the fullest confidence in this, that every event, great or small, connected with His great work, will be over-ruled for good.

21st. I have received several affectionate letters from some of our dear Brethren, who, hearing of my indisposition, are kindly anxious to show me every attention, each believing that his station may afford a favourable change. 25th. I have continued to be better and worse alternately; but still I humbly thank the LORD, I have the most pleasing assurances of the prosperity of our work on my station, and this very greatly alleviates the pain I should feel at so long a detention from it.

27th. I went a few miles with Brother CLOUGH, to the opening of a new School, and witnessed a most cheering scene; which, had I not been too ill to enjoy any thing, would have raised my spirits much; the place was quite filled with Native faces, young and old, who attended patiently to a long service in the Native language.

29th. I received a very interesting letter from our interpreter, concerning the deplorable state of the Roman Ca

VOL. I. Third Series. FEBRUARY,

tholics in a village where we are now erecting a new School, and beginning to preach the Gospel. However, the more these poor injured people are oppressed by their spiritual guides, the more, I should hope, it will render them disposed to receive instruction.

30th. I received a strong proof of the truly commendable industry of my young colleague, in a Copy of his first sermon in Singhalese; which is declared, by the most competent judges here, to be very far beyond all that could have been expected from him yet, having been in our work less than a year, and on the island less than three. But he writes me word, in an animated letter, that he hopes soon to take the country places without an interpreter.

December 4th.-I have been a little better several days, and hope to return home immediately. We heard the sermon before the Supreme Court, and had a favourable opportunity, afterwards, of approaching the table of the LORD.

5th. The printing of the Liturgy being now finished, and the first sheet of the Psalms approved by the Bible Society's Committee, I intend to embrace the earliest possible time to return to Negombo; hoping to be strengthened enough to go up to Kornegalle, and begin our work there, and then come back and finish the Psalms, if my health should demand more quietness.

6th.-I set out on my journey. I read, by the way, the Review in our Magazines of the Life of the devoted HENRY MARTYN, and felt ready, many times, to exclaim, "LORD, let my last end be like his, and my life as devoted! as useful it never can be,-but as holy, as zealous, as active." I trust, although I feel quite unworthy even to walk in his footsteps, that yet I could say, in a humble degree with him, "Let the last drop of this base blood be shed, if one of India's children may be benefited thereby." Yea, though deeply unworthy, I humbly repeat,

"My life, my blood, I here present, If for thy cause they may be spent." 1822. R

And spent I feel as if they soon would be; for I am at a loss for words to describe the extreme degree of weakness I frequently feel, from a few, very few years' labour in this relaxing clime.

8th.-Negombo.-I am more than ever delighted to observe the growing stability of our cause here, and now feel fully assured that the LORD himself deigns to bless and prosper the work of our hands. Our little congregation stand firm, and attend punctually the

more retired ordinances of our worship. They pour out the affectionate feelings of their hearts in a most affecting way, concerning my health; praising the LORD for my present return, being assured that it is in answer to their united prayers. Little companies have been here at intervals to show their unfeigned respect and regard, and have cost my heart many keen feelings, and my eyes many tears. How delightful are the fruits of the Gospel! The station owes much of late to our dear and valuable young friend and colleague. Thus the LORD has in mercy provided for the falling down of one by the raising up of another. I heard our young friend preach in Portuguese with delight and thankfulness, and am glad indeed that he has favour among the people, who respect him much, and do not "despise his youth."

17th.- Kornegalle.-After breakfast this morning, the Lieutenant-Governor walked out with the Commandant to view the places most eligible for the erection of certain public works, and has very obligingly given me leave to build our Mission-Residence wherever I may consider best, under the direction of the Resident, to whom, of course, I referred it. That Gentleman having lent me every assistance in fitting up with seats, &c., the place of public worship, we proceeded to it with joy; for I felt better than for any preceding day some time past. MR. WRIGHT seemed much pleased with the prospect of a public Christian Service, where one had never been held, and warmly congratulated us upon our attempt first to introduce the Gospel into the Seven Korles, (i.e. these Provinces of the Kaudian country) where, as he justly observed, "It had never been heard since it was a land." I humbly rejoiced before GOD that it was so, and felt my heart to bound with the delightful hope that it was the dawn of a glorious Gospel-day to those who so emphatically sit in darkness and the shadow of death."

His words forcibly brought to my

mind the beautiful lines of the poet, so very appropriate here;—

"The sound of the church-going bell,
These valleys and rocks never beard;
Never sigh'd at the sound of a knell.
Or smil'd when a Sabbath appear'd!"

This morning, thanks be to God, the scene was changed,-for many did repair with us to the House of Prayer, though only a temporary one, and we had a gracious season in worshipping at the feet of our LORD. With some assistance, I went through the service, and preached from 1 TIMOTHY i. 15; reading for our two selected lessons, the 60th of Isaiah, and the 17th of Acts: both of them are applicable, in no small degree, to the circumstances of this place. My. heart felt unutterable things, that strength was vouchsafed me to declare in these regions the "unscarchable riches of CHRIST."

The work of preaching is inerpresssibly dear to me still, and I am the more sensible of it, by my present inability; this being only the third time I have preached in as many months!

I have humble hope in GOD, that from this very favourable opening of our work, many "sinners among these huge rocks and mountains will prove by experience the truth of this "faithful saying," and magnify the Name, the adorable Name of our LORD JESUS.

18th.-Finding there were two Budhist Temples in this immediate neighbourhood, I went this morning to see them. The first I reached with much difficulty, it being situated on the very summit of one of the immense rocks, which half encircle this place. Our path, for a long way, lay on the edge of the rock, through a path tolerably worn by the numerous devotees who frequent this Temple. The sublime view from this height, surpasses all description. The principal object of adoration in the first building we came to, appeared to be the Print of Budhu's foot, as there was no large image of the whole figure here, as is usual. This was kept in an adjoining temple. The print of the foot was, of course, of colossal dimensions, deeply indented in the floor of the place, or rather, of the rock; here, however, was a table covered with fresh flowers, &c., as if the whole image had been present; and here we saw the Priest sanctify his breakfast prostrate before the print of the foot! -where he reverently placed the rice,. &c., just brought to him by some early devotees. A whole family were winding round the rugged paths, and looked

rose

at us with astonishment. The place around us was admirably neat; and vast rocks and mighty trees as far above us, as we stood elevated above the plain below, so high that we could scarcely distinguish objects. The Priest we found a talkative, friendly old man, venerable with age, and very obsequious. I held some conversation with him which I have not time to transcribe. He gave me candid answers, and said, they believed, though they did not confess it, that the world was made by the GREAT GOD; but as to the Name of JESUS or His great salvation, of course he knew nothing! There is something peculiarly touching to the heart of a Christian, in the dead apathy, or the vacant wonder, with which these poor creatures answer, "No," when you inquire of them if they ever heard, or have any idea of that Name, which includes in it every thing dear to the soul of man! And there is then something more than ordinarily delightful and glorious in the boundless views of Divine Prophecy. Standing in an Idol Temple, throned on the tops of the rocks of Kandy, which seem to claim the name of the everlasting hills, and surrounded only by the Priests and Votaries of a superstition, the growth of ages, and which is intermingled with their every pursuit,-how divinely refreshing was it to remember there, when every thing seemed to contradict it, that" HIS NAME shall endure for ever; HIS NAME shall be continued as long as the sun and men shall be blessed in HIM, and ALL nations shall call HIM blessed."

The Priest, however, allowed me to leave a copy of the Acts of the Apostles, which he immediately began to read with apparent pleasure. I promised to send him also a copy of St. Luke's Gospel, and departed with many thanks from him for having visited their airy abodes. Descending, I wound round the base of the rock for about a mile, and came to the other Temple, where the Priest was still more communicative and obliging; and, to my equal surprise and delight, while I stood with him, before all his idols, he entreated to be instructed in English and the Christian religion, eagerly inquiring, as soon as he knew who I was, if I was come to live at Kornegalle, and would give them instruction, and allow them to visit me? I was not displeased to hear that. Since the Priests have lost the patronage and support of the Kandian Kings, their Temples have fallen much into decay. They are, therefore, much more willing to conciliate their

present rulers, by learning our language, and, at least, by not opposing our religion. I made the best use I could of a protracted conversation, on this so favourable opening; and proposed immediately the commencement of a Native School in the Priest's House, which was gladly acceded to, himself desiring to be one of the first scholars! I have, therefore, sent the usual books, &c., with an English master, whom I have with me. In the course of an hour or two, I had left the Christian Scriptures in the Temple at the top of the rock, and arranged for the establishment of a Christian School in that at the bottom, with the eager acquiescence of more than a dozen persons round me, both old and young.

19th. I had resolved on going to Kandy, and received a very kind invitation from MR. LAMBRICK, our respected friend of the Church Mission, but have given it up, believing that it is rather my duty to return to Negombo, as soon as I can put things here in a suitable train. I walked towards evening to the Priest's cottage, the walls of which, I was amused to see now covered with large English sheet-alphabets, reading lessons, &c. The Priest and a lad present repeated to me every letter of the alphabet correctly, and yesterday morning they had never seen them! I spoke with the convalescent patients in the hospital on my way, gave them some Testaments, and a little advice, and returned, very weak and unwell.

20th.-Vast numbers of the Kandian peasantry are employed around us, cutting new roads, &c. They are a noble race of people in appearance, far more so than their brethren on the coast of the Island; they all wear turbans, which preclude theuse of that effeminate article the comb, so universally worn on the borders of the Island. The females here also dress much more neatly, and are less seen; some of the children are beautiful. All their houses are built very high from the ground, on mounds of earth artificially raised. The general face of the country, because here there are very few cocoa-nut-trees, is much like the most romantic and mountainous parts of our own Island. The country is covered with fine timber.

21st. At length, I rejoice to say, "We have found out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty GoD of JACOB,"-even in Kornegalle; and have cleared and fenced a sacred spot on which to erect a house of prayer to His holy name. The Resident has been with me, and fixed on the spot and its boundaries, in one of the most lovely

situations in all the place, at the foot of one of the fine rocks, on a rising ground, bounded on three sides by new roads leading to the chief places, and commanding a full view of the village and garrison; very near the Temples, not far from the Bazar, and but a short walk from the Resident's house. The rock behind is covered with verdure to the very top. O may the House of the LORD soon be completed here, and may "it be said of this and that man, that he was born here,”

22d. Having now done as much as possible here, till wood is cut for the building, I hastened my return. On my way I called at a Budhist Temple, and found every thing falling into decay. How expressive are the images of Prophecy, as relating to the final destruction of idolatry! Truly the moles and the bats seem here to enjoy the largest revenue. I held some conversation with the Priest, left him some books in his own language, and passed on. I have now visited five of the Temples in the interior, as well as many on the coast,

Extract from MR.

FEB. 4th. 1821. This morning I visited Cottimoni. This village is but a short distance from Batticaloa, and very popalous. The inhabitants are Protestants, Catholics, and Gentoos.

13th. I preached in English this morning to a larger congregation than usual, and in the evening in Portuguese; was much assisted at both services; and feel a degree of confidence that some were benefited.

14th. I visited the poor in Cottimoni, and found many objects of distress. I thanked GOD that, by means of our Benevolent Society, I was prepared to relieve them.

16th. At class, this evening, I was much pleased with the simple manner in which one of the native young men expressed himself in stating his experience. He said he had been thinking about his past life, and found he had sinned against Gon much more than he was before aware of yet he did not know then that it was sin. But since GOD had changed his heart, he could see all his past life full of sin; and now he prayed that GOD would give him good thoughts and good desires, "and (to use his own words) cleanse his heart very well." His change of conduct begins to attract the notice of many.

March 16th. I had a long argument with two or three of the native headmen, on the subject of female education; a thing not

and in most of them I have left the Christian Scriptures, as a seed which may probably one day produce some fruit.

As I passed, I visited our Rellegalle School, and heard the children read, &c. They certainly do credit to their Teachers, and read the Holy Scriptures very correctly. I have arranged here to purchase a small garden, for our Schoolmaster to live in and to build a school; also to keep a little depository of religious Tracts in the Native tongue, for distribution among the numerous travellers who are now constantly passing into the interior.

25th.-Negombo.-I have been very ill from the effects of the journey, and could not attend our Christmas-day service; but rejoice to hear the Chapel was crowded, and though I could not see the dear children of the schools there, they came to pay their visit to me afterwards. I trust the LORD will perpetuate amongst them the Christianity they are thus taught.

OSBORNE's Journal.

only totally neglected, to the great disadvantage of the rising generation here, but considered in itself very disgraceful. Custom was the principal argument at first produced by the headmen: and as this, in Ceylon, is considered a sufficient reason for almost every evil, I conversed pretty largely with them. I soon found that this point was strenuously defended. The customs of their forefathers are law to them; and if they can be proved to be bad, still they think it their duty to follow them; and that it is much more honourable for them to suffer inconvenience and injury, than to dishonour their family by adopting what is new. My principal antagonist being nominally a Christian and a Protestant, I pleaded his having already departed from the example of his forefathers, inasmuch as he had been baptized into the Christian religion, (which, by the way, is all he has of it,) and that, therefore, he was no longer bound to the customs of heathens. He acknowledged this; but said, they always considered that if a woman could keep house, or, as he expressed it, could boil rice and make curry, it was all the qualifications she required. I then pleaded the necessity of her being able to read, in order to understand religion, and to be able to serve GOD according to that Revelation he had given us; and particularly that it was necessary for the education of

children, which, for the first few years, devolved upon the mother; and that she would make the first impressions on their minds. Finding himself a little straitened for a reply, with a very low bow he begged I would not request him to send his daughter to school; but in any thing else he would do what I requested. I left him to consider of it; and have since been informed, that he has given his consent that his daughter (a fine little girl) should come to school. I have just commenced building a neat little bungaloe for a female school, and have a respectable Portuguese woman who has promised to take charge of it; and MRS. OSBORNE will superintend it as much as possible.

April 1st. I was glad to find to-day that one of the Protestant villages had begun to build their bungaloe.

9th. I preached in English this morning upon the nature and necessity of prayer. I never saw a congregation

more attentive.

22d. I was gratified this morning in sceing two bungaloes in the Protestant villages, nearly finished. They will be very comfortable places for service, as well as for educating the children. Since my return I have given the plan for the female school in Batticaloa.

May 6. Brother STEAD arrived this afternoon from Trincomalee, to pay me a short visit. The distance between the two stations is only seventy-five miles. He has been but thirteen hours coming

by water. This visit was anticipated by me for a long time. How sweet is the fellowship of Brethren!

7th. Brother S. preached this morning to rather a small congregation. It is a new thing for me to hear a sermon. I was much blessed by the word, and thanked GOD that it was the business of my life to preach CHRIST, the SAVIOUR of men.

9th. The society of a Brother has quite enlivened our souls. Our conversation on the work of Missions, and on the work of GoD in our own souls, has increased our zeal and earnestness in both.

22d. This morning I opened my new Mission-school in Batticaloa. It was a very pleasing sight. Almost all the Europeans in the place attended. All the respectable Dutch and Portuguese families were present, and a goodly com pany of natives, with their children. We sung in English; after that I prayed in Portuguese, and preached through an interpreter in Tamul, from Isaiah xi. 9. After service, we took the children's names. The beginning has been very promising.

31st. The number of scholars at the new School increases daily. The Tamul master has a happy method in teaching, and, I hope, will bring the boys forward very fast. I begin the school every morning by singing and prayer. Next Sunday I shall commence public service in Tamul.

NEW SOUTH WALES.-Extracts from "THE two New Zealand Chiefs SHUNGEE and WHYKATO, whose arrival in this colony we noticed in our paper of the 19th ult. proceeded from the Bay of Islands in the New Zealander, Captain MONRO, March 2d, 1820, and arrived in England on the 6th of August following. Their object in visiting England was to see his Majesty; the number of his people; their different occupations; and the manufactures and produce of the country.

"They embarked for this Colony, on board the Speke, on the 16th of Dec. 1820, and were highly pleased with the continued kindness and attention which they received from Captain M'PHERSON, Mr. COATES, the Surgeon, Lieutenant SUTHERLAND, and the Ladies and Gentlemen on board, by whom they were noticed on account of their marked propriety of behaviour.

the SIDNEY GAZETTE, June 2, 1821.

"They are now about to return to their native country in good health and in high spirits, having heard that their friends in New Zealand are peaceable and happy. SHUNGEE is the Chief to whom his Excellency Governor MACQUARIE, about seven years ago, gave a cow, a suit of uniform, and some other presents, and whom his Excellency has since honoured with his obliging inqui ries. It is Mr. KENDALL'S intention to re-establish a School among the Natives of New Zealand, having obtained supplies for that purpose both from the Church Missionary Society, and from several Ladies and Gentlemen, his own private friends. It must be highly gratifying to him, as it will be to his numerous friends, to hear that every possible attention has been paid in New Zealand to Mrs. KENDALL and the children, during his painful absence from them."

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