IV.-Chapter of Indian Correspondence.

[We have great pleasure in calling the attention of our readers to the following communications of our esteemed correspondents. They contain suggestions of a highly useful and practicable nature, and on this account have our most cordial approbation.

Of

With the wishes of "A Subscriber in the Western Provinces," we shall be most happy to comply, if our brethren will supply us with the materials. the usefulness of such a synopsis of Missionary labour there can be but one opinion. Raumer's work we have only seen in review: if any of our friends would kindly favor us with the volume referred to, we shall be happy to avail ourselves of its aid in furthering the great object so near our hearts-the regeneration of India.

The suggestion of "A Layman" is one which we have long wished to see carried into effect, and we trust it will meet with the attention it merits, from all the parties concerned. That union is strength, is more strictly true in religious enterprize than in any other; and that co-operative union is essential to give health and efficacy to the valuable institutions referred to by our correspondent, is not less evident to every enlightened mind. May they both be speedily compassed.

The subject of "A Soldier's" letter is one to which we seriously call the attention of all those of our readers who are blessed with the perishing riches. We candidly confess we are no very sanguine advocates for endowments, seeing they are so often turned from their legitimate objects; but if any persons should prefer this mode of exercising their benevolence, we think with our correspondent that the land in which they have amassed their wealth has a strong claim upon their sympathies, and should have a place in their last testaments.

"Selima's" proposal we think might be advantageously complied with by the Religious Tract Society. It is a sufficient recommendation that such a work will be useful, especially to those possessed of but a limited acquaintance with the language. We trust that some of our friends will supply us with their sentiments on the important topic proposed for discussion in "A Subscriber's' communication. It is one which deserves a serious and scriptural consideration, though we think the merits of it are contained in a very small compass. We, however, reserve our opinion for our next. It affords us the sincerest pleasure to witness these efforts, flowing from every department of the community, to agitate the mind of the Church and the world on the subject of India's best and most permanent welfare. May the spirit of movement increase until it pervade the whole mass, and the benevolent objects contemplated receive their highest reward in a prosperous issue.-ED.]

GENTLEMEN,

1.-A VALUABLE SUGGESTION.

To the Editors of the Calcutta Christian Observer.

If you could give a statistical account of the annual progress of Missionary efforts in this Presidency from their commencement, comprising the number of Missionaries in each year of each denomination, the number of stations and of converts at each, it would, I conceive, be a very interesting document.

If inclined, you might quote from the third volume of Von Raumer's 'England in 1835,' chapter first, which is devoted to our Indian Empire, an enlightened foreigner's views of British obligations to this country; though in one place his views seem to be, as far as they are discernible, of an exceptionable character.

Your obedient servant,

A SUBSCRIBER IN THE WESTERN PROVINCES.

2.-UNION AND UNIVERSALITY OF EXERTION RECOMMENDed in the Bible AND TRACT SOCIETIES.

To the Editors of the Calcutta Christian Observer.

GENTLEMEN,

1. The necessities of the Missionary cause at the present moment are indeed pressing. There is a sad deficiency both of Gospels (at least in some of the vernacular tongues) and of Religious Tracts, as the last Report of the Bible Society and the recent appeal of the Calcutta Tract

Society strikingly evince. This must be matter of grief to every reflecting person, as it evidently and more especially is to those who are the immediate labourers in the Divine cause of Native conversion. But how is the defect of funds, which is the root of the matter, to be supplied? At least, by what human means is a greater universality of contribution to be ensured? The subject has not, I conceive, been sufficiently considered in this point of view; or if it has, corresponding efforts cannot have been made to give effect to the conclusions to which it must have led.

2. Both the Bible Society and the Tract Society are perfectly Catholic and unsectarian in their objects. All Christians, therefore, who have any value for their religion, must be supposed to feel a greater or less degree of interest in their success, involving as it does, in a considerable degree, the extent of dissemination which the Christian religion shall have among the people of India. But many, perhaps the majority of persons who would contribute to support the objects of these institutions, are widely scattered over the country, and possessed of very limited means. They therefore hear little of what is going on in the way of Missionary effort, of the success attained, the difficulties experienced, and the wants requiring to be supplied ;-and even supposing them to be fully informed on all these points, and to know where to remit any subscriptions they might be inclined to make; still, the necessity of writing a separate letter, and the smallness and, singly considered, the apparent insignificancy of the sums which in most instances they could afford to contribute, naturally operate to impress them with the idea that it is not worth while to make the exertion. What, then, is the remedy for all this? It seems to be a very simple one. Let but the Reverend the Chaplains, or the Missionaries where there are any, with such co-operation as they can command, endeavour to establish Bible and Tract Associations at all the principal stations, such as Agra, Kurnal, Meerut, Futtehgurh, Cawnpore, Allahabad, Dinapore, Dacca, Cuttack, &c. &c. and let each Associa tion embrace all the neighbouring smaller stations; and if this were but actively commenced and vigorously continued, there can, I think, be little doubt that, with God's blessing, considerable additions would be made to the external means for spreading the Gospel among the teeming multitudes of the Indian continent. An occasional, say an annual, or half-yearly, sermon preached at each station in behalf of the same objects, would be another means of attracting attention, exciting interest, and obtaining assistance.

3. Such local associations have already been formed at some stations, auxiliary either to the Bible or some Missionary Society,-and afford an argument from experience, that a little effort and perseverance only are wanted to lead to similar results elsewhere.

4. As a plurality of station-Societies of this nature would not be likely to thrive side by side, it would be expedient probably to unite in one the objects both of the Bible and of the Religious Tract Societies,the sums collected being bestowed in equal shares on both the metropoli tan institutions, or each contributor declaring which of the two he wished to support. Your obedient servant, A LAYMAN.

Western Provinces, Sept. 18, 1836.

3.-HINT TO CHRISTIANS ON THE DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY AMASSED IN INDIA, To the Editors of the Calcutta Christian Observer.

GENTLEMEN,

There lately was an excellent paper in the Christian Observer upon the subject of Christians settling in India, and devoting themselves to the

benefit of the Indian people, instead of filling their coffers from the labours of the natives, and after acquiring the languages and accumulating many "talents" which might be serviceable to the inhabitantsembarking for England, and depriving India of all these talents, for which an account will hereafter be required.

It is certainly very selfish and wrong, after acquiring a fortune in India, and filling our coffers with the gold wrung from the inhabitants, to carry off the whole and for ever to depart for Britain, leaving the people to their fate, without any provision or assistance, on our part, either for their sick or needy, or for their advancement in moral and religious enlightenment.

We should protest against the man who in time of famine should carry off provisions from the land, and for his own selfish purposes embark them for a foreign shore. Yet, are we not doing this daily? Fortune after fortune is drained from poor India-impoverishing the land-and rarely is a rupee left, even in a will, for India's benefit! whilst thousands and lakhs are willed away upon persons at home, who have never seen the soil from whence these treasures sprung.

The object in writing this letter is, that the advocacy of your columns may be given, to urge upon the consciences of all Christians the duty of setting apart, at least in their wills, if not during their lives, a portion of their fortunes accumulated in India, for the benefit of its inhabitants.

It may be surely expected, that at least a tithe, (a tenth,) or more of our fortunes should revert to meet the sad necessity of the land and people from whence it was derived. Might not a great blessing be expected, were each Christian to set apart a fair portion in his will, to bear the expences of those who are conveying to India the glad tidings of salvation, through the atonement made by an incarnate Saviour?

When we reflect, that we shall ere long appear before the judgment seat of Christ, how shall we appear there, if, of our abundance we left nothing to aid His cause-to feed, clothe and support His messengers, whom He is sending to proclaim His name to the heathen? or do nothing towards supplying the people now in ignorance with books conveying the knowledge of his salvation?

Were your pages to take up the subject, and press the duty upon the consciences of Christians, the Missionary, Bible, and Tract Societies might receive great aid from sums left in the wills of those who had passed that bourne from whence none return-who had gone to judgment to give an account of their stewardship.

Aug. 3, 1836.

SIRS,

A SOLDIER.

4. VOCABULARY OF SCRIPTURAL TERMS, AN AID TO USEFULNESS.

To the Editors of the Calcutta Christian Observer.

On perusing the seventh article in your August number, more particu larly the 4th paragraph of the Rev. B. Schmid's letter as therein quoted, I was forcibly reminded of a want I have often felt, and of the necessity of what I have as often considered to be an indispensable aid and assistant for the work proposed to be undertaken by "the many pious ladies and gentlemen" to whom he refers. What I mean, is a Vocabulary (Indo-English) of doctrinal and scriptural terms. Every Englishman, with such a book in his possession, might in his degree and sphere become a Missionary and an instructor, or, at the least, would have the opportunity and power, if he chose to exert it, of awakening in the minds of such natives as he should converse with, a desire to read the Holy Scriptures,

and "to search whether those things were so;" but, without some help of this kind, how can the mere English scholar, either comprehensively or satisfactorily converse with a native of the things of eternal life? I have known several clergymen, as well as "many pious ladies and gentlemen" who were effectually prevented from speaking of these things through inability to interpret their meaning. On the other hand, any one in possession of such a book, even though he could but speak the native languages as it were "with stammering lips and another tongue," might yet make known the words of truth, and awaken inquiry for the way of everlasting life! If the heading of such terms were extracted from Cruden's or any other good Concordance, and were alphabetically arranged and interpreted, whether the latter were done in the Roman or native character, or in both; and if a third column were added for the enumeration of texts upon which the doctrines, &c. might be proved; it would be all that would be necessary, and might easily be made with a two-fold view, so as to help the English tyro and the native catechist; and that such a book might with facility be compiled by many now amongst our worthy European Missionaries, Native catechists, and others also (e. g. Mr. P. S. D'Rozario, &c.) is very evident. I have frequently felt myself tongue-tied for want of a remedy of the above description, and believe there are many others of your readers and our countrymen generally, who have found themselves at a loss for words to explain themselves, and have experienced the pain and dread of committing themselves upon the serious and glorious subjects contained in the Bible, lest they should either occasion them to be ridiculed, or its holy truths to be perverted by their misinterpretation, however ready and willing they might be "to give an answer to every man that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them," and however desirous to communicate to others the consolations and supports they had themselves derived from its most blessed contents. With such an index, however, as the work I allude to, and with an inquiring native capable of reading the text itself, what delightful and mutually instructive intercourse might not be held between them? and how easily might the Christian's experience be communicated to the other, under difficulties on his part, otherwise inexplicable, perhaps, and on the other hand of doubts and misconceptions sufficient to slacken if not to deter the further prosecution of inquiry? and this, too, at places far from the residence of any Missionary or other recognised and competent instructors.

Trusting that ere long a work of this nature may be available for those who experience the difficulties I have briefly referred to, and that every other impediment may be speedily removed from "the good way," and from the spread of the Gospel of life to the people among whom we sojourn, I beg to sign myself

1st Sept. 1836.

Your very obedient servant,
SELIMA.

5.-IMPORTANT QUERY.

GENTLEMEN,

To the Editors of the Calcutta Christian Observer.

I should be glad to learn your own opinion, as well as that of any one of your Correspondents who may be disposed to discuss the point,on the question, whether the Civil Officers of Government, exercising authority in the interior of the country, ought personally to instruct their native servants in the truths of the Christian religion, or procure such instruction for them? The obvious objection to such a course is, that it might excite among the native population subject to such authorities a general apprehension

of state-interference with their religion; and the difficulty to be resolved is, whether or not the chance of creating such a feeling is to be considered a sufficient ground for the non-performance of what must otherwise be regarded as an undoubted duty.

In the reply of the Government to a late petition from the Musalináns of Calcutta, it is (if I remember right) promised that the Government would both practise themselves and enjoin upon all their officers the observance of a strict non-interference in regard to the religions of the natives. Can this letter apply to Government functionaries in their private relations as well as public capacity? If so, the Government should take care to let this be distinctly known to all their servants. Your very obedient servant, A SUBSCRIBER.

Sept. 1836.

V.-The Roman Character and the English Language in India.

To the Editors of the Calcutta Christian Observer.

GENTLEMEN,

Oblige me by the insertion of the following excellent letter, originally published in the Bengal Hurkaru, but written in reply to a communication signed L. W. which appeared in the last No. of your valuable periodical. Your obedient humble Servant, A FRIEND TO IMPROVEMENT.

I have read L. W.'s lively attack upon what, I think, we may now call the prevailing system of native education, and upon the use of the Roman letters as applied to the Eastern languages.

The question regarding the Roman character is contained within a very small compass. The facility with which this character may be written quickly, yet legibly; the distinctness of the printed character; its capability of compression; its admitting of the freest use of italics, stops, marks of interrogation and admiration, and other guides to the reader; its superior cheapness, arising from the compactness of the type and the consequent diminished expenditure of paper and of the other materials of printing, are advantages, which need not be dwelt on, because they are now seldom denied. Neither can any body fail to observe the national benefit which must arise in the present incipient state of native literature, from all the languages of India being expressed by one common character, and that character the same which is used to express the literature of the most enlightened nations in other parts of the world. "If all the Indian dialects were presented in the same English character, it would be seen and felt that the natives are not divided into so many sections of foreigners to each other, that they have all fundamentally the same language, and that without much difficulty, a community