triumph; the church being now too small to accommodate the increasing congregation, they erected a new one; their contributions to aid the Bible, Sunday School, Tract, and Missionary Societies were much more liberal; their attendance on the regular prayermeetings and monthly concert meeting, more full; a number of young men of promise commenced to prepare themselves for the ministry; in short, no living man could go into the bounds of that congregation without hearing, seeing, and feeling that the Lord was in that place; unlike good Jacob of old, no one could add, "I knew it not." The effects of that season of refreshing are manifest to this day in the seriousness, consistency of conduct, and benevolence of the congregation, and in the frequent admissions to the church. This example is but one selected from hundreds, embracing every variety of class from the large congregation in the Atlantic cities, where society is perhaps more artificial and intellectual, to the plain country congregation with all its delightful simplicity. Amongst them all, the effects are substantially the same. These imperfect observations are submitted to the serious reader, in the humble hope that while they satisfy his mind concerning the exceeding desirableness of such a state of piety amongst a Christian community, they may also excite to the faithful use of the means by which alone we can expect to obtain, for ourselves and for others, those peculiar blessings from above, which Christians regard as all that render life, in this wilderness world, a blessing. C. IV. The Christian's Joy and the Memorials of Death. To the Editors of the Calcutta Christian Observer. GENTLEMEN, The imagination, spiritually enlightened, delights to linger in pleasing sadness round the dark realities of the tomb, where there are objects far more attractive than can be found amidst the gay circle of the world. Not unfrequently when the mind is contemplating the revered fabric of some dear relative, who departed in the faith of the Gospel, it finds itself all at once, as it were, transported from an earthly to an heavenly scene-it views by faith the spirit of the departed, crowned with glory and clad in the white robes of immortality. Thus amidst the contemplations of the exalted enjoyments of the spirits of the just made perfect,' the soul rises above earthly sorrow, and only longs to be unshackled from the bondage of an earthly prison-house, and to join in that rapturous song which crowns the Saviour, Lord of all. How infinitely more satisfactory are such enjoyments to the mind, than any thing that can be gathered from the amusements and follies of time-amusements, which are sordid in their nature, and fleeting in their duration! How many, who, in Dec. 1832, moved in the circle of the gay, rejoiced at the jovial party, exulted amidst the merriment of the ball, and banished all thought of eternal realties amidst the follies of theatrical amusements, have since bid an everlasting farewell to them all! How few families are there into which the king of terrors has not entered! We are every day called to listen to the melancholy sighs of the destitute widow, deprived of the partner of her affections, the sharer of her joys and sorrows, and her protector from distress. Nor are we less affected when we see the tears streaming from the eye of the female orphan, left unnoticed and unknown in a merciless world. These solemn visitations of God, although disregarded by many, have still been the means of arous ing the sleepy faculties of some; and of enkindling in others an increasing love to the Gospel, so that we have every reason to rejoice that evangelical religion is spreading in Calcutta. We are blessed with so many excellent and consistent ministers, in different denominations, that God will doubtless bless the public preaching of his word, to the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom. It is true that much is required from a minister of the Gospel; and the language of Cicero regarding Pompey's conduct as a general, is emphatically applicable to every minister "For, ability in war is not the only qualification we are to look for in a great and consummate general. Many other illustrious talents ought to accompany and march in the train of this virtue. And, first, what spotless innocence is required in the character of a general (a minister)! what temperance in all circumstances of life! what untainted honors! what affability! what penetration! what a fund of humanity!" and I might add to this, what a fund of humility! We constantly hear of enemies of religion (I mean the religion of the Bible,) declaring that it is calculated to make men unhappy; such individuals must be sadly ignorant of the consolations which the Gospel is calculated to afford. "Grovelling amidst the mists of an earthly atmosphere," they know nothing of that bright and cheering hope which illuminates the darkness of the shadow of death, nothing of that faith which discovers glories" not seen as yet" by mortal eye,-nothing of that Sun of Righteousness which eradicates the darkness of the night of death, and sheds a lustre over the gloom which surrounds the grave. It is only the reflection of a life consecrated to God, that can make the mind rest in peaceful security amidst the terrors of dissolution. All the resources of a mind dignified by nature, enlightened by science, or exalted by metaphysical research, can be of little avail in the dark hour of death. But the soul enlightened by divine influence longs to be made free from all earthly trammels, knowing that there awaits it "a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." It longs to join "the general assembly and church of the firstborn; to survey the glories of the heavenly regions; and to behold the unparalleled excellences of Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant." How foolish must they then be who barter their eternal happiness for a few short-lived pleasures!-Who sacrifice unfading glory for the glory of a world, the fashion of which soon passeth away! The above simple observations are at your service, gentlemen; publish them or not, as you think proper. I am, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, Calcutta, Dec. 23, 1833. W. M. V.-Chapter of Varieties. No. 3. 1.-On the advanced State of Native Improvement at the Presidency compared with that in the Mofussil. Most of the European servants of the H. C. on their first arrival in India, are removed to the interior. There, they spend a great part of their professional life in the midst of natives who are still in their original state of ignorance and superstition. Accordingly when they hear of the march of events at the Presidency, they are apt to give way to the surmises of incredulity. Or, if it should be their lot to visit our Institutions, and have ocular demonstration of our proceedings, they seldom fail to express surprise and astonishment. This they do, because in their minds the contrast is between the old state of things to which for years they have been accustomed, and the new state of things to which they are now introduced; i. e. between a state of things where nothing has been done, and a state of things where something considerable has been done, towards the amelioration of Hindoo society. On the other hand, when Europeans are from the first located at the Presidency, and become acquainted with the progress of education there, and the condition of its various seminaries, they are apt to draw unfavourable conclusions, and give utterance to expressions of disappointment. And this they do, because in their minds the contrast is between Great Britain and India, i. e. between a state of society where education has been at work for centuries, and a state of society where education is but as of yesterday. The comparison is in all respects an unfair one; since, besides the numerical difference as to time, it leaves out of view all the difficulties encountered in overcoming inveterate prejudices, in allaying suspicions, in establishing confidence, and in creating such a thirst for useful knowledge as must stimulate to the acquisition of it. One who has resided in the mofussil is better able to appreciate the exertions which have been made to elevate the native mind at the seat of Government-better able to estimate the comparatively great success which has attended these efforts. On this subject some light may be thrown by a few extracts from a letter lately received from a talented young man, who is at this moment engaged under the sanction and support of the Supreme Government, in attempting to found an English seminary in one of the largest and most populous of the provincial cities of India: "We have been keeping school ten days, but I am concerned to say our commencement has not been encouraging. The first day we opened school, 70 boys or rather more entered their names, and I divided them into two classes. The next day, many did not appear; and on the third day, I had occasion to say they must bring two annas each, for books. To do this they refused; and, would you believe it, after a long discussion, in spite of every thing I could say, all arose and left the school, except five. Some of them declared they expected not only books but money; two or three rupees a month, each. One pert little fellow said, he would give two, or even four, annas for a book; but then he would come, and go, and do just as he pleased! However, since this, some have returned, and we have now 30. Perhaps, with care this number may be made 50; and, I think, not more. "Ad is a large and populous place: the unavoidable conclusion, therefore, is, that there is little desire to learn English. Indeed, I am convinced this is the case, from every thing that has occurred since I came. Perhaps amongst those who are with us, scarcely five are willing to submit to any kind of restraint for the sake of learning. They are a dour," gloomy, inaccessible set of Mussulmans. Fancy to yourself, collecting 30 khitmutgars for an English school! Ours appears to me exactly a counterpart. "We may I dare say teach these people to read English; but I cannot think they will ever listen to any thing else. You are aware that Mussulmans are less accessible than Hindoos; and all our 30, or nearly so, are Mussulmans. From this, and what I have seen of them, I fear that teaching them a smattering of English is all that can ever be hoped. Perhaps you will think me too hasty in drawing this conclusion; I hope I may some day see its error. "I have made inquiries concerning the inhabitants, in order to ascertain if some could be induced to send their children. But in vain. I dare say, I might remain here and draw my salary, making just enough shew of a school to get it continued. But I know you will do me the justice to think this would not satisfy me. I would rather have a less salary, than be less useful than I have been. Neither am I sure that the Committee or Government will think it worth while to educate boys here, at an expense of ten rupees per month, each boy, when in other places, so much more may be done at the same expense. "I have been fagging with about ten men-boys ever since we commenced, and have scarcely got them to learn the alphabet. The very brightest lads in the school are two or three Bengalees. I do not mean to say the people of the place are stupid; but that we have none of the right sort. We want boys-such as those of whom I see scores in the streets: whereas we have men so stupid that they have never been able to obtain employments, and therefore now learn English as a last resource. The boys, there is no chance of getting neither they nor their parents know nor care a straw about English. "I hear there are some thousands of Hindoos in the neighbourhood, called Pragwallahs, who subsist entirely on the charity of those who come to bathe: such an idle and dissolute set can furnish no scholars. The next class are shop-keepers; but these are entirely indifferent to English, and in fact ignorant of its uses. The third and last class consist of the Government servants, principally Mussulmans, some of whom have told me that Persian cannot be abolished. I have inquired after the land-holders, or zemindars, but without success; they are non-residents." Who can peruse these extracts, and not feel that however backward the state of education in Calcutta may be, when compared with that in Great Britain, it is nevertheless immeasurably in advance of the state of things at provincial stations? Who can contrast these statements with what we may daily witness around us, and not perceive how much has been done in this place towards the furtherance of native improvement? There, little or no desire for learning exists: and submitting to the task of learning at all is to be purchased as a favour received, instead of the facility of learning being paid for as a blessing conferred. Here, prejudices have been removed; confidence has been established; a thirst for English literature and science has been excited; thousands have been initiated in the elements, and hundreds have acquired a tolerable competency in the various branches of general knowledge; numbers are willing not only to pay for books, but to pay for tuition also; and several have been aroused to a sense of the privilege and duty of emancipating their countrymen from the yoke of ignorance and superstition. Surely we, who have but newly entered on the field of native improvement, can scarcely estimate the amount of obligation under which the preparatory labours of our predecessors have laid us! One other word in conclusion: The extracts now presented to the reader incidentally disclose one of the most potent retarding influences, to the cause of native amelioration, in Hindoostan. In vain does the patriot burn and the philanthropist sigh for the moral and intellectual renovation of the great, and the noble, and the influential among the people. One gigantic bugbear stands in the way of enlightening the higher circles of societycrushing all desires, and paralysing every effort. That infinite absurdity is the Persian language. We say, Learn English, that you may learn to live and act AS MEN: the reply is, English we will not learn, for, Persian cannot be abolished! And so, this darkness-creating and folly-perpetuating Persian stands at the portals of knowledge, and, like another Cerberus, grumbles and growls, and scares away all adventurers from entering the Elysian regions that lie beyond! Verily, it is time, that Government should issue "a decree," to the effect, that Persian must be abolished within a limited time: then, would all India be in motion after that knowledge, which alone can enlarge and ennoble the minds of her people. 2.—Mr. Trevelyan's Minute on the Proceedings of the Public Instruction Committee and the School-Book Society. Nothing but its great length has prevented us from reprinting the whole of this minute. Though it contains some statements which may be thought liable to objection, and some anticipations which may be deemed too sanguine, we cannot help regarding it on the whole, as a luminous and important document. While it ably exposes the injurious proceedings of those who, through exaggerated ideas of the value of the learned languages of the East, or through a foolish or selfish desire to earn for their country or themselves, a reputation for acquaintance with Oriental Literature, would sacrifice to these subordinate objects the mental well-being of millions, it as ably advocates the cause of popular education. For the present we can only furnish a short notice of part of its contents from the Sumachar Durpun: Oriental Publications. "When the former Charter of the East India Company was granted twenty years ago, in the year 1813, Parliament wisely and benevolently directed that one lakh of rupees should be appropriated annually to the education and improvement of the natives. Although the sum thus devoted was small, considering the amount of taxes annually drawn from the country; and still smaller, considering the immense population for whose benefit it was intended; yet it was regarded by all benevolent individuals with unmingled satisfaction; and it was hoped that a system would be framed and brought into operation, calculated to deliver the natives from the bondage of ignorance, and to elevate the native character. Many years however |