put on record, or as if they possessed far less importance than the mythological fables of the Mahabharat, Ramayan, and all the other Hindoo collections of legendary tales! For the honor of Christians and of Britons, we trust that a course of action so truly heathenish, demanding as it does so large and meaningless a sacrifice of truth, will be, must be, soon abandoned—and abandoned for ever. To remedy this grand defect, and wipe away this foul dishonour on the Christian name, Mr. Marshman sets off at once, and without hesitation, with the primary facts of all ancient history, the creation of the world, the origin and condition of man, &c. as recorded in the authentic pages of sacred writ; and as he advances, he refers, in their proper chronological order, to the more prominent events and circumstances embodied in the Old Testament narrative. He thus fairly breaks in on the former practice, while his references are purposely brief, that he may not at first unnecessarily shock or alarm the prejudices of those who have all along been accustomed to the old, heathenish system of book-making. We think, therefore, that, in the present state of things, much may be alleged in favour of this medium plan. And without further remark, we cordially recommend to the attention of our readers, this " Brief Survey of Ancient History," which to judiciousness in the choice of materials, and comprehensiveness of view, adds the attraction of a graceful and classical style. 66 "A Brief Survey of Modern History" is promised by Mr. Marshman, and a more valuable boon for Christian and native schools he could neither promise nor bestow. We hope the work is in progress, as we already long to see it. III.-The Indian Journal of Medical Science. A copy of the first number of this journal, edited by Messrs. J. Grant and J. T. Pearson, has been kindly forwarded to us. It obviously does not fall at all within our province to comment on the merits of such a periodical. As friends of the species, however, and promoters of sound general knowledge, we cannot but hail the appearance of the first Indian Medical Journal, conducted as it is under the auspices of gentlemen, qualified for the task, as well by their large, liberal, and enlightened views on most of the subjects embraced within the range of modern literature and science, as by professional talent. The present number contains much important information and remarks on subjects of popular interest. The greater part of it indeed is level to the comprehension of ordinary readers. A copy of it would be found useful in every house; and no general scholar should be without one. We wish the Editors every success; and were our wish as operative as it is sincere, their success would be unbounded. Missionary and Religious Entelligence. CALCUTTA. RAO KRISHNA RAO SAHEB'S VISIT TO CALCUTTA IN PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE. It has seldom fallen to our lot, in our intelligence department, to have the means of putting on record so singular, and, all circumstances considered, so interesting a statement as that which we are now to furnish. Rao Krishna Rao Saheb is the youngest son of the hereditary Dewan (prime minister) of the ancient state of Saugor on the Nerbudda. From infancy he evinced an extraordinary thirst after knowledge; and his ardour in the practical pursuit of it was not less extraordinary. Finding that his native language, the Mahratta, supplied no information to satisfy the cravings of his mind, he applied himself zealously to the study of Hindee and Persian. By untiring perseverance, he acquired so thorough a mastery over these languages, that he could write or talk in either of them with as great fluency as in the mother tongue-and the elegance of his diction could not easily be surpassed. The contents of all Hindee and Persian books to which he found access were readily and eagerly devoured: still he was not satisfied. His original desire for knowledge was only inflamed the more. Nor was he merely selfish in the acquisition of knowledge. What he acquired himself he felt anxious to communicate to those around him. Accordingly, when Government, some years ago, sanctioned a certain expenditure for the support of native schools at Saugor, Rao Krishna Rao, superior to the empty pretensions of rank, and desirous of the improvement of his countrymen, voluntarily undertook their superintendance; and this he did, cheerfully relinquishing those flattering official prospects which his rank and attainments justly warranted him to entertain. For one of the schools he surrendered a wing of his own house: one or two of the classes he taught exclusively himself: and over all of them he exercised the most vigilant supervision. The accuracy of his class-list, exhibiting the relative merits of the boys, their times of entry and departure, the nature of their attendance and subsequent employment, would do credit to the European superintendant of a first-rate Euglish institution. Such was the nature of Krishna Rao's employment, when, about a twelve-month ago, his country was honoured by a visit from the Governor General of India. A character and conduct so rarely exemplified in an Indian gentleman, as that of Krishna Rao, did not long escape the keen and penetrating eye of Lord William Bentinck; nor were such praise-worthy efforts on the part of a native of rank treated with a mere passing notice by one so liberal and enlightened in his views. Krishna was received with marked favour and distinguished honour. And after Lord Wiiliam's return from the upper provinces, an invitation from the Governor General in Council was sent through the British Resident at Saugor, to Krishna Rao, to repair to Calcutta, under the immediate patronage of the Supreme Government, in order that he might commence and prosecute the study of English, for the acquisition of which he now burned with insatiable ardour. A handsome offer was at the same time made on the part of Government to defray a portion of the heavy additional expences incurred by his journey to the presidency. Gladly was this honourable invitation accepted. Krishna Rao shook off all the restraints of home, broke through all the trammels of custom, and entered on a journey of twelve hundred miles, in pursuit of knowledge. About a month ago, he arrived safely, with a retinue of 30 or 40 followers, at Calcutta. He was soon commodiously lodged: a qualified tutor was not long wanting: and he is now from morning till night engaged in mastering an elementary English school-book. His ardour continues unabated: and he vows that he will return laden with the golden fruits of the tree of English knowledge to distribute amongst his famishing countrymen. And who can tell, who can calculate the amount of blessings which he may be honoured, as an instrument in the hands of Providence, to communicate? May the God of Providence regulate his wishes and over-rule his exertions, for the advancement of His own glory. It might have been added, that Krashna Rao is about 27 years of age, and that he has a natural taste for drawing, which enables him to excel in that delightful art. Considering that he is self-taught the execution of some of the specimens which he has carried along with him is enough to excite a little astonishment. THE CHURCH MISSION ENGLISH SCHOOL. The Lord Bishop presided on Monday morning, at an Examination of the English school for native boys, in the presence of many ladies and gentlemen. The school is under the superintendence of the Church Missionaries. It was formerly attended by upwards of two hundred boys, but since the affair of Brijonath Ghose, there has been a great falling off. The Examination commenced with the fourth class. The third then read a little out of the history of Joseph, and answered various questions on the same. The little boys at the head of this acquitted themselves best. The second class read a page of the English Reader. The first class, however, showed some proficiency. The first boys readily answered a variety of questions in Scripture history, as well in that of Greece and Rome. This class also possessed a general knowledge of the solar system, eclipses, and tides. They fluently repeated several passages from Scripture. * * On the whole, considering what a number of the boys had been withdrawn on account of the religious prejudices lately excited, it appeared the pupils present had made good progress in their studies.-Englishman. N. B. Not having been present at the Examination ourselves, we have been obliged to make the above extracts from the Englishman. We are happy to learn, that the Venerable the Archdeacon, who has assumed pro tempore the pastoral charge of Vepery District, has commenced a course of Thursday Evening Lectures on the Lord's Prayer, in the Mission Church; and that on each successive Saturday Evening, at 5 o'clock, the children and young persons of the District are assembled in the same place, to receive the benefit of his valuable catechetical instructions.-Madras Christian Observer. PROSECUTION OF THE PROPRIETORS OF THE BOMBAY ORIENTAL CHRISTIAN entering much into particulars. But for the sake of those who may not have seen the account of the origin and result of the prosecution, we copy part of the ample statement given in the December number of the Spectator: "Supreme Court, Bombay, 15th November, 1833. Plea side-William Morley versus John Wilson, Cyrus Stone, and Robert Cotton Money. "Mr. ROPER appeared for the Plaintiff. Mr. PHILLIPS for the Defendants. The case was called on at half past ten on Friday morning, before both the Judges, and lasted till nearly five in the evening. Mr. ROPER opened the case for the prosecution, by stating the cause of action; the offensive passages, constituting the libels, were contained in the following extracts from the Oriental Christian Spectator, which, though not put in till at the close of the plaintiff's case, we print here for the better understanding of the proceedings." [From the Christian Spectator for May, 1833.] NOTES TO CORRESPONDENTS. "We have received a communication from Nuggur, which we shall lay before our readers, who with ourselves must be thunderstruck, that any person, bearing the name of a British officer, could so degrade the British and Christian character, as to build a Hindu temple in commemoration of an impious and illicit connexion-and if true, we sincerely trust that the proper authorities will take cognizance of it. Nor shall we overlook Dhakji Dadaji, who has attempted to deify himself, and to institute an annual jattra in honour of himself; nor the sordid Brahmans who have co-operated with him; nor the inconsiderate Europeans who have encouraged him. We are determined to make a thorough exposure. We shall give the names of offenders, that they may meet with merited disgrace. "We have received several communications, which we shall insert, or notice, next month." [From the Christian Spectator for June, 1833.] SCANDALOUS ENCOURAGEMENT OF IDOLATRY AT NUGGur. "In our notes to correspondents, inserted in our last number, we alluded to certain information which we had received concerning a most disgraceful transaction at Nuggur. We now publish it, in the hope that it will excite the indignation which it so justly merits. I quite forgot," says our correspondent, "to mention a fact in my last letter, which should by no means pass unnoticed. It is the erection of a new Hindu Temple in Ahmednugnur. The friends of Hinduism will be happy to learn, that in these degenerate days, when so few have the piety or public spirit to build and endow temples, make gods, and feed Brahmans, men of another tongue, from whom they expected little, but feared much, are coming forward to engage in this meritorious work. As I was riding a few days since along the banks of the river which runs a little south of Ahmednuggur fort, I observed, that the temple which has been for some time in the process of building, was completed, and the natives already adoring the god which had been newly set up, with as much alacrity as if other days of olden times had returned, and they were permitted once more to breathe the atmosphere of their forefathers. The shrine of the gods forms rather a singular combination. The reason of this, or rather the appropriateness of it, will appear more obvious in the sequel. They consist of the goddess, the Linga, and the other emblems of Shiva. Curious to know who among this degenerate people had in these latter days called from the dead the spirit of his fathers, I inquired of my ghorawalla, if he knew who built that temple. Will a Christian, will an Englishman believe me, that he did not, as I expected, reply, that a certain Brahman, Maratha, or Mhar, built it. But, said he, (and he seemed to know its whole history,) "it was built by Captain Saheb." I asked him, why a gentleman should build a Hindu Temple? He said, he had built it over the ashes of his Kali Stri (black mistress), as a tribute of respect to her memory. No one, thought I, will deny that the Captain chose a very appropriate way of embalming the memory of the departed. But I had another thought. It was this: that some people, whose conscience have not sustained the chills of the Cape, will have very serious scruples whether the Captain is not a little too zealous in his master's service. This conscientious people are always on the look out, and some say, they not only regard themselves, and others by nature depraved, but are so uncharitable as to believe that depravity is the universal disease of the human race. This class of people (which, thanks to God, seem to be on the increase in India,) will think that he not only is willing to immortalize a practice which is not every where well spoken of, but fain would teach generations to come to forsake the invisible, living, and holy God, and to worship the "Image which he has set up." "I read on the front of this Temple Morley's house of worship,' and the same name made part of a sentence inside of the Temple, which none but the worshippers at such temples like to pronounce. These have been written by some person in contempt. The friend of Hinduism may feel encouraged :—but what will these deluded idolaters think of such kind of Christianity? "In reply to special inquiries which we made on this subject, we have learned the following additional particulars : "The officer referred to is of the Artillery at Ahmednuggur. I have inquired of many natives, who give me but one account, that is-built it as a tomb over the ashes of his mistress. Doubting the accuracy of what I had heard, I inquired of Ensigns and Cadets, who confirmed all I had heard, and said it was known through the camp. Whether he ordered the images to be put in, I know not. But it appears very obvious that he knew they were put there, and did not forbid it. There is no inscription engraven on the Temple, or originally written there. But some European soldiers, who have treated the temple with no little indignity and abuse, by beating the door, and pelting with stones the chunam figures on the top, till they have quite beaten off three of the four placed there, have written with chalk the incription in front of the temple and behind the image. This is the writing to which I referred in the communication." After counsel was heard at length on both sides, the following is stated to have been the substance of the judgment delivered by the court: JUDGMENT OF THE COURT. "The court give it as their opinion, that the matter published was undoubted libel, and the defendants had not proved the facts advanced in justification.-There must consequently be a VERDICT FOR THE PLAINTIFF; but, as the amount of damages depended upon the consideration of many circumstances, they took till the following day to deliberate. On Saturday morning, the court pronounced a formal judgment in favour of the plaintiff, DAMAGES Rs. 350, with costs. The grounds upon which the court gave this judgment, as far as we could embody the remarks of the Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Awdry, were in substance as follows: "That the matters acknowledged to be published by the defendants were libels on the character of the plaintiff-That the facts alleged by them in justification had not been proved that the charges made being serious ones, called for serious damages : but as, from the circumstances of the case, it was more easy for the plaintiff to have negatived than for the defendants to have established the charges by direct proof-and as though the defendants had failed in proving the facts charged-yet neither had the plaintiff brought forward his household to completely disprove them as he might have done had he chosen-therefore the case was not one called for vindictive or exhibitory damages." In his written decision, Sir John Awdry emphatically remarks:-" It is still possibly a matter of doubt, whether the facts may not have been wholly or probably true, for the course which the defendants took rendered it fully competent to the plaintiff to disprove them, which, if the facts had admitted of it, he might have done by his own associates and domestic servants much more easily than the defendants, who are strangers, could have proved the affirmative." Such was the decision of one of the judges, viewing the matter solely on the ground of legal evidence! And if so, the moral evidence would, in our opinion, go much farther in favour of the defendants. The latter, however, may console themselves with the reflection that their judicial defeat was virtually a moral triumph-and that they have on their side the sympathies and congratulations of all who are friendly to the interests of truth and morality. THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LONDON BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY. We know that many of the friends of the Society earnestly supplicated that the Divine presence and blessing might attend the present Anniversary; and we rejoice to avow our conviction that these petitions were graciously heard and answered; never, probably, have the services been found more refreshing, instructive, and animating, than on the occasion just closed. The introductory meeting of the Committee, with their ministering brethren from the country, was held at Fen Court, on Tuesday morning, June the 18th, when the chair was filled by John Broadley Wilson, Esq., Treasurer to the Society. Between fifty and sixty friends were present, including several of our esteemed Missionary brethren, and W. T. Beeby, Esq., who has long been most usefully connected with this Society in the East, as Deacon of the Church in the Circular Road, Calcutta, and Treasurer of the Auxiliary Missionary Society established in that city. The proceedings of the Meeting were opened with prayer by the Rev. James Hoby, of Birmingham, and a variety of information was given respecting the transactions of the Committee during the past year. The other usual smaller services having been held at Poultry chapel, on Wednesday morning, and Surrey chapel in the evening. At eleven o'clock a very numerous and respectable assembly attended the annual meeting at Spa Fields' chapel. The Rev. J. SMITH read the 117th Psalm, which having been sung, the Rev. W. GROSER, of Maidstone, engaged in prayer; after which, |