by the wide spread of a holy leaven from these separate centres, through the instrumentality of an indigenous native ministry, that the Gospel must win its widening way over the regions of Hindustan, till brahmin and moslem be historic terms merged in the single designation of Christian. We are happy to perceive the Bengal Auxiliary Society sensible of this verity, and anxiously taking measures both to cultivate real Christianity among professed christiaus, and to raise up a class of well instructed, humble and pious native preachers. It will be long ere these can advantageously act alone. The superintendance of intelligent European Missionaries must continue for yet many years; but the value of good native assistants is even now in many ways incalculable; they are so well able to cope with the duplicity of the native mind,-to meet its wants and wishes, often closely disguised from the European, partly from natural timidity, partly from dissimilitude of thought and expression, partly from the want of that familiarity which the diversity of customs, &c. must necessarily preclude. With a view to provide such assistance, an efficient course of study has been laid down for the theological class of native students in the Christian Institution supported by the Bengal Auxiliary Missionary Society at Bhawanipur, under the superintendence of the Missionaries, aided by well qualified Portuguese Teachers.

The amount of actual conversions has been small, yet sufficient to test the general expediency of the measures that have been adopted. Much illusion on this point has taken possession of many minds, that requires to be immediately dissipated. The report justly observes:

"It would be gratifying to have been able to speak of more decided progress; it should, however, be kept in mind that where preaching of the Gospel to adults constitutes, as it does with the Missionaries of this Society, the principal sphere of exertion, a longer time and a greater proportion of labourers are needed to ensure visible success than where mere education of the young is aimed at. The superintendent of a school, in a limited sphere of some hundred boys, may, even if single-handed, do much good that will soon be apparent. But the Missionary preacher, who has to work upon thousands and tens of thousands of adults constantly changing and shifting, and filled besides with deep-rooted prejudices, has far more appalling difficulties to contend with. Humanly speaking, it is only after a long period, and by dint of a great number of labourers, that any lasting impression can be made on this mass; for sermons, however often preached by a small number of individuals, are too few and far between, among so dense a population, to produce immediately visible and tangible effects. O! that Christians would but pray more fervently the Lord of the harvest to thrust forth more labourers into his harvest!"

It appears that besides regular services for the Native Christian churches, there are constant exercises maintained, throughout the year, at several chapels in different parts of the city, for

bringing the Gospel before its vast heathen population. Every evening in the week several of the Missionaries preach in the Bengali language and often to crowded audiences. They have lately also commenced, in addition, a set course of weekly systematic preaching, each Missionary in rotation taking up a distinct subject. Large numbers of Christian Tracts and portions of the Sacred Scriptures are distributed, which are in great request; and sometimes, which is rather a hopeful sign than otherwise, considering the general apathy of the native mind, considerable discussion is excited and no small opposition experienced. The Native papers, it seems, have lately poured forth a more than ordinary quantum of vituperative absurdity, which will assuredly turn to good in the end. The general aspect of things in Calcutta, in a Missionary view, is thus shortly but pointedly stated.

"There is much inquiry and much apparent attention to the subject of Christianity, observable among the natives; though I fear little of it is, as yet, of a genuine and saving nature. A new feature, which argues well for the future, is becoming more and more perceptible. I allude to the open hostility to Christianity at present displayed by numbers of Hindus, whose apathy in religious matters, so long complained of, seems to be subsiding. It is always when Satan finds that his kingdom is tottering and his power about to be curtailed, that he excites his adherents to opposition. It is, therefore, a cause for rejoicing rather than for lamenting, that we see this beginning to be the case in this part of Bengal."

At Chinsura, Berhampore, and Benares the work is carried on by zealous, intelligent and indefatigable Missionaries of the Society, in all the various modes that have been detailed. Many schools are supported; extensive Missionary tours are made; the seed of the word vivâ voce, and by the wide dispersion of Tracts, &c. is scattered far and near; and, amid many discouragements, whether common in all parts of the world, or those peculiar to India, prejudice is softened down; knowledge spreads; individual souls are converted; and the way is evidently preparing for the crumbling of the already tottering edifice of idolatry and superstition, and for the erection on its ruins of the imperishable fabric of Christianity.

"The number of schools, in connection with the society, is about fifteen, containing about eight hundred pupils; of these five are Christian boarding and orphan schools, two adult schools, and one infant school. In all, the Scriptures are fully taught.

The number of converts, it will be seen, has increased during the past year, and the conduct of the native Christians has been such as to afford increased satisfaction to their pastors. It will be observed that we have a greater number of native catechists this year than in former years; and we hope, as the Christian Institution prospers, we shall raise up an efficient and pious vernacular ministry.”

We recommend the Report as well deserving an attentive perusal, but are compelled, by our narrow space, to forego trans

ferring many interesting portions of it to our pages. May the Lord abundantly prosper this and every other kindred Society for the extension of his holy and happy reign among meu !—M.

5.-BAPTIST MISSION REPORT.

An abstract of the Report of the Baptist Missionary Society in England, has reached us; from which we learn, with infinite satisfaction, the beneficial working of the West Indian negroslave emancipation, in reference to the progress of true religion among that deeply injured class of our fellow-men*. We have only room for one extract; it follows an account of the public opening of the British school at Montego Bay in Jamaica, on the 21th September 1836, " on which occasion the children from the various Sabbath schools connected with the church, 8170 in number, assembled. A more interesting scene I never beheld; indeed it was too much for me: the excitement occasioned a fever, the effects of which I have not yet fully recovered."

"It is now truly interesting to spend a Sunday at Montego Bay. When I arrived, thirteen years ago, the Sabbath was market day; all was noise, business, and confusion. There was nothing to indicate it the Sabbath day. Now, as the hour of service approaches, the people are flocking to the respective places of worship; and during the hours of service, scarcely a person is seen walking the streets. The change is almost incredible. What has God wrought! may christians say. It is indeed the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. Not unto us, O Lord! but unto thy name be all the glory.'"

The word of God goes on prosperously.

"Among those received was a woman, who had attained the very extraordinary age of 123 years, and after living nearly the whole of that lengthened period in ignorance and sin, was enabled to receive the Gospel, and to afford most pleasing and decisive evidence of her conversion to God."

Surely one such instance, if duly considered, must satisfy the most incredulous, not only of the value but of the intrinsic power of the Gospel when brought positively to bear, without let or hindrance, on the human mind in all conditions of intellectual and social advancement, or in the lowest state of degradation in both.-M.

*We deeply regret to learn, from subsequent communications, that, in other respects, the Apprenticing system has not been allowed to tell as it should have done on the temporal well-being of the emancipated negroes; chiefly through the cupidity of the owners or their agents, and the ineffici ency of the stipendiary Magistracy. Anon of this, at length.-EDD.

VIII.-Examination of the General Assembly's School.

On the 12th of the last month we had the gratification of attending the seventh Annual Examination of the noble school instituted by the Scottish Society's missionaries in this city. The examination was held in the new building in Cornwallis Square, which had been but a short time previously completed; a structure which, for beauty of style, accuracy of proportions, chasteness of decoration, and perfect adaptation to the purposes of its erection, is not exceeded by any other in the city of palaces. It does infinite credit both to the designer and the architect; the former, too modestly, refuses to be noticed; the latter is the very respectable builder, Mr. Gray.

A remarkable feature in the character of the Scottish Mission in India is its nationality-it is not the undertaking of a voluntary society of benevolent individuals, united for that purpose alone, (as are those of nearly all other missions from our father-land;) but it is that of the whole national Church of Scotland as such; and a truly becoming, honourable,'and most worthy acknowledgment and fulfilment it is, of the solemn obligation lying upon it, as upon all other churches in like manner, with one heart and one hand, one lip and one purse, to obey the last solemn behest of the ascending Saviour" Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." Late though the Church of Scotland has come into the field of missionary enterprize, she has thus nobly distinguished herself above all other Protestant churches, that of the United Brethren or Moravians alone excepted, we believe, by thus appearing in her corporate capacity, as a whole, not in any larger or lesser fraction of her extent; and that with an energy and determination that promise well to redeem the time" in which she has seemed, (and, we trust, but seemed) indifferent to the sacred cause. She has, as it were, delayed but to gather up her full strength to a vigorous and mighty and united effort, "to fight a good fight," and to win unwithering laurels in the field of holy battle against the accursed usurper of God's supreme dominion over the hearts of his human creatures. Already has she taken her stand, with resolute and uncompromising decision; and at each of the three Indian Presidencies has stationed her national missionaries, in the very van of attack upon the strength of Satan's kingdom. May she long maintain her position, until, by the exertions of her agents, in union with the many intrepid soldiers of the Cross from the other sections of the grand army of the Redeemer," the whole Church militant here in earth,"-commissioned to the same 'field, the great enemy of God and of souls shall be driveu from every corner of his usurped dominion through the vast

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regions of Hindustan, and till every temple of a base superstition and a demoralizing yet most contemptible idolatry, shall have crumbled into everlasting ruins, and the idols of brahminical abomination be utterly abolished;"-Amen and Amen! The Scottish Mission has, in the first instance, appropriated to itself, as it were, the department of general, scientific and Christian tuition of the rising youth of Calcutta, as distinct from a nearly exclusive devotion to the proclamation of the Gospel, in the direct way of native preaching, to the adult population.

We ought not, if we would, on the present occasion to touch this subject in a controversial way. Decided as are our own views in leading us to give an unhesitating preference, even in the very first efforts of missionary energy, to the immediate announcement of the Gospel message to the rudest alike and the most civilized of the human family, we cheerfully give our Scottish brethren full and entire credit for the possession of a zeal in no respect inferior to our own, and for the best use of their Christian judgment and discretion in selecting and prosecuting the line of labour on which they have entered. We heartily wish them God speed, and doubt not ere long to see them, when their plans are fully matured and their avowedly preparatory work in some good measure accomplished, vigorously branching out into every other department also of missionary enterprize; especially to see them entering, with apostolic zeal and earnestness, upon that which is first and chiefest, because it is so eminently "the power of God unto salvation," the direct preaching of the Gospel of the blessed Jesus to the various classes of the population of this vast city, "speaking to them in their own tongues, of the wonderful works and marvellous grace of God!"

We should prefer too, we avow, that the admittedly preparatory and assuredly subordinate school-work, had been committed to well-qualified laymen, under the general superintendence merely of ordained missionaries; so to enable the latter to devote far the largest portion of their time and strength to the study of the native languages, and, when these were acquired, to the employment of them in the direct efforts of native preaching, which is that to which a call to the ministry specially designates him, in every church, who receives it. This first and greatest object is, however, we rejoice to know only postponed by the Scottish missionaries; and we entirely respect their deliberate judgment, while candidly acknowledging our own to be decidedly different on this point. Ere long, we trust to see and hear them at their proper work as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ.