SAHEBGUNJ. William Thomas, Portuguese. The Committee report- No Report appears of MYMUNSING, east of Jessore. CALCUTTA. The Chief of the British Presidencies in India Inhabitants, including 20 miles round, calculated, in 1802, at 2,225,000: those of Calcutta itself very variously estimated. AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY. The Fifteenth Report of the Society has not reached us: from the Fourth of the Calcutta Bible Association, we collect the following particulars. Its Fourth Anniversary was held on the 6th of January; the Venerable the Archdeacon in the Chair. The Receipts had been 3400 rupees-of which, 409 were for sales, and 2991 contributions: the Ex penses had been 3308 rupees-of which, 2741 were for the purchase, at the Depository of the Auxiliary, of 4025 Bibles, Testaments, and Single Portions of the Scriptures, in various languages; and 567 for balance of books purchased in the ceding year and for incidentals. There had been distributed, in the year, 268 Bibles, 154 Testaments, and 349 Single Portions of the Scriptures, in various languages; making a total of 15,488 copies. GOSPEL-PROPAGATION SOCIETY. 1820. pre BISHOP'S COLLEGE. every branch of Eastern Learning: the Printing Press was regularly at work, for the supply of Missionaries. Schools, and the Public. To this establishment are attached the Schools at Howrah, Russapugly, and Cossipore; which are superintended by Missionaries recently arrived in India and pursuing their studies at the College. The opportunity thus afforded for systematic instruction under excellent Teachers, coupled with the means of acquiring an intimate acquaintance with the Natives, is superior to any thing of a similar description hitherto enjoyed in India; and the Missionaries, who receive the benefits of it, may be expected to go forth with peculiar qualifications for their arduous and sacred duties. Four Missionaries are already attached to the establishment; and it is understood that the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts is preparing to send European Missionaries to Madras and likewise to Bombay, as soon as persons properly qualified can be procured. Professors Craven and Holmes, in proceeding to India, were accompanied by Mr. Di Mello, a Native PortugueseIndian, who had visited England for education and had graduated at Cambridge: he was ordained by the Bishop of London for the Society's Missions: they were accompanied also by T. C. Simpson, a Youth from the ClergyOrphan School. Mr. Mr. Tweddle was prosecuting the Society's objects in Calcutta ; but Mr. Christian had removed to Boglipore, and Mr. Morton to Chinsurah. Morton was preparing, before he left Calcutta, a Bengalee Dictionary, and had begun a translation of the Liturgy into Bengalee. The Board thus report the late Bishop Heber's view of Missionary Stations in India sionary in India offers not only a most exThe Bishop observes, that the life of a Mis tensive field of usefulness, but many circumstances calculated to compensate or to cheer the oppressive climate, the removal from home, and the daily and monotonous labour for which, in the conduct of a circle of Hindoo Schools, he must prepare himself. By the judicious and considerate arrangements of the Society, and by the establishment of Bishop's College, his introduction to the Natives of India will be gradual, and his intercourse with them more easy. In every station to which he is likely to be appointed, he will find a From the last Report of the Christian-small, but well-educated European Society, Knowledge Society, we collect the fol: lowing account of Bishop's College and the Mission: W. Morton, W. Tweddle, T. Christian, to whom, during a part of every Sunday, his ministry will be essentially useful and acceptable, and from whom, if he is a well-conducted and well-mannered man, he may count on a degree of respect and kindness, which, in India of all countries, is necessary to the happiness of a Clergyman. Bishop's College is beginning to attract that attention and to fulfil those purposes which were anticipated by the first Bishop of Calcutta. The last accounts announce the From no fewer than six stations of this dearrival of the Professors Craven and Holmes :scription, within the Presidency of Fort William the College is reported to be in full opera- || tion; containing Eleven Pupils of promising character, pursuing their various studies in alone, his Lordship has received pressing aplications to assign them a resident Missionary, and in each he has been assured that every facility and encouragement would be given to the exercise of his ministry, both among the Natives and his own countrymen. The State and Progress of Bishop's College were noticed at pp. 200, 201, and 410 of our last Volume; and, at p. 411, some account of the Society's Missions, and of the transfer of the ChristianKnowledge Society's Missions in India to the charge of the Board: on this subject it is stated in the last Report This Society have readily undertaken the charge, and have placed the Missionaries in immediate connection with Bishop's College. Measures have been adopted for the enlargement of the Missionary Establishment, and the correspondence with the Ecclesiastical Authorities in Germany encourages the expectation that the spiritual wants of that part of India will soon be supplied. The transfer is thus noticed by the Christian-Knowledge Society— It appears that this step was highly approved, and in some degree anticipated by the Society's supporters in the East; and that it promises to answer the most sanguine expectations of its promoters. The Society is greatly indebted to the zealous exertions in its behalf of the late Bishop; and the affectionate regard manifested to his memory, both in India and at home, has led to a considerable enlargement of the resources of the College. The surplus of a subscription opened at Calcutta for the erection of a Monument to the memory of the Bishop,|| and the amount of a subscription opened at Bombay, are to be applied to the founding of "Heber Scholarships" in the College to the same object, the Christian Knowledge and Church Missionary : Societies have each devoted 20001. On the Bishop's exertions in support of the Society, it is remarked in the last Report of that for Promoting Christian Knowledge pected from this transfer of the Society's India Missions The first effect to be anticipated from it, is the increase and enlargement of the Missions in the neighbourhood of Madras, to which the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts is about to despatch additional merely will this, the only field for Missionary and highly-promising Missionaries. And not exertion upon which the SOCIETY FOR PRO MOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE was en abled to labour, be cultivated with enlarged means under the new arrangement, but the other Presidencies and Provinces will be furnished at no distant period with, it may be hoped, a respectable and a permanent Missionary Establishment of such description and character as must strongly recommend it both to British and to Indian support. CHRISTIAN KNOWLEdge socieTY. It is stated in the last Report The especial attention of the Society has been directed to its affairs in the East by various circumstances which have occurred during the last year. A despatch has been received from the Bishop of Calcutta, in which his Lordship takes a detailed view of the operations of the Committees in his Diocese, and very highly commends the general system pursued by the Society. He has also favoured the Society with many judicious suggestions will enable it to pursue its important underfor its future progress and management, which takings in India with increased effect. The communication of the late Bishop here referred to may be found at pp. 294-296 and 331-333 of our last Volume. From the Report just quoted we extract the following statement Grants have been already made from the Native-School Fund to a considerable amount. of Calcutta, the Society has engaged to defray At the earnest recommendation of the Bishop the expense of purchasing and repairing the premises now used for the Native Schools at Russapugly; and the Calcutta Committee have been authorised to draw upon the Society for that purpose, to the amount of 5000 A further sum of five hundred pounds has also been placed at the disposal of the same Committee, to be employed by It is the opinion of the Committee, and of them in the promotion of Native Education. their President the Bishop of Calcutta, that assistance may be advantageously afforded, in certain proportions, to local Committees and located Missionaries, for the erection of Native Schools under their immediate superintendence and inspection. The Society has gladly acquiesced in this suggestion; and authorised the Committee to make grants out of the aforesaid money, with the consent of the Bishop, to such Schools as may appear most in need and most deserving of their assistance. Committees of the Society for the Propa-rupees. gation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts have been formed at Calcutta, Bombay, and Ceylon, under the especial patronage of the Bishop; and his Lordship has announced his intention of forming a similar Committee at Madras, during the Visitation upon which he was about to proceed. The measure has been most favourably received in the different places to which it had extended, and there can be no doubt that it will obtain the same reception at Madras. This public and authorised recognition, in all the Presidencies of British India, of a Missionary Society identified with the Church of England, and harmonizing in every respect with the SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, is an event second in importance to none which has occurred in the Anglo-Indian world, since the erection of the See of Calcutta. From the same Report, we collect the following view of the results to be ex The Diocesan Committee, in their Ninth Report, in noticing the little influence of Caste in preventing the instruction of Hindoo Children, says It has disappeared, in an accelerated rate, like vapour before the sun. FEBRUARY, 1827. SURVEY OF THE PROTESTANT MISSIONARY STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. (Continued from the January Number.) MUCH information relative to the Society's Missions, both in Calcutta and at the Stations connected with it, will have been gathered from our last Volume: see pp. 201-203, 333-342; and Mr. Doran's account, at pp. 475-478, of his visit to Calcutta. The recognition, by the late Bishop, in his journey through the Upper Provinces, of more than Two HUNDRED NATIVE CONVERTS, chiefly the fruit of the Society's labours and that at but a part of its Stations, supplies abundant cause for thankfulness and perseverance; while, in connection with the success of other Societies, it exposes the futility of all prognostications of the inutility of Missions in India. A steady growth has marked the Society's proceedings: four of its Labourers have been admitted, in India, to Episcopal Orders; and plans of usefulness are devised, particularly in reference to the preaching of the Gospel, the duty of which is strongly felt, notwithstanding the present fruit be but little. On these and other topics, the details of our last Volume will have been read with interest. Recent despatches furnish much further ground of encouragement. The Annual Sermon was preached for the Society, at the Old Church, on Whitsunday, when about 800 rupees were collected. The Annual Meeting was held on the 26th of May, and a Collection of 600 rupees made: the Venerable the Archdeacon was in the Chair: he has been appointed a Vice-President of the Auxiliary, and has been requested to act as President till the arrival of a Bishop. Feb. 1827. The Rev. Deocar Schmid will take the chief business of the office of Secretary. In the labours of the MINISTRY, Native Services are held on the morning and evening of Sunday, in a small Chapel, built by Mr. Wilson on the Society's premises at Mirzapore, and the Lord's Supper administered there monthly; and, at Potuldunga Chapel, Services are held on Sunday and other Evenings. Mr.Wilson writes on this subject, in May Our little Chapel at Mirzapore has been a great convenience and comfort to the few Native Christians whom we have collected Christian Families, making in all 18 baptized about us. There are now residing with us 8 adults and 8 children. Within the last twelve months, 15 persons have been baptized, of whom 8 were adults and 7 children. There have been also five marriages, one birth, and one death. Mr. Reichardt writes, in the same month: For the last year, I have been in the habit of addressing Heathen and Native-Christian Congregations, four or five times a week; having now attained to greater ease and fluency in speaking the language, from my constant intercourse with the Natives and the composing of several little works in Bengalee. I preach statedly on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday Evenings to the Heathens at the Potuldunga Chapel: during the cold season, I was, with my brother Missionaries, evening in the week; but such exertions enabled to address the Natives almost every must, of necessity, be curtailed during the hot season. On these occasions I have seldom been alone, as either some brother Missionary or our Native Reader, with some other Native Christians, have been present and have assisted. The average attendance amounts to especially when some argument is going on, from 40 to 80, but very often 100 or 120; the place is crowded to excess: in this respect, the Hindoos are very like the Athenians, continually wishing to hear something new, or to witness some extraordinary spectacle. In reference to the Adults baptized, he adds raging. We have good hope of the baptized; though much patience and forbearance are required with Native Christians: it would be, The occasions were very solemn and encou K indeed, a wonder, if they were to forsake at once every kind of heathenish custom, and walk like those who were born and educated in a Christian Land. On the subject of the SCHOOLS and the difficulties attending Native Edu. cation in India, various details were given at pp. 336-339 of our last Volume. Mr. Wilson remains in charge of the English School at Mirzapore: about 50 Boys were in pretty regular attend. ance: the Bible is a class-book with these Youths; and they sensibly improve both in religious and general knowledge. The Bengalee Schools were, at the last dates, 13 in number, and had 812 Boys in daily attendance: they read the Scriptures, and commit to memory Mr. Reichardt's Catechism: they are still under his special charge: much religious knowledge is imparted to them : he has often found them well acquainted with Christian Doctrines: they are improving, also, in the knowledge of Geography: at an Examination held on the 9th of March, 140 were subjected to trial, and acquitted themselves very satisfactorily: Mr. Reichardt reads with the Pundits, for their own improvement, every Saturday Afternoon; and has observed a manifest improvement in the Scholars since he has adopted this practice with their Teachers. The Committee of the Auxiliary have it in view to establish a School for the instruction of the Missionaries' Children: and also the education of Poor Native Children, preserving their usual habits in respect of food, in order to their being apprenticed out to householders who will watch over them; and thus they hope to raise a race of trustworthy and pious Native Servants. The measure adopted at home of opening a Separate Fund in support of Native-Female Education has met the entire approbation of the Society's friends in India. It will have been seen in Mrs. Wilson's animated Address (pp. 204-206 of the last Volume) on Female Education, that reliance is placed for the augmentation of funds on making Female Education a distinct object, and we are happy to see from the state of the fund that her expectation will be realized. Archdeacon Corrie writes on this subject, in May From a communication of March 25, 1825, we learnt that a Separate Subscription had been opened for Female Education, and that the Society had commenced with 5007. On the strength of this, aided by a large grant from a Native, of which you have heard, the Ladies' Committee commenced their Central School. We must draw on you soon for 5007., and we hope you will supply this sum yearly to the Ladies' Society. Nothing could be more judicious than this measure. We shall, in future, refer all details relative to the Female Schools to the head of the Ladies' Society. That Society will take under its care all the Church Missionary Female Schools which may be formed in the Presidency, as it has already done those at Burdwan. Two Youths, each about 16 years of age, have been taken under preparation, since June, as Missionary Students. The PRESS has continued under the general direction of Mr. Reichardt. An idea may be formed of the extent of its operations from the following statement— from June 1824 to February 1826, there were printed 52 different Books and Tracts, forming a total of 122,344 copies : these works were of various sizes, from a Tract of 4 pages to a Book of 432; and the editions varied from 80 copies to 6000, but produced a total of nearly six millions of pages of these pages, more than one half consisted of Single Gospels, the Acts, and the Book of Isaiah; printed for the Bible Society-nearly one-twelfth of the whole were for other Societies and Individuals and the remainder were printed for the use of the Society's Missions. Archdeacon Corrie writes stanee Prayer-Book; and are preparing an We require a new edition of the Hindooentire copy of the Prayer-Book in Bengalee. We have the means, also, of preparing a translation of the Homilies into Hindoo stanee. The Missionaries remark that great eagerness for Tracts is manifested among the people after preaching; and that it is evident, from subsequent circumstances, that they are read. To the general progress of the Mission, Mr. Wilson bears the following testimony I cannot but look back with thankfulness for what I have been allowed to witness during three years in Calcutta; and cannot but hope, from my own observation, that things are changing for the better. Consi dering how little comparatively has been yet attempted for the salvation of the Heathen, there is abundant fruit; and if more activity, more faith, and more prayer were employed in this holy cause, we should no doubt speedily reap a tenfold harvest. Mr. Reichardt thus speaks on this point The field is immense, and hearers can be collected any where without trouble. More decorum is manifested by the hearers. A spirit of inquiry has been excited; and, in the discussions which take place, the Heathen themselves award the best of the argument to the Christians. On the whole, we are more encouraged at the present period than at any former: we obtain a hearing from the Natives: many of them stay listening to the Discourses for more than an hour: many of them come frequently, so that we have often observed one man many times present: others ask sensible questions, and seem to wish to know more of the particulars about Christ and the nature of the Christian Religion, and what would be required of them if they embraced Christianity: some have taken the trouble to write questions at home, and have them answered at the Chapel: many, on hearing once, promise to come again: even rich persons have come in their carriages, and, halting before the Chapel, have, like Nicodemus, listened privately to the truths of the Gospel. There seems, in fact, a general stir among them, and many are heard saying "We must all become Christians by and bye." Yet he thus chastens his expectations: I have only to add, that, though much is doing at the present period for the good of India and the prospects of usefulness are most animating, yet it must be confessed that our work still is for future generations, and must be carried on with much patience and a steady perseverance in well-doing. Much knowledge of the Christian Religion is gradually extending itself among Hindoos and Mussulmans, which cannot fail of producing some change for the better; but when this change will take place, we must leave to the Lord, assured that He will certainly establish His Religion at His own appointed time. We want more help-more Missionaries-more ardour in our prayersmore zeal and activity in our exertions, and the work will certainly prosper. The Auxiliary Committee give the following summary view of the NorthIndia Mission Since the last Public Meeting of the Society took place, there have been baptized at the different Stations, according to reports received, 26 Adult Natives besides Children: the number of habitual Christian Worshippers at the different Stations is about 480, besides the assemblies of Heathen: the Native Children receiving instruction in the Society's various Schools is about 3980. The Archdeacon bears a testimony to the progress and prospects of the Society, which will be read with great pleasure. In reference to Bishop Heber's death, he writes in men of piety. I cannot describe to you how he attracted all hearts. It seems difficult to believe that he is no longer with us. Of the Mission he says Instruction is, without reserve, imparted; and, by the Natives, received without reserve: that is, they read and they learn by heart, both Boys and Girls, whatever is brought before them by the Teachers. The retaining of Caste, as it is avowedly a religious distinction, is held, by all the Missionaries and friends of Missions on this side of India, as utterly incompatible with an upright profession of Christianity. Measures are in progress on the Coast, for the extinction of Caste among the professing Christians, who were allowed to retain it. It is our desire and delight to fulfil all the wishes of the Society, and to be fellow-helpers in the Lord. If we have erred, it has been perhaps in attempting too much: yet nothing has failed of our plans as yet. All our Missionaries are crying out for more Books and more help for Schools: not one of thei seems to seek any thing for himself; but all their cry is "Schools, Books, and more help, to enable us to meet the demands on our time and strength." Doubtless the Society will reap in due time, if we faint not. I deeply feel the need of keeping up spirituality in our work; and soon would the spirit of Missions depart, if any departure from the principles on which we have set out be admitted. As it is, our machine seems fitly framed and fair for operation; but, as yet, our main spring has not been brought into powerful action. May the Spirit be poured out upon us from on high! BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 1801. W. Yates, James Penney, W. H. Pearce, John Statham, W. Kirkpatrick, W. Robinson, --Fenwick, Missionaries. Paunchoo, Subhroo, Native Teachers. The death of Mr. Lawson has been a serious loss to the Mission: some ac count of him was given at pp. 266, 267, 452-454 of our last Volume. Mr. Robinson, late of Sumatra, has taken charge of a Congregation in the Lal Bazaar, hitherto under the care of the Serampore Missionaries. Mr. Fenwick, who resides at Chinsurah, has been engaged to itinerate among the Heathen: he speaks Bengalee and Hindoostanee with fluency. At the Circular-Road Chapel, the death of Mr. Lawson appears to have The event is so overwhelming, that I know not what to say-They perish, but been the occasion of much religious imThou remainest! To whom must we look to pression: the American Missionaries, repair the breach, but to Him who made it? Wade and Boardman, of the Burman Men of mere secular ambition will be, in a Mission, rendered much assistance durmeasure, deterred from braving this climate, ing their residence in Calcutta. Native by this stroke upon stroke; and, in the ordering of Providence, we may perhaps obWorship is continued at Bow Bazaar, tain men of a right spirit in succession: but Wellington Street, and Kallingah; and, the kindness and unmeasured benevolence in the suburbs, at Doorgapore, Burahof Bishop Heber are of rare occurrence, even nagar near that place, and Howrah : |