IX.-The Bishop of Calcutta and the Missionaries.

(From a Correspondent.)

In one of the charges recently delivered by the Lord Bishop of Calcutta in the south of India, there occurs the following passage. "Very few Missionaries have fallen into open vice, and profligacythough three or four, alas! in a century and a quarter, as I before stated, have but into secularity, into inactivity, into anxiety after petty objects of their own, into jobs for their families, multitudes have been betrayed. Perhaps not one in twenty of those who come out from Europe in all the Protestant societies, with the best promise, and who go on well for a time, persevere in the disinterestedness of the true Missionary.”

These charges are now before the world: and it was felt by the Missionaries in Calcutta, that the passage in question was likely to injure them in public opinion. To them it seemed to apply pointedly to all the Protestant Missionaries in India, to accuse nearly all of having fallen back from their first disinterestedness, and distinctly to impute to them secularity, inactivity, and a preference of their own petty schemes, and family jobbings, over the cause of their great Master. Here, where they are known, such an accusation can do little harm; but, viewed as the recorded deliberate opinion of one, whose high station in the church, long experience, valuable services, and known piety and zeal gave him great influence in the Christian world, they feared not unreasonably its probable effects on the public mind at home. For, if it were true, that nineteen out of every twenty fell off so grievously from their first state, nothing could be more effectually calculated to discourage and paralyze the exertions of those who support the Missionary cause. is not for the Missionaries to speak of their own labours; but at least they may be permitted to say, that for so heavy a charge there is not the slightest foundation. Willing, however, for the satisfaction of their respective societies, to have the matter sifted to the bottom, they appointed a small deputation to correspond with His Lordship, in order to learn from him, whether the charge applied to them; and, if so, to ask for a statement of the grounds on which it was rested.

It

In the succeeding correspondence, His Lordship, both personally, and in writing, expressed his sincere regret that any thing in his charges should have wounded the feelings of any of the Missionaries. The passage in question, he assured them, was not meant to apply to them, or to any Missionaries now in the field it was grounded entirely on his own past and long observation of the whole field of Missionary exertion, in all the Protestant societies of every part of Europe. The deficiency, which he complained of, was a deficiency, not in ordinary and average, but in apostolic gifts and graces, and had a view to the highest qualifications which belong to that highest of all earthly callings, in the most difficult of all circumstances. He further stated, that he had the highest respect for their office, and that they had his warmest wishes and prayers for their success. Here, of course, the matter rests.

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Missionary and Keligious Entelligence.

BANARAS.

We have much pleasure in furnishing our readers with the following extract from a letter recently received from the Rev. R. C. MATHER,

"Here, I have succeeded in getting a house in the native city, quite a castle I assure you, with its loopholes and stone lattice windows; and quite a chamber of imagery, like what Ezekiel saw, for over every door, on the first floor, there is depicted some portion of the Indian mythological history, or the images of the gods. But yet we have made it pretty comfortable by breaking out window places, and we have consecrated the whole as a temple to the living God, so that while the idol vanities have all the pictures and the show, I trust Jehovah has and shall have all the real service and the praise. At first I hesitated in thus moving into the actual sphere of labour, out of regard to the health of myself and family; but here, I am happy to say, all concur in thinking that I run no risk, as the place combines the double advantage of town and country; in this place, I have now been a resident for nearly a month, and have found already the superior advantage of living among the people to whom we are sent. In addition to this, I have got a nice chapel, 30 feet by 13, just on the road side, and in the midst of a small bazar close to my house : so that I feel that the Lord hath blessed me indeed. In this month, I hope to commence a small English school, and extend it as my means will allow. I am delighted to find that Mr. Trevelyan's efforts are making such rapid and sure changes in respect to all former and existing methods of enlightening the inhabitants of India. I wish him every success, and as far as I can I shall help to forward this good cause. But here, there are few friends to it, and we shall not be able to make many more till from our own knowledge of the original languages we shall be able to give our testimony as to whether the plan is not the best that could be pursued. "We have just now agreed on the formation of a Tract Society, and we hope to have a depository of the Tract Society's Books up here. Some of us also are quite hot for a Printing Press, and a native newspaper; and I think the latter will most assuredly be carried into effect at no very distant period."

MADRAS PRESIDENCY.

For the following intelligence we are indebted to the MADRAS MISSION_ ARY REGISTER, a religious periodical recently established, and conducted with equal ability and candour. We are persuaded that its continued publication will be found highly beneficial to the cause of piety and Missions in the sister Presidency; and, therefore, trust that all concerned in the work will make an effort, rather than allow it to expire, like some of its predecessors of equal promise.

SEVENTH REPORT OF THE MADRAS AND TRAVANCORE DISTRICT COMMITTEES OF THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.-The Seventh Report of the Madras and Travancore District Committees, in connexion with the London Missionary Society, has recently made its appearance. In the Madras Presidency, there are in connexion with this Society thirteen stations. During the time to which the 7th Report refers, there were at these stations 17 ordained Missionaries, besides 2 Hindo-British and 2 Native Assistant Missionaries, with a considerable number of school-masters and native helpers, who are employed as catechists and readers. The Reports of the different Missionaries exhibit evidences of the steady progress of religion in their respective stations. It is the privilege of most of them to record considerable additions to their churches of such as afford credible evidences of faith in Christ; and it is a gratifying fact, that between 6 and 7000 children are enjoying the advantages of Christian education under the auspices of the London Missionary Society in the Madras Presidency. The claims of the Society have been powerfully felt, and liberally responded to, by the Christian public. Including 8168 rupees collected for the erection of a new Chapel at Bangalore, which was opened some time ago, 4500 rupees realized by the Madras Auxiliary Missionary Society, and the proceeds of public institutions at Bellary and Belgaum, intimately connected with the Society, more than 25,000 rupees are acknowledged as having been derived from local resources, and applied to local purposes.

THE MADRAS RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.-The Anniversary of the Madras Religious Tract Society was held on Wednesday evening, February 4th, in Davidson's Street Chapel, Black-Town. The Rev. Mr. Cubitt presided on the occasion, and after prayer, and an introductory address, he called upon the Secretary to read the Report of the Committee for the preceding year. It was stated, that four new tracts

had been adopted and printed; that new editions had been printed of 14 Nos. ; and that a series of Tracts, chiefly designed as rewards to children, had been originated. We extract the following notice of the Tamil Magazine: "The Sub-Committee for conducting the Tamil Magazine avail themselves of this opportunity to remind the Christian public, that a subscription of one rupee per quarter to this publication entitles them to four copies, and that it forms a suitable medium of communicating religious sentiments and facts to those of their domestics, dependants, &c., with whose language they are not familiar.-The names of subscribers will be thankfully received by the Secretary and Depositary."

The number of tracts received during the year is 75,373; the number issued 59,882 -the total number the Society has issued since its commencement in 1818, is 752,651.

The facts detailed in this and preceding Reports are such as to call for the expression of gratitude, showing that the publications of the Society have been instrumental in leading many benighted souls to Jesus Christ; but the reader is referred, for a detail of them, to the Report itself, which is now being published.

THE MADRAS AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.-This invaluable institution held its fourteenth Anniversary on Monday evening, the 9th March last. The Venerable the Archdeacon of Madras presided, opening the meeting by imploring the blessing of God, and by an eloquent address; after which, the Rev. F. Spring, A. M., one of the Secretaries, read a Report, detailing the proceedings of the Committee, and the success of the Society. The Madras Auxiliary prints and circulates the Holy Scriptures in the four extensively spoken languages of Southern India, viz., Tamil, Telloogoo, Canarese, and Malayalim. Fifty thousand portions of the Tamil Scriptnres were printed during the year, 12,040 portions or copies of the Holy Scriptures were distributed, and the Report, which is about to be published, exhibits gratifying evidences of usefulness in the narratives furnished by correspondents. The Rev. C. Rhenius states in a letter to the Secretary, that during the preceding six months, no less than 221 families, containing 807 souls, had been added to the congregations, who were being instructed in the wholesome word of God, having cast their idols to the moles and the bats. The funds are in a prosperous condition, as the Treasurer's account exhibits a balance in favour of the Society of 9,600 rupees. The Anniversary meeting was characterized by great harmony of feeling on the part of the different denominations combined to advocate the cause of the Bible Society; and it is hoped, the interest then excited will be perpetuated and exemplified in additional efforts for the distribution of the word of God.

NEW MISSION IN CANARA.

By a letter from a gentleman, dated January 14, 1835, inserted in the Bombay Christian Instructor, for April, we hear with much pleasure that three German Missionaries, the Rev. Messrs. Hebich, Lehner, and Greiner have lately arrived, with the view of establishing a Mission in Canara. They have been sent out direct by the Evangelical Missionary Society at Basle in Switzerland. The occupation of a new field of labour (for Canara has hitherto been altogether neglected), and that by a new Society (for they are the first Missionaries sent out direct to India by the Basle Society), is a subject which calls for much thankfulness. It is hoped, the new Mission will hereafter, with God's blessing, be the instrument of translating the Bible into two new languages, the Túlú and Konkanì, which both prevail in Canara.

CEYLON.

The following interesting intelligence was communicated in a letter from the Rev. P. PERCIVAL to a friend in Calcutta, who has kindly offered it for insertion in the OBSERVER.

Jaffna, January 27th, 1835.

"At no period of my Missionary career was I so fully employed as at the present, and never were my prospects of usefulness brighter. This will be cheering to you. Since I came to Jaffna I have opened a School on the plan of Mr. Duff's, which is at present every thing I could expect. I have considerably above 200 pupils in daily attendance, of which more than 100 attend Chapel on the Sabbath, and are, after the public service, formed into a Sunday School. In this School I take the lead in teaching, and devote three hours daily to the first class and a general supervision. My assistant, a young man of Portuguese extraction, of considerable talent and fair edu cation, also spends three hours, and takes up my work when I retire from the School.

There are a few boys who give evidence of religious impression, whom I form into a juvenile class, and meet them once a week for the purpose of conversing with them closely on religious subjects. I have had them together this evening, and spent an hour most profitably, at least to myself. We have a Girls' School in Jaffna, containing about 20 girls; and a superior girls' School besides at the Mission House, in which Miss A spends her time. Of ordinary Tamil Schools we have five, containing an aggregate of nearly 400 boys, with about 20 Girls included. In the School bungalows we have preaching once or twice a week, and sometimes the congregations are very encouraging. We have preaching in Jaffna in Tamil, Portuguese and English. My assistant takes the burden of the Portuguese work. My favourite engagements are among the Natives, and in Tamil I am quite at home.

Since I was in Calcutta the American Mission has been greatly strengthened by arrivals from the New World, and they are exerting themselves nobly in the Redeemer's cause. They have lately had a gracious shower of divine influence in their Male Seminary at Batticotta and their female one at U'duville. The brethren, four or five of them, spent some time at Jaffna about the end of November, and we held prayer-meetings, &c. &c. in the Chapel and different parts of the town for ten days successively. There was evidently some excitement produced, but not to the same extent as at their own stations alluded to above. Our last monthly Missionary Prayer-Meeting was held at Batticotta, and was a very solemn day. We hope to see brighter days. We must labour with more faith, and under a more implicit confidence that the word we preach is the Gospel of God.

"In Jaffna I have established in addition to my Sunday School," A Lending Tract Society." We have a series of bundles of Tracts consisting of 52 (for the weeks) and 14 distributors. They each take a bundle, go to the allotted division, and lend at each house, say No. 1: next week the same distributor takes No. 2, and receives No. 1 back, which is thus at liberty for another division, and another distribution the following week. The lending of the Tract is not the only good,-every house in the town is visited, and the distributor is enabled by the opportunities presented to ascertain the moral state of many individuals and families, and has an opportu nity of giving a word in season. In connection with my Native Schools I have formed Juvenile classes of the most advanced boys, and have them more closely watched over and instructed, with the design of bringing home to their minds the truths which they ordinarily learn."

BURMAH.

Extract from a Letter from Rev. T. Simons, dated Maulmein, 13th Dec. 1834. "You have probably heard before this, that the Board designed sending the next ship if they could to Amherst. On the evening of the 7th instant a note reached us, saying that an American ship had anchored off there, and on Sabbath morning two of the brethren came up. The name of the ship is the Cashmere from Boston, Captain Hallet, Commander. Besides the two natives who have returned in health with Mr. and Mrs. Wade, we have the following labourers for Burmah: Rev. Messrs. Comstock, Vinton, Howard, and their wives, Mr. Osgood, a printer, and his wife, and a Miss Gardiner. Rev. W. Dean and wife leave us to-day, in the same ship, for Singapore, in company with Dr. Bradley and wife, from the American Board of Foreign Missions, and a Miss White, from the same Board. Brother Dean is to join brother Jones; Miss White proceeds to Singapore, where she expects to meet the Rev. Mr. Tracey, to whom she is engaged. Here they will remain. Dr. Bradley and wife go on to Siam."

From another letter from the same, dated January 4th, 1835, we extract the following:

"Since my arrival at this place, I have been mostly engaged in supplying the European Baptist Church, and learning the Burman language. For the most part of the last year, I have had a day-school for East Indians in English, and a lyceum for adults one night in the week-average attendance a few months ago, in school 35 or 40, now 25-in lyceum 12. A flourishing Sunday-school and Bible class have also been in operation. I closed my connection with this department with the year just finished, and

now am about to bend my efforts more directly to the natives. The sta tion to which I have been assigned is one about to be established at Akyab. You have doubtless heard of sister Cummings' death. A memoir of her has been written by one of the converts who was her teacher."

This happy reinforcement to the Burman Mission mentioned above we hope may be blest in their labors to that interesting portion of the vineyard of Christ. It may be gratifying to the friends of Missionary exertions to know how this good number has been disposed of. Mr. and Mrs. Wade with Miss Gardiner go to strengthen the Mission at Tavoy ; Mr. and Mrs. Comstock, together with Mr. and Mrs. Simons, go to form new stations at Arracan; Mr. and Mrs. Howard, are at Rangoon, with a view to laboring among the Karens in that vicinity; Mr. and Mrs. Vinton have settled in a little village of Karens about 50 miles north of Maulmein, the place where Miss Cummings spent the greater part of her short missionary life.

Letters have just been received from our brethren in Maulmein, giving us some account of a persecution of the Native Christians in Rangoon, Burman and Karen. The letters are dated March 11th and 13th, and state that several had been thrown into prison, and one, a Burman, had been loaded with irons. The Karens who had been imprisoned were released upon paying, some 100 rupees, some 100 baskets of rice, and others less. The cause of this persecution we have not learned; but from the testimonies to his good character which we have obtained from a friend who was acquainted with the Burman Christian, we feel quite satisfied that he is suffering for righteousness' sake, and that the sole object of the oppressors is to obtain money. About one year ago a similar persecution was experienced in the same place, when the native pastor was imprisoned, his feet put into stocks, and he not released until he had found means to pay them 60 rupees.

It is pleasing to learn that in the midst of all his suffering, the Burman brother, who is employed as an itinerant, declares his determination to adhere to the religion of Christ, and not to worship senseless images though he is called to suffer death. We also learn with unmingled pleasure, that 108 rupees have been collected for his relief in Maulmein, principally among the Native Christians in that place.

Two natives were baptised in Maulmein in March, and general prosperity seemed to attend the labors of the Missionaries.

Mr. Hancock is now in Calcutta, superintending the preparation of Taling and Karen types, for the use of the Burman Mission. He originally proposed to proceed to America, but now thinks it unnecessary, since the object may be as well, and much more cheaply effected in Calcutta.

SINGAPORE.

The following extract from a letter from the Rev. J. T. Jones of the American Baptist Mission at Siam, dated Singapore, March 9th, will be read with deep sorrow by all the friends of that Mission:

Rev. Wm. Dean has just arrived by the Cashmere, which brought our fellow laborers to Burmah, and Dr. Bradley, of the Am. B. C. F. M. for Siam. Brother D. has, within a few days, been called to mourn the early removal of his wife, Mrs. Matilda Coman Dean, who deceased on the 5th instant, aged only 22, before she had seen the field appointed for her cultivation. How thick are death's trophies strewed! Let us, dear brother, derive fresh energy from God's mercy in sparing us.

ENGLAND.

A letter received from an excellent Minister in the neighbourhood of London, dated August 29th, 1834, contains the following intelligence.