not generally more than three or four Missionaries, who were acquainted with the language. Much good has been done by the native preachers, who have proved faithful labourers in the vineyard, and have been instru mental in bringing in a large proportion of the converts. The labours both of the Missionaries and the native assistants have been chiefly itinerant. The greatest number of converts have been gathered in the vicinity of Maulamayng, Rangoon, and Tavoy. The character of the native Christians is generally good, and perhaps not more than one in twenty have actually been excluded for immoral conduct from the churches. The whole number of converts is about 5 or 600. They contribute to the wants of their brethren, and, in some instances, support a native preacher. During the late persecution at Rangoon, the disciples at Maulamayng, (all poor,) subscribed upwards of 100 rupees to liberate a brother in confinement. The principal efforts in behalf of schools have been made at Maulamayng and Tavoy. These schools have generally been superintended by the Missionaries' wives. Many instances of conversions have occurred among the scholars. None are employed as school-masters, but such as have been hopefully converted. A high school has recently been established at Maulamayng, under the superintendence of Mr. Bennett, where English forms an important branch of instruction.

Mr. CUTTER (of the same Mission) corroborated the statements of his colleague.

Rev. W. YATES commenced by observing, that in offering a few remarks upon the question under consideration, he should confine his attention to the means which had been employed to propagate the gospel in India, to the success which had attended those means, and to the manner in which they might be rendered more successful.

The means employed had been-preaching, writing, and teaching: these he thought all legitimate means, sanctioned by the directions of Scripture and the examples of the Apostles. Some esteem one department superior to another; but if they could all be proved to be legitimate, every one would be at liberty to select that which was most congenial to his taste, and most suitable to his talents.

That preaching is one of the great means to be employed in the evangelization of the world, is evident from the direction of Christ, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature ;" and from the way in which the Apostles attended to that command. In preaching, they. employed both their own and foreign tongues. Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles, never neglected to preach the Gospel to the Jews wherever he found them. In like manner, while Missionaries preach in a foreign tongue to the heathen, they ought not to neglect to preach in their own to their countrymen whenever they have an opportunity.

Writing was another means employed by the Apostles to convert the nations to the faith of Christ. It does not appear that they engaged in the work of translating the Scriptures, &c. The Jewish Scriptures, and the Septuagint, being in extensive circulation, it did not appear necessary for them to engage in this department of labour. If the Scriptures had not existed in these languages, it can scarcely be doubted that the translation of them would have been one of the first objects of their attention. But though they did not translate, they wrote much for the edification of the church in a foreign language, and in this their example is worthy of our imitation.

A third means employed by the Apostles for converting the nations was teaching. It does not appear that they engaged in the common routine of teaching schools, unless the Apostle Paul took a part in it during the two years that he remained in the school of Tyrannus. As common learning

was in their days duly appreciated and attended to, there was no necessity for them to engage in that for which inferior agents were to be found competent. According to the directions of the Saviour to Peter, Feed my lambs, they directed their energies to the religious instruction of the young.

These being the means sanctioned by Christ and his Apostles for the spread of the Gospel, it may be left to individuals and societies to determine whether in one or all these branches of labour they will take a part. It is better for more than an average number to be employed in any one description of labour if possessed of talents suitable for it, than for them to be diverted from that and engaged in another for which they have little inclination or talent. In whatever department any may choose to engage, they ought to guard against the great evil of representing that as paramount to all others. It is as disgraceful for the preacher to under-rate the writer, and for the writer to under-rate the teacher in schools, as it would be in a great army for one regiment to be constantly abusing another.

The second inquiry is, into the success which has attended the use of these means. On this point there is a great variety of opinion; some represent the case as an entire failure, and others, as one of almost unparalleled success. If by success be meant actual conversion of the natives to Christianity, and great elevation of moral character through its influence, it might be doubted whether the labour bestowed had not been greater than the results produced ; but if by the term was meant, not only what had been lost to heathenism and gained to Christianity, but the obstacles that had been removed, and the ways that had been opened for future progress of the latter, then it appeared that the result had been every way equal to the means employed. To ascertain this, it will be necessary to inquire what strength has been employed, and what has been effected in each department of labour. Many have taken a part in the work of education, and two effects have been produced by their efforts, which are of a pleasing nature. The parents of the children have become better disposed to their religious instruction, and a number of youths have been converted and are likely to prove superior Christians and teachers. Eighteen or twenty years ago, to have insisted upon the introduction of religion, or the English language, into a common school, would have been sufficient for its dissolution; now there is scarcely an objection made to either. This effect would not have been realized so soon, had it not been for the light gra dually introduced by books and oral instruction. In addition to this general good effect, a special blessing has attended the labours of many engaged in schools. Many pupils have been rescued from the degradation of idolatry, they have been brought to the knowledge and enjoyment of the Gospel, and they are now training up for usefulness in the church; there is indeed every reason to believe, that the results in schools have been equal to the labour actually bestowed. The same may be said of the efforts made to instruct the natives by writing, that is, by translations of the Scriptures, tracts, &c. In translation, as in any other work, two things are to be considered, quantity and quality. Asto quantity, every one must confess that, with regard to the Scriptures, it had been unparalleled; and as to quality, that is a thing so precious that it could be attained only by great industry and slow degrees: as much, however, had been done as could be expected in the time. Tracts also have effected much good, having produced the conversion of some, and prepared the minds of thousands for the hearing of the Gospel. In preaching too, it may be said, that the result has been equal to the labour actually employed. Here a distinction must be made between what has been done in England, and what has been done in

this country. For instance, out of about 30 Missionaries sent out by the London Missionary Society within the last eighteen or twenty years, eleven have died, and seven have returned home; and the majority of those remaining, have been but a short time engaged in Missionary work. Therefore, although the Society has done much for this country, yet the labour performed by their agents has been comparatively little; and in estimating success according to labour, this is an important distinction. The late Mr. TRAWIN was unwearied in his work as a preacher to the Natives, and the churches which have been formed to the south of Calcutta shew, that his success was proportioned to his labour. CHAMBERLAIN was indefatigable in preaching the Gospel, and the general knowledge of it which he diffused through the country, and the instances in which he was made useful to individuals, prove that he did not labour in vain. It may therefore be set down as a general axiom, supported by Scripture and experience, that work undertaken from proper motives, with a view to the glory of God and the happiness of men, will be attended with corresponding success. Jehovah has said: "My word shall not return unto me void."

The third inquiry is, as to what was, and still is, essential to render the means employed more successful. Two things appear necessary to greater success in the Missionary field; these are, greater personal piety in those who are engaged, and greater co-operation in their engagements. If God apportions success according to the faith, labour, patience, and perseverance of his servants, then it must be confessed, the more they are possessed of these qualifications, the more likely are they to be efficient in their undertakings. If those who have been engaged in the field, had possessed these in a more eminent degree, they had doubtless been more successful in their efforts. And if those now in the field desire to see better days, and the Gospel car travelling forward with greater speed, they must learn to abound in the work of faith, the patience of hope, and the labour of love; all in whatever they labour must give their heart and the principal part of their time to that specific object. If they do so, they have no more reason to doubt their success, than the farmer, who sows at the proper season, has to doubt whether his seed will produce a harvest. In spiritual, as in temporal things, it will ever be found true, that, "He who soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he who soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."

Next to piety, in those who labour, is co-operation in their exertions. Much more had been effected by this time, if all had been uniformly engaged in their proper sphere of labour, and in the pursuit of objects never to be abandoned but with life itself. Union is strength and the want of concentration of energy has been one principal cause of the want of greater success. This may be seen either in the scattering of labourers to a great distance from each other, or in the absence of union in those who are labouring near together. How many have occupied a distant station alone, and when they have died, or been removed from the field of action through disease, nearly, if not all, the labour of years has perished. It is the height of folly to neglect a large and an interior province for the sake of seizing an out-post, which must soon be again relinquished. As it is important to success that the forces should not be too widely scattered, so also is it necessary that those stationed near each other, should be harmonious in their operations. "Where envying and strife are, there are confusion and every evil work." The Missionaries in Calcutta have reason to rejoice in the good understanding that has prevailed among them this has no doubt been cherished by the friendly interviews which they have with each other for the discussion of important subjects connected with their daily avocations. Yet even here there is some room for

improvement, and by united and well-concerted plans, more perhaps might be done in every department, but especially in the preparation of books, and the translation of some of the most approved standard theological works into Bengálí and Hindustání, &c. Till more spiritual food is provided for Native Christians, we have no right to complain of their stunted growth and leanness. There is much work yet to be done, much land yet to be possessed: it behoves those, therefore, who have but one object in view, to be united in counsel and pursuit, and "to be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as they know their labour will not be in vain in the Lord."

Rev. W. MORTON agreed in many observations made by those who preceded him: but as to success, his decided opinion was, that it had not been commensurate with the expenditure of time, labour, and funds. He did not think that the measure obtained would bear a comparison with that in other countries. He thought,

1st. That far too large a proportion of Missionary funds and exertions had been expended upon village schools; that is, schools for heathen children of all classes, chiefly low and poor; from these, little Christian result had been obtained. Mr. M. had had such schools under his care for several years, and had paid great attention to the subject, and endeavoured to make himself possessed of the experience and opinions of other Missionaries in relation to these institutions; and from the whole, he conceived, they had been, as to real Missionary result, generally a failure. This had resulted partly from the circumstance of the Sirkárs (or teachers) and Pandits being heathens, and of course uninterested in co-operating to any Christian end with the superintendents. Again, the pupils are merely day-boys, i. e. attend during school-hours; after which, they return home to imbibe the sentiments, acquire the habits, and witness and imitate the example of their heathen parents, neighbours, and teachers. Besides which, we must take into account the numerous constantly occurring heathen festivals, shews, &c. which empty the schools for the time, of their continuance ; revive and strengthen and widen the views, feelings, and vicious propensities of the heathen mind and character, adding the seducements of pleasure and festivity and dissipation to the corrupt workings of the natural man. There is indeed great vivacity in Indian youth, up to a certain period at least, and in many cases, a thirst for knowledge; but it is for worldly knowledge, such as may help on earthly and sordid interests hereafter. Mr. M. was not prepared however to say, that no beneficial result has been obtained. Christian books have been read-Christian sentiments and notions apprehended-many facts, doctrines, and precepts made known, and so far facility is given for comprehending in after life the sermons of Missionaries. Still, except in a very few isolated cases, and under peculiar circumstances, the village schools have not resulted in conversion to Christianity, or in greater moral propriety and sensibility in the pupils. Some of the chief obstacles may have been partially overcome in Calcutta, but not in the country places. The great instrument of God, in converting the world, is declared to be, and ever has been, the direct preaching of the Gospel to adults; and until much of the time of all the Missionaries be engaged in this work, but small results of good can be expected. As to the schools, besides the evils already noticed, we must recollect the natural inaptitude of youth to receive and relish religious instruction, especially where that instruction has not been commenced in earliest infancy, and unintermitted afterwards, and conveyed too mainly by those beings to whom natural sentiment and habit draw the respect and love of the children, i. e. the parents themselves. How little is done even at home generally, where this domestic education has not obtained, by all the efforts

of Sunday Schools and other teachers; and how extensively do the most zealous Christian parents and teachers bemoan this want of success, after all possible exertion has been made? The schools of Grundler and Ziegenbalg, &c. down the Coast, were not such day schools as most of ours, but Boarding Schools, in which the pupils were brought from under heathen influence, and subjected to the counter-power of constant Christian precept and example. To the establishment of such schools, where possible, for heathen children, certainly for the children of our Native Christians, too much attention could scarcely be given.

2nd. Mr. M. thought, with reference to ourselves, that some portion of our want of success might be attributed to deficiency in study and knowledge of the character of mind, modes of thinking, manners and habits of the natives. Their religious system is so various from all our notions in metaphysics, theology, and natural science, that unless we accurately distinguish their nature and tendency, so as to be enabled to adapt our reasonings and phraseology to a correct corresponding expression of what is designed to combat them, we must necessarily too often fail partially or entirely, nay possibly add but new force to native impressions. Such cases occur constantly, in which the most guarded language and the greatest caution in statement are indispensable, and where the failure therein is attended with the most painful disappointment, if not positive injury to the Christian cause. Again, Mr. M. begged to be allowed the observation, that perhaps we were not generally careful enough in commencing a study of the language, to acquire a correct acquaintance with the grammar and idiom of the language, and especially of its pronunciation. We too often expressed our ideas in their accustomed mode, wherein the words indeed are Indian, but the arrangement and application European-from not distinguishing with sufficient clearness the various shades of meaning in words, and the idiomatic proprieties of expression. Through faultiness of pronunciation alone he has known some discourses to have been in many places absolutely so obscure as to be unintelligible. Often has this defect made a sentence convey the most contradictory, nay the most ludicrous, ideas to a native mind, and completely neutralize all the excellent sentiments of the preacher, uttered with the greatest seriousness and zeal. A bad habit of pronunciation is first formed from want of attention to a clear perception of the numerous dentals, aspirates, &c. in the Bengálí language, requiring a good ear and pliable organs-generally, it is the ear that has been in fault, and when once the organs have adopted a certain mode of utterance, any subsequent improvement is rare. There may be little in the native publications, poems, tales, &c. either interesting or useful; often much that shocks alike good taste, moral feeling, and just reasoning: yet as they alone rightly exhibit the native mind, in its own actual exertions, expressing its own thoughts and feelings and propensities in its own words and manner and connexion, the very zeal which urges a Missionary to undertake the work of evangelization, will surely impel him to neglect no means of qualifying himself for his work. How many tracts, &c. have been written, which it is now admitted are nearly or entirely useless, because unintelligible, inelegant, or faulty in style, &c. No doubt the native books are not perfect; but if they be not, still less can ours be. Mr. M. would ask permission strongly to urge more attention to the native Bengálí publications, which are known to exert so much influence in the minds of the readers of them. This will surely not lead to pedantry, not to harshness of criticism, but to a better appropriation by all of the aids that may hereby be attained in prosecuting the great work of Missionary exertion.

3rd. The low tone of Christianity in the native converts has been a stumbling block. Respectable persons kept aloof from them in some cases