Present State of Religion, &c. have been particularly successful; besides the settlement at Serampore, they have missionaries at Cutwa, Goamalty, Dinagepore, Saddomahl, &c. in Bengal, and in other parts of India. Calcutta itself is not the seat of infidelity as formerly; but contains many hundred serious christians in all the ranks of society. The Missionary Society of London has missionaries in Vizigapatam, Madras, Ganjam, Bellary, Chinsurah, Oodagerry, &c. The Society for missions to Africa and the East has also two or three missionaries, with native readers and catechists; and there are perhaps, among all the societies, nearly a hundred persons engaged in the instruction of a hundred millions of inhabitants. The United Brethren had a mission in the neighbourhood of Tranquebar, and attempted one in the Nicobar Islands, but both have failed. An Auxiliary Bible Society has been formed at Calcutta to co-operate with the society in London, and with the Baptist missionaries, in translating and printing the scriptures in every considerable language of the East; and great progress has been already made in this important work.* superintendence, the sacred scriptures are translating into thirty three different languages. At the same time they have not less than twenty mission stations, which are occupied by more than fifty preachers, scattered over the different regions of the East, to the distance of four thousand miles. At most of these stations Christian churches are established, in which are united Hindoos and Mussulmans; Armenians and Europeans. Bramins also of every order have renounced Cast, and embraced the gospel of Christ." See Dr. Baldwin's Sermon, delivered at Philadelphia, May 7, 1817. * Calcutta is the seat of the first Protestant Bishop's See in India; the diocess extending over all the territories of the company. Countries. ebes, Borneo, Java,&c. Religious Denominations, &c. Pop. in mill. ASIATIC ISLES, Pagans and Mahometans, with an interCeylon, Cel- mixture of European settlers of various nations. The inhabitants of Amboyna, a Dutch settlement, were in 1796 more than 45,000, among whom were nearly 16,000 Protestants, and about 25 christian chapels. The native religion of Ceylon is the same as that of the Birmans; besides which, it is said to contain 100,000 Protestants, 50,000 Roman Catholics, and in the whole, about a million and a half of inhabitants. NEW AUSTRALASIA. Under this term are comprehended the vast and innumerable islands of the South Sea. Geographers are not yet agreed, whether HOLLAND. to call this a continent or an island, or several adjacent islands; the whole length being 1960 miles, and its breadth 1680, which is nearly two thirds the size of Europe, besides the surrounding islands. The original inhabitants are savages of two or three races, and in the lowest state of barbarism. In 1770, Capt. Cook took possession of the eastern coast in the name of his Britannic Majesty, and called it New South Wales, and here a colony has been settled, at Sidney Cove, chiefly formed of convicts from Great Britain. Dr. Carey estimated the population at twelve millions; but I can find no authority to justify such a calculation; the coast is thinly peopled, and great part of the interiour perhaps uninhabited. Van Dieman's Present State of Religion, &c. ASIATIC ISLES. The Missionary Society has three missionaries at Batavia, the capital of the Isle of Java, under the protection of the British government; one of whom is invited to Amboyna, the chief of the Molucca Isles. Here many Chinese reside, and others trade, by whom it is expected christianity may be carried into the heart of China. The same Society has two or three missionaries in Ceylon, and the Baptists one. The Methodists have also very recently commenced a mission in this Island, and all have been favourably received. A Bible Society was formed at Columbo in this Island, 1812. NEW SOUTH AUSTRALASIA. At Sidney cove in 1809 the population amounted to between eight and nine thousand, and has been gradually increasing. The gospel is preached by Mr. Marsden, chaplain to the colony and schools, opened under his patronage. Several of the missionaries sent to the South Seas have occasionally resided and preached here; schools have been opened both for the Europeans and natives, and one of them has met with very encouraging success in his attempts to teach the latter, who prove far more docile than was expected. Countries. NEW ZEA Religious Denominations, &c. Pop. in mill. land, formerly supposed a part of New Holland, is found to be a separate island. On mature consideration I cannot rate the whole population at more than New Zealand is the most considerable islLAND, New and in this neighbourhood, being about six Guinea, New hundred miles long, and a hundred and fifty Britain and broad. The others are inferiour islands, difIreland, &c. fering greatly in population, but the whole probably not exceeding POLYNESIA. After all that navigators have said, I dare Pelew Isles, not reckon the inhabitants of these islands at Ladrones, Ca- more than the preceding. Pinkerton remarks rolines, Sand- that navigators have overrated them at least wich Isles. ten to one. &c. MARQUESAS, This is proved to be the case with Capt. Cook; Society Is. and it is not likely that either Forster or La Perouse was more accurate. Otaheite had been rated at 160,000; the missionaries found it to contain little more than 16,000. On the other hand Mr. Pinkerton, who makes this remark, has been quite as much mistaken in underrating the population of some other places, particularly the Cape. I take the population collectively at 1 1 States of AFRICA. Mahometans, with a considerable number of 3 Present State of Religion, &c. NEW ZEA LAND. An island (600 miles in length by 150) has been lately made a missionary station, by the Church Society for missions to Africa and the East. OTAHEITE. The first efforts of the London Missionary Society were directed to the islands in the South Pacific Ocean. The missionaries were called to endure many trials, and exposed to peculiar difficulties. But after the perseverance of more than twenty years, a permanent mission has been established at Otaheite. In 1812, Pomare, the king of this island, avowed himself a christian. Many have followed his example, and diligently attend the ordinances of religion. Schools have been established to instruct the natives, particularly their children. A christian church has been formed among the natives of Otaheite, and civilization may be expected to advance rapidly. Missionaries have also been sent to Eimeo and Tongataboo; and have converted many of the inhabitants of these Islands.* BARBARY. AFRICA. Christianity can be expected to make no progress in these states while the system of piracy is tolerated and every christian made a slave: *For a particular account of the labours of the missionaries in the South Sea islands the reader is referred to Brown's History of Missions. |