the state of our own country at the present day? Still would druidical darkness have rested on our land, and the sacrificial knife been raised over our innocent offspring; and still should we have been taught to expect a heaven, where we should drink from the skulls of our conquered enemies! But the church then felt the spirit of her Master, and did not give up our case as hopeless; but, in the face of danger and of death, came over to us with the message of truth, seized the reluctant hand of our ancestors to lead them to the temple of Jehovah, and poured on their minds the glorious light of the Gospel. And yet the druidical superstition was far preferable to the base religions of the East, where the wretched Hindoo pays his homage to the impure and bloody idol of Juggernaut.

"I feel, therefore, happy, my Lord, to see my countrymen assembled on this occasion. We have many objects of charity at home, but they will not be sufferers by our contribution to this Society. For this effort will serve to cherish the life of religion in the soul, and thus swell the true source from which charity must spring. There is, indeed, a spurious benevolence, whose objects must not be multiplied; but true charity never faileth:' it will rather grow upon every exertion, and still bear abundant fruit. Like the golden branch of the poet, when one is plucked away, another will spring forth.

-Uno avulso, non deficit alter.'

"It is true that he that provideth not for his own house is worse than an infidel;' but will any one say, that a man is not to extend his care beyond his family?. Why then does public praise rest, as it does, on the name of Wilberforce--a name, not so much that of an individual, as of every generous purpose and high resolve-a name, connected with humanity and re. ligion; and the memory of which will be embalmed with the blessings of his fellowcreatures? Why? because his heart swel led beyond the narrow circle of personal regard and felt, with tender sympathy the sufferings of his brethren in every quarter of the world: because he could not suffer one fellow-man to remain in ig. norance or slavery, while he could raise his voice to break his bonds, or remove and dissipate his errors. Let his final triumph animate us to the same perseverance. Our charity should have no bounds, but

those of our power. Wherever there is a creature capable of receiving happiness, charity should be active in bestowing it. It will first, indeed, fill with its warmest beams, the centre at home; but, in proportion as it kindles with Heaven's pure fire, it will spread till it warms and enlightens the whole human race. I con. sider this meeting as an evidence of the enlargement of our minds, of a progress in the Christian life, a rise in the scale of being.

"The times, moreover, my Lord, call us to new exertions. But this is too large a field. I will only, therefore, recal to your memories those prophecies which predict the rapid spread of the Gospel in the latter days. I will only point out to you my country, which stands on such an eminence, that she will be answerable to that Providence which has given her peace for the right use of the blessing. I would call on her to unite the cause of religion with the fame of her deeds. I would bid her inscribe on the temple of British glory, the name of her God. I would exhort ber to give a new permanence to her wealth and authority, by making them the handmaids to religion. In the darkest times I always thought, my Lord, that my country. would be reserved as a blessing to the world. I have been accustomed to regard her, preserved amidst the convulsions of Christendom, when the flood-gates of anarchy had been opened, and were covering the earth, as borne, like the ark on the waters, and containing within its narrow limits, all that was most dear and valuable to man. Now we see the waters beginning to subside. Now we have sent forth the gentle messenger of peace, and hail his return, bearing the friendly olive-branch; and we shall now behold those favourites of Heaven, social order, public freedom, and pure religion, descending from this Ark to replenish and adorn the earth. I trust, my Lord, we shall rise to the dignity of the station to which we are called, and rejoice in being allowed to co-operate with God in the great design of covering the earth with 'the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." "

It must be a matter of the most lively satisfaction to every Christian, to observe, that Ireland is beginning to co-operate in the plans of piety and benevolence. Such efforts will be the most formidable foes to Popery, by exalting the character of the Protestant Church in Ireland.

RUSSIAN TARTARY,

The Edinburgh Missionary Society have six Missionaries in Russian Tartary, of whose proceedings we subjoin the following brief statements.

For several years, owing to the situation of the country, with the plague, and the perpetual irruptions of the hostile Tartars, the Missionaries were almost constantly obliged to confine themselves within the walls, or rather, palisad es, of the settle. ment; and even then, were scarcely free from danger, though protected by a guard of Russian Cossacks They had repeated. ly to take refuge in Constantinsgo ski (a Russian fort in the neighbourhood) or in Georghievsk, a fortified town about thirty miles distant from Karass; to which last place, most of them with their famil es re. moved in 1813, and continued there till the end of last spring.

The printing of the New Testament,how. ever, having been providentially finished before they were forced to flee from Ka. rass, they went on with the binding of it at Georghievsk; and, though greatly re. tarded for want of proper intruments and materials, they succeeded in finishing a very considerable number during the winter months. At Georghievsk, besides, they enjoyed much more favourable opportunies both of conversing with the natives, and of distributing copies of tracts and of the New Testament than at Karass; and

these they diligently and earnestly embraced.

As soon as the weather permitted, Messrs. Dickson and Galloway were sent from Georghievsk on an itinerating excur sion to Astrachan, for the purpose of circu lating the New Testament and trac's among the Mahometans residing in that city, and those of the same religion who are accustomed to visit it, and of endea vouring to excite their attention to the Gospel of cur Lord and Saviour. Having remained there about two months, dili. gently labouring in the field allotted them, and not, it may be hoped, with out some of fect; though the visible fruits of the seed of Divine Truth which they were engaged in scattering, have not yet appeared in any very remarkable degree; they returned in the month of June to Karass, whither their brethren had by that time removed from Georghievsk.

Scarcely had they got home, when, in consequence of the urgen' request of the Minister of the Interior, at the express desire of the Emperor, who has uniformly,

and particularly of late, shewn the most cordial interest in their welfare and suc cess, they determined to send other two of their number toward Orenberg, on the lines of Siberia, with the view of looking out for a more eligible missionary station; where they may enjoy greater personal security from the wardering Tartar tribes, and at the same time, turn their knowledge of the Tartar language to the best account among the Mahometan population, whether stationary or erratic, in the surrounding country.

Messrs. Mitchell and Fraser were fixed

on for this expedition, and set out from Karass at the end of Jure They reached Crenberg in safety about the beginning of August, and were received with the greatest kindness by the Lieutenant General of the province, who had been directed to shew them every attention, and give them every encouragement and assistance in his power, by letters from the Imperial Court, transmitted immediately to himself Under his direction, they at last fixed on a piece of ground very near the city, of which a free grant will be given to the Mission, by Government, if the Directors sball, after recewing the journal of these two Missionaries, judge it expedient, in the present circumstances of the Mission, to establish a permanent station or settlement in that part of the Russian empire.

From the preceding statement it will be perceived, that, by the last accounts,

Messrs. Fraser and Mitchell were at Orenberg. The other Missionaries are resident at Karass.

INDIA.

In the Journals of Abdool Messee alrea dy given, our readers have seen the rapid growth of Christianity in Agra, and its diffusion round that city. Copies of the Scriptures have been sent to many places; and inquirers after truth have visited Agra from various and distant quarters. Talıb Messee, Fazıl Messee, and other native teachers of great promise, have been raised up to support and extend the efforts of Abdool Messee. At Lucknow, at Delhi, and at other places of importance, there are many inquiries into Christianity, and opportunities are opening for the establish. ment of missionary stations English residents at Meerut, at Muttra, and elsewhere, are diligent in the support of schools, and in the diffusion of Christian truth.

Other Journals have arrived in this country, for the months of January, Febru

ary, and March, of last year, in which it appears that the prospect is still brightening, and the view more extended. Other native labourers are in training, and the word of God is breaking forth on the right hand, and on the left. In some instances, indeed, old superstitions appear to have, for a time at least, regained their power: but this will serve to excite the Missionaries and others, it may be hoped, to watch- 、 fulness and prayer.

We are prevented by the want of space from transcribing these journals.

TRANQUEBAR.

From letters received by the Committee of the Church Missionary Society, it ap pears, that the Missionaries Schnarrè and Rhenius landed at Madras on the 4th of July.

The Missionaries were received, as might be expected, with Christian cordiality by the Rev. Marmaduke Thompson, Chaplain of the Honourable East India Company. They were very kindly entertained in his own family, during their stay at Madras, and experienced uniform regard from him. and Mrs. Thompson. "We thank the Lord," they say, "for his good providence, in bringing us acquainted with one of his most faithful and zealous servants in promoting his everlasting kingdom."

Here they were met by the afflicting in telligence of the death of Dr. John; and with the news, still more afflicting to them, of the decease of the Rev. Mr. Jacobi. With him they were personally acquainted; and they had all anticipated great pleasure in labouring together in the same field.

Total admitted 1452

Children left School up to June 1, 1814:
From the English and Tamul Schools:
First Class
182
Second and Third Classes 227
From the Parish Schools:

First and Second Classes 131
Not accounted for (but sup-
posed to have left School,
though not specified; as
the totals remaining in se-
veral of the Schools,do not
agree with the statement
of admission, &c. . . . . . 49

Total left School 589

Total remaining 863

MADRAS.

The following are extracts of a letter from the Rev. Marmaduke Thompson to the Secretary of the Church Missionary Society, dated Madras, Sept. 30, 1814.

In reference to a request of the Committee on the subject, Mr Thompson states; "At the time this reaches you, you may be assured that you have, if not an Auxiliary Society, at least a Corresponding Committee, in existence and active service in Madras," and then adds,-"I bave my papers prepared for them to enter immediately upon business

They reached Tranquebar on the 28th of July, and were very kindly received by Dr Caemmerer and his coadjutor Mr. Schreivogel.

consideration the fittest station for your two Missionaries-and particularly, how far they may be qualified and desirable for either of two stations which now offer the two important Stations of Madras itself and Travancore: and to these two let me entreat the particular

being the great port and chief town of the whole Peninsula, its importance as

and Travancore is scarcely less so from

the number of nominal Christians throughout it, who are truly as sheep without a shepherd, and particularly from being the country of the poor Syrians.

"I am myself the distributor of the Scriptures in the Native Languages in Madras; and I assure you the applications to me are incessant, and that hundreds, I believe I may safely say, are at this time reading the word of God in Madras, and longing for some one to guide them, and declare unto them the way of God more perfectly. An intelligent native, who has been baptized, but who through a false shame conceals it, and pretends to be only a diligent inquirer after truth, (no uncommon character among the natives,) assured me lately, in bringing some people for the Tamul New Testament, that he often had near a hundred people at a time to hear him read and converse upon it; and seems to encourage a hope of having in a little time, a sufficient number of disciples to countenance and support him in an open profession of Christianity.

"In Travancore the Resident, Col. Munro, not only assures us of his patronage of Missionaries, but has actually written to have two sent to him.

familiar to them, in order to form a judgment of the number of Bibles and Testaments in the several languages which will be necessary to supply their wants. It was a further object, to procure a more accurate version of the Scriptures into Cingalese, and a translation of them into the Pali language.

An attempt was made to correct the old Cingalese version of the New Testament, in order to have 5000 copies printed; but it was found very imperfect, and an entirely new translation was determined on. In the mean time, the Calcutta Bible Society have put to press, at Serampore, an edition of 2000 copies of the old version for present The new translation has been undertaken by W. Tolfrey, Esq. who is well skilled in Cingalese, Pali, and Sanscrit : the Gospels are finished; and the types for printing this new version, purchased of the Baptist Missionaries at Serampore, are arrived at Columbo.

use.

The Pali is the learned language of Ceylon, and varies but little from the Sanscrit. A translation of the Scriptures into this tongue has been begun by Don M. de Tho mas Mohaudriam, of the Governor's Gate. Two priests of Buddha have readily afforded their assistance to the translation!

The Society intends to circulate familiar essays and dialogues illustrative of the Scriptures; the same reasons not existing in Ceylon as in many other places, for the exclusive circulation of the Bible by such institutions. It is observed, that "next to the fervent zeal and indefatigable labour of the venerable Swartz, the conversion of so many thousands in Tanjore was owing to the circulation of familiar dialogues, and short easy treatises upon the subject of Christianity."

It appears, on investigation, that the native Protestants of Ceylon are about 150,000, and the Roman Catholics about 50,000. Of these, the great majority speak Cingalese, and the rest Tamul. This re. port of numbers falls far short of former representations: nor can it be doubted that multitudes of the inhabitants have of late years relapsed into idolatry. In the time of the Dutch Government, there were between 300 and 400 temples dedicated to pagan deities: in the year 1807, they amounted to 1200! In 1663, the Christians in the district of Jaffna alone, were 65,000: by the last returns it appears that there are

not 5000.

BRITISH AND

FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

ment. I was charged to communicate to you, in the name of our Society, the follow

1. From the Rev. Dr. Carey.

“ Calcutta, Aug. 26, 1814. "In all parts of India, the call for the Holy Scriptures is so great, that every exertion to print them sufficiently fast to answer the demands, has hitherto been inadequate. The dominions of the Bible are extending daily; and new tribes hear, in their own tongues, the wonderful works of God. Beside the Tamul, Cingalese, Per. sian, Malayala, and Malay (which we have not translated, but only printed,) the Word of God is now translated, or under translation, into twenty-five languages by us; twenty-one of which are actually in the press, and nothing hinders the remaining four from going to press, but some trifling work to complete the founts for them. This is a work, upon the accomplishment of which my heart has been long set; whether I shall live to see its completion, I know not but I trust a foundation is laid, upon which the building will be carried forward, till the edifice is completed. There are, however, in the East, many languages still remaining, in which no translation of the Scriptures exists, and no attempt to translate into them has yet been made. I trust the Lord will smile on the work, till the whole of these also be added to the list of the languages in which the Word of God is given to men."

3. From the Rev. J. C. Supper, Pastor of the Reformed Congregation at Batavia, and Foreign Secretary of the Java Auxiliary Bible Society.

"Batavia, Sept. 3, 1814, "My letter of May last will have inform. ed you, that an Auxiliary Bible Society was to be established here on the 4th of June. This has now actually taken place in the house and under the Presidency of his Excellency Lieutenant-Governor Raffles. The designation of this Society is, The Java Auxiliary Bible Society, the object of which shall be to encourage the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, without note or comment, throughout Eastern Asia, and especially among the native Christians of that part of the globe.'

"On the 24th of August, the Committee held their second meeting, at which I was elected Secretary for the Foreign Depart.

"1. The Java Auxiliary Bible Society wishes to co-operate with the British and Foreign Bible Society.

"2. The New Testament shall be translated into the Low Malay dialect, and be printed as soon as possible.'

"There is between the high and low Malay a still greater difference, than be tween high and low German, or even the German and the Dutch language. The high Malay is spoken in the upper parts of the Island of Java, and the other in the lower; as for instance, in Batavia and the whole neighbourhood. The holy Scriptures have long since been printed in the high Malay dialect, but not in the low; although many thousands of people speak the latter, without being able to understand the for

mer.

On this account it appeared a primary duty, incumbent upon our Society, to provide the native inhabitants of our city, and its nearest neighbourhood, with the bread of life; and afterwards, by the blessing of God, to extend its sphere of activity farther, when perhaps the inhabitants of Japan will next deserve our attention. But the Japanese language is said to be so difficult for Europeans to acquire, that we are not a little concerned how to procure a translation into that tongue, which we are so desirous of having.

"But He, with whom alone is wisdom, who has already removed so many obstacles to make way for his Word, and who never is at a loss for means or instruments, will certainly know how to overcome these difficulties. We have already raised here, in Batavia alone, a fund of about seven or eight thousand rupees, in subscriptions and donations; and we trust our resources will increase in proportion as the Bible cause becomes more generally known."

3. From the Rev. Dr. MacIntosh, a Direc tor and English Secretary to the Netherland Bible Society, at Amsterdam. Feb. 24, 1815.

"The following is a list of the Bible Societies in the United Netherlands, with the months in which they were respectively instituted. They are all, with the exception of the first, divisions of the Netherlands Bible Society :