and augmented Edition of the CommonPrayer Book of our Church, in Familiar Cingalese, which is now in progress through the Press: it has proceeded as far as the Communion Service. Efficiency and Influence of the Press. Of the Cingalese Press, in active employment at Cotta, it is said The business of the Printing Office has been carried on, without interruption, according to the limited means of our small Establishment. The Works issued from the Press for the past year are as follows: St. Luke's Gospel, from the 13th to the Cingalese Spelling Book, 2d Part... St. John's Gospel English Grammar.. ........ Copies 750 250 50 750 250 A Compendious Account of the Origin 250 500 Mr. Selkirk, in speaking of a Buddhist Festival at Cotta, says— There were distributed nearly 200 Copies of the Tract entitled, "A Word to Buddhists and others going to Buddhist Temples:" the persons who distributed them informed me, that many who heard them read, received them with pleasure; while others were angry that any attempt should be made by foreigners to injure their Buddhu. I do indeed hope and pray that these little messengers, which thus stir up their angry feelings, may lead the people to think. They are ignorant, it is true; but were there in them a desire to obtain knowledge or a wish after what is good, we should then go on labouring among them with more hope and more cheerfulness total of 45,087 copies, or 629,862 pages printed during the year. Very inadequate, as yet, are the Works, either of a Religious or Literary character, printed for the District. A taste for reading in books of both classes rising generation, which it is regarded is rapidly forming, especially among the as very important to promote. It is the anxious desire of our Missionary Friends to direct the Youths of their charge in the pursuit of useful knowledge; and for this purpose to provide them, as they may be able, with supplies of suitable books in the Native Language: while the Committee of the Tract Society are as desirous to furnish the different classes of the reading population with adequate supplies of Religious Tracts; in attempting which, the liberal bounty of the Religious-Tract Society in London, by annual grants of printing paper, greatly aids and encourages them. A full supply of work, therefore, should adequate funds be obtained for these purposes, may confidently be relied on; and great hopes may be entertained, with the Divine Blessing, that, by means of the Press, a great moral change will eventually be effected. The District has, for the last two or three years, been largely supplied with parts of the Sacred Volume in the Native Language, by the bounty of the British and Foreign Bible Society, through the medium of the Jaffna Branch Society; and with Religious Tracts, through means of the Jaffna Tract Society. The Tracts are, for the most part, printed at Nellore. Of these Scriptures and Tracts, divisions are from time to time made among the Members of the respective Societies: we have our shares, in proportion to the contributions which we make. From these, and from the additional numbers of some of the Tracts printed for our own use, we have been enabled, through the year, to supply our Schools, and to make liberal distributions among the people in the villages around us; and considerable supplies have been Of the Tamul Press at Nellore, sent to be distributed in places more the Missionaries say One Printing Press has been kept in active employment most of the year, on account of the Jaffna Tract Society, the American Missionaries, and our own Society: the number of Tracts printed for the Tract Society, as appears from their last Report, is 34,947; of Tracts and Catechisms for our American Brethren, 6490; and 3650 copies of some of the same works for ourselves: making a remote. On the effect of these distributions the Missionaries state By the Publications of the Tract Society, Heathenism has received a shock, during the year, the effects of which will, it may be hoped, soon be more apparent. The adherents of the system are driven to adopt many different expedients: some, by the exposures which have been made of their sacred mysteries, are greatly enraged, and utter sad In the month of May there is always a great Festival at the Buddhist Temple at Cotta. I went to it this year, as I have been in the habit of doing every year since I came. If I may judge from what I saw, I should say that Buddhism is not flourishing here. The Banna Madua, a temporary building erected for the purpose of reading Buddhu's Book in, was very much inferior, in point of ornament, to what it was last year, and the number of worshippers was by no means so great as I have seen in former years. I would not, however, have you infer from this that the people are less firmly attached to their Idols, or less under the dominion of the Evil Spirit, than formerly; for I believe that there is very little difference in this respect. All that I wish you to infer is, that it is my opinion that the Cingalese People, at least those around us, are beginning to be more in different to the pomp of their Idolatry than before. It is impossible for any people to hear the doctrines of Christianity either as frequently or as faithfully preached, as hundreds and thousands of these people now hear them, and remain as much in love with their former superstition as they were. How thick that darkness is, in which at present this people is buried, may be seen from Mr. Selkirk's statement of the Habitual Superstition of the Cingalese. Nothing can exceed the strength of those superstitious ideas which the people in general in this country have conceived; and the influence which they have upon their actions is amazing. If they intend to set out on a journey, and hear a lizard chirp, or see what they think a strange sight, they do not start that day.. If a person takes medicine, he will only take it on some particular day of the week, which he considers a "lucky day." If they hear a dog howling which is not bound, it portends evil to them or their family; and they live in constant dread for some time after, till either some event happens which they can accommodate to the omen, or till it is driven out of the recollection by something of more recent Occurrence. Toward the conclusion of the year, they tie a strip of a cocoa-nutleaf round many trees in their gardens: on the Eve of the New Year, they call the Priest, and with some ceremony loose them; and begin, at the commencement of the new year, to use the fruits which grow on those trees-with many other things equally absurd. I would not think of putting them down here, but as they shew to what trifling things the influence of their superstitious notions extends, and how great that influence is upon their actions. Moreover, they have, every one, some connexion with and spring out of the Religion prevalent in the country; and which most of them, though they say to us that they believe ours, still regard with much reverence; and which they are taught to regard, not only by the Priests, but by their subordinate agents. Thus it is that false ideas, which would be banished, especially from the minds of the Young, are nourished and cherished by the influence of those whom their parents teach them it is their duty to respect and obey; and thus it is, too, that error is propagated from generation to generation. Truth, however, will at last prevail. In a communication of the 1st of March of last year, he gives an Instance of the Grossness of this Superstition. Having often heard of a ceremony which is now taking place in this village, Cotta, as well as in many others round, I went this evening to see it. The ceremony is called dragging the horns. middle of which a deep hole is dug. In A place in the jungle is cleared, in the this hole is put a cocoa-nut tree which has been dug up for the purpose, having its root upward. The people of the village divide themselves into two parties, called the upper party and the lower party; and each party has a large branch of a tree, with the bark peeled off, notched in the middle, and having another small piece of wood, very strong, bound very tight to it, so as to resemble a horn or hook. When they have linked the two horns together, they are fastened to the cocoa-nut tree with very strong ropes, or, what is frequently here used instead, very hard and tough creeping plants which grow in the jungles; and each party pulls with all its strength, at the same time making a tremendous noise, till one of the horns breaks. The broken horn is put into a little shed on one side, covered with cloth, and having a small lamp burning near it. The other horn, carefully covered with clean cloth, is carried in procession, on a man's shoulder, together with the ropes with which it was bound when it obtained the victory. They carry it round the cocoa-nut tree a dozen times, more or less, under a canopy supported by four men. After this they stop at a tree, in the midst or on a low branch of which is placed a cocoa-nut shell, used as a lamp; and, placing the victorious, that is, the unbroken horn in it, they repeat some verses in Cingalese, the object of which is to invoke Patterre Deviyo to take away the great sickness which is now prevalent among them; viz. the small-pox. Having finished the verses, they actually worship the horn, with faces as devout, and with hands clasped and raised up to their foreheads, in the same manner as if they were actually worshipping Buddhu him self. Is not this stupid Idolatry? This, however, is not the end. They continue, afterward, to go in procession round the stump of the cocoa-nut tree as before, dancing and singing, and blowing the conques, and beating the tomtoms: and, to finish this piece of folly, the conquered party, that is, the party whose horn was broken, sit down on the ground; and, being separated from the other by a rope, suffer themselves to be abused and reviled in the most shameful manner by the conquerors, for an hour or more, as their inclination may be. This abuse, however, consists merely in words; which words are spoken, or rather sung, by the head of the party, all the rest joining in by way of chorus. In reference to an aged Man, who discovered much concern for the safety of his soul, though ignorant of many things important to be known, Mr. Trimnell, of Baddagame, offers some judicious remarks on the Allowance to be made for the unavoidable Ignorance of Adult Heathen. In this country we cannot expect in any, especially in those who have become old before they begin to think or to have any feeling of their sin and danger, that knowledge which we should expect to find in every Adult applying for Baptism in a Christian Country. Here the people have not only much to learn, which almost every one in a Christian Land learns, I might say, imperceptibly, from his infancy; but they have also a vast system of error to throw off, which, from their having been brought up in it, appears perfectly natural to them, and has a strong root in them. We, though accustomed to think and reflect, and search after knowledge, find it very difficult to form very correct ideas of Buddhism, and of the various superstitions practised by the Natives: I should much doubt if there is a Cingalese Youth of 16 years of age who has not a better knowledge of the superstitions and ceremonies of the Natives, than any European of the greatest research and longest residence in the country: if, then, we continue ignorant of things which we endeavour to become acquainted with and which are very familiar to them, no wonder that we find, even in those among them who have some sense of their sin and danger, much ignorance of some things which we should expect that all in Christian Countries would be well acquainted with. We do not overlook the teaching influence of the Holy Spirit; but we do not now expect that He will make any miraculous revelation of Divine Things to any, but enable them to understand the things already revealed: and those who have been acquainted with many of these things from their infancy, though they may not have felt the power of them, have less to learn than those who never before heard of them. Sincerity of heart, conviction of sin, and a professed, and, as far as we can learn, sincere dependence on the Atonement of Christ, and a consistent walk, are the things which I conceive to be necessary and sufficient to qualify an Adult to be received into the Church by Baptism. Mr Adley, of Nellore, gives the following Estimate of the Trials and Prospects of the Mission. From our efforts in the Schools, and from the distribution of Tracts we have large hopes; but dare not tell all, either of our hopes or our fears. We do, indeed, expect great things; but possibly, through the course of our own labour, must be content with small things, and thankful that such a day is granted to us. We may, in deed, rejoice that THE SCHOOLMASTER IS ABROAD IN HEATHEN LANDS, exerting a Bible and a Missionary Influence in a vast sphere. Intellect has its marches, even in Ceylon: and, blessed be God! the march of Religion, though slowly, is, we doubt not, gradually advancing with it. Some there are still, and near to us, who put forth the inquiries of," What is the good of all this Missionary effort ?" -"Why all this instruction of the Heathen?"" Why this expenditure of treasure and labour?"—“Why all this waste of precious ointment ?"-The causes of such inquiries are known to the Lord; who, according to His pleasure, owns and blesses the efforts of His servants, as a good work done to Himself; and who, in the Last Great Day, will declare to all their motives, and the wise accomplishment of His own gracious plans. Notwithstanding these things, and the gross darkness and idolatry surrounding us, the observant Christian can perceive an under current, impelled by Divine Power, and producing a spreading change, favourable to the Redeemer's Cause, in the minds and feelings of men; so that, in many cases, the Missionary can now do with ease what, eight or ten years back, would have been a thing almost impossible to be done. We would not, on the other hand, withhold our discouragements: they are not, indeed, such as to weaken our faith as it respects the fulfilment of all the Divine Promises, or lessen our expectations of the hastening and speedy approach of the joyful days of the Son of Man, or destroy our confidence that these realms of Pagan Darkness in which we dwell shall be filled with the light and glory of the knowledge of the Lord, yea, even as the waters cover the sea. In the midst of the Enemy's Camp we witness his daily-increasing weakness— behold one strong-hold fall after another -and anticipate his assured and final overthrow still we have our trials from within and without. We have trials from our own hearts : Missionaries, alas! are still but men with sinful bodies; and the man of sin has too much influence with us, if not dominion over us, and would destroy both our usefulness and peace. Though small the affairs of the Church, they are not without being weighty: we have trials with some of the Communicants-many fears with respect to those who desire admission to the Sacraments-and much care in the performance of our duties. We have the painful trial of beholding so few who believe our report, and to whom the arm of the Lord is revealed: that so few of our neighbours can be prevailed on to come up to the House of the Lord, is a trial over which we have to mourn in common with our Missionary Brethren : with the exception of those who are in some measure dependent upon us or connected with us, but few comparatively are our stated hearers; and the greater number of those who have statedly attended the preaching of the Gospel for six, eight, ten, or more years, still remain as insensible to its power and blessedness as the mats on which they sit, or the walls of the church in which they are assembled, to hear its precious and lifegiving truths. But the increase is, we know, of the Lord, whether in England or in India. Let Jehovah but give the word, and great shall be the numbers, both of the preachers and hearers. but the Lord pour out His Holy Spirit, and one Sermon shall bring three thousand souls as humble supplicants for mercy at His Throne of Grace; yea, Nations shall be born in a day, and millions of those who were the children of wrath at once be converted into heirs of glory. Let We close this digest, in the words of Mr. Trimnell, of Baddagame, by an Earnest Call for Prayer. We have no doubt that the day will come, for it is promised, when the Heathen shall know the Lord, and when all Nations shall come and worship before Him. We are sure that the knowledge of God, and of the way of Salvation, is increasing; and though, at present, it may be knowledge alone, without feeling, we cannot say how soon the Lord may pour out His Spirit upon the people, and convince them of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. The seed which is sown in the ground is not lost, though it does not appear: and as it must lie buried, lifeless, and unseen, till the showers of heaven cause it to spring up; so the Seed of the Word, though its effects be not evident, doubtless is not lost, and, sooner or later, we believe the Lord will shower down His Blessing upon it, and that we shall see that our labour has not been in vain in the Lord. Help us by your Prayers; encourage and stimulate us by your Letters. I would that it were continually impressed on the minds of the Lord's People in England, that they can in no way help us better than by be lieving, persevering prayer. Are we not liable to be discouraged, and to become faint, and weary, and slothful in our work? Are not the hearts of the people to whom we preach as hard as stone? What power can keep us from faintingcan make us zealous, faithful, and labo rious? or what power can take away the heart of stone, and give a heart of fleshbut the Power of God? And what will engage that Power in our behalf continually?-the persevering Prayers of the Faithful. Recent Miscellaneous Entelligence. UNITED KINGDOM. Church Miss. Soc. The Rev. C. L. F. Haensel, having received the sanction of the Committee to visit home for a season, embarked at Sierra Leone on board the Eliza Schooner, Captain Saunders, on the 24th of April, and landed at Plymouth on the 2d of June. Mr. Haensel brought the painful tidings of the death of Mrs. Graham: a friend writes, "I was rejoiced to hear, that, during the whole of her extreme sufferings, she exemplified much Christian Fortitude, tempered with meekness and resignation; and that those around her had every reason to believe, that, to her, death was gain." Mrs. Betts was seriously ill-At an Ordination held at St. Paul's Cathedral by the Bishop of London on the 5th of June, the Rev. W. Watson was admitted to Priest's Orders; and Mr. C. W. Isenberg, Mr. J. J. Müller, and Mr. Edwin Smith, were admitted to Deacon's Orders. Mr. Watson had been Ordained Deacon, by the Bishop, on the 19th of December; together with Mr. Henry Christian Krückeberg and Mr. W. MorseAt a Meeting of the Committee held at the Society's House on the 7th of June, the Instructions of the Committee were delivered to the Rev. H. Christian Krückeberg, on occasion of his departure to Calcutta; and to the Rev. J. J. Müller, on his departure to Madras: they embarked at Portsmouth, on board the Lady Flora, Captain Ford, on the 20th, and sailed the same day. The Rev. David Morgan, Chaplain of Sierra Leone, left that place on the 31st of March, on a visit to this country; and landed on the South-West Coast of Ireland on the 1st of June. London Miss. Soc.-The Rev. David Jones and his family, from Madagascar, arrived in France, on Tuesday, 31st of May, somewhat improved in health since they left the Mauritius in March-The Rev. John Wray, with Mrs. Wray and two children, arrived in London on the 6th of June, from Berbice: he is very much out of health, having been at his Station upward of 20 years-The Rev. John Hands sailed from Gravesend, with his family, on the 13th of June, in the Duke of Buccleugh, Captain Henning, on his return to India, with health greatly improved by his residence of two years in his native climate. He was accompanied by the Rev. W. Buyers, who is appointed to the Mission at Benares. London Miss. Soc. Deputation-The Journal of the Voyages and Travels of the late Rev. Daniel Tyerman and G. Bennet, Esq. has appeared. It has been compiled by Mr. Montgomery, of Sheffield, from Original Documents prepared by Mr. Bennet and his late Colleague, on their Visit, as a Deputation from the Society, to its various Stations in the South Seas, China, India, and Africa, between the Years 1821 and 1829. The Work forms Two Volumes in 8vo, and is embellished with engravings. It is dedicated, by permission, to the King; and claims the attention of all, who would form a just judgment and cherish right feelings respecting the Great Work of God now manifestly advancing in the world. Sunday-School Jubilee - The design of holding a Jubilee, referred to in the Resolution printed at p. 221, was suggested by Mr. Montgomery, of Sheffield. Sunday Schools having originated with the late Mr. Robert Raikes of Gloucester about the close of the year 1781, it has been thought that the Anniversary of his Birth would be a fit occasion for celebrating the Fiftieth Year of these important Institutions. The Committee of the SundaySchool Union have, therefore, proposed to the Friends of Sunday Schools to raise the sum of TEN THOUSAND POUNDS, by Public Collections and very general Donations from One Penny and upward, as a Jubilee Offering for the FOURTEENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER NEXT; which sum is to be applied in the Erection of additional permanent Buildings adapted for Sunday Schools, which may also be suitable for Infant and Day Schools; and also in the Promotion of Sunday-School Missions. Value of Pennies-A suggestion was lately offered among some Noble Ladies, of the practicability of raising a THOUSAND POUNDS for any charitable Institution by means of PENNY SUBSCRIPTIONS. The suggestion was adopted, and acted upon with such promptitude and vigour, in behalf of the City-of-London Lying-in Hospital, that the sum of 14401. 7s. 11d. has been received, in single pennies, being 345,695 in number. From the "Christian Advocate," which details these particulars, we extract what follows: We were admitted into this Treasury of Copper, and found that the pennies were contained in numerous boxes, hampers, bags, &c. One of the parcels was so large as to require seven men to carry it into the house. Many thousands of the pennies are wrapped up separately, with the donor's name inscribed on the wrapper. As a proof of the extent to which this pleasing mania has reached, two large remittances of pennies have been made from Scotland, one of which was to the amount of 701. It is quite impossible to calculate the extent of the funds which may be raised by this simple means-a means which it is in the power of so many individuals to employ, and which would be employed in very few cases in vain. As a further illustration of the power of this |