You may then judge of the feelings with which we bade him God speed; and with which we listened to Dr. Carey, while he, with all the experience of years spent in the Cause of Missions, gave him an able and an affectionate Address, and set before him the source of hope, and the motives to sobriety in expectation; as also to diligence in his work, depending for success on no one human cause or favourable appearance, but on CHRIST ALONE, who MUST finally inherit Assam, when the promise of the Father is fulfilled. Dr. Marshman prayed at the designation, and my Brother gave the Address to the Congregation: which was not, in my opinion, the least important part of the Service; for, were the duties, pointed out as incumbent upon us who remain at home, more conscientiously fulfilled, the spirits of Missionaries would not so often be left to droop, and their hands to hang down for want of prayerful and affectionate sympathy.

On this subject, I have much pleasure in observing the spirit of this Mission. There is an affectionate intercourse, in some cases personal, and in all by writing, constantly kept up. The connexion is MUTUALLY salutary; like that between the vitals and extremities of the human frame. Serampore nourishes them; and again they, by individual exertion, enrich the Mission with that which is its life and glory-CONVERTS TO THE FAITH: while the practice of reading the Journals of the Missionaries at our Weekly Prayer-Meeting diffuses this interest throughout the whole of the Mission Family. I believe we all take the liberty of liking those Missionaries whose Journals please us best: then they come in their own writing, and record the transactions, not of the last year, but of the last month. I should hope that the fruit of this is, that we bear them on our hearts in secret before the throne of our Heavenly Father; and the fruit of this who can tell!

Sept. 11, 1829-I wish now to give you, and through you other SCHOOL friends, some idea of the present state and prospects of the Female Schools. Thinkwhat I sometimes feel it hard to believe myself that I speak from OBSERVATION: my eyes have seen the objects of your care: I have heard them in all the various stages of improvement, from slowly guessing out their "ka, kha," &c. to the fluent reading of the Word of Life: I have examined the writing on the long

smooth plantain-leaf; and have heard them readily answer questions in the different Catechisms, where the Christian Doctrines are unequivocally taught, and consequently those of Hindooism so flatly contradicted, that I actually caught myself blushing at hearing it in the presence of the Brahmin Master: of course, feeling will soon wear off, in seeing the apathy of these good gentlemen.

this

Let me entreat our friends to have recourse UNCEASINGLY to that old, and, by many, despised plan, of SECRET FERVENT PRAYER! God is, at present, working in this country and in this neighbourhood, in evident answer to prayer-stirring up anxious inquiry in the minds of many who have scarcely heard of the Gospel; and, in some instances, never heard it declared.

Nov. 23-I have now the desire of my heart obtained, in a little Prayer Meeting being arranged among my companions, the junior female branches of the Mission Family. We have hitherto read, in conclusion, a few pages of Baxter's Saints' Rest; particularly upon his motives and directions for leading a heavenly life upon earth. I think we all feel, that, in proportion as we attain this, will be our mutual happiness as a little Society and as individual servants of Christ.

Dec. 26-I wished-oh, how much!that you, and many others in England, had been present with us to-day. You may, it is true, read the Report which we heard read, and which is solemn truth, narrated with much of that chastened feeling in which the Christian alone looks back over the past way through which God's power, not his own, has led him; but you cannot see, as we did, the range of forty-eight Christian Youths, besides the Class in European habitstheir white cloths, QUITE CLEAN, wrapped round in Eastern Style, and every face beaming with pleasure, SOME with deep intelligence: then, at a little table, in the upper end of the Hall, sat the Danish Governor, Mr. Holensburg, supported by Drs. Carey and Marshman; and all around them we sat, I mean several of the Members of the Mission Community. By the Report, we learned the different exercises through which the Students passed, and their progress during the last year: but the Examinations had all taken place in the course of the previous fortnight; and, according to proficiency, the prizes adjudged: all that

was to be done to-day, therefore, was to bestow them upon the competitors. After which we united, standing, in singing, "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow," with full hearts. Then Dr. Carey offered up prayer and thanksgiving; and quite overpowered himself and all of us, by his expression of grateful retrospection. With our staff in our hand," said he, we passed over this Jordan; and Now"-I did not hear the conclusion, for the good old man's voice became inarticulate. But God has blessed this Mission; and, so far from now withdrawing His favour, there have been very marked testimonials of gracious assistance during the past year.

And now, my Dear Friend, let me tell you, for I know it will gratify the kind hearts of your family circle, that after having, with my own eyes, seen Serampore, I bless God every day for making it the place of my abode: not only, I hope, I may truly say, because in it is the dwelling of my beloved Brother, nor yet because I have here a select and profitable FEW friends; but because there is here a mighty work to be done for God, and, blessed be His Name! there has here been framed and set to work a moral machinery, to which all of us, who love God and the souls of men, may put a helping hand. I am not yet ready, by any means, to engage efficiently, at least so far as SPEAKING goes, n the work of instruction which is open before me among the numerous Female Youth: but I am advancing toward this; and, by continuance in my present exercises and gradually advancing to higher, I have hope of at last attaining this much-desired point in my existence, when I shall be able to enter fully upon the work.

A Central School, which has been in contemplation among our friends for some time, where nearly all the children of the present schools may be collected, and so brought with their Teachers under vigilant inspection, is already roofed in, and we hope to have it opened very soon. I here anticipate spending a part of every day, and thus acquiring a familiarity with common expressions, by which I shall be fitted for visiting, reading, and conversing with the Women of

the village, and, indeed, for making use of the multitude of opportunities which might be here enjoyed of communicating Divine Truth. A Christian Female may, in this land, without stirring one inch out of the strict boundaries of female propriety, continue in this work every day of her life. This I feel continually; and it excites in me, at some times, a painful, and at other times a pleasurable ardour and anxiety to get the language.

I remember very well the deep and sympathetic feeling with which you used to hear of my Brother-our union of heart and separation, and its accompanying sorrows: therefore, you can enter into my every-day enjoyments, being again his companion. Indeed, I have

had more of this blessing since my arrival in India, than at any former period since our youthful attachment ripened into its present fervour. We are not often separate; and it is matter of rejoicing to us both, that, by this, the great work to which he is consecrated is not therefore hindered. God has been very gracious to us, in inclining our hearts alike to it.

About ten minutes' walk from our house stands Aldean, the residence of Henry Martyn's friend, the late Mr. Brown; and a little farther, on the banks of the Ganges, is the Pagoda in which MARTYN himself lived: I have stept slowly over the little apartments, with a feeling of sweet sacredness. His character was lovely; and his memory is cherished by thousands who never saw him, but who loved the Saviour to whom he was so eminently devoted. Oh! if personal godliness were as eagerly sought after, by all who put their hands to the holy work of spreading the Gospel either at home or abroad, then God would bless their efforts then would the Church flourish as the garden of the Lord-then her present boundaries would be too strait: she would lengthen her cords and strengthen her stakes, breaking forth on the right hand and upon the left-the knowledge of the Lord would cover the whole earth! Nothing short of this can satisfy a heart wakened to pity over the desolations in which human-nature now lies, or to admiration of the immense and cheering renovation by his Holy Spirit when He visits the dark mind.

12. BREWHAM and PITSCOMBE Association.
13. CLERKENWELL (North) Association.

The above Lists are made up to the 17th of October.

Destitution and Supply of the Scriptures in Worcestershire.

Mr. Dudley writes from Worcester, in the beginning of August

Independently of the Kidderminster Auxiliary and Association, established last winter, Worcestershire possessed, in June, but Twelve Bible Societies, under every form of organization. The inadequacy of the means thus provided, to meet even the local wants of a population of nearly 200,000, had long been evident; but the extent of those wants was scarcely suspected until the last spring, when the result of a systematic inquiry in six parishes, indiscriminately selected, proved that not more than ONE

FIFTH of the inhabitants possessed copies of the Scriptures.

It is scarcely necessary to say, that this painful discovery was followed by the adoption of measures which experience has long proved to be effectual, as a remedy for so serious an evil; and I have now the pleasure to enclose a list of Eighteen Societies, established and organized, within the County, since the 23d of June. In many of the Towns and Villages thus brought within the operations of the Society, the Collectors have found a degree of destitution of which they had no previous conception; while the gratitude manifested by the poor has cheered and encouraged them in their benevolent undertaking. In several instances, applications have been received from Villages and Hamlets in the respective neighbourhoods, requesting to be included within the newlyformed Associations; in almost every one of which an additional supply of books and papers has been required. From the accounts already received, it appears that more than Three Thousand persons have entered their names as Subscribers for Bibles and Testaments.

and it is a source of great satisfaction to the Governors to reflect, that, while in some places their exertions in the great work of preparing the way for the Conversion of the whole Negro Population to the profession and practice of the Gospel has been blessed with great success, there is not an Island in the British WestIndies upon which the Society is not in connexion with some establishment directing its efforts to that end, and scattering, as opportunity offers, the good seed of Christian Instruction, in the confidence that it will spring up and produce a harvest, in some places more abundant than in others, but such as to afford matter of thankfulness in all.

For the completion of so extensive a design as that of establishing Christianity among the Negro Population of the West-India Colonies, an income so limited as that now possessed by the Society might appear quite inadequate : yet the usefulness of the Society must not be estimated solely by its Annual Income, nor its success measured by the number either of Negro Slaves now under Christian Instruction, or of the Catechists and Schoolmasters employed. It is to be judged of, not only by what it does, but by what it causes to be done. It has been the endeavour of the Society to set the example of educating Slaves in the West-India Colonies, in the hope that a sense of interest as well as of duty would ere long excite the Free People in those Colonies to join in the same holy work; and it is with feelings of the deepest thankfulness to Him from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works proceed, that the Governors are enabled to state, that the example which the Society has set is every year more extensively followed. Information of the most unquestionable kind, supported by the plainest facts, leads them to believe that such a change of feeling is taking place on the subject of Christian Education, as well in the minds of the Negro as of the White Population, as holds out the pleasing hope, that, ere many years are past, the White Population will universally agree as to the duty of imparting to the Negroes the blessings of Christian Instruction, and will look to this Society for countenance, encouragement, and direction, or for occasional pecuniary aid.

The Bishops of Jamaica and Barbadoes concur in repeating that a system of domestic religious education is now in

progress, the principle of which is to provide every estate with its Teacher or Catechist, whose office it will be to give systematic instruction to the people, under the direction of the Clergy of the Established Church.

SCOTTISH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE Rev. Dr. Muir, in moving, at the last Annual Meeting, the acceptance of the Report, gave the following Attestation to the Improved Character of

Missionary Reports.

I cannot help noticing—what is surely worthy of being marked-the prominent feature by which the Reports of this Society, and of other Institutions of a similar kind, are Now distinguished :I mean, the candid and open statement of circumstances, however unfavourable, or even adverse they may seem to be, to the main object in view.

At one time, there may have been something of an opposite kind to regret, in the Reports which the Managers of Missionary Societies have put forth. They were, perhaps, almost insensibly led to it. Desirous of seeing the pleasure of the Lord prospering in their hands, they coveted, perhaps with too great earnestness, some immediate fruits of their labours. No doubt, striking conversions among the Heathen-peculiar religious excitements in the Communions formed from among the Heathen-stedfastness in the faith, and consistency in the practice, and blessedness and triumph in the death of the members of these communions, are the very things which we pray and long for: they are pleasing tokens of Divine Favour on our plans: they are earnests of still wider success: the statement of them is reviving; and may animate, with a new impetus of zeal, the hearts of contributors to our plans: and who therefore would not eagerly announce them? But the feeling which naturally suggests this, has, at times, led to what, I say, must be regretted-to a precipitate seizing on every thing which may have had the semblance of conversion among the Heathen-to a hasty and too prominent exhibition of facts, which need time and experiment for shewing their value-and to a throwing into the shade of all the untoward events; the difficulties, and unconcern, and opposition, and sad disappointments of the fairest promises which are so often experienced among the objects of Missionary Labours.

There would seem to have been the suspicion, that delay in presenting the first-fruits of these labours is to wear out the faith and patience and love of the Christian Church-that the supporters of our plans are to give up their aid in despair, unless we can shew them that our plans are flourishing-and that, consequently, the Report of our procedure is not worth writing or reading, unless it mark out a track of unqualified and brilliant successes.

Now, while successes to our plans are what we pray for, and expect, and will rejoice to announce; yet we ought to impress it on our own minds, and on the minds of our contributors, that the Report which may be only a detail of labours uncrowned, and even frustrated, is still worth the writing and readingthat if we bring the motive in maintaining Missionary Plans to be dependent solely on the amount of palpable and immediate result of a beneficial nature, we are overlooking the chief inducement by which we should be actuated-and that, whether our scheme prospers or not, we have still that authority to proceed in it, which arises from the plainest of our Lord's injunctions. Never was injunction so plainly and forcibly given, as that which obliges us, by means of our prayers and our support to every reasonable and scriptural plan, to endeavour to spread the savour of His precious Name -the knowledge of His redemption. He himself addresses the command to every one to whom His Word has come; and we have reason to say that the woe, which, in a peculiar case, would have rested on the person who was necessitated to preach the Gospel, had he refused, shall rest, in a certain measure, upon all who have received the sacred Truth, and yet perversely declined to assist in spreading it.

The precise benefits to the Heathen, which may spring from our attempts to diffuse Christianity, are dependent on many circumstances; and we are bound to remember with humility and reverence, that they are ultimately dependent on the sovereign will, which, in wisdom, inscrutable and adorable, hath its set times for shewing mercy to the nations of the earth. But still attempts to spread Christianity are imperatively enjoined on the disciples of Christ, and never can they be released from their obligation.

If the precise amount of benefit, which results from the performance of duty,

were to affect the feeling of obligation to perseverance in it, whither, I ask, would this lead? A Minister of Religion is set apart to watch for the souls of his people, that he may win them to Christ -a Teacher of Youth, that he may train them up in knowledge and virtue-a Parent, that he may bring his offspring to God, and secure them as members of the divine family-a Master, that he may influence his servants to do service to their Master in Heaven, as well as to himself. But, if the amount of religious and moral benefit to accrue from their respective exertions were to determine how long they should make them, or whether they should continue to make them at all, what a feeble and precarious hinge were this for the greatest of earthly obligations to turn on!

And how important is it, that, with regard to Missionary Labours, in like manner, we call ourselves back from every adventitious circumstance, to the great motive of exertion in the sacred duty-to the Authority of our Lord. He commands us to co-operate with His providence and grace in the dissemination of His Gospel. This is the warrant for our attempts to spread Christianity; and this holds out, too, the pledge of final success. But, as the time of success, as the seasons of refreshing from His presence, are hastened or postponed by His own wise counsels, what we are to fix our minds on is, assuredly, the enunciation of His will: and, regarding His will with simplicity and devotedness, why should we not receive, amidst all the discouragements of immediate difficulties, the motive and the strength to proceed in the work?

Now, permit me to say, that, on the grounds referred to, the Reports of the Scottish Missionary Society are to be approved. They go straight forward in the statement of what occurs in the History of the Mission, though it be reverses, obstacles, and disappointments. They try not to gain confidence in their readers, by concealing any thing, or giving an undue prominence to any thing. They use no methods of unnatural excitement. They are evidently compiled on the principle, that Christians are to be addressed by them, and that with Christians the authority and the love of Christ ought to be every thing.

And let it be repeated in the ears of our people, though the repetition may reach almost to satiety, that here is the