CONTINENT.

SOUTH AFRICA.

Rev. Dr. Philip-The Directors of the London Missionary Society have published the following statement:

It is known to the friends of the Society, that Dr. Philip judged it expedient, in the prosecution of the great object for which he returned to England, to publish a Work entitled" Researches in South Africa," illustrating the civil," moral, and religious condition of the Native Tribes. AIthough this work was received in this Country with decided approbation, yet it was of such a description as inevitably to produce a very opposite sentiment at the Cape of Good Hope. So many evils were unmasked by the contents of the book, so many interests were affected by the great measure to which it essentially contributed, and so many parties were necessarily implicated in the statements introduced, that it could not but excite bitter indignation against the Author, if it did not even expose him to the hazard of legal prosecution. However, it was considered (and that under good advice), that if a legal process were attempted, it must necessarily come to this Country, where the Author would be protected from local prejudice; and as to the ill-will which might be personally shewn to Dr. Philip, he was prepared to endure it with patience, and to overcome it by prudence and conciliation.

Dr. Philip, however, had not been three days at Cape Town before he received notice of an Action for a Libel in the Supreme Court of the Colony. The efforts made to transfer the trial from that Court to England were overruled; the Doctor has been tried in the midst of local prejudice, and without the benefit of a Jury; and has been cast in damages of 2001., and costs of more than 900l.

The statement on which the Action was founded is recorded in Vol. 1., page 353, of the "Researches." The particulars of this statement, unlike the others in the Work, did not fall under Dr. Philip's observation, but they were, as noticed in the HEADING, communicated to him by a respectable Gentleman now in this Country. That Gentleman is Mr. Pringle, the Secretary of the AntiSlavery Society; who has been seen on the subject, and who readily makes himself responsible both for the aceount, and the terms in which it is expressed.

The Directors, in some Resolutions which they unanimously adopted on this occasion, declare, that they

entirely justify the intentions of Dr. Philip in adopting that statement; that they preserve toward him an undisturbed and perfect confidence; that they truly sympa. thize with him, while suffering under effects which might be expected to arise from those labours to which he, in conjunction with the Directors, was devoted when in this Country; and that they cherish a fixed conviction, notwitstanding the present perplexities of his situation, that those acrvices will convey extensive and lasting benefits to the oppressed Hottentots.

A Subscription has been opened by the Directors, to relieve Dr. Philip from the heavy charges of this action.

Hottentot Love of Freedom. writing to a Friend, states

Dr. Philip, in

The following facts will shew you how the Hottentots value the boon which has been conferred upon them.

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my arrival at one of the Missionary Stations, I found the village in little bands, singing stanzas which had been Children, from three to five years of age, going about the

composed on the occasion of their receiving their liberty. The following is the chorus of one of these infantine songs"Our deliverers we shall see:

Thanks to those who made us free!"

I asked a Girl of five years of age why she rejoiced that she was made free: her reply was, That the Boors could no more take her away from her parents or flog her. What a satire is the answer of this Infant on those who tell us that Slaves are not capable of understanding the value of freedom, and would rather be in slavery than be free !

INDIA WITHIN THE GANGES.

Suttee Petition-A Petition of certain Hindoos against the late Abolition (see p. 333 of our last Volume) was entrusted to a Mr. Bathie, who embarked on board the Alexander with the view of conveying it to the Authorities in England. The ship met with such damage in the river, that she put back to Calcutta. The remarks on this occurrence in some of the Native Papers will shew the importance which is attached to the subject. In one of these Papers it is said: "The interruption of Mr. Bathie's voyage is, doubtless, somewhat to be regretted; but joy is mingled with our regret for Mr. Bathie has remarked, Such misfortunes are generally attended with the loss of life; but, from my being the bearer of the Suttee Petition, God has saved all who were with me.'" Another Native Paper, on the contrary, declares, "The Petition sent to England, to procure the restoration of the Burning of Women, so humanely abolished by the Governor General, has been brought back, by force of the virtuous merit of the whole Female Sex of our Country; for the ship which bore it was very nearly carried to the bottom."

Population of Madras-The following was the amount of the Population of Madras in 1823, according to a census made by Government. Black Town: men 33,789, boys 21,305; males 55,094: women 45,720, girls 19,832; females 65,552: total 120,646. Chindatrepettah and the villages within the jurisdiction of Madras: men 75,457, boys 58,687; males 134,144: women 99,196, girls 61,765; females 160,961: total 295,105. Khandans and their servants, 46,300. Total population of Madras, 462,051 souls. The number of houses is 29,612, of which 14,093 are in Black Town, and 2826 houses, verandahs, and huts of the Khandans and their servants. The excess of females over the males, in Black Town and the villages is, therefore, 37,275, or a disproportion of about one in eleven in the whole population.

WEST INDIES.

Church Miss. Soc. Mr. Manning arrived at Liverpool on the 16th of January, from Jamaica, in debilitated health.

Calcutta: 1816-James Hill, G. Gogerly, John Adam, G. Christie who sailed on the 1st of July-In the last Survey we anticipated the chief statements of the Annual Report-" Our engagements in Calcutta," Mr. Adam writes in April, are of the most varied and interesting character: the Fort, the Bethel, groups of beggars at two or three distinct places weekly, the village of Krishnapore, itineracies in the country round, and Native Chapels in the town, besides the duties as Members of Committees and Secretaries of Local Societies, fill up the hours of every passing week." The Directors state: "In this part of the field of the Society's operations, the work advances with increased rapidity, and with satisfactory indications of the genuine character of its results: a wide and effectual door appears to have been opened"-The Receipts of the Bengal Auxiliary, in the year 1828-9, were 4971 rupees, and its Disburse ments 4465-Pp. 31, 472.

Kidderpore: near Calcutta-C. Piffard, Edward Ray, A. F. Lacroix; Ramhurree, Nat. As. Mr. and Mrs. Piffard arrived at home, on a visit, on the 3d of May; and sailed, on their return, on the 9th of October. Mr. Lacroix removed from Chinsurah-The baptized adults in connexion with Kidderpore amounted, at the last returns, to 66; that of candidates to 16. "The prospect," the Directora say, is more promising within the circuit of this Station, than even in the Calcutta District "The Return of numbers in the Boys' Schools is not given; in the Girls' it was 108, who improve in knowledge and in personal deportment. "Schools," the Missionaries say, "of an exclusively Christian character, might Feb. 1831.

be established to an almost indefinite extent, would the funds of the Society admit. In every village-and this part of the Country is literally covered with villages-the people beseech and implore the Missionaries to come among them, to instruct their children and shew them the Way of Life; or, to use the simple but expressive sentiments ofone of them, "The gardens are all dry and parched, the trees withering, and the fruit perishing, because there is no malee (gardener) to cultivate the soil and water the plants."" Of an important Out-station connected with Kidderpore, the Bengal Committee remark-"In local position, few places could be more unfavourable and less promising as a sphere for Missionary exertions, than the village of Rammakalchoke. It forms one of an immensely large group of villages, which are situated on little risings of the earth, elevated but a few feet above the level of the Country; which, for many miles in extent, is marked in maps as a morass, or a fresh-water lake: during at least eight months in the year, it is either entirely flooded, or so moist as to admit of no access to the villages, except through shallow passages, in canoes: this, from the unavoidable exposure to the sun which it occasions, is found, in several of the hot months, to be extremely detrimental to health. But even this is not the worst feature in the case: the excessive dampness of the atmosphere, combined with the noxious vapours which arise from the stagnant waters and the putrid vegetation, renders it utterly impracticable for a Missionary to make it his permanent residence; while its distance from Kidderpore consumes almost half his time in journeys. Yet, as if to

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London Missionary Societyshew that the work is not of man, but of God-not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord-at this place, to human appearance so unpromising, God has been pleased to vouchsafe more remarkable tokens of success than at any other Station connected with the Bengal Missionary Society. It is by no means a rare or unfrequent occurrence for persons, and even families, to be in the congregations on the Sabbath at Rammakalchoke, from villages often, twelve, and even fourteen miles distance, who have come for the sole purpose of hearing the Gospel, and inquiring what they must do to be saved-Pp. 31, 285, 471; and see, at 534, 535, strong testimonies to the disinterested zeal of Native Converts at Rammakalchoke, the Out-station just mentioned.

Chinsurah: 22 miles N of Calcutta: transferred, in 1825, by the Dutch to the British: inhab. 30,000—J. D. Pearson, T. K. Higgs, who sailed on the 1st of July-Subscriptions are collecting for the erection of a new Chapel. "The result of the efforts made," the Directors observe in reference to the Ministry, 66 is very gratifying"-On the removal of Mr. and Mrs. Lacroix to Kidderpore, the suspension of 3 of the Boys' Schools, and 2 of the Girls', became unavoidable: there remained 3 Boys' Schools and 1 Girls'; but Returns have not been received. The Government Schools, under Mr. Pearson's superintendence, are 14,and contain 1400 scholars-Pp.31,471. Berhampore: 20 miles N of Cutwa, and 5 S of Moorshedabad: 1824-Micaiah Hill Mr. Hill" is listened to with more deference than formerly," the Directors state; "and patient attention has, in an encouraging measure, been substituted for vociferous opposition"In 3 Boys' Schools are 120: the Female School has still to contend with almost insurmountable difficulties, and affords little encouragement-P. 31.

Benares: 1820-James Robertson. Mr. Adam and his family are on a visit home: the work has been much impeded by the sickness of the Labourers-Congregation, sometimes, 50 to 60 persons. The result of conferences with professed inquirers has usually been discouraging -A Native School, where the Scriptures are daily read, has been opened in the precincts of a Temple, containing a dirty pool, named the " Pool of Immortality;" a place of great resort, on account of the

pretended cure thereby of various diseases-Of Tracts and Books in Hinduwee, by Mr. Adam, 8150 copies were printed in the year: 2000 copies of Mr. Robertson's "Comparison between Mahomedanism and Christianity" are in circulation: he has translated the Book of Job into Oordoo, and that of Ecclesiastes into Hinduwee and OordooPp. 31, 285.

Surat: 177 miles N of Bombay; inhab. 500,000: 1815-W. Fyvie, Alex. Fyvie; T. Salmon, Printer-The English and Goozerattee Services have been continued. On Mondays, the Gospel is preached, in Goozerattee, to persons receiving public charity, amounting sometimes to between 180 and 200. The Native Converts manifest especial love to the Word of God: of two inquirers who visited the Station, Mr. W. Fyvie says: "I was really astonished at the attention of these men to the Bible. Many nights when I have awaked from my first sleep, about one or two o'clock, I have overheard these men reading the Psalms of David and other parts of the Scriptures"-In 5 Schools, chiefly for Boys, there are 340 scholars; and in a Girls' School, 20: the Directors report: "The great attention with which the children listen to religious instruction, and the progress made by them in the knowledge of Divine Truth, are such as to inspire a hope that they are under the special tuition of the GREAT TEACHER Himself."-A second edition of the Old Testament in Goozerattee has beèn completed, consisting of 1000 copies of Genesis and the Psalms and of 500 of each of the other Books: half was disposed of within a fortnight. In 1829 there were put into circulation 175 New Testaments, 2950 Portions of Scripture, and 20,000 Tracts. In the early part of last year Mr. A. Fyvie itinerated for 42 days in different parts of Goozerat; during which time he travelled upward of 500 miles distributed 1020 Portions of Scripture and 10,500 Tracts - and preached to multitudes, numbers of whom had never heard of Salvation through the merits of Christ, and many of whom paid encouraging attention to the Message of Mercy-Pp. 31,32, 285.

Belgaum: 200 miles NW of Bellary: 1820-Joseph Taylor, W. Beynon who removed from Bellary and has better health at Belgaum: 3 Nat. As.-Communicants; at English Services 10 to 15, and the same at the Native Ser

vices-In 3 Mahratta Schools, the attendance varies from 60 to 120, and in 2 Tamul from 20 to 50: all the scholars are examined weekly by the Missionaries - The distribution of the Scriptures and Tracts has been greater than in any preceding year; and "the general aspect of the Mission,' the Directors state, "is that of growing importance and success"-P. 32.

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Darwar: 50 miles from Belgaum, and an Out-station of that Mission: 1829Dhondapah, Dhavapah, Nat. As.-" The Missionaries at Belgaum," the Directors report, were invited in February, last year, to visit some criminals in the jail at Darwar, who were under sentence of death for murder: of these poor men, the total number of whom was nine, four, who appeared to be sincere penitents and professed their faith in Christ, were baptized. This result of their labours at Darwar led the principal Collector to request the Missionaries to send Dhondapah there, in the capacity of Reader: he was sent accordingly, and has constant access to the jail, where a School, under his direction, has recently been commenced, in which 23 adults and 8 boys receive instruction: there are indications of good being effected by his labours. He has been lately joined by the native convert, Dhavapah."

Bellary: 187 miles N of Seringapatam, and 300 NW of Madras: surrounded by many populous places: 1810-John Reid; G. Walton, As.; B. H. Paine, Printer; S. Flavel and other Nat. As. Mr. and Mrs. Reid arrived at Madras on the 25th of January, on their way to Bellary. Mr. Hands is still in England: on his departure from Bellary and Mr. Beynon's removal to Belgaum, Mr. Reeve, of Bangalore, took charge of the Station from Dec. 1828 to July 1829, when Mr. Campbell, of the same Mission, took his place at Bellary, and Mr. Reeve returned to Bangalore-The Native Services continue much the same as stated in the last Survey: communicants; at the English Services 10, and at the Native 22: adults baptized 3— In 6 Canarese Schools for Boys, and 1 for Girls, with 2 Tamul Schools for Boys, there are 311 scholars: improvement is impeded by the want of proper Schoolmasters: many of the Girls, under Mrs. Paine's superintendence, read and write well: the English Charity-School is very useful The Printing Office is conducted with diligence and spirit: 1000

copies of each of seven of the Books of the Old Testament in Canarese, with 9000 Tracts and Elementary Books, have been printed in the year. The distributions have been, 30 Bibles, 1139 Portions of Scripture, and 26,240 Tracts, many of which were circulated at Na tive Festivals in the vicinity - The Branch Bible Society raised 900 rupees in the year, the Tract Society 578, the Missionary Auxiliary 446, and the Charity School 2129-Pp. 32, 112, 113, 336.

Bangalore: 74 miles NE of Seringapatam and 215 W of Madras: inhab. 25,000 to 30,000, who speak Canarese; and an equal number who speak Tamul: 1820-W. Reeve, W. Campbell. David, Jacob, Paul, and Joseph, Natives, mentioned in the last Survey, continue to preach in the Mission Chapel and the surrounding Villages. "Their Addresses to the Heathen are characterized," the Directors say, "by simplicity, and their prayers by fervency and devotion". Native Services have been held, as stated in the last Survey: Congregation on Sunday upward of 80; who hear with seriousness, many of whom are candidates for Baptism. Communicants, at the English Services 18, and at the Native 24; who adorn the Gospel: 3 women and 2 youths have been baptized-In 4 Schools there are 108 boys; in the Tamul Orphan School, 10 Scholars; and in a Female School, 4 women and 4 girls. The Canarese School for preparing Teachers has 14 boys, who are all diligent and promising; and those of the First Class, 8 in number, above mediocrity: "The chief object of this School," the Directors state, “is, to give an exclusively Christian Education to Native Youth of superior ability, from an early period of life, with a view thus to raise up, eventually, a Native Ministry for Mysore and Hindoostan." Of the Schools, generally, they add: "They are in a prosperous state. Prejudices against the introduction of Christian Books have greatly abated. The children learn with facility; and, from an arrangement lately adopted, the Masters themselves find it their interest to secure a good and regular attendance”Pp. 32, 113.

Salem: a large town, N. Lat. 12° and E. Long. 79': inhab. 60,000: surrounded by populous villages: 1827-H.Crisp; Isaac David, Nat. As.-To the memory of Mrs. Crisp, who died May 7, 1829, the Directors pay this characteristic tribute: