Still higher were those who could read, and further on were classes learning English grammar, then arithmetic, geography, and some simply composed history. In an adjoining room were a few classes higher than any we had seen, studying some more extended works on geography and history, and learning Euclid's Elements and astronomy.

We were obliged to pass several classes without asking them a single question, much to their disappointment; as Dr. D. says they like very much to be examined. We stopped for some time at the highest of these classes, and listened with deep interest to the answers they gave to several questions.

all things?' etc. What is God?' He the selection of precise terms to convey his is a spirit.' Can he see you?' 'Yes.' meaning. Dr. Duff afterwards told me that ◄ Can you see him?' 'No,'—a new idea he was a real genius. What is of greatest to a Hindu mind, and striking at the root importance, it is hoped that he is a true of their enormous fabric of superstition. christian. I had the pleasure of meeting This, too, is one of the first truths that the with him, and two other native christians, children are taught at this school, and they members of the school, at Dr. D.'s, a few grow up with it fastened in their minds. evenings ago, at tea. It cannot be doubted that this Institution is exerting an immense influence for the undermining of Hinduism in and about Calcutta. Many of its members are of the Brahman caste, and have entirely lost confidence in the religion of their country. They have learned to read English with ease, and most of them take pleasure in reading the bible in our language. A lecture is delivered to them every Sabbath evening in the Institution, which is wel attended. I was present last Sabbath evening, and saw almost every eye directed towards the speaker, and whenever he referred to a text of Scripture, they had their bibles at hand, and readily found it. None of them board in the Institution, and it is therefore entirely optionWe next went into a large room, used al with them whether they shall attend any for general rehearsals of several classes to- of the exercises of the school, or not. It gether, and into this about three hundred is remarkable that even during their great of the children were introduced, marching festivals, they nearly all come. The bible with the greatest order and regularity. A is carefully taught every day, yet so great few questions were here proposed, and is their desire to obtain a knowledge of the then they withdrew. After this, we went English language, that they are willing to into the highest department, where some of learn the christian religion for the sake of the highest branches of mathematics, his- the language through which it is communitory, the physical sciences, mental and cated. Science seems to assume a relimoral science, the evidences of christianity, gious importance in this country. Nothing and doctrinal theology, are taught. It does more towards the subversion of Hinbeing left with us to start them on any duism, than the teaching of true notions branch of any of these subjects we thought connected with the physical sciences, since proper, I began with the question, What a large part of it is based on and mingled is a miracle? and received perhaps a dozen with false assumptions in reference to the different answers, most of them evincing natural world. The government schools, surprising mental vigor and acuteness. I established in different parts of the country, can truly say that I never before saw teach the English language, and give the pusuch an admirable display of mind as was pils access to our sciences, but carefully exexhibited during this examination. It is clude the christian religion from their course not extravagant to say that it was far be- of instruction. The consequence of this yond anything that may be seen among must be, that as they lose confidence in the large majority of the students in our their own religion, and have no other to colleges and theological seminaries. The substitute in the place of it, they will be young men showed that they had not only transformed from idolaters into sceptics and read on these subjects, but had thought care-infidels. Such a result every christian fully and profoundly for themselves. They heart must deprecate. were then examined on modern history, on pneumatics, optics, astronomy, and the conic sections. This latter branch, as well as plane and spherical trigonometry, they have studied both geometrically and analytically.

The ages of the members of this department were, I should judge, from sixteen to twenty-four or twenty-six. One of them particularly attracted my attention by the clearness of his reasonings, his ready use of the English language, and his facility in

It is evident that a great change is gradually taking place in the minds of the Hindus. As to the result of this change, it is left with Christians, instrumentally, to determine. If seasonable means are used to turn this current into the right channel, we may believe all will be well; but if not, what reason have we to suppose but that India may be changed from a nation of idolaters into a nation of atheists ?

Other Societies.

American Board of Commissioners for | had been proved were disciplined for the

we meet them, which is often, though we | during the last eighteen months, this church feel under the necessity of withstanding has more than held its own in point of numthem even to the face, in dissuading the bers. At our communion in March we people from embracing their doctrines, yet received 171 persons on profession, and in we carefully avoid all uncourteous demean- June fourteen, and yesterday 101; making or towards them. There is only one light in all 286 since I wrote you last. We in which I can view the introduction of have had occasion to discipline during the Romanism here as favorable, and that is, last three years over a hundred of our it will do good by contrast. It will bring members. We number over thirteen huntruth and error into collision, and thus elicit dred in all. About one third of those dismany important facts in the divine economy, ciplined have been restored again to the before the minds of this people, which fellowship of the church. Most of the 286 otherwise might have remained hidden from received this year are the fruits of the great their view. Our churches will be purified, and good work of grace among us two and we be relieved from some who have years ago. And there are still others who hitherto been like an incubus upon us. may be received a few months hence. This has already been the fact in several instances. The dissatisfied and worldly have some of them already left our communion, and embraced the papal faith. On the other hand, numbers of their own adherents have left them and returned to our meetings. In every other respect, I can only look upon the introduction of that faith among us, as an untold calamity upon this people.

Intemperance threatens again to ruin this nation. A few months ago, and the prospect was fair that this deadly evil was about to be exterminated from the Sandwich Islands. But since the outrageous conduct of captain La Place, in July 1839, this monster has stalked abroad through these streets day and night. Then there were not more than two or three grog-shops in all this village. Now there are between twenty and thirty, and their number is still

From a letter of Mr. Smith, dated Honolulu, increasing. I think, however, that there is Dec. 7th, 1840.

Romanism-Church-Schools-Contri

butions-Exploring squadron.

For the last eighteen months the leaven of Romanism has been at work, and has apparently, though perhaps not in reality, checked the good work of grace among us. It has obviously been the means of developing character, and of drawing a dividing line between those who love and fear God, and those who love and choose to indulge in sin. Very few, however, who have given evidence of a desire for truth and holiness, have, as yet, gone after the false prophet. And I presume that not less than a hundred on this island (Oahu,) who at first rushed thoughtlessly and ignorantly to see the pictures, witness the performances, and listen to the mummery of papacy, have returned again to our congregations. The priests, however, spare no pains to make proselytes, by casting contempt upon all that has been done by the American missionaries. One of them has made his boast that he intends to uproot protestantism at these islands in five years. Their most efficient coadjutor is alcohol; under the names of brandy, rum, gin, wine, etc. This is the spirit which accompanies them to these islands, and this is the spirit which aids them in their work of converting the natives. Judge then of the character of their converts.

less intemperance among the natives these days, than there was a few months ago.

Our schools for children have been more prosperous for the last six months, than for any other given period since the embarrassment of the Board, and the retrenchment of the funds of this mission. Recently the king has published some laws, requiring all the children between the ages of four and fourteen to go to school five days in the week. The consequence is that the number of children has nearly doubled in all our schools. The law also makes some provision for the support of native teachers. A piece of land is to be set apart in each school district for the support of the teacher, and is to be cultivated by the parents.

We are not backward in laboring to enlist this church and congregation in the cause of benevolence. We commence, however, on the principle that charity begins at home. During the last three years, they have built a school-house, and a meeting-house. Their contributions in money, labor, and produce, for these two buildings, amount to three thousand dollars. They have also contributed to the amount of $150 in building a bridge across the stream of water which passes near the meetinghouse. They have also contributed in cash, sugar-bags, and fire-wood to the amount of one hundred dollars for the support of school-teachers the present year.

The Macedonian cry for native helpers, With all the trying and counteracting has recently reached us from the Rocky obstacles of Romanism and intemperance Mountains. On laying the subject before

this church, six active, enterprising natively cultivated, would furnish immense riches men arose and volunteered to go. One to its possessors; whereas, at present, owing pair only being called for, we selected the to the low state of religion and morality, most promising, and they are making pre- and more especially to the want of industry, parations to go the first opportunity. We those treasures are unenjoyed, the Abys expect to take up a contribution to-day to sinians living in great poverty. It is imposaid them in their outfit. sible to give the exact amount of the population of Abyssinia; but I shall not be far from the truth, if I state it to be about five millions. The country is separated into three grand divisions; which are, Tigré, the North-east; Amhara, the North-west; and Shoa, the South.

on the road. The missionaries then left with dejected and sorrowful minds, committing the precious seed, which they had sown in tears, to Him that still is able to carry on his work, even in the midst of human perverseness. The Romish church, however, had no reason to triumph in her temporary success; for, according to some recent accounts, it appears that her emissaries have likewise been expelled from Oobieh's dominions, because they had mingled with the political concerns of the country. After the missionaries had left Tigré, Mr. Krapf and Mr. Isenberg determined to accept an invitation which they had received from the king of Shoa; and, after a tedious journey, arrived in his territories, at the end of May in the year 1839. They were favorably received by him, and permitted to begin the work of evangelization in his country. They first established a school, which was attended by from thirty to forty scholars, of different ages. As, however, they were in want of printed school-materials, it was necessary for Mr. Isenberg to leave, after a six months' stay at Shoa, and to come to this country, in order to carry through the press several school-books which he had prepared.

terward, Sebagis, the friend and protector | clamour of their enemy: he promised, of Europeans, was killed in war-when however, that they should be protected Mr. Gobat was obliged to flee for refuge into an Abyssinian convent, on Debra Damo; and stayed there, and at Adegrate, till the end of the year 1832, when he returned to Europe in order to get assistance from the committee. Having succeeded in this object, he returned in 1834 to Abyssinia; and was joined in Egypt by the Rev. C. W. Isenberg. The missionaries left Cairo in October 1834, accompanied by their wives, two German artisans, and two Abyssinian pupils; and, after a tedious journey of nearly six months, arrived at Adowa, the chief town of Tigré, where they intended to begin their labors. But Mr. Gobat was soon visited by a serious illness, from which he did not recover during his whole stay at Adowa: and as it was thought necessary for him to return to Europe for the re-establishment of his health, he quitted Tigré in September 1836: and Mr. Isenberg was left alone, with an apparent opening for a great work before him. He was, however, joined in January 1837 by the Rev. C. H. Blumhardt, and in November of the same year by the Rev. J. L. Krapf. They were employed in translating the scriptures into Tigré; in holding daily services in the Amharic language, as circumstances allowed; in distributing the Bible; and in preaching the gospel by conversations, to all with whom they came in contact. During the repeated enThe continuance and success of this miscampments of Oobieh's (the reigning gover- sion is of vast importance; as it has for its nor's) army in the neighborhood of Adowa, object, not only, nor primarily, a reformathey were enabled to distribute some thou- tion of the fallen church of Abyssinia, but sand copies of different parts of the Am- principally the conversion of the numerous haric and Ethiopic scriptures, and to hold out pagan tribes of the Galla Nation-a nation the truth as it is in Jesus to large multi- which surrounds Shoa, and widely extends tudes that came to inquire: and there were itself into Central Africa. Many of those also great numbers of priests and doctors, tribes are subject, others are tributary, to and other more enlightened men, who, the king of Shoa; and under his protection after strictly examining into the doctrines we have a free access to them, whilst from which they taught, did not hesitate to con- no other quarter can we, humanly speakfess, that, on the whole, they were superi-ing, reach them. Their religion much reor to, because more scriptural than their sembles that of the Caffres in Southern own system). But there was one church Africa. They worship a Supreme Being, at Adowa, whose priests from the begin- whom they call Wak, whose priests, called ning proved unfriendly to them. Kalitsha, are sorcerers, gainsayers, and physicians. They believe in the immortaliThey were subject to the intrigues of these ty of the soul, and in future rewards and priests and especially of their superior, who punishments; but, in their opinion, men are, eventually succeeded in prejudicing the mind of in a future state, to live in the same nationthe governor, and in obtaining their expulsional and religious divisions as they now do. from Tigre. The order was at length given through the superior.

Apparent opening for preaching the gos

pel among the Gallas.

[In consideration of all these circumstances, the committee have resolved to send out aid to Mr. Krapf in his present solitary Remonstrances and appeals were of position. Messrs. Muhleisen and Müller no use all that they could obtain, was have accordingly been appointed to this a declaration, on the part of Oobieh, that mission; and they left London, to proceed, he himself had wished them to remain, by way of the Continent, Egypt, Aden, and but that he could no longer resist the Tadjurra, to Shoa, on the 21st of January.]