body of her husband, may be depended on as correct.

From the "Government Gazette," printed at Calcutta, July 9th, 1818.

"In the Times of Tuesday Jast, we observe an account of

burying the living with the dead, a practice which appears to obtain among Hindoos of the cast of Weavers. Two gentlemen proceeding up the river Hooghly, observing a concourse of people assembled at Corder, a village about two miles below Isherah, and learning the cause, put on shore in the vain hope that their presence would prevent the immolation of a human being, if not perfectly voluntary on the part of the victim. This, however, they had reason to believe expedited the ceremony, for on getting on shore, the woman had been placed in the hole dug for the purpose, with the dead body of her husband. The hole was about eight or nine feet deep, and about three in diameter, like a well, (with the bodies placed upright,) into which the relations were throwing earth, and the eldest son of the woman, about 19 years old, dancing over the bodies in the hole, and treading it down, until it came above the heads, when a general shout closed the monstrous and horrid ceremony. No complaint or cry was uttered by the patient sufferer. After this outrage on human feeling had been committed, the deluded son, with the insensibility of a savage, came forward, and introduced to the gentlemen, his uncles and other relations, who had been employed in performing what they seem to have considered a religious and sacred obligation. It is worthy of remark, that the circumstance here described took place on the 2d inst. only about ten miles from Calcutta!"

This is a shocking instance of superstition and depravity. I am informed that in the same town, 26 widows were burnt during the

last year. How indispensably necessary it is that the sacred influences of the Spirit should out these, the most vigorous efattend the preached word! With

forts will be in vain. The distribution of Bibles and Tracts, and the ministration of the goswill be of no avail unless the pel in a plain and faithful manner, Lord add his blessing. O that in Burmah we may have wisdom and strength. I feel myself utterly insufficient for the important work in which I expect to upheld by almighty power, and Pray that I rendered useful to the poor

engage.

Burmans.

may

be

Yours affectionately, and respectfully, J. COLMAN.

ENGLISH BAPTIST MISSION.

EXTRACT FROM MR. PHILLIPS' LETTER TO A FRIEND IN ENGLAND.

Samarang, Jan. 2, 1818.

I am now at Samarang, where I arrived, the 9th of November. I spent nine months at Batavia, in learning the Malay language, and set sail on October 2. for Samarang, and after a tedious passage, arrived in safety with my family.

I have begun to preach in Malay, in my own house, and have also English worship on Sunday mornings. I have begun the Javanese, and this will furnish employment for some years. Mr. Bruckner informs me that he has a collection of 25,000 words, and that in every new book he reads, he meets with a great number of new ones. I pant to preach to the Musselmen in Javanese.

I

long to establish schools for the youth, since it must be by the dissemination of knowledge among the rising generation, that the almost unlimited power of the Musselmen priests must be destroyed. The work is great and arduous; outward circumstances appear forbidding; but an unshaken confidence in the power of divine grace forbids me to despair. Though fast bound by the prejudices of superstition, and in the fetters of delusion, the Javanese appear to furnish little ground to hope for their conversion, it is not our province to be dismayed,

are ruined in their eternal interests by ignorance of God!

We are all now tolerably well; death has carried off scores of Europeans of late, but a merciful Providence has preserved us. I am now writing at the table at which Mr. Trowt often sat, when lingering under the dreadful dysentary which carried him off. O that I may follow him in his zeal and devotedness to the cause of God! [Eng. Bap. Mag.

REVIEW OF THE

Wherever I have been, I have found the natives entirely under the control of their priests and teachers, so that they have not dared to read a tract unless they had first shown it to them, and received their opinion on its contents. These teachers are for the most part very ignorant; their knowledge, in many instances, extending little farther than the ability to read the Koran in the Arabic character, without understanding the meaning of twenty words in it. There is a numerous class of persons, who have performed the pilgrimage to Mecca. These men are held in great respect, and live upon the credulity of the people. I asked one of them, what good he had obtained by so long and painful a journey? he replied, that God had commanded it, and he hoped to obtain salvation by it. I endeavoured to convince him that his hope was false, and that a work of that nature could not reconcile God to a sinner. He agreed to every thing I said; still I could not forbear lamenting, that his ideas of the character of God were so incorrect, as to lead him to bope for safety in him as a merciful Being, without once thinking of his justice. Men

A review of this mission down to the close of 1817, has recently been received in a pamphlet of about 40 pages. This pamphlet was addressed to the Missionary Society in England, by Drs. Carey and Marshman and Mr. Ward, for the purpose of giving them a distinct view of the work which has been accomplished under their patronage, and to excite them to continue their efforts for the support of a cause which had been so evidently blessed of God. This we are persuaded is the most effectual means of promoting missionary exertions. We sincerely wish all our readers were possessed of the interesting pamphlet now before us. would shew them something of what has been and is to be done in order to effect the conversion of the heathen, and also how much may be done in a few years by prudent and persevering ef forts. A day of Pentecost, it is here justly remarked, is not to be expected at once. The introduction of light must be gradual. The way must be prepared by the general diffusion of knowledge and circulation of the scriptures, before a large harvest can be reasonably expected, and until this previous preparation is ac

It

complished, to look for an extensive conversion of the heathen to christianity, would be as absurd as to look for a rich harvest where no seed has been sown. After some general remarks of this nature our brethren observe,

"This pamphlet is not intended for a review of conversions-of churches established-of days of Pentecost witnessed. It is rather a review of feeble and imperfect efforts to spread light amidst the thickest darkness ;to erect the standard of the cross where Christ has been scarcely named-to contend with the spiritual rulers of the darkness of this world, and with the desperate wickedness of the human heart, strengthened as it is by preju dices which have stood the shock of ages, and survived the revolutions of empire. For any one therefore to come hereto with the wish of merely noticing how many souls have been actually converted, would in our view resemble a man's going into a garden in the first buddings of the spring, or rather on its being first enclosed from the waste wilderness, fastidiously to examine how many fruits he could find that were fully ripe. This brief sketch is intended rather to shew the manner in which the Lord is gradually opening the way for the diffusion of light throughout India, by the three grand means he is pleased to employ, Mission stations, as furnishing the means for putting things in motion; the Scriptures, by the circulation of which light is diffused; and Schools, as enabling men to receive the light conveyed by the Sacred Scriptures."

They then proceed to give a detail of their labours and of the present state of things under these different heads, beginning with

MISSIONARY STATIONS.

ed from Europe to join us, three from the London, and two from the Church Missionary Society. This spot there

fore, twenty-four miles in length and

about ten in breadth, at present enjoys the labors of fourteen brethren from Europe, beside those of three evangelical clergymen, who have the work of

God as much at heart, and in mind and spirit are as really missionaries as any of us. Of the nine of our own denomination brethren Carey, Marshman, Ward, Randall, and Pearce are at SeCarey, Yates, and Penney in Calcutta. rampore; and brethren Lawson, E. In addition to these also there are laboring in the same circle a number of brethren raised up in the country, (the increasing every year,) who from their number of whom, blessed be God, is superior knowledge of their vernacu lar tongue, their intimate acquaintance with the habits and ideas of their countrymen, their being accustomed to the congenial with their constitutions, and constant fatigue of walking in a climate a variety of other circumstances, are ing known, and explaining the gospel far more adapted to the work of makto small groupes of their own country. men than Europeans, and have been generally more successful."

"At Calcutta preaching is continued in the chapel four times on the Lord'sday as usual. In the morning at eight, some one of our native brethren, often brother John Peters, preaches in Bengalee. At ten one of the elder brethren from Serampore preaches in English. At three the same brother preaches in Bengalee; and at seven in the evening one of our brethren resident in Calcutta preaches in English again. They also preach at the Jail in the morning, and afterwards in the Fort, where in general there is

now divine service twice on the Lord'sday. There is also regularly a lecture on Tuesday evening at the chapel by our aged brother Carey, and another in the Fort on Wednesday evening by one of our younger brethren, and in various parts of the town prayer

meetings are held twice or thrice in the week. In addition to these meetings, our native brethren take an opportunity of making known the word of life occasionally throughout the week, either to the servants of some European friend, or to such of their own countrymen as they can persuade to stay and listen a while to the word of life.

The number of those who have been baptized at Calcutta since our last

review amounts to above ninety. Of these, the greater part have been soldiers from the Fort, who have been added to the churches in their respective regiments The rest consist of Catholics, nominal christians with out any real religion, and natives. The number of heathen natives in Calcutta who have been brought to the knowledge of the truth, is however comparatively few; which can be easily accounted for on the principle already mentioned, that there must be a preparatory work throughout the country, before the natives can be brought in any great degree to attend the preaching of the gospel; a diffusion of general knowledge throughout Bengal and even the whole of India being necessary to bring them to the state in which the Jews were before the appearance of John the Baptist among them ;-nay, even to that freedom from the dreadful chain of cast, and from the servile reverence for one race of men as divinities, which the Greeks possessed previously to their hearing the gospel. This preparatory work, however, appears to be that to which the Lord is now evidently calling his people, and for doing which he is furnishing means and opportunity never presented before.

"In this circle, about eight miles north-west of Calcutta, and about ten north-east of Serampore, lies DumDum, a military station for the Honourable Company's regiment of artillery. Here brethren Kymer, Hale, and Flatman, the former baptized some time ago by brother Chamberlain, the two latter by brother Thomp. son, being stationed for a season, about a year ago attempted to introduce the gospel among their country

mén.

"No less than 9 have been baptized there in the course of the past year; of whom three were our own countrymen belonging to this regiment of artillery, and the rest natives of India. The little church there formed, now consists of fourteen members,

"At Barrackpore opposite Serampore we have also had an opportunity of introducing the gospel since our last review of the Mission; and here also it has pleased God to bless the word, among both our own countrymen, and those born in India. Of the former several non-commissioned officers in the various native regiments occasionally stationed there, have opened their houses for worship both on the Lord'sVOL. II.

9

day and in the days of the week. The effect has been, that in the past two years six or eight of our countrymen there, some of them considerably advanced in years, have we trust been brought savingly to the knowledge of the truth.

"Of those born in the country, and disposed by a general knowledge of Christianity, slight as it may be, to listen to the gospel with attention, the number at Barrackpore brought we hope savingly to the knowledge of the truth, in those two years, has been much greater. The labors of brother Smith, Ram-prisaud and other brethren in the Hindee and Bengalee languages among these, have been both acceptable and useful; and the number of these who have in this period been baptized has formed a pleasing addition to our little society at Serampore. Three have died in the faith, affording us the hope and joy with which they were indulged in the prospect of eternity, while resting on a Redeemer's merits and faithfulness, the most solid proof of the reality and power of religion

"At Serampore, the seat of so many years' labor, in the holy lives and joyful deaths of Pitumber-Singha, Krishnaprisaud, Futika, Krishna-das and others, we have seen what the gospel can do for Hindoo idolators, when, received into a good and honest heart, it enriches a strong and vigorous understanding with clear views of the nature of redemption and the riches of divine grace; in the steady and blameless walk of Tarachand, Muthoora, Pran Krishnoo, and others, we behold Christianity boldly lifting up its head, and commanding respect and esteem from those, who while they hate, are constrained to revere the change it has wrought in their own countrymen; while in others we be. hold it struggling with the mighty power of corruption which once wholly overwhelmed the mind, and which now occasionally rises and almost triumphs in the weak and inconstant soul, till conscience, invigorated with new light from the divine word, again brings it to the footstool of mercy,

"Already do we see around us therefore a goodly number of Hindoo children rising up with minds completely free from all the terrors of cast-all idea of Brahmanic superiority-all attachment to idolatry-all prejudice against Christianity; trained up also in a seclusion from vice

Nor

scarcely known elsewhere in Bengal, and in the knowledge of the sacred Scriptures. Far be it from us to intimate that these children are real Christians; we know that no education effects a change so mighty: but we have already seen some of them voluntarily put on the Lord Jesus Christ by baptism;- and we know that the Lord can change the hearts of all if this be his holy will. can we be ignorant of the service which these are capable of rendering hereafter to the cause of God, should the Lord be pleased thus to crown the instruction they receive in the doctrine of the scriptures from their earliest years. It is indeed to this second generation, to those who from their childhood "have known the scriptures which are able to make them wise unto salvation," that we chiefly look for evangelists, who in laboring among their own countrymen shall study to shew themselves approved unto God, workmen that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But we are sensible that these fruits are not to be expected unless the seed be previously sown in the hearts of others, unless there be a first generation who em. brace the gospel, with whatever weak. ness their profession of it be accompanied At Serampore 30 of these `children are often to be numbered at one meeting, and every revolving year evinces that the gospel is taking still deeper root amidst all the weakness and deficiency we are often so painfully called to witness; and this not merely by the increasing number of those who are coming under the sound of the gospel; the increasing knowledge, and steadiness of conduct evinced by some of our brethren, plainly shew that the gospel in the heart is like leaven hid in a portion of meal till at length it leavens the whole lump. The whole number of persons baptized at Serampore since our last review is thirty-five.

"About eight miles north-west of Serampore, at Gundul-para, our friend Tarachand now resides. This brother ever since his baptism, now nearly five years, has maintained a course of conduct highly honourable to the Christian character; and has round him a number of intelligent young men, some of them brahmans, who, attracted by the temper and spirit he manifests, as well as by his superior knowledge, voluntarily come to him for instruction; and with whom he meets and converses at those seasons

of leisure so amply afforded by an Asiatic life. These meetings are often prolonged till midnight, and tend exceedingly to diffuse abroad the light of the gospel. Many are the hymns he has composed, which are sung on these occasions, and the ideas contained in them carried still more widely by these young men. He has also written several pamphlets recommending the gospel; one of which, containing 50 pages, now in the press, is a candid and judicious examination of the chief parts of Hindooism; and the style and temper in which it is written are highly spoken of by our pundits themselves. Finding he has such a command of his pen, we have begun to employ him in translating some practical works on religion into Bengalee, among which are, the triumphant death of John Janeway, and Baxter's Call. He with his brother and friend Mut'hoora, and a few others, have the Lord's supper regularly administered among themselves though so few in number. With this we are greatly pleased, as the sooner they can act for themselves and independently of us, the sooner is the gospel likely to be planted in the country.

"The seeds of the gospel are so fully sown that were European brethren by any adverse providence to be almost wholly removed, we cannot but think the Lord would plant the gospel here through those gifts he has raised up in the country itself.

"Our review of the other parts of the mission will occupy but a small space, as we have but three brethren from Europe in the whole of Hindoost'han, and not one in the rest of Bengal. Whatever has been done in the other part, has been effected through the instrumentality of gifts raised up in India; small therefore as it really is, it is not without its value in the eyes of Him who seeth not as man seeth, nor in the eyes of those who like their Heavenly Father" despise not the day of small things." In proceeding, it may be as well first to notice the attempts made to extend the light of the gospel in the east of Bengal, before we notice those westward, towards Hindoost'han.

"Jessore. In this district the divine word seems to have taken root, although its progress is slow. The labors of brother Thomas and of various native brethren, have not only spread a degree of gener-I knowledge respecting the gospel through many of its towns and villages; but have we trust been in numerous instances effectual