Scio, the Turks usually speak the Greek language, and sometimes marry into Greek families. Christians enjoy great liberty, and are never interrupted in their religious services.

Catholics have six churches, three in the city, and three in the countryone bishop, and twenty-eight priests. The Greeks have fifty or sixty churches in the city, and very many, (some say five hundred, others a thousand) in different parts of the island. There is one bishop, and five hundred, or six hundred priests, besides monks. Only five or six, out of the six hundred priests, ever attempt to preach the gospel. Their duties are limited to the reading of the church service upon the Sabbath and feast days. The books used in the churches are in ancient Greek, and are read with great rapidity and indistinctness. Among them we have noticed "the Menaion," consisting of twelve folio volumes, one for each month: the "Time-Piece," one folio volume; selections from the gospels, and some smaller books. The whole Bible is not found in the churches, and seldom indeed in the houses. We have seen only two Bibles, one Septuagint, and three Testaments, excepting those left by the Rev. Mr. Jowett, and Rev. Mr. Williamson. Psalters are kept for sale, and are used in schools. There are about one hundred holidays, besides the Sabbath. On these days, the people assemble mornng and evening, in the churches for religious service. Both in the summer and winter the morning service is performed by candle light. Prayers are read or sung by two or three individuals, and the congregation respond, "God be merciful." The Lord's prayer and the Creed are repeated at every season of worship.

The College in this city was established in its present form and government about five years since, when Mr. Bambas, the principal instructor, took the charge of the institution. There are at present seven hundred or eight hundred students--fourteen instructors-one Professor of Chemistry, and Rhetoric, one of Mathematics, one of Theology, Geometry, &c. one of the Turkish language, one of the Latin and French; and nine teachers of the ancient and modern Greek. A considerable proportion of the scholars are young, and are instructed in the first principles of Grammar; the higher classes

are required to study Plutarch, Xenophon, Demosthenes, Plato, Homer, Herodotus, Pindar, and the Iliad.

The four first days of the week, lectures are delivered in Chemistry, Rhetoric and History. There is a good chemical laboratory, and a printing press, obtained the last year from Europe. The funds of the college are obtained in part from the Greek community, and in part by private donations. A gentleman in Russia has given twenty thousand or thirty thousand dollars to this seminary. Tuition is given gratis to all the students. On Friday the first class are instructed in the "Holy Catechism," and twice in a week the second class have lessons from the Acts of the Apostles, and from Ethics. This term, lessons have been given to thirty or forty students from the English work called, "Young Minister's Companion." The Professor gives a translation of it in Greek, and requires each student to write as he speaks it. Great good may result from this mode of instruction.

Northern Expedition.—It is stated in the London Literary Gazette, that throughout the year the wind blows almost constantly, either from the north, or from northern points of the compass. And as soon as the sun begins to produce an effect, a radiation of heat from the land ensues, which, by the height of summer, July and August, becomes very powerful and active. The result of these two operations of nature is the loosening and release of the ice on the northern coasts; and its consequent driving towards the south. Thus, instead of the southern sides of bays, straits, and seas, where navigators would plausibly look for channels of open water, (under the supposition that they would be most likely to be found in the middle latitude) it actually happens that the openings exist on the northern sides, where the radiation of heat, aided by the prevailing north winds, detaches the frozen mass from the shore, and blowing it off, leaves a passage between the ice and the land. On their return up Lancaster's sound, the expedition reaped the benefit of this discovery, sailing on the north side while the south was completely blocked up. Vessels hereafter sent to explore the arctic regions, will, of course, be guided with reference to this principle; and thus,

we doubt not, be enabled to reach more distant points, if not to achieve the famous north-west passage. It has been suggested, that as Cook could not enter Bhering's Straits, no other navigators could issue thence; and therefore, that though the Polar Sea was attained from Baffin's Bay, that sea must be the utmost voyage. For the above reasons, we are inclined to question this theory, and especially as Hearn and Mackenzie both speak of open sea on the northern coast of America, to which, supposing the Prince Regent's inlet of Parry to lead, there will then be no impediment to a passage into the Pacific, except in Bhering's Straits themselves; and we see

no reason for thinking that these, following the same rules as Lancaster's Sound, may not be as practicable as that sound has been ascertained to be, though till now held to be impassable.'

Another expedition for discovery in the arctic regions, has been determined on, and is to consist of two vessels.— Capt. Parry, the commander of the last expedition, will also command this, but the particular place to which he is to direct his observation, has not been named. The officers of the late expedition have been promoted, and the Parliamentary grant of £5,000 has been distributed among the officers and seamen.

THEOLOGY.

A Tribute to New-England; a Sermon, delivered before the New-EngLand Society of the City and State of New-York, on the 22nd of Dec. 1820: by Gardiner Spring, D. D. Pastor of the Brick Presbyterian church in NewYork.

A Sermon, preached January 3d, 1821; at the interment of the Rev. Joseph Lathrop, D. D. Senior Pastor of the First Church in West-Springfield: by William Buell Sprague, surviving minister of said church.-Hartford.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Remarks on the late publications of the First Church in Worcester, relative to the Origin and Progress of

Difficulties' in that church. 8vo. Worcester.

A Description of Ithiel Town's Improvement in the construction of Wood and Iron Bridges; intended as a general system of Bridge-building, for rivers, creeks, and harbours, of whatever kind of bottoms, and for any practicable width of span or opening, in every part of the country.-New-Haven.

The American Journal of Science and Arts; conducted by Benjamin Silliman. Vol. III. No. 1.-New-Ha

ven.

Travels in France and Italy, in 1817 and 1818; by the Rev. William Berrian, an Assistant Minister of Trinity Church, New-York.-New-York. 8vo. The National Calendar for 1821.Washington, 12mo.

From the Missionary Herald.

MISSION IN CEYLON.

Extract from a letter of the Missionaries to the Corresponding Secretary. Jaffna, March 31, 1820.

Rev. and Dear Sir,

The last public letter from this station, forwarded by way of Calcutta, brought down the affairs of the mission

to Nov. 13, 1819; and a duplicate, sent by way of Bombay, Jan. 14, 1820. contained, in a postcript, the grateful information of the arrival of brother and sister Scudder at Jaffna, and of the brethren and sisters Winslow and Spaulding at Columbo. From brother and sister Woodward nothing had behind at Calcutta. We are now hapthen been heard, since they were left

py to say, that they arrived at Trincomalee Jan. 10th, and, after waiting 16 days for a conveyance over land, reached Jaffna on the 3d of February.

By a letter from brother Woodward dated at Batticotta, you will learn the various dealings of Providence with him and Mrs. Woodward, after they were separated from the other brethren.

Sister W. who was at that time ill, soon began to recover; but before her health was so far re-established as to bear the fatigues of a voyage, a new and severe trial was sent them by Him, who afflicts not willingly. Alone, and in a strange land, our brother and sister were called to bury, by the side of brother Scudder's dear little Maria, the remains of their lovely babe. It was indeed a pleasant child; but the afflicted parents were enabled to say, "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away.

Soon after this afflicting event, they took passage for Ceylon in a small brig, which proved to be old, rotten, and under the command of an injudicious captain. In danger of shipwreck, they were obliged by stress of weather, to put into Vizagapatam, where they were kindly received by the missionaries, Gordon, Pritchett, and Dawson.* After some repairs of the vessel, and the detention of about a week, they re-embarked, and, though they encountered a storm, in which the vessel sprung a leak, and exposed them to imminent danger, at length reached Trincomalee in safety. Sister Woodward had suffered much on the voyage, not only from anxiety of mind, but from great bodily weakness; and brother W. from too great exertion in time of the storm, was attacked with a hæmorrhage, which had some appearance of being an affection of the lungs. The change, however, from sea to land, was very favourable to them both; and the very hospitable attentions of Wesleyan brethren at Trincomalee contributed much to the restoration of their health. In their journey through the wilderness they had good weather, and amidst much fatigue their way was rendered prosperous.

The brethren Winslow and Spaulding also forwarded a joint letter from Colombo, giving an account of their passage, and that of brother Scudder

These missionaries are in the service of the London Missionary Society. Vol 3.-No. II. 13

to Trincomalee, and of their voyage round the Southern part of the island to Columbo. The passage from Calcutta was long but pleasant; and was rendered somewhat interesting by the good attention which the seamen on board the Dick gave to religious instruction, and the apparent seriousness of two or three of their number.

On arriving at Trincomalee, the brethren all wished, though their passage was paid to Columbo, to leave the ship and go by land to Jaffna, (though a wretched pathway, through an almost continued jungle of 150 miles, was not inviting, especially as it was infested by elephants and other wild beasts, and crossed by several considerable rivers to be forded ;) but they could not obtain conveyances for all their number; and as no house was vacant, could not remain long at Trincomalee. Besides, as the rainy season was just commencing, there was a prospect that the rivers on the way would soon be so much swollen, as to be rendered impassable. Brother and sister Scudder only took this route.Their journey was rendered extremely unpleasant, and somewhat dangerous by heavy rains, and their accommodations on the road were extremely bad; yet they were preserved by Him, who hath said, "When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers they shall not

overflow thee."

The other brethren and sisters regretted the necessity of any longer detention from the field of labour; but they have now the satisfaction of thinking, that, by this means, they very much lessened the expense of getting to their station, and were enabled, in making almost the circuit of the island, (a considerable part of the way by inland navigation) and by visiting all the principal places, as well as different missionary stations, to acquire some knowledge, and form some acquaintances, which they hope will hereafter be of use to them. They were every where treated with much kindness, particularly at Galle and Columbo.At the latter place they had the happiness of meeting almost all the Wesleyan missionaries on the island, and all those from the church Missionary Society, except Mr. Knight of Jaffna. With these dear brethren, as well as with our beloved brother Chater, into whose family they were most gener

ously received, they enjoyed some interesting seasons of christian communion. His Excellency, Gov. Brownrigg gave them a very kind reception, and leave to remain on the island with his best wishes; and his successor, Sir Edward Barnes, granted them a favorable audience. After witnessing the departure of governor and lady Brownrigg from the island, they had a favourable passage by inland navigation to Jaffna, where they arrived Feb. 18th, accompanied most of the way, by that very valuable friend to our mission, J. N. Mooyart, Esq. They were detained sometime in Columbo, waiting for Mr. Mooyart; but were at last enabled, by his assistance, to make their arrival earlier than they could have done alone by the outer passage, on account of the opposing monsoon.

Thus has the Lord, though he saw Et to separate, for a season, those who hoped always to share each other's joys and sorrows, again brought them together on that spot, so long the object of their earnest desire, and permitted them to enter into the labours of their dear brethren. Yes, Rev. Sir, they are called upon, not only to bless God for his goodness in guiding them all the way hither, but in permitting them to unite with a prosperous mission, and to rejoice "in the things made ready to their hands." They must be allowed to say, that their hearts have been greatly cheered, by what their eyes have seen, and their ears heard, at these stations. Let any one imagine, how animating must be to them the sight of religious congregations among these poor heathen, to the number, sometimes, including children, of two or three hundred, listening attentively to the glad news of salvation; how encouraging to look at 700 boys in the different schools, receiving the rudiments of a Christian education; how full of hope the contemplation of 70 children in the mission families enjoying greater advantages for a knowledge of the truth, than are generally possessed by the children even of christian parents; and then how grateful the sight of at least six or seven, in whom the image of Christ seems to shine through the darkness of their vissage, and amidst the former marks of their heathenism.

Oh! could our beloved brethren and fathers behold these "first fruits of a long harvest," and look at these hea

then converts as, what they probably are, the future messengers of salvation to their countrymen-could they visit the mission families, and see the boys assembled morning and evening to join in praise and supplication-often meeting in little circles by themselves for prayer, and always, when assembled to take their food, falling down on their knees around it, and in an artless manner begging the blessing of that God, who feeds them; surely they would say, "this is worth our prayers; this is a precious return for our labours and substance." And when, as the boys pass in review before them, they hear the names of Dwight, Worcester, &c. they must be constrained to ask, with a faith which almost answers its own inquiries-what those loved and honoured names are in America will not these be in Ceylon?

Those of us, who have been recently added to the mission, have, however, been called to trust the Lord in darkness as well as in light, on finding the strength of our dear brethren withering under their labour. One is not! Another, though brought back almost by a miracle from the grave, and preserved a little longer to aid us by his counsels and prayers, is still almost beyond the hope of final recovery;(though we rejoice to say, that for some weeks brother Richards has been gaining beyond all expectation;) and on both the others the hand of disease has been laid too insidiously, and we fear too firmly, soon to be removed. Brother Poor is still feeble; and brother Meigs, though better than when we last wrote, is now gone to Columbo for his health.

There is another view of the mission, which we must all say affects us very deeply; and that is the embarrassed state of our funds. This subject was fully stated, in the last public letter; and we confidently expect, if that is duly received, that the means of relieving our embarrassments are already on the way. Still, as it is a subject which presses upon us, we beg leave to bring it up again; and not only to state our wants, but suggest some methods, which appear to us practicable, for having them more regularly and permanently supplied. Not that we are particularly anxious about our personal support, (though for that our eyes must be directed to the churches, which have sent us forth,) for we do

not doubt the promise, that our bread and water shall be sure; but we are anxious, and deeply so, for the prosperity of our mission-anxious lest, after having left our own country and our fathers' houses, the object of this sacrifice should be lost, either wholly or in part, for want of efficient patronage. If money is the nerve of war, it is equally indispensable to all extensive missionary operations. Nothing can be done without money; and it is essential, almost to the existence of a mission, that supplies be seasonable and regular. We do not say this from any doubt, whether the Committee think with us on this subject; but because they cannot well feel as those do, who in a strange land, are dependent on a distant country for support; a support, the supplies for which a thousand circumstances may retard or prevent. Were a man confined to a barren rock in the ocean, and visited every month by a single boat with water and provisions, he would not think it enough to have the arrival of this boat set for the very day when, with every care, all his former stock must be expended, lest some storm should then delay or destroy, for once, this only source of his subsistence. We must say it is not enough for us to expect a remittance, just in season to save the wheels of the mission from being entirely stopped, after every exertion has been made, and many perplexing expedients adopted to keep up a sinking credit.*

* The missionaries were called to a trial of their faith, for several months subsequently to the date of this letter, by the delay of expected remittances; a delay occasioned in part by the want of convenient opportunities to send money, and in part by the straitened resources of the Treasury. The Committee have recently learned that the ship in which Mr. Garrett sailed, and in which money was remitted for half a year's salary, arrived at Madras on the 4th of August. This arrival was a great relief doubtless, both to the missionaries at Ceylon, and to those at Bombay; but the money must have been in great part expended before it arrived; that is, the missionaries must have been compelled to borrow money to a considerable amount. Another remittance of a quarter's salary has since been made; but this will not save the mission from a recurrence of the embarrassment. By the first opportunity, (and one will probably be offered in a few weeks,) another remittance must be sent, adequate to the wants of the

If the means are not in the hands of the Committee, we ask, will not some Whitefield arise to plead with the churches-to show them-we do not say our necessities-but the necessities of the heathen; to place before them at least one picture, the children rescued for a time, by their charity, from ignorance, idolatry and wretchedness, and taught just enough to show them the evils of their former condition, now cast back into the habitations of cruelty' from which they were taken, as though they were fostered for a moment only, that they might be more susceptible of misery. It is true, that no one has yet been dismissed for want of support; but we have been obliged to shut our doors against many a poor child, who has come again and again to ask that charity which we dared not grant.

The station, which we have concluded to fit up, is Oodooville. It has a large population; and is about five miles from Jaffnapatam, six from Batticotta and four from Tillipally. The house and church, both built of brick, and somewhat spacious, bear very strongly the marks of time; nothing remaining of the former, except the walls, and these are gone at one end. The church is less injured, but both have been long deserted. For half a century, probably, the intruding banyan has taken root in many a crevice unnoticed, and gradually destroyed the monument of nominal christianity. The house was once the residence of a Franciscan friar. The expense of putting it into a proper state of repair, would be very considerable; but we shall, for the present, only make it

habitable.

missions, if the resources of the Treasury will permit. But the friends of these missions, and of the Board, ought to be distinctly informed, that the funds now on hand are quite insufficient to meet the expected calls of the different missions, and that, unless the donations are speedily increased, all the missionaries must experience very distressing embarrassments; and the Committee must be left in a state of great perplexity and anxiety to know in what manner they, as agents and instruments, are to fulfil the engagements, into which the christian public has entered with the missionaries, engagements, to which great multitudes of professed christians have been parties, and which have been made and repeated in the most solemn

manner.