The next day we travelled again four miles, and then took our leave of King Tanjour's country. We entered now the dominions of the great Mogol, which we were fuffered to pafs, without paying any cuftom at all. We came first to a fpacious town, named Tfchilambaram. At night we came to a town called Porta Nova, and in Malabarick, Pirenki Potei. Here I had feveral opportunities to declare the gofpel of Chrift both to Heathens and Moors.

The third day, we came in our way to an English town, whose name is Kudelur. From thence we moved to Fort St. David's, where we lodged, and were received with great civility, by all the English that are fettled there. We stayed there the fourth day, when the Governor fent for us up to the caftle, and entertained us at dinner. I fpent almoft the whole day in difcourfing the Malabarians. In the evening I went to one of their Pagods, where I was quickly crouded with hundreds of Malabarians, and at laft, was invited to one of their houses, where there was a grave affembly of Bramins, being men of note and reputation. With thefe I argued about points of divinity, till it was very late at night. At their defire, I gave them a copy of the Principles of Christianity; and having registered their names, promifed to fix a correfpondence with them.

The fifth day, we reached Budutscheri, a French town, and the chief feat of their Miffionaries in India. Their Malabarick Church, is a little bigger than ours at Tranquebar; but our Malabarick Charity-School is far more numerous

than theirs.

The fixth day, we paffed through large forefts and defarts, where I preached the gofpel to the inhabitants of the woods. At night, we took up our lodging in the open fields, in a refting house. After fupper, a ferpent made up to our quarters, but being betimes difcovered by our guard, was immediately killed. In a town lying near this place, I left another copy of a Malabarick letter. This day we put in again at a

fmall

fmall refting house in the fields, where I met two Pantares, and difcourfed them about the way to happiness, as I did all thofe, whom I met upon the road.

The eighth day, we marched through abundance of villages, and reached Sadras Patnam, a fine populous town, where the Dutch have a factory. After I had taken a view of the town, a great many, both Heathens and Roman-Catholick Chriftians, came to hear what I had to fay. With these I stayed three hours, declaring to them the word of the gospel, and then left a Malabarick letter in their hands. About night we entered a defart again, and were kindly entertained by fome Bramins, whom we happily met with. I alked them many questions about the ftate of their religion. Having given me a good infight into the grounds thereof, they propofed again fome questions to me about the nature of the Chriftian faith; which I answered. And then putting one of the treatifes, containing the first Principles of Christianity, into their hands, I offered to correfpond with them for the future.

The ninth day, we paffed again through fome towns and villages, and lodged at night in a retired place among the Bramins, who feemed affected with what I told them of the Saviour of the world.

The tenth day, we touched at St. Thomas, a noble fpacious town, and arrived at laft at Madras, after twelve o'clock, where we were received very kindly, and called at the Gover nor's house to dine there.

Madras is a large and populous town, and advantageously fituated for spreading Chriftianity among the Heathens in thofe parts if the English, who command here, would but second our endeavours, or join with us in propagating the gofpel. I found here a letter, wrote by Mr. Boehm, at London, wherein he gives us fome hopes, that the English might be prevailed upon to concern themfelves in fo worthy a defign. I have for this reafon contracted an acquaintance with fome

gentlemen

gentlemen of that nation refiding in those parts. I have also waited on one of their Minifters, who, being glad of my arrival, offered me a lodging in his houfe during my flay in

this town.

The Malabarick tranflation of the New Teftament, which hitherto has been one of my daily labours, is now fomewhat interrupted by this journey. I wish my friends in Germany would fettle a correfpondence by the way of England, as well as Denmark. We have bought a garden, near a very populous place, designed for a Charity-School, and a building was begun to be raised, juft before my departure from Tranquebar.

[To be continued.]

1.

THOUGHTS ON a late PUBLICATION.

SOME

OME time fince a celebrated book fell into my hands, "An Account of the Pelew Iflands." I looked it over, but in a curfory manner, being ftraitened for time. Having now a little more leifure, I took it again and went through it with more attention, particularly the latter part, which is by far the moft laboured. And the more I read and confidered, the more convinced I was, that if this account be true, the Bible is not true. For the Bible affirms, not in one place only, but through the whole tenor of it, That all mankind are by nature dead in trefpaffes and fins. But in this treatise we read not only of a man, but a nation who are by nature free from fin, without any ill tempers, without any thing blamable either in their words or actions. Nay, they are described, not only as negatively good, free from every evil temper and action, but as pofitively fo, as adorned in a high degree with benevolence, and every amiable quality. It is true, the author allows them to have fome infirmities; VOL. XIII. 3 Z

among

among which perhaps fome may reckon polygamy, theft, and murdering all their prifoners in cool blood: but even for the Iaft of thefe he makes a handfome apology, on the foot of political wisdom.

2. Such a nation, the unblamable Ethiopians, Homer fup pofes to have lived two or three thousand years ago. But if there ever was or is now fuch a nation in the world, the fcriptures are a falfity, and the infpired Writers, fo called, talked at random, and were utterly ignorant of human nature. Nor did any writer do juftice to mankind, till the account of the Pelew Wands was published.

3. I make no doubt but Captain Wilfon failed from England in the Antelope, in the Eaft-India Company's fervice. Neither of his being fhipwrecked on the Coral reef, not very far from China. I readily believe, that the inhabitants of the neighbouring Island, flowed him and his men no small kindnesš. And that one of them, a youth of an amiable temper and uncommon underftanding, (whether he was a Prince, any more than Tomo Atiachi was a King, I cannot tell) accompanied him in his return to London, and fome months after died of the fmall-pox. But I can in no wife believe, that he or Abba Thulle, or any of his fubjects, were taught all that is right by the light of nature, and enabled by the power of nature, tø practice all that is good. To fuppofe this, is to fap the foundation of revelation, and to deftroy Chriftianity at a ftroke. Seeing, if this fuppofition be admitted, there is no need of it at all. If therefore this be the judgment of Captain Wilfon and Mr. Keate, why fhould they perfonate Chriflians any more?

4. But I cannot admit this fuppofition at all. Perhaps ! have converfed, in fourfcore years (between forty and fifty of which I have, at an average, travelled four thousand miles a year) with more perfons, than these two gentlemen put together and many of them Indians of various nations, Creeks, ⚫ Cherokees, Chichafaws, and no ways infected with Chriftianity: but one fuch man as Abba Thulie, Raa Kwok, or Arra Kooker,

I have not found. Nor therefore can I believe that there is, I will not fay a nation, but an individual upon earth, who are either born without fhame, as Captain Cook affirms the nations of Otaheite to be: or to be wholly unblamable, both in their tempers and actions, as Captain Wilfon affirms the nations of Pelew to be.

5. I do not fay, That either Captain Wilfon, or his hifto rian. defigned by this publication, to ftrike at the root of the Chriftian Revelation, by fhewing that it was grounded on a palpable falfehood, namely, the fall of man: but I fay again that if their account be true, if mankind are faultlefs by nature, naturally endued with light to fee all necessary truth, and with ftrength to follow it; that smooth fophifter Refnal is in the night revelation is a mere fable; we can do perfely well without it: witnefs Lee Boo, Abba Thulle, and all his fubjects. Nay, witnefs all Captain Wilfon's Crew (except one, who happened to give his fellow a bloody nose.) And we may seriously fay, with a great man, "Indeed I do not fee, that we have much (or any) need of Jesus Christ.”

6. I cannot therefore but earnestly advife all thofe, who till believe the fcriptures to be of God, to beware of this, and all other books of this kind, which either affirm or infinuate, that there are any Heathens in the world, who, like the fuppofed nations of the Pelew Iflands, are unblamable by nature: fince, if there be any fuch, all revelation is needlefs, and the Chriftian Revelation utterly falfe.

Peckham, Dec. 30, 1789,

J. W.

A LETTER from a Gentleman at ROME. Sir,

RELIGION, hut up in the bofom of God from all eter

nity, appeared the moment the univerfe fprung from nothing, and came to repofe itself in the heart of Adam.