WEST-COAST MISSION, DEMERARA. THIS interesting station is situated on the Western Coast of the Demerara River, close upon the sea-shore, in the Colony of British Guiana, about eight miles from George Town. It was commenced in 1819, by the late Rev. Richard Elliot, in accordance with the cordial and united invitations of the planters and negroes; and so abundant was the divine blessing upon his ministry, that, in 1822, when he returned to England, the number under stated religious instruction amounted to 1000, and the church contained 200 members. Among the lamentable consequences of the insurrection, in 1823, was the suspension of this promising Mission; and, for a period of nearly six years, the people, who had been so long and so faithfully fed with the bread of life, were deprived of the advantages of a stated ministry. In 1829, the Rev. Joseph Ketley assumed the pastoral charge; and, under his assiduous ministrations, the work of God was revived and strengthened. Other devoted brethren succeeded him, and the labours of the Mission were continued without intermission, though not with unvaried prosperity, until the arrival of the Rev. James Scott, in January, 1832. At that period the church and congregation required the vigilant care and strenuous exertions of an efficient pastor; but, by earnest unrelaxing application to the object, our brother, Mr. Scott, in dependence on divine aid, soon succeeded in restoring the Mission to its former gratifying condition. With zeal and perseverance he has devoted himself to the interests of the Negro Population; and, through the riches of divine mercy, his ministry has become to many the savour of life unto life. By the preaching of the Gospel, and the influence of education, the people were prepared to appreciate and improve the blessing of freedom; and, since that invaluable boon has been conferred upon them, they have steadily advanced in intelligence, order, civilisation, and piety. The report of the Rev. J. J. Freeman, who visited the Colony, as a Deputation from the Board, at the close of 1842, fully corroborated these statements, and encouraged the hope of yet more abundant blessing and prosperity. During the past year there has been a regular attendance of 800 persons on public worship, and the church contains nearly 400 members. Under the altered circumstances of the people, and from the continued accessions to their number, Mr. Scott had long felt the desirableness of erecting a larger chapel, possessing better accommodation than the former: the object was presented to the people, and obtained their hearty concurrence. They contributed most liberally to defray the heavy expenses attendant on the measure, and the new sanctuary was opened for divine worship on the 8th of September, 1843; when Mr. Rattray preached in the morning, from 1 Kings viii. 29; and Mr. Davies in the evening, from Ps. cxxxvii. 5, 6. The chapel has pew-sittings for 840 persons, besides free sittings for 160. It cost nearly 30007., and is generally admired as a neat and substantial edifice. Within a recent period, a belfry, or turret, has been added; and it now appears as represented in the engraving, surrounded by the dwellings of the Missionary and Schoolmaster, the School-houses, and other Mission-buildings. INDIA. NATIVE FEMALE EDUCATION. THE interests of this benevolent cause never wore so bright an aspect as at the present time. Hundreds of female children, chiefly orphans, who, but for the efforts of its friends, would have grown up in heathen darkness, destitute of every social comfort, and without a hope for eternity, are now receiving, in the asylums opened for them by the hand of Christian beneficence, that cultivation of the mind which will render them happy and useful in the circles of domestic life, and that knowledge of sacred truth which may make them wise unto salvation. Many, having finished their course of instruction, are already engaged as teachers of the young, or, as wives and mothers, are exemplifying the advantages of mental and religious training; many also, having yielded their hearts to the Saviour, have been received to the fellowship of his church; and not a few, who were evidently born again of the Spirit, have passed, in the freshness of their first love, from earth to heaven. At Bellary, a native female school has been supported for several years by the liberality of some Christian ladies at Sunderland; and, among the tokens of the divine blessing resting upon it, Mrs. Wardlaw, writing from the station in May last, mentions the following: Mr. Wardlaw had lately the pleasure of baptising and admitting to the Lord's table an interesting young female, who has been about four years in the Sunderland School. Her heart, we trust, has been touched by the Spirit of God, and she has been led to look unto Him "who taketh away the sins of the world." She is one of those in whom our dear departed sister, Mrs. Thompson, felt a deep interest, and whom she longed to see turning with "full purpose of heart unto the Lord." Her prayers, and the prayers of others, have doubtless been answered; and our fervent desire is, that this young convert may be kept stedfast, maintaining a walk and conversation becoming the blessed Gospel, and, at last, receiving from the hand of her Saviour that " crown of glory which fadeth not away." The influence which she exerts over the children in the school is very beneficial, and already she takes a part in teaching the little furthering the good that is being done, I endeavour to instruct the children committed to my care in Divine truth. I take the girls to dear Mrs. Wardlaw to give up their lessons, and also join them in the Mission Chapel, to repeat texts of Scripture. In consequence of my husband dying when I was very young, my father took great pains to have me instructed in those things that would make me useful to my fellow-crea tures. Since his death I have had charge of this school, and have thereby supported myself to this time. Instead of my affectionate parents, who are both dead, the Lord has raised you up to be my benefactors, and has put it into your hearts to be kind to me. May the blessing of the Lord rest upon you and upon all his people! I am a poor woman; and, therefore, I need your assistance and the favour of God. Begging you will accept of my salams, I am your obedient servant, Bellary, April 17, 1849. RAGUMAH." Ragumah interprets from English into Ca narese and Teloogoo very accurately. On the occasion of her baptism she made a very distinct and satisfactory avowal of her faith in Christ, in presence of the members of the Native Church and Congregation. The following are a few of the questions put to her, and the answers she gave : "Do you still desire to be baptised?" "Yes." "Can baptism do anything to save you?" "No; nothing." "Why, then, do you wish it?" "To shew that I love Jesus." "What has he done for you?" "He died on the Cross to save me." "Did not that shew great love in Jesus?" "Yes." "Are you sure that you love him in return?" "Yes." "How must we shew our love to Him?" "By believing on Him and keeping his commandments." "Do you desire to keep his command. ments?" "Yes." "Can you do so of yourself?" After a few other questions of a similar nature, the ordinance of baptism was administered, and my husband addressed to her, and to the children who were present, words of counsel and encouragement. May many of them be led to choose that good part which shall not be taken from them, and to yield themselves, in the morning of life, unreservedly to the Saviour; and may those, in highly-favoured Britain, who take an interest in the spiritual and temporal welfare of the Hindoo Female Population, be led to greater exertions and more fervent supplica. tions on their behalf, that they may be raised from their state of degradation to that sphere of usefulness and honour to which the Gospel introduces those on whom it exerts its benign and sanctifying influence; and may that happy day speedily arrive when the millions of India shall be converted unto the Saviour, and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ! I have also the pleasure of forwarding several letters from the girls of the Sunderland School. These will give a better idea of the progress they are making in their various studies than any statement of mine regarding them. Some of the children, we fondly trust, are giving indications of their interest in divine things; looking, with humble faith, to "Him who loved them, and gave Himself for them." 1. MY DEAR FRIENDS,-I, Chenjee, your af fectionate girl, send my salams. Up to this day, 17th April, 1849, I have attended the Missionary-school at Bellary, supported by kind friends at Sunderland, and, by the help of God, I try to learn the truths of his Word daily. On Sunday morning I go to the Mission Chapel to repeat my lessons. I also go once a week to dear Mrs. Wardlaw, and repeat my lessons to her. I do all I can to assist my kind mistress in teaching the younger girls. I need your support, and feel very thankful to you for all you have done for me and my school-fellows. Psalm xxv, 5: "Lead me in thy truth, and teach me thy statutes." With many salams, Yours affectionately, 2. CHENJEE. MY DEAR FRIENDS,-I, Tooloosee, your affectionate friend, send you many salams. By the favour of God I attend the Missionschool at Bellary supported by you, and endeavour to learn my lessons well. I read the Word of God daily, and every Sabbath morning I repeat my lessons for the week. I also give up my lessons to dear Mrs. Wardlaw at her house. She is very kind to me and to all my school-fellows. My father and mother are exceedingly delighted to find that I am making progress in my learning. I am a poor girl; therefore I beg you will look with pity on me, and favour me with your support. Luke xviii, 13: "God be merciful to me a sinner." With many salams, Yours affectionately, TOOLOOSEE. 3. MY DEAR FRIENDS,-I, Lutchmee, beg to send you many salams, and write the following for your information : By the grace of God, I attend the Missionschool supported by you, and am glad to say that I am improving in my learning. I read the Word of God daily, and every Sabbath morning I join my school-fellows in the Mission Chapel to repeat my lessons. I also go with them to dear Mrs. Wardlaw's house, every Saturday, to give up my lessons to her. I am a very poor girl, and I beg your assistance and further support. Psalm xix, 12: "Cleanse thou me from my secret faults." With many salams, Yours affectionately, LUTCHMEE. CALCUTTA. GENERAL VIEW OF THE MISSION-STATION AT BHOWANIPORE. THE following statement from the Rev. Joseph Mullens, dated in January last, and addressed to his former Pastor, the Foreign Secretary of the Society, contains a very interesting and comprehensive view of the progress of the cause of Christ at this station, since the period at which it was first occupied by a resident Missionary. An additional interest attaches to Bhowanipore as the chosen site of the intended new edifice for the Theological Seminary, which has engaged the special advocacy of the Rev. Dr. Boaz since his arrival in this country, and for which very liberal contributions have been made by the friends of the Society. I have much pleasure (writes our brother) in acknowledging your kind letter received about two months ago, expressing particularly the great interest the Directors continue to feel in the Institution which I am carrying on as a part of my Missionary labours. These expressions of sympathy tend much to encourage us all under the slow progress which the work of God apparently makes in this part of India, and the anxieties and difficulties with which it is attended. As the station at which I reside has been much before the Directors and Constituents of the Society during the past year, and liberal donations have been made towards giving it an external stability that it has not hitherto enjoyed, I propose to write at some length concerning the position it has attained. Eleven years ago, Bhowanipore began to enjoy, for the first time, the regular labours of a resident Missionary. Till that period, Hindooism held on its way unchecked, sustained by the temple services and Brahmin ical priesthood of Kali Ghat, and bringing forth abundant fruit in the irreligion and gross immorality which pervaded all classes of society. Gambling and obscene songs were especially popular amongst them, while all held to their system of superstition with the blindest and most devoted bigotry. When it was proposed to establish a Mission there, objections were made to it, which derived their chief force from the bigotry and wickedness of its people; but, although they have been renewed from time to time, and it has been wished by some that the Mission should be removed into the very heart of Calcutta, it has continued to improve, and gives the clearest proofs that the sphere which it occupies is one of the most important that it could have found. Its beginnings were, of course, small: a few Christian girls and boys were brought to reside with the Missionary; a school for heathen boys was next established, and then a school for girls; a chapel was erected, and regular services held in it. Not one of these departments of Missionary labour has been wholly laid aside to this day, and most of them have gradually prospered and already brought forth expected fruits. The Christian Institution has increased in numbers, efficiency, and the extent of its education: it now contains 452 boys and young men, and has two branch schools connected with it, containing, together, 252 more. There is a Native Church of twelve members, and a Christian community (including the Girls' School) of 64 souls. The Girls' Boarding-school has had, during last year, 28 children, of whom eight or ten are orphans; and five Christian boys study in the Institution first mentioned. There are two resident Missionaries and a Catechist; and Native Preaching is carried on in the Bazar three times a week. The tone of feeling respecting Christianity has much changed in the native community: it is respected and feared, though inwardly much disliked; but the Missionary is no longer insulted and hooted while preaching, and often his exhortations are acknowledged to be sound, and are heard in silent attention. These are facts which shew that the cause of true religion does not stand still, even when it does not meet with those spiritual results which are confessed to be its highest aim. During the past year, every department of effort now mentioned has been maintained. In the Girls' Boarding-school, the elder girls have made especial progress, and we should greatly delight to see them giving themselves willingly to that Saviour whose instructions they receive. But comparatively few of the native women educated in the boardingschools of North India have been really converted. Intelligent, moral, active, many of them are; but the spiritual are few in num ber. Of one amongst our present scholars we hope much. Our five Christian boys have continued their studies in the Institution with the Hindoo lads as before, and two of them are particularly promising and diligent. The little Native Church, of twelve members, has presented during the year, like most Native Churches, strong alternations of light and shade; the gloomy predominates; and the light, when seen, is broken. For many months of the year the members appeared to be walking steadily, being regular in their attendance on Christian ordinances and orderly in their conduct. But, towards the close of the year, quarrels broke out among them, which revealed at once a great number of inconsistencies and sins that had been successfully concealed from me for a long time. After a severe and painful investigation, three were put away from the fellowship of the Church-the three whom I had considered the best of the whole. Alas! for human hopes, when built upon Bengalee consistency and faithfulness: it is, indeed, building them on sand! The Christian Institution (the future College) has, in some respects, continued to improve. It has now a larger number of scholars and classes than ever before. The first class has been larger than usual, and has worked exceedingly well: they know Bible truth most correctly, besides the usual branches of a general education, and, at the late examination, acquitted themselves most creditably. Oh! that they were God's children, redeemed by the blood of the Cross, and sanctified by His Spirit! We hoped, a few months ago, that two of them would have come forward to profess faith in Christ, as we had many conversations with them in private on the subject; but hindrances intervened—their friends took them from the Institution-and we have to some extent lost sight of them. We hope, however, that the good begun may be completed, and that we shall yet have them on the Lord's side. However powerful the cords that bind a young man to his family and old religious associations, grace has heretofore broken them, and can do so again. But though our work seems slow in displaying its fruits, we know that these are sure. Though we have no Samson, who can with main force pull down the pillars of Hindooism in one day, yet, by gradual processes, we are undermining their foundations, and they will eventually fall with a ruin. We want faith to look forward, that so we may labour most zealously now, in the certainty of future success. TREVANDRUM. ROBERT BOUSFIELD'S NATIVE TEACHER. THE following account of the life, experience, and labours of this devoted Evangelist, who has been supported for several years by a Christian friend residing near Lancaster, has been received in a recent communication from our esteemed brother, the Rev. John Cox, of Trevandrum : His Parentage and early Education. He was born of Roman Catholic parents, and educated in their religion. When he reached his ninth year, his father died, and his mother, with a family of twelve children, was reduced to great distress; the more so, as the eldest son wasted the property, careless of the interests of the other children, and leaving them entirely dependent on the efforts of his mother for their support. He learnt and received all the legends and practices of Popery; and so engaged was he in its shows and festivals, that he had no thought beyond them, and no care for the salvation of his soul. When he was sixteen years old, a great mortality entered the family: nine of his brothers and sisters died that year, and |