at present, twenty-one families which have thus dedicated themselves to God. What has he wrought in this wilder ess! Blessed be his name for the fulfilment of his promises! These things were marvellous to my eyes. Again: The head-man in Amandavanakoody, who is, I trust, an humble and true believer, related, among other things, that several of the congregation had hid their idolatrous pictures, &c. "Now," said he, "when I found that out, and saw from it, they were half for our Saviour, and half for idols, I strongly reproved them, and took their idolatrous pieces, and tore and burned them in their presence, telling them that the Lord will not bless them if they are half-minded. I told them further, saying, 'When I come to you in your distresses and pray for you, how can the Lord hear me, if you secretly keep such wicked things? He will not hear me, and I shall be discouraged thereby.'" This simple relation of his was affecting. He declared also, that those who willingly put away such things have been relieved from their distresses. As soon as I arrived at Poodoopatcherry, the inhabitants brought me the head of a female deity, made of earth; which they had destroyed as soon as they had heard that I was coming. They had destroyed four or five other idols, the ruins of which I saw when I went to inspect the ground where they propose to build a church. Two brothers, and a near relation to them, owners of much ground, and who had been hitherto zealous idolaters, have renounced idolatry, and offer freely, as much ground as is necessary for building a church, and for forming a village of Christians. Twenty-one families of Poodoopatcherry and the surrounding villages have already given their hand-writing, and will settle in the new village as soon as possible. About fifty more intend to come over also, but they have not yet given their hand-writing to that effect. Their Desire for Instruction in Christianity. After the contempt for idolatry, expressed in the preceding paragraphs, and the uneasiness manifested at being without any religion, we are prepared to see the natives eager to obtain Christian teachers, and tracts, and books. A In the evening, the applications for Tracts increased considerably, and some of the people troubled me much for large books, where a full account of Christianity is given. A heathen said that he lived in a place where there were many Roman Catholics, and he wished to be put in the way of refuting their errors. brahmin, after having received, on his urgent request, a part of the New Testament, asked me, whether these books were not, in some way or other, injurious to him as a brahmin. I replied, that, as it is the particular business and calling of the brahminical tribe to be the teachers of the nation, they ought the more carefully to search after truth, and to study all those books from which they may hope to derive an increase of knowledge: which an swer seemed to satisfy him. One came, in company with a small troop, evidently with the purpose of raising objections; but, after having been silenced, he listened attentively to my admonition to seck the truth, which can only be found in Jesus. Arrived, next day, at Moodoopetta, a large village, inhabited by many Mahommedans. boy shewed us a choultry, at some distance from the place; which was rather a disappointment to me, as I feared that I should have little to do. I tried, therefore, an expedient, which was contrary to my general principle; viz. I gave a number of Tracts to the boy who had shewn us the way, requesting him to shew them to the people in the village; and to inform, that I would give more Tracts to those who would come out and fetch them. During breakfast, I saw a multitude of natives gathering at a pretty good distance from us. I afterward went to them, but they retired as I approached, and it was with difficulty that I made them stand. In order to gain their coafidence, I began a conversation with them. Soon after, some came and begged for books. After this, I had scarcely a moment's rest the whole day, so great a desire for Tracts had been excited in them. I took care to explain to them the contents of the Tracts, which gave me the best opportunity to acquaint them fully with the plan of salvation. The nearer my time of leaving the place approached, the more urgent became the desire of the crowd after whole sets of Tracts; and especially large books, explaining fully the nature of Christianity. The schoolmaster of the place, a very friendly and well-looking brahmin, pleaded his station. The native officer in the Cutcherry said he wished to read these books to the people in the Cutcherry, and therefore requested a large book. Several Mahommedans and others said that they were from different villages, and should never have an opportunity to obtain such books, unless I gave them now. The avidity with which the police officer and others seized the parts of the Gospel which I gave them, evinced the earnestness of their desire. If I had not had some proofs to the contrary, I should have surmised that the palanquin-bearers had persuaded the people to request me thus to give them large books, that my palanquin might become soon lighter. I became quite fatigued; and was glad when we got into the palanquin, in order to continue our journey. I was afraid all my Tracts would go. Our way led us again through the village; and I was quite amazed at the multitude of people who crowded round my palanquin, crying out for Tracts. Mr. Rhenius writes on one occasion, To-day was a day of of sowing much spiritual seed, along the road passing by our compound. A great number of people returning this morning from a feast in the fort, our young missionaries were early engag ed with them, near the gates and under the trees. During the forenoon, I also took a station under a tree; and there might be seen three or four congregations in the line of the road, at the same time hearing the good tidings of salvation: it reminded me of the long chapel at Otaheite. The desire of the people after Tracts was very great; and a large number have been distributed: some even were paid for; a trifle indeed-still something. The brahmins, in particular, were eager for Tracts. Oh may the Holy Spirit follow this preaching and those books to their homes! On account of this blessed work, but few seminarists remain at liberty; and consequently there were no regular lessons this forenoon. The people generally admit that their idolatry is vain, and that they ought to know the true God. Again the same missionary writes, Four head-men came from Padookkoopetty, requesting me to go to their place; as they with a number of other families, wished to be saved from sin, and learn the way of Christianity. I had an interesting conversation with them; from which it appeared that they had come to this resolution in consequence of the com munications which they had had with our people at Satangkoolam. They said "The idols which we have hitherto worshipped, cannot do us any good; therefore we have left them, and wish to know and serve the living and true God." They seem to have no other object in view, but to be saved. I accordingly proceeded to their village toward the evening; and found it to be a large place, containing about 1000 houses: after sunset, people of various castes came together, probably from curiosity, whom I addressed: it was a large assembly. One aged man was particularly pleased with what he heard, saying that he had already heard of these things at Palamcottah, in our schools, and, as a by-stander, at our chapel there on Sundays: he expressed a great desire to be saved, to know true wisdom, and to be baptized immediately. Afterward, the candidates for baptism assembled, whom I instructed in the way of salvation, concluding with prayer; a large number of other people sat around, who also received Tracts. The rising congregation here amounts to 30 souls, including wives and children. Are not the fields ripe for the harvest? Do they not flock as doves to their windows? not come and say, Come! and let us learn the way of Jehovah? Do they proceeded early next day to Secadivally. I had the pleasure to find a school and prayer-house already built by the people themselves; all indeed simple, but sufficiently commodious. Besides the 10 families of our congregation, there came about 10 native Christian men from Taravey, a neighboring village, attached to the Tanjore mission; and some Mooremans from another village. I preached on John iii. 16: some of our people immediately asked for baptism, but I thought it advisable still to delay it. In the afternoon, I had them again all together, with their wives; and instructed them on baptism and prayer: they begged hard for a permanent teacher: the Lord grant them the spirit of prayer! I saw the place where formerly their idol stood: it is now a foot-path; and nothing of it remains. Toward the evening, I proceeded to Pandàrapooram: here I had, likewise, the pleasure of finding a building erected for the assembling of the congregation, which has now increased to 17 families: nearly the whole village came together to hear the word of God, and I had a very pleas ant evening with them: I preached on Gal. v. 22: about 20 women were present. I must again exclaim, Lo! the wilderness rejoices! and, indeed, we sang the praises of the Most High. Results. The following paragraphs show, that this desire for instruction in Christianity is not merely a fondness for novelty; but that the truths of the Gospel are really understood, and the power of them felt so far as to produce in the natives, in many instances, much thoughtfulness, accompanied by a forsaking of their sinful practices, and great steadfastness under persecution. The Spirit of God makes them not forgetful hearers, but doers of the word. in Several young men came, and inquired, reference to the sermon, "How may we know that we are dead with Christ, and alive with him?" because Asirvadam, who has much to do with works, and cannot yet rejoice in believing, has puzzled them about the subject. It was a profitable conversation; and the inquirers, it seems, got fresh evidence of true faith unto salvation. Afterward came Kistnen, a heathen boy, whom we received about six months ago into the seminary (he is a son of the head palanquin-bearer in Palamcottah,) and who was for a long time much addicted to lying and stealing, but got better of it two or three months ago; he said, "Sir, you exhorted us, the other evening, to examine ourselves, whether Christ Jesus could rejoice over us or not (according to Is. Ixi. 3.) Now when I examined myself that evening, I found that the Lord Jesus could not rejoice over me, because I do not do agreeably to his word; I am still sinning, and do not hearken to the advice of my teacher. I was very much troubled on that account, and was weeping the greater part of the night. I have since also read, that, at the great judgment-day, the Lord Jesus will send those who have been like goats into hell: this likewise has made me afraid. Oh, tell me what I shall do to be saved!" This he said with tears in his eyes. This instance of awakening was as unexpected as it was joyful to me. I directed him to the fountain of purification. Praised be the Lord for this new evidence of the power of his word! He also told me, that when he visits his relations on Sundays, they trouble him to worship their idols, which he is afraid to do. David heard our conversation; and said, after Kistnen was gone, "Well, this cannot be but from God!" Again Mr. Rhenius writes, At Satangkoolam, I found the preparations for the church going on: it is to be 63 feet by 21: it is indeed building in troublous times. The congregation met in the forenoon: as it was market-day, not all could come. the members, who has an irritable temper, had been guilty in giving way to it on a cer One of tain occasion: he is greatly humbled on that account, and feelingly confessed his fault: the admonition which this circumstance occasioned, will I trust be blessed of the Lord. As it was Ascension-Day I preached to them on that subject, after which, from the text for the day, Ask what I shall give unto thee, I took occasion to inquire of every person present what they would ask from the Lord Jesus, supposing he should appear to them and put the question to them. It was interesting to hear the several replies-two or three men said that they would ask him for their necessary food and raiment: some would ask him for a place in Heaven; the majority, both of men and women, were for asking him for a good understanding of his word, desire for it, and a good heart: a few would ask both for bodily and spiritual blessings. On these statements, I exhorted and advised them. In the evening, I preached to them on Matt. vi. 24. and Mark viii. 34. On this occasion, I gave them some particular directions about their conduct; especially in reference to the Sabbath: one of them, when he had traded on a Sunday, not only had received no advantage from it, but felt smitten in his conscience, so as to make him resolve to do so no more: another had gone on a Sunday to work at his palmyra-trees, when he was led by a circumstance which happened, to feel that he was doing wrong; and he came instantly home, confessing his fault with sorrow. One man seems to be often deeply affected by the word: when called npon to repeat the text, he often does it kneeling: occasionally he hears a great part of the sermon kneeling: he has a very irritable temper; but soon feels and acknowledges his fault: this, probably, is a means of making him contrite. On the whole, we have much reason to rejoice over this people. There were about 25 women present, whose attention was remarkable; and several of whom expressed themselves very joyful at the knowledge of the blessed Gospel. While at Tinnevelly Mr. Rhenius says,— trouble and loss which the people have to suffer, are certainly not small; and though they get justice rendered them at last, their perseverance in Christianity is, at least in some degree, a proof that they have not embraced Christianity simply or merely for the sake of worldly advantages. The Lord make them to see, more and more, that the gain of eternal riches is far more desirable than all the perishing riches of this world! The same missionary says of another congregation, In the evening I preached to the congregation of Arooloor. Previously to going to rest, I could not but reflect with wonder upon what God has wrought in this wilderness: a year ago, when I was here for the first time, there was no Christian place of worship, no Christian village or congregation, excepting that some had just come forward to forsake idolatry: now these things are realized, and the praises of the Redeemer resound from between these palmyra-trees! A chapel is there; and a street of worshippers of the true God is formed: they have stood the fiery trial of persecution: they appear to delight in the word of God: and begin to walk worthy of the Gospel: more than that-the sound thereof spreads around in this region; and, from various places, people come to hear it. Shall we not be thankful? Remarkable instance of Retentive Memory. I have lately witnessed a remarkable instance of a wonderfully retentive memory in a young brahmin from Ramnad. Three days ago, a gentleman wrote a sentence in English, (of which language the brahmin knew nothing,) containing 30 syllables: each syllable was numbered in order; all the syllables with their numbers were told him; not in their proper order, but skipping from 3 to 20, then to 6, and so on: when the whole sentence was finished, the brahmin, arranging the numbers in his head in regular order, told the sentence word for word. To-day, we wrote him an English sentence of 69 syllables; and proceeded in telling him the numbers as before: while this was going on, I wrote a sentence in He numbers in the same skipping manner: while this was proceeding, he repeated to us the sentence which he had heard three days ago: and when the numbers of the new English and Hebrew sentences were finished, he told us both of them in a regular order, as if he had read them from a book. This was certainly a prodigious memory, and astonished us all. Yesterday and to-day, I had to do with the people from the villages, who related the various persecutions which they have to endure. Our young evangelists were, here and there, witnesses of those griev-brew, containing 14 syllables, telling him the ous things. In some places, persons of higher caste, who have long been only the agents of some proprietors of low caste, pretend now to be proprietors themselves, and endeavor to establish themselves in the possession of such lands by various frauds; or they will instigate the laborers of the real proprietors to refuse labor and rent. In other places the enemies will hire the maravers (i. e. public watchmen) to rob the houses of the Christians, to injure their fields and their palmyra-trees, and to waylay and beat or rob them. In other villages, the publick officers, whether peons, or mirasdars, or tasildars, will demand taxes from them which they formerly did not, or demand more than they ought, or give no receipts for what they have actually received; or will insist upon their paying money for their idols and temples. The vexation and The preceding extracts are from a journal written during the year 1825; it appears from the survey of this mission in the Missionary Register for February 1827, that sixteen of the congregations connected with this mission, are under the care of as many regular religious teachers, thirteen of whom are native catechists. For several of these congre gations, there are places of worship; some of which have been erected by the natives themselves, and some are temples of idols converted into temples of the living God. The missionaries estimate the people under their charge, at 4,300: the whole number of natives who have been baptized, is 132; and several more are under preparation for baptism. The missionaries sent a list of 46 school-books, Tracts and other books, used or circulated by them; from a Tract of five pages to a volume of 312: of these 31 were written or translated by the missionaries. They have, besides, not less than 27 different works, more than half of which are in the press or are ready: a few of these are Tracts; but most of them are books, and one is a body of divinity in three volumes. Their schools are 14 for boys, with 381 scholars, with an average attendance of 283; and one for girls, with 20 scholars; there is also a female seminary, with 32 girls from 7 to 17 years of age. Respecting the general state and progress of the mission, and the hopes entertained for the future, the missionaries remark, The conduct of most of those who have been baptized is worthy of their professión. The unbaptized are such as have renounced idolatry, and placed themselves under Christian instruction: the attention of inany, both men and women, and their desire to know the Lord and his ways, are very pleasing. The turning of their idols out of their temples, and the devoting of those temples to the worship of the only true God and to Him whom he hath sent--their breaking to pieces of other idols-their burning of the various utensils used in idolatrous worship-their delivering up to us of objects of superstition, and the peculiar dresses which the devotees of Satan used when professedly possessed of him-their conviction of the wickedness and folly of idolatry-and their desire and readiness to renounce the customs connected with idolatry and to adopt such as become Christians-these things are truly remarkable. Thus far darkness has receded and light has sprung up among them. How far they have advanced in true selfknowledge, in justifying faith in the Redeemer, and in the sanctifying grace of the Spirit, we cannot say: but from what we ourselves have seen, we cannot but confess, that, in all the congregations there are at least some who have begun to experience this work of God. We have many instances of their teachableness, of their acknowledging their faults, of their speaking the truth, of their endeavoring to suppress their evil passions, of their desire to pray, of their wishing well to their enemies, and of their keeping the Sabbath day holy There are, indeed, still many shades in them; but we cannot wonder at it, when we consider from what gross darkness they are emerging, and what a mass of wicked and superstitious habits they have to unlearn: besides, among so many, there will be such as turn to Christianity only because others do, or in expectation of worldly advantages. Under these circum stances, it cannot well be otherwise, than that evil should appear in these congregations; and that their old sins should occasionally break out, and require much of our patience and care. It was so in the apostolic churches: hence the various reproofs and admonitions contained in the apostolic epistles; they suit exactly, in many respects, the state of these new churches. The new congregations, like every other congregation, are like a large hospital, in which persons labor under various sicknesses: it is the great and glorious work of Christianity to heal them. Happy are they that have come under its influence! May the great Physician and Shepherd and Bishop of their souls give them his Holy Spirit, and be health and cure to them, according to his gracious promise! Russia. INFLUENCE OF THE BIBLE. IN the retrospective view of the past year, which we took in the number for January, p. 17, we remarked, with regard to the suppression of the Russian Bible Society by the civil power, that the past efforts of that Society would not be without effect; that the seed sown, would not be lost; that a flow of opinion and of feelings might have been produced, which would continue and increase, until a flood of blessedness should cover that vast empire. This was then conjecture. The first part of it, however, seems to be verified by the following intelligence, communicated by a correspondent of the Christian Advocate, and first published in that useful work. The latter part, of course, we should not expect to be fulfilled until a long series of years have passed away. You have been aware of the tottering state of the Bible Society in Russia, and will not be surprised that it has now fallen. Its officers have been dismissed, and its operations ceased; but there is a stock of about 200,000 copies of the Scriptures, in different languages, in its stores; and, in whatever way they may be hereafter circulated, this incorruptible seed will not be in vain. Let me state to you, at the same time, a fact, connected with the operations of the Russian Bible Society, while it has had existence, in which you will greatly rejoice. The consequence of an extensive circulation of the word of God, in that vast empire, for many years past, has been, to raise up in various parts of it, and to a very great extent, a body of Scriptural or Bible Christians, who have renounced the Greek church, and under this denomination, associate together, to read and study the Holy Scriptures, acknowledging this blessed book as the only rule of faith and practice, and observing the Christian Sabbath as a day of sacred rest. A considerable effect, I understand, is manifest in the peaceable and orderly lives of the people who are thus separating under the influence of Christian truth; and some circumstances have been related which afford a pleasing evidence of truly Christian principles operating on their minds. Thus, my dear friend, is the most high God ruling and overruling amongst the children of men, to carry on his purposes of mercy in his own way; cheering us by rays of light in the darkest seasons, and saying to us, 'Be still, and know that I am God.' Let us continue waiting on him, still sowing in hope as opportunities arise, and where his providence directs, assured that it shall not be altogether in vain, however feeble and inefficient the instrument employed may be. DIFFERENT SECTS OF RELIGIONISTS. France. THE FRENCH CHURCH. THE following statement of the Roman Catholic and Protestant clergy in France, with their respective stipends, paid by the French government, is extracted from documents laid before the Chambers, by the Minister of the Interior.-Chris. Adrocate. Roman Catholic Clergy.-The established church of France is composed of four cardinals, one of whom, the arch-bishop of Paris, has 100,000 francs yearly, about $20,000; the other three, 30,000 each, about $6,000. There are 13 arch-bishops, besides the metropolitan, who receive each 25,000 francs, $5,000; 66 bishops, each 15,000; 174 vicars general, each from 2,000 to 4,000; 660 canons or prebendaries, each from 1,500 to 2,400; THE different sects of religionists in the Rus-2,917 cures or rectors, each from 1,100 to sian empire, with the numbers in each, have been thus stated. Christians, 33,000,000 42,000 20,000 9,000 600,000 Brahmins, Total, 500,000 300. -900,300 4,526,300 1,600; 22,316 deservants or curates, each from 750 to 900 francs per annum. To the colleges for educating the younger clergy, 940,000 francs, or $188,000; and for repairing and building churches, 200,000, or $40,000.The whole expense of the establishment, including annuities to the infirm clergy, is esti mated at 25,650 000 francs or $5,130,000! Protestant Clergy.--The Calvinists have three pastors, who receive yearly each 3,000 5,000--41,276,000 francs; 28 who receive each 2,000; 69 who receive each 1,500; and lastly 195 pastors, 1,850,000 each 1,000-total Calvinist ministers, 295. There are two Lutheran pastors, each receiving 3,000 francs; 25, each 2,000; 21, each 1,500; and 175 pastors, each 1,000-total, 220 Lutheran ministers. Sum total paid to the Protestant clergy, 623,000 francs, ($124,600,) 24,000 francs allowed for their colleges, and 50,000 for their places of worship-sum total for the Protestant religion, $139,400. This sum is paid by the French government; but it must also be remarked, that there are many Protestant clergy in France, who do not receive any stipend from the government, it being a regulation not to make any grant where the Protestant population does not amount to a thousand. A mighty mass of mind, the greater portion of it sunk deep in ignorance; but not more deeply sunk, than much, which has been raised, and has been made intelligent and holy, by means of instruction, derived from the Bible, and rendered efficacious by the Spirit of God. Domestic Entelligence. AMERICAN BAPTIST BOARD OF MISSIONS. invitation, in the deliberations of the meet Annual Meeting. THE American Baptist Board of Missions held its Annual Meeting in Boston, on the 25th, 26th, and 27th days of April. The Rev. Mr. Sharp, second Vice President, was in the chair. The Annual Report, which was read by the Rev. Dr. Bolles, the Corresponding Secretary, described the operations of the Board during the year, and the condition and prospects of the several missionary stations. This Report is to be published. The Rev. Mr. Yates, English Baptist missionary, from Calcutta, and the Rev. Mr. Bourne, English Baptist missionary from Honduras, were present, and participated, by ing. In the afternoon of the first day, Mr. Yates preached a missionary sermon, from | Rom. i, 28; on which occasion a collection was taken for the Burman mission. ANNIVERSARIES IN NEW-YORK. THE highest expectations which had been formed of the anniversaries celebrated in this city the present week, we believe have been fully answered. The assemblies have been larger, and the Reports more interesting, and the addresses not less so, than in any former year. All the National Societies have made a very perceptible advance, since the previous anniversaries. The Bible Society shows an increase of $11,774 beyond the receipts of the |