to take away the rights of the natives? Far from it. All they asked was, that the same protection and favour might be granted to the Christians as was freely allowed to the Mohammedans and Pagans of Hindustan. Let the claims of religion on the one hand, and of superstition on the other, be treated with perfect equality, and they would soon see which side would gain the victory. Experience had proved that the orders formerly issued might be acted on with the greatest safety, as regarded political consequences. In fact, there could be no shadow of a pretext for refusing to carry these orders into effect. He therefore trusted that the Court would accede to the motion of the worthy proprietor, that the Despatch of 1833 should no longer remain in abeyance, unsupported by the authority of the Court, or explained away and neutralised by subsequent communications, but be acted on with upright and honest sincerity. The Chairman having proposed an amendment, to the effect, that the continued public discussion of questions, affecting the religious feelings of the natives of India was fraught with danger, and that the settlement of such questions would be most properly and safely left to the responsible executive, a protracted discussion ensued. The original motion was ably supported by Mr. Marriott, Sir Charles Forbes, and other proprietors; but on a division of the Court, we regret to add, that it was negatived. It is right to observe, that accounts have reached this country by which it appears that a partial improvement in some of the minor details of the grievances in question has taken place in India, especially in the Bengal Presidency, but the main cause of complaint still continues to operate with undiminished force. In a future number we hope to furnish additional information on these points, but we cannot close the subject for the present, without calling attention to late proceedings in the House of Peers, which give a new and encouraging feature to the discussion of this deeply important question. We refer to the presentation of a petition by the Archbishop of Canterbury, on the 26th of March last, from Protestant ministers of all denominations, in the town of Birmingham, complaining that the civil and military servants of the East India Company were obliged to assist at the idolatrous worship of the natives of Hindustan ; that the East India Company derived a revenue from the worship of idols; and, declaring that the infringement of the rights of conscience in favour of an idolatrous religion was offensive to God, tending to lower the character of Englishmen in the minds of the natives, and to prevent the spread of Christianity in India. They, above all, prayed that the soldiers should not be compelled to attend the idolatrous worship in that country. The Bishop of Chichester having presented a similar petition, the Bishop of London said, that if it was true, as alleged, that the order to the Governor of India that the English residents should not be called upon to attend on the religious worship of the Hindus, had not been acted upon, it was an eternal disgrace on the British Government that such a system should be allowed to exist; and its officers in permitting it to continue, and in neglecting to put the Indian colonies on the same footing with other countries, as regarded the state of Christianity, had been guilty of a great neglect of their duties. really appeared to him that the state of the country had retrograded instead of its having advanced, and he begged to give notice, that unless some noble Lord should in the meantime make some motion on the subject, he should before long move for a return of copies of any correspondence which might have taken place, and which might throw a light upon the subject. MISSIONARIES ON THEIR VOYAGE TO INDIA. WE have much pleasure in stating, that a ARRIVAL OF THE REV. B. IN February last, the Rev. Benjamin Franklin, who sailed in the Sophia, from Lon It by a continuance of his blessing, and a perpetual supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, we shall still be supported, and enabled to go on our way rejoicing. Four of the brethren are engaged to preach the next Sabbath, at Union Chapel, and other places in the town. We hope these and other occasional services in which we are permitted to engage, will be like bread cast upon the waters found after many days." FRANKLIN, IN JAMAICA. don in December, 1837, arrived at Jamaica. ARRIVAL OF MR. AND MRS. MORRIS, AT BERBICE. ON the 31st of January, Mr. John Morris and Mrs. Morris, schoolmaster and schoolmistress, appointed to New Amsterdam, Berbice, arrived at that Station, per the Georgiana. DEAR BROTHER, God having been pleased to restore my health in a good measure during the last summer, and having allowed me to attend to the correction of the press during the printing of the whole of the Bible in the Tahitian language, which was completed on the 22nd of February last, I hope that through the same mercy, both myself and Mrs. Nott will be able soon to return to the Islands to renew our former labours, with the additional advantage of having the entire Scriptures in our hands to communicate to the people. To assist us Mr. W. DAY. On Wednesday, March 14, Mr. William Day, Missionary to the South Sea Islands, was ordained at Orange-street Chapel, by the following Ministers :-Rev. T. Archer, Rev. J. Williams, Rev. J. Arundel, Rev. T. Morell, Rev. J. Blackburn, and Rev. J. P. Dobson. Mr. R. THOMSON. On Friday, March 16, Mr. Robert Thomson, also appointed to the South Sea Islands, was ordained at Union Chapel, Bermondsey. The usual services were engaged in by the Rev. George Rose, Rev. J. Williams, Rev. John Adey, Rev. J. Arundel, Rev. J. Jefferson, and Rev. J. Bodington. H. NOTT TO TAHITI. in our endeavours still further to instruct and civilise the people, the following articles would be acceptable; and any portion of them, if sent to the Mission House, Blomfield-street, will be thankfully acknowledged. Yours very truly, To Rev. W. Ellis. H. NOTT. A box of carpenters' tools, door-locks, hinges, table knives and forks, fish-hooks, axes, adzes, and hatchets, large scissors, of sorts, looking-glasses, razors, nails for flooring, for weather-boarding, shingling nails, green and black paint, pots and kettles for cooking, a few good lamps, long butch ers' knives, a mill for plat, a bonnet-block or two, ribbons, flat irons, dark and light calico, prints, merinoes, haberdashery, sewing-cotton, needles, and thimbles, combs of sorts, pencils, slates, and writing-paper. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. The thanks of the Directors are respectfully presented to the following:-viz., to friends at Salisbury, per Rev. Professor Hoppus, for two chalices for Jamaica; to Mr. T. J. Pearson, Conisbro' for 32 children's hats for South Seas; to Ladies at MillHill, for a box of valuable articles for Rev. J. Williams; to Ladies at Stranraer, per Rev. J. M'Gregor, for 2 cases of clothing, cutlery, &c. for South Seas, value 401.; to Miss Arundel, for a parcel of worsteds, &c. for Mrs. Williams; to Ladies of Rev. W. Woodhouse's congregation, Swansea, for a flag for the "Camden," with the inscription "Cenad Hedd," i. e. "Messenger of Peace;" to friends at Unionstreet chapel, (Rev. J. Arundel's,) for three flags for the "Camden;" to Anna, for 3 pairs ear-rings, to be sold to purchase a Bible for Malietoa, Chief of the Samoan islands; to Ladies at Hitchin, for a parcel of useful clothing, &c., for Mrs. Macdonald; to the Ladies at Miss Robins's school, Edgbaston, for a box of useful articles for the South Sea Mission; to Ladies at Dorking, per Rev. R. Connebee, for a parcel of useful articles for South Seas; to Rev. Thomas Morell, for a large box of valuable books for the South Sea Mission; to Mr. Sheppard, Bedford-row, for a parcel of books for the South Seas; to Ladies at Carmarthen, per Rev. T. Joseph, for a box of useful articles; to the Misses Grindell and Beddow, for 7 dresses for the Marquesas; to Master Samuel Caston, for two screw-plates, for Rev. John Williams; to S. S., for a valuable present of carpenter's tools, &c., for the "Camden;" to M. M., Camberwell, for a quilted petticoat for the S. Seas; to David Robertson, Esq., Bethnal-green, for one dozen silver-handled knives and forks, and 6 parcels of books, pamphlets, &c.; to anonymous, at Corfe Castle, for a few tools for Jan Tzatzoe; to a sincere friend to virtue and religion; to Mr. Wheeler; to a small family; to Capt. Dougal; to the Misses A-, Brixton; to H. Hooper, Esq., Camberwell; to E. Davenport, Esq., Lime-street, 2 4 Ditto Bethnal-green. Broad-street, gen. pur.... 83 16 1007. Camberwell.......... ..120 4 Claremont Chapel .........100 16 0 Silver-street.... 9 Spa Fields.. 0 0 6 0 0 20 13 6 Craven Chapel....138 5 Guildford-street Welsh Hackney, St. Thomas's- square ... 11 Fem. Edu. for Vizaga- 2 For Native Schools, from Part of the profits of the for Wid. and Or. Fund 40 For the South Sea Ship- Corporation of the City of London..................500 0 0 0 A Friend to Missions...... 1 0 0 0 Stepney, gen. pur. .......................181 14 10 For South Sea Ship...... 40 10 6 10 2 Kingsland, gen. pur....... 61 Latimer Chapel 1 54 10 68 17 0 Wycliffe Chapel ............ 50 0 19 17 0 White-row 1 15 10 O 0 Mr. Evans's Workmen, 8 0 For Schools ............... ... G. B. Hart, Esq............. 10 10 0 1 0 0 J. Burrup, Esq. 220 10 Mortimer, including 17. 1007. acknowledged in Sept. last. 1 7 0 40 0 0 600 *477 4 9 Maidenhead, J. Ham mond, Esq. for the Ship 5 5 0 Buckinghamshire. Aylesbury, gen. pur....... 34 8 3 For Saunders's Chapel. 10 0 0 441. 8s. 3d. Barnstaple, gen. pur... 20 For Fish River ......... 47 2 0 Bideford For Native Schools...... 10 0 0 For Female Education 1 0 0 0 Braunton ............................. 0 Torrington purposes Less exps. 61. 17s. 6d. ... 20 0 3 6 14 9 ....... 11 5 8 For Mrs. Davies's sch. Pinang Ilfracombe ................... 5 0 0 9 13 4 Less exps. 91. 10s. 2d. 98 12 6 Exeter, gen. pur......... 44 11 10 Chester Aux. Soc.- Knutsford................................................ Bucklow-hill Glyde 7 0 Heavitree.... 1 6 7 4 7 0 40 12 10 106 9 1 For Nat. Tea. W. Colley 10 0 0 South Molton.............. 31 8 0 1 0 0 Northwich ................ 1 0 0 Tarvin Donations.................. 7 12 3 3 4 ................... 48 0 10 0 Bridport, gen. pur.... 2 Buckingham Old Meet. 19 1 10 New ditto... For Native Teacher, W. Priestley......... 10 0 0 2 0 0 2 2 с 19 2 2 Crondall........................................................ 5 1 0 20 15 6 New Chapel............... 12 10 ............. 5 0 0 .... 10 100 105 5 Halshaw Moor, for Nat. New Windsor, per Miss 0 000 3 6 6307 Hyde Lane .................. 23 Ashton-under-Lyne........117 7 400 For N. Tea. J. Buckley and I. Waring..... 19 12 1 Oldham Branch: 210 0 6605 00 Greenacres ............... 16 2200 9 12 0 W. Parker, Esq. for So. Less exps. 127. 1s. 8d. 564 15 8 Bolton, Mrs. Lum ......... 45 0 0 For Fish River............ 10 0 0 55 0 0 77 Liverpool, Crescent Chap. 0 0 Juv. Soc. for the Ship 500 56 0 0 5 16 0 Rochdale Providence Chapel 0 10 6 44 9 9 Staplehurst............... 19 0 0 St. Stephen's Church... 9 3 4 ........ Leicestershire. 8 0 Leicester, T. Nunneley, 20 C Esq. for the Ship......... 5 00 Further Contributions unavoidably postponed. W. Tyler, Printer, Bolt-court, Fleet-street. |