of Missionaries, and consequently an increase of expenditure; prayer that God would raise up suitable labourers for this part of his vineyard, and Christian liberality in providing the means for their support, are equally and urgently enforced upon us by these commucations. It is scarcely necessary to recommend them to the attentive perusal of our subscribers and friends. MADRAS.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Jonathan Crowther, dated I HEAR encouraging accounts from I have been anxiously expecting to receive an answer to the remarks contained in our District Minutes, of which an extract was sent to you by the overland dispatch, on the subject of our immediate occupation of Mysore. Mr. Hodgson is now pressing me on that point, and is joined by all the brethren in that neighbourhood, in his request for the appointment forthwith of a Missionary to that city. The proposition which they make is, that Mr. Hodson go to Mysore with one of the Assistant Missionaries from Bangalore; the other appointments standing as they do at pre sent. I think, that, under these circumstances, the thing must be attempted; only we must have, by the next District Meeting, the re-inforcement expected from England. Your silence on that subject makes us a little afraid that the men are not forthcoming. Since I last wrote, the disorder with which I was afflicted on landing, assumed an alarming character, so that I was compelled to leave my family and my work, and take a temporary residence in Nungumbaukum, for the purpose of being perfectly retired and quiet. The case was very obstinate in the first instance, but has ultimately yielded to the means employed for that purpose. One of these means, which I regret to say has been found absolutely necessary and only just sufficient, has been an entire release from public service for upwards of two months. During that time my place has been well supplied by Mr. Griffith, whom Mr. Hardey sent up to me at my request, and who has not only kept up the congregation, but added considerably to its number. It would greatly serve our cause, as well as gratify myself, if he were appointed at an early period as my Assistant in this Circuit. The thing that I should wish, if it night only be accomplished, would be, that there should be three European Missionaries at Madras. MANAARGOODY.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. James K. Best, dated I THANK God that in the order of his gracious and all-wise providence, I and my dear wife, in company with the brethren and sisters who sailed with us, have been preserved from many dangers and perils, and brought in safety to the scene of our Missionary labours. I have not yet had reason to regret the step I took which separated me so far from those I love and highly esteem, though I frequently feel a strong desire to have a short interview with those I have left behind; yet, I am persuaded that it is better that I have obeyed what I believe to be the call of Divine Providence, than to have remained at home to gratify myself, with the society and other advantages of which we are deprived here. I have been blessed with good health ever since my arrival in the country, for which I am grateful to the "Giver of all good." I cannot report so favourably concerning Mrs. Best, who has been the subject of a severe and rather protracted affliction, but I am thankful is now enjoying tolerable health, though very much affected by the heat which is now very oppressive and trying; the thermometer in the shade having been from 90° to 96° during several weeks, and we are told it will be higher in a few days. As to our voyage out, we had nothing ery particular, excepting at its termination. Mrs. Best suffered considerably from sea-sickness. I was very sick the first week or two, but afterwards not so much so, though when the vessel had much motion I generally felt qualmish. We were very seldom interrupted in our Tamul studies during the voyage, and I think we made some improvement; we found Mr. Crowther a valuable companion in these engagements. I had a Tamul sermon, as I thought, nearly ready, and had been making some additions and corrections a short time before our vessel struck; but this was of no use to me, as such was the confusion and hurry in which we were, when we found our vessel was a wreck, that I forgot my Tamul work just then, and was glad to reach Madras, which I did with scarcely anything but a change of apparel. I had to begin afresh, and in one week managed to have a sermon in Tamul ready for the following Sabbath. I am now applying myself to the study of the language as a chief pursuit, though I frequently devote my evenings to visiting the surrounding villages; where I distribute tracts, converse with the people through an interpreter, and have already made arrangements for establishing several schools. The ignorance of the natives of the villages I have visited is most deplorable, and makes the necessity of schools most apparent. I have met with great encouragement so far from the head men when I have proposed a school, and have the promise of their assistance. I hope they will continue in the same mind. Manaargoody is a large and respectable native town, with a population of thirty thousand, as I have been informed, wholly given to idolatry. Our Bungalow is about a mile distant, and is at present comfortable; but as it has only mud walls, bamboo and thatched roof, and has suffered much from the monsoons, &c., we have some doubt and fear as to its enduring the next monsoon. A few repairs will be necessary. I like its situation very well. As to the instructions I received in Tamul while in London, duty requires that I express my gratitude, and assure you that they have been of great use to me since. I am now reading Tamul regularly with my moonshee, and composing a little. I have not been able to obtain a Christian Moonshee; the one 1 have is a Heathen, but I think a respectable Tamul scholar his knowledge of English is only moderate, but sufficient for the purpose of answering my questions concerning any difficulties which I meet with in the course of reading or composition. : In addition to reading the Tamul prayers in the School-room in Manaargoody every Sabbath, I have my servants called in every morning to family prayer when I read the Scriptures and suitable prayers in Tamul, that by this means, as well as others, I may become more familiar with the language of the people for whose benefit I have been sent to this place. I am not at all disappointed with my field of labour, which is both large and open; hitherto I have had unrestricted access to the people wherever I have gone. But often think and sometimes say, "What am I among so many thousands of idolaters ?" I hope you will be able send us more help very soon. I feel happy and contented in my work, yet I should be more so if I could see the "aru of the Lord revealed" in the real conversion of those who often hear his word, and appear very attentive. May the Lord hasten the time when this shall be the case ! NEGAPATAM.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Samuel Hardey, dated May 24th, 1838. I AM happy to inform you that the general character of our work on this Station, is improving. We never had so many favourable opportunities of extending our labours among the Heathen, or more ready access to them. A few remarks illustrative of this, I will now relate. Tirruvaloor, or as it is generally called Trivaloor, has often been visited by our Missionaries, and the Gospel has been preached in its temples, and at its feasts: and in the highways and hedges of this populous town, our warning voice has long been heard. But up to this moment nothing has been done for it in the way of regular instruction, or of permanent exertion. At our District Meeting of 1837, I engaged to visit it regularly from the Negapatam Station, but Mr. Hole's indisposition and absence from the Sta tion, together with Mr. Longbottom's removal from Manaargoody, and Melnattam, and the charge of those stations coming upon me, quite disqualified me for redeeming my pledge in reference to this place, and I could only pay it a few occasional visits on my way to the Stations in the south. At our last District Meeting (1838) I renewed my intentions of doing something for this place, from the means within our power on the Negapatam Station. Accordingly, on my return from Madras, Mr. Griffith and Abraham Ambrose, the Assistant Missionary, visited it, and spent several very agreeable and profitable days among the people, preaching to them, and distributing tracts, and portions of Scripture among them. To all to whom they put the question, whether they would like to have a school established among them, and to be visited regularly by the Missionaries, they answered in the affirmative; and appeared to be delighted with the thought. A week or two after this, Rayappen Pilly, our head native Catechist, passed through this place, and learned many important particulars about the people, and those of another large village in the neighbourhood; hence, I concluded, that now was the time to enter more fully into this place. I accordingly arranged to visit it, in connexion with several other places, equally destitute of Christian influence, and equally desirous to be visited by us. It is somewhat remarkable that the very day our arrangements were completed, our route through the country marked out, which was to take in a circle of one hundred and fifty miles, that received a letter from Madras informing us of Mr. Crowther's serious illness, and requesting Mr. Griffith to assist them in Madras without any delay. So are our plans frequently and effectually frustrated. Now I fear Tirruvaloor must remain another year without assistance, and many other places of great importance without being visited. we Allow me on behalf of this place, to intercede with you, and to beg that the next Missionary who is appointed to Continental India, may be stationed here; or, what will be still more desirable, to place there one of your old Missionaries, who will have one of the finest fields of Missionary operation in India. From our last District Minutes you would perceive that it was my intention to build a large school-room, to be used for public preaching in the large seaport town of Nagoor, four miles north of Negapatam. This we have effected, At We have established three new schools on this Station during this year, namely, two boys' schools in the surrounding villages, in connexion with our former established schools; so that they can be visited without any extra labour or sacrifice of time, at the same time that we are visiting our former schools; and thus we have accomplished a very important object: and also one girls' school, in the town of Negapatam. Having met with a respectable man who had formerly been employed in Mission schools, and having a suitable building at command, we availed ourselves of the favourable opportunity, and have now a flourishing girls' school. A more detailed account of our schools, and the progress of the work of God on this Station, I shall give you in a short time. At present I am much pressed for time; being alone, and the duties and care of the Station demanding my special attention. BANGALORE-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. John Jenkins, dated HAVING lately paid a visit to Goobee, my intended Station, and it being now nearly time for me to write to you again, I thought that an account thereof, showing our prospects in Goobee and its neighbourhood, will not be uninteresting to you. Before, however, I direct your special attention to the Goobee Station, I would just premise that with regard to my work on this Station, it has gone on just in the same train as when I wrote to you last. It is with gratitude that I am enabled to report some small degree of progress in the Canarese language; and the more I know of it, the more I am delighted with this part of my work. I continue to devote the greater part, I think I may say the whole, of my time to this branch of my studies. You will be glad to hear that the Canarese school of which I spoke in my last letter, is now supplied with a Master, and that the children are getting on well. In this school we have one girl. In our visits to the villages in the neighbourhood, we find the people in most instances willing to hear, but it is often our fear that, from the novelty of the subject brought before them, and their general unwillingness to hear any thing not connected with getting money, the love of which appears to be one of their greatest sins, they generally hear without interest or attention, and there. fore without profit. But we leave this to the Lord, who we trust will, according to his promise, pour out his Spirit upon the people, as a spirit of hearing and convic tion. The English services, especially those in the Cantonment chapel, are well attended. There are many pious soldiers in the society, who will have reason to bless God through eternity that they ever heard the sound of a Missionary's voice. I left this for Goobee on Thursday evening, May 31st, and arrived there on the next evening. My stay was only one week and although I visited but a few of the towns and villages, yet you will be able to ascertain from the extracts which I am about to give from my journal, something of what we are doing in that infant Station. Mr. Hodson is getting on rapidly with the house. There were at first many difficulties in the way of his commencing it, he however expects to be ready to receive us by the end of August. Goobee, as the centre of many thickly populated towns and villages, appears to be well situated for the establishment of a Mission Station on an extensive scale; more especially if we consider the disposition of the people to receive our instructions. The Missionary, it is true, has many personal disadvantages asising out of his separation from European society, as well as other causes, but these are greatly over balanced by the true Missionary character of the work; one need have nothing to do or say, that has not reference to the one great object which we have in view,-the salvation of the souls of the people. June 2d. This morning at half-past five o'clock, I accompanied Mr. Hodson and our two Assistant Missionaries to the town of Goobee, which contains from five to six thousand inhabitants. The people appear to be very ignorant, but are quite willing to hear the truth. About thirty or forty collected together, and listened with some attention to the sound of the Gospel. They were addressed in succession by Messrs. Franklin, Webber, and Hodson, each of whom spoke for some time extempore, the only way in which they will willingly receive what you have to communicate. After the addresses to the people, we visited our native school in the fort. The children get on well; and a little boy about eight years old, who I understand has not yet been in the school three months, read a portion of St. Matthew's Gospel with ease. I am much pleased with every thing that I have yet seen here; and the views which I had previously formed of Goobee as a Mission Station, from the favourable reports which have been abroad concerning it, are more than con firmed. Although, however, there are these good prospects, and although we have not to contend with much Brahmanical influence, yet there is a mighty mass of superstition and ignorance. But we have the Gospel, which is the power of God, and sooner or later we must conquer. Sunday, 3d. This morning Messrs. Hodson and Webber, and I, went to that part of the town which is inhabited by shoemakers. These are not allowed to live within the walls of the town, because of their lowness of caste. They are a despised and degraded people, and most of them live in a state of great poverty. In the midst of several hundred of these people the Gospel is proclaimed every Sabbath morning, and the small square in which the Missionary takes his stand, is generally filled with attentive hearers, and these not persons who drop in accidentally, but stated hearers. This morning we had about eighty, of whom, half at least were women. They were more than willing, they were pleased, to hear. The order of the service was as follows: Mr. Hodson read a portion of Scripture, and addressed the people for a short time; I read another portion and gave a short address, very imperfectly of course because extempore, yet thankfully, for it is misery to be in India without saying something to the people about their souls' salvation. Mr. Webber, who has now made very respectable progress in the Canarese language, concluded. I have not seen so interesting a spectacle since I have been in India. Glory be to God for our prospects! Who that believes the promises of God can doubt that this simple method of preaching Christ Jesus, even to the dark and benighted people of India, will succeed? The seed thus cast upon the waters shall doubtless be seen, through it may be many days hence, bringing forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and it may be even an hundredfold. A Tamul service was ducted by Mr. Franklin at ten o'clock; about twelve were present. At five in the afternoon, we all paid another visit to the Pettah, when we again had a good congregation, it being market day. There was not so much attention manifested as there was in the morning, though, for a Heathen congregation in the open air, they were very orderly. At seven o'clock I addressed the Mission families in English, and afterwards administered the sacrament: we were seven in number. The Lord was present with us to bless our souls, and to encourage us in our work. Thus the Sabbath is usually con spent at Goobee; one of the most interesting Stations that have yet been occupied. There is much to be said with regard to the beauty of the scenery around, and the healthiness of the situation; but it derives its great interest from the character of the people among whom we labour, their simplicity, (for India,) their willingness to be instructed, and their freedom from that bad influence which intercourse with Europeans generally produces. But it must not be concealed, that although there is much to encourage, there is much to deplore. There is much depravity in the character of the people, and connected with this the lowest ignorance, and the most slavish superstition; forming hinderances to the Missionary, which, if he went forth in his own strength, would be insuperable; but he goes forth in the strength of his Master, who has promised to be with his servants "always, even unto the end of the world." 4th. I went this morning a distance of five miles with Mr. Webber to visit a school. Though there are but few boys, there is much to encourage us. The school has not been long established, and yet seven out of nine boys now in the school, who could not read a letter when they first came, repeated very perfectly the whole of Watts's First Catechism, the only one which we have yet in Canarese. They also read well. The Scriptures and religious tracts are the only books that are put into their hands at school, and though they are permitted in their own houses to read native works, we trust by God's blessing that the truth will prevail over error in the minds of these youths; and that thus the blessing of God will attend our endeavours to promote the work of Scriptural education in this dark land. After examining the school, Mr. Webber and I spoke a few words to the people, who had assembled to witness the progress which the boys had made. They were respectful to us, and acknowledged the truth of that which was spoken. 5th. This morning at five o'clock, Messrs. Hodson, Webber, and I, went to another village in the neighbourhood. I again endeavoured to add my testimony, to that of the other brethren, as to the falsity of the Hindoo system, and the great benefit which those derive who receive the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. About sixty persons heard with much apparent interest. At least half of them accompanied us to the gate of the village, (for they are mostly fortified in this neighbourhood,) asking us many questions concerning what we had said. One man said to a Brahman," If these things be true, our shastres must be false;" "Indeed they must," replied the Brahman. Ordinarily such a man would have insulted us. Such a spirit of inquiry I have seldom seen manifested. In the midst of these cheering circumstances, we thank God, and take courage. 6th. This morning, I went with Messrs. Webber and Franklin to a village, near the Pettah, inhabited by the cultivators. As we had rain last night, most of them had gone out to plough, so that there was but a small congregation for us. However, I read part of a chapter and spoke a little, and Mr. Franklin concluded. There was a merchant man who followed us to the place where we took our stand, and asked many questions. He has read some of our tracts and portions of Scripture, and I understand has gone round to the people calling their attention to the subjects on which the Missionary generally dwells, and answering their objections just as he has heard us do. Yesterday he came to Mr. Franklin for an answer to a question which had been put to him by many. was, "What shape is he whom these people call the true God?" He W3S directed to this passage, "God is a spirit, &c. But bodily shape is so connected with their notions of Deity, that it is very difficult to make them understand us on this point. It The This is all that I have to say at present about Goobee. I left for this place on the Thursday morning, and arrived here on the following morning. visit has done me good, not merely in body, but in soul. I think I have more zeal and more love for the Mission work. I feel more grateful too that I am engaged in so glorious a cause. But this is only a specimen of what might be done in many parts of the Canarese country. At Toomcoor, twelve miles from Goobee, the people are desirous that we should establish an English school, by which we could convey religious truth to the minds of some of the most respectable Hindoo youth. Between this and the last mentioned place, a distance of fifty miles, there are several large towns, never, I believe, visited by a Christian Missionary. And yet we could go to these people without molestation; nay more, many of them would gladly receive us. why are they not taken up? because we have not Missionaries. The Wesleyan Missionary Society has only one efficient English Missionary in the whole of the Canarese department of the work. It is But |