The following extract of a Letter, on this subject, from Madras, of Oct. 22, 1818, is given by the Parent Committee: :

Alas! it is an awful and depressing moment! We have heard that the Natives, affrighted and trembling, have offered what has not been done here these many years, a LIVING SACRIFICE! -an Idiot Boy to one of their Gods: and, tomorrow, there are to be a Procession and Feast, which will cost 1500 pagodas, to appease a Goddess, who has been neglected for many years; who, they say, has, in offended anger, sent forth this scourge.

Very different (say the Corresponding Committee), at this period, were the proceedings at the Mission- House. There, too, the Visitation-heightened as it was by the occurrence, while the disease was yet in its strength, of a tremendous Storm, which, in the course of a very few hours, dispersed at the extremest peril, wrecked, or sunk, every vessel in the Roads, and made the Settlement a surprising scene of desolation, with the loss of many lives both at sea and on shorewas felt, and religiously acknowledged. A solemn Service of Humiliation, to which all persons were invited freely, was esta blished in the Congregation every Thursday; where prayer and supplications were made, for themselves and the people, before the Lord of Hosts, the great and dreadful God. A small Tract, entitled, The Warning,' was composed for the occasion; and circulated, as far as possible, among the people. Of the Heathen, very few were attracted to this interesting assembly; but the eye of the Lord, we may hope, was upon it. The Missionaries appear to have been much gratified by the general fervent spirit which per

vaded the meetings, and the good impressions which seem to survive them in the Congregation. It is pleasing to add, that one only casualty happened within the Mission from the Epidemic-the death of the Catechist Rayappen's wife.

All the School-Houses of the Mission, in and out of Madras, were blown down, or otherwise damaged. Most of them have since been rebuilt or repaired; but the two events, together, have caused a considerable interruption, for the present, in the attendance of the Children in the Schools.

Tranquebar.

In reference to this Station, the Madras Report states—

Mr. Schnarrè's reports of the numeduring the past year, have been unirous Schools under his superintendence, formly favourable. Some New Schools, in very encouraging situations, have been established; and the number of Children generally, has been materially increased— the total numbers, at the end of the year 1817, having been 958; and, at the close of this year, 1387. The only drawback from the pleasure which Mr. Schnarrè's communications respecting his Schools have afforded this year, arises from a notice of his having been obliged to discontinue the Schools, in some villages, where they had long been carried on unavailingly. In place of these, however, New Schools have been substituted, in more promising situations; and the result has thus been finally more advantageous.

Mr. Schnarrè paid a visit to his Brethren and the Committee at Madras, in the month of February, last year; and returned to Tranquebar before Easter: and, in the month of July, he was united in marriage with the Sister-in-law of the Rev. Mr. Schreyvogel, of the Danish Mission at Tranquebar.

He continues to carry on the Seminary for the instruction of Native Christian Youths, for the future service of the Society's Missions: and has expressed much satisfaction at the hopeful indications of piety and intelligence evinced by some of the pupils; several of whom are now about to be detached, according to the purpose of the Institution, to other Stations.

Mr. Schnarrè continues to afford assistance to the Danish Missionaries at Tranquebar, in preaching frequently to the Native Congregations: and, at his Visits of Inspection to the distant Schools, omits no opportunity of declaring to all

the Popish Ceremonies, (which have been suffered gradually to adulterate it, to such a degree, that, in the eyes of a spectator, their Public Worship much resembles that of the Roman Catholics,) and the restoration of the Primitive Discipline and Government of the Syrian Church, were made the subject of discussion with the present Metran above a year ago; and he then expressed his earnest wishes, that those objects might be effected.

Since the arrival of the Rev. Mr. Fenn in Travancore, the subject of reformation has been taken up on a large scale; and, in order to ascertain in what particulars it is required, and to effect its accomplishment by the authority of the Metran himself, it was proposed, in an Address delivered by Mr. Fenn at an assembly of all the Catanars and Elders of the Syrian Churches south of Cotym, held by the Metran at his suggestion at Mauvellicarre on the 3d of December, in the presence of upwards of 700 persons, that six of the eldest and most respectable Catanars should be appointed to define, in conjunction with the Metropolitan and Malpan, the existing Rites, Ceremonies, and Worship of the Syrian Church; in order to every part being canvassed by them and the Missionaries, and brought to the test of the rule of the Scriptures a rule, to the authority of which the Syrians, amidst all the declensions and corruptions of their Church, are found ever ready to submit. This fact, which becomes more and more apparent from an increased acquaintance with them, has been justly observed to constitute one of the most interesting features of their character.

The improvement of the condition of the Syrians will be remarked, too, with thankfulness :

The civil connexion established between the Syrian People at large and the Missionaries, by the Missionaries being made their channels of access and appeal to the British Resident, and through him to the Rannee's Government, has been continued and improved.

It is gratifying to observe, that, so long ago as May last, more than 200 of the Syrians were employed in various Offices under the Government, to which their character for integrity seems to have recommended them, in preference to other classes of the Rannee's Subjects.

Of the College at Cotym and the liberality of the Native Princes, particularly of the Rannee of Travancore, it is stated

The College at Cotym must, in every view, be considered as an Institution of the first importance. It is a point, at which are silently and gradually collecting the means, which, by the Divine Blessing, may ultimately accomplish the political, moral, and religious renovation of a whole people. The permanency of this Institution is secured, not only by the decided favour of the reigning Princess, but by several endowments in land and money. In the course of the last year, her Highness presented it with 20,000 Rupees, which have been laid out in land; besides a previous gift of 1000 Rupees for erecting a Chapel, and furnishing the buildings of the College. She has, very lately, annexed to it a tract of land in the neighbourhood of Quilon, at least seven miles in circumference, with several subsidiary grants in order to render it productive; and, lastly, has appointed a monthly allowance of seventy Rupees from the State, for the support of a Hospital, to be attached to the College.

The Rajah of Cochin, also, emulous of her Highness's bounty, presented 5000 Rupees for the benefit of the Protestant Missions; the whole of which was appropriated, by the Resident, to the support of the Southern Mission, under the Rev. Mr. Mead, of the London Missionary Society.

In recording these acts of her Highness's munificence, the Committee cannot refrain from remarking, in the words used by Col. Munro in communicating the former of them, that "such a noble present for the maintenance of a Christian Seminary reflects the highest honour on the Rannee's mind and heart; and corresponds with the general spirit of her conduct, which is marked by clemency and kindness to her people, by a cordial and sincere attachment to the English Alliance, and by a degree of talent and freedom from prejudice which could not be expected from one so young and so uneducated."

In connexion with this record of her Highness's liberality, it should be stated, that the College at Cotym is not regarded by her Government as a Seminary simply for Priests, but as an Institution for gene ral education, from whence any demands of the State for Officers to fill all departments of its public service are to be met. This expectation will necessarily introduce several branches of instruction, which may be considered foreign from a Missionary's office and objects: but the Committee are, at present, disposed to think, that these branches of instruction, not essential to the direct objects of the Missionary as

means to an end, are yet, in this case, so important and so inseparably connected with the great purpose of the Mission, that any attempt to dissolve this connexion would be attended with great risk to the benefit expected from the Institution.

Till the arrival of Mr. Fenn, toward the end of the last year, Mr. Bailey was the only Missionary resident at Cotym: and, considering the recency of the Institution, and that the greater part of Mr. Bailey's time has been engaged in superintending and revising the Malayalim Translation of the Scriptures, no surprise should be felt, that little progress has yet been made, in giving to the College that systematic form and efficient management, which is generally annexed to the idea of a College regularly endowed. Indeed, this Institution is as yet to be regarded as altogether in its infancy; and the Committee would not think it advisable, even were they enabled, to state many particulars respecting it, at present. Mr. Fenn will be now permanently stationed there, with Mr. Bailey; and it is also expected, that the Metropolitan of the Syrian Church will make it his principal residence. Measures are in progress to collect a suitable Library there, for which several works have been received from England. His Lordship the Bishop of Calcutta, and the Archdeacon of Bombay, have each presented to it a splendid copy of Dr. White's Syriac New Testament; and the Resident in Travancore has presented eleven copies of the Syriac Gospels.

The Translation of the Scriptures into Malayalim was finished; but much time would be required for a careful revision. The Gospels were, however, nearly ready for publication.

Of the Liturgy it is stated

Mr Bailey has also translated into Malayalim the Morning and Evening Services of the Church of England, with the Litany and Catechism, part of the Communion Service, and several of the Collects, Epistles, and Gospels. Every evening he has Family Worship in his house, and, every Lord's Day, Public Service in the College Chapel, in that language. The Syrians are much pleased with our Form of Worship; and the Malpan has pronounced that it much resembles their own. Mr Norton also has translated the Liturgy into the Malayalim.

The Scriptures are here, as in

Oct. 1819.

other places, widely diffusing the knowledge of Salvation :

In the course of the last year, the Committee despatched to Travancore a large number of Syriac New Testaments, received from the British and Foreign Bible Society. A copy has been distributed to each of the Syrian Churches; and to Churches where there were several Catanars, two copies were given. Copies have been also retained at Cotym, for the use of the College. A supply of Arabic, Persian, and Hindoostanee Testaments, received from the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society, has also been forwarded to Allepie; where Mr. Norton has deposited a few of each in the house of a Parsee, which forms a commercial re. sort, both to the inhabitants of Allepie, and to traders from the Persian Gulph and the Red Sea; to whom one or other books are kept upon a table, and are acof those languages is vernacular. The Arabic Testament has been requested, cessible to all comers. A copy of the for a present to an Imâm at Muscat.

Of the Schools and Mission at Allepie, the Corresponding Committee make the following Report:

The School under Mr. Norton at Allepie, on the ninth of the present month, contained forty-four Scholars; exclusive of the Orphan Children, yet to be mentioned, amounting in number to twentysix. The plan of teaching is that observed in the Tranquebar Schools. It appears that the Scholars attend and learn willingly, and that some of them make a tolerable proficiency.

Great opposition has been exerted toward this School, by the Roman-Catholic Priests. They have denounced exclusion from the Sacraments against the Parents who send their Children thither, and the Children who learn the Scriptures at it; and an Ecclesiastical Order was issued by the Vicarial Authority at Verapoli, expressly to prohibit attendance at the School and learning the Scriptures. The people also, of all persuasions, at Allepie, for some time, entertained an indefinite apprehension of some sinister design connected with it. Roman-Catholic Children, however, do attend and increase, in spite of their Priests; and the people seem to have watched Mr. Norton's proceedings long enough to be satisfied that nothing but the benefit of their Children is intended. The School has, therefore, risen

in their favour, and is likely to be enlarged;

3 K

and Mr. Norton has lately found occasion to apply to the Committee for the establishment of a new one, in a different part of the Town.

Besides this School, Mr. Norton has established an Asylum for Orphans and Destitute Children, supported entirely by local contributions; which contained, on the ninth of the present month, twenty-six children. This project, like' the School, suffered for a while from the apprehension that some evil use was to be made of the Children: but observation favoured it, in the same manner; and the applications for admission at length exceeded the amount of the Contributions. Upon this Mr. Norton applied to the Committee, to know whether he might proceed in receiving Children, in dependence on the Society's Funds. This the Committee did not feel themselves warranted to sanction, as they consider the portion of the Funds in their hands to be applicable only to the one express purpose of a Missionary Society. They remembered, also, that, notwithstanding the still stronger claims of Africa on British Liberality, in this very respect, the Parent Society do not appropriate any part of its Missionary Fund to a similar Institution there, but have established a Separate Fund for its support. The Committee have, however, expressed to Mr. Norton their cordial approbation of the Institution; and encouraged him to proceed with it, as far as local resources will admit.

The Church at Allepie is not yet finished ; but a respectable Congregation now usually assembles at Mr. Norton's house, on the mornings and evenings of the Lord's Day, consisting of the School Children, of Syrians, Roman Catholics, and Heathens. Till the month of August last, the Service was performed in English; in which language the School Children had been taught to join pretty well in the responses. On the second of that month, for the first time, Mr. Norton read one of the Lessons in Malayalim; and, on the thirtieth of the same month, read Prayers also in that language. Since this period his Congregation has increased considerably; and, on one oocaAion, amounted to near 200 persons. Both the School Children and Syrians join in the responses; and the Service is now regularly closed with a Sermon in Malayalim.

For a short period in the course of the year, Mr. Norton was appointed a Judge

in the Civil Court of Allepie; but, notwithstanding the benefits which certainly resulted in many respects from it, the objections to such an employment of any Missionary, especially of a Missionary in the circumstances of those in Travancore, were found, on the maturest deliberation, so far to outweigh them, that the Committee were constrained to remonstrate against it, and the arrangement was decisively annulled, and will not be resumed.

A calamity of a serious kind befel Mr. Norton, in the last year-the destruction of his House, School-Room, and Furniture, by fire. The conflagration began at the School-Room, which, with all the books and apparatus in it, was quickly consumed. It commenced at the hottest time of the day, 'when both Scholars and Teachers would be absent at their meals; and, favoured by the wind, spread rapidly to the house. Mr. Norton was absent on business. From scarcity of water and want of timely assistance, no part of the building, and but little of the furniture, could he saved. Of the books, belonging both to the Society and to Mr. Norton, nearly all have been saved; and the Committee feel it a subject of devout thankfulness, that no lives were lost; and that the pecuniary loss to the Society has been greatly relieved, by her Highness the Rannee's munificence, and the liberality of several European Gentlemen resident on the Western Coast. By these Gentlemen a handsome sum was shortly subscribed to assist Mr. Norton in his distress; and the Rannee immediately ordered that the timber for rebuilding the House should be furnished at the public expense. A fresh supply of books and other requisites to reinstate the School was despatched from Madras, at the earliest possible moment after the intelligence was received, and immediate measures were taken to rebuild and new furnish the Mission House.

Chaplains' Stations.

The Corresponding Committee are without recent particular information from some of their friends, of the progress of their measures for furthering the objects of the Society at their respective Stations; and they are concerned to state, that necessary Clerical Arrangements are, at the present period, occasioning removals to new places of some of the Chaplains who had united in