tion, some of the native teachers are tolerably well qualified; but for want of a more enlarged view of the Christian system, they cannot answer the many inquiries made by their hearers, nor are they capable of opening the mysteries of Redemption in the manner they ought. The lowest order of these native teachers, when converted, have hardly been capable of read ing, and are still in a state of deficiency very painful to the Missionaries.

In these circumstances, Dr. Carey and his brethren have for some time back been very anxious to establish a Seminary, wherein the case of native Pastors and Missionaries should be met; and, trusting in God that they should not be disappointed in these desires for completing the plan into which they have been gradually led, they have bought a piece of ground adjoining to the Mission premises, on which there is an old house, and which, for the present, may be sufficient for the instruction of those whom God may give unto them; but they should be glad to see, before their removal by death, a better house erected. A row of small rooms for the students is immediately wanted.

The brevity of a letter hardly admits of enlargement on the importance and necessity of a Seminary to meet these purposes. The Catholic Institution at Penang, for training up Chinese converts; a Similar one at Malacca, established through the liberality and efforts of Dr. Morrison, in conjunction with the Rev. Mr. Milne; and that which has been proposed by the Lord Bishop of Calcutta since the formation of this at Serampore, might be mentioned as offering arguments to sup port the necessity of the object: But the melancholy necessity is too glaring not to be seen by the most superficial observer. When would English Missionaries be able to in

struct the whole of India? At present, there is not one minister for each million of British subjects,even if we include every Clergyman and every Missionary now to be found in that country; and nearly half of these are confined to districts,which do not comprise more than twenty square miles, and the other half do little or nothing for the heathen: yet our native subjects in India do not amount to one half the population of Hindoost'han, which cannot be less than one hundred and fifty millions. The pecuniary resources, and the number of Missionaries required for the instruction of all these millions, can never, therefore, be supplied from England; and India will never be turned from gross idolatry to serve the living and true God, unless the grace of God rest on converted natives, to qualify them for the work, and unless, by the instrumentality of those who care for India, they be sent forth into the field. It is on native Preachers, therefore, that the weight of this work must ultimately rest, though the presence of European Missionaries will also be indispensably necessary for many years to come; and to enable the Serampore Missionaries to commence, as soon as practicable, the work of sending them into this immense field, in the best possible state of preparation, is the purport of this appeal to British Christians.

The fitness of native Preachers for the work can hardly be appreciated without considering the difficulty of acquiring a foreign language, so as to be able to become a persuasive preacher in it-an attainment which but few, even of those called Missionaries, acquire; without referring to the heat of the climate, which in a great measure incapacitates an European for very active services in the open air, and without considering that the only way, for many years to come, in

which the spiritual wants of this vast population can be met, must be by numerous and constant journies among them. From what treasury could places of worship be built all over India?-and if they existed, who should, who could persuade the heathen to enter them? But the native Preacher, under a tree, or even in the open air, can address his countrymen for hours together, without feeling more fatigue than what attends similar labours in England; he also can find access to his own countrymen, and, which Europeans cannot have, to the lower orders of his own countrywomen, in every place; he can subsist on the simple produce of the country, can find a lodging in almost any village he may visit, and he knows the way to the hearts, as well as to the heads of his countrymen, without difficulty. The European cannot travel without carrying along with him his food,and that wherein he may sleep, as there are no public inns; and hence a boat or palanquin are quite necessary. Thus the expense of travelling to an European is very considerable: while the Hindoo Preacher, subsisting on ten shillings a week, including travelling charges, will find that amply sufficient to carry him all over the country. Nor ought the expenses of giving to the English Missionary an education, his outfit, his passage money, and the large salary he requires there to maintain him, be forgotton in the comparison between a native and a European Missionary.

Besides the improvement of converted natives, who may be selected for the work of the ministry, or for Missionary employment, Dr. Carey and his brethren hope that some of these pious Hindoos may be capable of acquiring a higher education; and that, after becoming good Sungskrit, as well as Hebrew and Greek scholars, they may be successfully

employed as translators of the Divine Word into languages, with the structure of which they will be perfectly familiar. The dialects of India are so numerous, that it can hardly be expected that the Holy Scriptures will be very soon rendered into all of them; and when that shall have been accomplished, their improvement and perfection can only be hoped for through the revision of learned Christian natives. The children of English Missionaries, who may be the subject of saving influences, and may be called to the work of the Mission, will find in this College that education which may prepare them to become the most efficient agents in the gathering in of the heathen.

It is further intended, that a respectable but inferior education should be given at this College, to a number of the children of converted Hindoos and Mussulmans, so as to qualify them for situations in life, by which they may procure a decent livelihood, and rear and educate their families. Hereby some amends may be made to their parents and themselves, for the deprivations to which they have been subjected by the loss of cast; and thus will be wiped away the dreadful reproach common throughout every part of India, that the Feringees (the Christians) are sunk the lowest of all casts in vice and ignorance.

And, lastly, this College is proposed to be open and gratuitous to all denominations of Christians, and to as many heathen scholars as choose to avail themselves of its exercises and lectures,provided they maintain themselves. In the illumination of large and successive bodies of the heathen, it is contemplated that the effects of this College on India may be most important.

The ground for the erection of the buildings necessary for this Sem

inary, was purchased during the past year, after the plan, published all over India, had received the sanction and patronage of the Most Noble the Marquis of Hastings, his Excellency Jacob Krefting, Esq. the Governor of Serampore, and other distinguished personages. This plan is now printed in England, and copies may be had by applying to Messrs. Black, Kingsbury, Parbury, and alien, Leadenhale treet, or to the Rev. W. Ward, No. 60, Paternoster-row, London."

Before Mr. Ward left Serampore to visu England for the recovery of his health, he had begun to give practical effect to this plan, by superintending the instruction of a number of youth, who might be considered as the first pupils of this Seminary. A letter from Seram. pore, dated in February last, says, "the number of youth in the College is thirty-one, of whom twentythree are Christians; they are going on well." By another letter, dated 25th of March, we learn that two native Professors have been ap. pointed, the one for Astronomy, and the other for the Hindoo law. The scholars had then been removed into the house already purchased; but the rooms for the accommodation of the students had not been erected, for want of funds. As soon as pious teachers shall have gone from England, and shall have entered on their work, the number of pupils will present a large field for labour-labours which will, in their eternal results, amply repay the cultivator, as well as all those who shall have contributed to the gathering in of so rich a harvest; for, if they "that turn many to righteousness, shali shine as the stars for ever and ever," surely they who have been co-workers with them, shall share in their glory.

quate to meet the first expenses. A considerable sum is therefore wanted from England to realize this, as it is humbly conceived, most important design.

On mentioning this object at a meeting of the Committee of the Society in June last, they recommended it by passing the following resolution: The Committee of the Baptist Missionary Society rejoice to witness the progress of religion and learning in the Eastern World; and as they conceive that the College recently founded by their Brethren at Serampore may materially promote this most desir. able object, they beg leave to recommend it to the liberal attention of the British public.

"JOHN RYLAND, "JOHN DYER."

"London, June 26, 1819,"

Mr. Ward hopes, that on his taking leave the second time of his beloved country, to return to his colleagues at Serampore in May next, he shall be able to carry with him that help which may rear this house for the name of our God, and from whence many heralds of salvation may go forth to preach among the heathen "the glorious Gospel of the blessed God." Dr. Carey and his brethren have devoted 20,000 rupees, or £2,500, from the proceeds of their own labour, to this work; and Mr. Ward would have gone through the kingdom, and by personal solicitation have endeavoured to collect the sum further wanted, about four thousand pounds; but the general funds of the Society were so low, that he could not help devoting some time to efforts for recruiting them, and has for this purpose visited various parts of the kingdom. He still hopes, however, that the absolute necessity of pro

of your letter, for I thought that you had been taken away by our Lord. The small watch which you sent me is in my hands, and remains with me as a keep-sake for you,dear Friend.

'A society has been formed here in Tahiti. It was formed in May, 1818. We are collecting cocoa-nut oil, pork, arrow-root, and cotton, as property to promote the Word of God. Our business is to send the property collected to you, at your place. That is our work at this time. The Chiefs of Tahiti have been made Governors. We have also a Secretary and a Treasurer. When it gets into the same order as yours, then it will do.

Next May we intend to establish a code of laws. Then all the people of Tahiti will assemble at Pare. The laws will be established; and a consultation will take place. The faulty parts will be corrected: and when it is very correct, the people will return to their houses.

Your name has been given by me to the vessel which has been built here; I was urgent about it, for some said that it should have another name; but I said, No, the the name must be the Haweis. The reason I was so urgent about it was because you were so very attentive to us of Tahiti; yea, and indeed all of you, for the Lord put the thought into your minds to send Missionaries here to Tabiti, that they might sound the trumpet and make known the of life; and when the true way and desired time of the Lord was come that it should spring up here, the Lord caused the comet to fly ;* Tahiti was stricken by that comet, and (the enchantment of) Tahiti was broken by that comet, yea, and all these lands also. This star is still flying, and at the time appointed by the Lord that it should

• This is an allusion to a letter we have not seer

G.