on the beauty of a flower, he immediately told me its Latin name! To hear our learned language from a native in the semi-nude condition common in these parts, had a very strange effect. My first anxiety was to learn what progress had been made in preparing a memorial to Government, praying for a Female Normal School, as had been proposed. Some of the leading native gentlemen had called a public meeting on the subject; but considerable discussion had arisen, through the apprehension felt by some, that this was a covert attempt to force the English language into their girls' schools, and the meeting was dissolved without coming to any resolution. I therefore asked my friend, the Director of Public Instruction, again to call a meeting of native gentlemen to his house to discuss the matter. This he kindly did, assembling all those who apprehended difficulties and objections, as well as those who entered warmly into the matter. A memorial had already been prepared, and they were all quite satisfied when they understood that the training of teachers did not in any way involve these teachers being employed in their schools, unless desired by the managers, and that, when so employed, they would teach nothing but what the managers wished. The fear entertained by these and other natives, not of the progressive party, appears to be, lest the introduction of the English language into their girls' schools should lead the way to a change in their religion and customs, which they do not desire. We do not wish our ladies to be made humble Christians,' a native gentleman once said to me. This is, I believe, the underlying feeling which causes hesitation as to accepting help from the English. It is to be regretted that they should have any cause to dread interference which they do not desire. The adop

tion of the Government principle of non-interference with religion or social customs, is, therefore, essential to the success of any effort to introduce an improved system of female education, which is now so much. desired by the enlightened portion of the native community. The memorial was soon completed by them, and having been signed by most of the influential Hindoos, was presented to his Excellency the Governor. It was as follows:

To the Right Honorable Francis Lord Napier, K.T., Governor in Council, Fort St. George.

'The humble memorial of the undersigned Hindoo inhabitants of Madras, respectfully showeth :

"That your memorialists crave permission to address your Lordship in Council on the subject of Female Education, a subject so important, and so closely connected with the future welfare of their country, that they cannot but feel that it will meet with the warmest support of your Lordship's government. That your memorialists are convinced that the absence of intellectual culture at present characterising the Hindoo female, is one of the main causes of the tardy progress of Hindoo society; and that, though many are anxious to do all in their power to remove this evil, yet, with the limited resources at their command, they feel that they would fail to achieve success without the help of Government.

'That in the vernacular schools now existing in Madras for the education of Hindoo girls, it has been found impossible, save in exceptional cases, to procure other than male teachers; that this drawback has placed the schools under serious disadvantages, and rendered them less attractive in the of native parents than they otherwise would be; and that, therefore, good female teachers are amongst the foremost wants of the native community.

eyes

'Your memorialists therefore pray that a Normal School may

be established for the training of respectable female teachers, to supply the want complained of.

'And your memorialists, as in duty bound, shall ever pray. 'C. RUNGANADA SHASTRY, and others.

Madras, January 17, 1867.'

My native friends, being anxious to hear particulars of what had been done in Calcutta on this and other subjects, requested me to meet them at the beautiful country residence of one of the leading citizens, Mr. Veccatasawrung Naidoo, which I did with pleasure. Friday, January 18, was the day fixed, and I gladly accepted an invitation to visit first the families of my friends, Rajagopal Charlu the president, and Subroyalu Chetty the secretary, of the Veda Somaj. It was most gratifying to observe how much these gentlemen were doing to elevate and educate the ladies of their families; the only drawback was the want of a common language, which prevented any communication of thought. All that I saw at Madras of these and other native ladies, convinced me that they only want suitable education to render them intellectual and cultivated in manners. On arriving at the house of meeting, I was agreeably surprised by being presented with the following address. I hope I shall not be thought guilty of egotism in copying this and other documents, my object being to show the reader how susceptible this nation is of grateful feeling for kindly sympathy, and how ready they are to give their confidence when they are sure that there are no concealed motives :

'Madam,-We, the undersigned inhabitants of Madras, beg permission to present you with an address, in token of the respect and esteem we feel for you.

'Long before your arrival in India, the reputation of your goodness and benevolence had reached us. Now, after having had the pleasure of making your personal acquaintance, we see how fully that reputation is supported by your feelings and acts. We will not offend your modesty by enumerating all those acts of pure philanthropy which have distinguished you, whose whole life has been devoted to the cause of humanity. But we cannot let you leave these shores without offering to you our sincere and heartfelt thanks for the benevolent solici tude you have displayed for the welfare of the inhabitants of this land, by coming over here, at the risk of health and with the sacrifice of comfort, to promote female education. We assure you, Madam, your visit has stimulated us to fresh exertions in this noble cause, and hope Providence will crown our efforts in this direction with success.

'Again, we humbly beg that you will accept our thanks for your benevolent intentions toward us. We feel that to dwell more upon your undoubted claims to our gratitude is unnecessary, when we remember we are addressing a lady whose heart, love, and griefs have always been given to her fellowbeings, while to say less would not merely be a positive dereliction of duty, but would deprive us of what we regard as a high gratification.

'Fervently praying that Almighty God will pour his choicest blessings on you, and prolong your life-so valuable to the cause of humanity and progress—to the fullest period allotted to mortals,

'We beg to subscribe ourselves,

'Your sincere friends and well-wishers,

'C. RENGANADASHASHY, and others.

Madras, January 18, 1867.'

The next day a party was assembled at Guindy, consisting of a number of the leading native gentlemen, as well as English, with several ladies, to have an opportunity of free conversation respecting the great question of female education. This kind consideration of his

Excellency was highly appreciated, as such friendly intercourse between the two races had not been common hitherto the native gentlemen not having been in the habit of attending receptions at Madras, as at Calcutta.

On Wednesday, January 22, I paid a visit to the Veda Somaj, and once more had the pleasure of joining with my Hindoo friends in an English prayer. I little then anticipated that only a few months would pass before he who led our devotions-one of the most estimable and earnest of those present-P. Subroyalu Chetty, should be called away from this world, after a painful illness, leaving his sweet young wife to lifelong widowhood, his religious society to mourn the loss of their excellent secretary, and his friends (myself among the number) to lament the departure of one from whom we hoped much in the work of progress! We must trust in the wisdom and love of the Heavenly Father where the reasons which guide Him are inscrutable. May those that remain feel only an increased stimulus to carry on the work to which he so earnestly devoted himself!

Whenever it was possible, during my stay in India, I devoted one portion of the Sunday to worshipping with the natives, either in a mission chapel, or (as in Calcutta), with the more advanced in their own worship in English. It was then with peculiar pleasure that on the morning of January 20, I set forth to find a little native church, of which I had already heard much. Its history is remarkable. More than fifty years ago, a native servant of an English gentleman, who attended his master to England, became converted to Christianity by the study of the Scriptures; he fell in with the works of Rammohun Roy and of Dr. Channing, and the perusal of them led him to embrace the doctrines of Unitarian