printing of his translation, which has been, with several others, delayed through want of paper, is now going forward. Our steam engine is now in operation, and fully answers its purpose, so that we have plenty of paper. In short, accounts from every part of India are encouraging. The printing of the Mabratta Bible is almost finished; the last proof sheet I read finished Micah within a verse or two, and all is printed except the remainder of the minor prophets. The historical books in Punjabee are almost finished; the last proof sheet reached to the seventh chapter of Nehemiah. In Telinga, Pushtoo, and Kunkuna, we are nearly through Leviticus. The New Testament will, within a few months, be finished at press in Goojurattee, Bikaneer, Kashmeer, and Karnata; and several others are advanced as far as Luke or John. Through mercy I enjoy tolerably good health; which is the case with us all except my wife, whose weak ness is great. Eustace's wife is just recovering from a dangerous illness; last Friday her life was despaired of, but she is now recovering. The American Missionaries have been ordered to quit the Burman dominions; and Mr. and Mrs. Coleman have arrived in Calcutta. Three persons had received the word at Rangoon, and were baptized; this stirred up opposition, and they resolved upon going to Ava, to request leave of the king to propa gate the gospel in his dominions, It could scarcely be expected that a heathen king should give that liberty, and he of course refused it, and ordered them out of the country, saying, that though the Burman laws allow all to worship as they choose, yet they allow of no proselyting. On their return to Rangoon, some who had occasionally attended before, came forward and proposed themselves for baptism. This induced Brother Judson to resolve upon staying as long as he could. LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. LATAKOO, SOUTHAFRICA --Mrs. Moffat writes: "The state of the natives in general is truly distressing; all that I ever heard of it in England falls short of the truth in order to form an adequate idea of it, a person must come and see.' The Bushmen appear to be the most degraded of all the tribes, and are greatly despised by the rest." With regard to Latakoo she says, "Circumstances here are as good as can be expected;" but as yet, she thinks there is little true piety. The Missionaries are still under the disadvantage of teaching the people by an Interpreter; but Mr. Moffat is applying himself vigorously to the attainment of the native language. While at Madras, he completed the printing of the Four Gospels, and the Acts of ths Apostles, in the Canaree language. These are already getting into pretty extensive circulation. Several of the Epistles also are translated, and ready for the press.. As to the inhabitants, she says, "I like the people here exceedingly. I think them much superior to any of the other tribes I have yet seen. Except in colour, many have English features, and some of them are beautiful. Manooth, the queen, appears to be a very sensible woman, and were she a Christian, would probably be a shining character. India-Mr. Hands, of Bellary, in a letter written in July, last, gives an encouraging account of the progress of Missions in India. 2 An Auxiliary Bible Society, and a School Book Society, have been formed at Madras. Every thing there presents a pleasing appearance, especially among the higher classes. Mr. Hands, on his journey from Madras to Bellary, met with a gentleman of influence, much devoted to God and his cause. Mr. H., while at his house, baptized 20 natives, 10 instructed adults, and 10 children. The good people at Seringapatam are going on well. They have built a neat chapel for the worship of God, in doing which they were much assisted by some European officers. They are very desirous of having a missionary to reside among them, and one of the brethren will soon pay them a visit. At Bellary, the concerns of the mission appear to be in a very pleasing state. CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The following Extracts from an Address of Lieutenant Colonel MONRO, Resident at the Court of Travancore, on the state of Christianity in that residency, show that those apprehensions which some have entertained of the political danger of attempting to spread the religion of CHRIST in our Indian possessions, are without any foundation. The facts adduced are incontrovertible, and they certainly afford encouragement to Christians to avail themselves of, at least, the passive disposition of the Hindoos, so as to put the means of acquaintance with the only religion which is of GoD within their reach. The History of Malabar suggests important reflections regarding the diffusion of Foreign Religions in India. That country, from the most remote eras, has continued under the government of Native Princes, remarkable for their devoted attachment to the Hindoo Faith: yet the Mahomedan and Christian Religions have prevailed to a great extent, in all the provinces of Malabar; and, in some of them, the former religion has nearly supplanted the original creed of the people. A survey of the history of all the States in India presents nearly the same result. Every where, the patient apathy of the Hindoos toward the zealous propagation of the Mahomedan religion, by the ordinary means of conversion, has been conspicuous. As in Malabar, the open invasion of the political, civil, and religious rights of the people has caused resistance; but the peaceful progress of conversion has been regarded with indifference and calmness by the Hindoos: and it seems to be only in cases of open force, in cases particularly wherein political are combined with religious motives, that their attention is attract ed to the propagation of foreign religions. The same inferences are suggested by the history of Christianity in Malabar. Under a race of superstitious and bigotted Hindoo princes, amidst a people peculiarly attached to the creed of the Brahmans, a few missionaries from Syria established the Christian Religion, to an extent that attracts our attention and wonder. La Croze, in his very interesting History of Christianity in India, describes the state of the Syrians, a few years after the first arrival of the Portuguese, in the following language:-"The authority of the Syrian Bishops extends to all temporal and spiritual In matters. They are the natural Judges of all Civil and Ecclesiastical Canses, within their Diocese, virtue of their privileges, which are never contested, the Pagan Princes and Judges have no concern with them, excepting only in criminal causes. The Syrians, besides the fixed tribute which they pay to their princes, are required only to furnish a certain number of troops during their wars, which are neither frequent nor of long duration. The diocese of the Syrian Bishop contains, at present, more than one thousand five hundred churches, and as many towns and villages. This great number must continue to augment; as the priests are not engaged to celibacy, and as there are no monks or nuns among them. The men always walk armed; some with fusees, of which they know perfectly well the use, others with spears, but the greatest number carry only a naked sword in the right hand, and a shield in the left. They are carefully instructed in the use of arms, from their eighth to their twenty-fifth year, and are excellent hunters and warriors. The more Christians a Pagan Prince has in his dominions, the more he is feared and esteemed. It is on this account, as well as on that of their fidelity and strict attachment to truth in every thing, that the Princes cherish and countenance them so much. "The privileges of the Syrian Christians are so numerous, that it would be tiresome to describe them all; but a few will be stated, of so important a nature, that they place them, in some measure, on an equality with their sovereigns. It is permitted only to the Brahmins and them, to have inclosed porches before their houses. They are authorised to ride and travel on elephants; a distinction accorded only to them and the heirs of the crown They sit in presence of the King and his Ministers, even on the same carpet; a privilege granted to Ambassadors only." The extraordinary advancement of the Christian and Mahomedan religions, in a country governed and inhabited by Hindoos, furnishes a striking and singular illustration of the insensibility of that people toward any exertions for the introduction of a foreign religion, that are conducted with moderation and temper. The more the state of society among the Natives in India is explored, the more reasons will appear to convince an impartial mind of the disregard felt and manifested by all classes of the people toward the dissemination of religious opinions foreign to their own; -a result occasioned by the great variety of religions, which have prevailed for ages in that country. The followers of Shiva and Vishnoo display no animosity toward each other, and both appear to regard with unconcern the rites and the progress of the Mahomedan Faith; while the believers in the Koran view with silent contempt the idolatrous practices of the Hindoos: and this admixture of various and opposite religious opinions and usages, in the same community, has necessarily familiarized and reconciled the minds of the people to the appearance of systems of divine worship different from their own. In Travancore, Christians, Jews, Mahomedans, and Hindoos, perform their respective religious duties, without molestation from one another: Churches, Synagogues, Mosques, and Pagodas, are intermingled: and this system of toleration, so far as the sentiments of the PEOPLE are concerned, may be discovered in every part of India. The facts which I have described seem to authorise the conclusion-a conclusion, which, I am convinced, will be further confirmed the more the subject is examined and studied--that whatever impediments may be opposed to the progress of Christianity will proceed from political and not from religious jealousy. They who cherish sentiments of hostility against the British power, and hopes of its instability, will, of course, decry any measures calculated to unite the interest of a body of the people with its permanency. That power is exposed to greater danger from secret conspiracy, than from open resistance; and this danger must increase with the extension of the British possessions, which augments the disproportion in numbers, already so immense, between the rulers and the subjects. But, in establishing a body of native subjects connected with the mass of the people by a community of language, occupations, and pursuits, and united to the British Government by the stronger ties of religion and mutual safety, ample means would be acquired of procuring information of the proceedings of the people, and of all machinations against the British Power. In the course of time, still greater advantages would arise; and the support of a respectable body of Christian Subjects would contribute to strengthen the British Power, in those junctures of commotion and difficulty, which must be expected to occur in a country, like India, that has been in a state of revolution for ages. The introdaction of Christianity, in some of the Provinces, may be attended with delays; but, in Travancore and Cochin, there is already a numerous body of Christian inhabitants, who, with moderate assistance and encouragement from the British Government, will firmly attach themselves to its interests, and may prove of material service in supporting its power. ANNIVERSARIES. On Monday evening, January 1, the Third Anniversary of the Manchester Juvenile Methodist Missionary Society was held in Bridgewater chapel. The meeting, (which was large and respectable,) was opened by the Rev. M. Wilson, after which James Heald, Esq., the Treasurer, was called to the chair. The Report was read by Mr. James Marshall, (one of the Secretaries,) and the meeting was addressed by the Rev. Messrs. Wilson, Newton, and Stephens, the Rev. Dr. Taft, Mr. Ermitage, missionary from the London Society to Otaheite, and Messrs. Henson, Jonathan Growther, jun. Leadbeater, sen. Bowers, Leadbeater, jun. Cryer, Joseph Marshall, Mayson, and James Marshall. The interest excited increases at each succeeding anniversary. The preparatory sermon was preached on the preceding evening in Grosvenor-street chapel by the Rev. Robert Newton. The collections amounted to 481. 15s. 44d. The receipts of the past year were 2527. 13s. 1d. of which 1417. 148. 4d. was collected by the Female Branch. The sum total collected by this Juvenile Society, during the two years and nine months since its establishment, amounts to 6637. 9s. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. F. TRUSCOTT, dated Helstone, Mr. Buckley has attended three Anniversary Branch Missionary Meetings in this District, much, I believe, to his own satisfaction, and certainly very much to the advantage of those meetings, and to the gratification of our friends in every place where his labours were bestowed. On Monday, February 26, our meeting was held at Penzance, and so numerously attended, that the chapel was crowded to excess; and several hundreds of persons, who came to the chapel-yard and door, could find no room. That truly public-spirited gentleman, Sir Rose Price, ably presided. On Tuesday, Feb. 27, our highly-respected friend, Colonel Sandys, kindly favoured us by taking the Chair at Helstone. On Wednesday, Feb. 28, the meeting at Redruth was also numerously attended and the feelings excited during the Services were manifestly favourable both to piety in general, and to the interests of Missions in particular. In these meetings great assistance was derived from the concurrent labours of the Rev. Messrs. Buckley, Treffry, Burgess, Davies, Akerman, Jones, and Bryan, and of the Rev. Mr. Foxall, Independent Minister at Penzance, the Rev. Mr. Lane, Baptist Minister at Helstone, the Rev. Mr. Dore, Baptist Minister at Redruth, and many others. Indeed, our Cornish motto, "One and all," was most happily exemplified in a general and cheerful readiness to come to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty. The illness of his child at Kingswood-School, calling away Brother Martin before our meetings commenced, we were deprived of his important assistance. But justice to him and his worthy colleagues constrains me to say, that their ardent and indefatigable exertions in behalf of the missions, among a people whom the LORD has disposed to offer willingly, have rendered the Penzance Circuit a praise in this District, and an example to the whole connexion. DEPARTURE OF MISSIONARIES. Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson sailed on the 17th ult. in the Duke of Marlborough, for Cape Town, South Africa. Mr. and Mrs. Croscombe and family sailed on the 20th in The Branstons, for Gibraltar. Mr. and Mrs. Leigh, Mr. and Mrs. Horton, and Mr. Walker, are expected to take their departure immediately in The Brixton, for New-South Wales. We commend our Brethren and Sisters to the special prayers of the Friends of Missions. 3 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WESLEYAN METHODIST We beg leave to direct the attention of the Friends of our Missions in general to the arrangement of the religious services connected with the approaching Anniversary of the Society, as it stands on the cover of the present Number. From the general aspect of the accounts received through the year, we hope to meet, not in order to lament failures, or to argue against discouragement, but to unite with our mutual congratulations our devout thanksgivings to GOD, for the success with which the LORD of the harvest has been pleased to crown the efforts of his labourers, and for those encouragements which are offered to new enterprises for the extension of the kingdom of our LORD, to yet unvisited regions of darkness and misery. In these delightful exercises we hope to be joined by many of our friends from different parts of the country. May we all meet in the deep spirit of sympathy for a world, so great a part of which is still sitting in darkness and the shadow of death; and unite in prayers more solemn, earnest, and prevailing for the larger effusion of that Divine influence which alone can render successful the efforts of men, for the conversion and salvation of souls! Contributions to the Wesleyan Missionary Society, received by the General Treasurers, since the Account published last Month Monies received at the Mission House. Subscriptions of Gentlemen resident at Bombay From Joseph Bulmer, Esq. From R. Campion, Esq. £13 15 0 £. s. 4. 25 0 7 14 3 Upton Tripp, Esq. late The Committee return their Thanks for the following acceptable Presents to the Society To B. Clarkson, Esq. Howden, a present of Hyınn-Books, for the South-Sea Missions; to Friends in Sheffield, for large Assortments of valuable Articles, for the South-Sea Missions, forwarded by the Rev. Thomas Wood and Messrs. Harwood and Sons; to Mrs. Hughes, High-Wycombe, for several volumes of Magazines; to J. Irving, Esq. Bristol, for a travelling tent for the South-Sea Missions; to female friends, near Lincoln, for sundry Testaments and Tracts, for South-Sea Missions; to Rev. J. Bryant, for 10 volumes of Sermons entitled, Help in Time of Need; to Rev. J. Hodson, for 20 copies of his Sermon, on the Death of Mrs. Fletcher; to Mr. G. Loddiges, Hackney, for three boxes of valuable seeds and plants, for the New-Zealand Missions, and one box of seeds, for the Gambia Missien; tó sundry friends, at Bridlington-Quay, for a box of articles for the South-Sea Missions; to sundry friends, at Hanley, for earthenware, &c. for South-SeaMissions; to sundry friends, at Burslem, for a valuable crate of earthenware, &c. for South-Sea Missions; to Mr. Bail, Paternoster-Row, and other friends, London, for sundry articles, for South-Sea Missions; to Mr. Samuel Kerslake, Crediton, near Exeter, for 12 pairs of coloured shoes; to Mr. J. Banks, Keswick, for a quantity of slate and black-lead pencils for South-Sea Missions; to friends at Weymouth, per Rev. T. Lessey, for two boxes of sundries, for South-Sea Missions; to friends, at Bolton, for sundry articles, for South-Sea Missions; to Mr. J. Nicholson, Barnard Castle, for sundry articles of female wearing-apparel, for South-Sea Missions; to Mr. Thomas Killock, and other friends at Groombridge, Kent, for sundry articles; to friends at Wakefield, for a box of valuable articles, for South-Sea Missions; to Mr. J. Vickers, Leeds, for six dozen penknives, for South-Sea Missions; to the Ladies of Liskeard, per Miss E. Hede, for sundry articles, for the Mission to the Friendly Islands; to several friends at Cockermouth. per Mr. John Richardson, for sundry articles, for South-Sea Missions; to several friends at Shaftsbury, per Mrs. Button, for sundry articles, for South-Sea Missions; to Elizabeth Drury, for sandry presents, for South-Sea Missions; to a friend, for sundry articles; to a friend, at Bayswater, for a valuable assortment of garden seeds, and sundry female garments, &c. for South-Sea Missions; to Mr. Thomas Wood, Brixham, for four volumes of Methodist Magazines; to Mrs. Gaunt, Leek, for sundry articles, for South-Sea Missions; to Mrs. Wardle, Leek, for two volumes of Methodist Magazines, and one Pocket-Bible; to Mr. Oliver, Longuor, for sundry articles of female wearing-apparel; to friends at Dartford, per Mr.J. Wright, for sundry valuable articles, including a newly invented patent washing machine, for South-Sea Missions: to Mr. S. Rose, Battle-Bridge, London, for sundries; to a friend to Missions, per Capt. Ranson, London, for sundry pairs of scissors, &c.; to sundry friends at Seven-Oaks, for a box of valuable articles, for South-Sea Missions; to friends at Lewes, in the Brighton Circuit, sundry articles, for South-Sea Missions; to friends at Thetford, per Mr.S. Crusha, sundry valuable articles, for South-Sea Missions; to Mrs. Godden, Southborough. Tonbridge, Kent, for a present to children at New-Zealand; to friends at Leeds, per Rev R Reece, a box of valuable articles, for South-Sea Missions; to Mr.J.Harrison, of Redditch, for fish-hooks, and trowling-hooks, for South-Sea Missions; to Mrs. H. Moore and friends in Bristol, for sundry articles, for the South-Sea Missions; to Mr. Whiteley, Rosamond Street, Clerken well, for a valuable Patent Cooking Stove, for the New Zealand Mission; to Mrs. Colfilson, 12, Cross-Street, Islington, for two volumes or Methodist Magazines. Printed by T. CORDEUX, 14, City-Road, Londo |