NEW MISSIONARY STATION.

THE friends of the Society will be pleased to hear that a new scene of Missionary exertion has been presented to the notice of the Committee, and that in a manner so unexpected, and under circumstances so encouraging, as to produce the unanimous conviction, that, notwithstanding the pecuniary difficulties of the Society, it is their duty to embrace it. The Station to which we refer, is the settlement at Honduras, in the Bay of Mexico, from whence large quantities of mahogany are annually imported into this country.

An esteemed mercantile friend, residing at Newcastle, who has long had commercial connection with the settlement, and who has felt laudably anxious to promote the best interests of its numerous population, has laid before the Committee much authentic information respecting the moral wants of this distant region, and generously offered a free passage to any Missionary, whom they may be disposed to send. The present is considered a moment peculiarly favourable.

as the Settlement is favoured with a Commandant, Lieut.-Colonel Arthur, who feels a lively interest in any plans adopted to promote the spiritual advantage of the people under his care, and the extension of Christianity among the native tribes. The latter object will, of course, principally engage the attention of a Missionary; and an extensive field will lay before him, not only in reference to the negroes, numbers of whom are employed in cutting down timber in the forests, but among the Musquito Indians, who inhabit a large tract of coast, to the S. E. of Honduras, and whose chief has always been very friendly with the English, and expressed a wish that instructors might be sent to his dominions. The easy communication too, between this settlement and those extensive provinces which are throwing off the Spanish yoke, and which are assuredly included in the grant made to our ascended Redeemer, will render this station one of peculiar importance, as presenting a post, from whence at no very distant period,thelight of divine truth may probably be diffused throughout these distant regions.

Mr. James Bourne, who has been studying for some years at Bradford, under the direction of Dr. Steadman, and of whose suitableness for the engagement very honourable testimonials

have been given, has expressed his willingness to devote himself to this service, and will sail, Providence permitting, in the month of March or April. Mr. Tinson is expected to proceed, by the same opportunity, to Kingston. His passage is also generously given by the friend before alluded to.

Foreign Intelligence,

CALCUTTA.

THE following melancholy account of the immolation of a widow on the funeral pile, furnished by one of our Missionaries at this station, will derive some illustration from the engraving on the opposite page, in the execu tion of which some care has been taken to secure an accurate representation of the actual scene exhibited on those occasions.

Jan. 18, 1821. About five o'clock this afternoon I received intelligence, that a woman was about to burn with the corpse of her husband. I went immediately to the ghaut, accompa nied by our native brother. The distance was about a mile from our house. Many of the brahmans knew us, and our arrival was the signal for shouting hurree bol-hurree bol. We went to the place where the dead body was lying upon the pile, which was about two or three feet from the ground. The pile was just wide enough for another body to lay abreast, and just the length of the corpse. The fat murderous brahman who seemed to be the chief director of the tragic business, held in his hand a leaf that he pro fessed to be from the ved shaster, directing how the ceremony was to be performed. All was horrid noise and confusion. I was repeatedly forbid to touch the pile. I asked the brahmans how they could take part in so murderous an affair; but all was fury and vociferation. I might as well have had held my peace, yet who that has one spark of love to human nature could be silent? Two thin green bamboos, just about long enough to reach over the pile, were about being fastened by the lower end to the ground. W

reminded them that government had forbidden force to be used, and they desisted. Now the woman came from bathing, and as she approached the pile a shout of hurree bol was repeated. Upon her coming up, the brahmans all surrounded her in a moment, and began to hurry her round the pile. The brahman who held the leaf above mentioned began to read, but the noise was too great for the woman or any one else to hear a single word. At this time, as six or eight of these monsters had got hold of her, I protested they were using violence. To convince me, however, that she was doing it from choice, a brahman, who knew me very well, caused them to stand still, that I might put the question to her. I did so, and understood her to say, 'It was her desire to go with her husband.' Upon this, another shout was set up, and they hurried her round the pile the seventh time; she throwing to the bystanders parched rice, &c. which she held in a corner of the cloth she had round her. When she had gone round the seventh time she stood still for a short time to adjust her clothes, and began to mount the pile, the tender-hearted brahmans rendering her so much assistance that what little strength she had was quite unnecessary to be exerted on this part of the fatal process. When she had mounted, another yell was set up; she laid herself down, and put her husband's withered arm around her. All now was haste to despatch the business. I could bear no more, so went to a distance to the top of the bank. In turning round, I saw a cord fastened tightly round the two bodies, and thick pieces of wood heaping on by which they were pressed as closely together as possible. Together with the wood there was a great deal of straw, and long dry rushes. I was told the son set fire to the pile, but had not an opportunity of seeing for myself. At first the blaze was very great, but the materials being light it was obliged to be kept up by adding more, which the brahmans were officious in supplying both above and below the pile of wood, while a number of persons were fetching jars of water to pour over them lest the fire should hurt them. The two bamboos were constantly applied to jam the wood together. The yelling of the multitude was horrid; and the brahmans busying themselves in keeping up the fire, running in every direction about the pile,

some calling for more light stuff to be supplied, and pouring out abuse upon some who had put it above instead of below, while others violently called upon the people to continue hurree bol, made them appear like so many infuriated fiends. When we had been down a second time among them, we returned home with hearts full of sorrow and indignation."

THE Third Annual Report of the Calcutta Auxiliary Baptist Missionary Society has lately arrived, from which we shall hereafter make some extracts for the information of our readers.

CHITTAGONG.

MR. Colman, who was for a season the colleague of Mr. Judson at Rangoon, has proceeded to this station, where he will derive much assistance from the partial acquaintance with the Burman language he had previ ously acquired, and, we hope, in conjunction with Mr. Johannes, effectually supply the breaches which death has made in this distant quarter. We have been favoured with the following brief extract of a letter from Mr. Colman to Mr. Lawson, dated near the close of 1820.

"My prospects here are, upon the whole, enlivening. Not the least opposition from the government; but all appears pleasant and conciliating. I have recently had two long conversations with a priest of Boodh. They may be termed my first conversations in the Burman lan-, guage. Of course I made out but poorly, but had the satisfaction of finding that he understood me, and felt in some degree that the word of the Spirit is a powerful weapon. He gave me some encou ragement; but time will determine his case. While considering the state of the heathen, I am ready to exclaim, O that my lungs were of brass! I entreat your prayers that I may be strengthened both in body and spirit."