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London Missionary Society-stated, had assured the Missionaries of its protection, and the enjoyment of their former privileges; and its having, some months after, ordered the Schools to be re-opened, (which it had previously commanded to be closed on the death of the King, as a token of respect to his memory,) and afterward sent forth teachers into all the surrounding districts, where Schools had been established, to carry those orders into effect, seemed to evince a disposition to fulfil the assurances which it had made. From the instructions which the Public Authorities had given to the Missionaries, soon after the demise of Radama, they were led to expect that the Schools would remain closed during the whole time of the mourning, (which continued ten months,) in accordance with an established usage, or law, of Madagascar, that requires all labour to be suspended during that season; but this did not, eventually, prove to be the case. The Schools in the Country were, by direction of the Government, re-opened three months before the cessation of the mourning, The exception thus made, in and the Central School some time before them. favour of the Schools, will excite less surprise, when it is stated, that the Government had been accustomed, from time to time, to procure out of them numerous Youths, who, from the education which they had received therein, were capable of rendering services to the State, for the performance of which, the uninstructed part of the juvenile population are by no means qualified.

During this interval, the Missionaries had viewed, with considerable apprehensions, the idolatrous superstitions of the Country, which, in the latter part of the late monarch's reign, had lost much of their former credit and influence, regaining, under the immediate sanction and active encouragement of the Government itself, a portion of their ancient authority and dominion over the minds of the people. In an early part of the past year, it was officially announced to them, that the systems of idolatry and divination, as they existed prior to their arrival, had been restored throughout Imerina..... The ancient idolatry and superstition of the island at length attained their former vigour, together with somewhat more than their accustomed importance in the minds of the people, resulting from the excitement of peculiar circumstances. Meanwhile, the Schools, once so numerous and flourishing, were everywhere dwindling away; so that, from the intelligence last received, there seems reason to apprehend, that, comparatively, few of them now remain in existence. The Directors are happy, however, to add, that the accounts afford no ground for concluding that the labours of the press had been suspended.

Considering the appalling character of some of the events which immediately followed the death of the King and the subsequent unsettled situation of the Country, the Missionaries have evinced no inconsiderable share of firmness, or, we would rather say, confidence in God, by steadily remaining at their post, and calmly pursuing their labours, as long as there existed the smallest ground to hope that the assurances of the Government would be realized, and the operations of the Mission remained unimpeded.-(Directors, in Report.)

The darkness increases, and almost all events seem unfavourable: an unhealthy season-excessive rains-much rice destroyed-provisions dear, scarce, and poorthe only enlightened part of the Government, the young officers, losing their influence-the old judges recovering theirs, with all their prejudices and superstitions-twelve of the principal officers had been compelled to drink the Tangena, but had escaped with their lives. Others in attendance on the Queen, who were suspected of having caused her illness, had also been compelled to drink it, and three of them had died. Andriamihaju stands alone, in adhering to the plans of improvement commenced by Radama: all the rest who were friendly have perished, so that he was the only remaining friend of the Mission; and had he died by the ordeal all must have been lost. A general purification of the Country, by ordeal, has lately taken place, and hundreds, if not thousands, perished by the vile ordeal Tangena-the Queen said to be "foolish," and removed, by order of the Iked, about 20 miles from the capital-and the Schools left as they were, though promised only a short time ago some reformation.—(Mr. Freeman: May 1830.)

The accounts from Madagascar still continue to be of a mixed and chequered character. In regard to the Mission itself, they are, in many respects, cheering. and encouraging: in relation to the Political State of things in the island they are of an opposite complexion.

As to the Mission, it is gratifying to state, that the Native Congregation is larger and more attentive than it has been for a considerable time past-that a number of the adults are STATED hearers-that the Prayer-Meetings are well attended-that the Malagasse New-Testament has been dispersed, by means of the Schools, through a considerable part of the Kingdom of Ovah, and even as far as the sea-coast in several different directions-that, beside the many thousands who have been taught in the Mission School, several adults have learned to read it-that it is earnestly sought after, and diligently perused, by some who manifest a spirit of inquiry not formerly evinced that the knowledge and conviction of the Truth is silently spreading-that some have openly renounced Idolatry, and profess Christianity-that the Natives who have thus embraced the Gospel appear, in a pleasing measure, to understand its doctrines and experience its power-that they zealously exert themselves in imparting the Truth to their relatives-that, in some instances, these efforts have been successful-that some of the Christian Natives have begun to pray in their families and bring their relatives to the House of God: to which we may add, that the present Malagasse Government has latterly shewn a disposition, not merely to tolerate, but to encourage, education, by distinguishing those Youths who make the greatest progress in learning by special marks of favour.

As to the External Circumstances of Madagascar itself, we are concerned to state that the more recent accounts are calculated to excite apprehensions of the island becoming the theatre of intestine war, and the Kingdom of Ovah, in particular, the scene of hostile aggression by a foreign and formidable enemy. The countenance and patronage given to the ancient idolatry and superstition by the Government of Ovah continues unabated.

Let us pray that the apprehended evils may be mercifully averted, and that the promising results, which appear in connexion with the Mission-at present, indeed, comparatively very limited in their amount, but calculated, nevertheless, to excite gratitude and inspire hope-may be multiplied and extended more and more, as the light which increaseth to the perfect day.

(Directors, in Missionary Sketches, January 1831.)

We subjoin some remarks of the Directors in their last Report, arising out of the painful circumstances which have been detailed:

In

In contemplating the events, which, from time to time, happen in the world, of which the apparent tendency may be injurious to the Cause of Truth and Religion, our feelings and anticipations are, in a considerable measure, influenced by the facts of the case, as they, at the moment, appear to us, and the consequences to which they seem naturally to lead. Experience, nevertheless, teaches us that the issues of events are frequently very different from the results thus anticipated. In whatever relates to the Cause of Christ, this is more particularly the case. an era of the world, such as the present, when so many concurrent predictions, and events apparently preparatory to their fulfilment, seem to announce the approaching extension of His Kingdom, it is reasonable that this should more especially be the case. In reference to such instances, happening in such an era, and at a place where a great preparatory work has been, for a long while, carrying on, (such, for instance, as that in Madagascar, where the whole Scriptures have, for the first time, been translated into the vernacular tongue, and a considerable portion of them printed and put into circulation, and where, moreover, several thousands of the population have been taught to read,) it is yet still more probable that events, apparently, tending, for a time, to impede the progress of the Gospel, should eventually be overruled for the promotion of it. In closing the present article of their Report, the Directors, therefore, cannot refrain from expressing a lively hope, that the Almighty will, in answer to the prayers of His people, and in furtherance of the purposes of His mercy to mankind, be pleased so to overrule the internal circumstances of Madagascar, and all attempts of foreign aggression in relation to it, that the present threatening aspect of affairs in that island, may, in His good time, be succeeded by a state of things far more auspicious than any which has hitherto existed, for the carrying forward efficiently the operations of the Mission, and promoting the success of its transcendently-important and glorious object.

The allusion in this extract to "foreign aggression" has respect to the attempts of the French to recover a footing in Madagascar. The following

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London Missionary Society—

extract from the South-African Advertiser of the 16th of October will shew that these attempts have proved abortive :

By information lately received from Mauritius, we learn that the French Embassy, which had been sent about three months ago to the Queen of Madagascar to propose terms of accommodation, has failed in its object. It seems that the Malagasy had sternly resolved not to concede any portion of their Country to the claims of the French Government; and, having proved too powerful for the French Division which made an attack on Foule Point and Tamatave in the autumn of last year, they probably feel confirmed in their determination to oppose the pretended right of the French to establish settlements in their Country.

WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Mauritius: 1830-H. D. Lowe, John Sarjant; who arrived on the 5th of June, after a passage of 97 days. They were received in a very friendly manner by

Mr.Telfair; and were about to enter on their labours among the Slaves on his estates-P. 200.

Inland Seas.

Red - Mediterranean — Black — Caspian — Persian Gulf.
BIBLE, TRACT, AND EDUCATION SOCIETIES.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. CIRCULATION-To Malta, there have been sent 300 Hebrew Bibles; and 8700 Testaments and Portions of the Scriptures, in the languages of Greece, Syria, Armenia, Egypt, and Abyssinia. From Smyrna upward of 9000 copies have been issued, chiefly for Greece.

RECEPTION at p. 552 of our last Volume, we noticed a Decree issued at Naples, and intended to hinder the distribution of the Scriptures; but, at pp. 62, 63, 94-97, 139, 320, 407, and in other parts of that Volume, will be found ample proof of the continued eager reception of the Scriptures, and particularly in the Greek Schools. The Committee, in the last Report, quote the testimonies of the Rev. Jonas King, the Rev. Dr. Korck, and Mr. B. Barker, to the same effect: they state-"Many pleasing proofs are given, that the Scriptures circulated are producing the desired effect; persons are found beginning to compare their doctrines and their lives with the only and unerring standard of truth, and to amend them.'

The Com

mittee add-"In Greece and Turkey the door has not only not been closed against the introduction of the Scriptures among Greeks, Jews, Armenians, and even Turks themselves, but certainly stands in a degree more widely open than it did before."

VERSIONS and EDITIONS-The ModernGreek Version from the Hebrew has been undertaken (see p. 136 of our last Volume) by three Translators: the work is revised by Mr. Leeves and Mr. Lowndes: the Psalter will be first finished: in.

quiries are frequently made by the Greeks for the Old Testament. An edition of 10,000 copies of the ModernGreek N.T. has been printed. An edition of the Modern-Armenian N. T., printed at Paris, meets with a good reception. The Armenian Missionaries at Malta are printing for the Society 2500 copies of the Turco-Armenian N. T. The German Missionaries at Shusha have been authorised to print 1000 copies of the Oriental-Armenian N. T., prepared by Mr. Dittrich in a dialect so named, and which is distinct from the West or Constantinopolitan Armenian: it is intimately connected with Persian, and is extensively spoken by the people occupying the Countries of Ancient Armenia: the Missionaries have been encouraged to proceed with the Book of Psalms; and they have also been authorised to print 1000 copies of the Curdish Gospels,

of the Version obtained at Constanti

nople by Mr. Leeves, if they shall ascer

tain it to be faithful. A new edition of the Tartar N. T. and Psalter is contemplated at Shusha. An edition of 1000 copies of the Persian Psalter, by the Rev. W.Glen, has been printed: Mr.Glen and Mirza Jaffier are proceeding in the

Persian Translation. The Persian Pen

tateuch, by Archdeacon Robinson, has been printed, with the aid of the Society, at the press of Bishop's College, Calcutta. The Amharic Bible is preparing for the press, under the superintendence of Mr. Platt. See p. 12; and, at pp. 407,408, some remarks on Hilarion's ModernGreek Testament.

EDUCATION SOCIETIES.

IONIAN ISLANDS.

In March, 83 Schools had 2700 Scholars.

Of the Female Schools, included in this number, we have collected some details. In Corfu, one has 120 children: another, at Potamo, superintended by Mr. and Mrs. Leeves, has 40: they have opened a third at Manduchio, a large suburb of Corfu, with 55 girls: the School for the higher classes, under Miss Robertson, has 40 children: improveunder Mr. and Mrs. Dickson has 27 ment is rapid. In Cefalonia, the School girls of the higher class; and in another, In Zante, at Luxea, there are 12. under Mr. and Mrs. Croggon, 50 girls have been collected; and in Cerigo, upward of 100 are under instruction.

PRAYER-BOOK AND HOMILY SOCIETY. of Malta the sum of 451, was placed; A correspondent in the Ionian Islands and applied by him to the printing of writes-"You will remember the ac16,000 Tracts-P. 12. count which I gave you, some time since, of a Greek Priest, who seemed to receive so much benefit from the PrayerBook translated into the vernacular language of his Country. Your mind would have been delighted, if you could have gone with me, on the morning of the Sabbath, to his house, where he has established a Sunday School. When I entered the room he was explaining to twenty Greek Children the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, pointing out with much fervour the difference of their character and final destiny. I could only lift up my heart to God, praying for His Divine Blessing. I have given one of your Prayer-Books to another Priest, who asked for information on religious subjects." In another Letter, he says "On entering a house in a village lately, I conjectured, from the appearance of the people, among whom was a Greek Priest, that the day was a festa, or holiday. I inquired what festa it was: they said, St. John the Evangelist. I drew from my pocket one of your Greek Prayer-Books, and turned to the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel for St. John's Day. The master of the house accepted the book, and read where I had opened it; and then commenced at the beginning, and read for some time, the others listening. I then gave the book to the Priest, and invited him to call upon me."-"I am at present,' he says, "teaching Greeks the English Language. I have a class of six young men, who read tolerably well: last week they began to read the Psalms in some of your Society's Prayer-Books... By these SILENT methods, religion must be diffused through Countries where Superstition has for ages reigned... I beg to repeat, what I have before asserted, that I know of no book, after the Bible, more

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acceptable to the Greeks than the PrayerBook of the Church of England.”

RELIGIOUS.TRACT SOCIETY.

Six new Greek Tracts and a small Book for Children were printed, under the superintendence of the Rev. W. Jowett, while on his last visit home: large editions have been issued. To Dr. Korck, Mr. Lowndes, and others in the Mediterranean, 21,640 Tracts were sent in the course of the year: of these, 15,000 were Greek; the rest chiefly Italian. At the disposal of Mr. Wilson

Sunday Schools are increasing. At Potamo, Mr. Leeves superintends one Hildner and Mr. Lowndes; and has of from 40 to 50 children, begun by Mr. opened another at Manduchio: concerning this last he writes on the 14th of October-"Considerable interest having been excited at Manduchio, by the Notice that a Sunday School would be established there, I went, on Sunday Afternoon last, to open it, at our Girls' School-house. Ninety-five Boys and 40 Girls attended; and a large concourse of people of the village came to hear remained, with much attention, to the what was going forward; many of whom close. At these Sunday Schools, as well as the Day Schools, we begin and end conduct a large Boys' School next door with Prayer. Two Greek Priests, who to us, attended, and brought their Children; and assisted in giving instruction; teaching their Boys, for the first time, to repeat the Lord's Prayer in the vulstanding of which a set of Questions has gar tongue, for facilitating the underbeen prepared. I had myself a Testament Class of about 20 Boys, with a number of attentive auditors standing behind them: this is an encouraging beginning, for which God be thanked! May He establish the work, and enable us to go on in humility and wisdom!"

A Committee was formed in Corfu on the 12th of October, "for the Promotion of Female Education in the Island of Corfu, and the other Islands of the Ionian States." Of this Committee, Pro

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GREECE.

See, in reference to Education in Greece, the Appeal of the British and Foreign School Society, at pp. 84-88 of our last Volume; and various particulars at pp. 13,157, 179-182, 240, 406, 407. At pp. 180, 181 will be found a recapitulation, by the Rev. Dr. Korck, of 23 Schools, containing nearly 2300 Scholars, of whom a considerable number are Girls: besides these he mentions

many other Schools, without stating the

number of Scholars. In addition to these, the Rev. Jonas King has Schools of about 80 Girls at Tino and Tenedos ;

and both he and Dr. Korck contemplate the formation of Schools for the higher classes of Females. "The impulse given to Female Education," say the Committee of the British and Foreign School Society, "is surprising, when the prejudices of the Greeks against the instruction of Girls is borne in mind." The total number of Female Schools of which

accounts have been received, including those mentioned above, is 25; and they contain nearly 1000 Scholars.

SMYRNA.

The Rev. Josiah Brewer, with Mrs. Brewer and Miss Mary Reynolds, arrived on the 4th of February from the United States, under the patronage of a Ladies'

Greek Committee formed at Newhaven. It was his first design to establish Schools in Greece: but, on his arrival at Smyrna, he thought that a better opening presented itself in that city for benefiting the Greeks, than in any part of

Greece or of the Islands; on account of" the great number of Greeks residing at Smyrna, amounting, probably,

to 30,000 the narrow limits of the Treaty; excluding some important proGreek Territory, as fixed by the late vinces and islands-the liberal policy of the Turkish Government toward those who reside at Smyrna-the little attention which the Asiatic Greeks are likely to receive from Missionary Societiesthe greater expense of maintaining a School in Greece; owing to the Greeks being unable, from their poverty, to aid it-and the greater freedom for preaching the Gospel at Smyrna."

plan was to have a Charity School for Of his proceedings it is said—" His

Greek Girls, and a School where Greek and European Boys should be admitted promiscuously, and be supported by their parents. The efforts thus made seem to have received the countenance of all classes of inhabitants; and the number of those who have applied for admission to the Schools is much greater than can be accommodated by Mr. Brewer, with his present means."

At the close of April, there were 100 Girls under Mr. Brewer's care: the

School had been opened about six weeks; and the children were rapidly improving in their appearance and in knowledge.

On the 1st of June he wrote to Mr. Leeves-" Our Greek School remains

stationary in its number of 100 Girls,

for want of room to accommodate others: we are looking round for more convegress of the children, especially in Divine nient and extensive quarters. The proKnowledge, is most commendable. The Greek Community here are establishing a School of Mutual Instruction for Boys, which will accommodate 150; and two

Young Men from Greece have already begun a second, on their own responsibility"—Pp. 157, 336.

MALTA.

By the last Returns, 220 Boys and 200 Girls attended the Schools: the Governor, Sir Frederick Ponsonby, has granted much superior accommodation to what the Schools formerly possessed; and has established a School at Gozo: he permits all needful books to be printed.

STATIONS, LABOURERS, & NOTITIA OF MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.

AMERICAN BOARD OF MISSIONS.

MALTA: 1820- Daniel Temple, W. Goodell; Homan Hallock, Printer: Mr. Temple returned in February from a visit home. Mr. Goodell has charge of the Turco-Armenian N. T. printing for

the British and Foreign Bible Society, for which he made preparation while he resided at Beyrout-In 1829, there were 5 Works printed in Italian, 12 in Modern Greek, and 16 in Turco-Armenian :

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