posed to the heat of the day. I after wards catechized both the First and Second Classes. Upward of thirty Heathens were hearers, to whom I spoke very plainly concerning the goodness of God, His guidance, preservation, &c., especially as they are now falling victims both to the small-pox and cholera. Some of them said that they were able enough to go to heaven by their own good works; such as, washing, going to distant places, giving alms, &c. I tried to convince them that their actions were quite contrary to goodness; and that they cannot inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, but by the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save sinners.

The Schoolmaster informed me that the Tasildar of this place sent for him this morning, and pressed him to send his School Children to hold flags, in going before the Swamies through the streets every morning; this being the first day of a Feast. The Schoolmaster told him he could not send them, unless he had permission from his Master: consequently, the Tasildar was enraged at him, and sent him away. He therefore begged me to send a notice to the Tasildar, not to trouble him again. March12,1829--I began to catechize the Children, and their answers were tolerably good. Many around heard attentively the Doctrines which were explained to the little Children. One of them said, "What is the use of your taking so much trouble to impress your Doctrines on the minds of the little-ones? Have they sense enough to apply them ?" Yes," I replied, "these little-ones are well instructed who is the only True Being by whom they can be saved; while you, who are grown in years, are quite strangers to this matter." When I said this and similar things to them, they replied, "It is very true: they will at length become our Monitors and Schoolmasters, teaching us the things which up to this time we do not know.

Schools.

[Deva perasaden.

May 29-Went on a journey to se veral of our Country Schools. In Sembarnakoil School, I found 27 Children ready for the Examination; six being absent, from disease. The Master, however, having absented himself, and put his brother in his place without informing me of this arrangement, has exposed himself to a fine to the Poor-box. Speaking to the Children after the Examination, I was glad to witness their candid confession of April, 1831.

their belief in the only One God. One of the Children told me he could not conceive how any of the Idols could be gods, being the work of men. I asked them how often they prayed: some said once, and others twice a-day, in the morning and evening. I gave them some direction how they should address themselves to their Heavenly Father in Jesus Christ. Many Heathens were present, and, besides this, remained long enough to hear my conversation with the Children: none of them objected: some expressed their pleasure. Frequently, when we call upon some of them to explain to us the paradox of their approving the Christian Instruction of their Children, while they themselves remain as indifferent as possible with respect to their own salvation, they will say: As for us, we have grown old, and are confirmed in Heathenism: this is our fate: but as for our Children, they are advancing towards a better age; and fate is partial to them." In the School at Akhore, I found 27 Children present. Several Heathens of the Village were at the Examination, and appeared very attentive.

June 10-Set out this morning, before sun-rise, on a journey to the Schools. At eight o'clock, arrived at Kuttalem; but found the place, where I usually put up, quite unfit for staying at, during the day. While considering what to do, a Brahmin invited me to stay at his house; which I readily complied with. I afterwards learned, that it had put him to some inconvenience; as he had to send his wife to the next house of his relations, to dress their dinner. I had a long conversation with this Brahmin and some of his friends, who called on me in the course of the day. Sixty-one Children were present at the Examination; of whom 13 were standing in the First Class, 21 in the Second Class, and 27 in the Third Class. They gave me much pleasure, as well during the Examination as when I cateehized them and entered into conversation with them. I indeed forgot, while thus occupied with them, that they were Heathens, in point of descent and profession. I was engaged with them for three hours. John Devasagayam assisted me in the Examination. A great number of Heathens were present: some merely out of curiosity, but these do not stay long: others remained all the time, and asked for some books previously to their going home. There were, I should think, upward of a hundred people, who, passing and coming, had an opportunity of hear 2 D

ing something of the Word of Salvation, The people of the place know our School as the place where the Word of God is deposited: some will come and sit down, and read for themselves.

June 11, 1829-I found in the School at Tiruvidamadore 54 Children, who, a very few excepted, had considerably improved since I saw it last: the present Schoolmaster, who entered on the charge of it a short time ago, is active and faithful. Though there were, at the Examination, several Heathens, yet they appeared not to be attentive. During the Examination, the Boys stand in their Classes, one asking questions, and another giving the answer from the Catechism, in which they proceed up and down the line, till they have delivered their lessons. In this manner the Heathens present hear, on the whole, a great deal of the Sacred History, as contained in the First Catechism.

June 12-To-day we had the Examination at the two Schools at Combaconum: 75 Children rose for Examination in these Schools. The First School had been unsettled; and therefore the Children were in every respect backward in their lessons. I was glad to find, that only a very few Children of the Second Class had left the Second School; though a Tamul School is near to it, the Schoolmaster of which is paid by Government : and the Children, besides receiving instruction without any pay to the Master, are allowed to read their Heathenish Authors; the School being kept in the Pagoda, and termed the School of the Pagoda. I should have thought, that such a School being opened in the place, and near to our School, would draw away all our Children; especially as the Master of the Heathenish School used all his influence over the Parents of the Children, to send them to his School. Under these circumstances, I can see nothing that could keep our School Boys at our Christian School, but the instruction they receive from the Word of God; for the Master of the Heathen School would be thought a superior man to our common Schoolmaster, as he receives twice as much salary as our Schoolmaster receives. Our Schoolmaster told me that he had been under anxiety, thinking that all his Scholars would forsake him. Our English School in this place is certainly promising, as it stands now. There were at the Examination, 32 Youths; 24 of whom are from sixteen to nineteen years

of age, some of the most respectable Children of the town: 11 of these Youths could read from the New Testament, and had committed to memory some part of Watts's Catechism.

[Rev. G. T. Bärenbruck.

Conversation with a Brahmin,

July 14,1829-To-day, after I had given a lesson at the Seminary, and was returning home, I met with a Brahmin, an old acquaintance, to whom I had spoken several times when at Tranquebar. After having made some inquiries, I had a conversation with him, in the verandah of John's apartments, for upwards of an hour, on the Divine Nature of Christ; for he had told me, that if he were convinced of this, he should believe all the Doctrines of the Bible; this being the only one he could not receive, and therefore he could not receive the other doctrines. Having given him, or rather the Heathens who were present, and who appeared more sincere than himself, all the instruction I could on the subject, by giving those explanations which I thought most suitable, I entered into another argument with him, in which I was more successful; convincing him and the by-standers that he had determined not to believe the Doctrine in question and as this might be justly inferred from his own words, he did not contradict it. Before I left him, I spoke most seriously to him on the subject; reminding him how often he had received the most solemn exhortations from the late Dr. John, at Tranquebar; and, since he had become well acquainted with the Christian Doctrines, he should not delay searching after Truth, and receiving it in love of it, before it be too late, and the time of Grace shall have passed away never to return. I assured him that I should be very happy to find him in Glory. I advised him to be more sincere and upright respecting his own happiness; not to conceal the danger of which he must be entirely aware; to seek á knowledge of himself, and get acquainted with his own misery;-then half the number of arguments would suffice to convince him of the Truth, when united with experience, that Christ is the Saviour, John iv. 42. Poor man! he appeared to feel; and there was, perhaps, an appeal from his own conscience, at the same time, attesting the Truth. I could distinctly observe that he was in contradiction with himself; and I think I do him no wrong in saying, he would have received the

Testimonies to the Great Effects of Christianity.

THE mighty change effected by Christianity in these Islands has attracted the attention of politicians and men of science. In an eloquent Discourse, addressed to the Geographical Society of Paris, at a late Meeting of that body, the Baron Hyde de Neuville, formerly Minister of Marine, bore an honourable testimony to the labours of the Missionaries in these Seas, from which we translate a few passages:

What a wonderful event is that Moral Revolution, effected as by enchantment, in these groupes of Islands, which groaned, but a few years since, under the sanguinary yoke of a most absurd Idolatry! On a sudden, human sacrifices cease the ministers of lies are scattered -the altars of false gods fall to the ground-and the tyrannic and cruel law of the Taboo is displaced by the mild and beneficent law of Christ.

How great the glory of Christianity! But its triumph does not stop here. In destroying the Idols of Polynesia, it teaches its inhabitants to cultivate the Arts; and imbues them with the love of labour, and a feeling of the value of social order. It has displaced the arbitrary mandates of despotism by a government, the action of which becomes every day more regular. In fine, by the side of those New Temples where

men half-savage assemble to adore the Living God, Public Schools are raised, where children, till now abandoned to the grossest ignorance, receive that elementary instruction without which nations can never attain but an imperfect civilization.

What cannot Charity accomplish, when directed by living and enlightened Faith!

Think not, however, that all these changes were effected without opposition -without resistance. Ignorance-prejudiee-bad faith-form, in every country, incurable adversaries of that which is good. More than one islander has execrated these generous innovations. Aged priestesses, weeping over their idols, have roused the zeal of fanaticism: it armed itself in opposition to Reform; but the Sovereign was firm-order was restored-and the Gods of Hawaii have been banished for ever!

Such, Gentlemen, is the issue of the zeal and perseverance of some Foreign Missionaries!

of science and literature, M. Roux, then mission, said at your Meeting, GentleSecretary General of your Central Commen, in 1825-" In the rank of the most efficient discoverers, we must place Missionaries, animated by heroic courage and Christian charity. While they incsease our knowledge, they lead men in many unexplored regions to the benefits the study of the respective languages and of social life, of morals, and of religion. By the fervour of their zeal, they obtain authority over the minds of these menthey soften ferocious manners-they introduce cultivation into deserts-and make known there the useful arts of life. Both the Policy and the Commerce of Civilized States applaud these generous enterprises."

A diplomatist, a distinguished friend

Friendly Islands.

WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Ar p. 89 of the Survey, a general view appears of the change beginning to be wrought by the Gospel in some of these Islands. Mr. Turner, in reference to Sunday the 7th of June 1829, communicates the subjoined particulars of the

Baptism of Fifteen Adults in Tongataboo.

For ever praised be the Lord for this blessed day! At nine in the morning,

the Chapel was uncommonly full: not less than 500 persons were present: after singing and the first prayer, Seven Men, two of whom are CHIEFS, made a solemn and public renunciation of all the Gods of Tonga, and professed their faith in the doctrines of our Holy Reli gion, after which the sacred rite of Baptism was administered to them. The Chapel was very full in the afternoon, when I baptized Eight Adult Females; and three children, whose parents had been previously baptized.

In the evening, for the first time in the Tonga Language, we celebrated the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper: 26 Natives partook with us of the sacred emblems of the body and blood of Christ. With what solemnity of soul did they draw near to the Table of the Lord! Relative to the nature and design of the Sacred Ordinance we had previously instructed them; so that we were satisfied that they did not rush unthinkingly into the presence of the Lord. Many of them have very exalted views of our Lord Jesus Christ and of His atonement.

Five of those baptized this day belong to one family the father is a man of rank, a Chief by birth: his name was Uhila," Lightning :" he is a very wise, thoughtful, and discerning man. Previous to his receiving the Gospel, he was one of the principal priests of the Island, and a great polygamist; but, blessed be God! the Gospel has brought him to know that he is not a GOD, but a man and a sinner : under its influence he has cast away his priesthood and his sins; yea, his righteye sin-his NUMEROUS WIVES-save one. We have baptized him Zechariah; his wife, Elizabeth; and their little son, John.

Of the next day he says

Almost all Nukualofa appears moved, by the blessing of God on the labours of yesterday. Learning to read, coming to Class, being baptized, and going to Heaven, are now the principal subjects of conversation.

Promising State of the Native Converts.

Of our Societies we observe, that, when proper allowance is made for their recent formation and the great ignorance and spiritual degradation in which the Gospel found them, nothing but good can be said concerning them. Of course, we do not present the WHOLE of this number as spiritually-enlightened and evange

lically-converted souls; but that there are such among them, we do not for a moment doubt. We can with confidence say, with regard to the greater part of them, that they have not only totally abandoned their heathenish and wicked practices, but that they are striving to become acquainted with the will of God in order that they may do it. Almost the constant language of some of them is, "Teach us what we must do-Lead us in the way we must go-Make known unto us the meaning of the book which Jehovah has given, that we may be wise:" and, so far as the tree may be judged by its fruits, we dare pronounce them trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

It is a fixed rule with us, that no adult shall be baptized who does not give proof of his sincere desire to become savingly acquainted with the Religion of Jesus. None are considered by us as Members who have not been baptized; and some are kept on trial, after that ordinance has been administered: these are cases, in general, affected by their matrimonial connexions. Had it not been for our exercising strict discipline, our number of Baptisms and Members would have been considerably more than they are. Our great desire and diligent care is, to get the people savingly converted to God.

It is a cause of great thankfulness to us, that, as our numbers increase, the Lord is raising up pious men and women to take an active part in our Classes. Our numbers have so increased, that it has become absolutely impossible for us to meet them individually ourselves: we have, therefore, commenced introducing that part of our system which consists in selecting from among themselves the most pious and judicious, and appointing them as leaders; at the same time exercising a constant and vigilant watchfulness over THEM ourselves, and regularly meeting them once a-week.

Br. and Sr. Thomas are still with us, waiting for a favourable opportunity to go to the Habais, where the prospect seems to be increasingly good. We have heard that the King has taken some bold steps towards the destruction of their idolatrous system throughout the whole of these Islands; and that the way is now perfectly open to the whole of that groupe, for the introduction of the meliorating and saving doctrines of the Gospel.

West Indies.

FROM the "Christian Record," a Monthly Publication noticed at p. 95 of the last Survey, we extract a highly interesting testimony borne by a Correspondent to the

Improved State of Society in Jamaica. That a wonderful change has taken place in our island society must, I think, appear to the most unobservant. I have resided nearly twelve years in the island; and I can truly say, that, when I compare past with passing events, I feel no ordinary surprise. Much that would, twelve years ago, have been scouted as wild enthusiasm or dangerous speculation, is now, by a portion (although it may be an inconsiderable one) of our community, seriously entertained and calmly discussed. In all classes, an advancing alteration seems to be taking place. The swelling tide of knowledge seems to have risen; and promises to break out on every side, improving and fertilizing the moral waste.

The chief sign of altered times appears to be an awakening to a SENSE OF THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OP RELIGION. Not many years ago, one might have travelled from the north to the south, from the east to the west, and have scarcely discerned any tokens of an acknowledgment of the Christian Faith-very different is it now: in all parts, that Holy Faith is warmly avowed, or bitterly opposed. A few years ago, seldom was it spoken of, still seldomer manifested, in its visibly transforming influences-now, it is the theme of glad congratulation, or the subject of ribald and blasphemous remark.

But let a nearer view be taken; and, first, let the state of feeling among the White Inhabitants be considered.

Among many of them surely a striking change has taken place. There is not so universally an opposition to sacred things. Many of them there are, who, having consulted the Sacred Word, acknowledge its authority, and strive to obey its requirements: certainly, at least a more general outward respect is paid to religious observances. Some of those in charge of estates, who, a few years ago, would have considered an application to catechize the Slaves as an unparalleled presumption, now grant that permission. Contributions to Religious Institutions are given, in many instances liberally, by persons of this class. In families where the voice of prayer was

wont to be silent, it is now raised in regular and ardent adoration. Many individuals, too, of this class, hesitate not to avow their dislike of the civil institutions

of this land, and to express a wish to behold a meliorated system: this avowal, when the circumstances of the community are considered, will appear a bold expression of feeling, and a pleasing indication of a changed tone in society.

In the Free Coloured Class of our population, the change is much more marked. It is but a short time ago, that they were regarded with cold and supercilious contempt by their more-privileged fellowcitizens. A variety of causes conspired to produce this contempt. They were, as a body, nearly uneducated: the majority were depressed by poverty; to which they were consigned by the criminal indifference of those on whom, by every law of nature and on every principle of justice, they had an undoubted claim: a heartless and unnatural policy had iniquitously debarred them from almost every civil privilege. Under such circumstances, no wonder was it that there should have been among them, generally, a degeneracy of character, which was the natural RESULT of such treatment, though assigned as its producing CAUSE; but it is now remarked, even by the most superficial observer, that an altered feeling is perceptible. They are now regarded very differently by considerable numbers of Whites; and many of them have manifested an inclination for, and the ability to acquire, mental cultivation: by industry and perseverance, many have possessed themselves of considerable property: very generally, there is, among them, a sense of the value of civil privileges, to which they are justly entitled; and an anxious and honourable endeavour to acquire them: and, lastly, numbers of this class are adorning a Christian Confession by a holy and consistent walk.

But it is chiefly in the Lowest Grade of our community that a mighty change has taken place. When I arrived in this country, I had an opportunity of witnessing the manner in which the Festival of Christmas was observed in those days. It was a season of wild and unrestrained debauchery: a foolish and unbridled expense attended the amusements of the Slaves: saving the Parish Church, which scarcely was attended, no Place for the Worship of God was open: noise, riot, confusion, and licentiousness marked a season, which the Church, nominally that