March, 1830; and reached Cæsarea, after a journey of three and twenty days, on the day before Good Friday. Of his competency to form a judgment in the case, and of the painful conclusion to which he was compelled to come, he says

I spent upward of two months at Cæsarea; and, having conversed with all the converts, watched their movements, and made inquiries about them in various quarters during that time, I was pretty well able to form a right judgment respecting the whole party, and of the manner in which they were treated by the Armenians. I would now give it, then, as my decided opinion, from what I saw and learned at Cæsarea, as well as from information which I afterward acquired from Armenians themselves at Constantinople, that the greater number of the converts embraced the Christian Faith over hastily, and with much imprudence -that they were encouraged to take the step which they did by the Armenians, when in a state of ignorance respecting the essential doctrines of the Gospeland that, on their being sent into exile, they were disgracefully and cruelly neglected by those, who would have us believe that they were their best friends, as well as their deliverers from error and spiritual bondage.

From Mr. Lewis's communications we make some further extracts, relative to the proceedings and state of the Armenians.

Premature Baptism of Jews by the
Armenians.

That some Armenians, individuals of an Oriental Church, should have conceived the plan, and stepped forward with zealous exertions, to proselyte the Jews around them, was certainly a new thing for Turkey; and one by no means to be looked upon, in enumerating the signs of the times, as a matter of small moment. No doubt, the Armenians knew that there had been a considerable stir among the Jews, some time before; and which was again beginning to manifest itself. It was, in most cases, perhaps, a certain capricious (shall I call it?) but anxious desire on the part of these people to free themselves from their Rabbinical shackles; though I have reason to believe that the Hebrew New-Testament, as well as some Tracts of our Society, tended in no little degree to inJuly, 1831.

crease, if not to cause, the excitement, in many instances. The Armenians, moreover, who displayed their zeal so particularly on this occasion, must have felt, as I should think, that their Nation had at that time considerable influence with the Turkish Government: as they had succeeded, notwithstanding all the opposition of the Jews, in setting at large the two Young Men so long confined in the Bagnio, and getting them under the Patriarch's protection; and not only this, but had also caused that terrible act to be put into execution, which required all the Popish Armenians, who were unwilling to conform to the Armenian Orthodox-Faith, to quit the capital in the depth of winter with their families, and go into exile. Jews were now roused; and, tempted at seeing their brethren who had been in prison at last living in liberty among the Armenians, became urgent in applying for Baptism also. The moment seemed to be come for the conversion of the Constantinople Jews: there were no English in the way; and, therefore, the most devoted of the Armenians might better now step forward and exert themselves for the glory of their Church. In short, these people made up their minds at all events to try the experiment: they not only received those who were known to be desirous to embrace Christianity, but they also sought out others; and, however ignorant the poor Jews might have been, they nevertheless encouraged them to become Christians without loss of time. Thus they commenced baptizing, without giving the candidates any previous instruction; without even paying any regard to their views and feelings on the subject of Religion, or making any inquiries with respect to their previous habits or general moral character. According to the accounts of the Armenians, numbers became most anxious for Baptism. One of the Wartabets declared, that had not so early a stop been put to the business by the Turks, he himself would have baptized to the number of 2000, including women and whole families.

Co-operation in Missions not to be sought from Oriental Churches.

English Christians can place but little dependence on the sayings or doings of their brethren of the Oriental Churches: and I am persuaded, the more I become acquainted with them, that, except in endeavouring to benefit them, and this

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by simple and direct means, we should make no alliance with them whatever, but keep wholly clear of them in the Missionary Field. Men, indeed, in no country of the world, who are themselves unconverted to God, should be regarded as fit instruments to take part in the conversion of others: but this remark is, in particular, applicable to the members of the Armenian, as well as other Oriental, and the Roman-Catholic Churches; who, notwithstanding their sufferings for ages under the Turkish Tyranny, have yet shewn no willingness, at least as Churches, to repent of the works of their hands, (as one would suppose was predicted of them in Rev. ix. 20, 21,) that they should not worship deified men or demons, and idols of gold and silver; neither have they repented of their murders, their sorceries, their fornications, nor their thefts. The Bishops, moreover, as well as Wartabets and other Priests of the Armenians, are, in most respects, ignorant to an extreme; and are, consequently, most unqualified to instruct Jews in the genuine doctrines of Christianity, either before or after Baptism.

GERMAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

MR. Pfander, who accompanied Mr. Groves (see p. 24) from Shusha, thus speaks of the

State of Jews and Christians at Bagdad. A Jewish Rabbi is frequently visiting me, and begins to ask with earnestness What must I do to be saved?" and he begins to see that faith in Jesus Christ, as Messiah and Redeemer, is necessary for the salvation of his soul. He is reading the New Testament with serious interest.

Having, through the assistance and mercy of God, been enabled to establish a School among the Armenians here, we were rejoiced to see it frequented by 45 children immediately; and have reason to hope that the number will soon increase. Even among the Jews here, I believe it would be very easy to establish a School; and Bagdad, I think, would be an excellent Station for a Missionary among that people. He might be able to do much good among them; and could also easily visit Mosul, Merdin, Kermanscha, Hamadan, and Bassora, in which places also Israelites live.

The Jews here live in great ignorance and superstition, and their moral state

is very distressing. Few of them understand Hebrew. They have five Synagogues and three Rabbies; and also a School, where they only learn to read Hebrew. They are governed by "the Prince of Captivity,' as he is called: he has also the title, "King of Israel:" he is appointed by the Pacha, and is wholly dependent on him. The Jews in Mosul, Merdin, and Bassora also stand under his government.

On the whole, Bagdad is a very suitable Missionary Station. Even the Mahomedans here, though they are proud despisers of the Gospel, and very fanatic, yet their hatred against Europeans begins to be diminished: a Missionary may live here as safely as in any Mahomedan Country; and may from hence easily travel among the Christians in the mountains on the northern side of Mosul and Merdin, and in Mesopotamia and in the Southern Provinces of Persia.

There live in Bagdad about 450 Christian Families, and about 2000 Jewish. Among the Christian Families, 300 are Roman Catholics, and 150 Armenians. Among the Roman Catholics, 30 families are of Armenian origin: the others are Syrians and Chaldeans.

The Roman Catholics have here one Church and two Priests; with one Bishop, who is sent to Bagdad from Rome: all the Roman Catholics in Mesopotamia are under him. The present Bishop is also French Consul. He has a School of about 30 children. Their Bishops have always tried to keep out the enlightening influence of Bible Knowledge: the present Bishop has forbidden the Roman Catholics to accept of any book, Bible or New Testament, from Englishmen, if not printed in Rome; and has tried to persuade them that all New Testaments and Bibles not printed in Rome are not genuine. He has not, however, succeeded in excluding the Word of God wholly from the people, who willingly receive it as the ground of

their faith.

The Armenians have shewn themselves much delighted at our undertaking to establish a School among them. They have great confidence in Englishmen, but none in the Roman Catholics. They have one Church and two Priests, and are also very ignorant. They are under the Patriarch of Echmiazin. Arabic is the language commonly spoken in Bag dad. The Armenians speak a dialect of vulgar Armenian.

Endia beyond the Ganges.

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE Directors have lately published the subjoined view of the

State and Influence of the Mission at
Singapore.

The Society's Mission in this island was commenced in October 1819: at which time the population amounted to about 5000; of whom 2500 were Chinese, and the rest Malays, Bugguese, &c. Since the final cession of the island to the English, which took place in 1823, the population, chiefly by means of an increase of settlers from the surrounding countries, has rapidly increased: so that, from a census taken in 1830, it appears that the number of inhabitants had then augmented to between 16,000 and 17,000; of whom about 6500 were Chinese, about 5000 Malays, and the rest Javanese, Bugguese, Balinese, &c.

Very few decided converts to Christ, from among the Heathen, have rewarded the labours of the Missionaries at this Station. Some knowledge of Christianity has, however, been disseminated among a considerable number of Chinese and Malays, by means of the public preaching of the Gospel, by conversation, by the distribution of the Scriptures and Tracts, and by Schools; and, although the visible effects produced by the use of these various means have hitherto not been great, they are, nevertheless, such as to afford encouragement to proceed in the work. A spirit of inquiry has been awakened, and is daily increasing; and neither the Chinese nor the people generally object now to the use of Christian Books in the Schools: formerly, although the parents were not averse to the instruction of their offspring, they, nevertheless, would not allow them to be taught except in their own moral books: this change is, therefore, an important step in regard to the future usefulness of the Schools at this Station; among which are now to be reckoned two Chinese Girls' Schools, which excite a lively interest in the European visitor, as well as afford encouragement to those under whose care they are placed.

The attempts made to impart the benefits of education to the Malays, at Singapore, have been hitherto attended with little success. This is attributable to various causes; among which their extreme degradation their dislike to

change and personal exertion-vassalage to their chiefs-and the influence of their priests, are the principal. Small, indeed, is the proportion of the readers among the Malays, compared with those who are able to read among the Chinese; probably not more than that of one to a hundred. The Malays will, however, generally listen to any thing which may be read to them; and even among this ignorant and degraded people a desire to obtain instruction is here and there manifested, in spite of their prejudices and their fears.

As to the higher and more intelligent classes of Mahomedans at Singapore, the following facts may serve, in some small degree, to exhibit the apprehensions entertained by them as to the permanence of their own faith, and the light in which they are disposed to regard the Missionaries there. After they had received information of the destruction of the Turkish Fleet at Navarino, an event which excited considerable consternation among them, some of their number went to the houses of the brethren, to inquire whether their sacred books contained any prophecies relating to the duration of the present state of Mahomedanism; apparently entertaining an expectation that it would be superseded by a superior dispensation of religion, which would extensively prevail in the world, and continue to the final consummation of all things. One of their visitors, a Hadjee, or pilgrim, who read Arabic, was presented with a Bible in that language; and, on being directed to those passages in the Old Testament which describe the nature and extent of the Messiah's Kingdom, acknowledged that the representation which they gave appeared to him more like the Word of God than any thing which the Korân either promised or portrayed.

But there is reason to believe that the most extensive good effected by means of the Mission at Singapore has been accomplished through the instrumentality of the Press, which the Missionaries there represent as a powerful means of diffusing the knowledge of God through Eastern Asia. The Mission PrintingOffice at Singapore, and that at the neighbouring Station of Malacca, have furnished abundant copies of the Scriptures and Tracts in Chinese and Malay, which have been widely dispersed in that part of the world; extending, as to the Chinese Language, even to the vicinity of Pekin.