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this tale, for he adds this fanatical and dolorous commentary :

Words cannot describe the distress which we have felt on hearing this intelligence; for, in this case, a virtuous and faithful Wife has given up life, after great mental compunction, through the irresistible prohibitions imposed in regard of Suttees by Government: yet this virtuous Woman, after her death, has attained felicity, for the Husband is the only instructor, the only God of a Wife; for that blessed Woman, overwhelmed with various anxieties, though she was not able to burn her own body with that of her Husband, reflecting on her Husband's feet as though they were her tutelar deity, has liberated herself from the body by refusing food; yet it is a matter of the deepest regret to us. How the children to whom she gave birth are able now to drag on their existence, it is beyond our power to say. The reason why men pray for children is, that those children may serve the parents while they live; and, after their death, secure their future happiness by performing the deeds prescribed in the Védas. It appears, therefore, that the

children of that excellent Woman must now feel even existence a burden. What shall we say to them? It was beyond their power to burn their Mother. It is customary for those who are in deep distress to make it known to the Sovereign; but the Sovereign of this country is himself become the destroyer of this practice. Nor can he (Lord William) be brought to believe that it is under the auspices of virtuous women that kings rule. At present we see no mode of relief; but the Almighty Preserver of the three worlds is able to preserve that religious rite which he has ordained.

From the following remarks in the Calcutta Government Gazette of the 16th of August, it will be seen that this is a fraudulent attempt to bring discredit on the Abolition of Widow Burning:

We lately adverted to a report propagated by a Native Paper, entitled the Chundrika, relative to a Widow said to have starved herself to death because she was not permitted to burn with her Husband's corpse; or rather, because others would not culpably lend their aid to her doing so. The Chundrika was very pathetic upon the occasion, and indulged in some profane nonsense about the HusJu'y, 1831.

band being the only God of a Wife, and so forth. Our native cotemporary's compassion wonderfully overflowed for the forlorn children, bereaved of their Mother by a voluntary act of starvation; although, had she been burnt to death instead, judging from the tone and leaning of his remarks, his sympathy would not have abounded so much for their distressed situation. We also expressed the regret which we really felt at hearing of this mistaken act of duty. We said nothing, however, of the scope and aim of the remarks, which were, obviously enough, a kind of side-wind puff against a certain Regulation of Government. We might, however, have spared our expressions of regret, as well as the Chundrika its pathos: both were premature;

for it seems the Widow alluded to has acted much more wisely than the Chundrika supposed or perhaps wished-for she is still alive and well, to take care of her family. This piece of intelligence we learn from the Cowmoody, another Native Paper, which made inquiry into the matter, and found the story to be perfectly unfounded. We hope the Chundrika, in future, will be more cautious.

What kind of a cause must that be which requires to be bolstered up by such fig

ments?

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE Directors have lately furnished the subjoined view of the

Origin, Progress, and Influence of the

Calcutta Mission.

The Society's Mission at Calcutta was commenced in 1816: and has had the benefit of the labours of many valuable Missionaries; several of whom it has pleased the Almighty to remove, by death, to a better world; while others, from ill health, have been compelled to return to their own country.

For several years, the Brethren lathe Native Population. During that boured without reaping any fruit among collected, and a Church formed, comperiod, however, a Congregation was posed chiefly of English residents; and a commodious Chapel erected for their accommodation, the expense of which was defrayed chiefly by the zealous efforts and liberality of the Rev. Henry Townley (who first statedly officiated as Minister of the Chapel) and those of other friends on the spot. In connexion with Union Chapel (for that was the name given to

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it) much good has been effected by means of the preaching of the Gospel, the institution of Sabbath Schools, and the religious tuition of Young Persons of riper years than those of whom ordinarily such Schools are composed. Mr. Townley was succeeded in 1822 by the Rev. James Hill, who is the present Minister.

No decided indication of conversion to God was apparent among the Natives before the year 1823; when a Hindoo of the name of Ramhurree, who had enjoyed the benefit of Mr. Trawin's Ministry at Kidderpore, having for some time exhibited evidence of genuine piety, was publicly baptized at that Out-station.

From that time, the work has been progressively advancing among the Native Population at that and other populous villages in the vicinity of Calcutta.

In 1826, the expulsion of an Idol from a Hindoo Temple at Rammakalchoke, and the subsequent conversion of the temple itself into a place of Christian Worship, signalized the partial decline of Idolatry and the introduction of the Gospel into that populous village. In 1827, three Hindoo Converts were baptized there; in 1828, four; and in 1830, ten; making a total of seventeen. The Congregation has continued good, notwithstanding many individuals and some families have travelled to worship a distance of from ten to fifteen miles. The Brethren describe the Native Converts at this village as being, in reality, a Church of Missionaries; and add, that, whether they are at home or abroad, in their own families or among their relatives or neighbours, one object seems to fill every mind, one subject to employ every tongue, and that subject Christianity; which almost every one of them has embraced in the face of oppression, and persevered in, in spite of persecution. Speaking of the children of the Native Converts at this place, the Brethren further observe, that they are as well acquainted with the Catechism, and as able to give answers to questions in the principles of Christianity, as the generality of those who have been born and instructed in a Christian Land.

Villages still more remote from Calcutta than Rammakalchoke have been visited by the Missionaries, who have usually met with attentive Congregations wherever they have gone. The Brethren state, that a general impression of the nature and importance of Christianity

has gone forth over a thickly-populated country*, of many miles in extent, among the inhabitants of which a spirit of inquiry prevails.

At the villages of Kristnapore, Taroleah, and Gungree, many have offered themselves for Baptism; of whom several, after suitable instruction and affording credible evidence of genuine piety, have been baptized.

At Kristnapore, several villagers having heard of the change which had taken place in the views, as to religion, of some belonging to their own village who had formerly removed thence to Rammakalchoke, were led to doubt the truth of Hindooism. Two of them were induced to go over to Rammakalchoke, where they heard the Missionaries preach, and conversed with the Native Converts. In pursuance of their request, the Missionaries, afterward, on a day appointed, visited Kristnapore: where had assembled to meet them a Congregation of at least two hundred of the Natives, exclusive of children; who listened with the most serious attention to the offers of Salvation made to them in the Gospel. "Every one," say the Missionaries, "seemed interested; and, without an exception, all acknowledged the truth of what had been spoken. During this time the whole village had become agitated; and many persons from adjoining villages also came, all of whom manifested the most lively interest while listening to the glorious tidings, that God so loved the world, that he gave his Only-begotten Son, that who soever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." They describe the scene as exceedingly interesting; and were reminded, by the spectacle before them, of the multitude which sat at the feet of the Redeemer, listening to the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth, while, seated on the mountain's side, He said, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The Missionaries continued occasionally to visit Kristnapore for two or three months; till, at length (in May 1829), a Bungalow Chapel was opened for Public Worship. Since that time the people have been statedly visited.

On the 20th of September, in the same year, the first Converts at Kristnapore were baptized at Calcutta. On that occasion Thirty Thirty Natives sat down together at the Lord's Table; and twenty others, from Kristnapore and Taroleah, gave in their names as Candidates for Baptism. Ofthese, seven were baptized in November last, at the first-mentioned village; on which occasion there were present about One Hundred Native Christians.

* Rammakalchoke, distant from Calcutta about ten miles, stands in the centre of a number of villages, the aggregate population of which is at leas

20,000 souls.

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In June, 1829, after twelve years' apparently unproductive labour, a Native Church was at length formed in Calcutta itself, composed of eight members: in 1829-30, that number was increased to sixteen, and subsequently it has advanced to twenty-four.

The following is a statement of the number of Native Converts baptized; and who have been united to the Native Churches at Calcutta and Kidderpore, in connexion with the Society.

NATIVE CHURCH AT KIDDERPORE.
1823

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While the labours of the Missionaries in preaching the Gospel have been continued with diligence, the Education of the Native Children has engaged a large share of their attention. Several children and young persons, who were baptized with their parents on the abovementioned occasions, had been previously, or were afterward, placed, as their age might be, under Christian Tuition: and, indeed, in all the districts and villages in which the Gospel has been statedly preached to the Natives, they have uniformly endeavoured to establish Schools for the benefit of the Native Children, of whom several hundred, including both sexes, have been usually under Christian Instruction. The distribution of the Scriptures and Tracts has been carried on to a wide extent, and there is reason to believe with good effect; especially

* This number includes the Native Converts baptized at Rammakalchoke, Gungree, Kristnapore, and Taroleah; some having joined the Church at Calcutta, and some that at Kidderpore.

as tending to diminish the veneration of the Hindoos for their own Religious System, and promoting a spirit of inquiry among themselves as to the respective claims of that System and Christianity.

It would require a Volume to detail and explain the numerous ways in which Missionary Operations have exerted a beneficial influence on the general state of society, both European and Native, in this and other parts of the East Indies: suffice it to observe, that, independently of the direct personal benefit conferred by imparting the knowledge of Christianity to individuals, there can be no doubt that these operations have contributed to give a highly salutary impulse to the minds of the inhabitants-quickening the mental faculties-awakening reflexion- stimulating inquiry-directing the attention to the acquisition and circulation of useful knowledge and the promotion of beneficent objects. Many important facts in the recent history of the East Indies, corroborative of the truth of this remark, which, however, we cannot here particularize, will, we doubt not, at once occur to the recollection of our readers. On the present occasion we shall content ourselves by giving the following brief extract, relating exclusively to the Native Population at Calcutta, taken from a communication lately received from our Brethren in that city, dated 15th November, 1830: "The state of things in Calcutta is more promising than on any former occasion. Nineteen or Twenty Societies for mental improvement have been established in the Native Town, by the Natives themselves. Others meet once or twice a week, discuss various subjects connected with Moral Philosophy, the customs of their own nation, &c." The Brethren add-" Many respectable Natives have professed their belief of the truth of the Christian System."

At an early period of the Mission, a Society in aid of it was established, called the "Bengal Auxiliary Missionary Society," which has rendered very effective assistance, while the members composing it have been uniformly distinguished by their Christian Liberality and Zeal. The Mission has also received considerable assistance from the bene

volence of particular individuals; which, under the Divine Blessing, has in various ways tended to forward the great object in view: after specifying some of those services, the Committee of the Bengal

Society say they "cannot speak too highly of those liberal and zealous individuals, whose conduct bears so striking a resemblance to the spirit which animated the bosoms of the first disciples of our Lord, and so eminently characterized the best and earliest days of Christianity." (Report of the Bengal Auxiliary, for 1829-30.)

Such, briefly, are some of the chief grounds for grateful acknowledgments to God, afforded by the more recent history of the Society's Mission at Calcutta; where, we rejoice to know, Missionaries from various other Societies also labour, and, we are happy to say, harmoniously labour, in different spheres, for the promotion of the same general object. The success with which it has pleased the Almighty to crown their efforts, is, in common with that which has attended the Brethren immediately connected with our own Society, calculated to excite feelings of common gratitude and thanksgiving to stimulate to fervent and persevering prayer for future blessings-to encourage the hope of still greater measures of success, and of the ultimate triumph of the Gospel over ignorance, idolatry, imposture, and every species of superstition and false religion, in those parts of the Eastern World, and, eventually, over every region of the world itself.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

As we are glad, when opportunities offer, to give information relative to Missions by parties not personally interested in them, we subjoin, from communications (in March, of last year) of the Rev. Allen Graves of the American Mission at Bombay, some

Notices of the Society's Stations in Malabar. The Missions which we have visited, since leaving Bombay, are those of the Church Missionary Society, on the Malabar Coast, and in the Malayalim Language, which considerably resembles Tamul. Our ignorance of the language renders it improper to say much respecting the state of those Missions; but we are bound to mention the pleasure and encouragement which we felt in viewing them. At Allepie, Mr. Norton has a large dwelling-house and a large Church; both built, partly at the expense of the Society, and partly by the favour of the

Native Government. The ground on which they stand is, also, the gift of the late Queen. The Church has a belfry, bell, gallery, and organ; and resounds with Christian Hymns, in Christian Tunes, and in the Native Language. The Congregation consisted of about two hundred Natives, nearly half of whom had been baptized. The day we attended, a Hindoo Family was baptized, and some from the Roman Catholics received. But all who are baptized are not received to the Lord's Supper, nor supposed to give full evidence of a radical change.

At Cottayam, Mr. Doran instructs upward of one hundred Young Men in the Syrian College, mostly through the medium of the English Language. As some of them have learned to understand English pretty well, the Missionaries have one Service on Sunday in English, the other in Malayalim: they have as yet no Church, but hold their meetings in the Academy connected with the College: the Congregation is about two hundred. The population in their immediate vicinity is but small, Mr. Baker has the principal care of the Native Schools, and gives himself especially to preaching the Gospel. Mr. Bailey had the principal management of the printing, type-foundry, and book-binding; and had translated and printed the Church Service and the New Testament: two or three Books of the Old Testament were also translated: but he was seriously affected with a chronic liver complaint, and we have just heard he has gone to sea for his health. Mrs. Bailey was also in poor health. They have a large family of children; so have Mr. and Mrs. Baker.

Mr. Doran is unmarried. They have three large dwelling-houses-one of them erected at the expense of the occupant. Mrs. Baker is the grand-daughter of the first Mr. Kohlhoff: she had a boardingschool of above 40 Syrian Girls, who work during a part of the day, and the other parts are diligently employed in learning to read, or in reading the Scriptures and other Christian Books in their own language: many of them repeated Dr. Watts's Second Catechism very correctly.

At Cochin, Mr. Ridsdale has an English, a Portuguese, and a Native Congregation. In Portuguese, he is assisted by a Priest recently converted from Popery, and instructed for a time in the

Bangalore Mission. Considerable attention and opposition have been excited among the Roman Catholics of the place. The large Jewish Town, which is very near, has no Missionary especially designated to labour in it; and few of the inhabitants attend on instruction at Cochin, though Malayalim is the proper language in which to attempt their instruction.

On our way from Cochin to this place (the Nilgherry Hills), we passed through a large town of Syrian Christians, among whom is also one Roman-Catholic Church. The Syrians were finishing their Christ mas Holidays. The streets were filled with crosses, made of plantain stalks for the occasion, and at night illuminated: they had a costly and very noisy exhibition of fire-works. In the day-time, also, there was a procession of perhaps two thousand people, conveying three carved images. For music they had singing, violins, drums, tamborines, and cymbals. I was able only to reprove a few of them for their idolatry, in Hindoostanee, which only two or three understood. I however distributed many portions of the Malayalim Testament, and a greater number of Religious Tracts; and some, both of the Tracts and New Testaments, they tore in pieces. I would there could be a prudent, zealous Missionary established there! We suffered more abuse from them than, perhaps, we had ever done elsewhere in the same length of time.

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December; and remained at the Rev. R. Hill's till the 15th of January, 1831; when I came from Sydney to New Zealand by the "Olive Branch," belonging to the London Missionary Society; and arrived at Paihia on the 6th of February.

Arrived at Paihia on Sunday Afternoon, just before my dear Brethren were going to the English Service. My heart was greatly refreshed by the appearance of so many Natives attending the Service of God in this distant land. In the Evening of the same day I went to the Native Service. There were, I think, about one hundred present: they were very attentive and orderly. The Rev. W. Williams preached to them, in their own language. The Christian Chief, Taiwanga, frequently stopped Mr. Williams, and asked him questions, which Mr. Williams answered. This mode seems to exite the Natives to great attention; and I trust it will bring many to inquire what they must do to be saved. I have visited all the other Stations; and the same pleasing prospects appear.

I have been with my dear Brethren into several of the Native Villages; and there seems to be a spirit of inquiry amongst the people for the things that make for their everlasting peace. The Committee have stationed me at Waimate, which appears to be well selected for husbandry. There is an extensive field of usefulness opened to us there. We could form Missionary Stations in all parts of the land, if we had Missionaries enough to form them. Almost all the Tribes are inviting us, nearly in the language of the Macedonians of old, Come over and help us. Oh! did but the love of Christ dwell in the hearts of young men in England who call themselves Christians, there would be no want of Teachers when the Heathen are calling for help. If they could but behold the difference between those to whom the

Gospel is preached and those that hear it not, I am sure that they would no longer refuse to come forward in this great Cause, the Author of which is God. I have frequently heard the Christian Natives, at midnight, praying and singing

praises to their Creator and Redeemer.

Loss of Mr. C. Davis and his Companions confirmed.

We regret to say that the communications just received extinguish the hope which had been excited, of the preservation of Mr. and Mrs.

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