Visitation of the Bishop of Calcutta. The Bishop of Calcutta landed at Colombo on the 17th of February. His conduct towards the Society's Missionaries has been marked by a truly paternal character. The following particulars, relative to his Lordship's intercourse with them, at Cotta, Kandy, and Baddagame, will interest our Readers.

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Cotta, Feb. 24, 1831 - This day the Confirmation of Candidates, in the Native Languages Portuguese, Tamul, and Cingalese - took place at St. Paul's Church. Brother Lambrick read Prayers in Cingalese. This was the first time that the Cotta Translation of the Prayer Book was ever used in any Church in Colombo. Br. Lambrick also read the Confirmation Service, after the Bishop. The Prayer at the Laying-on of hands was also read in Tamul and Portuguese. Out of 149 Candidates confirmed today, 78 belonged to the Schools connected with Cotta Station. These, with nine who were confirmed with the English Candidates on Tuesday last, make up the number of those who have taken upon themselves their Baptismal Vows, connected with us, 87 persons.

March 3-To-day, the Bishop came to Cotta; and spent nearly the whole of the day in examining the Children of the Out-Schools, and the Students of the Institution. He expressed himself much pleased with both, and particularly with the Institution Students; to each of whom he promised to give a Bible and a Prayer-Book.

[Rev. J. Selkirk. Kandy-We were highly gratified, last month (March), by a visit from the Bishop of Calcutta. He confirmed 36 persons belonging to my Congregations, and examined some of our Schools. We have cause for great thankfulness to the Father of Mercies, who has appointed such an Overseer to superintend the concerns of the Infant Church in India. May his valuable life long be spared! The Bishop justly remarked, when he had finished the Examination of the Children, that we had enough to encourage us, and nothing to elate us.

One of the persons confirmed was an Adult, who was admitted into the Church by Baptism a few days before. Her parents were Christians, but had neglected her baptism in infancy. She had lived with a Christian Man, without marriage, for ten or twelve years. He is a

well-conducted person in other respects; and has wished, for the last three years, that I would baptize the mother of his children, and unite them in marriage. I deferred it, from time to time; as I deemed her not sufficiently acquainted with Christianity: and should probably have put it off still a little longer, had it not been for their great anxiety to be confirmed by the Bishop, and my wish not to lose so good an opportunity of making the Service impressive. Notice was given, the Sunday before, that the Baptism would take place; and, after the Lesson, I proceeded to the Altar, and administered Baptism, according to the form for Adults, in the presence of a numerous Congregation. May this family now live as becometh Christians! [Rev. T. Browning.

Baddagame-The Bishop left Galle very early on Tuesday the 22d, for Baddagame; and confirmed fifteen persons in our Church. He afterwards examined all our Country Schools, the Girls, and the Boarding Boys; all of whom, I believe, gave him satisfaction. He left Baddagame on the 23d, for Colombo. We have been much pleased with him, and, I believe, he is very generally greatly esteemed; but we cannot help entertaining fears that the Indian Church will not long be blessed with his presence and labours, as he appears to be in a very delicate state of health. [Rev. G. C. Trimnell. The following extracts detail the State and Progress of the Schools. Cotta-This morning (Nov. 11, 1830), after preaching at Pagoda School, a Boy, belonging to the English School at Cotta, who attended the Service, came to me, and said, Sir, please to find for me," offering me his Prayer-Book, "the history of the Person who made a great supper, and who sent His Servants to call the people when all things were ready, but they would not come." I found for him the Gospel for the Second Sunday after Trinity; and then asked him, why he wished to find that. He said, "I wish to read it, at home, to my relations. I often read parts of the Testament to them; and a great many people sometimes come to our house: and I wish to read this history to them." He has no father: his mother is married again; and he lives in his uncle's family. "But,' I asked, "if they should say, what does this mean, and what does that mean, how will you explain it to them?" He

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said, "I will explain to them as well as I can. I cannot explain it all; but I can some."-Sometime ago I explained this Parable in a Sermon; and it appears that it has been in the Boy's mind ever since.

It is customary with us, every Christmas, to give to each of the Children belonging to our Schools a piece of cloth. As I have long wished that the Parents could be interested in the welfare of their Children, and that they could be induced to come and hear what is the nature of that instruction which we try to instil into their minds, instead of ordering all the Children to come to Cotta, as was usual in former years, I thought it would be more likely to produce good if I went to each School. I had previously mentioned it to the Schoolmasters, and requested them to collect the Parents of the Children at the different Schools: and I was very happy to find, at every School, nearly all of them assembled. They were not only delighted to see their Children rewarded, but many of them seemed to take much more interest in the Examination which they had to pass in their Monthly Lessons than I had before expected to see. After the Examination, I preached at each School, chiefly on the necessity of giving a Christian Education to their Children. I spent nearly a week in these Examinations and though I was out from six o'clock, or nearly, in the morning, and was hardly ever at home till dark, I found them some of the most profitable days I have spent since I was engaged in the Missionary Work. [Rev. J. Selkirk.

Kandy, July 2, 1830-Went this morning to Boyagama School. This School still continues small and inefficient. Only four Boys were able to read the New Testament. These I heard read; catechized the School; gave the half-yearly reward of cloth to three who had learnt their lessons well during the last six months; prayed with the Children; distributed Tracts; and proceeded from that School to Gadaladenia, where the Master and Scholars of Arambegama School were also assembled to meet me. I examined both these Schools, and gave rewards to the most diligent. There is not so much improvement observable in the Children as I could wish: this, I believe, is chiefly owing to the irregularity of their attendance. The duties which the people have to perform on roads &c., to Government, on account of their lands, and

their own indolent habits, render it very difficult to impart daily instruction to the Children. I always endeavour, in these visits to the Schools, to bring the great truths of Christianity to the notice of the Masters and Children as much as possible.

July 9-A man came to me to-day, wishing to get married. He says he has been living for a great number of years without marriage; but that his Child, a little Boy who attends the School, now reproves him for his improper conduct. I was pleased to hear this remark; as it shews, among many others, that good does result from the instruction of Youth; that the light of Divine Truth, communicated in the Schools, does penetrate into the habitations of the people, and discover the works of darkness and of sin, which before escaped unobserved.

Sept. 26: Sunday-Had more Children attending the Service, both in Portuguese and Cingalese, than are usually present. Our Brethren having mentioned to me, at the Annual Meeting, that it is desirable to bring all our Schools to attend the Public Ministry of the Word, I have been endeavouring, since my return, to induce the Children to come. I fear I shall have great difficulty with some others will attend, if they are often stirred up to it. At the suggestion of our Brethren, I have also given notice in the English School, that, after the 1st of November next, all those who attend merely to learn English, and will not join our Public Service, to hear the Word of God in their own language, shall pay monthly to the funds of the Society for their learning. We require wisdom from on high, to know how to act rightly. May the Spirit enlighten us, and direct us to the most profitable methods of promoting the eternal welfare of this people!

Oct. 3: Sunday-This day I opened a Sunday School, in connexion with the Cingalese Congregation: eighteen Scholars were admitted; and three respectable persons, in addition to the School Visitor and Cingalese Schoolmaster, came forward, and offered their services as Teachers. The School was commenced at one o'clock; and continued till a little before three, when the bell rung for Service. I am thankful for this beginning; and trust the Lord will make this a means of usefulness. I wish to have a School for teaching to read the Scriptures in English, in connexion with the Portuguese Service in the morning; but cannot find suitable Teachers. The number of

their benevolent efforts. We scarcely need to add, that this expectation was afterward fully realised.

The restoration, however, of Batavia to the Dutch, by the Treaty of 1815, allowed Gov. Raffles but a comparatively-brief opportunity of manifesting, on the spot, his favourable disposition toward the Mission; but while the Missionaries, on the return of the Dutch Authorities, had to lament his departure, their regret was alleviated by the promise of his successor, Baron Van der Capellen, of countenance and aid to the Mission, which he subsequently fulfilled. It may not be improper to add, that Sir Stamford Raffles, after his appointment as Governor of Bencoolen, which subsequently took place, had many opportunities of shewing favour to the Missionaries, and promoting their object; which he did with the enlightened zeal of one who felt, that, independently of the sublime hopes which it inspires and the eternal benefits which it confers, Christianity was, as to its political and civil results, the best boon that he could impart to mankind.

At an early period of the Mission, many pleasing evidences were afforded of its beneficial influence. The preaching of the Gospel by the Missionaries was made useful to many of the Dutch residents an Auxiliary Missionary Society was formed at Batavia; while the Chinese New-Testament, and Milne's Chinese Magazine and Tracts in that language, were circulated, with much benefit to the Chinese, some of whom were induced to tear down from the walls of their houses the symbols of their idolatry.

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The Mission has been subsequently prosecuted with various measures of success, particularly as to the preparation and practical application of means. deed, it is in this latter point of view in which, for some considerable time, the effectiveness of Missions, in these regions, and in various other parts of the world, must be appreciated, rather than by the number of Heathens who actually turn from their idols, and openly profess themselves disciples of Christ. A system of well-adapted means and instruments is brought into operation, which, with the Divine Blessing, is calculated to awaken a useful curiosity-to shed a portion of light into the mind-to soften antipathies to dissolve prejudice-to produce confidence in the Missionary

to open between him and the Heathen a more friendly and beneficial intercourse -to secure, on the part of the Heathen, a more serious attention to his addresses, and a more candid perusal of the books which he may put into their hands. All this-as bearing in its results on the great object in view-cannot but be regarded as a highly-important preparatory process; while we are warranted to cherish the most unshaken confidence and expectation, that, in due time, if we faint not, we shall reap the spiritual fruits to which we look forward, and reap them abundantly.

The means which have been brought into active operation, in connexion with the Mission at Batavia, are, the preaching of the Gospel to the Malays, Chinese, and English-the distribution of the Scriptures, Magazines, Tracts-the institution of Schools-Discussions with the better-informed among the HeathenConversations with, and occasionally Addresses to, the people in the bazaars, in their shops, in the streets, and by the way-side; the patients in the hospitals, and the convicts in the jails; in a dispensary, connected with the Mission, where medicine for the body and instruction for the mind are both gratuitously imparted; and, lastly, English and American Seamen on board vessels in the harbour.

Great reluctance has generally been manifested by the people, by the Chinese particularly, to assemble, as a Congregation, in a Place of Worship. The Missionary has, therefore, endeavoured to make up for the want of opportunities to preach to large and stated assemblies, by frequently addressing small and casual auditories; while experience and observation have led to the conclusion, that the disinclination of the Chinese to attend Christian Worship, arises less from a bigoted attachment to their own superstitions, than from an indifference to all religion whatever.

Beside a very extensive dispersion of the Scriptures, in Chinese and Malayan, between 100,000 and 200,000 Books and Tracts, in various languages, the larger number printed at the Mission Press at Batavia, have been dispersed abroad in various regions, embracing China, the Malayan Peninsula, and many of the Islands of the Indian Archipelago. The books circulated among the Heathen at Batavia are ascertained to be frequently read, and to form topics

towns in the Island of Java; sometimes extending their tours to places more remote, including the western coast of the Malayan Peninsula, Borneo, and Bali

preaching the Gospel and distributing the Scriptures, and in many places never before visited by a Missionary.

of conversation and discussion among themselves when the Missionaries are not present; and there is ground to hope that the moral leaven has begun to work among the Heathen Population there: the Malays, in particular, now manifest an eagerness to obtain Books and Tracts. Those only who are aware of the great repugnance of this people to hold intercourse with Europeanstheir deadly prejudices, as Mahomedans, against Christians-and the determined mind with which they turn a deaf ear to religious instruction, rejecting a Tract as they would avoid infection-can appreciate fully the extent and importance of this change. The change itself is attributable, in part, to the relaxed prejudices and more liberal views of the Natives themselves; but the Missionary who announces the change, "would fain hope that it has been brought about by the powerful interference of the Almighty Saviour in their behalf, working by His Providence and Spirit.'

The Chinese Schools, in which the number of scholars has fluctuated between 50 and 100, have exhibited evidence of improvement in the attainment of Christian Knowledge, and of its effect in impressing their minds with the folly of Idolatry. After many abortive efforts, a Malay School has been, at length, established, under the superin

tendence of the Mission.

Latterly, the desire among the people to obtain Christian Instruction has much increased. The distribution of Tracts among the Malays is represented as unprecedented; and the attendance, both of Malay and Chinese, on Public Worship, has been more encouraging than at any antecedent period since the commencement of the Mission. The Malay Congregation, in particular, has greatly increased so that, including the Children in the Schools, and the people resident in two or three more or less distant and populous villages, the number of Natives now regularly brought under Christian Instruction amounts to about 500; exclusive of those who are occasionally addressed in the bazaars, in the shops, and by the way-side: among both Chinese and Malay, a few instances have occurred of decided conversion to God.

The Missionaries at Batavia have not confined their labours to that city and its vicinity, but have repeatedly visited distant parts, embracing other large

Such are some of the particulars connected with the history of the Society's Mission in Java, which call for the gratitude of the Society; and encourage its Directors to prosecute its undertakings there, in the firm hope, that, notwithstanding the formidable character of the difficulties which stand in the way of Missionary Operations in this part of the world, the Gospel will, at length, extend its triumphs and dispense its blessings, not only in Java, but in all the islands and regions round about.

Australasia.

Lew Zealand.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

AMPLE details of this Mission were given at pp. 54-68, 109-118. Communications, to the 15th of March, have since been received, the substance of which we now present to our Readers. Though in the midst of dangers and barbarism, the Missionaries take their rest in safely under the defence of the Most High; and, through His blessing, their labours continue to prosper.

The following extracts detail the course of the labours of the Missionaries and Catechists, and present many encouraging indications of the Hopeful Influence of the Gospel on the

Natives.

Nov. 11, 1830-We have nine Baptized Natives in this Settlement, and several who are Candidates. Though this number is small, the time was when that number of Natives would not remain with us; but now we are extending, and are nearly 200 souls here. The citadel of the great Enemy is giving way, and we have great cause to rejoice. When we look back, and compare the present day with those which we have witnessed, we cannot but thank God, and take courage. His promise is sure we have found it so: and His arm has been very manifest on our behalf; for nothing but the Spirit's operation could have wrought upon the minds of this people.