greater things which the Saviour will be pleased to show us, Oh that our labours, our prayers, our tone of mind may be adequate to the solemn responsibilities of our

beloved Institution! You wil be happy to hear that the number of our pupils is not diminished by these conversions; on the contrary, it is on the increase."

CHEERING ASPECTS OF THE BELLARY

MISSION.

"My stay at Bellary was to me very interesting and pleasant, and I trust it will prove to have been beneficial to the people connected with the Mission. I shall always cherish a grateful recollection of their conduct towards me, and of the kind and affec tionate manner in which they received all my efforts to do them good.

"My intercourse with the heathen while there was chiefly in Bellary itself. In that highly favoured place the gospel has of course been often and faithfully preached. But as I was a stranger, even those who might be disposed to turn away from it, as a tale which had been too often told, might be willing, at least for a few times, to give me an attentive hearing. Though they might have no love for the truth itself, they might like to hear how the new-comer spoke their language, and how he met their objections, and maintained his own views. I determined fully to avail myself of this feeling, for the purpose of striking a series of blows at the various systems of error prevalent among them, and pouring into their ears the words of eternal life. And I rejoiced much at having so many opportunities of doing this. Many of the people showed great friendship, entering into free conversation with me in their shops and public places of concourse; and I sometimes had large and attentive congregations. On some of these occasions I told them, that, as they had so often heard the truth, and had

their errors and follies so often exposed, many of them could not but be theoretically convinced of the Divine origin of Christianity and that, therefore, the fear of the world, combined with the love of sin, could alone deter them from receiving it. To this they assented. And I have not the slightest doubt that this is the case in almost every place where the gospel has been long preached.

"There are here, as at our other Stations, interesting educational institutions, especially the Wardlaw Institution, and the Boys' and Girls' Boarding Schools. These are well fitted to be of immense benefit to the rising generation, and to be the means of diffusing much knowledge of the gospel among the people of the place. The printing press might be made a mighty instrument of good if we had more time and means at our command.

"I need say nothing of our dear Missionary brethren who labour there, who are well known to you, and are themselves in constant communication with you. The different subordinate agents are useful and diligent in their several departments. The native teachers, who, I trust, have their hearts in the work, labour under many discouragements, and require our countenance and support. I was much pleased with Enoch Paul, the native pastor. He appears simple, devoted, and humble. The sermons which I heard him preach in Tamil seemed to have been prepared with a good deal of care, and were calculated to edify his people. Mr.

Lawrence is an efficient teacher in the English school, and is also very desirous to make himself generally useful in connexion with the Mission."

HEATHEN FESTIVAL AT HUMPEE.

"I had the pleasure of making a tour to Humpee, along with Mr. Shrieves and some of the native teachers, at the time of the annual festival. We were there three full days, and had crowds almost constantly with us hearing and conversing about the truth. As it has been the custom of our Missionaries to go there annually for nearly forty years past, they are expected by the people, and well known to many of them. The place of the Missionaries' tent is fixed and known; and there is also a building in the street through which the cars pass, that is called the Padre's Muntupa, which, by common consent, is given up for the use of the native teachers. Their absence now, therefore, would be considered a very remarkable thing, and might be interpreted as a yielding to the enemy. I was more interested and pleased than I expected to be. There is certainly a great deal of noise and bustle in the place; and there are multitudes who are far from being in a favourable state of mind for being addressed on the subject of religion. For though the avowed object of their coming is to worship, and to obtain the favour of their gods, yet the whole scene is very much like a fair at home; and the state of the people's minds is very much the same. While the cars are being drawn, there are all sorts of shows and sports going on in the vicinity. Amusement is evidently one great object of the gathering; merchandise another; wickedness and dissipation another. The Missionaries, however, have their tent pitched at a distance from the principal scene of these fooleries, though still surrounded by other tents, and multitudes of people. Those who come to hear must, for a time at least, deny themselves the pleasure of the show and excitement of the place. And it was pleasing to see a number who preferred staying with us almost all the time, and hearing the gospel, to engaging in the amusements of the heathen. There is no opportunity of quietly conversing with any, so as to ascertain the state of their minds; for we are never entirely private day or night. But it is a good

opportunity of declaring the truth, and distributing Scriptures and tracts to great numbers, and from all parts of the country."

A YOUNG INQUIRER.

"We were not a little interested, however, with a boy about twelve or thirteen years of age, who lives in a village in the neighbourhood of Humpee, and who has heard a good deal about the gospel, from a man who professes to be under serious impressions. This boy can read, and understands well (though a heathen) what he does read. He was with us often, and as long as he could, while we were there, drinking in all we said. On one occasion, when we were asking some people why they had come to Humpee, on their replying that it was to see the idol and the car, the boy asked them what good would this do them. This was a simple question, to be sure, but it was put in a tone and manner which made all present feel that he was in earnest, and that he had the utmost contempt for their gods. All eyes were, therefore, turned to him; and some zealous heathen were exceedingly provoked, and asked him why he had the presumption to put such a question, and why he did not become a Christian at once. He boldly replied that he wished to do so. I hope and pray that such may be the case, and that he yet may be a light among his people. trust our brethren there will have more opportunities of speaking with him, and that they will not lose sight of him. This is one among many proofs that it is not in our schools only where interesting boys and young persons are to be found. My mind's eye now rests on several in different parts of the country, for whose spiritual welfare I feel much concern. In my out-door preaching I not unfrequently address myself spe cially to the boys before me, and I scarcely ever do so without observing that they are pleased, and attentive to what is said."

BAPTISM OF CONVERTS.

I

"After our return from Humpee, I had the pleasure of baptizing six adults-five men, and one woman-in the Mission Chapel at Bellary, on the 25th of April. They are of the shepherd caste. All of them, except one who is from a near village, belong to Hoonaar, and its neighbourhood, a village about seventy-five miles from Bellary; and

they came from thence for the express purpose of being baptized. Some of their families are ready to join them; and we hope others of the same place will, ere long, follow their example. A man from the same place, and whose case is mentioned in the Report, was baptized by Mr. Coles in November last. Mr. Stanger and the native teacher have been more than once to the village, and they have been encouraged by the state of the people there.

"Two men belonging to Bellary, one of whom is a man of property and responsibility, expressed to me strong convictions of the truth. I trust, ere long, they will both be enabled to declare themselves on the Lord's side. Altogether I look upon the Mission as in an interesting state, and I pray that the Lord may strengthen the brethren there, and abundantly bless their important labours. Both going and coming from Bellary, I had some opportunities of preaching the gospel in the villages on the way."

HOME LABOURS.

"Since my return, my time has been divided between preaching and attending to schools. The following short extract from my journal may prove interesting, as showing some of the ideas of the heathen, and the necessity that there is to make known among them that gospel which brings life and immortality to light.

Wednesday, 23rd June.-Preached in a weaver's lane, and had a good number of hearers. Two or three Mussulmans present were impertinent, and it was with some difficulty I got rid of them. After they left, I spoke long without interruption. An old man then endeavoured to identify man with the Deity. Old Man. Who speaks to me?' Missionary. 'Padre Campbell.' O. M. (impatiently) 'I want no such answer. Who speaks in you?' M. 'I myself. What is your name?' O. M. (very reluctantly, afraid of being led into a false position) 'Dasuppa.

But who is it that inhabits this body, and speaks in it. Is it not Puramatura?' (supreme spirit). M. 'No: it is Dasuppa.' O. M. That is only a name that my father gave me. It is nothing. Who is it that speaks?' M. It is Dasuppa that speaks. The name was not given to inanity. It was given to you, because you have a soul. That soul is properly yourself. The body is only a tabernacle, which Dasuppa must soon leave. Then they will say, Dasuppa is dead, or that he is gone.' spirit go at death?'

O. M. 'Where does the

M. To its own place: to heaven or hell; to whichever of these two places it is fitted for by its character?' 0. M. Can we see the spirit going?' M. 'No: because it is an invisible substance, just as God is invisible.' O. M. 'Is it not God? And is not God the same in all? the soul of all animated beings? Is it not the same life that is in us, and in the elephant and the ant?' M. No: God is not identified with any of his creatures. He pervades all with his essential presence; but he has given to every human body a reasonable soul, distinct from himself. It is that which departs at death. God never departs. He is always present. It is the departure of this soul that is called dying. Then the body returns to its dust, and the spirit goes to the place for which it is fitted-heaven or hell." Another heathen. 'Does it not undergo another birth?' M. 'No: it remains in its own place, till Christ, who, I told you, is now in heaven, comes to judge the world, and then every spirit will assume its own body. Christ will thus raise all the dead. This is called the resurrection. Till that day come, hell will be the prison-house of the spirits of the ungodly, and heaven the happy abode of the spirits of the righteous.' H. 'But how can the dead rise after they have mingled with the dust, or after the body has been burned to ashes?' M. Christ is almighty. Nothing is too hard for him. He will raise the dead.'"