tions in the East. JOURNAL OF REV. HOWARD MALCOM. been in the employ of some one of the Deputation to the Missionary Stamission families. Though a faithful, good servant, he persisted for years in rejecting all religious instruction, and maintained his allegiance to the false prophet. His wife, a Burmese woman, was baptized a year and a half ago, and that circumstance probably combined with all he saw and heard, to bring his mind over to the Christian religion. But the process was slow,-the struggle strong; he felt deeply the responsibility of changing his religion, and when he made his formal request for baptism, he trembled all over. Poor old man! he is above sixty; his cheeks are quite fallen in; his long beard is quite grey; he has probably but a short time to live. May he prove to be a brand plucked out of the fire, at the eleventh hour! He affectionately remembers his old mistress, and frequently sheds tears, when speaking of the scenes of Ava and Amherst, where he saw her suffer, and die. I hope now, that they will have the pleasure of meeting again, and of renewing the old acquaintance under happier auspices. The printing of the whole Bible was finished on the 29th inst. I am now revising the Psalms for a second edition -the first edition, which was printed long ago, being nearly expended; and as we intend to bind up the new edition with the last volume of the Old Testament, we shall have no copies for distribution until the whole is completed. A large edition (30,000) of the Epitome of the Old Testament revised, has also been lately issued. Tracts &c. as usual. Three presses constantly at work, beside one employed in taking proof-sheets. The Taling types not yet finished, and no printing, therefore, yet done in that language. The translation of the New Testament advanced to the end of Hebrews. More preaching has been done in Maulmein and the vicinity, during the past year, than all the previous years together, which we have spent in the place. Five or six native assistants have been kept constantly at work. They have brought in several converts, and excited more religious inquiry, and disposition favorable to the reception of truth, than we have ever known before. Thousands and thousands of tracts also have been distributed through the town, chiefly by some of the newly arrived brethren, during their morning walks. The following journal of the outward passage has been received within a few days, by the ship India, from Calcutta, via Madras. Later advices inform us that the Louvre left the mouth of the Hoogly, Feb. 7, proceeded to Amherst and Maulmein, remaining at the latter place one week, and arrived at Singapore, March 31. Mr. Malcom remained at Maulmein. His health was improving; every attack of disease since the first in Boston, had been decidedly lighter." The Voyage. How cordial and comprehensive are the sympathies of true religion! Who that saw the Louvre, with her eleven ordained ministers, about to spread her canvass, could fail to contrast the scene with ordinary shipping operation, ? Over all the wharf, is one dense mass of grave and silent spectators, while the decks and rigging of the adjacent ships are filled with younger, but not less intent observers. No sound interrupts the ascending prayer. The full harmony of a thousand voices wafts to heaven the touching hymn. Countless hands thrust toward the narrow passway, seek the last token of recognition. Even the aged, unaccustomed to tears, weep, not from bitterness, but in exuberance of love. But here are none of the customary inducements to convene a crowd. A ship sailing with passengers is no novelty. One of the number was indeed the pastor of a large and most affectionate congregation; but with the others in general, the multitude had no acquaintance. Personal attachments, therefore, had not assembled the people. There was, in fact, nothing in the scene, which could call forth a general interest, but its religious character. The regular packet, crowded with passengers leaves our shores, while only here and there a group of personal friends look on with interest. The merchantman unfurls his sails, but his destination and objects are not regarded. But the missionary! he awakens the sympathy of every believer. Stranger though he be, all press to grasp his hand, and, when gone, all intercede for him with God. Even denominational preferences are forgotten, and every sect mingles in the throng, exulting in a common joy. All this, however, is a mere fraction of the fruits of Christian charity. The same expansive benevolence embraces the unseen, unknown, heathen. Intense interest for these, sends forth these self-denying ones, and draws from Christians at home, the requisite funds. The world is the field over which the eye of the Christian wanders, and for all of which he will labor and pray, while he has being. O blessed gospel, which thus makes man the friend of man, and excites in the heart all that is pure, joyous, and benevolent! Never did a ship leave Boston harbor more nobly. A fine wind, and favoring tide, bore us on so rapidly, as scarcely to leave us time to gaze one lingering farewell to the faint outlines of the great and beautiful city. In two hours the pilot left us, bearing brief notes of affectionate remembrance to friends behind. Soon we found our selves in the midst of scores of beautiful schooners, engaged in the mackerel fishing. So thickly did they lie along the horizon, as to resemble long streets of stately white houses. Even these, at length, sunk into the dim distance, and we dashed on till night closed in, and the breeze hushed itself to rest. our way nearly 500 miles. The skylight in my state-room proves all-sufficient. The round-house (so called,) on deck, is an invaluable comfort, and will be especially so in rainy weather. In the evening, such as were well enough commenced family worship in the cabin. Sunday, 27. Still fine and favoring breezes. An awning being extended over the deck, and seats arranged, br. S. preached this morning an appropriate and interesting discourse. Most of the passengers able to attend. As many were singers, I led the psalmody with my flute, and we raised our hosannas, not unacceptable, we trust, even to the ears of God. Four of the crew attended. Our entire company then resolved themselves into a Bible class, to meet every Lord'sday afternoon at half past three, and requested me to take charge of it. We selected the Acts of the Apostles as most appropriate to our missionary work. Till the arrival of the appointed time, on every side were seen the brethren and sisters, busy with Doddridge, Henry, Scott, Barnes, Adam Clarke, &c. &c. We shall take a chapter each time, and occupy in the recitation from one to two hours. Saturday, Oct. 10. Amid the numerous discomforts of a long sea voyage, one is thrown in upon his own resources, both for improvement and pleasure. But the mind accustomed to view with intelligent and devout contemplation the works of God, can seldom be without materials for lofty and purifying thought. And surely the wide ocean, and wider sky, present a rich field for the expatiation of our noblest thoughts. Pacing the deck, or leaning against the bul Wednesday, Sept. 23. Light winds, and a smooth sea, gave us a night of quiet repose; but as the sun rose cloudless out of the sea, the wind freshened on our quarter, and amid an array of studding-sails we made fine progress. Most of the passengers, alas! feel no relish for the noble sight of ocean, and the rapid plunging of our gallant ship. Sea-sickness, that most dispiriting of all maladies, oppresses them. Mr. Sutton and myself, however, being in-warks, toward setting sun, it would ured to the unnatural motion, are so far exempt as to be able to act the part of nurses. Between attending the sick, and making fast the luggage, I have found ample employment for the day. seem as though the most gross and thoughtless mind must rise, and expand, and feel delight. Far and near, rolls "old ocean." Before Jehovah spread out the fairer scenery of the dry land, these restless billows swelled and My heart fills with tender and grate- sparkled, beneath the new made firmaful emotions, as I arrange the various ment. For thousands of years their gifts of friendship and regard which al-wide expanse remained a trackless most fill my state-room. Nothing that waste, experience could dictate, or imagination suggest, as requisite for my comfort, seems wanting. My sweet, but oppressive emotions, find relief only in pouring out before God, fervent thanks, and imploring him to remember his promise, that a cup of cold water given to a disciple, because he is a disciple, shall not lose its reward. 24. The wind has continued favorable, and we are already advanced on "Unconquerable, unreposed, untired, In nature's anthem." The storm found no daring mariner to brave its fury, and the gentle breeze no repose on the fair canvass of the lordly ship. Age after age, the fowls of heaven, and the tenants of the deep, held undisputed empire. But now, every ocean is added to the dominion of man. He captures its rulers, he makes its surges his highway-and so dexterously adjusts his spreading canvass, as to proceed in the very face of its winds, to his desired haven. But O! how many have found in these same billows a grave! How many a gallant ship has "sunk like lead in the mighty waters," where beauty and vigor, wealth and venerableness, learning and piety, find undistinguished graves. To these lone deserts of pure waters man pursues his brother with murderous intent-the silence is broken by thundering cannon-the billows bear away the stain of gore, and all that storms ever swallowed up, have been outnumbered by the victims of a single fight. O war! when will thy horrid banner be forever furled! Reflection, following the chasing waves, passes on to the shores they lave, and there looks over nations, and beholds men in their manners, customs, follies, and crimes-their loves and hates their joys and sorrows-their enthusiastic pursuit of wealth, and amazing disregard of Heaven. How interminable and salutary are the thoughts thou inspirest, Ocean! whether we regard thy age, thy beauties, thy wrath, thy silence, thy treasures, thy services to man, thy praise to God, or the scenes which have been acted on thy surface! But while we thus muse and speculate, the glories of sunset fade into sober gray, the billows take a deeper tinge, stars multiply, and behold we stand beneath a firmament glowing with ten thousand fires. Here are vaster, sublimer fields of thought. "Hail, Source of Being! Universal Soul To Thee I bend the knee:-to Thee my thoughts How ennobling and purifying is the I ought to have mentioned in its place, that on the 28th Sept. we had a meeting to agree upon some general measures for the profitable employment of our time. It was unanimously agreed that, in addition to our daily family worship, prayer meetings should be held every Sunday and Wednesday evenings-that the brethren officiate alphabetically, at public worship on deck, and in asking a blessing during. one day at table-that the monthly concert of prayer be held at the same hour as the other evening meetingsthat I should deliver on Thursday evenings a course of weekly lectures on missions, missionary measures, and missionary fields; and that br. Sutton should deliver occasional lectures on modern mythology, and the state of the heathen. 12. Head winds the past three or four days, have kept us pitching sharply, and put all our invalids again on the sick list. To-day we have a fair wind, which has already smoothed the sea, and our friends are better. We are within 12 or 13 degrees of the Cape Verds, but expect to go much nearer, though not probably in sight. A few days since, we spoke the ship Gibraltar, from New York to Batavia. She had been in sight three days, and seemed quite like a neighbor. Since then we spoke the ship Edward Vincent, from Malaga to New York. The wind has been good for her since, and we hope our American friends will soon hear from us, by her report on arriving in New York. Sunday, 18. Crossed the tropic of Cancer. Not being able to command voice enough to preach on deck, I attempted it this evening, by general request, in the cabin. Other brethren performed all the devotional exercises, but my throat suffered considerably. It is remarkable that we have not yet met the north east trade-wind, which prevails generally as high as 25°, and sometimes at 28. But He who sent us, will give us such speed as pleases Him. 23. Have been contined to my bed with an attack on the bowels, which on Monday laid a severe hold upon me. Am now about, but have been able to eat nothing but a little oatmeal gruel. The tender care and sympathy of my brethren, and still more of the sisters, is very sweet. What a sweet home would this world be, if Christian love pervaded every bosom! It is exceedingly gratifying that the most entire harmony and kind feeling prevails among all our passengers, though so different in temper, age, and previous pursuits; and comprising, as we do, four distinct denominations. Sailing, as we have been, for two days, along the coast of Africa, it is impossible to avoid the frequent recur rence of the thought of that devoted | tions come not as lightnings on the land. How deep the darkness which scathed tree, blasting it yet more, but covers it! How few the points where as the strokes of the sculptor on the Christianity kindles her fire! How marble block, forming it to the image wretched, even in temporal things, its of life and loveliness. Lct but the Dithronging millions, and how utterly vine presence be felt, and no lot is hard. secluded from the improvements of the Let me but see His hand, and no event age! Yet the word of the Lord once is unwelcome. resounded along these shores, and triumphed over the vast interior. African philosophers, ministers, and generals, came not behind the greatest of their time. Why, and how, the dreadful change? "Verily, there is a God, that ruleth in the earth!"-Yesterday we caught the first faint zephyrs of the north east trade-wind, and to-day it has increased to its regular velocity, that is, we go at six or seven miles an hour. We are all glad, and I trust thankful. Friday, 30. The monotony of a calm (for the N. E. trade wind has already failed us,) has been agreeably relieved yesterday and to-day by the neighborhood of two ships, much larger than our own:-one English, and the other American. The English ship, (the John Barry, of London,) is full of convicts for Sydney, in New South Wales: we understood the capt. when he spoke us, that there were 260 of them. They swarmed on the whole deck, and in the rigging, while men under arms stood sentry over them. There were probably some troops also on board, as there were several officers on the quarter-deck, and a fine band of music. This was politely mustered yesterday, when we were as near as we could safely sail, and played for an hour or two, very delightfully. As the music swelled and died away in heaving and exquisite cadences-now Saturday, 24. Have been deeply interested to-night in observing the comet, which cloudy nights have kept hitherto invisible. Here we are, calmly gazing at the identical thing, which by its amazing brilliance spread such universal panic in 1456. All Europe seemed to believe, that the day of judgment was at hand. The pope (Calixtus III.) partook of the alarm. He ordered all church bells to be rung every day at noon, (a practice which has since wide-gay-now plaintive, and now rising into ly prevailed,) and required all good martial pomp, it not only refreshed, and Christians to say the "Ave Maria" soothed, and exhilarated, but awakened three times a day, with this addition, trains of not unprofitable thought. They "Save us from the Turk, the Devil, and belonged to our father land-they came the Comet." He went further, and had from the noblest nation earth ever saw the comet, in regular form, excommuni--they were but lately arrayed against cated every day. But the patient lumina- us in horrid war-they bore to a distant ry filled the coffers of its ghostly anath- home, a motley crew of refined and ematizers. Incalculable treasures pour-vulgar, educated, and ignorant, now ed into the hands of the priests, from the guilty and the affrighted; which remained to their new owners, though the comet soon allayed all apprehensions by "holding on the even tenor of his way," and going out of sight. It has appeared every seventy-five years since that time, but science, the handmaid of religion, has now made this comet an object of calm calculation, and ennobled piety. We have for some days had a continual temperature of about 80. With an awning over the deck and our thinnest clothes, we keep comfortable on deck, though hardly so below. reduced by sin to common convicts, and perpetual banishment. And was God acknowledged among them? Did any of them go to Him in their distresses? Would they in exile finish an inglorious life, and meet the second death? Or, will some faithful preacher find them there, under whose admonitions they may recover earthly honor, and find eternal life? O, that their native land may long remain the pillar of freedom, the source of noble missionary endeavor-that her stupendous navy may rot in peace-that this ship may have souls born to God among her crowd, and that the convict colony may soon be a part of Christ's precious church. 27. Am nearly well, though not yet able to partake of common food. Thanks to my gracious Lord. past sufferings The American ship was the Canada, have not been so utterly unimproved, as of New York, Capt. Hicks-a noble to permit me now to be either terrified ship, whose sailing greatly surpasses or querulous under the endurance of ours. We went on board, and spent evil, so called. I feel repeated afflic-half an hour very pleasantly. captain. "Hard. up, sir," responds the watchful helmsman. The noble thing turns her back to the tremendous uproar, and away we scud, conscious of safety, and thrilled with emotions of sublimity. The rush is over! The dripping seamen expand again the venturous canvass-the decks are swabbed-the tropical sun comes out gloriouslywe pair ourselves to promenade, and evening smiles from golden clouds, that speak of day-gladdened realms beyond. And now the rolling billows, disrobed of their foaming glitter, quiet themselves for the repose of night, while the blessed moon beams mildly from mid-heaven. "Thou art, O God! the life and light Monday, Nov. 2. A perfect calm yes- | mainsail is furled, the spanker brailed terday enabled me to preach on deck. up, and the whole force of the blast Every person on board was present, ex-is upon us. "Hard up," roars the cept the man at the wheel, and one sick, in the forecastle. Our national flag, wrapped round the capstan, made a romantic pulpit, while another extended across the ship, just behind my back, from the awning to the deck, made us a beautiful tabernacle, and gave a charming aspect of compactness and sociability to our little convocation. O that God would bless the endeavor to the souls of our unconverted fellow voyagers! I often converse with the men individually; but though they receive my remarks with the greatest kindness, and seem to possess many good qualities, I do not perceive any particular anxiety on the subject of religion resting on the mind of any of them. The brethren and sisters seem truly prayerful for the conversion of their immortal souls. This was exceedingly manifest this evening at our monthly concert of prayer, and is generally at all our social meetings. I visit the sick sailor frequently, and carry him little delicacies; but his extreme sufferings seem as yet to be fruitless of spiritual good. Thursday, 5. Reached the south east trade-wind, and are going gaily with a steady breeze, at the rate of 7 miles an hour. Those who have not been to sea, can scarcely realize the exhilaration of spirit produced by a strong favoring wind, after wearisome delays. We had scarcely made any advance for ten days, and were almost weary of delay. When we had wind, it was in severe squalls, often ahead, accompanied with heavy showers. The majesty of a few sharp squalls, however, repays one for the delay and danger they may involve, and tempts the timid passenger to brave the wind and a wetting, for the pleasure of the sight. Every sluggish sailor is converted instantly into a hero. Every order is obeyed on the run. The lofty display of canvass which had been flapping against the masts, is rapidly reduced, as the threatening cloud draws on. Regardless of the huge drops which now begin to descend, the captain stands at the weather bulwark, peering through half closed lids, into the gathering gloom. Fitful gusts herald the approaching gale. More canvass is taken in, the waves are lashed to foam, the wind howls through the rigging, the bulk-heads creak and strain, the ship careens to the water's edge, the huge spray springs over the weather bow, the rain descends in torrents, the Friday, 6. Just before sunset, this evening, we crossed the equator, in longitude 288, 45 days from Boston; having sailed, by log-book, 4,640 miles. Among the improvements of recent years, is the abrogation, in most ships, of the absurd and inhuman practices, which used to prevail at this point of a voyage, in regard to such as crossed the line for the first time. Strange that a custom so barbarous, should ever have existedmore strange that it still exists, and is tolerated by many captains-and almost incredible that Christian missionaries and venerable fathers in the church, should not be exempt. But two or three years since, two young missionaries from England to India, were subjected to its full rigors; and even Tyerman and Bennett did not wholly escape! Alas, how many proofs there are of our slowness, to learn to love our neighbor as ourselves. Our captain permitted nothing of the sort, and remarked, that the sight of these inflictions early determined him, that if ever he became master of a vessel, he would utterly forbid them. Numerous birds, but of what species I cannot learn, have been around us for several days. Sometimes we are surrounded by them, in flocks of several kinds, generally very large. The fine brisk trade-wind we now enjoy, imparts a delightful coolness to the air on deck, though it is difficult to be comfortable below. Thermometer 799 to 83°. |