son of Birbhum preached an impressive ser-, the service, to receive the report of the Finance mon from John xiii. 34. After the service Committee.

the meeting proceeded to business. Brother Mr. Carrau informed the meeting that he Thomas intimated his readiness to undertake had been appointed to examine the accounts; the risk of printing the new magazine for one he found them to be correct, and that a year. He trusted the brethren would afford balance remained in the hands of the Treahim prompt and energetic assistance in their surer. respective circles, both by communications and personal subscriptions, and thus extend its usefulness. Brother Morgan seconded the proposal, and suggested that it be acted upon forthwith.

The meeting then proceeded with the matter of Finance. Brother Pearce proposed and brother Williamson seconded:

"That in addition to the publication of books, &c., useful for native Christians, as determined at the Association meetings of 1844, the funds of this union be available also for small grants of money in aid of needy churches in the mufassal, particularly towards the erection of places of worship and the ministration of the gospel, especially where there may be in the providence of God new and urgent calls for labour and assistance. Such grants to be made by the vote of the Association at its annual meeting."

Evening, 7 P.M. Brother Leslie introduced the service by reading and prayer. The As. sociation sermon in English was preached by brother Morgan from Ephes. iv. 13. The meeting was detained for a short time after

Number of Churches

The Moderator inquired of the Secretaries if an answer had been received to their letter from the Secretaries of the English Union, with regard to the subscription made on behalf of the brethren in Denmark. The Secretaries regretted to state that no commenication whatever had been received from England during the year, not even the usual "Annual Report of the Union." They were requested to mention this in their letter to the secretaries of the Baptist Union.

The report of the Sub-Committee was adopted. Fraternal communications from brethren stationed in Upper India and Bar mah were introduced to the meeting; the intelligence was highly gratifying, and a hope was expressed that other brethren might be induced to follow their example, and occasionally correspond with the Association.

Brother Williamson of Birbbum was appointed to write the next Circular Letter, and brethren Pearce and Denham were re-elected secretaries.

20

249

20

27

296

Mr. Parry having visited Badpukhariya in February last, and spent about nine days with the two Christian families residing in that village, writes thus on the 9th of March:

I am very happy to say that the Lord has about the salvation of their souls. They used graciously added two members to the little to attend divine service on the Lord's day, but church of Badpukhariya. They received the never prayed in secret, and were in a state of rite of baptism a short time ago, and we have great ignorance about the gospel plan of salvaevery reason to hope that they will, by the aid tion. The work of grace I believe commenced of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, honour in their souls about a year ago; and they the profession they have made. They appear have since been gradually growing in the to be very sincere, and earnestly desirous of knowledge of the Saviour, and praying in walking in the fear of God. They came from secret. About six months ago a decided Kapasdanga about two years ago, where I change of seriousness was visible in their debelieve they were nominally Christians. For portment. At the church-meeting convened a long time they appeared to feel no concern by me to take into consideration the case of

the late candidates for baptism, I entered into a particular examination of them by proposing various questions on points of Christian doctrines and duties, in order to ascertain if they had a clear view of the scriptural doctrine of salvation by grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the necessity of good works as an evidence of a sincere and living faith. I was quite delighted to find, from the

answers given to my questions, that they possessed that essential knowledge of the gospel which would authorize us to conclude that they were true believers, in connexion with the favourable testimony borne by every member of the church respecting their pious conduct, and diligence in attending upon the public means of grace.

MONGHIR.

Mr. Parsons, some time ago, made a tour among the hill people living north of Monghir, on the borders of a part of the Himalya mountains. He found there among a people that no European had previously visited, apparently, much to interest him, and show that there are extensive fields for labour open in India, if there were labourers to till them. He writes to his brethren in Calcutta thus:

hill fields and colonize the plains, they will go in great numbers to Bhagulpore, and other places, to take service as soldiers and chokedars; whereas the Sontars, whose colonies creep about the skirts of the hills to so very great a distance, are yet extremely unwilling to leave the vicinity of their villages as servants.

Our little party, consisting of brother Hurter and myself, a native Christian as cook, and another man, as coolie and chokedar, set out from Monghir, on January 7th, and reached Bhagulpore on the third day. At Bhagulpore we staid till noon of the 13th, having been detained somewhat longer than we would by the difficulty of obtaining the single garrie we required for the conveyance The worship of the Sontars appears to be of our goods. We embraced opportunities of simple, but I could not learn many particupreaching in the bazars and to such indi- lars. Their only temples are pretty round viduals as came to our tent. The man who clumps of trees, which are left standing out had come with us as chokedar left us here, of the old jungle near every village, and in but we found our Maisa, the hill-man who which they worship the god of forests. This had taught us the language, but had been is their principal festival, and takes place absent on leave, and he readily consented to twice a year, I was informed. I searched in accompany us. About ten or twelve kros some of the clumps, but could find no trace of from Bhagulpore, part of which road lies any sculptured idol. All I could see was a through a wide grass jungle, which is over- small stone smeared with a little vermilion. flowed in the rains, we began to meet with The Sontars are fond of music and dancing, the villages of the Sontars, in which we feel a and often keep up these amusements till a deeper interest from the circumstance that late hour at night. Almost every man or boy our dear brother Hurter, aided by the labours who may be tending his cattle in the fields, of brother Phillips, of Jellasore, has acquired a has his flute with him, the soft sounds of little knowledge of their language, and is still which in the distance have a very pleasing pursuing his acquisition. You are, no doubt, effect. As we had no adequate knowledge somewhat familiar with the features and of their language, and their knowledge habits of this people. Brother Hurter had of Hindi does not extend to more than the several opportunities of comparing the language common business of life, we could make but of the Sontars here with brother Phillips's little missionary effort among them. Some tract, and he found it to correspond with very few individuals we found capable of being few exceptions. There must be a large popu-interested in a conversation, and brother lation of them round the hill. Mr. Pontet, Hurtur read the " 'Religious Instruction" the deputy collector, in charge of the from brother Phillips's tract to many groups, "Daman-i-koh," has over a thousand villages who were highly amused at finding him able in his district, by far the greater part of which to speak their "farsi." are Sontars. Their villages exhibit a great deal of cleanliness and industry. Unlike the hill-men, they have many trades among themselves, by which means they render themselves nearly independent of the Hindus of the plains. It is rather a singular distinction that while the hill-men obstinately decline, in most instances, to descend from their rude

On January 18th we reached Rajapokar, a village of hill-men, near the foot of the hills, where brother Hurter had erected a small house in the hope of being able to resile among them. He has, however, been disappointed in this, for he found the house, having been built of smaller dimensions than had been contracted for, and also the prevail

ing temper of the people unfavourable. He | We remained eight days on the hills, at the has therefore relinquished the house. We village of Basgi, which stands on one of the stayed there until the 28th, preaching in Raja- highest of the hills, during which time we visited pokar, and in several adjacent villages, in all about ten villages, lying from one to three of which our message had heen previously kros off, besides the seven separate tolas of proclaimed. We were usually heard with Basgi. It was well for brother Hurter and attention, and in many places a little borá myself that we are fond of hills, for the roads was offered us as a token of respect and wel- to these villages were often very steep and come. Hill-men are very different from precipitous, our progress being often little many Hindus. While these dispute our more than climbing up and down rough conassertions inch by inch, those quietly ac- fused heaps of rocks, which compose the quiesce in our exhortations, not having the hills, as one would ascend or descend a long frightful phantom of caste to scare their flight of rude, irregular steps. We had generminds. It is, nevertheless, with unfeigned ally an attentive hearing, but could not discern humiliation and sorrow I would say that I that our hearers were much impressed by the cannot speak of any instance in which I new and important message, which had been could discover any genuine contrition for sin, for the first time conveyed to them by the or concern for salvation. On the 28th we direct instrumentality of the preachers of the removed to Kusumgati, a small village, en- gospel. We were, so far as we could learn, tirely peopled by the family of Dule, the hill- the first Europeans who had ever set foot in man who accompanied brother Leslie in his these villages. They lie to the south of Ratour. This village also stands on the plain, japokar, &c., with which brother Leslie is and a wide jungle separates it from the near-familiar. Basgi is about six kros nearly east est village, which actually stands on the hills. from Dhamsai, and Dhamsai is about sixteen This and other villages around we visited. kros south-east from Bhagulpore. The most Near to this village is a small bazar, esta- distant, and most beautiful village we visited blished by Mr. Pontet, and the country was named Chaperi, lying on the top of the around has a sandy soil, is very clear of next range east from Basgi, surrounded by jungle, and is elevated into a number of low some extent of table-land and particularly downs, having narrow valleys between, in fine forests, and commanding a view to the which the Sontars cultivate rice. On the 1st east of a fine extensive vale between the hills, of February we removed from this village, of which the Sontars have taken possession, having been kindly treated by Dule and his and beyond that of successive ranges of hills brothers, and pleased with their attention to until the last towards Rajmahal. Through the word, and at length helped to move com- mercy, besides the interruption I have menfortably on through their influence with the tioned, we enjoyed good health during our Sontars. We came to the village of Kar- whole tour. The great difficulty is the water. matan, and put up in Mr. Pontet's cutcherry, In one or two places we found it very bad, and the next day, dear brother Hurter being but happily it was where we had not long to a little indisposed, myself and Maisa ascended stay. In those places where we tarried the hills, which are about two kros from longer, we were favoured to get better, and at Karmatan, in order to find a village where a Basgi, on the hills, we had delightfully clear, young man was resident, who was with us for pure spring water. I regret to say that on some time at Monghir, and from whom we the very evening that Maisa accompanied me hoped for some assistance in our tours on the to the hills, he took offence at reproofs occahills. In this we were not disappointed. We sioned by his conduct, and which were sinfound the village, and the individual, and, the Lord graciously so inclining him, he came down the next day, bringing three companions, and conveyed our goods to his village, at the entrance to which, as well as subsequently in other villages, we saw reason for thankfulness to our ever-faithful Captain, who had provided us this help. The people We descended from the hills on Wednesof the first division of the village were so day the 10th inst. to Dhamsai, where I left fearful of our residing among them that they dear brother Hurter to stay over the approachrefused us a place, and when the young man ing mela, and returned home. I suppose that and his elder cousin, who was even more brother Hurter will also leave Dhamsai about zealous in our cause than himself, took us to this day (19th), and after tarrying some days their own neighbourhood, they had great in Bhagulpore, return hither. We rejoice in difficulty in persuading the elders of the vil- the opportunities we have had, but feel that age that it was at all safe for our tent to be the greatest work has yet to be done in litched among them. The same was ex-watering the seed by prayer and future effort. perienced in most villages, and had not Surja During our absence, viz., January 11th, (the elder cousin) accompanied us, we should two persons, our English chapel chokidar, sometimes have been unable to get a hearing. Hingan Misr's son, and the wife of Anthony,

cerely meant for his good, and determined to leave us, and return to Bhagulpore. We grieved more for him than for ourselves, for his spirit and temper almost preclude the hope that he has, as yet, received any decisive benefit from the many privileges he has enjoyed.

whom you know as brother Shujaatali's servant, who had been received by the church previously to our departure, were baptized.

Brethren Nainsukh and Sudin arrived yesterday evening from a long tour, including a visit to the mela at Baijnath.

CHUNAR.

Mr. Heinig gives the following account of two young men whom he has recently received into fellowship:

with the Siekhs, and received two serious wounds, I believe, in the battle of Sobraon, of which he gave us a most fearful description. In consequence of the injuries he had received he was invalided and ordered to Chunar; he is residing with one of our members, and expresses much gratitude that his life has been spared in the field of battle, and also that the Lord has cast his lot amongst us, as he always wished to be united to the people with whom his parents are connected. The circumstance of his conversion will undoubtedly give great joy to his parents, particularly his mother, who, it appears, has watched over him with earnest prayer and anxious solicitude.

I have much pleasure in informing you that the Lord has been pleased to add two young men to our number, who we trust will be ornaments of the church and useful members of society. On Saturday, the 20th of Feb., being the day in which one of them first saw the light of this world, they were both baptized. It was a very interesting and solemn occasion. Our chapel was crowded to excess, and many were present to witness the ordinance who had known one of the candidates from early childhood. This young man is the son of one of our deacons. He had long given satisfactory evidence to the members of the church and his own family, that he was the subject of divine grace, but through timidity was prevented from making a public I preached a sermon on the subject of bapprofession of his faith. We trust that he may tism, and as there were so many witnesses to long be spared to follow in the footsteps of this transaction, we sincerely trust that many his devoted parents, and that the promise may be fulfilled in his happy experience"Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children to show forth the Lord's praise in the earth." The other candidate's is a very interesting case; he is also the son of pious parents of our denomination. The work of grace appears to have commenced some considerable time; and the society of godly people has been his delight. He was in the last engagements

others may come forward, who will give a decided evidence that they are born of God.

But amidst our rejoicing we have been under the painful necessity of excluding one of our members, who has fallen into awful habits of intemperance. We earnestly trust he may be reclaimed, but at present he is awfully sunk in the depths of iniquity, and we fear his sinful course, as it regards this world, will soon be closed.

CEYLON.

Our friends in this island are impeded in their efforts by the same classes of opponents as are actively engaged in counteracting scriptural Christianity in other parts of the world. Mr. Davies writes thus:

Popery is rapidly increasing in Ceylon. The greatest efforts are being made to proselyte English, Burghers, and natives. A company of nuns are daily expected, to commence a convent in Colombo. One of the bishops is now at Rome making preparations for still more extensive operations. It seems inevitable that ultimately we must come into some kind of conflict with this system, or abandon our stations.

We have here English, French, Italian, and Goa priests; some of them of the school of Dr. Wiseman, others more allied to the dark ages.

Puseyism is almost universal among the Colonial chaplains and their catechists. Since the arrival of the bishop last year we have had more hindrance from these men than from any other cause.

Heathen converts generally, as might be expected, are unprepared to withstand errors propagated by men sustained by the government of the country. But I fear our converts in Ceylon are more than usually unprepared for this. Special attention has not been paid to instruct them in the doctrines, &c., of the bible, and the consequence is that they are almost in total ignorance of them.

AFRICA.

FERNANDO PO.

The health of both Dr. and Mrs. Prince has been for some time in a state that indicated the necessity of at least temporary relaxation and change. An opportunity for this having been afforded unexpectedly by the touching of a French vessel at Clarence, they embraced it, and Dr. Prince wrote a short note, during the brief interval before his embarkation, saying, "A French vessel going hence to St. Thomas, Prince's, and Gaboon, I have taken a passage, with Mrs. Prince, on account of our impaired state of health. I hope thus to be spared the necessity of the dernier resort to England before you can supply either missionary or schoolmaster for this place. I hope to return by a French war steamer." At the request of Dr. Prince, Mr. Newbegin will for the present supply the vacancy at Clarence.

BIMBIA.

At the time of our last advices, Mr. Fuller, who will be remembered as having sojourned some time in England, on his way from Jamaica to Africa, was lying in a state which left no hope of his recovery. Mr. Merrick, in a letter dated Jubilee, Bimbia, April 20th, after giving some details respecting maladies under which Mr. Fuller had recently been suffering, arising in part from an injury received many years ago by a fall, proceeds to say:

He is now daily sinking under a low obtained. Thus our good God sets one thing typhoid fever similar to that which carried off against another, and provides for the safety our brother Thompson. He was very low of his people even while they are unconscious last night, revived a little this morning, but of it. May we continue to trust Him. has subsequently sunk again. From the beginning of his sickness he has been able to look forward to death with calmness and composure of mind. Like David, he says, " Yea, though I walk through the dark valley," &c. He wishes his two sons to remain in Africa, and has left them under the care of brother Clarke and myself. May our deep and heavy afflictions be sanctified to us all!

Brother Newbegin, as you have perhaps already heard, has engaged to supply Dr. Prince's lack of service at Clarence during the doctor's absence at Prince's, St. Thomas, and the Gaboon, whither he is gone with Mrs. Prince in pursuit of health. Brother Newbegin came over a few weeks ago in Mr. Matthew's schooner to arrange some business here, and to remove to Clarence, but has been detained by brother Fuller's illness. This we have subsequently discovered was a most merciful interposition of providence in behalf of brother Newbegin, for Mr. Matthew's schooner, in returning to Clarence, lost both her masts, and was drifting about the coast of Fernando Po when we last heard from Clarence. Mr. Matthews left his vessel in a canoe for Clarence, and as soon as he arrived, requested the assistance of the Dove, which he most readily

I have sent you, at different times, six copies of the first three sheets of my Isubu Dictionary, and two copies of the fourth sheet. I now send four copies of the fourth sheet to complete the half dozen, and six copies each of the following four sheets. You will perceive that our A's have run sixty-three pages. The appendix to A will make about three more pages; in all, sixty-seven pages of A's. I don't know where Z will carry us, but if spared and strengthened, I hope soon to complete the work. Little printing work has been done for the last ten days in consequence of brother Fuller's illness, his sons, our chief compositors, being engaged night and day attending on their father. I had hoped to get out the whole of Matthew's Gospel to send to Jamaica by brother Clarke, but fear I shall not be able to accomplish it. The whole is transcribed for the press but the last three chapters.

We are getting quite short-handed. May the Lord of the harvest thrust forth a few devoted labourers into his vineyard. Brother Clarke has been at Clarence for several weeks with the Dove, making necessary preparations for the voyage to Jamaica. He will, we expect, leave in about three weeks.