23d Report of the London Missionary Society. 27

taube, who had left, that station, without giving time for the Directors to supply his place.

Some circumstances preventing them from proceeding to that destination, Mr. Render was to assist Mr. Lee at Berhampore, and Mr. Mead remained in Madras.

MADRAS.

Of the safe arrival of Messrs. Knill, Reeve, Mead, and Render, at Madras, we have received the agreeable information.

Mr. Loveless's Free School flourishes: he had 128 scholars, with the prospect of further increase. Schools, he says, must be a principal object regarded by Missionaries in India.

M. Knill will, as proposed, continue at Madras, as the assistant of Mr. Loveless.

VIZAGAPATAM.

Mr. Pritchett having procured a better situation in the town for the School, the number of children is considerably increased, and a far greater number of persons attend the preaching of the Gospel.

In September 1815, Mr. Dawson joined the Mission at Vizagapatam, to the great joy of Mr. Pritchett, who much needed his assistance; Mr. Gordon having been so afflicted with a liver complaint, as to oblige him to take repeated voyages for the recovery of his health.

BELIARY.

Numbers of the Heathen call on the Missionaries, to make inquiry about this new way;" and some of them appear to have received serious impressions: but the fear of losing caste and encountering the angry opposition of their friends, too frequently keeps them in a painful state of hesitation.

Four native Schools continue to prosper; and the divine truths which the children read and commit to memory. have begun to produce some happy effects. Several more Schools in the neighbouring villages are in contemplation.

Much good has been done among the Military of the 84th regiment. They have contributed, together with other pious soldiers of the 69th regiment, the sum of 431.; besides a donation of 41. to the Tract Society, whose publications have been highly useful, and particularly acceptable to the sick soldiers, of whom there are, at times, considerable numbers in the hospital.

The Missionaries have completed a third Catechism, and a large tract of Scripture extracts, which they transcribe for the use of their pupils; but they earnestly long that their trying labours in this respect may be abridged by the use of a Press, which they trust that the Authorities in India will grant them. They are also proceeding in the great work of translating the Scriptures into the Canaara language; but, through the illness of their Moonshee, they have not been able to make the progress which they desire.

SURAT.

The brethren have commenced two Schools, in one of which many of the natives are learning the English tongue: the other is

28 23d Report of the London Missionary Society.

for the English and half-caste boys. Mrs. Fyvie also has commenced a School for English and half-caste females. Every Sunday morning the brethren preach to the soldiers; and, in the evening, in their own house, to all who are disposed to hear.

Besides the city of Surat, the Missionaries have their eye on two places north of it; Baroach on the Narbuddah, and Cambay at the upper end of the gulf: each of these places requires two Missionaries at least.

The Directors have just dispatched, on board the Asia for Bombay, Mr. Donaldson, one of their students at Gosport (with Mrs. D.); and hope ere long to augment the number of labourers in this important station.

MAURITIUS.

Mr. Le Brun's Schools have succeeded beyond expectation. Governor Farquhar not only countenances Mr. Le Brun, but has been pleased to address a letter to the Directors, from which they will take the liberty of making a short extract.

"It is with great pleasure I now communicate to you the flourishing state of the Schools established here by Mr. Le Brun. This indefatigable Misssionary has succeeded in the difficult task of inducing the free-coloured population of Port Louis to send their children for instruction, not only in the elementary parts of education, but also in the doctrines of the Christian Religion; and this he has effected, notwithstanding the indifference, not to say opposition, which was to be expected in a colony, and in a class of population, where religious principles were destroyed by the Revolution, and the profession of them treated as hypocritical and contemptible. On this account Mr. Le Brun deserves the greater credit: he has shocked no man's opinions or prejudices; but holding the noiseless tenor of his way, persevered in the meritorious course, until the number of his scholars has become too great for one man, however zealous and assiduous, to attend to. I trust, therefore, you will excuse me in soliciting the attention of the Directors to an increase of the means of affording education to the numerous poor of this colony."

His Excellency has done more than offer this advice: he has placed at the disposal of Mr. Le Brun a spacious building, well adapted to the purpose of education. The Directors are looking out for a suitable helper for Mr. Le Brun; one who is acquainted with the French tongue.

SAVANNAH RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.

From the Annual Report of that Institution it appears that during the past year, the first of its existence, the Board of Managers have distributed upwards of thirty-two thousand Tracts.

"Beside the provision of Tracts in the English language, the Board thought it expedient to procure some thousands of copies in the French, Spanish, and German languages. These have been sent to German settlements in this state, and South-Carolina, to the

Savannah Religious Tract Society.

29

Floridas, and to New-Orleans. From individuals, to whose care were committed parcels of Tracts in the above languages and in the English, they have received the pleasing information that those to whom they were given expressed their thanks for them.

Of the Tracts committed to the care of the President, for NewOrleans, the Board have received an account in a letter from himself directed to the treasurer, which is presented with this report. This letter, they trust, will encourage the Society in the pursuit of its beneficent course.

The tracts in the French, Spanish, and German languages, were procured from the London Tract Society.

The following copy of a letter from the Rev. W. B. Johnson, pre sident of the above society, after his return from a tour to NewOrleans, not only evinces the practicability of an easy and profitable distribution of tracts in that region, but furnishes likewise the cheering prospect of a growing attention in the inhabitants generally to the means of grace, and of a spirit of liberality pervading the various religious denominations, not excepting the Roman Catholics of that country, which is as delightful as it is surprising.

BEAUFORT, (S. C.) 16th May, 1817. My Dear Brother-As the Corresponding Secretary of the Savannah Religious Tract Society is now absent from the city, I address this communication to you, and request you to lay it before the Board at its approaching session.

You remember, my brother, that in the month of November last I received from our librarian in Savannah, several thousand tracts on religious subjects, in the French, Spanish, and German languages, for distribution in the city of New-Orleans. Anterior to

my departure from the Atlantic shores, I remained some time in this town, and took the opportunity a little previous to the meeting of the Board of the Tract Society in this place, to present to that body through their president, a copy of the constitution of our society and a few copies of the tracts, which I had with me.

At Charleston, from which port I sailed, I had the pleasure, at the request of the Spanish consul, to put into his hands several copies of tracts in the Spanish and French languages.

On my arrival at New-Orleans, I proposed to some gentlemen, who have been the most active in benevolent and pious exertions in that city, the formation of a Religious Tract Society; offering to present to such a body as soon as formed, the tracts, with whose distribution I was charged. These gentlemen doubted the propriety of the attempt, and yielding to their judgment, I made no further efforts towards the organization of such an institution. I found besides in the possession of one of them a considerable number of tracts which had been sent to him from England for distribution.

30

Distribution of Tracts in New-Orleans.

As it was not deemed adviseable to form a Tract Society in the city, through which, as a suitable channel, I should have preferred that the tracts committed to my care should have been distributed, I then commenced the circulation of them myself. In the prosecution of this design, I passed through the streets in company with a pious friend, carrying with us as many tracts as we could. These were presented to the persons whom we met, and to the inhabitants of the houses which we passed. In many instances, those who received one copy, not satisfied with that only, would ask for a supply for the whole family. And as we passed along, we were frequently followed by little crowds, who came eagerly to ask for the "little books."

Besides thus distributing them personally, I put into the hands of individuals little parcels for distribution in their circles respectively; and the numbers which remained at the time of my departure from the city, were placed in the hands of the pious youth above mentioned, on whose zeal I can rely for their extensive circulation.

I also distributed a considerable number of tracts among the mariners, in the hospital, and in the prisons.

To beggars who visited the house in which I resided, for alms, I read several of the tracts in the French language, to which they paid great attention, and in which they appeared to take a deep

interest.

I visited in the Lower Fauxbourg a French family, who were people of colour, but free. The family consisted of a mother, a son and daughter. The mother understood English tolerably well, but her son and daughter were unable to understand a word of the language. Her son, a youth of about eighteen years of age, lay very ill. To this afflicted family I paid more visits than one, and when with them read to them some tracts in their native language, to which they paid the most solemn and earnest attention. And I have some reason to hope that they received some benefit from those little tracts, which in other instances have been so much blessed.

It is however to be lamented, my brother, that among all the tracts we have received in the French language, we have none that possess a peculiar fitness for those countries in which the Roman Catholic religion prevails. While in New-Orleans, I was presented with one in English, entitled the History of Andrew Dunn, an Irish Catholic. This tract I must beg leave to recommend to the Committee of Selection as one proper for their adoption and worthy of being translated into the French and Spanish languages for distribution among Catholics,

In addition to the interesting scenes which opened upon my view in the distribution of tracts in New-Orleans, I can with pleasure say, that the scenes, which presented themselves in relation to the cause of the Redeemer's kingdom in general, were not less interesting and important. The congregations that wait on the preaching of the gospel are numerous and deeply attentive. The monthly concert meeting for prayer is attended with much life and

Remarks on the establishment of a Miss'y Seminary. 31

interest. A regular weekly prayer meeting is held also; and in these assemblies, Christians of different denominations meet in the most cordial and harmonious manner, and mutually exercise their various gifts.

To the Roman Catholics I had the opportunity of preaching in their Cathedral, with the permission of the priest, in behalf of the Female Orphan Society-hundreds were present. This Society. is pursuing its benevolent course with great zeal and interest, and I trust will be the means of much good in the city of New-Orleans. From this state of things in that city, I cannot do otherwise, my brother, than strongly hope that the day is not far distant when a great work of the Lord will be carried on there. Allow me, therefore, to congratulate the Board on the agency with which God has honoured it in contributing something towards this desirable state of things, by means of those Tracts which they have sent to that city. Affectionately yours in best bonds. WILLIAM B. JOHNSON.

MISSIONARY SEMINARY.

(FOR THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.)

At the late annual meeting of the Northern Missionary Society in the city of Albany, the Rev. Robert Forrest, of Delaware county, directed the attention of the Society to the expediency of forming, without delay, (in conjunction with the other Societies in the United States to be severally invited) a Missionary Seminary, for the express purpose of educating youth for preaching. the Gospel among the heathen, &c. He observed that the theological seminaries already instituted in this country, however good, were not adapted to the instruction of Missionaries, who, besides obtaining a proper knowledge of divinity abstracted from local controversies, ought to be instructed in a system of pastoral duties. adapted to heathen and catholic countries, and should have the means afforded them for the acquisition of foreign languages; and, if destined for South America, should be better informed respecting the civil and ecclesiastical policy of these provinces than they can now be from any publication in our language. Notice was taken of the missionary seminaries in Europe, such as that. instituted by the Missionary Society of London, under the direction of Mr. Bogue of Gosport, where there is an excellent course of missionary lectures delivered; and the seminary at Rotterdam, for the benefit of the Netherland Society. It is only since the Missionary Society of London received the fruits of their se minary, that they have been successful among the heathen, and that the want of such institutions is peculiarly felt in other societies. In the year 1804 the Rev. Dr. Livingston, in a sermon preached before the New-York Missionary Society and published, directed the public attention to this important subject; and it is much to be regretted that during thirteen years it has been neglected. If means had been used to form such a seminary as that established at Gosport, there would have been a considerable