Missionary Intelligence from India.

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semble to hear the word of life. Every Friday evening we hold a prayer-meeting, and a missionary prayer-meeting the first Monday in the month.

VEPERY.-Brother Loveless has lately opened his large schoolroom for divine service, and we rejoice in hope that God will bless his word to the great numbers that attend.

FORT.-Here we preach Monday and Thursday evenings to some of our countrymen belonging to the army. A few of them are pious, and very earnest with their comrades to join them, but they care for none of these things.

MOUNT. This is situated eight miles from Madras, whither we go on Fridays to preach to the soldiers. A little society has long been here, who meet in a house left for that purpose by a pious serjeant major.

The Missionary Free School which stands on the right-hand side of the chapel, which was built by contribution of several valuable friends, is still liberally supported. From this institution great good, we hope, will arise. The lad who copied this letter had the chief part of his instruction there: 197 boys have been educated in it since it was opened in 1815, and 147 boys are on the present establishment.

The Missionary Free School for girls, on the left-hand side in the chapel garden, is begun, and all the money subscribed, which will be required for its completion. The building of it will cost about 380 pagodas, and one wealthy gentleman has given towards it no less than 21 pagodas, and a subscription of 8 pagodas per month.

Our native schools at Pudemettoo, Choolay Bazar, Hospital Gate, Elephant Gate, and Popham's Broadway, contain about 250 children. They are yet in a state of infancy, but promise fair to be productive of good. The children are intelligent and active, and amidst the ashes of fallen nature exhibit many a spark of celestial glory to the attentive eye, while the anxious breast longs for the fruition of its hopes in the salvation of their souls.

The Missionary Friend Society was established in 1814. The first year it remitted to the Parent Institution 120 pagodas; the second, 150 pagodas; and the last four months has produced 70 pagodas. The arrival of the Moira, Aug. 26, added greatly to our missionary strength. The brethren Townley and Keith remained with us one day, and proceeded to Calcutta. Brother Reeve continued with us till September 12, when he departed for Bellary.

On the 24th of October, brother Skinner, of Surat, was united. in the honourable state of matrimony with Miss Sophia Smith.-The 12th of December, they left us, and travelled over land to Tellicherry, whither they safely arrived in about twenty days after they left Madras: Miss Smith accompanied them.

Brother Mead has attached himself to this mission, and brother. Render is residing at Royapettah, where he preaches in his own. house on Sunday evening, and at St. Thome on Sunday morning.

124 Interesting Incidents respeciing some re-captured

He has an English school, a Malabar school, and a Gentoo school.

Rev. Mr. Rhenius, the Church Missionary here, possesses the true spirit of his office. He has made great proficiency in the language; has commenced preaching, and has one flourishing school of long standing, and others just opened, and is about to lay the foundation of a missionary church in the middle of the town. Rev. Mr Lynch, of Mr. Wesley's connexion, is expected here shortly. During the last year several pious chaplains have arrived here, and are now residing at various settlements. Two Church Missionaries have also arrived, and we hope soon to hear that they. are safely settled on the south-west coast.

There is here an excellent institution for relieving the distressed, called the Friend in Need Society, under the patronage of the Rev. M. Thompson, by which upwards of 120 persons are relieved monthly.

SURAT.-The brethren Skinner and Fyvia are laboring with great diligence and delight in this ancient city. They have made some considerable progress in the Guzerattee language, are forming a Vocabulary and Grammar, and have nearly translated the Epistle to the Galatians.-Their native schools consist of 40 childrer..

VIZAGAPATAM.-No official accounts have arrived from the Brethren, but from private letters we are glad to know that Mr. Gordon is well, and vigorously engaged in his mission. Mr. Dawson is also much recovered from his late indisposition.

(Signed)

February, 1817.

W. C. LOVELESS.

RICHARD KNILL.

CHARLES MEAD.

SIERRA LEONE.

It is very satisfactory to learn that the conduct and management of the re-captured Negroes, in the several towns, by the Society's Missionaries and Schoolmasters, are much approved by the persons in authority.

Of some of the children assembled at Leicester Mountain, Mr. During sends an affecting account:

'One Sunday evening, after family prayer with the female children, I went into my room, which is close to the female school, much fatigued and cast down. A temptation came into my mindAlas! what does it profit, to spend health and strength here! Poor Africans never will accept that Saviour who shed his blood for them! Tossed about thus in my mind, I heard a groaning voice, like a person in deep distress. As we had so many sick children, this kind of noise was not uncommon; but, at this time, it rather alarmed me. I went therefore in haste toward the school; and, when I opened the door, in expectation of witnessing some accident or other, to my astonishment I saw four of our elder girls on their knees, praying to the Lord for mercy and pardon for their sins. The words which they made use of were broken English; but I sincerely believe that they prayed out of the fullness of their souls,

Negro Females at Sierra Leone,

125

and poured out their hearts with tears before the Lord. They had no knowledge of my being near them, which removed at once all doubt of their sincerity-The scene was truly affecting. They were crying; and I could not prevent the tears from running down my cheeks, while I felt what I had never felt before in Africa. These girls have shewn from that time, and do shew it still, that they love the Lord their Saviour.'

Labor, even in Africa, is, under such circumstances, its own reward to a true Christian. Some of the adults also in Leicester Mountain begin to manifest the genuine influence of the truth. An affecting incident is related by one of the School inasters :

'On going to the hut of one of the poor re-captured Negro women, who seemed to have been much impressed by what she had heard from me of the love of God to sinners, I found her alone, praying and wrestling with God for the pardon of her sins, floods of tears running down her cheeks. I asked what was the matter

with her. She said, in a trembling tone, O Massa, Massa! my heart trouble me too (very) much-my heart very bad.' I prayed with her but her anguish of spirit seemed to increase upon her. I told her to give her bad heart to Jesus; and He would make it good, and then she would be a happy woman. She asked how she was to give her bad heart to Jesus.

I told her she must

pray. She fell down on her knees, and poured out her penitent soul in such expressions as, 'O Massa Jesus! you love poor sinners! Massa Jesus, me bad too much :'-into whose ear?-into the ear of Him, who hath said, Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

From the Auxiliary Tract Society, Walworth, England.

A SUBSCRIBER to a Tract Society in England informed the Committee, that his daily employ was in a Warehouse, among a considerable number of men, who, he had reason to fear, were for the most part enemies to God by wicked works; he took some suitable tracts with him to circulate among them, which were attended with so much success, that in a short period he obtained THIRTY weekly and quarterly Subscribers: while thus engaged in distributing Tracts to those around him, a Young Man of reprobate character came up to him, and, with an oath exclaimed, "Have you got one that will suit me?" Our friend replied, "Yours is a dreadful case, but I think I have one that is suited to you." He then gave him the Tract entitled, THE SWEARER'S PRAYER, and entreated him to read it with care and attention, and to inform him, when he had perused it, if he approved of what was therein stated. Having read it three times, he said, "I am now satisfied that swearing is wrong, and I am sorry to say, I am so apt to swear, that I don't know when I do it; but I hope, from this time, I shall endeavour to wean myself from such a practice." He then entered his name as a regular Subscriber, and soon afterwards prevailed upon two others to follow his example, and from that time to the present, he has never been heard to repeat those awful expressions to which he was before accustomed.

126

Anecdotes respecting Religious Tracts.

66

Many of the children in the Sunday School, who have obtained Tracts by their Subscriptions, have felt interested in their dis tribution Several of them have given the Secretary an account of the plans they have adopted.--Two Boys employed their leasure-time in throwing them into windows, areas, cellars, butcher's shops, and other places where it was probable they would be picked up. "Some," say they, we distributed on the road amongst Hackney Coachmen, and one (entitled the LORD'S DAY,) we gave at a house where we have often seen the master working in his garden on Sundays." One of our Juvenile Subscribers, who from the commencement of the Society has been particularly active, has, during the past year collected £2 15s. id, and distributed 1687 Tracts. Two or three instances, in particular, of the advantages of this mode of distribution, are worthy of notice. He was in the habit of going to the shop of a man who was much addicted to swearing, and whose wife, also, was guilty of the same practice; he spoke to them on the impropriety of their conduct, and gave them THE SWEARER'S PRAYER, requesting them to read it, which they promised to do. When he called again, the man expressed his pleasure at seeing a boy so well employed, and desired to have more Tracts; when he afterwards called, he often found them reading them, and he never again heard them make use of improper language; the man became a regular Subscriber, and frequently gave him additional money to purchase Tracts for him, which he distributed among his neighbours.

The same boy was passing the door of a Public-House, when he heard a great noise; he felt a degree of timidity, but determined to enter: he found some singing, others swearing, and the whole in the greatest disorder and confusion. He laid down THE SWEARER'S PRAYER among them, and retreated as quickly as possible. He had not gone far, before he was overtaken by the Post-Boy, who requested him to return, which he did. They then asked who employed him to distribute Tracts; he answered, "No one." They then inquired what had induced him to do so. He said "My motive is to do good; I often give Tracts away in Public-Houses; and as I heard you making a noise, I thought it might suit some of you." He had been to the Writing-School, and had his Copy-Book under his arm. One of them asked him "What have you got there ?"--" My Copy-Book"- What is there in it?""I will read some of it, if you please."-They desired him to do so. He opened on a piece against Drunkenness, which he read: they heard him with attention; some of them offered to give him money for his trouble, which he refused, and two of them agreed to become subscribers to the Society; but through some mistake he could not afterwards find their residence. One of the company took the boy's hat from his head, and made a collection round the Tap-Room, which they gave him to purchase Tracts with. They then dismissed him, and desired him to come again another time.

The Committee take this opportunity of urging upon the con

sideration of the reader, how much the prosperity of a Tract Society, depends on the activity of those who favour the cause by their Subscriptions. Many persons entertain

an erroneous

opinion that all this rests with those who have the more immediate charge of the internal concerns of such a society; but if every individual member would bestow a little pains, and resolve, that such Tracts as they receive for their subscriptions, should be distributed by them to the best of their judgment, much more extended benefit might be reasonably expected.

HAMPSHIRE BIBLE SOCIETY, (MASS.)

On the 15th October, the Hampshire Bible Society met at Northampton. The Directors made their Report, by which it appears, that the amount of receipts for the last year was $1096, 70; of which $400 have been remitted to the American Bible Society. The number of Bibles purchased for the use of the Society, was 800, of which 506 have been distributed during the same time. Strange as it may seem, there were several families within the sphere of the operations of this Institution, wholly destitute of the Scriptures and many more destitute of an entire copy.

After the report of the Directors, the Society proceeded to the annual choice of its Officers.-The Hon. Caleb Strong, on account of ill-health, declining a re-election, the Rev. NATHAN PERKINS, was chosen President: Hon. Joseph Lyman, Vice-President; Ebenezer Hunt, Jr. Esq. Treasurer; Isaac C. Bates, Esq. Secretary; Rev. Henry Lord, Rev. David Pease, Dr. William Porter, Noah Webster, and N. Smith, Esqs. Directors.

1441

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Donations to the Biblical Library of the Amer. B. S. By ELIAS BOUDINOT, Esq. President.-A French Bible, folio, called Calvin's Bible, printed by the celebrated R. Etienne, 1565. This translation, begun in 1535, is the first that was used by the French Protestant Reformed Church: it contains an epistle giving an account of the translation, a preface by Calvin, prefaces to each book, marginal notes, block cuts, maps and indexes, in excellent preservation.

By the same.-An English Bible, quarto, Roman character, with block cuts, a table of proper names; Newbold & Hopkins' Psalms, set to music, imprinted at London, by Christopher Baker, 1595.

By Mrs. SUSAN VERGEREAU BRADFORD, (daughter of Elias Boudinot, Esq.)-A French Bible, folio, Amsterdam, 1700, containing an epistle and preface by Calvin; the psalms in verse, by M. Conrart, (being the second version;) the forms of prayer, catechism and confession of faith of the French Protestant Reformed Church. By PETER D. VROOM, Esq. of Rariten, N. J.-A Dutch Bible, folio, Amsterdam, 1603. This version is prior to that at present used in the Dutch Protestant Reformed Church.