"been translated, but only three books of the Old "Testament. But even this portion has been translated "almost in vain: for there is no supply of books for "the use of the people. I reflected with astonishment on the fact, that there are by computation 500,000 "natives in Ceylon professing Christianity, and that "there should not be one complete copy of the Holy

Scriptures in the vernacular tongue. Samuel Tolfry, esq. head of a civil department in Columbo, is a good "Cingalese scholar, and is now engaged in compiling a Cingalese Dictionary. I proposed to him to under"take the completion of the Cingalese Version; which "is easily practicable, as there are many learned Cingalese Christians in Columbo. He professed

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"himself ready to engage in the work, provided he "should receive the sanction of the government. "I mentioned to him what had passed in my con"versation with General Maitland, and his Excellency's "favourable sentiments on the subject; and added that "a correspondence would be immediately commenced "with him from Calcutta concerning the work, and "funds apportioned for the execution of it.-Alexander "Johnstone, esq., who is now in Columbo, has furnished "me with his sentiments on the best means of reviving "and maintaining the Protestant interest in Ceylon. "Did his professional avocations permit, Mr. Johnstone "is himself the fit person to superintend the translation "and printing of the Scriptures. It is a proof of the "interest which this gentleman takes in the progress of "Christian knowledge, that he hath caused Bishop

"Porteus's Evidences of Christianity to be translated "into the Cingalese tongue, for distribution among the "natives."

THE MALAYS.

A NEW empire has been added to Great Britain in the East, which may be called her Malay Empire. The extensive dominion of the Dutch in the Indian Ocean, is devolving upon the English; and it may be expected that Britain will soon be mistress of the whole of the MALAYAN ARCHIPELAGO. But as we encrease our territories, we encrease our obligations. Our duties to our Hindoo Empire have been long enough the subject of discussion: let us now turn our attention to the obligations which we owe to our Malay Empire. We are now about to take possession of islands, peopled by numbers of Protestant Christians. For in every island where the Dutch established their government, they endeavoured to convert the natives to Christianity, and they were successful. Those amongst us who would recommend that the evangelization of barbarous nations should be deferred "'till a more convenient "season" will have no opportunity of offering the advice in regard to some of these islands: for,

They

behold, the natives are Christians already. profess the religion of the Bible. Let it be our endeavour then to do more justice to these our new Protestant subjects than we have done to the Christians of Ceylon. We have less excuse in the present instance, for the Malay Scriptures are already translated to our hands. What a noble field here opens to the view of the "Society for "promoting Christian Knowledge," and of the Bible Society! Here there is ample room for a praise-worthy emulation, and for the utmost exercise of their benevolent exertions. One hundred thousand Malay Bibles will not suffice to supply the Malay Christians.

The Sacred Scriptures were translated by the Dutch, into the Eastern Malay *; for that is the general language of their extensive dominions in the Indian Sea. But the Eastern Malay is different from the Western Malay, or that of Sumatra. In the College of Fort-William, Thomas Jarret, esq. of the Honourable Company's Civil Service, was preparing a version of the Scriptures in the Western Malay; for which

A complete version of the Malay Bible was published in the Arabic character at Batavia, in 5 vols. 8vo. in 1758, under the direction of Jacob Mossel, Governor-General of the Dutch possessions in the East Indies.

undertaking he was well qualified, having resided twelve years in Sumatra. When the progress of the Biblical translations was interrupted in the College, Mr. Jarrett prosecuted the work, after his return to Madras. He has had, as an assistant in the design, a learned Malay of the rank of Rajah in his own country, who came from Sumatra for the purpose. Mr. Jarret has also made considerable progress in compiling a copious Malay Dictionary, which he commenced before he left the island. His labour, it is to be hoped, will not be lost to the public; for the Malay Language is daily encreasing in its importance to the British nation.

Prince of Wales' Island, or, as it is called by the natives, Penang, or Pulo Penang, that is, the island Penang, is the capital of our Malay territories, and is the proper place for the cultivation of the Malay Language, being situated close to the main land of Malacca. As there is a College in Bengal for instructing the English in the languages of the continent of Hindostan, it is equally expedient that there should be an Institution in Penang for the cultivation of the Malay Tongue, and of the various dialects of our insular possessions. The Dutch attended to this object in the very infancy of their empire. Besides,

it is probable that Penang will, in the progress of Eastern civilization, become the great emporium of Asiatic Commerce. Its sudden elevation, is a prognostic of its future celebrity. It is situated on what may be called, "the high way," in which ships sail from either hemisphere; and is the very center of British navigation in the East. The Author resided on this island for about a month, and was greatly surprised at the variety of languages which are spoken, and at the dif ferent races of men who present themselves to view in this infant settlement. The merchants. are chiefly of the Malay, and Indo-Chinese na tions. John Shaw, esq. was prosecuting the study of the Eastern Malay Language, when I visited the island, and has since published a considerable portion of a Malay Grammar.

The author who chiefly claims our notice in regard to the Malay regions is J. C. Leyden, M. D. Professor of Hindostanee in the College of Fort-William. To him the learned world is indebted for "a Dissertation on the Languages, "and Literature of the Indo-Chinese nations," just published in the Asiatic Researches, in which he illuminates a very dark subject, and opens a new view to Great Britain of her insular possessions in Asia. Dr. Leyden takes the lead

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