5. The Rev. Messrs. Squance and Clough paid us a visit at Batticotta. Mr. Clough is returning to Columbo from Madras, where he has been for some time for his health. He is still feeble. Mr Clough related to us the very unpleasant circumstances which have befallen Mr. Judson, in being cast away in a Country vessel, and at last, after suffering the severest hardships for many days at sea, reaching Madras in great distress. Mr. C. frequently saw him while in Madras. His health was very feeble. His family were ignorant of his situation, knowing nothing of the circumstances, and must have supposed that he was dead. He was unable to send any letters to Rangoon at that season, on account of the monsoon. His case excited much interest at Madras, and a benevolent Captain of a vessel was induced to fit out for Rangoon, principally on Mr. Judson's account, that he might return to his distressed family. Mr. C. understood that he (Mr. J.) was going at the time of his disaster, to visit some place not far distant, and that the vessel was driven out to sea in a storm so far, that it was impossible for her to return to Rangoon. Mr. J. left Madras for Rangoon, before Mr.Clough came away, so that we may hope he has by this time arrived home, and relieved the painful solicitude of his family.

A number more of boys have applied to be received into the school and supported. When I am not previously acquainted with the boys, I take them a short time upon trial, before I make a final agreement with their parents. It is highly gratifying to christian feelings, to witness the change that is made in the appearance of these boys in a few days. We give them a plain cloth of a yard and a half or two yards in length, according to their size, to cover them. We give them plain food as much as they need. This change in their circumstances not only surprisingly alters the appearance of the boys, but also increases the vigor of their minds and their bodies.

It has always been principally to the poor that the Gospel is preached. So it is among this people. It is from this class that we must look for boys to be sup ported and educated in our families. The rich are usually unwilling to give us their sons; and even if they were willing, we should not think it expedient to take them, for they commonly give us much trouble by their complaints about their food and clothing. We greatly prefer poor boys on this account, and even orphans, when we can obtain them. Many, who are brought here, are destitute of one or both their parents, and on this account, as also on account of their poverty, are objects of charity. Much good will probably result to this people in the providence of God, on account of their poverty. For, considering their superstitions and strong prejudices against Christianity, they would not, in common cases, part with their children, unless compelled to do it by their necessities. 6th. Heard of the sudden death of Sir William Coke, the puisne judge of Ceylon, and, since the departure of Sir Alexander Johnstone, the acting Chief Justice. He died on the 1st. ult. at Trincomale of a dysentery. He expected soon to be in this district on his circuit. He was cut down unexpectedly in the prime of life, and in the midst of his usefulness.

7th. Yesterday, for the first time in several months, we held the Communion at Batticotta. The circumstances of the family at Tillipally have prevented our being together before. Though it was a rainy day, we had a large number of boys from our schools, besides many other people.

13. Commenced preaching in Tamul.

15. Opened another school in a distant village of Batticotta.. I have now four schools in Batticotta, and one in Changane.

23. Christian David came out to Batticotta to spend the day with us, and preach to the people. In the morning I collected the boys from my four schools in Batticotta. Two of these have been but recently opened, and contain but few boys. There were present, however, from these 4 schools, 120 boys. Other people assembled which made the number 200. Our large room was well filled. The Changane school was not called here, as we had made an appointment to go to that place, and preach in the school house. After service was ended at Batticotta, we accordingly went thither, and held public worship. The school at C. consists of 77 boys, of whom 60 were present.. In all we had 115 hearers. The people had covered the floor of the school house with mats, and placed chairs for us to sit in, covered with white cloth. We then visited a family of Roman Catholics in the neighborhood, and partook of some refreshment in the uve style, and returned home well pleased with our-excursion.

A daughter of Christian David, who is about 15 years of age, is living with us for the purpose of making further progress in English studies. She is a very amiable young woman.

Oct. 3. Have commenced a new plan with my school masters, which is to assemble them all on Saturday afternoon, to hear a report of the state of their schools, and to communicate to them religious instruction. They have before been accustomed to come on Sabbath evening. But as some of them live at a considerable distance, this is often found inconvenient. It is very important, that those who are employed to teach others, should themselves be instructed.

Sabbath, Oct. 4. Preached my second sermon in Tamul, to a good audience for this place. So far as I can learn I was generally understood by the natives. It is a very difficult language to pronounce with accuracy.

5. Attended the monthly prayer meeting at Jaffnapatam. Mr. and Mrs. Gogerly, Methodists, were present. They have lately arrived from England. Mr. G. is a printer, and will soon proceed to Columbo, to take charge of the printing establishment at that place. Mr. Harvard, who has hitherto superintended it, is about to return to England on account of his health.

Received a letter from the venerable, the Archdeacon of Columbo. Among other things he writes, "I have lately received a letter from the Bishop of Calcutta, and have great doubt of his visiting Ceylon at present, or even at the beginning of the next year."

7. Christian David preached here in the morning to 220 hearers. In the afternoon I accompanied him to the neighboring village of Manepy, where he spoke to the people. Turned away one of the boys whom I had taken to support. He proves to be a very wicked boy.

12th. Yesterday attended the communion at Tillipally, preached in Tamul to 300 people, and baptised the infant son of brother Poor. It was a very inter-, esting day.

1 saw an article in a late Madras Gazette, copied from the Prince of Wales Island Gazette, respecting the Birman mission, which gave me much pain; particularly on account of our American Baptist mission in that country.

I copy the article.

"According to accounts from Rangoon, a new governor had reached that place from Ava, having arrived on the 29th of March; and soon after an order had been received, commanding that all Portuguese padres, (priests,) Armeniaus, and Baptist missionaries, should quit the Birman territory without delay. This decree, it would appear, was likely to bear hard upon the first mentioned denon,ination, the Portuguese Bishop having resided in Ava, for nearly 40 years, and having conciliated general favor." I sincerely hope this order has not been put in execution. If it be executed, how distressing to our Baptist brethren, and particularly to Mr. Judson and family. After being absent from his family so many months while they were supposing him dead, then to return, and learn that during his absence they had been driven out of the country, would be a more afflicting dispensation of God's providence than his children are often subjected to. 17. Yesterday went to Jaffnapatam with the Rev. Mr. Knight, who has spent. the week with me, and in the evening heard Mrs. S.-preach in Tamul. She speaks the language with very great propriety, and preaches excellent sermons. This morning had a heavy shower of rain. The rainy season appears to have commenced. It will continue about three months, however, with intervals of very pleasant weather.

19. The Rev. Messrs. Squance, Gogerly, Knight, and Christian David, came here to spend the day. Mr. David preached to a good audience of the natives. 25. It is pleasant to witness the change which is gradually effected, in some instances, in the minds of the natives. Their prejudices, we may expect, will by degrees wear away: The man mentioned above, who boasted that we should never be able to get four boys of good cast from Batticotta to eat with us, is an instance to illustrate this remark. Though a very strong heathen, and violently opposed to the truth, yet he spends the greatest part of his time at our house. His son is a lovely boy, and the father is often in the school, and very diligent in teaching him. He is almost always present at our morning worship in Tamul, and has not been absent from meeting on the Sabbath for a long time, and always gives good attention. Yet when conversed with on the subject of religion, he Shows a very strong attachment to his own superstitions; though he will admit

that much which we tell him of the Christian religion is good, and true. For some days past he has permitted his son to stay here through the night, and sleep with my boys. The lad usually goes also to the cook house with the others, when they take their meals; though he does not eat with them. To-day the man told Mrs. Meigs, that we had succeeded in getting more than four boys, and asked her if she did not want his son? She told him no; for she expected we should be able shortly to take as many poor boys, as we had money to support. He then told her, that she might have his son, if she wanted him,-that he might stay here and sleep with the other boys, and learn such things as we wished him to learn; only, as he lived so near us, it was better for the boy to take his meals at home. I should not be surprised, if in a few days he should propose to have his son eat with the other boys.

To day a man called on us, who has three boys supported here. I proposed to make an agreement with him, for them to live permanently with me. He replied, "Not on this day, for it is my birth day, and therefore a very unlucky day for me."-Well, you will call tomorrow then, "No, that is also a bad day. What I do on these days will not prosper. The day before my birth day, on that day, and the day after, I must not do any business, if I wish to be prospered hereafter in life. They are all bad days."-Well, when will you come? "Why, yesterday was a bad day, to day, (Monday) is a bad day, and tomorrow will be a bad day, and the day after will be new moon, which is also a very bad day. I cannot come this week; next week will be lucky days. I will come on Monday." I tried to make the man offer me a reason for his lucky and unlucky days, and satisfied myself that he had none to give. He could only say, "It is so in our religion. Our astrologers tell me so."

If you wish to buy a cow, a sheep, or a goat, of any of these people, you cannot, on any consideration, persuade them to sell it on any other days, than Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Whenever they undertake any important business, they must be sure to do it on auspicious day. If they are to build a house, they must first consult an astrologer to know on what day to begin-on what plan to build-and of what form to build it. A few days ago, I had occasion to go to Manepy to deliberate about setting up a school in that place, when I was requested to go and see a house that was for sale in the neighborhood of the church, I accordingly went, and found a very good house in the native style. I inquired why they wished to sell it. An evasive answer was given, which I thought was not the true one. They wished to sell the materials of the house, but they must all be taken away. I asked if they would consent to sell me the house, and let it remain where it now stands? Thinking to convert it into a school house. This was refused. I told them then, that I did not want to purchase. On further inquiry, I learned that the family who lived there had experienced a series of misfortunes of late years, having the members of their family die successively. They supposed it was owing to the house being built in a wrong manner. They were therefore preparing to suffer the loss of tearing down their house, selling the materials, and building another, to save the lives, as they supposed, of the remainder of the family. They would build another house in the same garden; if not on the same spot of ground; but would be careful to begin it under the influence of an auspicious star, and to build it in such a manner, that bad spirits could not have power to destroy them.

26. We are concerned, in some degree, that we have yet received no news from our brethren, who sailed for the cape six months ago. We have only heard of the arrival of the vessel at that place, but nothing of their health, English ships are shortly expected at Columbo. We may therefore expect either that they will come themselves, or send letters.

(To be Continued.)

LETTER FROM RIO JANEIRO,

[South America has long presented itself to the eye of the Christian philanthropi, as an interesting field of missionary labor; whether he regards the native population of that great ontinent, or the descendants of Europeans, who will ultimately become powerful nations. Ever since the formation of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missious, is

has been earnestly desired by the Board and the Prudential Committee, that some favorable opening should be found for introducing the Gospel, especially among the Aborigines. For this purpose correspondence has been held, and authentic information has been sought. The following letter to the Corresponding Secretary was written in answer to inquiries on the subject, by a young gentleman from Massachusetts, who visited Brazil in the course of the last winter. The reader will deplore the darkness and moral desolation, which reign wherever the Romish Church has retained a firm authority.]

REVEREND AND DEAR SIR,

Rio de Janeiro, Feb. 1, 1819.

THE prospect of contributing something to the cause of missions, has been a great support-to me, since I left my native land. But, if I have rejoiced, it has been with trembling. I viewed myself in a responsible situation. I feared, lest partial survey, or other causes, should lead to an erroneous statement of facts. But the good Lord, who has been on my right hand to protect me, has been pleased to favor me with the best sources of information;--to Him be all the praise.

I arrived here on the 18th January, after a passage of 63 days. The Lord in mercy rendered the voyage greatly conducive to the establishment of my health; and I find that this climate, though warm, agrees with my constitution.

I will endeavor to be as explicit, as the length of my communication, the nature of the subject, and my means of obtaining information, will permit.

Brazil was proclaimed a kingdom in 1816. The population of the kingdom, including slaves and Indians, is supposed to be nearly three millions. That of this city is said to exceed two hundred thousand. A large proportion are slaves. The number of Indians cannot be correctly estimated but it is not great. They are divided into several tribes, some of which are so savage, that it would be dangerous going among them. Others are, in a measure, civilized. Many, if not all, of this latter description, are Catholics.

This city is the seat of government. It has the appearance of considerable antiquity; and such are its manners and customs, that I can hardly persuade myself, that I am still in the new world. It is on a sandy plain, and is surrounded by a country highly picturesque and romantic. Hills rising above hills, and mountains beyond them, form the landscape of this part of the world. The lands are exceedingly fertile, and the climate salubrious; though less so than further south. The heat is less oppressive than might be expected, being tempered by the land and sea breezes.

There is one English Episcopal society in this city, the only protestant society in the kingdom. It is of recent origin. The English, in their commercial treaty with this nation, stipulated for the privilege of erecting churches for the accommodation of their own subjects. They are, however, to have neither bells, nor towers; and no attempts whatever are to be made to draw away the catholics from their church and worship. They have not yet erected a church, but it is in coutemplation to build one. The Rev. Robert P. Crane came from England about two years since, to take the charge of this society. I learn from him, that there are about four hundred English residents here. This gentleman is an amiable, interesting and intelligent man. His sentiments correspond with the articles of the Church of England, so far as I am acquainted with them. On the other hand, a considerable number of his hearers, he informs me, are Socinians.

I did not learn that any law existed, which should preclude the preachers, churches, or worship of other protestant nations. I was told that they would not be molested, provided they did not interfere with the Catholics. But they would doubtless find it necessary to apply to the government for permission; and prejudice, caprice, and the impulse of the moment, sway so much the decisions of a despotic government in regard to the worship of those, whom they consider heretics, that I consider it impossible to be well assured in respect of the result. The moral character of this people is deplorable. Although drunkenness is not often seen to walk the streets; and perhaps is less known in this city, than in most of the larger cities of our own country;-almost every other species of iniquity abounds. Profaneness prevails to a very awful extent. From the conversation of many, whose standing is respectable, I should conclude, that they do not look upon it as evincing a want of saving religion. The people generally have no correct idea of the true nature of religion. Gambling is openly and generally practised. The grossest and most abominable familiarity frequently exists between masters and their slaves. Bigotry, lust, and barbarcus crucity, not seldom

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combine in the same individual. It seems here, as in heathen lands, to have been the effect of their worship of images, to remove the Most High far from their thoughts. In general, they appear to have little sense of moral obligation, and of their accountability to God; and no fears that they are in danger of everlasting destruction. Seduction is so frequent, and redress from the law so difficult to be obtained, that assassinations are not uncommon. The moral virtues are scarcely exemplified. As to the Sabbath-he traditions of the elders have more weight, than the law of God-Many of their holidays are more regarded. While the people "abstain from meats," and "pay tithe of mint, and anise, and cummin," they omit the weightier matters of the law;-they refuse to "keep holy the Sabbath day." The closing of public offices and a few ceremonies in the morning, are the only observances, which came within my observation. Most of the stores are open. The markets are held as usual. Slaves are carrying fruit, &c. about the city for sale. Bull-baiting and the card table engage equally the attention of both sexes in the afternoon, and the theatre in the evening. And, universally, those who are not employed, in consequence of the closing of public offices, make the Sabbath a day of recreation. Contemplating the scenes before me on that day, I seemed to be in a moral wilderness. It was not a day of rest, consecrated to the Lord, but of noise and tumult; and proclaimed this to be a place "where Satan's seat is."

But the missionary, as such, would not be tolerated here. This you have probably inferred from facts already mentioned. He comes to convert sinners, and that neither priests, people, nor government would endure. Even the English nation, in order to obtain permission to erect churches for the accommodation of her own subjects, found it necessary to engage that no attempts should be made by her clergymen to draw the Catholics from their religion. This government is absolute, and makes no scruple at imprisoning, or banishing from the country, the subject of any nation, if his actions correspond not with their wishes. Mr. Crane observed me, that he should expose himself to both of these, should he give even a Bible to a Catholic.

Were it not the case, that the monks, the priests, and the established religion, are considered essential to the present form of government, which now stands on a precarious footing, I should be inclined to believe, that a missionary, possessing a good share of judgment and prudence, might labor unmolested, at least by government, in places remote from the capital. But these places have for some time-especially since the rebellion at Pernambuco, a few years since, engaged the watchful and anxious care of the men in power.--In a word, I have been able to find no reason for believing, that any part of Brazil presents, at the present time, a field sufficiently encouraging, to demand the particular attention of the Board.

The prospect is equally discouraging, in regard to schools. The instructor would not be allowed to introduce the Bible, or to instruct his pupils in the great doctrines of the Gospel. Education is in a very low state in the city, and throughout the kingdom. The schools in this city, which are few in number, are supported by subscription. There are no free schools. The Portuguese generally, seem little inclined to reading. Although the king has opened his library (which is an excellent.one of seventy thousand volumes,) to the people, few of the middle and lower ranks improve the privilege. Indeed, much may be inferred, as to the state of education in this kingdom, from the fact, that although this city is the capital, the largest by far in the kingdom, the residence of the king and his court, a place of great trade, the resort, we may suppose, of the greatest abilities and most splendid acquirements in the king's dominions; and, of course, the centre of information, and the seat of science and the arts;-there are, nevertheless, no literary, or scientific societies; no institutions for the encouragement and promotion of the arts; no public schools, academies, or colleges:-in fact, there are none in the kingdom:-no reading rooms, excepting in the king's library; few bookstores, and those of little note;-but one printing press, and but one news paper.

I find reason to believe, that few Portuguese have ever seen a Bible. If it were distributed, and perhaps it might be, by agents residing in the place, it would soon, no doubt, be in the hands of the priests. The influence, which the priests maintain is very considerable; but it must be attributed rather to fear, than to either love, or respect. So little confidence have the Portuguese in general