appeared truly like a gentleman. He brought several letters recommending a noted merchant in Bombay. The prospect of this evening, and the latter part of the afternoon excels in beauty any thing I ever saw. The light-house is on an island near B. and presents a very magnificent appearance. At a little distance lies the immense shipping of this city. From the prospect, we judged that the number of ships in the harbor is double that in Boston harbor. A fleet from China is here. We anchored about 6 o'clock. Inquired of the pilot respecting the missionaries, and were told that they were all alive and in health. Bombay, at the Mission House. Wednesday, Feb. 25. Early this morning, before we were ready to receive them, we saw a boat approaching us with Messrs. Hall, Newell, and Bardwell. The brethren met them on deck. They never gave the right hand of fellowship with more cheerfulness and joy. They came into the cabin, and met us with countenances beaming with joy and animation. Had compliments from Mrs. Bardwell, to take breakfast with her. In about an hour we all left the ship, except Messrs. Hall, Graves and Nichols, hoping that they would follow us in two hours. Were very cordially received at the mission house. We found Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson here, missionaries from Surat, who arrived from England four months ago. Mr. D. is here to improve his health. He is very much enfeebled by the pernicious effects of this hot climate. You will at once see that this was a most interesting season to us. Every object that we saw was recommended by the charm of novelty. I have again trodden on land, but it is not the land which gave me birth, where I have tasted the sweetest blessings Heaven could give. I have again entered a dwelling house, but there is nothing about it that looks like home. Most of the buildings here appear as though they might have been erected in the days of Abraham. This house is very spacious: Mr. Hall lives above, and Mr. Bardwell below. Mrs. B. has lately passed through a scene of sorrow and trial. Her child, Horatio, who was very promising and remarkably interesting, died on the 6th of Sept, last, after an illness of six weeks. This was a most afflictive providence. She has now a most lovely and fine child, a daughter, born on the 2nd of November. On the 19th of Nov. Mr. Bardwell was taken very ill, of the liver complaint. He lay eight days at the point of death. He took his leave of all around him. Mr. Hall is master of the Mahratta language, and considerably acquainted with the Hindoostanee. He preaches daily to the people. Mr. Newell has for some time past kept at Mahim, a populous village a few miles distant. Mr. Bardwell superintends the printing department. Mrs. Bardwell, whom I love very much, has a school of 30 pupils. It is composed of Hindoo, Mussulmaun and Portuguese boys, whom she instructs in English. These boys are very intelligent. Feb. 27. About ten o'clock to-day brother Graves and Mr. N. called at the police office, and reported themselves; then went to the ship and discharged all our trunks, &c. They passed the Custom House without paying any duties, except small ones on the paper and types sent by the Board. Sabbath, March 1. In this land of idolatry we have found the worship of our God very precious. Brother N. preached in the mission house this forenoon, and brother B. in the afternoon. Had a considerable audience. The number belonging to our house is 10, besides servants. There were present also, Mr. and Mrs. Horner, Methodist missionaries, Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson, Mr. Leach the first mate of the Saco, and several invalid soldiers who are pensioners. The sacrament was administered. Fourteen encircled the Lord's table. This was a season of peculiar solemnity and interest, and of tender sympathy. The hearts of Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson were much depressed, on account of his declining health. He appears rapidly hastening to the grave. Though this is a day of rest and consecrated by the King of kings; yet it is still unknown to millions of our race. It is truly affecting on this holy day to witness so much noise, business, and mirth.. 4. Had a pleasant walk with brother Bardwell. In the mean time Mr. N. waited on sister Bardwell to a ride. On our way we spoke with a most wretched devotee, whose arm has been extended in the air till it has become immoveable. He saluted us with a salam. In consequence of this austerity, he is supposed to have arrived to a remarkable degree of holiness, and thousands encir cle him to gain his favor. He presented me with a handsome bunch of flowers. I received it and he appeared pleased. Passed on and saw hundreds of worshippers and many idols; some had a very frightful aspect. Saw many washing themselves in sacred water. The natives crowd their temples every morning and evening to pay their devotions. Sabbath, 8. I think much of home and dear friends on the Sabbath. I recollect their privileges, and their enjoyments derived from uniting their hearts and their voices in worshipping God in his own house. I think of their frequent interviews, where heart meets heart. Here I see no companies of spiritual pilgrims travelling to Zion's gates to adore and praise the eternal God; but instead of this I hear the drums, and various other instruments in commemoration, not of a Savior's birth and ascension to glory—but of some superstitious festival or ceremony. Ah, my friend, this land is dark. The Sun of glory has not yet arisen on this benighted region. "Gross darkness covers the people." Frequently I ask, "How can these dry bones live." 9. To-day brother and sister Graves have taken their leave for Mahim. They feel encouraged to enter on their work, and rejoiced in the privilege of living among the heathen. Just before they left us, we all united in a prayer on their behalf. The Lord bless them. Saturday, 21. This morning Mr. Donaldson died. There are many events under the government of God which are unsearchable. This is one of them. He left England only a few months ago with an ardent hope and strong expectations of laboring for Christ in this eastern world; but now his hopes are all cut off, and he lies secure in the arms of death. We trust that he sweetly reclines on the bosom of his Lord, and enjoys the blessedness of the upper world. DONATIONS TO THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS, IN MAY, FROM THE 1st TO THE 15th. Berlin, Ver. the Heathen School Society, by the Rev Chester Wright, Boston. The Monthly Concert of Old South and Park-Street churches, for the mission to Jerusalem, The Boston Cent Society, by Miss S. W. Hopkins, for the school at the Choctaw station, A gentleman, for the education of two children among the Choctaws, in the family of the Rev. Mr. Kingbury, 60 00 For one child in Mr. Poor's family in Ceylon, 12.00 -72 00 20 00 11 63 15 37 18.00 Cambridge, Ver. Mrs. Peace Cooper, by the Rev. Simeon Parmelee, The ladies Assoc for do. by Betsey Howe, Treas. The two last for educating a heathen child, to be named SIMEON PARMELEE. Canterbury, N. H. The Gen. Assoc. by the Rev. William Patrick, The Ladies Assoc. by do. Chester, Wilkes Co. Geo. A collection, by the Rev. C Washburn, Cummington, Ms. The school of Miss Holbrook, for the edu. of hea- Hudley, Ms. Lucy Coolidge, for the Cherokee mission, Hanover, N. H. The Theological Society in Dartmouth College, for a child to be named FRANCIS BROWN, and educated in the family of Mr. Poor, Ceylon, Hinsdale, Ms. 8:06 1 00 2.00 5.00 The Fem. Char. Soc. by Phebe Allen, Treas. Montpelier, Ver. The mont concert, by the Rev. Chester Wright, This sum includes the donations from both associations: viz. that of Ladies and that of Gentlemen.. Farwell, Newbury, Ver. Collection in the congregational society, by the Rev. H. Newburyport, Ms. St. Mark's Lodge, for translating the Bible into New-Providence, N. Jer. A Society of young men for aiding the Northampton, Ms. Contribution at a conference, as a thank-offering, by Northfield, Ms. The Female Association, for a heathen child at Bom- Oglethorpe County, Geo. Mr. John Bell, by the Rev. C. Washburn, Plainfield, Ver. The monthly concert, by the Rev. Chester Wright, Shiloh, Greene Co Geo. A collection, by the Rev. C. Washburn, From Sabbath schools, in do viz. No. 1. 70 cts. No. 2. $1 76; Amount of donations from the 1st to the 15th of May, $599 76. The Board gratefully acknowledge the receipt of a box of clothing, containing articles for the Indian missions, from ladies in Hatfield, and Ashfield, and from a lady in Hadley, Mass. remitted by the Rev. Dr. Lyman, A box of clothing from gentlemen and ladies in Pawlet, (Ver.) for the Brainerd mission. Supposed value, $60. A box of books for the schools in Ceylon, from Henry Hudson, Esq. of Hartford, (Con.) containing 66 Bibles, 100 Testaments, and 600 Webster's Spelling Books. The receipt of the following books, as a Donation from the Rev. William Jenks, for the Ceylon Mission Library, is gratefully acknowledged. A Dictionary of the Portuguese and English languages. By Anthony Vieyra Transtagano. 2 vols. quarto. London, 1773 Castro's Portuguese Grammar, octavo. London, 1759. The Lusiad of Camoens. 2 vols. Coimbra, 1800. Owen De Natura, Ortu, Progressu, et Studio, Veræ Theologiæ. Oxoniæ, 1661. The friends of missions are respectfully invited to make donations of any books at their disposal, which might probably be useful in either of the mission libraries. DONATIONS TO THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIETY IN APRIL. (Continued from our last.) Brought forward from P. 240 $776 47 From females belonging to the Rev. Dr. Morse's church, named the Harris Society, who meet once a week to aid this benevolent object, by Mrs. M. Edes, Treasurer, From the following persons, to constitute them members for life, viz. Mr. Tyler, by Rev. E. Porter, $23 00 Rev. Justin Edwards, from the Andover Ms. E. Char. Soc. 100 00 40.00 20 00 Of other individuals, Rev. Dr. Osgood, Medford, from one of his parishioners, 40 00 Rev. David Kimball, from the Fem. Aux. Ed. Soc. in the first parish of Ipswich, The Rev. Messrs. Eliphalet Gillet of Hallowell, Luther Sheldon of Easton, Ms. Donations received by the Society in April, 40 00 40 00 120 00 $1,219 47 MISSION AT BOMBAY. Letter from the Rev. Gordon Hall to the Rev. Dr. Worcester. REV. AND DEAR SIR, Bombay, Aug. 28, 1818. THERE is at present no prospect of an early opportunity of sending to America; but I have now begun a letter to you, and that without any very definite object in view, and know not whether I shall write little or much. It is now a distressing time among the natives. The Cholera Morbus, which for months past has been traversing almost the whole peninsula, and sweeping off multitudes of the natives, and not a few Europeans, made its appearance in Bombay ten or twelve days since. It was anticipated; for it had been gradually approaching the western side of India. Previous arrangements were accordingly made by the government and the medical board. The whole island was divided into districts; and in every district one or more native physician was stationed under the direction of the medical board. A system of practice was agreed upon; hand-bills were posted up in all public places, directing the people where to apply for assistance. By these means the disease was greatly checked, and, under Providence, no doubt thousands of lives have been saved. Still, the number of deaths has been considerable. I cannot speak with precision, but suppose that some days the deaths by this disease alone have not been fewer than 50 or 60. The most active European physician has just told me, that to-day the disease appears to be abating. He likewise told me, that its ravages had been dreadful in some parts of the peninsula, that whole villages have been depopulated; that sufficient persons could not be procured to dispose of the dead; that there was no body left to cultivate the ground, &c. But what is all this, when compared with those awful ravages which spiritual death has spread over the whole face of this immense country, sweeping away into eternity one whole generation after another, in uninterrupted succession for so many centuries? Who has tears enough to shed over all these countless slain! Who has a heart to feel enough at such an amazing ruin of immortal souls? Oh when shall Gilead's Physician display his healing power among these miserable, these dying creatures? When will he make his saving health known unto all people? Lord, hasten thy coming. O Lord, come quickly. Shew us thy salvation. Sept. 2. This morning I was called out to visit a sick woman. I found her to be a Malay, and, as the expression goes, a kept woman. The occasion of my being sent for was this: the woman had been taken dangerously ill, and never having been baptised, her mind was greatly troubled with the apprehension, that should she die unbaptised, she would not be allowed a Christian burial. I was desired to baptise her. As she was an ignorant heathen, and actually living in flagrant wickedness, all I could do was to labor to convince her, that the first thing necessary was for her to repent of all her sins, and break off her transgressions, without which she could not obtain pardon and peace, either here or hereafter; and without which baptism could do her no good. I also pointed her to a crucified Savior, and exhorted her to put her trust in him. She said, that she was a great sinner, and that she intended to forsake all her sins, and abandon her wicked course of life. But it appeared, that she was not quite willing to do it immediately. I repeatedly endeavored to make her understand, that it was not suitable to baptise adults, unless they gave reasonable evidence of repentance and faith. The conversation was long, and held in the Hindoostanee language. There were present two other Malay females, who were living in the same unlawful manner. The occasion therefore furnished me an opportunity of giving a word of reproof and instruction to them all, which may God bless to their eternal good. I was once before solicited to baptise a child of a marine officer, born to him of a woman with whom he was living in the same forbidden way. This sin prevails to a most deplorable extent in this land. It brings a great reproach upon the Christian name; and thus the religion of Christ is blasphemed among the hea then, by reason of the shameless wickedness of those who are called Christians. 16. This day's paper informs us of the lamented death of the Rev. R. May, missionary at Chinsurah. I was intimately acquainted with Mr. May, while resident at Philadelphia, during our voyage to India, while remaining at Calcutta, and since by correspondence with him, and various other information concerning him. I feel sure, that by his death the cause of Christ in India has sustained a great loss. I much doubt whether there is a missionary in the country, who is now doing so much for the diffusion of Christian knowledge among the Hindoos, as Mr. May was effecting. At the age of 29 years he died at Calcutta, Aug. 12th, rejoicing in God his Savior. The Cholera Morbus in Bombay has so greatly abated that now the deaths are comparatively few. To-day's paper contains the following paragraph: "I was at Punderpoor, where the Cholera raged, and nothing in this world could be more distressing. In the town alone, it carried off 3,000. Three hundred and fifty died in one day,-tumbling over each other in the public streets, as if knocked down by grape shot. I lost my two Gorawallows, (ostlers,) who were both in perfect health the day before. After lasting about 10 days it disappeared, in as extraordinary a manner as it came.' This evening I received a letter from Mr. Fyvie, missionary at Surat. It related the death of Mrs. Hands at Belhary; and also the death of Mrs. Lee of Ganjam, who died on her passage to England, whither she and her husband were going, on account of ill health. Thus God is giving us repeated admonitions. May we be enabled wisely to improve them. The letter from Mr. Fyvie also brought us good news from the Deccan. Mr. Mead, one of the missionaries from the London Society, is settled in Travancore. Mr. Mead writes, "Things here are remarkably encouraging. Many, very many, are coming forward to be Christians." Col. Monroe, the British resident, he remarks, "is very favorable-has given me a good house and plenty of ground for the mission, and is about to present 4,000 rupees to the Society." Mr. Fyvie adds, "brother Mead has got an appointment as Christian judge, with a salary of 800 rupees per month. How wonderful that this station has been preserved to our Society. I hope they will now see its importance." Of Surat, Mr. Fyvie says, "We expect a printing press and types from Bengal. Our Society has given us much encouragement to print tracts and to institute native schools. Ă young man, a sergeant of the Bombay regiment, has been brought to the knowledge of the truth, and has lately been added to our little church here. About 15 months ago he was an actor in the theatre at Surat. He is now using his time and talents in a very different manner. Some others of our English hearers give us encouragement. Lieut. — commands a detachment at Anjar in Cutch. He has service with his men twice every Sabbath, and one evening in the week besides. He has given away a good many copies of your Guzerattee tract in Cutch. I expect to send him a quantity soon. thinks the natives there are not so stupidly attached to their superstitions as in Bombay and Surat." He 23. To-day ascertained, that on the 19th an American ship Pactolus, Capt. Blackler, for Boston, arrived in Bombay. This, I suppose, will afford us an early opportunity of forwarding communications to America. 26. Yesterday the sun entered the celestial mansion, or, according to the expression of Hindoo astronomers, came into conjunction with the constellation symbolized in their system of Astronomy, by the husth, which, being translated, means elephant. It was attended by a few heavy peals of thunder, powerful showers of rain, and considerable wind. The monsoon usually closes in this way; and, from the circumstance above suggested, is, by Europeans denominated the Elephanta. We may now expect pleasant, though warm and rather unhealthy weather. 27. Sabbath evening. To-day nine persons came to our house to unite in our worship; which is a larger number than usually attends. At 12 o'clock 25 of the boys, from one of our schools under my superintendence, came to our house to read and repeat their lessons. I had previously desired, that all the readers in the school, and all who could repeat all or any of the commandments, should come. Out of the 25, ten repeated the whole of the ten commandments; five more repeated some of them; five more who could repeat the whole, were not present. Twenty two of the boys read. Some others belong to the school, who can read and repeat some of the commandments. This school is composed of about 60 boys in all. I spoke to them of Christ and the way of salvation, and gave books to some of them. For several Sabbaths past more or less of the scholars from some of our schools have come to me at our house. They seem fond of it. It is a pleasing exercise. Perhaps we shall be able to adopt so ne general plan, somewhat like Sunday schools. It is very desirable. • Lieut. was hopefully converted under the preaching of the missionaries at Surat. |