by the importunities, he promised to send them more; and in fulfilment of the promise, after his return to Bombay, he sent them, by the hand of a schoolmaster, about four hundred.

In the forepart of November, Mr. Newell made a visit to Bankote, about sixty miles south of Bombay, of which he gives the following

account.

"I staid at Bankote eleven days; and from thence visited the principal towns in that vicinity, and held conferences with the people in all the places to which I went. I read, also, in all those places, some of our tracts, which contain a general view of the Gospel, in a small compass; and distributed among the people copies of the Gospel of Matthew, and of the Acts, and of all the different tracts which we have published. I found the people attentive and inquisitive. When I visited the same people a second time, I generally found they had a number of inquiries to make about what they had heard before.-The town of Bankote, with its dependent villages, contains about 1700 inbabitants. I distributed in this place of the Gospel of Matthew 50 copies, of the Acts S0, and 200 Tracts. I had the satisfaction of finding, that I could communicate with the people on the continent as readily, as with the people on this island, and that the people and the language are precisely the same there as here."

In December, Mr. Hall made another excursion; visited Cullian and Basseen, two large towns on the continent, the former about forty miles north east, and the latter about thirty miles north of Bombay; imparted instruction to many people; and distributed more than five hundred books.

"Our experience of this mode of laboring," say the brethren, "has led us to estimate more highly the importance of itinerating extensively, for the double purpose of preaching and distributing the Scriptures and tracts. And we indulge the pleasing hope, that He, who has helped us thus far, will enable us to go on, extending our instructions and distributions farther and farther; and we would rest assured, that our labor will not be in vain in the Lord."

It is their constant, daily practice to go about among the heathen, preaching more or less publicly, as opportunities offer; and distributing books to such as seem willing and able to read them. "It will no doubt," they say, "be grateful to the feelings of the Board to reflect, that five of their missionaries, in the same region, and the same language, are now daily and actively engaged in the use of means, both direct and indirect, for the conversion of the Heathen."

Among the indirect means here referred to, are the translating and printing of the Scriptures in successive portions, and the preparing and printing also of other books and tracts.

Mention was made in the Report of the last year of their having printed in large editions, the Gospel of Matthew, the Acts of the Apostles, and two tracts consisting chiefly of select portions of Scripture. They have since printed two editions, a thousand copies each, of a tract composed by them, and entitled, The Way to Heaven; the first Number in a series of Scripture History; the Gospel of Matthew, for the Bombay Bible Society: Christ's sermon on the mount, partly for the Bible Society, and parily for their own distribution; a Reading Book for schools;

and a book entitled An easy and expeditious Method of acquiring a Knowledge of the English language; designed for the benefit of those Natives, who wish to study the English Language and the Sciences. And at the last dates, they were expecting soon to print the book of Genesis, and several other tracts; and an edition of the Way to Heaven, in the Guzerattee language.

"The demand for books, they say, has been greatly increased. A large number has been distributed; and some of them have been sent to a considerable distance on the continent. A few copies of the Reading Book for Schools, were sent, some months since, to a large town about twenty miles to the east of Bankote; and were so highly approved, that they were immediately introduced into the principal schools there, and a farther supply was requested through a European gentleman residing there. The supply desired has since been forwarded. A number of Gospels and copies of the Acts, and tracts, have been distributed in the same place, through the same gentleman. He also remarked, concerning a copy of Matthew and the Acts, bound together, that an officiating Brahman of the principal temple in that place, asked for it; and it was given him on condition, that it should be publicly deposited in the temple for the use of all that might wish to read it. On this condition, it was received; and the gentleman had ascertained that it was accordingly deposited and actually read." The two thousand copies of The Way to Heaven, which they printed in two editions, were quickly distributed; and another, edition was wanted.

These statements shew, in a strong light, the diligence of the missionaries, and the utility of their printing establishment. Hitherto indeed, they have received little remuneration for the expenses and labors of the press. They have done some printing however for the Bombay Bible Society; which directly served the general cause, and at the same time brought something to the funds of the mission; and they entertain the hope, that from their Book, "designed for the Benefit of those Natives who wish to study the English Language and the Sciences," the mission will derive no inconsiderable emolument. Copies of the book have been sent home. It is an octavo of 168 pages; and, in the judgment of your Committee, is highly creditable to the mission. But it is chiefly by supplying the missionaries with copies of the Scriptures and other books and tracts for their schools, and for liberal and extensive distribution, that their press will be an engine of incalculable utility.

The Schools of this Mission, as reported at our last anniversary, were eleven. The number has since increased to TWENTY-FIVE. The total number of pupils in these schools is not stated in any of the communications received; but we may fairly estimate those who attend constantly at nearly a hundred Jewish, and more than twelve hundred Heathen children; besides a nearly equal number, in the course of a year, whose attendance is inconstant. The system is extending, the field is widening, the number of schools and of pupils is increasing; and the hearts of the missionaries are expanding with benevolent desire and with animating hope. [See Pan. for Oct. pp. 466-469.]

In this connexion, the brethren make a statement respecting the expense of their schooling system, from which it appears, that, on an average, the teaching of a hundred boys costs the mission about eleven dollars a month, and is not likely to cost it more. Taking twelve hundred, as the total number of pupils in their twenty-five schools, the total expense for a year amounts to about fifteen hundred and eighty dollars.

The Brethren proceed in the following very interesting and impressive recital and appeal. [See Pan. for Oct. p. 468.]

These views of the beloved missionaries are animating, and these sentiments impulsive. They will be deeply felt, not only by this Board, but by the Christian community extensively, and the liberal patronage so earnestly solicited, will not be withheld.

It would have been gratifying to your Committee, had they been able to report a proportionate success in the design of educating children in the missionary families. But in respect to this part of the general plan, the missionaries at Bombay have not yet been so happy as to have their hopes realized; and they express concern, lest the expectations of their patrons and friends at home should not soon be fulfilled. At the latest dates, they had not more than three or four native children under their special domestic care; nor were they certain, that even these would be found eligible as beneficiaries of the sacred and particularly interesting charities, to be applied to the education of heathen children as Christians, and with specified and select names. The most assured confidence, however, may be cherished, that what can be done will be done, for carrying the design into effect; and preventing a disappointment which both the missionaries and your Committee would most deeply regret.

In the mean time, monies, specially given for this object, will be held in sacred trust; and will not, without the direction or consent of the donors be otherwise applied. It will be at the option, however, of societies and individuals by whom these donations have been made, to direct their application, as to them shall seem most desirable. Same monies, originally intended for this specific application at Bombay, have already,by direction of the donors, been transferred, for the same purpose, to Ceylon, where children can be obtained with less difficulty, and supported at less expense. And your Committee beg to commend it to generous consideration, that only twice the sum requisite for educating a heathen child in a missionary family at Bombay, would be sufficient for the support of a school there of forty or fifty heathen children; and to the establishment of schools to any extent, for which funds shall be supplied, no obstacle is likely to be found.

In two years the schools of this mission have increased in number from four to twenty-five; and the pupils in an equal ratio. Let the present number in these Schools be taken at a thousand;-let the increase henceforward be only at the rate of doubling in five years;— and let five years be allowed, as the average term of the continuance of the same pupils at the schools;-and, in twenty-five years from this time, thirty one thousand heathen children will have been instructed, and issued from the schools;-and at the close of this period the number of schools will be 640, and the number of pupils in them 32,000.

Considering the wide extent of the field now opened, and the contin ually increasing facilities and advantages afforded, these estimates will be regarded as quite moderate. But even these supply a basis for expanded hope, and open prospects on which the benevolent mind will delight to dwell.

Slender as the probability may be, that adult Hindoos, and especially such as are advanced in years, will be turned from their vanities unto the living God; it surely is in no degree improbable, that Hindoo ⚫ children, brought early under a course of Christian instruction, taught and accustomed daily to read the Holy Scriptures, and impressed with the precepts and doctrines and counsels and exhortations of the Gospel -will learn to see, to despise and to abhor the hideous absurdity, deformity, sottislmness, and impurity of the Hindoo system; will become advocates for the religion of Christ; and, by the grace of God accompanying the means of his own appointment, many of them be made devoted and exemplary disciples.-Thirty thousand children, not only themselves instructed, but carrying the Bible into as many, or nearly as many, heathen families, and reading it to their parents, and brothers and sisters, and connexions, and acquaintances, will do much, even in their carly years, for diffusing the light of divine truth. When attained to riper age, their activity, their influence, and their impressions upon the mass of population, with which they are intermixed, will be proportionably increased. Not a few of them may become not only heads of families, but teachers of schools, and teachers too, possessed of much better qualifications than can now be obtained. And some of them may be catechists, and preachers,-regularly engag ed, and efficient helpers in the missionary work.

Meanwhile, the other parts of the system will be advancing. The missionaries, in their circuits, will preach the Gospel directly to many thousands of heathen people, and distribute the Scriptures and other books and tracts, and cause them to be distributed, throughout cities and districts and provinces, containing millions.

But the system is not to cease its operations in twenty-five years. It will then have gathered strength, augmented its resources, and multiplied its facilities and advantages, for extended and more effective operations.

CEYLON.

At the last anniversary, our hearts were afflicted with mournful anticipations, respecting two of the brethren of this Mission. Those anticipations were but too sure.

The Report then made, left Messrs. Warren and Richards, the last of February, 1818, at Columbo, where they had been for several weeks, retired from their labors, and in quest of health, dubious as to the issue. There every attention, which generous hospitality and Christian kindness could prompt, was bestowed upon them; and various expedients were proposed for their benefit; until at length, in the latter part of April, they embarked for the Cape of Good Hope. Of this measure, Messrs. Meigs and Poor, in a joint letter, written about a month afterwards, give the following particular and satisfactory account. [See Pan. for Feb. pp. 78, 79.]

VOL. XV.

65

For the greater part of their voyage, as appears by a letter written by Mr. Richards, after their arrival at the Cape, the weather was very favorable; and the health of both the brethren, particularly of Mr. Warren, was so muah recruited, as to afford hope of its being in a good measure restored These propitious circumstances continued, until they came in sight of land, and expected to be in port at the Cape in about two days. Then the scene was changed. They encountered heavy gales,—were driven out to sea,—and for a fortnight were tossed upon the waves in cold and boisterous weather. They landed at Simon's Bay in the forepart of July, and were conveyed thence to Cape Town, on the 14th of the same month. Both of them had taken severe cold, and their healthi was much depressed.

They were received at Cape Town with distinguished kindness; and particularly in the Rev. George Thom, missionary there from the London Missionary Society, they found a friend and brother, who, by his assiduous attentions, conferred great obligations upon them and upon their patrons and friends. Your Committee feel a satisfaction of no ordinary kind in recording the following passages of a letter to the Corresponding Secretary, written by Mr. Thom, at the instance of the brethren, four days after their arrival. [See Pan. for Jan.. fast, p. 36.]

This devout assurance Mr. Thom might well express. Such a testimony from Archdeacon Twistleton, so well known to this Board, and to the Christian community in this country, for his many acts of favor to our beloved missionaries and to the general cause of missions, cannot fail to excite gratitude to the adorable Fountain of all good.

In about three weeks after the date of Mr. Thom's letter, on the 11th of August, Mr. Warren rested from his labors and sufferings.

The missionary course of this lamented servant of the Lord Jesus, short as it pleased Sovereign Goodness it should be, was marked with celestial radiance. His brethren, who were associated with him in the scenes of his toils and trials, bear united and most affec-. tionate testimony to his eminent and uniform devotedness to the holy cause, his ardent, yet benign and well directed zeal,-his alacrity and diligence in labors,-his patience and cheerful equanimity in sufferings, his wisdom in counsel and prudence in action, his kindness of disposition, his heavenly mindedness, and his general excellence of character. During his lengthened illness, his exemplary resignation, his sweet serenity of mind, and his heavenly conversation were in a high degree edifying, and inspiring His last days and closing scene, as described by his afflicted friend and companion, Mr. Rich ards, in a letter, which will have a place in an appendix to this Report, were such, as this Board and all the friends of the cause would wish those of every missionary to be:-marked with a lively and steadfast confidence in the Lord Jesus.-solaced with a sacred and cheering enjoyment of the divine presence and love, and brightened with visions, not fantastic, of the glories of immortality.

His flesh rest in hope at no great distance from that of Mrs. Newell; his spirite cannot doubt, is with hers, and with those of the

* See Pan. for July last, p. 320.