bat when we considered the great advantage | vessel arrived from Java with despatches to be reaped, and the probability of the from the Supreme Government, respecting ship's arrival in England before Mrs. E.'s the unhappy war in that Island, which so confinement, we resolved not to lose an op- occupied the public attention, that every portunity, which perhaps might never again other description of business was necessaoccur, and therefore engaged a woman to rily superseded. Another most favourable accompany her, in case her assistance should circumstance was Mr. Ward's removal with be required. Under these circumstances I the press, to which every one was looking was anticipating a twelvemonth's widow- forward with pleasure. Nor must I omit to hood, when Providence opened the way for mention, that only a few weeks before we an event, of which I had not previously en-left, I received a letter from the Bible Sotertained the most distant idea. Mr. Ward had for some time been speak⚫ing of a removal to Padang, and I had been arging it by every argument in my power. About this time he resolved upon it, and we were eagerly expecting his arrival. When my friends in Padang heard of this, they began to urge me to accompany Mrs. E. and seek by the voyage the restoration of my health, which had been so long declining. As I was not then suffering much, I thought such a step quite unnecessary, until the Doctor and Mr. T. told me, if I did not take it, a year or less, in their opinion, was the utmost upon which I could calculate. All my friends united in representing it as an imperative duty to avail myself of the excellent opportunity which presented itself; and, as you may suppose, I was not a little influenced by the persuasions of Capt. Rogers, who had most generously offered us all a free passage. The resolution to leave Padang, even for a season, was the most painful that I have ever been called upon to make; yet when I thought of the frequent suspension of my labours, the great debility I then felt, and the probable and almost certain consequences of persevering, together with the fact, that a twelvemonth's absence would, by Mr. Ward's coming, be scarcely felt in Padang, and the little expence which would be incurred by the voyage, I conceived it my incumbent duty to submit to the trial, severely as I felt it. You will probably be surprised that I should have felt so acutely in leaving my station; but things have lately taken such a turn as to promise the happiest result. Previous to my leaving Padang, the heads of offices had manifested a most favourable disposition towards the objects of the Mission, and the prejudices of the natives had in some measure died away. So far, indeed, had all difficulties vanished, that several private meetings had been convened by the Resident, for the purpose of concerting measures to establish a Native School Institution, upon the most liberal plan. In these, the rules and regulations of the Society were agreed upon, the committee nominated, and the day fixed for calling a general meeting of the inhabitants. The circular had even goue round, but the evening before the meeting was to assemble, a ciety in Holland, with a large box of Bibles and Testaments from the Society in Batavia, My friend, Mr. V., Secretary to the Government, likewise received by the same vessel a letter from the Vice-President of the latter, requesting him to unite with me in forming an Auxiliary Bible Society in Padang. Such happy days we had not seen before; but further particulars I must leave for a personal interview, which I hope to enjoy with you in a few days. We much regretted that Mr. Ward had not arrived previous to our departure. The last letter I had from him signified his entire approbation of my visit to Europe, and his intention of being in Padang by the first vessel. We left Padang the 29th September; have had a rough passage; put into the Mauritius, Cape, and St. Helena; yet it has not been unusually long, nor have any on board sustained the least injury. A gracious Providence has watched over us in every extremity, and yesterday morning brought us safe into Crook Haven, Munster. The easterly winds which have just set in compelled Capt. Rogers to make this port, where the ship may probably be detained 12 or 14 days. To-morrow we proceed for Cork, thence to Bristol, and Weymouth, hoping to reach the latter place in about six days, from which I hope to be in London in less than a week. Of the great kindness of Capt. Rogers it is not possible to say enough. Every thing that brotherly affection could dictate has been adopted by him for our comfort and convenience; and his generosity has been gratified by the most decided improvement in our health. From the first week we had been at sea my strength gradually increased, nor have any symptoms of my old disorder returned, except for a few days after we left the Mauritius, which was the consequence of my imprudently walking too much in the heat of the sun while we were on shore. At present I feel as well, if not better, than when I left England. Mrs. E. is likewise much better, nor has she suffered much at sea. On the 29th November she presented me with another daughter. This event took place much sooner than we expected, but, through mercy, all was well; and all the dear little ones are now enjoying perfect health. Thus, through the abound ing goodness of the Almighty, the object of the voyage has been accomplished. Oh, that our gratitude might bear some proportion to the favours we have received! HOME PROCEEDINGS. Joseph Slatterie and Rev. John Dyer; Rev. William Giles and Mr. Osborn; Rev. S. R. Allom and Mr. White. As a proof of the persevering zeal of the young friends by whom this Society is conducted, it may be stated that no less than £42 was raised by them during the past year. WOOLWICH. THE Annual Meeting, of the Auxiliary Baptist Missionary Society, for this populous town, was held on Wednesday evening, Feb. 7, in the Methodist Chapel, which on this, as on preceding occasions, was kindly lent for the purpose. WEST MIDDLESEX UNION. THE Annual Meeting of this Institution, designed to concentrate the efforts of several of our smaller Churches within the district named in favour of the Mission, was held at Hammersmith, on Tuesday, February 13. In the morning of that day an appropriate Sermon was delivered in the Baptist Chapel, by the Rev. Eustace Carey, from Heb. xii. 18-22. Our venerable friend, the Rev. Isaiah Birt, of Birmingham, prayed at the commencement of the service, and the Rev. James Coultart, from Kingston, at its close. On account of the regretted indisposition of Dr. Olinthus Gregory, by whom the chair had hitherto been occupied, Dr. Cox, of Hackney, presided; and we are happy to add, that the meeting was as numerously attended, and quite as interesting as any that A number of friends dined together in the have preceded it; to which the addresses commodious vestry, and the afternoon was of our esteemed friends, Mr. Eustace Carey, agreeably occupied in conversation relating and Mr. Coultart, from Jamaica, largely to the object on which they had assembled. contributed. Besides these Missionary In the evening the chair was taken by W. B. brethren, the following Ministers took part Gurney, Esq. of Muswell Hill, and the usual in the business of the evening: Rev. Messrs. business of the Society transacted. The vaBurnett, Freeman, Bowes, James, and Sharp, rious resolutions were moved and seconded of Woolwich; Dr. Warren and Rev. John by the Rev. Thomas Uppadine, Minister of Anderson, of the Wesleyan connection; the place, and the Rev. Nunn Harry, supStone, of Deptford; Smith, of Ilford; Haw-plying at Craven Chapel; Rev. R. Vaughan, kins, of London; and Dyer, Secretary to the Parent Society. The collection at the close of the meeting amounted to £15. CHATHAM. THE thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Chatham Juvenile Society took place on Friday evening, Feb. 9, at the Chapel on the Brook, Capt. Pudner, of the Hon. East India Company's Service, in the chair. Prayer was offered at the commencement of the meeting by the Rev. S. R. Allom, of Great Missenden, then visiting Chatham; and after a Report had been read by the Secretary, appropriate addresses were delivered by Major Watson, of the Royal Marines, and Mr. Samuel Giles; Rev. Eustace Carey and Mr. William Giles; Rev. of Kensington, and Rev. John Dyer, Secretary to the Parent Society; Lieut. Wood, of the 67th regt. (lately returned from Rangoon), and Rev. W. Coleman, of Colubrook; Rev. Eustace Carey and Rev. James Coultart; Rev. Edward Lewis, of Highgate, Secretary to the Union, and Rev. W. Southwood, of Kensington; James Ross, Esq. of Hammersmith, and Rev. G. Hawson, of Staines. The meeting, it is hoped, was very generally found pleasing and profitable. SUTTEES. OUR numerous friends through the country, who have felt a lively and compassionate interest in the question of Female Immolation in India, will be gratified to learn that the subject is likely to be brought before Parliament, and also before the Court of Directors of to pass in the year 1797, viz." That it is the Hon. East India Company. In "the peculiar and bounden duty of the Bri"tish Legislature to promote, by all just the city of York a public meeting "and prudent means, the interest and haphas been held on the subject, in" piness of the inhabitants of the British consequence of a requisition, sign-"dominions in India; and that, for these "ends, such measures ought to be adopted "as may gradually tend to their advance"ment in useful knowledge, and to their remeeting the Lord Mayor presided," ligious and moral improvement." and a number of resolutions were That your petitioners, while they gratepassed on the subject, the sub-fully acknowledge the steps that bave already ed by upwards of sixty of the most respectable inhabitants. At this stance of which is embodied in To the Honourable the Commons of the been taken for the moral and religious improvement of the immense population of India, earnestly implore your Honourable House to adopt such measures, in the spirit of the above resolution, as it may in its wispractice so highly injurious to that character dom deem most expedient for abrogating of humanity and veneration for the Divine law, which we trust will ever distinguish the government and people of this happy country. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c. MR. Daniel Schlatter, who has been for several years residing That your petitioners contemplate with among the Nogay Tartars, with a extreme regret the practice existing in Bri-view to impart to them the Gospel tish India of burning widows on the funeral of Christ, and of whose zeal and piles of their husbands, inasmuch as it is Committee on a gross violation of the law of God and the self-denial we have had occasion feelings of humanity, and, in its tendency, to speak on several former occahighly demoralizing. sions, has arrived in London, for That, from the last official returns now the purpose of conferring with the before the public, it appears that the number of widows so immolated in the Presisome important dency of Bengal alone, from the year 1819 points connected with his Mission. to the year 1823 inclusive, amounted to up- We shall probably have further particulars to communicate, ere That your petitioners recur, with mach satisfaction, to the resolution which the Ho- long, in reference to this estimable nourable the House of Commons was pleased man. wards of three thousand. Contributions received on account of the Baptist Missionary Society, from January 20 to February 20, 1827, not including individual Subscriptions. Nairnshire, Society for Propagating the Gospel, by Rev. W. Barclay Pershore Evesham Oxford Auxiliary Society, by Rev. Thomas Coles : ... Ensham.. 3428 13 11 1 15 10 0 5 0 0 0 0 Fast Dereham, Collection and Subscriptions, by Rev. John Williams Dundee, Auxiliary Society, by Mr. Gourlay (including 71. for Translations) 40 Greenook, Port Glasgow, and West Renfrew Bible Society, by R. D. Ker, Esq. 20 0 0 TO CORRESPONDENTS. For the information of our Female Friends, who may be kindly preparing articles to send to Calcutta, for the benefit of the Female Schools there, we beg to subjoin the folJowing list of articles, suited for that purpose, which has been copied from the Missionary Chronicle. All the articles mentioned are said to fetch double the price in Calcutta they would do in England, a circumstance which will doubtless excite many, by this easy method, to shew their good-will to those of their own sex in a distant land. A parcel containing Decanter Stands, &c. has been gratefully received from some Ladies at Southampton. Littlewood and Greeu, Printers, 15 Old Bailey. |