the Established Church :-- We suggest to "We are of opinion, also, that no system of your Board the propriety of obtaining from education can be considered as deserving of the Roman Catholic Prelates, previous to that name, which shall not seek to lay the the reception of any new proposal, an ex-foundations of all moral obligation in reliplicit answer as to their willingness or un-gious instruction; but as the difference of willingness to recommend the use of our their respective tenets renders it difficult compilation in the national schools, with for children to receive religious instruction such modifications as may be agreed upon.' together, we still think that no better course "On the subject of this communication, can be adopted than that of uniting children I did hope that you would be saved the of the different persuasions, for the purpose trouble of making further inquiry, as all of instructing them in the general objects of reasonable ground of doubt appeared to me literary knowledge, and of providing facilito be removed by my letter of the 17th ties for their instruction separately, when July and 26th December of last year. I the difference of religious belief renders it can, however, have no difficulty in stating impossible for them any longer to learn toanew, in terms, if possible, more explicit gether. than I did before, that the Roman Catholic "" Although we have failed in the attempt Prelates objected to the compilation in questo combine religious with literary instruction, on the ground that it is composed of tion, to the extent originally contemplated passages taken exclusively and verbatim by us, we still think that object may, to a from the Protestant translation of the New limited extent, be effected." p. 28. Testament; and that so long as it shall con- Two other Commissioners, J. Leslie Fostinue to retain that character, they will not recommend the use of it in the national schools, under any modification which it can

assume.

"I will avail myself of this opportunity to express an opinion, which you will not, I am sure, consider at variance with that respect which I sincerely entertain for the Board of Education Inquiry; it is, that the Board has created for itself a very needless difficulty, by requiring, as a matter of necessity, any scriptural compilation to be used in schools, for the purpose of general instruction. Were the religious instruction of the children confided wholly to the care of their respective pastors, what appears to be the only remaining ground of disagreement would be removed; and the rest of the plan suggested by the Commissioners might, without any difficulty, be carried into immediate and extensive operation." p. 26.

As the Commissioners could not agree upon a united Report, three of them, T. Frankland Lewis, W. Grant, and A. R. Blake, Esqrs. state as follows:

ter and James Glassford, Esqrs. in a letter to the Secretary of State, which they requested might be appended to the Report, strongly advocate persevering endeavours in the great object in view. We give a short extract:

"In the variety of plans and systems actaally pursued, we see different means and prospects of success. We conceive this to be no longer a matter of speculation, but demonstrated by every day's experience. Any plan for compelling all the varieties of schools to give way to one inflexible form, would in our opinion be a great mistake. We should say so, even if that particular form had approved itself to be practically good; but we think it would be a still greater and more dangerous error, to act exclusively on any new principle, while its merits should rest only on a theory.

"While, therefore, we are ready to promote the trial of any experiment that may suggest new means of usefulness, or which may perhaps be more fitted for some districts hitherto less accessible than others, "We are still of opinion, that for the we cannot too strongly express our opinion, children of the lower orders in Ireland, a that any such experiment onght to be consisystem of separate education would be dered only as an accompaniment to those found to be pregnant with evils; that it means which experience has approved to be would tend to increase, rather than to di-useful, and not as leading to the suppresminish, that distinctness of feeling between sion of any tried instrument of good."persons of different religious persuasions, Correspondence, p. 4.

which is already too prevalent; and we think it therefore most desirable, that a system should be adopted, under which the children might imbibe similar ideas, and form congenial habits, and from which suspicion should, if possible, be banished, and the causes of distrust and jealousy be effectually removed.

MISSIONARY HERALD.

Subscriptions and Donations in aid of this Society will be thankfully received at the Baptist Missionary House, No. 6, Fen Court, Fenchurch Street, London: or by any of the Ministers and Friends whose names are inserted in the Cover of the Annual Report.

BAPTIST MISSION.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

CALCUTTA.

British India that has embraced the blessed Gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ; nor do I yet see any public and general regard paid, in any part of British India, to the sabbath. On the contrary, I see some of the learned children of Great Britain endeavouring to establish schools and colleges, upon which they not only spend a good deal of time, A letter has lately been received but their money also, in teaching the erroby the Secretary, from Mr. Cara-neous shasters and other branches of learnpeit Aratoon, who has for some ing, which are diametrically opposite to that time been employed, by our junior trymen owe, and with much propriety boast matchless book, to which alone your counbrethren in Calcutta, in Missionary of, a true and just liberty, which we cannot work among the natives. The see enjoyed any where else; and permit me following extract will probably not to say, that if we look into ancient history, be unacceptable to our readers, ed of that liberty which is known and pracwe find that great philosophers never dreamthough they must make kind allow- tised in your native land. This heavenly ance for the defective English of book, or any sort of writing agreeing with the writer. it, is not used in those schools and colleges already mentioned, while some of the head Calcutta, Nov. 30, 1826. teachers themselves are atheists or deists. Since our ever-regretted pastor, brother Besides what I have already said, when the Lawson, was taken away from among us, natives see that some of your countrymen our dear brother Yates has succeeded to his are establishing schools, and endeavouring pastoral office, and has the entire charge of with much eagerness to teach Hindoos their the English church. On this account, I am own shasters, and Mussulmen their koran, obliged to be one of his assistants in the they boldly come forward and make repeatnative church. I am with them three times ed attacks upon us poor Missionaries; and a week, and besides this, I am almost the what is worse, they sometimes point out, by whole week among the natives of Calcutta, their names, the sinful life of some Europein our Hut or Bungalow chapels, preach-ans, and at times men of rank too, telling ing the blessed Gospel of our Lord Jesus us, "you want to make us like them." Oh, Christ to hundreds of natives. Formerly, my dear brother, how lamentable is the we had but three Bungalow chapels, but not thought, that while Christians of different long since we built a new one, on the side denominations are spending their money, of a very public road, so that now we have time, and strength, to spread the truths of four Bungalow chapels in Calcutta, besides one at brother Yates's, where I go regularly every day, Saturdays excepted, and preach in Bengalee, and sometimes in Hindostanee; a brief account of which I send every month to our dear brother Pearce, which I hope he sends, or will send, to you.

I am sorry to inform you, that I have not yet seen a Hindoo or Massulman holiday stopped, or any entire town or village of

the Bible, that the conduct of persons born and educated in a Christian land should harden the heathen in wickedness! Besides these, we are surrounded with some other kinds of difficulties; but amidst all, we are going on, I hope, zealously, and in the fear of the Lord, "looking up to the hills from whence cometh our help," relying entirely upon his blessed promises, in which he has said that he will keep us from all evil,

and will preserve us in our going out and coming in, from this time forth for evermore. With all our difficulties, however,

rapid, we have much reason for thankfulness on account of the we have much reason to give our hearty good which has been effected by thanks to the Lord of the harvest, that he it-considerable, in proportion to allows us to see the fruits of the Redeemer's the very limited agency employed. death in ourselves and in some of the na- The number of children educated tives; for still we see the chains of the Hindoo world and Satan broken, and some in the various schools, constitutes Brahmins, as well as the low caste Hindoos, a very hopeful feature. How deset free from their bondage, and made to sirable is it that further help should embrace the blessed Gospel. And what we be sent to this interesting island, never saw before, we now begin to seewhich is, that when we preach in our Bun- especially as Mr. Chater, who has galow chapels, all sorts of people flock in, so long been labouring there, beand sometimes take seats, just like an Eng-gins to feel his health somewhat lish congregation, and conduct themselves impaired by long continued serthe discourse, which sometimes continues vice! This will appear from the more than two hours; then, taking either following letter, lately received by part of the Scriptures or religious tracts, the Secretary, and dated

well. Some of them remain till the end of

:

and part from us friendly, promising to us that they will make proper use of them and at times some will defend our doctrine against their countrymen who may interrupt with their vain reasons, and publicly acknowledge the Bible to be the true word of God, and that we preachers are his messengers; and that it will sooner or later be the standard of religion in India. Thus the Lord cheers our broken hearts, and assures us that "the heathen shall be given to his Son for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the world for his possession."

The last time I and our dear brother Pearce were with our little native church, when we surrounded the Lord's table, to commemorate the dying love of a crucified Redeemer, we consisted of six different nations, as follow:-Jew, Bengalee, Mussulman, Portuguese, English, and Armenian, Oh, may our hearts be touched with the blood of the Lamb of God that taketh away our sins! I beseech you, my dear brother, to pray for us all, especially for this little native church of Christ, that they all may be of Jesus, and their names be written in the book of life.

I am extremely happy to inform you of the safe arrival of our dear brethren, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, and Mr. and Mrs. Pearce. They are preparing themselves for the great cause for which they are come hither, and I hope soon they will begin preaching in Bengalee and Hindostanee. They are, by the gracious will of Providence, enjoying good health. I hope you will try to send back our ever-beloved brother, E. Carey, if his health should permit him to come.

CEYLON.

Though the

progress of

our mis

Colombo, 19th Feb. 1827. During the latter months of the last year, our Pettah meeting-house was much less crowded than it had been, almost constantly, for some time before, nor have we the pleasure this year to see the seats all filled. The congregations in the Fort, and at the Grand Pass and Moderah are all, as formerly, very small. Since Mr. Siers has come to Colom bo, we have held worship in the Fort three times in the week, Sabbath morning and Thursday evening in Portuguese; and on Friday evening in English; in the Pettah, Sabbath evening and Wednesday evening in Portuguese; at the Grand Pass, on the Sabbath fore-noon in Singhalese, in the evening, and on Thursday evening in Portaguese. But for a few weeks, I have changed the Sabbath evening worship into a service in English; and by this change we have a prospect of getting more hearers than we had in Portuguese. Excepting when I am at Hanwell, one of us preaches also at Moderah every Sabbath forenoon, and on Tuesday Mr. Siers goes to one of the villages to visit the schools and preach; at four of which we have now decent little congregations; which are Mattackooly, Dalloogama, Talwatte and Kattoopellallewatte, or some village near it.

The only change in our little church in Colombo last year, was the restoration of one member who had been excluded. I hope we may have some additions this year, but with regard to more than one, I cannot yet speak with certainty. Of the additions at Hanwell, I have already informed you. Our total number of members is now 33; in Colombo 22, and at Hanwell 11. Oh, that they may all be found written in the Lamb's book of life? My visits to Hanwell are now frequent. I go on Saturday,

sion in this quarter, has not been and return the following Thursday. On my

All the boys in the first class of every school, are learning to write, and in order to stimulate the boys, to press on to that class, each boy belonging to it receives a quill and half a quire of China paper month

are now writers in offices, &c. and some of the Singhalese, are advanced to the rank of Modeliars, the highest rank of native head-men. Though we cannot say that any of them are yet converted persons, some of them, to say the least, are seriously inclined, and promise to be highly respectable, and we hope useful too, in their different stations. With regard to three of our scholars, we trust the grand object we have in view, in teaching them to read, has been attained; they have, we trust, been brought to repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. They are Isaac Whythianathan, born a Malabar heathen, now an ornamental member of our little church, and highly useful as school-master of our Grand Pass Female native school, and a reader of the Scriptures and tracts in Malabar and Singhalese. The second is Cornelius, who will be sent to the Serampore college by the first opportunity that offers, together with Frederick, another promising Singhalese youth, a son of our friend the Modeliar at Hanwell. The third is a youth

way there, I preach at Cadoowelle, which is the place for testing and taking a little refreshment. About 50 adults and as many children form my congregation. Last month another congregation, about a mile and a half further on, had assembled, quite unex-ly. Not a few of our first set of scholars, pected by me, to bear preaching. I stopped and preached to them, but told them in future, as they were so near Cadoowelle, it would be better to come there, which they promised to do. I long ago informed you, that if funds were allowed for it, we could establish a chain of schools, the whole way from Colombo to Hanwell. Cadoowelle is the place for one, and two persons have already collected a number of children, and commenced teaching them; but all the assistance I can afford them, is to furnish them with a few school books. It is not to be expected, however, that they will exert themselves much, or continue it long, unless more encouragement than this be afforded them. Two or three more schools on this station, are going on in a similar way, and one more on the road to Hanwell. But without authority from the committee, I am unwilling to increase the present expenditure. I hope I shall soon hear from you something definite on this subject. Since the school masters have been paid according to the number of scholars, and not a monthly salary, the number of boys basat Dalloogama, for some months past emmuch increased, and at the same time they make a much better progress in their learning. The total number on the returns at the end of 1826, was on the Colombo station, in eight schools 410, at the Hanwell station in two schools 69, in all 479. In the different schools the attendance is as follows:

In the schools at Hanwell and Ooggalla, the attendance appears to be much as in the schools on this station, though it cannot be so exactly ascertained. But both the masters are persons whom we can trust, having, as we hope, the fear of God before their eyes. And I examine the progress made every time I visit the station. The number of boys in all the schools who are reading in the N. T. is 170. Many of them have gone through it several times, and a great proportion of the remaining number, will soon be prepared to commence reading it.

ployed as second school-master there, and now desirous of putting on Christ by baptism. It is to him I refer in a former part of this letter. His manners and conduct bave always been amiable and pleasing; and I have long noticed with what fixed attention he has heard preaching. He has also nearly committed to memory the Singhalese tract, on repentance, faith, and holiness; which, under a divine influence, seems to have been made a great blessing to him. If, as the fruit of our native schools, these three only, as we cannot but hope from present appearances is the case, have been brought to the Saviour, no one who considers properly the value of one soul, will say that our labours are all lost, and that the expense incurred in carrying them on is thrown away. But we hope and believe, that we shall see greater things than these, as the fruit of the expense and labour bestowed on this rising generation. May we not expect, that in some cases the blessed seed, though it lie buried long in dust, will after all become productive? To effect this, only one thing is wanted-an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And when I think for a moment, how many of the children of God are every day wrestling in prayer for this, I cannot give up the hope that we shall see it extended to this island. And who can say how important a preparation for such an event, giving to