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The liberality of the Parent Society, in supplying funds from home to the utmost of its ability, is gratefully acknowledged; and it would rejoice the Committee, could they add, that corresponding exertions were made by their friends in this country: but the amount of receipts does not admit of their making this acknowledgment. The outfit of additional Missionaries who have arrived and have been settled at their Stations during the period included in this Report, the ravages committed by the inundation at Burdwan, the necessity of providing accommodations for the Missionaries at Benares, and the call for funds to meet the expenses necessary for the completion of their required buildings on the Society's valuable premises at Mirzapore, have not only ExHAUSTED their Treasury, but also (as will be seen by the Treasurer's account) have involved the Society in a very heavy and expensive debt.

It is a proper occasion, as the Committee think, for bringing to the notice of the Religious Public, the very small amount of money contributed in India for Religious Purposes, compared with the vast sums freely expended for such as are simply benevolent; and they trust that when the questions, "What have I that I have not received? and from whom have ĺ received it?" are properly put, and duly reflected on, those who profess to ground their hopes of salvation on Jesus Christ will see the absolute NECESSITY of raising the standard of their contributions for HIS SERVICE to such a degree, as will enable them, in this respect, to give a good account of their stewardship at His tribunal.

They urgently call, therefore, on the friends of Christianity, and on the Members of the Established Church in particular, to come forward, and assist them to meet the necessary wants and just demands to which the Committee are subject; and to relieve them from the embarrassments which they must otherwise suffer.

MADRAS AND SOUTH-INDIA MISSION.

From the Seventh Report of the Corresponding Committee, with various despatches received during the year, the Committee will collect a summary account of this Mission.

The Committee regret that the anticipation of the last Report, in reference to the uncertainty of the Rev. Marmaduke Thompson's continuance in India, has been so soon realized his state of health

rendering it impracticable for him to remain, he was about to re-embark at the date of the last despatches. The Corresponding Committee has suffered further loss by the decease of some of its Members and the return of others; while several who are still resident at Madras have been unable to enter so fully as they wished into the detail of the Society's proceedings, by unavoidable attention to their own important duties. Other friends were, however, about to assist the Society in conducting its concerns. The Rev. James Hough, who left this country in June, on his return to India, would, on his arrival, renew his services in this department. In reference to this subject, the Treasurer of the Committee remarks

The concerns of the Society's principal Missions are happily in such an advanced state, under the management of their laborious and now-experienced Missionaries, as to render the systematic oversight of the Committee less indispensable than formerly.

The Committee record with gratitude the receipt of two munificent benefactions from Messrs. Arbuthnot and Co. The Treasurer, J. M. Strachan, Esq. who is, himself, one of the Partners of this Mercantile House, thus writes on the subject:

In reference to the Seminary at Madras and the College at Cotym, two of the most interesting objects of attention within the Committee's sphere of superintendence, I have the satisfaction to state, that I have been authorized by Messrs. Arbuthnot and Co. to appropriate the following sums of money, arising from a fund created in their Establishment for purposes of a benevolent nature, toward the expenses of the two above-named establishments, viz.

Contribution toward a permanent Fund for each

Institution, 4000 Rupees, making together.. 8,000 For the Current Expenditure of each for Buildings &c. 4000 Rupees, making together

. 8,000

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Which sums are at the disposal of the Committee for the purposes specified.

MADRAS AND ITS VICINITY.

The Rev. James Ridsdale continues in charge of

the English Department of this Mission, and the Rev. William Sawyer of the Native. The Corresponding Committee state

During a year marked by a series of calamitous events, affecting all classes of inhabitants, both European and Native, the lives of our Missionaries have been spared: but they have suffered deeply in their families; and the Rev. W. Sawyer has, during some months, been labouring under affliction. In such circumstances, his work must necessarily have experienced material obstruction; but assiduity and devotedness to the exclusive business of his office have effected whatever was practicable to remedy the hindrances, and to maintain the native branch of the Mission in a progressively improving state.

The allusion in this extract is to the illness of Mrs. Sawyer. This was of such a nature that her return was judged necessary. She sailed, in consequence, with their little daughter, on the 21st of July, in the Triton, Captain Crea; but it pleased God soon to take her to Himself: she died at sea on the 13th of August.* The kindest attentions were paid to this excellent Woman by the Captain, by the Rev. James Lynch of the Wesleyan Society, under whose friendly care she had embarked, and by all around her.

In reference to the MINISTRY OF THE WORD, the Corresponding Committee thus speak of the Native Department of the Mission:

The Native Congregation, which assembles at the Mission Chapel on Sunday Morning, now averages about 100 persons. Their attendance has become more stated, and their demeanour in Public Worship is commendable. In a knowledge of religion and in the external profession, these people may appear to advantage compared with the generality of Nominal Christians; but the more intimate acquaintance with their state, which is acquired by Ministerial Visits among them, detects the prevalence of practices indicating, with few exceptions, a lamentable deficiency of real piety.

In addition to the Services previously established, one of the Readers has been employed to conduct Worship for a few persons who meet on Tuesday Evening in the Fort.

An Obituary of Mrs. Sawyer, communicated by Mr. Lynch, is printed in the Missionary Register for March.

The Baptisms during the year have been five Children and one Adult.

Among the deaths, two were marked by circumstances affording ground for very favourable conclusions as to the state of the parties. One was Amoordapen, a Reader of the Mission; the other, the wife of the Reader, Christian.

The baptism of the Adult here mentioned was stated in a Note at p. 133 of the last Report; and some interesting particulars of his baptism are given by Mr. Sawyer. His name as a Heathen was Soubarayen: he received, in baptism, that of John. On one or two occasions, he had given way to temper; but had latterly conducted himself entirely to Mr. Sawyer's satisfaction. Mr. Rhenius being on a visit to Madras in the early part of last year, John accompanied him to Palamcottah on his return thither.

The baptism of this Brahmin was the occasion of giving a very salutary check to the influence of Caste among the Christians connected with the Mission. The distinctions of Caste, it is well known, have generally been maintained even among Christian Natives, in this part of India. The observance of these distinctions by four Christian Youths of the Seminary, in refusing to eat with the Parriar Youths, and even with himself though a Brahmin, because he had broken Caste by eating with these Parriars, was highly offensive to John, as entirely opposed to Christian love and unity; and the more so as these four Youths were all Soodras, which is the lowest Caste recognised among the Hindoos. It was thought right to suspend these Youths, and there was every prospect that this event would issue in the extinction of this observance in the Seminary †. On the English Department, the Committee thus speak :

The Public English Services continue to be conducted at

See p. 322 of the Missionary Register for July, 1824.

+ Further particulars on the subject of Caste, have been printed, since the Anniversary, at pp. 412-415 of the Missionary Register for September.

the Mission Chapel in Black Town. The attendance has become progressively more regular and devout; and increasing Ministerial Intercourse between the Missionaries and their hearers has been attended with evident spiritual benefit to the people, while it has imparted encouragement and satisfaction to the Missionaries.

The Missionary Association, composed of Members of this Congregation, continues its commendable endeavours to aid the Funds of the Corresponding Committee.

On the SCHOOLS the following Report is given :Since the last Report the number of children in the Schools has been gradually increasing. New Schools have been established under encouraging prospects; in the Great Bazaar in Black Town, and at Chingleput. These last owe their establishment to the benevolence of Gentlemen at that Station. The following is an Abstract of the Numbers in the Schools at the period of the latest Report :Madras Schools.

English.
First Tamul

-

65 Scholars.

50

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In this List, the Madras English and First Tamul Schools constitute what was denominated, in former Reports, the CENTRAL School. The Madras Fifth Tamul School is that which has been added to the number.

* Some particulars of Mr. Sawyer's Visits to these Schools have appeared in the Missionary Register since the Anniversary; see pp. 415-418 of the Number for September.

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