establishment of the Mission in the village, on being called on by his relations to contribute his share, refused, declaring, that he would not give ANY THING-that he believed their religion to be false-and that the Christian Religion was the only true religion. The natural consequence is, that he is reproached and persecuted by them. His conduct is uniformly consistent.

The SCHOOLS were, at the last dates, seven in number: the Scholars and their average attendance are thus stated:

Boys: Baddagame, 24; average, 19-Marjuana, 29; average, 21-Kembia, 35; average, 18-Gannegame, 37; average, 21-Lelwella, 37; average, 23-Boralookada, 25; average, 15. Total: Boys, 187; average attendance, 117. Girls: Baddagame, 76; average attendance, 55.

The Baddagame Boys' School had, in the last Report, 69 Scholars. This diminution seems to have arisen from the visit of the High Priest and his attendant Priests. Mr. Ward writes, in reference to it

Many of the boys who formerly attended our school are receiving lessons from the priests, and have signified their intention of not coming again; though they had received many favours from us: this, however, we must bear.

Our school has increased in the number of its attendants during the last month-partly, because the Kandian Priests are returned; and partly, because Christmas is approaching, when they expect to share in the rewards which are generally distributed at that season: some, however, it may be hoped, are come from better motives.

The Schoolmasters attend every Wednesday Evening to receive religious instruction. In reference to them Mr. Ward writes, in December—

We have lately determined to pay our Schoolmasters, not altogether according to the number of attendances, which we have for some time done; but partly according to the improvement of the Scholars during the month, which is ascertained by a monthly examination. By this means, the indolence and deceitfulness of the Masters are better detected, and obtain their proper reward; while the actual instruction of the children is more effectually secured. At this arrangement, some of the Masters, wishing to obtain their monthly stipends without doing any thing for them, are somewhat refractory, and will probably occasion their dismissal;

while the more industrious and conscientious are encouraged, by receiving according to their actual endeavours.

The FOUNDATION SCHOLARS, or those which are taken into the families of the Missionaries and supported at the expense of Benefactors in this country, give good promise of supplying a better race of Teachers. There appear, at the last dates, to have been five Boys and one Girl thus circumstanced. Mr. Ward writes, in December—

Several Boys are coming on fast in their learning, who will, I trust, prove a great blessing to their benighted countrymen; a light in the midst of this gross darkness. Much of my time is taken up with them: perhaps, however, it is the best way in which I can spend my time, particularly during the day. My inclination would lead me to devote myself wholly to the preaching of the Gospel to the adults; but my constitution will not allow me to do so: preaching two or three times a week is as much as I can bear, in the general way; and if I expose myself to the sun I am speedily laid up.

The two Youths, Elias and Abraham, mentioned in the last Report, continue to give much satisfaction to the Missionaries, who have taken them on the Establishment as Native Assistants. They teach the younger Scholars, copy Tracts, and visit the distant Schools; and Elias acts as Clerk in the Church. Of these, and a few of the more ad-' vanced Scholars, Mr. Ward says

We have abundant reason to hope for the Divine Blessing on these dear Youths; and that it will please God to raise up some of them, at least, to be witnesses of the truth among their benighted countrymen.

In the Baddagame Boys' School, eleven are learning English: of the GIRLS' SCHOOL, Mr. Mayor writes

We are beginning to teach twelve of our most promising Girls English. We want to elevate the Female Character, and to train up Assistants in the great work of educating the rising generation.

Assistance is much wanted in this department. Mr. Ward remarks, in reference to his own family and that of Mr. Mayor, which have considerably increased

Mrs. Mayor and Mrs. Ward have now a great and impe

rious charge upon them, in instructing their own children, many of whom are come to that age which requires much time and attention. Our earnest desire and prayer for them is, that they may grow up in the fear and love of God, and become a blessing in their day and generation; but we have many fears for them: the contagious influence of Native Example reaches even to them; and will, without continual watchfulness and care on our parts, vitiate their moral feeling and character. Hence, in this country, parental authority and a constant habit of family instruction become of infinitely greater importance, if possible, than in our own highlyfavoured land.

The feelings and prospects of the Missionaries will be seen by some further extracts from their communications.

In January of last year, at the time when, though then unknown to him, the blessing of God was descending on the Missionaries in the northern part of the Island, Mr. Mayor writes

Our prospects are somewhat brightening. We preach daily, and have an increasing number of hearers. We want only one thing-the day-spring from on high to visit us! Pray, earnestly and in faith, for us; and the Lord will surely manifest His glory in the salvation of this people. We feel, most deeply, that success in the work is wholly from Him; and to Him shall surely be all the praise, if ever these poor blind Heathens are brought out of darkness into light.

In June, Mr. Mayor gives the following view of their state, and of the superstition which opposes the progress of the Gospel.

We have encouraging appearances in some, but we cannot speak decidedly of any. Our number of hearers increasesknowledge is spreading-many are inquiring-some are doubting-a few, perhaps, are thinking about their sins, and partially amending their ways. We see more of their unrighteousness: we are enabled to unmask their character more fully, and to expose the wretched refuge of lies in which they have hitherto been trusting. We still labour in hope, and believe that truth is prevailing, though we see not, as yet, that overthrow of Satan's dominions in this land of darkness, which we assuredly expect to witness. Satan seems to tremble for the loss of his dominion. The enemies of Truth have rallied. They have erected very near us a large Bana Maduwa, where the people have assembled in hundreds and thousands to hear the Bana and make offerings. But this has turned out to the furtherance of truth-a nearer

view of their customs has armed us with better arguments against them; and, by comparing their idolatries and their doctrines with the glorious truths of Revelation, many have been confounded, and some of the Priests themselves put to shame.

The Priests of Buddhu require to be honoured as Gods. The people prostrate themselves at their feet in adoration, before they will open their lips to instruct them. So highly do they exalt the virtue of paying homage or making offerings to themselves, that, were a person to murder his father and mother and children, and live in the commission of the most atrocious crimes, and pay homage to a Priest of Buddhu or make an offering in the name of Buddhu, though he repented not of any of his sins, he would, according to their Religion, be born into the world of Gods! so subversive of all morality is Buddhuism; for though lying and stealing &c. are forbidden, all may hold these truths in unrighteousness and escape all future punishment, if they fail not, before they die, to offer adoration to the Priests, or to make offerings in the name of Buddhu.

In October, he adds

We have nothing very encouraging to relate of our people: all that I can tell you is, that our hope does not diminish, nor do our exertions slacken. We trust that the Lord will arise and glorify His name in the midst of us. We learn, by experience, that we, ourselves, needed as much preparation to qualify us to teach, as the barren wilderness around us does before the seed sown can be expected to spring up and bear fruit. I believe that I may say of all of us, that we feel as sanguine of success now, as we did when we knew less of our own insufficiency, and less of the moral difficulties that oppose the reception of the truths of the Gospel. The way of the Lord is preparing, and He will surely manifest himself to the Heathen; yea, to the poor blinded Cingalese.

On another occasion Mr. Mayor writes

We wish very much for Books on the Evidences of Christianity: we greatly need books of this description, for circulation among our own countrymen, some of whom are awfully infatuated with Infidelity, and even dreadfully active in disseminating their opinions.

Yet many others are of a better mind. Mr. Mayor adds

We should be glad to have more copies of the Missionary Register and of the Reports for circulation around us. Many would subscribe if they had the means of knowing what great things are doing in the world. We are, ourselves, much en

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couraged and animated to persevere by the example of our Brethren, of whose labours we hear through the Missionary Register. I doubt not that this publication is of essential service, in communicating a constant impulse to the whole body of Missionaries: the zeal of one provokes the zeal of all.

Mr. Lambrick, at Cotta, remarks on this subjectThe Numbers of the Missionary Register for July, August, and September, 1823, have just reached us. Our feelings have been excited; and, for myself, I can say, I have been much humbled by reading the accounts of our dear Brethren in Western Africa. Blessed be the Lord for dear Johnson and the others who have fallen victoriously fighting His battles there; and blessed will those be, whom our Great Captain shall call to fill up the thinned ranks.

Labours accompanied by that spirit of humble dependence on God which the following passage displays give the best promise of ultimate success :

Being convinced, as we have always been (which conviction increases as we advance in our Missionary Work), that, without the influence of the Holy Ghost, there is "nothing strong, nothing holy," we have been more constant, and, we trust, more earnest in our supplications at the Throne of Grace. Besides our usual Saturday-Evening's Prayer-Meeting, we have, for some time, met together daily, to offer up our united prayers and intercessions in the Name of Jesus, that God would have mercy on this people. We have often felt it good to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God; trusting that, in His good time, He will exalt us, and cause us to rejoice over the conversion of many of those around us.

NELLORE.

The arrival of the Rev. William Adley, appointed to assist the Rev. Joseph Knight at this Station, has been already mentioned: he and Mrs. Adley were diligently applying to the study of Tamul.

In the exercise of his MINISTRY, Mr. Knight continued Divine Service in his house, till it was found incapable of accommodating those who were desirous of attending. He, in consequence, entered on the use of the Church before it was quite finished. Nearly 300 Children and from 50 to 60 Adults assembled therein, and manifested much attention. On the other parts of the Sunday, he preached at