Allepie.

A Christian Church is gradually forming at this Station. Of the persons mentioned in the following extract from the Report of the Corresponding Committee as baptized during the year, five were men, seven women, and fourteen Children. Mr. Norton had received three persons from the Roman Communion, and had eight regular Communicants:

The Rev. Mr. Norton has experienced much encouragement in his labours at this Station during the present year, notwithstanding the revival of considerable opposition on the part of the Roman Catholics, by whom he is surrounded, and from whom in preceding years he was so frequently thwarted in his endeavours for the benefit of the Inhabitants. Twenty-six persons, including Children, have been baptized by him in the course of the year: and the following account of the condition of the Mission, derived from his latest communications, presents a pleasing view of the improving state of the work in his hands :

Divine Service is performed four times every Lord's Day-once in Ta mul, twice in English, and once in Malayalim. The Tamul, the Catechist performs: the other Services, I perform. On Thursday Evening, English Worship-on Friday Afternoon, Tamul by the Catechist. Also a Catechetical Lecture on Wednesday Evening.

The average attendance of Congregations at English Worship is 23, and at Malabar 60, exclusive of the Children, who are 24-total 107. They, of course, vary occasionally. Of a few, I hope I can say, that they love the Lord in sincerity and truth.

The Compound School contains, at present, 40 Scholars. These consist of Country-born, middling and rather low castcs, with some Catholics, and a few baptized in our Church. The Country-born are in number 20: of these, 16 are Catholics, the rest Protestants. All learn English, Malayalim, and Tamol. In the two former languages, the larger Boys are expert; and a few are pretty well so in Tamul also. Most write a good hand; and even the Native Boys write very well on the slate. In Arithmetic, the larger Boys are forward.

The Bazar School also consists of 40 Boys, who are of the Bellaaly and Chetty Castes, and Mussulmans. They improve fast in Tamul, and are getting over their fears respecting the Scriptures; so that, in this respect, we hope that the School will, ere long, bear a different aspect.

Mrs. Norton has eight Native Females under instruction, six of whom I have baptized. They are quick in reading Malabar, are learning English, and do needle-work very well, which is a phenomenon here. Mrs. Norton has likewise three young Females from Cochin, of the Dutch Community; and two or three others that attend daily for instruction in English and needle-work, one of whom is a Protestant. Thus the present state of the Schools may be considered as follows:

This, considering the effects of Catholic Opposition, and that several who last year were in the Schools are now placed out in life, is encouraging; and I hope we have the prospect of an increase.

Mr. Norton thankfully acknowledges the receipt of a supply of useful Books for distribution, from the District Committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and of Copies of the Holy Scriptures, in different languages, from the Auxiliary Bible Society of Bombay.

In the course of the year he had distributed 122 Bibles and Testaments in different languages, and 18 copies of Genesis in Tamul, with 130 Prayer-Books and Psalters in English or Tanul.

A stated interchange of visits for the purpose of mutual conference and assistance, has lately been established between Mr. Norton and his Brethren at Cotym: and the occasions of their Meeting hitherto have been mutually satisfactory, as well as useful for the common objects of their respective Stations.

From communications which have very recently arrived, the Committee will select such passages as may give Mr. Norton's view of the Mission toward the close of last year :

I have now a complete Native Moonshee. He has not an English idea in his head, nor an English word on his tongue : consequently, all my concerns are carried on with him in Malayalim, which is of no small advantage to me: I feel it to be so; and I have a hope, that, before long, I shall be able to liberate myself from Written Sermons, which will be more profitable to the people, as I shall then be able to adapt myself more to their modes of thinking, and to come down to their exceeding weakness of understanding; I mean that of the lower classes: to bring myself more speedily to this, I have instituted a kind of Catechetical Lecture on a Wednesday Evening, which will, I hope, with the Divine Blessing, adapt me for proclaiming to perishing sinners the glad tidings of the Gospel, in the pulpit, in the schools, or in private rooms, and sometimes on the highways. For this ability I long; nor shall I consider myself a Missionary, fully equipped with the necessary qualifications, until I can do this.

Of the preparation of the Liturgy in Malayalim, Mr. Norton says

I am fully occupied with the Liturgy; and am going over it a third time, making use of the two Tamul Translations, which I find of great service; and I hope to have our Prayer Book in such a state, that a high-caste Native will not decline reading it.

I go on but slowly; and I am much impeded by my Moonshee, who is every now and then asking me very serious questions on different parts: he sometimes keeps me speaking and explaining for a quarter of an hour together; but with this I am pleased, and pray that it may prove a blessing to him. He is much pleased with the Gospels; and took such an interest in them, that he requested me to give him a Tamul Testament, and assures me that he reads it daily. Of reading the Scriptures this is not the only instance: very many have done it, and are doing it; and may we not hope that God will give this His blessing?

The opposition of the Roman Catholics has been mentioned. On this subject, Mr. Norton says—

My School, in the Compound, I am sorry to say, has fallen off again: for this I may thank the European Bishop, lately arrived in these parts: he is exerting himself much, and has been doing so for some time, to prevent the people from attending to us themselves, and from sending their Children to our Schools. This prohibition was, a few weeks back, issued from the altars of their Churches in Allepie and its neighbourhood, on pain of Excommunication; which AWFUL denunciation so alarms the people here, that they, for a time, scarcely know what to think or do. He has ordered all the Bibles and Testaments which I have distributed, to be delivered to him at Verapoly; but I am thankful to find, that many persons are courageous enough to oppose him in this, and that the Children are beginning to come in again.

Mr. Thompson had requested that particular inquiries might be made as to the extent to which the Portuguese Language is used. Mr. Norton thus gives the result of his inquiry:

I have obtained the following statement of the number of Portuguese Families:-Allepie, 20-Quilon, 60-Trivandum, 8 -Anganga, 20—Cochin, 50-Calicut, 50-Cannanore and Tellicherry, 100-Mangalore, 20. There are a few other places inland, which have some Portuguese and those Natives who speak that language.

With regard to the purity of the Portuguese used in these parts, we cannot say much for it: it is better in Allepie, and every other place, than at Cochin, where it is exceedingly corrupt. I am told by several that it is very good about Tellicherry, Cannanore, and Calicut. In general, the European Portuguese would be far too high, and but few could understand it. The Tranquebar Translation is corrupt, but it is understood if a Translation in a style between the European and that of the Tranquebar could be made, it would be well; taking the style of Joachim Ferreira D'Almeida of Batavia's Translation

for the standard. This Translation is understood, and highly approved by every one who has any respectable knowledge of Portuguese. Such a Translation, I am fully persuaded, would prove a blessing. Besides multitudes who use Portuguese in various parts of India, there are thousands in Ceylon; so that there is every reason that there should be a translation of our Liturgy into that tongue, as well as of the Scriptures.

Mr. Norton gives the following summary view of his labours:

The work does not succeed so rapidly as we could wish. We have not those blessed visitations of Divine Mercy and displays of the power of Almighty Grace, which our Brethren in Africa enjoy. But we know in whose hands the work is; and have reason to hope, that the same gracious God will grant us also here the outpouring of His Spirit from on high. We have to be thankful that He does not altogether leave His word without testimony. A small number of souls have, I trust, been really benefitted to their everlasting welfare. One hundred immortal beings, for whom till lately no means of religious instruction existed, are now hearing the Word of God; and we cannot but hope that the Schools will be productive of much good. There is no small degree of reasoning and disputation about the Christian Religion, in public places and in private families: this is the case among all castes and descriptions of people. The only people from whom we meet with open opposition are the Catholics. The Mussulmans make much observation concerning us they observe that we differ from all other descriptions of people, in respect of religion; and are persuaded that we worship the true God: the only stubborn argument which I have with them, is concerning the Birth, Humanity, and Deity of the Saviour: this, as a Mystery of Godliness, is a stumbling block to them after a strict inquiry, I find that there are, at least, 8000 Mussulmans here: some books adapted for them will be most thankfully received.

:

On the whole, there is a prospect, I hope, that the Word of God will run and be glorified among us.

I am thankful to find that the Society is increasing, and I trust is growing in usefulness. It is truly refreshing to know, that many are bearing us in mind at the Throne of Grace: were it not for this assurance, I think I should sink at times. May they abound more and more in prayer for us; and may the Lord condescend to hear and answer, for our own growth in grace, and for the prosperity of His blessed Cause!

The Committee will close this review of the state of the Mission in Travancore, by quoting, which they do with much pleasure, a Resolution of the Correspond

ing Committee, founded on the Despatches communicated to them by the Missionaries:

Resolved-That the Corresponding Committee cordially approve of all the proceedings of the Missionaries, as reported in these papers; and intreat them, in sure dependence on the Divine Help and Blessing, to persevere in their zealous and unostentatious course, unmoved by opposition or evil report; not doubting, that, in due time, the fruits of their labours, watered by the Heavenly influence of the Holy Spirit, will abundantly appear.

TELLICHERRY AND CANNANORE.

On these Stations, the Corresponding Committee thus report

The Committee are happy to announce the continuance of their friendly coadjutor the Rev. Mr. Spring at Tellicherry, for whose removal to another place apprehensions were entertained at the date of the last Report. Instead of that arrangement, the occasional duty of the Station of Calicut has been added to that of Tellicherry, and Mr. Spring thus remains principally attached to his own original Station. Severe domestic afflictions through the whole of this year, added to his increased ministerial duties, have, however, impeded the regularity of his communications to the Committee; and they are, in consequence, obliged to limit their notice of the Society's affairs in this quarter, to the following extract from a Letter of Mr. Spring's, written in the month of August last:

There may be, and I hope there is, much unknown and unseen preparation for the reception of the Truth. I really believe, that seed has been sown, here and there; but the effect of it does not yet so visibly appear, as to justify us in the hope of an abundant harvest soon. Indeed if we reasonably view the case, we must wait with patience: we cannot well suppose Heathens to be more alive to the interests of the soul and eternity, than well-informed members of the Christian Community; and Teachers, whether they be Missionaries or others, cannot hope, till after a long period of residence among them and intercourse with them, either to gain their confidence, or become familiar with their language. These, indeed, are obstacles, which every sensible and experienced man must both know and lament. My object in repeating them is, to account for the little apparent success, which has been hitherto visible in these parts which come more immediately under my eye. Still, as I have already said, I believe the work is not standing still, although the progress is almost imperceptible, and in the dark. The time will come, I humbly hope, when that which was done in the secret chamber shall be published on the house-top.

There are many Young Men, of the higher class of Natives here, who are musing on such parts of the Gospel, as have been submitted to their notice, through the instrumentality of a Youth, who, I verily believe, is a Christian in all but the name and outward rite of Baptism. He will neither attend to Heathen Ceremonies, nor submit to the outward ordinances of Hindooism. He has, in consequence, much offended his relatives: and I believe he boldly disputes with them out of the Scriptures,