the Travancore Circar; and the Mission Church at Madras was built entirely at the expense of the Local Government.

Contemplating the progress already made in bringing into action the means of advancing the knowledge of Christianity in this sphere of the Society's undertakings, its Members and Friends will not consider the funds employed for the purpose ill appropriated; or be discouraged, if the actual effects, in respect of the conversion of the Heathen, be found small. Christianity has suffered deeply in its character before the Natives of India and a great counteracting influence must be long employed, before the impressions now prevailing on the Native Mind can be corrected, independently of the removal of hereditary superstition and darkness. To accomplish among them the improvement which the devout Christian desires, must, under such circumstances especially, be unattainable by mere human agency, however laboriously and skilfully employed. But the cause is His, unto whom all power in heaven and in earth is given. It is the noblest in which man can be engaged; and its ultimate effects will be no less sure than glorious. If we believe that what is written in the Prophetic Records will, in its season, be accomplished, it becomes a duty plainly incumbent on us, to await indeed the Lord's time; yet not in indolent repose, but in the midst of every active exertion, mingled with a spirit of humble dependence on the Divine Blessing, which alone can crown the efforts that are made with the success that is looked for. If, in short, God's design be our design, its accomplishment will be the object, at once, of our endeavours and our prayers. Prayer is an exercise in which every well-wisher of the Missionary Čause will be much engaged-prayer for the dew of the Divine Blessing on the whole Family of Man-for the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh, with a saving knowledge of Him who came to be a light to lighten the Gentiles as well as the glory of His people Israel.

The Committee have been led into these remarks, partly from an anxiety which they feel of guarding against despondency on account of the smallness of the effects yet produced; and partly from a desire of reminding themselves and others, where lies the secret spring of all well-directed action and the source of all success and having said thus much, they confidently recommend their Cause to the aid and co-operation of benevolent Christians, and leave the result with God.

It will be impossible for the Members of the Society, if they enter into the true spirit of the Institution, to read this admirable statement, without thanking God from the heart, and taking new courage to persevere in the work of faith and labour of love.

BOMBAY AND WESTERN-INDIA MISSION.

The unavoidable return to this country of Mrs. Kenney and her Children was stated in the last Report.

Mr. Kenney applied himself to the study of Mahratta; and had, in August, sufficiently acquired that language to make himself understood by those who use it: but as great numbers use the Hindoostanee, he was beginning to pay attention to that tongue.

By a recent communication your Committee learn, that some Members of the Corresponding Committee had lately visited the Schools under Mr. Kenney's care, and reported favourably of their progress. Of 150 Boys in Four Schools (and there were, at the time of this visit, about 40 more absent) 40 could read the Book of Genesis in Mahratta wherever opened, without hesitation; and seemed to understand it. There might be 60 others who could read it, with more or less hesitation: 100 could repeat one or more of the Commandments, and half that number the whole Ten. The proficiency of the Scholars was very creditable, considering that the Schools had been established scarcely a year, and that there is much difficulty in bringing both the Scholars and the Native Masters to diligence and punctuality.

The Rev. Henry Davies has succeeded in awakening, among many persons, a zealous concern for the objects of the Society. In the beginning of last year, an Association was formed among them, to which a considerable number of persons, chiefly in the middle classes, contribute monthly sums. A spirit of prayer and of liberality is happily excited. One instance of this deserves to be recorded:

One man of the Bombay Regiment, a few days after I had conversed with him on the wretched condition of the Heathen and the designs of our Society with respect to them, brought me twenty-six Rupees which he had collected for us. He, at the same time, expressed his desire, that I should put down his name as a Member of my Association, subscribing about 8d. a month. Knowing that he also subscribed to the Bible Society, and that he was but a Private Soldier, I hesitated taking his subscription for eight months in advance, which he had brought, as he was on the point of embarking with the Expedition which has just left this

place for the Coast of Arabia. I observed to him that he must have many expenses to meet and many demands upon his Pay at the present moment; to which he simply and feelingly replied, "Sir, I wish to give the money to the Missionary Society, and though my wants just now are rather more numerous than at other times, yet I thank God for that Grace which has taught me what my real wants are, and what my imaginary and I have found that it is the indulgence of a man's imaginary wants, that makes him poor."

By the end of November, about ten months after the formation of this Association, upwards of 3000 rupees had been contributed, which, with the interest that had accrued, amounted to about 4007. sterlinga striking proof of the efficient assistance rendered to Missionary Designs by the combined contributions of numbers.

Before the Committee quit the Continent of India, they would call the attention of the Members to the varied scene which they have had to depict. With the animating representations from some quarters, they have mingled the discouraging statements from others. They know, indeed, that there are persons who demand large and immediate success, as the exclusive test of the propriety of every Missionary Undertaking and of the wisdom of the measures adopted: but they know, also, that such persons are incompetent judges on this subject, as being ignorant or heedless of the true nature of conversion-of the difficulties which accompany it, especially in the Heathen World under the relentless tyranny of the

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Wicked One," and which are utterly insuperable by mere human wisdom and power-of the delays and discouragements, which are especially appointed for the exercise of faith and for the ultimate manifestation of the Divine Glory-and of the positive duty, notwithstanding, to which every Christian is bound of rendering every possible aid, during the whole course of his life, to the Conversion of the World. Such persons will continue to seize, as they have often eagerly seized, the honest avowals of Missionaries who are labouring under depressing circumstances, and will endeavour to throw ridicule on their patient

toil and their believing hopes; but the intelligent and sincere Christian, will find, in the spiritual death of the Heathen World, a ground for increasing earnestness in prayer, and not an excuse for indifference or supineness.

On the awful state of the Native Population of these vast regions, the Committee have the afflicting testimony of the very highest authority. A passage from a Letter of the Most Noble the GovernorGeneral to the Noble President of the Society, will very forcibly shew the necessity which exists in India, for the utmost exertions of Christian Societies, and the good prospect under which these exertions are carried on. The Marquis of Hastings writes

It will be gratifying to your Lordship to learn, that the dis semination of Instruction in this country proceeds extensively and rapidly. As the Books prepared for the Schools are expositions of the simple principles of Morality, NO OTHER INCULCATION OF WHICH EXISTS THROUGHOUT INDIA, there is reason to hope that the diffusion of those Lessons may be of much advantage to the Native Community. Had I not been in a position to ascertain it, I could not have believed that an immense, and in some particulars cultivated, population, was to be found so DESTITUTE OF LAUDABLE QUALITIES!

In such a dreadful condition of things among the hundred millions of our fellow-subjects in India, every man who understands the obligations and imbibes the spirit of the ONLY TRUE RELIGION IN THE WORLD, Will hail every sincere attempt to convert these myriads from the error of their way, and to save their souls from the everlasting death to which they are hastening. Such a man will expect to witness the errors and failings, which are inseparable from human agency in such a cause: but he will put the best construction on every thing that it can bear-he will not hastily conclude that what may appear to him deficiencies and mistakes are such in reality-and, where he is convinced that they are, he will give no needless publicity to his opinions, but will seek, by every kind and candid method, to assist in rectifying these evils-he will rejoice from the heart in every appearance of success; nor will he fail, by patient and fervent supplications, to call down the Divine Blessing on the labours of all Christ's faithful servants throughout the world.

There are not wanting, indeed, men of a far different character-men who know nothing of this true nobility of mind. Incompetent judges, themselves, on this vast subject, they will yet strengthen their own prejudices, and minister to the unchristian feelings of others, by a perverse misuse of the records of Missionary Proceedings. Your Committee will continue, however, faithfully to exhibit such testimonies as they may obtain, not only to the necessity and duty of these labours, and to the measure of success which attends them, but to the delays and difficulties and discouragements by which they are surrounded-anxious only for this one thing, that every plan may be both formed and executed with true piety and wisdom.

The Committee will therefore, in pursuance of this plan, close this survey of India, by adducing the testimony of competent witnesses on the spot to the actual state of things in different parts of that Con

tinent.

The Calcutta Corresponding Committee declare—

Though present and visible success is not a necessary test of the Divine acceptance of our labours; yet, even of success, such a measure has been vouchsafed, as may serve as an abundant encouragement to prosecute the designs of the Society, and to improve every opportunity of prudently extending its sphere.

One of the Missionaries engaged in the same quarter writes

The work, in which it has pleased our Divine Saviour to employ us, is arduous, it is true; and, seemingly, very little fruit crowns our labours: so that we are often led to think that all we are doing is in vain. Yet, I must say, that our employment has something very noble in itself; and comfort is intermixed with its discouragements, which counterbalances all the difficulties connected with it. We do not serve under the banner of a worldly king or monarch, who is unable to keep and protect his people in time of imminent danger, or to give success to his soldiers when they are ready to faint in battle: no; we are wrestling under the banner of a Heavenly King, whose name is written on His vesture and on His thigh, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. He, who is the First and the Last, began the work when on earth-He will also surely finish it; and that, by the instrumentality of His Servants. Let us take courage and rejoice in the Lord our God. The time is not far distant, when every knee shall bow to the Lord, and every tongue shall swear,