prehend will eventually prove, a successful opponent of Hinduism; while, by a large and annually increasing class, it is considered as truth, which many intend to profess hereafter, and some even dare to profess at once. Independently therefore, of the great bulk of the people, who reside at a distance from missionary stations, and who, except by an address on an occasional visit, or the receipt of Scriptures and tracts at a distance from their homes, are entirely unacquainted with the gospel, there have thus arisen two important classes for the benefit of which it is the duty of the christian church to make all suitable provision. The first includes those who have already renounced Hinduism and Muhammadanism, and professed the religion of Jesus; and the second, those who are convinced of the folly or falsehood of their former religious system, but have not yet made up their minds as to the truth of christianity or of any other religion. "As it regards the first class-those who have left Hinduism or Muhammadanism, and professed themselves christians-they now amount, in the neighbourhood of Calcutta only, to some thousands. They chiefly reside in villages, where no instructors, save the christian missionary and his catechists, have ever trod. Through various causes, especially ignorance, in those who received them, of native duplicity, many have unhap pily been admitted into this number, who were merely influenced in their profession by the hope of worldly advantage; but we must ever recollect, that since these now form part of the nominally christian community, and since the heathen around them will judge of the excellency of the gospel by their character and conduct, it is the bounden duty of all christians to secure, as far as possible, the elevation of their moral and spiritual condition. Besides, this class also includes several native preachers and catechists, with many private individuals, who may justly be regarded as sincere disciples of the Saviour, for whom they have suffered persecution, contempt, and loss, and who have, therefore, peculiar claims on our christian benevolence. In addition to numerous children taught in day schools, it includes also two hundred boys and two hundred and fifty girls, all of whom are the children of native christians, or orphans. These are boarded, clothed, and educated, in connexion with the Episcopalians, Independ ents, and Baptists respectively, under the immediate care of European superintendents. They are thus secured, in some happy degree, from the injurious influence of the corrupt and idolatrous practices of natives around them, as well as favoured with a solid scriptural education, to fit them for respectability and usefulness in future life. Among these, several of both sexes have been truly converted, and others appear under very hopeful impressions. With regard to this class, it is unnecessary for me to press on the attention of your Committee the great importance of their diligent instruction. Should they, as a body, be neglected, the result will be most unhappy. In this case what can be expected, but that, like the natives who embraced the Roman Catholic faith under the Portuguese settlers, their posterity should be as ignorant and immoral as the heathen themselves? In this case, their example, like that of the European sailors and soldiers, who are often seen intoxicated in the streets of Calcutta, will form the strongest argument against the religion they profess: on the other hand, if those natives who first embrace christianity in India, are diligently instructed in religious and other truths, and happily imbued with the active and benevolent spirit of the gospel; if they are better neighbours and friends, husbands and wives, parents and children, than the heathen around them; if they are zealous for the glory of God, and anxious for the conversion of those who know him not, no doubt need be entertained, humanly speaking, that they will give a complexion and character to the future church of Christ in the East, and highly contribute to

its present peace and purity, as well as to its future influence on the population of India. These considerations have led the Committee of the Calcutta Christian Tract and Book Society to desire that, without delay, something effectual should be done for the spiritual good of the native christian population in Bengal."

Another passage we will extract, as furnishing a meek yet triumphant reply to a petulant article in one of the Calcutta Journals, in which truth and courtesy, calmness and propriety are alike abandoned to make way for a virulent personality of abuse, directed against the able founder of the Scottish Mission in this city.

"It is highly probable, indeed, that at the present moment, in all the institutions of the Committee, not less than 5,000 boys or young men are receiving instruction in European science and English literature; and as, in most of these seminaries, the mathematics, natural philosophy, the belles lettres, &c. are taught to the higher classes, a large proportion of pupils will doubtless leave these seminaries very competent scholars. The influence of the knowledge here acquired on the minds of the pupils has been very striking, especially in the colleges at Calcutta and Dehli, which were the first brought into operation. As the Hindu pupils discover the gross inaccuracies of the Shastras, and the ignorance of the Brahmins (whom they have hitherto regarded as gods) on scientific subjects, they naturally begin to despise the religious opinions inculcated by both; and as they receive the gift of superior knowledge from professing christians, they are naturally led to form a good opinion of the religion they believe. For convincing the pupils of the folly of Hinduism, indeed, this system appears to be quite effectual. As one proof of it, I may mention, that the superintendent of a college in Calcutta, containing upwards of seventy youths thus educated, who kindly invited me to call and witness their proceedings, assured me, (I am persuaded on good evidence,) that among the whole, though almost all the sons of Hindu parents, Í should not find one grown up pupil who believed the superstitions of his fathers! So far the influence of such education is beneficial: it opens the minds of the pupils to receive truth instead of error, on subjects of natu ral science, and exhibits the gross deformity of an erroneous religious system which they formerly most fully believed; and could truth on moral and spiritual subjects also be constantly presented to their minds, and affectionately impressed on their consciences, we might hope that, through the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit, they would in due time be led cordially to embrace it. This advantage, however, is not yet afforded them; and hence, in some repects, the influence of their superior knowledge is dangerous, both to their moral and spiritual welfare. Having seen that all the religious opinions which they imbibed from their parents are false-the inventions of designing men to enslave the minds of others -they are apt to suspect that all other religions may be equally false; and thus, like the French at the end of the last century, who perceived the folly of the Roman Catholic system, and the ignorance and wickedness of many of the clergy, pass from gross superstition to reckless infidelity. Some of their English superiors too, with a zeal worthy of a better cause, have supplied these young men with the writings of Voltaire, Paine, Hume, and other French and English infidels; from reading which, many are led to conclude that almost all the intelligent and learned men of Europe have been sceptics as to christianity, and that it is a mark of superior intellect to despise it."

In sequence to the preceding, we find a passage which so well expresses our own views on the much agitated question of religious instruction in general seminaries for native youth, that we venture to extract it, though we have already gone to greater length than is our wont.

"Many of the elder pupils in the Hindu College have remarked, that without reading the Bible they cannot well understand the constant allusions made to it in all other English works, and have therefore requested, that it might be read as a class-book in the institution: but hitherto it has not been introduced. The supply of moral instruction has not yet been so abundant as it easily might be, even without any of that interference with religious opinions which the government wish to avoid; nor as it probably will be, when the necessity of such instruction to promote public morals, which is now very evident to several members of the committee, shall force itself on the attention of all. The sentiments of infidel writers, and especially those of the French authors of the last century, are generally loose as to morality: it is evident, therefore, that these intelligent, but ill-principled youth, from frequently reading such productions, and finding the vices which they tolerate more consonant with their own corrupt passions than the purity and self-denial which christianity inculcates, are in the greatest danger, instead of forsaking the sins generally practis ed amongst their countrymen, of merely adding to them those more common among Europeans. While therefore, in some degree prepared to receive the gospel, if explained and enforced in every practicable way by devoted christians residing on the spot, they will, without it, be dazzled with the light of science which they have received, and rendered proud of their superior knowledge, and thus become indifferent or hostile both to virtuous practice and religious truth. They will thus prove, in future, the most serious obstacles to the salvation of their countrymen. How sad will it be, if these interesting young men, released from the base thraldom of superstition, should only exchange it for the wild freedom of atheism; and breaking loose from the injurious restraints of Hindu caste and of a selfish priesthood, should renounce the beneficial control of God and of religion altogether!

"It may be proper to remark, too, that the young men educated at these institutions, and at the higher missionary seminaries, are likely to be the future instructors of India. How important then is it, for the sake of others, that the rising intelligence of India, so long sunk in the darkness of heathenism, should be secured in favour of chistianity; that from this body, as from a fountain, should flow the waters of truth and piety, till they are available to their countrymen in every part of India! For preventing the increase of depravity and irreligion, and securing if possible, under God's blessing, the most important and extensive advantages, we need therefore not only missionaries, but books, and consequently feel bound to solicit the aid of your valued Institution."

In conclusion, we assert our unwavering conviction that the tide of public opinion has decidedly set in, and will daily increase in strength, in favour of religious instruction, and that Christian education is the only education adequate to the wants, or efficient either to the fullest temporal or the spiritual and eternal, welfare of mankind. We trust this solid and forcible appeal will not only be promptly and largely answered by the Christian public at home, but by the Christian public of India also; and

that we shall soon hear of large contributions to the funds of the Calcutta Christian Tract and School-Book Society, and to all kindred institutions, having the effective enlightening and moralization of India for their object.-M.

3.-LETTER FROM THE TUTOR TO THE MAHA'RA'JA' OF MANIPUR.

"I am happy to say that the Mahárájá and the regent's boys are going on better with their studies than before. The regent's sons are reading now the 2nd No. Spelling Book and the 1st No. English Reader. They can read and translate pretty well. The other boys are getting on capitally; some of them have made good proficiency in Grammar and Geography, and can speak English pretty well, and in a few days they will begin upon history. Some of them appear to be clever and promising boys. The two young girls are going on very well with their studies; they are both attentive, clever and promising girls.

At present I am engaged in translating the first part of the Bákyábali into the language of this country, in Roman character, which will be very useful to the natives; and I intend to make up a Spelling Book in the same way as prepared by the Missionaries at Sadiyá; it will assist the boys to read the Dictionary, &c. We are very much pleased to have the Dictionary, it will assist the boys very much indeed in learning English as well as Bengáli and it will do much good. All of my head boys can read the Dictionary which they have received from Mr. Gordon, as well as Mr. D'Rozario's, with a considerable degree of ease, and in consequence are able to understand Bengáli as well as Hindustání pretty well."

.-BENGAL AUXILIARY MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The Report, for the past year, of the Bengal Auxiliary Missionary Society is now before us, as approved and ordered to be printed at the Annual meeting held in the end of October last.

The opening reflexions are so happily appropriate to the commencement of a new year, that we insert them entire, leaving them to the mature consideration of every reader.

"The gathering together of the friends of this institution for the purpose of reviewing the past with humility, and looking on the future with renewed faith and devotedness, reminds us that another of those periods which mark our progress towards the eternal world, lessen the number of our days for exertion, and bring us nearer to the scrutiny of our great Master, has past away. Another year is gone; its hours, and moments, and days, have borne their messages to the ear of God, which stand now in the imperishable records of heaven: they will meet us in

the day of the revelation of all things. The time is spent ; but the record lives; it will associate itself either with the approving sentence of Christ-"Well done, good and faithful servants," or with the condemnation of his mouth, “Thou slothful servant, thou thoughtest I was a hard Master." Let us therefore each inquire how we have spent the year in reference to the claims of God and men; for this may lead us to attend with the greater candour and charity to the recital of the untiring, though apparently at present, unsuccessful labours of our brethren, who are devoted to the work of preaching the Gospel to an idolatrous and gainsaying people." The labourers of this Society are twelve European Missionaries, one Indo-British Assistant Missionary, and one Portuguese teacher, with seven Native Assistants. The stations occupied are Calcutta, Chinsura, Berhampore, Moorshedabad and Benares. These are, however, but the respective centres of the spheres of labour embraced, and the places of abode to the Missionaries and their families. Thus, in the Calcutta district are included two stations, Rám Mákhál Chak and Krishnapur, where there are native churches, the former superintended and instructed, as such, by Messrs. Piffard and Lacroix the joint pastors, and the latter by Mr. Campbell; while these again are only so many foci for carrying out Missionary effort among the surrounding heathen. Of these agents we read :—

"It is especially satisfactory to your committee to reflect on the fact, that with the exception of the English preacher, and their newly arrived brother, the whole are fully conversant with the native languages, and are capable of vigorous and devoted exertion in that department of la bour peculiarly and distinctly marked out by the home Directors, viz., that of preaching the Gospel of the blessed God to the heathen."

In the Calcutta district are six Missionaries and three native assistants. One of these is the Pastor of the Union Chapel, and is set apart exclusively for English service. This is justly deemed a wise and necessary arrangement; inasmuch as a healthy state of real christianity among professed Christians, European and Indo-British, is not only of the utmost importance in itself, but of the last moment in its bearing upon the estimate formed of Christians and their faith generally, by the natives. Moreover, it is to the spread here, of genuine religion, and of a consequent anxiety for the conversion of the heathen, that we must look for any very extensive Missionary exertions. It is manifest that any attainable amount of contribution from the European public at home must ever fall immeasurably short of what would be required, if we were to contemplate the sending to this country, and maintaining, of any very large number of European Missionaries-a number which yet, at its utmost extent, could never pretend to bear any adequate proportion to the 80 millions of the population. It is through a Christianized Anglo-Indian population at the principal stations, stirred up to feel and labour for the perishing myriads that surround them, and