The Resolution was seconded by J. Vos, Esq. and the Meeting broke up after singing the doxology.

We regret to state that the Meeting was but thinly attended, though the spirit which pervaded it was pleasing and encouraging.

3.-EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS.

The cause of education does not diminish in interest nor do its friends relax in their exertions in this most enervating of all climes. This is evident from the various Societies and their Reports which are ever offering themselves to our attention.

THE INFANT SCHOOL SOCIETY.

Held its usual examination at the Town Hall during the last month, Sir Edward Ryan in the chair. The attendance was numerous and respectable, the number of scholars and their proficiency in the English language encouraging. The Bishop who takes a lively interest in the welfare of the Society was very active on the occasion in drawing out the abilities of the little ones; their answers were prompt and intelligent. The whole examination reflected the highest credit on the indefatigable superintendant Mr. Perkins and his assistants.-The Infant School system is, we think, very applicable to and much needed in India; it is important that the minds of the youth of India should be saturated with pure and useful knowledge at the earliest age, and no system can we think be so effectual in arresting and instructing infant minds as the mode of instruction adopted by this Society. The system has not however extended much beyond our own city, nor has it been attended with that measure of success we should have wished or hoped, even with the aid of one so devoted to the welfare of the least of the little ones as Mr. Perkins really is. The only schools independant of those in Calcutta are we believe at Burdwan, Chinsurah, and Vizagapatam, at least none other of note, nor are these materially if at all aided by the Calcutta Society. Its own central school designed to instruct teachers in the branch establishment has, we believe, been relinquished. There can but be one feeling and that a feeling of regret at even the temporary failure of such a scheme, and we are confident those who are anxious to promote its interest in India, will excuse us for suggesting the proprie ty of making the basis of the Society more Catholic, of nominating on its Committee individuals from different sections of the Christian community, both from the clergy, missionaries and laity. This will interest more in its success and ensure for it a larger measure of support. If we are not mistaken were this adopted the number of schools and the measure of support would be more than ten-fold before another anniversary; and if we are not misinformed it was the intention of the individual who first introduced the subject and advocated its merits before an Indian public, that the basis of the Society should be Catholic.

4.-FREE SCHOOL.

This useful institution is still extending the blessing of religious education to upwards of 400 poor destitute children. They are moreover clothed and fed and lodged at the expence of the institution, and if smiling faces and healthy robust appearances be an indication of good treatment and satisfaction, the friends of the society can have that happiness whenever they choose to pay a visit to the Institution. The school is quite catholic

in its constitution, the children of all sects are eligible. It is well worthy of the support of the Christian community, and has our best wishs fore its prosperity.

5.-CATHOLIC FREE SCHOOL.

The Eighth Report of this institution for educating the children of indigent Romanists has been put into our hands. The number of children under its care is 296. They are educated in the different branches of useful and domestic knowledge and in the principles of the Catholic faith. As it is our intention to advert to the present aspect of Catholicism and the measures pursued for its revivification and extension in India, in an early number, we shall not do more on the present occasion than endeavour to correct an error into which the compilers of the report have fallen in reference to the character of the protestant Free Schools in our city. The report states, and makes the statement the ground of its appeal to liberal protestants and to those of their communion, that there is scarcely a free-school in which proselyting is not the rule, and where the children are not taught from their infancy to despise the faith of their fathers. We beg most distinctly to state that such is not the case. Without the committee of the Catholic Free School mean by this that the Holy Scriptures are taught, read and explained according to protestant principles. If this be the meaning we admit it is done, but as far as we have been able to learn there is not any school in Calcutta who either in Catechisms or in their general manuals of instruction have the slighest allusion to catholicism except such as the ungarbled scriptures afford. We do not mention this in admiration but as a fact and in order that those protestants into whose hands the Report may fall, may, if they give, do not so because their own schools do not need their aid, or are mere proselyting establishments, but because they wish to show their desire to aid every well intentioned effort to enlighten and bless the youth of the country with education. Will the committee of the C. F. S. undertake that a protestant child shall be taught as little in their establishment as the poor of their flocks are in the excellent protestant Free School and other similar institutions which are chiefly supplied with pupils from their com munion? The Government have, we perceive, most properly refused to grant a monthly allowance for the support of the institution. Amongst the donors we perceive the Governor General and the chief Magistrate.

6-THE FIRST HALFYEARLY MEETING OF THE SAILOR'S HOME.

On Tuesday evening the 13th of Feb. the first half-yearly general meeting of the Sailor's Home Society was held at the Town Hall. Sir J. P. Grant in the chair.

The Report, which was a very interesting statement of details, dressed in plain language and somewhat in the phraseology of sailors, having been read,

The Reverend J. Charles rose to move the first resolution, That the report be printed and circulated.

The Rev. Gentleman stated, that when it was announced to the public that it was in contemplation to establish such an institution, every person of right feelings and correct judgment whom he knew, at once concurred in the desirableness of the project. It appeared to him to be a happy con

ception, a most felicitous idea. He believed the meeting was already aware that the institution owed its origin, and, in a great measure, its successful operation, to the worthy Secretary (Rev. T. Boaz.) For his own part, he regarded the institution as now fully established; and it was matter of congratulation that so much could be said of it within so short a period of its existence. It was matter of surprise with him that the interests of sailors had so long been neglected or so little cared for, both in England and in this country. They are an interesting people, comprising, as he had somewhere read, one-twentieth of the population of the mother-country. This simple fact, the reverend gentleman considered, ought to have awakened on their behalf a deeper and more general spirit of philanthropy. But they are not less an important than an interesting class. To them Britain owes her naval glory-through them, the fame of her arms, of her science, of her literature, and of her politics has reached the utmost bounds of the earth. They are the instruments of her commerce. By their means she lays the whole world under contribution to her wants and wishes; they minister to her luxury and to her wealth. They are not, however, generally, what they should be, and what, as a matter of highest duty, we should endeavour to make them, a fair specimen of Britain's virtues,living epistles of her morals and of her glorious faith. Landsmen can exercise their influence at best but over a limited surface-within a defined circle. The conduct of sailors exerts an influence, for good or for evil, on large classes of men,-men of various nations, kindreds and tribes. This influence partakes at present more of the nature of vice; it should be made to bear with the force of moral and religious habits. The reverend gentleman after adverting to some particulars stated in the Report, and having repeated his remark that the institution could no longer be considered in the light of an experiment, but as deserving to be ranked among the established Benevolent Institutions of the country, sat down amidst suppressed cheers.

The resolution seconded by H. Walters, Esq. C. S. was carried unanimously.

The Rev. W. Morton proposed the second resolution, appointing a new committee and returning thanks to God for his blessing, and to the last committee for their services.

The reverend gentleman had no doubt the meeting would unanimously adopt the sentiments expressed in the resolution he had the honour to propose. If the institution has done good-and the report states that it has done much good ;-if it be a desirable institution-and the reverend gentleman who preceded him had shewn that it was a desirable institution, and moreover that it was an institution now fully established ;-he was of opinion that all the good that has been effected, and much of the good that it promised to effect in future, was owing to the exertions of the last committee. But the resolution in his hands contained more-viz. an expression of thanks to God for what has been done. He believed that all present would agree in sentiment with the Church of England, that, without God nothing is wise, nothing holy, nothing strong.' A higher authority than the national church has also said, every good and every perfect gift proceedeth from the Father of lights.' The reverend gentleman felt assured that none would dissent from these sentiments, and therefore that the meeting would not only unhesitatingly, but cheerfully and warmly, adopt his resolution.

Mr. Morton stated, that he was unexpectedly called upon to take a part in the business of the evening, and that he was not intimately acquainted with the details of the Institution. He was not in Calcutta at the time of its formation: nearly all he had learned of it, was from the Report which

had just then been read. He considered the existence of such an institution in this country to be a blessing. It was stated in the Report that the crimping system may now be considered to be half destroyed. He conceived that the circumstance of the destruction of one half of the system, was a certain prognostic of the extinction of the remaining half. The reverend gentleman here adverted to the mischiefs and ailments to which sailors are exposed in this port, and to the unfavorable impression which their conduct has produced, and is calculated to produce, on the native mind. If, said he, we desire to see the native population converted from their debasing superstitions and practices, we should seek to elevate the character of our own countrymen; and if we are at all concerned for the spiritual welfare of our brethren, consistency requires of us not to neglect their temporal comforts. The reverend gentleman stated that, according to the view he took of the subject, he considered chaplains and missionaries to have as great an interest in the welfare of sailors as merchants and ship-captains.

This resolution was seconded by Captain Martin of the Duke of Buccleugh, and carried unanimously.

The thanks of the meeting were then proposed and accorded to the chairman. Sir J. P. Grant rose to say, that he took a very deep interest in the objects of the institution. That institution was yet in its infancy, and he believed the Rev. Mr. Charles would agree with him in this view,although he (the Rev. Gentleman) was of opinion that the success of the institution was no longer problematical, and that as such, it required to be nourished and tended and brought into vigorous and healthful exercise. His lordship fully concurred in the views expressed by Mr. Morton. He considered that exertions should be made to raise the moral and religious character of the seamen who come to this port. Sailors, said his lordship, are exposed to numerous temptations in this country; and not the least of their dangers, is, that they regard the class of the Native inhabitants into whose hands they fall to be a simple and ignorant people. We know, his lordship observed, that this is not the case. Cunning and villainy soon rob them of their money and their health. The crimping system too was till lately in active operation to complete their wretchedness. His lordship regarded with cordial pleasure the extent and salutary nature of that influence which the Home had exerted, in rescuing sailors from the cunning and power of these landsharks. His lordship congratulated the meeting on what they had heard, and concluded with stating, that though he could not take any very active part in the management of the institution, of which he had been constituted the President, his best wishes attended all its operations. His lordship then proposed thanks to the Secretaries, Rev. T. Boaz and J. W. Alexander Esq., and to Dr. Maxton for his gratui tous medical advice to the inmates of the Home.

Mr. Boaz rose and expressed his very grateful sense of the vote of thanks accorded to him. It was his heart's desire to see the institution prosper. He considered its prosperity very much depended on the share the community of merchants and ship-captains took in it. Without their hearty aid, he was not very sanguine of success. He begged them to come forward to the help of the committee, both fron a consideration of their own interests, and of the benevolent objects of the institution.

The meeting was rather thinly attended, but a spirit of cheerfulness and deep interest appeared to pervade it.

P. S.-We have the pleasure to state that the number admitted in the Home during the last half year was 303, out of which 296 have been provided with berths. Add to this 400 liberty men, and there will be a total of 703 men accommodated in the house since its opening in May last. All the departments have prospered as far as they have been tried.

7.-BIBLE SOCIETIES.

The British and Foreign Bible Society with its accustomed liberality has forwarded as a gift to the Calcutta Auxiliary, one thousand copies of the Holy Scriptures in the English language in addition to two thousand presented a short time ago. The distribution of these scriptures is chiefly amongst Seamen and the more intelligent and educated youth of the city. The accounts from the continent of Europe, as it respects the desire of the people for the word of life, is very cheering. From Belgium alone, priest-ridden Belgium, a request had been sent to the Society for 15,000 New Testaments: the facilities for their distribution were never more extensive.

The Baptist churches in America in consequence of a resolution of the American Bible Society not to aid versions in which the word Barrigo is translated by terms signifying to immerse, have formed a distinct Society, under the designation of the American and Foreign Bible Society. The Committee have forwarded 20,000 rupees to the Calcutta Baptist Missionaries to aid them in printing versions of the Sacred Scriptures in which the word in question will be so rendered. The Wesleyan Methodists in America, who had formed a Society of their own, have united with the Parent Society. The English Baptists have presented a numerously signed protest on the subject to the Committee of the Bible Society; it is not, we understand, their present intention to form a separate Society, but to adopt measures to increase their translation fund for the purpose of rendering more efficient aid to their Missionaries in carrying on the work of trans. lating and printing the sacred volume according to the dictates of their own consciences.

8.-THE VERNACULAR LANGUAGE OF UPPER INDIA.

We invite the attention of our correspondents to the following letter and shall be happy to receive communications on the subject.

To the Editor of the Friend of India.

MY DEAR SIR,-May I request the insertion of the accompanying paper, on the subject of Vernacular languages, &c.

Yours, &c. ALEPH BE.

My attention has been drawn to this subject by an article from a Benares correspondent, which first appeared in the "Calcutta Christian Observer," and afterwards copied into the "Friend of India," The subject is one of great importance at a time when the "School-Master is abroad." The Benares correspondent complains that hitherto no books have been written in a language common to the mass of the people; and that, consequently, every thing hitherto published, is unintelligible, except to "the initiated few." As one deeply interested, I am very anxious to know what is that vernacular of the Upper Provinces which is proposed as a medium for future translations. The Benares correspondent has I fear, contented himself with condemning what has hitherto been done, without an attempt at shewing what is the vernacular language which he thinks ought to be the medium of circulation. Allow me, therefore, as an occasional contributor to your paper, to request the insertion of these few observations, with a request that a specimen may be given us in some future number either of your paper or of the Christian Observer, in which the communication was originally published. I would propose a translation of the first four pages of the History of India, by Mr. J. Marshman.

I am, my dear sir, yours, &c.

VII.

2 B

A HINDUSTANER STUDENT.