"Baboo Udoy Churn Addy had no sooner concluded his speech, than the attention of every one in the hall was suddenly attracted by the loud burst of an appeal from another gentleman, who with a greater display of wordy flourish than of rhetorical chasteness, came forward to support the views taken by the Editor of the Poornachandrodoy, with reference to the cultivation of the Bengalee language, and attempted, with a mixture of good and bad arguments, to impress upon the mind of his audience the duty of learning their own language. He did not rest contented merely with supporting his friend, but continued to instruct his countrymen in the history of English civilization, and corrected some mistaken notions, with reference to Missionary schools, into which Baboo Udoy Churn had fallen, until, at last, the late hour of the night, and the disposition of the audience to retire, put a stop to his declamation."-Daily News, June 15. 8. THE EXPORTATION OF NATIVES. It affords us the sincerest pleasure to witness the prominence which is given to this deeply interesting subject-a subject involving the happiness and freedom of thousands in India. From documents put into our hands, which we transferred to our contemporary, the Friend of India, that they might obtain the more speedy and full circulation, it appears that nearly 6000 of the inhabitants of Bengal have been exported under the appellation of free laborers to different parts of the world, to be inducted by the system of transfer into all the miseries of slavery. The number of females exported is about 100, and those either the wives of domestics or women taken from the very worst houses in Calcutta. From the said documents and others in our possession, it is evident that the best intentions and most active efforts on the part of the public officers here and at the Mauritius are incapable, even when aided by the houses of agency, to prevent the emigrants from falling a prey in the first place to the Duffadars or crimps who plunder them here and send them away penny less to the scene of their labour; nor can the same vigilance prevent in many cases the substitution by kidnapping of poor unwilling creatures for those who have the sagacity and good fortune to escape the grasp of their oppressors. We learn moreover that not only has the system extended itself to Madras, and Bombay, but doubtless will now be, if it has not already been, extensively practised at the more quiet coast ports. And not only this, but these poor people have been re-shipped from the island of Bourbon and Mauritius to Guiana, Sydney and places unknown. The fact is, if the system be not checked, the Mauritius will become the slave mart of the East. In two vessels laden with coolies from the Mauritius to Guiana, the most fearful mortality prevailed; out of 244 shipped on one of the vessels, 31 died, and in the other out of 92, 24 died. This quite eclipses the horrors of the middle passage. Authenticated cases of cruelty practised during the voyages from the Mauritius to Calcutta and back, have been brought to notice through the press, And the abject and withered state of the poor creatures at the Mauritius has been testified to by eyewitnesses. Attempts, it would appear from a commercial correspondence, are making to represent the hill coolies as monkeys, not men. How like the abominable arguments used for years by the oppressors of the African tribes, and how worthy the system they are designed to support! We are not, how. ever, so much influenced by individual instances of oppression, save as they shew the animus of the system and of the parties engaged in it. We look beyond the present, and believe that if an effort both strong and persevering be not made-not for the modification of the trade, but for its immediate prohibition-it will grow into a monstrous evil, which, like the slave question, will have to be settled at the expense of the national exchequer, but not before it has sullied the national honor. We have done what we could in the matter. The moment it commenced, we instituted a corre spondence with the Society for the protection of the aborigines of British colonies in London; with the friends of the slaves at Guiana and Mauritius, and in other places. We have visited some of the ships conveying them to the different ports, conversed with the Captains and seen their accommodations, &c. but what is this? It only serves to convince us that unless the masculine and humane efforts of Lord Brougham and his friends be seconded and supported by all in every place, and in this especially, nothing will be done. The question, after a little agitution, will sleep, and the hill coolies be slaves. Our advice is, petition equally the Governor General, and the British Parliament. The former for the suppression of the traffic, pending a reference to the Home Government; and the latter for the rescinding of the fatal order in Council sanctioning the trade. Let the petitions be laid at all public offices, and places of worship, and receive the signatures of our native fellow-subjects as well as those of every class of the community. We would advise that several copies of the petition be drawn out, and carried from house to house, the signatures can afterward be united in one petition. We have confidence in the humane intentions of Lord Auckland in this matter if the business be calmly and efficiently conducted. May the friends of the coolie possess the wisdom of the serpent, and the meekness of the dove. 9.-FORMATION OF A RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY AT SINGAPORE. We learn from the Friend of India, that the friends of religion at Singapore, have formed a Religious Tract Society. The object of the institution is, to supply the inhabitants of the Archipelago with those little messengers of mercy, Religious Tracts. The Bible Society also is pursuing its course with vigour. We hope much from the zeal and labour of our bre thren at Singapore. They possess a fine position, and may under the Divine direction be the means of scattering far and wide the word of life. 10.-NEW NATIVE SOCIETY AT SIMLAH. One of the native papers announces the formation of a Society at SimJah (Calcutta), for the purpose of encouraging the study of the vernaculars. This is excellent, we wish it every success. Teach the educated youth to think of and study western science in their own tongue, and then they will be enabled to diffuse abroad the blessings of knowledge to their ignorant countrymen. Since this was penned the formation of another Society is announced, called the Epistolary association. We hope soon to see a Society formed amongst these young men for instructing poor ignorant children, and for aiding poor destitute adults. 11.—INTELLIGENCE FROM EUROPE, RECEIVED VIA EGYPT. Communications from the Rev. Dr. Brunton, the Convener of the General Assembly's Committee on Foreign Missions, intimate that the sum of fifty thousand rupees, three-fifths of which to be furnished as a free contribution from Scotland, and two-fifths to be raised by local contributions in India, will be allotted to the important object of erecting suitable buildings for the General Assembly's Institution in Bombay. Steps will be im mediately taken in furtherance of the work. The The Rev. Joseph Wolff has arrived in England from America. zealous missionary, who received Protestant Episcopal ordination on the Western continent, is in a very poor state of health, and writes to his friends as if anticipating a speedy termination of his earthly toils.-Bombay Oriental Christian Spectator. * This has been done by the Government since this was penned. The exportation of coolies to the West Indies is suppressed pending a reference to Britain but still we say agitate.-ED. 12.-GERMAN FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. A Society under this title has just been formed, by a Convention of delegates from the German and Lutheran churches in the United States, held at Hagarstown, Maryland. Rev. Dr. Schmucker of York, was chosen President, and Prof. Krault of Gettysburg, Cor. Secretary. "The Society is to operate in connexion with the A. B. C. F. M. and will take under its immediate care, Rev. J. C. Rhenius*, of Palamcotta, and as soon as possible send forth men from this country to found a new station. Those who are able to judge, regard this as the beginning of great things among our German brethren. Several hundred dollars were raised at once, at the convention meeting, and the whole proceedings were in the highest degree exciting and impressive. Though there are many des titute Germans in the country, yet there are others who have wealth and can do much for the conversion of the world." Boston Recorder.—Ibid. 13.-LIBERALITY OF WEALTHY NATIVES. Jemsetjee Jeejeebhoy, Esq. has offered, through the committee of the Bombay Dispensary, the magnificent sum of one lakh of rupees, to the Bom. bay Government, for the endowment of an hospital adapted to the circumstances of all classes of the natives, and upon the condition that his grant bear an interest of six per cent. per annum. A wealthy Hindu of Cal. cutta, has made a similar consecration of part of his wealth in connexion with the District Charitable Society of that place.—Ibid. 14.-MADRAS AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY. The Seventeenth Anniversary of this Institution was held in the Mission Church, Popham's Broadway, on Monday, 5th March. The Chair was taken by J. F. Thomas, Esq. The Report, read by the Rev. F. Spring, A. M., though in other respects a most interesting and encouraging document, complained of a great depression of Funds, and of the exis tence of trying and painful difficulties in connexion with the translation and revision of the Scriptures. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. Messrs. Shortland, Cotteril, Anderson, Spring, Hardey and Taylor, and by A. J. Macleane, Esq.-Madras Missionary Register. 15.-MADRAS RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY. The Nineteenth Anniversary Meeting of this Institution was held in the Mission Church, Popham's Broadway, on Wednesday, 21st February; W. Bannister, Esq. in the Chair. The Report, read by the Rev. J. Smith, complained of embarrassment from the want of money and paper, and yet exhibited an unprecedented distribution of Tracts. Large expectations are entertained of augmented assistance from the Parent Society, and we have reason to believe they will not be disappointed. After the reading of the Report, addresses were delivered by the Rev. Messrs. Crowther, Day, Anderson, Caldwell, and Dr. Scudder.-Ibid. 16. MADRAS AUXILIARY WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The Nineteenth Anniversary of this Institution was held in the Chapel, Popham's Broadway, on Tuesday evening, February 6th. After prayer by the Rev. R. Carver, W. Bannister, Esq. was called to the Chair, who, in a truly catholic speech, opened the business of the evening. The report for the past year was then read by the Rev. S. Hardey; it was a rather lengthy document, but contained much valuable matter both as regards information and sentiment. Suitable addresses were then delivered by the Rev. Messrs. Crowther, Smith, Hodson, Cryer, Carver, Best, and Dr. Scudder. The presence of five new Missionaries, who but a few days previous had suffered shipwreck, imparted additional interest to the meeting. Mr. Hodson's account of the new mission station in the Mysore country, * How would this have rejoiced the good Rhenius, but he has a better reward.-ED. was at once pleasing and encouraging. We are happy to find that this Auxiliary Society has received such valuable additions to the number of its labourers, and we trust that our brethren may long be spared, not only to labour for souls, but also to witness the fruit of their labours in the conversion of many to the truth as it is in Jesus.—Ibid. 17.—MARTYRDOM IN MADAGASCAR. By our last batch of periodicals from England we learn that the infant church in Madagascar has been subjected to the severe ordeal of persecution and martyrdom. The bitterness of religious hatred has hunted out all the Native Christians in that island and condemned them to confiscation of property and perpetual slavery. One of the female Christians has suffered martyrdom for Jesus; her name is RAFARAVAVY, a female in good circumstances, who, during a period of eight or ten days, was imprisoned and tortured, but who remained firmly attached to the truth, and would neither impeach her companions nor renounce her faith in Christ, but calmly submitted to death by public execution, on August 14th, 1837. We cannot refrain, however, from transcribing a passage in Mr. Baker's letter relating to this melancholy event. "Never did a Christian martyr in the annals of the church suffer from motives more pure, simple, and unmixed with earthly alloy. She had never heard of any after-glory of martyrdom on earth. No external splendour had been cast around the subject in her mind, by reading any lives of martyrs. All was to her obloquy and contempt. Her own father and relatives to the very last accused her of stubbornness. The people generally regarded her as stubborn, and worthy of punishment even on that account. She had no earthly friends to support and cheer her. She was not poor in outward circumstances, and by recantation and humbling herself to beg pardon of the Queen, she might very probably have saved her life. But her whole heart, as her letters testify, was filled with the love of Jesus. She endured as seeing Him who is invisible. Her letters are composed principally of passages from the gospels and epistles, and these, doubtless under the influence of the Holy Spirit, were the entire support of her mind in the last hour of trial.' If the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church,' we may trust that Rafaravavy will not have died in vain. She died directly and exclusively in defence of the Gospel." We canot but record our firm conviction that this event will be for the furtherance of the Gospel. Tertullian, in his celebrated Apology, could address the persecutors of the first Christians in language which our faith too may well adopt ; "Proceed in your career of cruelty; but do not suppose that you will thus accomplish your purpose of extinguishing the hated sect. We are like the grass, which grows the more luxuriantly the oftener it is mown. The blood of the Christians is the seed of Christianity. Your phi losophers taught men to despise pain and death, by words; but how few were their converts, compared with those of the Christians, who teach by example! The very obstinacy with which you upbraid us, is the great propagator of our doctrines. For who can behold it, and not inquire into the nature of that faith which inspires such supernatural courage? can inquire into that faith, and not embrace it? Who can embrace it, and not desire himself to undergo the same sufferings, in order that he may thus secure a participation in the fulness of the divine favour?" Who Nor can we belive that this occurrence will be less useful at home; the deep emotion and fervent spirit of prayer it has called forth, the godly emulation it has excited, provoking some to jealousy that they have done and suffered so little for our Lord and Saviour, will produce a powerful reaction in favour of the cause of missions. Thus the wicked one will be taken in his own craftiness, the wrath of man shall praise God, and the rest of that wrath will he restrain.-London Congregational Magazine. Meteorological Register, kept at the Surveyor General's Office, Calcutta, for the month of May, 1838. Minimum Temperature observed at sun rise. Temperature. Wind. Maximum Pressure observed at 9h. 50m. Temperature. Wind. Observations made at Maximum Temperature Temperature. Wind. ,790 86,0 84,5 82,0 S. ,704 92,594,587,2 S. S. ,670 93,0 93,586,0 S. S. S. ,666 91,0 91,386,0 8. 8. ,700 89,0 89,084,0 8. ,674 88,3 85,5 83.0 S. S. S. S. S. 8 ,723 62,6 77,9 78,8 Cm. ,780, 85,7 89.8 83,2 W. ,744 89,0 97,0 84,1 ,800 89,2 94,0 84,0) ,792 83,5 88,5 82,0 W. S. S. W. W. S. ,772 90,5 97,3 87,0 W. ,710 91,7 97,688,0 S. S. ,680 91,2 102,086,0 s. S. 1,652 95.0 99.0 87,0 S. S. ,702 95,4 101,091,2 S. 93,388,0 E.B.S.,752 62,0 74,073,5 E.B.S.,752 83,0 s. W.,722 85,7 s. w.,722 85,7 85,8 83,0 S. S. Cm. 0.73 8. 0.49 8. S. ,800 89,9 95,0 89,0 S. ,727 94,5 101,3 92,0 S. ,677 94.0 99,5 91,3 S. ,685 90,3 90,0,86,8 8. ,810 89,4 94,1 88,9 N. W.,752 89,4 94,991,0 E. ,748 87,2 85,083,5 S. ,748 84,6 81.5 79,3 s. w. S. 8. ,724 90,0 99,7 91,5 8. ,730 85.5 82,0 79,5 S. 0.80 E. ,602 95,7 107,996,6 8. ,600 90,0 93,189.9 8. S. ,598 96,5 109.9 95,0 S. ,571 97,4 107,095,5 S. ,571 91.3 93,2 89,5 8. S. ,679 94,0 100,6 92,5 8. ,672 94,3 98,993,0 8. 8. ,756 93,4 97.2 96,6 s. w.,700 93,7 96,196,6 s. w. ,684 90,0 89,1 89,6 ,766 91,9 96,089.3 87,8 s. s. w.,684 92,9 96,565,3 8. ,732 91,5 1,664 92,1 95,5 89,0 93,4/86,3 |