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"In 1790 (he said) I was Adjutant and Quarter-Master in the army, under Marquis Cornwallis. I sailed to join the army, in the month of Jannary, in that year. Having on board 300 Sepoys, we laid in our provision and water for the voyage, expecting a passage of only eight or nine days. The principles of these Sepoys were well known to me, and many of them were of high caste. They were permitted to fill their own water casks, every one of which was sealed with the Brahminical seal. Their provisions and packages were also sealed; and no one touched that part of the ship where they were stowed. It was then the infancy of the war, and it was necessary to attend to all their prejudices. From calms and contrary winds, the voyage proved much longer than we had contemplated. We had been at sea twenty-five days. I kept account of the provisions and stores, as was my duty; and I found that now we were only half way, and for these 300 men there remained only two butts of water. well knew their sentiments respecting any other provisions or water; and what would be the consequence I did not know when this circumstance should be discovered. My anxiety was so great for several days, that I was scarcely able to support it: this was observed by one of their chief personages, with whom I was on terms of the closest intimacy; and he said to me one dayWhat is the matter with you? are you ill?'No,' said I, 'I am much as usual.'-'We have been a long time at sea,' said he, how does our provision hold out?" He could not have asked a more unfortunate question. I, however, waved it, and it passed off for that day. I could only hope that something would soon occur in our favour; but the next day, as things were getting worse, I resolved to tell him. Accordingly, I called him into the cabin, and said, I have a secret to unfold to you. We respect your caste, and from that circumstance all my uneasiness arises.' He asked, 'What is the state of our provision?" I replied, 'Of dry provisions we have plenty.'-'But how is our water? That,' I replied, "I am afraid to tell you.'-Nay,' said he, VOL. V.

tell me.' Then here are the returns,' I replied, and this has been the cause of that uneasiness which you have observed in me.'-"If that be all, he said, 'I will soon set you at rest ;' and he immediately went down and put the Brahminical seal on some butts of water, for we had plenty of it on board. When he came up, tapping me on the shoulder, he said, 'Let me see a smile on your countenance.' We never dared to mention this circumstance to any individual in India.”

Mr. Thomson, after assuring the Society that, notwithstanding all difficulties, the work of God is prospering in India, stated the following affecting facts:

"But the wants of India are still the same. The destruction of infants and the burning of widows still continue; and the wheels of the car of Juggernaut still crush many of its deluded victims.

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"On the subject of burning widows, I would remark, in opposition to what has been so often affirmed, that this practice is confined to the more wealthy class, and to those who are voluntary victims; that the instances which I have seen have proved the contrary. The first I ever saw in India was in contradiction of the first of these assertions; and it was a scene, the recital of which must make any sober man shudder: it was the burning of a widow in deep poverty; so poor were the relations, that they could not afford a sufficient quantity of fuel to cover the body: I saw her and the body of her deceased husband, partly covered with fuel, and partly exposed; and, in this dreadful state, she was slowly consumed. The next instance which I saw was in direct opposition to the other assertion, that they are all perfectly voluntary; it was that of a poor woman who was dragged to the pile, making all the resistance in her power, and fainting under the thought of what she was going to suffer she was then taken in the arms of two men, to be carried round the pile the appointed number of times: but when, from her fainting and the resistance which she made at intervals, they could not suc

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ceed in this, she was laid on the pile in a state of insensibility; but, coming to herself for a few moments, she strug gled so violently as nearly to throw down the pile: a Brahmin seeing this, immediately ran to a little child about four years of age, the eldest son of the widow, took the child in his arms, put a torch in his hand, ran with him to the pile, held out his little arm, and made him set it on fire; and, in a few me ments, the struggling mother was in flames !"

The Blessing of an Intelligible and Scriptural Liturgy.

[At the meeting of the Prayer Book and Homily Society of London, on Thursday, the 3d May, 1821, the Rev. William Jowett made an address, from which the following is extracted.]

"I HAVE, within the last few years, visited the Romish, the Greek, the Coptic, and other churches, which have their services habitually in a lan guage that the people do not under

stand.

"How painful the contrast, between the affectionate mother, in this country, training up her child in the way in which it should go, and impressing its tender mind with sentiments of devotion-and the mother, teaching her child, as soon as it can read, or even before it can read, to repeat its AveMarias and to count its beads! How different to the family, after the labours of the day, refreshing itself with the exercises of spiritual devotion, is the family assembled to fatigue themselves with their unintelligible services, or to repeat their long Breviary of Saints, and to add to each of them Ora pro nobis (Pray for us!)

"Observations of the same kind will apply to the manner in which marriage is celebrated in the Greek church.When present on such occasions, I have perceived a disgusting levity, arising doubtless in part from the unknown language in which the service is there performed. How different the ease in our own Church! How solemn and tender the addresses delivered at this important season, reminding the parties of the serious vows laid on them,

and of the conjugal virtues which they are called to exhibit!

"I have been struck, likewise, when in some churches abroad, with that DESOLATION of devotion which seems to prevail. There appears to be no common feeling of devotion between the priest and the people. At one end of the church stands the officiating minister, with his back to the people; repeating what they do not understand, in a voice too low to be heard. What are these people doing? Are they all praying with one heart and one mind? They seem as if every one was standing by himself; and totally destitute of that unction which is promoted by prayer in a language that is understood.

"I once spent a Sabbath in the northern part of the island of Corfu, and,` going to the Greek church there, had an opportunity of witnessing the manner in which the priests in that place (who are so poor that they are obliged to toil for their subsistence in the field) officiated in sacred things. I retired, in sadness; and went to my own room: and I shall never forget, though I cannot express, the feelings which that passage of our Liturgy brought to my mind, "That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, with true knowledge and understanding of thy Word! The feelings which then impressed me were, on the one hand, gratitude to Almighty God, who has in so great measure answered that prayer in our own happy land; and, on the other, pity joined with prayer for that unhappy country, that God would be pleased to grant, that all around me might partake of these blessings.

"Surely, Sir, it is a Catholic spirit which the Church of England breathes in these words! Is it not our privilege, when we pray for Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, to extend our views to every nation under heaven, and to all the ministers of religion in every part of the world? And if this spirit prevails in our Church, and we are enabled to bow before the throne of the Divine Majesty with these enlarged views and feelings-then does the Church of England contain in it the germ of se

curity, not only for itself, but for all the Churches of Christ, in every part of the world; and we shall find our Liturgy among the best means for leading on both ourselves and others to that blessed state, where prayer will be exchanged for endless praise."

London Missionary Society.

THE annual meeting took place on Thursday morning, May 10th, 1821, at Great Queen-street Chapel; the Treasurer, William Alers Hankey, Esq. in the chair. Unusual interest was connected with this meeting, by the attendance of a Madagascar Chief, and by the arrival of Mr. Campbell from his second voyage to South Africa. Governor Farquhar being about to send from Mauritius a commissioner to Radama, the principal Chief of the neighbouring part of Madagascar, Mr. David Jones, the Society's Missionary, then waiting at Mauritius for an opportunity of re-establishing himself at Madagascar, had obtained permission to accompany the commissioner. Mr. Hastie, the commissioner, introduced Mr. Jones at the court of Radama as his particular friend. Mr. Jones availed himself of this opportunity to promote the object of the Society with reference to Madagascar. The King, being satisfied with the views of the Society, consented that Mr. Jones should write to the directors for Missionaries to instruct his people in the knowledge of Christianity, provided a number of artizans accompanied them; as he was solicitous that his people should be instructed in the useful arts, as well as in religion. He himself af terward agreed to address the directors to the same effect; and the following is a translation of his letter

Radama, King of Madagascar, to the Missionary Society, usually called the London Missionary Society. GENTLEMEN,

When the treaty was concluded be tween me and governor Farquhar, which has for its object the cessation of the exportation of slaves from the island of Madagascar, the Missionary, Mr. David Jones, accompanied, the

commissioner from the British government, and arrived at Tananarive, the capital of my kingdom; with the intention of paying me a visit to solicit from me leave to settle, with other Mis sionaries, in my dominions. Having informed myself of his profession and mission, I acquiesced with much pleasure in his request.

Mr. Jones, your Missionary, having satisfied me that those sent out by your Society have no other object than to enlighten the people by persuasion and conviction, and to discover to them the means of becoming happy by evangelizing and civilizing them after the manner of European nations, and this not by force, contrary to the light of their understandings--therefore, gentlemen, I request you to send me, if convenient, as many Missionaries as you may deem proper, together with their families, if they desire it; provid ed you send skilful artizans to make my people workmen, as well as good Christians.

I avail myself of this opportunity, gentlemen, to promise all the protection, the safety, the respect, and the tranquillity, which Missionaries may require from my subjects.

The Missionaries who are particularly needed at present, are persons who are able to instruct my people in the Christian religion, and in various trades, such as weaving, carpentering, gardening, &c.'

I shall expect, gentlemen, from you, a satisfactory answer by an early opportunity.

Accept, gentlemen, the assurance of my esteem and affection.

(Signed) RADAMĄ, King.

We are happy to state that the treaty here referred to was concluded, One condition of this treaty was, that twenty Madagascar youths should be sent-ten to Mauritius, and ten to England-to be instructed in such arts as may be beneficial to their native country.

The Chief who attended the meeting is named Rataffe, and is brother-inlaw to Radama, by whom he has been sent to this country on a mission to government. He was accompanied by a

secretary, an interpreter, and four of the youths who are come to England for instruction.

In reference to the mission to Madagascar, Dr. Bogue observed, in moving the adoption of the report

"You have now heard of a new field opened in the island of Madagascar an island larger than England. You have heard the letter of the king of that island. Pomare, king of Otaheite, has sent various letters; and now the king of Madagascar honours us with a letter, and invites us to send over to his country to instruct his people.

Satan appears to have employed all his art to make the people of Hindoostan very religious. But false religion makes them worse: it has seized and polluted their whole souls; and it may be said that it is the most difficult thing in the world to eradicate such impressions: it is so, and we might despair, were we not assured that the power of God can surmount every difficulty, and turn men, in the most unfavourable circumstances, from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of God.

"Madagascar presents a different field. There, Satan's aim has been to keep them without religion: for they have no established religion, no priesthood, no temple-only once or twice in the year, some acknowledgements to the sun, as the author of their comforts. Here then is a people exempt from superstition, who have no religion: but the Gospel is able to give them one, and to communicate the best kind of religion to those who at prèsent have no religion at all."

The arrival of Mr. Campbell was another circumstance which gave great interest to this meeting. Having embarked at the Cape, on the 15th of February, on board the "Castle-Forbes," in the hope of reaching England in time for the anniversary, he was just able to accomplish his purpose: for, leaving the ship, in the pilot boat which met her in the channel, he landed at Portsmouth on Tuesday, May the 8th, and, travelling all night, arrived in London on Wednesday morning, about three hours before the commencement of the service at Surrey Chapel.

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Account of Scio.

Scio is separated from the continent of Asia by a channel eighteen miles in width. On the north is a distinct view of the isle of Mitylene-on the east, of the shores of Asia, the city of Ichesme, near to which was destroyed the Turkish fleet-on the south-east, of the isle of Samos. The length of the isand, it is said, is thirty miles; the breadth, from twelve to eighteen. A high range of mountains, composed principally of limestone, runs through the whole length of the island. On the east side is an extensive and highly cultivated plain; on which are the principal city, Scio, many fine villages, and numer ous summer seats of respectable merchants. The low lands are covered with fruit trees; as orange, lemon, fig, olive, and pomegranate: but the mountains are barren, except now and then a small grove of pine trees.

As to the population, we depend on the statements given to us by the Greek Bishop. They are as follows:-the entire population 60,000 or 70,000: of these, not less than 3000 are Turks, 800 or 900 Catholics, a few Jews, and the rest Greeks.

In Scio, the Turks usually speak the Greek language, and sometimes marry into Greek families. Most of them live in a large castle on the sea shore, separated from the city by drawbridges. They have twelve Mosques in the city.

The Christians enjoy great liberty, and are never interrupted in their religious services.

The Catholics have six churches; three in the city, and three in the country: with one Bishop and twentysix priests.

The Greeks have 50 or 60 churches in the city, and very many in different parts of the island. They have one Bishop, and 500 or 600 priests, besides monks. The duties of the priests are limited to the reading of the church service, on the Sabbath and Feast Days. The books used in the churches are in Ancient Greek.

The whole Bible is not found in the churches; and seldom, indeed, in the houses. We have seen only two Bibles, one Septuagint, and three Testa

ments, excepting those left by the Rev. Mr. Jowett, and the Rev. Mr. Williamson. Psalters are kept for sale, and are used in Schools. There are about 100 holidays besides the Sabbath. On these days, the people assemble, morning and evening, in the churches, for religious service Both in summer and winter, the morning service is performed by candle-light.

The college in this city was established, in its present form and govern ment, about five years since, when Mr. Bambas, the principal instructor, took the charge of the institution.There are, at present, 700 or 800 students, and 14 instructors- -one profes sor of Chemistry and Rhetoric-one of Mathematics--one of Theology, Geometry, &c.-one of the Turkish language one of the Latin and French, and nine teachers of the Ancient and Modern Greek. A considerable por tion of the scholars are young, and are instructed in the first principles of grammar: the higher classes are required to study Plutarch, Xenophon, Demosthenes, Plato, Herodotus, Pindar, and the Iliad.

T

Eagerness of a young Woman, in

Russia, to read the Scriptures.

Ir is customary, on the eves of the great Feasts in the Greek church, to read the Acts of the Apostles to the, people who are assembled in the churches. A young woman, in Kazan, had recently gone as usual; and, walking up and down, happened, as she passed the reader, to hear something that arrested her attention. She list ened; and the more she heard, the more did she feel interested, and was chained to the spot till the reading of the Scripture was finished. The following day, she went to the priest, and expressed her earnest desire to be permitted to read the book which she had heard read the preceding evening in church. He immediately took down the New-Testament; and, beginning to read the portion of Scripture which she had heard in the public service,

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Yes," ," she exclaimed, "these are the very words." She was now almost in an ecstasy; and, taking the New Testament home with her, she SAT UP TWO WHOLE NIGHTS, in order to read through the Acts of the Apostles. On returning the Testament, she delivered it

Remark on the Proceedings of Religi- into the hands of the priest, with

ous Societies.

[We extract, from the Missionary Regis. ter published in England, the following judicious remark concerning the proceedings at the anniversary meetings of religious societies.]

"WITH much pleasure we remark the increasing attention paid by the conductors of these meetings, in the resolutions brought forward, to the proceedings of the respective institutions during the year. Wherever it can be rendered practicable, it would be found highly beneficial to condense all expressions of thanks into one or two motions. Such grateful acknowledgement by the servants of Christ, for the aid rendered by their fellow-servants to the cause of their common Master, has the warrant of apostolical example; and may be rendered subservient to the increase of kind feelings and of Christian zeal: but its tendency to excess and to injury has been felt and lamented; and should be guarded against with care by all sincere Christians."

downcast looks and a strong degree of reluctance, which plainly intimated that she would have kept the volume if she might. Her joy may be conceived, when she was presented with the treasure which she prized so highly.

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