its diffusion amongst their countrymen. We have so often announced such intentions without seeing any thing beyond a prospectus, that we shall not be surprised to hear that this has also been placed in the tomb of the Capulets. We fear it is already there, for since the announcement little more than a murmur has reached us on the subject. That such a Society under good management would be of essential service no one can doubt would that the alumni of the several seminaries would be either stimulated by a desire to do good, or goaded by a sense of shame to attempt to give the light of knowledge to their countrymen. They shall have our best wishes and all the aid we can render.

16.-DEATH OF A NATIVE PREACHER AT BEERBHOOM.

(Extract of a letter from Rev. J. Williamson.)

"We regret to state that on Saturday the 3rd of March, Boloram our respected native preacher died of Cholera, immediately after his return with me from an extensive missionary tour throughout the surrounding villages. Our friend and brother Boloram was one of the best, and most useful native Christians we had-he was truly a good man, and considered by all who knew him to be an upright character. It was by his consistent conduct that he succeeded in gaining the esteem of all. We shall all feel his loss, but none more deeply than myself. In him I have lost both a companion and an assistant. For him to live was Christ, and to die gain.”

17.—Burmah, ARRACAN, Missions, and the War.

We have received a letter from our correspondent at Maulmain, dated February 23rd. He says in reference to the war.

"We are all quiet here at present, and I have very little idea that our quietude will be disturbed. His Burmese majesty, I suspect, has had time to cool since his bold stroke' for a throne. We are well prepared for a defence at Maulmain."

On the subject of Missions he writes as follows:

"Last Monday (the 20th) the American ship Rosabella, arrived at this port direct from Boston, bringing three Missionaries with their wives. The number of Missionary families now here is eight, including one on a visit to the Karens in the interior. In Rangoon there are two families, Mr. Abbott having just left for that station. In Tavoy and Mergui, four buildings are just being completed on the Mission premises here for the accommodation of a large school, in which I believe both the Burmese and Karen languages are to be taught. A Missionary is also stationed at Amherst, at the mouth of the river, who has devoted his labours to the Taliengs."

The Rosabella, was built expressly for Missionary purposes and it will be remembered was in this port last year with a cargo of Missionaries. We have much pleasure in quoting the following from the Maulmain Chronicle in reference to the intentions of her owners and the views it gives us of American feeling on the subject of slavery.

"We learn that it is the intention of the supercargo not to proceed to any other port, but to load his vessel here with such articles as he can procure suited to the American market, and that rice will constitute the chief part of his cargo. This is the first American vessel which has come here for the purpose of trade, and we most sincerely hope she will make a voyage in every respect satisfactory to her owners. Some fears are entertained that the rice will not be preserved without damage, during so long a voyage; should success, however, attend this first attempt, and should the article arrive in America in a fit condition for the market, it will afford, we understand, a reasonable profit, although sold at the same price as that produced in the Southern States. We are, indeed, inclined to believe,

that the people of the northern section of the United States regard slavery and slave-labour with so much pious abhorrence, that the simple fact of their being able to purchase the same kind of article produced by the aid of free-labour, would make it one of preference in the market. As our Government must be supposed to be interested in the commercial growth and prosperity of this place, we may suggest whether it might not adopt some measure for introducing here the same mode for preparing rice for long voyages as that used in Bengal; especially as no individual has appeared willing to engage in the undertaking."

From Arracan our intelligence is most encouraging. The greatest diligence appears to be pervading every department and many real improvements are about to be introduced into the province. A new plan of prisondiscipline to which we hope to advert in our next; rules and regulations for inducing Bengali emigrants to settle in the province, which from the following extract it would appear they are willing to do; plans for rendering the stations themselves more healthy and social, and last though not least, an ingenious and praise-worthy desire to put our Mugh subjects in good temper with our government, by amusing them without pandering to their vices. All these plans are now in progress and indicate more than a disposition to improve and render productive even Arracan. Amongst the local improvements is a jetty and sanatarium about to be erected at Akyab. This erection it has been reported will cost 15,000 rupees, and the expence animadverted upon by some person in one of the daily prints. The cost will not be 15,000 but 1,500, but even if it should have been 50,000 it would have been money well spent. From our personal knowledge of the station, the proposed erection from its healthy and bracing situation, will be the means of restoring health to many, especially poor sergeants and such persons as have not the means of seeking recovery of health by a trip to sea. We give the following extract from our correspondent's letter.

"The_whole_people of Arracan are making this a week of general rejoicing; I wish I could give you a detail of it. The chief cause is its being a period of 3 or 4 holidays which have been extended to 7; then the Poongee is to be blown up, and the Mughs, feeling more inclined for fun than usual, have literally asked permission to go mad for a week. It has been granted and such processions and paradings of streets with gongs and cymbals beating, colours flying, and men, women and children of all ages and degrees dancing, I never before saw or even heard of in this province. They have now been four days at it and not a single quarrel has occurred, and doubtless all will end well; we are trying to get up a Burmese play of which the people are amazingly fond, accompanied if possible, with a small attempt at fireworks. I believe a Mugh would at any time sell his birthright for a good tamasha. Be it our endeavour to gratify all to their hearts' content. The Hurkaru would be astounded at their alarming disaffection. I could write you a great deal on the state of the country' but I have not time: the gist of the argument would however be peace and prosperity, both being as wide spread as can reasonably be expected. The people of Chittagong are flocking down to us this season in large numbers, and when the grants of land are sanctioned the waste will be speedily taken up. All except the 1st class jungles which may remain untouched I dare say for a full century.'

18.-BOMBAY NATIVE EDUCATION SOCIETY.

The annual examination of the central schools of this institution took place on Wednesday, the 17th of last month. We had not the pleasure of witnessing it; but from our knowledge of the working, and actual results

of the English department under Messrs. Henderson and Bell, we are able to give our testimony to the great ability and success with which it is conducted, and also to testify to, what speaks volumes in favour of the teachers, the modesty and candour of the best instructed pupils in the religious inquiries in which, from time to time, as opportunities are presented us, we have been called to press upon their attention, and which form a favourable ground of contrast with what has been exhibited in the Hindu College of Calcutta, which is taught on the same general system. The following notice is from the Bombay Gazette.

"The chair was taken about 11 o'clock by the Right Honorable Sir Robert Grant, and the room was occupied by the principal members of our society, European and Native. We were glad to observe that a number of our fair country women graced the meeting with their presence.

"The proceedings were commenced by Lieutenant Thornbury, the secretary, who read a report of the Society's doings during the past year, and we are happy to understand that every thing has gone on very satis factorily. The institution was daily extending its sphere of usefulness, its missionaries were contributing to the extension of knowledge, far and wide throughout the interior, and its exertions seemed to be more and more prized by the native population of the Presidency. The different pupils then underwent their examination. Three young lads carried on a debate on the character of Cæsar and Cicero, highly creditable to their talents. Mr. Henderson, their teacher, stated that in arranging this discussion, they were totally unassisted by him, and derived their whole information from works on the history of these two great men. Others then went through their facings much to the astonishment of all present, who never expected to find so great a degree of proficiency in literature and science. Mr. Bell's pupils were rigidly examined by various gentlemen present, in arithmetic and mathematics, and acquitted themselves most admirably. Two circumstances were mentioned during the day that did the highest credit to several of the students, and show that along with their other acquirements, a spirit of generosity is spreading among the youth educated at this seminary, which it would be difficult to find evinced elsewhere among the native community. Two students possessing scholarships had voluntarily resigned the emoluments attached to them, and thereby enabled the directors to admit two extra scholars on West's foundation. Another lad to whom the two gold medals had been awarded on account of his general proficiency gave up one of them to the pupil nearest to himself in acquirements."

The meeting wound up by a neat and appropriate speech from the chairman, Sir Robert Grant, who delivered a highly deserved eulogy on the teachers, Messrs. Bell and Henderson, who had wrought so great an improvement on the pupils committed to their charge, and who by their zeal and talents, had so much extended the usefulness of the society.

19.-TRANSLATION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES INTO THE LANGUAGE of the PANJAB.

The American missionaries at Ludiana and Saharanpur are about to translate the sacred scriptures into the language of the Panjab.

20.-HAZARIBAGH.

From our correspondent at Hazaribagh we learn that the Temperance Society in the 49th already numbers upwards of 400 members. It is hoped that the government will sanction the establishment of a school for native youth in the neighbourhood in which the vernacular and English languages will be taught.

I-The Present Condition of the Negro Population in the British Colonies; particularly in relation to the working of the Apprenticeship System established under the "Act for the Abolition of Slavery."

This paper has been issued and circulated in Britain by the friends of the oppressed apprentices in the British Colonies, and as it shews a dispassionate and clear estimate of things as witnessed by humane and respectable persons, we have felt it a duty incumbent on us to give it a place in the C. C. O. that at least the prayers of every humane and pious mind may rise to the throne of the Eternal, for the liberation of these our unhappy, but yet immortal, fellow-beings.-ED.

Ever since slavery was abolished by law, and a system of apprenticeship introduced into our Slave Colonies in its stead, the attention of the friends of the Negro race, has been earnestly directed to the proceedings which have been taking place there; and no exertion has been spared in scru tinizing the evidence collected. The result of this scrutiny was, that the Committees of the Anti-Slavery Societies became so fully convinced, that the interference of the British people had become necessary to put a stop to the enormous oppressions which seemed daily to be increasing, that they determined to call a Public Meeting in Exeter Hall, in May, 1835. The proceedings of that Meeting, led to the appointment of a Committee of the House of Commons in the following year, to " Inquire into the working of the Apprenticeship system in the Colonies." Last autumn, some gentlemen, deeply interested in the subject, made a visit to the West India Colouies, in order that they might satisfy themselves by ocular demonstration, and personal inquiries on the spot, as to the real state of the apprentices. The gentlemen, who entered upon this interesting and important undertaking, were Mr. Joseph Sturge, Mr. Harvey, Dr. Lloyd, and Mr. Scoble. After remaining a short time at Barbadoes, the two latter gentlemen sailed for British Guiana, and the two former proceeded to Antigua, where complete freedom had been granted to the negroes, by the local legislature on the first of August, 1834. Mr. Joseph Sturge only has as yet returned. Iu the space of seven months, he and Mr. Harvey accomplished a journey of about 12,000 miles by sea and land, and visited, in Jamaica alone, between thirty and forty sugar, cattle, and coffee estates; VII.

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