regarding it in its aspect on the Missionary cause, in its bearing upon the evangelization of the eighty millions of Idolaters and Mahommedans over whom British rule and influence are paramount, it is of immeasurable moment. Viewing therefore the undoubted fact, evidenced in so many various ways, that professed Christians are becoming growingly alive both to the blessedness of real Christianity for themselves, and to their responsibility towards the heathen, we do truly "thank God and take courage." The signs of the times are many, and they are not, we confidently think, of doubtful interpretation. They indicate "the shaking of the nations," the tottering of the gigantic edifice of Hinduism equally in its atheistical philosophy, its corrupting superstitions and its abominable idolatries; they prepare us to look for the speedy springing of the mine that has long been preparing and which will, by the divine blessing, bury for ever, under their own rubbish, the whole pantheon of its 333 millions of gods, to be clean forgotten as dead men out of mind. We should hesitate to adventure into the arena of political speculation and prophecy; but no great stretch of foresight is, we think, required to anticipate with an unhesitating assurance that the day is fast approaching, in which the enslaving chains of caste itself shall be unwound and flung for ever from the minds and civil institutions of the passive Asiatic, the "unchanging Hindu;" when that glorious instrument of Almighty, Allwise and Allgracious Heaven for the emancipation of deluded minds, the enlargement and sanctification of sin-withered hearts, and the annihilation of all the countless miseries that have ever followed in the train of ungodly superstitions and idolatrous infidelity, the Gospel,-which has long since swept away the more refined and elegant mythologies of Greece and Rome,-will be found equally effective and final, in its application to the coarser absurdities, and more flagitious abominations, and more depressing cruelties of the Brahminical system.

But we must check ourselves or we should perhaps weary our readers in the very commencement of our new year's coursethough in truth, so much delight do these anticipations bring to our own minds, and we doubt not to the minds of all true Chris tians and these are the only true philanthropists,—that we could

dilate almost without end upon the glorious theme and prospects of the Gospel of Jesus; for it is that and that alone that is designed to be, as it ever has been, and is, and will be," the power of God unto Salvation to those that believe it,” even to the very "ends of the earth."

We must however satisfy ourselves with thus concisely adverting merely to the solid grounds that exist for a devout ascription of reverend and hearty praise to Almighty God for what has been effected-and to the encouragement thence derived to us for a more earnest, united and unintermitted recourse to prayer to the same omnipotent and all-benevolent source, ("from whom cometh down every good and every perfect gift,") that He would carry on his own merciful and holy cause and "fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power." We do then both most heartily congratulate our readers, and supporters, and Christian friends generally, on the evident indications that we shall soon see better things, and that ere long, in India; and also earnestly intreat every friend of man and of the Gospel-(for he who is TRULY the one is ever also the other)-to beseech the God of all grace to hasten the kingdom of his blessed Son in the hearts and over the lives of our yet blind, unholy and unhappy fellow-creatures and fellow-subjects; among whom we have but too long dwelt doing little or nothing, as a nation, for their restoration to the image and favour of their and our Creator, Father and Redeemer.

We are in no small measure grateful to our friends also, for their steady and increasing encouragement of our humble but earnest endeavours to render the Calcutta Christian Observer auxiliary, under God, to the advancement of His moral and spiritual reign. Accept then, dear readers and kind subscribers, this hearty assurance of our thankfulness for that support. To our numerous contributors is mainly due,of course, the increasing interest which has attached to our periodical. The high character for research and learning, or for doctrinal and practical piety, manifest in so many of the original papers that have appeared in our pages during the five preceding years, has been well sustained during the last. Much talent of no ordinary reach and solidity has been employed in adding to the value of our Indian periodical literature,

through the medium of the Calcutta Christian Observer,-talent which, we are confident, has been too well appreciated to require any laudation on our part. The great variety exhibited in the past year's contributions, has also much tended to throw interest into our pages.

We earnestly entreat a continuance of the same favors in the present year-favors without which we could not hope, for one moment, to maintain either the character of our periodical or the extent of its circulation. We reprint on the cover the list of subjects on which, in common with the Editor of the Bombay Christian Spectator, we solicit original papers-for it is rarely indeed that any others find admittance into our pages, and then only when pithy, important and short.

In regard to the last characteristic, we venture to repeat our urgent request that kind contributors would aim to be concise. The Indian reading public has either not sufficient leisure or not sufficient inclination to read lengthy treatises; it is most desirable therefore that the monthly articles should be made as many and as short as possible; not of course so rigidly so however, as to deprive us of valuable disquisitions occasionally that cannot, be compressed within very narrow limits.

We are happy to announce to our readers that we may with confidence expect such assistance from many old contributors, (to whom many new will we hope be added,) as will ably maintain the standing, in acceptableness and usefulness, of a periodical that may now be deemed, we think, permanently established.

During the past year another of our number-and one of the originators of this work-was compelled, by severe indisposition, to return to Europe. Our best consolation under our own loss, was derived from the knowledge that his past most unremitting exertions had been so essentially effective in the outset and early progress of the undertaking, as to render its subsequent failure little to be apprehended, supposing only ordinary diligence in maintaining its established character; that character has been hitherto, and we doubt not will still be, maintained. For ourselves we can religiously engage, that no efforts on our parts shall be wanting to this end-but to enable us to redeem the pledge, we depend altogether upon our contributors and our subscribers.

To these then we once again address ourselves. We may observe 1st, that the whole pecuniary responsibility of the work rests with the Missionary Proprietors; who, while engaged to sustain all losses, unaided by any others, yet derive no pecuniary advantage whatever from its success-the whole amount of profits, be they large or small, being devoted to the Calcutta Christian Tract and Book Society, for furnishing those indispensable aids to the general Missionary work.

To the Christian public therefore they look, not so much for any security to themselves, as for that support to this periodical by which the great cause of the Gospel will be so eminently advantaged. Nor is that cause itself more Catholic, than is the Society in question; which prints not a syllable of a controversial nature, but simply and exclusively such tracts and books as treat of and enforce our common vital essential Christianity, and support its claims against the many objections of idolators and unbelievers. Among its management, as among its contributors, are Churchmen and Dissenters, Episcopalians and Presbyterians, Baptists, both General and Particular, Independants, and in short some of all classes" who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity," and pray and labour for the spread of his kingdom, to the moralization, sanctification and happiness of our entire race.

But among an ever-fluctuating society, such as that of Europeans in India particularly, it is evident that unless the losses from supporters leaving the country are supplied by continual additions of new subscribers, all our efforts must prove finally abortive and we deeply regret to be obliged to state that, notwithstanding the large increase of subscribers during the past year, the contribution realized from the nett proceeds of the Observer, which we were enable to make over to the Calcutta Christian Tract and Book Society in 1837, was exceedingly small indeed. Now this is mainly attributable to bad debts! There is at this moment a very considerable amount due to the work, from persons who have either died or gone home without paying up their subscriptions. We would most earnestly entreat such well-intending individuals as may yet be in arrears, to aid our good and charitable cause and object, by promptly responding to this respectful but urgent call, and not to at

tribute it to either teazing importunity, or an unkind distrust, (as unworthy of us as of them,) but to the only true causeanxiety that a work should not fall to the ground which may not only prove so valuable an auxiliary to the cause of truth and the gospel among the heathen-as aimed at by the C. C. T. & B. S.-but which has been so eminently useful, we may honestly affirm, in circulating also much very valuable information on literary and scientific, general and religious subjects; and which has greatly aided, therefore, in the cause of native education and general improvement, (a cause that engages all suffrages) while it has promoted the interests of true religion among all classes. One peculiar advantage offered by the C. C. O. we cannot refrain from particularly remarking, and that is that it is a most effective medium for communication, with all parts of the country, and on matters of practical moment, not otherwise at all or not so promptly or not so extensively obtainable. To the Missionary it has proved specially serviceable in this way, as a ready channel for bringing within the reach of all the experience and observation of each. Many valuable papers would never have been written, or if written would have been lost to India and the world, but for the Calcutta Christian Observer, which has either drawn them forth or given to them" a local habitation and a name," a use and an efficiency, beyond the minds of the individuals from whom they proceeded.

The publishers hitherto, Messrs. Thacker and Co., deserve our thanks for the effective manner in which they have attended to the responsibilities of publication and transmission; and not from any the slightest dissatisfaction therewith, but solely from the wish, the necessity indeed, to economize, have the Proprietors transferred the charge of publishing and circulating the work, from the 1st day of this year, to Mr. G. C. Hay, the Depositary of the C. C. T. & B. S. No. 99, Dhurumtollah, Calcutta. Messrs. Thacker and Co. will still of course receive and transmit their Nos., if so desired, to any of the Mofussil subscribers who, having dealings with that respectable firm or in any other view, may prefer their channel. It is requested that all communications to the Editors henceforward, may be addressed to the care of Mr. Hay. It may be as well also to state, for ge