station, and whilst it is creditable to the industry of the brethren who have been employed there, shews how necessary are the qualifications of pati ence and a persevering spirit in Missionaries to the heathen, and those who support them. This is the seed time, and the work assigned to us is to sow plenteously. A plenteous harvest will be reaped, for such is the tenor of the promises of God; but when, must be left to him to whom belong "the times and the seasons." It may be later than the expectations of some, and soouer than the period fixed by the fears of others. THE SITUATION of Negombo is about 22 miles N. of Colombo, and is both healthful and pleasant, as much so as any station in the island, and certainly pre. sents a wide field of prospective usefulness. The POPULATION is very great for such a place; it has been estimated at 20,000, but this it is supposed is rather over the mark, and perhaps it is more accurate to say, that it is about 15,000. The people are Malabar, Cingalese, and Portuguese; it is rather question able which of the two former are the most numerous. With regard to the RELIGION of the inhabitants, I believe they are generally Mahomedans or Roman Catholics, but a comparative few calling themselves Protestant Christians; and truly those who do, have nothing of Christianity but its name; open idolatry, gross superstition, or the most lax indifference to all real religion, envelopes the whole. There are three Roman Catholic churches in the neighbourhood, a Mahomedan place, a Budhist temple, and three native churches or schools, two of them complete ruins. To these the people occasionally resort, especially on their festivals; but the effect of their religion, is best gathered from the state of their MORALS, which are in general most depraved. The Mahomedans, however, are far from being the worst in this respect, for they do maintain generally more out ward decency of deportment. Their chief vices appear to be the blindest ignorance conceivable, and a love of gain, which leads them to the lowest arts of knavery and cheating, in order to increase their wealth. With the Cingalese people it is worse; confessedly idolaters, with few real exceptions, they have no moral restraint to the worst passions of our nature, and hence, neither murder nor adultery are uncommon among them, and they seem to think little of the most abo. minable vices. They are absolute slaves to the most furious anger and deep malice, though to Europeans they are servile and timid to a proverb; and hence it is, I suppose, that one of the most distinguish ing traits in the Cingalese character is, systematic cunning and studied deceit. Quarrelling and swearing, lying and drunkenness, are sins of open day, and so + shockingly common, as to be almost unnoticed by those accustomed to see them, The Portuguese people are generally better taught, and so of course, raised much above either of the former in most things. They are doubtless most demoralized by habits of indolence, which naturally induce a slothful inactivity of mind; there seems in them not the least relish for mental improvement, and very little for religious knowledge; passionately fond of worldly pleasure, such as dress, dancing, cards, &c. they find their chief employ ment in these things when they are not on their couches. They have much of that sort of pride, which is manifested in keeping them even from a place of worship, if they cannot appear, according to their views, respectably; this is a great bar to their improvement. The religion which they generally profess, leaves them at liberty (it should seem) after mass, to break the sabbath with impunity, for it is quite common to see them on the Lord's day, making clothes, shoes, &c. in their virandas! The heathens do no more. Respecting the means employed by the mission for the improvement and conversion of these various people, these had their rise in the establishment of a school of about 60 boys, by our Colombo brethren, about the beginning of 1817, which has flourished greatly under the tuition of a young man, who himself was instructed in the Colombo mission school, and also in occasional visits and preaching by the brethren. Since the station has been occupied, nine more schools have been added to the original one, within a circuit of about 21 miles in circumference, which afford the benefits of Christian instruction to between 4 and 500 children of both sexes, of various ages, and of all descriptions, whether of Cingalese, Malabar, or Portuguese origin. The preaching of the gospel is likewise offered to all; in Tamul, occasionally, in the Bazar, (as of course the Mahomedans will come to no place of Christian worship;) in Cingalese at all the country schools, and also at the station, (where there is now regular Sunday service in that language ;) in Portuguese twice in the week to that people; and in English once, to the few who understand it. The different congregations are very variable; it may be said from 10 to 100, but seldom more than 20 or 30, except on particular occasions; and in the Bazar, a small class has been formed of about eight members, which meets every Monday, and is formed of two Malabars, two Cingalese, two Portuguese, and two Europeans. All the Cingalese and other school-masters, are met every week likewise in a sort of catechetical class, for even these have to be instructed in order to instruct. The sacrament of the Lord's supper has been regularly administered to about six persons, of whom I hope, to say the least, that they are not far from the kingdom. I have, under the gracious blessing of God, (as the people were most deplorably ignorant of the Scriptures,) translated the New Testament, for the Portuguese people, some of which I hope soon to see dispersed among them; as our brethren are printing from it, the Lord's sermon on the mount. Perhaps it may be offered as one excuse for their indifference, that they have hitherto been wholly without the Scriptures in their own tongue, and few of them can read any other. Such is the Mature of the climate here, and such its effects on the European constitution, that the blessed system of itinerating from village to village, cannot be attended to as at home, or doubtless much more good would be the result. A European cannot walk with safely in the sun long, and going in a palanquin is attended with much inconvenience and expense; a gig or bandy, caunot always get to our schools, &c. in the jungle, where there is seldom more than a very narrow footpath; that natural obstacles are not a few. I walked into the country till I could walk no more, without great imprudence and hazard; but should the Lord raise up some native preachers among us, we may reasonably expect great things, and "His arm is not shortened." I could now have preaching at five or six places at one time, in and about Negombo, had I people to send, but how can one person supply more than one place at one time; should the cause prosper here under the hand of God, there should certainly be two Missionaries, one to the Malabar department alone. The PROSPECTS of success on this station must be looked for at present principally among the schools; for it appears as if religion must be planted and grow up with them, to take any permanent root. The most sanguine expectations from the sinking generation, (as they may truly and awfully be called,) are enervated by stubborn facts. Such is their rooted apathy, and absolute indifference about their souls, (where they know that they have souls) and such is the state of abject mental slavery in which they are held, to their equally ignorant superiors or head-men, that it sometimes staggers the faith of those, who are nevertheless labouring day and night for their conversion. However, there are such prospects as ought by no means to be given up in despair, and especially on so short a trial. "With God nothing shall be impossible,” and when He is pleased to pour out of His Spirit upon this benighted place, there will be a harvest indeed, for the people are many, though the labourers are few. The late Budhist priest, Benjamin Parks, is, as you will perceive by the minutes, placed with me on this station; concerning him, I can say at present, that he is, to the best of my knowledge, strictly moral, and professedly seeking salvation through Jesus Christ; he meets with us in our class, and I believe him to be very sincere; he conducts a small school in the neighbourhood. Extracts from the Fourth Number of the Quarterly Correspondence of the Brethren in Ceylon with each other, From Mr. Harvard;-Colombo: It is a satisfaction to report that our usual routine of work has been punctually attended to, throughout, in the last quarter; and we feel that our Master IN with us. Notwithstanding that I still labour under the disadvantage of preaching through an interpreter in the Cingalese, yet I have felt in the last quarter an increaslng sweetness and unction, while addressing our native congregations. There can be no doubt the Lord is working among them; and we begin to notice an apparent stability in the attendance of many adults on the Cingalese services, which leads us to published in July, 1818. anticipate, with believing joy, the establishment of a good cause among them. Several heathens are in a course of instruction for baptism; and several have been baptized during the quarter, who have at least an understanding and reverence of the faith which they have voluntarily espoused. For many reasons we have judged it adviseable to divide our Pettah Class into two, and to make a separate one for Portuguese, and another for Cingalese. The latter meets on a Thursday morning at seven o'clock, and the former at seven in the evening of the same day. I expect this will remove a hindrance out of the way of our Cingalese members, and lead to their profiting more deeply from this blessed means of grace; as, on the former plan, those who do not understand the Portuguese, were necessarily uninterested, while we were speaking to our other friends in that language. average number is from forty, sixty, and eighty, to a hundred, on a Sunday evening. There is seldom a congregation in Colombo, which exceeds this number, in any place: though we have many fellowlabourers, who are doing their utmost to engage the attention of the people, in various languages. As yet, the Spirit of God is not poured out, as we are led to hope and believe it will be. The little English congregation in the Fort, continues to be well kept up; and the Society preserves its peace and purity. We often have very refreshing seasons, in administering to them the Word of life: and of those of the members, who are in the interior, we hear, from time to time, good accounts. The Portuguese congregation has for some time appeared to grow more steady. Our average number is from eighty to a hundred, on a Tuesday evening. I often feel much blessed in this service. We have evidence that the word is "quick and powerful," to many; and cannot help concluding that the adorable Jesus is making his way into the hearts of a few. "O Lord, let thy work appear unto thy servants." The week before last, I com One informs me, that among the Coast menced preaching in the Fort, in Portn- Coolies, at present on military service in guese; and had a congregation of between the interior, he has met with a native forty and fifty. It is my intention to Protestant, from Madras, who knows a continue this, if the people shall continue little English. He speaks of him as very to manifest a disposition to hear, A poor pious, and as being remarkably well acwoman, who came with her family to hear, quainted with the Sacred Scriptures: on that occasion, having since been sum- and adds, that he has built a small shed moned into a world of spirits, has tended of cocoa-nut-leaves, in the jungle, near greatly to confirm this intention. At the their barracks, and that he, and his request of her husband, I buried her, on Brother-Christian, the Cooly, and another Sunday last, in the Pettah burial ground. religious friend, regularly retire to it, for pious exercises, whenever duty allows. The English congregations in the Pettah, are not larger than usual. Our BOMBAY. Extract of a letter from Mr. HORNER, to Mr. BUNTING, dated May 25, 1818. UNDER all the disadvantages attending a Mission in Bombay, such as the exorbitant dearness of every article of living, the absence of high official patronage, and the general disinclination of Europeans to countenance it, I consider it, notwithstanding, a good situation; as well, on other accounts, as for it's central position, and the facilities for learning the languages of the neighbouring countries, such as the Guzerattoo, Hindoostanee, and Mahratta, spoken respectively in the north and east, the Hindoo. Portuguese, used all round the coast, from Surat to the Ganges, and the Persian, the importance of which to Europeans appears daily more and more considerable. One principal trait in the character of the Hindoos, is, that they are close and reserved in things belonging to their religion; they do not like to have it examined by a foreigner; and another is, they are in general quite unconcerned to know what are the customs or forms of worship adopted by any people but themselves. Bombay is, in some degree, an exception: knowing that Missionaries are not in the pay of government, (I have often been asked the question, and have always given a plain and decisive answer,) and that there is no danger of their being forced to change their modes of worship, and so on, they will sometimes allow us to look on at a respectful distance, and will enter into conversation on the peculiarities of the Christian religion, &c. As an instance of the latter, I will transcribe from my Journal a conversation that took place a few weeks ago, between two young Hindoos and myself; one of them understands enough of English to read the Testament; he brought written on a bit of paper, Rom. vi. 23. and immediately began: Hindoo. "The wages of sin is death;" what does that mean? Missionary. "It means that men die because they are sinners." H. "What, all men die; therefore all men are sinners ?"-M. "Yes; if any man never had any sin in him, and had never committed it, such a person would never die, but would live for ever." -H. "Your Shaster says that Jesus Christ died; was HE therefore a sinner?"" -M. "No; He had no sin in him at all, and yet he died that he might purchase pardon for the sins of others."-H. "For whose sins?"-M. "For the sins of all men.”—H. “Then are the sins of all men pardoned?"-M. "Not so; God pardons the sins of all who pray to him in the name of Christ Jesus; but some people are so proud and obstinate that they will not pray, and therefore God lets them alone, and when they die, they go to hell." -H. "Your Shaster says that Jesus Christ is God; then cannot you pray to God without praying in the name of Jesus Christ"-M. "God will not answer our prayers except we rely upon the merits of his son Jesus."-H. Were there no people before Jesus Christ was born?-M. Yes; the world was inhabited 4000 years before.-H. Had they no Saviour, then? -M. Jesus Christ was their Saviour; he is "the Saviour of all men."-H. But they died before he was born, and how could he be their Saviour?-M. Many years before Christ came, God had promised that he should be the Saviour of the world; and all that would take his name, whether before or after his coming, should be saved.-H. What is it to be saved?M. It means, first to have our sins forgiven; then to be made good in the mind; and lastly, to go to heaven when we die.-H. God can do what he will, but man knows nothing about it? M. If God did not tell him, he could indeed know nothing about it; but in our Shaster he has told us all that is necessary to be known.-H. Who composed your Shaster? Here I referred to 2 Tim. iii. 16, and 2 Peter i. 12, and explained them.) They asked a number of other questions, which I do not perfectly remember: at parting, we were all mutually gratified, -they at having their questions answered, and I at discovering in them so much curiesity about the truths of the only gospel. May their curiosity become the means of bringing them to a saving acquaintance with God and his Son Jesus Christ, whom to know is life everlasting. Amen. I was highly gratified on receiving the Stations of last year, to see that another The Mahratta Phrase nam ghenu, though literally translated by our English "to take the name," implies a great degree of religious dependence. Missionary was to be sent to this Station. May he be preserved from the perils of the sea, and be brought in the fulness of the blessings of the gospel of peace. I have for a long time felt the disadvantage of being alone; and though blessed with a partner in life, whose views and feelings respecting the Missionary work perfectly accord with my own, I have at times felt the want of that stimulus, which the counsel and assistance of a fellow-labourer would have given. Not that I feel the slightest disinclination to the Missionary cause, for I hope to live and die in it: but in a place like this, where the expense and consequently the responsibility are so great, and the expectations of our friends and supporters at home proportionably high, many proofs may be given that "two are better than one: this I hope soon to experience in the arrival of my colleague. The heat just now is excessive, and very trying to the constitution; nothing more than light cotton dresses can be borne, and one is frequently obliged to change 3 or 4 times a day. We have been favoured with good health in general ever since our arrival in India: the climate of Bombay is not as unhealthy as many other places. I lately had the melancholy pleasure of committing to the earth the remains of a Missionary from the London Missionary Society, Mr. Donaldson. He was a young man, of a most amiable disposition, and lively piety; he had been in India only six months, but finding the air of Surat did not agree with him, came to Bombay, and here, in my house he died. He was filled with strong consolation during the last sickness, and often expressed his assurance of the love of Christ to him "a guilty sinner." One is ready to ask why did the Providence of God permit him to come 12,000 miles from home, and immediately die? Perhaps one design may be, to teach us who are employed in the same work, whatsoever our hands find to do, to do it with our might; for at a time when we are least aware, the Son of man may come. May it answer this and every other intended end. SOUTH AFRICA. The following very interesting extracts are from a letter from Mr. SHAW, to his Father, with which we have been favoured by Mr. ENTWISLE. It contains extracts from his Journal; dated Leelie Fontien, March 27, 1818. January 28. DURING the last week our people cheered us with songs in the night; the Lord doubtless tuned their hearts. On hearing several voices at a distance, I arose from my bed, and opened the window, when all around resounded with the high praises of God. O how delightful! All nature seemed to favour the song. The moon shone with her borrowed splendour, the glittering stars twinkled in their spheres,-the jackals and wolves made no disturbance, and the everlast ing rocks gave echo to the sound, and raised the charming melody. The music was so sweet, that at the time I supposed I had never heard any thing so delightful. The company of those who sung consisted of about thirty, who also joined in prayer. They sung from hut to hut, calling upon the master of each to engage in prayer. Feb. 8. Some of the children who have evinced a work of grace upon their hearts, desired that they might have a time set apart when they could come together in the chapel, in order to pray one with another. Their time was appointed between the hour for dinner and afternoon service. A goodly company of them met together, (it being the Sabbath,) and sung those hymns which they had learnt. 14. Rode to a farm about 12 miles distant, where I had promised to preach to as many as were willing to hear. A short time after my arrival, a large company of our people made their appear. ance; at this I was glad, as they greatly assisted in our singing, and rendered the service far more acceptable to those unaccustomed to Divine worship. All seemed attentive this evening, while I was speaking from the account of the woman of Canaan who called after Jesus. My lodging room was not the most comfortable, but I was quite satisfied therewith, as I was sure it was the best the people could give. 15. Being the Sabbath, I spoke about 9 o'clock in the morning to a house full of people. Many Bastard Hottentots were there present, who appeared willing and desirous to learn and know the things of God. After service I found my people were busy conversing with those strangers respecting the gospel method of salvation, so that even Namacquas run to and fro, and knowledge is increased. After service a Boor's waggon came; his wife, a son, and daughter therein, I suppose, were come to borrow tea, coffee, &c. as the waggon belonging to this place had just arrived from Cape Town. After dinner I thought of calling for my horse, and riding home; but I saw so many people scattered about as sheep having no shepherd, that my conscience would not allow me to depart. I therefore took my seat under the roof of an old house, the walls of which had fallen, (so that it was only supported by posts,) it being much more cool than in the dwelling house, and spoke again. The Boor's son sat on a stone a short distance therefrom, not being sufficiently humble to sit in the same place with Bastards and Hottentots; his mother and sister looked out of the door of the dwelling-house on hearing us begin to sing, but did not come, because, to use their common expression, "The English man has made the Namacquas too wise." That is, the Namacquas will no more exchange their cattle for brandy, tobacco, &c. as formerly, nor will they believe the idle stories of the Boors respecting Missionaries being sent to gather the heathens together, and then send them as slaves to another land. 22. This evening my youngest interpreter (Jacob) preached in the Dutch language. As in all probability he will be sent to the Bushman-land in a few weeks, I thought it necessary to hear from him something which I could understand. He read by way of text, Matt. xx. 29,30; the account of the blind men near Jericho. The following are some of the ideas and expressions made use of on the occasion, which I took down as they fell from his lips, which, (considering his former ignorance of the gospel, and his present comparative inability to speak in the Dutch language,) I consider very satisfactory. I. We here read of two blind men, men whose eyes were closed, so that they could see nothing-we must recollect that we are also blind by nature, and in this state we know not the things of God-our first parents having sinned, we are also sinful-this sinful nature is communicated from father to son, &c. It is communicated as an inheritance, which proceeds forth to all generations. You sometimes ask, "how is that, that we can be sinful by the sin of others?" I answer, your sheep bring forth no goats, neither do your goats bring forth sheep. It is so with mankind, the parents being sinful, the children begotten by these parents are also sinful-these children having a sinful nature, soon begin to commit actual sin. Thus it is that all have sinned-we are by nature blind by sin. II. We read that those blind men were sitting on the road where Jesus camethey had doubtless heard of Jesus, how he had healed the sick, &c; they believed that Jesus could help them-they therefore called, "Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on us." Though the other people told them to be still, they would not, but called so much the more, "Jesus, thou Son of David, &c.' We now sit in the way where Jesus is passing by, we hear what Jesus has done for sinners, we bear from the gospel that he forgives sin, let us cry to him, let us cry, "Jesus, thou Sen |