of the Lord against, the mighty," for the prince of darkness reigns mightily in the hearts of the heathen of these parts of the earth. The Fort became an object of attention, not only because it was the residence of a Prince of the ancient Mabratta dynasty, but because a servant of God, (Swartz) had erected a Christian church in the very heart of heathenism. On attempting to enter this formidable place, which resisted the repeated attacks of the French General Lally, and only bowed to British power, we were thronged with bullocks and men in the zig zag entrance, and glad to get through the inner gate, which was guarded by the Rajah's troops, dressed in white, with broad swords and steel caps. They were good looking men, without ferocity. Regularity in building, or domestic conveniency and cleanliness, seem to be little thought of by the inhabitants of this Fort; and, beyond the palace, which is hid from the observer by a high black wall, and the pagodas, little is worth notice. The streets, such as they are, have a very mean appearance, and nothing seems so much cared for as embellishing the temples and places of superstitious cere mony. We at last came to Mr. Swartz's church, which is a modest plain building. Four plain pillars on each side divide nt into aisles, and in the middle one, at the end, stands the marble monument sent out from England. Next day service was performed in it, in the Malabar language, and a country priest, in while raiment, gave an animated discourse, a copy of which I requested him to give me. The massy pagodas next invited our attention, and we approached as near as the Brahminical policy would permit. In the chief pugoda is a very large figure of an ox, cut out of one solid block of black marble. Another pagoda stands near this, which was profaned and polluted by the French, and afterwards made a storehouse by the English; now it remains empty, as a monument of the folly and superstition of man. (To be continued.) The following extract of a letter from Messrs. HARVARD and CLOUGH, dated Columbo, May 30th, 1817, contains several important particulars, though of rather old date. The account of the young man, a native Cingalese, employed in the school at Colpetty, is interesting, not only as it shews the influence of religion on the mind of a native, in circumstances of considerable worldly temptation; but warrants the hope expressed by the brethren, that the work at Ceylon will ultimately furnish a considerable number of native missionaries, who may be most usefully eni ployed in the island itself, or on the opposite shores of the continent. We greatly rejoice, in this view, in the successes of our brethren in having been made instru ments in the conversion of several of the natives of Ceylon, priests and others, whose talents of various kinds promise, should the great Head of the Church choose to sanctify them for that purpose, eminently to qualify them to spread the knowledge of the Saviour Christ among their pagan brethren. Our Colombo circuit now includes a space of ground not less than 40 miles over. In respect to Colombo itself, we have been going on very charmingly since the opening of the Mission House. Every week we preach twice in English, once in Portuguese, and occasionally in Cingalese. On the Saturday evening we hold a public meeting; this, in the first place, was designed as a prayer-meeting, but the state of our congregation, particularly the Cingalese and Portuguese people, rendered it necessary for us to convert it into a kind of public catechising, On these occasions many, both old and young, attend; and in order to accommodate it to all classes, we conduct it in the English, Portuguese, and Cingalese languages; and this meeting promises very pleasing things, both among the young and aged inhabitants. In the first place it not only gives us an opportunity of communicating instruction to them in a way which we cannot do in public ser mons, but it brings us to a closer acquaintance with the people, and enables us to form better ideas of their situation; and then we are able to ascertain when any are fit to be formed into classes. Already, besides our English class in the Pettah, which is going on well, exactly on the same principles as those in England, we are now forming two others, one in Portuguese and another in Cingalese. Our English congregation is in general pretty large and respectable; it consists, however, principally, of young men, who are employed as clerks to Government in the different offices, as few besides those understand English. The expenses attending our public worship are rather great, as we are forced always to light up the chapel when we have service, and the doing it with oil necessarily occasions much trouble. However, the monthly collection which we have established about meets this expense. Our Portuguese congregation is the largest. This gives the females, and many of the aged men, an opportunity of hearing the gospel, who understand no other language, unless in a very few instances a little Dutch be spoken among them; and from among this class of people we hope to be able to communicate very pleasing intelligence. soon We have reason to fear, that in the most flourishing state of religion among the inhabitants of Ceylon, there was never much more than the name of Christianity; and, consequently, little, very little, of the inward power of godliness; and that when experimental religion is enforced, they either do not understand it, not having heard of such things before, or they treat it as strange things that are brought to their ears. However, the day of the Son of Man with power will fully decide all these points, and the dawn of it is already seen, and the arm of his salvation is beginning to be made bare. We are greatly encouraged at that spirit of ardent prayer which has lately been poured forth upon those who are in society with us; and we may truly say that our class-meetings, and assemblies at the table of the Lord, have been remarkable seasons to us all. We must now beg your kind and indulgent attention for a moment to a different, yet not less pleasing department of our work in this station-we mean our labours in the country among the nativeCingalese. We would just observe, however, that it has frequently been a source of pain to our feelings, that our numerous engagements in the town have not allowed us to spend so much of our time in the jungle as we wished. But from the faint ideas which you will be able to form of our printing concern, &c. &c. you will easily see that the absence of one of us from the spot, even for a day, is felt in some department or other. In the mean time we have been catching up every spare inoment to do what we could in the country, and the prospects which now present themselves among the natives are of the most pleasing kind. At Colpetty we have established a school, of which you have already had some particulars, under the kind patronage and assistance of Sir Alexander and Lady Johnstone, and the Hon. Robert Boyd, Sole Commissioner of Revenues. In this populous village there are several thousands of inhabitants; but notwithstanding it is in the very suburbs of Colombo, it has been greatly neglected. We have already a school of 158 children, boys and girls included, that are daily instructed in English and Cingalese; at the same time a strict attention is paid to their religious instruction. The order, and indeed the whole appearance of the Thus, you see, our native schools promise, (beside all other advantages which the people will derive from them) to raise up an army of native preachers, who will carry the gospel over every part of the island. But our school at Colpetty promises well in another way. It has always been the custom in this country to instruct the children, and conduct religious worship in the same place; and this we also do. Hence we go out regularly, and preach them two sermons in a week, one in Por tuguese, and another in Cingalese. And this is regularly, we hope, bringing the whole village under our influence. As it is only about a month since we began to preach to the inhabitants, we have only as yet seen, as the fruit of our labours, a good and an attentive congregation in a country Methodist chapel. And even this is not one of the least pleasing sights to us. The consequence of this establishment is, that the inhabitants of other villages are coming, and requesting that we will go and do the same among them. At a place called Morratte, about seven miles further on the Galle road, where there was lately a large government church built, we are going to begin a similar establishment. One native has promised to give us ground. The inhabitants have offered to build the school; and we have got another very pious young man, a native Cingalese, to take charge of it. This same young man has met in class some time: he was brought up under the care of brother Armour in the seminary at Colombo. At another place, called Pantura, about 15 miles on the Galle road, an establishment of a similar nature is already begun: and a fine clever young man, who also has been brought up under brother Armour in the seminary, volunteered to take charge of it. The young man has just left the Mission House to go to Pantura, from whence he only came yesterday, and he reports that the inhabitants have already built the school, and all is ready; so that, if all be well, brother Harvard and brother Fox intend to set out to-morrow morning, to visit those places, and set them a going. At both those last mentioned places the inhabitants have promised to place their children under our care. Thus we are, by slow yet regular and effectual degrees, gaining a permanent footing among the inhabitants. From this hasty sketch of our circuit you will be able to form some idea of our present situation, and also of the steps by which our cause must be raised. On the subject of Native Preachers, we are happy to have our views confirmed by the following extracts of a letter from Messrs. Carey, Marshman, and Ward, in the last Number of the Baptist Periodical Accounts, just published: "In addition to these, there are, labour ing in the same circle, a number of brethren raised up in the country, (the num ber of whom, blessed be God! is in creasing every year,) who, from their superior knowledge of their vernacular tongue, their intimate acquaintance with the habits and ideas of their countrymen, their being accustomed to the constaut fatigue of walking in a climate congenial with their constitutions, and a variety of other circumstances, are far more adapted for the work of making known and explaining the gospel to small groups of their own countrymen, than Europeans, and have been generally more successfu!. European brethren, indeed, while absolutely necessary to planting the gospel in India, far more resemble, in their work and their value, the great Evangelists who went forth from Judea--Mark, Silas, Timothy, Titus, and others: whose business it was to publish the word, plant churches, set things in order, and, from among the native converts, ordain elders in every city. True, they are not, like them, endued with miraculous gifts; but their superior knowledge of the gospel, their steadiness, and energy of mind, supply precisely what is lacking in native converts; over whom these qualities, combined with meekness of wisdom, give them a commanding influence of the most salutary nature, and fit them for becomin When the ex respectively the soul of a missionary system, to the incalculable advantage of the cause of God in the East. This eminently suits with their fewness, and with the increased expense necessary to support Europeans in a country and climate so different from their own. pense of a house, a conveyance, &c. is considered, it will not appear strange that the sum absolutely requisite for a European brother, particularly with a family, should be sufficient to meet the wants of twenty native brethren; who, under due direc tion, might itinerate through a large district, and furnished by their European brother with tracts and books of the Scripture, might soon fill every corner of it with general knowledge. And whether one brother thus acting as the directing intelligence of twenty native brethren, accustomed to the climate, and thoroughly acquainted with the idiom, habits, and ideas of their countrymen, would not be likely to do more than two European brethren alone, it is easy to judge. Twenty European brethren, placed in as many different provinces of India, and thus encircled with native brethren, would go far, in a course of years, towards diffusing that general light throughout the whole of the contineut, which might prepare the way for the coming of the Redeemer's kingdom in its fulness and glory." Extract of a Letter from Mr. JOHN CALLAWAY to the COMMITTEE, dated Mature October 15, 1817. Since my last communication no very material alteration has taken place in our plan of proceeding. In several instances, however, our sphere of usefulness has been considerably enlarged; and though we have been exercised in various ways, God has evidently favoured us with many tokens of his Divine blessing. On looking over my journal, I observe an account of an excursion into the interior, within a short distance of the Kandian limits, undertaken by myself and colleague, and which you will perhaps deem somewhat interesting. About half the distance we went by water. The boats in use here draw but little water, as their bottoms are flat. We passed the first night on the water in the boat. I believe our situation was rather dangerous, in consequence of the fall of several showers of rain; the shed in the boat, formed of cocoa-nut leaves, being a slender protection. The next morning we took a little refreshment on the bank of a river. Hav. ing by me a copy of "O for a thousand tongues to sing," in Cingalese, I desired a man to take a copy of it for the people, which he transcribed immediately. After sailing a few miles further we disembarked, and went the remainder of the journey by land. The road cannot be travelled by horses. In many places it is with the utmost difficulty that a person can climb over the rugged hills. One mountain has a very steep and exceeding rough path for about a mile. We sometimes walked, and were sometimes carried in chairs with pieces of bamboo tied by their side. It was highly pleasing to observe the coolies (a cast or tribe of men whose business is to carry burdens,) readily entering into a religious conversation. They were Budhists, and had scarcely heard of Christianity before. The badness of the road would sometimes cause an interruption in the conversation, but the poor men freqnently begged afterwards to hear some more of this good religion. In some points they remarked it was not contrary to the system in which they had be brought up. The country, especially the vallies, evidently proved that much attention had been paid to cultivation. The hills are numerous and lofty, and generally in a state of nature. Only three or four heathen temples came within our notice on the road; and not many dwell ing-houses. In the corn fields were sticks, placed in different spots, with leaves like ribbons on their tops. On inquiry, I understood, that these portions of the helds were reserved for offerings to those devils who suffered the corn to grow without molestation. The end of our excursion was a most delightful spot, the residence of a kind magistrate, who wished us to pay the place a visit. The air is particularly cool and pleasant. The people are generally of the Wallallah or farming cast, and all heathens. Professedly they are worshippers of Budhn, but in fact are strongly attached to Pattene, Catteragamme, &c. There is a temple of smaller dimensions than some I have seen, in one of the finest situations imaginable. Abana Mandua, or a temporary building, stands near it, where discourses are delivered to the people by the priest. Their marriages are mostly contrived by the parents of the parties, and are celebrated in the Cingalese manner, but are dissolved if they cannot agree. Incest, it is said, is quite common. They have no diseases peculiar to that part of the country. The surgeon is a smith, and a priest the apothecary. The smith once amputated an arm, and lately cured a fracture, with great dexterity. They have devil dances, &c. just as in other places. They are said to delight in quarrelling, and are frequently engaged in law-suits. A small fort, in ruins, is on a hill in the neighbourhood, built by the Portuguese. The distinction of caste is strictly kept up, though they are rather careless about the privileges and prohibition in point of dress. Some persons are now living there full 100 years of age. The Magistrate directed the inhabitants to attend. We had his court-house pretty well filled, and a good number stood on the outside. They were very attentive indeed during the service; and I trust the seed sown will, by the Divine blessing, spring up and bring forth fruit. We have been enabled, within the last few months, to do something in the school department, for the instruction of of native children. Those schools, which have been established longest, exhibit, in a pleasing manner, the abilities of the children. Some scores of children, who, six or eight months ago, were in the most deplorable state of vice and ignorance, can now read and write, and have learnt Mr.Wesley's Catechism, which was translated and printed for their use. They can also repeat the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, ten Commandments, and several prayers, in a manner that would not disgrace any school-boys in England. Some of the best scholars read the New Testament, and learn Mr. Wood's Catechism; and several can spell and read English a little. Their parents and others inform us that the children avoid lying and swearing, evils to which they were once notoriously addicted, and are now obedient to their superiors, and kind to one another. In some schools we have between 40 and 50 boys; in others less. The present season, however, is unfavourable, on account of the incess.nt rain. We have just had such showers as I never witnessed in my life before; and many of the children are gone into the country for a time. We lately commenced a school in a population altogether heathen, and had an interesting day. A congregation assembled, composed of several hundreds of men, women, and children. They listened to the word with much attention. I suppose the greater part never heard a sermon before. We afterwards formed a school there; 100 boys and about 50 girls attend. In a few days we propose paying the place another visit. I would not have you suppose that the formation of schools is without its difficulties. In some cases the high-cast children do not like to attend if the lowcast children are instructed. I suppose it will be sometimes necessary to have distinct schools for them. It is really affecting to consider to what extent the prejudice of cast is carried; yet nothing is to be found in the writings of Budhu, it seems, which gives it countenance. The people, in fact, are mostly dissenters from Budhism, and are attached, in a much stronger manner, to imaginary deities, of a ten-fold worse description than Budhu. In some places the parents are quite insensible to the advantages of religious instruction, particularly with regard to their daughters, but in other places they know better. I have the strongest confidence, however, that God will graciously open our way to the people and to their hearts, while we simply look to him for his continual blessing on our feeble efforts. The schools at a short distance assemble together on Sunday evenings, and, altogether form a good congregation. We have partly translated and partly compiled, inCingalese, Mr. Wesley's Abridgement of the morning and evening prayers af our excellent Liturgy. I believe it will be rendered a great blessing to the people, and especially to the school children. In my last letter I had the pleasure to inform you of our having formed a class of Cingalese women. I have now the pleasure to send you an old class-paper. You will perceive with what regularity the people meet, and that we are introducing our discipline as prudently as we can. Praise the Lord, since the class began to meet we have had but little to do among them in the way of reproof or correction, but have been chiefly employed in "instruction in righteousness." Our souls are often edified and refreshed when we assemble. They are evidently in good earnest for the kingdom of heaven, and their general conduct is praiseworthy. About half of them were professed heathens when they first attended Cingalese preaching; several of whom have been baptized by me, and two or three, you perceive retain their heathen names, not having been yet baptized. Some of the people tell us they used to be always kept poor when sickness hap pened in their family, by giving donations to astrologers, dancers, charmers, and persons of that description, who. sadly impose on the ignorant. The manner in which their invocations are written before they are fastened on the body of the wearer, evidently proves the manu facturers to be a set of illiterate wretches. We have also a small class composed of those who speak the Portuguese language; some account of which I hope to forward at a future day. I need not enlarge respecting the mode in which we spend our time; as an accu-> rate conception of this may be formed from what I have already stated. We have, regularly, preaching in English, Portuguese, and Cingalese, besides classmeetings, &c. We thankfully embrace such providential openings as the Lord of the harvest is pleased to set before us.-: Though our sanguine wishes and earnest: prayers have not been always answered in the mauner we expected, yet in whatever way we turn our eyes, we see much to encourage us, much to humble us, much to make us thankful. "Hitherto, hath the Lord helped us." SOUTH AFRICA. Mr. Suaw having been lately at Cape Town, waited upon his Excellency the Governor, who continued to express his approbation of Missionary efforts among the heathen, and gave liberty to Mr. Shaw to form a new settlement among the bastard Hettentots, about two days' journey from Kamies Berg, the present station. my arrival at the Kamies Berg," says Mr. Shaw, "I began to teach them the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, and to take means for the erection of a "On |