stood by them; and Mr. Bailey is in the constant habit of preaching to them, in their own language. The Scriptures are in a course of translation: several tracts mention ed in our last Report have been translated, and several more are in hand; and we believe that we may safely say, that any translations, either from Malayalim or English, can be effected here. Forty-two students are receiving instruction at the college: above thirty schools are established, containing upwards of eight hundred youths. The heads of the Syrian Church are pleased with what is going forward: and a knowledge of Syriac and Sanscrit is in the course of acquirement by the missionaries." They add:

"The Metropolitan wishes to subscribe to the Bible Society, to the amount of twenty rupees per year. The head Malpan also wishes to subscribe twelve rupees per year; and the Missionaries at Cotym sixty rupees per year. We wish it to be clearly seen, that the Syrian College loves the Bible.

"The Metropolitan is a man deserving of all honour; not only from his rank, but from his character: he is a wise man, and a humble man. He is the head, not only of the Syrian Church, but of the mission. Nothing takes place within the mission without acquainting him with it; nor is any thing allowed, to which he at all objects."

In concluding their review of this mission, the Corresponding Committee remark:

"The number of children of all classes, Christians and Hindoos, in the Society's schools, is between three and four thousand; and probably nearly as many more have successively quitted them for various employments in life, after acquiring, through their means, the rudiments of learning and some measure of religious instruction. The eventual consequences of early instruction of this nature must neCHRIST. OBSERV. APP.

cessarily remain for a long period, and perhaps in the majority of cases always, unknown: but it cannot be altogether unimpressive; and proof has been given, in several instances casually discovered at subsequent periods, of the beneficial effects of the instruction of our schools on the minds both of Christian and heathen youth. At most stations, institutions have been established, and are progressively improving in efficiency and in the compass of instruction afforded by them, for training up Christian youths, for the service of the church, and for schoolmasters. The Society's missionaries are engaged in translations of the sacred Scriptures, and in the compilation of works of Christian instruction, or of elementary learning. An efficient printing establishment has been formed at the Madras Mission, which has already produced a considerable number of tracts and portions of the holy Scriptures, and is in active operation."

Bombay and Western-India Mission.-The Rev. Henry Davies has succeeded in awakening among many persons in this presidency a zealous concern for the objects of the Society; and in the beginning of 1821, an association was formed. About ten mouths after the formation of this association, upwards of 3000 rupees had been contributed.

On the awful state of the native population of the vast regions of ludia, the Society have the afflicting testimony of the very highest authority. The Marquis of Hastings writes to the President of the Society:

"It will be gratifying to your lordship to learn, that the dissemination of instruction in this country proceeds extensively and rapidly. As the books prepared for the schools are expositions of the simple principles of morality, no other inculcation of which exists throughout India, there is reason to hope that the diffusion of those lessons 5 P

may be of much advantage to the native community. Had I not been in a position to ascertain it, I could not have believed that an immense, and in some particulars cultivated, population, was to be found so destitute of laudable qualities!"

Surely in such a dreadful condition of things among the hundred millions of our fellow-subjects in India, every man who understands the obligations and imbibes the spirit of Christianity, will hail with pleasure the efforts made to convert these myriads of perishing fellow-creatures from the error of their way.

Ceylon Mission.—A school-fund has been opened for maintaining and educating Ceylonese children, to be named by their benefactors. The Committee are prepared to receive the names of children, to be maintained and educated in Ceylon, at 51. per annum each, for six years. Many names have been sent for this purpose, by some zealous friends connected with the Bristol Association. The consideration of the degraded character of the people will commend this fund to public support. The Report contains many interesting notices respecting the state of schools and other particulars of the mission; but they are too detached to allow of abridgment.

Australasia Mission. The arrival of Sir Thomas Brisbane at the seat of his government promises much advantage to all exertions for the moral and religious benefit of the colony and the numerous islands to which it is a medium of access.

The seminary at Parramatta, for New Zealanders, has been for the present suspended; the change of habits and climate being found in jurious to the health of those islanders.

The painful events which have occurred within the sphere of the New Zealand Mission have been recently alluded to in our pages: we shall therefore content ourselves with extracting from the Re

port a few particulars bearing on the general subject.

Mr. Marsden met with many afflicting proofs, on his late journeys in New Zealand, that the allies and partizans of Shunghee were the great adversaries to the peace of the country. He found among the other chiefs, perhaps without exception, an earnest desire to live in peace. Near the Society's settlements, the aspect of things was very promising, before Shungbee's return. A missionary of another society, who visited the Bay of Islands, wrote to Mr. Marsden in March 1821

"Both settlements have made as much progress in civilization as could be expected. There is, I think, much encouragement to attempt schools; and to go round the island and preach, as soon as the missionaries have attained the language."

Mr. Butler writes, in the same month

"I bless God, that at this time we are living in the midst of this people, without any fear or apprehension as to our safety. All things wear a bright aspect. The savage customs and manners of the inbabitants of our district are much softened since we have been among them; and we possess both their confidence and esteem." But the return of Shunghee wholly changed the face of things. The great object of his voyage to England now appears to have been to increase his means of conquest over his countrymen. One of the settlers writes: "The greater part of the natives are gone with Shunghee to the river Thames, on a fighting expedition: it is believed to be the greatest party, and armed with the largest number of muskets, that ever went out of the Bay of Islands. It is their determination to destroy men, women, and children; the party to which they are gone not being able to stand in their own defence, for want of the same arms." Of the two young men, Tooi

and Teeterree, who conciliated the regard of so many persons in this country, the Committee regret that they have not a more favourable report to give. After a sixteen months' campaign, they brought back many prisoners, and many heads of those whom they had killed and eaten they made fearful havock; and they themselves say, that one ortwo more such desolating expeditions will exterminate the tribes which they attacked: such is the advantage which their fire arms give them.

At the date of the last advices, the unsettled state of the natives occasioned the delay of various plans for their benefit. The difficult circumstances of the mission had prevented that attention to schools which must prove, under the blessing of God, one of the main instruments of its success. It was, indeed, one of the evil effects of the disturbances, that the people became disinclined to send their children to learn any thing of the settlers. Shunghee declared that be wanted his children to learn to fight, not to read.

Cultivation was prospering, at the close of the year, at both settlements. Mr. W. Hall writes of Rangheehoo" I have a sufficient quantity of wheat growing to serve my house and family the year round, if nothing happens; besides several patches in different parts of the surrounding country among the natives." Mr. Butler says of the cultivation and buildings under his own inmediate care at Kiddeekiddee-" I have seven acres of wheat and six of barley and oats, growing at this time, all looking remarkably well. Our garden is full of a variety of vegetables, with many young fruit-trees, and an excellent bed of hops."

All the settlers concur in representing the field of labour in this mission to be vast indeed; and the prospect, until thus clouded and darkened, to have been highly encouraging. It has been shewn

that great numbers of the natives long earnestly for times of peace, and security, and are bent on availing themselves of the aid of Christians. The Committee are not, therefore, disheartened by present appearances; nor are the good

men who have offered themselves to this service. One family has lately embarked from England for this mission under the hope of a favourable change of circumstances; and another is preparing for the same destination. May the blessing of God rest upon their labours!

West-Indies Mission.-The last return of the schools with which the Society is connected in the island of Antigua, states that there are 1625 boys and girls under instruction. In the Barbadoes charity school, the number of children is 44 free boys, 25 free girls, 49 slave boys, and 25 slave girls; making a total of 143: and the managing Committee state, that they have placed to trades and other occupations 56 children, who have completed their education since the establishment of the school.

North-West America Mission.It has been before mentioned that the Society have established a new mission for the benefit of the Indians of North-West America. It has long been a subject of just anxiety, to better the condition of the inhabitants and native tribes of Indians in Hudson's Bay, and to afford them religious instruction. Some arrangements which have recently taken place, for the regulation of the fur trade, having restored tranquillity to all the country over which the Hudson's Bay Company have trading establisments, extendiug from Canada to the Pacific Ocean, and as far to the north as has hitherto been explored, opportunity is now afforded for every exertion; and all the parties who have influence in that country appear ready to render their cordial co-operation in the plans under consideration, for the extension of

religious instruction, civilization, and education over this immense extent of country. The Rev. Mr. West offered his services to the Society to establish schools; and the sum of 1007. was placed at his disposal for the year 1820,to enable him to make trial of the proposed plan. A letter from Mr. West, dated Red River Colony, June 4, 1821, states, that the Indians were willing to part with their children for the purpose of their being instructed; that he had several children under his care; that a school-house was nearly completed; and that many more children would be consigued to him, when the house was ready for their reception. The expense of provision for the children will every year be diminished, as the garden ground and land are brought into improved cultivation. The greater the number of children, the less will be the proportional expense. A hunter must,in the first instance, be attached to the establishment, in order to procure a supply of provisions. Twelve pounds per annum will be required for each child. A young man was taken out by Mr. West, who appears to have succeeded in his management of the Iudian children, and to have reconciled them to civilized life and habits of industry. Mr. Garry, a member of the committee of the Hudson's Bay Company, lately visited the Company's territories in North America; and had the satisfaction of witnessing the improvements which have taken place in the morals of the inhabitants, from the religious instruction which had been afforded; and there is every

reason to believe that the various plans in contemplation can be carried into effect.

Mr. West is now appointed superintendent of the mission; another missionary will be sent to his assistance; the schoolmaster just referred to has been received into the service of the Society; and such a number of Indian children will be maintained and educated as circumstances may allow.

this

In the nine missions of the Society which have now been surveyed, there are about forty stations, with a number of schools dependent on them. These stations are occupied by about ninety Europeans, who have been sent out from country to the different missions: of these thirty-two are ordained missionaries; twenty-four are the wives of missionaries; and the rest are teachers and settlers, male and female. Of native labourers, there are about one hundred and sixty; two of whom are ordained missionaries, and the others are readers, catechists, teachers, and assistants. The number of scholars, adults and children, caunot be exactly ascertained; but it appears, from the last returus, to be about ten thousand five hundred. "In various places," adds the Report, "churches have been built; and every year, converts are added to the Lord. The work is in truth, as yet, still but a work of preparation-except indeed in a few favoured spots, where the gracious out-pouring of the Holy Spirit has most strikingly shewn what blessed effects will follow wherever the arm of the Lord shall be revealed."

THE Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline introduce their Fourth Report with some interesting explanatory remarks, to the following effect.

The Society is not constituted for the amendment of the criminal code; nor have its labours been, in

any single instance, directed to this end. The Committee have hitherto scrupulously confined their exertions to the real objects of the Society-the improvement of prisondiscipline, and the reformation of juvenile offenders. Their attention has been occupied, not in a revi