The Board has increased reason for gratitude to God, that the steps of its missionaries were directed to Ahmednuggur. For, although the ground was entirely new, as was indeed true at all the stations in the Mahratta country,—and therefore much preliminary work was necessary in gaining access to the native mind, yet there is cheering evidence that our labor is not in vain in the Lord. Some of the leading facts in the gospel are becoming extensively known.

On the 13th of April a promising young brahmin was baptised, and on the 5th of May an elder brother of the same family. The name of the former is Harripunt. He is of a highly respectable family in Ahmednuggur, and is connected with the principal brahminic families in the place. He had been three years in the service of the mission, and two years superintendent of the free schools in Ahmednuggur and the villages in the vicinity. He had all along been moral, and respected for his character, and for months before making a public profession of his faith, had been convinced that idolatry is vain. Although timid and fearful of the consequences, he at last took a decisive stand on the side of his conscience and the truth, which he has been enabled to maintain, notwithstanding the entreaties of his mother, and the fierce opposition and abuse he received from his sect. His hope and joy as a disciple of the Lord Jesus commenced with the present year. His elder brother was a schoolmaster. His resolution to follow in the steps of Hurripunt was adopted in February.

In consequence of these things, the brahmins held a great council, and decreed that none of their caste should engage in the service of the mission, or send children to the schools, or even visit the houses of the missionaries, on pain of expulsion from the order. Three of the schools, consisting principally of brahmins, were at once suspended, and the pundits and several of the teachers left the mission. But after a few days, all was quiet again, and several of the brahmins returned, and some new ones offered their services. Neither of the suspended schools had been revived, and two of the village 'schools had gone down, and two others were in a doubtful position. Objection was made to the books used in these schools, that they were so full of the name of Jesus Christ. The people said that if the mission would only substitute the name of God for that of Jesus Christ, they would cease objecting to the books. Of course the substitution was not made.

In September of the last year, there were seven common schools connected with this station; twenty girls in the female boardingschool, and about fifty boys, who are also boarding-scholars in the seminary. Messrs. Boggs and Ballantine preached alternately at the station in the native language on the Sabbath.

MADRAS MISSION.

ROYAPOORUM.-Miron Winslow, Missionary, and Mrs. Winslow.-Two native helpers. CHINTADREPETTAH.-John Scudder, M. D. Missionary, and Mrs. Scudder.-One

native helper.

On the way.-Phineas R. Hunt, Printer, and Mrs. Hunt.

(2 stations; 2 missionaries, 1 printer, 3 female assistant missionaries, and 3 native helpers -total, 9.)

Mr. Winslow was married on the 12th of September to Miss Anne Spiers, daughter of the late A. Spiers, Esq., of the Madras medical service. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt sailed from Boston in the ship "Black Warrior," Capt. Woodbury, July 30th. He is to take charge of the printing establishment, and before his departure became in some measure conversant with the art of making type.

Since the last Report, this mission has unexpectedly, by divine providence, been put in possession of a large printing establishment. It belonged to the Church Missionary Society, and has been purchased on terms advantageous to the Board. It consists of eight iron printing presses, a lithographic press, a hydraulic press, and fifteen founts of type, English, Tamul and Teloogoo, to which a fount of Hindostanee has since been added. The establishment includes also a type-foundery and book-bindery. This enables the mission to enter immediately, so far as funds will permit, upon the work for which chiefly it was commenced. The transfer of the establishment was in June of last year. Previous to this time, Mr. Winslow had visited Jaffna in Ceylon, going by way of Madura. He was absent three and a half months, and his health was improved by the journey.

Royapoorum has nine native schools, containing 290 pupils, one of the schools containing 35 pupils, being of a higher character than the rest, in which the English language is taught. Chintadrepettah has seven schools, and 210 pupils. At each of the stations the congregation on the Sabbath consists of about fifty adults, and more than 200 children. Doct. Scudder regards itinerant labors, with the special object of distributing the Scriptures and religious tracts and preaching the gospel to those who receive them, as his principal duty. Not less than 18,000 larger and smaller integral portions of the Scriptures, and 30,000 tracts, were distributed during the year 1838.

"At the stations in Madras some hundred volumes of the Scriptures have been put in circulation, and several thousand larger and smaller tracts. Of the latter, the Scripture History from Jaffna, a book of 160 duodecimo pages, has been put into many hands and has been much in demand. Some portions of the Tamul Scriptures, as printed in Jaffna in the form of pocket volumes, have also been much inquired after. To prevent books being torn up and

used for waste paper, and to make them portable, so as easily to be carried by the people from place to place, it is very desirable that the most important parts of the Bible should, to a great extent, be published in this way. There is every encouragement to scatter far and wide the good seed of the word from the press, as well as from the living voice; for, in many parts of the country, at least, the ground is in a great measure prepared."

Another brief extract from the Report made by the mission for the last year, will give their view of its state and prospects in relation to the great native town of Madras.

"At Madras there is a gradual change for the better, both among the native and European community. Perhaps there should be an exception in respect to intemperance among the former, which it may be feared is on the increase. But even in regard to that, it is encouraging that some alarm is felt. There is an abatement of attachment to caste and custom, and generally to the observances of idolatry among different classes of the natives, arising from continued intercourse with Europeans, the progress of education, especially the knowledge of English, the perusal of christian books, and the preaching of the gospel. The schools in Madras, both for the East Indians and natives, are increasing in efficiency, except the primary schools in the native language. While we still feel, therefore, the importance of having a high school for boys and a boarding school for girls as soon as possible, we think there is a special call on us to do more than we have done to give the native free schools efficiency, and, if possible, to increase their number, as other missionaries are doing nothing proportioned to the magnitude of the object.”

The annual meeting of delegates from each of the three associated Tamul missions was held at Madras in February of the present year. Some of the results of experience embodied in the proceedings of this meeting, are placed in the Appendix.

MADURA MISSION.

MADURA. Daniel Poor and F. D. W. Ward, Missionaries; Mrs. Poor and Mrs. Ward. -Ten native helpers.

DINDIGUL.-Robert O. Dwight and J. J. Lawrence, Missionaries; Mrs. Dwight and Mrs. Lawrence.-Francis Asbury, Native Preacher, and seven native helpers.

SEVAGUNGA.-Edward Cope, Missionary, and Mrs. Cope.-Two native helpers. TEROOPOOVANUM.-Nathaniel M. Crane, Missionary, and Mrs. Crane.-One native

helper.

TEROOMUNGALUM.-Clarendon F. Muzzy and William Tracy, Missionaries; Mrs. Muzzy and Mrs. Tracy.-Two native helpers.

Stations not known.-Henry Cherry, Missionary; John Steele, M. D. Physician; Mrs. Steele.

(5 stations; 9 missionaries, 1 physician, 9 female assistant missionaries, and 1 native preacher, and 22 native helpers ;-total 42.)

Dindigul (as the mission now writes the name) is forty miles. northwesterly from Madura; Sevagunga, twenty-five miles easterly;

Teroopoovanum twelve miles southeast, on the road leading to Ramnad, and near the road to Sevagunga; and Teroomungalum, twelve miles southwesterly, on the road to Palamcotta. The three stations just named have been recently established, and the missionaries are just commencing their labors in the several departments. Several families have suffered more or less from sickness, and some have been bereaved of children. A visit to Jaffna in Ceylon, has been found beneficial in several cases of illness. But Doct. Steele's tendencies to consumption were so strong, it was deemed expedient that he should try a voyage to Singapore. He was accompanied by Mr. Cherry, and returned in December partially recovered, after an absence of eight or nine months. At Acheen, on the island of Sumatra, Mr. Cherry was remarkably preserved from drowning a boat in which he was proceeding to the ship having been swamped in the surf. Afterwards the ship itself was marvellously kept from being driven on shore and lost. The Lord watched over our brethren for good. Mr. Todd's health and spirits had suffered so much, that a visit to his native land became highly desirable. He arrived at Philadelphia, June 19th, accompanied by his three children. Mr. Todd has since, at his own request, been honorably released from his connection with Board.

Francis Asbury, a promising native young man, was licenced to preach the gospel in October. He and most of the native helpers, were educated at the seminary in Jaffna. They act as interpreters, exhorters, teachers, distributors of books, etc. Two weekly meetings are held with the native helpers at Madura; one for receiving their reports, and the other for giving them instruction in theology.

Those brethren of the mission who are sufficiently conversant with the language to preach in it, take every proper opportunity for performing this important duty. What is called expository preaching, with a free use of interrogatories, is found to be most useful. A church was formed at Dindigul in July 1837.

There are two boarding-schools in the mission, both at Dindigul. The one for boys contains 28 pupils. That for girls is supported by English ladies, and contains 10 pupils.

At Madura and Sevagunga there are schools of higher character, in which the English language is taught, containing 60 pupils. The

whole number of schools is therefore 66, and of scholars, 1,866. The course pursued with the schools at Madura must satisfy any one that they come within the spiritual and literal import of the command to publish the gospel to all nations.

66 During the last six months the Hindoo schools in the city have been brought together at a central place by classes, to be examined, instructed, and exhorted, at the pleasure of the missionary. They thus assemble twice a month, on six successive days, each time making a congregation of nearly a hundred children, twelve times a month-besides the monitors, who attend with their respective classes. At this time new school-books and tracts suited to their capacity are furnished them. Hence the children are pleased with these meetings. Of 740 children belonging to twenty schools in January last, 480 have left. One reason assigned for this by the masters is that the children very soon, according to our system of teaching, learn all they need to know. To raise the standard of education is with us an important consideration. To effect this object we are giving daily and systematic instruction to a class of monitors, who are employed as assistant teachers in the schools. We are also introducing improved school-books, and the first rudiments of English arithmetic and the English language. The obvious and substantial advantages of our schools go far towards reconciling the parents to the prominence we give to Christianity in all our printed books and our whole course of instruction such a prominence as would be tolerated in but few schools in christian lands.

"A meeting composed of the schoolmasters and monitors, forming a congregation of sixty-five or seventy persons, is held twice a month. They have long been under instruction and have acquired much knowledge of Christianity. Two or three hours are usually spent in reading the Scriptures and tracts, and in listening to explanations and exhortations. Here the thoughts of some hearts are revealed, and upon this meeting we are encouraged to hope and pray for the effusion of the Holy Ghost. At the close of the service the masters are furnished with tracts for their own perusal, and for distribution among their friends. Applicants for tracts are often introduced to us by the masters. Thus they become, to some extent, tract distributors."

Referring to the prospects of the station at Dindigul, the brethren thus speak of the three classes in the heathen community around them.

"The three classes of the community, Roman Catholics, Mohammedans, and pagans are free in discussing the merits of Christianity. The Mohammedans are bigotedly attached to the creed of their prophet, and openly boast that, unless we give a monthly stipend, we shall never make a convert from their ranks. Still a few of their children attend our schools where they learn the rudiments of the doctrine of Christ. The pagans are yielding their strong objection to our system and openly approve our books and lessons. The Roman Catholic population have had some changes among their priests, which may result in their leaving us. The newly arrived priest has announced to some connected with us, that nearly all the taxes for the church are remitted, the necessity of worshipping the Virgin dispensed with, the heavenly lamp over the graves of departed friends is lighted without charge, and many such changes have occurred. Thus still is his coming connected with all deceivableness of unrighteousness."