The Abbé might have spared his insinuations of the same description, at pp.150, 151; for it would have cost him very little trouble to ascertain that the Protestants in India pay great attention to the necessities of the Poor. He has, probably, heard of the "Friend-in-Need Society," and "Native Hospital," at Madras, and of similar Charitable Institutions at Calcutta. I know not a Mission Station in South India where the poor are not relieved, and provided with rice, “cumbelees," and cloths.

But to return from this digression. -- The principal means upon which Protestant Missionaries in India calculate for producing an immediate effect upon the Native Mind, is, the preaching of the Gospel. It is not much. that they can do in this most important department of Missionary Labour; the climate, the languages, the habits of the people, being all against them. Though there are some, whose strength of constitution, correct pronunciation, and intimate acquaintance with the Native Tongues, enable them to preach almost as constantly and intelligibly as they could do in Europe, yet this is not often the case: consequently, they feel the necessity of qualifying pious and intelligent Native Christians for the Ministerial Office. For

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this purpose, the Colleges and Seminaries, already enumerated, were established at different Mission Stations; and the success that has hitherto attended the preaching of this class of persons, justifies the anticipation of the happiest and most extensive results, when a competent number shall be sent forth to preach to their own countrymen "the wonderful works of God."

In reference to this important class of Native Labourers, and to the good effect that may be expected from their exertions, the Committee of the Church Missionary Society say, in their Twenty-third Report

"At their head stand Two Ordained Missionaries-the Rev. Abdool Messeeh, and the Rev. William Bowley, whose steady and useful course may serve to assure the Society that the Natives of India are become competent, under the Divine Blessing, to form Christian Churches from among their countrymen, and to instruct and edify those Churches.'

In confirmation of this remark, the Reader need only refer to the various Letters and Journals of these two persons, published in the Missionary Register (passim), and in the Reports of the Society to which they belong, From the same sources he may derive infor

mation as to the qualifications and piety of John Devasagayam, Native Superintendant of the Schools of the same Society at Tranquebar. He may refer also to the Abstract of East-India Missions, published in 1814, by the Christian Knowledge Society, for an account of the zeal and talent of the First Four Native Priests ordained at Tanjore, but particularly of Sattianaden. In the various Reports of the Baptist Missionary Society, accounts to the same effect, equally satisfactory, may be seen. The Letter addressed, about a twelvemonth ago, by a Native Youth and other Members of the Serampore Congregation, to their Countrymen, evinces a talent and spirit of a superior order; and is calculated to convince the most sceptical, that much, very much benefit to the Cause of Christianity in the East may be anticipated, from the attentive and religious cultivation of the Native Mind*.

It would detain the Reader too long to make all the citations from these references which my inclination would prompt me to transcribe. I shall, therefore, content myself with giving one more example of piety, zeal, and talent, in a Native Christian. He

*This " Address was reviewed in the Friend of India, and has since appeared in the Asiatic Journal for Sept. 1823.

was a pupil of the late Swartz; his name, Veesoovasanaden; he was ordained by the Christian Knowledge Society's Missionaries, at Tanjore; had the charge of the Congregations of that Society in the Tinnevelly District; and laboured for some years under my own immediate inspection. He was generally my companion, on my visits to those Congregations. His piety, ability, and Christian meekness, commanded the love of the Native Converts, and the respect of the Heathen and Mahomedans. I have conversed with him on various subjects; and heard him preach and pray, in a manner that shewed how remarkably the Divine Blessing had followed the instructions which he had received.

In proof of his zeal, I will state the number of Converts made from Idolatry, chiefly through his instrumentality, during the four years that he was with me:

This statement is sufficient to warrant the most sanguine expectations from the labours

of such Preachers, when their numbers shall be increased.

In proof of the ability of this man, I will here transcribe the conclusion of a Religious Tract, which he wrote for his Countrymen, when the Cholera Morbus prevailed in our district.

"If you are desirous of renouncing sin, becoming the Children of God, and walking in the path of holiness, Jesus Christ will give you whatever strength you require for that purpose. He will remove all afflictive trials from his Children, who turn from evil, and do that which is right; and will preserve and bless them. Therefore, forsaking all False Gods, Devils, and Idols, which are unable to save you, love Jesus Christ, who hath saved you hitherto from suffering. And if you trust in Him, and assent to His Holy Word, in order to obtain the pardon of your sins, and the Divine Blessing, you will read and meditate therein every day, as the food of wisdom for your souls. Then will you be righteous, die happily, and be saved.

"The Lord has sent this dreadful affliction into the world, that you may forsake your sins and repent, in the present season of mercy. If you repent, this awful disease

*The whole would be too long for insertion.