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January 2, 1821.

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I HOPE to meet with the indulgence of the Committee of the Baptist Irish Society, while perusing my Report of the Schools established by them in the county of Clare, and town of Nenagh, in the county of Tipperary, to the end of the quarter, commencing the 1st of October last, and concluding the year 1820; and it affords me great satisfaction to report the sensible improvement of the scholars in these schools during my last inspection of them, which concluded on the 19th of last December; and I am certain that the num ber would be as great then as in the middle of last summer, if the little creatures had covering sufficient to guard them from the severity of the weather. The portions of scripture committed to memory has been taken down by Mr. Thomas, in my presence, about the middle of last November, which I conclude the Committee have long since received. Indeed, the daily and constant reading of the New Testament has, even now, made such an impression on the minds of the scholars as will not be effaced during their lives. And some of the parents (during the gress of my last inspection,) told me, that they at night make some of their children relate to them an account of the birth, miracles, passion, and resurrection of our Sa. viour, which delights and affects them very much. The masters are diligent and attentive to their duties; and no exertion of mine has been spared or wanting to nake them so. The Female Schools are going on as usual. The Irish Readers of the Holy Scriptures, besides reading them in the houses in different Townlands, (an account of which they have given me,) employ themselves in teaching young men to read the Irish; all of whom have requested to get Irish Testaments, for the purpose of reading the scriptures in their respective habitations to their families and neighbours, which Mr. Thomas promised to furnish them with. I am very unwell with a cold, attended with a troublesome cough, which I caught during my late inspection. That every individual of the Society, and their friends, may enjoy many happy returns of the new year, is the sincere wish of their faithful and obedient servant,

JAMES VAUGHAN.

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Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Josiah Wilson.

Ballina, Jan. 22, 1821.

SOME of the priests, who are so violently opposing the Bible, and Bible Schools, (as they contemptuously, but very properly call our Schools,) are endeavouring, in compliance with the advice of the Pope, to establish some of their own, and to raise the means for supporting them from their But as the poor are not congregations. exempted, some of whom are requested to give from two and sixpence to ten and sixpence per year, they very much complain of it as of " a burden grievous to

be borne."

It ought to be mentioned, to the honour of several other priests, that so far from giving opposition to the Bible Schools, they most heartily encourage them and I add with pleasure, that within the last two months I have received applications from two priests to establish Schools in their respective parishes. You see from these statements that a difference of opinion exists among the Roman Catholic clergy on the subject of scriptural education for the poor children.

Notwithstanding the very violent opposition that has been given to the Schools, its influence has been but partially felt; and I feel confident even this will not be of long continuance. I do not, however, expect such a work to go on without opposition: this we have no reason to expect; but" go forward" is the word of command and be thou faithful unto death" is the injunction. That we may obey both is the prayer of Yours affectionately..

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The Committee acknowledge the kindness of the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in voting them, at their late Meetings, 100 Irish and 100 English Bibles, and 500 Irish and 500 English Testaments.

Missionary Herald.

BAPTIST MISSION.
Home Proceedings.

WE feel much pleasure in being able to lay before our readers some extracts from a speech delivered at the late Anniversary of the Bath Church Missionary Association, by that distinguished friend of Missions, William Wilberforce, Esq. M. P. We insert them, not merely on account of the tribute of affectionate respect paid to our venerable friend Dr. Carey, but in the hope that good will result from the diffusion of those excellent and impressive sentiments contained in the concluding part of the extract. We earnestly recommend them to the serious attention of our readers. We hope they will excuse us for adding, that if they should be acted upon by all who peruse our pages, the pecuniary difficulties of the Mission would instantly vanish.

"I cannot look at India without peculiar delight: there we see the god of this world having entrenched himself as it were within a line of circumvallation, having marked the territory as his peculiar domain, having drawn around him fences and barriers against the admission of heavenly light; and thus surrounded and intrenched, he seemed to bid defiance almost to the God of Love himself-triumphing both over the understandings and the hearts of his wretched victims, gaining a victory even over the instincts of our common nature-for there, Sir, children were seen, not to support their aged parents, but to destroy them; there, even the mothers were seen to sacrifice their darling infants by willingly exposing them to an

VOL. XIII.

untimely grave, throwing them to be de voured by sharks and alligators. There, these things were going on; and going on, too, without exciting even a sentiment of disapprobation, or any feeling of revolt. But what a change do we now begin to witness even in that region which the god of this world seemed to have appropriated to himself! That chosen region has become as it were the arena of a grand and decisive conflict: there we Now find the gleams of light beginning to penetrate in what was a wilderness, (nay, a million times worse than a wilderness;) symptoms of vegetation now begin to appear; and the desert begins to bloom and blossom like the rose, and exhibits every where freshness, fertility, and beauty,

"It happens here, also, that in the means used in effecting this great work, we see the marks of the Divine Hand. It would have been natural for us to expect

that it would have been achieved in a very different way, by the united efforts of many religious Societies; but, in fact, we find these great effects to have been principally owing, hitherto, to the exernot the most rich or powerful; and one of tions of one, and that, in its origin at least, its brightest and most useful ornaments a poor ignorant mechanic (I allude to Dr. CAREY.) We see him, rising from that of knowledge, and then to a degree of poverty and that ignorance to a degree usefulness, which was scarcely ever before attained amongst the sons of men. When I see this, I seem to see a se cond time the god of this world foiled by the weapons of the Spirit; I seem to see an exemplification of that text, that the weakness of GOD is stronger than men, and the foolishness of GoD is wiser than men.' I see this giant Goliath vanquished by a peasant child with a sling and a stone, seeing, as I do, Dr. Carey, from his knowledge and skill in the Asiatic languages, affording the greatest and most valuable assistance to the cause of Christianity, and rendered an instrument of diffusing perhaps ultimately more happiness than any of the sons of men who have been most distinguished as the benefactors of our species.

"There is one consideration on this subject which I would beg to propose. I think mankind, in their way of viewing it are apt to consider the support of Missions as if they had an opTION in the case. Now I must frankly state, that, not to do to the very utmost of our power, both in substance and influence, and in every possible way to assist this cause, is to be wanting in our DUTY. And it appears to me, that if we could see before our eyes, the cruel practices which still prevail in India (if I say less about Africa, it will not be thought that I think less,) I am persuaded that it would overcome the reluctance of any person who is unwilling to allow that it is our duty to do the best we can for the conversion of the Heathen. I am persuaded that this reluctance can only arise from these things being removed from our perception. It is because we do not witness these things, that we are slow in believing them. I said it was the duty of every one to do his very utmost in this cause; and I said this the rather, because we may urge that principle which is sanctioned by Divine Wisdom and Goodness, that it is not the amount of what is given, but the motive in every thing that is regarded by Almighty God. That thirty shillings, Sir William, which was given by that poor blind girl, of whom my friend told us, is a donation which I doubt not will occupy a principal place in the treasury of God. By Him, things are valued ac cording to their true worth. By Him, I doubt not, that poor girl's contribution will be equally rewarded (might I not say more) than the princely donations of the richest benefactor. Oh Sir! when we look still farther-when we look forward to those scenes when all the distinctions which prevail here shall be done away: when things shall assume their true colour and proper size; then only shall we estimate them according to their real worth. Why Sir, to me it is a delight, that the poor are not excluded from contributing to these great and good objects; that the Almighty has given them the means of benefiting their fellow creatures: and I confess I know nothing that has ever struck my mind as more base and narrow, than, under the pretence of sparing them their little subscriptions, to deprive them of this privilege, and thus, under the plea of kindness, to degrade them below that level which the common Parent of us all meant that they should occupy to defraud them of the power of doing good to their fellow-creatures: on the contrary, Sir, when they give according to their means, they assume the true dignity of their nature. Let all our exertions then be worthy of the cause in which we are

engaged. And in truth, Sir, both you and I feel, it is with the more peculiar pleasure that we attend on occasions of this kind, because we can engage in them with such unmixed confidence and delight. It too aften happens that even the path of duty is painful and dubious, and calls forth conflicting feelings; but, blessed be God, the path in which we now tread, is one in which we can go forward with freedom; find in it present peace and joy, with the assurance that it will conduct to happiness and glory. Thus we always find that Christianity scatters blessings on every side of her, in her pro. gress from this world to another. In promoting such a cause, shall we be slothful or lukewarm in our efforts? Oh Sir! in that world to which I have just alluded, how languid will our warmest zeal appear, how unworthy our most strenuous exertions! Let us then go forward with increased earnestness, humbly assured that that same gracious Being who has hitherto so remarkably blessed us, will give still greater and better blessings, till at length all the poor wretched heathen shall be cheered with the knowledge of salvation, and we all, as the children of one common Parent, shall rejoice together."

LIBERALITY OF A POOR BLIND GIRL.

(From the Missionary Register.) A BLIND girl brought to a clergyman thirty shillings, for the Missionaries of the Society. The clergyman, surprised that she should offer him so large a sum, said to her, "You are a poor blind girl, you cannot afford to give thirty shillings to the Society." "I am indeed, Sir," said she, "as you may see, a blind girl; but not so poor, perhaps, as you may suppose me to be; and I think I can prove to you, that I can better afford to give these thirty shillings, than those girls can who have eyes." The clergyman was, of course, very much struck with her answer, and said, "I shall be glad to know how you make that out." Sir," she answered, "I am a basket-maker; and being blind, I can make baskets as well in the dark as in the light. Now I am sure, Sir, in the last dark winter, it must have cost those girls that have eyes more than thirty shillings to buy candles to see to make baskets; and so I think I have proved that I can afford this money, and now I hope that you will take it all for the Missionaries."

Whose heart is not moved by such an instance of exalted Christian charity!

*BEDFORDSHIRE.

We are gratified in having to announce, that on Wednesday, ́March 21, a Meeting will be held at the Old Meeting House, Bedford, to form an Auxiliary Baptist Missionary Society for the County. The Rev. R. Hall, M. A. of Leicester, and the Rev. S. Hillyard of Bedford, have engaged to preach on the occasion.

Foreign Intelligence.

SERAMPORE.

Extract of a Letter from Dr. Carey to
Dr. Ryland, dated

his account of them is highly encouraging; so much was he encouraged, that he seems now determined to visit them fre

Brother

quently, and do his utmost to help for-
Chamberlain has been very ill, but is
ward their spiritual concerns.
considerably better. The printing of his
translation, which has been, with several
others, delayed through want of paper,
is now in operation, and fully answers its
now going forward. Our steam engine
purpose, so that we have plenty of paper.
In short, accounts from every part of
India are encouraging. The printing of
the Mahratta Bible is almost finished; the
last proof sheet I read finished. Micali
within a verse or two, and all is printed
except the remainder of the minor pro-
phets. The historical books in Punjabee
are almost finished; the last proof sheet
reached to the seventh chapter of Nelie-
miah. In Telinga, Pushtoo, and Kunkuna,
we are nearly through Leviticus. The
New Testament will, within a few months,
be finished at press in Goojurattee, Bika-
neer, Kashmeer, and Kurnata; and se-
veral others are advanced as far as Lukė
or John.

been ordered to quit the Burman dominions; and Mr. and Mrs. Coleman have arrived in Calcutta. Three persons had received the word at Rangoon, and were baptized; this stirred up opposition, and they resolved upon going to Ava, to request leave of the king to propagate the gospel in his dominions. It could scarcely be expected that a heathen king should give that liberty, and he of course refused it, and ordered them out of the country, saying, that though the Burman laws allow all to worship as they choose, yet they allow of no proselyting. On their return to Rangoon, some who had occa sionally attended before, came forward and proposed themselves for baptism. This induced Brother Judson to resolve upon staying as long as he could.

Calcutta, April 25, 1820. I THINK the cause of our Redeemer is evidently on the increase; we are seldom a month in Calcutta without additions, Through mercy I enjoy tolerably good and the next month I expect to baptize health; which is the case with us all exthree persons, one of whom was a devotee cept my wife, whoge weakness is great. at Kalee-ghaut, where he actually kept a Eustace's wife is just recovering from a yow of silence for four years. A pamphlet, dangerous illness; last Friday her life I think sent out by Mr. Townley, affected was despaired of, but she is now recoverhis heart and opened his mouth. Whening. The American Missionaries have be first came to me he made the most singular appearance imaginable, being covered with charms and amulets; he wore a necklace made of snakes' bones; and so far were the Hindoos of Calcutta from thinking of his conversion, that when he first walked along the street with John Peter, several of the chief natives came out of their houses and prostrated themselves at his feet. One of the others is a Telinga Brahman, and the other a Dane, the first of that nation we have yet hapHized. In a week or ten days more I expect to baptize three soldiers in the Fort. At Beerbhoom a good number has been baptized the last year; at Moorshedabad, or its neighbourhood, brother Sutton has baptized several, and has much encouragement. A greater number has been baptized at Dinagepore and its vicinity than in any other place. Brother Smith has baptized several at Benares; and a letter from him received to day informs me that three others are soon to be added to the church there. At Dacca there have been additions; and at Chittagong the Mug Christians have now kept together, have maintained the worship of God, and edified one another for three years, without a pastor to reside among them. Brother Peacock lately went to them, and

Brother Robinson has baptized a Chinese. I received a letter from Brother Bruckner a few days ago; he feels dis couraged at want of success, Brother Chater labours much. A son of Christian David, who is now with me, says, that Brother Chater preaches often in Cingelese, and is well attended; and Brother Siers the same in Portuguese. I enclose a letter from my son Jabez, which I received to-day. He is far from any one to help him, but the Lord has kept him his

therto; and I trust bis settlement at Ajimere will be an ultimate blessing to these parts. Accept my thanks for Hurrion's sermons; and pray give my best thanks to dear Mr. Scott, for his translation of the History, &c. of the Synod of Dort. I would write to him if I could command time; if there be any thing of the work of God in my soul, I owe much of it to his preaching, when I first set out in the ways of the Lord.

Extract of a Letter from Dr. Marshman

to Dr. Ryland, dated

Serampore, June 2, 1820. On the 19th, brother Carey baptized three soldiers in Calcutta, and last Lord's day I baptized three persons there, two of them brahmins. One of them received his first impressions from reading in Calcutta brother Carey's translation of the New Testament in the Telinga language; the other was an ascetic, who lived years in the Sunderbunds, among the wild beasts, wearing a mala, (a necklace) made of the vertebræ of serpents. We have four sons before the church at Serampore; three of them to be baptized on Lord's. day. Blessed be God, all the churches around seem to be flourishing.

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friendly manner imaginable; and I should have returned there with the greatest pleasure again, (as the Dutch government kindly gave me their permission so to do,) had not Ajimere been thought of as a place of more consequence, and where more good might be done in time than at Amboyna. My attachment, to Amboyna, however, I hope will never cease. The respect and esteem of the inhabitants. there, I flatter myself, 1 had in some measure secured, and it gave me the greatest satisfaction to see so many wet eyes when I parted from them; but who thought then that the separation would have been for so long a period as it now appears to me it will be? Ajimere is a fine place, and will soon, I have no doubt, be in a very flourishing state. There is a tank about 7 miles from hence, to which Hindoos come from all parts of the world to wash away their sins, and the pundits here affirm that it's water has more efficacy for that purpose than that of the Ganges, and that it had its existence before the Ganges. The Mussulmen have also in this city a monument raised to one of their saints, to which they come from all parts of the world. They believe this saint has power to do every thing, and therefore make their application to him the same as

Extract of a Letter from Dr. Carey to Mr. if he were a God. Both Hindoos and Mus

Burls, dated

Serampore, July 7, 1820. LAST Tuesday evening, an Auxiliary Missionary Society was formed in the Church meeting at the Lal Bazar Chapel. Five young men offered themselves as Missionaries to the population around their dwellings. These act gratuitously. I do hope the funds will enable us to do more at a distance from Calcutta.

The numbers baptized last year in all the churches in India is highly encouraging; and a goodly number are now inquiring the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward.

AJIMERE.

Letter from Mr. Jabez Carey to Dr.
Ryland, dated

MY DEAR SIR,

Ajimere, April 7, 1820.

I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your very kind and encouraging letter, dated the 1st of July, 1818, which I received a short time ago; and can hardly forgive myself that I did not answer it immediately on its receipt. You have no loubt heard ere this that I have changed Amboyna for Ajimere; but the exchange, I am sorry to say, is not much in my faYour. While at Amboyna, the Dutch government behaved to me in the most

sulmen join in paying the highest respect, and even worship to this saint, and I believe this is the first object that I have ever heard of or known, where both join. Both Hindoos and Mussulmen swear by his name, which is Khwaja Saheb. They have also a number of other tombs here, which belong to other inferior saints. I have, after much difficulty, been able to obtain a house, which, with some repairs, will soon be fit to live in. When any good will be done here, I cannot say; may God grant that it may not be very long. I have succeeded at last in forming one school, but not here. It is at Poker, the place where the tank is, where about thirty children attend in the temple of an idol. I am going to make another trial here, to see what can be done. My first, I am sorry to say, failed. I hope success will attend my endeavours this time. I feel a good deal of difficulty to get on, as I have no assistance from any one in power here, which you well know I had in Amboyna. Mr. Martin will, I hope, always be remembered by me with grati tude. My dear and ever valued father, I really think looks older than he is, and I de not know how much longer he will be able to hold out. 1 need your prayers, my dear Sir, as I am young and inexperienced, and who knows with what temptations Satan may assault me; therefore pray for me, and beg every Christian friend you see to do so alse,

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