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1807 be bad baptized four children, and three adults: the communicants were ninetyeight. In 1808 he had baptized fourteen children and nine converts: the communicants were 102. He had dispersed books and tracts in great numbers.

The Rev. Mr. Pohle writes from Trichinapoly, expressing his great satisfaction in the appointment of Mr. Horst one of the Society's missionaries. He observes, that in consequence of the age and infirmities of the country priest, Sattianaden, and of the state of the southern congregation, ideas were entertained of ordaining, according to the rites of the Lutheran church, two or three of the fittest catechists, that they may administer to the Tanjore and southern congregations.

A strict order had been given, by a late excellent collector, that no Christian should be obliged to work on Sundays; but this order, it seems, is not enforced.

Buddaloor was the very place where the late Mr. Swartz was robbed of his gold stockbuckle. At that time there was not a single Christian there, but now there is a great number, as may be seen by the account of this mission for 1794.

The increase of the Tanjore congregation is stated to be 35, viz. 2 Hindoos of high cast, 4 persons of the Kalla cast, 5 of the Palla cast, 15 Pariars, and 9 Papists. The com municants were 253.

The Danish Missionaries at Tranquebar had been put to great inconvenience by the The Rev. Messrs. Kolhoff and Horst, the interruption of their usual supplies from missionaries at Tanjore, speak of a Brahmin Copenhagen, and had applied to the goof whose conversion to Christianity they had vernment of Madras for protection and good hopes. This Brahmin was willing to support, their pecuniary difficulties having be employed in any situation in the mission, obliged them to lessen the number of their but the income of the Tanjore mission being children and to postpone many urgent of already inadequate to their most necessary jects. Their congregation, however, in the disbursements, the missionaries were under midst of these disadvantages, had enjoyed the painful necessity of directing him to the means of grace, and had had an increase -look out for assistance from the missions on of sixty-four children, born of Christian pathe coast. A great part of the revenues of rents, and fourteen adults, who had quitted the country were formerly allotted, by the heathenism, and accepted the saving Gospel Hindoo kings, to the support of heathen of Christ; among these was a Mahrattian temples and Brahmins; and this appropria- Brahmin, who spoke the Telinga language, tion is continued by the British government, and who had become, not only a theoretical, When a Brahmin, therefore, resolves to em- but a real and practical Christian, in which brace Christianity, he not only draws on character he continued to persevere. Their himself the indignation of his order, and of communicants were 1048. Mr. John, the all other Hindoos, but forfeits all the privi- missionary, had lost his sight so as to be leges and emoluments he formerly enjoyed. unable to read and write; as had the assisOf course he has none to look up to, for assistant, Mr Schreyfogel. In this state of afflictance in obtaining a livelihood, but to Christians.

The native fellow-labourers had continued to assist Messrs. Kolhoff and Horst in preaching the word of God to Christians and heathens, and had visited the country congregations in a variety of places, exhorting them to live as became Christians. Sattianaden had been employed in dispensing the bacraments in various places. They complain much of the want of more Malabar Bibles and Testaments in all the congregations; and they state that great pains had been taken to inure the children under their care to babits of profitable industry. They mention the zeal shewn by several members of the congregation at Buddeloor to act according to their Christian engagements. The Christians, it appears, have been often prevented, by the heathen civil servants of the Company, from attending public worship on Sundays, being called to work on that day.

tion, the faithful senior catechist Saroiragen, and the other catechists in the Tranquebar district, had afforded them much comfort and assistance. The government of Madras had advanced, for the use of the mission, 200 pagodas a month, which was, however, much less than its necessities required.

From the letters of Messrs. Kolhoff and Horst is given a long extract, in which these gentlemen comment with much feeling on certain passages in the fifteenth number of the transactions of the London Missionary Society, which they understaud to reflect on their conduct and that of their predecessors in the mission, more particularly as having made an unwarrantable compromise of principle, in the indulgence shewn to their con verts on the subject of Cast. Messrs. Cran and Desgranges, in their Journal of the 5th of March 1805, soon after they had arrived in India, observe, "Our two lads" (Christian lads, we presume)" are sick, but they

will eat nothing which our cook dresses, as he is of the Pariar cast. Is it not the duty of Missionaries to adopt some plan for abolishing the cast among their converts? If we were to tolerate it, we should soon have wonderful accounts to transmit to our friends in Europe of our success: but the Scriptures must be our guide." The defence of Messrs. Kolhoff and Horst, to the charge which they conceive to be insinuated in this passage, is as follows.

"From the commencement of the mission on this coast, it has been the uniform practice of all the Missionaries to instruct the converts from heathenism in the truths of Christianity, to insist upon their leading an holy life, and shewing that they are Christians, by loving God above all things, by considering all men of whatever denomina tion, religion, or cast, as their neighbours; to entertain a hearty good will towards them, and to do them all the good in their power; but, never did they insist on any person who wished to embrace Christianity, to renounce his cast.

"To desire a man to renounce his cast signifies, to require (for example) a man of the high Seyva, or Wellaler cast, who is accustomed from his infancy to live only upon vegetables, to eat meat, to enter into a close connection, or to level himself, with the lower classes, and to intermarry with one another (e. g.) with the Pariars, a cast, who, from time immemorial, have made themselves disgustful to all other classes of the natives, by their inattention to, and disregard of cleanliness, and particularly by feeding upon carrion. And although our Protestant Pariars are not allowed to use such detestable food; yet as their heathen and Romish relations are not debarred the use of it in like manner, the aversion of well-bred persons to enter into the closest connections with such a class of people, (at least until every vestige of such filthy propensities shall have been effaced) is founded upon reason and decency; and we do not feel ourselves warranted to require of the higher ranks such an

unscriptural surrender of their birthright, to which no nobleman or gentleman in our own country, would ever submit.

"As we presume that the equity of such a demand cannot be proved by any precept in the sacred oracles, nor from the practice of the apostles and primitive Christians, and as besides such a demand might be productive of fatal consequences, we have taken care to follow the same mode of acting as our predecessors have done, with regard to this Brahmin. We were, however, much pleased in learning that he had made no objections against vegetable food, prepared at his request by a Wellaler, who, though of a high cast, are inferior to that of the Bramins."

Messrs. Kolhoff and Horst likewise advert to two other passages in the same number of the Missionary Transactions, which they con. sider as levelled both at them and at the chaplains of the East India Company. "We have reason to believe," say Messrs. Cran and Desgranges, "that there are many friends in this place who will gladly assist and protect missionaries who are truly devot ed to the work." May God incline the heart of one of our directors," they say in another place, "or of some experienced minister" (we copy their Italics)" to come and preach in English, and erect the Gospel standard here."

46

Now we think that the first and the last of these remarks (we see nothing objectionable in the second) are very silly, and, perhaps, a little" conceited;" but they might have passed in a private communication. We think it much more inexcusable in the Directors of the Missionary Society to have published them to the world. At the same time we think that no one who reads them will think that they deserved a grave and serious refutation from Messrs. Kolhoff and Horst, or that it was consistent with the accustomed reserve and dignity of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge to make themselves a party in the dis pute.

VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

OUR limits impose upon us the necessity of being very concise in our view of public affairs. We can do no more than hastily glance at the occurrences of the mouth.

No action has as yet taken place in Portugal. The hostile armies occupy the same position which they did at the close of the last month. Massena is said to have received reinforcements to the amount of 16 or 17 thousand men, which proves his coní

Eunication with Spain to be open at least for large bodies of troops. Lord Wellington bas also received some additional troops from this country.

In Spain the French are evidently gaining ground. It is said to be the intention of Bonaparte to annex that country to France. The Hanse Towns have at length been formally annexed to France. We may expeet shortly to bear of some change in Denmark. The confiscation of ships and cargues from this country, and of British produce and manufactures, proceeds with great vigour.

Bonaparte, in addition to his demands on the Hanse Towns, and on Sweden and Norway, for seamen to man his fleets, has issued a decree for organizing a marine conscrip. tion to be raised in the maritime departments, which are therefore to be exempted from the military conscription. The number to be raised is 40,000, and they are to consat of youths from 13 to 16 years of age. A farther military conscription is likewise ordered.

Another decree announces Bonaparte's purpose of joining the Baltic to France by means of inland canals. The thing is with out doubt practicable, the greatest part of the distance being already navigable by

means either of rivers or canals.

A dreadful insurrection of the Janissaries took place lately at Constantinople; but they appear to have been subdued, after committing great excesses, by the troops of the Grand Seignior.

The message of the American President at the opening of Congress, gives that view of the foreign relations of the United States which might be expected; complains of all the belligerents, but announces the revocation of the Milan and Berlin decrees,

and the proclamation which the President bad issued in consequence, and of which we have already spoken. The message notices the growing prosperity of the United States, and recommends the revisal of their laws relative to trade and navigation. It recom mends also the institution of a national university. We were particularly pleased to observe that the President strongly denounces the African slave trade still carried on by American citizens, and recommends it to Congress to take farther steps for repressing the evil.

The papers laid before Congress, as well as some documents from France of a later date, prove that America has been far too precipitate in supposing that Bonaparte had any serious intention of altering his com mercial policy. He seems still determined to retain all the American property he has already seized, and to seize as much more as he can, without any regard to the remon strances of America. America now demands of England not only the revocation of the Orders in Council of Nov. 1807 and April 1809, but also those of May 1806, blockading the coast from the Elbe to Brest, and of January 1807, prohibiting neutral vessels from carrying on trade between hostile ports. This shews that their complaints are directed full as much against Lord Grenville's administration as the present,

Mr. Pinckney, the American Ambassador, has been ordered to suspend his functions at our court, and to commit the management of any affairs which may require the intervention of a minister, to a Chargé d'Affaires. This is done avowedly because we have at present in America no minister of Mr. Pinckney's rank; no step having yet been taken to replace Mr. Jackson.

GREAT BRITAIN.

THE present state of political affairs, though on the whole peculiarly cloudy and portentous, is not altogether without its brighter parts. The illness of our beloved Monarch has called forth the affectionate sympathy both of his immediate servants and of the people; and the yet untried political chaTacter of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, has led persons of very different parties to entertain favourable hopes respecting him; hopes in which we cordially participate, and which are much encouraged by the dignified silence, as to the question who shall be his ministers, which be has maintained up to the present period. The violence of party has a little abated.

Oppositionists generally become more calm and measured in their language when they approach the threshold of office. They na rurally reflect, that conciliation will soon become their leading interest; and that they, like the King or Regent whom they serve, must lay aside the colours of a party, if they hope successfully to govern a great nation. Mr. Perceval is generally allowed to have risen in general credit by the very able and manly manner in which he has contended in favour of his own views on the subject of the regency; and if he has erred on this point, he has erred by following the example of Mr. Pitt; and he has also erred in common with Lord Grenville. His lordship has

maintained his consistency on the great constitutional doctrine at issue, and this unquestionably has been the chief matter. He has evidently magnified in an undue degree the smaller points of difference between himself and Mr. Perceval

Rumour says that Earl Grey is to be the Premier under the Regent, and that his lordship's party, and that of Lord Grenville, without any addition, are to constitute the new ministry. In the mean time, the commercial difficulties of the country are great; and our manufacturing interests more and more declining. The burning decrees of Bonaparte appear effectual for the present. America is returning to her former ill-humour with us, and France is urging her to direct hostility. Affairs in Spain and Por tugal are in a very doubtful state. A vast French navy is preparing; and the coasts of Europe are almost all under the power of our enemy. How important is it, in these circumstances, to be at peace at least amoug ourselves: and if we cannot now unite the discordant parties in the state, let us hope at least that the more respectable members of each body may in some degree approxinmate, and that the difficulties which they severally experience may prepare for some future and truly patriotic union.

The whole of this month has been consumed in Parliament in debating the different stages of the proceedings respecting the appointment of a Regency. Resolutions having passed both Houses relative to the restrictions under which a Regent should be appointed, differing little in their import, except in what regarded the royal household, from the outline given in our last number (p. 794), a deputation from both

Houses waited on the Prince of Wales, and read to him these joint resolutions. The answer of the Prince signifies his acceptance of the Regency under the limitations proposed; but feelingly regrets that, by the imposition of such limitations, he was prevented from manifesting towards his father that affection and reverential delicacy which he should have rejoiced to have shewn him. The Queen likewise accepted the trust reposed in her, with the aid of a council, of the care and custody of the royal person. A Bill having been brought in, founded on the ba sis of the Resolations, it has passed through the House of Commons and also through the House of Lords, without undergoing any very material alterations, though by very small majorities.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

Farther accounts from the East Indies announce the re-capture of the Isle de Passe, by the French. The Iphigenia frigate fell into their hands at the same time. Another frigate, the Africaine. Captain Corbet, has since been taken by the same squadron, but was afterwards abandoned by the French, and has been retaken.

Severe losses have been experienced at sea, in consequence of the severity of the weather. A British seventy-four, the Minotaur, was wrecked on the coast of Holland, and of her crew, consisting of 590 men, only 110 were saved. The Elizabeth Indiaman was also wrecked on the French coast, near Dunkirk. The crew consisted of 100, besides 250 Lascars, and 30 passengers. The whole perished, except the captain and his two mates, three passengers, and 16 Lascars.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

K. S.'s Hymn contains lines of good promise; but we recommend it to him to read and write much more before he ventures before the public.

We are much obliged to CLERICUS for his manuscript of the Consecration Service. We should think it right for E, W. to read the book to which he reters before he publicly discusses the subject of it,

W.; MONIALIS; HANO; PHILEMON; have been received,

J. A. B. has told us to return his paper, but he has not stated to whom it is to be returned.
T. Y.;
THEOLOGUS; A BAXTERIAN; will appear,

We agree with 4 Bßhos, but think the discussion which he proposes inexpedient.

We are much obliged to E. S. for the correction of a mistake into which we were led in our review of Bishop Horsley's Sermons, by not consulting original authorities on the point. We shall take an opportunity of publishing his letter.

We do not recollect to have seen the Sermon mentioned by L. B. S.

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EXTRACTS FROM THE CORRESPOND- naging the whole so far as to keep ENCE OF THE FIRST PROTESTANT

MISSIONARIES TO INDIA.

TOWARDS

(Continued from p. 6.) TOWARDS the close of the year 1714, Ziegenbalgh left ladia in order to visit Europe. A leter from him to the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, dated at the Cape of Good Hope, January 15, 1715, explains the reasons for this step to have been, the hindrances they had hitherto met with in carrying on their work, and their desire" to see such obstacles removed as had hitherto lain in their way, and obstructed the conversion of the Gentiles, so happily begun."

of

"My departure from India" (he says) "was, for divers reasons, not only uneasy to myself, but also to many others, both Christians and heathens. The members of our church did particularly express a deep concern at this voyage: but nevertheless we judged it very necessary in respect of their future advantage, which we hope will certainly ensue, some fair prospect of fering itself to our view. Every one our young and old men have wet even my hands and feet with their tears, and would not consent to my departure, till I had solemnly engaged my word, that, with God's leave, I would most certainly rearn to India. I have undertaken this Forage with the greater confidence, (and without which indeed it would have been very grievous to me), that I know that my beloved fellowlabourer, Mr. Grundler, is capable, in my two years' absence, of maCHRIST, OBSERV. No. 110.

up things, not only in the state wherein they are at present, but also, through his unwearied application and care, under Divine Providence, more and more to advance them. And that particularly, our printing press might not be unemployed with books of the Malabar character, I committed into the hands of my fellow-labourer one part of the New Testament, revised: likewise a book of hymns, and one treating on doctrinal divinity, with several others, composed for the use of our schools; and I do not question, but he will take all possible care to see them exactly printed, since he very much applies himself to the study of the Malabar tongue. His assistant has also solemnly promised, faithfully to discharge all such things as relate to the books to be printed in the Portuguese language. As to my labour on board the ship, I beg leave to acquaint you, that I have discharged hitherto my pastoral duty, with respect to those that travel with me. I have also begun to translate part of the Old Testament into the Malabar tongue. Besides this, I hope to get time for composing a small Damulian grammar, to be printed in Germany, for the service of those who desire to learn this language in Europe. But lest this tongue, during so long a voyage, should become less familiar to me, I have brought with me a young man out of our Malabar school, in order to converse with him in this tongue, and constantly to hear it from his

This grammar he completed, during the voyage, in the Latin tongue. K

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