&c. No one could say a word to him, he made | I should be one too. Another brahman now such a noise. At length some one told him also told him, that he was speaking to no purthat what he was saying was not at all accept- pose, and that he would do better to withable, and that no one had called upon him to speak. Several other people now requested him to withdraw, but this only served to make him the more violent.

At last a brahman came up and asked him what he was about. I was at this time standing quietly by, well knowing that there was no use whatever in arguing with men of this kind; for they know nothing about reason. He told the brahman I had come to give the people books which would destroy their caste, and to forbid their worshipping the river. The brahman asked if he had read our books. He said he never had. How then can you speak against them? Take one and read it; you will find nothing bad in them; no man can refute what is written in these books. Our pandits cannot do it: why speak against a thing you have never examined? You say he forbids us to offer worship to Ganga; pray who is Ganga? you know that there is no such person as Ganga: if there ever was, there is no such being now. All know that there must be a great change of religion, and this is it. All must embrace this.' A Musalman who had read our books and knew they were good, now said he intended to read them always, because they were the word of God. O then you intend to forsake the religion of your fathers? this is very wrong,' said the opponent. The Musalman answered, If my father was a thief, that is no reason why

draw. Several others spoke to the same purpose; he however continued to haunt me for several evenings, but with no better success.

A few evenings after this another spirit of the same stamp came, but with him I was more watchful, and at once told him that I had been some years in this good work, and had learnt to distinguish between those who came for instruction and those who did not. He answered, Oh, your Jesus Christ was hanged. I said, Not in the way you call hanging; but allowing he was hanged, it was not for any thing evil he had done; for all know he was holy and without sin; he died for your sins, and your sins put him to death. I am no sinner,' was his answer. What is sin? there there is no such thing.' I replied,' What then are courts of justice for, if there is no such thing? What are lying, backbiting, coveting, but sins? All these and many more sins are in your heart.' The people began to attack him, and he moved off; but before he did so, he asked for a book.

An evening or two after this another came, but he was instantly silenced by those who stood by me.

These instances will in some measure show the state in which some of the people's minds are; and although I see few, very few, of the higher order moving towards the truth, many of the middling and poorer classes are.

DACCA.

After a month's indisposition, occasioned by the excessive heat, Mr. Robinson, at the end of May, made an excursion up the river Lukia of which he gives an interesting account:

I left home on Friday the 28th, taking | ashore with gospels and tracts for distribution. Chand with me, and a few books and tracts, hoping that something might be done on the way; and I have not been disappointed. Our way was at first through a creek, that communicates with the Dacca river at one end, and the Lukia at the other. I soon began to feel better; but a creek, with high banks covered with long grass and trees, is not the best place for fresh air. As I passed along, I was glad to see many little villages on both sides, which can be visited by our native brethren in a small boat in the rains. I began to indulge a hope which has been fully realized, that this trip, by making me acquainted with the neighbouring country, would point out new fields for missionary exertion. In the evening we reached a village called Dimru, which lies near the junction of the creek with the Lukia. It being market day, and the people not all dispersed, we went

The people were eager to receive them, and we soon disposed of about twenty gospels and two hundred tracts. Chand had a long dispute with a brahman. The people were very noisy, and, being weak, I could not address them. Few of them, though living so near Dacca, appeared to have heard any thing of the Gospel.

We left Dimru early the next morning, and about ten reached a village called Murapara. Finding a little market here for fish and fruit we had an opportunity for preaching and the distribution of books. Some refused them, but many were anxious to obtain them. The people were very willing to hear. I spoke a little, perhaps half an hour or more, but feared to remain out longer in the heat of the day. Chand was engaged on one spot more than an hour, and the people treated him in a very friendly manner.

Ôn leaving

Murapara we crossed the river to Raj-ganj, a very small village. Chand went on shore, and sat in a shop about an hour, when he was well received and heard with great attention. Here we were informed that there would be a market the next day, at a place called Sumbadarti, a few miles up the river. We therefore determined to proceed towards that place, in hopes of reaching it early the next morning, and spending the sabbath there.

by his holy conduct. They seemed well pleased with us, and invited us to go and sit in the jamidar's kacheri. To this we readily consented; and here we had a long and interesting conversation with them on some of the most important truths of the bible. But I had now been out nearly three hours, and my little strength was all expended; therefore, leaving Chand with them, I soon returned to my boat, to recruit, as I thought, for the evening.

About seven on sabbath morning, May 30th, we reached Sumbadarti. It lies on a small About four in the afternoon, thinking the creek, about half a mile from the Lukia. On market was about to commence, I went out our arrival we were informed that the place again, but as only a few people had collected, was in the Pargana of Bhawal, and that we walked over to the jamidar's house; it should see many Catholics in the market. A is a small thatched dwelling, very neatly great part of this large Pargana forms an en-built; he had returned, and received me in dowment of the Romish church. There are a very friendly manner. "Who," I said, in Bhawal two churches and usually two "established this market on the sabbath?" priests, who are allowed the rents of the land"My grandfather," was the reply. "But for their support, so that they are jamidars as why did he establish it on the sabbath?" well as priests. In the village where we spent the sabbath, there is a petty jamidar, of Portuguese extraction, whose name I have not heard, for in this part of the country persons of Portuguese extraction have commonly two names, their real name, which is Portuguese, and a Bengali name, by which they are chiefly denominated. Thus our brother Nonez is better known to many by the Bengali name Panchu, than by his real name.

"Because on that day the people, after they leave church, have time to come and do their business in the market." While I was sitting there he received money, his rent I suppose, from one of his agents. I said to him, "It is very wrong to do business on the sabbath."

Such is our custom." "But have you not read the ten commandments?" He then produced a book, a sort of biblical catechism, printed at our press, which he began to read. As soon as we arrived, Chand went on I now left him for the market, where I soon shore, and found the house of the above jami- collected a little congregation; and, making dar. He had been to Chand's house at Dac- a heap of rubbish my pulpit, I began to adca. Chand, however, did not see him; for, dress them from Paul's words, "This a faithalas! he was gone a shooting; so much re-ful saying," &c. I had not spoken more gard does he pay to the sabbath. But can than a quarter of an hour when my strength . we wonder ? The priests of the Romish failed. As Chand had come up, I made over church have no objection to violate the sab- the work to him, and took a seat under a banbath in the same manner. It is well known yan tree in the rear, where I could observe that a priest, who was at Bandel a few years all that passed. The attention which the ago, used very commonly to go a shooting on poor people gave to Chand's address was truly the sabbath. A Catholic lady, well known gratifying. Many people, Hindus, Muhamto me, met him one sabbath day at the ghat, madans, and Christians, had now collected, just as he had landed from the other side of and after a little while I went to another part the river, with his gun in his hand, and very of the market and made a second attempt. sharply reproved him. She had been educated Again I failed, and in a few minutes was at Serampore, and felt some respect for the obliged to desist for want of strength. I went and sat under another banyan tree, and the people coming round me I gave them gospels and tracts. Being a little recovered, I hawked my wares through the market, and found many customers, until, being quite exhausted, I was obliged to retire to my boat. Several people I came to the boat for tracts, which were given them by my son, for I could do no more.

sabbath.

After breakfast, I went and sat under a banyan tree, where I conversed with a few people, and gave away two gospels and a few tracts. I then went to a shop, and a few people collecting round the door, told them of Jesus Christ and the way of salvation. addressed them as Muhammadans and Hindus, for such I thought they were; but when Chand came up, he, to my surprise, addressed them as Christians. I then began to look at them a little more carefully, and observed in their necklaces of beads, a small crucifix, composed of six or eight beads. This is the sign, as they afterwards told us, by which they are known as Christians; the proof, and the only one I fear, of their Christianity. We told them that a Christian should be known

Chand continued preaching till dark, and then returned with a very pleasing account of the attention of the people and their desire for books. He had in the morning been to the houses of some of the Christians, where he had preached to them and their families. Indeed he had been engaged all day, with a brief interval for taking a meal. I wish we had a person to station here, for I am per'suaded he would meet with some encourage

ment. There are between two and three but were too ignorant, we fear, to understand thousand Christian families in this Pargana. much of what was said to them, especially as On Monday the 31st we proceeded up the very few of them had heard any thing of the river, and in the evening reached a place called gospel before. Some, who owned that they Kapashiya-ganj. We had heard that there could not read, begged tracts to take to their would be a market at this place on the follow-respective villages, that they might request ing day, and we came with an intention of re- their neighbours to read to them. With the maining to preach and distribute books. We wishes of these people we most readily comwent on shore as soon as we arrived, and found plied. a few people, among whom were several brahmans, who made a strong opposition and and reasoned very perversely. Chand went out again after dark, and had a long conversation with a shop-keeper, who seemed pleased with what he heard.

On Tuesday the 1st of June, I went out between eight and nine, and got a few people round me. An old man paid great attention, and received two or three tracts, but, influenced by a brahman, he returned them. Chand came, we sang a hymn, and many people collected'; but the brahmans began their opposition. One said, " God is in every thing; he is in me, and I myself am God." "What proof can you give of your divinity ?" "I can take a knife and cut this man's throat, and so take away his life." "Any other person could do that, as well as you. Such an action would not show that you are God, but only prove you a murderer." The people soon dispersed; and it being very hot, I returned to my boat. Chand was called into a shop, where a little group soon collected round him.

We went out when the market commenced in the afternoon, but did not find any great number of people; there were perhaps two or three hundred peasants, few of whom could read. They heard us with great attention,

We were anxious to distribute as many tracts as possible, for it may be long before the gospel is again preached and tracts again distributed in this place. A poor man in the market, who lives in another village, showed me a copy of the Psalms, which he had received at Dacca. I gave him a gospel and a tract. Several people recognized Chand, saying they had seen him at Dacca.

Our Bengali books and tracts being gone, we determined to turn the head of our boat homewards on the morrow. We suppose that we have had the pleasure of preaching the gospel, for the first time, in all the places where we have been, if we except a visit made to Bhawal by Nonez and Ramjiban, during the last cold season. Brother Leonard once visited Bhawal for the purpose of establishing a school there; but he did not, we believe, go to the part to which we have been. I have now a pretty clear idea of the nature of the country for nearly thirty miles to the northeast; and Chand having been with me, it will become an easy matter for our native brethren to itinerate through the whole dis

trict.

June 4th.-Yesterday I arrived at home, and, through mercy, found all well. I am not strong, but much better than when I left home.

Mr. Thompson writes thus:

DELHI.

June 28th.—We have been delighted with sary to pursue with him: only that his visit the unexpected visit of Budh Sen, the aged was unexpected, though he had some sixteen baniya of Hauper, whose well used and worn months since promised to call. His coming out Hindi testament I brought away with me has afforded us pleasure, and his conversation from Gurhmukteshwar in 1839, and replaced leads us to believe he is in a most interesting it by a new one. This poor man, full of the state of mind as it respects the Saviour and knowledge of the word of Christ, is now quite his blessed word. Day after day and month infirm, his sight almost gone, his hearing af- after month for twenty months had we prayed fected, and his whole frame seeming to totter for him in an especial manner since my conon the brink of the grave. I did not expect versation with him at Hauper, and when we to find him so very feeble. He appears, how-began to despair of ever seeing him, he most ever, often to be absorbed in thought, and, as unexpectedly comes in, to our great joy and he says meditating on what he had read. His to his own comfort! Blessed be the Lord desire is, I believe, to unite with us by the Jesus for thus conducting this poor weary soul observance of the ordinances of the New Tes- to us; and may it ultimately appear to be for tament and the precepts of the word of God his glory. How great will be the joy of that generally; and I hope he may have life, day, when not one convert, but multitudes of health, and grace given him for that purpose. them, shall "fly as a cloud, and as the doves At present I can say nothing decided as to to their windows!" But great as will be the his intentions or the course it may be neces-joy of that day, a small measure of it may

WEST INDIES.

JAMAICA.

RESOLUTION OF THE BAPTIST WESTERN UNION.

At a Meeting of the "Baptist Western Union," held at Falmouth on the 6th of October, 1841,

SPANISH TOWN.

It cannot surprise any of our readers who are aware of the amount of labour devolving habitually on our esteemed missionary, Mr. Phillippo, to learn that his health imperatively requires some relaxation. That this is the fact appears from a letter recently received from him, in which also, in order to assist the Committee in forming their estimate of the number of agents which it is desirable to allot to Spanish Town, he gives an outline of the duties to which, with the aid of Mr. Hume, he has to attend.

i have eight stations, some of them full anxieties sustained for so many years. I am, twenty miles distant from the central one, indeed, now laid almost totally aside from laeach of which requires the services of a re-bour by the failure of my voice, occasioned by gular minister at least once a month on the its almost incessant and too violent exercise sabbath, as well as occasional visitings on a for years past in and out of doors, and am week day. Eight schools are under my su- positively told by my medical adviser, Dr. perintendence, and are solely dependent on Fairbank, that unless I cease from public me for support. I have three new chapels in altogether for two or three months, I shall building, and one being enlarged, the cost of most probably altogether lose its use in public. which, full 30004. sterling, I in some way or My dear wife also having shared my anxieties other have to meet. I have services to main- and labours, and borne a large family of nine tain three times on the sabbath invariably at children, five of whom have been torn from Spanish Town, and a church-meeting and her by death, three others separated from her, sabbath-schools to attend, besides two week- and, after sicknesses which many times have day services regularly, services all of which brought herself to the very gates of the grave, probably involve as much mental labour as is now in such extremely delicate health and in a respectable town in England, with mar- bad spirits as to be obliged to reside almost riages and funerals, visiting the sick, and a entirely at Sligoville, where I shall now again thousand other pastoral duties to discharge, (for I must visit my stations whether I can arising from a church of between two and preach or not) be obliged to leave her, as it three thousand persons in town and country. were in solitude, the greater part of each week.

My health and spirits, too, have given way beneath the pressure of these engagements and

HOME PROCEEDINGS.

A special meeting was held at Fen Court on the 15th ultimo, of a similar character to that whose proceedings were recorded in our number for November last.

in

The Central Committee had summoned the General Committee on this occasion consequence of a letter which they had received from Mr. Brock, expressing his cordial attachment to the Society, but assigning reasons why he felt it to be his duty to decline the office of secretary, to which he had been invited. As in the former case, the Tuesday evening was spent in prayer for divine guidance; and the brethren Gray, Brawn, G. H. Davis, Hoby, Green, Upton, Russell, and Steane, took part in the services.

The committee re-assembled for the transaction of business on Wednesday morning at ten o'clock. The treasurer was called to the chair; Mr. Brock's letter was read; and, after some discussion, a sub-committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Birt, Godwin, Gotch, Gray, Hinton, Steane, Drs. Hoby and Murch, with the treasurer and secretary, to suggest a name or names with a view to the choice of a co-secretary. They retired; and after a short interval, the chairman brought up the following report:-"The sub-committee having met and considered the question referred to them by the general committee, as the result of their deliberation, unanimously recommend that the Rev. J. E. Giles, of Leeds, be respectfully invited to fill the office." It was then resolved unanimously-"That this committee adopt the recommendation now placed before them, and in accordance with it, earnestly and with great respect invite the Rev. John Eustace Giles to the office of co-secretary." Mr. Giles not being present, a deputation was appointed to present to him the resolution, and urge the claims of the mission.