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equally men of God and men of labour, and men beloved of all, living epistles of Christ known and read of all men," though in talent, learning, and natural temperament as little alike as might be —“But sure I am, could he address us from the world of spirits, he would say, 'waste not the precious time of this important opportunity in speaking about me; but endeavour to enter into my labour and bring home to the hearts and consciences of your hearers (readers) the instruction which this dispensation is calculated to supply.'" We listen to the doubly echoed voice as from the dead, and leave the work of the now "made perfect" departed, to address itself to our readers, many of whom we hope may be induced to procure a volume, the perusal of which will amply repay them in the solid food of gospel truth.

CINSURENSIS.

Missionary and Religious Entelligence.

1.-MISSIONARY AND ECCLESIASTICAL MOVEMENTS.

The Bishop of Calcutta has returned from his visit to Benares, Dacca, &c. His Lordship appears much improved by his journey.-The London Society's Missions in Northern India and the Archipelago have been reinforced by the arrival of the following labourers. The Rev. A. Stronach, the Rev. J. Stronach, the Rev. W. P. Lyon and the Rev. T. L. Lessel and their partners. The Messrs. Stronach will proceed by the first vessel to Singapore to prepare for the Chinese Mission. Mr. Lyon proceeds to Benares, and Mr. Lessel remains in Calcutta. May our dear friends long live and labour in these vast fields!-The Rev. Mr. Wybrow, formerly travelling Secretary to the Church Missionary Society in England, has been appointed Secretary to that Society's Mission in Northern India, and arrived during the past month. We trust he will be enabled to conduct the important affairs of the Mission in the spirit of wisdom, meekness and usefulness.—The Rev. I. D. Ellis returned from his trip to Singapore on the Sir William Wallace, last month. His health is much improved by the voyage; but we regret to add that that of Mrs. E. is still very feeble. It is with unfeigned sorrow we announce that the Rev. G. Pearce of the Calcutta Baptist Mission, has been so prostrated by fever, as to be obliged to take a voyage to sea for the restoration of his health.-We regret to add also that the Rev. J. McEwan of Allahabad, is obliged to retire from the Indian Mission on account of indisposition. The Rev. J. Wilson of Sabathu will occupy the station at Allahabad on Mr. McEwan's departure.-The Rev. J. Compstock and family of Khyook Phyoo, have left that station for Calcutta. It is the intention of our good brother, should his health be restored, to return even to this most unhealthy of all stations, at the close of the cold season.-The Rev. T. Boaz returned from a trip to Arracan in the H. C. Pilot vessel Krishna, on the 19th. His health is much improved by the voyage. It is with extreme sorrow that we have to announce the death of the following labourers in the Mission field. Our venerable friend, Dr. Marshman of Serampore, has entered into his rest after a residence of 39 years in India. His

life was devoted to God, and his end was peace. We hope to present our readers with a brief memoir of this last of the fathers of the Indian Mission. The Rev. Mr. Reed of Bankok, Mrs. Philips of Sambulpoor and Mrs. Osgood of Maulmain, have also entered into their rest. They all left behind them good testimony to the efficacy of grace, and being dead yet say to us be ye followers of us, as we followed Christ.'

2.-IMPROVEMENTS AND SCHOOLS IN ARRACAN.

The Local Government in Arracan have, for some time past, been accumulatinga fund from the Revenues of the seaports for the improvement of the province. This fund now amounts to a sum sufficient to warrant its expenditure without the fear of exhausting the principal. We understand it is to be employed in the construction and repair of roads, bridges, drains, &c. at the several stations. This will materially increase their salubrity and comfort. It affords us satisfaction to announce also that a part of the fund will be employed to establish schools at Akyab, Khyook Phyoo, Ramree, and Sandoway. The object contemplated in the establishment of these seminaries, is to afford the Mug youth a plain education in the English, Hindustání, and vernacular tongues. Owing to a peculiar practice amongst the Mugs, of entirely giving up their youth to the care of their instructors, it is in contemplation to board and lodge the pupils wholly out of the fund, and by this means win to them from their fickle habits and attach them more firmly to the British Government. We wish the present indefatigable and enterprizing commissioner, Captain Bogle, every success in his praise-worthy efforts to discover and render advantageous to the government and the province the resources of Arracan, and in his ef forts to train the youth of the country in the path of industry and virtue.

3.-GOVERNMENT AND MERCANTILE SANCTION OF THE VIOLATION OF THE SABBATH.

We have often been indignantly astonished, when occasion has called us forth on the Sabbath, to witness numbers of convicts, coolies and others in the employ of government, engaged in breaking stones, clearing the roads and drains, or employed in other occupations which can certainly never be classed under the head of works of necessity-surely this needs only to be pointed out to be remedied. Would that the evil rested with these poor outcasts and labourers, for who arriving in Calcutta, on the evening of a Sabbath day, and witnessing the display of gaiety and fashion on the Strand, would not imagine that he had miscalculated a day? He could never mistake it for the Sabbath, and especially for the Sabbath in a country proverbial for its sickness and death, where one should suppose the day of rest would be employed in attending to things divine. It must arise from want of consideration, or from long absence from England and forgetfulness of English habits that many who are truly pious people can yet be induced to lend their sanction to such a practice as Sunday airing; but we trust a word to the wise will be enough. Nor are our Christian merchants entirely free from the charge of Sabbath-breaking. Would that they would leave the desk and the ledger for the occupations of the sanctuary, retirement and the Bible; for although they should transact their business with closed doors, the eye of " Him who seeth in secret" rests upon them, and that which they now do in secret, shall one day be proclaimed "on the housetop." Let them not only cease from their own labours, but give rest to their heathen employés also, and thus give them a decidedly practical proof of the value they place upon our most holy faith. We fear that much error prevails in India on the subject of the Sabbath as it respects heathen servants ; it is our holy day; and as such we, should show them our reverence

for it, and teach them to respect both it and our faith, by releasing them from all unnecessary labour. We have no right to employ them on that day because they may abuse the time; this is a matter between God and themselves; the law which applied under the old dispensation is, we conceive, binding now, that our "man-servant, and maid-servant, and even the stranger within our gates shall rest." But we must desist.

We are afraid to touch on the manner in which the Sabbath is passed in many Muffassal stations, far away from the influence of European society; but we fear that not only do all, with one consent, begin to make excuse, but most unceremoniously employ the day to almost every purpose but that for which it was intended. We have adverted to this subject at the commencement of a new year, in the hope that many in every circle will cease to err in this matter; that they will" rest on the Sabbath day and keep it holy.' Nor have we been less impelled to allude to the topic from a conviction that no government, or class of merchants, or others have infringed the claims of God on the Sabbath, without sooner or later receiving the punishment due for such presumptuous disobedience.

4.—EXPORTATION OF NATIVES.

The supporters of colonial slavery have ever been ingenious in devis ing plans for maintaining the system in reality under different names. But the most singularly ingenious movement which they have made, is to people their plantations from the shores of Hindustan. This benevolent method of employing the poor starving people of Bengal, suggested itself first to the philanthropic minds of our Mauritian neighbours. For some time they were quietly conveying away the natives without the sanction of the government, or at least in a manner which the authorities could not sanction. The numbers stowed away must have made the voyage to the Isle of France equally delightful with the middle passage. The public prints took up the subject, and in a great measure remedied the evil, by obtaining the establishment of a government registry, which prevented men from being taken away per force, and regulated mercantile humanity in the matter of quantity to be shipped on each vessel. But after all we may ask, do these coolies know where they are bound for and what they are to do? Are they quite satisfied with their condition at the Mauritius? Has there been no dissatisfaction? Do they receive any religious instruction? Are Missionaries or others prohibited from labouring amongst them? Have any of their wives or families been sent to them? We put these questions in order to receive answers; for if they are not satisfactorily answered, we shall at once adopt means for obtaining authen tic information on the subject. Some of them we could answer now. are desirous of calling the attention of the public to this new scheme. The planters of the West Indies have eagerly grasped at the idea, and equipped a vessel in England (which may now be on her passage) for the purpose of conveying a cargo of Bengali agriculturists to the West Indies as free labourers !!! Did ever any mortal in this our earth hear of such an enterprize even in this age of schemes? We have heard of the Sagar Rail Way Company, and of the Umbrella Society; but who ever conceived of a Society for transporting the population of Bengál to the Western Isles, to be consigned to the tender mercies of sugar planters? But to be serious-the slave trade itself originated in a very similar kind of traffic; and we wonder very much that the originators of this scheme have not urged upon our youthful Queen the argument employed with the Virgin despot, that it would be a fine opportunity to instruct them

We

in the Christian faith! We would urge it on the government to institute the fullest inquiry into this novel and mysterious traffic, before it grows to an evil not only to the country, but to the unfortunate people themselves who may fall victims to West Indian scheming. Why do they not go to shores much more contiguous than Northern India? What has become of the question of caste? If a Missionary had attempted to carry a cargo of natives to form a colony, what a hue and cry would have been raised! The peace, welfare and stability of the government would have been endangered. But the children of this world are not only more wise" but more daring and successful than "the children of light." We can assure the movers in this trade that we will watch them with an eagle's eye, and that the trade shall neither be commenced nor continued without the most strenuous efforts on our part for its suppression, should it ever become what we have no doubt it will if not watched, a resurrection of the slave trade.

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5.-MAURITIUS MISSION.

It will be in the recollection of our readers, that the Rev. A. F. LeGros a native of Switzerland, accompanied by two native teachers, proceeded to the Mauritius for the purpose of diffusing a knowledge of Christianity amongst the Bengálí emigrants and the slaves. The authorities refused him permission to land and prosecute his labours; first, because they disapproved of his object, and secondly, because he was not a British but a Swiss subject. He acted upon the letter of their instructions, and proceeded at once to Britain, in order that he might lay his case be fore the colonial authorities. We predicted at the time without laying any special claim to foresight that which has actually occurred-he has obtained permission to return, accompanied by other Missionaries to labour unfettered at the Mauritius. Lord Glenelg may be somnambulent, but we suspect the authorities at the Cape and Mauritius would wish that his slumbers were both more potent and long continued. If he does sleep, it is neither in his mental vigour nor love of equity, nor are his sarcasm or contempt of such playing the tyrant and despot as the powers that be in these Colonies have displayed in a dormant condition. Our prayer is that with all his faults such a one may long continue to preside over the interests of the Colonies of Great Britain.

6.-TREATMENT OF THE NATIVES.

"The Natives of India possess both mental and physical sensibilities." OURSELVES.

It is not often that we quote ourselves, but in this instance we are obliged to do so, as in the whole course of reading we have never met with a single sentence which conveys the sentiment at the head of this paragraph; but although it is not found in any author it is nevertheless perfectly true. It may appear strange that we should have either to make the assertion or substantiate the fact, but we suspect the almost universal prac tice of abusing and ill-treating the natives may account for the total absence of any such sentiment as the one referred to on the subject of native sensibility. The fact is our consciousness of superiority, combined with the servility of the natives has induced us to adopt a line of conduct and modes of expression highly objectionable and reprehensible. It is true the natives are generally slow and oft perfidious; but may not our treatment of them lead them to the latter at least, for from what European employees

should we obtain the same amount of labour and attention as from them, or indeed what European would render us service at all under the treatment they oft experience at our hands. They render us good service in many respects, and serve us ill in others; the good service is forgotten and they receive as their reward, often their discharge, accompanied with abuse, anger and blows. Their mistakes often arise rather from our ignorance of their language and habits, from our peevishness induced by disease and other causes, than either their vices or folly; and so habitual does this carping become that we oft censure when we should praise, and are silent when we should commend. This renders them as it would any servants quite indifferent, they care not whether they please or no, and their only study becomes how much they shall pilfer, and how much annoy a master, who never seeks their good, but always his own comfort at their sole expense. We have seen the kind but strict system, and the harsh and blustering plan tried ; the former with as much success as we could expect with such a people in such a condition, and the latter utterly fail. In fact we fear that much of the bad conduct of the servant is to be traced to the harsh and ungenerous conduct of the master. It is well for us that the natives are as pusillanimous as they are, or they might resent to our cost the conduct we pursue to them. Let us reflect on the low esteem it must give them of us and of our faith, and how it must tend to render our very government odious in their sight. The Dutch lost their influence by their tyranny. We upbraid America with her harshness to her slaves-let us look at home. We boast of our magnanimity and generosity, let us display it, not in trampling on the poor degraded and conquered Bengáli. We have translated some of the words in common use amongst English gentlemen towards their servants, the appropriateness of the vocabulary as applicable to rational beings will we trust commend itself to all, and ensure its universal adoption; for it would be especially delightful to hear our ministers, wives, daughters, and children, speaking in language which must be deemed appropriate by us, as it is always on our lips. Súr, pig; harámzáda, a person of bad birth; gadhd, ass; pági, worthless; baurd, stupid. These are the most respectable of the class-many there are which are perfectly untranslatable in the Calcutta Christian Observer.

We close our remarks with the motto with which they commence, entreating all to remember that

"The natives of India possess both mental and physical sensibilities."

7.-CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

The horrid cruelties practised by the Hindus towards their domestic animals must have struck every resident in India. How frequently do we see the poor beasts of burthen groaning under the influence of oppressive burdens, in the midday sun, with loathsome wounds exposed to the action of the atmosphere, the attacks of insects, and not unfrequently to the lash of the rude driver. It is a sight oft to be witnessed, but not without making every well regulated mind revolt. We merely select this instance; it is but an example of the general line of treatment adopted by the natives towards the brute creation. This is a subject demanding the attention of the legislature and one which might certainly come within the scope of their labours without interfering with the religious prejudices of the people; for it can be no offence either to Hindu or Mussalman to make him respect the ox, and the cow, as it is almost the deity of the one, and the food of the other. We commend it to the attention of our code framers. A slight fine imposed on persons convicted of maltreating dumb animals would be a sufficient cheek to the practice.

φιλος.