Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

by a kind friend, (for whose future favors we shall be grateful,) with a request that we would insert it in the "Friend of India," under the hope that some valuable end may possibly be answered thereby.

"A poor little African Negro, only ten years of age, went to hear the preaching of one of the missionaries, and became, through his instrumentality a convert to the christian religion. His master (an inveterate enemy of missions) hearing of it, commanded him never again to go, and declared he would have him whipped to death if he did. The poor little boy in consequence of this mandate was very miserable. He could scarcely refrain from going, yet knew that his death would be inevitable if he did. In this critical situation he sought direction and assistance at a throne of grace; and after having done this, he felt convinced that it was his duty still to attend, but to be careful that this should never interfere with his master's business, and for the rest to leave himself in the hands of God. He therefore went, and on his return was Summoned to his master's presence, and after much violent and abusive language, he received five-and-twenty lashes and then, in a sarcastic tone of blasphemous ridicule, his master exclaimed, "What can Jesus Christ do for you now?"-"He enables me to bear it patiently," said the poor child. "Give him five-andtwenty lashes more," cried the cruel wretch. He was obeyed. "And what can Jesus Christ do for you now?" asked the unfeel. ing monster. "He helps me to look forward to a future reward," replied the little sufferer. "Give him five-and-twenty lashes more," vociferated the inhuman tyrant in a transport of rage. complied ; and while he listened with savage delight to the extorted groans of his dying victim, he again demanded, "What can Jesus Christ do for you now?" The youthful martyr, with the last effort of expiring nature, meekly answered, "He enables me to pray for you, Massa," and instantly breathed his last!!!"

:

They

V. Meeting of the Asiatic Society!

On Wednesday evening, June the 3d, a meeting of the Asiatie Society was held at their rooms. The Bishop of Calcutta presided. At this meeting a letter was read from the late esteemed president; H. T. Colebrooke, Esq. who, ever attentive to the interests of the Society, has employed Mr. Murray the bookseller in FleetStreet, to print an octavo edition containing 750 copies, of the last volume of the Asiatic Researches on the Society's account, that being the number of copies printed of the former volumes by the booksellers, and the demand for them among the learned at home rather increasing than the reverse. Thus the Society will now deservedly reap the profit of the labors of its own members who contribute to enrich its Researches.

Some tracts were received from Mons. De Chezy of Paris, on the subject of India, and Indian literature, as a present from him to the Library of the Society. A letter was also received from the Literary Society lately established at Penang, thanking the Committee for a copy of the Researches, and begging their acceptance of a number of weapons used by the Malays, (among which were two battle-axes, and three spears of a peculiar construction,)and also of certain implements of husbandry in use among them. These were intended as a present to the Museum of the Society, which has been established within these three years past, chiefly by the care and exertions of Dr. N. Wallich, Superintendant of the Honorable Company's Botanic Garden.

The Museum was farther enriched by a present from Mr. Siddons, late Resident at Fort Marlborough, of a collection of various articles in use among the islanders of the Eastern Archipelago. Among these were a canoo from the island of Engano; three barbed spears, scarcely capable of being drawn forth, after entering the body even in a slight degree;-various ornaments worn by women ;-a Malay kriss, a dagger of peculiar construc

H

tion, often poisoned;-a crambet, or a semicircular kriss, about ten inches in diameter, and capable of being carried in the hand concealed in a cloth, a most dangerous weapon, used for pur. poses of revenge chiefly by the higher classes in the isle of C bes, and so much valued as scarcely to be procured for money ;spear, the hollow handle of which, about eight feet long, forms a vehicle for darting poisoned arrows. A number of minerals chiefly from Madagascar, were also presented to the Museum by the Hon. C. M. Ricketts, Esq. Member of Council. This valuable collection contained no less than thirty-two articles, which the limits of our little work forbid our enumerating; as they do also a number of minerals, &c. to the amount of twenty-eight articles, presented by Col. Mackenzie, Surveyor General of India. Certain organic remains found in a well at Sulkeah, opposite Calcutta, were also presented by Mr. Jones. Finally, a letter was received from Dr. Wallich, accompanying and beautifully describing various Specimens of Plants, chiefly from Nepal. Drawings of many of them accompanied this valuable present, executed by Indian artists in a manner that excited admiration. The particulars of this present we the less regret our want of room to insert here, as it is highly probable a description of the whole will be given in the next volume of the Researches.

The additions thus constantly made to the Museum of the Society, particularly from the Eastern Isles, tends exceedingly to increase a knowledge of the manners, habits and customs of the islanders and other inhabitants of Eastern Asia. Nor is it impossible that it may ultimately lead to a rich re-action on these isles, by facilitating in some future day, the introduction among them of, not only a portion of European science,--but of the light of Divine Revelation.

E. S. Montagu, Esq. was unanimously elected a member of the Society.

[ocr errors]

VI. Arrival of the Rev. Messrs. Colman and Wheelock.

On the 15th of April arrived at Calcutta, the Rev. Messrs. Colman and Wheelock, two Missionaries from America, intended for the Burman empire, to which country they are waiting to proceed by the first conveyance, with the view of joining the Rev. Messrs. Judson and Hough already resident at Rangoon. Mrs. Colman and Mrs. Wheelock have accompanied their husbands. These two gentlemen are natives of Massachusetts, and were educated at the Academy at Danvers under the care of the Rev. Mr. Chaplin. Mr. Colman is a member of the Third Baptist Church at Boston under the pastoral care of the Rev. D. Sharp; and Mr. Wheelock, of that under the care of Dr. Baldwin. They came out in the Independence of Boston, commanded by Captain Elkanah Bangs; and God was pleased so to bless their labors during the voyage, that six or seven of the sailors appear to have been brought to an earnest solicitude respecting their own salvation: their conduct since the ship has been in port, has been uniformly steady and worthy of the Christian character. Mr. Colman is about twenty five years of age; Mr. Wheelock about twenty-three.

VII. The First Report of the Auxiliary Bible Society of New South Wales.

The Sacred Penman in one instance describes the influence of Divine Knowledge under the similitude of waters, which, flowing from the threshold of the sanctuary, and gradually rising, went forth toward the east country, the desert, and the sea, to the healing of every living thing whithersoever they came. Like this in some degree is now the progress of the Sacred Volume: it is going forth into all places, (particularly those connected with the British empire); and we cannot reasonably doubt that its operation will be ultimately as salutary as it is represented in prophecy.

H 2

1

These reflections almost involuntarily rise in the mind on wit nessing the First Report of a Bible Society in New South Wales, than which we have seen scarcely any one which has filled us with more pleasure. When we consider the circumstances under which that settlement was planted,-its present flourishing state,-the peculiar salubriousness of its climate,-its amazing extent of territory, we cannot but rejoice that the grand medicine which restores to moral health, and invigorates with the spirit of useful and happy life, all who receive it aright, should be thus in a train of preparation for this settlement, capable of unknown extension and prosperity when it shall possess moral excellence in a suffici ent degree.

manner.

The spirit with which this Society has been formed and the vigor with which it has commenced its operations, are in the highest degree pleasing. The Governor, the Lieutenant-Governor, the Judges, and the chief inhabitants both civil and military, seem to have concurred with that excellent man, the Rev. Mr. Marsden, and the other ministers of the gospel there, in the most cordial His Excellency Governor Macquarrie is Patron of the Society; Lieutenant-Governor Molle, the President; and the Honorable Mr. Wylde the Judge Advocate, the Honorable Mr. Justice Field, Sir John Jameison, and the Rev. Mr. Marsden, the Vice-Presidents. These, with a Treasurer, two Secretaries, and a Committee of Forty-three Gentlemen, constitute the officers of the Institution. It was formed on the seventh of March 1817; and its Anniversary meeting is constantly to be held on the first Wednesday in May.

The Society commenced with so much spirit, that seventeen days after its institution, a Hundred and Fifty Pounds Sterling were remitted to the Parent Society in England; and on the seventh of May, two months after the formation of the Society, the benefactions and subscriptions had amounted to £400 sterling.

A Sub-Committee of eight gentlemen was appointed to visit

« EdellinenJatka »