DOMESTIC MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

MONTHLY MISSIONARY PRAYER-MEETING.

QUILON.

QUILON* (or Coulan) is situated on the Malabar coast (or extreme south-western part of Peninsular India), in N. Lat. 8°. 49'., and E. Long. 76°. 40'., distant 88 miles N. W. from Cape Comorin, and 80 miles W. from Nagercoil. The climate of this part of the Peninsula, notwithstanding the humidity of the atmosphere, is considered, by professional gentlemen, as healthy. Quilon is a scattered town, consisting of several streets and bazaars, under the shade of trees. The population, including that of the numerous villages near it, previously to the breaking up of the military cantonment in its vicinity, which took place in 1830-31, was estimated at about 40,000 souls. It consists of Hindoos, Mohammedans, Syrians, Parsees, and Roman Catholics, which latter are chiefly Portuguese. The number of Hindoos, it is supposed, is equal to all the rest taken together. The language chiefly spoken is Malayalim, which is vernacular; but the Tamil, also, is spoken by many, and understood by most of the inhabitants. The number of natives who speak Malayalim is estimated at 2 millions. The Hindoos have, at Quilon, a temple dedicated to Seeva, of very ancient date, and the Roman Catholics several congregations.

The Society's mission at Quilon was commenced in 1821. The destitution of that part of Travancore, as to moral and religious advantages, had, for some time previously, excited the compassion, and engaged the attention, of the missionaries at Nagercoil; and, in February of that year, Mr. John Smith was, accordingly, requested by his brethren to proceed thither, for the purpose of ascertaining the facilities which it might afford for the establishment of native schools, and also to apply to the British Resident for permission to commence a mission at the station.

On his arrival at Quilon, the late Colonel Newall, British Resident at that place, not only granted him permission to establish a mission there, but subscribed towards the expense of building the requisite school-rooms. This example was followed by other European gentlemen resident at the place.

Notwithstanding the acknowledged salubrity of the climate, the operations of the mission at Quilon have been, in a remarkable degree, impeded by sickness, especially during the earlier years of its establishment. Shortly after the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Crow (12th July, 1823), both Mr. Smith and Mr. Crow were visited by severe illness. Mr. Smith found himself, after a few months, under the necessity of embarking for Europe, which he did in the beginning of 1824; but Mr. Crow's health became so far re-established as to admit of his then remaining at the station; but a relapse afterwards occurring, he also was obliged to return to England, where, with Mrs. Crow, he arrived on the 12th of December, 1826. Both Mr. Smith and Mr. Crow, during their illness at Quilon, experienced very kind and assiduous attentions from K. Macaulay and J. Brown, Esqrs., professional gentlemen attached to the military establishment of the place. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson arrived at this station on the 10th of November, 1827. During the interval which elapsed between the departure of Mr. Crow to Europe and the arrival of Mr. Thompson at Quilon, the mission schools were under the superintendence of Mr. Ashton, assistant missionary from Nagercoil. Mr. Mault, missionary at the latter station, also visited Quilon twice during the same period, purpose of inspecting the state of the mission; which, in each instance, was satisfactory.

for the

*

The ancient Quilon was situated on the sea-coast, about two miles northward of the present town. It was once a place of considerable importance. A very few houses are still standing, which are inhabited. With this exception, scarcely any thing now remains of it

but ruins.

Mrs. Thompson having, from the time of her arrival in India, suffered much from the ill state of her health, and that of Mr. Thompson being likewise bad, they repaired, in November, 1829, to the Nilgiries (or Neilgherries), for the benefit of their salubrious atmosphere. They returned to Quilon on the 27th of October, 1830, the health of Mr. Thompson having been re-established, and that of Mrs. Thompson being partially restored; but the health of the latter having shortly afterwards suffered a relapse, she was recommended, by her professional advisers, to return to Europe. She survived the voyage, and arrived in England on the 6th of November last, but lived only till the 12th of the January following. While Mr. Thompson was at the Nilgiries, he was engaged, as far as his health would allow, in the study of Malayalim, and in the performance of occasional ministerial services, for the benefit of European visitants and others. During that period the mission at Quilon was under the charge of Mr. William Miller, missionary, from Neyoor, and Mr. Cumberland, assistant missionary, from Nagercoil. Mr. and Mrs. Harris joined the mission on the 27th of September, 1831.

Communication of the Gospel to the Natives.

From the unavoidable interruptions in the studies of the missionaries, and in the general operations of the mission, to which we have briefly adverted, less has been done at this station, in the department of direct missionary labour, than might otherwise have been effected. But although, for the reasons stated, the Gospel was not preached for several years by any resident missionary, in the vernacular tongue, exertions were yet made at the station, by the brethren connected with the Nagercoil mission, by some of the assistant missionaries belonging to the same, and by public Readers stationed at Quilon, to disseminate Christian knowledge among the natives. The latter, beside frequently engaging in the public reading of the Scriptures, availed themselves of opportunities to converse with the natives in the bazaars, and other places of popular resort, visited the schools, assisted in the examination of the scholars, and distributed the Scriptures and tracts. A separate district is now assigned to each of the Readers, who performs a service every Sabbath (in some one or more of the villages situated in the district in which he statedly labours), catechises the children, and communicates religious instruction to their parents, and to any other natives who assemble on those occasions, the number of whom is sometimes considerable. According to the latest returns, the number of Readers is five; and there are several promising native youths whom Mr. Thompson has taken under his immediate tuition, for the purpose of training them for the office of native teacher. The first instance of the visible efficacy of divine truth, connected with this mission, was in the case of a Gun-Lascar, who, in 1825, received important spiritual benefit by the instrumentality of Mr. Crow, and is now a member of the native church at Bangalore. In 1826, a native congregation, consisting of about 20 persons, was collected by Mr. Ashton, the public services being then perIn 1828 the congregation informed by him, assisted by one of the Readers. creased, fluctuating between 20 and 50. In that year, during the temporary absence of the Hon. Company's chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Spring, Mr. Thompson performed the English services of the station. In 1829 a further increase took place in the native congregation, among the members of which were some young persons, as voluntary hearers, who had been educated in the mission schools; others of the congregation were observed to have advanced in Christian knowledge, and to have acquired more correct ideas concerning the character and privileges of the Christian.

The persecution which raged against the native converts connected with the western division of the Travancore mission, in 1829,* remarkably operated in favour of the mission at Quilon; a considerable number of the natives at the latter place being led thereby to inquire

* Vide page 498.

for the word of God; and it is worthy of notice, that the number of books put into circulation during that year was twice as great as in any preceding one. In 1830 two stated native services, on the Sabbath, were commenced; one of them in Malayalim, and the other in Tamil, but the attendance was small. Various other opportunities, however, of exposing the errors of false religion, and exhibiting the excellence of the true one, were improved, particularly those afforded by the assembling of the people at the school-houses, and by occasional conversations with the natives generally. In 1831 the attendance of the congregation did not exceed that of the preceding year, but some of its members appeared to evince a scriptural conviction of sin, and were led to inquire what they should do to be saved, while others offered themselves as candidates for baptism. In the same year a bungalow, forming part of commodious premises, purchased on behalf of the Society for the use of the mission, was fitted up as a place of public worship. The expense of this alteration has been defrayed by means of subscriptions made for the purpose of providing a place of worship at Quilon, by respectable individuals on the spot, and at the Nilgiries, during the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Thompson in that quarter. The place will accommodate 300 persons; the average

attendance is about 80.

Mr. Crow, in 1822, commendably exerted himself for the purpose of providing a place of worship for English services, but the decline of his health, and his eventual return to Europe, prevented him from prosecuting the object. Subsequently to his departure, the English service, which had been instituted independently of the mission, was performed more efficiently than it had formerly been; and Quilon having latterly ceased to be a military station, such service is now no longer necessary.

Native Schools.

Several native schools were formed in 1821, the year in which the mission was commenced. In the following year their number was 6, two of them being supported by Colonel Newall, and the rest by the Society, as already stated. In 1823 they were increased to 8, and the Scriptures, as well as Dr. Watts's Catechism, introduced into them. In 1824 the number of the schools continued the same; that of the scholars was 353, of whom 15 were girls. In 1827 the schools were increased to 9, containing 293 boys. Two native female schools were formed during this year, containing together 46 girls, who were instructed in the principles of Christian truth. In 1828 the schools were in number 11, containing 222 scholars. In 1829 the boys' schools were increased to 12, containing 274 scholars; and the native female schools to 3, containing 44. In 1830 the schools were in numbe ras in the preceding year, viz., 15, containing 397 children on the books; the attendance fluctuating between 260 and 340. In 1831 the schools increased to 20, of which 13 were boys' schools, containing 370 scholars, and 7 girls' schools, containing 140. By the latest returns from the station it appears that the number of the schools has been increased to 24, consisting of 14 boys' schools, containing 380 scholars, and 10 girls' schools, containing 190; making together a total of 570 native children and young persons, who receive, exclusively, Christian instruction, no heathen books whatever being allowed to be read in any of the schools.

A more ample supply of school-books, and a more vigilant superintendence than formerly, have been followed by evident improvement in the scholars, who advance with greater proficiency in reading, and better understand what they commit to memory. Many of them are able to repeat considerable portions of the New Testament; such as the Gospel by John, the Epistle to the Romans, and the First Epistle to the Corinthians. The missionaries receive numerous applications for additional schools, which they are compelled to decline from the want of funds. It may not be improper to add, under this head, that the reason of the proportion of girls instructed in the mission-schools at Quilon being so much greater than it

is at other stations in the Peninsula, arises from the circumstance of the Malayalim people hav ing less powerful prejudice against the education of their female offspring than is prevalent among the Hindoos in general.

Distribution of the Scriptures and Tracts.

Numerous portions of the Scriptures and Tracts in different languages, but chiefly in Malayalim and Tamil, have from time to time been circulated among the inhabitants of Quilon, and at the neighbouring villages. For the means of such distribution, the missionaries have been chiefly indebted to the Committee of the Madras Auxiliary Bible Society," and to the Committee of the "Malayalim Tract Association ;" and they have endeavoured, as far as possible, to supply every family in Quilon in which at least one member of it is able to read, and willing to receive it, with some book or other containing a statement of the essential truths of the Gospel.

In surveying the results of the mission of which they have now presented a brief summary, the Directors have the satisfaction to know that a greater or less portion of Christian knowledge has been disseminated in the minds of several hundreds of the young persons and children at the station, in some of whom the beneficial effect of religious instruction has been manifested; that the light of the Gospel has been diffused among not a few of the adult population;-that some are desirous to become better acquainted with Christian truth;—that others are dissatisfied with idolatry;-that prejudice is dying away among many of the people; and that some perceive the evil and demerit of sin, and desire to participate in the blessings of salvation. Let us pray, that the light of the Gospel (the effects of which are beginning to appear, at this station, as at many other of the stations, of our own and other kindred Societies, like the "morning spread upon the mountains"), may be as "the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day;" and that in every realm and region of the globe, the pure light thereof may so shine and continue to increase, till the whole earth shall be filled with the knowledge and glory of the Lord-till all nations be blessed in Him, and all nations call Him blessed. Amen and Amen.

Austin Friars, 20th November, 1832.

Letter of George Bennet, Esq., to the HomeSecretary, with particulars of some late collecting-tours in which he kindly engaged on behalf of the Society; dated London, Nov. 19, 1832.

REV. AND DEAR SIR,

Two days ago I was permitted to return to my London home loaded with many mercies, after a series of tours, during seven months, undertaken at the desire, and with the hope of promoting the cause of the London Missionary Society (which I cannot but regard as the cause of humanity and of true religion), and I am happy to testify, that, in the parts visited, it seems to find increasing favour, both with ministers and people.

The counties, &c., visited, have been Suffolk, Staffordshire, Westmorland, Cumberland, Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland, Shropshire, South Wales, with part of Montgomeryshire, &c.

You have already received accounts from

my respected coadjutors and myself, respecting the meetings in the above parts, except those in the county of Salop, and I now send you a brief notice of the visit to that county, though you will, doubtless, receive the details, as well as the proceeds, from the respected local Secretaries.

Agreeably to your request, I proceeded from Durham (through Sheffield and Birmingham) to Shrewsbury. The first meeting was held at Bridgenorth, on the 22nd of Oct., the Rev. J. A. James, of Birmingham, giving his valuable aid; on the 23rd, at Newport, Rev. J. Whittenbury; 24th, at Whitchurch, Rev. Mr. Potter; 25th, at Drayton, Rev. Mr. Barton; 26th, at Wem, Rev. Messrs. Pattison and Mandeno; Lord's-day, 28th, morning service, at Clive, Rev. Mr. James, afternoon, at Hadnall, Rev. Mr. James, and again at Wem in the evening, to a crowded congregation; Monday, 29th, at Prees, Rev. Mr. Minshall; 30th, at Whixall, Rev. Mr. Minshall; 31st, at Elesmere, Rev. Mr. Roaf;