"Finally, our host arose, and declared that since the gods had sent us to visit them in peace, and with good intentions, they ought to receive us in friendship, and treat us with kindness, and return thanks to the gods, by a feast, in honour of the messengers whom they had thus sent, and with this the assembly dispersed. "After the feast we were occupied in visiting various parts of the district, and in viewing the face of the country, but for further particulars I must beg to refer you to the Report itself. We "This journey will immediately answer one important object, and, I trust, will eventually lead to a wide and effectuai entrance for the gospel, which, notwithstanding the unspeakable debasement of the Bataks, can make them wise to salvation, and meet to be partakers of the inheritance with the saints in light. From mistaken notions of their character and dispositions, occasioned by their cruel practice of cannibalism, and by their aversion to visiting the sea, there had existed an inseparable barrier to every kind of direct intercourse with them. commenced the journey partially under the general apprehension, but confidence in the great Being, in whom are all our ways, enabled us to surmount every obstacle, and so to conduct ourselves as to leave the most favorable impression of the European character wherever we went. We were frequently invited to take up our abode in Silindang, and become their instructors; and although the number who can read is so small, that the demand for books will not be very extensive at present, we have the satisfaction to learn, that those who can read will receive books cordially, and that the way has been opened for mutual confidence and a free communication, without which nothing could have been effected. "Two days afterwards the feast was celebrated, and occupied a space of nearly six hours. About seven thousand people were present. A pig, fowls, and a variety of sweetmeats, were prepared, The ceremonies consisted in a succession of dances, devoted to some particular object, or person, or spirit, to which the leader generally made some appropriate address. They had a band of music, consisting of drums of various sizes, gongs and cymbals, and a pipe somewhat like the clarionet, but small and without keys. We were seated on an elevated stage, erected for the purpose of exhibiting us. The English flag was suspended from a pole projecting over the street. The manner of dancing was either by a slow motion of the feet without moving from the spot, or by one in which they advanced about half a foot at a time. The hands were employed in supporting the offerings presented to the objects of their respect. Our host led the way, accompanied by his younger brother, both bearing dishes of sweetmeats. They were successively joined in new dances by his uncle, the aged orator, by his two sons, his wife, his two daughters, and ultimately by all his kindred. Afterwards the chiefs and respectable people engaged, making perhaps twenty separate dances, in companies of from three to a dozen each, bearing presents, and distributing them at the close to the spectators. One man using more activity than the rest, soon found himself possessed by a spirit, and falling down senseless was carried away. Towards the conclusion, the chief deputy of Singa Manga Raja in Silindung, stepped forth and performed a dance singly, addressing first the gods, then the English flag with much respect and at considerable length, and then ourselves. In one of the dances the ten commandments "Relative to our affairs at Bencoolen, were borne round and presented to the I have a mixture of good and evil to mengods, with an appropriate speech. In tion; although we should remember that conclusion, a pig was killed, and served all events, whatever aspects they may to feast the particular friends of our host. assume in our distorted sight, are in the I forgot to mention, that in the midst of hand of Him whose appointed designs of these festivities the cry of the enemy' mercy must be accomplished, and whose was given out, when all who had arms own unsuffering kingdom still must come. in their hands, ran promiscuously out of the village to meet them, but it happened to be a false alarm. "From the various particulars thus laid before you, I think you will readily draw the following conclusions :-That from the extreme ignorance and intellectual debasement of the people, an effective system of general education is of the utmost importance.-That besides preaching and oral instruction, which should never be neglected, the cultivation of the language and a version of the scriptures are indispensably necessary.-That the Batak Mission is of a most arduous nature, and if any thing permanent is expected, should be supplied with more labourers. "The new version of St. John in Malay you will have heard, has been completed and printed; and I have now to commu I beg further to offer my own opinion, if it can be of any service. nicate, that the edition has been almost exhausted, and that I am about to reprint it in a larger type. About a thousand "You are aware that he was troubled copies of a new scripture catechism have with an affection of the head before he been printed and disposed of, and the left Java, which sometimes disqualified work reprinted on English paper. A him for labour: this he ascribed to the small edition of eight short sermons, united influence of fever and hard study. making forty pages, translated freely, During the former part of his residence and adapted to the state of the Malays, here, his avocations were more light and from the excellent little tract, No. 38, desultory, and he recovered his strength second series, of the Religious Tract So- and spirits; afterwards, when he came ciety, has been printed, and nearly all to be engaged in the work on orthography, distributed.-I am now about to revise and the new version of St. John, which and reprint a larger edition of it. A required more mental exercise, the mor school book, of one hundred and seventy bid tendency to the head returned with pages, called Selections from the Crown greater violence than ever, and he was of all Kings, a translation from an Ara. frequently obliged to resort to the means bic work, of a moral nature, in great re- requisite for preventing apoplexy.-He quest, is just completed. I have conti- was then directed by his medical attendnued to go out amongst the natives for ants to adopt a vegetable regimen, from conversation and the distribution of books which he found much benefit, as long as as usual, and have generally met with as he abstained from study; but this course much attention and success as could be appears to have induced such a state of expected. The circulation of books, as general debility, that an attack of fever well as the influence of the schools, evi- a few months ago almost carried him off. dently tends to increase the demand, From this, however, he was mercifully numbers being thus enabled to improve recovered, but his mental powers rethemselves in the art of reading, which mained in a state of great imbecility, and is seldom unaccompanied by a growing it became vain to hope he would be again thirst for knowledge. serviceable without a change. "So far all is encouraging. You will observe from what I have said respecting the school system and the general plan for translations, that our objects have been gradually increasing in magnitude and importance, and it is hoped would have eventually extended to every recess of the island. It is most distressing to me, in the midst of these, to have to, advert to the necessity of brother Robinson's removal to Bengal. I inclose a letter from himself, which, I trust, will satisfy the Committee of the propriety of the step he has been obliged to take, and "This result, added to his experience at Batavia, afforded him sufficient evidence that he was not qualified for a life of mental application; and, from my own acquaintance with him, I am satisfied his conclusion was just. As this course of life is the only one in which he could be truly useful here, I have not hesitated to approve his proposal to remove to Bengal, where the climate and his knowledge of the language, will render him almost immediately useful in that particular line, which alone he is able to occupy with advantage.” Contributions received by the Treasurer of the Baptist Missionary Society, from May 20 to July 20, 1825, not including Individual Subscriptions. Wallingford, Collection and Subscriptions, by Mr. Field Baptist Free School, Took's court, Castle-street, Holborn, Voluntary Contributions of Camberwell, Female Missionary Association, Denmark-place Chapel Nottingham, Auxiliary Society, Collection and Subscriptions Missionary Box at Mr. Arnold's Paper Mill, by Mr. Salmou, Hackney Dunstable, and Houghton Regis, Penny Society, by Mr. R. Gutteridge, Jan. Shrewsbury, Snailbeach, &e. by Mr. Thomas Crumpton Naseby, Penny-a Week Society, and Subscriptions, by Rev. John Mack Hackney, Auxiliary Society, by Mr. John Dunn, Treasurer Tring. Wingrave, Aston Abbotts, &c. by Mr. Amsden Bow, collected by a few young Ladies in Dr. Newman's Congregation 43 16 3 Young Gentlemen, at Mr. Brewer's Academy g Bedfordshire, Baptist Association, by Rev. J. Hindes Rochdale, Auxiliary Baptist Missionary Society, by Mr. Kelsall Hebden Bridge, Penny Society, Half-year, by Mrs. Foster, Treasurer Kent, Auxiliary Society, by Mr. Parnell, Treasurer Birmingham, Auxiliary, New Hall-street, Subscriptions, by Mr. Johnson Loughborough, Subscriptions, &c. by Rev. George Capes Stoke, Suffolk, Collection, by Rev. S. Squirrell Shropshire, Collected on a Journey, by Rev. Richard Pryce 1 10 0 13 11 0 Westbury Leigh. Collection at Public Meeting, and Subscriptions, by Rev. T. Gough Dying Bequest of a little Boy, Twelve Years of Age,' by Rev. J. Chin Lion-street Female Missionary Society, by Mrs. Chin Sheerness, Friends, by Rev. Mr. Blakeman Little Alie-street Sunday School Children Female Auxiliary Society Small Subscriptions at Fen-court, by Mr. Stanger Collected by Mrs. Elvey Part of a Collection at York-street, Walworth, by Rev. George Clayton Church-street Auxiliary, by Mr. R. Pontifex Lady's Missionary Box, by Benjamin Shaw, Esq. Dorman's Land, Subscriptions, by Rev. Mr. Chapman Irthlingborough, collected at Missionary Prayer Meeting, by Rev. J. Allen East-street, Walworth, Female Auxiliary, by Rev. R. Davis Collection at Great Queen street, 23d June Surry Chapel Eagle-street Annual Meeting 122 17 3 Bucks Association, by Rev. Peter Tyler, Secretary High Wycombe, Subscriptions, by Mrs. Morris Plymouth, addition to remittance, by Rev. Samuel Nicholson Westerham, Ladies' Auxiliary Society, by Mr. S. Wearing Part of a Collection at Rev. James Upton's Sunday School Children. by Mr. E. S. Meyer Norwich, St. Clement's Penny Society, by Rev. J. Puntis Burton-street, Auxiliary Society, (one third of Funds) by M. Poole, Esq. Isle of Ely, Half Collection of Associated Ministers at Barton Mills 1004 0067 42 16 12 3 11 3 11 10 15 Carlton le Moorland. Collection, by Rev. W. H. Newman Hemel Hempsted, Half-year's Missionary Association, by Mr. Howard Missionary Box Edinburgh, Bible Society, by Rev. Christopher Anderson (2 Donations) Friend, by Rev. James Upton Suffolk, Society in Aid of Missions, by Mr. S. Ray (including 17. 15s. from Sunday School Girls) Trowbridge, Ladies' Association, by Mr. R. Wearing Lyme, Two Half-yearly Payments for School at Digah, by Mrs. Flight Colchester, Missionary Box in Miss Bennell's Seminary Newcastle and Pottery, Female School, by the late Miss Thompson and Miss Wilson · William Hope, Esq. Liverpool COLLEGE. Donation 1 0 0 The above list does not include Individual Subscriptions; but should any other payment have been made at the Public Meetings, which does not appear therein, it is requested that notice may be given of it by a line addressed to the Secretary, No. 6, Fen-court, Fenchurch-street. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Parcels of Magazines, &c. have been thankfully received from Mr. Samuel Wearing; a Friend, by Mrs. Collins; &c. Printed by J. BARFIELD, Wardour-Street, Soho, BAPTIST MAGAZINE. SEPTEMBER, 1825. MEMOIR OF MR. WILLIAM DAY, MR. DAY, whose dismission to a age, William Day, the subject of our present narrative, was the eldest son of this worthy minister. He was born at Wellington on the 24th of June, 1752, and from his childhood * A further account of this excellent man, whose memory is yet precious throughout the district in which he resided, may be found in Rippon's Baptist Register, No. IV. p. 260, et seq. VOL. XVII. appeared to possess a very amiable spirit and temper. Early in life he gave satisfactory evidence of his conversion to God; even while a schoolboy, he was accustomed, with two or three of his youthful companions, to employ a part of their leisure time, while others were at play, in reading the word of God and prayer: and there are those still living who recollect, with much pleasure, the lively interest he took in devotional exercises and in pions conversation at that period. He was baptized, and admitted' into church-fellowship, by his beloved father, in the year 1774, soon after which the providence of God removed him from the guides and companions of his youth to the busy and dangerous scenes of the metropolis. Here he was engaged in a very respectable warehouse in the haberdashery line, where he continued till his marriage, a period of about seven years. During the latter part of his connexion with the house alluded to, he was employed in travelling on their account into various parts of Great Britain; and having a retentive memory, and a pleasing narrative talent, he was accustomed frequently, in after life, to enliven and instruct the social circle with facts and anecdotes relating to this stage of his history. On his marriage with Miss Margaret Briggs, a pious member of the Baptist church at Yarmouth, Mr. 2 K |