CHARACTER AND LABOURS, &c. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS-THE STATE AND PROGRESS OF THE WORK. BANGALORE is situated in the territories of the Rajah of Mysore. The pettah, or town, and fort contain a large population, estimated by some at near sixty thousand inhabitants. The villages around it are numerous, but small. About two miles distant from the pettah, there is a large cantonment for British and native troops, and nearly ten thousand natives denominated followers of the camp. The latter place has been occupied as a missionary station by the London Missionary Society, since May 1820. Messrs. Forbes and Laidler were the first missionaries who were sent by the society to this station. The latter engaged a native as servant, when at Madras, who accompanied him to Bangalore. The native servant, who belonged to the Protestant church at Vepery, expressed a strong de sire to teach his countrymen the truths of our holy religion, and commenced to address a few, who soon became his regular hearers. This knowledge of the English language afforded Mr. Laidler an opportunity to commence with him a course of instruction, which he continued receiving and addressing his countrymen till April 1821, when he returned to Madras. Schools to the number of five were opened from the commencement of the mission. We accounted for the jealousy and opposition exhibited by the natives to the schools which had been begun, as arising from a misapprehension of our motives, and a dread of Christianity. Repeated and continued disappointments in the number of children, and the fluctuating manner in which the schools were attended, led Mr. Laidler to consider what would be the best, the most direct and certain mode of securing all the benefits of religious education, and of making it subservient to the spread of the gospel among the heathen. The plan which appeared most eligible was that of boarding schools, viz, to take a number of children entirely under the care of the mission, and to feed, clothe, and lodge, as well as teach them. A system of general education in India is of very great importance, and deserves the particular exertions and support of the philanthropist, who seeks the elevation of mankind in the intellectual and social scale: but Christians, whose aims are still higher, being chiefly confined to the moral condition of man, |