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Singhalese schoolmaster last year, many of the boys left the school, and we have since that had scarcely two-thirds of the number we formerly had in that school. Many of them, however, were of that class, of which I wish to see very few in our school; children, whose parents are well able to pay for their education, but who will not supply them with a copybook or a pen. We have now thirty-five on the list, who are nearly all of them the children of poor parents, and with children of this class we are now trying to fill up the school. If the Committee approved of our having a native boardingschool, similar to those of our American brethren, I am inclined to think we might obtain as many children for that purpose as we could superintend. The expense, I think, of boarding them, would be about £2 10s. per annum. But till I have a colleague, I cannot take the charge of such an institution upon me, even if the Committee could engage to furnish funds for the purpose. The Kattoo-pellella-watte school keeps up its numbers pretty well: thirty-four is the number now on the lists, and the progress they make is satisfactory. The master of this school was one of the three persons I baptized last month, and his senior pupil, who assists him in his school, another; and a servant in my employ was the other. Kalany school I fear is dwindling to nothing; formerly it contained nearly forty boys, now only twenty-two. It is true this small number are well attended to, but there seems no prospect of the vacancies being filled up. At the last-mentioned school, and at this, no persons besides the children, can be collected to hear preaching. Dalloogama school has also much decreased: the number of children at first collected was more than fifty, at present it is but twenty-four. It is discouraging to discover the different and numerous obstacles that present themselves to a Missionary in every part of his work in this island. Dalloogama is a populous village, and though there is a Roman Catholic church, and many of the inhabitants belong to it, there are many also who call themselves Reformadoes. It was needful, in the commencement, to appoint two schoolmasters. Two qualifications are required to enable a person to establish a school: he must of course be a man of some education; but in addition to that he must be a person of some influence in the village, otherwise he can collect no children. At Dalloogama there was no one who could teach reading and writing, that had any influence in the village to collect scholars. It was needful there

The

fore to obtain a person who had been educated, from another place, and to unite with him a person of the village who could afford him some assistance, and who could collect children. person first chosen for this, though he got a good number of boys together, was so careless and indolent, that it was found needful to dismiss him. Two others were then proposed, and the father of the one who was not accepted, it seems, was displeased that his son was not preferred, and he and those under his influence have in consequence of it, kept their children from the school, and do not come themselves to hear preaching. This is one cause of the school having_decreased. Several children of Roman Catholic parents, have also been removed, through fear that they may become (as we say here) reformadoes. The boys that do attend, however, are well instructed; and, probably, when others have oppor tunity to observe how much better it is for children to possess a little knowledge, than to be brought up in profound ignorance, they may overcome their scruples, and send their children to the school. In some way, I trust, it will appear, that the good resulting from imparting knowledge to such a small number, will extend further than to the children themselves. Whenever I can go to preach at Dalloogama, I have a decent little com. pany of hearers. Last month I bad between twenty and thirty females, besides men and boys. The present second schoolmaster's father is an intelligent man, and seems to have considerable influence in the village. With him and several others, I always have some serious and close con. versation. Himself and one or two more, felt what I said in this way, on my last visit, so much as to shed tears. At Mattackooly I have to encounter another kind of difficulty: many of the children have left the school, and none come to fill up the place; and, it seems, in order to prevent the school from dwindling to nothing, I must dismiss the Singhalese master, not on account of any fault or de ficiency, but on account of his caste. He is of the washerman caste, which is a very low one, and none of the higher castes will send their children to him for instruction. Another person in the village, of a higher caste, well qualified to teach, and much respected by the inhabitants of the place, can be obtained; and in order to keep up the school, I expect I shall be obliged to dismiss the present schoolmaster and engage him. He says he can not only collect a good number of boys for the school, but also a congregation to hear preaching. It is

probably not much known in England to what a degree caste exists in Ceylon: there are many of them, and persons of the high castes, would rather lose their lives than have the rights of their castes invaded by persons of a lower caste. Some time ago, at a village near Colombo, some of the washer-caste obtained an order from the collector, to wear some articles of dress or ornament not belong ing to their caste: but they paid dear for it. A great number of persons of the higher castes assembled, attacked the procession, and beat some of them in the most unmerciful manner. An action was brought against some of the ringleaders, and they had to pay 400 rix dollars: but that they regarded but very little, and said they would act just the same again if occasion required. I understand that if a rich Modeliar, of what is deemed a low caste, were to invite a poor man of a higher to dine with him, he would bring an action against him for the insult. And among the nominal christians in this island, this regard to caste reigns in its full strength.

SEBOLGA.

OUR readers will perceive, by the following extract from a letter of Mr. Burton's, dated March 30, last, that we have ground to apprehend he may be obliged to quit this interesting station among the

Bataks.

ABOUT the close of last year I wrote to yourself, Dr. Ryland, and Mr. Ivimey, very fully of our situation and prospects. At that time, things seemed, upon the whole, very encouraging. The word was heard with more than usual attention, and my principal sedentary engagement, the translation of John, was nearly brought to a close. I then suggested, however, that we had many fears, lest the impending political changes should spread a cloud over our future prospects. These changes have not yet been effected, but troubles have arisen from a quarter we little expected, which seem now to threaten our total expulsion from this interesting and important field of labour. Those Mahomedan fanatics, who, for many years, have been desolating the Malayan countries in the interior of Padang, on pretence of reforming the Malays in religious matters, and who, for

the last two years, have been threatening the Company's station at Nattal, obliging the Company to support a large military establishment there, have at length commenced upon the conversion of the Bataks to the faith of the Prophet. Having subdued and stripped the rich Malay country of Raw, they imposed, as a farther penalty upon the inhabitants of that province, the conquest and conversion of the Batak District of Mendàling. Having accom plished this, and levied a heavy fine upon the Bataks, payable in gold dust, the Raws told the people of Mendàling to remunerate themselves, during the following season, from the Ongkolo District. This province was accordingly invaded in January last by the Bataks of Mendàling, headed by a few of the Padri chiefs, and as their previous exploits had spread universal terror, they met with scarcely any opposition. We knew nothing of this last movement till their head-quarters were reported to us as fixed on the banks of the Batang Tara river, (which bounds the Ongkolo District,) not more than two days journey from Sebolga. The Batak chiefs in our neighbourhood told us, that it was their intention to fly to the adjacent islands, as soon as the invaders should cross Batang Tara river, and all the people, for a time, seemed to labour under the most serious apprehensions of approaching ruin. The storm, however, only threatened: for the present it has the body of the invaders have returned been mercifully averted. We hear that from Ongkolo to Mendàling, and here all is again quiet. This, we fear, however, will not last long. There can be no doubt but that the Ongkolo people have come under similar engagements on embracing the faith, as to future conquest, to those their invaders had previously entered into; for this is their invariable policy. Against which of the Batak Provinces. their arms may next be directed, is yet uncertain; but we have good reason to fear, that the timid inhabitants of the beautiful District of Toba Silindong, will soon fall a prey to these lawless depredators. When this happens, our Sebolga station will be no longer tenable; for the inhabitants of that District are now fully apprised of our intentions and endeavour to propagate a religion to which they must individually swear enmity, on embracing Mahomedanism. Our expulsion, therefore, will be an act of considerable merit, and recommend them to the favour of their new masters.

We have, therefore, many fears as to what may await us; but we endeavour, by prayer and faith, to cast all our care

upon Him, who careth for us, and loadeth us daily with his benefits. May he incline our hearts to stay his pleasure, to go at his bidding, and wherever we are, to live devoted to his glory! Unbelief is ready to exclaim, "all these things are against us;" but "shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" We hoped that the happy period had at length arrived, when the fountain of life" should be opened to the poor Bataks, and that many would soon experience its renovating influence. But his thoughts are not as our thoughts. Our confidence in the final accomplishment of the word of his promise, however, remains unshaken. Though his ways are mysterious, his intentions are merciful; and in his own good way and time, he will gather from among the Bataks, too, a people to be formed for his praise.

JAMAICA.

THE last mail from this island brought letters from our Missionary brethren, Coultart, Burchell, and Phillips; containing, as usual, intelligence of a mingled description, awakening, alternately, the emotions of congratulation and sympathy.

In reference to the church under his care at Kingston, Mr. Coultart remarks, that "a great work appears to be going on still." He anticipates another addition of members shortly, and states his conviction, that "the knowledge of God's word is increasing, and (what is still more pleasing) the genuine use of that knowledge, and its best influences, are be coming obvious." But while, in this important colony, the fields are evidently white unto the harvest," it pleases God, in his mysterious and holy providence, to lessen the number of those "few" labourers who had entered upon it. Mr. Coultart informs us of the death of no less than four of our Moravian friends on one estate on the southern side of the island; two of whom, Mr. and Mrs. Hague, had landed at Kingston only about a fortnight before! Mr. Hague had preached for Mr. Coultart, and appeared, by his piety and zeal, to be admirably adapted for the work assigned him. We are sorry to add, that the health of Mrs. Coultart has again sensibly declined, and that Mr. C. fears he shall be under the

painful necessity of returning with her to England.-Mr. Burchell is greatly encouraged by the interest that has been awakened at Montego Bay by his labours, and the still increasing number of his congregation. So large a concourse assembled on the Sabbath previous to the date of his letter (August 28,) that the premises were seriously endangered by the pressure, and the people were obliged to consult their safety by a precipitate flight. After mentioning this circumstance, Mr. B. subjoins: "I do most sincerely wish our Christian friends in England could but witness our interest. ing and crowded meetings; it would produce much greater effect than any thing I can say, and I feel confident of three things. 1. They would be so rejoiced, that they would call upon their souls, and all around them, to bless God for the success with which he has crowned their efforts; and would resolve to devote themselves with renewed zeal to the great cause. 2. They would be immediately convinced, from the appearance of the people, of their absolute inability to provide themselves with a suitable house for worship; and, 3. They would instantly resolve a house should be provided, sufficiently large to accommodate the anxious crowd-would contribute their utmost themselves, and exert their influence among their friends to raise the requisite sum. Anxious to encourage the Mission here to the utmost of their power, the Committee have apprized Mr. B. of their willingness to deviate from their ordinary course, by appropriating a considerable sum, the amount of which has been specified, to the purpose he so powerfully urges; but, as that sum falls far short of what will be necessary, it is feared the object cannot be attained, unless some generous individuals shall be disposed to add to their customary benefactions to the Society, a specific donation towards it. Communications on this subject will be thankfully received at the Mission House, No. 6, Fen-court, Fenchurch-street.

At Anotta Bay, Mr. Phillips has been restored to such a degree of health, as to be enabled to resume his labours, though all the symptoms attending his illness have not yet been removed. He notices, with gratitude, that the church had been mercifully kept together during the suspension of his labours among them; and that, amidst all the disadvantages of his affliction, its members, during the past year of its existence, had risen from forty to one hundred, and that he expected shortly to baptize fifty more.

HONDURAS.

A LETTER from Mr. Bourn, dated Belize, September 21, has lately been received. He had been seriously unwell, but was then better. A young man from England, who resided in his house, had lately

fallen a victim to the prevailing fe-
ver of the country; but Mr. Bourn
hopes that he was a subject of Di-
vine grace.
Several persons were
expected soon to join the church,
and "on the whole," remarks Mr.
B." things are going on as well as
when I wrote last.”

Contributions received by the Treasurer of the Baptist Missionary Society, from October 20, to November 20, 1825, not including Individual Subscriptions.

FOR THE MISSION.

Legacy of Mr. Nicholas Poole, late of Bristol, by John Hart, Esq.
Southampton, Collection and Subscriptions, by Rev. B. H. Draper

Oakingham,

Ditto

Berwick and Tweedmouth, Association,

Berwick Juvenile Society,

Chalford, Collection and Donations,

by Rev. J. Coles
by Rev. R. Pengelly
by Ditto

Monmouthshire, Auxiliary Society, by Rev. Micah Thomas

Tewkesbury, Auxiliary, by Rev. D. Trotman..

(including £4 14s. 10d. for Translations)

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Olney, Subscriptions, by Mr. W. Wilson
S. Wales, Western Association, by Rev. David D. Evans, Carmarthen 100
Beech Hill and Sherfield Green, Collection, by Rev. James Rodway
Keppel-street, Auxiliary Society, by Mr. Marshall, Treasurer
Southwell, Penny Subscription and Collection, by Rev. J. Jarman.
Road, Weekly Contributions, by Rev. W. Gray....
Loughton, Missionary Association, by Rev. Samuel Brawn
Mitcham, Subscriptions, by Mrs. Pratt
Coventry, Baptist Church, by Mr. T. Oswin
Kettering, Collections, by Rev. Robert Hall

.......

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Independent Church, by Rev. T. Toller

Market Harborough, Ditto, by Rev. W. Gear
Maze Pond, Auxiliary Society, by Mr. W. Beddome

Boxmoor, near Hemel Hempsted, by Mrs. Mary Carey

Sway, (Hants) Collection and Subscription, by Rev. W. Mursell
Yarmouth, Collection, by Rev. E. Goymer.

Hull and East Riding, by John Thornton, Esq. Treasurer

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TRANSLATIONS.

Western District of Fife (N. B.) Bible Society, by Lieut. A. Killer,
R. N.....

£

FEMALE EDUCATION.

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The thanks of the Committee are returned to Mr. Martin, of Hackney, for a parcel of Magazines by Mr. Blight; and to the Rev. Dr. Chapin, of Woodstock, Vermont, U. S. for a Copy of his Missionary Gazetteer.

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