out skill in Mechanics. A Missionary, acquainted with Sanscrit and conversant with Hindoo Mythology, would have particular attractions in the eyes of the learned natives and this knowledge would not only procure for him their respect and attention, but would prove a powerful auxiliary to his other acquirements in his endeavours to lay open the obscenity and wickedness of their corrupt system; while an acquaintance with the practice of Medicine, and with the application of the Mechanical Powers to the common purposes of life, could scarcely fail strongly to recommend him to all ranks in society, and might, through the Divine Blessing, materially subserve his benevolent designs for their spiritual welfare.

It may also be remarked, that men of a hardy frame of body and of few personal wants might, in some situations, be singularly useful; for, although the general tone of the reports in respect of climate is not unfavourable, yet it must be borne in mind, that this part of India presents few conveniences for itinerating, and does not always supply the means of procuring medical aid.

The Missionaries in both the North and South of India continue deeply to feel the necessity of Divine Aid in that arduous work in which they are engaged. From Calcutta, one of them writes

There is evidently, on the whole, a great work going on in this country, and much is done by Missionaries in India; but, so far as I have had opportunity of seeing, I am constrained to say, that the bulwarks of Satan still stand amazingly fast and firm, and that an Almighty Power alone is sufficient to shake them. Discouragements, trials, and disappointments attend us on every side; and, indeed, if we were not enabled, by the Grace of God, to believe firmly in all His promises, we should sometimes not know what to say or what to think of our work. Here we have to realize an Abrahamic Faith, because we are not permitted to see much. The indifference toward the salvation of their souls and religious concerns, which these Hindoos manifest, is incredible; and persons, who have not lived among them, can hardly form any idea of it. Money is their God; and all their endeavours and exertions tend to the acquisition of riches. They are constantly meditating how to deceive. The sensuality which prevails among them is beyond conception; and the foolishness of their worship and religious services is an utter disgrace and shame to a reasonable being. Such are the people among whom we live! It is not uncommon, and I heard it this very evening when we were riding through the town, that the people hiss at us, crying out, in mockery, the name of our Blessed Saviour.

Oh when shall the Satanic bonds of this poor deluded people be loosed! When shall the time arrive, that India shall bow at the Cross of our Gracious Redeemer! We want more prayers, for the blessing of God on those means which are already used, and for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Missionaries, and on those who hear them.

From Madras, another Missionary thus urgently entreats the prayers of Christians:

Cease not to pray for us, that the Spirit may be poured upon our souls in more abundant measure. If I had known the great need in which Ministers stand of the continual abiding influence of the Blessed Spirit upon their souls, in order to any thing like usefulness in the cause of Christ, I should have pressed it much on the consideration of those Meetings which I had the happiness to attend before I left my native country. Let us entreat our friends who visit the Associations, to insist particularly upon this point-that not only are we to pray for the general outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh, but, in an especial manner, upon Missionaries: then, I do confidently expect, we shall have to fill our Letters, as well as our hearts, with praises to Him who will have magnified His grace and merey in the bringing of MANY out of gross darkness into marvellous light.

In reference to this vast scene of Christian Labours, the Committee are happy to state that there are Gentlemen present both from Calcutta and Madras, who have taken an active part in the Society's concerns in India. Your Committee regret the loss of their services in the East, and beg to thank them and all who have laboured with them for the very efficient aid which they have rendered to the common cause; and trust that the Members will hear from them to-day such testimonies to the importance and good promise of labours in India as may serve to stimulate their zeal.

CEYLON MISSION.

To the two Stations before occupied among the Cingalese, Kandy and Baddagame, a third has been added, as was stated in the last Report, at Cotta, a large village, of about 4500 inhabitants, near Colombo. Mr. and Mrs. Browning remain at Kandy, and Mr. and Mrs. Mayor with Mr. and Mrs. Ward at Baddagame. Mr. Lambrick had been joined,

M

at Cotta, by Mr. and Mrs. Bailey from Nellore; the state of Mrs. Bailey's health rendering it necessary for her to remove from the northern part of the island. At Nellore, in that quarter, the Fourth Station of the Society. Mr. Knight continues to labour among the Tamul Population. Mr. Knight's Sister has been married to the Rev. Daniel Poor, one of the American Missionaries in the vicinity; and Mr. Knight has married Mrs. Richards, the widow of another of the American Missionaries. The Rev. W. Adley and Mrs. Adley have been appointed, as has been before stated, to assist at Nellore.

To these Four Stations, therefore, Twelve Europeans have been sent out from this country. They are assisted by 24 Natives, and have opened 24 Schools; of which, 4 are at Cotta, 5 at Kandy, 6 at Baddagame, and 9 at Nellore. Of the Scholars at Cotta no return has been received; but, at the other Stations, there are 724 Boys and 141 Girls; of these, there are at Kandy 120 Boys and 7 Girls, at Baddagame 254 Boys and 69 Girls, and at Nellore 350 Boys and 65 Girls.

The Fifth Annual Meeting of the Missionaries was held at Cotta, in the end of October and the beginning of November. At this Meeting it was resolved, in conformity with the suggestion of your Committee, that a Christian Institution should be formed for the advancement of the general objects of the Mission; and that as Cotta presented many advantages for the purpose, the Institution should be formed at that Station.

COTTA.

The Rev. Samuel Lambrick entered on this Station in December 1822. He says of it

Its nearness to Colombo in actual distance, together with its seclusion from it by the state of the roads, are both together singularly advantageous: and it appears, on the whole, to be very promising at present; and still more so in prospect of the blessed period, which will surely in its appointed time come, when the Lord will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh, and bring this people near who are now afar off. We are encouraged amidst all our difficulties, by hearing that the people of God are stirred up to more earnest prayer for this glory of the latter days.

After residing there some time, Mr. Lambrick addsExperience has proved it to be a most desirable place for a permanent Missionary Establishment. It is in the midst of a numerous population; among which, Schools might be established to an extent sufficient, together with preaching, to fill the hands of two or three Missionaries in superintending them. It is very favourably situated for maintaining communication with Colombo, both by water and land; and, at the same time, is sufficiently distant from it, to avoid the evils connected with a large town. It is very cool; and appears to be as healthy as any part of the Island.

A piece of ground of about five acres has been purchased in perpetuity from Government, and is now assigned to the Society; and a Dwelling-House and Printing-Office have been erected thereon. The PRESS sent out for Kandy has been set up at Cotta; the design, stated in the last Report, of transferring it to Nellore for the use of the Tamul part of the Mission, having been superseded by another being sent out for that Station. The Gospel of St. Matthew, in the more colloquial Cingalese, would be put to press by Mr. Lambrick, as soon as a fount of types was received from Calcutta, with a view to private circulation, in order to obtain such remarks as might tend to its improvement.

The people among whom this part of the Mission is established, are nominally Christian, though many of them profess to hold Buddhism also: they seem, in fact, to be Buddhists in heart; while, for temporal interest, they call themselves Christians. Lamentable ignorance, however, generally prevails among them.

Five SCHOOLS had been established, but one was given up as inefficient. Applications had been made for more Schools than Mr. Lambrick could superintend: the union of Mr. Bailey's labours, when he shall have acquired the language, will enable them to do more in this department.

Mr. Bailey was appointed to assist Mr. Knight, at Nellore, in the Tamul Mission; and arrived there, with Mrs. Bailey, as was stated in the last Report, in the beginning of March 1822. Their removal to Lotta has been already mentioned. They left Jaffna

on the 5th of March of last year, after twelve months residence there; and reached Colombo, by sea, on the 21st. A visit to Europe was judged requisite, as her complaint was a severe affection of the liver: an abscess, however, bursting, she was much relieved; and was so far recovered by a residence on the coast, about two miles from Colombo, that, in August, it was determined that they should join Mr. Lambrick at Cotta.

In the discharge of his MINISTRY, Mr. Lambrick preaches, on Sunday Mornings, in Cingalese: besides the Masters and Scholars of three of the Schools, from 12 or 15 to 40 or 50 Adults have attended. On On Sunday Afternoons, he preaches at the Fourth School, about half-a-mile from Cotta, to the Master and Scholars, and to 10 or 12 Adults who generally attend. He goes out among the people on Week-days, and converses with as many as will listen to him.

KANDY.

In the exercise of his MINISTRY, Mr Browning has laboured under much discouragement, from the reluctance of the people to receive instruction, and the little influence apparently produced on those who do receive it. After earnestly pleading with them one Sunday, and explaining the motives which brought him from his native land, to study their language that he might instruct them in the things belonging to their everlasting welfare, he had the pain afterward to learn that some of them said one to another, "He came to this country to get a living, not to preach in Cingalese." He met this discouragement as it became a Christian, with the earnest prayer, "O Lord, increase my faithawaken my zeal-invigorate my hope!"

His prospects began, soon after, to improve. On the last Sunday in 1822, he assembled his Congregation in a temporary School-room erected on the Mission Ground: the attendance was larger than usual; and was likely to improve, from the convenience of the situation. In May last, he removed