heard of His Name. We have lately been stirred up to pray more earnestly, and to labour more diligently; and our faith and hope have much increased: so that though we cannot tell you of any who are yet truly brought out of darkness into the marvellous light of the knowledge of God, we feel a full assurance that God will glorify His power in the salvation of this people.

In reference to the course of labours just described, Mr. Ward says

In this manner we are striving to fulfil our Lord's command, and our own ordination vows. In this way, too, we have daily proof of our own utter helplessness; for, though we may urge the most cogent arguments, and seek to find out acceptable words, and the people seem to hear with attention, yet God alone giveth the increase. We rejoice that this feeling is becoming more prevalent in the minds of Christians. Oh pray that your Missionaries, especially, may have it indelibly written upon their hearts! In ourselves, helpless! but we can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth us.

The Missionaries continued to discharge the Garrison Duty at Galle, which they had voluntarily performed for three years, till the arrival of a Chaplain at the end of June. Besides the Morning Service at the Church, they had latterly opened the Church on the Sunday Evening. The effect of their labours was manifest in the increasing attendance; every family, civil and military, being present in the morning, and generally both morning and evening. From late advices, however, it appears that the Chaplain at Kandy having returned home, the Chaplain of Galle had taken his place, and the Garrison Duty had again devolved on the Missionaries.

The SCHOOLS, as it was stated in the last Report, had been reduced from seven to four: two have since been re-opened, with better prospects; and the general attendance had much improved. Schools might be readily multiplied; but the difficulty of providing Masters of intelligence and principle must, at present, limit them to a small number.

These Six Schools were the following:-Baddagame Boys' School, 69-Baddagame Girls' School,

69-Marjuana, 66-Kembia, 34-Gannegame, 37 — Lelwella, 48.

The Missionaries have endeavoured to procure an English Schoolmaster at Colombo, that they might be more at liberty for the exercise of their Ministry, but without success. Two Youths, Elias and Abraham, both of them baptized, are employed by Mr. Ward in the School, and are very useful in teaching the younger scholars: both are attentive to the religious instruction which he gives them.

On the arrival of the Chaplain for Galle, the superintendence of the Government Schools was resigned to him; the Missionaries finding, that, though access was opened by them to numbers of the Natives, yet the distance of their situation, the want of suitable Masters, and the secular business connected with the Schools, prevented them from devoting the requisite attention to their own immediate work and neighbourhood.

The state of the people continues deplorable. It had been hoped that their degrading superstitions were giving way, and this appears to have been the case for a time; but Mr. Mayor writes, in a late communication

The people around us are still in bondage to their superstitions. We still hear, almost nightly, the noise of those who are assembled at the Devil's Dance. I really believe that there is scarcely a Native, even of rank and education, in the southern part of the Island, who is entirely free from all confidence in these sinful ceremonies. They sometimes come to us in the commencement of a disease, and receive medicine; but if the patient does not very speedily recover, they have recourse to their heathen practices.

Sometimes the friends will meet round the sick person, and tell him that they perceive him getting worse and worse, and that he will certainly die if they do not send for the Cappua and make an offering to the Devil. They relate also in his hearing the wonderful recoveries which they had witnessed after they had performed such services; and, thus urging him on the one hand by fear and on the other by hope, they generally prevail with him to abandon his trust in medicine, and seek help from the Devil. His disease, it may be, was slight; and, without the use of any means, might have subsided: but they persuade him to think that he is worse than

he really is. After the nightly ceremony has been duly performed, and all his unfounded apprehensions and fears have vanished, the sick man experiences much relief; and his friends, who before convinced him that he was at death's door, now persuade him that all danger is over, and that they perceive that a great change has already taken place-the frightened man is encouraged-he dares to eat his rice, and feels refreshed and invigorated: and thus the Devil binds him as his slave-and thus the whole neighbourhood are held in bondage by the Prince of Darkness!

Mr. Mayor still, however, finds those who are glad to avail themselves of his friendly services, in healing their maladies. He writes

My labours among the sick and diseased have drawn people from a distance. I have frequently had patients from a distance of 100 miles. The relief afforded makes them value our residence among them; and not only warmly attaches individuals to us, but causes them, I hope, to entertain a good opinion of that religion, which teaches us to shew kindness to all without looking for any thing again. Our influence among the Natives is now very considerable; and I trust will be the introduction to a far better union, even that of Christian Fellowship.

The house, mentioned in the last Report as about to be built for Mr. Ward, has been erected on a hill opposite to that on which Mr. Mayor's stands, and was entered on in the early part of last year: it is a substantial stone-house. A large School Room, of stone, for 100 Boys, was in preparation; and another stone-building, for the reception of 25 Benefactors' Boys, was in contemplation.

On the removal of Mr. and Mrs. Ward to their new dwelling, the care of the Girls devolved on Mrs. Mayor, as it was judged best not to make any separation among them. Mrs. Mayor has been disappointed in the aid expected from Miss Hannah Cortis, as has been before stated. Of the charge entrusted to her, Mr. Mayor says

A more promising sphere of usefulness was never opened before any one desirous of promoting extensively the welfare of a benighted people.

The statements made by the Missionaries in the Cingalese Division, and quoted in former Reports, on the necessity of a Version of the Scriptures in a

colloquial style for the general body of the population, in addition to that already prepared in the higher style, do not accord with the sentiments of some of their friends in the island. In the judgment of your Committee, a presumption is established on behalf of the Missionaries' view of the case, by the analogy of the Hindoostanee, Tamul, and Malayalim Languages; in all which, both high and colloquial Versions have been found requisite, and are under preparation. But the Committee wish the subject to undergo full investigation; and have desired the Society's Missionaries to print portions of their Version for private circulation, in order to obtain such remarks and assistance as may enable them, before they put any part into general circulation, to establish such principles of translation as shall meet the approbation of judicious and impartial men acquainted with all the facts and bearings of the case. In the mean while, the Committee notice with pleasure the information conveyed in the following passage of a Letter from Mr. Ward

We have received from Dr. Twisleton 700 copies of an abridged History of the New Testament, in Cingalese. The original is a work of the present Bishop of Winchester. It was translated by the Archdeacon's Interpreter, and was submitted to us for our correction. The style of it is easy and familiar; and, in general, destitute of the high and honorific terminations. It is a cause of thankfulness that the 'prejudices of many of the more learned Natives against the familiar style of language are giving way. We rejoice, too, that the first work in such a style that has appeared in public is from the hand of a learned Native, and published under the auspices of the Head of our Church in Ceylon.

NELLORE.

Mr. Bailey, till his removal, already mentioned, continued the English Service at the Fort Church, in Jaffna, on Sunday Mornings, once a fortnight; and, on the alternate mornings, assisted Mr. Knight in his MINISTRY at Nellore, and preached at one of the Schools on Sunday Afternoons. The unavoidable loss of his assistance was much felt by Mr. Knight:

as, in the course of last summer, the congregation much increased, chiefly by the addition of Scholars; and the labours of the Mission began, in various ways, to multiply.

Some difficulties which had retarded the legal transfer to the Society of the Mission House and Premises having been removed, the requisite additions for School Rooms were about to be made. Government had granted to the Mission an old Church with a piece of land annexed, contiguous to the Mission Premises: on part of the site, a new Church was erecting; and, on another part, offices for a Printing Establishment. Mr. Knight had the advantage, in these building concerns, of a competent superintendant, who relieved him of labour and anxiety.

The urgent demand for Tamul Books and Tracts, and the difficulties and delays attendant on the supply of them from other quarters, rendered the establishment of a PRESS in this District an object of great importance. The Jaffna Bible Society, with two Associations and a Tract Society, have greatly increased this demand. In March, 2700 copies of the Tamul translation of Bishop Tomline's Abridgment of the Bible were received from the Archdeacon of Colombo; and, in May, a supply of Ostervald's Abridgment: about the same time, Tracts arrived from Madras; and all these formed a welcome but very inadequate supply. Application having, therefore, been made to Government, to grant permission for the establishment of a Press by the Society, the request was not only readily acceded to, but an old press was very liberally presented by Government, till a new one could be procured from England. A new press was, in fact, on its way; having been forwarded in compliance with Mr. Knight's representations.

Mr. Knight, with his Sister and Mr. Bailey, left, on the 6th of September 1822, to attend the Annual Meeting at Baddagame; and did not return, from various hindrances, till the 17th of December. Having