some fature period they will be useful either to ourselves, or some brother who may be sent out by the Society to assist อร. A stock of words is secured sufficient for the common purposes of conversation, and a knowledge of them would enable any one to commence his work among the people. When I consider the great field there is for exertion in these Eastern Isles, I cannot but pray that God would open a way for the introduction of his word among the people. There are twelve or thirteen dialects unknown to Europeans, and into which the Bible must be translated, before all men can read in their own tongue the wonderful works of God. At the eastern extremity of Java is the island of Bali, famous for being the asylum to which the adherents of the ancient system of religion in Java fled, at the introduction of Islamism by the rapacious and destructive sword of Mahomet. Their descendants have uniformly resisted all the attempts of the Mussulman priests to proselyte them, and are to this day heathens of the sect of Budha, whose religion has prevailed in Ceylon, Burmah, Siam, and part of China. They are usually represented as being a bold, generous race of men; their language is related to the Javanese, having one common origin in the Kawi, or what is now considered the sacred language. On this island a missionary might be placed to advantage, if we obtain the permission of the Dutch government to pursue our benevolent designs. the church of Rome, was first introduced into Bettiah, by Padre Joseph Maria, in the days of raja Dhroova-shah. A few days after the arrival of this missionary, the wife of the raja fell ill, and was restored to health by his medical aid: this instance proving what a valuable acquisition the missionary would be, the raja prevailed on him to reside in Bettiah, and give up his intention of proceeding to Nepal. The missionary then stated his object, that, according to the command of Jesus Christ, he had come to convert the heathen to the faith of the gospel. The raja so far approved of this, that he gave him the house of his prime minister, who had recently fallen under displeasure. As the rumour of the missionary's arrival, and his abilities, and the raja's partiality for him soon spread, multitudes of all ranks flocked to him, either to hear his new doctrines, or receive medical aid; while a crowd of beggars attended him weekly for their support. Premshah, a goldsmith, but for his wealth styled Lak-putee,* well read in the Ra mayuna, visited him from the Arst, in order to display his own learning, maintain the superiority of the Hindoo system, and in behalf of his countrymen to oppose the Christian doctrines. Seven years did this champion of the Hindoos maintain a controversy with Padre Joseph Maria, and in the end publicly acknowledged the folly and wickedness of his own, and the excellency and efficacy of the Christian religion: he did not stop here, but received Christian I am set on the Java mission; I would baptism (as administered by the priest) not change my situation for any other 1 and became a decided follower of the know; not because I like the climate or Lord Jesus Christ as far as his knowledge the European society, for both are pro- extended. The wife of this man was verbially bad, but because I have de never baptized, nor would she be pervoted myself to the welfare of the Ja- suaded of the truth of the gospel: she vanese; and my desire to serve them, ig-lies buried in her husband's garden, in uorant, superstitious, and wretched as they may be, will, I hope, expire only at the same time that my flesh and heart shall fail me, and my spirit shall return to God who gave it. the village of Siriya. Prem-shah's chil dren, their wives and children, and their children, a large family, are alive at this day; some of this family I had the pleasure of seeing at the house of Bijun shah, Prem-shah's eldest son, now up wards of sixty; highly respected by the raja and his heathen subjects; though the raja is not partial to the Christians, but rather oppressive. Bijun-shah has a cross over his gate, and he himself wears a metal one.-Padre Joseph Maria lived in Bettiah twenty-five years, during baptized. Thus, you see, that the work which period six Hindoos more were was very gradual, and what renders the fruits of this mission inferior in quality to those of ours is, that for fourteen * The lord of a lak of rupees. years the cast was not broken, but allowed to be retained. At length Premshah, the baptized Hindóo, resolutely renounced it, and exhorted his Christian brethren to do the same; alleging that those of one religion should eat together, and not conform to Hindoo customs. On the demise of the missionary, the raja Dhroova-shah, with his wife and daughter, repaired to the house of the deceased, and lamented him with loud cries and abundance of tears as their father; the poor of Bettiah, and a great many others, felt as though they lost in him their common father. Since then a succession of priests have laboured in Bettiah, the last of whom, Ronaldo, after a residence of thirty years, died last year, and was buried in the church which he had built. About fifty families (or individuals as heads of families) have been baptized in Bettiah, in the course of this mission; their descendants are living, and belong to the community. Children, from the age of twelve, begin to partake of the sacrament: marriages take place at fourteen. The priest has two hundred bigahs of land given him by the Honourable Company, (as the Christians say,) and this land is cultivated by the laborious Christians, a tenth part of the produce of which they give the priest, and live on the remainder: some families keep carts to serve in the markets for the conveyance of grain; others feed turkeys, fowls, ducks, geese, hogs, &c. Some make umbrellas, and some cheese; others are carpenters, goldsmiths, or shop-keepers; and are altogether so useful in the town that the productions of the Christians form no small part of the grand market held twice a week:in their dress they do not differ in the least from their heathen neighbours, a metal crucifix excepted. About forty-seven years ago, Padre Alberto, and three other priests, being expelled from Nepal by the raja, came with sixteen families of Newar Christians, (the fruits of forty years' labour,) and settled in the village of Chooriya, about seven miles north of Bettiah. The raja's sons having resolved on being baptized, and being very frequently at the house of the priests, these circumstances are mentioned as the cause of the failure of the Nepal mission: one of these sons afterwards gave 10 or 20,000 rupees to the Bettiah mission.-The Padre lived thirty years in Chooriya, and died there: he baptized none at Chooriya beside the offspring of the Newar families. Ten families of Newar Christians have since come to Chooriya, but there have been no additions from the Hindoost'hanee people. Bettiah and Chooriya have each a large church, and there is plenty of garden ground annexed to the priest's house, which is likewise commodious and grand.-None of our missionary stations have such churches, missionary houses, and spacious grounds around them. Two days ago, a village containing fourteen Christian families sent three of their friends for the Hindee scriptures, and desired I would make them a visit: I did so, and spent great part of the Lord's day with them. They seemed at a loss to express adequately their sense of this kindness: most of these families have not been married, though called Christian, but are living in fornication, or only with the consent of parents; they said they were heathen, were desirous of being baptized, but that the priest would not receive them because they were poor; and the Christians having nothing to pay him with, the priest could not marry: they believed, that if they were married by a minister of Christ, and according to the word of God, they were properly married. These families have earnestly entreated me to come and live among them, at least for a time; as the Christian part of them wish much to have the scriptures explained to them, and the heathen part to be baptized. These people live by clearing the jungles, (which increases the raja's revenue,) and cultivating as much land as they are able, rendering the raja a portion of the produce. I have to intreat, that you will send me up speedily for this people a supply of marriage agreements printed in Hindee : this I have promised them. In order to meet the multitudes about to assemble for the purpose of the annual bathing at Hajee-poora, I am obliged to leave this place to-day; not, however, without a hope of re-visiting it a little after my return from the upper stations. BURMAN EMPIRE. THE care and superintendence of the Mission to the Burman Empire has now wholly devolved on our American brethren, Many, however, in this country, continue to feel a lively interest in the at tempt to introduce the gospel among that barbarous race, and as a constant communication is kept up between the missionaries | at Rangoon and our brethren in Bengal, we shall be enabled to present occasional articles of intelligence from thence. On his Arrival at Rangoon, Mr. Hough thus addresses Mr. Ward: AFTER having been delayed in the river for several days by contrary and violent winds, and being once run upon a shoal, to our no small peril, we put to sea. The remainder of our voyage was pleasant, though long. The wind obliging us to run easterly, we made the broken rocks on Cheduba Islands, and passed in view of the high mountains on the coast of Arracan. In thirty-three days from the time we embarked, we had the high felicity of shaking hands with brother and sister Judson. To me it was a matter of much thankfulness, after so much perplexity, to arrive at home; particularly to be placed in a situation in which I can be employed, I hope, in the good work of publishing the gospel of grace among the heathen. eat or drink, but we wish and ought to feel less concerned. I have begun to study Barman, but when I shall end is a vast uncertainty. It is exceedingly hard and intricate to a beginner, on account of the numerous combinations of letters, and the various powers which they assume. Brother Judson has written a grammar of the language, which is a great help; but we should be in possession of a greater auxi liary, were his dictionary completed. We expect in a few days to put up the press, as the room for it is partly finished. Our first publication will be a small tract, containing a summary of Christian doctrine, and giving an intimation of the object for which a mission is liere established. The next, perhaps, will be a small catechism, and then we hope to be able to begin the New Testa ment. The state of the heathen here is truly deplorable. They are not a people who care but little about their religion; but in it they are zealous and enthusiastic, and their priests believe that all the disciples of Goudama, are furnished with true wisdom, while others are fools. In Burmah, we have to encounter, or When I arrived, having sent word the rather meet as an obstacle, a regularly day preceding, from the mouth of the systematized religion, and that species river, to brother Judson, he met us at the of human pride, which in matters of reli landing-place, and conducted us throughgion, disdains every innovation. But this the town, and then by a foot-path to the mission-house, which I am sure I could not have found without a guide. We were glad to find both Mr. and Mrs. Judson in good health. The Saturday following we passed all our articles through the custom-house, without paying the least duty, which, however, I would have paid cheerfully, if it would have saved Mrs. Hough's and my own writing desks from the hands of a thief, who bore them off with all their contents, and has escaped unknown. If money was the object of the thief, he was disappointed, though he got the value of 50 or 60 rupees. Most of my papers of importance were in them. We are very conveniently and happily situated, occupying one-half the mission-house, and brother Judson the ether. We should be glad, however, to Contract our limits for another mission ary. At present, provisions are neither scarce nor very expensive, excepting the articles of tea, sugar, coffee, and bread. We hope some ships coming from Bengal will bring a supply of these articles; if so, we shall obtain them probably at a moderate price. We do not, hewever, feel much concerned about what we shall system, strong as it is, and this pride, lofty as it is, must be brought down, and the Lord alone be exalted. There have been hitherto but few inquirers. Our two families have united on com mon stock principles, and upon such a plan as will, I am confident, secure our happiness, and facilitate our object in coming here. I expected to feel, after my arrivat here, extremely solitary; but there is now so much to be thought of, and so. much to be done, that we have no time to think much of our being alone, and but little opportunity to be idle. Sa long as we have any thing to do, we shall be contented. I remain, &c. G. H. HOUGH, The following pleasing Account is extracted from a Communica tion of Mr. Judson's, under date of March 7, 1817. As I was sitting with my teacher, as usual, a Burman of respectable appear. ance, and followed by a servant, came up the steps and sat down by me. I Through the kindness of a Friend, we are enabled to subjoin the Copy of a Letter of recent date, from that excellent Female Missionary, Mrs. Judson, to a Lady in Scotland. MY DEAR MADAM, While reading over your kind and affectionate letter, which I received a few days ago, I feel renewedly impressed with the peculiarity of that union, of which the gospel of Jesus is productive in the hearts of perfect strangers. It unites them like children of one family, like friends of early youth-though entirely unacquainted with every other trait of character; it produces an affection tender and strong, heavenly and spiritual, because it has a foundation in a discovery of the image of Jesus, who is the sum of all perfection, and the source of all happiness. Something of this affec tion, I would humbly hope, is now felt in my heart towards you, my dear Ma dam, and urges my writing. It is ani mating and encouraging to us to see the friends of Jesus so much engaged, and asked him the usual question, Where he came from? and received no explicit reply. So that I began to suspect that he had come from the governmenthouse, to enforce a trifling request which in the morning we had declined. He soon, however, undeceived and astonished me, by asking, "How long time will it take me to learn the religion of Jesus?" I replied, that such a question could not be answered. If God gave light and wisdom, the religion of Jesus was soon learnt; but without God, a man might study all his life long, and make no proficiency. But how, continued I, came you to know any thing of Jesus? Have you been here before? "No." Have you seen any writing concerning Jesus? "I have seen two little books." Who is Jesus? "He is the Son of God, who, pitying creatures, eame into this world, and suffered death in their stead." Who is God? "He is a Being, without beginning or end, who is not subject to old age or death, but always is." I cannot tell how I felt at this moment. This was the first acknowledgment of an eternal God, that I had ever heard from the lips of a Burman. I handed him a tract and cate-making such exertions for the introducchism, both which he instantly recog- tion and spread of the gospel in heathen nized, and read here and there, making lands. We feel their exertions will be occasional remarks to his follower, such blessed, their prayers must be heard, as "This is the true God-this is the and that the heathen will shortly be right way," &c. I now tried to tell him given to Jesus for his inheritance, and some things about God and Christ; and this earth for his possession. It is now himself; but he did not listen with much four years and a half since we took up attention, and seemed anxious only to our residence in this heathen land, and get another book. I had already told began to make preparations for the prohim two or three times, that I had finish-mulgation of the gospel here. We find ed no other book; but that in two or three months I would give him a larger one, which I was now daily employed in translating. "But," replied he, "have you not a little of that book done, which you will graciously give me now?" And I, beginning to think that God's time is better than ours, folded and gave him the two first half-sheets, which contain the five first chapters of Matthew; on which he instantly rose, as if his business was all done, and having received an invitation to come again, took leave. Throughout his short stay he appeared different from any Burmans I have yet met with. He asked no questions about customs and manners, with which the Burmans teaze us exceedingly. He had no curiosity, and no desire for any thing, but "more of this sort of writing." In fine, his conduct proved that he had something upon his mind, and I cannot but hope that I shall have to write about him again. the Burmans, as we expected, almost children of Nature in regard to improvements of the mind and advance in the arts and sciences. But in point of superstition, blindness of mind, and strength of attachment to an idolatrous religion, they are not surpassed by any nation on earth. We find them fast bound in Satan's chain, without a wish to be liberated, or a desire to hear that a Deliverer is near; and were our hope of their conversion founded on the strength of reason, the power of eloquence, or the art of persuasion, we should long since have relinquished our object, and returned to our native country, there to mourn over their fatal delusion. But we see an Almighty Arm, which is able to burst their chains, however strong, to give sight to behold their delusion, to unstop deaf ears to hear the voice of mercy, and to give a humble broken heart, which will gratefully accept of this Deliyerer in all his offices. That preparations are making for this display racter was more excellent. Another of them, who is an old woman, and has attended on my instructions more than a year, (on hearing me say, that good works, such as making offerings to pago. da's priests, so far from justifying them in the sight of God, would heighten their condemnation,) said, if her parents and their good works on their heads, then she was willing to go too. O, my dear Madam, you can never know how dark and depraved is that mind which is accustomed to think sin of a trivial nature, God a king-like man, and hell of short duration;-a mind that is familiar with idolatry, that is actuated only from a principle of selfishness in its most religious duties. Neither can you conceive of the difficulty of breaking through this of Divine power and mercy, we have not the least shadow of a doubt; but how long our heavenly Father will see fit to delay this manifestation of his mercy is known only to himself. We are only permitted to use the means: it is the prerogative of God alone to change the heart, The language has now become some-grand-parents had gone to hell with all what familiar; we can read with ease, and converse intelligibly. Mr. Judson has written one or two tracts, and translated Matthew, which are in circulation; he has also written a grammar of the language, and has been closely engaged for six months past in compiling a dictionary, the materials of which have been accumulating ever since he began the study of the language. This he would have finished in six weeks, but an unexpected opportunity for going to Chitta-thick darkness, by the introduction of gong, and immediately returning, pre- the rays of divine truth. But let us resented itself, and as he had long wished joice in the freeness and richness of that to have an interview with the converted grace that can overcome all these in Mugs, and to preach to those who were pediments; which can commence, carry seriously inquiring, duty required his on, and perfect that work which is cause embracing it. Mr. Judson left here of admiration to men, of joy and wonder three weeks ago, and expects to be gone to angels. Pray for these poor Burmans. ten or twelve weeks, and after his return When you feel your soul bowed down hopes to be more directly engaged in the under a sense of sin, melted with the communication of divine truth. He has love of Christ, and filled with holy conexceedingly regretted to spend so much solations produced by the discovery of time in preparatory work; but the con- the perfections of Jehovah, think, my sideration that future missionaries would dear Madam, of these Burmans, who are reap the advantage, and in this way almost bowed down to hell with the time would eventually be saved, recon- weight of sin. They know it not who ciled him to it. Mr. Hough is a printer; have no Saviour to love, and no higher he brought with him.types from Bengal, happiness than what this world prowith which he has printed tracts, and duces. Think of this, and weep and the translation of Matthew. How ani- pray for the poor perishing Burmans, mating the fact, that the first printing The prayer of a righteous man availeth press ever in operation in this country much. God has styled himself a prayer should be employed for the cause of hearing God. The heathens are perishChrist, for the sacred scriptures! I haveing, and the hands of missionaries need quite an interesting meeting of females, consisting of between twenty and thirty, who regularly attend every Sabbath to listen while I read and converse about the new religion. Some listen with attention, some are careless, and some manifest their hatred to the truths of the gospel. I have at times had considerable hope that two or three of them were seriously inquiring what would become of them after death; but whether it is any thing lasting, time alone will determine. Last Sabbath, in conversing with one of them, I inquired, if she still went to the pagoda to worship? She replied, she had not been for a long time. On asking her the reason, she replied, she worshipped the true God, and prayed to him. I asked her how she knew he was the true God, rather than Goudama? She said, because his cha holding up. Forgive the length of this, LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY, MALACCA. At this station, Mr. Milne has lately been strengthened by the accession of Messrs. Medhurst, Slater, and Thomson. In a letter, dated in March last, he observes, “All our hands are full. We cannot gladden your hearts by the news of great good done; but we labour in hope, and are for the |