about 600 tracts more. March 12.-Held divine service in one of the school-rooms. I expounded and applied the history of Jonah the Prophet, and the people of Nineveh. The silence and attention of my hearers during the whole of my discourse were indeed remarkable. More than two hundred persons were present. When I came to treat upon the omnipresence and omnipotence of Jehovah as manifested to Jonah; and His great mercy as extended to the people of Nineveh on their repentance, two of my hearers exclaimed, "How true this is! Is this not delightful? What a pleasure to hear these good things!" After the service we distributed about 150 tracts. The people were very eager to receive tracts. When we take a survey of all that our eyes have seen and our ears heard of the destructive and self-debasing works of idolaters, how much reason have we to commiserate these devotees of the wicked one, pray more earnestly than ever for their conversion to God, and come forth to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord, against the mighty. "O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? Pluck it out of thy bosom. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, Ö most mighty, with thy glory, and thy majesty, and in thy majesty ride prosperously, because of truth, and meekness, and righteousness, and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things." Amen. The labours reported in the extracts of the journal from which the foregoing details have been derived occupied a period of six days; and during that interval only, the Gospel of Christ was preached to the people by Mr. Nimmo and his devoted fellow-labourers, probably on not less than forty different occasions, and the number of Christian tracts distributed amounted to nearly 6,000. BENARES. Is December, 1837, the Rev. R. C. Mather proceeded with his native assistants on an itinerant excursion to the South-east of Benares, in the direction of Gaya, which employed his attention and energies for several successive weeks. The annexed passages from his journal will be read with much interest, as displaying the general character of his labours during the period to which they refer, and the promising circumstances in relation to the people, by which they were accompanied. Among the incitements to an augmentation of holy zeal, prayer, and vigorous effort on behalf of the blinded and deluded multitudes of India, will be particularly noticed the improved state of mind on the subject of Christianity, and the friendly demeanour towards those engaged in its diffusion, which the natives are beginning to exhibit. The spirit of religious inquiry, blended with a marked abatement of hostility to the Gospel and a more candid and serious examination of its character and claims, seems to be increasingly manifested among them; while the growing disposition they evince to throw off the chains of caste by openly encouraging habits of domestic and social intercourse with the avowed disciples of Christ, affords to the Missionaries opportunities for the promulgation of the saving doctrines which they teach never before enjoyed by them. One of the places first visited by our brother after he left Benares, was Ramnagur, where the following incidents occurred : Conversation with the Natives. Dec. 13.-At noon had a visit from four of the Raja's dependents. One of them is a young pundit who has just read through the Jaghu Kaumadi, or first elementary work on Sanscrit Grammar. All of them were eager to learn what we had to communicate, and each received books and tracts. An hour afterwards we had a visit from a Zemindar, a talented man, but a thorough infidel. He said that he had all our books in his possession, and had read them, but had not found in them any such striking truth as carried conviction along with it. In conversation on this point it came out that he was not grounded in the principles of even natural religion; he confessed that there might be a God, but maintained that the soul of man was not immortal, and demanded of us to prove it. This I endea MISSIONARY MAGAZINE voured to do, from the consideration of its nature as invested with powers for which there is not full and adequate employment in the present life; from the possession of qualities which on the supposition of its mortality are absolutely injurious to its interests in the present life; from the nature of the growth of its powers, almost dormant in infancy, and only ready for use and action when the time of death draws near; and also from the present unequal state of rewards and punishments. He could not answer these arguments, but did not appear convinced. He said religion was only for those who could not think for themselves; but he paid a compliment to the English nation, as possessed of more science than any other people. He then took his leave, promising to come again. In the evening preached in the marketplace, and the people appeared greatly impressed. Not one of them said a word in reply. As we were retiring we were followed by ten persons, among whom were two Mohammedans, who all sat with us more than an hour in the tent conversing on the subject of Christianity, and finally joined us in our family worship. All said, "that every thing they heard was good; that there could be no harm in thinking on such subjects, but that there must be good." The occurrences of to-day have greatly encouraged me. It seems that something will be done in this place. Mirza wishes me to stay a week longer than I had intended. However, we must wait and see; O for a harvest of souls. Hindoo Inquirer. Dec. 14. In the evening preached in the market-place; the congregation appeared larger than before; but many unruly persons were present, who had come apparently only to mock. Four of the individuals who attended our worship last night came again to-night, and seemed much gratified. After worship, I received information that in the mean time a Hindoo (a Kshattré) had come wishing to see me, but finding others present went away, saying, that he would come again after the service had concluded. He came accordingly, and told me that it was ject in coming by night was to prevent his his wish to become a Christian, and his obvisit from being known. He expresses a desire to go with us to Benares. His brother is a servant of the Raja, and has received 10 bighas of ground from him, the produce of which is the support of his family. He says he wants nothing from us but to know the truth, and that he will labour for his own support. He had heard the Gospel first in Benares, and subsequently at this place. His appearance, which is that of extreme poverty, might lead to the supposition that his only motive is to better his condition. However I have resolved on not rejecting him, and may the Lord gather him into his fold. Kind reception of a native Missionary by a Mirza went to the Bazaar, and entered Mr. Mather and his native assistants proceeded in their arduous labours, preaching the Gospel and holding conversation with the people on religious topics, until the 20th of December. During that interval they entered a small town or village, called by the natives, Mughal ka Sarai, where an impression in favour of the Gospel appeared at first to be produced, but on revisiting the place at the time above specified, Mr. Mather found with much regret that this feeling had not lasted, and only one instance calculated to yield encouragement met his notice, to which he thus refers : - Hindoo Pilgrim impressed by the Truth. Dec. 20.-The interest felt in us at Mughal ka Sarai, has evaporated. There has not been one visiter to-day. The majority have seen what there was to see, and have heard a little, and they do not wish to hear more. In these circumstances I began to regret that we had come to so small a place, when a pilgrim on his way to Gaya, came to see me. On conversing with him I found he was a resident of Mirzapore. He had in his possession the Book of Genesis, and the Gospel of St. Luke, given him two or three years ago, by some Missionary at Mirzapore. The former he had read till he knew it almost by heart. I advised him not to go to Gaya, explained the Ten Commandments to him, and endeavoured to show him by them the folly of idolatry. He seemed impressed, said that he had a great desire to know the truth, and in whatever way it could be found, he was willing to adopt that way. I then invited him to come along with us, to hear our instructions, and join in our devotional exercises, and he con sented. May the Lord change his heart, and bring him to the love and service of himself. On the 21st Mr. Mather returned to Benares, accompanied by his assistants and the pilgrim, whose name, he states, is Bihari Lal. Having left Benares again on the 27th, Mr. M. resumes his narrative at that date as follows: Controversy with a Hindoo Priest. Dec. 27.-To-day, Narapot and Mirza, with Bihari Lal, arrived from Benares, at Sadraza, and in the evening we commenced our operations. Had a congregation of nearly 100 persons, and an excellent opportunity of declaring the truth. The Parohit* did all he could to oppose us, first by argument, and then by abusing our religion; but the people wished to hear, and once or twice when he brought forward something in opposition and received an appropriate reply, the opinion of the whole crowd seemed turned against him. I indulge ardent expectations, that as we have now such a strong force we shall be able, by the blessing of God, to do something effectual. Dec. 30.-In the evening held service in the Bazaar. Had as large a congregation as before; the people all heard attentively, and were peaceful when we retired. The Parohit has almost given up his opposition, he promises to come to the tent to-morrow. I understand that a good impression is being produced in the place. After our evening worship, the pilgrim Bihari Lal, who gave up his caste some time ago, expressed his wish to be baptised. I had a long conversation with him in private, and advised him to continue some time longer reading and praying, and investigating the truth. This he promises to do, but says that he would like to be baptised now. He has certainly made a good progress in the Gospel for the short time he has been with us; this I attribute to the care with which he had read the books received two or three years ago, and his professions and ardour are very pleasing. He urges the case of the eunuch baptised by Philip, as a reason why he should be baptised. I promised him to think of it. After leaving Sadraza, Mr. Mather proceeded to Muaniah, a village near the River Durghauty. Having encamped in the vicinity, and made the necessary preparations for the continuance of his labours, our brother resumes : Encouragements among the Villages. Jan. 2.-In the afternoon went into the village, and on a hill in the midst of it, where we could see all, and all could see us, I preached the Gospel. About 50 persons were present, including the Jamadar, and his people. He had come to see me in the morning, and I had given him a tract. They all heard with apparent delight; a Parohit resides here, who is a very young man; he came, but could not make out any case for idol worship. He gave us two Shlokas on the virtues of Mahadeo, of which the meaning was, that if all the earth was ink, and all the trees pens, they would not suffice to write his praises. In reply we gave him two from a Purana, in which it is said, that the worshippers of Mahadeo are all hypocrites (pákhandí) and the enemies of the true Shastra. He could make no reply. Jan. 7.-Sabbath. About noon, at Sahanabad, had a visit from ten of the Shio Narayanis, including the Maharit or superior, and the Kshattré, who had come yesterday. Most of these had been with us before. They wished me to give them an abstract of Christian doctrine, that when we were gone they might remember it. They asked how Christians were made? what was their daily walk and conversation? and how they might themselves become Christians? They approved of every thing I said, and so far as appearances go, I have never seen a body of men more prepared to receive the Gospel. If we had a native preacher ready for them, there would, in all probability, be a church here in a few months. I have given them parts of the Gospel, and have promised to come again amongst them. Having continued his itinerant engagements to the 24th of January, Mr. Mather returned on that day to Benares. Referring at a subsequent period to the encouragements experienced by him as a Missionary of the Cross during the interval embraced in the journal which furnishes the preceding details, he observes :— "This tour has greatly cheered me, and given me a new idea of the work. The state of the Mussulman mind has especially interested me; and if the Lord spare me, I shall certainly endeavour to do more for them than I have done hitherto." • Priest. MIRZAPORE. The return of Mr. Mather to Benares on concluding his itinerant labours has been mentioned in the preceding article. From that period he pursued his stated duties in connexion with the Benares Mission, until the beginning of May, when, in conformity to instructions from the Directors, he removed to Mirzapore, a large commercial city, about 30 miles south-west of his former station. The favourable circumstances under which, through the Divine blessing, he entered on this new and important sphere of Missionary exertion, together with a view of the general character of the place and its inhabitants, are communicated in the following extract of a letter from Mr. Mather to the Foreign Secretary, dated Mirzapore, May 28: Through the kindness of Divine Providence, we succeeded in conveying all our furniture to this place, and reached it in the early part of this month with no other inconvenience than a partial indisposition which was removed by two or three days' rest. Since I have been here, by the help of a manuscript map lent me by a kind friend residing in Mirzapore, and my own observation, I have been able pretty well to acquire the topographical details of the place. The city is in length about a mile and a half direct measurement, and about the same in breadth, and its population as estimated in a census taken some little time ago, is about 60,000, about a third of the population of Benares, as estimated on the same principle by Mr. Prinsep. Being a new city, it has had the benefit of the counsels and directions of an European magistrate, who has let out the ground only on the condition that the holders should build substantial houses, according to a plan drawn up by himself. The effect of this has been to produce a really handsome city, convenient for health and trade; and, last not least, most favourable, in the wideness of its well-arranged streets, for Missionary operations. In its general appearance with respect to the crowded state of its bazaars, and the respectable appearance of the inha bitants, it very much resembles the best part of Benares, though the great trade that is carried on, gives it a yet more busy appearance. Hamilton, in describing Mirzapore, says of it, "that it is one of the greatest inland trading towns in Hindostan, and the mart of all the cotton from Agra and the Mahratta countries. The native residents are more remarkable for their active industry than in any part of the Company's dominions out of the three capitals. To this they have been stimulated by the enterprise and energy of the British indigo planters and merchants settled among them. From this it will appear in every respect to be a most important place, and one of which it is desirable we should take possession and well occupy for the Redeemer. From the difference of circumstances, we shall probably find considerable difference in the native mind. Instead of the learned or dignified ease of Benares, we shall have here the turmoil of an incessant activity; instead of the pride of birth or learning, we shall have here the fulness and pride of wealth; whether these will be more readily and successfully overcome by the Gospel is yet to be seen, though doubtless activity is a better preparative than indolence, and the pleasure of honest gains than the bread of idleness or deceit. Still the pride and the sensual excesses of fulness may more than counterbalance all. It is, however, a consolation that in primitive times the Gospel told more successfully in Corinth than in Athens. Would that we could hear that same voice cheering us which spoke in a sentence such volumes of comfort to the Father of the Corinthian church, that we might be able with him to say, "Having this ministry we faint not.' On account of the season, and the numerous engagements immediately connected with our removal, I have not as yet been able to commence out-door operations. However, some arrangements are now completed, and in a day or two I hope, under the Divine blessing, to make a beginning. * * Four Missionaries in Mirzapore, with an adequate supply of native readers and catechists would, under God, be probably able not only to evangelise this city, but carry the Gospel successfully to the surrounding country. IONIAN ISLANDS. THE valuable and important labours, in which the Rev. Isaac Lowndes is engaged as Inspector-General of Schools in the Ionian Islands, have, for a considerable time past, presented an aspect of increasing encouragement and interest. Among the sources of cheering influence by which our brother is sustained in the fulfilment of his arduous duties is the continued countenance and co-operation which he enjoys from the Senate, and the Lord High Commissioner, Sir Howard Douglas, to whose generous solicitude for the welfare of the community the efficiency of the excellent system of education now in progress is chiefly to be ascribed. The interests of female education are also vigorously sustained throughout the Islands, and the schools for instruction on the Sabbath are in a prosperous state. In addition to the other means employed to promote the wellbeing of the Greek population, a college or seminary, which will be of eminent service as preparatory to the higher studies pursued in the University, is about to be established in Corfu where Mr. Lowndes resides. The circulation of the Sacred Scriptures, and of Mr. Lowndes's Modern Greek and English Lexicon, with other important works, is actively continued. A letter from Mr. L. to the Foreign Secretary, dated Corfu, Oct. 11, contains the following: Since I last wrote to you, viz., in May, I have visited all the Ionian Islands, with the exception of Cerigo, for the purpose of inspecting the schools; and, taking into consideration the state of affairs in Smyrna, &c., and the sympathy felt in all parts where the eastern church predominates, I have found the schools in a much better state than I could have expected. The Government of these Islands has ordered books to be printed for a regular course of reading in the Lancasterian schools. These are now almost ready, and on the whole are very good. This method was adopted by the Government in consequence of the existing agitation, and probably has had much influence in preventing its further extension. Formerly the New Testament was almost the only book read in the schools, no other being used except a short catechism; but the books that are now prepared will, in future, form a prominent part of the instruction in the reading classes. The higher schools in the different islands continue in a very favourable state, and the University in Corfu is advancing. On the whole, public instruction was never SO widely extended in the Ionian Islands as it is at present. In all my visits to the islands and schools, I have met with the kindest reception and co-operation. On general topics connected with his movements and labours, Mr. Lowndes writes: During one of my visits to the southern islands, I proceeded in the Ionian steamer to Patmos, and had the pleasure of meeting there two worthy Baptist Missionaries from America. Their sphere of usefulness is considerably circumscribed for the present, as they find it quite impracticable to attempt keeping schools, and are not yet sufficiently acquainted with the language to have much direct communication with the people, but are steadily applying to it. Yet they are not altogether without encouragement, for they are well supplied with Scriptures, and may be said to distribute them daily in considerable numbers and gratuitously, chiefly to Greeks who come from the interior of the Morea, and anxiously seek them. My congregation in Corfu continues good. I am truly delighted with the Report of the Society for 1838, and with that of the British and Foreign Bible Society which I have also received. God is, indeed, doing wonders in the world, and surely the day is approaching when his salvation shall be universally diffused, and all the people shall praise him. SIBERIAN MISSION.-ONA. Is addition to the gratifying statements inserted in the Missionary Magazine for November, as communicated by the Rev. E. Stallybrass, of the Khodon station, we have the pleasure to present the subjoined extracts of a letter since received from the Rev. William Swan, who occupies the station on the banks of the Ona. Besides his engagements, conjointly with Mr. Stally brass, in translating and superintending the printing of the Mongolian Scriptures, our brother continues his daily services in the Mongolian language, not without the hope that, while under the Divine blessing, a few of those to whom he is the messenger of life have been brought into the fold of the Great Shepherd and Bishop of souls, the truth |