to be entirely recovered. health. Mrs. Bardwell and child enjoy excellent Preaching the Gospel. The missionaries at Bombay do not forget, that, however important and necessary their other objects of attention may be, preaching the Gospel is their highest employment, as it is the divinely appointed method, by which sinners are usually brought to the knowledge and obedience of the truth. In the most discouraging circumstances, a confidence in the superior efficacy of the means which God himself has established, should never be shaken, as it will never ultimately be disappointed. Whatever human philosophy may imagine, it is by the foolishness of preaching that men are induced to believe, whether they live in Christian countries, or amid the darkness of paganism. Where this divine institution is honoured and maintained with humble reliance on its Author; where the great truths of revelation are proclaimed, in the form of a plain, solemn, earnest testimony; though the effect may not, for a long time, be apparent, God will at length vindicate his own word, and prove the wisdom of his own plau. At Bombay and the vicinity, no material alteration has taken place, as to the times and manner of communicating the Gospel by preaching. The missionaries, in their several spheres, and at many places, more or less frequented, were in the constant habit of publishing salvation to the deluded thousands by whom they were surrounded. Not seeing that fruit of their labours, which they greatly desired to see, they were almost necessarily under temptations to despondence and discouragement; and were only sustained, amid the sottish ignorance, and the absurd, wicked, and cruel superstitions, which heathenism every where displays; by the command of Christ, and by those promises which insure the final prevalence of divine truth over error and sin of every kind, and in every form. From the last joint letter, dated in January, 1821, the Committee deem it proper to quote all that is said on the subject of preaching, as the letter has recently come to hand, and this part of it has not been published. "In regard to preaching, we can do little more than repeat what we have often said in former communications. After the close of the last rains, all of us, who were able, made excursions on the neighbouring coast, and in the island of Salsette, for the purpose of visiting our schools, and communicating religious instruction to the people, beyond the limits of our several stations." Condition of Lapsed Catholics. "One special object of the tours we made in Salsette and the northern coast opposite to that island, was, to search out and offer Christian instruction to the lapsed Catholics, concerning whom a more particular account will doubtless be interesting to you. "You already know, that the Portuguese, a few generations ago, by the use of means not to be commended, brought a great number of the Hindoo inhabitants of Bombay, Salsette, and the adjacent coast, into a nominal subjection to the Roman Catholic church. The zeal of the Catholics in this place for the conversion of the heathen, appears long ago to have subsided; and the priests seem to be content to retain the descendants of those, whom their predecessors brought, in some instances by violence, within the pale of their church. But these people are held in subjection to the priest, by a very precarious tenure. During the prevalence of the cholera morbus, about two years since, great numbers of these native Catholics joined in the idolatrous rites, that were practised by the Hindoos to arrest the vengeance of Heaven; for which cause, they were, no doubt very properly, excommunicated by the priests. There are probably two thousand people, in this vicinity, now in this condition. All hope of their reconciliation to the church is given up; and they seem bent on turning back to the idolatry of their forefathers. The change is indeed easy and natural. It is only to change the names and images of Romish saints for those of heathen deities. The Hindoos are well pleased with this defection of the Catholics, though they still look upon them as outcasts, and would not, on any account, intermarry with them. "In May last, an attempt was made, in several villages of these people on Salsette, to dissuade them from their purpose of becoming Hindoos; and an offer was made of establishing Christian worship and free schools among them, in case they would consent to receive religious instruction from us. Though several individuals seemed to be favourably inclined, the body of the people rejected these overtures. For several months after this first attempt, the heavy rains prevented us from visiting them again. But, at our quarterly meeting in October, it was judged expedient to send a special deputation to them, in the name of our mission, and to tender them the offer of Christian instruction. The measure was accordingly executed in the VOL. VIII. 59 course of that month; but the result was the same as that of the former attempt. We still hope, however, that brother Nichols, who lives near a large village of these people, and not far from the greater part of them, may be able, by constant attention, to gain their confidence, and to prevail on them to accept our offers. If it should please God to give us any of their number, they may fairly be considered as converts from the heathen; for they have assumed the title and badges of idolaters, and seem to be fixed in their purpose of adhering to the Hindoo system. Mr. Nichols has established a school among some of them, who live in the suburbs of Tannah; but this measure has excited a great deal of jealousy, and few of their children attend, though there are great numbers of children idle in the streets. (To be continued.) SINCE our last number was issued, we have received a letter from Mr. Bingham, dated Woahoo, Jan. 31, 1821. It was hastily written, and sent by way of Calcutta, in a vessel which touched but a few hours. The intelligence from the mission is thus brought down two months and ten days later than we had heard before. This letter mentions the distressing fact, that the church had felt itself obliged to adopt the last measure with Dr. Holman; and to cut him off from its communion, on the charges of walking disorderly, slander and railing, and covetousness. Mr. Bingham states, "that Mr. Thurston and himself were then preparing what they hoped would be an impartial history of the case.' The missionaries were writing at large, and about to send the continuation of their journal, by a Boston ship then in port, which would proceed by the way of Canton. These letters may be expected by the next arrival from that port; but we believe no arrivals are expected for some months. The close of Mr. Bingham's letter is as follows: "We think an excellent spirit appears in the members of the church generally. "By the Cleopatra's Barge, the Tartar and Lascar, we were happy to receive the communications, supplies, house-frame, &c. which you sent us. Accept our cordial thanks; and have the goodness to tender to the owners, Messrs. Bryant & Sturgis, the grateful acknowledgments of this mission for the very great favour they have so generously bestowed on us.* "Our schools are making desirable progress; the mission still prospers, notwithstanding its afflictions; the family is in health; our Sabbaths are pleasant; and the favour of the people, and the smiles of Providence, encouraging." In a postscript Mr. B. says, that the fund for the support of orphan children, raised by subscription at the islands, amounts to $600, and that the plan is going on well. Missionary Herald. UNITED STATES.-AMERICAN BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS. Contemplated Reinforcement of the Mission to the Sandwich Islands. BESIDE the ordinary expenditures of the Board, during the year from Sept. 1, 1821, to Aug. 31, 1822, it seems peculiarly desirable that a These gentlemen kindly took the articles above named, for the use of the mission, without freight. second mission should be fitted out for the Sandwich Islands. Should this be done on a proper scale, it must cost a large sum of money. But the Committee are persuaded, that the Christian public (on whose liberality they continually depend for the means of defraying all the ordinary expenses) will not permit so interesting a design to be hindered for the want of funds. It has therefore been resolved, that, with the favour of Providence, a large reinforcement shall be sent to the mission at the Sandwich Islands, in the course of next summer, or fall. The family will probably consist of two ordained missionaries, two physicians, a farmer, two carpenters, (who can also work at ship-building,) a cabinet-maker, a blacksmith, and two or three schoolmasters; most of them in the married state. Several youths, natives of those islands, now at the Foreign Mission School, will return, at the same time, to their countrymen. The whole number of persons to be embarked in this enterprise, will probably not be less than thirty. To obtain suitable means of conveyance for so many-to provide for their comfort on their passage, and after their arrival, and to furnish them the means of usefulness among the natives,-will require considerable expenditures; and additional supplies will be necessary for the Missionaries now at the Islands. It has been a subject of deep regret with the Committee, that they were not able to send at least two or three assistants to this mission, in the course of the past season. But it was impracticable, as no suitable passage could be obtained. Should the same difficulty remain, the object is of sufficient importance to warrant the chartering of a vessel, for the sole purpose of carrying the missionaries; and it is apprehended that this can be done, if necessary, without greatly increasing the expense. The Committee would prefer, however, that the family should go as passengers, in some ship about to visit the Pacific. The friends of missions will perceive, that there is need of continued exertions. The spirit of genuine benevolence needs to be kept in full activity, and the work of enlightening the dark nations to be prosecuted with increasing vigour. Missionary Herald. AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. From the New-Brunswick (New-Jersey) Times. WILL OF PRESIDENT BOUDINOT. Ir is generally known that this distinguished Philanthropist has appropriated a large proportion of his estate to religious and charitable uses; and, as it must be acceptable to all, and particularly advantageous to those concerned, to be correctly informed on this subject, the following summary has been obtained, and may be relied on as authentic. The Testator gives 1. The sum of $200, to be distributed by his daughter among ten poor widows. 2. He gives his daughter 15 shares in the Aqueduct Company of Burlington, the yearly produce of which, she is to distribute among "the Friendly Society of Females in Burlington." 3. He gives $200 to the New-Jersey Bible Society, to be laid out in spectacles, for the use of indigent persons, to enable them to read the scriptures. 4. A devise of 4,000 acres of land, in the county of Warren, and state of Pennsylvania, to "the society established in the state of NewYork, for ameliorating the condition of the Jews," under certain conditions, for the purpose of supplying Jewish settlers with farms of fifty acres each, or, at the option of the said society, the sum of $1,000 within two years. 5. The sum of $2,000 is given to the United Brethren of Moravians, at Bethlehem, to enable them to civilize and gospelize the Indians. 6. To the Magdalen Societies of New-York and Philadelphia, and to "the institution at Cornwall, in Connecticut, for educating the Heathen," respectively, the sum of $500. 7. To the trustees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, three houses in the city of Philadelphia, the rents of which are to be laid out in the purchase of books for pastors of congregations-the first year's rent to be divided equally between the Presbyterian Church at Elizabeth-Town, and the Episcopal Church at Burlington. 8. The Testator's library is left, after his daughter's decease, to the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J. 9. 4,080 acres of land, in Luzerne County, Penn. to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, the proceeds of which to be appropriated to the education of such students of divinity in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, as are not able to support themselves— each student not to receive more than $200 annually. 10. 4,000 acres of land in the same county, to the trustees of the college of New-Jersey-from the profits of which are to be appropriated $1,000 in the first instance, for the improvement of the cabinet of natural history, and the residue for the establishment of fellowships in said college, so that no incumbent, however, be allowed more than $250 per annum. 11. 4,542 acres of land, in Lycoming county, Penn. to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, in Mass. for the purpose of sending the Gospel to the Heathen, and particularly to the Indians of this continent. 12. 3,270 acres of land in the county of Bradford, and state of Penn. to the managers of the hospital in Philadelphia, for the use of poor and destitute foreigners, and persons from other states than Pennsylvania, to enable them to gain admittance when necessary into this institution. 13. To Messrs. Matthew Clarkson, Wm. W. Woolsey, Samuel Boyd and John Pintard, of New-York, in trust for the AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, 4,589 acres of land, in the county of Northumberland, and state of Pennsylvania, the profits of which are to be applied to the general purposes of the institution, but especially to the sending the gospel to the Heathen. 14. To the mayor and corporation of Philadelphia, 13,000 acres of land in Centre county, Pennsylvania, for the purpose of forming a fund for supplying the poor of that city with wood on the lowest terms-from this fund a medal worth $10 is to be given to any person who will undertake the purchase, and distribution of the wood gratuitously. 15. The sum of $5000 to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, one half of the interest of which sum is to be appropriated to the support of a missionary or catechist, who is to instruct the poor in the hospitals, prisons, &c. in Philadelphia, and the other half for a like purpose in the city of New-York. 16. The residue of his estate, the Testator gives and devises to his trustees and among the trusts, are the following of a public nature, to be carried into effect after his daughter's death. 1. To the trustees of the college of New-Jersey, the sum, of $10,000, half for the use of the said college, and half for that of the Theological Seminary, as directed in the devise of real estate above mentioned. 2. To the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the sum of $5,000 for like objects as stated in the devise of real estate. Finally, after providing very liberally for his nearest family friends and connexions, by a codicil, he gives the residue of his estate, after the death of his daughter, and after satisfying his specific appropriations, to the use of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, towards the support of such of the members as are of the Synod of NewJersey, and whose salaries are insufficient for their support. Or this fund may, at the discretion of the General Assembly, be applied in whole or part to missionary purposes, or to the use of the two education societies under the superintendence of the said General Assembly. The Trustees and Executors are. Mrs. Susan Bradford, of Burlington. Richard Stockton, Esq. Counsellor at Law, and Samuel Bayard, Esq. of Princeton. Lucius H. Stockton, Counsellor at Law, Trenton. Elias E. Boudinot, Esq. Newark, N. J. [The amount of the above bequests is $23,400 in money, and 37,403 acres of land. Which, valuing the land at a low rate, will make a total amount of at least $60,000.] At a meeting of the Managers, on Thursday the 6th instant, they elected JOHN JAY, PRESIDENT of the AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. ANNIVERSARIES. REVANGELICAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Tus Society held their annual meeting on Monday evening, the 3d instant, in the brick Presbyterian church, ELEAZER LORD, Esq. President of the society, in the chair. The report stated, that the society have ten Missionaries in their employ; one in Missouri, six in the western part of this state, one on Long Island, and two in this city. After the report was read, the society were addressed by the Rev. Mr. Nott, Mr. H. W. Buckley, the Rev. Mr. M'Lean and Dr. Spring. YOUNG MEN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The annual meeting of this society was held on Monday evening, the 10th instant, in the first Presbyterian church, JOHN D. KEESE, President, in the chair. The Rev. WM. M'MURRAY opened the meeting with prayer, and JOHN NITCHE, Esq. read the annual report, which contained an interesting account of the society's labours during the past year, and |