in the service of this Board, is to be Voted, That nine sets of the Chureh considered as being, under Providence, Missionary Register, and other docudependent on this Board for support, ments received with it, be disposed of according to such regulations as the in the manner following, viz. To BowBoard, or Prudential Committee, may, doin College, Yale College, the Theofrom time to lime, recommend or ap-logical Seminary at Princeton, Middleprove; and that all the earnings which bury College, Dartmouth College, Wilany Missionary, or Missionary's wife,liams College, the Theological Seminashall in any way procure, shall be con-ry at Andover, William Bartlet, Esq. sidered as the property of this Board, and Mr. Solomon Goodell,† one set. for the objects of the mission, and, as such, to be regularly accounted for to the Prudential Committee.

Voted, That the Prudential Committee be directed to employ some suitable person or persons to visit St. Louis, St. Voted, That at every missionary sta- Genevieve, and any other places, as tion, to which more than one Missiona- they shall deem expedient, to ascertain ry shall belong, the salaries and ear-and to report this Board, what measures nings of the Missionaries, and presents are most eligible for diffusing the light made to them, or any of them, shall and benefits of Christianity among the constitute a common stock, from which Aborigines in the western and southern they shall severally draw their support, parts of our country. in such proportions, and under such regulations, as may, from time to time, be found advisable, and be approved by this Board, or by the Prudential Communication, in the form of a circular mittee. letter, to each association, which has been, or shall hereafter be, instituted in aid of this Board.

Voted, That the Prudential Committee be directed to hold stated quarterly meetings, and to make a quarterly com

The Prudential Committee were authorized to allow the Missionaries, at each Missionary station, to take such a Voted, That the Prudential Comhouse for their common use, as may be mittee be authorized to employ agents suitable for their accommodation, and to assist in forining auxiliary societies; to charge the rent of said house to the otherwise to excite the attention of the account of the Board. public to the objects of this board; and Voted, That a majority of the Mis-to use their exertions in obtaining funds. sionaries on any station, shall in their regular meetings, decide all questions, that may arise in regard to their proceedings and conduct, in which the mission is interested.

Upon the principles of the foregoing votes, the subject matter of polity, or social compact, for the regulation of our Missionaries; was referred to the Prudential Committee.

Voted, That the Prudential Committee be authorized to make to the Missionaries in India, such further allowance for extraordinary expenses, as, upon their representation, on an account stated, shall be deemed reasonable and proper.

The Trustees of the legacy, given by the late Mrs. Norris, were requested to transfer the same to the Board.*

*This has since been done in the manner, and for the purposes, described in the will of Mrs. Norris.

Voted, That the next annual meeting be holden at Hartford, (Com.) on the third Wednesday of September, 1816, at 10 o'clock, A. M. and that the Recording Secretary be directed to make the necessary arrangements for that meeting.

The Recording Secretary was directed to transmit to every member of the Board, not now present, information of the time and place of the next annual meeting.

has furnished for the present meeting; and, likewise, to those gentlemen who have hospitably entertained the members during the session.

Report of the Prudential Commillee. BRETHREN,

OUR two last annual reports contained much of interesting narrative: recitals of the pilgrimages and adventures, perils and deliverances, discourage

As early as the 13th of the next month, Jan. 1814, Mr. Newell received from them such intelligence, as gave him a degree of assurance, that the mission might be established at Bombay; and he immediately took measures of preparation for leaving Ceylon. On the 20th of the same month he writes in his journal, "I engaged passage in a Portuguese ship bound to Goa, as there Bombay. Before my departure I adwas no opportunity of going direct to dressed the following letter to the Governor.

ments and consolations, of our missionaries in the East; seeking a door of entrance to the heathen, but obstructed, disappointed, and held in continued anx-"To his Excellency General Brownrigg, iety and suspense; troubled on every Governor and Commander in Chief side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but in the Island of Ceylon. not in despair; perseculed, but not for-" Sir, saken; cast down, but not destroyed. "Having resided nearly a year under Those recitals were interesting, as they your Excellency's jurisdiction, and exshewed in a very clear and gratifying perienced during that time every indullight the faith and patience, the firmness gence from government which I could and prudence, the fortitude and devo- wish, I beg leave to express the deep tedness of the brethren; and especially sense I have of your Excellency's kindas they afforded many affecting and an-ness to me; and to ask permission to imating proofs of the wisdom and good- depart on the Angelica, Portuguese ship, ness, the faithfulness and mercy, the al-bound to Goa, in pursuance of my orimighty protection and overruling prov-ginal intention of joining the mission in idence of God. "The Lord God is a Bombay. I should esteem it an addisun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Their place of defence is the munitions of rocks; their eyes shall see the King in his beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off. If our present | S. NEWELL." Report contain less of striking narrative "I felt obligated," he says, "to notiand affecting incident, it is because our fy the Governor of my departure, as he missionaries have found at length an had intimated on my first arrival at Coopen door and a resting place; and tho' lumbo that I was not to remove withthey have scarcely commenced their out giving him 'previous notice.; and I public labours, yet they are quietly and felt a real pleasure in expressing my diligently preparing themselves for ac- gratitude for his kindness both to me tivity in their great and arduous work. and my brethren." "The Governor At our last anniversary we had the informed me through Lord Molesworth, hope, that the brethren Hall and Nott, that he consented to my departure, and after their severe trials, would be per-would write by mail to the Governor mitted to remain at Bombay. This of Bombay in my favor."

tional favor, if your Excellency would be pleased to give me a testimonial, that would satisfy the Governor of Bombay, that I leave Ceylon with your Excellency's consent and approbation. I have the honor to remain, &c.

hope has not been disappointed. Since After a residence in the island of Ceythe latest date of the accounts then lon of about ten months, Mr. Newell communicated, they have experienced, left Columbo for Goa on the 28th of so far as appears, no molestation; noth-January; and on the 4th of February ing but protection and kindness from the Angelica came to anchor in the the government. That latest date was roads of Cochin, where she stopped

Dec. 23, 1813.

Y

3 days, and afforded him an apportunt

ty which he says, he had long wished for it was not absolutely certain that we for, but never expected to be favored should all be allowed to remain here." with; that of seeing the Cochin Jews Soon after his arrival at Bombay, Mr. and the Syrain Christians." Of this op- Newell had an attack of fever which portunity he appears to have availed confined him several days. On the himself with great diligence. He visi-23d of the same month, however, he ted the Jewish synagogues at Cochin, writes, "We kept a day of fasting and and the Syrian church at Candenad, prayer, preparatory to the Lord's supthe residence at the late primate Mar per, which we propose to celebrate the Dionysius. The results of his enquiries next Sabbath. Saturday evening the and observations together with those of 26th, we kept another season of special his brethren Hall and Nott, who visited prayer with the view to the solemn orthe same places about three months be-dinance which we expected to attend fore, may constitute an interesting part of an appendix to this report.

upon the ensuing day. Sabbath, 27th, we met at 11 o'clock, A. M. and engagOn the 7th of Feb. Mr. Newell left ed in prayer: brother Hall delivered an Cochin, and on the 24th arrived at address, suited to the solemn occasion, Goa; where he "visited most of the and brother Nott administered the orColleges, Churches and Monasteries, dinance. There was a variety of cirsaw the Vicar General of the Dominicumstances attending this transaction, cans, dined with the Superior of the which were peculiarly calculated to afAugustinians, and called on Father Jo-fect our minds. We were naturally led sephus a Doloribus, the late inquisitor, to look back on all the way in which mentioned by Dr. Buchanan." "The the Lord had led us, since we devoted Inquisition of Goa," he says, in his jour-ourselves to the missionary cause, and nal," is no more. It was lately abol- ||particularly since we came to this land. ished by order of the Prince Regent of Two of our brethren, who came with Portugal. It is said however, that the us to this country, had been separated Archbishop retains all the power that from us, and had gone to different and was lodged in the Court of the Inquisi-distant countries, and we expected to tion." see them no more in this world. of our little number had finished her work and received an early release from the pain and toils of the missiona

One

On the 2d of March Mr. Newell sail ed from Goa, and on the 7th he writes in his journal," Early this morning the harbor and town of Bombay ap-ry pilgrimage. Though on our own acpeared in full view, and at 11 o'clock count, we could not but mourn her abI landed and went in search of my sence, yet we had reason also to rejoice friends, whom I found in a short time. in the hope, that she had entered into It was a joyful meeting to us all. We her rest; and though she could not rehad been separated more than 2 years, turn to us, yet if we were the children had all of us passed through many try-of God, we should go to her, and paring scenes, and often given up the idea take with her at the marriage supper of of ever meeting again on earth; but that the Lamb. In the afternoon I preachunseen Hand that had guided us in ailed to our own family, and a few of our our perplexities, and led us in a myste-acquaintance who usually unite with us rious way, had at length brought us to-in our family exercises on the Sabbath." gether in the very place, which, in our Soon after these refreshing scenes of conversations on the other side of the joyous meeting and of holy coinmunwater, we had often contemplated asion, on the 8th and 9th of April the the probable seat of our then future mis- brethren wrote to the corresponding sion. And what was peculiarly gratify-Secretary. "Our hopes," says Messrs ing to us, we had reason to hope, that we should now be established in this place, and be allowed to enter on our work, which had been so long delayed. | Yet we rejoiced with a mixture of fear;

Hall and Nott," are strong, and we look on the prospect with great delight. We trust that God's wonderful and merciful dealings with us, are ere long to be crowned with the special blessings we

Gospel in realms of darkness and of the shadow of death, and redound to the glory of his adorable name through the thanksgivings of many.

have sought; that our merciful Father | has a work for us to do here; and that his various dispensations have been allotted with fatherly tenderness and care, and intended to teach us lessons of hu- Since the receipt of the communicamility, trust and patience. We would tion of April, 1814, letters have been hope, that they may make us more received from the three brethren, bearprepared for our work. Pray for us. ing date, June 10 and 13, and DecemWe are sensible that God alone can|ber 29 and 30, together with their Jourteach us to profit. Pray for us. The nals down to about the time of their God to whom you pray dwells also in last date. From these communications this land. Here he dwells in his own it appears that they regularly performed almighty strength; and, in answer to divine worship, and preached, at their prayer, accepted from your altars, can own house, every Sabbath day, at which pour a blessing; yea, an immediate a few persons besides their own family blessing, upon our heads. He can, he usually attended; that they kept a pray. may in the hour of darkness, light up er meeting on every Wednesday eveour path, cheer our desponding hearts, uing, "to seek God's blessing on their dissipate our doubts, and fill us with mission," and "observed the first Monfaith and love,--because you pray for day of every month as a season of prayus. We have great reason to acknowler for the Church in unison with the edge the kind attention paid to our cir-friends of Missions, in India, Europe," cumstances and wishes, by the Rev. Dr. and our own country; that they "applied Carey, the Rev. Mr. Thomason and themselves closely to the study of the George Udny, Esq. acting as your Com- Mahratta language,the vernacular tongue mittee in Calcutta. To their efforts, un-of the Hindoos of Bombay and of mader God, we are indebted for the hopes ny millions on the" hither "side of we now enjoy." ." "We add a few lines," India;" that with much deliberation say the three brethren together, "to they had formed and adopted a system express our united gratitude to God for of Polity or Social order for the reguhis kindness in bringing us all together,lation of their little community, agreeaafter more than two years separation, to the place of our choice, and with prospects so favorable. God has visited us with judgments hard to bear, and with mercies for which no gratitude is sufficient. Pray for us that we may be knit together in love; that we may be diligent in our calling; that God may dwell in us and walk in us; and that we may be faithful unto death. Hereafter we shall hope to write to you in our united capacity.

To these grateful and devout senti ments of our beloved Missionaries, your Committee are persuaded the hearts of this Board will unitedly and ardently respond. Here then let us religiously record our thankful acknowledgment to|| the Father of mercies and God of all grace for his wonderful kindness to them and to us; and our fervent prayer, that his various dealings with them may contribute to furnish and to fit them more completely for their important work, urn out to the furtherance of the

bly to the instructions given them by the Prudential Committee: that they had opened a school which they hoped might be "so managed and modified as to embrace half-cast children, and the children of Europeans, and become a boarding school of considerable importance to the mission: in a word, that they had been diligently employed in the requisite preparations and arrangements for the establishment of the mission, and for the eventual extension and success of their labors. In their joint letter of 29th of December last they say: "We are now drawing near the close of the third year, since you sent us forth with the message of peace and love to the heathen in the East. The solemnities of that interesting day, on which we were designated to this important work are still fresh in our minds, with all the affecting circumstances of the parting scene:-and though our country and our friends are still dear as ever to our hearts, and though we have

experienced, as you taught us to ex-tral mission. In the midst of an extenpect, "much adversity, much opposi-sive and populous region, they have a tion, and many dark days in which our hearts have swelled with grief,' our purpose and our choice remain unaltered. We trust we do, at this moment, renewedly devote ourselves to the work, and rejoice that God has given us this grace to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

field apparently open to them, sufficient for the employment of hundreds of laborers; nor do they seem to entertain a doubt that others of their brethren from this country would be permitted to join them, and take part with them in their work. And besides Bombay and the surrounding country, they respectfully but earnestly direct our attention to other fields: particularly to Cochin and its environs, where they think there

a mission, and where many interesting circumstances, some of them rendered doubly interesting by the glowing representations of Dr. Buchanan, invite to the attempt; and the island of Ceylon, where every facility to missionary enterprise is offered, and where an extensive field appears to be white alreato the harvest.

We hope that nothing which has befallen us will deter others for a moment from engaging in the work. Our trials on the whole have not been great-would be little difficulty in establishing er, than we had reason to expect, and our encouragements are great. We are at length delivered from the long and painful suspense, in which we have been held, and are now, we have no reason to doubt, permanently settled in this place. Here there is work enough for a great many missionaries, within the compass of a few miles. We cannot walk the streets half a mile, with To this last mentioned field the eyes out meeting with thousands of heathens, of your Committee have long been turnwith whom we may mingle and con-ed, with ardent desire and hope. Imverse about the way of salvation with-mediately after the restoration of peace, out any fear of giving offence, or exci- an event most auspicious to every infing the least alarm. We are daily be-terest dear to the good man's heart, and coming more familiar with their lan- claiming the most grateful acknowledgguage and their ways, and hope soon ments of him who sits as King on the to commence the great work of preach-holy Hill of Zion, it was resolved to ing to them the gospel of Christ.-lose no time in fitting out a new mission There are many facilities here for the to the East. Of the five missionaries prosecution of our work, among which who had for a considerable time been we would mention with gratitude the held in an anxiously waiting posture, perfect security to our persons and pro- Messrs Richards, Bardwell, and Poor, perty, which we enjoy under the British were designated for this mission, which government: an invaluable blessing, was particularly intended for the Island and one upon which we could never of Ceylon. At the same time, it was calculate under a heathen government." proposed to send the other two, Messrs. Such was the situation, such were the Warren aud Meigs, on an exploring occupations, the sentiments and pros-mission to some of the Indian tribes, in pects of our missionaries at Bombay, the western and southern territories of nine months ago. Later than that time this country. In pursuance of these we have no accounts from them: but resolves, the 21st of June was appointwe have reason, we think, for a gooded as the day, for setting apart the five degree of confidence, that, ere this day, brethren for their sacred work, by solthey have become so expert in the lan-emn ordination.

guage of the country, as to be able to On the appointed day the missionapreach to the perishing natives theries were ordained, at the Presbyterian words of eternal life. The station in church in Newburyport. Ten churchwhich, after many disappointments es by their Pastors and delegates, toDivine Providence has placed them, is gether with the Rev. Professors of the a most important one, and peculiarly Theological Seminary at Andover, aseligible for the permanent seat of a cen-sisted in the solemnities of the qccasion