we cannot at present determine; but the Directors have never, for a single moment, lost sight of this great object, which was so strongly recommended to their vigilant attention at our last Annual Meeting; but have faithfully represented to his Majesty's ministers the wishes of this Society that, in case of the renewal of the Charter of the East India Company, some provision to the following effect may be introduced-viz. "It shall be lawful for Missionaries and Ministers of the Church of England, of the Church of Scotland, and of the several denominations of protestant Dissenters, duly recommended by the respective bodies to which they belong, to proceed to India, and reside there, under the protection of Government, while they conduct themselves in a peaceable and prudent manner, for the purpose of diffusing among the inhabitants of that country the knowledge of Christianty, as well as for the religious advantage of British subjects of all denominations resident in India.” And although the Directors were empowered, by your resolution last year, to present petitions in the name of the Society at large, to both houses of parliament on this important subject, they thought it preferable to convene a General Special Meeting of the members of the Society resident in and about London, which took place on the 5th day of April last, and was numerously attended. The Resolutions formed on that occasion, and the petitions then adopted, have already been generally circulated, and will also appear in the Appendix to this Report, as a memorial of that christian philanthropy which warms the heart of every member of this Institution. It is proper also to mention that not in London only, but in a great number of places throughout the country, the members and friends of this Society, as well as their fellow christians of various denominations, have manifested the same pious zeal by their petitions to parliament for the same purpose.

Leaving to the disposal and control of the great Head of the Church those legislative proceedings which may affect the future progress of India Missions, the Directors will give a general statement of what has been attempted by their Missionaries in that country during the past year, lamenting, however, that some expected dispatches not having yet arrived, they cannot present intelligence of so late a date as might be wished.

TRAVANCORE.-From Mr. Ringeltaube they have heard but little; but it appears that he continues to labour in six or seven different places in the district of Travancore, in churches which he has erected, and where he statedly preaches the Gospel and administers christian ordinances; he also employs five or six native schoolmasters, for the instruction of youth; he has likewise several boys in training, who assist him in reading, writing, and singing-one of whom always accompanies him on his preaching excursions; they are also occasionally sent into the villages, among the scattered proselytes, to teach them the catechism. He speaks particularly of a Mr. Fleury, who has proved the most usesul of all his assistants. The labours of these schoolmasters are, Mr. Ringeltaube states, of great advantage to the rising generation, not only as to their respectability and temporal prosperity, but as con lucive to their spiritual

good; "for," he observes," it is in vain to print and distribute bibles, if there are none who can read them." The expense, however, of these operations has been heavier than before, on account of a great scarcity of grain occasioned by a long drought felt all over the south of the peninsula.

VIZAGAPATAM.-The affairs of this important station are, we trust, in a prosperous state. Mr. Pritchett, who, after the death of Mr. Brain, found it necessary to leave the Burman country, has joined his brethren in India. After being long detained at Calcutta, and under circumstances at times difficult and distressing, he was at length enabled to reach Vizagapatam, and unite with the brethren Gordon and Lee, who greatly needed his assistance, in consequence of the loss they had sustained by the death of the excellent Des Granges.

These Missionaries inform us that the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, translated at Vizagapatam, are printed, and a quantity of them for distribution was expected by the return of the Bramin Anunderayer from Calcutta; this, they say," they hope will be rendered an important benefit to the surrounding multitude, many of whom will eagerly peruse it." They are still proceeding with the work of translation; Mr. Gordon has commenced the gospel of St. John, and Mr. Lee the book of Genesis; and they flatter themselves that from their residence and conversation among the people who speak it in its purity, their Telinga translation will be found more accurate than any other can well be expected to be where the language is understood by few. In this good and great work they will now be much assisted by Mr. Pritchett, who made some progress in the language while at Calcutta, under the tuition of Anunderayer.

The congregations to which they preach, both at the Fort and at the Mission house, have been much better attended than before, and the auditors have listened with more serious attention to the word. They were in hope of an addition to their little church, and speak with satisfaction of an European lady whose first religious impressions were derived from the conversation and example of the late Mr. Des Granges.

"With regard to the SCHOOLS," say they, "we are happy to state that the boys, both natives and half-castes, continue to improve.* Some addition has been made to the number of our CHARITY Boys, and the subscriptions for the support of that institution have been a

* A Pamphlet is just published, entitled “Indian CIVILIZATION, Or Report of a successful experiment, made during two years, on that subject, in fifteen Tamul, and five English native Free Schools; with proposals for establishing a separate liberal Native School Society, humbly submitted to the judgment and patronage of the governments of the Hon. East India Company, of the respectable religious Societies, and the generous and charitable public, by the Rev. C. S. John, Senior of the Danish Mission at Tranquebar, &c. &c." We recommend this sensible Tract to the attention of the Society.

little augmented." Nor are the female Missionaries* at this station idle spectators; they attend daily to a FREE SCHOOL which has been commenced for the instruction of girls, both native and country-born; those who have hitherto attended are of the latter description, and are perhaps greater objects of compassion than the former, being reduced to almost the lowest degree of wretchedness.

The brethren were anxiously expecting the arrival of Mr. May, who has manifested a peculiar talent for the religious instruction of children. After being long (but we trust not uselessly detained) in America, by which circuitous route to India the Directors were obliged to send them, he took his passage from thence in February 1812, in the ship Harmony (together with some Missionaries of the American and Baptist Societies), and arrived at Port Louis, in the Isle of France, on the 8th of June, where, it is sincerely hoped, as well as at the Island of Bourbon and Madagascar, Missions may be established. When Mr. May and his companions proceeded to India, and whether they have been permitted to proceed to the places of their destination, the Directors have not yet been able to learn.

BELHARY.-The information received from Mr. Hands, as well as from other quarters, concerning the Mission at Belhary, is highly satisfactory, as he is proceeding prosperously in the three great and important engagements of preaching the Word, translating the sacred Scriptures, and supporting various schools; in which he is now assisted by a promising young man, a Mr. Taylor, who appears to be the first fruits of his pious labours in India.

Mr. Hands regularly preaches to the Europeans, and his success appears to be considerable, especially among the soldiers, many of whom are seriously disposed. Twenty or thirty of these meet together several evenings in a week for prayer, reading the Scriptures, and christian conversation. A library of thirty or forty volumes is formed for their use; many good books have been purchased for them at Madras; and their advancement in religious knowledge, experience, and practice, has been remarkably great. They have also manifested their love of religion, by making an unsolicited subscription of about fifty rupees for the purchase of lamps and other useful articles for the school, besides a monthly subscription to defray the expense of lighting, &c. Mr. H. has reason to believe that more than twenty of the soldiers (of the 56th regiment of foot) have been brought to the knowledge of the truth since they came to Belhary; and it is peculiarly satisfactory to state, that on the 27th of June 1812, a church was formed there, into which twenty-seven persons *The widow Des Granges (with her children) rejoined the Mission at the close of the year 1811.

In the Isle of France there are said to be 90,000 inhabitants; and in the island of Bourbon 120,000; in both places it is probable that Missionaries would be favorably received. The state of religion in both is most deplorable; but their possession by the English is likely to be productive of great advantage to the people.

were, on a profession of their faith in Christ, admitted, and several expressed their desire to be added to their number. This pleasing event filled the heart of our dear brother with joy and thankfulness, and will doubtless be highly gratifying to this Society.

The school at Belhary flourishes: it contains nearly fifty children, most of whom have learned Dr. Watts' first catechism, some hymns, and portions of Scripture. The greater part of these children were, before their admission into the school, in a more wretched condition than that of the heathen; they have made good progress in learning, and Mr. Hands expresses his hope that many of them will be delivered out of the mouth of the Destroyer, and become Lambs of the Redeemer's flock. This school is conducted by a pious soldier, under the superintendance of Mr. H. who has received from several ladies and gentlemen handsome contributions towards its support.

By the assistance of some kind friends, he has been enabled to erect a Native School House in the Mission garden, where about fifty children of different castes have been admitted. This school is chiefly under the tuition of a respectable Brumin, brother of his Moonshee and as the natives are extremely desirous that their children may learn English, Mr. Hands intends, as a stimulus to the scholars in general, and as a reward to the most diligent, to select a few for that privilege; this method of proceeding is likely to conciliate the esteem of the parents, to win the hearts of the children, and to prepare the way for the gradual instruction of the people in the knowledge of Christianity, without alarming their fears, or giving a sudden shock to their prejudices. To be continued.

CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA.

WE have been of the invariable opinion, that, at the expiration of the East India Company's charter, the door would, in some way or other, be opened for the admission of Christian teachers into India. Whether it would be in consequence of a refusal to renew the charter, or a legislative provision in the act of renewal, or an irresistible impression upon the minds of the Directors, or their Eastern Governors, made by the voice of the nation, seemed not very material. It has seemed good to the Almighty Ruler of the nations to secure this desirable object by a legislative provision in favor of those who wish to reside in India for the purpose of communicating moral and religious instruction to the natives. The act passed the last stages and received the royal assent, about the 20th of July. We cannot give the exact purport of the section here alluded to; but it may suffice to say, that the friends of Missions were perfectly satisfied with it, and the enemies of Missions opposed it with great zeal.

The conductors of the Christian Observer, after mentioning the names of a vast number of places from which petitions had been poured in upon parliament on this subject proceed, as follows:

Ed. Pan. "But we hasten to congratulate our readers, not only that the pubfic sentiment has been thus honorably and extensively expressed;

but that it has not been expressed in vain. On the 22nd. instant, [June,] Lord Castlereagh, in a speech replete with sound sense, and enlarged and liberal views of policy, proposed to the House of Commons the adoption of the following Resolution, which had been previously agreed to in a Committee of the whole House, viz.

"That it is the duty of this country to promote the interest and happiness of the native inhabitants of the British dominions in India; and that such measures ought to be adopted as may tend to the introduction among them of useful knowledge and of religious and moral improvement:-That, in the furtherance of the above objects, sufficient facilities shall be afforded, by law, to persons desirous of going to and remaining in India for the purpose of accomplishing those benevolent designs.

"Provided always, that the authority of the local government, respecting the intercourse of Europeans with the interior of the country, be preserved, and that the principles of the British government, on which the natives of India have hitherto relied for the free exercise of their religion, be inviolably maintained."

"The Resolution was supported, in a most eloquent and argumentative speech, by Mr. Wilberforce, ably seconded by Mr. W. Smith, and other gentlemen; and opposed by Sir H. Montgomery, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Pendergrast, Sir Thomas Sutton, &c. We hope to be able, in our next number, to give our readers a connected view of this great argument. Suffice it, in the mean time, to say, that the cause of Christianity has signally triumphed. The resolution was carried by a majority of 53; 89 voting for it, and only 36 against it.

"The above resolution having been communicated to the House of Lords on the following day, was taken into the consideration of their Lordships on the 24th inst. It was moved by Lord Buckinghamshire, after some able prefatory observations; and, we rejoice to add, as a circumstance no less gratifying to the nation than honorable to their Lordships, carried without a single dissenting or disapproving voice, both in the Committee, and afterwards in the House.

"In recording this most grateful event, we would call on every individual whose eye may peruse this page, to unite with us in thankful acknowledgements to the Author of all good, for this signal instance of his favor. To Him who alone can order the unruly wills and affectioss of men we ascribe it, that the opposition attempted to the extension of his Gospel has proved so feeble and unavailing But while we recur with humble gratitude to the great Author of this dispensation, let us not forget the great, though subordinate obligation, which we owe to his instruments. To his majesty's ministers in particular is the Christian Church, is Great Britain, is India, indebted, for this noble recognition of the claims of our holy religion. God will reward them. Their achievement is beyond the reach of human recompense; although if there be a luxury of enjoyment attainable here, they would surely possess it could they behold, or could they image to themselves, the swellings of gratitude which dilate the hearts, and the tears of joy which silently moisten the cheeks of the thousands and tens of thousands in this land, whom they have made gląd