death and the river of life; but how great the volume of the former to the latter!

of error prevails, Romanism is found alike injurious to the temporal and spiritual progress of the people. It blights the

Will not our readers anew gird up fairest prospects, and eats out the moral their loins to the work?

heart of a community. The physical features of the island seem conformed to

Our Western African mission continues to enjoy the tokens of God's its spiritual ones. Every where are blessing. The health of Mr. SAKER and found numerous traces of volcanic Mr. WHEELER is good; that of Mr. WHEELER, indeed, is thoroughly established; while the instructions of the mission brethren are bearing happy fruit.

agency. Its mud and asphalte lakes evidence the constant working of subterraneous fires, producing sterility in many parts of the island. Our engraving represents one of these natural

The letter we subjoin will give a phenomena, which render Trinidad so cheering view of the work in dark and interesting to the geologist. popish Trinidad. Wherever that system

INDIA.

CALCUTTA.

LABOURS OF NATIVE PREACHERS.

and to increase this important agency.

A sense of duty induces me to give an account of the labours in which my brethren and myself have been engaged during the past few years.

At all

It is a long time since any details which we rejoice, and we trust will concerning the labours of the native induce the friends of missions to support preachers employed by the Baptist Missionary Society in Calcutta were laid before the public. The following piece was written in Bengali by one of these brethren, KOILAS CHANDRA MITTRA, and we print it in the hope that it may preached the gospel are to the east of the The parts of Calcutta in which we have prove interesting to our readers. The city-Koreya, Dharramtalah, Baitakkhana, instances of actual conversions given in Free Church Street, Sialdah bridge, Beliyagit are but few, yet it will be seen from these places we preach regularly, and, as hatta, Jan Bazar, Narikeldanga, &c. it that the efforts of our native brethren occasion requires, hold conversations with are productive of considerable good in our hearers. But besides this, we visit the inhabitants of Baliganj, Dhacura, Batchtolah, enlightening the minds of their country- Tengrah, Gobra, and Chingrihatta, and men, and impressing them with the other neighbourhoods, and preach the gospel excellence of the religion of Christ. to them. We sometimes also visit the Beliyaghatta merchants, and hold religious conRecent occurrences in native society versations with them. In the winter, we have shown that the truth has had a have sometimes taken trips to distant places, where we have preached the gospel and dispowerful effect upon many who are still tributed books. We trust that a brief account professed Hindus; and we are encou- of some of the effects which have resulted raged to hope that shortly the seed so from these efforts will tend to encourage our long sown in faith will spring up and be the enlargement of the kingdom of our Lord, fellow labourers, to cheer those who pray for abundantly fruitful. The details which and to induce those who contribute money follow will go far to prove that the for the promulgation of the gospel not to shut native preachers have done their fully. It is written in the scriptures, "In their purses, but to continue to give cheerin bringing about the appearances in the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening

part

Converts.

At Koreya many Muhammadans come to hear us. Formerly they would abuse us and make great noise, but they do so no more. Although comparatively few Hindoos come to hear us at this place, yet one of those who heard us, being convinced of the truth of the gospel by our preaching, came forward with his wife to embrace Christianity. They were prevented from joining us by our inability to make provision for their support on leaving Hinduism; they therefore bad recourse to the missionaries of another denomination. One of our regular hearers at another place was remarkable for the attention he displayed, and we gave him a bible; he also came to us at home for instruction. We were expecting that he would be baptized, but he was shortly after obliged to remove to another place, in consequence of obtaining a new situation, and I did not know whither he had gone, till one day I met him, and he told me that he had been baptized at Mirzapur church, and had been afterwards appointed to labour as a catechist.

withhold not thy hand: for thou knowest grimages." It happened that a neighbour of not whether shall prosper, either this or that." his, a Hindoo widow, wished to make a From these words the friends of the gospel pilgrimage to Jagannath at Puri; when this may take encouragement, for, although much young man came to know it, he immediately has not been effected hitherto, yet we thank God for the change which has taken place; inasmuch as some whose minds were formerly like the barren soil, are now becoming fertile. Happy effects of preaching the gospel. For instance, at Gobra we had two fixed places for meeting, where every week we were accustomed to go, and people assembled themselves to hear us. On one occasion, when the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ was described, one of them burst into tears. In this way they continued to hear us very attentively for a long time; now, however, we are at a loss to know whither they have removed. I asked an old man who lived near the residence of these people, when I saw him first, who Jesus Christ was? He replied, "The Lord Jesus Christ is my Saviour; this I know, for although I am not acquainted with you, yet I have from time to time profited by your instructions." We afterwards went to an old woman who resided by herself, in the northern part of the village, and spoke to her of the birth, miracles, and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. On this she said, with a sorrowful countenance, "You have told me what I never heard before! No one has ever preached to me these tidings of salvation which you have now brought! What present can I make you for this? I have nothing to give but an iron straw-knife; if you will have that, I will give it to you." She was told that our Saviour had said, "Freely ye have received, freely give." This woman afforded much reason to expect that if she had lived a little longer she would have professed herself to be a servant of Christ; even now we trust that the Lord is wiping away her tears. In like manner the truths of the Christian religion are preached in various places both among rich and poor, and people confess that no one is able to refute what we say, because it is all true; while others say, "If we inquire among ourselves even, we can plainly see that among the gods and goddesses there is none who is able to save us."

More examples.

A year ago, we went one day to Tiljala, to see a respectable man whose name was Mitra; he asked us who we were? We replied that we were Christians. Hearing this he received

At Sialdah, Beliyaghatta and Baitakkhana many hear our preaching and receive tracts and gospels from us, and one young man from Sialdah was baptized. So also another man named Kaderbax was baptized, as the fruits of our preaching. If our society had the means of sustaining inquirers we should probably have received more accessions: for though well assured of the truth of Christianity, many men shrink from enduring the loss of all things that they may win Christ.

Almost Christians.

We meet from time to time with young men who confess that the Christian religion is true, but say that they cannot embrace it. The following example may be given. One day a very respectable and wealthy man, a resident at Khidirpur, invited myself and a friend to his house, engaging to prove to us the falsity of our religion, and convince us of the truth of Hinduism. On our arrival, the Babu and his friends received us very kindly;

will known to us, so far we are bound to love | Christianity had manifested at the Jan Bazar

and serve him. This he did not dispute, and chapel, when grossly abused and insulted by after hearing us he confessed that the Chris- a Mussalman. He felt that a religion which tian religion is without doubt true, but that it could produce such effects must be the true was a matter of great difficulty to embrace it. one. The influence of this babu's guru, who When we left, his nephew followed us to our was much displeased by our visits to his house and remained with us till eleven o'clock house, at last induced him to break off his at night, bringing forward his doubts concern-intimacy with us; but even after this, he ing Christ, and asking us to solve them. We assured us that his opinion of Christianity endeavoured to remove his difficulties and and his wish to embrace it remained ungave him as many scriptural proofs as we altered. could. In the end he was quite satisfied, and said, that there was no religion which inculcated morality so pure as Christianity, and that no other religion makes known the way of salvation.

There was a Babu residing in Taltala who used to invite us to his house; and for some time we visited him on Sundays, and expounded to him the truth regarding the death of Christ and the atonement, and he listened to us with the greatest interest. One day we inquired of him the cause of his desire to become acquainted with Christianity, and he told us that his mind had been greatly impressed by accidentally witnessing the patience and gentleness which a preacher of

Similar instances might be brought forward to show that many are now favourably disposed towards Christianity, and are willing to avail themselves of opportunities to become acquainted with its truths. It cannot be doubted that some secretly believe, and that many prayers are presented through Jesus Christ, by men who are thought to be heathens. We deplore the lack of firmness and faith which such secret converts display, but still we rejoice that the truth is thus making its way secretly and surely, in spite of all opposition and unbelief, and look forward to the day when its victories shall be manifest and the kingdom of Christ be established.

SERAMPORE.

In our September Herald an intima- | the Council of the College, subject of tion was given that certain important course to the final decision of Mr. questions had been before the Committee MARSHMAN on the part of the College in relation to the future management Council. of Serampore College. Some time ago By the last mail Mr. MARSHMAN'S the views of the Committee were com- reply has been received, addressed to municated at length in reply to letters one of the Secretaries of the Society. from Mr. MARSHMAN, which were after- It appears that the proposals of the wards fully considered and discussed Committee meet with his cordial and with Mr. MARSHMAN by the members of entire approval. He says, "The resoluthe deputation on their recent visit to tions of the Committee have the entire India. It was one of the several im- and cordial concurrence of Mr. THOMAS, portant questions that called for their Mr. DENHAM, and myself. We shall attention. On their return they laid proceed to operations with as little delay before the Committee a very full report as possible. The all but unanimous of their interviews with Mr. MARSH- decision of the Committee in a matter MAN, the Revs. J. DENHAM, J. THOMAS, in which we are so deeply interested, and others of the Calcutta brethren, at has infused new life and spirit into us, the same time presenting the conclu- and we hope to be able to show the high sions to which they had been led. Very sense we entertain of their kindness and anxious consideration was given by the consideration by rendering the instituCommittee to their report at the meet- tion a real blessing to the country." ing in August last, and at its close the After referring to the investment about following resolutions were agreed to as to be made of a considerable sum to the basis of future co-operation with meet the quadrennial repairs of the

"To facilitate this important work, and to "8. The Council agrees to leave in the prevent future misapprehension, the Com- hands of the Society, with the concurrence of mittee deem it desirable to enumerate the the Trustees, the future dividends of Ward's principles on which they are ready to co- Fund, which are to be devoted in accordance operate with the Council at Serampore, and with the terms of the Deed; this sum to be trust that the concurrence of the Council in in addition to the Society's amount contrithese principles may render future co-opera-buted. tion practicable and efficient.

DINAGEPORE.

Some pleasing indications are given in the following letter of Mr. SMYLIE, dated September 27th, of the leavening progress of the gospel in the district around his station. It is evident that the native mind is becoming more and more accessible, and the people are more ready and willing to hear the gospel than at any former period. The labours of the native brethren are a

mong the most efficacious means that can be employed, and we trust that able men, taught of God, are being raised up among the native converts, every way adapted to carry forward the kingdom of our Lord.

The invitation.

lage, to remain a few days or weeks. The
day will come, and may be before I put off
this frail and worn-out carcase, when the na-
tives will, of themselves, by God's Spirit, run
Where God's
to and fro with the word.
Spirit really is in deed and truth, his people

don't need to be driven. We want the wind
to blow from the four winds upon these dry
bones, and on some green ones too, then the
multitude will everywhere preach the gospel.

A bazar incident.

This evening, while engaged in the bazar, follows:-"Sir, you will make very little of I was addressed by a young Musalman as the people here, they are too worldly to be soon converted, but were you to go among the Batances, I feel persuaded you would soon make converts. I know them, and I would advise you to try. However, that you may not go without some cause, I will go among them for the next six or seven months and try them. Should I meet with encouragement, I will return to you about the setting in of next rainy season, and take you with me to the places where the people are most likely to receive the word." I have known this Musalman for some years; when I first met him he was indeed a bitter character, but time and, I trust, the Spirit have told upon him. His residence is at Puch-a-Ghor, about ninety miles north of this. He has long been engaged in collecting raw hides for the European market. He is employed by some Persian merchants. His calling leads him all over Batan, where cows' hides are cheapest; hence his offer to try the Batanees, and then let me know and take me with him. For the last few years I have regularly had

You know until lately we had no native missionary in Dinagepore, and now we have one only; when your letter came to hand he was out at Jar Bany, some thirty or forty miles to the north-west. We were invited to go out to this by a respectable Musalman, who has been more than once with us in Dinagepore. In his invitation he said he wished us to go out and spend a few days among his neighbours, to try how they would receive the word, hinting, that if they could only be made willing, he would unite with those who would join us. The native missionary states that after spending a few days with them (during which time he was much engaged), he read and explained the word, one or two calls from him; sometimes he has and had prayer with them. After all, they said, we need to be instructed, and unless caused me much pain and prayer. The other some one was placed among us for this pur- evening, while engaged in the bazar, he pose, it would be impossible for us to under-came up, placed himself on my right-I had stand of ourselves, and unless we understand stopped to breathe-when my old friend took we cannot embrace Christianity. This, though up the subject with as much ease and simplinot what we could wish, is a great advance on the self-perfect Mussalmen. Two of their young men said they would immediately folremain with us a few months for instruction, low the native missionary to Dinagepore, and and to see and learn our ways; all they wanted was support. This, though a very fair and very pleasing offer, is what we cannot comply with now.

Another invitation.

Another invitation was made by a man who came from Ghor-a-Ghat, some fifty or sixty miles to the south. The last trip has laid up the native missionary with fever, so the south invitation must remain as it is for a time. I would indeed rejoice could we send out a few men to this, and a few to that vil

city as if he had been taught in the first college, and preached Christ, proving what he said by referring to the Old and New Testain birth till Christ was framed in the soul ment. I shall not try to tell what I felt at the time and since; those who have laboured don't need to be told, and those who have not could not understand if they were.

A missionary's work.

Schools are all we can make them at present. We have no books but such as the Tract and Bible Societies publish, and few of these. My week day duties are the schools, and nightly reading and explaining God's word. This is every day and every night. I hope the day is coming when every native Christian will have his little band of heathen,