tention to this business is by no means to be employed exclusively in one direc tion. "Look from the place where thou art, northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward." Who knows but the revolutions in South America may soon result in such a state of things as to disclose a wide field to the missionary cultivator? Who knows but a door may soon be opened to some of the native tribes in the west? In either case the opportunity will be eagerly seized to send forth the heralds of the cross in the direction indicated by a wise and merciful Providence. In relation to the native tribes on the frontiers of our country, and extending back into the wide and distant forests of the west, there is at least one fact which cannot but be viewed in a favourable light. This observation alludes to an impression on the minds of many, and which seems to be increasing, that something ought to be done, for these unhappy natives. Who knows but this very impression may be the precursor, in the dispensations of HIS government, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working, of an attempt at least, possibly a successful one, to enlighten this benighted, vagrant, miserable portion of the human family? Nay, something has been done already; besides what others have effected, the General Committee of Churches united in the Charleston Baptist Association, one of the constituent members of the Convention, has, for several years, supported a missionary and schoolmaster among the Catawba Indians, and although the success has not been great, the effort cannot fail of securing the approbation of all good people. Extract of a letter dated March 25, 1815, from Mr. William Burls, deacon of Dr. Rippon's church of London, and agent for the Baptist Mission Society. "We have just heard of the arrival in India of Mr. Eustace Carey (nephew of Dr. Carey) who with his wife left this country in February last year he is a very popular preacher and an excellent man, but the subject of much debility; it was thought that he would have gone into a decline, had he continued here; hopes were entertained, that a warmer climate would suit his constitution. Since then a Mr. Yates, a native of Loughborough in Leicestershire, who has been some time at Bristol, has been sent out to join the mission in India. He is an eminent scholar and possesses considerable talents for attaining languages. We hope he will be a great acquisition to the mission. Late accounts from India are very encouraging; the Lord is still favouring those blessed men Carey, Marshman, Ward, and their coadjutors; they increase on every side; and the translations are going forward rapidly. I rejoice that the Baptist friends in America are so actively engaged in missionary exertions: may the God of all grace eminently bless their efforts. I congratulate you on the return of peace between our two countries, and pray, if it be the divine will, it may be no more interrupted. May we in both countries love and pray for each other, and only vie with one another in acts of mercy, pity, and good will to man-in Bible Societies, Tract Societies, and Missionary exertions. "P. S. Since writing the above, I have this day, March 28, received a letter from Mr. Ward giving the melancholy account of Felix Carey's wife and two children being drowned in going to Ava―the brig was upset in a squall. Felix with ten others were saved by swimming to the nearest shore. It is also feared that two printing presses, and about 16,000 rupees ($ 8,000, nearly) were lost at the same time. Dr. Cary is greatly distressed by this trying event!" The Rev. Mr. Ivemy, in a letter says- We have much rejoiced to hear of the missionary spirit in our denomination extending itself so widely in America.' Extract of a letter from Dr. Carey to Mr. Sutcliff. "I scarcely ever felt before so sensibly the weight of the labours in which I am engaged; but the truth is, those labours are increasing almost every day, The work of the translations imposes upon me the necessity of learning all the different languages into which they are made; and a conscientious desire that they may be perfected after my death, if not while I live, induces me to write grammars and other elementary books in these languages. To those who think "Besides the Translations of the Scriptures, the missionaries have published several works relative to Oriental Literature. DR. CAREY has published, 1. The Ramayuna of Valmeeki, a Sungskrit poem, with an English trans but lightly upon the subject, this may appear to be a trifling thing; but in reality, though I try to comprise these grammars in as little a compass as possible, the labour is very great; as every rule must be carefully weighed, and so formed as to comprise all for which it is intended, with as few exceptions as possible." Extract of a letter from Mr. Peacock, at Agra, to a friend at Serampore. "We were coming home one evening lately through the wheat bazar, (market) and in the midst of the sellers of wheat and other grain lay a poor man who had just breathed his last among the heaps of the grain. He had picked up a few husks of pease and grain, which it appeared he had been attempting to eat, but was too far gone. Not a single man in the bazar would give this poor creature one handful of wheat to save his life. This is not the only instance of the hardness of heart of this people; they have no more feeling for the poor than if they were dogs. They show no mercy, no pity. We daily find here and there one starved to death." lation (in conjunction with Dr. Marshman), under the patronage of the Asiatic Society and the College of Fort William. Three Volumes 4to. are already published; dedicated to Sir George Barlow. 2. A Grammar and Dialogues in Bengalee. Second edition. 3. A Grammar of the Mahratta Language. Second edition. 4. A Mahratta Dictionary. 5. A Sungskrit Grammar, 4to; dedicated to Marquis Wellesley. "He has also just finished the printing of a Grammar in the Punjabee Language; and has now in the press Grammars of the Telinga and Carnatic Languages. He is also writing Grammars of the Kushmeere, the Pushna, the Ballochee, and the Orissa Languages. In addition to these various and extensive labours, this pious minister and indefatigable scholar will complete, in two years more, his Bengalee Dictionary." "A Grammar of the Burmah Langu ge, by his son Felix Carey, who al ready treads in the devout and learned footsteps of his father, is also in the Missionary press at Serampore." "Dr. Marshman has commenced publishing the Works of Confucius in the original, with a Translation and Commentary; dedicated to Lord Minto. "He has also composed a Work under the title of Clavis Sinica, or Key of the Chinese Language. Of this Work the first part is already printed, and consists of two dissertations: the first, on the Chinese Character; the second, on the Colloquial Medium of the Chinese. The second part of the Clavis will be a Grammar of the Chinese Language. These two parts of the Work will contain four or five hundred quarto pages; and Dr. Marshman has in contemplation to add, as an Appendix, a Vocabulary, containing the Characters in the whole of Confucius; which he conceives will render it a complete Key to the Language. The passages in Chinese characters contained in these Works, are printed on moveable metal types, which Dr. Marshman and his coadjutors have had the merit of bringing, by the most laudable ingenuity and perseverance, to a state of perfection not known before." "Mr. Ward has also recently published the second edition of a Work, in four quarto volumes, on the Religion, Writings, and manners of the Hindoos. "The quotations in this note are made from a Valedictory Address, delivered by Lord Minto, September 20, 1813, in which he adds "I profess a very sincere pleasure in bringing the literary merits of Dr. Marshman, and the other reverend members of the Serampore Mission, to the notice of the public; and in bearing my testimony to the great and extraordinary labours, which constancy and energy in their numerous and various occupations have enabled this modest and respectable community to accomplish. "I am not less gratified by the opportunity which their literary achievements afford, of expressing my regard for the exemplary worth of their lives, and the beneficent principle which distinguishes and presides in the various useful establishments they have formed, and which are conducted by themselves." Extract of a Letter from Dr. Carey to Dr. Fuller. "Some time ago I received a letter from the Resident at Amboyna, requesting us to send missionaries to that place, where there are 20,000 professed christians, places of worship and schools, but not a single minister of the gospel. We immediately wrote you for help for them. This week, however, government, in consequence of a representation from Mr. Martin, the Resident, has applied to us to send men to superintend their schools, and offered facilities for transporting them thither. We have been greatly distressed at not having brethren ready to send. This day, to my great joy, my son Jabez offered to me, with much fear of being rejected, to go to Amboyna. Jabez, about a year and a half ago, was articled to an attorney at law; he did not then appear serious, and some time before that had given me much pain by his dislike of religion; since he has been in Calcutta his conduct has given pleasure to all who knew him; and for more than twelve months I have had scarcely a doubt of his conversion: he has a fine prospect before him as it relates to this life; his master has entire confidence in him, and I have the promise of the second judge of the supreme court, to use his influence in bringing him forward. To see him with these prospects voluntarily give up the whole to engage in the work of the mission, has so gladdened my heart, that you must forgive me, if I write foolishly in giving it vent for the first time. I have as good health as ever I had; but almost sink under the labours which I must go through. I am encouraged, however, when I think of the cause which I serve." "When we contemplate (say the Serampore translators, at the close of their Fifth Memoir, relative to the translations) the prospect presented by the completion of the versions of the Scriptures, now in a course of translation (and of which, we hope, taken as a whole, the work is now more than half done;) and unite with these the versions already made in the Malay, the Tamul, the Cingalese, the Persian, and the Hindosthanee languages, together with the translation which probably has been completed in Tartary, we perceive the greater part of the heathen world will have the word of God in their own tongue wherein they were born. For although there will then be many languages still left without it, the population through which they extend is so small, that they scarcely amount to a tenth of the supposed population of the earth. What a cheering thought, that, in a few years, nine tenths of mankind may probably hear in their own language the word of God, which is able to make wise unto salvation! And we have, in some degree, seen what HE can do by his word ALONE. "To a part of his word contained in a tract we owe our late brother Petumber; to another our brother Futika, whose joyful deaths are well known;-our brother Deep-chund, who has long preached the gospel; and our brethren Kanai and Kanta, who have long adorned it by their steady walk; neither of whom had we ever seen till the frequent perusal of a tract written by our beloved Petumber, had turned their hearts towards the gospel. To a New Testament left at a shop in a village, we owe our brother Sebukrama, and Krisna-dasa, two of the most acceptable and useful native preachers we have; as well as several other brethren from the same village: and to an English New Testament we owe Tara-chund and Mut-hara, two brethren whom the Lord has given us this year, who several years ago, by reading an English Testament, were stirred up to enquire about the Lord Jesus Christ, and meeting with one in Bengalee, in the beginning of this year, found their way to us, and have since been bap. tized. Thus what the Lord can, and what he may do among the nations of the earth by HIS WORD ALONE, even where his people may be unable to gain access in person, is known only to his infinite wisdom." “Hindoo Cruelties.—(Periodical accounts, No. 27, p. 878-9.)—A Hindoo carpenter was drowned because he had the leprosy. He was carried from one of the ghauts at Alum-gung in a boat, in the presence of a large concourse of people, and when in deep water put overboard. Two large earthern pots, one filled with sand, and the other with barley, were fastened to his shoulders. The man sunk, but after a little time floated on the surface of the water. The people in the boat rowed after him and took him up; but they made sure work of it the second time!" "About two years ago a woman was burnt after an attempt to escape the flames! The friends of the deceased husband were very poor and unable to procure wood for the funeral pile. They however collected a quantity of Palmyra leaves for the purpose; and the living woman and the dead body were are as usual put into the midst of the heap. The fire was kindled, and the poor woman's clothes consumed; but she struggled, extricated herself from the flames, and attempted to run away, intreating her pursuers to spare her life. But, alas! she intreated in vain: she was seized and destroyed!" Many other instances of this horrid practice might be quoted, and other perpetrations of the most appalling nature, but we abstain from the sad detail! While the multiplied miseries of the heathen appeal to christian charity for alleviation, in a manner that should rouse the most supine to action, and create sensibility in a heart of iron or stone, the success with which exertion has been hitherto sustained yields ample encouragement to future more extended and more vigorous efforts. THE persuasion is freely indulged that not only the expense necessarily incurred by the publication and distribution of this Report, will be cheerfully defrayed by the Societies, Associations and Churches, but also that such liberal and willing contributions will be transmitted to the general fund as shall support and extend the missionary operations now going forward. THE manifest importance of distinct and general information relative to missions, has induced the comprising of so much matter in this Report. No doubt can be entertained that the Missionary Cause will be patronized in proportion as its importance and utility are ap preciated, and its tendency to mitigate the sorrows and promote the happiness of the human family is known and considered. It is hoped, therefore, that this Report will be circulated from one to another through the churches, till all shall become acquainted with that great Cause which cries aloud "Come and see!"-whose beneficent aim is the redemption from sin of a world that lies in wickedness— whose glorious Author is the SON of GOD. THE Board tender their gratitude to their brethren Messrs. Joseph Cone Joseph Barnhurst, and William Duffy, (members of the Sansom Street Church,) for the plate at the commencement of this Report; the first of whom executed the engraving, the other two furnished the copperplate and printing-each gratuitously. |
