rican tribes of the interior, many of whom can read the Arabic language.

DOMESTICK.

American Board of Commissioners

for Foreign Missions.

The annual meeting of the Board was held on Wednesday the 3d inst., in the Murray Street church, New York. The following members of the Board were present.

Hon. John Cotton Smith, President, Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer, Rev. David Porter, D. D., Rev. Archibald Alexander, D. D., Rev. Calvin Chapin, D. D., Hon. Jonas Platt, Rev. Samuel Miller, D. D. Rev. Thomas M'Auley, D. D., Rev. Lyman Beecher, D. D., Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D., Rev. William Allen, D.D., John Tappan, Esq., Rev. Warren Fay, D. D., Hon. Nathaniel W. Howell, Rev. Justin Edwards, D. D., Rev. Benj. B. Wisner, D. D., Eleazer Lord, Esq., Henry Hill, Esq., Rev. Gardiner Spring, D. D., Rev. Eliphalet Nott, D. D., Rev. N. S. Beman, Rev. Wm. M Murray, D.D., Rev. Thomas DeWitt, D. D., Hon. The odore Frelinghuysen, John Nitchie, Esq, S. V. S. Wilder, Esq.

James Farish, Esq., of Bombay, was elected a correspondent member of the Board, and 14 others, from different states in the American Union. From the New York Observer we make the following

extracts.

Donations from the Bible and Tract Societies.-The Board acknowledge, with gratitude, the donation from the American Bible Society, of $5,000 for printing the Scriptures in the Mahratta language at Bombay, and $5,000 for the like object in the language of the Sandwich Islands; and the donation from the American Tract Society, of $2,600, for printing Tracts in Bombay, Ceylon, Southeastern Asia, the Mediterranean, and the South Sea Islands.

The Imprisoned Missionaries.-The committee to whom was referred the memorial of the Prudential committee, claiming the protection of the United States' government for the missionaries and property of the Board at the Missionary stations among the Southwestern Indians,

Ch. Adv.-VOL. X.

reported a series of resolutions, which were adopted. In these resolutions the Board express their approbation of the memorial and proceedings of the Prudential committee in relation to these subjects, and also of the measures adopted under the sanction of the Prudential committee by Messrs. Worcester and Butler, for Court of the United States. They also bringing their case before the Supreme express their satisfaction in view of the decision of that high tribunal, and instruct the Prudential committee to adopt such other measures as they may think expedient for protecting the persons and rights of the missionaries. They declare their continued confidence in the imprisoned missionaries, and their fraternal sympathy with them in the painful separation from the Christian privileges, their families, and their missionary labours, and in the protracted and illegal imprisonment to which they have been subjected for more than a year; and in conclusion commend them and their bereaved families to the prayers of the friends of missions throughout the country.

Publick Meetings in New York and Philadelphia, in May-The Prudential committee were instructed to confer with the auxiliary society of New York and Brooklyn on the subject of holding a publick meeting in behalf of foreign missions in New York during the week of the religious anniversaries in May, and also with the auxiliary society of Philadelphia, in regard to a similar meeting in that city during the week of religious anniversa

ries there in the same month.

is to be held in Philadelphia on the third The next annual meeting of the Board Wednesday of September, 1833, at 10 A. M. The Rev. Dr. M'Auley was appointed to deliver the sermon, and the Rev. Dr. M.Murray his alternate.

FOREIGN.

We have received from the Rev. Mr. William Ramsey, missionary of the A. B. C. F. M. at Bombay, a pamphlet neatly printed at the American mission press in that city, which we shall give entire, except the tables at the close. The statements of this publication are full of interest. Since its publication, the mission has sustained a great loss in the death, by cholera, of the Rev. Mr. Harvey.

3 N

A BRIEF VIEW OF THE AMERICAN MISSION AT BOMBAY, FOR THE YEAR 1831.

The following sketch of the operations of the American Mission in Bombay for the past year, is respectfully submitted to its patrons and friends, and to all who feel interested in efforts to extend the blessings of Christianity to the native population of India. Knowing that the preaching of the gospel has, in every age, been blessed above all other means for reclaiming men from their errors, and bringing them to a knowledge of the truth, we regard it as holding the first place in our labours, and devote to it as much time as our circumstances and engagements will admit. In the Chapel in Bombay we have two services in the native language every Sabbath. The number who attend the morning service varies from 60 to 120. Most of these are individuals who are in some way connected with the mission as teachers, scholars, and persons employed in our families, or in the printing office. We have, however, generally the satisfaction of seeing some strangers present, and also not unfrequently a considerable number who formerly belonged to our schools, but are now engaged in various kinds of business for a livelihood. On Sabbath afternoon the boys of the first and second classes with the teachers of all the schools in Bombay connected with the mission, meet in the Chapel, when they read some chapter, assigned as their lesson on the previous Sabbath, and are examined in respect to its meaning. They are also examined in the commandments, and a catechism containing the principal doctrines and duties of Christianity. An address is then made to the boys, the teachers, and others who may be present, and the meeting is concluded by prayer. A meeting is held at the chapel on every Tuesday expressly for the religious in struction of the teachers. This meeting is attended by as many of the larger girls of the female schools as can be induced to come. The chapel is open daily for the religious instruction of all who call for that purpose and to receive Christian books; the reading and expounding of the Scriptures and prayer in Mahratta is attended daily at 9 o'clock, A. M. for the benefit of those employed in the printing establishment, and others who may be disposed to attend. We are also in the habit of daily imparting religious instruction to all classes of the native population as we may have opportunity, by preaching, conversation, and the distribution of the Scriptures and tracts. For this purpose, several short tours to the large villages on the continent have been made, and two of our number spent several weeks in the Deccan on a tour to Ahmednuggar by the way

of Poonah returning by Joonnur and Kallian. The schools for boys now connected with the mission are 21, containing over 1600 children. One fourth part of these can read the Scriptures and other printed books fluently and intelligibly. Most of them can repeat from memory a catechism of 16 pages containing the princicipal doctrines and duties of Christianity, and have acquired a knowledge of arithmetic as far as is required for the transaction of ordinary business. In most of these schools are a few girls.

Of schools exclusively for girls, we have now 12, containing upwards of 300 children. The proportion of them who read intelligibly is nearly the same as in the boys' schools. Some of the larger girls have learned to do plain needlework, &c. But as the custom of the country places this kind of work principally in the hands of men, and the forms of dress in common use among women require little aid from the needle, the children are not much encouraged by their parents, nor do they see sufficient prospect of advantage to excite much desire for becoming acquainted with this kind of work.

A few years ago it was generally regarded as a thing quite impracticable to introduce female education into India, and though the experiment has succeeded beyond the expectation of those who were acquainted with the difficulties to be encountered, and a change in feeling and opinion is seen to be gradually taking place among the native population, yet the education of females is esteemed of little importance by those who think most favourably of it, while many, (and those not uncommonly persons of much influence from their rank and learning) retain their prejudices in full force. This is clearly seen in the opposition and reproach which the teachers, though generally of the bramhun caste not unfrequently endure, on account of their employment. For these reasons, though we regard the cause of female education as firmly established and continually making progress, yet the state of particular schools is sometimes for months together quite variable and fluctuating. It has been our practice not to commence a school in any place without previously ascertaining as far as practicable, the character of the people, and their feelings on the subject. And when a school has been commenced and expense thus incurred, we do not think it expedient to abandon it on account of any difficulty that may arise, unless we become satisfied that a school cannot flourish there until prejudice shall subside, and the feelings of the people shall change. In a few instances we have with much regret seen some schools, after continuing a short time, decline under circumstances which made it clearly expedient to discontinue them; but most of the

female schools have been continued from their first commencement, and their state at the present time is such as to afford encouragement to perseverance in exertions to raise the females of India from their present degraded state to the rank they hold in Christian countries.

The expense of the boys' schools exclusive of books, has been 2,585 rupees. Of the girls' schools 2,1884 rupees.

Our printing establishment is principally employed in printing for religious societies, and in doing work of a miscellaneous kind for the Government and for individuals. During the year past the mission have reprinted an edition of 1600 copies of a work containing 160 pages 8vo. in English and Mahratta which was originally composed by the Rev. G. Hall, and designed to assist natives in learning English, and Europeans in learning Mahratta. The subjects treated of in this work are principally of a religious kind, and it appears well adapted to be useful to the native population. We have printed several smaller religious books for gratuitous distribution and for the use of our schools.

Three persons have been added to the church by baptism during the year. The first of these is of the Mahratta caste, and was baptized in March. His name is Moroba. Previously to this he had been a teacher of one of the boys' schools for several months, and had been apparently for most of the time a sincere inquirer after the truth. His only child, a girl four years old, was baptized at the same time. He continued his school for several months after his baptism. He suffered much, however, from the persecution and ill-will of the people around, and as the school was becoming small, and opposition seemed to be rather increasing, it was thought expedient that he should leave teaching for some other employment, which he accordingly did.

Another of the persons baptized is of the Bramhun caste, whose name is Babjee. He had been employed as a pundit by different missionaries for several years. He had acquired considerable knowledge of Christianity, and in conversation his mind had often appeared to be labouring under a conviction of its truth too strongly to be concealed by any effort on his part. It was evident, also, that his confidence in Hindooism was nearly gone, and he seemed likely soon to become sceptical in respect to religion of every kind. In October, his conviction of the truths of Christianity much increased, and he soon expressed his wish and determination openly to confess it. Having continued for some time to give increasing evidence of the sincerity of his profession, and of the genuineness of his faith, he was baptized in the chapel, in the presence of a large number of natives, on the 20th of November.

Babjee had never been married, but had lived illicitly for several years with a wi

dow of his own caste. It is well known that marriages among the Hindoos generally take place when the parties are quite young,* that it is wholly the act of the parents, and when a bramhun dies, whatever may be the age of his wife, she can never again enter the married state. The female referred to was one of this unhappy class whose husband, dying before they had lived together, left her to a life of solitary widowhood. As Babjee's mind be came more impressed with the truth of Christiantity his connexion with this person was broken off, and for some time previous to his being baptized, he appeared uniformly to have just views of the impropriety of such conduct. His affection for her, however, still continued. He viewed with much anxiety the state of destitution and exposedness to temptation in which she was left, and was tenderly affected with the remembrance of the promises of mutual fidelity, which were made at first between them, and to which it is believed both had adhered. These feelings he communicated to some of his Christian friends, and expressed a wish that, if it would not be inconsistent with the precepts of Christianity, they might be regularly married. She was also found on inquiry to be desirous of doing the same. She had acquired considerable knowledge of Christianity, and was prepared to renounce idolatry with all its ceremonies. She was ready also to promise attendance on such means of religious instruction as might be within her reach, and to conform to the precepts of the gospel as far as she understood them. These circumstances, considered in connexion with their former acquaintance, (which had been illicit only because the rules of caste which they now renounced would not allow of their being married according to the Hindoo custom,) were thought to furnish sufficient reason to comply with their wishes, and they were married according to the Christian form in the chapel where he had been baptized. A large number of natives assembled to witness so novel a scene. All present appeared to look on with much interest, and some expressed their surprise at the simplicity, appropriateness, and solemnity of the marriage ceremony, and also at the duties of the married state as then illustrated and enforced. All so different from the tedi. ous, unmeaning rites, and noisy revelry which usually accompany native weddings.

At the time Babjee was baptized, the same ordinance was administered to a woman of low caste, named Gopee. She is nearly blind, and is one of the inmates of

* The shastrus say that the daughters of bramhuns must be married before they are ten years old. They are commonly married before that age.

the asylum for the native poor. Previously to the establishment of that Institution, she had subsisted for several years, chiefly by begging, and had acquired considerable knowledge of the doctrines and duties of the gospel at those places where religious instruction had been imparted to those who assembled to receive rice. Several other persons profess to be inquirers for the truth; but we have so often hoped for better things from those making such professions than we eventually found, that we find it necessary to proceed with much caution while we would earnestly supplicate wisdom from above to guide us.

Since the year began we have been called to mourn the death of three of our associates in labour. Mrs. Allen died on the 5th of February; Mrs. Hervey on the 3d of May, and Mr. Garrett on the 16th of July. By these dispensations of Providence, we feel ourselves admonished to be diligent and faithful in the cause of our Redeemer. But though we much feel the loss which we have sustained in their death, yet we have not mourned as without hope. They had been for many years the professed followers of Christ. Their hope in his mercy supported them in the hour of trial, and cheered their hearts in the view of death; and we rejoice in the assurance that they have gone to be forever with the Lord, and to behold his glory.

In March the mission was strengthened by the arrival of the Rev. Messrs. Hervey, Ramsey, and Read, with their wives, from America. In October, Mr. and Mrs. Graves returned from the Neilgherry Hills to Bombay. Mr. G.'s health has been much improved by his residence in that place. In the same month, Mrs. Garrett and her two children embarked for America. Her health had been feeble for some years, and her children also were evidently suffering under the debilitating influence of the climate,

The mission having been strengthened by the above mentioned missionaries from America, and also by the return of Mr. and Mrs. Graves to Bombay, it was thought expedient to form a new station; and after looking at several places, and making inquiries of friends who are extensively acquainted on this side of India, we fixed on Ahmednuggur as the most eligible situation. Accordingly Messrs. Graves, Hervey, and Read, left Bombay in December, and proceeded to Ahmednuggur, which it is expected will be permanently occupied as a mission station.t In review of the year now closing, while

*Mrs. H. died two months after her arrival.

Ahmednuggur is about 180 miles east of Bombay.

we see abundant cause for mourning and humiliation, that so few have believed our report, and that the gospel has in so few instances become the power of God unto salvation, we would yet be grateful that God has not left us without some evidence of his gracious presence and of his designs of mercy to the heathen around us. The dispensations of Providence in removing three of our number from their labours, though afflictive, yet we know are in no respect contrary to the promises contained in his word. God has forgotten none of the glorious things he has spoken concerning Zion. He is not unmindful of the promises he has made concerning the future glory of his church, nor is he slack, as unbelief would often suggest, in fulfilling these promises. But in respect to the ways and means of accomplishing his purposes, he often shows us that his thoughts are not like our thoughts. Though efforts in this cause may often to human appearance prove useless, and those to whom the gospel is preached may often hear only to oppose, despise, and perish, yet these things should not discourage us. The duty of Christians to extend the knowledge of the gospel is clear, and its ultimate triumph over every opposing obstacle is cer

tain.

And while we would express our gratitude to our patrons and friends for the aid they have afforded us by their prayers and contributions, and for the sympathy they have shown us in our afflictions, we trust they will continue to remember us in our labours, and to beseech the Lord to grant the gracious influence of his Holy Spirit to make the means of religious instruction now in use, effectual in bringing the idolatrous people of India to the knowledge and worship of the living God, and to the enjoyment of the privileges of his children.

WESTERN FOREIGN MISSIONARY SO

CIETY.

In our last number we noticed the origin and design of this Society, and stated" that they were nearly prepared to send forth their first missionaries, and that their Corresponding Secretary and General Agent might shortly be expected in this city (Philadelphia), to solicit contributions in aid of the funds necessary to the support of the very important and interesting undertaking in which he and his brethren had embarked." We are now able to state that our expectations have been realized.