should be appointed to define, in conjunction with the Metropolitan and Malpan, the existing Rites, Ceremonies, and Worship of the Syrian Church; in order to every part being canvassed by them and the Missionaries, and brought to the test of the rule of the Scripturesa rule, to the authority of which the Syrians, amidst all the Declensions and corruptions of their Church, are found ever ready to submit. This fact, which becomes more and more apparent from an increased acquaintance with them, has been justly observed to constitute one of the most interesting features of their character.

The civil connexion established between the Syrian People at large and the Missionaries, by the Missionaries being made their channels of access and appeal to the British Resident, and through him to the Rannee's Government, has been continued and improved.

It is gratifying to observe, that, so long ago as May last, more than 200 of the Syrians were employed in various Offices under the Government, to which their character for integrity seems to have recommended them, in preference to other classes of the Rannee's subjects.

The College at Cotym must, in every view, be considered as an Institution of the first importance. It is a point, at which are silently and gradually collecting the means, which, by the Divine Blessing, may ultimately accomplish the political, moral, and religious renovation of a whole people. The permanency of this Institution is secured, not only by the decided favour of the reigning Princess, but by several endowments in land and money. In the course of the last year, Her Highness presented it with 20,000 Rupees, which have been laid out in land; besides a previous gift of 1000 Rupees for erecting a Chapel, and furnishing the buildings of the College. She has, very lately, annexed to it a tract of land in the neighbourhood of Quilon, at least seven miles in circumference, with several subsidiary grants in order to render it productive; and, lastly, has appointed a monthly allowance of seventy Rupees from the State, for the support of a Hospital, to be attached to the College.

The Rajah of Cochin, also, emulous

of Her Highness's bounty, presented 5,000 Rupees for the benefit of the Protestant Missions; the whole of which was appropriated by the Resident, to the support of the Southern Mission under the Rev. Mr. Mead, of the London Missionary Society.

In recording these acts of Her Highness's munificence, the Committee cannot refrain from remarking, in the words used by Col. Munro in communicating the former of them, that “such a noble present for the maintenance of a Christian Seminary reflects the highest honour on the Rannee's mind and heart; and corresponds with the general spirit of her conduct, which is marked by clemency and kindness to her people, by a cordial and sincere attachment to the English Alliance, and by a degree of talent and freedom from prejudice which could not be expected from one so young and so uneducated."

In connexion with this record of Her Highness's liberality, it should be stated, that the College at Cotym is not regarded by her Government as a Seminary simply for Priests, but as an Institution for general education, from whence any demands of the State for Officers to fill all departments of its public service are to be met. This expectation will necessarily introduce several branches of instruction, which may be considered foreign from a Missionary's office and objects: but the Committee are, at present, disposed to think, that these branches of instruction, not essential to the direct objects of the Missionary as means to an end, are yet, .n this case, so important and so inseparably connected with the great purpose of the Mission, that any attempt to dissolve this connexion would be attended with great risk to the benefit expected from the Institution.

Till the arrival of Mr. Fenn, toward the end of the last year, Mr. Bailey was the only Missionary, resident at Cotyin: and, considering the recency of the Institution, and that the greater part of Mr. Bailey's time has been engaged in superintending and revising the Malayalim translation of the Scriptures, no surprise should be felt, that little progress has yet been made, in giving to the College that systematic form and efficient management, which is gene

rally annexed to the idea of a College regularly endowed. Indeed, this Institution is as yet to be regarded as altogether in its infancy; and the Committee would not think it advisable, even were they enabled, to state many particulars respecting it, at present. Mr. Fenn will be now permanently stationed there, with Mr. Bailey; and it is also expected, that the Metropolitan of the Syrian Church will make it his principal residence. Measures are in progress to collect a suitable Library there, for which several works have been received from England. His Lordship the Bishop of Calcutta, and the Archdeacon of Bombay, have each presented to it a splendid copy of Dr. White's Syriac New Testament; and the Resident in Travancore has presented cleven copies of the Syriac Gospels.

The Committee have the happiness to state, that, with the exception of one or two Chapters in the Second Book of Chronicles, which are wanting in all the Syriac Manuscripts, the translation of the Scriptures into the Malayalim Language is finished; but as it is in its first rough state very defective, and will require a very careful collation and revision, much time will probably elapse before the whole is ready for the press. The Gospels, however, of St. Matthew, St. Mark, and St. Luke, with part of that of St. John, and the first Epistle to Timothy, are ready for publication.

Mr. Bailey has also translated into Malayalim the Morning and Evening Services of the Church of England, with the Litany and Catechism, part of the Communion Service, and several of the Collects, Epistles, and Gospels. Every evening he has Family Worship in his house, and, every Lord's Day, Public Service in the College Chapel, in that language. The Syrians are much pleased with our Form of Worship; and the Malpan has pronounced that it much resembles their own. Mr Nortoù also has translated the Liturgy into the Malayalim. 1

In the course of the last year, the Committee despatched to Travancore a large number of Syriac New Testaments, received from the British and

Under such circum

Foreign Bible Society. A copy has been distributed to each of the Syrian Churches; and to Churches where there were several Catanars, two copies were given. Copies have been also retained at Cotym, for the use of the College. A supply of Arabic, Persian, and Hindoostanee Testaments, received from the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society, has also been forwarded to Allepie; where Mr. Norton has deposited a few of each in the house of a Parsee, which forms a commercial resort, both to the inhabitants of Allepie, and to traders from the Persian Gulph and the Red Sea; to whom one or other of those languages is vernacular. The books are kept upon a table, and are accessible to all comers. A copy of the Arabic Testament has been requested, for a present to an Imaum at Muscat.

The School under Mr. Norton at Allepie, on the ninth of the present month contained forty-four Scholars; exclusive of the Orphan Children, yet to be mentioned, amounting in number to twenty-six. The plan of teaching, is that observed in the Tranquebar Schools. It appears that the Scholars attend and learn willingly, and that some of them make a tolerable proficiency.

Great opposition has been exerted toward this School, by the Roman Catholic Priests. They have denounced exclusion from the Sacraments, against the Parents who send their Children thither, and the Children who learn the Scriptures at it; and an Ecclesiastical Order was issued by the Vicarial Authority at Verapoli, expressly to prohibit attendance at the School and learning the Scriptures. The people also, of all persuasions, at Allepie, for some time, entertained an indefinite apprehension of some sinister design connected with it. Roman Catholic Children, however, do attend and increase, in spite of their Priests; and the people seem to have watched Mr. Norton's proceedings long enough to be satisfied, that nothing but the benefit of their Children is intended. School has, therefore, risen in their favour, and is likely to be enlarged; and Mr. Norton has lately found occa

The

sion to apply to the Committee for the establishment of a new one, in a different part of the Town.

Besides this School, Mr. Norton has established an Asylum for Orphans and Destitute Children, supported entirely by local contributions; which contained, on the ninth of the present month, twenty-six children. This project, like the School, suffered for a while from the apprehension that some evil use was to be made of the Children: but observation favoured it, in the same manner; and the applications for admission at length exceeded the amount of the Contributions. Upon this Mr. Norton applied to the Committee, to know whether he might proceed in receiving Children, in dependence on the Society's funds. This the Committee did not feel themselves warranted to sanction, as they consider the portion of the Funds in their hands, to be applicable only to the one express purpose of a Missionary Society. They remembered, also, that, notwithstanding the still stronger claims of Africa on British Liberality, in this very respect, the Parent Society do not appropriate any part of its Missionary Fund to a similar Institution there, but have established a Separate Fund for its support. The Committee have, however, expressed to Mr. Norton their cordial approbation of the Institution; and encouraged him to proceed with it, as far as local resources will admit.

The Church at Allepie is not yet finished; but a respectable congregation now usually assembles at Mr. Norton's house, on the inornings and evenings of the Lord's Day, consisting of the School Children, of Syrians, Roman Catholicɛ, and Heathens. Till the month of August last, the Service was performed in English; in which language the School Children had been taught to join pretty well in the responses. On the second of that month, for the first time, Mr. Norton read one of the Lessons in Malayalim; and, on the thirtieth of the same month, read Prayers also in that lauguage. Since

this period his Congregation has increased considerably; and, on one occasion, amounted to near 200 persons. Both the School Children and Syrians join in the responses; and the Service is now regularly closed with a Sermon in Malayalim.

For a short period in the course of the year, Mr. Norton was appointed a Judge in the Civil Court of Allepie; but, notwithstanding the benefits which certainly resulted in many respects from it, the objections to such an employment of any Missionary, especially of a Missionary in the circumstances of those in Travancore, were found, on the maturest deliberation, so far to outweigh them, that the Committee were constrained to remonstrate against it, and the arrangement was decisively annulled, and will not be resumed.

A calamity of a serious kind befel Mr. Norton, in the last year-the destruction of his House, School-Room, and Furniture, by fire. The couflagration began at the School-Room, which, with all the books and apparatus in it, was quickly consumed. It commenced at the hottest time of the day, when both Scholars and Teachers would be absent at their meals; and, favoured by the wind, spread rapidly to the house. Mr. Norton was absent on business. From scarcity of water and want of timely assistance, no part of the building, and but little of the furni ture, could be saved. Of the books, belonging both to the Society and to Mr. Norton, nearly all have been saved: and the Committee feel it a subject of devout thankfulness, that no lives were lost; and that the pecuniary loss to the Society has been greatly relieved, by Her Highness the Rannee's munificence, and the liberality of several European Gentlemen resident on the Western Coast. By these Gentlemen a handsome sum was shortly subscribed to assist Mr. Norton in his distress; and the Raunee immediately ordered that the timber for rebuilding the House should be furnished at the public expense. A fresh supply of

books and other requisites to reinstate the School, was despatched from Ma dras, at the earliest possible moment after the intelligence was received, and immediate measures were taken to rebuild and new furnish the Mission House.

The arrival of the Rev. Mr. Fenn in Travancore has already been stated. This Gentleman was introduced to Her Highness the Rannee, as was also Mrs. Fent; and received, both from Her Highness and from Colonel Munro, every possible mark of attention and favour. Shortly after Mr. Fenn's ar rival, he was invited to accompany Colonel Munro on a tour through some parts of the Country inhabited by the Syrian Christiaus. The impression made on his mind, by what he saw and heard during this tour, will be best understood from his Report to the Committee a Report which will be read, they are persuaded, by all their friends with the liveliest interest; and in the concluding prayer of which very many, they trust, will join them fer vently before the Throne of Grace.

CHAPLAINS' STATIONS.

The Corresponding Committee are without recent particular information from some of their friends, of the pro gress of their measures for furthering the objects of the Society at their respective Stations; and they are con cerned to state, that necessary Clerical Arrangements are, at the present period, occasioning removals to new places of some of the Chaplains who had united in their labours. The arrangements alluded to are, however, not yet fully carried into execution; and there is hope, that they may not all be found necessary. The Committee pledge themselves to spare no pains to remedy, to the best of their power, the inconveniencies that may be incurred, at the Stations from which their Clerical Friends may be removed.

The haplains' Stations from which the Committee are enabled to commu. nicate recent intelligence, are Chittoor, Palamcottah, and Tellicherry.

Chittoor.

With reference to the preceding observations on the Clerical changes which have taken place or are apprehended, the Committee are concerned to state, that the Rev. Mr. Harper has been already transferred from this Station to that of Hydrabad, vacated by the return of its Chaplain to Europe on account of ill health. This measure has occurred, just at the period when Mr. Harper began to realise, in some degree, the anticipations which he had indulged of giving a permanency to his plans for the settlement of the Native Christians at Chittoor, by the erection of a Church for their use, and the appointment of Native Instructors, in addition to the School already established for the common benefit both of the Christians and Heathens of the place.

The Committee had furnished Mr. Harper, in the course of the year, with a Native Catechist and a Schoolmaster, obtained at Tanjore; and of their proceedings, and the general progress and present state of his measures for the promotion of Christianity at his late Station, he made the following report in the month of October last :

"The School - Building is nearly finished. It was ready six weeks ago for the reception of Scholars; and the Schoolmaster and Catechist have been living in the rooms destined for them nearly a month.

"The number of Children at present under teaching, is as follows

European Christians...... 3
Country-born Christians.. 10
Native Christians........ 6
Heathen of Caste...

Total 25

"Our number of Scholars is small; but the School is yet scarcely known, and we inust not be discouraged. No Heathen Books are allowed to be read in the School-a circumstance which, for a short time, will prevent the increase of Scholars.

"The hours of instruction are from seven till twelve, and from two till six; but none of the Teachers or Children find it necessary to attend during all this time. An hour every morning is given to psalmody; at which the Heathen Children are not required to attend and two hours each day to Tamul and two hours to Teloogoo; when the Teloogoo and Tamul Scholars, respectively, are allowed to be absent. English is taught to all the Children, in conjunction with one other language.

I am preparing books for the Schools; but I shall be extremely obliged, if the Committee will direct their Madras Schoolmasters to send me a copy of each book used by them in the Mission Schools."

Of the state of the Christian Congregation, he writes

"Our Congregation continually increases in number. I have repeated applications to receive Heathens and Roman Catholics into the Church. When Mr. Rhenius comes, he must expect to be detained here several days, in examining and admitting Catechumens to baptism. I do not feel myself prepared to administer this right to adult Heathens.

"We have, moreover, much work for him here, among Heathen Enquirers; and I am desirous of his assistance in drawing up a few decisive rules, for the better discipline of the Native Church."

In the following passage Mr. Harper submits a suggestion, which accords with the Committee's own views, and will be followed up as far as circumstances will permit :

"It is highly necessary, in my opinion, that the Society's Missionaries should make, at least half-yearly circuits, to visit the Churches under the patronage of the Society. The beneficial effects of Mr. Rhenius's last visit were long visible among us.'

Mr. Harper next opens an extended opportunity of establishing Schools, which will not be lost sight of :

"I have lately received an invitation to establish a School at Pungauoor.*

The Rajah himself wrote about it; and proposed his late uncle's Brahminy Schoolmaster as the Teacher. This Brahmin professed to me his willingness to use any books which I might supply him with. He desires four rupees per month as his pay; but I would rather engage him at so much for every Scholar admitted into his School. He will else take his rupees, and do nothing of any consequence. I shall visit Punganoor, as soon as Mrs. Harper's health will allow of my absence, for the purpose of baptizing the child of the young Rajah's Tutor."

The Committee have much gratification in selecting the ensuing piece of intelligence from Mr. Harper's Letter; and they lost no time, after its receipt, in assuring him of their readiness to supply the requisite sum for completing the intended Church in such a manner, as, on full consideration, he should judge most expedient, in the present state of the Christian Congregation, and the prospects of its in

crease:

"The Native Christians and others have been long auxious to have a Mission Church built here. I directed them to see what they could raise among themselves, to defray the expense after which I gave them my name, and encouraged them to petition the European Society here. Their petition was signed by, or in favour of, 46 Adults and 32 Children. The society of this place seem to favour their wishes; and have already contributed between 200 and 300 rupees.

"The Native Christians and others had previously raised among themselves 125 rupees.

I think it would be desirable that the Committee should contribute something. I wish the right of appointing the Officiating Minister of this Church, and indeed the whole of its property, to be vested in the Church Missionary Society. The extent of the building will depend entirely upon the amount of the subscriptions. We shall probably obtain fifty pagodas more, independently of the aid which we hope to receive from your Committee."