China, through the medium of those devoted servants of Christ who are accompanying the expedition. The Singapore Tract Society has our best wishes and most ardent prayers for its success.

8. THE ORIENTAL SEMINARY-ANNUAL EXAMINATION.

The Annual Examination of the Oriental Seminary, under the Superintendence of the Bábu Addy, was held at the Town Hall during the last month. The Chief Justice presided. Several of the friends to native education attended. The number of scholars at present in attendance is about 500. The progress of the pupils has been very creditable during the year. The examination passed off tolerably well; two essays were read, the one on Marriage and the other on Female Education; they have already appeared in the Advocate; they reflect credit on their authors, both for the feeling which dictated them and the manner of their execution. This school, it will be remembered is entirely under Hindu Superintendence, and is a paying school. The worthy projector and proprietor deserves much praise for his continued perseverance in the good work of education.

9.-ANNUAL EXAMINATION OF THE INFANT SCHOOL.

The Annual Examination of this interesting School was conducted by the Venerable the Archdeacon and others at the Town Hall during the past month, the attendance of visitors was very thin: the little people acquitted themselves with much credit. Since the departure of Mr. Perkins the School has been under the superintendence of a Native youth, a pupil of Mr. P.'s. The Society appears to be in a languishing condition, and it will, we fear, continue so until it be based on Catholic principles; this would infuse new life into it and cause it to send forth its branches into every part of the land.

10. THE PARENTAL ACADEMIC INSTITUTION.

The Anniversary of the above institution was held at the School house on the 2nd of March. We extract the following account of the meeting from the Advocate.

"The Anniversary of the Parental Academic Institution was held on the evening of Monday the 2nd instant. The Rev. T. Sandys in the chair. The report read by W. Byrne, Esq., the Honorary Secretary, represented the institution as in a tolerably prosperous condition. The meeting was addressed by the Rev. A. Garstin, the Rev. T. Boaz, Messrs. Speed, Crow, Kirkpatrick, D. Clarke, Kellner and Rose. It appears that the institution has been the subject of attack during the past year. The several charges were adverted to by the speakers, and evidently answered to the satisfaction of the meeting. The only charge which appeared at all proved, was an excess of kindness on the part of the managers, which certainly in the general estimation of mankind is not a very great crime; we would advise the Committee in future to be somewhat severer in their mercies, especially in the collection of bills and the clearing up of the arrears due to the Institution. The Committee have by the removal of the establishment from Park Street to Free School Street, economized the funds upwards of 200 Co.'s Rs. per mensem: the number of pupils at present on the books is 177. The health of the boys has been remarkably good during the year, and, according to the testimony of all parties, their progress very creditable to all concerned."

11.-THE ORATORIO.

This method of profaning God's Holy Word and name is again being resorted to. During the season of Lent, under the sanction of the highest

names, the sufferings of our blessed Lord, as pourtrayed by the pen of inspiration, and the hopes and sorrows of his Church, as depicted by the same pen, are to be made the subject of amusement and profit; plaudits and disapprobations will attend the vocal and instrumental execution of these sacred subjects. The friends of Christ have, we perceive, republished in a tract form, several papers appropriate to the occasion; and we do trust that the manner in which the subject is treated, will in due time win its way into, and effect its influence over the hearts of the majority of our fellowcitizens, so that they will cease to patronize in any form this fashionable, fascinating, and professedly benevolent method of profaning God's word

and name.

12. THE MONTHLY MISSIONARY PRAYER MEETING

was held at the Circular Road Chapel on the evening of Monday the 2nd instant. The address, delivered by the Rev. F. Tucker, was founded on Luke xiv. 23. The attendance was very good, and the address well adapted to stir up Christian people to active exertion for the conversion of sinners.

13. SERMONS IN BENGALI.

The Rev. K. M. Bánarjí, Minister of Christ's Church, Cornwallis Square, has determined (D. V.) to publish a volume of Sermons in Bengali. The subjects to be treated of are, the Evidences, Doctrines and Duties of the Christian faith. The ten Commandments will also be expounded and illustrated. The volume is to have especial application to the more enlightened Christian and other Hindu youth. We heartily wish every success to the undertaking. The price is three rupees.

14. THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S INSTITUTION AT BOMBAY

was held there during the last month. The Rev. Dr. Duff presided on the occasion. The excitement consequent on the Parsi conversion case has begun to subside and the attendance again to improve. The progress of the pupils is such as we might expect under the able and judicious government of Dr. Wilson. Dr. Duff, with his usual eloquence and zeal, addressed the visitors and pupils on the importance of a liberal education and regeneration of heart.

15.-TRANSLATION OF MARSHMAN'S HISTORY OF BENGAL INTO THE BENGALI LANGUAGE.

The Bábu Govindchandar Sen, nephew to Ramcomal Sen, has with a praiseworthy zeal translated, with the permission of the author, Mr. Marshman's History of Bengal into Bengáli. The style and manner of the translation is, we understand, highly creditable to our young friend. He deserves encouragement in his praiseworthy undertaking; we hope he will have many imitators in this good work of translating useful English works into the vernacular tongue.

16.-GHA'T MURDERS.

The Editor of the Bhaskar, with a zeal very commendable, has taken up the subject of Ghát murders, and calls upon all Christian people to aid him in his efforts to suppress a practice at once so disgraceful to religion and revolting to humanity. The abominations and cruelties connected with the exposure of the sick on the banks of the Ganges have been so often discussed and reprobated, that any detail of them from us would be superfluous; suffice it to say that at our very doors, and in this whole district,

there are daily practices carried on under the holy sanction of religion, which deserve no better or milder designation than wilful and deliberate murder, and if ever the humane interference of Government could be warranted in an immediate and total suppression of a custom so destructive to the best social feelings of our nature, (let them be implanted in what bosom they may, whether Hindu or others,) this is that case. The Satí was bad enough, Infanticide sufficiently revolting, but we doubt whether either the one or the other were so fraught with evils as this terrible practice, of what has been properly designated Ghát murders. We notice the subject, to show the friends of humanity that while much is done, much yet remains to be accomplished, ere India's sons stand erect amongst the nations of the earth.

17.- THE CHARAK PUJA.

This most horrid Puja is again on the eve of occurring, without the slightest effort on the part of either the Christian or Native population to suppress it. Surely this will not be allowed to continue; year after year must not roll away without the slightest attempt being made to reason with the wealthy Bábus, who supply the sinews of this most revolting practice. Is there not one amongst the many professedly enlightened natives who will move in this matter? Unauthorized even by the shastras and revolting to reason and all right feelings, surely it cannot be allowed to continue another year in all its horrid deformity. Let that success which has attended past efforts on the part of Christian philanthropists, urge them at least to attempt the melioration, if not the suppression, of the barbarous deeds of the Charak.

18. THE MOHARRAM AND THE HULI'.

These two popular festivals of the Musalmán and Hindu community have passed over this year with a smaller number of those disgraceful riots which but too often attend their celebration. The practices attendant on both these festivals are such as to lead us to blush for human nature, sunk as it is in the deepest shame. We know not whether most to pity the fierce and savage Musalman or the libidinous and fallen Hindu; whether to pity most the poor deluded beings who raise their wailings for Hossein and Hassein, or those who chaunt the praises of the abominable Krishna; for the sins of both we do sorrow, the scenes attendant on these and other similar festivals call forth our strongest sympathies and most ardent prayers to God, that he would

"His own all-saving arm employ"

and turn these wandering children of men to his own true and peaceful fold. In such a condition, Christians,

"The heathen perish day by day,"

come quickly to their rescue, come, lift up your prayers, exert your faith, put forth your energies, and do thou, O Lord, save them from going down to the pit.

19. ORPHAN ASYLUM, FUTTEHGURA.

In consequence of the ill health and subsequent death of Mrs. Madden, wife of Charles Madden, Esq., at Futtehpoor, the Orphan Insti tution under the care of those excellent persons, was broken up in October, 1838. A part of these orphans found a comfortable home with the Church Missionaries of Banaras, whilst the remainder (48 in number) were made over to the Rev. Mr. Wilson, of the American Mission. These were brought on to Futtehgurh, under the care of Babu Gopí

náth Nandi, a Christian native, who had been for years in the employment of Dr. Madden as teacher. Here, 18 others were added, who had been kindly rescued from starvation by the liberality of the Europeans of this Station, and placed under the watchful care of Captain Wheler. The Futtehgurh Asylum was then opened with 66 pupils, 22 of whom were girls.

It was not intended, that this number should be augmented; but several interesting applications being made from various quarters, and a number of parentless children being found in the Poor House at this place, our feelings would not suffer us to reject them. Our number was soon increased to 95. The establishment of such an Institution not having been anticipated, no provision of a permanent kind had been made for its support. We were therefore obliged to cast ourselves, with this helpless group, upon the Christian kindness of those around us, to whom we were entire strangers. Nor did we look to them in vain. Their liberality promptly furnished us with all that was necessary, for the comfortable maintenance and instruction of these poor children.

It is but due from us to say, that the cheerfulness with which these "free-will offerings" were made (in most instances, unsolicited), merits, and has our most sincere and grateful praise. May the blessing of Him who is "the Father of the fatherless and the orphan's friend," be their reward.

In the early part of May 1839, at the earnest and repeated solicitation of a large number of the European residents in Rohilcund, we consented to form the "Rohilcund Branch Asylum for orphan girls"-the children and means for their support to be furnished by them. Twenty girls were first sent to us in May, and subsequently 13 others; making in all 33, and swelling our whole number to 128; of these, however, a number have been removed by death, so that our average number has not exceeded 110.

Our object has been to combine manual labour with study; to teach the children industrious habits, as well as the use of books; so that in future they may be able to provide comfortably and honestly for themselves. With this object in view, we have established the Carpet manufacture, similar to that at Mirzapur. This furnishes employment for the girls (spinning) as well as the boys, and being a profitable one, promises them the sure means of support in after life. The materials for this fabric are brought from the bazar in the rough state. The cotton and wool are cleaned by the younger boys, spun by the girls, and then wove into carpets and rugs by the older boys. The dye stuffs are prepared and the colouring also done by the boys, as a branch of their trade. As this employment-with which all are pleased-is productive and admits of a division of labour, so as to suit the different ages and capacities of the children, we have given up several other branches of trade, and bent our entire force to this one object.

It is our wish, as these children grow up, to settle them in a Christian colony, around us. For this purpose, we have applied to Government for a piece of unappropriated land, without cantonments. Should this be obtained, we purpose to erect buildings for ourselves, together with school-rooms, work-shops, dormitories, &c., for the children. As the boys grow and become masters of their trade, they may (with their own consent) be married to some of the older girls; and, furnished with a little cottage on our premises, they may still have employment in the factory, the women spinning and their husbands weaving. By this means they will be rendered independent of the heathen around them, saved from their contaminating influence, and still kept within reach of the

means of grace. Their combined influence, too, will be more likely to have a salutary effect upon the heathen, than if they were turned loose amongst the herd, one by one, in which case they would most likely revert to heathenism.

These children have all been baptized, and our chief desire concerning all is, under the guidance of the blessed Spirit, to make them "wise unto salvation."

The order of the Institution and the regulations of the schools are as follows:

There are two departments, male and female, which are kept entirely distinct.

At gun-fire, in the morning, the children all rise, repeat the Lord's prayer, and then go to work. Some of the boys draw and carry water, others cook, others sweep and clean up their apartments, a few weave tape, whilst the greater part go to the carpet shop.

The girls are divided into two sets. Whilst the one grind wheat into ata, for their bread and that of the boys, the other sit to spin wool and cotton, and in the evening vice versa. At 8 o'clock A. M., the bell gives the signal for bathing, when all work is suspended. At 8 breakfast. At 9, all assemble in the chapel-room for prayers, when a portion of Scripture is read and explained, from which questions are asked, followed with prayers-all in the native language. Immediately after worship, the boys and girls repair to their respective school-rooms, except the older boys, who spend two hours more in the work-shops, before going to school. At noon, both schools are dismissed for one hour, which is the only recreation allowed during the day. At 1 P. M., they are resumed. At 4 the bell rings for dinner, after which work is resumed and continued until dark. A class of the older boys, who are in the workshop the greater part of the day, read by candle-light.

Hitherto, their studies have been principally confined to the native language, using the native and not the Roman character. Our plan is, to make them thoroughly acquainted with their own language, before attempting to introduce the English; and then with a view to make them understand the English, so as to speak it readily.

The 1st class of boys and the 1st class of girls have lately commenced English, and are now reading easy sentences, and translating into Hindi as they advance. They are also writing English and studying Arithmetic.

The second class, both of the boys and girls, are reading the New Testament in Hindee, and writing on slates. They have committed to memory the Lord's prayer, the ten commandments, and other portions of Scripture.

The third classes are spelling and reading easy sentences in Hindi, multiplication table, &c.

The boys' school is taught by Mr. Wilson, with the assistance of a pandit. The girls' school is under the joint care of Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Scott, assisted by an educated Christian female, the wife of Bábu Gopinath Nandi, she is an exemplary Christian, and speaks, reads and writes the English language. Two hours in each day, are spent by the girls in fine and coarse needle-work, knitting, &c., under the inspection of Mrs. Scott and Mrs. Wilson. Their proficiency in this branch is very encouraging. The girls make and mend their own clothes, as well as some of the clothes for the boys. One of the boys is a darzí, and spends his hours out of school, in making clothes for the boys.

On Sunday, there is service in Hindustání for the children; after which, the Ladies have a Bible class, for the purpose of giving Biblical instruction to the girls.