performing a duty very irksome, but indispensable, and which he was determined should be done in a becoming manner. Before coming to the palace, the parties had been asked, if it would be agreeable to them to receive a title from the king; which having been answered in the affirmative, the officers proceeded to read the titles conferred, and to invest the members of the deputation with them, by binding on the forehead of each a piece of gilt leaf on which the words composing it were written. They were also each presented with a ruby ring, a piece of silk cloth, two boxes, and two cups. It was then asked if they had any request to prefer; to which Captain Lumsden replied, that as peace had been happily restored between the two great nations, it was to be hoped that it might remain firm.

CEYLON.

An ordinance, it is stated, has been issued by the Governor, in which the capital punishment for women, which had hitherto been drowning, is directed for the future to be hanging. The innovation, it is added, the great importance of which does not seem very obvious, had caused such murmurs that it was doubtful whether it could be generally carried into effect.

CHINA.

Literature is cultivated in China at the present day, almost entirely for political objects, as furnishing a title to and a qualification for government offices. Confucius and the other ancient philosophers differed essentially from the moderns in this respect their pursuits in moral science were unconnected with political views. About 700 A.D., the practice of selecting persons to fill the posts of government, according to their proficiency in literature, first began; and a plan of examination was then adopted, which, with occasional alterations, has subsisted to the present period. The official members of the imperial family are examined in the public hall after the examination of all the literary candidates has ended. Dr. Morrison observes, that the examination of these imperial personages is a mockery; their themes being composed by other people, whilst they sit near drinking and carousing. The other candidates are watched by proper officers, to prevent surreptitious essays being smuggled in at court this

duty devolves on the king and chief statesmen. At Shun-teen-foo examinations there are readers and comparers of theme papers, 100 persons; transcribers, 1000; type-cutters, 32; press-men, 24; who print the theses to be distributed amongst the students: for every work must be performed inside the court-yard after the gates are locked. In Kwangtung, there are about 10,000 people, consisting of students and attendants, officers and mechanics, collected inside the inclosure. The military examinations commence immediately after the literary close. The subjects given at the three days' examinations are, on the first day, three themes from the "four books" and one copy of verses; on the second day, one theme from each of the Chinese classics; on the third, five questions, referring to the history or political economy of China. A variety of minute rules are given respecting the mechanical parts of the essays. If the number of characters added or blotted out in an essay exceeds a hundred, the student is pasted out; that is, his name is pasted up at the gate, as having violated the rules; and he is expelled for that year. If a candidate on being searched shall be found to have secreted a precomposed essay, he is condemned to wear a wooden collar, to be degraded from his rank, and incapacitated from ever standing a candidate again: his father and tutor are also to be punished. If the discovery is made after a student has attained his degree, he is not only punished as before, but the officers who failed to discover the artifice are implicated in his guilt. If a candidate prints a rejected essay, with a view of appealing to the world for its judgment, both the student and the person who criticised his essay are to be delivered to a court of inquiry. The seats of the students at the examinations are scrupulously regulated, to defeat any contrivance of individuals to render mutual aid.

NEW SOUTH WALES. The Governor has published a scale of gratuities, to be paid to convicts employed in the public departments, as an incitement to industry and good behaviour. It is expected that this plan will greatly benefit both the individuals and the public. The product of hopeless compulsatory labour has been found among convicts, as every where else, to be of little value to any party.

THEOLOGY.

On the general Structure of the Apocalypse, being a brief Introduction to its Interpretation. By J. H. Frere.

Christian in Opposition to Party Communion. By the Rev. Robert Hall. 8vo. 2s. The Christian contemplated, in a Series of Lectures. By the Rev. W. Jay. Remarks on Oaths, shewing the Duty of legislative Interference, to abolish some, and reform others.

Remarks on the "Declaration of the Catholic Bishops, &c. in Great Britain." By the Rev. P. Allwood.

A Sermon preached at the Visitation of the Archdeacon of Surrey. By the Rev. W. Burrows.

A Guide to an Acquaintance with God. By the Rev. J. Sherman.

Critica Biblica; comprising Remarks, Illustrative, Critical, and Philological, on the Sacred Scriptures. 4 vols. 8vo. Edited by W. Carpenter.

Pastoral Watchfulness and Zeal, particularly in Personal Instructions and Admonitions, recommended in Two Sermons. By the Rev. H. Berens. 8vo. 1s. Cd.

The Day of Judgment, and other Poems. By T. Randall.

Thoughts on Domestic Education, the Result of Experience. By "A Mother," author of "Always Happy, &c."

Mathematics applied to the fine and useful Arts. By Baron Dupin. Adapted to the state of Arts in England, by Dr. Birkbeck. Part I. Is.

Catherine and Jane; or Walks to and from a Sunday School. By Eleanor Wilson. Remarks on the recent Accusations against the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society; in a Letter to a Clergyman in the Country, from a Lay Member of that Institution.

The History of the Reign of Henry the Eighth; being the First Part of the Modern History of England. By Sharon Turner. 4to. 2. 2s.

History of Scotland, from the Roman Invasion, till the Suppression of the Rebellion in 1745. By the Rev. A. Stewart,

CHURCH-OF-ENGLAND TRACT

SOCIETY.

THE Fourteenth Report of this Society states, that the contributions for the year amounted to 2221., and the sales of tracts to 3591., forming a total of 5811. The payments were 6401. To the general series, now containing seventy-three tracts, has been added" An Affectionate Address from a Clergyman to one of his Parishioners, on the Sin and Danger of pursuing his worldly Calling on the Sabbath-day." To the series for Children and Sunday Schools, now consisting of thirteen tracts, have been added "The Life and Death of Lady Jane Grey,"-" The Fruits of Instruction; being an Account of the good Conduct and happy Death of four Girls educated in a Church-of-England Sunday-School," -and "The Young Christian's Reasons for believing the Bible to be the Word of God." The Society has also furnished ten tracts printed on sheets, to be hung up in cottages. The total number of tracts published during the year amounts to 265,000, which exceeds the number published in any preceding year. The total number sold and granted during the year has been 195,124.

The Committee transcribe the suggestion of a correspondent," that the usefulness of the Society would be greatly promoted, were its opulent members to make consignments of tracts to clergymen of small incomes, for gratuitous distribution;" on which they remark, that "many friends of the Society may be blessed by Divine Providence with the means of adopting this plan of promoting the glory of God, the benefit of their fellow-creatures, and the support of their own church; and may be acquainted with some zealous clergymen whose incomes are confined, but who would rejoice, were it put in their power, to add printed or oral instruction among their poor parishioners; and to find employment for the minds and hearts of their flock, during the little leisure which the industrious poor have at their command. It is not to be doubted that many a village pastor would rejoice in becoming the almoner of his more wealthy friends, in communicating spiritual benefit by means of these publications."

RUSSIAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Our readers are apprised of the ob stacles which have of late been interposed

in the way of the proceedings, hitherto so prosperous, of Bible Societies in Russia, The following imperial ukase, dated April 12, and addressed to the Metropolitan of St. Petersburgh, suspends for the present the proceedings of the Bible Societies in that country; but it allows of the sale of Bibles in the vernacular tongues and we would trust that what has been already effected by the circulation of the Scriptures has " lighted a torch in that country which shall never be extinguished." The ukase is as follows:-"Having taken into consideration the representations of your eminence and of the Metropolitan Eugenius, respecting the difficulties which present themselves to the progress of the cause of the Russian Bible Society, and considering your opinions well founded, I order you, as president of the said society, to suspend its activity in all its operations, without exception, until my further permission. You are hereby empowered to extend this my order to all the committees, branches, and associations, connected with the society throughout Russia; and, at the same time, to obtain a particular account of all property, moveable and immoveable, in houses, lands, books, materials, and money, belonging to the society, wherever these are to be found, and to furnish me with the most accurate and circumstantial information possible thereof. The sale of the Holy Scriptures already printed in Slavonian and Russian, as also in the other languages in use among the inhabitants of the Russian Empire, I permit to be continued at the fixed prices. (Signed) NICHOLAS.

BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF THE

BIBLE IN INDIA. The beneficial influence of our Bible, missionary, and school institutions in India, strenuously as they have been denied by some of the opposers of their truly benevolent and Christian operations, are becoming every year increasingly demonstrable. Did our limits admit, we might in almost every successive Number adduce new and encouraging facts in proof of this assertion. The following remarks, from an address recently delivered by Archdeacon Corrie, at a Bible Society meeting at Meerut, will corroborate our remark.-" On my arrival in India, Bibles of the smallest size and commonest sort, were with difficulty procured at eight, ten, and twelve rupees a copy, in Calcutta; while in the upper provinces, they were rarely to be met

with. I could give you abundant testimonies, since the Scriptures have been more generally circulated through the country, of the blessings and consolations thereby secured.

"When I was appointed Chaplain at Chunar, I found a considerable number of natives there, bearing the Christian name, but without any acquaintance with Christianity. To these, I first addressed myself by an interpreter; and, in due time, acquired their language sufficiently to converse with them myself: subsequently the work was prosecuted by others; and now a congregation, frequently of 200 natives, has grown up, of whom eighty are regular communicants, and their general orderly and correct conduct is such as becomes the Christian character. About sixty of these have learned to read since they arrived at adult age and, out of this congregation, to my own personal knowledge, not less than twenty have died in the full exercise of Christian faith and hope."

"I here might instance the case of one native, who died in my own house at Benares. He was born of Christian parents, but grew up in ignorance of the Christian religion. He afterward learned to read the Scriptures in the Hindoostanee tongue. The influence of the Bible soon began to appear in his conduct. After some years, he fell into a decline, under the sufferings of which he lingered for a long time: during that period, his advancement in the Christian life was evident: I never met with a more sincere, or a more deeply-experienced Christian in any class of society. The last words which he uttered were, 'I desire to be with Christ.' This man, in the course of his servitude, had saved 400 rupeeshalf of which he left, by will, to his family; 100 rupees to the Bible Society; and 100 rupees to the Church Missionary Society. On one occasion, a native gentleman, in the course of conversation with me, observed, that, for his own part, he had never yet seen any particular good arise among the natives of this country from their professed conversion to Christianity. I led him to the bed-side of the dying man: the sight of his patience, his meekness, his faith and hope in Christ, perfectly astonished him; and he exclaimed, as he departed, that he had never before witnessed such a wonderful sight: it was the most wonderful that he had ever seen in the whole course of his life!"

"At Agra, I was a witness, in repeated instances, to the Scriptures proving, to

natives, the power of God unto salvation. At Chunar, two men, who visited a missionary there, on obtaining a copy of the Scriptures, took up their abode in the vestry, where they read all day; and, in the evenings, conversed with the missionary on such points as struck them in the prosecution of their study. The event was, they were convinced of the divine authority of Christianity, and received baptism; making five in number, who have there embraced Christianity, since Christmas last.

"People who look merely at the outside of things conclude the conversion of the natives to be next to impossible; but, the chief difficulty lies in inducing them at all to attend to the subject. At every place where ministers of religion shew any readiness to afford information, there have always been found some natives desirous of it and there can be no doubt, that an opinion is gaining ground among them daily, that Christianity will finally prevail.”

"There is one very remarkable circumstance, now of frequent occurrence :-the natives begin to argue with the mission aries out of the Christian Scriptures; a satisfactory proof, that the copies which are distributed are read. We may anticipate what shall follow. Truth must prevail."

"When the Scriptures are stated to be given away to natives, it is not to be undersood that they, in every instance, receive an entire copy. At first, a single Gospel, or a copy of some one book, is given; and, when it appears that this has been read with attention, and further in. formation is desired, other portions of Scripture are supplied."

SUFFERINGS AND DELIVERANCE OF THE MISSIONARIES IN AVA. The perilous situation of the American Missionaries in Ava, during the late war, has excited such general alarm and sympathy on their behalf, that we take the earliest opportunity of laying before our readers an authentic narrative of their sufferings and deliverance, as related in a highly interesting communication from Mrs. Judson, to the late Mr. Butterworth. That truly pious and benevolent man had gone to his heavenly reward, before the letter reached this country. No person felt more anxiously than Mr. Butterworth, respecting the uncertain fate of the Missionaries in Ava; and no one would have rejoiced more warmly, had he been spared, to learn, that, great as had been their afflictions, yet "out of them all the Lord

had delivered them." We trust that the faith and patience, and truly Christian fortitude, displayed by these devoted servants of God, may be viewed as auspicious of bright days of heavenly light about to beam upon the hitherto dark and cruel and degraded land in which they have fixed the scene of their perilous mission. Mrs. Judson's conduct, in particular, appears to have been characterised by an extraordinary spirit of piety, prudence, and heroism. May the earnest wish and prayer, which we have more than once expressed in our pages, be fulfilled, that the late painful events in our intercourse with the Burmese nation, may, by the providence of God, be in the end overruled for its best welfare; that, as it has submitted to our arms, it may also learn from us those blessed truths which flow from, and lead to, Him who is "the Author of peace and lover of concord." We again recommend the consideration of the subject to the attention of our Bible, Missionary, and Educational Societies, and especially to our fellow-countrymen in India. Most happy are we to learn from Mrs. Judson's letter, that the American Missionaries, far from retiring in despondency from a scene where they have suffered so greatly in their truly exalted vocation, are looking forward to new and increased exertions, fully anticipating the blessed period when even Burmah, and the uttermost parts of the earth, shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ.

The following is Mrs. Judson's letter.

"I will not attempt to describe the joyful sensations produced, by finding myself once more in a situation to write to you, after an interval of two years-yes, two years-of suffering and privation, the very recollection of which often chills our feelings and sickens our hearts. Though unbelief has often prompted us to say that our afflictions were greater than we could bear or deserved, yet our better feelings have triumphed in the sovereign government of God, assured that he would do all things well, and, if it were his pleasure, could easily lessen our sufferings. Nor have we been disappointed in our hopes; for, in his own time and way, we have been extricated from all our difficulties, and are now safe and happy under British protection.

"Knowing your interest in the Burman Mission, and assured of personal sympathy and regard, I will endeavour to give you, in my usual way, a general relation of events for the last two years.

"In my last to you, I mentioned that every thing had a warlike appearance. The Burman Government, however, had no idea that the English were in earnest in their communications: consequently they heard the report that Rangoon was taken, with surprise and amazement. No preparation had been made at that port for the reception of strangers; and even the viceroy was absent. An army was immediately raised, and ordered to march under the command of the KhgeeWoongyee, who was to be joined on his way down by Schagah-Woongyee, he having been recently appointed viceroy of Rangoon. The only fear and anxiety which the king and government then manifested or expressed, was lest the English at Prome should hear of their approach; and, precipitately leaving the country, deprive the Burmese grandees of the pleasure of employing in their service, as slaves, a few of the White strangers. Send to me,' said one of the ladies of a Woongyee (minister of state), 'four Kalarpyoos (White strangers) to manage the affairs of my household, as I hear they are trustworthy'' And to me,' said a gay young sprig of the palace, 'six stout men to row my boat.' The army, in their gayest attire, danced and sung down the river; but few, if any, ever danced back again, and the KhgeeWoongyee found other commissions to execute than those just given him.

"As soon as the first force was de. spatched, the government had leisure to look round, and inquire into the cause of Rangoon being taken, and the probable intentions of the arrival of those strangers. It was at once concluded, that spies were in the country; who had communicated the state of things, and invited the foreigners over and who so likely to be spies as Rogers, Gauger, and Laird, who, under the garb of merchants, had plotted so much evil! They were all three accordingly arrested, and put in confinement. We now, more than ever, began to tremble for ourselves, and hourly to expect some dreadful scene. In examining the accounts of Mr. Gauger it was found that Mr. Judson and Dr. Price had taken money of him; which circumstance, to the uninformed mind of a Burmese, was sufficient evidence that they also were spies, and in the employ of the English Government, as they received their supplies from an Englishman. The king had, before, been advised to put the missionaries in confinement; but his reply had been, They are true men: let CHRIST, OBSERV. No. 299.

them remain.' He was now, however, informed of the above-mentioned circumstance; and, in an angry tone, issued an order for the immediate arrest of Dr. Price and Mr. Judson.

"And now commenced a series of oppressive acts, which we should, before, have thought human nature incapable of committing.

"On the 8th of June, a city writer, at the head of a dozen savages, with one whose marked face denoted him an executioner, rushed into the house, and demanded Mr. Judson. You are called by the king,' said the writer, (a mode of expression when about to execute the king's order,) and instantly the small cord was produced by the spotted face, who roughly seized Mr. Judson, threw him on the floor, and tied his hands behind him. The scene was now dreadful. The little children were screaming with fear-the Burmans in our employ running here and there, endeavouring to escape the hands of those unfeeling wretches-and the Bengal servants mute with amazement and horror at the situation in which they saw their master. I offered money to the executioner, and entreated him to untie Mr. Judson; but in vain were my tears and entreaties: they led him away, I knew not whither; and I was left guarded by ten men, who had received strict orders to confine me close, and let no one go in or out. I retired to my room; and attempted to pour out my soul to Him who, for our sakes, was bound and led away to execution; and even in that dreadful moment I experienced a degree of consolation hardly to be expected.

"But this employment was of short duration. The magistrate of that part of Ava in which we lived was in the verandah, continnally calling me to come out, and submit to his examinations. Supposing that all our letters and writings would be examined, and feeling conscious of having noted down every occurrence since my arrival in Ava, I instantly destroyed every thing of the kind, having no time to make a selection; and then went out to receive the officer. This writer was ordered to write down my name, age, and country, with the names of my four little Burman girls, and those of the two Bengalee servants; and then pronounced us all slaves of the king, again ordered the guard to watch me closely, and departed. It was now nearly evening: with what anxiety I waited the return of our faithful Moung Ing, who had followed Mr. Judson at a short distance, to see 4 X