ENGLISH BAPTIST MISSION. dant reason for gratitude. We have, SERAMPORE. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM DR. CA- Serampore, Oct. 30, 1820. and among the natives all was pitchy darkness. Now, it is true, the millions are on the side of idolatry and sin; and the few, the very few on the side of Christ; yet there are a few. There is indeed a good num ber of preachers, and those not despicable ones, among the natives themselves. The School book Society brings them nearer to Europeans a very desirable thing. They also unite with us in the School Society, and much is done to favour education. The Chief Justice, in a public speech a week or two ago, observed, that even a whisper about improving the moral condition of the natives, was considered a crime when he first came here, (about seven years ago,) but now the Governor General patronizes, and all the chief officers of Government unite to promote this object. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM DR. December 2, 1820. THROUGH mercy we are all well. Dr. Carey says he is better than he has been any winter for years. In other respects, too, we have abun I think, baptized twelve at Serampore alone in the course of this year, and two more are before the church there. The number added to our church at Calcutta and Serampore in these last two years, amounts to nearly fifty; a greater number by far than was added in the former 3 years. The last baptized at Serampore was a Mug pundit, or priest, whose simple experience quite delighted Dr. Carey. Death of Mr. Peacock. Meanwhile God has, in his mysterious providence, removed our dear brother Peacock, by a fever of eight days continuance. He died ceed to his charge at Chittagong. in Calcutta, while waiting to proSince his death, however, though only six days ago, a steady, pious young man, with his wife, members of the church in Calcutta, has declared his determination to go immediately and supply his place among the Mag brethren, live among them, and learn their language. This is our young brother Johannes, who was brought up in our school at Calcutta, under brethren Leonard, Peacock, and Penney, successively. He is already on his way to Chittagong, to take charge of the schools there. Thus the Lord appears in the midst of distress; and we verily trust that he will appear and never fail or forsake us. CALCUTTA. A VARIETY of information from other quarters has compelled us to suspend, for some time, the publication of intelligence from this metropolis of the East. We now extract a few articles from the journals which have lately arrived. On the 2d of July Mr. Penney writes: "Five natives, Hindoos, came today to our house, to make inquiries respecting the way of salvation: they came from the district of Jessore, and profess to be farmers. They had obtained a copy of the Gospel of St. Matthew, and the Life of Futtick, a memoir of a native Christian. In our inquiries as to their motives in coming thus far to understand the way of salvation, instead of going to the missionary (brother Thomas,) who is in the district, we could obtain no better reply, than that it had been impressed on the mind of one of them in a dream, that they must come to Calcutta. They were apparently very ignorant, but gave no satisfactory evidence of being in earnest about their eternal welfare., We invited them to come every after noon for instruction. In leaving the house, they asked our native brother if they had any thing to pay: he told them, 'in becoming Christians they would have neither to give any thing, nor to receive any thing. They had taken great care of the copy of the Gospel, and the tract they had preserved with the utmost care." Singular anomaly in the existing code of Indian law. "While I was with Baboo Ram Mahum Roy to day, in his own house, one of his followers, a respectable looking man, came in. It appeared that he had a suit pending in the supreme court, and that in the course of the proceedings he was called upon to give his oath. The usual practice in the courts of judicature in this country is, that a Christian swear by the Bible, a Mussulman by the Koran, and a Hindoo by the waters of the Ganges. The person referred to, although not a Christian, has renounced idolatry; and as a consistent reformer, felt it his duty to decline taking an oath which implied that any regard was due to the watery goddess; but as a believer in the Vedas, offered to swear by them, or by that one God who is revealed in them. His oath, however, was not taken. The number of persons of this description is very rapidly increasing, principally, I believe, among the mid dling classes of Hindoos; but what an anomaly in the history of law, that the relinquishment of error should form a disqualification for giving evidence! In the present state of things, if a Hindoo or Mussulman become a Christian, independently of other disadvantages, he is disqualified, however exemplary his conduct as a subject may be, from giving evidence in a court of justice, even on the most trivial occasions. If oaths are either necessary or useful, how desirable to substitute, for the present forms, those which shall embrace all kinds of belief, by laying hold of those broad features of religious opinion which are almost universally recognized, that there is one great Being who knows every thing, and to whom all others are subordinate." Singular instance of gratitude in "Gratitude is so uncommon in the Hindoo character, that it is even denied they have a word in their language to express it. A very pleasing instance occurred yesterday at the Benevolent Institution. A native youth, who has attended with me for more than 8 months, and by a degree of diligence has acquired a tolerable knowledge of the English language, being about to remove to a distance, came to return the books belonging to the Institution, and to return thanks for the attention he conceived I had paid him: this he did with tears. As it was the first instance of native gratitude I ever saw in the school, I was delighted, and overcome with joy to find I had succeeded in gaining his affection. It has always been common for native children to remain as long as it suited them, and then depart with all they have in their possession, without saying a word. I gave him all the books which he came to return, for which he seemed most thankful: they consisted of an English Bible, a Grammar, Ricket's Irregular Verbs, and the Digdurshun, (a work in Bengalee,) and also a New Testament in Bengalee, which he promised to read." Prospect of success in educating Hindoo females. "We entertain great hopes that our attempts at the education of Hindoo females will eventually succeed. Having at last secured a qualified Hindoo woman as a teacher, we are now building a small school room for an experiment; and today I find she has twelve Hindoo girls as scholars. This may appear to our friends in England but a trifling advance; unless they recol lect, that this is the first school for heathen girls established for centu ries in this vast city, and, with two exceptions, in this extensive country, containing nine times the population of the British isles; and take into the account the determined prejudice which exists in the minds of the majority of Hindoos on the subject. A school-room built, a mistress found, and twelve scholars collected, who can tell but the progress of female education may yet be rapid ?" "We have just erected a little school room, for the instruction of Hindoo girls, at the expense of a little Society formed in our Young Ladies' seminary; and have been so happy as to meet with a Bengalee woman, who can read and write, and who is willing to act as teacher. She has already eighteen regular scholars, besides nine or ten more, (who attend occasionally at first, till they can overcome the shame which attends being known to go to school,) and nearly twenty under the care of school masters: so that we have already nearly fifty under instruction! At last several Hindoo gentlemen do not scruple to say, that perhaps girls may be able to learn, and that instructing them may be a good thing. We anticipate a considerable extension of our exer tions in this department, during the present and succeeding years, and shall be very thankful for any donations or subscriptions with which any of your benevolent friends may be disposed to favour us." Progress of Religion in the Army. staid "On the 21st of July, (says Mr. Lawson,) at the request of our brethren composing the church in the 17th regiment, I attended their church-meeting in the Fort. with them from two o'clock till near five, and our meeting was indeed a pleasant one. Four soldiers, candidates for baptism, gave in their experience. One of them appears to have received his first convictions by attending the annual meeting of our Auxiliary Society at Boitakonnah. He had been notoriously given up to wickedness, and was exceeding fond of gambling. One afternoon, while deeply engaged with one of his comrades with his favourite game, one of the religious soldiers happened to pass by, and clapping him on the shoulder, and calling him by name, said, 'Come, I think you had better leave your gambling, and go with us into Calcutta to attend a Missionary Meet. ing.' The poor man paused a moment, and then thought within himself, Well, I may as well go.' He went, and was deeply struck with the novelty of what he saw and heard: the gospel was new to him. He could not forget the scene he had witnessed, and after struggling two or three days against the shame and fear of persecution and ridicule among his ungodly companions, he was seen among those who resort to the cook-room at night for private prayer, and has attended the means of grace ever since. His wicked courses and companions were at once giv. en up, and the brethren bear testimony to his increasing earnestness in the ways of God. I am told, that from two o'clock in the morning till day-break, or gun fire, he is now always to be found on his knees. Another, that gave in his experience, appears to have been a Methodist once on the coast, but fell into sin, and so remained till he heard a funeral sermon preached about a ANECDOTE. -S. SOME few years since, in the eastern part of Connecticut, the following remarkable circumstance took place. In the town of there lived a respectable family by the name of RMrs. if not Mr. R. had made a public profession of religion, and joined the Baptist communion. But professors of all denominations had fallen into an awful state of insensibility, and seemed almost wholly conformed to the world. It was common in this vicinity, at this time, for young people when they happened to meet together on an eve ning, to spend the time in dancing and other vain amusements. The custom of admitting parties to dance in private families, was too generally allowed of, even by professors of religion. A particular circle of young persons, of which two or three of the above family made a part, not unfrequently met at their house. Notwithstanding Mrs. R's religious feelings had greatly declined, and she viewed herself in a cold, backslidden state, yet she could not feel easy to countenance such vain amusements, but became resolved to reprove them. It so happened, that not long after, a number of these young people collected at her house, when it was soon proposed to engage in dancing. Mrs R. perceiving what was going forward, felt her spirit stirred within her, like Paul when at Athens, but knew not what course to take, to prevent what her conscience disapproved. The young people had arranged themselves in order for what they termed a set dance, when Mrs. R. with much fear and trembling, resolved to venture into the room and try to speak to them. They were standing upon the floor, but had not commenced their dance, when she addressed them nearly as follows: "It seems to me, my young friends, some of your company are missing!" Not knowing to whom she alluded, they replied that they did not miss any one in particular. "No, said she; where is Isaac Deans? Where is Dennison Lathrop ?* Where is * Both drowned a little before. year ago, occasioned by the death of a pious soldier. Another of them dated his conviction of sin from the same time. These brethren will, it is expected, be baptized next month. I have engaged to attend this monthly church meeting regularly." Perez Pembleton?" A brother of the last mentioned young man was one of the company, who was up and ready to lead down the dance. He was so struck, that he immediately cried out, "I am undone!" What do you mean, said one standing by him? He replied, "I am undone! I am going to hell! there is no mercy for me!" Terror and amazement in an instant spread over every countenance. They stood like so many statues, until it was said, that the floor was literally besprinkled with their tears. The conviction extended from heart to heart, until the whole exhibited a scene of distress, not very easy to be described. Thus their mirth and dancing was turned into weeping and distress. Mrs. R. continued her pious and tender exhortations, while her heart was often ascending to God in fervent prayer that they might be saved. The time at length arrived, when it was proper they should retire. With many tears, and solemn engagements to seek the Lord, they parted for the night. But the reader will be anxious to learn the result of this remarkable meeting. If a friend of Christ, he will be gratified to learn, that most of this company were in a judgment of charity in a little time, hopefully converted to God. Some of them are still alive to declare that the Lord is good. Nor were the effects of this meeting limited to this little company. The work spread, until it was judged, that one hundred souls were made the subjects of a work of grace. What a wonder-working God! Was Jael the wife of Heber, pronounced "blessed above women," because she had destroyed the life of one of the enemies of God's people? How much rather blessed shall she be, who was thus happily instrumental in saving the souls of many from eternal ruin ! The circumstances of the above narrative are so well known to the Editors, that they hesitate not to give it a place; devoutly hoping it may be a means of exciting others to similar exertions to save the souls of men. Died about the same time of a consumption. Religious Intelligence. REVIVALS OF RELIGION. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM REV. J. BRADLEY, DATED Genesee Co. N. Y. July 20, 1820. Beloved brethren in Christ, As THIS is the first communication that I have made you, and intended for your Magazine, since my settlement upon the Holland Purchase; it may be proper briefly to describe this country, the inhabitants, and the revivals of religion among them. The Holland Purchase comprehends a little over half of Genesee County, not quite half of Allegany, the whole of Chatangue, Cattaraugus, and Niagara, excepting one mile wide along Niagara river. This tract of country is very rich, and well watered by creeks and rivers. It is generally flat, and the rivers move slowly. The climate is mild, and the air salubrious. The water is excellent, excepting those parts of the country that lie flat, and border upon rivers or lakes. Upon these moist and level lands, the people have turns of the fever and ague. But where large tracts are cleared the people enjoy health. The present white inhabitants upon the Holland Purchase, are from the different parts of New-England (a few families excepted.) The sale of these lands to individuals commenced in December, 1799, and now about 80,000 are settled upon them. These people generally, are well informed, active, industrious, hospitable. Having flown together from five States, or more, like streams from different mountains, it must be expected that at first, they would hold tenaciously, the same sentiments that their parents, or societies held from whence they came. Yet from the best information I have obtained, it appears, that their opinions about religion are not so numerous as those in New-England. For God has been graciously pleased to hear the prayers of thousands for the inhabitants of this wilderness, and has come down to deliver us. His Spirit has descended copiously upon multitudes, and enabled them to believe in one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. There are now two Baptist Associations on the west side of the Genesee river. The Holland Purchase, contains twenty-one churches, embrac. ing 1377 communicants, and the Gene see Association has fifteen churches, and 779 communicants. Beside these churches, there are now a considerable number recently formed, who have not joined either Association. Upon the other side of the river is the Ontario Association, containing forty-four churches, and 2803 communicants. God has appear ed in his glory in building up Zion. A brief account of some revivals in this region, may be refreshing to many of your readers. In 1818 a work began. in Sparta, under the preaching of Dr. Jesse Braman, who labours abundantly in new settlements, and has been greatly owned of God. Two churches are formed in that town, and the last ac count I obtained from them, they had one hundred and eight members. Dansville, Onion, and Alfred, received many mercy drops from the cloud that hung over these western skies. Two churches have been formed in these towns. Before the shower reached Richmond, only one Baptist professor was known in the town. A number have been brought to love Jesus, and own him before men. A church has been formed here. These towns lie along, or near the Genesee river. Brother Jesse Brown came over, having heard the Macedonian cry, and has been a fellow worker with brother Braman in this glorious time of ingathering and establishing churches. This part of the wilderness seemed all alive for one year. The woods rung with the songs of young converts, and backsliders wept among the trees; while old established saints who had been waiting for the salvation of the Lord, looked up towards heaven, being ready to depart and be with Jesus. The waters of the Genesee and less rivers were often frequented, and Brown and Braman prayed, preached, and baptized about two hundred, who had gladly received the word. In Perry a church has been formed.-In Lienda a work began in 1819, and last winter a church was formed. Also one in Bloomfield, of nineteen members; it has since had some additions. In Warsaw, six miles south from the Academy, a work has been progressing about five months, in which time forty-four have been baptized, and nineteen have been added by letter. Bethany, eight miles north of the Acad In |