of the missionaries, they had sent a deputation to the British governor to know of what religion they should be! After an exploratory visit, Mr. Burton went with his wife into that region of difficult and self-denying labour, fixing his residence at Sebolga, a Batta village in the bay of Tappanooli, the rajah having presented him with a piece of ground for the erection of a house. In the course of a year, Mr. Burton had made considerable progress in the language, and besides commencing a translation of the inspired volume, had issued some Scripture tracts. On one occasion, when he had been reading the commandments to a few people under a shed, the rajah, who made one of the number, uttered these remarkable words,-"Well, if the white people, and Chinese, and Hindoos, and Achinese, and Neas and Batta people, should with one heart all adopt these commandments,-spears, swords, and guns would be of no further use; we might throw them away, or make hoes of them!"

In 1825, a formidable insurrection against the Dutch government, affected materially the affairs of the mission in the islands. So much success attended the padries, or insurgent reformers, that Mr. Burton and his family with the females of an orphan institution under his care, were obliged to hasten away to Calcutta. The timid Battas had determined to become mussulmans when the invaders possessed themselves of the country. Mr. Evans also retired from Padang, in consequence of the restrictions imposed upon the direct promulgation of the gospel; and ultimately, under medical advice, to England. The state of political affairs induced the committee also to instruct Mr. N. Ward to proceed to Bengal.

CHAPTER III.

SEPARATE OPERATIONS OF THE SERAMPORE UNION, FROM 1827 TO 1837.

THE stations immediately connected with Serampore at the time of its severance from the Society, were the following:

1. Jessore, occupied by Thomas.

Six Asiatic young men were studying at the college; and Messrs. Mack and Swan were professors.

The three kinds of agency employed in connexion with the stations consisted of,-1st, natives, through whom they doubtless rightly conceived the gospel would ultimately obtain its greatest diffusion. They could visit their countrymen in the most retired places, converse with their most learned pundits, and unfold in their own language the glory of redemption by Christ. In the infancy of christianity in India, however, they were unable to labour unsustained and unguided by other agencies; and the Serampore

brethren imagined that a system of training from their childhood in the college, where they were to be instructed both in science and Scripture, would be of essential importance in preparing them for future usefulness. 2nd, Asiatics, or those who who were born in the country of European parents, at least on one side. These, though educated in European habits, were from infancy inured to the climate, and acquainted with the native language and ideas. It was an advantage that the sum required for their support was only about one half of that which was found necessary for a missionary from England. Of this class were Thompson, Fernandez, Smith, Mackintosh, and others. 3rd, Europeans. In addition to all the other means of usefulness, it is obvious that their knowledge and influence were of the highest importance, when exerted in connexion with bands of three, four, or five Asiatic and native agents. In aid of these stations the Society had voted £3,000, in 1824, 1825, and 1826; £1000 each year.

Native schools for the instruction of boys had now been established about ten years; and recently the education of female children, hitherto supposed to be impracticable, had been introduced. In Serampore there were thirteen schools composed of Hindoo girls; four or five at Dacca; and at least three at Chittagong. The children included the daughters of mahommedans as well as Hindoos, who received instruction with the greatest readiness and pleasure; and in all the schools, male and female, the Scriptures were introduced. It appeared that the schools were capable of almost indefinite multiplication; and as a means of guiding

the earliest thoughts, and fixing the habits of an ignorant and degraded people, their progress was an important auxiliary to the publication of the gospel.

SERAMPORE.

Carey, Marshman, J. C. Marshman, Mack, Swan. During 1827, eleven persons had been received into the church, some of whom resided at Barrackpore. The college funds maintained fifty-eight students at the close of the same year; of whom seven were in European habits, or those termed Anglo-Asiatics; twenty-three natives in the Sungskrit class, seven in the preparatory school in Serampore, and twenty-one in the grammar-school at Sewry in Beerbhoom. The students in European habits consisted of those who were receiving instruction, with the view of being employed as missionaries. The object of the native class was to provide for the education of native christians, some of whom would, it was expected, carry a christian influence with them into the different situations they might occupy in after life; while others might be selected for the christian ministry, should they exhibit the talents and the heart for that sacred work. Dr. Carey lectured twice a-week as theological professor. The report of the college in 1829 referred to several grounds of encouragement. A charter

had been obtained. The progress of the students in European habits had been satisfactory; and several had entered on the work of imparting the knowledge of the Scriptures to the natives of India. A greater number of native christian youths had been trained in the institution than in any preceding year.

"Upon the first ten years of the college," they say, "the committee look back with mingled feelings of gratitude and regret,-with gratitude for the many tokens of favour which it has experienced from friends, and with pleasure at the enlarged field which is now opening to its exertions; but with regret that so many obstacles have intervened to frustrate the hopes of friends, and to retard the prosecution of those views which the committee hoped to have realized in a shorter period.

During the last seven years, the college has, with the exception of a short period, enjoyed the benefit of only one professor. Of the students who were originally received into the institution, by far the greater part, alarmed at the prescribed course of study, have gradually dropped off, leaving the committee the task of commencing anew with fresh students. These circumstances have tended to discourage the mind. Nor has the pecuniary assistance received been altogether unmingled with disappointment. *** But amidst these discouragements and difficulties, the committee are convinced that its friends will feel a pleasure in remarking, that the ten first years of its existence have not been wholly without product. An institution of this nature, unless it opens with ample funds, must necessarily move forward in slow progression, enlarging its sphere of exertion, rather with reference to the increase of its permanent funds, than to the fluctuation of voluntary subscriptions. The funds which Mr. Ward raised in Europe and America, amounting to about 50,000 rupees, have therefore remained untouched, and a fund has been formed for