is added to the Report, containing ample information respecting the origin, progress, and beneficial effects, of Bethel Societies in Britain and America. The Society, as it deserves, has obtained very high patronage and support.

DIGAH.-The following extract of a letter from Mrs. Rowe, dated 18th October, shews the pleasing progress which her schools have made during the short period of their existence.

Very few children are to be found in them, who were formerly under instruction; but the whole work is nearly as new as if nothing had been done at the station before.

"In March and April last, when I recommenced the native Schools, I gave them notice, that in October they would all be called to shew what they had been learning, to the Ladies and Gentlemen of Dinapore. Accordingly, on Saturday, agreeably to appointment, all the children of all the schools, except about 29, assembledat the Digah mission-house. Such as were informed of the business came to witness it. Lady T- and her family, Colonel Band Capt. and Mrs. W- our nearest neighbours. They were surprised to see such a number of children under instruction, one hundred and forty-four boys, and forty-one girls. The whole number under instruction are fifty-five girls and one hundred and fiftynine boys, making two hundred and fourteen children. The girls

presented their sewing and writing to the Ladies, and read their printed lessons, and received great commendation. Similar classes in each School being selected outside, were formed into one class, brought into the bow-room and examined, and then dismissed for the admission of another, and so on, from the lowest upwards. They repeated the grammar as far as the cases singular, part of the ten commandments, and half of Watts's Catechism. After which the children were all brought into the centre room, and brethren Hureedas and Roop-das, stood within the door, and sung a hymn in which several of the masters joined; Roop then addressed the children in so pleasing and interesting a manner, as commanded perfect silence and attention, and brother Huree-das closed with prayer. I then brought a drawer of pice, and had the children dismissed one by one, each with two pice. I did not lead them to expect great presents, but rather commendations for well doing, which many of them pointedly received from the spectators; a pice or two were needful to procure them a handful of food for refreshment, after so long ab

stinence, and so far from home as many of them were. The two native mistresses, with their scholars, about twenty in number, attend worship regularly on Sabbath days, many of the boys also attend."

SUMATRA. Our next extract is a very interesting one, from a letter of Mr. N. Ward to a friend in Bengal. We have received a promise of the entire journal of the tour, of which this is a mere notice.

"Three days after my arrival at Tapanooly, I set out with Mr. Burton to visit the inland Bataks. I performed the journey on foot, chiefly without shoes and stockings, in a Malay dress and a straw hat. The first two days were extremely fatiguing; once, indeed, in mounting the first range of mountains, I was almost tempted to return, but by the third I became so far practised as to take the lead of the party, and tire out the Bataks themselves. On the fifth day, we emerged into a country so beautiful and cultivated, and a population so dense, as filled us with astonishment. We remained some time visiting the villages and surrounding country, reading to the people some of Burton's tracts, and explaining the object of the mission, and were uniformly treated with attention and respect. None or few of them had seen a white face before, and we were objects of perhaps quite as much curiosity as the first Spaniards in America. Burton had unfortunately an attack of dysentery while thus employed, which prevented our going further, but we gained some tolerably correct information of a Lake,a couple of days' march further east, communicating with the sea, and surrounded with a population still more numerous. The intermediate space was perfectly free from wood, and covered with rice and habitations, affording a prospect more beautiful than any thing I have yet seen in any country. We have since received letters from the King residing on the borders of the Lake, inviting us to return and visit him."

MISCELLANEOUS.-We are happy to understand, that a letter has been received from our friend Mr. E. Carey, dated off the Isle of France, August 14th, 1824, by which it appears, that both his own health and that of Mrs. Carey had been greatly improved. Letters have also been received from Liverpool, which mention the arrival of Mr. Sutton at that place, in greatly improved health, but after a very dangerous and disastrous voyage.

THE FRIEND OF INDIA.

VOL. VII.

(MONTHLY SERIES.)

DECEMBER, 1824. No. LXXVII.

SABBATH SCHOOLS.

THE objection to Missionary efforts, that they direct to foreign objects the resources which ought to be husbanded for domestic ones, is now but rarely heard. It has been silenced by obstinate facts. In these few years past, during which missionary zeal has been kindled to such a degree, the spiritual, and even temporal, necessities of our countrymen at home have met with an attention scarcely heard of before; and this almost entirely from the friends of Missions. When the spirit of missions arose, the British public were scarcely prepared to admit, that the population of a Christian country so favoured as their own, needed any new and extraordinary course of spiritual instruction. Many individuals, indeed, did so. All who felt the value of immortal souls; who were aware of the general ruin of man, who knew that the way of escape from that ruin was strait and difficult, and that every individual needed to be roused by instruction and persuasion to seek an entrance into it, in fact, that every individual needed to be converted to God, and not a mere profession of Christianity--all who felt thus, pitied their countrymen and sighed for their salvation. But they were comparatively few in number. They did what they could; but others not being able to enter into their views, could not of course, be induced to second their efforts.

Missions to the Heathen, however, recommended themselves to the understandings and the principles of all who even bore the name of Christian. None such could deny that Heathens were fit subjects for conversion, (whatever they might mean

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by that term) in as much as they knew nothing of the matter - already. The attempt they might suppose in the highest de gree arduous, nay even bordering upon impracticability; still they could not but confess it was legitimate, it was not a work of supererogation. Many, therefore, who knew but little of the influence of Christianity in their own souls, became helpers. of missions, and through the help they gave, became interested in religious matters. It necessarily became a subject of inquiry, What was the ultimate object of the conductors of missions? Was it to spread knowledge in regions of ignorance? No, that was but a means employed for the accomplishment of something greater. Was it the universal propagation of a creed? Nothing of the kind was intended. Was it the introduction of the arts of civilization and peace amongst rude and savage nations? That was but a secondary object. Was it to bring nations to adopt the name of Christianity? No, those who conducted Missions disclaimed such as their great object. Then what was it? It was the salvation of souls; and by this was meant, the forgiveness of sins and acceptance with God through the atonement of his Son Christ Jesus, and the renewing of the heart by the Holy Spirit. For gaining this great object, the divinely prescribed means were used-preaching repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Then it came to be asked; But is every one thus saved, except those who, by their situation in Heathen countries, are excluded from the knowledge of the gospel? Need we wander so far from home to find men unblessed with such redemption? And the enquiry has led to anxious self-examination in many persons, and has been the means of their own conversion and afterwards led them to commiserate those, our brethren after the flesh, who have a name to live, but are dead. Hence arose our Tract Societies, Bible Associations, Home Missions, village preaching, and itineracies, and more extensively still, the Sabbath Schools. The following important information respecting them, we submit to our readers, from the Seventh Report of the Sabbath School Union for Scotland. It is the report of 1823.

"The Committee of the Sabbath School Union cannot commence® their Annual Report in any other language than that of congratulation to their constituents, and thankfulness to Almighty God.From every quarter the accounts are most favourable; old schools are flourishing, and new ones are rapidly forming, under the patronage of men of rank and weight in their respective neighbourhoods, under the superintendance of zealous and faithful ministers, and under the immediate direction of a large body of active, affectionate, and pious teachers.

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Your Committee consider this as a state of things which, in every point of view, is calculated to produce the deepest feelings of joy and thankfulness. Nothing can be clearer, than that the po pulation of the nation, especially in the larger towns, is increasing in a much greater ratio, than the number of religious instructors whether in or out of the establishment: And there are few who will not be inclined to consider the unequal increase, as a great moral evil, tending to the diminution of religious knowledge among the lower orders of society. Now, though knowledge is not principle, and may in particular cases exist without producing any good effect upon the heart and conduct: Yet reason declares that men cannot perform their duty without first knowing it; and experience has sufficiently proved, that though knowledge may be neglected or abused, popular ignorance can be productive of nothing that is good, and has been productive of all that moralists, philanthropists, and Christians, must join to condemn and to deplore.

"Considering then the importance of religious knowledge, and the inadequacy of the public means for its support, we hail the increase of Sabbath Schools as of instruments exactly suited to the emergency of the case, and calculated under the Divine blessing to confer the deepest benefits upon our country.

"There is also another point of view in which the prevalence and increase of Sabbath Schools must be peculiarly gratifying, and that is the consideration that while their extended operation warrants the hope of a rich harvest in the rising generation, it affords also a gratifying proof of the piety and charity that exists in the present. The number of gratuitous teachers employed in the Sabbath Schools in connexion with the Union, may be estimated at 4000. Now, without complimenting these individuals on the