preparing for the Mahomedans and Hindoos, by their own converted countrymen; namely, the Persian and Arabic versions, by SABAT the Arabian; and the Telinga version by ANANDA RAYER, the Telinga Brahmin. The latter has translated the four Gospels, and the Acts of the Apostles. The progress of Sabat in his translations will be noticed hereafter.

THE CEYLONESE.

In the island of Ceylon, the population under the British Government amounts, according to the best authorities, to upwards of a million and a half; and one third is supposed to profess Christianity. This population was divided by the Dutch, while they had possession of the island, into 240 church-ships, and three native

employment, and had a great desire to be useful to his "brethren of the Telinga nation." The reverend Missionary concludes thus: "What Jesus Christ hath required of his "followers, this man hath literally done; he hath left father, "mother, sisters, and brothers, and houses, and lands, for the "Gospel's sake."

See Dr. John's Letter, dated 29th January, 1808, communicated to the Bible Society, by the Rev. Mr. Brown.

schoolmasters were appointed to each churchship. The Dutch government never gave an official appointment to any native who was not a Christian; a distinction which was ever considered by them as a wise policy, as well as a Christian duty, and which is continued by his Majesty's Government in Ceylon. Perhaps it is not generally known in England that our Bengal and Madras Governments do not patronise the native Christians. They give official appointments to Mahomedans and Hindoos generally in preference to natives professing Christianity. The chief argument for the retention. of this system is precedent. It was the practice of the first settlers. But it has been often observed that what might be proper or necessary in a factory, may not be tolerable in a great Empire. It is certain that this system confirms prejudice, exposes our religion to contempt in the eyes of the natives, and precludes every ray of hope of the future prevalence of Christianity at the seats of government.

Jaffna-patam, in Ceylon, Sept. 27, 1806. From the Hindoo Temple of Ramisseram, I crossed

over to Ceylon, keeping close to Adam's bridge. I was surprized to find, that all the boatmen were Christians of Ceylon. I asked the helmsman what religion the English professed who now governed the island. He said he could not tell, only that they were not of the Portuguese or Dutch religion. I was not so much surprized at his ignorance afterwards, as I was at the time.

I have had the pleasure to meet here with Alexander Johnstone, Esq.* of the Supreme Court of Judicature, who is on the circuit; a man of large and liberal views, the friend of learning, and of Christianity. He is well acquainted with the language of the country, and with the history of the island; and his professional pursuits afford him a particular knowledge of its present state; so that his communications are truly valuable. It will be scarcely believed in England, that there are here Protestant Churches under the King's government, which are without ministers. In the time of Baldæus, the Dutch preacher and historian, there were thirtytwo Christian Churches in the province of Jaffna alone. At this time there is not one Protestant European Minister in the whole province. I ought to except Mr. Palm, a solitary Missionary, who has been sent out by the London Society, and receives some stipend from the British government. I visited Mr. Palm, at his residence a few miles from the town of Jaffna. He is prosecuting the study of the Tamul language; for that is the language of this part of Ceylon, from its

*Now Sir Alexander Johnstone, Chief-Justice of Ceylon.

proximity to the Tamul continent.

Mrs. Palm has

made as great progress in the language as her husband, and is extremely active in the instruction of the native women and children. I asked her if she had no wish to return to Europe, after living so long among the uncivilized Cingalese. No, she said; she was all the day long happy in the communication of knowledge.' Mr. Palm has taken possession of the old Protestant Church of Tilly-Pally. By reference to the history, I found it was the church in which Baldæus himself preached (as he himself mentions) to a congregation of two thousand natives; for a view of the Church is given in his work. Most of those handsome Churches, of which views are given in the plates of Baldæus's history, are now in ruins. Even in the town and fort of Jaffna, where there is a spacious edifice for Divine Worship, and respectable society of English and Dutch inhabitants, no Clergyman has been yet appointed. The only Protestant preacher in the town of Jaffna is Christian David, a Hindoo Catechist sent over by the Mission of Tranquebar. His chief ministrations are in the Tamul Tongue; but he sometimes preaches in the English Language, which he speaks with tolerable propriety: and the Dutch and English resort to hear him. I went with the rest to his Church; when he delivered extempore a very excellent Discourse, which his present Majesty George the Third would not have disdained to hear. And this Hindoo supports the interests of the English Church in the province of Jaffna. The Dutch Ministers who formerly officiated here, have gone to Batavia or to Europe. The whole district is now in

the hands of the Romish priests from the College of Goa; who perceiving the indifference of the English nation to their own religion, have assumed quiet and undisturbed possession of the land. And the English Government justly preferring the Romish superstition to the worship of the idol Boodha, thinks it right to countenance the Catholic Religion in Ceylon. But whenever our Church shall direct her attention to the promotion of Christianity in the East, I know of no place which is more worthy of her labour, than the old Protestant Vineyard of Jaffna Patam. The Scriptures are already prepared in the Tamul Language. The language of the rest of Ceylon is the Cingalese, or Ceylonese.'

Columbo, in Ceylon, 10th March, 1808.

-I find that the South part of the island is in much the same state as the north, in regard to Christian instruction. There are but two English Clergymen in the whole island. 'What wonder' (said a Romish priest to me) that your nation should be so little interested about the conversion of the Pagans to Christianity, when it does not even give teachers to its own subjects who are already Christians? I was not surprised to hear that great numbers of the Protestants every year go back to idolatry. Being destitute of a Head to take cognizance of their state, they apostatise to Boodho, as the Israelites turned to Baal and Ashteroth. It is perhaps true that the religion of Christ has never beer