answered that as he knew nothing of the woman it would be foolish and useless to petition in his name. As we retired, the people hooted and jeered us out of the village, using every epithet of indignation and abuse. Thus our native friends are stripped of their all, of their wives and children. Sonantana feels this very keenly, his wife was so decided, and gave him so prompt a reply when he asked her if she would accompany him. Sebo also feels much the unkindness of his brothers, but he has more strength of mind and principle to bear his loss. It now remains to be seen whether the magistrate will or will not restore to them their property and families.

22nd. Early this morning Rama accompanied Sebo, and Dotaree accompanied Sonantana to their villages, hoping that their friends might be disposed to come to some accommodation: they returned about nine o'clock entirely unsuccessful. Sonantana saw his wife in his brother's house, and she was instructed to say to him that she would hang or drown herself rather than accompany him. Things being so I have concluded to go myself to Cuttack for a few days till this business is fairly brought be fore the magistrate. It is of little use remaining here, with affairs in their present state and the minds of the people so hostile even to the hearing of the message we bear. The native brethren will start immediately. I shall follow in the cool of the evening.

December 4th. I have made no entry in my Journal since the 22nd of November, and I shall supply some information under to-day's date. This afternoon I started for Õlassa again and arrived at Chotia about nine o'clock, after an uncomfortable ride owing to the darkness of the night and the perplexity of the way. I slept in a bazar-house comfortably till about three o'clock next morning when I was disturbed by three or four of Jagannath's pundas or pilgrim-hunters. They occupied the next room, and as the wall between us was only the height of six feet even a whisper could be heard. They knew me and my business. They commenced by singing filthy obscene songs, and then explaining them in low filthy language with the most unblushing and beastly freedom. Then they repeated the history of Rabana, Kongse and Balé, three fabled demon princes, noticing the manner in which they were destroyed by their incarnations Krishnoo, Ram, and Baman, of course intimating that I and all Europeans are the offspring of these demons, and that in a while the time would come when our amount of merit would run out and Kalinka would appear and destroy the demons. Ever and anon they lavished their obscene abuse upon such unclean demons. About four o'clock I arose and pursued my journey, and arrived at my tent about ten o'clock hungry and weary. Some time after my arrival I felt unwell, but a copious perspira. tion relieved me. Since I left my camp in this place it will be proper now just to notice what has been done towards the recovery of the families and property of our new converts. As soon as I arrived in Cuttack, Sebo and Sonantana presented petitions to Mr. Forbes, the acting magistrate, praying that he would restore to them their wives and children and property. The petition of Sebo was immediately rejected by the above named gentleman; he told the petitioner that as he had become a Christian and lost caste he would get nothing*. The native Christians tell me that the magistrate consulted the native officers, and adopted their advice at once, so that they might as well have had a prejudiced, idolatrous, partial native magistrate, and indeed he could have come to no more unjust and unrighteous a decision. The above decision is not according even to the law as it stood before the alteration of the inheritance clause by Lord

Can any thing be more sad than this? Surely our Missionary friends will not allow this matter to rest.-ED.

William Bentinck. Then, the law would allow the Christian his wife if she were willing to accompany him, and would also give him one or more of his children, if not his personal property. The inheritance law however has been ameliorated, and now the Christian convert is not subject to the loss of his property. To strip Sebo therefore is not only unmerciful and unrighteous, but in violation of the regulations by which the above named gentleman sits to administer laws. It is evident he was either igno rant of the law-in which case no person ought to hold so responsible and serious an office as that of magistrate, or else the petition was rejected to exhibit before the world with which he was surrounded the magistrate's aversion to Christian efforts among the natives, Sonantana's petition was received with little more grace, and after a few questions it also was rejected with an intimation that he would get nothing. Sonantana feels much disappointed because his wife promised to come over to him, and would do so at once if he could be allowed to see her, but she is inacces sible. Their petitions being thus rejected, I directed Sebo to present a petition of appeal to M. Mills, Esq. acting commissioner, who received it kindly and has ordered the proceedings from the magistrate's office, and I expect he will restore to the petitioners their right. May God by his Providence and Spirit guide his deliberations and decision.

On December the 22nd we had a good day at Cuttack, the largest increase at one time we have ever had. In the afternoon seven of the school children were baptized, five girls of Miss Kirkman's charge and two boys, one from the English school, and one from the native boarding school. Mr. Sutton baptized them in the new baptismal tank adjoining the chapel. A good many natives stood on the large road to witness the ordinance. In the afternoon the seven children and the three Ollassa converts were received into the church, and received the Lord's Supper. I endeavoured to impress the minds of these interesting converts with the importance of enduring to the end that they may be saved, exhibiting the difficulties and enemies they will meet with and must overcome. The chapel was nearly filled with native attendants and the scene was very cheering. Not more than one or two members of the church were absent. I felt that the opportunity was delightful, and longed for a recurrence of it on every Sabbath day. To return to my work here. Since I left this for Cuttack, one of the inquirers, a fisherman, has been to my tent: he came it seems with the intention of remaining, but not finding me there he returned to his house, to wait my return. He has fewer difficulties in his way than those of higher caste. He is a poor fisherman, with a large family. Jogee das is gone away. The zemindar of these parts has been among his vil lagers, and has caused those who are suspected to be favourably disposed towards christianity, to enter into a bond not to hear us or receive our books. Some moreover are confined, and some are sent into the territory of a tributary neighbouring rájá.

This evening Krupa Sindhoo accompanied me to the village of Khundita. The people were very awkward and suspicious, but we succeeded in collecting in two places a good number of people. We argued and reasoned with them, but a book they would not receive. They said it would bewitch them. O that more of the divine power were displayed! O that the word of God might run and be glorified!

6th. This morning Sebo and Sonantana went to their houses to see whether or not their friends were disposed to come to any accommodation with them about their wives and children: they returned without success. Sonantana however saw his wife, and talked with her. Myself, and the native preachers went to Hurreepoor market, where for four hours we by turns preached to and argued with the people. They heard moderately, but would not receive a book, as they said it would bewitch them.

7th. This morning we started for the large village called Kámá, distant from my tent eight miles. There in turns we preached to and conversed with the people in three places. They heard tolerably. Only six books were distributed. We arrived at the tent about six o'clock very wearied. The roads were dusty and the sun was hot. To-day again Sebo and Sonantana have been to their houses, with no better success than yesterday. Sebo's people told him that if he were not off they would beat him. Sonantana's wife told him to prepare a house and she would come; but this is merely to prevent him appealing to the commissioner and is the dictation of her detainers. These people have been to Cuttack and have presented a petition to Mr. Forbes the magistrate, complaining that we went into their house, and took away their caste and honour. None but Sonantana entered any house, and that was his own, to seek for his wife; and moreover when we inquired after the woman the person who presents this complaint desired us to look for her in the house, and now complains as above stated. What however is most remarkable in this case is that whereas the petitions of the native Christians were disdainfully rejected, this false complaint was immediately attended to and witnesses summoned to prove the charges !

8th. To-day I divided our strength into four parts, and took four directions among the villages, myself accompanying one of the native brethren went to Moogaps. The people heard badly and none would receive books, lest they should be bewitched as they said. Sonantana has been to speak with his wife, but there appears to be no probability that she will be allowed to join him, and he will be obliged also to appeal to the commissioner, for the recovery of his wife and children.

9th. This morning we separated into two bands. Gunga and Doitaree and Sebo went to Suntara market, distant eight miles, and met there a large congregation. They heard middlingly and received a few books. An ill-disposed individual however afterwards came up and alarmed the fears of the people and they returned the tracts. Myself, Bamadab, Bhikaree, and Lockhun went to Karjung market, where we had several op portunities of preaching to and conversing with the people. We distributed about forty tracts. Returning to my tent I found a letter from Cuttack written in reply to a note I addressed to G. Becher, Esq. respecting some land of his in this neighbourhood. I insert it here, as it displays the kindness of the donor, and as it refers to an event which will be of interest and advantage to the cause of the mission. Mr. B. says to Mrs. Lacey, "Will you kindly inform Mr. Lacey about the ground at Khundita that he wants, that I shall be very glad to see a Christian village established there, and he may have any of the ground there that belongs to me, that is unoccupied. There will be no difficulty in regard to rent. In fact I should probably present it to the mission if it be found suitable to its objects." Our newly baptized Christians are turned out of house and all, and this looks like a providential interposition for their relief. Khundita is only a mile or a mile and a half from Sebo's village, so that he can now be fixed there and maintain his correspondence with the numerous inquirers in these parts, otherwise they would many of them fall back and lose their impressions.

This morning I received a letter from a Bristnob who lives on the mountains near Podmapoor, expressive of his approbation of our labours, but observing that he saw no reason why we should be seven years doing what might be done in seven days. He would have the government give orders for all their subjects to worship God. The deputation returned with a New Testament in Oriya and six or seven tracts, besides a letter. To-day Sonantana returned from his village much cast down; his wife sent

word to him that he need not come any more, for that she would not follow him. She also told him that if he continued to visit her village, her people should beat him. This is evidently dictated by her friends; but she is a safe prisoner, and there is no hope by gentle means of Sonantana recovering his family. Sebo is in the same case, but has more fortitude than his friend.

10th. About 'three o'clock this afternoon I dismissed Bamadab and Bhikaree to Balasore to assist our American friends there; Gunga and Sebo and Doitaree accompanied me to three large villages, two miles distant. The shameful Gowrang pooja*, is extensively practised in one of these villages. We had several stands, and a good many people who heard the word of God. However they were but ill disposed, this being the neighbourhood of Sonantana's village. In one place they called out Victory to Gowrang! The last place we preached in was Nursinghpoor from which I hardly escaped without broken bones. I saw we should have some disturbance and knew the people would exercise no mercy towards the native brethren and not much towards me. I therefore dismissed them first and held the attention of the crowd till they had got fairly off. Now however I found a difficulty in getting away myself and in vain attempted to reason the people into moderation, therefore turned and walked away covered with a shower of dust, sand, and broken pots. As soon as I had passed the corner of the village they assailed me with more serious missiles in the nature of large and small clods, as dry as stones. Any one of these had it fallen on the head or chest would have been quite sufficient to have brought me down. The people crowded the gardens and enclosures by which I had to pass to assail me, but I passed through the shower without a serious blow, though the clods sung by me on all sides. Having passed the village they pursued me into the open plain, throwing after me with all their might and using the most filthy expressions. Then they meanly attacked my horse and syce, and had I not run to her rescue she would soon have got loose from her keeper. They scampered as they saw me returning, but followed again when I departed. In the four large villages which I have visited to-day I saw not a single police-officer, though in those villages there must be several thousand people. I feel disposed to complain to the magistrate of the outrage, but with the specimen of law and justice before me, I should probably get no redress and so give the people opportunity to triumph. Not a book was taken.

11th. The kanungoe of one of the villages told me to-day that they were uniting to petition the magistrate that my labours should be confined to the town of Cuttack, and that I should not be allowed to go about in the country. I recommended him by all means to try what could be done. Sonantana went once more to see his wife, but to-day she refused to see him. Her friends have discovered their place of meeting. Nothing therefore remains which he can do but to appeal his case before the commissioner. I have been employed with people about my tent to-day, and many have heard what under the divine blessing is able to save their souls. Sebo is a valuable man. No person could contend with him, He reasons so clearly and with such force that their mouths are closed. His Gooroo,

The Gowrang pooja cannot be described without great violence to every feeling of decency and modesty, yet it ought to be known. A woman is obtained and being stripped naked she is placed on an eminence. There flesh and liquor are offered to her, the person officiating taking all sort of freedom. Then they all worship this object, and, after eating and drinking till they are drunk, they all have intercourse with the object of their worship. It is truly a deed of darkness, and is perpetrated in the night. In the morning the scene breaks up, and the worshippers separate. All classes mix in this worship.

án aged, fat, black, brahman, has been to-day, and he contended with him manfully. The old man looked at his disciple very significantly, but

could not answer a word.

12th. As soon as the sun had in some measure gone down I made to Khundita to examine more particularly the ground which has been made over to us. The whole piece contains twenty acres, and there is a line of bazar houses in one corner. It will support several families. They will however require houses, bullocks, &c. One hundred and fifty rupees or £15 would build three houses and purchase two pair of bullocks, &c., but how and whence is this to be had? There is building ground, wells, &c. upon it. After seeing the ground we had a long discussion with about thirty people on the large road till it was dark. No books were received. I feel that for this time my labours must close in Olassa. The people hear badly, no books are taken, and my time may be more profitably spent in another part of the vast field before me. The inquirers are frightened at the ruin attendant on embracing Christianity, and none appear strong enough to break through their difficulties. I have therefore concluded to leave Olassa to-morrow.

C. LACEY.

IV. The state of Missionary feeling in the father-land; an address delivered at the Monthly Missionary Prayer Meeting at the Lal Bazar Chapel, on Monday evening, February 4th, 1839. By the Rev. JAMES KENNEDY.

We have met together for a most important object. If rightly apprehended by us it cannot fail to engage the fixed attention of our souls. The mere act of approaching the throne of the Divine Majesty, is well fitted to banish listlessness, and to pervade the mind with serious feeling. Have we any knowledge of God and of ourselves, and can we lightly engage in an exercise so solemn ? If on any occasion the mind should be collected, and should fix itself with all its energy on one object, should it not be, when we address that great and holy being with whom we have to do? And if one season of prayer be possessed of more thrilling interest than another, surely that season is, when the children of God assemble themselves for the special object of pouring out their souls for the entire overthrow of Satan's kingdom, and for the universal establishment of Christ's kingdom in the world. When we meet to present this petition, we meet for an object which cannot be deemed too important, and which cannot have too exalted a place in our minds. How various and how strong should be the emotions excited on an occasion like the present! how sad, and yet how joyful! The present state of the human race-the vast majority far from God, and degraded and cursed by sinGod's authority trodden under foot, his glory tarnished, and his name dishonoured-millions entering the unseen world