in these countries, have a predisposing influence in favour of ease and self-indulgence. The decline of physical strength, a sense of exhaustion and lassitude affecting as well the animal spirits as the frame itself, and many other things, require to be incessantly counteracted if we would retain a sound mind in a sound body, and not quickly part with much of the energy and activity of frame, of the buoyancy and elasticity of mind so necessary to continued intellectual effort and to an effective discharge of the duties of a Missionary life above all others. When once this fatal lethargy has crept over us, our exertions become paralyzed; we see imaginary difficulties in the way of every undertaking; the very grasshopper is a burden! and in time, as has, it is to feared, happened in some instances, the most holy duties of the closet even are performed heavily and languidly; the man who is the subject of so melancholy and debasing an influence becomes then a mere sloth, proceeding from indolence to fleshly indulgence, from ease to intemperance, till not only is he, at length, incapable of expelling the demons that torment the bodies and souls of other men, but he becomes himself the slave of a whole legion! In opposition to such a tendency and as its only antagonist and preventive, we are called upon to imitate the great apostle of the Gentiles, who "kept his body under; lest, when he had preached to others he himself should become a cast-away." Examples of a greater or less advance towards this ultimate shipwreck of faith and a good conscience, with the usefulness, the honor and rewards of faithful messengers of Christ, are not wanting to enforce upon all of us an attention to that watchfulness which, in this matter, is of so much moment. Nemo repente fuit turpissimus-all declines are gradual; it is the first backward step that should be particularly guarded against. Who, too, even in other professions, was ever either eminently great or eminently useful, who was a slave to bodily appetites, fond of ease and prone to selfindulgence? Moreover, among the circumstances of peculiar difficulty in our great and holy toil is the fact, that the people we have to work upon are a very sensual people, effeminate, feeble-bodied and necessarily feeble-minded; exceedingly averse to vigorous exertion, and hardly to be urged to act vivaciously, or made to feel deeply and warmly in any matter. The greater reason then, both to beware of insensibly assimilating to them, and for maintaining a constant concern to set them examples, while we enforce upon them the precept, of " diligence in business and fervency in spirit, in both serving the Lord."

But time, dear friends, admonishes me to conclude. I will only therefore observe in general, that the threefold requisites we have been considering are ever mutually and necessarily interconnected: one cannot subsist but with the others- faith breathes itself in energetic prayerprayer expires on the lips of the luxurious, the self-indulgent, the indolent, the intemperate-the devout soul pants to lay itself out for God, instinct with faith, surcharged with prayerfulness-the combined influence of them all on the personal state of any individual, and of a Missionary, especially, as affecting his usefulness as an evangelist and pastor, cannot be estimated-where one grace declines and one duty is inefficiently discharged, other graces will not long continue flourishing nor other duties long continue to be vigorously practised. kingdom of Satan, maintained by his hosts of impure and malignant demons, will never yield to men not eminent for faith, devotion and spirituality-while to such God's promise cannot fail of ultimate, nay speedy, accomplishment.

The

Brethren, suffer the word of exhortation; and may the Lord the Spirit add his blessing and holiest influence-that we ourselves may prosper, and that by our humble instrumentality "his way may be speedily known upon earth, his saving health among all nations!" Amen and Amen.

Missionary and Religious Entelligence.

1.-MISSIONARY AND ECCLESIASTICAL MOVEMENTS.

The Rev. R. Davies of Penang has left that island for Singapore, and Rev. J. Dyer, of Malacca, has returned to Europe in the pursuit of health.-Rev. J. Schurman of Banaras arrived in Calcutta during the past month.-Mrs. Piffard, the lady of our excellent brother the Rev. C. Piffard, arrived safely on the John Fleming on the 23rd ultimo.Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have left Calcutta for Cawnpore; they will take charge of the Orphan School at that station, and engage in general Mission labor. We regret, on account of the infant school cause, the ab. sence of Mr. P. from the presidency. A more amiable and indefatigable representative the Society could not have sent out.-The Rev. Mr. Blumbardt and lady are to labour at Kishnagur.-The Bishop of Madras has been seriously indisposed; he is through the mercy of God somewhat restored. We understand that Dr. Mill is made Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and that the Rev. Mr. Wilberforce, son of the venerable philanthropist, is selected as Principal of Bishop's College.-We regret to announce the death of Miss Margaret Keith, the only daughter of the Rev. George Keith, the first Pastor of the Union Chapel; she died in London a few months back universally beloved and regretted she was on the eve of coming as a Missionary's wife to the East, but the Lord has caused her sun to go down while it was yet day. We have noticed her death because the Christian public in India, out of respect for her excellent parent, took a lively interest in the welfare of this Missionary orphan; and though but few may now be living who knew either father or daughter, it will be a melancholy satisfaction to that few to know that the child followed closely in the footsteps of the parent until they have both entered on their glorified state.-The Rev. Messrs. Flower and Clarkson with their wives have arrived safely at Bombay. They are destined for the London Society's Mission at Surat.-The following labourers from the American Board have arrived at Bombay. Rev. Messrs. Burgess, French, and Hume, with their wives, and Miss Farrar, formerly of the Bombay Mission.

We feel much pleasure in announcing the return of our excellent friends the Rev. W. H. Pearce and Mrs. Pearce, of the Baptist Mission, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Tucker, Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan, and Mr. Wenger. The following brethren connected with the Church Mission, also arrived in the same vessel, the Plantagenet.— Rev. J. Innes and lady, and the Rev. Messrs. C. W. Lipp and Krauss. May all our beloved brethren be long spared to labour amongst the heathen. It is quite cheering to see such accessions of strength to the Mission circle. Oh that God would pour out his spirit from on high, that their labours may be blessed indeed.-The Rev. J. H. Hoisington, one of the Missionaries of the American Board in Ceylon, arrived in Calcutta during the month on his way to America for the benefit of his health.

2.-MISCELLANEA OF THE MONTH.

The Honorable W. W. Bird has promised to give a handsome prize to the students of the Hindu and Sanskrit Colleges in the approaching cold season.-A Sailor's Home has been fully established at Sydney.-A native paper reported the Rev. Krishna Mohun Banerjee dead, but afterwards stated he was not dead but sick-that he had repaired to the banks of the Ganges to die (to Bishop's College). We are happy to state

that the Bábu is well and will enter upon his new sphere of labor immediately. Truly these native journals must be driven for an argument against Christianity when they will have recourse to such subterfuges.Ghuzni, the far-famed moslem citadel has fallen, and the British troops have entered Cabool in triumph; we regret to hear that the capture of these places has been accompanied by some horrid barbarities: we trust the reports may prove untrue.-A decisive victory has been obtained by the army of the ruler of Egypt over the forces of the Sultan: the Sultan is dead. May the Lord overrule all these important matters for the advancement of his gospel amongst the proud and sneering moslems. Hasten the time, O God.

3. THE MONTHLY MISSIONARY PRAYER MEETING.

The address at the United Monthly Missionary Prayer Meeting was delivered by the Rev. W. Morton at the Circular Road Chapel. The subject, the connexion between fasting, prayer, faith and success in the work of God, founded on Matt. xvii. 21. The devotional parts of the service were conducted by the Rev. Messrs. Lacroix and Macdonald.

4.-NEW EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT A'GARPA'RA'.

The Bishop of Calcutta laid the foundation stone of the New Church connected with Mrs. Wilson's School at A'garpárá on Tuesday the 25th ult. The Rev. F. Wybrow assisted at the ceremony, and explained to the natives present the purport of the meeting. May the Lord himself lay both the foundation and bring forth the top stone with shoutings of grace unto it.

5.-THE NEW CHURCH IN CORNWALLIS SQUARE Was dedicated unto the service of God, according to the episcopal rule, on Friday the 27th instant. The Bishop of Calcutta performed the part connected with the consecration; the Archdeacon preached, and the Rev. K. M. Banerjee, the future pastor, read the prayers. We understand that there was a large assemblage of natives. We trust this will always be the case, and that they may so feel the power of the spirit in the midst of them as to say A greater than the temple is here. The building is extremely chaste, in the gothic style, and reflects great credit on the architect, Mr..Vos.

6. ANNIVERSARY OF LA MARTINIERE.

The anniversary of this institution was held on Friday, the 13th September. The Bishop preached on the occasion. Many of the friends of Christian education were present, and appeared gratified with the progress which had been made by the pupils. The Honorable W. W. Bird distributed the prizes.

7.-NEW WORK CONNECTED WITH THE MUSALMA'N CONTROVERSY. We have much pleasure in informing our friends who feel an interest in the religious welfare of the Musalmáns that the Rev. G. Pffander, formerly of the Georgian Mission, is now preparing several works in the Persian language on the most important topics connected with the Christian and Musalmán religions. The first of these, a treatise on the Divinity of Christ and the Trinity, is now ready for distribution; others on important subjects will soon follow. These works are litho graphed, not printed, as the Musalmans have a great objection to printed books. The whole expense of carrying these works through the

press has been defrayed by two gentlemen of the Civil Service who feel deeply interested in the conversion of the Muhamadans, and who are quite competent to judge both of the literary and religious adaptation of the works to the end for which they are designed. From the character given of the style and manner of treating the important subjects embodied in these different treatises, we think our Missionary friends might with great advantage set about translating them into the Bengálí and Urdú languages.

S.-CHINA AND THE OPIUM TRADE.

The following extract from our correspondent at Macao contains some painful and interesting facts.

"I note that it has been sickly in your Calcutta Missionary circle. We hardly know what it is to be seriously ill in Macao at any time of the year, and I would most earnestly advise you and your Missionary brethren and sisters, that whenever it is rendered necessary to take a voyage to sea for health that China alone be the point of destination. Mr. Deare of Siam came here very ill and soon went away cured, and so did Mr. Dickinson of Singapore, Mr. Young from Batavia, the young man whom you baptized, came here a few months ago quite an invalid, and is now as well as any of us, probably in better health than ever before in his life. He lives in our family. I ought to mention, however, that people, foreigners I mean, do actually die here sometimes.

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Surely South Eastern Asia abounds, at the present time, with wars and rumours of wars. God will overrule all for his own glory and the good of men.

"The present crisis in China is beyond all precedent. The public papers will give you all particulars. I am sorry that the Calcutta Christian Observer is so frequent in its strong affirmations that the Opium Trade has ceased or even nearly so. No such thing*. What though the commissioner is actually destroying (probably completed) 20 thousand chests of the drug within 40 miles of Macao? Sales are daily taking place in and around Macao at Sp. drs. 750 per chest, and scores of chests are rapidly disposed of all along the Coast of China at the present time at one thousand dollars per chest. I wish the trade was extinct, but the commissioner has gone to work the wrong way. Capt. Elliot has just sent him a severe remonstrance about his breach of faith.

"An edict is also just out from the commissioner, stating that if the foreign ships do not at once either proceed to Whampoa or leave the Chinese waters within five days, that he will attack them and annihilate them with the thundering cannonade of the celestial dynasty. The British ships defy his Excellency and merchantmen have been converted into bristling men of war.

"The Chinese Government can stop the Opium Trade on the Canton River, and further than this, I think, they cannot go. Public opinion must do it."

9.-TA'KI' ACADEMY.

The annual examination of this valuable institution, which it is well known is under the superintendance of the Missionaries of the Church of Scotland, was held on the 19th of August last, in presence of George Temple, Esq. of Bagandee, the Rev. D. Ewart of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland's mission, the Rev. A. F. Lacroix of the London

We can only write from the current reports except when our good friends supply us with more authentic information, and for which we shall always be thankful.-ED.

Missionary Society and some native gentlemen. The scholars, generally speaking, acquitted themselves to the great satisfaction of the examiners and the progress they had made during the year reflected no small credit on their diligence, and the skill and good management of their teacher Mr. Shields.

The examination commenced by the pupils reading some parts of the Holy Scriptures and answering questions regarding their contents; the knowledge of Gospel history which the two first classes displayed was truly gratifying. Not the least objection seems to be made, even in this thoroughly Hindu district, to the perusal of the word of God, which fact affords another proof that the Natives have not that prejudice nor those objections against religious instruction which some suppose they entertain. Indeed, these objections, when properly inquired into, are generally found to be mere chimeras existing only in the imagination of a few Europeans;—and when offered by Natives, it has been repeatedly ascertained that they were by no means spontaneous on their part, but had been suggested to them by the needless and ill-timed apprehensions and interference of those who would have done well to have left Natives alone in matters of this description. Experience has by this time most satisfactorily shewn that schools on Christian principles may and can with the greatest ease and safety be established all over the country.

The readiness with which most of the scholars replied to the questions put to them on History, Geography, Astronomy, Mathematics, &c., plainly shewed that they had acquired a more than superficial knowledge of these various branches of science. In Composition, a striking improvement had taken place: several of the written essays by the elder pupils, especially one on " Friendship" and another on " Books," were excellent. A humorous description, by a youth of the second class, of a native gentleman of the old stamp, giving an account of his mode of life, occupations, pastimes, revelries, &c., was most accurate, though, it must be granted, not very flattering to the character depicted.

The examination being concluded, the Rev. Mr. Lacroix expressed to the young people his own satisfaction and that of his colleagues with what they had witnessed and gave them a short address which was listened to with apparently great attention and interest; after which prizes consisting of useful books were presented to the most deserving scholars by G. Temple, Esq. the steady friend of the Institution.

The number of pupils present amounted to somewhat more than a hundred measures have been taken which it is hoped will shortly ensure a far more numerous attendance. May the blessing of the Almighty rest on this and all similar institutions.

The scholars are divided into eight classes. Prizes were distributed to the highest boys in each class. Our limited space, however, forbids us subjoining more than the names of those who obtained prizes in the first four classes.