218 MISSIONS IN SOUTH INDIA. Lord's days, for six or seven hours, for a fortnight, and were conducted with the greatest propriety, in the most becoming spirit, and highly to our satisfaction. Every subject received the most deliberate and impartial consideration. We shall now proceed to a report of the mission at Madras.-Madras, including Fort St. George, Black Town, Triplicane, St. Thomè, Royapettah, Persewaukum, Vepery, Royapooram, with some other villages near, contains a vast population, estimated by some at 100,000, and by others at three times that number. The greatest proportion are Hindoos; here are, besides Mahommedans, Persees, Europeans, and people from almost all nations; a mixed multitude. The Europeans, in general, reside in the neighborhood of Madras, in what are called garden-houses, many of which are excellent, and beautifully situated, in the middle of their respective compounds, and surrounded by elegant shrubberies. These houses extend to the distance of six or seven miles from the fort. They are occupied by the of ficers of government, military gentlemen, merchants, and tradesmen. The fort is, no doubt, one of the finest in the world. The palace of the governor is a large and handsome building, situated to the south of the fort, with a view of the sea in front. The Black Town is fortified on the land side, and is open to the sea to the east. It is laid out with great regularity, and contains a large population, principally natives. Here are many good houses. Here is the mint, and also the jail, an Episcopal church, and one of the missionchapels, a Roman Catholic and Methodist chapel, mosques and Hindoo pagodas in great numbers, but none of large dimensions. Facing the sea is an extensive row of fine buildings, among which is the supreme court, the customhouse, general post-office, board of trade, and several merchants' houses, &c. Behind these are several very good European shops. Excellent water is raised from wells situated on the northern side of Black Town, and is conveyed all over it by means of pipes, from which also ships are supplied. There is likewise an Episcopal church in Fort St. George, and another more to the southward; likewise one in Vepery, near which is the other mission-chapel, and not far off is a beautiful Scotch church. In this part of the suburbs, but still more southward, is a college for instructing cadets and civilians in the eastern languages; and not far from it is the observatory, at which an astronomer is supported. At the village of St. Thomè is a popish establishment, and several churches belonging to that communion; and at Royapooram, on the north side of Black Town, is another large and handsome church of the same description. Mr. Sawyer, one of the Church missionaries, is building a small church, a little to the west of Black Town, for the benefit of the natives. Here the gospel is preached, and also by Mr. Ridsdale, the other Church missionary, at the Episcopal mission-church in Black Town. There is another Episcopal church in Black Town, in which the Rev. Mr. Denton officiates. But little, we fear, can be said in favor of the doctrines delivered at the other places of worship, excepting the two missionchapels, in which the missionaries of our own Society proclaim the truth as it is in Jesus, with perspicuity and fidelity. In this great city it is delightful to find Missionary, Bible, and Tract Societies, orphan schools, for both boys and girls; various other schools, and many other institutions of a noble and benevolent kind, such as adorn most of the great cities and towns in our own favored land. Here are many pious and excellent individuals belonging to different denominations, several of whom are amongst the first classes of society, and breathe much of the lovely spirit of the gospel. The neighborhood of Madras is greatly benefited and adorned by the rivers and canals, which run in different. directions, and over which several beautiful bridges are thrown. The roads are amongst the best in the world; and, though the climate is hot, the locality is considered as very healthy. Persewaukum are of worship, of the Each will accomhundred persons, The two chapels at Black Town and respectable, neat, and comfortable places same size, and built after the same plan. modate, with great comfort, about three and are very well situated, being surrounded by a great population. In Black Town chapel there is public service on Lord's day mornings and evenings, when about 150 persons, principally country-born, attend. There is also a public service in the week-evenings, not well frequented. Connected with it are the charity-schools, which are well conducted; the girls are under the superintendence of Mrs. Crisp. The children receive a good useful education, and are in respectable condition as to progress, discipline, &c. The numbers are as usual. Here is a church, organized on Independent 220 MISSIONS IN SOUTH INDIA. principles, consisting of about twenty members. There is also a small number formed into a society at Persewaukum chapel, where there is public service on Lord's-day evenings, and once in the week; but it is but thinly attended, especially of late, owing to the commencement of a public service, at the same hour, at Vepery church, which is very near. In future, however, there is to be a public week-evening service, alternately, at Persewaukum and Black Town chapels. Mr. Crisp and Mr. Taylor, assisted by Mr. Traveller, have divided all these services among them, and take them in rotation. But new arrangements were made, just before we left Madras, in consequence of which a division of labor has been adjusted between Mr. Crisp and Mr. Taylor; Mr. Crisp takes under his care the chapel in Black Town, with all its pastoral and ministerial duties, the freeschools, and all the native schools in that part of Madras; Mr. Taylor has under his care Persewaukum chapel, with its duties, and all the schools in that direction, and the native Tamil service, which is held there on Lord's-day mornings. In consequence of this division, we doubt not that the whole work will be better done, and more labor bestowed. Though a small congregation of natives attend at Persewaukum chapel on Lord's-day mornings, they cannot be regarded as belonging to it, but to another mission, and attend here when there is no service at their own church. They are not heathen, but native Christians, principally the fruits of the Tanjore and Tranquebar missions. They come here as occasional attendants only. Messrs. Crisp and Taylor have hitherto taken these services alternately, and preached the gospel to them in their own tongue, which is the Tamil. As before mentioned, this service will devolve wholly on Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Crisp will endeavor to prosecute some new plan of labor among the natives. Connected with the Society's mission in Madras, are schools containing nearly 600 children, principally heathen. Having held a public examination of them, we had great reason to be satisfied with the state and progress of the boys in reading, their knowledge of their catechisms, &c. All these schools are conducted on Christian principles, and all who are capable read the Scriptures as a common school-book. There was, till lately, a central school here, under the superintendence of Mr. Crisp, whose object it was to qualify young men to become assistants in the mission, schoolmas MADRAS. 221 ters, &c. But while it was a considerable expense to the Society, it rendered no compensation to the cause. For so soon as the boys obtained an education which qualified them for any situation in which they could obtain a livelihood, they immediately left the school, to which neither gratitude nor any previous engagement could bind them, or to the objects contemplated by the Society. The number at length was reduced to three; and we advised that these should be dismissed and the school discontinued. Such is likely to be the result with all similar institutions, especially in the vicinity of Madras; for no sooner are the pupils qualified for the purposes proposed, than they can obtain situations in shops, or as writers in offices, &c., in which they can have better stipends than they could hope for as schoolmasters, readers, &c.; and that side on which their worldly interest lies will always be preferred by a people so notorious for covetousness, and want of gratitude and natural affection, as the inhabitants of these countries. To teach them English does but increase the evil. A similar attempt was made at Bellary, and failed from the same causes. The world, and not the mission, will reap the advantages of such expenditure of missionary money. Here is no law to bind them to render their services to the mission: and, if there were, such heartless agents would be of no worth. There are two assistants connected with this mission at Madras. Mr. Nimmo appears to be a valuable and active young man, and is of great service in visiting the schools, &c. The other, whose name is Teruchelroy, is old, and able to do but little. Mrs. Crisp has lately raised a girls' school, consisting of sixteen children, which she has under her care on the mission-premises. But, as they have been but a few months under instruction, but little can be expected from them. They are under the tuition of a native young woman. There are two pious and worthy Wesleyan missionaries in Madras, Mr. Carver and Mr. Hoole. They have a small chapel in Black Town, at which the one officiates in English, the other devotes his time to the natives. But little has been effected as yet, we regret to say, in either depart ment. Having completed our report of the state of the different missions in this peninsula, in which we have endeavored to 222 MISSIONS IN SOUTH INDIA. give you as clear an idea of their present condition as we can, we shall proceed to notice some miscellaneous subjects, relating to this mission in general, which we deem of importance, and deserving the attention of the directors. [The deputation having, accordingly, submitted several important points connected with the peninsular mission, in general, for the consideration of the directors, proceed as follows.] As we had not an opportunity of addressing our farewellletter to the brethren previously to our leaving the shores of India, of course we could not receive any letters in reply. Numerous private communications we have received from them, of the most flattering and gratifying nature to ourselves, and which justify the conclusion that the objects contemplated in our visit by the board of directors have been amply realized. We inclose, however, a copy of a letter from Mr. Hands, which we received from him immediately before we parted from him at Madras, and which may be regarded as speaking the sentiments of all his brethren sentiments which, we doubt not, will be as pleasing to our brethren in the direction as they are consolatory to ourselves. Mauritius.-On reaching this island, we were gratified with receiving a letter from the directors, dated April 2, 1827. The reports which we hear, respecting the state of things in Madagascar, appear to render our visit to that mission of essential importance; but the length of our absence, and the state of the funds of the Society, unite to make us hesitate as to the propriety of going there, as it would occasion an additional expense, and the loss of four or five months as to time; the state of the season there, and the unhealthiness of the climate now, being such as to render it imprudent to make the attempt. Indeed, all communication between this island and that is now suspended, and vessels will not begin to trade thither again till next April or May. Should we not go, we hope to be in England early in the spring of 1828; but, should we go, it will be in the autumn of that year before we can reach home. We anxiously wait to know the will of God, and, so soon as we have resolved on our plan, we shall give you information. We beg that you will present our united Christian love to all our esteemed brethren in the direction. We pray that your united exertions may be owned of God for the greater |