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oppression on his chest, his eye fell on one* who stood at the foot of the bed, who had been born and reared in all the delusions of Muhammadanism, but who has for many years proved, through the grace of God, a very consistent and devoted Christian. A heavenly smile instantly broke over the wan face of the sufferer, which was instantly responded to by the converted Musalman in the true spirit of our text-Bhay karío ná, bhay karío né, Prabhu nikate dánṛáitechhen-(Fear not, fear not, the Lord is standing by thee.) The dying saint nodded his assent, and deeply were all around affected with the spectacle of one in the garb and mien of an Oriental, and in a strange tongue, helping to soothe the death-bed of a British Christian with the sublime consolations of the word of God. After this, Mr. Pearce seemed gradually to sink into insensibility, and about 9 o'clock the scene was closed."

The following account of the funeral, taken from the Calcutta Christian Advocate, we think worthy of insertion in this place, as it seems to say to all emphatically, "Behold the perfect man, and mark the upright, the end of that man is peace."

"The funeral was attended by a vast concourse of ministerial and other friends-we may add, we believe, by almost every convalescent Missionary in the city. The deep feeling manifested by all parties, showed how much he had been respected while living, and how evidently he was sorrowed for in death. Previously to the removal of the corpse from the mission premises, suitable portions of scripture were read by the Rev. J. D. Ellis, and an affecting prayer was offered by the Rev. W. Yates. Mr. Yates is by this mournful event, left the last of those who originally formed the Calcutta Mission. He was evidently much affected by the severing of this last link which connected him with his early Mission work. At the grave's mouth a striking and affecting address was delivered, and prayer offered by the Rev. F. Tucker. The pall was borne by the following Missionaries: the Rev. W. S. Mackay, of the Scottish Mission; the Rev. F. Wybrow, of the Church Mission; the Rev. Messrs. Gogerly, Lacroix, and Boaz, of the London Mission, and others. The scene at the grave was very affecting. There were gathered around the last sleeping place of this good man, the converted Hindu, Musalmán, Armenian, Portuguese, Eurasian, and European, lay and clerical, of all the different shades of opinion in the Christian church, all gathered together to pay the last mark of respect to departed worth; a faint type of that morning when the same grave shall be opened, and all the just shall stand around the throne of Christ, with their differences healed, united in heart and soul, to pay all homage not to man, however excellent, but to that blessed Lord who hath redeemed them by his own precious blood. But

"Why should we mourn departed friends,

Or start at Death's alarms?"

For him to die was gain. What a blessed change has passed over our friend! What a reception must his happy spirit have experienced on its arrival at the heavenly Canaan!—To meet with his devoted parents, with Lawson, and Chamberlain, and Penney, and other friends endeared to him by a host of most sacred associations, and with many, of whom he could say: "Behold these the children whom thou hast given me !”—the crown of his rejoicing and his reward:-but above all to see Him whom unseen he had adored, and present these converts as trophies at His feet, what joy-how full and complete!"

* Shujaat Alí.

On Lord's-day the 29th of March, two funeral sermons were preached in Calcutta, on account of Mr. Pearce's death: one in the morning, at the Chapel in Intally, to the Native church, in Bengálí, by Mr. Yates; from Heb. xi. 4: "He being dead yet speaketh;" and the other in the evening, at the Dharamtalá Chapel, in English, by Mr. Tucker, from Rev. i. 17, 18: " And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." The attendance on the occasion was such as to evince how well he was known and how much he was beloved*.

The above brief historical outline of Mr. Pearce's life and death occupying all the space that could be given in this number, the delineation of his character is reserved to the next.

Resolution passed at the Monthly Missionary Conference.

At the monthly Missionary meeting for prayer and conference, held at Mirzapore on Tuesday, 7th April, 1840, the brethren unanimously agreed not to separate on the present occasion, without placing on record, in the minutes of their proceedings, their united testimony to the high_christian worth and truly Missionary spirit of their lamented brother, the late Rev. W. H. PEARCE, whom it has pleased the great Head of the church to call unto himself, since they last met together. To all was he endeared by many amiable Christian qualities. Those who had the privilege and pleasure of intimate intercourse with him, felt that in him they possessed a kind and affectionate friend, a brotherly and judicious counsellor-one who in the true spirit of Catholic Christianity sympathized with his brethren of all denominations in their difficulties, and rejoiced with them in the success of their labours. In his departure, the Missionary body generally, throughout this Presidency, have sustained a loss which may not soon be repaired. His house was the Missionary's home,-ever open to receive with kind hospitality, and into Christian fellowship, those who in the course of their Missionary pilgrimage, required a resting place in this city. But the Missionary body, of which he was, for upwards of twenty years, an efficient and laborious member, have lost in him a FATHER and a BROTHER. Their brethren of other denominations desire, to sympathize with them in the loss which their Mission has sustained, and to pray that the Lord of the vineyard would raise up other labourers to fill up the breach, which in his all-wise Providence, he has seen it meet to make. With the bereaved widow would the Missionary brethren also desire to mingle their sorrow. She has sustained a loss which He alone, who is the Husband of the widow, can compensate. May the GoD of ISRAEL be her stay and her rock ;-may his grace be vouchsafed to her, in rich abundance, and may she be comforted by those consolations which He, in whom she trusts, and who has called his servant into the blessedness of eternal rest, can bountifully give.

By desire of the members of the Missionary Conference, the Chairman and Secretary of the Meeting beg to forward the above resolution to the bereaved partner of their beloved and lamented Brother, and to his colleagues in the Missionary cause. (Signed) THOMAS BOAZ, Chairman. DAVID EWART, Sec.

We are sorry that there is one omission of no small amount in the detail of the labors of our lamented friend. We refer to his literary exertion as Editor of this, and a contributor to at least one other Magazine. We trust the compiler will supply the omission in his next article.-ED.

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Poetry.

"KNOW'ST THOU THE LAND."

(In imitation of Goethe.)

"They desire a better country." He looked for a city."-" In my Father's house are many mansions."-Sacred Scriptures.

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Ye blood-purchased myriads, with you would I go.

Know'st thou the house with its mansions of rest,
Where the wonders of Heaven are revealed to the blest?
Where the seraphim join with the numberless throng
To swell the loud strains of the Conqueror's song?
Know'st thou it?

Thither, Oh thither,

Triumphant Redeemer! with Thee would I go.

W..

Missionary and Religious Entelligence.

1.-MISSIONARY AND ECCLESIASTICAL MOVEMENTS.

The Bishop of Calcutta proceeds on his visitation tour in the possession of health and strength.-Letters have been received from the Cape from the Rev. W. P. Lyon, who sailed in the Owen Glendower. We are glad to report the improving state of Mrs. L.'s health. The other Missionary connexions, and in fact all on board, were well; they had had rather a tedious, but otherwise agreeable passage to the Cape. The Rev. A. Gros, formerly of the Mauritius Mission, whose departure under painful circumstances, as it respected his health. was noticed in a recent number, has materially recovered by his voyage to Europe. Mr. G., it is believed, will be employed in future as a Missionary to his countrymen in France and Switzerland.-We regret to learn that the entire failure of the health of the Rev. W. Buyers, of the Banáras Mission, renders it imperatively necessary that he should proceed immediately to Europe. The Rev. Mr. Moore of Agra has been appointed to the office of translator to the North Western Provinces.

2.-THE CHARAK PUJA'.

The Charak Pujá, concerning the debasing practices of which we have raised our voices every year, has again been practised (with some slight modifications) in the midst of this city of palaces, seat of the Supreme Government and fountain of education.-Can it be possible, (is an inquiry which may well be instituted by many,) that here in Calcutta-in the sight of Government House, the Native subjects of our most gracious Queen shall be permitted, under the sanction of superstition, to cut and maim and lacerate one another in a manner which is perfectly revolting to reflect upon, and involving consequences which deserve no milder designation than murder! It is not only possible or probable, but it is actually the case: hundreds have within the very site of the seat of Government, perpetrated atrocities on one another, at which civi lized humanity shudders, and at which every thing worthy of the name of religion hides its head. This Pujá, reprobated by the whole press, and by many Hindus, and by, we should suppose, all Christians-this Pujá has existed long enough (far too long)-it is a blot upon the lowest order of human beings, and a deep disgrace to every thing Christian in the land, that it has not long since ceased. We do trust, that all persons interested in the real welfare of the people will unite in collecting information, and placing it speedily before the Supreme Government with a view to the suppression of the Pujá at the earliest possible period. Some surely may endeavour to influence the wealthy Babus on whose aid it materially, if not altogether, depends. How disgraceful is it, that men who can squander their money for such barbarous purposes should be amongst the regular visitants at Government House, or be elected members of any enlightened Society, or specially should be ranked amongst the friends of education and enlightenment! We sincerely hope that ere another year it will almost cease to be.

3. THE BRAHMA SHABHA,

This Hindu Star Chamber is, we are given to understand, on the eve of dissolution. Some of the most respectable of its members have intimated their intention to resign all connexion with it, if they have not already done so; thanks to the well-timed and pungent exposés of the press for this fresh triumph over ignorance and superstition. It is matter of astonishment, that such a Society should have been allowed to exist under the very eye of the Government so long, containing as it did a power unconstitutional and far too potent for any Society in such a country under a foreign Government. But the chief matter of astonishment is, that the natives should have so long borne with the arrogance and assumed authority of this conclave: the end is, however, we believe, at hand. At such an event there can be but one feeling and that one of rejoicing, to think that a Society which originated in a desire to perpetuate the Satí, and continued but to sow the seeds of domestic discord on every hand, is nearly defunct.

4. THE MAURITIUS.

From the late arrivals we find that the state of things at the Mauritius is not a whit more settled than the atmosphere of that district of storms. The subject of Cooly importation nolens volens appears to have occupied much of the attention of the inhabitants. A Committee for procuring laborers or slaves had been appointed, but it does not seem to have met with the entire approbation of the planters. They appear to wish to deal directly in human beings themselves-an agent has been despatched to England to facilitate the business of enslaving the Coolies of India. In the meantime a vessel has been despatched by some private

individuals to the coast of Madagascar and the Mozambique channel, with a view to provide slaves for the Mauritius market. The attempt of the Legislature to pass a law for the better observance of the Sabbath, with a view to protect the apprentices, alias free laborers, alias slaves, has met with the opposition and ridicule of the planters' press. We are natives of a Catholic country,' says the principal journal, and in such countries the Sabbath ceases, when the morning worship closes.' Admirable reasoning! and is this the mercifulness of popery—to make the day of rest cease in Mauritius at the close of morning worship, to the poor slave under a politer name? The departure of Sir William Nicolay, a man who for his neutrality and humanity has earned for himself the dislike of the many, is marked by insult; while the return of M. D'Epinay, the agitator of Mauritius, is celebrated in the most marked manner. The man who represents Her Most Gracious Majesty, is insulted for carrying into effect her humane intentions; the man who beards her representative, is flattered and caressed. In a word, the present state of feeling at the Mauritius is soon told-it is a desire to maintain the old slave-holding pseudo French system; or in other words, the pecuniary and political influence of the very very few, at the expense of the many. We hope the friends of the Cooly will not sleep at their post, but watch most vigilantly the every movement of the Mauritians in this matter.

5. THE COOLIES IN THE WEST INDIES.

The last Overland contains an item to this effect. One sentence in it says that the Coolies are contented, cheerful and happy; another, that they have expressed their determination to return to this country, and this most decidedly, at the expiration of their apprenticeship. It is said, their repugnance to Christianity has, in a great measure, ceased, and they are anxious to assume the Europo-African dress and to intermarry with the Africans. One sentence already hints at the probability of the coolies finding their way to Texas. Surely this cannot be. Will this be taking their labor to the best market? On the whole, we cannot reconcile the idea of a happy, cheerful, contented Cooly determining to come back to his monkey estate, and all the discomforts so constantly described by the Gladstonites as existing in the hills of the Santals and Coles-descriptions of which will be found in another page, exhibiting the present real monkey condition of the former companions of these kidnapped people. We leave our readers to draw their own inference on this subject-but we do once more ask, Where is the Cooly Report?

6. SOCIETY FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF THE OPIUM TRADE WITH CHINA. A Society having for its object the suppression of the destructive and contraband trade of Opium with China has been formed in England. We fear it is too late in the day, at least that its operation must be held in abeyance pending the waging of war with the celestials. In the mean time from all accounts of the fearful increase of the use of this healthdestroying drug in England, the efforts of the Society may well be applied there for every Overland but brings intelligence of the increased use of opium by all classes-than which scarcely a greater evil could befal that country.

7. THE MARRIAGE OF THE QUEEN.

Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria has, as our readers will long since have been informed, entered into the marriage relation with Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg and Gotha. We chronicle this event as one of interest to all who feel for the welfare of our youthful Sovereign and the best interests of the country, to express our unfeigned plea

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