I entertain some hope, that we shall, by and bye, have a Female School at that place. I was told, last evening, by my Pundit, that there came yesterday afternoon a girl of her own accord to School, and wanted to learn to read and to write, which of course was not denied to her. And this I heard again of her this morning, by one of our men whom I sent there, who told me that she had already learned the first five letters; and he informs me that there will come a few more. I gave a commission, several days ago, to a man to look out for a Female School at that place, but he has not yet given me any answer; and it is clear that these few female children, whom I have mentioned, have not been called upon to visit our School, which shews that there is some desire among

them for instruction.

Miss Cooke, in a Letter to the Secretary of the British and Foreign School Society, thus speaks of her entrance on her work:

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I will mention the particulars of my first day's work. Mr. Corrie advised my attending one of the Boys' Schools for conversation. I fixed on one in the midst of the Native Town. Besides conversation, I hoped I might be able to induce the boys to bring their sisters to school. While there, some children crowded about the door, which annoyed the Pundit, and he began to drive them away. I desired that they would not send away girls, as I wished to speak with them. The man said, one girl had long wished to learn; but he could not teach her, not having received any order to teach girls. I said I would teach her: on which she looked pleased and surprised. Two more little girls followed; and the next day I found twelve assembled. I hope, as things advance, that women will be induced to learn, in order to instruct others; as at present it is difficult to find a Native Woman who can read..

On the 30th of April, of last year, she writes thus :—

I fancy at first both myself and plans were viewed by many here as wILD: in

deed they now tell me so some, however, took a different view. As yet I have only taught reading and writing; but I sometimes speak of teaching them needle-work, as soon as they can read pretty well, which I wish them to consider as a FAVOUR. crowd of the fathers and mothers around I have always a me, as well as children; and they appear much interested.

I find fancy articles, such as I brought out-indeed every thing European-sell high here: I was, therefore, advised to sell them, in order to give rewards to the children. Mrs. Corrie has kindly engaged to dispose of them; and you will be happy to hear that I have received 200 rupees for the greater part of them -a few still remaining on hand the Ladies have all been kind in assisting to sell them. This little fund has enabled me to give the girls a trifle now and then and I promise them a "sary" as soon as they know all the characters and double letters; so that they can begin reading. The "sary" is the only covering a Hindoo Woman or Girl wears: it is a long cloth, from four to seven yards long: it is first wound round the body to form a short petticoat, then passed round the neck, and thrown over one shoulder: when well put on, they are graceful. A perfect covering costs about

two rupees.

perceive that we stand in great need of From what I have written, you will funds. Twenty or thirty pounds will erect an ordinary School, and about the same sum will pay the Native Teachers. I see the necessary expenses of an Euport of a large School, will be considerropean here, with the erection and sup

able. We shall, therefore, want all the assistance that you can render us in England.

Mr.Corrie thus speaks, in a Letter to the same Gentleman, on the subject of Female Schools;

By quietly and perseveringly attempting their good on a small scale, the Natives are gradually led to see the advantages arising to themselves; and thus they will desire greater opportunities. In this way, moral improvements have generally proceeded here; and some of those very Native Gentlemen, who declined, as Members of the School Committee, taking part publickly in Na. tive Female Education, privately assist us in procuring ground for erecting

Schools, &c. Many here feel grateful to a gracious Providence, for putting it into your hearts to send Miss Cooke forth; and consider it, as one proof, among many, that her services were wanted. Our strongest ground of encouragement is, the promise that the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth; and the general union of Christians, in prayer for the promised grace of the Holy Spirit, is a happy omen.

MADRAS.

Successful Introduction of Ophthalmic
Practice.

Ar the close of the extracts, on a [receding page, from a Treatise by Rammohun Roy, that intelligent Native acknowledges, though not with the cordiality which might have been expected from him, the obligations of his countrymen to the Power under which they now live. We are happy to add another instance to its claims on their gratitude. Competent judges, indeed, on this subject will consider the moral and religious advantages which British Christians are conferring on India, as establishing for them the character of being its noblest Benefactors: yet they will rejoice to witness the alleviation, by British Institutions, of social and physical evils; not only for the lessening thereby of the sum of human misery, but especially as conciliating the Natives, and thus opening to them the way to still greater blessings.

In this view, we quote, with pleasure, the following passage from an Address, lately circulated by the Committee of the "London Ophthalmic Infirmary;" from which it appears that the Natives of India, vast multitude of whom suffer under the most painful Diseases of the Eye, are now beginning to receive that relief which they have hitherto sought in vain :

Of the numerous Institutions, the offspring of this School, one only will now be particularly noticed. The MADRAS EYE INFIRMARY attests the munificence of the East-India Companythe prevalence and severity of Ophthal

mic Disease in India-and the power and energy of the Original Institution, in imparting to that distant, but interesting region, the means of cure or alleviation.

In the year 1818, Mr. R. Richardson received permission from the East-India Company to carry the practice of the London Ophthalmic Infirmary_to_the British Dominions in Asia. The nature, extent, and effect of the relief administered under the sanction and liberal support of the Presidency of Madras, are shewn in plain but affecting terms, in Official Reports addressed to the Medical Board of Madras. Mr. Richardson states, that, during three years, ending the 30th of June 1822, three hundred and eighty-one cases of Cataract were successfully treated; and he particularly notices the frequency of total blindness from opacities of the cornea, of which he speaks, under the name of "Leucoma." This class of cases does not admit of Cure; but Mr.

Richardson observes-" I have never, however, met with a case that did not admit of Relief; and of those borne on the Report, many were restored from total blindness to a degree of sight, small indeed, but to them of inestimable value." And further-" The large proaffords a convincing proof, at once, of portion of cases of this description the prevalence and mismanagement of Ophthalmic Disease in this country. Of the numerous cases of this affection which swarm in every town and village, some doubtless owe their origin to measles and small-pox; but by far the greater number are the consequences of severe Ophthalmia, unchecked by the appropriate means, and proceeding to transparency of the external tunics of ulcerate, and eventually to destroy the the eye. I feel that I am well borne out, in assuming that many of the cases of Ophthalmia and Iritis, in the Reports, have been saved from this termination, by the timely means of counteraction afforded by the Eye Infirmary." Of 256 cases of this class, 221 are reported restored to a degree of sight."

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In the first Report it is observed, that "the benefits of the Institution have not been confined to paupers or the lower castes: a considerable proportion of the patients has always consisted of agriculturists, artisans, and shopkeepers, and the number of Brahmins has seldom been under 15-a circum

stance which, I trust, will be received as an exception highly creditable to the Eye Infirmary; namely, that this latter class, who in general regard all European Institutions with aversion and contempt, should eagerly seek to avail themselves of its benefits, and reside without scruple within its walls. Half-castes, Portuguese, and Native Christians, also, are always to be found in the Infirmary. Moreover, besides those borne on the Report, relief has been daily afforded to applicants of all descriptions, including Europeans, whose cases were not of a nature to require admission into the Infirmary." The number of In-Patients of all classes, in the three years, approximates to Two

THOUSAND.

The submission of the prejudices of the Brahmins to the influence of art, directed to their physical relief-the consideration of the extent of service actually performed at Madras, and the more important consideration of the future prevention of blindness, the means of which, in a high degree, it may now be hoped are secured to India for ever-cannot be adverted to without an animated expression of delight; nor can the Institution, whence, under a UNIVERSAL PROVIDENCE, these blessings spring, be placed in a point of view more grateful to its supporters.

Australasia.

New Zealand.

WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Leigh at the Bay of Islands, in January 1822, was stated at p. 68 of the Survey. They resided at the Settlement of the Church Missionary Society at Rangheehoo; and were to remain there, till the arrival of fellow-labourers and the circumstances of the country should enable them to establish themselves in a Station of their own. Some extracts from Mr.Leigh's Journal corroborate the views repeatedly given by us of the

Views and Superstitions of the Natives. Aug. 20, 1822-A Young Man, who was far gone in a consumption, asked me if the White Man's God was a good God: and when I answered in the affirmative, he observed, that theNew-Zealand Man's god was a very bad god, for he ate their

inside, and made them very ill. "Besides," said he, "our god gives us no such bread, and clothes, and good houses, as your God gives you."

One tribe object to Europeans settling among them; and give this reason:That if the White People came to live among them, they would bring the European God with them, who would kill the whole tribe: since the White People have been at the Bay of Islands, many New-Zealand Men have died, and their God is very angry with them,

Aug. 25-Last Sabbath, Mrs. Leigh and I visited a number of the Natives who were planting potatoes. I conversed with them, for the first time, in their own language, on the evil of working on the Sabbath Day, and recommended that they and their slaves should rest on Sundays. The people said, that they would work no more that day, but rest until the day after; which I believe they did.

I lately met with a Priest, who directed my attention to a place where the bones of a young woman lay. He said he had killed her for going with a sailor to a ship, which was contrary to his order; and that after he had put her to death, he gave her body to his men, who ate it, near the place where her bones were now strewed.

At a little distance from the abovementioned place, he shewed me another spot, where were the bones of a man whom he had killed for stealing potatoes. Among themselves, theft is punished with death; but not so if they steal from persons of another nation, or from their enemies.

Zealand was with the hat which I took The first pig that I bought in New off my head: nothing which I had besides would procure it, and we had been in the land four months without animal food.

I always disapproved of Missionaries procuring food, or any thing else, with muskets and powder: and although we have suffered for a time in consequence, lately been able to purchase pigs for I hope the trial is nearly over. We have

dollars.

Aug. 30-In one of the Native Villages a Young Man was lately taken sick. Tea and bread were sent him from time to time; but when he himself seriously thought that he should die, he observed to the person who conveyed the food to him, that he should not eat the bread at that time, but. would save it for

Sept. 3, 1822-A sick Chief was asked by a European, "Do you pray to God to restore you to health ?" "No. We have no good God: our god is a bad spirit. He gives us no food-he makes us sick-he kills us. Yours is a good God: when you pray, your God hears you, and gives you good things. Do you pray for me? Pray for me, and I shall get well. Yours is a good God. Teach us to know him. New-Zealand People know nothing that is good: we have too much fight, and too much eat men. European People no eat men: that is very good."

I lately met with some Natives who had been fishing. I wished to procure some fish from them; but when I inquired if they would sell me some, they said that they could not let me have any, because they were the first which they had caught at that place that season, and that they must eat them on the first beach or shore which they came to; but if I wished to have some on my

more.

Oct. 14-I visited the Church Settlement at Kiddeekiddee, in which I found good wheat, barley, oats, beans, peas, and vegetables of all kinds in abundance. Five Natives can repeat the Lord's Prayer and the Belief by heart, and are able to answer many questions on religious subjects.

At the latest date, Nov. the 16th, Mr. Leigh writes

You will be glad to hear of our safe continuance in New Zealand. We are, and shall remain, at the Bay of Islands, till Br. White, or some one else, arrives to assist in the Mission, inasmuch as it would be useless for me to fix in any place in this land by myself.

Mrs. Leigh and I are going on in learning the language, and are doing a little among the Natives. The prayers or hymns in the native language, we can read and sing with ease; and you will be pleased to hear, that the NewZealanders join with us in repeating and singing these compositions.

American Baptist Missions.

To the deaths which have lately taken place among the Labourers of the Baptist Societies, must be added that of Mrs. Price, Wife of Dr. Price, Missionary at Rangoon.

American Board of Missions. Mrs. Kingsbury, Wife of the Rev. Cyrus Kingsbury, Missionary at Mayhew among the Choctaws, died on the 15th of September.

A considerable body of Missionaries embarked, on the 19th of November, at Newhaven, in the "Thames," destined to re-inforce the Mission at the Sandwich Islands. The Rev. Messrs. Goodell and Bird, with their Wives, (see p. 158,) arrived at Malta, on the 21st of January.

Baptist Missionary Society. Krishnoo Paul, the first Hindoo Convert, who was baptized in 1800, and has been long employed in preaching the Gospel to his countrymen, died, in the autumn, at Serampore.

Mr. T. Knibb, with his Wife, embarked, on the 30th of October, in the "Ocean," for Jamaica; and arrived there on the 19th of January: a free passage was granted them, through the kindness of the owners, Messrs. Angas, of Newcastle.

Mrs. Bourne, who went out, with her Husband, in the same vessel, on a former voyage, to Honduras, has been early removed by death from her labours.

Church Missionary Society. Mr. Michael Wilkinson and Mr. David T. Jones, having been admitted, by the Bishop

of London, on Sunday the 22d of December, to Deacon's Orders, received Priest's Orders, from the Bishop of Bristol, at Cambridge, by Letters Dimissory, on Sunday the 13th of April. Mr. Wilkinson had been under preparation upward of four years, and is appointed to Calcutta: Mr. Jones had been connected with the Society about three years, and is to proceed to the North-WestAmerica Mission. Miss Hannah Cortis has been appointed to assist Mrs. Mayor and the education of Female Cingalese Children. Mrs. Ward, at Baddagamme, in Ceylon, in ing of the Committee-Major-GeneralCharles On Friday last, the 25th of April, at a MeetNeville, Vice-President, in the Chair—Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson, and Miss Cortis, were dismissed to their labours; the Secretary having addressed them, and Mr. Wilkinson replied, the Secretary commended them, in prayer, to the protection and grace of Almighty God. On the 25th, they proceeded to Gravesend, to embark on board the Palmira, Captain Lamb, who conveyed the Rev. Joseph Bailey and his companions to Ceylon in 1821.

A passage was taken in the same vessel for Miss Jane Cooke, Sister to Miss Cooke, now in the Society's service in Calcutta: she was about to proceed to India, to assist in the Female Schools. But it pleased God otherwise to determine. She was

taken ill at the close of February, but was gradually recovering and had appointed to leave Marlborough, where she lived, at

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