The malignant and the licentious passions are carried to an extreme, especially among the Priests, which meet with few parallels in the records of fallen man.

There is no country, in which the assertion of the Psalmist is more amply verified-The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

The consignment, by the nearest relatives, of helpless age or desperate sickness, to inevitable and immediate destruction in the Ganges, the exposure of female infants, and the burning of widows, are all, if not sanctioned by their religion, vindicated by common practice-without punishment, without reproach *. Nor do they less delight in the effusion of their own blood, or in the agony of their own flesh. Self-torture, as various and extraordinary in kind as a distorted fancy can suggest, as exquisite in degree as human nature can sustain, is their chief mode of recommending themselves to the favour of their God; and their Moloch is gratified, from year to year, by Hecatombs of self-murder +.

But it seems to have been reserved to this people to reach the very acme of wickedness in this crime. The hatred of God manifest in their suicide, is, if possible, still further aggravated by the most consummate hatred of man.

Where other revenge for a supposed injury is not in their power, they are known to destroy themselves, expressly in order that the guilt of their death may rest upon their enemies; and in hopes, that, in the process of the Metempsychosis, to which they give implicit credit, they may have more speedy opportunity of wreaking their full vengeance upon the offender. But thus fulfilling one part of the Apostle's

reverence, of humble and willing submission, and readiness to do every thing that may be required of them; and, as long as they discern something either to expect or fear, they are wonderfully patient of slights, neglects, and injuries."

• The testimonies to the fact of the existence of these practices are too numerous, and too well known, to require citation. The evidence of Pundits and chief Brahmins, assembled for the purpose by the Marquis Wellesley, is of itself sufficient. The number of women, who sacrificed themselves annually within thirty miles round Calcutta, was, upon an average, two hundred ; and, in the whole of Northern India, it is supposed to fall little short of 10,000.

The rites of the Idol Jaggernaut afford a striking specimen of their religious suicide.

✰ Several instances are recorded of this astonishing fact-especially, as committed by Brahmins and to it may be added the occasional practice of destroying a child or a relation, from the same motive-Vide the accounts of the custom called Dhurna, and Lord Teignmouth's Discourse. Asiatic Researches, Vol. IV. p. 337.

description-Without natural affection implacable, unmerciful-they thoroughly maintained their resemblance to it in the other-by giving themselves up to unclean➡* ness, through the lusts of their own hearts.

Over such scenes; Christian Decency draws a veil ; but truth demands, and our purpose requires the assertion, that the sounds, the sights, and the acts of Public Indian Worship, the correspondent con. duct of the Priests, and the faithful imitation of the People, may fairly contend in horror with the SINISTER renown of the mysteries and the orgies in Pagan Greece and Rome §.

There is no peace, saith

my God, to the wicked; and the unnumbered miseries, that must spring from this depth of moral degradation-the troubled thoughts within, the soul that casteth up mire and dirt, the incessant strife of contending self-love || without, the joyless lives and the hopeless deaths-must all conspire to make us apply the lamentation of Jeremiah to fair and peopled India— Was there ever sorrow like unto her

sorrow!

We shall surely then feel the full yearning of the bowels of COMPASSION towards her. We shall be then, as Englishmen, amazed and confounded at the thought of our own PAST insensibility and negligence; which has allowed so many millions to undergo such a life, and close it with such a death, without an effort, which was not comparatively insignificant, to bring them to themselves and to their God.

And, to our deep remorse for the past, we shall add our strenuous resolution for the future. We shall think no sacrifice too great, by which we can hope to relieve this distress, of which the sufferer knows neither the cause nor the remedy, and which is therefore tenfold aggravated. We shall discover the cause and foundation, the root and the source, of all this evil, in their ignorance of the true God, and their worship of the false; for, according to the words of St. Paul, Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. We shall discover it in the ido

Passim, throughout every authentic account of India.

We learn from Mr. Grant, that there seem to be but few instances of conjugal chastity, or do. mestic happiness, among the lower orders: p. 27, "Discord, hatred, abuse, slanders, injuries, complaints, and litigations, all the effects of SELFISHNESS, unrestrained by principle, prevail to a surprising degree."

latry of India-in its vain and super stitious observances-and in its ceremonial and pecuniary atonements-in the absurdity and gross immorality of much of her moral code-in the superlative unholiness of her Deities. We shall acknowledge this to be the obvious cause of all her vices and miseries, and shall not then he sitate as to the remedy. We shall do our utmost, through the instrumentality of our Society, to make India acquainted with that Name, which can alone heal her wounds and cure her disease-make the liar speak truth-humble the proudset free the oppressed-turn the tiger into the lamb-and purify the unclean; that Name which can alone justify the penitent sinner-sanctify the believer-and save to the uttermost all who place their trust in its power.

If Compassion draw out our affections toward our poor brethren in distant climes, let GRATITUDE complete and consecrate the work; and, lifting up our hearts to Him, who is our all in all, cause them to overflow toward those whom He may think fit to bless through our unworthy hands.

.

Do we acknowledge as a nation our pre-eminent obligations to our God and Saviour? an accumulation of earthly bless ings, such as no people ever before enjoyed -power, wealth, and glory, just perhaps advanced to their loftiest elevation-social advantages and domestic comforts, growing and improving from day to day

a Constitution, the envy and the pattern of the world-and a Church, in its form Apostolical; in its doctrines and spirit, Scriptural; and, above all others, qualified to communicate at home, and to disperse abroad, the treasures with which she is entrusted the unsearchable riches of Je sus Christ.

Do we ascribe all these blessings, as a free gift to the undeserved intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ; and shall we not, then, freely as we have received, freely give? Shall we not seize this spe cial occasion of offering, as our national tribute of gratitude, an unanimous Missionary Effort to the Most High? With such sacrifices He is well pleased, as fur thering the Work of His beloved Son, and hastening on that blessed period, when all the kingdoms of the world shall become

the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ.

And, lastly, to this common sympathy let each add his own personal concern to this combined offering of gratitude, let each cast in his individual contributionlet each, as he best knows his own sin and his own wants, appreciate now the special value of Jesus Christ to his own soul, and the consequent claims of his Blessed Lord upon his devoted affection

let him act in obedience to that motive, and, in proportion to its demands, measure his service to the cause of Missions, by the recollection of his own debt to the Saviour; and ever keep in steady view, the name, the command, and the honour of the Incarnate God, who lived and died that he might live for ever.

Thus only will our Society, swayed, as one man, by the double impulse of confederate gratitude and personal obligation, answer to the call of India-Come over, and help us! Thus only will our Church, identified as she ought to be with such Societies, acknowledge and appropriate to herself the summons of the Evangelical Prophet: Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee; and the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Then shalt thou see and flow together, and thine heart shall fear and be enlarged, because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of

the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

Thus only will each individual among us escape his portion of the woe, incurred by the buried as well as the mis-spent ta. lent; and ensure, through the merits of his Saviour, his share in the glorious re compence-They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRESTON ASSOCIATION.

THE First Annual Meeting of this Association was held in the Town Hall, on Wednesday, the 21st of April; the Rev. R. C. Wilson, M.A. Vicar of Preston, in the Chair.

The Meeting was very ably addressed by the Chairman; and by

+ Vide Isaiah Ix. so judiciously selected for the service of the Epiphany.

the Rev. Messrs. Law, W. C. Wilson, Mark, Birkett, and Dixon; and by T. B. Addison, W. Rawstorne, W. Cross, and C. Swainson, Esquires. The sum of 2631. has been raised by this Association, in the last year.

The Rev. Edward Law, in the course of an able review of the whole of the Society's Missions, made the following remarks on its Schools:

Particular attention has very judiciously been given to the encouragement of Schools. These seem to answer a threefold object:

1. In training up the children themselves in the fear and the knowledge of God; beginning at an age, when the seeds of vicious propensities have not been matured by practice; and when there is every prospect, under the preventing and assisting grace of God, of training the young and tender plant to bear goodly fruit.

2. This attention to their offspring naturally produces, on the part of their pa rents, a kind feeling toward their instruc

tors.

They are, perhaps, led to inquire, and to examine-to seek after the true and living God, if haply they might find him --and many a striking remark, or forcible passage of Scripture, is often carried home by the children, and conveyed with singular force to the hearts of their parents and others, laying, perhaps, the future foundation of a life devoted to the service of

their Redeemer,

the whole of this populous region; yet it will be a source of unfeigned satisfaction, and it is a privilege for which we ought to feel grateful, to be allowed to lay some of the first stones for the erection of the glorious fabric.

SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHANNEL
ISLANDS ASSOCIATION..

THE Annual Meeting of the Chan, nel Islands' Association was held at Guernsey, on Friday, the 14th of May, and was most respectably attended; Sir James Saumarez, Bart, G. C. B. President of the Associa tion, in the Chair. The Meeting was addressed by the President; by the Rev. Messrs. Mourant, Guille, Valpy, Brock, Bradley, Isdell, and Bellenger; and by Messrs. Poore and De Moulpied. The Report was written, in French, for circulation through the Country Parishes, where that language only is under stood.

Sermons were preached, at Trinity Chapel, by the Rev. T. Brock; and, at Bethel Chapel, by the Rev. William Guille. The Collections amounted to 31. 11s. 6d.

DEPUTATION TO IRELAND.

ON Monday, the 12th of April, the Assistant Secretary left London on a visit to Ireland; and was joined, at Holyhead, on Wednesday the 14th, by the Rev. George Almond, of Askham Bryan, near York. They arrived in Dublin on Thursday, the 15th; and on the following day proceeded to Cork, to assist in the form ing of an Association in that City.

On Sunday, the 18th, the Rev. Dr. Quarry preached for the So ciety, at St. Peter's, Cork, an able and impressive Sermon from Psalm ii. 8. The Collection amounted to upward of 621.

The Meeting for the purpose of forming the Association was held in the Assembly Room, on Monday. the 19th; the Worshipful the Mayor of Cork in the Chair. The room, which is large, was well filled. The Assistant Secretary having stated

the nature and design of the Society, and detailed its proceedings in its various Missions, the Rev. Thomas Clarke, the Rev. George Almond, the Rev. Henry Irwin, the Rev. Benjamin Swete, John Swete, Esq. William Flemyng, Esq. and the Rev. John Magee, moved or seconded the Resolutions for establishing the Association. A Collection was made at the door. The Mayor of Cork expressed his regret at being obliged, on official business, to leave the Chair, before the Meeting was concluded, and called Major Green to take his place.

The whole sum contributed, including money collected by the Provisional Committee, amounted to about 2001.

Peter Roe, and the Rev. Dr. Ha milton-the Rev. Archdeacon Digby, and the Rev. Wm. Purdon the Rev. Joseph H. Singer, and the Rev. Benjamin W. Mathias.

The Lord Bishop of Elphin, having heard that he had been considered as hostile to the Society, attended the Meeting; and, in a forcible Address, expressed his good wishes in behalf of the Institution. The Meeting was distinguished by the manifestation of much Christian Feeling. The Rev. Henry. Irwin having stated, in the conclusion of his Address, that there had been a Collection after the Meeting at Cork, it was determined that plates should be held at the door on this occasion, when 60l. was collected.

The Rev. George Almond preached for the Society, at St. George's Church, on Sunday Evening. About 60l. was collected.

A Meeting of the Drogheda Ladies' Association was held on Saturday, the 24th; at which the Rev. Messrs. Roe, Almond, Irwin, Wade, and others, assisted.

On Sunday, April the 25th, the Assistant Secretary preached at Belfast; and attended a Meeting there, on the following morning. The Annual Meeting was held in the afternoon. The Belfast Association raised above 2001. in the course of the last year; and will continue, it is probable, to send this sum yearly.

The contributions of the Hiber

nian Society were nearly doubled in the last year.

The Assistant Secretary left Belfast, by the Steam Packet for Glasand Mr. Almond left Dublin, the gow, on Monday, April the 26th; same day, for Edinburgh.

FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE EDINBURGH

ASSOCIATION.

ON Thursday, the 29th of April, Mr. Bickersteth preached in the Episcopal Chapel of St. Peter. The General Meeting was held in

the Assembly Rooms, George Street, on Friday the 30th; the Right Hon. the Earl of Elgin in the Chair. The Report having been read by the Rev. C. H. Terrott, the Assistant Secretary detailed the nature of the Society's exertions in Africa, and gave a general view of its other Foreign Transactions. The Meeting was also addressed by the Rev. Messrs. Almond, Grey, Craig, and Terrott; and by Capt. Crawford, Robert Hepburn, Esq. and by the Noble Chairman. It was numerously attended. About 601. was contributed, including the Collection after the Sermon.

SERMONS IN HEREFORDSHIRE AND WALES.

SEVERAL Churches having been offered for the use of the Society, when the Rev. Henry Davies attended the Annual Meeting of the Hereford Association, which he was then unable to occupy, Mr. Davies afterward availed himself of these offers,, and was accompanied therein by the Rev. Henry Gipps.

On Monday, the 17th of May, Mr. Davies preached at Whitchurch; on Tuesday, the 18th, at Oxcop; on Wednesday, the 19th, at Longtown; on Thursday, the 20th, at All Saints, Hereford; on Friday, the 21st, at Dormington; on Sunday, the 23d, at Burghill and at Almeley; on Monday, the 24th, at Clifford; and on Tuesday, the 26th, at Glasbury, in the Morning, Mr. Gipps preaching there in the Evening of that day. Mr. Gipps had also preached for the Society at St. Devereux, on the 18th; and at Ewas Harold, on the 19th. The Collections amounted to nearly 90/.

FORMATION OF THE SUDBURY BRANCH

ASSOCIATION.

THE Assistant Secretary preached at All Saints, Sudbury, on Wednesday Evening, the 26th of May: and at St. Peter's, on Thursday Evening the 27th; and again on Sunday Afternoon, the 30th.

A Meeting was held in the Town Hall of Sudbury, on Thursday the 27th, for the purpose of publickly establishing the Association, which has for some time existed, as a Branch of the County Association. The Rev. H. W. Wilkinson was in the Chair. Motions were severally made or seconded by the Rev. Messrs. Hallward, sen. and E. Bickersteth; Nottidge and Bailey; E. Pemberton and Hallward, jun.; Fowke J. Bickersteth and Knottesford. and Snape; Julian and H. T. Bull;

Treasurer,

Rev. H. W. Wilkinson. Secretary,-Rev. J. Bickersteth. Assistant Secretary, Mr. Abraham Syer.

The

The Collections amounted to above 50.

The Assistant Secretary also attended a Meeting, chiefly of poor people, at Acton Vicarage, on Friday Evening. This small village had contributed 15. to the Society.

THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE YORK

ASSOCIATION.

AFTER preaching in Herefordshire, Mr. Davies proceeded into Yorkshire; and preached two Sermons at York, on Sunday, the 30th of May; one in the Afternoon at St. Crux, and the other in the Evening at St. Saviour's. The Assistant Secretary having arrived at York from Suffolk on Tuesday Evening, attended, with Mr. Davies, the Anniversary Meeting of the Association, in the Town Hall, on Wednesday the 2d of June, when the venerable Patron of the Association, the Rev. William Richardson, presided.. Many of the York and neighbouring Clergy were present.

2 M