Meeting, but did not obtain much benefit from the journey in the beginning of November, however, he states that his health had much improved.

The Missionaries are urgent for more LABOURERS. They write in November

There are several very promising situations within ten or twelve miles, where we wish much to have Missionaries stationed. It is of great importance to have several Missionaries within reach of one another. The effect of Missionary Labours in the Cingalese Division of the Island has been greatly lessened, by the Missionaries being so widely separated from one another. Our personal piety is much kept alive by frequent Meetings for social prayer and conversation. From what I have observed and felt myself, I would earnestly recommend there never being fewer than three Missionaries at a Station: they need not reside in the same village, but fix on eligible situations within a distance of three miles of one another. What Dr. Chalmers has written on the advantage of cultivating well a certain spot, is as applicable to the labours of a Missionary abroad, as to a Clergyman or Philanthropist at home: we must come to this, or little, with our present powers, will be effected.

In reference to the exercise of their MINISTRY, the Missionaries stated to the Annual Meeting

In the Report of last year, we expressed the pleasure which we felt in the prospect, that, being relieved from all external engagements, we should be enabled to direct our whole attention to the concerns of our Mission. This has, happily, been the case; so that whatever circumstances we have to state in this Report are solely connected with the work of God in our immediate neighbourhood.

During that part of the year in which the people are least occupied in their agricultural pursuits, we took advantage of their comparative leisure for the purpose of visiting and preaching the Gospel to them at their houses. We had engagements, almost every evening in the week, to preach in some place or other; and, occasionally, the people attended in considerable numbers.

Our Church was opened on the 11th of March. Dr. Twisleton, our late Archdeacon, preached a very appropriate Sermon, in English, in the morning; and, in the afternoon, Br. Lambrick preached in Cingalese: nearly the whole of the European Inhabitants of Galle attended, together with the principal Native Head-men, and a large concourse of people from all parts of the District.

We immediately commenced two Services in the Church,

on the Lord's Day; and one on Wednesday Afternoons, at four o'clock: we have also a Sunday-Evening Service in Br. Mayor's house. We do not say that any decided change has been wrought in the hearts of any of our hearers; yet we would hope that a few are at least feeling after the Lord, if haply they might find Him.

On occasion of opening the Church, Sir Richard Ottley, who was present, gave benefactions both in money and in communion-plate for its Services.

Mr. Ward writes, toward the close of the yearOur time is fully taken up in preaching and teaching the things which concern the kingdom of God, chiefly to the people in immediate connexion with the Station: they require to be told the same things again and again-to have line upon line and precept upon precept. Our congregations are tolerably regular, but they are chiefly confined to our own people; which indeed, all together, including the Schools, make a pretty large congregation. The people, in general, still care for none of these things: they are wholly given up to idolatry and the world.

Their visits to the people have been pursued with assiduity and perseverance, and not seldom under very discouraging circumstances. Mr. Ward says

This is humiliating work, in this country; and my heart often shrinks from it. Words cannot express nor the mind conceive the awful state of ignorance in which these people are: and, humanly speaking, there is no possibility of instructing them. We cannot get them, in their present state, to attend Divine Service; and it is equally impracticable for us to instruct them at their own houses. May God, in His mercy, open a way for their rescue!

On relinquishing to the Chaplain, at the end of June 1823, as stated in the last Report, the Garrison Duty at Galle, which the Missionaries had discharged for about three years, they received the thanks of Government and those also of the Inhabitants of Galle, for the readiness and zeal with which their services had been so long gratuitously rendered. The Garrison Duty having, however, again devolved on them, as stated also in the last Report, by the temporary removal of the Chaplain to Kandy, they rendered for some months, till his return, such aid as they could do consistently with the prior claim of their own immediate duties.

Some hope has been entertained respecting a Buddhist Priest, who placed himself, in the early part of last year, under the instruction of the Missionaries in order to baptism. They say of him, in their Report to the Meeting

He has continued with us, and has conducted himself with propriety. He manifests considerable earnestness in obtaining instruction, and reads the Scriptures with diligence. He speaks with sorrow respecting his former way of life; sometimes doubting as to the possibility of being forgiven: at other times, he seems encouraged to hope in the mercy of God through Christ Jesus. He is now very solicitous to be admitted into the Church of Christ by baptism.

Mr. Ward writes of him, at the time of his admission under their instructions

He is about 30 years of age, and is of respectable connexions. He has been wavering about his religion for three or four years; was attached to a celebrated temple at Dadalle, near Galle; and attended Br. Mayor, in Ġalle, to learn English; which he relinquished on Br. Mayor's leaving Galle to settle at Baddagame.

He adds, at a subsequent date—

Bartimeus has thrown off his yellow robes; and is now become, nominally at least, and I would hope sincerely, a disciple of Jesus Christ: for, though I had some reason to doubt the purity of his intentions when he first came to us, my opinion of him has since gradually changed in his favour. He has his food here; and is, therefore, enabled to attend our family prayers in Cingalese. I devote an hour to him daily, which is generally spent in reading the Word of God. In this delightful exercise, he seems sometimes like one transplanted into a new world: a new set of ideas burst in upon his mind, in the acknowledgment of one only, all-wise, allpowerful God; and of a continually superintending Providence. His perceptions of truth are, of course, at present, small: he is, in fact, like one who has been hitherto in the grossest darkness, but is now emerging to the light he requires to be led gradually: time, however, will shew whether or not he is sincere: we shall not baptize him yet. He has much, very much, to unlearn, and very much to learn, ere he can be admitted into the Christian Church.

In November, Mr. Ward says

Bartimeus, the late Priest, is not yet baptized. I have directed him to the most particular passages in the Acts of the Apostles on baptism, that he might know what persons the

Apostles admitted. He sees the unprofitableness of the mere rite, when unaccompanied by repentance and faith in Christ.

In December, Mr. Ward states that they had seen the necessity of deferring the baptism of this Native, as he had been betrayed into a very improper spirit. He was employed as a Writer, at a small monthly salary; but the Missionaries had given him to understand, that they must have much stronger evidence of his repentance and sincerity before he could be admitted, by them, into the Church of Christ. This reserve and caution are absolutely necessary, in order to detect and repel hypocrites and interested persons.

Two other Priests of the same temple have, since Bartimeus came to Baddagame, renounced the Priesthood; but the following remarks by Mr. Ward will shew that this is no indication of favour toward Christianity.

This renunciation of the Priesthood often takes place, without at all involving a doubt as to the truth of their religion; but merely from a desire to change their mode of life. An old Priest has lately thrown off his robes in this village, who is nevertheless as rigidly attached to his superstitions as he ever was. He has spent the best part of his life in the jungle, without house or home.

This manner of life is called "Tapas-Rakinawa;" and is represented, in the Native Books, as the most meritorious, and as the only way by which the heart can be cleansed: the persons who have adopted it are constantly held up for imitation; and the followers of Buddhu are often exhorted to leave their all-to abandon father, mother, brother, sister, houses, and lands-to separate themselves from the society of men-and to dwell like the wild beasts of the forest. This, however, is not at all congenial to the minds of the Cingalese, who are, both priests and people, most excessively ambitious of the honour of this world; and hence there are but few who conform to it.

The old man above mentioned, on being asked why he had abandoned his retreat in the jungle and cast off his robes, replied, that it was impossible for old men and children to fulfil the duties of their religion. He prides himself much, however, on the course of life which he has led; for which, he says, he expects to be born again, either into the world of

Gods, or into this world as a great King. He hesitates not to declare, also, that he is by far the wisest man in the country, as it respects the knowledge of religion.

I ought to have mentioned that those who observe the "Tapas-Rakinawa," denying themselves as they do the usual honours of the priesthood, are also exempt from the per formance of its duties. Their clothing is not provided by the people, as is the case with the other priests; but it consists of small pieces of old cloth, which they themselves have picked up and sewn together: their food is obtained by begging from house to house. Accordingly they take no part in the Services of the Temple, nor in the office of teaching; but profess to spend their whole time in meditation.

Mr. Mayor's medical knowledge and surgical skill continue to give him influence with the people, by enabling him to confer benefits which they can duly appreciate. Of one case, the Missionaries thus speak in their Report to the Meeting:

In the month of January, the Chief Priest of Buddhu in this Island, being blind, came hither from Kandy, to place himself under the care of Br. Mayor. A considerable number of priests accompanied him, and many more assembled from various parts of the country to meet him: we had thus an opportunity of distributing among them several copies of the New Testament, and of the Book of Genesis; and we had many discussions with them on the principal subjects of Revelation. Br. Mayor operated on the old Priest, but he has little hope now that he will recover his sight. Many prayers have been offered up to God for him: he is still, however, the slave of prejudice and superstition. They are now in the village; and their presence, together with their frequent readings of the Bana, have confirmed these poor ignorant people more than ever in the belief of their fabulous doctrines.

It is stated, in a late Letter to a friend, that the operation was attended with ultimate success; but, from the following passage of a Letter written by Mr. Ward in the beginning of November, little spiritual sight seems, at that time, to have been gained by these Heathens.

The Kandian Priests, who have been in the village these last ten months, are about to depart as they came-bigoted and prejudiced against Christ and His Holy Word. Before their departure, the people intend to load them with presents: but one man, who has been in our employ from the first