one or more of the Schools, where some Adults attended; but, of these, he says-

I cannot perceive that any yet come for the purpose of obtaining instruction. Curiosity, the desire of gain, the hope that I shall recommend them to some Government Office or intercede for them when they have law-suits pending in the Courts of Justice, or some other worldly motive, often prompts one and another to come and hear me; and sometimes they will attend for a long time, even so long as to excite our hopes respecting them, before we are able to discover their true motive. This state of things is exceedingly discouraging: but it must be borne with; and should teach the Missionary to look more steadfastly to the Power and Promise of God, where he is in no danger of being disappointed.

To the Meeting in September, Mr. Knight made the following statement relative to his Ministry :

In addition to my usual preaching, I have had to supply Mr. David's place for the last ten months, in preaching to his congregation of Protestant Christians-first, during a visit which he paid to Colombo; and, subsequently, during a journey to Calcutta, to obtain Episcopal Ordination, from which place he has not yet returned. The additional duties which have thus devolved on me, have proved very arduous; but, I trust, that good has, by the Divine Blessing, been done thereby. Some have been excited to attend the Means of Grace, who were before living in the neglect of them; and I have hopes of one or two persons, who appear to have been stirred up to flee from the wrath to come. These circumstances prove animating and encouraging; and much fruit, it may be hoped, will yet be gathered from that promising congregation. Mr. David's efforts among them have done much in enlightening their minds, and in preparing them for the cordial reception of Divine Truth.

My labours at Nellore have also been, as I humbly trust, in some measure owned of God. The Interpreter, and three or four others connected with the Station, meet me, once or twice a week, to inquire into the evidences of Christianity, and to converse on personal religion. They appear to be seeking the salvation of their souls; and their progress in the knowlege of the Word of God is pleasing: but I do not yet feel fully satisfied, whether their motives are sincere or not. All, except the Interpreter, were brought up Heathens: but Í have reason to believe that they have relinquished their Heathen Practices; and that one or two of them have, in consequence of their new profession, subjected themselves to the ridicule of their Heathen Friends.

By the gradual diffusion of light, through the preaching of

the Word and the distribution of portions of the Scriptures and of Religious Tracts (of both which we have lately had a more liberal supply at our disposal than at any former time), I trust the way is preparing for the more abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit; and the pleasing change which has been effected within the last few months encourages me to hope that our efforts will at length be crowned with sucIn due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

cess.

Of the SCHOOLS, Mr. Knight gave the following statement, in March of last year :

Many advantages arise from paying the Masters in proportion to what is actually learnt through the month: among others, a better attendance, at least of some Schools, is secured, as well as a more constant progress in learning. Our Schools, however, are still far from what I wish them to be; and, till I can get better Masters, provide them with suitable printed books, and give more personal attention to them, I have but little hope of any great improvement in them, or of any great benefit arising from them. The children, it is true, learn to read, and commit to memory, very much of Scripture Lessons and Catechisms, which, with the Divine Blessing, may be made subservient to their everlasting benefit; but, still, they are so much under the influence of their parents, and witness so much that is evil, that our instructions seem, for the most part, lost upon them. Besides, it is not yet in our power to break the Masters off their wretched custom of teaching merely by rote, without any reference to the children's understanding what they learn. We hope the day will come when our Schools will prove a more effectual medium for the diffusion of GENERAL knowledge, but more especially for the dissemination of DIVINE truth.

The following statement exhibits the present number, and average attendance, of the Schools, as copied from the last Weekly Report.

To the Meeting, in September, Mr. Knight reported

The attendance in the Out-Schools is, at present, greatly diminished by the gathering of the palmyra fruit, and by the scarcity which prevails in the district in consequence of the failure of the crops. I have no report of the present numbers. The attendance of Girls is still pleasing, and their progress in learning satisfactory. The Kontermadum School has been suspended for some months, for want of a proper Master; the person who taught it having relinquished his office. The present number of Schools is ten.

Of the FAMILY SCHOOLS Mr. Knight says, in March of last year

We have, at length, entered on the plan of taking Native Children in our Family. There are with us, at present, seven. Many applications have been made for admission, but we think it better to proceed with caution. Our hopes are very high with regard to the benefits, which, by the blessing of God, may be derived from these Schools. Our American Brethren have, at length, been permitted to realize the good effects of the system, in a very remarkable degree. About 70 or 80 persons, chiefly consisting of the Youth of their Charity-Boarding-Schools, have, within the last two months, appeared to be earnestly inquiring what they must do to be saved. Our friends are hereby greatly encouraged in their work; and though many of this number may disappoint the hopes which are entertained respecting them, yet, if even half of them should persevere to the salvation of their souls, the work will be very great. We trust that the Lord will, at length, shower down the influences of His grace on us at Nellore: we feel the greater encouragement from what we have witnessed among our American Friends, to take these poor children under our more particular instruction, confident that we shall not be suffered to labour in vain.

On this subject Mr. Knight stated to the Meet

ng

During the last year, we have been enabled to enter on the plan of taking Native Boys. As we take them on trial before we determine whether we shall keep them or not, we have had from time to time several, whom we afterward judged it proper to dismiss. Our number at present is thirteen; most of whom are very promising boys. We have stipulated with the parents for most of them, and have them given up entirely to our control. We should have taken more, but waited to obtain your advice. I hope, on my return, to increase their mumber; and to appropriate the names sent out by the Society.

Mrs. Knight says, in reference to these childrenThree or four of the elder boys seem to feel that their souls are in danger, and are pleased to receive religious instruction. Oh that all these dear boys may, in early life, become Christians indeed!

Of the FEMALE SCHOLARS Mr. Knight thus speaks: The progress of many of them affords us much gratification; and their constancy and perseverance give us encouragement to hope, that our present labours will, ere long, yield a rich reward.

Mrs. Knight assembles the Girls of the different Schools, on Sunday afternoons, to teach them to read printed books. This has had a very good effect, having not only increased their numbers, but their progress.

We have much encouragement to proceed in this work. The success, which we have already met with, affords the strongest ground to hope, that, by the Divine Blessing, our best wishes will, at length, be fully realized; and that the degraded Females of the Jaffna District, who have been so long enslaved by ignorance and superstition, will see a brighter day.

There has been a regular increase of Girls at our Morning Service, from about the time when Mrs. Knight began her instruction on the Sunday Afternoon: the number present at our last Service was 53, a greater number than we ever had before. As this Sunday School is a new thing, it much excites the attention of the Mothers; one and another of whom often come to see us, though we have not yet been able to get them to assemble regularly with the other sex to hear the Word of God.

For the PRINTING-ESTABLISHMENT at this Station, Mr. Rhenius procured a Native acquainted with the business, who arrived at Nellore in June: he had been delayed, however, for some months, by fever, probably brought on by the fatigue of the journey from Tinnevelly.

Mr. Knight bears the following honourable testimony to the American Missionaries :

It becomes me to speak in the highest terms of esteem and affectionate regard of our beloved American Brethren; to whom I am under great obligations-not only for the benefit which I derive from intercourse with them of a religious nature, and from their kind and friendly advice; but from the great assistance and encouragement, which, in various ways, they have afforded me since Mr. Bailey left the District. May our gracious Lord shower down His Divine Blessing

abundantly upon them and their labours, and richly reward them for their great kindness!

In reference to the success, before mentioned by Mr. Knight, which has attended the Labourers in his quarter of the Island, Mr. Lambrick writes from Cotta

We have all been much encouraged in our work, by some very promising appearances among the Natives under the charge of the American Missionaries at Jaffna. It has led us to more lively exercises of faith and prayer, that the blessing may be extended to us also in the Cingalese part of the Island. We are sowing in hope of the fulfilment of the promise Psalm cxxvi. 6.

Mr. Lambrick gives the following general view of the Mission:

The Reports of the respective Stations, together with the Resolutions of the Meeting, will make the Committee acquainted with the existing circumstances and future prospects of this Mission. We consider ourselves as Settlers in a wild country, thickly covered with forests and jungles: our business is to bark the trees, and burn them-thus preparing the way for future cultivators: a patch here and there may indeed be cleared, and a few handfuls of seed thrown in, which, by the Divine Blessing, may produce a crop to encourage us amidst our labours; but we cannot expect to see a large harvest: that will be the privilege of those who come after us.

- After pointing out the further help required at the present Stations, and at favourable openings for two New Stations, the Missionaries add

Here, then, is open a useful field for TEN additional Missionaries; and if it should please God to put it into the hearts of His Servants to provide as many more, they will all find employment among the Heathen here*.

AUSTRALASIA MISSION.

In reporting the state of the Australasia Mission, the Committee cannot but express their gratification in the unremitted favour which Sir Thomas Brisbane

*Further particulars relative to the Ceylon Mission from the Journals of the Missionaries will be printed in the Missionary Register for October or November.