This institution has already achieved much good; we hope it will in future years do much more. Its career of usefulness would in our opinion be greatly accelerated by an abrogation of the rule which pledges it not to circulate publications which have reference to Christianity. We think this might be done without any compromise of principle on the part of those united in its support. The admission of such books into the Society's list would not make it obligatory on any persons not disposed to purchase or peruse them, while it would afford facilities for such as may wish to procure them, and considerably aid the finances of the Society.

From the Report we give one or two short extracts.

On the growing desire to learn English, with its influence on the Native Languages. "It was foreseen by some of the Members of your Committee, that one of the great benefits of this Society's exertions to diffuse general knowledge in the vernacular. languages, would be, to excite among the rising generation throughout India, a grow➡ ing desire to become acquainted with the English language: and experience has now demonstrated, that whatever other causes of a political nature may have increased in the minds of so many this desire, the efforts of this Society have had their full share of influence in producing the effect; for where their publications have been most used, that desire has increased to the greatest extent. The objects are inseparably united; and though the one may at times appear to preponderate over the other, yet will they be found indissolubly connected. Formerly, almost all the efforts of the Committee were required in the vernacular languages; now more is done in the English than in any of them. When the English has been acquired by many, a greater attention will be again paid to the vernacular tongues, to render them fit vehicles of communication, and to transfuse into them that valuable knowledge which has been acquired through the English. This teaches two important, experimental, and practical lessons; the first is, that one effectual method of exciting in the minds of the people a taste for the English, is to make them acquainted with a little of its elementary knowledge in their own language; and the second, that one effectual method of improving the native languages. is to encourage those who have acquired a thorough knowledge of English to write in them, and thus communicate to their countrymen the superior knowledge they have acquired. It is pleasing to your Committee to observe, that a knowledge of the English is now regarded as an essential branch of a good education. They think it matter of gratulation, both on account of the many youths individually benefited, and also on account of that more numerous class of our fellow-subjects with whom they stand connected, and who are destitute of their advantages. To the youths themselves it opens an almost boundless field of information; as, in addition to the multitudes of books composed by English writers, there are few foreign works of any value that are not translated into our language; so that, by the acquisition of this, a youth has access to almost all the knowledge this world contains. Nor is it simply himself that is enriched by the acquisition-others will derive benefit. He cannot keep to himself all that he learns; he will seek to impart it to others who are in ignorance and as it is impossible in the nature of things for all to learn English, he will seek through their own medium of communication, to make them acquainted with what he has acquired.

"It is to those well-educated youths who have become masters of their own language and of English, that your Committee look for the full accomplishment of their plans. They must be the agents employed to translate, to instruct, and to diffuse through this benighted land the knowledge which they obtain, It is on this account that they would particularly wish the native youth, who have studied, or who are studying, the English, to pay a particular attention to their native tongue. It is lamentable to see, in some writings that have issued from the pens of young men of this description, either a total ignorance or a total disregard of the idiom of their own language; and a construction of sentences adopted, more inelegant than any written by Europeans. The old writer of the English Spelling Book says,

'Let all the foreign tongues alone,

Till you can read and write your own ;'

And though it may not be proper rigidly to adhere to that sentiment, yet it certainly is desirable for those who study the English language, to know how to speak and write their own correctly, that they may impart to others what they learn, in the most attractive and pleasing manner. The great importance of this subject to all general plans of instruction will screen your Committee, they trust, from the imputation of blame, in mingling caution with their commendation of the system now generally employed in the education of Hindu youth."

Gratifying support from the native community.

"Designed as this Institution is for the benefit of the native community, it is gratifying to perceive, that an increasing interest in its benevolent aims is beginning to be felt among that class of society. Since the last Report was presented, contributions have been received from Natives residing at Chittagong and Ludiána; and some Native teachers and elder pupils of the Dilhi College have transmitted subscriptions, which, though necessarily small in amount, are highly honourable to the feelings which prompted them, and give promise of more efficient support when the circum. stances of the contributors, as they grow up in life, shall improve. Raja KHAN BEHADUR KHAN of Gyah, has also presented the Society with a donation; and NAWAB FYZ MAHOMED KHAN of Delhi, has intimated his request to be regarded a contributor to the extent of 200 Rupees per annum. It is likewise satisfactory to report, that His Majesty the King of Oude has repeatedly ordered supplies of books from the Depository; and hopes are entertained, from his late munificence, so strikingly displayed in the endowment of a Hospital and Medical School, and from the approbation of the Society's objects and proceedings which he has been pleased to express, that he will still further patronise the Institution."

3. PRIZE LIST,

At the 2nd Annual Examination of the Taki Academy, 13th June, 1834.

4.-GENERAL BAPTIST MISSION, CUTTACK.

It is with sincere regret that we communicate the death of Mrs. GOADBY, wife of the Rev. D. GOADBY, of the General Baptist Missionary Society at Cuttack. She came to India only a few months ago, when the active and cheerful piety, so evident in the whole of her conduct, gave promise of great usefulness in her Missionary engagements. Some time ago, however, she was attacked by what proved to be a consumptive complaint, to which, after giving birth to a babe, which did not survive, she fell a victim on Lord's day, the 13th July.

We are sorry to add, that the frequently recurring and severe illness of Mrs. LACEY, the wife of the Rev. C. LACEY, renders her return to Europe at an early period absolutely necessary. She expects to leave India with her family at the end of the year.

We are happy to report, that in other respects the prospects of this Mission are highly promising. Persons from far and near, we are informed, offer themselves to the Lord; and several, on what appears good evidence of conversion, have been lately admitted to the church at Cuttack. In England and America appearances are equally promising. In a great measure though the active exertions of Mr. SUTTON, who left this country for his health eighteen months ago, the Mission is more deeply seated than ever in the hearts of the denomination in England. Mr. SUTTON, after spending some months in America, as earnestly requested by his denomination in that country, hopes to come out next year, accompanied by at least two Missionaries each from England and the United States.

5.-RATH JA'Tra', Purí.

The annual festival of the Rath Játrá, so much celebrated, and so much attended, took place with its usual ceremonies on the 8th of July, and the following days.

For some days Cuttack and its neighbourhood had been thickly thronged with persons, principally from Bengal, and a very large proportion from Dacca and the surrounding district, amongst whom was observed to be a great number of women, As the traveller approached this seat of ancient idolatry, the crowds of pilgrims gradually increased; all seemed animated with one inclination, and bending all their energies to one object, to obtain a glimpse, and to stand in the presence, of Jagannath. The length of the journey which many had performed, in some cases one, two, or perhaps three thousand miles, had damped the ardour of none. They seemed to obtain new vigour, and to acquire fresh strength, the nearer they approached the summit of their wishes.

The villages in the way to the principal entrance of Puri were filled with the multitudes of these idolaters, and towards the close of the first day of the Játrá, at the gate where the tax is taken, immense masses of people were collected. It was stated by a gentleman capable of speaking on the subject, that the numbers amounted to upwards of twenty thousand people. The persons composing this immense multitude were either unwilling or unable to pay the tax which is required of pilgrims.

These

This is the tax which is now about to be abolished by Government. The objections to it in the minds of many well-disposed people are these, that the taking the tax connects the Government with an idolatrous establishment, and thus by giving it respectability, and making it the interest of certain individuals to bring in pilgrims from a distance, idolatry is encouraged by a Christian Government, who in a manner are thus made responsible for these scenes of vice and delusion. reasons are no doubt weighty, and they have had the effect of exciting attention in a certain quarter, which has led to the abolition of the impost. It is desirable that Christian Governments should, without incurring the charge of persecution, discourage a system of idolatry, which leads at particular times to the death of thousands, involves incalculable misery, and at all times produces the vilest pollution and moral degradation; but how far the abolition of the tax will lessen the number of pilgrims resorting to Jagannath, and consequently lead to a decrease of crime and misery, time only can prove.

The procession of the idols, or as the natives call it, Jagannath's walk, commenced on the first day of the Játrá at about three in the afternoon. This is a very bustling and stirring time: every one seems interested and excited, and thousands of dark hands are now seen raised, as in adoration, and thousands of voices unite in the expression of exultation, as the senseless logs of wood are being moved from the temple, and elevated upon the cars. Ropes are applied to the bodies of the images, and without any ceremony, even to their necks.

This scene is quite ridiculous and laughable, and few persons, excepting the worshippers themselves, can forbear [whilst losing sight for a moment of the crime of idolatry] smiling at the odd and ridiculous plight in which a Hindu's god is placed; some pulling and shouting before, others pushing behind and moving him, so as to give him the appearance of walking, till by main strength this unwieldy deity is raised to his place in the Rath, (or car,) where he rides amidst the adoring thousands of Hindus.

of

He is then drawn to a temple at a considerable distance by a multitude persons retained for that purpose. Although Jagannath is the prin

cipal deity worshipped here, yet he is attended in his ride by two other idols, Subhadra and Balbhadra, who appear to receive in turns the worship of the people.

The procession of Jagannath occupies several days; but the Darshan or sight of Mahá Prabhu seems to be sufficient to insure salvation in the estima tion of the people; for after he is elevated and safely placed in the car, they for the most part leave the town and return home. Thus after per forming a journey of several months, the object for which they have toiled and suffered so much is completed in a few minutes. The Raths were ornamented with English cloth of various colours, and finished with drapery of different descriptions, and this imaginary lord of the world appeared once more in his accustomed glory. The multitude during the foregoing procession was very great, extending over an immense area. They received a very large accession on the evening of the first day by the admission of all those who from poverty or other causes had not paid the tax, and had thus till now been excluded. This might have added to those already in the town, twenty or twenty-five thousand including the people of the town, there could not have been much less than seventy or eighty thousand people. This vast assemblage consisted of persons from all quarters, but principally of Bengális: very few natives of Orissa were there, besides the people of the town of Purií. There were many Tailingas and persons from the Upper Provinces of all shades and castes, here mixed for one great object, and animated by one common delusion. Notwithstanding this confused multitude of people, who appeared to be under no restraint, excepting what arose from the general arrangements of the police, and though no military force was within fifty miles, and the public treasury might have presented a temptation, yet no appearance of insubordination or uproar appeared, beyond the yells and dissonance of confused human voices, which set all description at defiance. The Hindus are not pugnacious, though noisy. The writer heard of only one casualty, the breaking of a leg, which arose from the falling of something accidentally upon the unfortunate man, who was conveyed to the hospital under the superintendence of the European doctor at the station.

Cholera, the scourge of this land, usually makes havock among the poor deluded people who resort here. Thousands, and even tens of thousands, have been known to perish in a few days. This Játrá was highly favoured; for in consequence of the dry and settled state of the weather, only a few cases were known. In times when cholera prevails, the streets, and more especially, the places surrounding the town, are literally crowded with the putrid bodies of persons dead of this disease. It is impossible to shelter all when the multitude is so great: thus exposure to the damp and other causes concurring, spread disease and death amongst the assembled thousands. It is a horrible sight to witness the unburied dead, half eaten by the vultures and jackals.

The Missionaries were engaged in distributing tracts to the pilgrims, but they appear to have had nothing but Oriyá books, whereas the greater part of the people assembled were from other parts, and not speaking this language to them therefore the books were of no use. Many applications by Bengális were said to have been made, but necessarily rejected. The diffusion of the knowledge of Christianity by the hands of the pilgrims themselves, and the making them the instruments by which tracts may be circulated in distant parts of India, are highly desir. able objects. There are few places calculated to answer this excellent purpose better than Purí, during the Rath Játrá, assembling as the people do at that time from all the provinces of the Indian empire. But this seem ed to have been completely lost sight of.

Persons from this neighbourhood only can speak the Oriyá language, and thus books in that language could be of no use to those from a distance; and the Oriyas themselves were comparatively few at this Játrá. The Missionaries did not seem to have a Bengálí or Tailinga tract with them, or indeed any book in any of the languages spoken in the Upper Provinces. Considering that the mission has been established for ten or twelve years, and the Játrá well known to the Missionaries, this oversight appears to be unaccountable, especially as tracts in all these languages are so easily obtainable in Calcutta. Perhaps, these things will be managed better another year*.

The Christian must ever regret to see such multitudes of men, from all directions, ignorantly worshipping the works of their own hands: and his regret must be increased by the thought, that this idolatry has ever been attended by impurities of the grossest kind, and by the most cruel and debasing rites. It is however a source of gratitude and pleasure to the philanthropist and Christian to think, that even Jagannathism is shorn of half its horrors. The scenes which Buchanan describes no longer exist in the appalling shape in which they appeared in his days. Whether we attribute this happy improvement to the exertions which have been made generally in India to diffuse the truth, and introduce a purer religion amongst this benighted people; to the public attention to Indian improvement, which has been lately so much excited; or to the road and to the Dharmasálás by the way, as well as to the order preserved in the town of Puri itself, during the Játrá days, by the British authorities stationed there: whether to any or all of these we attribute the difference, it is highly gratifying to know that the horrors even of Puri idolatry have been diminished, and that even this dark corner of the earth has partaken in some measure of the growing improvement of the age. But it is much more encouraging still to those, who are divinely instructed in a purer religion, to reflect, that the time is approaching when "the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the mighty deep;" when men shall cast away the vanities in which they have trusted, and take refuge alone in Him who is the Saviour of the lost world.

6.-FIRST PUBLIC EXAMINATION OF THE ALLahabad Free SCHOOL

An examination of the pupils instructed in this school took place in the office of the Sudder Board of Revenue, on the 12th ultimo, before the Secretary, W. R. Jackson, Esq. (who acted as Chairman), the Committee, and a numerous assemblage of visitors.

The school is entirely supported by Government, by whom the sum of five hundred rupees a month has hitherto been allowed to meet its expenses. It opened on the 1st of January last, with only six scholars, but the number at present is sixty. four, of whom sixty appeared for examination. The whole of these commenced their study of English in this school, and a considerable portion of the number must have joined very recently. We confess, that we attended the meeting without much expectation of finding that the boys had made any very considerable progress; but it is our duty to acknowledge, that we never were more agreeably surprised. We found that the boys had acquired a partial knowledge of the construction of the English language, were able to read and spell easy lessons with facility and accuracy, and that they had some acquaintance even with geography. But the most remarkable part was the explanations, by which they evinced that they clearly understood the exact meaning, as well as the pronunciation, of the words of their lessons. They translated them from English into their own tongue, or paraphrased whole sentences in English quickly and correctly; and the parsing and conjugations were highly creditable. The specimens of writing too must not escape notice, for some of them were the productions of boys who had commenced so late as the 1st of May :-and really, if our memory in ourold days has not failed us, we, in our proper self, were not able to do as well after a year's instruction.

Tracts in other languages were applied for by the Missionaries, but were prevented by circumstances from being dispatched in time.-ED.