Loyal Meeting at Cuttack. 395 "The continuance of my love and friendship for them, shall as long as God pleases to permit me to hold the helm of this government, be permanent." This promise was fulfilled. His kindness towards them continued till his death. We sometimes glory in our national flag, and after all that can be said, it is a noble old flag "The flag that's braved a thousand years The battle and the breeze;" reader would be surprised, if I told | vessels are made, but little dust that him that the name of this Danish gold cometh from. vessel was The Princess, though we say "coming events cast their shadow before.' It was not exactly so, though very like it. "It was the Princess Maria, and all my readers know that Maria is one of the names of the interesting young Princess who has been so warmly welcomed to a place in all our English hearts. During those many years that the Indian government was so bitterly hostile to the propagation of the gospel, the Missionaries pursued their work of preaching, and printing the scriptures, protected by the government of Denmark. The first Bengali Bible was printed the first christian tracts were published — the first christian converts were gatheredthe first native preachers were sent forth the first vigorous educational efforts were put forth the first native newspaper was published and the first efforts for the abolition of the suttee were made under the protection of the Danish flag; nor let us forget that the first Oriya Bible and the first christian tracts in Oriya were printed, and the first attempts at an Oriya grammar and dictionary were made under that protection. A passing tribute of respect may properly be paid to Colonel Bie, the Danish Governor of Serampore, who warmly welcomed and cordially supported the first Missionaries in their work. His letter to Mr. Fuller respecting the Missionaries will bear quoting: "Permit me to assure you, that I do not consider the friendship and few civilities I have had it in my power to show your brethren here, otherwise than as fully due to them. I have received them as righteous men, in the name of righteous men ; and I shall never withhold good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of my hand to do it. "I am happy in possessing them, and will be more so in seeing their numbers increase; as this world gives much mould whereof earthen but the friends and supporters of Missions can never forget that it gave no protection to the servants of Christ who first came to these shores with the priceless treasure of the gospel. The honour of receiving and welcoming these messengers of mercy belongs to the country which has recently given us the interesting Princess. Honour then, I say, to Denmark. I think it very desirable that the younger members of our churches should be familiar with the difficulties of those days so widely different from our own; for it is one of the most deeply humiliating chapters in our national history. The hateful jealousy, the marvellous stupidity, and the intolerable bigotry that prevailed at that time in the Court, at the Board, in the Parliament, aye, and on the Throne too, in relation to Missions can never be too severely reprehended.* I believe there are many *Abundant evidence of this is found in the debates on Mr. Wilberforce's resolutions Charter. See Life of Wilberforce, Vol. 2, in 1793, on the renewal of the Company's p. 24, 28, and 392. Also Marshman's Life and Times of Carey, Marshman and Ward. Vol. 1, chap. 1, a very carefully written and exceedingly valuable chapter. Lord Cornadmitted that he had no faith in such wallis the then Governor General, honestly schemes." George the 3rd professed himself friendly to the religious instruction of the Hindoos, but it was the time of the French Revolution. Hindooism was established and it was not safe to attack an established religion. See also Marshman's work, Vol. 1, p. 277. Missionary toleration owed nothing to the King. I notice on p. 278 a reference in our day not a whit better disposed, but public opinion keeps them in check. Bats and owls have never been in love with the light, and never will be. To all this I may add, that Denmark had the further honour of sending the first Protestant Missionaries to India. This was in 1706, when Bartholomew Ziegonbalg and Henry Pitscho, who had been sent forth by Frederick the Fourth, commenced the Mission at Tranquebar. Four years later the Mission to Greenland was established by Denmark. I have written much more than I intended, but I must not omit to add, that about eighteen years ago Serampore became, by purchase, a British settlement. How wonderfully God accomplishes His purposes! It was then no longer required as "a little sanctuary" for God's faithful ones, and therefore passed from the Crown of Denmark to that of Great Britain. J. B. LETTER FROM THE REV. W. BAILEY. Berhampore, June 12, 1862. Madras Times congratulates all his readers who have survived the fiery heat of that week (one of the later weeks in May), as "if they have done that," he says, "there will not be much fear for the future." A few miles distance from this the thermometer during the last few days in May was 1080 in the day, and a 1000 at night. There is little rest either for body or mind when the temperature is so high. In the interior you are almost burned up, and when the heat is so intense punkahs are of no use. Night comes on but there is no relief, and the beds are so hot that you can scarcely lay yourself down to rest. If you live under the influence of the sea breeze you per spire so freely that to be comfortable you require to change your apparel half a dozen times a day. I think I never felt the heat more oppressive than during the last few days in May. In such a burning clime you can see a beauty and force in that promise which cannot be appreci ated in colder climes. "Neither shall the sun light on them nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters." till the present mail. July 2nd. Thus far I wrote twenty days ago, and was unavoidably COULD you see a file of Indian news-compelled to postpone my letter papers for the past month you would perhaps be somewhat surprised that such frequent reference was made to the state of the weather. If, however, you could spend the month of May in this country, your surprise, would I suspect, very soon cease. The editor of the Friend says, "The thermometer in our office is 960." Rather trying work I should think being compelled to write editorials in such an atmosphere. The writer of the weekly summary in the to Fuller's printed statement at a critical period in the history of the Mission (1806) prepared for circulation among the higher classes. It was sent to "certain female branches of the royal family." This is suggestive. Nothing was to be hoped for from the royal family on that question except through female influence. Though I have nothing of a startling character to relate, there are several matters which may, perhaps, interest our friends at home. On the last Sabbath in May we had a baptism of two young persons, both of them gave pleasing evidence of a change of heart, and were very cordially received by the church. One of them was a rescued Meriah, and has been in the school for some years. In giving an account of her conversion, she referred to the sorrow she had experienced in consequence of her forgetfulness of the mercy of God. She had been rescued, she said, from a horrible death, had found a happy and peaceful home, had been privileged to Letter from Rev. W. Bailey. hear the gospel, and yet had never adored the God of all grace for His goodness. How many in more favoured lands, have received even greater mercies, and are as yet insensible of their guilt. Our young friend Mr. Thomas Bailey baptized the candidates. After the baptism Shem Sahu, who was on his way to Russell Condah, gave us an excellent sermon on "the sufferings of Christ." His descriptive powers pleased me very much, but I was most of all pleased with the deep earnest feeling he manifested, and with the powerful appeals he made to the heart. His father (Bamadabe) was "a good man, and feared God above many," and the son is worthy of his sire. In the hot season we are much inconvenienced when we have a baptism, we are compelled to have the ordinance very early in the morning, and sometimes we have to journey to a distance before we can find a sufficient supply of water. We have been most anxious to have a baptistry in the chapel, but there was a lack of funds. A kind friend, however, has very generously offered to bear the expense. Last Sabbath evening we had a collection to defray the current expenses and sundry improvements that have been made in connection with our English service. We realized about sixty rupees. Our congregations continue good, and I trust that our labours will not be in vain amongst our own countrymen. Several have taken quite an interest in the services, and a day or two ago one of our hearers gave me an affecting account of the way in which she had been brought out of darkness into light. She said, I have long worshipped God from fear, but now I worship Him from love. The eyes of her understanding had been opened, and great indeed was the joy that she had experienced in the change that had taken place. The Juggernath festival in Berhampore has, according to custom, again been observed; but such wretched cars for the so-called lord 397 of the world I have never seen. Every year the cars are reduced in size, and become more and more despicable. This year the natives were positively ashamed of them. Several things have come to my knowledge of late which fully convince me that idol-worship has lost its hold upon the minds of not a few in this district. Some days ago I was not a little surprised to find that one of the temple inclosures had been converted into a wholesale depot for drying and packing raw sugar for shipment at this coast. Such a thing would have been considered a few years ago a fearful desecration. I taunted the people with turning their temples into plaees of merchandise, and the only answer I got was, that "the patron goddess was very fond of sweets, and that now she could have an unlimited supply." I cannot, however, affirm that because idol-worship is on the wane that the people are nearer the truth, Many I fear have relapsed into a kind of fatalism, and are utterly careless about all spiritual things; and we find it a much easier thing to show the absurdity of idolatry, than to rouse such to a sense of their responsibilities. Like the ancient idolaters at Rome they seem to be "given over to a reprobate mind." Tama, our native brother, from Russell Condah, who has come here for a few days, has given me a most cheering account of Rogai Bahara, an interesting inquirer and intimate friend of Ram Chandra's of Pileparda. He has had a great struggle to surmount, but he is determined to follow Christ, and be baptized in His name. He will be a great acquisition to the cause, as he is so much respected by the heathen. The Khond mission continues to excite a good deal of interest, and inquiries are being made from various places as to what has been done and what is in contemplation ? Our friends in the distance are not only sending contributions, but are making the proposed mission to these wild tribes a subject of prayer. By the request of the brethren on this side I have written to Mr. Forbes, the chief magistrate of the district, about the colony of rescued Meriahs at Gotoli, to which reference has been so frequently made. I will give you an extract from his letter, he says: "I can see no objection whatever to members of your community locating themselves at Gotoli, with a view to instructing the children and preaching the gospel. On the contrary, such a step would be in every way desirable, and I may safely say agreeable to the wishes of government." We have taken up the matter in earnest, and I do hope that something will be done. The people are very much depraved, but with prayerful perseverance we shall in the end succeed. In all our future plans for usefulness may we have an interest in the prayers of God's people. "Brethren pray for us that the Word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified, even as it is with you." MADAGASCAR. "We (the missionaries) are all at peace and harmonious among ourselves here. Our work is prospering. Additions are made to our churches every month. The people, in general, are becoming settled, things are resuming their ordinary course. I enjoy the entire confidence of all the members of the Government, and every assistance and encouragement they can give; and in a day or two, I am to see the Queen, and to state our circumstances and proceedings in reference to churches, schools, books, &c., and the extension of the Gospel.' INTELLIGENCE. reached THE REV. G. TAYLOR England, vià Marseilles, on September 14th. The arrival of our esteemed brother seems to bring India nearer to England than we had previously imagined. The letter inviting his return was only written on May 25th. That letter had to be conveyed from Leicester to Calcutta, and thence down the country to Piplee, before it was The Rev. W. Ellis writes under delivered to Mr. Taylor. Having date of June 6th.-" Our congrega- received the letter, Mr. Taylor had tions in the temporary churches in to make preparations for his dethe east and at the south are gradu-parture from India, to visit Cuttack, ally increasing, and their influence for good is already apparent in the adjacent villages. Indeed, we have very much to encourage us. 66 My health is remarkably good. I am surprised at the amount of work I get through, although my head has been a little affected since the events connected with the change in the Government. The mornings and evenings are sufficiently cool; and I go about a great deal more than I was formerly able to do. "Don't give yourself any trouble about Jouan's calumnies. They have done me good and no harm, either here or at Mauritius, and they have done the priest's party great injury. My time for more complete vindication will not fail to come. where he stayed about a fortnight, and travel up the country to Calcutta, thence by the help of steamers and railways to England-the whole being accomplished in three months and twenty days. It may be added, that Mr. Taylor did not leave Cuttack until the receipt of a second letter, containing further instructions, and which was posted in Leicester, as late as June 9th. Mr. Taylor has our best wishes for his comfort and usefulness in his native land. Should Divine Providence, at some future time open the way, we should be rejoiced to hear of his returning again to India. NORWICH.-Missionary Services.Two sermons were preached on Sunday, June 14th, by our minister, and subscriptions were THE REV. H. WILKINSON'S ADDRESS.-Mr. Wilkinson, the Travelling Secretary of the Mission, has fixed his abode at Leicester. His address is, 43, London-road, Lei and on Monday evening a mission- | lections MISSION DEBT.-Mrs. Wilkinson begs to thank those friends who have so kindly responded to the circulars sent to them regarding the mission debt. From these letters it is gratifying to know that many of our friends are in earnest, and she will be happy to receive similar responses from others to whom circulars have been sent. 43, London-road, Leicester, Sep. 18th, 1863. Foreign Letters Received. BERHAMPORE.-W. Bailey, Apl. 3, July 2. -J. Buckley, Apl. 13, May 4, May 18, June 2. CUTTACK.-I. Stubbins, June 3, 11, -J. O. Goadby, April 2, 16. Contributions RECEIVED ON ACCOUNT OF THE GENERAL BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY, |