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Notes of the Month-General.

191

And even

bersaglieri (Italian riflemen), how- | of the Privy Council.' ever, did not share either in the the cynosure of all eyes-Alexandra

terror or in the credulity. They rushed up to the bed, lifted the curtain, when out stept a lazzarone, who immediately took to his heels, was pursued by the soldiers, but escaped. The Prefect of Caserta has ordered an investigation of the matter with a view of bringing the imposters to justice.-The English bishops and Colenso still keep up a dropping fire. Colenso thinks he is condemned 'unheard!' and appeals to his right as an Englishman and to the liberty of enquiry conceded by the Reformation. The venerable Dean Milman is reported to have uttered the following bon mot, when asked what he thought of the Bishop of Natal. 'Oh,' said he, he is very well "up" in Numbers, but he don't understand Exodus! As might be expected, Colenso's book is being taken up by clever heathen opponents of Christianity abroad. We heard only the other day that even in Ceylon the Buddhist priests were already quoting it against Protestant missionaries.--The Bishop of the Sandwich islands has recently been installed in truly Puseyistic style. The bishop and the Papist padres had better shake hands. The trammels of the English church have been again visibly displayed. After the death of Albert the Good the Queen attended service in a Presbyterian Kirk in Scotland, and was greatly impressed by the suitable extempore prayer for herself. It is said that when she asked the late Archbishop of Canterbury whether some such prayer could not be introduced into the church service, he replied Not without the consent

could not be prayed for until this process had been gone through. Protestantism is increasing in France-twenty new places of worship were opened in that country last year.-Rev. S. G. Green has accepted the post of President in the Baptist College, Rawdon, and the classical tutorship is now vacant. Rev. J. H. Hinton has resigned his charge at Devonshire-square chapel. The foundation stones of two new Baptist chapels have been laid during the last month one at Wolverhampton and the other at Leeds.

GENERAL.

THE one topic just now is the attractive budget. A reduction of the duty on tea and an equalization of the income tax will give the Chancellor of the Exchequer a new claim to popular favour. The best comment on his policy is, that despite the paralysis of trade in the cotton districts the revenue this year is nearly one million in excess of the expenditure! The French treaty has, of course, had the largest share in affecting this agreeable result. Sir Morton Peto's 'Burials Bill' has again been thrown out. The House is too conservative for such a sweeping change. The Government has lost one of its ablest men-Sir G. C. Lewis. He was a ripe scholar-some say the ripest this country has produced for many years.

His death is a national loss. During the Easter holidays the Premier was 'starring' it in Scotland. He was everywhere received with the greatest enthusiasm.

The Albert memorial is to be an | rection in Poland spreads.

The

amnesty of the Czar, which turns out to be less liberal than was at first supposed, has fanned the flame into even greater virulence. The notes of the three great powers to Russia

Eleanor Cross, like the Martyrs' Memorial at Oxford, and will cost £100,000. £70,000 have been subscribed, and Parliament has voted the remainder. Glaisher has made two other scientific balloon ascents-England, France, and Austriaduring the past month-the last was attended with no small danger. The wind drove the car toward the sea, and but for the skilful handling of Coxwell, the aeronaut, they would have fallen into the ocean. All the instruments were broken by the collision of the car with the earth. The volunteer review at Brighton was quite a success. We regret to hear that one life was lost, through the kicking and plunging of a restive horse. The Lancashire distress is still very little abated. Two plans of relief are now on foot: one, of extensive emigration; another, of helping the districts suffering by loans to be repaid in three or four years.-Abroad the political horizon still looks stormy. France is occupying herself with Poland. Prussia, or rather her fatuous king, still threatens to give up all Poles found in his dominions. The insur-men.

have, by their unanimity, greatly disturbed the Czar's peace of mind. He has replied, however, in neat diplomatic phrase-Mind your own business.' Greece has accepted Prince William of Denmark as her king. The Sultandid visit the Pasha of Egypt, although the English ambassador tried his best to dissuade him from his purpose. The Spanish Queen has received a letter from the Emperor of the French, couched in pressing terms, asking for the release of the Protestant prisoners. America reports still the impending' of great events. Charlestown is to be taken -we suppose as M'Clellan took Richmond. We fear there is no hope of any peaceful issue at present, While abhorring slavery as 'the sum of all villanies,' we are scarcely inclined to endorse the wholesale extirpation theory of many Northern

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Missionary Observer.

CONFERENCE AT CUTTACK. I hope that the committee of this

SECOND NOTICE.

Camp Salpore, 22nd Jan., 1863.

I resume the narrative of our recent Conference at Cuttack, not in the quiet study where the former part was written, but in the solitary tent at the close of the labours of the day. We were not favoured this year as we have often been on such occasions, with a representative from the Northern Orissa Mission, nor had we any letter reporting the labours of our respected brethren. We were, however, glad to learn that Mr. Bachelor, after an absence from the field of full ten years, had returned to resume his all-important work. Our brother while labouring previously at Balasore did much to benefit the people in addition_to his direct missionary work. His medical skill disarmed the prejudices of the natives, and convinced them of the benevolent character of our holy religion. In this way he secured the confidence and respect of the people to a considerable extent, while it was his earnest desire to lead them to the physician of sin-sick souls. He published a small medical work both in Oriya and Bengali. He has brought with him from America a printing press. I may add, that our brother has left his beloved wife and children in America, and on landing he received the painful tidings of the death of one of his children.

A letter was read at our meeting from Mr. Murdoch, the agent in India of the Christian Vernacular Education Society, offering five rupees a month each, (10s.) for three new schools in Orissa if they could be established. The offer was readily accepted by the brethren at Berhampore, Piplee and Russell-condah. The remainder must of course be raised from local resources. I

excellent society may favourably regard the special claims of Goomsur and be induced to do a little more. The Government has had a few small schools in that wild region, and the official report of the different examinations excites the reader's risibility. No Christian school, so far as I am aware, has ever been established in that long. neglected region for the children of Oriyas or Khonds.

At the meeting with our native ministers the following united with us, Gunga Dhor, Damudar, Sebo Patra, Pursua, Ghunoo, Kumbhoo, Jugoo, Paul, Thoma, Matthew, Dunai, Shem, and Rama Das and Sanantani, colporteurs. Prayer was offered by Gunga and Sebo Patra. We could not review the year without sorrowful recollections, though we felt that in many respects, there was much cause for thankfulness and hope. An application was made by Kartick Samal to be engaged as a native preacher, and the general impression as to his fitness for the work was highly favourable; but as he is at present usefully employed in the printing office, a little delay seemed necessary before coming to a final decision. He has respectable endowments as a poet, and stands next in my judgment to Makunda. His versification of the sermon on the Mount, which has been published during the year, has been well received. We were very glad that our old friend Gunga was able to meet with us, for two or three months ago there seemed little hope of it; and now though the Lord may spare him to us a little longer, we cannot expect him to labour much more. On one of my visits at the time referred to, he said, "I have no pleasure in anything except the love of Christ, and that is as sweet and fragrant as ever." On another occasion he said, "Don't be discouraged; don't think because

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Gunga is lying and suffering in this way here that he will ever forget his Lord, or forsake his Saviour, never." May that Saviour be with him and with us to the end; and may the remembrance of his love ever be fragrant.

It will gratify the friends of the mission to know that the first Goomsur convert, Rama Chundra, or as he is more generally called by the people Chundra, was engaged as a colporteur, and is for the present to continue in his native village. The propriety of engaging one or two others was considered, but in the present depressed state of the society's funds, it was deemed desirable not to engage them at present, unless their salaries could be paid from local funds.

The brethren reported their varied labours, and the state of the several churches, but as the statistics for the home report are made up to 31st March any account now given would be necessarily incomplete. Still it may be stated, that the additions by baptism at Cuttack have been more than usually large. Already twenty-six have joined themselves to the Lord in the bonds of a perpetual covenant, and there are still several candidates. But in this uncertain world sighs and tears mingle with thanksgiving and songs; and the review of a year always awakens sad and sorrowful as well as grateful and jubilant emotions. At Khundittur, after a long interval, the baptismal waters have been again moved, and two have been added to the church. To some of the brethren and sisters the past year has been a more than usually trying one: their path has been through deep waters, and severe affliction, personal or relative, has been appointed for them.

I should add, that Mr. Bailey read to the brethren a very carefully prepared paper on the question of Christian villages and the manner in which they should be governed.

Some of the miscellaneous cases considered related to questions of much interest and importance. One

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case related to the state of the law as to converts from heathenism obtaining possession of their wives and children, but the case was deferred as it was expected that the High Court in Calcutta would speedily give an opinion on a question submitted by the Judge of Cuttack respecting Bainsee Beharah. As I heard only last evening of the final decision on this case, I may as well give it here; but in order to understand the case it is necessary to state that Bainsee Beharah is a recent convert from idolatry at Cuttack, and he has not been able to obtain his wife, or children, or property, so violent has been the opposition of heathen relatives. The course pursued by the magistrate appeared to us open to grave objections, and we appealed from his decision to the judge. On the 13th of November last the decision of the judge was recorded, but not published. It was that the wife and children should be made over to the convert: the property, whatever it might be, would of course follow. The cause of the delay in publishing the judgment was, that there was a a question of law involved on which the judge was desirous of having the opinion of the High Court. But the High Court has declined giving an opinion, or issuing any general instructions in regard to such cases. The judge has therefore decided to uphold his own decision, and has recorded the following judgment.

"I hereby direct that the judgment given by this court on the 13th November last, be forthwith carried into effect, and that a copy of the judgment be forwarded for the information and guidance of the magistrate. All expences in this case are to be paid by the respondent." The respondent is the party opposed to the christian convert. As soon as the original record of the case is received back from Calcutta, the magistrate will be directed to see to the delivery of the wife and children and property to Bainsee Beharah. Thus satisfactorily ends a case which has involved much anxiety, and I

Dawk Journey from Calcutta to Cuttack.

think our judge-Octavius Toogood, Esq.-has nobly done his duty.* Another case considered, and on which the Cuttack brethren were empowered to take legal advice, was as to the question of divorce under Act V. of 1852, commonly called the "the Indian Marriage Act." It is difficult, of course, to say what a professional opinion on such a question may be, but the the act itself says nothing of divorce.t

The propriety of making Ganjam, which is said now to be much more healthy, a sub-station was discussed and referred to the brethren at Berhampore. The desirableness also of the missionary, or missionaries, in the Piplee district, generally residing at Pooree, was considered at some length, but no decision was adopted, except to defer it till next year.

Another important case received much serious and anxious attention. Medical certificates were submitted as to the state of Mrs. Taylor's health, and the necessity for a change of climate. The brethren, after a full consideration of the case, expressed their conviction of the necessity for her return home. It will involve a separation from her beloved husband, and such separations are exceedingly painful, but the grace of Christ is sufficient for the exigencies of all who trust in Him. A passage has been secured for Mrs. Taylor, and the two children, that the Lord has spared to them, in the good ship Malabar'Captain Pope-advertised to sail

4th Feb., 1863.-The case was after all

scarcely settled when this was written. The adversary did not yield without another struggle. Attempts were made to hinder the carrying out of the judge's order, but they did not succeed and on Saturday evening last, about nine o'clock, Bainsee, his wife, and five children, were at our door. It was a most exciting and affecting scene, but I cannot now give details.

+ Since writing the above I have seen in the papers that a Legislative Member of the Governor General's Council has brought in a bill to empower the High Courts of the several Presidencies to deal with questions of

divorce.

195

from Calcutta about the 20th of
February, and prayer will, it is be-
lieved, be offered that they may be
wafted in safety over the mighty
waters, and that health may be
mercifully restored. May all that
was done at our late Conference
(which was one of the most impor-
tant we have ever held) fall out to
the furtherance of the gospel.
JOHN BUCKLEY.

DAWK

JOURNEY FROM

CALCUTTA TO CUTTACK.

BY REV. I. STUBBINS.

Khundittur, Feb. 11, 1863.

As I am now enjoying for the first time since my return to India, a little comparative quiet, I feel disposed to give, for the special edification of yourself and some of my many friends, a few personal recollections of our journey from Calcutta to Cuttack.

I need not, if I could, say how often during that journey I wished for one of your good honest English railroads with all its marvellous accommodations, instead of that miserable, jolting, tedious, expensive, hearse-like-thing, a Palanquin, where you are shut up to dire solitude as though you were being carried alive to your grave by a set of black, yelling, screaming creatures, that a stranger might fancy had just emerged from the most undesirable of all places. I sighed and laughed in turn at their grotesque wildness while my bones fairly ached with the shaking they gave me. At times, however, I did manage to lose myself in reveries of the never-to-be-forgotten past-in revisits to places and scenes most likely never to be visited again except on fancy's wing and recommunion with loved ones and friends who have endeared themselves to my heart of hearts by almost unnumbered acts of kindness and affection. But anon some sudden

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