Notes of the Month. ECCLESIASTICAL. Dec. 22. The services in St. Paul's on Sunday evenings are well attended. The Bishop of London has prohibited Romish dresses, &c. to his clergy. A Church Mission to China and Japan is projected. Dr. Pusey is said to have married Miss Sellon, better known as "Lydia ye Superior !" His popish notions are making havock in the Scotch Episcopalian Church. The position of the Pope is not pleasant. Italy, from the Alps to Tarentum, is ready for movement. French and Austrian despotism and bayonets being the only protection for the poor papa. The Wesleyan Missionaries in Madras give favourable notices of their progress. So do those of the Independents in almost every station. A "considerable reinforcement of Missionaries" is expected to be sent to India. Their Mission has been exposed to trouble in Canton. One Missionary who had hopes of success in Shanghae has been compelled to leave. Better news has been received recently from Canton. The Moravian brethren report that a Jesuit Priest went with a Danish Missionary to Greenland under the disguise of a "ininerologist," and studied the language of Greenland, that he might propagate Popery among the Greenlanders. Cunning, cruel, and crafty are the Papists! So the French invaded Tahiti, murdered thousands to let in Popery, under Louis Phillip: and so now, under Louis Napoleon, are they outraging the Friendly Isles! All this done to please the priests. They have compelled the king of these Islands, by their threats of bombardment, to place at their mercy the Governor of the Haabi Islands, who refused to allow a cargo of priests to land without a warrant from his master-required him to give them In England and Scotland Mr. John Bright continues to occupy a large share of public attention. His tone is thought, by some, to have become more moderate since he has been intrusted by the Reformers to bring in a New Reform Bill. In several places meetings have been held for the purpose of giving expression to public opinion. The Queen's proclamation seems to have given general satisfaction in India; and the hope is indulged that ere long the whole land will be tranquilized. The Government of France seems to have beaten Montalembert. He refused to be pardoned. The Court of Appeal has only changed his sentence. The French, or its Napoleon, seems fond of dictating to small states. Switzerland is now threatened to be deprived of a piece of its territory-wanted "for strategetic purposes," by France. Cochinchina has been snubbed withcannon. Austria is not looking very friendly towards France, while the latter is gracious toward Russia. The American President's message is published. It is very long, labours hard to vindicate his Kansas movements, upholds slavery, declares that Cuba "ought to belong to" the States, that matters are not comfortable with Spain, nor quite straight with England. It is a wearysome document to read. Mr. Gladstone has arrived at the Greek Islands, under the protection of England. It is hoped he will not do harm there. Irish Ribbonism has become rife once more. Many arrests have taken place. Public matters are progressing favourably in Australia. Missionary Observer. AMERICAN FREEWILL BAPTIST FOREIGN MISSION SOCIETY. THE Anniversary of this Society was held in October. The following abstract of the Annual Report will interest : JELLASORE.-At this station, Mr. and Mrs. E. C. B. Hallam are missionaries, with several native assistants. Some members of the church here have been excluded for misconduct. Two repentant prodigals have returned. The following were the statistics of the church, March 31, 1858. Added by baptism, 1; restored, 2; excluded, 4; present number, 37. Preaching to the heathen in a public way has not been carried on so extensively as in some past years. The spirit of disaffection prevailing in various parts of India has been somewhat manifested in the vicinity of our missions, which limited effort. Brethren Smith and Hallam started on a preaching tour, but were compelled to abandon the effort aud return home; an account of this attempt has already been furnished by Bro, Hallam. About 370 dollars have been contributed by eighteen persons in India to our mission treasury. BALASORE.-Mr. and Mrs. R. Cooley, Mr. and Mrs. B. B. Smith, and Miss L. Crawford, are missionaries at this station. The statistics show no very great changes in the condition of the church since last year. Though not enjoying such a degree of success as is desired, the work is, on the whole, prospering. Preaching has been continued as in former years, and the congregations have generally been large and attentive. And their journeys abroad have afforded evidence that their labours are of service. The scholars in the schools are doing well. Number of boys in the school, 18. Sister Crawford has still the charge of the Girls' Boarding School. Only three are now members of this School who were connected with it at the time of its establishment in 1851. Most of the number have been married, and have maintained a good character. A few have been baptized. Number in attendance, 19. The Dispensary continues in operation, 2951 persons have received aid and advice here, and it is proving of great service indirectly to our mission. At METTRAPORE, where Silas Curtis is preacher, they have a good house in a delightful location, and things appear prosperous. Rev. Arthur Miller has offered his services for the mission field, and has been accepted by the board. Earnest appeals have been made to the churches for the means to send him out promptly. He had all confidence in the liberality of the churches, and so made arrangements to close up his business this fall. His Christian earnestness is indicated by his generous proposal to sell his house in order that the means for his outfit might be obtained without delay. This is a noble example of Christian devotedness. The Executive Committee appreciate this proposal, but do not think it would be right to send him out penniless, when a denomination of 60,000 members, are many times more able to furnish the money. Another year's work is finished, or left for ever undone. Let us all unite in resolving to increase our efforts to give the gospel to those who hear not its joyful sound, and know not its saving power. LETTER FROM REV. J. BUCKLEY. Cuttack, October 15th, 1858. Bro. and Sister Stubbins expect to leave Cuttack with their little boy, about the 17th or 20th of next month. We shall miss them much, and their departure will necessarily impose heavier duties on those who remain; but it is the will of the Lord, and therefore must be right. We have, of course, heard that the Mighty Company, whose name has had so mysterious an influence on the millions of India, and whose history is the most wonderful that the world has ever known, has passed away. Queen Elizabeth, on the last day of the sixteenth century, with no conception whatever of the importance of what she was doing, incorporated "The Governor and Com DEAR BROTHER,-Within these two months, we have had "wonders in the heavens above, and signs in the earth beneath." On the 24th of August, a smart shock of an earthquake was felt for a few seconds, about half-past three o'clock in the afternoon; but I believe no damage was done by it, except cracking a few walls in different places, and frightening a great many people. Night after night our sky is now adorned by a comet, which on some occasions has presented a remarkably interesting and brilliant appearance. It was first seen on Tuesday evening, the 28th of September, but unhappily I did not see it on that occasion, and for nearly a week after, our evenings were so cloudy, that, though often looked for, it was all in vain. One even-pany of Merchants of London, trading to ing, as I was sitting alone, meditating in the verandah, I heard one of the school girls calling out in a very excited manner to Mrs. Buckley, "Oh! mother, come and see! make haste, and come and see! the star with a tail is in the sky." I need not say that I was soon observing the firmament, and there, in truth, it was an exceedingly conspicuous object. It excites great terror and alarm among the heathen, who are now, as in the days of the Prophet, "Dismayed at the signs of the Heavens. (Jer. x., 2). They regard it as portending famines, pestilences, and other dire calamities; but the enlightened Christian sees in it wonderful evidence of the stability of the works of God. Assuming (which seems probable) its identity with the comet of 1264, (the year from which the origin of the House of Commons is usually dated,) and the one of 1566 (a bloody year in the reign of the detestable Mary,) what reflections it suggests to the thoughtful observer, and what impressions it gives us of the immensity of space! "The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein." What wondrous changes the world will have seen, before this mysterious visitor shall come again! I may add that it was about 25 or 27 deg. from the horizon, and was first seen in the north-west. The last two evenings it has been less brilliant. the East Indies ;" and now, after the lapse of 258 years, Queen Victoria "willingly" undertakes, as she says, but I should think, with solemn and subdued feelings, the direct government of this great empire. When the Company was incorporated by Elizabeth, the empire of the Great Mogul was at the zenith of its authority and glory; now, the representative of the Royal House, after a bloody but, thank God, impotent attempt to regain the sovereignty from which a more than mortal power had deposed his predecessors, is a prisoner in the hands of his powerful conquerors. A more than human voice has said to rulers whose capitals were Gomorrahs, and who ruled their unhappy subjects with a rod of iron, "Oh king! to thee it is spoken; the kingdom is departed from thee;" and in the interests of humanity, civilization, and above all, Christianity, I most fervently hope that it will never be restored. The change made by the wisdom of Parliament, seems to many of us more in name than in reality. The Court lives in the Council, and for one I have more confidence in such men as Mangles, Currie, and Lawrence, than in the President. No confidence whatever can be reposed in Sir George Clarke-the permanent Under-Secretary of the Board. He is wedded to principles abhorrent to all enlightened Christian men, and his We have recently received a box of fancy memoranda, published on the 29th of and useful articles from the Female Educa- July, by order of the House of Lords is tion Society-a society which has rendered-I write it advisedly-one of the most us much valuable assistance-and this week we have had a bazaar for the disposal of the articles. The sales have realized nearly 500 C. R's. (£50) which we think very good, as all the things are not sold. disgraceful papers that has ever seen the light. We are waiting with anxiety for the proclamation inaugurating Victoria's reign in India, and are surprised at the delay in its being issued; but, MY DEAR MR. GOADBY, The "rainy season' " is now drawing to a close, and we are looking forward with pleasure to our cold season preaching labours. This year the monsoon was unusually late in commencing, and hitherto we have not had the average quantity of rain. Owing to the above causes, the farmers have not been able to cultivate the high land; and, in many instances, where rice has been sown or planted, it has been injured or destroyed for the want of water. It is likely, therefore, that there will be a deficiency in next year's crops. I am happy to say that there has been a considerable quantity of rain at our new village. The crops there look remarkably well, and give promise of an abundant harvest. Lying, as our village does, at the foot of the mountains, the lands get the benefit of the mountain streams. These being stopped up by large embankments form reservoirs, or what are called asroyers or refuges for the time of drought or scarcity. Should there be no rain, therefore, at the proper time, the fields can be irrigated, and the crops saved by means of these large reservoirs. A few weeks back one of the native Christians came over and told me that the reservoir near the chapel was quite full. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, "the embankment had given way, and all the water had escaped." The next morning brother B. and myself went over to the village, and we found the native Christians engaged in filling up the breach. It has since been completed at a cost of fifteen rupees, or about thirty shillings. The rice growing just behind the reservoir was all carried away by the rushing waters. Another large reservoir, which was commenced a year or two ago, has been completed, or nearly so, during the past year, and is now quite full of water. Unless some unforeseen accident should occur, the crops, so far as water is concerned, are considered quite safe. Brother B. and I intended to return home the same evening, but a very heavy fall of rain prevented us, so we sent off a man to inform our wives that we were weather-bound, and would return in the morning. There Berhampore, Ganjam, Oct. 11th, 1858. were two difficulties in the way of our remaining; in the first place we had very little food, and in the second we had no beds. Tama kindly prepared some curry and rice for us, but the former, by the way, was so hot with cayenne pepper as to burn and almost blister ones mouth. Tama, however, considered it "very mild." Then came the difficulty as to how we were to sleep. For beds we used forms, and for pillows, the cloths of the Christians, and being fatigued we were soon enjoying "Tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep." Returning home the next morning, we passed a man who was measuring his length to Juggernaut. The owners and cultivators of land were never, I believe, so well off as they are now. Owing to the large exportations, and various other circumstances, nearly all articles of consumption have risen very much in price. Take rice as an example. Ten or twelve years ago it was eighteen and twenty measures for a rupee. Last week we bought a quantity for our school children, when we had a great difficulty in obtaining seven and a quarter measures for the same amount. Cotton clothing is some 25 per cent. higher than it was a few years back. As, therefore, the former is the chief article of food and the latter the chief article of clothing, our orphan asylums are much more expensive institutions now than they were when first established. I think I am almost right when I state that sugar, fowls, ghee, oil, &c., have increased from twenty to fifty per cent. within the last ten years. Housecorn is now ten measures for a rupee, instead of thirty as formerly. Persons of regular but limited salaries are much more affected by this state of things than the day-labourer. It is, however, one of the necessary evils incident to a transition state of a nation, and will, doubtless, remedy itself in the end. If I mistake not, I stated some time ago, that the Government were laying down a telegraph between Calcutta and Madras. The bamboo posts which were put down in the first instance have been recently removed, and more substantial ones put down in their stead. The new posts are in three parts. In the first place, there is a large cast-iron screw, which is screwed into the ground. Fitted to the top of this is a tube of galvanized iron, which stands about five feet high, and on the top of this tube the wooden post is fixed. The screw and tube are used to prevent the posts from being rotted by the damp, and eaten by whiteants. These articles having been brought from England, I have no idea of their cost; but a native shop-keeper here has had a contract for upwards of 1,200 of the wood posts, at the rate of six rupees nine annas, or about thirteen shillings each. The other morning, this said shop-keeper told us that some natives had come forward and offered to supply any further quantity of posts at twelve annas or about eighteen-pence each. It seems, therefore, that Government has been wisely cheated, and knowing a little about the price of wood I fully believe that the posts might have been procured at a rupee each. It has been hinted that the shop-keeper has a share only of the profit. This, however, is not in my province, but it may serve to give one some idea of how things are managed, or rather mismanaged. The working of the telegraph is a very great mystery to the natives. They have asked me again and again if they "shall be able to 'see' anything going along the wire"; nor do they seem to have any idea of the manner in which messages are sent backwards and forwards. To give an illustration. Some time since, my pundit told me that he had been talking with a rajah or native prince on the subject. This rajah assured him that it was "all a vain and useless work," and to prove it, he said, "you cannot make a piece of string vibrate for a single kose,* and how can the sahibs make wire vibrate all the distance from Calcutta to Madras." This then is a prince's idea about the telegraph, rather good, is it not? We are delighted to hear of the success in laying down the Atlantic telegraph cable. It is now expected that by January, 1860, England and India will be connected by telegraph; and it is deemed possible for messages to be received in Calcutta in an evening, in answer to communications forwarded to London the same morning. India, therefore, will be only, as it were, one day's distance from England, instead of four or five months as was the case formerly. How vast the resources of matter, and great the discoveries of mind! God's testimonies are wonderful. A Kose is about equal to two English miles. For several days past a comet has been It visible, and, indeed, is visible still. may be seen towards dusk, and for about two hours afterwards. The tail has a splendid appearance, and seems to be of an immense length, but as I know very little about astronomy I must not say more on the subject. The natives generally interpret it as foreboding something very disastrous, and that there will be war and famine, and that some men of note, and many animals with tails will assuredly die." Yesterday brother B. preached from Jer. x., 2-"Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs from heaven, for the heathen are dismayed at them." say Last Thursday evening, a sad accident occurred at Ganjam. A Mr. Hanson, Mr. and Mrs. Martin, and their niece, a girl twelve years old, were about to proceed to Madras, by ship. They were all going in our boat to the ship, and had nearly crossed the surf. There, however, an immense breaker struck the boat and upset it. Mrs. M. was in her palkee at the time, and fortunately this floated, and she was saved. Several others caught hold of it, and all were picked up by a boat that was near. Mr. M. was also saved by holding to a piece of wood, but his niece and Mr Hanson were drowned. Mr. H. was in the medical service, and was the gentleman who escaped by hiding himself in the jungle, when he and Dr. Moore were attacked on their way from Cuttack to Sumbhulpore. He then had a hair's breadth escape, and lost all his baggage to the amount of 1,500 rupees. Dr. Moore, his fellow traveller, you will remember, was barbarously murdered. Last hot season, he, Mr. Hanson, gave me full particulars of his attack and escape; but it is unnecessary to enter into details. He had been offered a better appointment than the one he held in Ganjam, and was about to proceed to Madras to take it up when the accident happened. His wife and family are near Madras. It being reported that he was murdered on his way to Sumbhulpore, they "went into mourn ing" for him. How delighted would they be to hear that he was living; but how overwhelmed with distress will they be when they hear for truth that he met with an untimely end on his way to join them. May God comfort their sorrowing hearts. Mr. H. served with the Turkish Contingent during the Crimean War. But I must draw this rambling letter to a close. In my last letter I gave you some account of the ravages of cholera. I am thankful to say that there have been no more cases in our Christian community. |