quirers' meetings, held in different parts of the town, are very interesting, and gradually one and another came out to profess their faith in Christ. On Lords-day, the 4th of September, I had the privilege of baptizing ten more from Shakdra; and last sabbath morning I buried another with Christ by baptism, in the presence of crowds who lined the banks of the Jumna, where I now generally baptize. I have several candidates for to-morrow. As we render them no temporal aid, and they must all bear persecution to some extent, I have given over keeping them on trial for six months. When mer., amid much opposition, are ready to take up the cross and follow the Saviour, there is no reason why we should doubt their sincerity. I think I mentioned the schools I had established for inquirers and their children. I have four of them, all taught by native Christians, who act as Scripture-readers also. These schools and their masters are doing good service. I have just got a large building in the middle of Chandru Chouk, which we are going to use as a chapel on sabbath days, and central school during the week. Our young people are obliged to attend the Propagation Society's school in order to learn English, for which their desire is universally strong; so that I am obliged to provide the means of education, or allow the fruit of our labours largely to be reaped by others. I shall have none but Christian teachers, and hope to provide all local expenses without troubling the Committee. You will be delighted to hear that I meet with almost daily proofs of the usefulness of my predecessors, especially Mr. Thompson. I have seen lots of old worn Scriptures and tracts which the natives have saved during the mutiny, when some of them could save little else. It is encouraging to find that long-continued labours, though at the time apparently fruitless, have not been in vain. 'Be not weary in well doing; for in due season ye shall reap, if faint not."

ye

INDIA DURING THE PRESENT CENTURY.

HINDOOISM has undergone the most wonderful changes during the present century.

Let us notice, first, the changes that have taken place in the articles of dress and household furniture. Half a century ago the Hindoos had but little if any furniture, and that of the rudest style; now, many wealthy natives have their palaces furnished to overflowing with the most fashionable and costly of English manufacture. Half a century ago the sun-dial and water clock were their only timepieces; now, clocks and watches, the most beautiful and

valuable, grace their drawing-rooms. In articles of dress, many of the wealthy wear English-made fabrics in preference to their own. Now, many pursue occupations which, but a very few years ago, were entirely unknown in this country. Half a century ago there were no printed books in the Bengalee language; now, thousands are appearing at Calcutta annually. Half a century ago, no Hindoo ever thought of making himself acquainted with the English language; now, there are hundreds in the English counting-houses of every large city throughout the land, who read, write, and speak the language fluently. For many generations the Hindoos have been accustomed to travel in rude country boats, on foot, in palanquins, or in cow carts; but now the most wonderful changes have been introduced even in this respect; now it is not uncommon to see the opulent seated in a stately equipage of English manufacture, drawn by a pair of costly Arabian or English steeds. The government steamers that now plough the hallowed waters of the great Ganges are crowded with passengers. The railroad even, that most modern invention, they are taken with; and the trains that now run between Calcutta and Raneegunge, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles, are filled to overflowing every day. In the telegraph offices, too, they are at their posts, controlling the wonderful machine.

In a religious point of view, the result has been the same. Half a century ago, thousands of infants were thrown into the Hoogly (an outlet of the Ganges), at the great Saugor Mela, annually; but now, not one. Half a century ago, many widows were annually burnt alive with the bodies of their deceased husbands; but now, the remembrance even of this barbarous custom seems to have been almost forgotten. Formerly, it was thought a very shocking thing to touch the flesh or the hide of a dead cow; but now, many brahmins even wear shoes made of cow-hides instead of their old wooden sandals. Only ten years ago, brahminism was so rife, that the appearance of a brahmin in the midst of a crowd addressed by a christian missionary, was sufficient to dismiss the whole assem bly, and leave the earnest missionary without a hearer; now, not only the brahmins themselves, but the people, listen attentively without molestation. But a very few years ago, hardly a Hindoo would have ventured, through fear of banishment from home, caste, and friends, to recommend the marriage of widows; but now, through petitions made by the Hindoos themselves, the government, during the present year, have passed an act making such marriages hereafter legal.

If we examine into their ancient religious rites and ceremonies, we find many not only unobserved but forgotten. Half a century ago, how many native christians were there in Hindostan? Now, between Lahore on the north, and Calcutta on the south, there are more than 25,000 souls professing salvation through Jesus Christ. Half a century ago, how many schools were there in which a liberal education was imparted? Now, in the north-west provinces alone, there are 3781 in full operation. Of this number 87 are government schools, with 5907 pupils; 33 are missionary, with 1749; 3661 are common, with 40,181 pupils; making a grand total of 47,837 pupils. Half a century ago, there was not one girls' school in all India; now there are several, conducted under the most flattering circumstances. Such are some of the most important changes of Hindooism during the last fifty years. Christianity is gradually working its way through the multitudinous objects that oppose its progress, and light is fast dispelling the moral darkness that hangs thick and dreadful over this land, where “ every prospect pleases, and only man is vile." If the last half century has accomplished so much, what may we not expect from the next, with its increasing facilities for moral and religious education, and the rapid progress of civilization and science? Who shall now say that the close of the nineteenth century shall not see the whole fabric of Hindooism, as well as Mohammedanism, dissolved, and remembered only as one of the things that were? Who shall now predict that heathenism is too strong for Christianity and civilization? The past refutes such an assumption. The present promises changes that will astonish the whole world. Let the friends of Christ, therefore, rally all their strength around the banner of the Cross; and let their prayers ascend with one harmonious voice to Jehovah of Hosts, pleading that this glorious work, begun and so successfully carried on in heathen lands, and especially in India, may be crowned with still more success; that more labourers may be sent into the harvest. We have the cheering and immutable promise that the work shall be done. "For as the rain cometh down, and the show from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

THE Goats with which we are familiar in this country are generally from the mountains of Wales. The engraving represents one of these and her kid. But as there are many kinds of horses and many kinds of dogs, so are there many kinds of goats. The Syrian goat, of which we read in the Bible, has long ears, like those of a large-eared rabbit, and the horns not bent back, but standing more erect, though they are twisted in their form. The hair is long and often black. The Egyptian goat has a different appearance in several respects.

The goat, as all who read the Scriptures are aware, was often used in sacrifice by the Jews. On the great day of expiation many sacrifices were offered (see Lev. xvi.). Two goats were also to be brought to the door of the tabernacle, and the high priest was to cast lots upon them, "one lot for the Lord, and the other for the scape-goat," or rather "for Azazel." The goat on which the lot of the Lord fell was to be brought and offered up for a sin-offering, but the goat on which the lot of Azazel fell was to be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, to let him go for a scape-goat (or "for Azazel") into the wilderness. Of the former the blood was to be carried within the veil to be sprinkled upon the mercy-seat, and before the mercy-seat, in order that

atonement might be made for the holy place because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel. When, on the other hand, the live goat was brought, the high-priest was to lay both his hands upon his head to confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel; after which he was to send it by the hand of "a fit man,” that it might bear upon it all their iniquities into a land not inhabited. Both typified the Lord Jesus.

"So Christ, the heavenly Lamb,

Takes all our sins away;

A sacrifice of nobler name,
And richer blood than they.

My faith would lay her hand
On that dear head of thine,
While like a penitent I stand,
And there confess my sin."

ROBERT HALL AND HIS INFANT SON.

WE presume that many of our readers have heard of this eminent baptist minister; but it may be needful to inform some of them that he was once the most eloquent preacher in England, and that he died about thirty years ago. The following incidents, connected with the birth and death of an infant son, are related by Mr. Morris, in his "Recollections."

Mr. Hall was soon afterwards called to bear a trial which he had never before experienced, and of the severity of which he had no previous conception, though it was none other than is common to man. But under all his afflictions, from whatever quarter they proceeded, he exemplified the same spirit of profound submission to the will of God, the same reliance on his paternal care and goodness, as he had all along displayed amidst excruciating pain and suffering, and was in all respects a pattern of humility and selfabasement. His passiveness in the hands of God bore an adequate proportion to the elevation of his piety, and the ardour of his attachment to the object of his adoration, delighting under all circumstances to sink into nothing before Him.

His first son, named Robert, was born in May, 1813, and was esteemed a singularly lovely and interesting child. The infant was so generally admired for his remarkably intelligent appearance, and supposed resemblance to his beloved father, that he soon became a great favourite among the ladies; and persons of distinction pass