A

Smile of the whole, and to transmit copies to the learned societies in HindosTần and in Europe: for this purpose an engraver is now employed on the plates at Cochin. The Christian and Jewish plates together will make 14 pages. Copy has been sent, in the first instance, to the Pundits of the Shanscrit College, at Trichiur, by direction of the Rajah of Cochin.

When the White Jews at Cochin were questioned respecting the ancient copies of their Scriptures, they answered, That it had been usual to bury the old copy read in the synagogue, when decayed by time and use. This, however, does not appear to have been the practice of the Black Jews, who were the first settlers; for in the record-chests of their synagogues, old copies of the law have been discovered; some of which are complete, and, for the most part, legible. Neither could the Jews of Cochin produce any bistorical manuscripts of consequence, their vicinity to the sea-coast having exposed their community to frequent revolution: but many old writings have been found at the remote synagogues of their ancient enemies the Black Jews, situated at Tritoca, Paroor, Chenotta, and Maleh; the last of which places is near the mountains. Amongst these writings are some of great length, in Rabbinical Hebrew; but in so ancient and uncommon a character, that it will require much time and labour to ascertain their contents. There is one manuscript written in a character resembling the Palmyrene Hebrew, on the brass-plates: but it is in a decayed state; and the leaves adhere so closely to each other, that it is doubtful whether it will be possible to unfold them, and preserve the reading. It is sufficiently established by the concurring evidence of written record and Jewish tradition, that the Black Jews had colonized on the coasts of India long before the Christian Ara. There was another colony at Rajapoor, in the Mahratta territory, which is not yet extinct; and there are at this time Jewish soldiers and Jewish native officers in the British service. That these are a remnant of the Jews of the first dispersion at the Babylonish captivity, seems highly probable. There are many other tribes settled in Persia, Arabia, Northern India, Tartary, and China, whose respective places of residence may be easily discovered. The places which have been already ascertained are 65 in number.". These tribes have in general (particularly those who have passed the Iudus) assimilated much to the customs of the countries in which they live; and may sometimes be seen by a traveller, without being recognized as Jews. The very imperfect resemblance of their countenance to the Jews of Europe, indicates that they have been detached from the parent stock in Judea, many ages before the race of Jews in the west. A fact corroborative of this is, that certain of these tribes do not call themselves Jews, but Beni-Israel or Israelites; for the name Joe is derived from Judah; whereas the ancestors of these tribes were not subject to the kings of Judah, but to the kings of Israel. They have, in most places, the book of the Law, the book of Job, and the Psalms; but know little of the prophers. Some of them have even lost the book of the Law; and only know that they are Israelites from tradition, and from their observance of peculiar rites.

"A copy of the Scriptures, belonging to the Jews of the cast, who might be supposed to have no communication with the Jews in the west, has been long a desideratum with Hebrew scholars. In the coffer of a synagogue of the Black Jews, in the interior of Malayala, there has been found an old copy of the law, written on a roll of leather. The skins are sewed together, and the roll is about gɔ feet in length. It is in some places worn out, and the holes have been patched with pieces of parchment. Some of the Jews suppose that this roll came originally from Senna, in Arabia; others have heard that it was brought from Cashmir. The Cabul Jews, who travel annually into the interior of China, say, that in some synagogues the law is still found written on a roll of leather; not on vellum, but ou a soft flexible leather, made of goats skins, and dyed red; which agrees with the description of the roll above mentioned.

"Such of the Syriac and Jewish manuscripts as may, on examination," be found to be valuable, will be deposited in the public libraries of the britisha Universities.

"The princes of the Deccan have manifested a liberal regard for the extension of Shanscrit learning, by furnishing lists of the books in their temptes for the College of Port William, in Bengal. His Excellency the Rajah of Tanjore was pleased to set the example, by giving the voluminous catalogue of the ancient library of the Kings of Tanjore; and his example has been followed by the Ranny of Ramaad, patroness of the celebrated temple of Ramisseram, near Adam's Bridge; by his Highness the Rajah of Travancore, who has given a of all the books in the Travancore country; and by the Rajah of Cochin, patron

The

of the ancient Shanscrit College, at the temple of Trichiur. It is understood that a copy of any book in these catalogues will be given when required. brahmins of Travancore consider that their manuscripts are likely to have as just a claim to high antiquity, or at least to accurate preservation, as those in the temples in the north; and for the same reason that the Christian and Jewish records have been so well preserved; which is, that the country of Travancore, defended by mountains, has never, according to tradition, been subjugated by invaders from the north of Hindostan.

"The design of investigating the History and Literature of the Christians and Jews in the East, was submitted to the Marquis Wellesley, before he left India. His Lordship, judging it to be of importance that the actual relation of the Syrian Christians to our own church should be ascertained, and auguring something interesting to the republic of letters, from the investigation of the Syriac and Jewish antiquities, was pleased to give orders that public aid should be afforded to Dr. Buchanan, in the prosecution of his enquiries, wherever it might be practicable. To the operation of these orders it is owing that the proposed researches, of which some slight notices are given above, have not been made in vain.

"Cochin, January, 1807.”

HOME INTELLIGENCE.

ORDINATIONS, &c.

JULY 16, at Blackburn, the Rev. Jos. Fletcher, A. M. late student at Hoxton Academy; under the patronage of which institution he completed his studies at Glasgow. Mess's. Taylor, Bradley, White, Simpson, Roby, and Bowden, engaged in the service.

Same day at Andover, the Rev. Lewis Winchester, late student at Gosport. The Rev. Mess. Cox, J. Winter, Griffin, Bennett, Bishop, Adams, and Lacy conducted the service.

July 29, at Middleton Cheney, the Rev. R. Davis, late student at Bristol. The Rev. Mess. Taylor, Barker, Kerly, Heighton, Dr. Ryland, and Mr. Sutcliff, were engaged.

Aug. 11, at Henley (Oxon.) the Rev. J. Churchill (removed from Ongar) was set apart to the pastoral office over the church at Henley. The Rev. Messrs. Kello, Cook, Donglas, and Dr. Davies were employed in this service.

Aug. 12, at Nottingham (Sion Chapel) the Rev. John Bryan, late of London. The Rev. Messrs. Sleigh, Gawthorne, Alliott, Roby, Biewer, and Smith were engaged.

tist Churches of Kent and Sussex met
at RYE. The Rev. Messrs. Fisher,
Gough, Giles, White, Knott, Purdy,
and other ministers engaged. - Next
Meeting the second Tuesday in June
1808, at Lessness Heath, near Wool-
wich: Messrs. Fuller, Atwood, and
Knott to preach.

June 17.
A chapel was opened at
Farl Shilton, rear Hinckley. The
Rev. Mess. Davies, Robt. Hall, Evans,
Hartley, and Hitchen, were engaged in
the several services of the day.

ON Friday, August 28, at Newport Paguel, died Ann, wife of the Rev. S. Greatheed, aged 49 years. A fortnight before her death (which was caused by an erysipelous fever) she appeared to be as well as she usually had been. Her daily and uniform walk with God had happily prepared her for so sudden a change. In her, the cause of Christ, and many of his people, have lost a liberal benefactress; her intimate acquaintance, a cordial and faithful friend; and her bereaved husband a most affectionate and valuable helpinate. She was an Israelite indeed. "in whom was no guile." She was interred in the burial-ground of the Independent Meeting-house at Newport Pagnel, Sept. 3, on the same day, and at the same hour of the day, on which, 19 years before, she had entered into the marriage state. The Rev. W.Buil, of whose church she had been a mealber from her youth, improved the solemn occasion, from Rev.v. 12, “Worthy is the Lamb" a text which, for many years, she had constantly read on that June 9 and 10. The Associated Bap- day, in Mason's Spiritual Treasury.

Aug. 26, at Ashbourn, the Rav. S. Franklin, late student at Cheshunt. The Rev. Mesers. Gawthorne, Start, Saith, and Browning conducted the several parts of the service.

Sept. ro, at Sunderland, the Rev. I. Watts was ordained pastor of the neighbouring Baptist church at Monkwearmouth. The Rev. Mess. Gretrex, Bigg, and Hill were engage.

Friends at Malton, &c. by the Rev. Mr. Howell
Rev. Mr. Collison and Congregation, Walthamstow
Rev. Mr. Clark and Congregation, at Brigg and Wrawby
Legacy of T. Carter, Esq. late of Peckham'

Paid Duty

250 0

Collections by the Rey. Messrs. COLLISON and FREY, during their Tour Yorkshire and Lancashire.

At the Rev. Mr. Dewhirst's, Bury

At Sutton Coldfield Church, by the Rev. Dr. Ryland

At the Rev. J. Clement's, New Mill, near Tring, lerts
At the Rev. Mr. Culver's, Woolwich

At the Rev. Rt. Davis's, Byrom Street Chapel, Liverpool
Mr. Hobbs and Congregation, Colchester
From a Worcestershire Friend

List of Lectures, &c. in and near London, for October.

Printed by G. AULD, Greville Street, London.

1