Thus, in the space of a few months, the Society has lost three of its missionary band. Where are the men to occupy their places? Who shall take up the laborious itinerant life of Mr. Parry? Who will follow as unweariedly as Mr. Thomas the highest interests of the people of Hindustan? Or who will succeed Mr. Denham in his devotedness and consecration to the salvation of the perishing heathen? Are the prayers of the churches withheld that so few come forward to occupy the posts of the fallen? Has the work of the Lord lost its attraction, and the cross its power to constrain? Earnestly do we press upon our rising ministry, upon our young pastors, and the instructed youth of the church, the pressing need of India for more evangelists, for devoted messengers of the gospel of peace.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

A VISIT TO DELHI AND MEERUT.

BY THE REV. JOHN GREGSON.

I HAD only just time to drop you a single line by the last mail after my return from Delhi. I now proceed to give the particulars of my visit there.

In reference to poor McKay, I am sorry I could gain no positive intelligence as to his fate. The native rumour is that given by Fatima, viz., that he formed one of a party who took refuge in Skinner's house, and perished after holding out two or three days. On going to inquire of the magistrate, he told me that he had no intelligence of McKay, not having heard his name mentioned; and on my relating the native rumour, he replied that he did not think any such occurrence had taken place in Col. Skinner's house; he had not heard the least rumour of the kind; but he said that a party of about thirteen had fled to the house of Mr. Aldwell, who is related to Col. Skinner, and whose house is situated in Durriagunge, not far from that occupied at the outbreak by Mr. McKay. This party held out two days, and resisted all the musketry and even canon the rebels could bring to bear against them. The house, until very recently, when it was repaired, bore distinct marks of cannon shot. On the third day a messenger came to say that if they would give themselves up, the King would spare their lives and take care of them. Having no other resource they agreed, and directly after were treacherously taken to some bullock sheds and mercilessly slain. Their bodies were subsequently dragged into the river. Now it is very probable that poor McKay formed one of this party. Had he succeeded in reaching Skinner's house as stated, he would have been near the Cashmere Gate, out of the way of the mutineers, and might, one would think, have slipped out of the city, when he would have had the whole country open for escape. But as he is known to have lived a very retired and studious life, he would be little likely to know of the mutiny until the tumult reached his very door. He would then, no doubt, try to flee from the rebels, which would take him in the direction of Mr. Aldwell's house, and meeting with other fugitives, they might very naturally seek refuge there as a somewhat strong and commodious place. Native rumour has most distinctly associated Mr. McKay's name with the party whose destruction I have narrated. The only difference-of house-not being in my esteem of much importance. Here I imagine the matter must rest. Not one other word of intelligence could I glean, and the probabilities appear to me very strong that he died amongst this party.

I very much regret I could not meet with a relic of McKay's of any sort. I

went about the city and looked into many shops, but the city is almost deserted, and the shops contain no plunder whatever. Scarcely a book could I find, and the few I did meet with were new.

The intelligence I gained of Mrs. Thompson and her daughters, fully confirms Fatima's statement, and leaves scarcely a doubt in reference to their lamentable end. Fatima states she saw Mrs. T. and both her daughters lying dead in their own house on the day of the mutiny. In the compound belong. ing to the house was a long row of brick outhouses. These had partly fallen into decay. (I may mention that since the occupation of Delhi by our troops, Mrs. Thompson's house has been occupied as a hospital for English soldiers.) About two months ago, these outhouses were found to be much in the way, and it was resolved to remove some of them entirely, and to repair others. In taking away the ruins of one, amidst the débris and rubbish, were found three complete FEMALE skeletons. One still had the remnant of a gown clinging to it. One skull had been pierced by a musket ball, and the other two had received severe sabre cuts. The bones were carefully collected, and have been buried at the foot of a tree in the same compound. The spot I saw. I had this narrative from an apothecary belonging to the 3rd European Bengal Fusileers, who himself saw the remains, and had them buried. It appears that on their success at Delhi, the rebel troops occupied Mrs. Thompson's house, and no doubt, finding the bodies offensive, had them dragged into one of the outhouses. This is exactly what they would be likely to do-just get them out of sight at the least possible expense of labour. This is all they would care for. Should a missionary shortly come to Delhi, I would suggest the removal of these remains to some more fitting locality, and the erection over them of a suitable tablet. It is very heartrending to contemplate the cruel unpitying death they met with. What can be more harrowing than the spectacle of this fierce horde of heartless ruffians, rushing into the house and butchering and hacking to death three helpless and inoffensive women, alike incapable and unwilling to offer resistance ?

In reference to the chapel, it is registered, and will be given up to any one empowered by the Society to claim it. It is at present tenanted by an officer, and is in a tolerable state of repair, though evidently suffering from constitutional debility. The roof, especially, bears marks of infirmity and decay, and the whole building evidently needs thoroughly renewing.

I had fully intended to try the temper of the Delhi people by preaching to them, and I made an engagement with Hurra Lal for this purpose, but he did not come as appointed, and my stay was so short that I had not another opportunity. But from all I can learn it seems a thousand pities that you have not a man to send there at once. Hurra Lal writes me the people listen much more quietly and attentively than before the mutiny; and Mr. Medland, of Meerut, informs me that he has been visited by one or two youths formerly in the Delhi College, and also by several men from villages near Delhi. I need not say the immediate occupation by our Society of Delhi would give us a great advantage, and, if possible, ought to be done.

Whilst at Meerut I took an opportunity of visiting the village in the neighbourhood, where you have probably heard a very interesting movement towards Christianity has been made. This village is not more than three or four miles from Meerut. Many years ago, Mr. Fisher, then chaplain of Meerut, baptized a guru belonging to this village, a Kabir Panthi. This is a sect of Hindus whose leading peculiarities are utter aversion to idolatry and friendliness to all religious parties. When the mutiny broke out, this man went to a distance, but left his Testament and Christian books with some men of his own sect, of whom this village contains a large number. They read the books, were much interested and impressed, and came to Meerut to Mr. Medland for further instruction. Some ten or fifteen would walk over on the Sabbath to be present at public worship, and finally they begged earnestly that a catechist might be sent over to live amongst them and instruct them. They offered to build a house for him to live in. Their request was complied with, a catechist and his wife were sent over, and the villagers themselves worked at the house and built it with their own hands, though the material was found by

the Mission. A considerable number of women and children came to be instructed in reading and needlework, &c., and now a neat church has been erected for divine service. When I visited the village, about fifteen women and girls were collected in school, among whom were some two or three mothers with infants in their arms. There were also about ten boys. I was told that the usual number was considerably more than this. The catechist also stated that on the previous Sabbath about eighty were gathered together for public worship. The movement presents several features of deep interest:-its origin, reading God's Word; its extent, comprising, say, considerably upwards of 100 adults and children, in a village of from 500 to 1,000 inhabitants; its rapidity, all accomplished in a few months; and its influence, an awakening such desire for instruction, and leading to spontaneous and voluntary labour in the construction of a house for the catechist.

I am not prepared to say to what extent divine truth has really taken hold of the affections and the life of these people. No doubt much is gained when we have got people to renounce all false religions, and to receive with willing and impartial minds all the Christian instruction we are able to impart. All this is gained in the case before us. But from what I heard it would seem that the attachment of the people to the Christian faith is not very intelligent or strong, and already a cloud is hovering over this little Christian community, and whether it will disperse, or expend itself in destructive fury, we cannot at present tell.

HOSTILITY TO THE GOSPEL BY THE ZEMINDARS OF BENGAL.

THE spread of the gospel in the district of Backergunge continues to excite the opposition of the landholders. Our readers are well acquainted with the case of the Baropakhya Christians, who to this day have failed to obtain either justice in the courts of law, or compensation for the losses they sustained and the captivity they endured. It will be seen from the following communication from the Rev. J. C. Page, that the confession of Christ is still attended with persecution. His letter is dated August 30, 1858.

"On the whole, we are (in the churches) force to get from them a couple of marriage still making progress. We have baptized fees. He seized two of them, and ill-treated this year a very fair proportion of our them, taking from them one rupee with hearers-some fifty-three (up to this date) which they were going to market. They in seven stations. As we baptize our hear- petitioned the deputy magistrate, not so ers and bring them into the church, so we much about this ill-treatment as against get new comers from the heathen and con- the talookdar's determination to get from neet them with the body of our hearers. them somehow the marriage fees he had The "cause" grows monthly. It therefore repeatedly required. But in doing this they continues to raise enemies, and the zemin- only made matters worse. The talookdar, dars do not leave us alone. Only the other wishing to pay them off, and dispossess at day a talookdar, who has lately given a ta- the same time the howlahdar, recently went look in form to the notorious Ram Roton through the formalities of a case for arrears Roy, of Naryal in Jessore, some two months of rent against two of the Christians; he then ago came down on our people of Indou- got out a pyada (a constable) to realise the kanee. We have some ten families in this rent alleged to be due, kept this fellow at his little place, and they are the ryots of a how-kutcherry, and then, with some 40 or 50 lahdar, who holds the land under the latyals, pounced down on our people at talookdar. But they had offended this Indoukanee, looted four houses, and walked latter gentleman, in appealing to the autho- off with three of the principal men. rities against his exacting from them several of them he first bound and severely beat, and sums above and apart from their rent. then handed them over to the pyada from They had also two of their members mar- the collectorate. On this, their friends of ried, and the talookdar endeavoured by another village helped to make up just

Two

double the sum required by the pyada, paid it down, released their brethren, and brought them in to me at Barisaul. There was no question as to the ill usage these poor fellows had undergone. One had marks and bruises all over his body, and could scarcely walk; the other had the skin almost torn off where cords had been tightened on his arms. I immediately took up the case, and begged the deputy magistrate to take this village on his way to his own station, and look strictly into the case. This he very kindly did. I was present throughout the investigation; and I hope some of the latyals and the bailiffs of the talookdar may meet with their deserts.

"In other places the landholders still strive to dispossess our people of their land, or to destroy their means of livelihood, and it requires increasing watchfulness to prevent their succeeding. In the village of Koligaon-north of this, and on the borders of Fureedporc-we have a small Christian community. These people, besides possessing a few fields, have, for ten years past, to my certain knowledge, had possession, with their Hindu neighbours, of certain fisheries which have yielded more than the rice crops by a great deal. Hence the Koligaon people always managed to keep themselves from debt, and always refrained from begging, helping their own sick, and looking after their own chapel, &c. But, here again, Ram Roton Roy (of whom Mr. Underhill no doubt will be able to tell you a tale or two) came in. He claims a few beegahs of land in the neighbourhood-he gets a decree ordering possession; he next complains that defendants oppose the carrying out of the decree and have retained armed men to resist possession; he consequently obtains the help of the police, and with this police, well chosen and well feed, he takes possession of many hundreds of acres of land to which he has no more right than I have; he closes the fisheries, and drives out all the fishermen, and thus completely, for the time being (that is, till dispossessed and compelled to disgorge by a long expensive process in the civil courts), ousts the zemindars of Koligaon, and beggars all their ryots, our people among the number. Our brethren Robinson and Supper, of Dacca, to whom I wrote on the subject, have generously helped the Koligaon Christians to procure larger nets, &c., to enable them to fish in rivers which even Roton Baboo has not the face to claim; and I am going to try what the "great" Baboo himself can be got to do! the zemindars of the place are with me. Nay; they want to give me or the native preacher of Koligaon the management of their whole estates, if we will but fight the Baboo in the courts; yet these too were

our enemies till we resisted and got the better of them!

Again, at Madra, in the west, we have had an affair which has cost me a great deal of trouble and some money too. Indeed, I am obliged to turn downright attorney for these people. Two of our Christians there were some months ago being dispossessed of their fields by their talookdar. They went to sow these fields one morning in April last, but were driven off by some Hindus and Mohammedans sent out by the talookdar. In the afternoon, they returned with afew of their brethren in order to get through the sowing in a few hours, as the law gives the crop to him who sows it, irrespective of any other claim; but they were met by a greater number, beaten off, and pursued to the house of one of the Christians who lived near these lands. Here the Hindus and Mohammedans attempted to carry everything by assault. The Christians defended themselves; and though they gained the day, it was not before two of their number, and one of the Hindus, were wounded. I happened to be nearing the village, when the wounded men were being sent in to Barisaul by the police. The darogah followed me the next day, held an investigation, got 150 rupees from the talookdar (the talookdar told me this himself with deep regret!), and sent in a report to the effect that the Christians were the aggressors; and that forty-three of their number had fought with five or six of their Hindu neighbours, and the above was the result! We disallowed the darogah's investigation, and had the case tried ab initio by the deputy magistrate. Still the darogah and talookdar managed to get some nineteen false witnesses to swear they had seen twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, Christians all armed in this affray; and they were so exceedingly sharp as to be able to mention the names of all they saw! Thus we were involved in one large body, and naturally enough; for the heathen outnumber us, know by name and feature every Christian, and can tell a lie oftener and much more willingly than they would speak the truth. This case is still dragging its slow length along; and how it will end I know not. It seems to be a very sage opinion among our magistrates, that if men on two sides are wounded, there must have been a mutual affray. So they become prosecutors on behalf of government and punish all sides! They can hardly understand that in defending my property or my person such a result is likely to occur.

All "There are other matters, too, of a like sort to which I might refer, all tending to show the hostility we have still to encounter on all hands. But, verily, blessed be God that the heathen do oppose us! I want them not to love us. Suffice it that the authori

down. God, for Jesus's sake, has pardoned, helped, and in some degree prospered us. To Him be praise! To that dear Redeemer, through whom comes every blessing, be also praise!

ties are not against us. Zemindars will be our enemies, unless indeed Christian men become zemindars. And yet why should not this be? What is to prevent many a Christian man who has more money than he knows what to do with, laying out his money "I do not for my part dislike storms, if at veritable good interest by purchasing a God only in mercy grant grace to face and zemindary, and then showing forth the get through them. A stagnant tank is just beauty of Christianity by a course of jus-a- stink! But a river, boisterous, tossed tice, and honesty, and clemency, in all his by tempest, though it rush to a sea of dedealings with the ryot? On this subject I struction, may still be stemmed, while it conmust write to you fully, some day. tains much that is pure and good." "Withal, though tried, we are not cast

The missionary obviously cannot be indifferent to the social well-being of the people who are exposed to these oppressive proceedings for Christ's sake. It is easy to say that it forms no part of the missionary's duty to trouble himself about the zemindary and other social questions, and that they are beyond his duty and capacity. Painful incidents and facts like those recorded above, make him too well and thoroughly acquainted with the working of a system, which has left the ryot of Bengal at the mercy of a class that has obtained unenviable notoriety for its tyranny and lawlessness: while to withhold the disclosure or to refrain from expressing the condemnation such proceedings deserve, would be to neglect the duties which humanity imposes, and of which Christianity so peculiarly demands the discharge.

NOTES AND INCIDENTS.

MISCHIEF OF HINDU MARRIAGE CUSTOMS.-The "Bangalore Herald" gives another instance of the baneful effect of the Hindu marriage customs. A young native employed in one of the Government treasuries was seized with cholera and died. His wife, a girl of some ten or twelve years of age, was thus made a widow, and unable, of course, to marry again. The anticipation of the solitary life she would then be compelled to live, so preyed upon the child's mind, and upon that of her mother, that both drowned themselves in a neighbouring tank. This is but one instance out of thousands that are happening every week. Indeed, so common an occurrence scarcely deserves mention, but that some persons gravely argue that one of the causes of the rebellion was the recent marriage law, by which the marriage of widows is rendered valid in law.

A NATIVE CHRISTIAN COLONY IN NORTHERN INDIA.-In the Dehra Doon is a colony of native Christians. It consists of sixty-six individuals who, persecuted at Mirzapore, were settled by a benevolent Englishman on some land in the Dhoon. They arrived in February, 1818, and have already eighty bigahs cleared and prepared for rice. Double that extent will be cleared for the next crop, and from the end of this year the Christians will be able to support themselves. They have a schoolmaster, and shortly a catechist will permanently be located among them. They have also commenced the cultivation of tea and coffee. The children will be taught different trades, and the colony thus rendered a nucleus of civilisation for the Dhoon.-Friend of India.

CHRISTIANITY AND THE GOVERNMENT OF PEGU.-In Pegu, the great want is popu lation to occupy the fertile plains of the delta of the Irrawaddy. Major Phayre's measures for obtaining immigrants are wise. His great resource is to attract the Karens. The wild tribes which stretch far over the eastern border of Burmah