tian in our low estate." To the rajah and his court, whose protection they so long enjoyed, they were known only as Sooriani; but not as professing a religion similar to the faith of that power which had secured to himself his throne, and had for a century been consolidating an empire around him, and has at last become paramount through all India. Surely, if that great light, the word of the living God, had been held up as a lamp of knowledge, then would the people, who so long sat in the region and shadow of death, have beheld and turned to Jehovah with thankfulness and joy.

Something has, however, been done by themselves, and for them, to improve their spiritual condition, and increase their religious and moral influence. The visit of Dr. Buchanan in 1806, and his subsequent publication of what he had seen, imparted excitement to the people themselves ; inquiry, and some little exertion, followed. His Christian Researches stirred up many pious men in his own community at home, and led to the appointment of an Anglican episcopal missionary to the country of Travancore. The Rev. Messrs. Norton, Bailey, Baker, and Fenn, were stationed at Allepie in 1816, and at Cotym in the years 1817 and 1818. A Mr. Redsdale and a Dr. Doran were added to the number after a few years, and several chaplains of the East India Company have exerted themselves among the Syrians, especially Messrs. Hough and Jeffreson. General instruction was promoted by the establishment of schools. Copies of the Syriac Scriptures were sent from the British and Foreign Bible Society. The missionaries carried forward to completion a translation of the Holy Scriptures into the Malayalim language, the vernacular dialect of that province. The liturgy of the church of England was also introduced in the same language into the services of several congregations. At Cotym a Brahminical college of celebrity had existed long before, and another had been recently erected not far distant, for the cultivation of Sanscrit learning. A christian college was founded by the benevolent liberality of Colonel Munro, British resident at Travancore, and had been built in 1815. The rannee, or queen regent of Travancore, was induced to patronise this institution by a gift of 2,000l., and a grant of land called Munro Island, endowments equal to the support of fifty scholarships. The enlightened views on which Colonel Munro exerted himself for this institution, were expressed by him in 1819 in the following statement." It is only by an efficient course of instruction at the college, that a respectable body of native clergy can be procured for the service of the Syrian churches, and for the propagation of Christianity among the heathen." The college was provided with an English (missionary) superintendant, two Syriac and one Hebrew professors, two native teachers of Sanscrit, and an English teacher and assistant. In a short time fifty students were profiting by the advantages of the institution, and the whole Syrian population looked to the college as the eye of their body, making it their boast; while the students gave indications of zeal and progress. Three seminaries, on the plan of free grammar schools, were established, one for the central, one for the northern, and one for the southern divisions of the country. The most promising youths were selected from these for the college, which they entered as soon as vacancies occurred. The number of youths under instruction exceeded a thousand, in common schools, besides the fifty who attended college to prepare for ministerial services in the church. A printing press had also been established, from which the sacred Scriptures (translations), native works, and religious tracts, continued to issue and circulate among the people. The formation of a public, or collegiate library, had been commenced, and several thousand volumes collected.

As an illustration of the interest taken in these proceedings by the Syrian metropolitan, and the partial progress of this ecclesiastic in book learning, as well as the miscellaneous nature of the books, we may mention the following incident. MarDionysius took a pleasure in conducting visiters through the college. To one visiter, after having shewn all other matters, deemed curiosities, he shewed a book, printed in English type, but not in the English language, and expressed his regret that no one of his learned friends had been able to interpret or translate this strange work. The friend to whom he made his complaint, glanced over the page, and found it to be a copy of the Scriptures, in Gaelic, which some Highland soldier had conveyed to the regions of Travancore. When his visiter was able to explain to the metropolitan the mysterious volume, he concluded that the lady was more learned than many of his wisest associates.

These benevolent and enlightening operations were conducted whilst we were in the country, with the concurrence of the principal men among the Syrian clergy; the chief of whom resided at the college, and joined in the deliberations of the missionaries. We know not whether it has been the effect of Anglican intercourse, but a much greater variety of ecclesiastical distinctions are recognised among them than when their standard of faith was first promulgated in Europe by Dr. Buchanan. The metron, metropolitan or bishop, who generally assumes the title MAR; as MarPhiloxenus, Mar-Dionysius, &c., is still an officebearer appointed from Antioch. In times of emergency, the Syrian clergy have chosen one of themselves to hold the office temporarily, till an accredited bishop, ordained and appointed by the patriarch of Antioch, shall arrive, and with all due authority assume his functions; so was it when Colonel Munro first interested himself in their welfare. The Ramban was selected by his brother clergy, we were told, on account of his eminent devotion, and assumed the designation-Mar-Philoxenus, and another metropolitan was appointed; and this man of the people's choice quietly retired to the north district of their country, about a

hundred miles from Cotym, where he maintained the most friendly correspondence with Mar-Dionysius, who had been sent to supersede him. The ramban, we presume, is synonymous with what Gibbon designates the archdeacon, when describing a similar temporary arrangement. The Malpans are represented as Syriac doctors; the Catanars are officiating clergy, designated priests by the English episcopalians; Dr. Buchanan called them Kasheesas. There has been, occasionally, some apprehension lest the missionaries should overrule the inclinations, and by their domination, subvert the native discipline of the Syrians. Their indirect alliance with the Company's government, and control over the funds provided by their society, give countenance to this fear; and about the year 1821, a report was circulated that they were interfering with the Syrians in opposition to the metropolitan's wish. Dr. Middleton, on his voyage from a visitation at Bombay, stopped at Cochin, and sent for the Syrian bishop to ascertain whether or no it was the fact; but was satisfied by the metropolitan declaring that there was no truth in the report; he expressed his approbation, and took his leave. There is, however, much room for intrigue and secret influence for one purpose or another, in the patriarchal appointment of the bishop himself; and there has been sometimes danger of a divided episcopate, hostile factions, and a distracted church. It has almost required the strong arm of power to set aside the temporary functionary, to invest the