FOR SEPTEMBER, 1849.

school was established near his house, and
it was not long before he went to see it. On
entering, he found the teacher engaged in
imparting instruction; and, after raising a
few objections to what he heard, he looked
at the book which the Reader had in his
hand, and found it was Tamil. As he knew
no other language than the Malayalim, he
but he pro-
was of course unable to read it;
cured the Tamil letters, and soon made him-
self acquainted with them.

After fifteen

days he returned to the school, obtained a few elementary Tamil books, and, by subsequently reading these, certain doubts were produced in his mind as to the truth of Popery, which, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, finally issued in his conversion.

His decision for Christ.

While still in the Romish Church, he read many Christian books; and the popish priest gave out, that if he who had gone after heretics wanted salvation, he must endure penance

for the removal of the curse he had contracted, and then he might be received back into the Church. He continued to hear more about the work of the Christian Missionaries, and, though the Papists spoke against this new way, they admitted that the Missionaries were doing good, by instructing the people, and by receiving orphans and other helpless children, and giving them both support and instruction. After some time, the opposition of the Papists became much stronger, and they denied him any intercourse with them: the effect was, that he resolved to return the books which he had received. For this purpose he repaired to the Reader; but, on his arrival, heard him reading and enforcing the words of Matt. vii, 13, "Enter ye in at the strait gate." His mind was deeply impressed, and without saying anything of the purpose for which he had come, he asked the Reader to take him to the Missionary, that he might receive some good advice: they accordingly went, and he gave the Missionary a short account of his standing among the Papists as a teacher, and the persecution he was suffering for having read Christian books. The Missionary gave him some good advice, and especially exhorted him from the words, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me;" and then, referring to the cross which he had hanging from his neck, pointed out the fatal error of looking to such a cross, and directed him to the Saviour,

His Labours blest to the Conversion of Souls.

In 1824, Peter was appointed a Reader in the neighbourhood of Nayattankarra, and, while declaring the Gospel there, twentyfive persons made a profession of it; but, as they did not all appear stedfast in it, he was afraid he should be deemed an unworthy workman. He sought the aid of the Holy Spirit, and disputed with the heathen and others concerning the truth. Especially he reasoned with Michael, who is now a Reader, but was then a Papist, concerning the true way. At this time he married a woman of the congregation, and the Papists tried to After prevent the people from coming to his marbut Michael and others came. riage; this the strength of Christ was manifested, and people in Tiruvarran and neighbouring places professed obedience to the Gospel. He was employed under Messrs. Mault, W. Miller, C. Miller, and Abbs, and made known the Gospel in several places with success, so that congregations were formed, and chapels built. While at Parashalah information was conveyed through the Readers to the Missionary, which induced him to remove Peter from his work; but, on the people of the congregation making a representation, the Missionary saw that it was the machination of an enemy, and replaced Peter in the same congregation.

His Defection and Recovery.

When the Readers and people at Nayattankarra were transferred to Mr. Cox, he placed Peter in Tiruvarran with an assistant, Gunamudian. They made known the Gospel to the heathen in that and the surrounding places, and taught the Scriptures and catechisms to the people who came under instruction: of these, forty to sixty attended on the Sabbath-on other days they were taught at their own houses. Notwithstanding all the kindness and care of the Missionaries, in 1846, Peter and others fell into a sore temptation. When returning from giving their report to Mr. Cox at Trevandrum, they drank spirits on their way home; and, when Mr. Cox received information of it, and questioned them, Peter took the lead in denying the fact. On this account he was discharged. But, after suffering much privation and sorrow, he, with deep contrition, acknowledged his sin, and showed evidence of true repentance, and was again received in May, 1847, and placed as Reader in Sittaram, where he continues up to the present time. Since he has been there, four families have come under in

struction, and from twenty-five to thirty-five attend on the Sabbath. To these and to the heathen around he continues to make known the Gospel, praying that God would grant him success.

His Acknowledgments and Requests.

Peter concludes his account of himself by expressing his sense of the great kindness he has received from the Missionaries, who, he says, As fathers, for the sake of the Gospel, received us, and, in all our weaknesses and deficiencies, made known God's word; and when we went astray, punished us in kindness, with the desire of seeing faith in us; and, that our faith might also increase, continued to labour for us in the service of Christ. We desire, also, that you, who have sent out these Missionaries, may remember us in your prayers; that, your prayers thus reaching God, we may receive God's favour. We have received much benefit from Mr. and Mrs. Cox at Trevandrum. Mrs. Cox has left Trevandrum, and is gone to England for her health, and we greatly desire to see her restored to us

again, and hope, that, by your efforts, we shall soon see her again."

The foregoing facts I have gathered from Peter's own account. With regard to the sins into which he fell in 1846, I must say they were very grievous; and at the time, he seemed to be gone far in hardness of heart; but I have seen enough since to give me reason to believe that his penitence was as deep as his guilt, and that his soul has gone through a trial which has shown him more of himself, and brought him nearer to God. I cannot but compare his fall and recovery to that of Peter's denial of Christ and subsequent repentance. I had the happiness of receiving him again to the communion of the Church on the first Sabbath of this year, 1849, after he made a full and humble confession of his sins before the Church-members, and entreated them to receive him again. I believe him to be living more by faith than at any former period, and lately his knowledge of Scripture has been clearer and more satisfactory than it used to be.

THE SAMOAN NEW TESTAMENT.

In the Annual Report of the Society for the past year, our readers may have observed the following statement:

"From Samoa, the Directors have just received a revised Manuscript of the entire New Testament in the native language-a language unwritten and unformed till our Missionaries learnt it from the lips of the people, and gave it back to them in books of instruction and the Word of God. Several portions of the Christian Scriptures have long been printed and circulated in the Islands, and these have been read and understood by thousands and tens of thousands of the natives; but the Manuscript complete is now sent, for greater facility, to be printed in Britain; and the Directors cherish the hope, that, within the coming year, this object may be accomplished, and the precious book returned to the waiting people of Samoa." We rejoice in being able to state, that, by the very prompt and vigorous efforts and characteristic munificence of the BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY, this hope has been fulfilled. An edition of Fifteen Thousand Copies of the Samoan New Testament has been printed; and, before this statement issues from the press, this bountiful supply of the Word of God, for which the Directors present their most grateful acknowledgments to the Committee of the Bible Society, will be on its way to the distant Isles of the Pacific.

DEATH OF MRS. KENT.

Ir is our painful duty to record the death of Mrs. Kent, the devoted wife of the Rev. William Kent, our Missionary at Ithaca, Berbice. She died in peace, on the 5th of June last, after a very brief course of faithful service, less than six months

having elapsed from her arrival in the Colony to the period of her decease. We deeply regret to add, that our latest communication, dated July 4, informs us that our esteemed brother, Mr. Kent, was also laid aside by a severe illness, and that, in the opinion of his medical attendants, little hope of his recovery could be entertained. But we trust that He who is able to deliver may appear in mercy on his behalf, and bring him back from the gates of death to continue his useful services among the negro population.

REV. WILLIAM MILNE.

MR. MILNE arrived with his family, from Jamaica, in the month of April last, and his official connection with the Society has terminated. He is now directing his attention to some sphere of Christian usefulness in this country, and the Directors are happy to take this opportunity of bearing testimony to the consistency of his Christian character, and his diligence in Missionary labour, during the ten years which he spent in the service of the Society, while they assure him of their best wishes for his future comfort and prosperity.

ARRIVAL OF MISSIONARIES.

OUT.-The Rev. William Gillespie, per Palmyra, Captain Campbell, at HongKong, on the 29th of April last. HOME.-The Rev. John Gibson, Mrs. Gibson, and family, from Jamaica, per Albion, Captain Harris, August 15.

MISSIONARY CONTRIBUTIONS.

From 16th of February to the 25th of April, 1849, inclusive. Continued from the

Manchester:

517

8 310

292

536

350 218 6 383 14 78 866 1 11 0

1 17 0

68 17 6

66 11 7 Radcliffe Bridge

34 16 9

330 271

2 19 5