the missionaries on the island besides, although there were several of them. I have met with several women who were brought to God by ber.

FROM MR. LYNCH TO HIS BROTHER.

My dear Brother,

In my last of September 15, I gave you such information at that time as I thought necessary. Since then very little of importance has taken place. We have opened a school, and have about 40 scholars; several of them are heathens, but evidence a desire and a capacity for instruction, and do not appear to be behind any children in Ireland in aptness to learn. Very few, even of grown men, wear any clothing higher than their loins; so that the most of our pupils are naked from the waist up, and several of them are young men but we hope in some time to prevail on them to cover all their bodies: for nothing must be attempted on a sudden with the natives. Two of the Braminical priests have called to converse with us. We could converse very imperfectly with them, as we had but a very bad interpreter. They do not appear to be alarmed at our coming among them; but told us, that all the country knew that good men were come to live amongst, and to instruct them. The converted Moor-man (whom I mentioned in my last letter) has from five to forty Mahomedans with him every day, to whom he reads such parts of the Koran as mention Jesus Christ, and shews the same to them in the Malabar Testament; and what is most astonishing, he lives in peace and safety in the midst of them, and they hear him patiently, and with apparent satisfaction. We now live in his house, which is one of the finest in Jaffna; and he and his brother-in-law, who has also embraced Christianity, live in a comfortable little house in the garden; so that we have every opportunity of being useful to them. It is generally believed that God is about to do a great work among the Mahomedans; and we humbly trust that our coming among them at this favourable time is of God; and we have reason to believe that they have already received a favourable opinion of us. We have met with a few truly pious people; one, a lady, who about eight years ago was truly happy in

God, but retained her peace only a few months. She was greatly astonished to learn, that thousands in Great Britain have for many years enjoyed the same blessing, (some I knew for forty years) which she then did. She, with many others, who had never heard of the doctrine of holiness, thought it very strange at first; but after a few conversations on the subject, they cordially received it, and now bless God for the comfortable hope of being cleansed from all unrighteousness, as well as to have the forgiveness of sins. Notwithstanding all this, we have not attempted a regular class. Sir Alexander Johnson, the Chief Justice of the island, has advised us to commence preaching by an interpreter: I intend, please God, to do so as soon as I can procure one. In my last I gave you a promise of a few extracts from letters which I received on the subject of our mission, I now attempt a. fulfilment of that promise.

So far Mr. Lynch; who transcribes a series of letters which passed between himself and several pious characters, all interesting and highly honourable to these friends. An extract from three or four of them we here subjoin.

Mr. Lynch, before he and Mr. Squance left Columbo, having addressed a letter to a friend in Madras, requesting him to forward some letters to Europe, received some time after the following letter:

Dear Sir,

Madras, August 19, 1814.

I am sorry to see how long I have been acknowledging the receipt of a packet from you, including a letter from the Methodist Missionary Committee, and one to Miss Squance. I gladly undertake to forward them to England, and would have informed you sooner of it, but from the weak state of my health, I cannot, by any means, do one half of the things I would; and am obliged to draw largely on the divine and human patience and forbearance with me. I have seen with much pleasure in the newspaper, a report of the arrival of yourself and your brethren at Bombay, and trust that you are all come devoted to the work of the Lord among the poor heathen, in simplicity and godly sincerity. I was well assured of the very liberal reception you would receive from the Honourable and Rev. Mr. T

my much esteemed friend: in him I know you will find a generous patron, he will never be unmindful of you, so long as you persevere with diligence and zeal in the work you have undertaken. You have already felt his kindness, and I trust will have pleasure in studying to give him satisfaction. I doubt not but he has particularly impressed on you the obvious and extreme importance of an immediate and persevering study of the native languages. Set yourselves to this work with all your hearts. I well know how much Mr. T- — is interested about this; I have witnessed his great uneasiness, that some other missionaries, who were in Ceylon before you, minded it so little, and were so soon discouraged. He will rejoice to see another mind in you; and this joy I trust you will give him, assured that it is joy for the poor heathen. O that they may know the Lord! and that he may be glorified among them! Remember continually who it is that calls out, "Lions, Lions in the way;" and who it is that challenges, "Who art thou, great mountain ?" I have heard with great concern of the death of the venerable Dr. Coke: your letter gave me the first information of it. However, though dead, I hope he will be found still speaking, and particularly that his zeal, admirable as it appears, in the love and service of the Lord, and the souls that are perishing, will provoke many. And now commending you, dear Sir, and all your brethren, to the grace of God, for the good work you have chosen, and myself to all your prayers, I remain, your's, sincerely, &c.

On Sept. 14, the Rev. Mr. B. wrote to the two brethren as follows:

Dear Sirs,

I received your very welcome letter yesterday, and will not lose another post before I thank you for it. It gives me great pleasure to hear that you are arrived safe and in good health, and also that you have had such attention shewed you on your way, and upon your arrival at Jaffna. I am also greatly pleased to see in your letter a strain of content, and a disposition to take things as they are, without giving way to uneasiness, and repining at what cannot be mended. I shewed your letter to the

governor, who felt nearly in the same manner on the subject as myself; we both augur well of your success. Your account of Mr. M.'s reception of you is very gratifying, and I have no doubt but he will continue your friend. By a letter from you to Mr. T. which he has just sent me, I find Mr. Squance's health is improved, which gives me much satisfaction. My own seems to be quite re-established. You will, no doubt, find in Christian David a most venerable friend and assistant. Pray remember me kindly to him, and assure him of my regard. I am also much interested about Daniel Theophilus, (a convert from Mahometanism.) I hope he will communicate freely his wishes upon any subject, when he is in want of favour or assistance. I expect every day an arrival of Tamul New Testaments; pray let me know your wants in that language, or in any other matter where I can be of use. Be assured that my will and constant desire is to do every thing in my power either to forward the benevolent and pious designs of your mission, or to contribute to your convenience and ease. The Governor and Mrs. Brownrigg thank you for your remembrance of them, and desire theirs to be sent you in return. Remember me to Mr. M. and the other gentlemen of Jaffna, and believe me

Yours, faithfully,

G. B.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM MR. CHATER, BAPTIST MISSIONARY, TO MESSRS. LYNCH

AND SQUANCE.

My dear Brethren,

Columbo, Oct. 11, 1814.

I fear you will begin to think of us according to the well-known proverb, Out of sight, out of mind:" but this, I can assure you, is not the case; few days have passed without thinking and speaking of you. I have now a piece of pleasing information for you. On the 29th of last month my dear partner in life obtained mercy in a trying hour; both she and the little boy (our fifth son) are doing well. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits! We have a few pious military friends added to us; one of them, Serjeant-Major Campbell, appears to be an eminent Christian: he possesses, with the gift, the spirit of prayer: I hope he

will be a great help and comfort to us. His wife also is a devout Christian. No doubt you have heard that Mr. Armour preaches in our place once a week in Portuguese, and has congregations of, I think, nearly 800 hearers: this is pleasing. I am almost ready to begin in Portuguese and Cingalese; I shall have then, I hope, a wider field for exertion than at present: and O that God may crown all our labours with divine success! I long to be able, and to obtain liberty, to try the same means in Columbo, that were so successful and useful' under the instrumentality of the blessed reformers, Wesley and Whitfield; I mean, field, or rather street-preaching.As I pass through the streets on a Sabbath morning, I see such numbers passing and repassing, that by any other means will never hear the word of life. I see them, and my eye affects my heart; and I feel the secret wish, I breathe the silent prayer, O that I could stand here, and cast the gospel-net! O that I could stand here, and preach the unsearchable riches of Christ to these lost sinners! Since I began to write, your present and affectionate letter have arrived. We receive them not only as a token of your friendship, but of sincere christian love. We have heard and read with pleasure concerning our dear brother Squance, that his health seems to be improving. May the best of blessings descend on you both in rich abundance! I am, very dear brethren, Yours in our blessed Lord,

J. CHATER.

EXTRACT FROM A LETTER FROM MR. CLOUGH, TO THE REV. JOHN BARBER, AND THE MISSIONARY COMMITTEE.

Point de Galle, Island of Ceylon, Jan 8, 1815.

Rev. and dear Sir,

I do not know that I can give you any thing more acceptable than an account of my labours, and how the word of the Lord is going forward in this part of the world where Providence has cast my lot. There is, in this place, a very extensive field of labour, particularly among the country-born people, Dutch and Portuguese, and half-cast people, exclusive of the native Cingalese.

There are some young men, from whom I expect great things. They speak English, Portuguese, and Cingalese, with great fluency and ease, and I hope they will soon begin to use their talents by instructing the natives. One of them, who was brought up as an assistant surgeon to the hospital in this place, has lately, in a very evident manner, received the pardon of sin, and has begun in