also to disarm the enmity formerly felt against its teachers; as, to my heart-felt gratification, I have had an opportunity of observing during my late tour in the country, and on other occasions.

"But that is not all. Several of these pupils of the Missionary Institutions, in consequence of the training there received, eventually became so convinced of the truth of Christianity, that they have openly embraced it, and for its sake, gladly sacrificed caste, wealth, comfort, and even the most endearing family ties. And it is with feelings of deep satisfaction and gratitude, that I can say, that not a few of these young neophytes are walking in a manner worthy of their high vo cation, and adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour by a moral and consistent walk.

"Among these, some have gone even farther, and have devoted themselves to the work of making the gospel known to their idolatrous countrymen, and are actually engaged with acceptance in this great and good undertaking; and thus a commencement has been made, through the means of Missionary Institutions, in regard to that most important object-the introduction of a Native Ministry into this country.

"These have been some of the fruits of Missionary Educational Institutions. Now, my dear hearers, the Institution which we are about to erect at Bhowanipore, is intended to carry on with greater efficiency than heretofore this particular branch of Missionary labour, which I have just described, and which has already produced such pleasing effects. Could there be, I ask you, a purpose more truly excellent,-more likely to advance the glory of God, and better calculated to promote the temporal and eternal welfare of thousands and tens of thousands of our fellow-creatures, than this plan which, with the Lord's assistance, we are about to carry into effect, and on behalf of which we solicit your aid, sympathy, and prayers?"

On Monday morning, the 7th instant, a special Prayer Meeting was held at the Union Chapel, to entreat the Divine blessing to rest upon the New Institution. Suitable portions of Scripture having been read, the Rev. Messrs. Parker, Paterson, Hill, and Dr. Boaz offered prayer. The Meeting was

solemn and deeply interesting, and all present could say: "It was good to be there."

"On Tuesday, the 8th, at half-past five in the evening, the Foundation Stone of the New Building was laid at Bhowanipore.

"The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Dr. Boaz. It was an eminently interesting and heart-cheering spectacle, and was witnessed by a large concourse of ladies and gentlemen interested in the subject of Native Christian Education. Among these we noticed some unconnected with any of the Missionary Institutions, but who have interested themselves in this great undertaking. Some time before the appointed hour, notwithstanding the threatening aspect of the sky, the place was crowded, and a deep interest appeared to be felt by all assembled: the effect was not a little heightened by the appearance of several native youths, who thronged around, eager to witness a ceremony in which they were themselves so deeply interested. The greatest quiet and decorum was observed.

The business of the evening commenced by the Rev. Dr. Boaz reading the 126th and 132nd Psalms; when he gave an outline of the earlier history of the Institution, and of the signal success that had crowned his efforts while in England, in obtaining contributions towards the new erections.

"Towards the accomplishment of the object,' observed Dr. Boaz, 'the following sums have been raised. In England-including the Society's handsome donation of £1000£4974 6s. 5d. In India-Rs.7025 6a. 8p.: of this sum about 3000 Co.'s Rs. have been expended in the purchase of books and apparatus, leaving an available balance, for carrying out our project, of 54,000 Co.'s Rs. The total cost of the buildings will be 68,000 Co.'s Rs., so that we need about fourteen thousand Rupees to complete the whole. Towards this the members of my congregation contributed last Sabbath 1100 Rupees: other donations we have, amounting to 900 Co.'s Rs., making 2000 Co.'s Rs. towards the fourteen.'

"Dr. Boaz, assisted by Mr. Vos, the architect, then proceeded to lay the foundation

stone.

"On the Stone was inscribed the following:

advanced pupils have, it appears, been making serious inquiry into the truth of the Christian faith, and the evidences on which it rests. Until recently the teachers, Messrs. Mullens and Storrow, were not cognizant of this movement amongst the pupils. At length the subject was seriously brought before them by five inquirers. Messrs. Mullens and Storrow, together with another of the Missionary body, examined the young men, and were perfectly satisfied with their intelligence and the sincerity of their intentions: after placing before them the losses they must inevitably sustain, both in reference to status and property, for they were all Brahmins, two of them Kulins, and two proprietors or Haldars of the temple at Kali Ghaut-and telling them they had nothing to expect by embracing Christianity, save that which would flow from their own efforts, and keeping them for some time in an inquiring state, they resolved, at the earnest request of the pupils, to baptize them. On Saturday last they sought refuge in the house of the Rev. E. Storrow, in the Circular-road. The Rev. J. Mullens, of the Bhowanipore Institution, immediately wrote to their relatives, informing them of the intention of the young men, and of the place of their residence. During the whole of Saturday and on Sunday morning their relatives were allowed to see them, and both parties were told that the Missionaries had no wish to retain the inquirers if they wished to depart; and their relatives were further told, that they might use all reasonable measures to persuade them to do so. One of the youths was a minor, and the Missionaries told him from the first, that they could not sanction the step he was about to take, and further told him they could not allow him to go with the others. He, however, insisted on accompanying his companions. On being visited by his relatives, the minor, after they had employed every argument calculated to work upon his youthful affections, stated, in the presence of his relatives and many respectable witnesses, that he had not only come of his own free will, but that he had forced himself on the Missionaries. He said he would go and see his mother, who, he was told, was dying, expressing his wish, however, to return on Monday;-one of his friends, an old pupil of the Institution, promising and pledg

ing his faith to the truth of his statement, that if the lad wished to return on Monday he should come. We need scarcely say that he has not returned, nor did the Missionaries expect it, nor did they wish him to remain; for being a minor, they had no desire beyond giving him an opportunity of stating his views and expressing his desire on the subject, to give him even temporary protection. It may perhaps not be out of place to afford our readers an opportunity of judging of the kind of arguments employed to induce this boy to return to his home. He was promised money, they would give him wine to drink, and sweetmeats to eat. His mother would die if he did not return; one of his relatives, formerly a pupil in the Institution, stating and appealing to his teacher for the truth of his assertion- I am a Christian in my heart, and you know it. I do not wish to influence him, but I wish him to see his mother once more.'

"In all this it will be seen there was no attempt to convince his judgment, or to speak with him on religious subjects. All the means employed were addressed to his affections as a son, and to his sensual appetites. There was no effort made to convince him that Hindooism was right or Christianity wrong; nay, in this whole business, it was curious to observe how many of the friends acknowledged the superiority of Christianity, and expressed their conviction, that sooner or later all must become Christians. The main point urged by all was, the great dishonour which would fall on their families should these young men become Christians; some of them going so far as to say, that baptism and eating food with Christians would not be in the way of their restoration.

"It may be here observed, that it was with great difficulty the Missionaries could induce the other four to have interviews with their relatives. They said, 'We have made up our minds, and do not wish to see them; we have counted the cost, and wish to be baptized and become Christians.' This can be testified to by many witnesses, and, amongst the rest, by one of the European inspectors of police, and a native Jemadar, who were called in to preserve the peace, and saw the young men both on Saturday and on the Sabbath. These officials were requested to ask them any ques

tions they pleased, which they did, and were perfectly satisfied.

"On Sabbath morning the friends of two of the young men sought for another interview, which they obtained. They urged on them once more to come and see their female relatives.

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They were told by the Missionaries, in the presence of the police authorities, that there was no wish to influence them, and that they were quite at liberty to go if they wished. They said they would go and see their mothers once again, saying, 'We will return on Monday; who can prevent us? We are of age, and are capable of returning if we wish.' One of them had been in durance for a week, and had escaped only on Saturday. The relatives of these two young men pledged themselves that they should return that evening or the following morning. We need not say that they have never returned. One of them we have good reason to believe is held in confinement by his father. A petition was presented before the magistrate of the Twentyfour-Pergunnahs, asking him to inquire after the lad, which he promised to do; but of the issue of this application we are at present not cognizant. The other young man has not been yet heard of.

"On Saturday, the two remaining young men saw several of their relatives many times, and refused-though repeatedly urged to do so by the Missionaries-to see them on the Sabbath, stating, "We have made up our minds, and why subject us to these trials? We love them very much, but we must follow the dictates of conscience and serve God. We do not wish to love them less, but more, and when we are baptized we will see them as often as they please.'

"It was determined to baptize these two young men on Sabbath evening, at the Union Chapel. Previous to their taking this step, two of the European police of the district saw them, and asked them what was their intention, and if they were taking the step they were about to do of their own free will. To which they replied, that they were. They were accompanied to the Union Chapel by the Inspector of Police. Both these gentlemen are prepared to confirm this statement if required, and one of them attended at the Magistrates' Court, at Allipore, on Tuesday,

to give his testimony, had it been needed, but it was not, the case having utterly failed on its own merits. These two young men were baptized on Sabbath evening last, in the presence of a large and respectable audience, by the Rev. E. Storrow. On Tuesday, Mr. Storrow was served with a writ, charging him with the abduction of a minor, and on Wednesday, with a second writ, charging him with the same grave offence in another case, and desiring him to produce the bodies of the young men in the Magistrates' Court at Allipore, which he of course did not fail to do. To support this grave charge of abduction, not a tittle of evidence was produced, for this good reason, that the offence never had been committed; and if evidence had been adduced, the Missionaries were prepared with such a mass of veritable evidence to the contrary-leaving the testimony of the young men out of the question

that the case must inevitably have failed, and covered the partics with disgrace, and subjected them to an indictment for perjury. This was not attempted; in fact, the father of one of the young men voluntarily gave up all claim to his son, and said he had been misinformed as to the feelings and intentions of his child, stating that he had been told that he was detained, and was crying, and wished to come to him. The other case was soon disposed of. The prosecutor was a little boy about twelve years of age, who was held up in the court: he had evidently been instructed what to say. He was a fine little fellow, and we pitied the cause which required him to be in, and the friends who had induced him to occupy, such a position. Not a vestige of evidence was adduced to support the case; the Mooktiar himself, who certainly did not help either case, being non est before the case was closed. To use the language of the Magistrate to him, 'It was all what he had heard, and the pleasure of the Hujoor,' but no evidence. In support of the charge that the young men were minors, two papers (horoscopes) were put in, asserting that the one, who is at least nineteen, was fourteen and a half, and the other, who is seventeen, was fifteen years and nine months: on receiving which, the Magistrate observed, from their freshness, that they certainly looked very well after so many years' service, which appeared

to settle their truthfulness in his mind, and in the minds of all but the parties presenting them. The Magistrate having examined the eldest lad, did not seem to agree with the horoscope in reference to age. To the other young man, after his examination, he said, You can go where you please, sir.' There appeared to be no doubt on the mind of any one who saw and heard the young men, that they were not only of age, but also fully competent to judge and act for themselves. Acting on this conviction, the Magistrate, at their own request, handed them over to the Missionaries, under whose protection they left the court."

"BAPTISM OF TARAPRASAD CHÁTTARGI, AGED NINETEEN, AND CHONDRONATH BANARGI,*

AGED SEVENTEEN.

"On Sabbath evening, the 13th of April, the two young men who had stood firm were publicly baptized at the Union Chapel, in the presence of a large and deeply - interested audience. The service was opened by the Rev. Dr. Boaz, by reading the 15th chapter of Luke's Gospel, and the offering up of prayer; after which the Rev. E. Storrow gave a lucid account of the steps by which the young men had been led to adopt the Christian faith, appealing to them at different stages of his discourse for the truth of his statements. After the address, the following questions were put to them by Mr. Storrow, to which they rendered the accompanying replies:

"Have you come here of your own freewill and choice? or have you in any way been forced by the Missionaries to come?'

"No one forced us to come here; we came because we wish to be Christians.'

"Have any inducements of a worldly or pecuniary kind been held out to lead you to become Christians?'

"O no.'

"Why do you wish to relinquish Hindooism and embrace Christianity?'

"Because there is no salvation in Hindooism-it is false, and Christianity is true.' "Have you thought of becoming Christians some time, or have you lately considered it?'

*Both of these youths are Brahmins, the latter a Kulin Brahmin, and his mother is proprietress of ten days' offerings annually at Kalighat Temple,

"We have thought about it five or six months.'

"Has anything at home led you to come to us? have not your friends been kind to you?'

"No; we have come for salvation- our friends have been very kind, and love us.'

"What is there in Christianity which leads you to choose it in preference to all other religions?'

"Christianity is the true religion; and it is a religion of love and light; we cannot get salvation in any other.'

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"Do you look for salvation to a mere profession of Christianity, or to baptism, or to your own works, or to Christ alone?'

"Only to Jesus Christ; the others are outward things, and cannot save us.'

"But Christianity is a holy religion, and forbids all those sins which Hindooism and our wicked hearts permit. Are you then prepared to give up sin?'

"O yes, we wish to leave it.'

"Are you willing to do whatever Jesus Christ has commanded in the Bible?' "'Yes.'

"Can you do this in your own strength?' "'No.'

"In whose strength, then, do you hope to glorify the Saviour?'

"In that of God and Jesus Christ.' "Do you wish to be baptized now?' "O yes.'

"Then you repudiate the Vedas, and the Puranas, and Idol-worship?'

"Yes, we give them up; idols are only wood and mud, and some are straw.' "And can you bear to leave your father, and mother, and all your friends?' "Yes, we have left them.'

"But do you love them very much?"

"O yes; but they are not our friends, because they do not wish us to embrace the true salvation.'

"And are you willing to break your caste?'

"Yes, we have done it.'

"Then will you deliver to me these poitas, the marks and signs of your Brahminhood?'

"Yes; they are here.' (They here gave up their poitas.)

"The examination being completed, Mr.