with the same superstition, and are therefore not acknowledged by our Missionaries, otherwise instead of 300 to be confirmed, I might have had several thousand candidates. Many thanks for the kind trouble you took to get subscriptions for the female schools at Calcutta. I hope we shall be able to raise nearly money enough for them in India. On the whole I rejoice to believe that, in very many parts of this great country, "the fields are white already to harvest," and it is a circumstance of great comfort to me, that in all the good which is done, the Church of England seems to take the lead, that our Liturgy has been translated into five languages most used in these parts of the world, and that all Christian sects in the East seem more and more disposed to hold it in reverStill little, very little is done in comparison

ence.

with all which is to do.

Ever your affectionate son,

REGINALD CALCUTTA.

TO THE REV. JOHN MAYOR, VICAR OF SHAWBURY, IN

MY DEAR SIR,

SHROPSHIRE.

Galle, September 28, 1825.

I seize a few moments of the first leisure which I have had for a long time, while waiting a change of wind to enable our ship to leave this

harbour for Calcutta, to give you some account of those most dear to you in this island. I arrived at this port five weeks ago, in visiting the different parts of my great diocese; and had the pleasure to be greeted, among those who first came off to our vessel, by your son Robert, looking stout and well, and very little altered from what he was when I last saw him in England. He remained on board the greater part of the day; but the fatigue which we had all to undergo, before we got on shore, the sea being stormy, and our vessel in a bad situation, unfortunately brought on an attack of fever, which prevented his accompanying us, as was his first intention, to Colombo. His disorder since has completely left him.

Mrs. Heber and I had the pleasure, on our return from the north, of passing the best part of three days with him and Mrs. Mayor, in their romantic abode at Baddagame; where we also found his colleague, Mr. Ward, with his wife and family, in perfect health and contented cheerfulness. I consecrated their Church, which is really an extraordinary building, considering the place in which, and the circumstances under which it has been erected; and I had also the happiness of administering Confirmation and the Lord's Supper to a small but promising band of their converts and usual hearers; and I can truly say, both for my wife and myself, that we have never paid a visit which has interested and impressed us more agreeably, from the good sense, good taste, and right feeling, the concord, zeal, and orderly and indusD d

VOL. III.

trious piety which appeared to pervade both families and every part of their establishment. Both of them are, in fact, all which you or I could wish them-active, zealous, well-informed, and orderly Clergymen-devoted to the instruction and help of their Heathen neighbours-both enjoying a favourable report, I think I may say without exception, from the Governor, public functionaries, and, in general, from all the English in the Colony whom I have heard speak of them.

The cause of Christianity is, I hope, going on well here. There is, among the Cingalese and Tamul population, a very large proportion of nominal Christians; who, although unhappily they are only nominal, because their fathers were so before them, or because the profession is creditable, and though too many of them still pay their superstitious homage to Buddh and to the Evil Principle, have, notwithstanding, fewer external difficulties to contend with, in embracing the true faith, than fall to the share of the poor Hindoos. Among these, and in part among the professed Pagans, I am rejoiced to find that conversions are going on, if not very rapidly, yet steadily; and that the rising generation afford excellent hopes of repaying richly, and even in our own time, the labours of the good men who have given up parents, and friends, and country in their service. I have had myself the pleasure of confirming in this place, Candy, and Colombo, three hundred natives of the islandPortuguese, (that is, descendants of Portuguese,) Cingalese, and Malabarians: besides which, had I

been able to go to Jaffna, for which the season has too far advanced, I am assured that I should have had at least one hundred candidates more. In the great Church at Colombo, I had to pronounce the blessing in four different languages. Surely this should encourage our best hopes and best exertions, and should fill us with gratitude to God, who has already made "the fields white unto the harvest."

It gave me much pleasure to hear from your son of your prolonged good health, and that of your family. The signal for sailing is given, and I have only time to add my best wishes to them, and to beg you to tell our common friends in Shropshire, that I often, very often, think of them. I and mine, thank God, are perfectly well.

Dear Sir, ever truly yours,

REGINALD Calcutta.

TO RICHARD HEBER, ESQ.

Calcutta, December 15, 1825.

MY DEAR BROTHER,

Your kind letter, which I received in the

last month, soon after my return from Ceylon, gave me very sincere pleasure.

I have, indeed, been a very bad correspondent, and I fear that both my private friends and the different public bodies with which I am connected, have all alike some cause to complain of me. With regard to these last, however, and more particularly the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, I really did not suppose that they desired to hear from me, unless I had something worth communicating, connected with them or their committees, or their Missions, in England; and as I have not yet visited Madras, where only they have any establishments particularly worth speaking of, I had not, till since my return to Calcutta, any adequate motive for troubling them, or taking up a portion of my own time, which I could very ill spare. If, however, they suppose that because I have not written them long letters, I have neglected their interest here, or that I have paid more attention to any other religious society, except that for the Propagation of the Gospel, to whom I had a great deal to say, they are most exceedingly mistaken. Their agents and missionaries here, I am convinced, will bear me witness, that I have worked as hard in their cause, and been as importunate in soliciting subscriptions for them, as any body could be; and in consequence of the ill state of their funds, my own subscriptions and donations (besides the share they have had of the sum entrusted to me by the Parent Society) more than double those which I, at first, thought it necessary to bestow. As to writing letters, it should be borne in mind, that in India all business is transacted by writing.