RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN PAWLET, (Ver.)

Extract of a letter to the Editor of the Panoplist, dated Pawlet, (Ver.) the 11th Nov.

"I HAVE the pleasing intelligence to communicate, that there is a revival of religion in this place. After a long night of darkness, the day begins to dawn. The work of God is powerful, and the attention has remarkably increased within two or three weeks. It extends almost all over the Congregational Society, of which the Rev. Mr. Griswold is pastor. The house of God is thronged on the Sabbath. Conferences are frequently, fully, and solemnly attended, in many parts of the town. Some persons have obtained a hope, and many are anxiously inquiring what they must do to be saved.

"Last evening I attended a conference of the young people, and although it rained very violently during the whole evening, there were about fifty present, principally young men. The scene was truly solemn and affecting. Some were almost in despair; while others were rejoicing, and telling what the Lord had done for their souls, and inviting their companions to come to Christ for salvation.

"I have been informed, that there is, also, a very considerable attention in the town of Hartford, state of New York."

Extract of a letter dated London, July 15, 1813, from J. Roberts, Esq. to his friend in Philadelphia.

"IN the midst of the distractions of nations, we may surely perceive, the dawning of a brighter day, and indulge the expectation that they shall eventually issue, in the introduction of the millennial car of the Prince of Peace. It is a remarkable fact, at the present period, that in many instances the Roman Catholic Teachers, who formerly deprecated putting the Scriptures into the hands of the laity and forbid the perusal, are now actively employed in their distribution; particularly on the Continent, where the sufferings of the wretched inhabitants may prepare their minds to receive its rich consolations, and all-important truths, as the gifts of heaven. The Bible Society is still extending its views to distant lands, desiring that the whole earth may be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. An edition of the Scriptures in the modern Arabic is seriously thought of, a language

spoken along the east and north coast of Africa, in Egypt, and Abyssinia, or the ancient Ethiopia; and from encouraging circumstances connected with the prospects of two suitable individuals, there is a probability of their proceeding to this latter quarter, as agents of the Society in this great work.

"The efforts made to procure in the new East India charter a clause for the protection of missionary labors have been crowned with success; and it is to be observed with gratitude, that, in a division on the question in the House of Commons, the majority in favor of such endeavors for the promotion of Christianity, was as two to one; which was far beyond the most sanguine expectation. Thus the most High is protecting his own cause in the earth,"

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE (LONDON) MISSIONARY SOCIETY, MAY 13, 1813.

(Continued from page 278.)

MR. HANDS continues to improve in the Kanaada* language, and is proceeding with his translation of the Scriptures into it, of which he has sent us a neat specimen. He has not yet begun to preach publicly to the natives, but proceeds, as all Missionaries must at first, to converse with them in a familiar and affectionate manner; this increases his own ability for speaking the language, and prepares their minds for more public exhortations.

What Mr. Hands states concerning the dispositions of the natives to hear the gospel is so well calculated to refute the objections lately made against Missionary efforts as dangerous to the peace of the country, that it deserves peculiar regard. We shall quote his own words.

"The people in general are ready to hear, and to confess the folly of their superstitious customs, but not so ready to leave them. They acknowledge the superiority of the gospel of Christ, but do not feel its power on their hearts. Scarcely a day passes without a visit from some of the most respectable natives at the Mission-house. A Vakeel belonging to the court generally visits me two or three times a week, and has introduced me to the heads of the villages who have come to Belhary to transact business in the Court; and I hope this will prove a considerable advantage to us when we begin to itinerate in the surrounding villages."

While our worthy brother was thus proceeding in his Missionary career, he was greatly delighted with the cheering hope of soon enjoying at Belhary the assistance of his dear brother and former fellow student, Mr. Thompson; for, to this promising station the Di

*This language has been called also the Kurnata, but Mr. H. thinks improperly. He calls it the Kanaada, but he says it is vulgarly called the Canaree,

rectors, the friends at Madras, and his own inclination all concurred to direct his course. But alas! it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. The sovereign Disposer of human events saw fit otherwise to determine, and we bow in silence to the holy mandate. Mr. Thompson, as the society were informed last year, after residing for a few months at the Cape, where his labors were very acceptable and useful, proceeded towards India. by the Isle of France, where he obtained valuable information concerning that island, Bourbon, and Madagascar; from thence he sailed to Calcutta, and from thence to Madras, where he arrived March 22, 1812. He was there advised to report himself, as is expected from strangers, at the Police Office, requesting permission to go forward to Belhary. But when upon inquiry, it was understood that Mr. Thompson came from England without licence from the Directors of the East India Company, he was informed that he could not be allowed to reside in India, but must immediately return. The order was as follows:

"Madras Police Office, May 22, 1812.

"REV. SIR-I AM directed to acquaint you that the Honorable the Governor in Council is precluded, by the orders of the Supreme Government, from permitting you to reside in any place under this Presidency you will therefore return to the Isle of France, or to Europe, by the first opportunity.

"I am, Rev. Sir, your obedient Servant,

"J. H. SYMMS, "Superintendant of the Police." Mr. Thompson, by the advice of his friends, addressed a respectful letter to the Hon. the Governor on the subject; but after waiting several days without receiving any answer, he again waited on the Superintendant of Police, who informed him, that if no answer was given, the order for his removal remained in force, and that if he did not go, he should be obliged to report it. Mr. Thompson observed that he had no means of obeying the order, and that the Missionary Society had not authorised their agent to advance him money for that purpose. He was then informed, that "he should receive an order to put him on board some vessel homeward bound, when a very small allowance would be given him for his passage, as he had come out without leave from the company; and added, that "he supposed it was the intention of Governmeut to put a stop to such endeavors."

It is impossible not to feel, on this recital, the most painful regret that regulations, which were originally made for commercial purposes only, should now be employed to impede the progress of Christianity, or place under the control of the East India Company a subject so intimately connected with the present and eternal happiness of many millions of the human race. For the removal of such unrighteous restrictions, the Society applied to his Majesty's Ministers; has petitioned the Legislature; and will continue importunately to address the Throne of Grace.†

†The reflections of our dear departed brother, in a letter dated May 12, may not be unacceptable to the Society.

This refusal of the government to permit Mr. Thompson to proceed to Belhary was soon followed by another event still mere distressing-He had frequently complained of a pain in his side, which was considered as the symptom of a liver disorder, which it was hoped would prove but slight; but alas? its progress was rapid and fatal. He has desisted only two Lord's days from preaching, and was at the chapel on the 21st of June. On the following Thursday he became extremely ill, and danger was apprehended; but his mind was preserved in peace, and he maintained a humble, yet confident and unshaken dependence on the atonement of the great Redeemer; while he renounced, with a kind of indignant jealousy, any

"There is no appeal, as it is confirmed by the highest anthority not only in India, but in England. This you may probably regard as a melancholy event. But no; regard it as an unwarrantable stretch of arbitrary authority which the great Head of the Church will overrule for the promotion of the in terests of his kingdom. For my own part, though 1 deeply regret the loss of time, and the inconveniencies of another voyage to Europe and back; I feel no doubt that I shall return, and that this occurrence will turn out to the fur. therance of the gospel. I have nothing to complain of the Government here, for they act agreeably to the letter of their instructions; nor of the Government at home, as when the Charter was given to the Company, there was little regard to such an accession of territory, and it had no view to the religion of the people; and when the Toleration Aet was passed, the Parliament did not anticipate that the British dominions would be so extensive, or that Christians would feel it their duty to communicate the knowledge of the gospel to for eign lands, and therefore no provision was made for such a purpose. Consid ering that the renewal of the Charter is about to be discussed in Parliament, should it be said to those who wish to diffuse the gospel in India, that none had been prevented from peaceably exercising the functions of his office, nor any one sent home, any alteration might be deemed unnecessary; but should the Government here insist on my return, I trust it will give such an addition al impulse to their exertions, who are desirous of such an alteration, as will secure its attainment. Mine is a case peculiarly in point, as I have sailed to no foreign port, under no foreign colors, nor proceeded a step without the pub lic sanction of the existing authorities, and am, in fact, deficient in nothing but the Company's licence."

It may not be improper, in this place, to transcribe a passage from letter written by Mr. Hands on this subject.

"I hope that this order for Mr. Thompson's return will have a powerful effect on the minds of our dear friends in England; and that if the Company's Charter'should be renewed, they will endeavor to procure some provision therein for the protection of PROTESTANT Missionaries in India. CATHOLIC Missionaries abound in almost every part of India; they excite no notice nor suspicion; and are allowed to travel about as they please; why then should not we enjoy the same liberty? A new Catholic chapel has lately been erected at Belhary, and a new Padre has lately arrived from Goa. All the persons who attend are Portuguese or Malabar people, belonging to the different native corps stationed here."

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thing in himself in which he might glory: and although, through the extreme violence of his disorder, he could not, so frequently as he wished, express what he felt and enjoyed, yet, on two occasions he cheered the hearts of his weeping friends, when he declared his joy in the Lord, and exhorted them to increasing zeal in his cause Cran, (said he) I never saw; Des Granges I once saw; but Brain was my dear friend, companion, and fellow student. I shall soon see them in glory, and Swartz too ;" and then, in a rapture of mind, and with exertion of body that was almost too much for his enfeebled frame, he added, "but I shall see Jesus, and that is the glory of all!" Thus our dear brother, though denied the expected privilege of preaching among the Gentiles "the unsearchable riches of Christ," was highly favored by his rich grace in his departing moments, and expired with a hope full of immortality.

To the Society, as well as to his relations and friends, it is no small consolation to reflect, that he died in the house of our valuable brother, Mr. Loveless, our missionary at Madras; where he enjoyed all that attention which pity and friendship could afford in his painful circumstances: and this leads us to report briefly the circumstances of that faithful Missionary at

MADRAS.-Mr. Loveless has been, for several years, usefully employed as a teacher in the Male Assylum, and also in preaching the gospel, both to Europeans and natives. Having been enabled by their generous aid to erect a chapel in the Black Town, where he has met with considerable encouragement, he has judged it expedient to resign his situation in the Assylum, that he may devote himself wholly to his proper employment in the ministry of the Word, as more congenial with his office as a Missionary, for which he has indeed most ample scope in that great and populous city; and it is the earnest wish of the Directors that he may be assisted by the ad-` dition of another able laborer. The local situation of Mr. Loveless, together with his own prudence and ‘zeal, have rendered him very useful to the other stations, especially to Vizagapatam and Belhary, both which ought to be strengthened by the addition of more Missionaries, and we trust will be so, if the present unjust and impolitic restrictions shonld be removed. But under the existing circumstances, and doubtful whether Mr. May and other Missionaries from different societies, have been permitted to reside in India, the Directors have lately written to Mr. Thom at the Cape, desiring him not to proceed until he shall have heard again from home. The Directors, sympathizing with their Christian brethren of the Baptist Missionary Society, in their heavy loss, occasioned by the fire which consumed their printing office at Serampore, immediately on bearing of that disaster, cheerfully voted them one hundred guineas towards repairing the damage :-a donation which they are confident that the whole Society will cordially approve. From India we natally pass on to the adjacent island of

CYLON.-We have the satisfaction to state that the hopes exd in our last Report have been in a great degree realized. By very laudable exertions of the present Governor, Sir Alexander