SERAMPORE MISSIONS.-In 1827, the brethren at Serampore withdrew from their friends in England. Some misunderstanding had existed between them, in reference to the tenure on which the premises at Serampore were held, the college which the brethren there had erected, chiefly for literary objects, and the support required for the outstations, connected with Seram

The stations printed in italics are subordinate to those which precede them. The figures denote the distance.

pore. A protracted correspondence took place at different times. In March, 1827, a final and amicable separation took place. The Serampore brethren have now thirteen stations, Serampore, Dum-Dum, Barripore, Jessore, Burisaul, Dacca, Assam, Chittagong, Arracan, Dinagepore, Benares, Allahabad, and Delhi, with seven subordinate stations. There are seventeen European and Indo-British missionaries, and fifteen native preachers; forty-six persons were received into communion in 1829. The annual expense of the missions is about fifteen thousand rupees. The college at Serampore is in a flourishing state. Translations of the Scriptures into some of the more important languages of the East have been made by the Serampore missionaries.

XI. LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.-In 1795, the " London Missionary Society" was formed. This was a noble expression of Christian benevolence, in which were united several liberal-minded clergymen and the principal ministers of the Independent denomination, with several of the Scotch secession, and of the Calvinistic Methodists. At their first annual meeting, in May, 1796, it was resolved, that, " to prevent, if possible, any cause of future dissension, it is declared to be a fundamental principle of the Missionary Society, that its design is not Presbyterianism, Independency, Episcopacy, or any other form of church order; but the glorious Gospel of the blessed God to the heathen; leaving the converts to the Scriptures for Church government." This society originated in a great measure with Dr. Edward Williams, an Independent minister of Birmingham, publishing an address to his brethren in the ministry, in the Evangelical Magazine, in 1794, established in that year. By this address, the servants of God were led to take measures for this institution. Dr. Williams, Dr. Haweis, Dr. Bogue, Mr. Eyre, Mr. Rowland Hill, Mr. Matthew Wilkes, were among its founders. The South Sea islands were the station first chosen, and thirty missionaries were sent in the ship Duff. They were received by the natives of Tahiti with expressions of delight: but nearly twenty years they labored with but little success; when, at once, the Divine blessing descended, and the whole population of several islands renounced idolatry, destroyed their idols, and embraced Christianity; multitudes of them in spirit and in truth. The work of God's grace continued to spread, and native teachers were raised up as missionaries to other and remote islands. To give a worthy account in this place is impossible; of the abolition of idolatry, infanticide, and other destructive abominations, as well as of the prevalence of⚫ religion among these once brutalized pagans. The African islands, but especially South Africa, has been marvellously blessed by means of the

agents of this society; and the benefits of the British constitution have been extended to the enslaved Hottentots, and other nations of Africa, by the exertions of Dr. Philip. The East Indies have many successful laborers from this society; and an Anglo-Chinese college has been established by Dr. Morrison, Dr. Milne, and their colleagues at Malacca, destined to be an incalculable blessing to the East. China has been blessed by the ministry of Dr. Morrison; who, with the assistance of Dr. Milne, has translated the whole of the Holy Scriptures into Chinese, and compiled a dictionary and grammar of that difficult language. This has been considered the noblest work of any uninspired writer, or of any agent in the Church of God since the days of the apostles. This translation of the Word of God opens the treasures of immortal life through Christ to nearly one third of the population of the earth. Various other translations of the Scriptures have been made by the missionaries of this society, the particulars of which we cannot here detail.

The following condensed view of the missions of this society has been published recently in the London papers. It was read at the annual meeting of the society in May, 1832.

"In the South Seas, a knowledge of some of the most useful mechanical arts, and improved habits of life, are advancing, especially among the Christian portion of the inhabitants. Commerce is increasing, and a knowledge of the art of building vessels is in great estimation among the people. The schools are still regularly attended; though the missionaries have still to complain of the disaffection of a number of the young to the precepts and restraints of the Gospel. In order to assist the missionaries in counteracting the evils arising from the retail of ardent spirits among the people, a grant of publications from the British and Foreign Temperance Society have been forwarded to the islands.

"For some years after their establishment, the native churches enjoyed uninterrupted rest; but as the change, with the mass of the people, was as sudden as the profession of Christianity was universal, this state of society could not be expected to continue; and though none are known to have returned to idolatry, a separation between the righteous and the wicked has taken place. That such a separation was required will be readily admitted; that it has occurred, and that a state of society analogous to that which prevails in other nominally Christian countries should now exist, need excite no astonishment. During the last year, the evils of civil commotions in the Windward and Leward islands have been added to the trials of the people; but, notwithstanding the hostilities without, and the defection within, the Churches furnish full evidence that they are built upon that Rock, against which the gates of hell shall not prevail.

"In the Hervey Islands, where there are two European missionaries. and a number of devoted native teachers, although the people have been severely afflicted with a distressing epidemic, which swept off vast multitudes, the lives of the missionaries have been spared, and since the plague has been stayed, their labors have been resumed, and appear to have been attended with beneficial results.

"The missionary cause is still cherished with ardor and affection. The settlement of native missionaries in the populous islands of Tavai in the West, with the request of six European missionaries to enter this important field, was stated at the last meeting; and the directors now inform their constituents, that during the past year a voyage has been undertaken to the Marquesas, about eleven hundred miles to the northeast; that five additional teachers have been established among them, and an encouraging opening presented for European missionaries.

"Mr. Darling's report of the stations in the Austral islands, visited during the voyage, is peculiarly encouraging. A Christian Church, uniting thirty-two members, was formed by him in the island of Tubai, in June last. At Ravavai, seventy-four members were added to the number of those who had been previously united to the Christian fellowship. "In the interesting island of Papa, which, but a few years ago, contained two thousand three hundred inhabitants, of whom only seven hundred remain, sixteen hundred having been swept off by a pestilence, Mr. Darling found the mission prosperous. Here a native church was formed, in which one hundred and ten individuals united to promote each other's spiritual benefit, and celebrated the most sacred observances of religion. During the same visit, one hundred and forty-seven adults and ninety-five children were baptized.

"In the South Sea islands there were, when the latest accounts went away, thirty-two stations; fourteen missionaries; four artisans; fifty native teachers; thirty-nine congregations, the average attendance at which was two thousand and two hundred; twenty churches, containing three thousand three hundred and seventy-one members; thirty-seven schools, and seven thousand scholars.

"In China, Dr. Morrison continues his important labors in preaching, in Chinese and English. By means of the press, and his fellow-latcrers, his joy in the Lord, and the first fruits of China unto Christ—are preparing and distributing the silent but authentic messengers of truth, portions of the Sacred Scriptures and Christian books. Since their last Report was presented, the directors have had the satisfaction to learn, that three natives of China have, by the rite of baptism, been added to the Church. Leangafa has been employed in superintending the print

ing of five thousand copies of Scripture Lessons, for which the requisite funds were raised in China.

"In Malacca, during the early part of last year, the state of the mission became more decidedly favorable, and the labors of the missionaries, in the educational and other departments of service, appeared to be attended with the divine blessing.

"In the month of June last, Mr. Thomson stated that the aspect of the mission in Singapore was encouraging, and Christian books, in the Malay and Chinese languages, were in great demand.

"In Penang, Mr. and Mrs. Dyer continue, with fidelity and zeal, their important labors for the benefit of the Chinese. Besides his other labors, Mr. Dyer frequently has the pleasure of meeting as many as thirty Chinese, who come for conversation on religion, and to receive Christian books. "Mr. Beighton continues his indefatigable exertions in the Malay department, with more encouraging hopes of success than heretofore. During the past year, ten hundred and fifty-one Bibles, Testaments, and portions of the Scriptures; seven hundred and seventy-one Scripture Catechisms; nineteen hundred and ninety-nine tracts; and four thousand tickets with texts of Scripture, have been put into circulation.

"In Batavia, the divine blessing appears to have attended the preaching of the Word, as well as the instruction in the schools, and the distribution of the Scriptures in the languages of Eastern Asia.

"In the Ultra Ganges there are five stations, eight missionaries, an European, and a native assistant, twenty-five schools, and six hundred and seventy-two scholars, and two printing establishments. There have been printed five hundred Scripture Lessons, eleven thousand and five hundred tracts, three thousand and eight school books. Works distributed at two stations, one hundred and fifty-two Bibles, four hundred and eighty-three Testaments, fifteen hundred and seventy portions of Scripture, ten thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine tracts, and ten thousand and seventy-one catechisms, school books, &c.

"In India the Society has, during the year, met with some of its severest trials, and its strongest encouragements. The afflictive mortality among its missionaries has been painfully felt in this quarter of the world, where six devoted brethren and sisters have been removed, from the midst of delightful and successful labor on earth, to the rest of heaven. On the other hand, there are pleasing indications that the Lord is about to make bare his holy arm, and add the nations of India to the number of those who call the Redeemer blessed. The foundations of the popular superstition are undermined; the opinions of the people undergoing a most extensive and important change; and the Lord is removing many of the barriers to the spread of the Gospel in India.