ing, when it comes to our turn, excepted. I became acquainted with A. Chiniah, Esq. a few months ago. He is

a

respectable native gentleman, of sound mental acquirements, humble piety, and a powerful influence among both the Moslem and Hindoo population. Few could be more zealous in the circulation of your books and tracts amougst Europeans and natives. I would mention to you, gentlemen, that I am in the habit of corresponding with many Europeans of H. M. service in different parts of the three Presidencies, and am well acquainted with all the details of the Christian missionary of every denomination. My communications, generally, embrace controverted points of doctrine, and I thank Him "who seeth not as man seeth," that I have succeeded, far beyond my wishes, in stirring up that spirit of free inquiry which the denomination shibboleth has so long kept in chains among the Calvinistic and Wesleyan professors in the army. young man of unimpeachable character, named Abbot, who received his educational religion from the Methodists, has embraced Unitarianism. He belongs to the same company with me. But he could not resist the arguments of Priestley, Lindsey and Milton. There are others who have declared their convictions, but I must decline mentioning their names, as they have given me no permission to do so. At all events, your books are producing an amazing revolution of sentiment amongst the European artillery at this station.

A

Among other particulars, I would inform you, gentlemen, that our rule in this country extends over 150 millions of human beings, from Cape Comerin to the mountains of Thibet, one-half million of whom are only imperfectly converted to Christianity. The majority of these are sectarian Hindoos. The sectarian professors of Islamism are in a minority, and, from their inevitable association with the worshippers of Brama, Siva, aud Visnu, the Hindoo Triad of Deity, are little better than semi-idolaters. Our commercial policy comprehends the tolerating principle to an encouraging extent, as if the ignorance of the native was our power, though conversion is not permitted within the pale of the Braminical church. The Governor-general of India sends a cloth annually to ornament the suicidal car of Orissa, or

Juggernaut. This cloth costs some thousand rupees; and many officers of the Company's service send subscriptions towards the support of idolatrous festivals, some of which are honoured by their own personal attendance. The majority of converts, I should say conformists or nominal Christians, belong to the corrupt church of Rome, which makes ample concessions. The church of Goa has thrown off the shackles of Papal allegiance, and is pronounced schismatical. It affords a wide field for the labours of the Christian ambassador, as its religion is deeply paganized. The natives who embrace Romanism find a flattering compensation for their abandoned idolatry in the imposing ceremonies and glittering images of that apostate church. The barrier of caste, coupled with the bad example of the European soldiery, constitutes the wall of partition, or stumbling block of British India. If it does not annihilate, it neutralizes the best efforts made for native conversion. The Christian missionaries cannot act on the non-interference principle. Christianity should be proposed to all Oriental tribes in its original purity and simplicity, without any vulgar compromise. It is thus, in my opinion, the word would come with persuading power to the mind of the uneducated recipient. The only portion of the Bible received by the Sikhs, or the militant followers of Guru, Goviad and Nanac, is Christ's Sermon on the Mount. They place this sermon on an equality with the sublimest passages of their own Scriptures, denominated the Grunth. But I have some anticipations that our conquest of Lahore will be subservient, under a wise Providence, to the reception of the gospel in the Punjab. The Sikhs are zealous professors of the unity of God. To give you some idea, gentlemen, of Secunderabad, it is a large military village, about four hundred miles' distance from Madras, and nearly seven miles from Hydrabad, the imperial city of the Deccan, but nearer the celebrated fortress of Golconda. There is a large subsidiary force here of every arm of the service, amounting to about 7,000-all for the protection of his Royal Highness the Nizam, who is a Mussulman sovereign. I have been stationed here close on eleven years, and never saw a missionary of the gospel, if I except the clergy of the Anglican Church and the merce

nary and interested priests of the Roman community. I can have little hesitation in asserting, that the Precepts of Jesus and the Appeals of Rammohun Roy, translated into the vernacular language of India, would operate as a successful medium of communicating the message of redemption to natives of every caste. I would also suggest the printing and circulation of some thousand copies of the Sermon on the Mount, with a brief introduction, in order to give the natives an idea of the right morality of the Christian Lawgiver. The Bramin would be enabled to contrast its high morality with the laws of Menu, and the Mahometan with the intolerant principles of the Arabian Prophet. My daily intercourse with the natives, associated with some experience of their habits and knowledge of their superstitions, convinces me of the certainty of success in their conversion, if the discours es of Christ, detached or as a whole, were circulated amongst them, and became class-books in their village schools.

I would now, gentlemen, direct your consideration, for a small moment, to myself, in the full assurance that I am influenced by no mean, mercenary or sinister motive in making a few proposals which, I trust in God, shall be literally borne out, under the sanction of your approbation. I am disposed to preach three or more sermons weekly to the Unitarian Christians at this station, and to procure the attendance of those Europeans who may from time to time embrace our principles. I am disposed to communicate elementary and higher instruction to the natives, both young and adults, and to send you a true copy of my first sermon, or the subsequent sermons, if required. I am disposed to superintend your schools at Secunderabad, and to send you the details of all relative to the rise or decline of Unitarianism, in quarterly returns, through A. Chiniah, Esq. But to qualify me, or rather to afford me the means adequate to this undertaking, I should require some money to enable me to correspond with the press, and to meet other contingencies. The native converts become pariahs, or outcasts, at the moment of conversion. If they belong to our service, their promotion is superseded through policy. If they are civilians, we must make them some recompence

until they are enabled to depend or their own industry. My monthly clearance amounts to little more than five rupees, the most of which is absorbed in stationery. 1 would, therefore, require a good Gazetteer; Atlas; a pocket edition of your Improved Version; a Greek Testament, Griesbach's if possible; a Bible Coinpanion; your amended Prayerbook; a Concordance; a Walker's Dictionary, re-modelled by Smart ; and some stationery, including letter-paper, quills, a pen-knife or two, and some good pencils. These would complete the whole of my library; and a small monthly donation would enable me to set to work in earnest, and realize many of your wishes relative to the march of Unitarianism in Hindostan. I should send all reports through A. Chiniah, Esq. If my proposals meet your approval, you will be pleased to communicate directly with me, by getting the letter marked post paid. However, if you reject my proposals, it shall cause no abatement in my sincerity and zeal, but will only cripple my resources to bear out your object to the full extent of your wishes. Trusting you will give some attention to the subject of this letter,

I am, Gentlemen, with the greatest respect, your very obedient, humble Servant, JOHN HOGAN. To the Gentlemen of the Home and Foreign Unitarian Association, London.

SUNDAY-SCHOOL OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION, (SHORESTREET,) HOLYWOOD.

The regular half-yearly distribution of rewards for punctual attendance took place on Sunday, 10th October, when Dr M'Kittrick delivered the address.

He had great pleasure in attending and making a few observations on the occasion, as he always felt that he was benefited himself by making a visit to the Sunday School. After alluding to punctuality in attendance as the only thing in which all had a nearly equal chance of obtaining rewards, and the great value of punctuality, he dwelt chiefly on the advantages which the scholars enjoyed, in having the privilege of attending so well organized a Sunday School. The marked distinctions be

tween the day-school, or mercantile school, aud the Sunday- School were then dwelt upon; the former fitting them for performing the duties connected with mercantile pursuits the other teaching them their duty to God, to their neighbour, and to themselves, and pointing out a perfect example for their imitation, to fit them for leading a christian life on earth, and for enjoying the christian's reward in heaven. A number of questions were then asked in a familiar manner calculated to lead them to apply the Scripture rules to their lives and conversation-showing the hatefulness of the unchristian spirit of revenge the peculiar distinguishing feature of Christianity, love your enemies," the golden rule which could be called to their assistance in all matters of difficulty, to do unto others as we would that they should do unto us. And "who is my neighbour?" The scholars took a great interest in finding suitable replies, which were given in Scriptural language. The advantages of the Sunday school being thus pointed out, the great neglect of so valuable an institution on the part of many parents and the public was commented on. It had been too customary, it was observed, for teachers and those delivering addresses on such occasions, to dwell in general terms on the great principles of faith and love; but we had the example of the Saviour in all his teachings, sermons, and parables; for making those great principles bear upon the vices of the age, in order to correct and remove them.

The interrogatory system was again resumed, and it was shown that the reason generally assigned by parents for not sending their children to the Sunday school is want of clothes, and this want of clothes too often proceeds from the Saturday nights and Sunday mornings being spent in indulgence in intoxicating drinks. The much greater amount of money laid out in complying with the

66

drinking customs," than is expected on all religious and educational objects, in all classes of society, being admitted by all-occasion was taken to show that they are the greatest evil of our village and country, and unless many come forward to assist in the work which Mr. M'Alester and some others have commenced here, the drinking customs were likely to be handed down to another generation with all their soul-destroying

influences undiminished. The scriptural authority for total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks as a beverage, was readily found in Romans xiv, 21. — "It is good neither to, drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak."-An appeal was made to parents and others to assist in the good work, in order that the fruits of the Sunday instruction might be such as to bring all at last to hear the blessed invitation of the Saviour "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

There was a large attendance of children, and several parents were present on the occasion.

The Rev. JOHN MONTGOMERY of Newtownlimavady has received and accepted a call, or invitation, to the Pas.. torship of the Remonstrant Congregation of Banbridge, in the County Down, vacant by the lamented death of the late Rev. JAMES DAVIS, A. M.

WAR.

What, speaking in quite unofficial language, is the net purport and upshot of war? To my own knowledge, for example, there dwell and toil, in the British village of Drumdrudge, usually some five hundred souls. From these, by certain "natural enemies" of the French, there are successfully selected, during the French war, say thirty ablebodied men. Dumdrudge, at her own expense, has suckled and nursed them; she has not without difficulty and sorrow fed them up to manhood, and even trained them to crafts, so that one can weave, another build, another hammer, and the weakest can stand under thirty stone, avoirdupois. Nevertheless, amid much weeping and swearing, they are selected; all dressed in red, and shipped away, at the public charge, some two thousand miles, or say only to the south of Spain; and fed there till want

ed.

And now, to that same spot in the south of Spain, are thirty similar French artisans, from a French Dumdrudge, in like manner wending; till at length after infinite effort, the two parties come into actual juxtaposition; and thirty stand