young people have their little flirtations and love-makings, quarrels and makings up, just like boys and girls at home. We made some inquiry about one very bright looking girl, and were informed she was to be married before the rains, if a house can be built for them; but, said Mrs. C., 'It was nearly all over the other day; I heard something was going on, and upon inquiry about it, she told me she and he were not going to marry. I asked, "How was that?" "Oh," she replied," he said so and so, when we were walking along the road, and I don't like to be talked about in that way, so I broke it off!" Soon after a reconciliation was made, however. "Yes," she told Mrs. C., "I have forgiven him, but he cried like a baby first!" "Well," returned Mrs. C., "all I can say is, that if there are any quarrels after you are married, we shall know who to blame, for he seems to be much kinder, and more good tempered than you are." There is a specimen of a Hindoo belle, for Maria and Lizzy. "Another girl we noticed as being an excellent crochet worker, is twenty years of age now, and still unmarried. The young man she was engaged to, who was a delightful Christian character, and of the utmost promise as a scripture reader, died last autumn of hydrophobia. He had been bitten by one of the wretched pariah dogs, which are preserved by the superstition of the natives till their increase is a pest to the country, notwithstanding the numbers that are poisoned by the police every year. It is a matter of some solicitude now, how husbands are to be found for these elder girls, as, although there is a superabundance of boys for the set next younger, there is a lack of the proper age. So you see every commonwealth has its own difficulties. But seriously, you must in this again see a proof of their emancipation from the strong slavery of old prejudices, as there can be no greater disgrace in the eyes of Hindoo parents than to have their children unmarried. And I am sure some solution will be found for this problem also. All things, small and great, Mr. and Mrs. C. appear to trust to the Great Ruler, and they are never disappointed. "In organizing and conducting the whole settlement hitherto, the aim seems to have been, to render it if possible the germ of an entire regeneration in the social habits of the native population. The young people are not brought up with any view to their going away from home in after life. The boys, except those who may show will and capability for employment as scripture read. ers, are expected to settle down as members of a Christian community; the girls are educated to take their high place as wives and mothers. There is no change, except that of cleanliness, urged in their national dress; no compulsatory Europeanising of their manners and customs in daily life. These things, not being essential, may or may not follow after. As the number in this village increases, and their good habits strengthen, Mr. C. hopes to draft little colonies off to other places through the country, that thus here and there nuclei may be formed round which Christianity and civilisation may slowly gather; and little cities of refuge to shelter those who may wish to escape from the persecution of relations, or the tyranny of surrounding custom. It appears to me, that if this can be carried out, nothing could be better calculated to take effect among the native population. They would thus see exemplified before their eyes, what manner of life and conduct Christianity would have them adopt; whereas otherwise the vagueness of their conception of it has always been in the way. They seem-even those who do give it consideration-to look upon it, as either some hard thing only fit for the Sahibs, or else perhaps as a life of idleness, in which they have only to sit down and be fed; but here, in answer to such questions, the Missionary needs but to point to the life of industry and activity they would see before them; to the purity of morals inculcated; to the freedom enjoyed from superstition and all its evils. From what I can hear and read, I think this last argument might be comprehended by many of the more intelligent, as they are continual sufferers from the same subtle and active priestcraft, which has ever enchained the ignorant in all ages. The Brahmins and religious beggars rule their wives by the debasing terrors of superstition, and the wives rule them with a tyranny that would surprise you, having our ideas of the slavish condi tion of Hindoo women. You would be astonished to hear what sums of money they spend on obtaining or averting charms, &c., and in performing, and obliging their husbands to perform pilgrimages, or go through the most senseless ceremonies; all of which of course involve presents to Brahmins, 'feeding a certain number of Brahmins,' &c. "To carry out these views, however, would require increased missionary labour, and at present Mr. Corbold is almost alone in Gugerat. He several times spoke with anxiety, of what these poor people would do if his health should fail; and indeed I greatly fear, neither he nor Mrs. C. can much longer sustain a life of so incessant exertion without some rest or change. You already have an outline of one day's labours, and each day is as fully occupied for them both, besides which, Mr. C. frequently goes on tours of preaching through the wilder districts, leaving Borsud altogether to Mrs. C.'s care. She looks greatly worn, and as I thought of their remaining here throughout the long rains, when there is no communi. cation with any station, nor any chance of obtaining a doctor's aid, I could not but hope God would open some way in which they may be relieved for a time, and be enabled to go somewhere to recruit health and strength." * * CHINA. RECENT OPERATIONS IN SHANGHAE. THE subjoined communication, from the Rev. Wm. Muirhead, of Shanghae, on behalf of the Missionary Brethren at that Station, comprises a review of their labours in the Gospel during the six months ending October last, from which it will be seen that, while the mass of the people are still intolerant of any innovations upon their ancient traditions and habits of thinking, the truth is silently working its way to the hearts of individuals, and that some of the recent converts have become earnest co-labourers with the Missionaries in their efforts for its wider diffusion. We also add a supplementary letter from the Rev. Griffith John, containing a brief notice of his personal experiences as a member of the Shanghae Mission. Under date 5th October, Mr. Muirhead observes :- LABOURS IN THE GOSPEL. "We are happy to state that the various duties of the Mission here continue to be prosecuted with vigour, and not without tokens of encouragement. Our great work of preaching the Gospel has been uninterruptedly carried on during the past six months in the neighbouring cities and the surrounding country. The same interest and variety in the audiences have appeared as in former periods, and in the hearing of many have the good news of salvation been proclaimed. Our intercourse with the people in this way has given rise to frequent inquiries on the subject of Christianity, and to discussion with them on their own systems, which though not always leading to bene ficial results, have yet afforded opportunity for explaining more fully the nature and evidence of our holy religion. We find that when individuals are inclined to object to, or hold back from, the truth, after they have acquired an intelligent knowledge of it, they are rarely if ever brought sincerely to believe it. Hopeful inquirers are chiefly such as have been led almost from the first to appreciate the doctrine, and have only waited for increased light on the subject to bring them to decision. The still small voice of the Gospel, its simple and persuasive announcement, has far greater effect than a long course of argument and disputation. The one is more ordinarily accompanied by the influence of God's Holy Spirit, while the other is conducted more from a feeling of pride and self-conceit in the minds of our opponents than aught else. Yet the disputants we have met with in favour of the several creeds of China, are few in comparison with the mass of our audiences, and even in their case much restraint is observed in their bearing towards us, which is not evinced in their intercourse with the native converts; often a degree of prejudice and bitterness is shown towards them, that strikingly illustrates the character of the unrenewed and heathen mind. In general, however, the people are satisfied with merely listening to the truth, and commending it when a close application is made of it to their hearts and consciences, while they continue to move on in conformity with customs and practices, which are acknowledged to have only the voice of antiquity and universal observance for their support. NEW CONVERTS. "Still we are encouraged by seeing that the truth as it is in Jesus has been apprehended and believed at least by a few. During the past six months, twenty individuals have been admitted to the fellowship of the Church, on a credible profession of faith in Christ. Some of these have long been acquainted with the truth, but from having removed to different parts of the country, and other causes, they were previously withheld from the open dedication of themselves to the Saviour. Subsequent to their baptism, also, several have been obliged to return to their distant homes; and changes of that kind will necessarily be frequent in connexion with a Christian church at this place. It is gratifying, however, when by such means the Gospel is published more extensively than might otherwise be the case; and we generally find that the converts in these circumstances, are anxious to inform their friends and neighbours of the things they have seen and heard. Some of the members afford us great satisfaction from their zeal and consistency in making known the Word of Life to those around them. Both in the chapels, and in a less public manner, they warmly urge the truth on the acceptance of their countrymen, and heed not the obloquy and opposition they often meet with in doing so. Two of them, who are literary graduates, have for some time been engaged in visiting the school-masters in the neighbourhood, and a few extracts from their journals will show the views and feelings of the native scholars in regard to Christianity, better perhaps than any detailed observations of our own. EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF ONE OF THE CONVERTS-A LITERARY GRADUATE. "One of them writes, "I called on two teachers, Mr. Fei and Mr. Chang, and in the course of conversation the former said to me. You believe in Jesus, do you know when he was born? I replied, that he came into the world during the time of the Han dynasty. He then asked, and when was God born? I answered that God was without beginning and without end. He inquired if Jesus was also eternal? I told him that Jesus, before his incarnation, was equally without beginning, and after he ascended to heaven, he is equally without end, and hence Jesus is God. Mr. Chang. remarked, How can you suppose him to be divine? He was born you say in the Han dynasty, and prior to that event, were men altogether free from sin? I said that anciently the customs of the people were in advance of the present; in process of time they became vicious, and the men of the world in heart and life were extremely wicked and depraved, so that at the period alluded to, repentance and reformation was a thing altogether unknown. God then had pity on our race, and sent Jesus to atone for human sin, to declare that which God was desirous of making known, and to do that which God was desirous of doing; is not Jesus therefore the image of the invisible God? The two were unable to reply, but also unwilling to believe. Afterwards I went to several other places, but found that all were alike in a state of delusion and void of understanding. "I called on Mr. Ni, who had just graduated, and was delighted beyond measure at his success. He inquired, if by believing in Jesus any merit or reputation could be gained? I replied, that as for the fame of worldly wealth or honour, it was like the reflection of a flower in a lookingglass, or of the moon in water, a shadow and false. It is the soul only that is indestructible. He said that if in life we enjoy great wealth and honour, we may also expect the same after death. I observed that that was a stupid idea of the men of the world, after the example of various reputed and vicious Mandarins in former times, who are all suffering the eternal misery of hell, as every one knows. He said that was the case indeed with these iniquitous officers, but what is the use of alluding to them? I replied, that as you are acquainted with the history of these men, why do you not pray to God to remit the sins you have committed in life, and annul the punishment you deserve in eternity? You earnestly desire to have present honour and reputation, but it is all vanity and of no advantage whatever. He assented to it, and I promised to call on him again. "I met a Nankin refugee, who inquired whether, as I had already entered the Christian religion, persons of his description could also be admitted, so that there would be no necessity for entering the asylums opened on their account? I said that our believing in Jesus Christ was in order to deliver from hell and obtain eternal life, and not with a view to get food to eat. If by entering the religion, all were to be supplied with rice, there would certainly be none in Shanghae without it. "I went to the school of Mr. Wang, who is a graduate of distinction. He asked if I was from Nankin, and how was it when by means of the religion of Jesus I was driven to this place, that yet I entered it? Was I not afraid of being laughed at for doing so? I answered that as to persons in distress, they are not only from Nankin, but are to be found in every quarter. Again, when this city was overtaken by trouble, did you voluntarily submit to the marauders, or seek to escape into the country? How much more in the case of the Canton thieves, who borrowed the name of Jesus in order to kill men, when the great object of our religion is to save men and raise them to heaven! His language was altogether satirical, and on warning him I withdrew. "I met again with Mr. Chang, who said that when the doctrine of Jesus began in the Han dynasty, if God had caused it to circulate alike in the East and West it would have been very advantageous. I saw that he spoke in an apparently honest manner, and replied, It is the duty of men in obeying the Divine commands first to evince an inclination to believe His word, and then our ignorance and stupidity will be removed. Now if you feel favourably disposed towards this doctrine, why do you not spread abroad the good news of the heavenly kingdom, in order to save the world from perishing? He said, I am now old, and am afraid that my fellow scholars would revile me. It is not like you who are not a native of this place. I told him it was not so. In resolutely exhorting men, if they reviled me, I should simply not listen to them, keeping in view the concerns of the last day, when those who believe will go to heaven, and those who do not will go to hell. He assented to this, and remarked, It is an old saying that the good are fortunate and the wicked are not so. Though you are one of the religious sect, yet you have not forsaken the true doctrine; and on that we separated.' * * NATIVE CHRISTIANS UNDER PERSECUTION. "Two of the church members, in the service of the British and Foreign Bible Society, were seized by the Mandarins in the course of their work, at a considerable distance from Shanghae, professedly on the ground of distributing books of a seditious character. The charge lay in the name of Jesus being printed on the title-page of the New Testament, which was supposed to identify them with the rebels, whose publications of a similar character were well known in that quarter. After being imprisoned for several weeks, they were released through the kind interference of Her Majesty's Consul, and we are happy to say that though suffering much in consequence of the treatment they received, they both resolve to persevere in the profession of the faith, and are by no means deterred from the prosecu tion of similar work. One of them has drawn up an interesting account of the conversation he had with the Mandarins and others on the subject of Christianity, which will be translated and sent home in course. MISSIONARY ITINERANCY. "Messrs. Muirhead and John have lately returned from a Missionary tour, to the extent of 100 miles beyond Shanghae. They visited different towns and cities, making it a point to call at the houses and shops of the inhabitants as much as possible, not only to put Christian books into their hands, but to converse with them individually on the great truths of redemption, preaching also in the streets at the distance of a few hundred yards from each other to the people gathered together. In the prosecution of this work,' they write, we have been much encouraged. Seldom have we been refused a hearing, while we have had it in our power to speak most freely on the evils of idolatry, and the necessity of repentance and faith in Christ. Inquiries have often been made by the shopkeepers and merchants in the course of conversation, as to the person and work of the Saviour, and in an apparently honest and The Rev. Griffith John, also, under date Shanghae, 6th October ult., writes as follows: "At the end of my second year in China, I feel disposed to write you a brief account of the kind of work I have been pursuing during the last twelve months. Of course a large portion of my time has been devoted to the study of the Chinese language and books. In addition to the Shanghae dialect, in which I have felt pretty well at home for some time, I have paid considerable attention to the Mandarin dialect. A thorough knowledge of the books I deem indispensable to an efficient Missionary. This will not only enable him to meet the Chinese on their own ground, but will infallibly give him a position and command a hearing. The Chinese are not only a reading, but also a thinking people; and a Missionary-confessedly ignorant of their books and thoughts-when be expatiates on the superiority of Christianity over every other system, cuts but a pitiable figure in their eyes. As a people, they are too far advanced to take the ipse dixit of any one, for proof and demonstration. The man who can do them any real good, is he who is able and willing to enter into the endless labyrinths of their own speculation -sympathize with them and with all that is true and noble in their systems-point out plainly but kindly their grievous errors and defects, and then open up to their minds the inexhaustible treasury of that system which is infinitely true and perfect. "During the last twelve months, I have made repeated journeys into the interior; one of the most interesting of which was to Sú-chew, in company with Mr. Edkins. Sú-chew is regarded by the Chinese as one of their richest and most beautiful cities. They say, that to be happy on earth, one must be born in Sú-chew, live in Canton, and die in Sú-chew,' for in the first are the handsomest people, in the second the richest luxuries, and in the third the best coffins. The walls of the city are twelve miles in circumference, and the whole population about one million and a half. It lies northwest of Shanghae, the way lying through a range of villages and cities. "No foreigner had visited this city undisguised. We were anxious to make the attempt. No sooner, however, had we got within the gates, than we were met by an official, who very politely entreated us to walk into his house and be seated. In about two minutes another official of a higher rank came in to visit us. We were asked whence we came, whither we were going, what might be our object, &c. &c., and on receiving our replies, he informed us that he could not permit us to proceed into the city, and that it was |