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people of colour is obvious. A striking difference of manners and behaviour is plainly seen between those who have regularly attended the school and those who have not.

It is a subject of much regret that many of the coloured people appear still insensible to the disadvantages of a state of ignorance and vice, and refu e to attend the school, notwithstanding the motives of encouragement which have been presented to them. This is the more surprising, since the improvement both in manners and morals of those who have attended is most apparent. No school can exhibit better order, greater solemnity, or more intense application, than is witnessed here. A most respectful and eager attention is almost universally paid to the instructors by their pupils. This respect is not confined to the hours of school or the walls of the school room-a sentiment of gratitude for the exertions and sacrifices made on their behalf seems to pervade the breasts of those who attend the school; and a correspondent feeling of sympathy, and an increased interest for their welfare, has been excited in the hearts of the teachers and managers of the school. Not only have the manners and morals, and general behaviour of the people who attend the school been visibly improved, but there is satisfactory reason to believe that the school has proved the means, under God, of turning some from sin to holiness, and from the love of the world to the fear of the Lord.

The fidelity and punctuality of the teachers of this school throughout the year has been such as to command the admiration of the managers. Though a large proportion of them are females, it has been rare to see one absent even in the most inclement days of winter.

The view here given of the progress and effects of these schools, though limited and imperfect, will, we trust, satisfy the christian community that Sunday Schools are among the means which God is using to diffuse Gospel light. We venture to go further, and in view of the great effects produced by these schools in Europe, and in many of our large towns, to declare our conviction, that, aster the preaching of the Gospel, the system of Sunday School instruction is the most powerful human instrument which God is employ ing in the advancement of his kingdom on earth.

[After some excellent observations of a general nature, the report thus proceeds.]

We are able to refer to instances of improvement in the school of coloured people in this city, which are not exceeded in any schools under equal advantages.

Nor is the improvement confined to individuals. The progress of the whole school is such as would be creditable to any school, of persons possessing the same opportunities.

The facts in relation to Sunday Schools, existing under our own observation, added to those which we have learned from other parts of the world, lead us to contemplate the system of Sunday School instruction as one of the most powerful auxiliaries to the gospel dispensation which has been introduced into the world.

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When we reflect on the condition of the poor children in the great manufacturing towns in Europe, destitute, as they formerly were, of every means of instruction; left to spend their Sabbaths asa holiday, in sport and mischief, with spectacles of vice continually before them, we shall be able to appreciate the benevolent efforts of the illustrious founder of a system which has raised thousands, and hundreds of thousands of poor and miserable children from the kennels of vice, and placed them under pious and benevolent instructors.

The system in this country is but just introduced; but we may safely predict that its effects on our poor children and people of colour will be no less important. We have already some evidence of its happy effects among ourselves, in the space of a single year. Numbers who seldom, if ever, attended any place of worship, have been induced to attend our schools, where the truths of our holy religion have been presented to their minds, in a familiar and engaging manner. Their memories have been stored with interesting passages of Scripture and Hymns, calculated to impress their minds with important religious truths. Tracts and religious books have, in a number of instances, been distributed as rewards for attention and improvemeut. The instruction which has thus been given, we are confident has not been lost. In the solemnity and decorum which prevail in the schools, and the good behaviour of most of the scholars, we have the evidence of good effects already produced. But we are not always to expect immediate fruit from the seed thus sown. While many instances of instruction being blessed are acknowledged with gratitude, we look forward with an eye of faith to effects beyond the present time, and even beyond this generation.

REV. AND DEAR SIR,

MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE. Communication from Rev. Messrs. Judson and Hough. RANGOON, November 7th, 1816. It is with peculiar satisfaction that we are at length able to address a letter to the Board in our joint capacity. We had a joyful meeting in this place the 15th ult. Mr. Hough has settled in one part of the Mission-house; and we are now united, both as a church of Christ, and as a Mission Society. Our regulations on the latter point we here submit to the Board. It will be evident at first sight that these regulations have a prospective view, and are framed somewhat differently from what they would have been, had we not expected that our Society would soon be enlarged. But we hope that the time is not far distant when they will receive the signature of brother Rice also. Indeed we hope for more than this; we hope that one or two others will be found to accompany Mr. Rice. It is true that one of us remained about three years in this place without uttering any Macedonian cries. But we apprehend that the time is now come when it is consistent with the strictest prudence to lift up our voice and say, come over the ocean and help us. By a residence of three years in this country, many doubts

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which at first occurred are removed; and many points concerning the practicability of a mission, and the prospect of success, are ascertained. We cannot now enter much into detail; but we desire to say, that we consider the mission established in this land. We unite in opinion that a wide door is set open for the introduction of the religion of Jesus into this great empire. We have at present no governmental interdict to encounter, and no greater obstacles than such as oppose the progress of missionaries in every heathen land. It appears to us (and may it so appear to our fathers and brethren) that God, in removing the English mission from this place, and substituting in their stead an American mission, is emphatically calling on the American churches to compassionate the poor Burmans, and to send their silver, and their gold, and their young men, to this eastern part of the world, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.

From the accompanying articles of agreement you will be able to form some idea of the probable expense of a mission to this country. The monthly appropriation for subsistence will necessarily be enlarged as our families increase. It was originally fixed by the brethren at Serampore, and has been found by Mr. Judson, just sufficient to meet the common expenses for food and clothing. No expense is yet incurred for building or house-rent, as we are permitted to occupy the Mission-house erected by Messrs. Chater and Carey, and which is the property of the society in England. It is difficult to form any estimate of extra mission expenses, such as (according to the Serampore plan) fall not within the compass of the regular monthly allowance. These will be much larger than they are at present, when we commence operations on a larger scale. We propose to forward to the Board, at the close of every year, a general summary of receipts and expenditures, on account of the mission.

It is with great pleasure that we announce the valuable present of a press and Burman types, made to us by the Serampore brethren. We are now closing in a room for a temporary printing office; and hope very soon to issue a Gospel tract, which has been in readiness some time, and which is intended to give the heathen around us some idea of the way of salvation through the Lord Je

sus.

But we cannot move one step in the way of printing without money. Though favoured with the press, in the first instance, gratis, we have already expended in paper, freight, and sundries, about four hundred rupees. We therefore beg an immediate appropriation, not only to liquidate the expenses already incurred, but to enable us to proceed in this all important part of our work. The accounts of the mission press we propose to keep distinct; and they shall be submitted together with the accounts of the mission.

We know not how long the press will be permitted to remain in Rangoon; we do not, however, deprecate its removal to Ava. Such a measure would doubtless tend to the furtherance of the cause, and to the introduction of religion into the very heart of the empire where Satan's seat is. But in this case, more men and

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more money would be imperiously demanded; and we trust that the patronage of the Board will not fail us in these necessary points. We desire humbly to repeat to the Board what the first missionaries from the Baptist Society in England said to their friends, when on the point of embarkation in the great work which seems destined to illumine Western India with the light of the Gospel. "We are," said they, "like men going down into a well; you stand at the top, and hold the ropes. Do not let us fall." Hold us up, brethren and fathers; and if health and life be spared to us, we hope, through the grace of God, to see Eastern India also beginning to participate in the same glorious light. Many years may intervene in the latter as well as in the former case; many difficulties and disappointments may try your faith and ours. But let patience have her perfect work; let us not be weary of well doing ; for in due time we shall reap, if we faint not.

Your servants in the Lord Jesus,

REV. WM. STAUGHTON, D. D. Cor. Sec.

of the Baptist Board of Missions.

A. JUDSON.

GEORGE H. HOUGH.

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT.

In order more effectually, under the blessing of our Lord and Master, to accomplish the important work for which we have come into this heathen land, we, the undersigned, form a union on the following principles, viz.

1. We give ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to one another, by the will of God.

2. We agree to be kindly affectioned one towards another with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another; feeling that we have one Master, even Christ, and that all we are brethren.

3. We agree in the opinion that our sole object on earth is to introduce the religion of Jesus Christ into the empire of Burmah; and that the means by which we hope to effect this are translating, printing, and distributing the Scriptures; preaching the Gospel; circulating religious Tracts, and promoting the instruction of native children.

:

4. We agree therefore to engage in no secular business for the purpose of emolument and not at all, unless in the opinion of the brethren the great object of the mission can be best promoted thereby.

5. We agree to relinquish all private right to remittances from America, avails of labour, and compensation for service; in a word, to place all money and property, from whatever quarter accruing, in the mission fund; provided, that nothing in this article be construed to affect our private right to inheritances or personal favours, not made in compensation of service.

6. We agree that all the members of the mission family have claims on the mission fund for equal support, in similar circumstances; the claims of widows and orphans not to be in the least

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affected by the death of the head of their family. But it is to be understood, that no one shall have a right to adopt a child into the mission family, so as to entitle it to the claims secured in this article, but by consent of the brethren.

7. We agree to educate our children with a particular reference to the object of the mission; and if any expense be necessary or expedient for this purpose, it shall be defrayed from the mission fund.

8. All appropriations from the mission fund shall be made by a majority of the missionary brethren united in this compact; subject, however, to the inspection of our patrons, the Board.

A. JUDSON.

GEORGE. H. HOUGH. N. B. It is hardly necessary to observe, that the above regulations have a prospective view, being intended for the signature of more than two.

Rangoon, Oct. 21, 1816.

Extracts from the Mission Records.

October 22, 1816. Agreed, that while no expense is incurred for house-rent, the monthly appropriation for food and clothing, and other common expenses of a personal nature, be the same as proposed by the Serampore brethren in the case of Mr. Judson, viz. one hundred and thirty rupees, payable in Bengal, for a man and wife, and ten for a child; thus making the monthly allowance for two couples and three children, which now compose the mission family, two hundred and ninety rupees. This sum is intended for personal subsistence, independently of all public and extraordinary expenses, which are to be defrayed by special appropriations.

Agreed also, that all expenses attending the press shall be referred to a separate account, and defrayed from monies granted for the purpose by the Board. A. JUDSON. GEORGE H. HOUGH.

The two brethren, James Colman and Edward W. Wheelock, accepted by the Board for the Burman mission, will soon, with permission of Providence, take their departure from this country. It is hoped, too, that the time is not far distant, when others will follow; particularly some one who like Luke" the beloved physician" of apostolic times, shall further the work of the Lord by an acquaintance with the healing art. The testimony of their tutor, Mr. Chaplin, it is proper here to insert. After giving a particular statement of the proficiency made by them respectively in literature, he thus concludes:" In closing this communication I beg leave to add, that, as far as the acquaintance I have had with them enables me to judge, they are modest, amiable, and pious young men; judicious in their views, and prudent in their conduct; and they both appear to me to be uncommonly promising as candidates for the Gospel ministry."