The Rev. JOSEPH LYMAN, D. D.
Hon. JOHN HOOKER,

Rev. SAMUEL AUSTIN, D D.
Rev. JEDIDIAH MORSE, D. D.
Hon. JOHN C. SMITH, L. L. D.
Rev. CALVIN CHAPIN, D. D.
Hon. CHARLES MARSH,

Rev. ALEXANDER PROUDfit, D. D.
Rev. EDWARD D. GRIFFIN, D. D.
Rev. JEREMIAH DAY, D. D. L. L. D.
Rev. HENRY DAVIS, D. D.
Rev. LYMAN BEECHER, D. D.
Rev. JOHN H. CHURCH, D. D. and
JEREMIAH EVArts, Esq

The session was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. GRIFFIN; and on the succeeding days, by the Rev. Dr. PROUDFIT and the Rev. Dr. DAY.

The Treasurer of the Board exhibited a statement of the receipts and expenditures during the year preceding Aug. 31, 1824; from which it appeared, that the receipts were $47,483:58, and that the expenditures were $54,157:05.

The Auditor having been prevented by indisposition from finishing his examination of the Treasurer's accounts, a certificate, from the Hon. SAMUEL HUBBARD, Was read, purporting that he had, at the Treasurer's request, examined the state of the permanent fund, and that the principal and interest were duly accounted for.

This fund now amounts to $35,103 87. The Hon. JOHN HOOKER, the Rev. Dr. MORSE, and the Hon. CHARLES MARSH, were appointed a Committee to examine the Treasurer's vouchers for expenditures the last year. This Committee subsequently reported, that they had examined the Treasurer's accounts, and found the charges made therein conformable to orders of the Prudential Committee. Whereupon it was Resolved,

That the accounts of the Treasurer, now rendered to this Board, be accepted; subject, however, to be examined and revised by the Auditor.

The Prudential Committee exhibited their annual Report.

The Committee appointed at the last annual meeting to present a memorial to the government of the United States, on the general subject of the civilization and moral improvement of the Indian tribes,

within the limits of our national territory, made a report, which was accepted.

The Rev. David Porter, D. D. of Catskill, N. Y. the Rev. PAILip MilleDOLER, D. D. the Hon. HENRY RUT GERS, the Rev. GARDINER SPRING, D.D. and ELEAZER LORD, Esq. of the city of New York, were unanimously elected members of the Board.

The following persons were elected officers of the Board for the year ensuing:

viz.

The Rev. JOSEPH LYMAN, D. D. President;
The Hon. JOHN COTTON SMITH, L.L.D.V.Pr.
The Rev. CALVIN CHAPIN, D. D. Rec. Sec.;
The Hon. WILLIAM REED,

The Rev. LEONARD WOODs, D. D.
JEEREMIAH EVARTS, Esq.

The Hon. SAMUEL HUBBARD, and
The Rev. WARREN FAY,

Prudential

Committee.

JEREMIAH EVARTS, Esq. Corres. Secretary.
Mr. RUFUS ANDERSON, Assistant Secretary.
HENRY HILL, Esq. Treasurer.
CHESTER ADAMS, Esq. Auditor.

The Rev. JosHUA BATES, D. D. was chosen preacher for the next annual meeting; and the Rev. EDWARD D. GRIFFIN, D. D. was chosen to preach in case of his failure.

On Wednesday evening, public worship was attended in the Brick Church; and the annual sermon before the Board was delivered by the Rev. Dr. AUSTIN, from Gal. 1:15,16.

When the Board met, on Thursday morning, the Rev. Dr. CHAPIN, Mr. EvARTS, and the Rev. Dr. CHURCH, were appointed a Committee to present the thanks of the Board to the Rev. Dr. AusTIN, for his sermon, and to request a copy for the press.

Resolved,

That Mr. EvARTS receive five hundred dollars from the Treasury of the Board for his services, as Corresponding Secretary,the ensuing year; and that he also receive, on the same account, a further sum, not exceeding five hundred dollars, from the income of the permanent fund created by individuals and by the clear profits of the Missionary Herald for the support of the Corresponding Secretary; and that, for his services as Editor of the Missionary Herald, he receive, from the avails of that work, the same sum, which was allowed by the vote of last year.*

See the Missionary Herald for Oct. 1823, p. 33; and the Fourteenth Report of the Board, p. 15.

The permanent fund for the support of the Corresponding Secretary now amounts to about 88,300; and from the feelings expressed in relation to this subject,

To the Comptroller of the state treasury, for the convenient accommodations of the senate chamber, during the present meeting:

To the choir of singers for their acceptable services, in connexion with the public exercises of the sanctuary: and

To those families and individuals, whose kindness and hospitality have been experienced by the members of the Board. Resolved,

That the Prudential Committee be requested to print their annual Report, a statement of the Treasurer's accounts, and such other documents as they shall judge proper to be included in the annual publications of the Board.

Resolved,

That the next annual meeting of the Board be held at Northampton, Mass. on the third Wednesday of September, 1825, at nine o'clock, A. M.; and that the President be requested to make the necessary arrangements for the meeting.

The session was closed with prayer by the Rev. Dr. BEECRER.

FORMATION OF ASSOCIATIONS.

MASSACHUSETTS.

Worcester Co.

Worcester.

1st pur. Gent. Asso. Rev. Arætus B. Hull, Pres. Dea. Moses Perry, V. Pres. Henry Wheeler, Sec. Maj. Enoch Flagg, Treas. Formed March 1.-Lad. Assoc. Mrs. A. B. Hull, Pres. Mrs. Enoch Flagg, V. Pres. Miss Harriet Rice, Sec. Mrs. Olive Fiske, Treas. 9 coll. Formed, Aug. 12.

Spencer. Gent. Asso. Rev. Stephen Crosby, Pres. Dea. Wm. Sumner, V. Pres. Daniel Hobbs, Sec. Dea. Ezra Dunn, Treas. Formed in January. No. of coll. unknown.-Lad. Asso. Mrs. Stephen Crosby, Pres. Miss Rebecca Browning, Sec. and Treas. Formed July 28.

Starbridge. Gent. Asso. Rev. Alvan Bond, Pres. Dea. Daniel Plimpton, V. Pres. Dr. Ephraim M. Lyon, Sec. Zenas Dunton, Treas. 6 coll. Formed Aug. 2.-Lad. Asso. prev. formed.

Holden. Gent. Asso. Rev. Horatio Bardwell, Pres. Dea. Peter Rice, V. Pres. Ethan Davis, Esq. Sec. Ebenezer Estabrook, Esq. Treas. 6 coll.-Lad. Asso. Mrs. Horatio Bardwell, Pres. Mrs. Nathan Rogers, V. Pres. Mrs. Lemuel Davis, Sec. Mrs. Silas Flagg, Treas. 11 coll. Formed Aug. 20.

Rutland. Gent. Asso. Rev. Josiah Clarke. Pres. Capt. Calvin How, V. Pres. Dea. Jonas Reed, Sec. Geo. S. Fiint, Treas. 10 coll.-Lad. Asso. Mrs. Josiah Clarke, Pres. Mrs. Mary Goodrich, V. Pres. Mrs. Calvin How, Sec. Mrs. Josiah King, Treas. 9 coll. Formed Aug. 20.

INTELLIGENCE FROM BOMBAY.

LETTERS have been received from the brethren at Bombay, bearing date as recent as June 5th. All were in the enjoyment of nearly the usual health, except Mr. Hall's child, concerning the result of whose sickness fears were entertained. The mission was enjoying new and increased evidences of the favor and respect of the government, and of the British residents

Notice had been received at Bombay, of the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Frost, and of Mrs. Graves, at Madras. They probably reached Bombay about the last of June.

MISSION AT BOMBAY.

LETTER FROM THE MISSIONARIES. THIS letter bears date of January 6th, 1824.

the society, that we wished to print, with all convenient despatch, a second edition of Genesis, 3000 copies,—a second edition of Luke, a second edition of Acts, and an

edition of the New Testament from Ro

mans to Revelations inclusive; and accom

missionaries say:

We also communed together on the goodness of God to our dear brother and sister Graves, as to her arrival and kind reception in America. Our hearts were especially cheered by the manifestation of the divine goodness, in giving us the prospect, after so long a time, of shortly welcoming other fellow laborers, from our native land, into this great field. We praise the Lord for this cheering prospect, and beseech him to bring them here in the fulness of the blessings of the Gospel of peace, and to set an open door before them, which no man can shut. The prospect of their early arrival here, led us to contemplate, with peculiar emotions, what we conceive may be viewed as indicative of an increasingly favorable disposition in government towards our mission.

In answer to a petition from the American missionaries, the government had granted them not only a burial ground, (which was all they petitioned for or expected,) but had also ordered its complete enclosure with a wall of masonry. See Her. for May, p. 149. They gratefully acknowledge, moreover, other unexpected favors from men high in office.

as the probable expense of the same. This estimate did not include the 1000 copies of the New Testament entire, which we still keep in reserve, in the hope that the American Bible Society will yet feel able and inclined to encourage and countenance us, and to relieve the funds of the Board by bearing the expense of it. The additional 1500 copies of each of the Gospels, which we printed for immediate distribution, had become so nearly exhausted, that we perceived it would be necessary whole New Testament could be printed. to replenish our stock of Gospels before the For this reason we proposed a second edition of Luke. We also calculated on an average edition of 2000 copies of all the portions of the New Testament, and of 3000 copies of Genesis. The society, agreeably to the method they pursued with the Surat Mission, wish to consider themScripture, when printed, to the amount of selves as receiving those portions of their donation, should they choose it, though they would be principally left with us for distribution. We could of course feel no objection to such a stipulation. Genesis is now about half through the press. Of this we printed an additional thousand copies, as far as the 30th verse of the 19th chapter, to be distributed as a

for our books. As a partial supply for the Scottish brethren, we have sold to their Society's Committee here 325, and to the Bombay Bible Society 375 portions of the Scriptures. Of the latter, a larger number was wanted; but our stock would not allow us to furnish a larger supply. To the Belgaum Religious Association we have at several times sent about 1,000 tracts and portions of Scriptures, at their request, and in return for the several donations which they have made to our mission.

Our Superintendent of schools, we occasionally direct to leave his ordinary route, and to go to particular places for the purpose of distributing books. East of Bassen, and north of Tannah, is a mineral spring, held in idolatrous veneration by the Hindoos. A large concourse of pilgrims visit it about the beginning of May every year. Samuel, and one of our schoolmasters from Tannah, went there and easily distributed the 3,000 books, which they took with them, and could have distributed more had they been furnished with a greater number.

A few miles to the north of Bassen is the tomb of a celebrated devotee, to which the people, in still greater numbers, perform an annual pilgrimage. This takes place in November. Our Superintendent of schools went there, and distributed more than a thousand books, in about two days, and many more were asked for." Our present superintendent is a Roman Catholic of the fishermen cast, and gives us much satisfaction. We have agreed to employ him till the rains, in the distribution of books in the Konkan. We hope in future to make more use of such opportunities, as the native pilgrimages afford, for an easy and extensive distribution of books, that these silent preachers may travel all over the country, revealing, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to the ignorant and perishing, the knowledge of God and the way to heaven.

A printing office had been completed, on the vacant ground adjoining the chapel, but is barely sufficient, on account of the narrow space of ground, to accommodate the printing establishment, even on the scale on which it is at present conducted. As a small piece of contiguous land could be reasonably pur. chased, and is much needed, the Committee have consented that it should be bought.

Schools.

The number of schools had increased to 26, containing 1,454 scholars. Owing, however, to their adverse habits and light esteem

for education, but about 1,200 are usually present at the same time.

A female school has been recently commenced among the Jews in Bombay, which we have named the "Salem School," thinking it would meet the wishes of the Association of Ladies in Salem, as expressed in a letter from Mrs. Cornelius, better than any other school, which we could select.

Having been gratified by a kind letter from the Rev. Justin Edwards, informing us that several families in Andover, Mass. had raised $60 for the support of a Jewish school under our care, we selected the school at Rawadunda, and have named it the "Andover School." It contains from 25 to 30 Jewish children, which is a larger number than any other of our unappropriated schools contains. The whole number of scholars in the school, according to the teacher's list, is 84. The teacher was employed, for some time, as a superintendent of our schools.

We are not without hope of obtaining some assistance to our schooling department from the inhabitants of this place. In this hope we have printed the Report of our Schools, and the plan of an Association, which we send you with this. From these you will learn some additional particulars concerning them.

At our last meeting we recorded among our mercies and encouragements, the pleasing intelligence of associations formed in America, to invoke the blessings of God on our poor labors. It often cheers our hearts to reflect, that in our dear native land, so many of God's children remember us in fervent prayer at the throne of grace. The gracious Lord enable them to abound more and more in this greatest work of love, which they can perform. It is our resolution to endeavor to increase daily in love, labor, faith, prayer, hope, and submission. May God grant us grace so to do, and, in his own set time, cause his work to prosper in our hands.

At our last meeting, we also agreed to write to the London Tract Society, stating the greatness of the field around us for the operations of Tract Societies, thus opening the way for them to furnish us with some funds for this particular object, should they be inclined to it.

Manner of spending the Sabbath.

In October, a Sabbath school was commenced at our chapel. Several children, in addition to the charity children in the mission families in Bombay, attend. It is taught by Mr. Garrett, from about nine A. M. to twelve o'clock. In the same hours, Mr. Hall sits in the front portico of

the chapel, with books, and often has occasion to read to, or to address, a considerable number of people, who, as they are passing, stop a while to hear, or to receive books. The afternoon is taken up by the catechising of the schools, their reading the Scriptures, and the lectures, as we have before stated. In the evening, at half past seven, we attend worship in English. From 30 to 50 attend at present. Most of these are soldiers from one of the European regiments. Some of them we trust are truly pious, and all are very attentive.

We grieve at having to communicate to you tidings of the death of our fellow laborer, the Rev. D. Mitchell, who died a short time since, near his station, Bankote. This letter goes with his widow and or phans to England.

In concluding our letter, we beg to offer to yourself, to the Board, to all our dear Christian friends, our warmest thanks for all your and their kind remembrance of us, and for all the letters, pamphlets, books, &c. which are sent us. We remain, dear Sir, your very affectionate fellow servants in the vineyard of our Lord and Savior.

Extracts from the "Report of the Native Free-Schools in Bombay and Vicinity, under the direction of the American Missionaries."

In regard to this Report, it may be proper

to remark, that it was written in a guarded manner; and, in consideration of the tone of religious feeling among the Europeans at Bombay, the importance of schools as auxiliary to the evangelizing of the natives, was not brought so prominently into view, as, under other circumstances, it might have been.

In the schools are taught, in the Mahratta language only, reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, and some of the most simple parts of astronomy, and other scientific and general knowledge. It is, however, cause of deep regret, and a main barrier to their proficiency in these higher branches, that the children leave the schools, in compliance with custom and necessity, at so early a period,

Great pains have been taken, and with very encouraging success, to draw their attention to the art of reading, and to give it that importance in the scale of education which it obviously merits, but of which the natives themselves have no adequate conception. The Christian Scriptures are a principal class book in all our schools, and such other ethical compendiums as are commonly used in English schools.

We do not attempt to teach the English

language to any of the scholars, because we fully believe that, while it might prove advantageous to a few, it would prove a real injury to many; since the number of native youth, who, in shameful neglect of their own language, spend their time and money to acquire a smattering of English, in hope of obtaining situations in European employ, is probably four times as great as the number of those situations. The greater part therefore must, of necessity, incur the most vexatious and paralizing disappointments, and sustain inevitable and irretrievable loss. This evil, already extensive, would only be increased, we conceive, by a wider diffusion of the study of the English language.

Though the elements of divine revelation are taught in our schools in the most plain and simple manner, the children are not required to yield their assent to them; yet the insensible, unseen, and ultimate influence of those principles on their youthful minds, can hardly be doubtful.

As the demand for charity schools to educate the rising generation of so great a population as surrounds us, is so urgent and so extensive, and the means of meeting it so deficient, it has, from the beginning, been our unwearied study to know bow far we could possibly make the charities of the benevolent, entrusted to our care, go towards attaining the great object. yielding, as is too often the case, to fearful At first, being without experience, and but groundless apprehensions, we thought that, to ensure success to such a system of instruction as would be in perfect unison with our professional pursuit, it might be necessary to hold out greater pecuniary inducements. Accordingly, to our first teacher, who was a brahmiun of established reputation, we gave at least one third more than our present rate of allowances. But almost as soon as it was known to be our intention to establish schools, we had applications from other natives equally well qualified to teach, who tendered us their services, and even begged us to employ them, on terms not more advantage

ous to themselves than those which we have since established. Those terms are one rupee a month for five boys exclusive of rent for rooms, We allow the teachers also to receive from the scholars those tri

fling presents of rice, &c. which, from feelings of respect, are customarily given. As a motive to diligence in instructing the children in the art of reading, a branch of education so much neglected in their own schools, the teachers are liable to a reduction of their pay, if through remissness, they do not bring their scholars forward in reading, so that at least one half of them We have it in can read in easy lessons. contemplation also, and the experiment is