"The attention of the religious public has been of late intensely occupied with West India affairs. The whole amount requisite for rebuilding our Chapels in Jamaica is raised, and a considerable sum over. Government nobly granted about 12,000, and the Churches have so exerted themselves, that when the collections came in together with the amount raised by the Jubilee Cards (of which I inclose you a specimen), it was found that there would be two or three thousands over. The meeting at which this was announced was one of the most interesting I ever attended. Brethren Burchell and Knibb took leave of a large and deeply affected assembly; I hope they will be preserved in safety to the land they love, and that our hearts will be again cheered by hearing good news from the West Indies. We are all anxious to hear how the 1st of August passed over, but I believe there is not a possibility of hearing just yet, though I do not know exactly how long the packet is in coming. The general expectation seems to be that all would be quiet and peaceable, and if so what reason will there be for fresh thanksgivings to the God of all grace. Nothing can exceed I think the interest which has been excited by the persecutions in Jamaica, and never surely was there a more striking answer to prayer than we see in the result; often have I thought of those words, Before they call I will answer, and whilst they are yet speaking I will hear.'

"I have been almost afraid sometimes that in the midst of all, the Mission in the East would be almost forgotten, or at least not receive its due share of attention; but I hope now that will not be the case.

"I often think very deeply of the stupendous claims of India to the attention of the friends of Missions: what an amazing field you must have before you. May he who has so honoured your beloved brethren in the West, and has honoured you to labour in his cause in the East, pour out upon all the stations in India such a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. I have lately been reading over in my study the early Periodical Accounts, and the "Brief Narrative of the Baptist Mission in India," printed in 1819. I hope I can say, it has warmed and enlarged my heart. Oh that I was more of a Missionary at Poplar; I feel that I want more genuine devotedness of heart to Christ and his cause. Quicken thou me according to thy word' is a suitable prayer.

'My neighbour, Rev. Andrew Reed, and another of the independent brethren, are gone on a friendly visit to the American Churches. I have seen a letter from Brother Reed to his Church, written from Ohio; he seems to anticipate that much good will result. I rather think Dr. Cox, of Hackney, and Mr. Hoby will go soon as a deputation from the Baptists. It must be very pleasant to visit our brethren in distant lands, and see how they do. If you were but near home, how I should enjoy one hour's conversation, and how should I be pleased to have a sight of Dr. Carey. But alas ! I must be content to labour over my few things' at Poplar. Oh may I be so happy as to meet you all in a better world."

JAMAICA.

We much regret that our limits will not permit us to insert all the delightful intelligence which is supplied by the late periodicals, with regard to this most interesting field of Christian Missions, at the most interesting period in its history-the emancipation of the slaves on the 1st of August last. As the best substitute in our power, we present our readers with the following spirited observations from a late No. of the Friend of India, prefixed to copious extracts from the Baptist Missionary Herald for November.

"The intelligence chiefly refers to the occurrences of the eventful First of August; on which slavery became extinct, and every African in the British West Indies awoke a free man. It is communicated in the letters of our Missionary Brethren, written on the spur of the moment, and under the power of vivid emotions still alive and fresh. In such circumstances they might have been forgiven some transgression of the ordinary laws of moderation. But they have no forgiveness to ask. Their minds, as well as those of their people, appear to have been too solemnly devout to admit of any unseemly exultation. We admire the sober fervidness which breathes through their letters, and cannot help wondering more and more, that such men should have been the persons charged with exciting people to disorder and violence.

"The representation which these letters give of the Negroes themselves is still more important. It was natural that the members of Christian churches should concur with their ministers, in religiously observing a day of such moment to them, both as men and as Christians. But this serious disposition appears to have prevailed much more widely. Of rioting, drunkenness, and dancing, scarcely a trace was to be seen;

and even harmless merriment and exultation seem to have been generally abstained from. We can easily imagine the joy of the poor Negroes to have been too deep for utterance after that fashion. On the other hand, every place of worship, of all denominations, was crowded and overflowing: and how fit and worthy were the subjects of instruction, prayer, and praise which were there introduced! The obligations to order and industry derived from the appointment of God were dwelt upon, as surviving the artificial and iniquitous discipline of slavery. The bondage of sin was shewn to be more degrading and wretched than that of the person; and the liberty wherewith Christ makes his people free was exhibited as far more precious than the temporal freedom which had just been obtained. The people in their prayers and praises echoed back the sentiments of their teachers, and so belied the oft-repeated slander, that they were unfit for liberty. See the first use they make of it! As rational and devout subjects of Jehovah, the Father of all mercies, they hasten to acknowledge their unspeakable obligations to his grace, and to declare their free and willing submission to his authority.

"In the letters of our brethren will be found specimens of the thanksgivings and prayers of their poor people, in their own broken language, which cannot fail to touch the heart of every Christian. This broken language has itself an affecting power. It is so like the language of infancy, that it unavoidably gives the impression of guileless and affectionate simplicity. But the impression is defective. These broken words give utterance to the thoughts and emotions of full-grown men, which are as mature as the men to whom they belong. They indicate in those men the same loftiness of heart and mind they would have done, had they been fully spelt, and pronounced with all possible grace. They are truly called eloquent; for they breathe the highest and most generous sentiments of which the human soul is capable.

"When we think of these warm-hearted and devoted people, we are tempted to repine that our lot is not cast amongst them. Nowhere does the labour of a Christian minister meet with so full and interesting a return. Multitudes are converted to God; and the affectionate ardour with which they give themselves to his service, and co-operate therein with his servants, is inexpressibly delightful. The generosity of their character in the days of their slavery was eminently displayed by the formation of a fund, we believe, in every Church under the care of the Missionaries of the Baptist denomination, and very probably in other churches too, for the redemption of those members who were either subject to peculiar hardship as slaves, or whose freedom was particularly desirable for the service of the Church; and we have heard of the finest traits of character brought out in connection with these remarkable charities.

"There is every reason to expect, that foreign aid, in money at least, will soon be unnecessary for the propagation of the gospel in the West Indies themselves. The enjoyment of Christian privileges will undoubtedly be attended, as in all other countries, with the development of all those spiritual qualifications requisite for a Native ministry; and the unfettered progress of education will in the progress of time raise such a ministry to as high a standard of ability, and to as great efficiency, as now belong to their European pastors. We shall there have a new seat of true and influential religion; from which, as from those already existing, its influence will spread to the unenlightened parts of the globe. It is natural to suppose, that, when the West India Churches find their strength sufficiently grown for them to undertake foreign missions, they will first direct their thoughts to their father land. Af. rica's children's children will then return to her, with a recompense of light and salvation, amply repaying her for all her wrongs; and the visions of the bitterly stigmatized abolitionists of the slave-trade and slavery will at length be gloriously realized.

"We rejoice with our Missionary brethren, who, after their cruel sufferings, are now permitted to look forward with confidence to such a bright train of consequences to their faithful labours: and with all Christian affection we wish them, God speed! Very different are the circumstances of Missionaries in our India. Not only are the people here fast held by the innumerable bonds of heathen prejudice, but sunk in every sordid principle of worldly selfishness. Habitual untruth and covetousness characterize nearly every individual of the nation; and every convert to the gospel has to pass through a difficult regeneration from these hateful vices, in the course of which all the patience and affection of his teacher is frequently put to the severest trial. The contrast between such persons and the West India converts makes us cry, Oh that we had people with hearts! Some few indeed we have, and they are increasing; but still they are few. Yet a change may come before our calculations would have led us to anticipate it: and possibly the crowded plains of Hindusthán may before very long present a scene of glorious triumphs of the gospel, which will make them as desirable to others as a field of labour, as the West Indies now appear to us."

Meteorological Register, kept at the Surveyor General's Office, Calcutta, for the Month of March, 1835.
Minimum Temperature

observed at Sunrise.

Maximum Pressure
observed at 9h. 50m.

Observations made at Max.Temp.and Dryness, Minimum Pressure
Apparent Noon.

observed at 2h. 40m.

observed at 4h. Om.

Observations made at
Sunset.

Direction.
Obsd. Ht.

of Barom.

the Mercury.

Temp. of

Wind.

Of the Air.

Of an Evap.
Surface.

Direction.

Obsd. Ht.
of Barom.

Wind.

Temperature

of the Mercury.]

Of the Air.

Of an Evap.

Surface.

Wind.

Direction.

s. w.,950 76,3 83, 78,5 s. w.,946 78,8 86,5 81,4 s.
S. E.,990 77, 82,6 79,1 s. w.,922 79,286,7,81,7
E.bs.,004 78, 85,5 80,
EbN.,062 76,8 85, 78,2
w.,064 76,7 80,677,3
N.,084 82,7 85,678,2
w.,066 78,1 86, 80,

W.

N.

s.

E.,928

79,

84,8

S.

S.

80,7 s. E.,940 77,8 80,977,8 s. E.
S.,914 79,284,5 80,2 .920 78, 80,477,3 s. E.
S.,956 79,385,6 78,8 ,964 77,5 80, 76,2 s.
E.,002 78,785,5 80,5 s. E.,000 77, 80,977,8s. E.
w.,986 79,3 86,4 82,5 w. ,990 77,682,578,7 w.
N. 1,000 84, 89,1 79,7 N. w.,002 80,4 84,278, N.w.
w.,960 80,790,7 82,6 w. ,982 79,4 85,3 S0,2 N. E.

S.

N.

N.

29,922 65,461,861,3 w.,984 73,9 75,7 73,
,010 75, 77, 74,
,978 70,5 65,766, s. E.,036 76,281,779,5
S.,964 79,787, 78,7
30,030 71,5 67,367,7 N. E.,088 74,7 80,9 79,
E.bs.,014 78,486,781,
,032 71, 65, 64,8 s.bE.,094 75,277,275,
w.,994 78,7 86, 81,7
,048 72, 66,766,5 w.,10877,877,5 74,7
N.,016 84, 89,5 79,4
,048 72,2 68, 68,2 s. w.,086 76,3 78,8 75,
,988 80, 90,4 82,
29,960 72, 67,668, s. E.,036 76, 78,274,5 s. E.,022 78,8 86,581, s.,970 81, 91,7 82,7 s. E.,964 81,3 90,5 S2, S. E.,980 80, 84,279, s. E.
,082 71,9 67,567,5 N. bE,152 75,7 78,574, Nbw,138 78,581, 76,8 N.,062 82,5 87,5 80,7 N.,052 82,886,5 80,2 ,060 81,283,7 79,7
,096 71,3 65,865,4 N.bw,150 74,9 76,4 72,5 NbE., 132 75,7 79, 75, ,064 78,7 86,8 80,2 N. bE,052 79, 86, 80, N. ,060 78,283, 79,2 wb N
,084 72,7,69,569, N. W.,140 75,4 79,5 75,8 w.,13277,7 84,779, N.,062 79,7 88, 81,2 N bw,058 80, 88,5 81,4 N. w.,060 78,784, 80,6 N.W.
E.,116 79, 87, 81,7 N. E.,038 80,4 89,7 83, s. w.,014 80,889, 82,8 s b E,030 79,2 84,5 81,3s. W.
.100 73,5 70,771,1 N. E.,150 77,2 82, 78,5
N.,142 76,276,274,9 N. w.,126 76,6 76,774,7 N.,024 77, 78, 74,6 N. bε,006 76,677,4 74, N. E.,030 75,4 75,7 73,5 N. E.
,068 73,7 67,767,
,036 71,8 66,767,3 N. E.,140 74,8 76,4 73, NbE., 130 77,6 81,4 77,3 N. E.,042 79, 84,7 80,2 N. E.,016 79, 84,3 80,2 N. E.,034 77,880, 77,9 N. E.
,046 68,5 62,51,4 N. E.,092 70, 66,563,7 N. E.,084 73, 69, 69, S.,024 75,477,574, ,996 75,6 77, 74, S. .984 74,5 73,873, wbs.
,006 71,4 69, 70, N. E.,080 73,5 74, 72,4 s. E,048 74,8 75,8 74,5 s. E.,980 75,7 79, 77, s. w.,958 76,480, 77,8 N. w..966 75,276,4 75,3 N.W.
s.,990 78, 85,381,6 s. w.,964 78,486,5 82,
,008 73, 71, 72, E.
,066 75,4 78, 76,5
,068 72,7 69,259,6 E. ,124 75,375,4 74,4
29,976 73,8,71,772, s. E.,030 77,680,878,
,924 74,3 72, 72,4 s.bw.,976 78, 81,5 78,8
E.,952 80, 84,5 81, S. W.,936 81,5 88,784,6 s. w.,874 83,5 92,7 86,1 s. w.,858 84, 93, 86,7's. w.,850 83, 87,383,8
,900 76,4 72,7 72,5, s.
,984 75,7 70,070, N. w.,036 79, 82,475,7 N.W.,024 80,7 85,5 78, N.w.,948 83, 90,6 84, N. W.,924 83,489, 83, N.W.,934 82, 85, 80, N.W.
30,016 74, 69, 168,8 N.bw,070 78,8 80,874, N.W.,050 82,4 85,276,5 N. w.,964 85,4 88,879,3 N. W.,948 84,8 88, 79,2 N.W.
,008 70,8 66,264, s. w.,066 76,3 78,872,4 N.W.,034 79, 84, 76,5 N. w.,970 81,4 87,679, N.W.,952 81,7 86,7 78,2 N. w.,966 80,383, 76, N. w.
,952 81,6 88,179,9 w.,922 81,8 89,80,4 w.
,022 75,5 80,674,2 S. w.,004 80, 85,8 78,
940 80,5 85,478, w.bs
29,968 70,5 64,363,3 W.
w.,026 82,889, 80,2 w.,944 82,5 91,8 $1,3 ,938 83,1 92, 81,5 w.
,996 74,3 66,766, s. w.,044 79,683,277,
.946 81,886,879,4 w.
w.,100 77,8 84,478, s. w.,080 81,3 90,7 81,3 wb N,004 82,7 95, S3,2 s. w.,986 83,394, 84,5 w. 988 82,287,781,7 wbs.
30,046 71,767,567,
,054 74, 69, 68,2 s. w.,104 79,486,178,7 s. w.,084 82,291, 82,3 w.,022 84,294,786, N. w.,000 84,2 94,8 86,3 wb N .020 82, 8, 83, N.W.
8.,070 83, 92,584,
S.,094 80, 88,481,5
8.026 85, 95,8 87,7 8. E.,006 85,395, 87, 8.,020 82,2-6,5 82,5 s. B.
,042 75,8 73, 73,
,060 74, 70,2 69,7 8. E.,116 79,284,480, S. E.,098 81,4 88,5 83,6 s. w..034 83,291,685,2 8. E.,024 83,291,5 85,7 8. E.,032 82,: 57,584, sbw.
,114 (77,571,4.71, N. W.],17482,784, 180, N.,16286,391, 85,2 N bE,104 89,794,887,4 N. 1,084,89,794, 87,3 N. w.,090 86,889,785,

s.,052 77, 83,280,1
E.,100 78,5 83, 79,8 s.
,012 80, 86,8 81,4
S.,954 80,5 88,7 83,8 s. w.,896 82.2 91,7 85,2's. w.,872 82,892,3 84,5

S.

W.

W.

,976 78, 81,679, s. E.
,030 78,5 82,380,4 s. E.
S.,938 80,8 84, 80,5 S.
,866 81,285,581, S. E.

S.

THE

CALCUTTA CHRISTIAN OBSERVER.

June, 1835.

I.-Defence of Temperance Societies.

WHEN a writer for a periodical heads his essay, "Objections to Temperance Societies," he is secure in this, that the feelings of the mass of society will rally round him, and that his remarks will secure an attentive perusal. But he who would advocate the cause of Temperance Societies has to do it, assured that he drags the reluctant public mind to an ungrateful subject, and comparatively few will even have patience to hear his remarks. In advocating the cause, he has to consent to do it at the expense of seeming to stand in the way of the enjoyment of his friends; to dry up the sources of their social comforts; to be the breaker up of their convivial pastimes-the destroyer of their means of cherishing the social, generous affections. He knows that he must break in upon the cherished habits of many whom he loves, whose kind feelings he is solicitous to secure. To a sensitive mind, few things are more ungrateful.

Yet he has to count the cost, and do his duty at this expense, or consent to barter with his conscience, and the retributions of eternity, and look with heartless uneasiness upon the desolating stream of intemperance, which in its steady flow withers the property, the health, the reputation, and the domestic comfort of families, and sweeps men by many times ten thousand to where no pleasant drink is found, where no convivial party is ever gathered; and not only look with heartless pain upon the present desolating influence, but give his example to aid in rolling this deepening stream of pestilence down on those that come after him.

With these feelings, I offer a few remarks, partly in reply to a few objections stated by a correspondent in the April No. of the "CALCUTTA CHRISTIAN OBSERVER," and partly in reply to some other objections, which are commonly urged against Temperance Societies.

PF

Your correspondent seems to labor under a misapprehension of the object of the Temperance Society. Consequently, it is probable that if that mistake were removed, his objections, which were built upon it, would likewise disappear. He tells us that "he understands the Temperance Society to be instituted for two purposes: the first, to endeavour, by the dispersion of tracts, and the employment of other lawful means, to impress upon mankind generally, the baneful effects of drinking spirituous liquors, and the blessings of the opposite course: The second, to give to all men an opportunity of declaring their determination to abstain entirely from using the above-mentioned liquids, except for medical purposes."

Now the object of the society is to array such a force of moral sentiment against a vice which has prevailed beyond all parallel, as will sustain a man in ceasiny to minister to its progress; to combine the example and efforts of the sober part of the community, in restoring a diseased public taste, to a healthful tone. The Society aims to accomplish this by the circulation of tracts, and every other judicious means of inducing men to look at this vice in its true character.

Your correspondent approves the general object of the Society, but has various objections to the signing a pledge of per- .

sonal abstinence.

His first objection is, that "by this subscription men are in danger of being deceived as to the nature of other crimes, such as adultery, fornication, gambling, theatre-visiting, &c." He asks, "why not call for a public declaration against all these? would it sound worse to call upon men publicly to declare that they will not commit adultery and fornication, than to ask them to abstain from spirits?"

When these vices shall have spread over society to the same extent-when public sentiment shall have come to such a tone, that every man, even an officer in the church of Jesus Christ, if he expects a few friends to visit him, expects also to have to furnish them the conveniences for indulging these vices "in moderation," nay be thought mean and inhospitable to his friends, if he does not at every dinner or social party provide for them the means of giving zest to their social enjoyment, by “taking a little of adultery or fornication, or gambling in moderation," I trust that good men will not be ashamed to pledge themselves publicly to give their example, and use every other lawful means to check the growing evil, and induce every other man to regard it in its true character and tendency.

His second objection is, in substance, "that a member of a church, who is also a member of a Temperance Society, may, possibly, by drinking, though not to intoxication, fall under scandal, and be expelled from the Temperance Society, when he was