Poetry.

SIR,

To the Editor of the Calcutta Christian Observer.

Should the following paraphrases from the Hindoostanee appear likely to interest your readers, perhaps you will give them a place in your valuable periodical.

THE HEART HEALED.

O! fancy one, some lonely pilgrim, cast
On a far island in the cheerless main,

Whose heart and memory sicken o'er the past,
Who looks for ever to the deep in vain ;

With hopes that cheat him, till he loves despair,--
Content, because he must, to perish there.

Such was I once-and such are all who feel
This earth a desert, and who seek in vain
Some cure, alas! they know not what, to heal,
E'en for an hour, that fixed corroding pain,
Which flies from sympathy, and scorns her art,-
That deep, deep malady, a broken-heart.

Hope fails around us, from within, above;
Affections wither; and we wander on,
With rankling hearts, that languish still to love
Those cherished once; but O! their power is gone—
This, this is anguish, aye, a depth of woe,

That souls who ne'er have loved can never know.

But more than all, with every pang will blend
The dread remembrance of unpardon'd sin,
The chilling thought that God is not our friend!
'Tis hopeless all, to look for Hope within
Where He is not,-where sin's destructive breath
Sheds nought around it but despair and death.

'Thou child of darkness! why that smile of pride?
The fruitless wish to mask the deep despair
That lurks within? from me thou canst not hide
The hopes that die, the soul that withers there;
Years, years of suffering were enough to tell
What is a breaking heart—I know it well.'

And who but HE, the Dying Lamb, alone
Could feel for me? for O! his tender heart,
In all its quick intensity, hath known
What suffering is; when every human art
Had failed to heal, one breath of love divine
From his dear lips, restored this heart of mine.

One touch of his, and lo, my heart was whole!
The gift of health. was in his gracious hand:
"Live! Live!" he cried, and my reviving soul
Broke forth in praise:-I felt it all expand
With holy sympathies unknown before,
And though I wept for sin, despaired no more.

Sweet time of love! the tide of passing years
Rolls harmless o'er its memory-O! I cling
To that dear hour, when hopeless sorrow's tears
First ceased to flow,-joy's safe and balmy spring!

When first on me a pardoning Saviour smiled,
And, with a look of pity, called me, "Child."

Alas for thee! unhappy child of sin—

Dead to its God, thy soul knows nought of this;
No gentle retrospect of joy within,

No glorious prospect of eternal bliss,
No ray of light to chase the dark despair
That broods o'er all-for Jesus dwells not there.

O! could I hear one sigh of pure desire,
One breath of prayer, one note of rapture swell
Fresh from thine heart, that like a broken lyre
Lies silent now,-a seraph's tongue might tell,
How all my soul with holy joy would hail
The welcome sound-but O! my own would fail.

None but thy God can tune each silent string
That slumbers there; can bid that heart of thine
Touched by his hand, with notes of gladness ring
With the sweet melody of love divine.
Come then to him, his quickening mercy prove;
Come seek with me, come share with all above
That gem of richest worth, a bleeding Saviour's love,

Missionary and Religious Entelligence.

CALCUTTA.

THE CALCUTTA DISTRICT CHARITABLE SOCIETY.

From the Report of this Society, just published, it appears that the Funds of the Central Committee are formed of a liberal Donation from the Government of Eight Hundred (800) Rupees per mensem, renewable annually upon application to such effect; and of the Subscriptions and Donations of benevolent individuals, who may be disposed to confide in the Society, and to further its interests.

The amount thus contributed in the past year was Sicca Rupees 23,727.

The Funds of the District Committees consist of the Church collections on Sundays, and at Christmas, and the occasional Donations of individuals, residents or friends. The Bank of Bengal are the Treasurers of the Central Committee.

Figured Statements of the Monthly Receipts and Disbursements of the Society are to be found at the close of the Report, with lists of all Pensioners deriving support from the Funds.

The total Receipts for the past year have been Sicca Rupees 50,649. 10. 1. and the total Disbursements, Sicca Rupees 45,655. 5. 9; and the Balance in favor of the Society on 1st December, 1832, was Sicca Rupees 14,750. 11. 1.

In the year 1831, the Receipts were Sicca Rupees 48,979. 0.0; and the Disbursements Sicca Rupees 41,342. 2. 8, exclusive of the receipts and disbursements in the Cathedral District for four months; and the Balance in hand on 1st December 1831, was Sicca Rupees 9757. 6.9.

One Donation in particular the society cannot refrain from especially acknowledging in the Report. The Masonic Lodge, Kilwinning in the East, having more funds at their disposal than were necessary for their immediate wants, transferred Five Hundred Rupees to the Central Comm't'ee, with a letter, to be found in the Appendix, breathing the true spirit of Christian Philanthropy.

CALCUTTA CHURCH MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the Calcutta Church Missionary Association was held in the rooms attached to the Mission Church, on Tuesday evening the 12th Feb. The business of the meeting commenced at half past seven o'clock, when the Rev. T. Dealtry was called to the chair; after which, a hymn was sung, and the Rev. Mr. Stevens on engaged in prayer.

Mr. Dealtry explained the objects of the Association, and then called on Mr. W. Byrn, the Secretary, to read the Report of its operations during the last year. The following is all that we consider necessary to publish of the Report.

The Committee, in adverting to the expectation generally raised at the annunciation of a report, would observe, that the limited influence of the Association does not afford grounds for the collection of many facts, or for very extended observations. Yet the Committee are sure, that their report will not prove altogether uninteresting, if it only make known that the means which have heretofore been employed are still used in inculcating moral and Christian instruction amongst the natives of Calcutta.

There are seven schools situated in various parts of Calcutta, in which about 400 boys receive instruction. The boys read the Acts of the Apostles, Gospels, Ellerton's Dialogues, and Bible Histories; and are taught the elements of Geography, Arithmetic, and Bengalee Grammar.

The effects produced by preaching the Gospel are to be seen in the eager desire manifested by some of the natives to be informed of the truths of Christianity, and in the conversion of numbers from the worship of dumb idols to the service of the only true God. On this latter point, it may be mentioned, that, during the last year, no less than 32 individuals, 21 of whom were adults, have been baptized at the Church mission Chapel, Mirzapore. At one period of time it was rare to hear of two or three conversions, but now, through the blessing of God, that number is almost annually increasing. "The balance against the Association amounts to Sa. Rs. 323-10-5, which was due to the late Firm of Alexander and Co. and which has since been paid to the Assignees. The accommodation which was afforded to the Association by the Bank of Hindoostan no longer exists; and to be enabled to carry on their work, they renew their entreaties for that pecuniary assistance of which the Association is so much in need. The Committee conclude their report with an earnest appeal to all who are desirous to promote the temporal and eternal welfare of the natives of India, and especially to those who are members of the Established Church of England, for that support to this institution,

which will enable them to go onward in their labours, and to become increasingly useful in diffusing the blessings of Christianity, and of a sound education, in this populous city, and its neighbourhood.'

The following are the resolutions passed at the meeting, the whole of which were carried unanimously.

1. That the report now read be adopted, and printed for the information of the Christian public.

2. That the operations of the past year afford an encouraging inducement to extend every aid and support towards the association in the prosecution of its labours, for the moral and spiritual welfare of the natives of Calcutta.

3. That the marked success which, under the blessing of God, has attended the preaching of the Gospel, as adverted to in the report, is a subject which cannot fail to be highly gratifying to every Christian heart, and to lead to an humble acknowledgment of the mercy of God, as shown in the conversion of sinners to the truth.

5. That the undermentioned Gentlemen be appointed the Committee for the ensuing year: viz.

Messsrs. W. BYRN,
W. BALSTON,

J. DONAR,

J. DUNSMURE,

N. GRANT,

Messrs. C.
J.

MURRAY,
RICHARDSON,

M. D'ROZARIO,
P.S. D'ROZARIO, (Sub-
Treasurer)
RYLAND, and

W.

J. THOMPSON.

5. That this meeting deems it necessary in all who are engaged in this work to be in constant prayer to God for crowning with his blessing all efforts that may be made for the evangelization of the heathen.

6. That the thanks of the meeting be given to the chairman for his kindness in taking the chair.

EXAMINATION OF THE MIRZAPORE SCHOOL.

On Friday 15th Feb., a public examination of the Native youths attached to the Mirzapore English School of the Church Missionary Society was held before the Bishop of Calcutta aud a number of Native and European gentlemen. After the classes were examined, the Bishop expressed his satisfaction at the progress of the pupils, and assured them of his kind and Christian wishes towards them-explaining to them and the natives around, his objects for having traversed a large ocean from England to India, and exhorting them to consider with humility the claims of Christianity as a revelation from above. He dwelt particularly upon the practical effects of Christianity upon the human heart, and warned his young hearers against pride-pride by which man fell out from a state of purity and holiness.-Enquirer.

CEYLON.

EXAMINATION OF THE STUDENTS AT COTTA.

The Annual Examination of the students in the Christian Institution at Cotta was lately held in the lecture room of the Institution, before the Right Honourable the Governor and Lady Wilmot Horton, and a large assembly of the ladies and gentlemen of Colombo.

The examination commenced at about a quarter before one o'clock, and continued, with an interruption for tiffin, till a little after five.

The following are the subjects in which the students were prepared to be examined: Theology, English Reading and Grammar, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Geography, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry; but the time allotted to the examination had expired before all the subjects had been brought forward, so that the last two were omitted.

In English, a passage selected by his Excellency from Goldsmith's History of England was read by the students, and various Historical and Grammatical questions were correctly answered.

In Latin, His Excellency selected for the students of the first class a chapter in the second book of Cæsar's Commentaries, which they got through very satisfactorily. They were afterwards put into a passage that happened to be of very difficult construction, and in which, consequently, they were less successful. The second class read in the Delectus. Many Grammatical questions were proposed to both classes, all which were readily and correctly answered. A passage in the Delectus, extracted from Xenophon, was selected for the Greek class, their reading and construing and parsing of which seemed to give great satisfaction.

The Hebrew class read and construed part of the 12th chapter of the book of Genesis..