nominally, the sovereignty of China, and show their vassalage, by sending to Peking, tribute of all the productions of their own country; yet the reason of their paying homage so regularly, is gain. The vessels sent on these expeditions are exempt from duty, and being very large, are consequently very profitable; but, the management of them is entrusted to Chinese, who take care to secure to themselves a good share of the gains. Within a few years several of these junks have been wrecked. On July 4th, we reached Pulo Condore, called by the Chinese Kwan-lun. This island is inhabited by Cochin-chinese fishermen. The low coast of Camboja presents nothing to attract attention; but the country seems well adapted for the cultivation of rice. When we passed this place, the Cochin-chinese squadron, fearful of a descent of the Siamese on Luknooi, were ready to repel any attack. Of eight junks loaded with betelnut this year at Luknooi, and destined to Teen-tsin, only four reached that harbour; and of these, one was wrecked on her return-voyage. At this time, though I was suffering much from fear and sickness, I found rich consolation in the firm belief, that the Gospel of God would be carried into China, whatever might be the result of the first attempts. The perusal of John's Gospel, which details the Saviour's transcendent love, was encouraging and consoling, though as yet I could not see that peculiar love extended to China; but God will send the word of eternal life to a nation hitherto unvisited by the life-giving influences of the Holy Ghost. In these meditations, I tasted the powers of the world to come, and lost myself in the adoration of that glorious Name, the only one given under heaven whereby we must be saved. Under such circumstances, it was easy to bear all the contempt that was heaped on me ; neither did the kindness of some individuals make me forget, that there were dishonest men around me, and that I owed my preservation solely to the divine protection. The coast of Tsiompa is picturesque, the country itself closely overgrown with jungle, and thinly inhabited by the aborigines, and by Cochin-chinese and Malays. I could gain very little information of this region; even the Chinese do not often trade thither; but it appears, that the natives are in the habit of sending their articles, to some of the neighbouring harbours visited by the Chinese. Here we saw large quantities of fish in every direction, and good supplies of them were readily caught. By chance, some very large ones were taken; and a person who had always much influence in the deliberations of the company advised, that such should be offered to the mother of heaven, Ma tsoo-po. The propriety of this measure I disputed strongly, and prevailed on the sailors not to enhance their guilt, by consecrating the creatures of God to idols. From Pulo Condore the wind was in our favour, and in five days we passed the coast of Cochin-china. The islands and promontories of this coast have a very romantic appearance; particularly Padaram, Varela, and San-ho. Many rivers and rivulets disembogue themselves along the coast; and the sea abounds with fish, which seem to be a principal article of food with the natives. Hundreds of boats are seen cruising in every direction. The Cochin-chinese are a very poor people, and their condition has been made more abject by the late revolution. Hence they are very economical in their diet, and sparing in their apparel. The king is well aware of his own poverty and that of his subjects, but is averse to opening a trade with Europeans, which might remedy this evil. The natives themselves are open and frank, and anxious to conciliate the favour of strangers. On the 10th of July, we saw Teen-fung, a high and rugged rock. The joy of the sailors was extreme, this being the first object of their native country which they espied. Teenfung is about three or four leagues from Hainan. This island is wholly surrounded by mountains, while the interior has many level districts, where rice and sugar are cultivated. There are aborigines, not unlike the inhabitants of Manilla, who live in the forests and mountains; but the principal inhabitants are the descendants of people, who, some centuries back, came from Fuhkeen; and who, though they have changed in their external appearance, still bear traces of their origin, preserved in their language. They are a most friendly people, always cheerful, always kind. In their habits they are industrions, clean, and very persevering. To a naturally inquisitive mind, they join love of truth, which, however, they are slow in accepting. The Roman catholic missionaries very early perceived the amiableness of this people, and were successful in their endeavours to convert them; and to this day, many of the people profess to be Christians, and seem anxious to prove themselves such. Hainan is, on the whole, a barren country; and, with the exception of timber, rice, and sugar (the latter of which is principally carried to the north of China), there are no articles of export. The inhabitants carry on some trade abroad: they visit Tonquin, Cochin-china, Siam, and also Singapore. On their voyages to Siam, they cut timber along the coasts of Tsiompa and Camboja; and when they arrive at Bankok buy an additional quantity, with which they build junks. In two months a junk is finished,-the sails, ropes, anchor, and all the other work, being done by their own hands. These janks are then loaded with cargoes, saleable at Canton or on their native island; and both junks and cargoes being sold, the profits are divided among the builders. Other junks, loaded with rice, and bones for manure, are usually despatched for Hainan. During my residence in Siam, I had an extensive intercourse with this people. They took a particular delight in perusing Christian books, and conversing on the precepts of the Gospel. And almost all of those, who came annually to Bankok, took away books, as valuable presents to their friends at home. Others spoke of the good effects produced by the books, and invited me to visit their country. Humbly trusting in the mercies of our God and Redeemer, that he will accomplish, in his own time, the good work which has been commenced, I would invite some of my brethren to make this island the sphere of their exertions, and to bring the joyful tidings of the Gospel to a people anxious to receive its precious contents. As soon as the first promontory of the Chinese continent was in sight, the captain was prompt and liberal in making sacrifices, and the sailors were not backward in feasting upon them. Great numbers of boats appeared in all directions, and made the scene very lively. We were becalmed in sight of the Lema islands, and suffered much from the intense heat. While there was not wind enough to ruffle the dazzling surface of the sea, we were driven on by the current to the place of our destination. Soakah*, in Chaou-chow-foo, the most eastern department of Canton province, bordering on Fuhkeen. This district is extensive, and closely peopled. The inhabitants occupy every portion of it; and must amount, at a moderate calculation, to three or four millions. Its principal ports, are Ting-hae (the chief emporium), Ampeh, Hae-eo, Kit-eo and Jeaoping. The people are, in general, mean, uncleanly, avaricious, but affable and fond of strangers. Necessity urges them to leave their native soil, and more than 5000 of them go, every year, to the various settlements of the Indian archipelago, to Cochin-china, and to Hainan, or gain their livelihood as sailors. Being neighbours to the inhabitants of Fuhkeen, the dialects of the two people are very similar, but in their manners there is a great difference. This dissimilarity in their customs, joined to the similarity of their pursuits, has given rise to considerable rivalry, which, frequently, results in open hostility. But the Fuhkeen men have gained the ascendency, and use all their influence to destroy the trade of their competitors. (To be continued.) EUROPE. RELIGIOUS STATISTICS OF GREAT BRITAIN. The number of Wesleyan Methodists in Great Britain is more than 1,000,000; of members in communion, 272,175; of ministers, 1,000. The number of Methodists, who have separated from the parent stock, is at least 210,000, of whom 70,000 are members. The Calvinistic Methodists in Wales have 300 congregations, and in the remainder of England, 150. The number in the three denominations of Dissenters in England, at various periods, is as follows: Presbyterians. Independents. Baptists. Total. 1812 1829 252 799 1,205 1,289 582 805 808 1,583 2,212 2,434 Of the Presbyterian congregations, 235 have become Unitarian. There are 486 Independent Churches in Wales, Ireland, and Scotland; and in the same countries, 500 Baptist Churches. In Great Britain, the three orthodox denominations of Dissenters-Presbyterians, Independents, and Baptists-have 3,000 places of worship, and a population of more than 1,000,000. The population is somewhat larger than that of the MethodIn Great Britain, there are 7,500 places of worship, for all classes of Dissenters, including Methodists; and 12,000 for the Established Church of England. ists. Contributions. Of the Benevolent Societies, supported entirely by Dissenters, the income is as follows: London Missionary, £41,590 12,720 50,071-103,381. * On page 56, in our last number, Soo-ae-kea has been given as the Mandarin pronunciation of this name. This, it appears, is incorrect; but the Chinese characters, and, consequently, the Mandarin pronunciation, of this and several other names in the following pages, we are unable to ascertain; Mr. G. having only inserted, in the MS. he left with us, the names of the places, according to their Fuhkeen pronunciation. Tinghae is Ching-hae-heen, and Jeaoping is Jeaou-ping-heen. Hae-eo, and Kit-eo, we believe to be Hae-yang-heen, and Kee-yang-heen. Soakah is a small port near the mouth of the Jaou-ping river. Of those supported entirely by the Established Church, the income is as follows: Church Missionary, £47,840 Jews' Society, 14,000 Christian Knowledge, 9,200 Gospel Propagation, 6,250-£77,250. Of the income of the principal remaining Societies, such as the British and Foreign Bible, &c. the Dissenters and Methodists contribute at least one-half.-Am. Qr. Regr. ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT IN SPAIN. The Spanish Church rejoices in 58 archbishops, 684 bishops, 11, 400 abbots, 936 chapters, 127,000 parishes, 7,000 hospitals, 23,000 fraternities, 45,000 monasteries, 135,000 convents, 312,000 secular priests, 200,000 inferior clergy, 400,000 monks and nuns. UNITED STATES. AMERICAN EPISCOPAL CHURCH. At a meeting of the clerical and lay deputies, who organized the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, and adopted its " General Ecclesiastical Constitution," the Rev. Mr. Provoost was Chairman of the Committee that drafted and reported that document, which was wisely modelled after the Federal Constitution of the new Republic. In the early general councils of the Church he was a prominent member; was elected Bishop by the clergy and laity of New-York, in 1786; was soon after honoured with the degree of D. D. by the College of Philadelphia; and when the Archbishops and Bishops of England consented to confer the Episcopal character on such persons as might be recommended by the Church in the United States, Dr. White, bishop elect of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Provoost, bishop elect of New-York, repaired to England, and were consecrated in the chapel of the Archiepiscopal palace at Lambeth, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, and the Bishop of Peterborough, on Sunday, February 4th, 1787. The new prelates soon set sail from England; and after a very tedious and boisterous passage, during which Dr. Provoost was so ill, that it was feared he would not live,' they reached New-York, April 8th, 1787, on Easter Sunday. It was indeed a high festival to the Church in the United States. An AMERICAN EPISCOPATE was secured at last! Two native citizens were duly consecrated by the Archbishops and Bishops of England, successors of the Apostles of the Lord. The Episcopal Church of America is therefore now completely organized, with all proper officers to continue her existence: and, with a constitution, like that of the present Episcopal Church in Scotland, formed upon the model of the primitive Church, antecedent to the time when the civil powers undertook to patronize it, being unconnected with any civil establishment. Since the time when she was thus regularly constituted, and became complete in her orders, as well as independent in her government, this Church has enjoyed an uninterrupted course of prosperity-has been gradually "lengthening her cords and strengthening her stakes"--while, at the same time, there has been an increasing degree of piety and zeal among her members. She is found in all parts of the country. She can now boast of a bench of eleven bishops, all of them respectable men, and some of them of distinguished piety and learning; together with a large body of clergymen, and congregations, which are annually and steadily increasing. Their bishops are chosen by a majority of the officiating presbyters, in the respective dioceses, of whom there must be at least six before they can proceed to elect a bishop; but they have neither patronage, cathedrals, nor palaces; so that like St. Paul they chiefly dwell in their own hired houses." Nor have they any revenues attached to the Episcopacy. It has, however, been found that the bishops, by being obliged to take charge of a parish for their support, are obstructed in that oversight which they ought to take of all the churches; and therefore many of the States are endeavouring, by donations and annual collections in the Churches, to raise a " Bishop's Fund;" but no State is obliged to do so by any law to that effect. All the presbyters are left to themselves with regard to where they may settle; or it much depends on their popular talents; for their appointment does not rest with the bishop, who can neither place nor replace a minister of himself, but entirely depends on the free choice of the people. No individual can have the gift or presentation of a parish; nor can any bishop, or convention of bishops, place over a church a pastor, without the consent of the vestry or the congregation, according to the charter; for some churches choose their minister by the vestry, who are annual church officers, as in England, &c.; and others by ballot, by the whole congregation, as was uniformly the practice in America before the Revolution.-Calcutta Christian Intelligencer. JAN. DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES. [Where the place is not mentioned, Calcutta is to be understood.] MARRIAGES. 22. Lient. T. V. Lysaght, H. C. European Regiment, to Miss O'Halloran, daughter of Brigadier General O'Halloran, C. B. commanding the Dinapore Division of the Army. 25. Mr. J. C. Thompson to Miss D. A. West. 28. Dr. Bermond, of Chandernagore, to Miss Eliza Rowson. 31. R. Walker, Esq. Civil Service, to Miss J. M. Young. FEB. 4. Elliot Macnaghten, Esq. to Isabella, only daughter of the late John Law, Esq. Bengal Medical Service. 9. Mr. Thomas De Souza, to Miss Mary Gomes. At Dinapore, James M. Mackie, Esq. to Mrs. Anna Matilda Rotton, youngest daughter of Capt. T. Edwards, of the same place. 12. William Stevenson, Esq. Assistant Surgeon, 33rd B. N. I. to Margaret Mary, eldest daughter of Capt. R. Stack, H. M. 45th Foot. 13. Mr. William Howard, to Isabella, second daughter of Mr. André Arson. 18. At Seebpore, James Lothian Wilkie, Esq. to Miss Anne Robert. 19. Captain G. R. Carmac, of H. M. 3rd Regt. Buffs, to Henrietta, second daughter of Major J. Maling, Presidency Pay-master. Captain G. Jellicoe, of the Resolution, to Miss Sarah Rivers Brooke. BIRTHS. JAN. 9. At Kurnaul, the lady of Lieut. Chester, of a son. 11. At Hissar, the lady of Civil Surgeon Mac Anally, of a daughter. 15. At Akyab, the lady of Captain Dickenson, of a daughter. 18. At Mymunsing, the lady of R. Walker, Esq. Civil Service, of a daughter. 20. At Poosah, in Tirhoot, the lady of Capt. Gwatkin, of a daughter. The lady of S. Davis, Esq. Civil Assistant Surgeon, Patna, of a daughter. 23. At Tirhoot, the wife of Mr. W. Kennedy, of a daughter. 25. The lady of Dr. J. R. Vos, of a daughter. 26. Mrs. A. L. Davis, of a daughter. 27. At Chinsurah, the lady of Lieut. C. Carter, H. M. 16th Regt. of a daughter. X 28. Mrs. A Fleming, of a son. At Gurrowarrah, the lady of the late Dr. J. A. D. Watson, of a daughter. 29. Mrs. George S. F. Ross, of a son. 31. - FEB. At Barrackpore, the lady of Lieut. K. T. Sandeman, 33rd N. I. of a son. At Bhaugulpore, the lady of F. O. Wells, Esq. Civil Service, of a son. 9. Mrs. B. MacMahon, of a daughter. 11. At Chinsurah, the lady of Brevet Captain Bell, H. M. 16th Regt. of a daughter. 14. The lady of Capt. Wintour, of a daughter. 16. The lady of Mr. R. Wood, of a son. 16. At Meerut, the lady of J. R. Hutchinson, Esq. of the Civil Service, of a son. 17. Mrs. C. C. Burkeley, of a son. 18. The lady of Mr. J. Wood, of a daughter. The wife of Mr. R. Aubrey, of a son. At Kidderpore, Mrs. M. Earls, of a daughter. 23. The lady of James Graves, Esq. of a son. DEATHS. JAN. 22. Near Penang, on board the Steamer Enterprize, Sir W. O. Russel, Knt. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Bengal. 33. Mr. A. Thomas, aged 32 years. 26. Miss C. Smith, aged 18 years. Miss H. Artillery, aged 28 years. 27. Mast. C. Gilchrist, aged 16 years. Mast. E. W. Gordon, aged 16 years. 29. Theodore, the son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Z. Shircore, aged 11 months. At Serampore, Mrs. Draper, relict of the late James Draper, Esq. aged 53 years. 3. Miss Elizabeth Dorcas Fowlee, aged 13 years, 3 months, and 13 days. At the General Hospital, Mr. H. Gordon, late Hospital Assistant, aged 19 years. 9. Mr. George Potter, Head Assistant H. C. B. Garden, aged 38 years. Master R. Smith, aged 7 years, 8 months, and 9 days. The infant daughter of Mr. J. J. Marques, aged 6 months. 10. At Howrah, Captain C. H. Bean, Assistant Salt Agent, Sulkea, aged 48 years. 12. Miss Ann Branigan, aged 22 years. Mr. John Aiken, aged 23 years. 13. Mrs. E. Hayer, wife of Mr. F. Hayer, Head Cutler to the H. C., aged 18 years. 16. In Camp, at Dudka, of Jungle Fever, Cadet William Stiles, aged 18 years. 17. Ann Priscilla, the daughter of Mr. John Pereira, aged 5 years, 7 months. 20. George Chisholm, Esq. aged 78 years, 11 months and 27 days. 21. By a fall, David, the second son of David Ross, Esq. aged 3 years, and 4 months. Mrs. Ann Morris, aged 33 years. 22. Mrs. F. J. Bowers, aged 18 years, 10 months, and 19 days. 23. At Mrs. R. Reichardt's Seminary, Miss Ellen Shean, aged 17 years, and 9 months. JAN. Shipping Entelligence. ARRIVALS. 29. Isabella Robertson, (bark) Hudson, from China 22nd Dec. and Singapore 4th Jan. Passengers from China :-Miss Philip, M. Pereira, Esq. A. Robertson, Esq. Sr. Monteiro, Mr. Albrigo, Country Service. From Singapore, Capt. Christie, H. M. Buffs, A. C. Davidson, Esq. J. McClure, Esq. FEB. 4. Nabob, (Amr. Brig) B. Moore, from New-York, (date not mentioned.) Enterprize, (H. C. Steamer) West, from Penang 26th January. Passengers :-Lady Russel, Mrs. Murchison and 2 children, Hon. K. Murchison, G. Scott, Esq. 5. Competitor, (bark) A. Thompson, from Moulmein 20th January. Passengers:-Mrs. Thompson, and child, Lieut. Collins, 25th B. N. I. Captain R. Jump, Country Service. |