dren, Portuguese and Chinese," and that the "number soon increas ed to about one hundred, (including an adult class,) made up of four nations, Portuguese, Klings (or Kalings), Malays, and Chinese." Many of the scholars were very young and ignorant, and some of them of a wild, untoward spirit. "The school was divided into eight classes, consisting of boys all on a par with respect to their English, each having to begin the alphabet; the head-master was consequently destitute of those useful little subalterns (monitors) to be found in every school on the British system in England. However, the want of these has been partly compensated by two out of three native teachers qualifying themselves by diligently picking up the English, and getting ahead of the boys, so as to become useful monitors to their own boys at their English lessons. This they have done most willingly without the least solicitation, prompted apparently by an earnest desire to make themselves acquainted with our language, although neither is young, and one of them, the Portuguese teacher, is advanced to gray hairs." Mr. Tomlin's plan, it should be here remarked, includes a large central English school with others subordinate, corresponding to the variety of nations congregated. For the central school a building is in progress, and those now in use need repairs. In stating the aggregate amount of expenditure likely to be incurred, Mr. T. thinks they shall "not be far wrong in fixing the minimum at 900 dollars. Towards this sum, contributions have been made, principally by friends in Malacca, to the amount of $400. Monthly subscriptions to the amount of ten dollars have also been obtained; but as this sum will be quite inadequate to pay the teachers' salaries, &c., we trust other friends will favor us with their names as monthly subscribers. All persons contributing one or two dollars, will have the privilege of sending their children to be instructed free of any further charge, and of recommending as many native children as they please for admission to the institution. As the school is to be a Christian seminary, that knowledge which maketh wise unto salvation will be sedulously inculcated. It will be the teacher's principal and constant aim to teach all the boys to read and understand the Old and New Testaments. Other branches of human science, such as writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, astronomy, and history, will come in their place and order.

2.

India-We have received the Calcutta Christian Observer down to June, the Oriental Christian Spectator, and the Evangelist and Missionary Reporter to May; all of them abounding with interesting intelligence. It is difficult not to feel, while perusing these periodicals, that a mighty spirit is abroad on the plains of Hindostan. and that the old foundations of idolatry are breaking up. It seems to us, however, that the number of missionary laborers-preachers and teachers, and distributers of Bibles and tracts-is a thousand times too small.

3. The Karens of Burmah a remnant of the ten tribes of Israel. The Calcutta Christian Observer for May, 1834, contains a communication from the Rev. Francis Mason, in which the writer advances

the opinion that a part of the lost ten tribes of Israel are found in the Karens of Burmah and Siam. This opinion he supports by the facts that they have a Jewish look, that they generally pluck out their beard while the people around them do not, and that their dress is decidedly that of the ancient Hebrews. The evidence, however, on which he thinks their identity with the ancient Israelites must rest, is found in their religion. They worship the eternal God, Jehovah; they have traditions of Old Testament Scripture facts, as the formation of the woman and the fall of man, &c. ; they possess the morality of the Scriptures; they are wanderers, and consider themselves cursed by God for their disobedience, but were anciently his most favored people, as they believe they are destined to be again; they have been preserved from idolatry, though residing among idolatrous nations and subject to persecution; they are expecting to be restored to a glorious city; they are expecting a king or Savior who will lead them to a high degree of prosperity; and finally, their readiness to receive the gospel is unprecedented in modern times.'

4. Dispute and controversy.-The following paper has been received, addressed to the Editor:-"Sir, in your No. for May, you give with marked approbation the opinions of a missionary concerning the duties devolving upon himself, and his mode of performing them. And he is given as an example. He says, 'I avoid dispute and controversy, and preach repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, as the only hope of salvation. By this, both he and you mean to condemn dispute and controversy. There may be various reasons for this resolution in the mind of an individual. He may be a very poor reasoner, and therefore it is better to avoid controversy. He may love his own ease, and let the world wag as it likes; therefore he will never contend with it. But, if we wish to form our opinions of missionary duty from the Bible, and the experience of all ages, there can be no sentiment less supported than that it is the duty of missionaries generally to "avoid dispute and controversy." Did patriarchs or prophets, or the Savior or his apostles, or the reformers of any age, find it practicable (though they might be the meekest men upon earth,) to avoid dispute and controversy?

"The Scriptures, especially the gospels and the epistles, are replete with disputation and controversy. But not to multiply witnesses in a case so plain, take the Acts of the Apostles, the memoirs of the first missionaries, men inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit, whose conduct is an example to all the churches, throughout all succeeding ages. And they too were the most successful missionaries. At Ephesus, did not Paul go into the synagogue," and speak boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God," and after that continued "disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus?" Although he had been shamefully treated at Philippi, was he not at Thessalonica, "bold in his God to speak unto the people the gospel of God, with much contention?" Did Luther and his compeers effect the glorious Reformation by avoiding disputation? In my judgment an able and zealous

disputant, who can distinguish trifles from essentials, and so reason as to convince the gainsayers, is just such a person as every mission should possess. A man like Stephen, who "when the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with him, they were not able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which he spake." However, Paul's disputing subjected him to mockery and insult; and therefore the missionary who wishes to get along in peace and comfort, may avoid disputes and controversy. But the resolution of a missionary never to dispute, is about as wise as that of a soldier never to fight.

"Your's truly,

Note. If others understood our correspondent as meaning "to condemn dispute and controversy " when explained in the words of St. Paul, "disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God," and "disputing daily," in the school of Tyrannus, they mistook his meaning; at least we did not so understand him: dialegomenos means discoursing, preaching, reasoning, arguing; as in the following examples; 'and as Paul was long preaching; ' and as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, &c.;' 'he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath-day;' 'preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow. Our correspondent did not, we think, mean to condemn conduct like this, for then he would not have added, "I preach repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ as the only hope of salvation." “I avoid dispute and controversy" taken alone, might mean all that contends for; but the writer was speaking of "going unadvisedly into their temples, and of crowding himself on the notice of the people when they were displeased with his company ;" and he seems to have had in mind, perverse disputings' and 'strifes of words whereof cometh envy and railings,' and those foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, which Paul commanded Titus to avoid. But however poor our reasoning may be, we fear we are giving too much proof that we are not wholly averse to 'disputing;' the truth is, we agree with- in his argument for contending boldly for the truth. The resolution of a man, however, always to dispute, would be as wise as that of the soldier to attack and knock down every one he meets.

เ

5. Remarks on translating the Scriptures. From a correspondent."Mr. Editor,-In the Bombay Auxiliary Bible Society's fifteenth Report, for 1833, pages 16 and 17, there are a few remarks on the choice of native words for Scripture translations, which I should like to see transferred to the pages of the Repository for the guidance and encouragement of Chinese translators. For there are some persons who magnify difficulties to such a degree, as to insinuate the idea that whatever is imperfect is useless;—a doctrine by the way, which puts a complete extinguisher on all human efforts whatever, excepting indeed the efforts of those who belong to the infallibles. The remarks are these :— "In the translation department, it is evident that all new translations (however great the talents, care, and caution of the translator) may be liable to many imperfections. On this account, persons of sound judgment have been of opinion, that the circulation of our earliest tsanslations would be attended with harm rather than benefit, from the mistakes in the choice of words which they contain. But your Committee can not but think, that supposing the premises to be quite correct, the conclusion by no means follows, that the circulation of

་

the old trauslation, even with all its imperfections, will be attended with no benefit. On the contrary, the facts related in the course of the present Report, and in all former ones, afford most pleasing and encouraging instances of the benefit that has actually resulted from its circulation. With respect to the choice of native words for our translations, it must necessarily happen, that in teaching a totally new science in any country, such as the Christian theology in a heathen Jand, the terms used often stand in the relation of technical terms; and therefore must be as it were coined for the purpose. In this difficulty the only thing that can be done, is to use the greatest judgment and caution in selecting such words, or modifications of words, as in the native language come nearest to the new idea intended to be conveyed. 'After all, however, it is to be observed, that the choice of these words can not ultimately turn out of that very great importance which might at first sight appear. For, after all that the translator can do, the meaning of these new words, or which is the same thing, old words in a new sense, must be understood by the native, from the context rather than the text. For if an utterly strange word, or even a known, but ill-chosen word, occurs again and again, always in the same connection, and always with the same meaning, it is surprising how soon the human mind will as it were, lend itself to the meaning intended, so as not to remain long under any serious misunderstanding, except such as is willful. On this subject, above all others, it may be said, where there is the will there is a way; where there is an honest desire to understand, the mind will not long remain under any material error. But no words, however well chosen, can obviate willfulness; and in the meantime, lesser mistakes and misapprehensions must be expected, till time has established conventional terms suited to the Christian theology.'

ART. VIII. Journal of Occurrences: death by opium, and opium brokers: inundation; new chancellor; new British authorities in China; fire at Peking; Tibetan envoy ; inundation in Keängsov; foreigers at Yarkand.

JULY 2d. Death by opium. Two young men, Asoo and Achang, the first 25 and the second 24 years of age, put an end to their earthly existence by taking opium. Aid was sought from the gentlemen at the Dispensary, but it was too late; the poison had taken so deep effect as to forbid the application of the stomach pump or any other means for their restoration.

Tuesday, 8th. Opium brokers. The Chinese laws against the use of opium, and against the cultivation of the poppy and all traffic in the drug, it is well known, are most severe aud explicit. It is equally well known also that many of the dealers in the article carry on their transactions with almost as much publicity as if no prohibitions existed. This is effected by the payment of certain sums to those officers who ought to carry into strict execution the imperial laws; occasionally, however, there is a difficuly in determining the amount that shall be paid. Such a difficulty lately occurred between his excellency, the governor of Canton, and

two of the principal brokers Yaoukew (Yukow) and Gowkwan (Owfoon). More money was demanded than there was a willingness to pay; accordingly the check on the law was taken off, and a detachment of soldiers, two hundred strong, made a descent on the houses of the abovenamed individuals. They, fortunately for themselves, had absconded; but their families with all their effects were carried off. Three of the inmates of one of the houses, it is reported, were drowned in attempting to escape in a boat on the river.

Tuesday, 15th. Inundation. The effects of the late inundation have proved far less calamitous than was anticipated. Though the water rose eighteen inches higher than it did last year, the dainage both to property and to life has been far less than on that occasion. The injury to the fields has not been very great, and the prospect of plentiful harvests is fair. In the western suburbs of this city, a great many houses have fallen, and hundreds of poor people have been driven pennyless into the streets. Some small donations have been made to furnish coffins for those which perished, and food for those who survive.

Monday, 21st. New literary chancellor. Wang Chih, the new literary chancellor, arrived at the provincial city on the 10th inst., and received the seals of his office on the 18th. Keu, who has held the office since the death of Le, set off for Peking yesterday.

Tuesday, 29th. New British Authorities in China. From the Canton Register extraordinary, of the 26th," published by authority," we make the following extract containing His Majesty's commission to the new authorities:

WILLIAM R.

WILLIAM the FOURTH, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King, Defender of the faith, King of Hanover, &c., to our right trusty and well-beloved William John, LORD NAPIER, and to our trusty and well-beloved William Henry Chicheley Plowden and John Francis Davis, Esquires, GREETING: WHEREAS by a certain act of Parliament made and passed in the third and fourth year of our Reign, intituled an act to regulate the trade to China and India," it is amongst other things enacted that it shall and may be lawful for us by any commission or commissions, warrant or warrants, under our Royal Sign Manual, to appoint not exceeding three of our subjects to be superintendents of the trade of our subjects to and from the said Dominions for the purpose of protecting and promoting such trade; and by any such commission or warrant, as aforesaid, to settle such gradations and subordination among the said superintendents, (one of whom shall be styled the chief superintendent,) and to appoint such officers to assist them in the execution of ttheir duties, and to grant salaries to such superintendents and officers as We shall, from time to time, deem expedient; now We, reposing especial confidence in the loyalty, integrity, and skill of you, the said William John Lord Napig, William Henry Chicheley Plowden, and John Francis Davis, do by these presents, in pursuance and exercise of the authority in Us vested by the said act of Parliament, appoint you, the said William John Lord Napier, William Henry Chicheley Plowden, and John Francis Davis to be superintendents of the trade of our subjects, to and from the dominions of the emperor of China, for the purpose of protecting and promoting such trade. And we do hereby constitute and appoint you the said William John, Lord Napier, to be the chief superintendent, and you the said William Henry Chicheley Plowden to be the second superintendent, and you the said John Francis Davis to be the third superintendent for the purposes as aforesaid.

The commission is dated at Brighton, December 10th, 1833.-His lordship and suite, and Lady Napier and family, landed at Macao on the 15th instant. In consequence of the absence of Mr. Plowden from China, the office of seeond superintendent devolves on Mr. Davis, and that of the third has been accepted by Sir George Best Robinson, bart. J. H. Astell, esquire, is secretary to the superintendents; the Rev. Dr. Morrison, Chinese secretary and interpreter; captain Charles Elliot, R. N., master attendant; and Mr. T. R. College is surgeon, and Mr. Anderson is assistant surgeon. The Rev. G. H. Vachell is on his way from England to assume the duties of chaplain to the establishment. The office of private secretary to the right honorable the chief superintendent, is filled by Alexander R. Johnston esquire. His lordship, the second and third