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Brahmin of Koonaghur, who was not only permitted, but paid to marry thirty-two wives, and who departed this life on the evening of the 5th instant. Information was immediately sent to his different wives, who were in general living at their fathers' houses (only two of his wives lived with him), four of whom determined on eating fire, as the natives call it. Two were living near, one at Calcutta, and the fourth at Bosborrah, above Hoogly: however, they were soon brought together, and the necessary permission having been obtained from the magistrate of the district (at least so the police people said who attended the suttee), they surrounded the funeral pile, which they enclosed with a paling of bamboos, so as to prevent the escape of any who might be so inclined after having once entered it. In less than one minute after the fire was lighted, the whole of them must have been suffocated, and in less than ten minutes their bodies burnt to a coal, so excessively hot was the fire. So common is the sight in this neighbourhood, that only a few hundred people collected together to see it, and nearly all of them women. It is said that twenty-two of his wives were living at his death, and it was expected that more of them would have joined the four."

To this statement, we add the following affecting incidents, narrated in a journal of another presidency, Bombay.

"The victim chosen for this cruel exhibition, was the widow of a Brahmin, who died in the South Concan'some days prior to this ceremony. I had placed my self directly opposite the entrance to the pile, and could distinctly see the unfortu nate victim struggling to escape, This did not pass unobserved by attending Be hole, who instantly began to knock down the canopy, which, containing nearly as much wood as the pile itself, would have effectually secured their victim in the fire, had it fallen on her. All this while, no one, excepting the officiating Brahmins interfered; but when the sufferer made her escape from the flames, and, on running toward the river, either fell or threw Wherself at the feet of Mr. T., that gentleman, assisted by Mr. S., immediately curried or rather dragged her into the water, in doing which the latter gentleman suffered by incautiously laying hold of her burning garments.

"An attempt was now made by the of "ficiating priests to carry back their victim to the blazing pile. This was resisted by

the gentlemen present; and one of their number was dispatched to acquaint the magistrate with her escape, and to learn his pleasure respecting her: but, before the messengers could return with an an swer from the civil authority, the Brahmins had persuaded the unfortunate woman once more to approach the pile; and, as she declared, on being questioned by those present, that it was her own wish to reascend it, they stood aloof, fearful of giving offence to the prejudices of the native population on the one hand, or to the civil authorities on the other. She declined, however, for some time, to ascend the pile; when three of the attending priests lifted her up in their arms, and threw her on the fire, which at this time was burning with great fury.

"From this dreadful situation, the miserable wretch instantly attempted, för the second time, to make her escape; but the merciless priests were at hand, to prevent this if possible, by throwing large pieces of wood at their victim, with the design of putting a speedy termination to her sufferings. The gentlemen present again interfered, when the victim speedily made her escape a second time from the fire, and ran directly into the river without any assistance. She had no sooner entered the river, than she was followed by three of the officiating Brahmins, who were told to desist from all further persuasion, as nothing further would be pers mitted until the arrival of the magistrate. Not doubting their compliance with this very reasonable request, they were allowed to remain with the woman in the water: but, no sooner had the Europeans turned their backs, anxiously looking out for the arrival of authority to put a stop to such cruel and diabolical proceedings, than the same three men who had thrown her on the pile, attempted to drown her, by forcibly throwing her down, and holding her under water. From this attempt she was speedily rescued by Mr. A. and Mr. M., who supported her in the water till the ar rival of the long-looked-for deliverance. The collector soon followed; and, to the great joy of a few of the by-standers, he immediately ordered the principal per formers in this tragical scene into confine. mént, and the chief actor or rather suf ferer, to be carried to the hospital.

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"I regret to add, that the woman died about noon on the following day, forsuken by all her relations as an outcast!"

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LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THEOLOGY.

A Third Course of Practical Sermons for Families; by the Rev. H. Marriott. 8vo. 10s. 6d.

Homilies for the Young; by the Rev. H. Marriott. 5s. 6d.

An Analysis of Paley's Evidences of Christianity, in the Way of Question and Answer; for the use of Students. 12mo. 4s. Short Prayers, adapted to the several Chapters of the New Testament; by the Author of the "Family Commentary." Parts 1, 2, and 3, from Matthew to Galatians, are already published.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Journal of a Residence in Chili, in 1822 and 1823; by Maria Graham. 4to. 21. 12s. 6d.

The Private Journal of Captain G. F. Lyon, of his Majesty's Ship Hecla, during the recent Voyage of Discovery under Captain Parry. 8vo. with plates. 16s.

Pedestrian Journey through Russia and Siberian Tartary; by Captain J. D. Cochrane, R. N. 8vo. 18s.

Tour in Asia Minor; by W. M. Leake, F.R.S. 8vo. 15s.

Tour through the Netherlands, Holland, Germany, &c.; by C. Tennant. 2 vols. 8vo, li. 5s.

A Memoir of Edmund Burke; by James
Prior, 8vo. 16s.
Scenes and Impressions in Egypt and
in Italy. 8vo. 12s.

Metrical Chronology; by the Rev. J. H. Howlett, M. A. Chaplain to his Majesty. Small 4to. 15s.

The Birds of Aristophanes; translated by the Rev. H. F. Cary, A. M.; with Notes. 8vo.

A Table of the Comparative Lengths of the Principal Rivers in the World; by J. Wyld. 2s. 6d.

The Suffolk Papers, from the Collection of the Marchioness of Londonderry. 2 vols. 8vo. 11. 10s.

Poetic Vigils; by B. Barton. Fcap. 8vo. An Essay on the Laws of Gravity and the Distances of the Planets; by Captain Forman, R. N. Royal 12mo. 4s.

An Elementary System of Physiology; by J. Bostock, M. D. 8vo. 15s.

The Poetic Remains of some of the Scottish Kings, now first collected; by G. Chalmers, F. R. S. &c. Post 8vo. 10s. 6d. Poems on Sacred Subjects; by R. Ryan. 12mo. 5s.

Satires by Joseph Hall, afterwards Bishop of Exeter and Norwich, with the Illustrations of Warton, and additional Notes by S. W. Singer. 12mo.

The Principles of Rhythm, both in Speech and Music, especially in the Mechanism of English Verse; by the Rev. Richard Roe, A. B. 4to. 15s.

Letters to Young Ladies on their Entrance into the World; by Mrs. Lanfear. Fcap. 8vo. 4s. 6d.

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RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

PRAYER-BOOK AND

SOCIETY.

HOMILY SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. The old church erected at Vepery in the year 1746 and granted by Government for the use of the Vepery branch of the mission of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, having been found quite insufficient for the accommodation of the rapidly increasing congregations and schools, a representation of the necessity of erecting a new church was made by the late Bishop of Calcutta to the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, who immediately voted the sum of 20007. toward the work; and the Government of Madras have been pleased to give very liberal aid by the grant of a further large sum, necessary to complete the building on a scale of sufficient magnitude. With these sums the Missionaries have been enabled to undertake the desired work; and on the 8th of last December, the

THE Report read at the last Annual Meeting of the Society states, that the Duke of Gloucester had become Patron of the Society, and the most Rev. the Archbishop of Tuam a Vice-Patron; that Lord Bexley had accepted the office of President; and that several other noble Lords had added their names to the list of the Society's Vice-Presidents. It was also stated, that the Society had issued during the past year 9,215 Prayer-books, Psalters, and Homilies, bound in volumes, and 104,705 Homilies, as Tracts; and several interesting accounts were given in testimony of their usefulness. The amount of money received (including a balance) was 1838., and the amount expended 1870., which included the sum of 213. expended on account of the Society's foreign objects.

foundation stone was laid. The children of the mission school, consisting of about, 100 boys and 70 girls of the English, and about 80 boys and 40 girls of the Tamil School, attended; the former sung the 100th Psalm, and the Tamil children the 272d hymn of Fabricius' Tamil hymnbook. The Archdeacon of Madras was present, and offered an appropriate prayer on the occasion.

NATIVE FEMALE EDUCATION IN

INDIA.

A meeting was held at the Old Church Room at Calcutta, on the 12th of last December, for the first public examination of the female children educated by the Church Missionary Society. The room, by ten o'clock, was filled with the principal inhabitants, amongst whom were the Bishop and the Lady of the Governor-general. The examination commenced on the arrival of lady Amherst, by the introduction of the first class, consisting of a number of girls, who read the New Testament with facility, and answered the questions put to them by Mrs. Wilson, and the Rev. Messrs. Wilson and Jetter, with perspicuity and discernment. One little girl, not exceeding four years of age, read the New Testament without the slightest hesitation, and with a clearness quite astonishing. The girls composing the second class were examined in one of the elementary books made use of by the Society, Another class was examined in Dr. Watts's catechism. After these exercises had been gone through, some of the girls seated themselves upon the ground, and began to sew. All their performances gained, as they deserved, high commendation. Specimens of their writing were then exhibited. A Bengal journal remarks: "When we consider the short period that this institution has been in active operation-a period not exceeding eighteen monthswe feel that every thing which could be said by us would be inadequate to the idea we entertain of the value of its services. Nearly 400 children are educated in twenty-two schools belonging to the Society. We know not whether we should say children, for amongst those present yesterday were several adult females. The difficulties the Society have had to contend with, it must be obvious, are of no common kind. These have been of a nature probably stronger than caste; and the principal of them appears to us to be the habit of female seclusion among the natives. It is true that the greater number of these children are Hindus, and that the

custom of seclusion is of Mohammedan origin: yet so well does it suit the Hindu character, that it now forms a strong feature of it. We were very much pleased with the presence of several respectable natives, who even assisted in the examination of the classes themselves; a plain proof of the decrease of prejudice among them. We believe there was not a person who attended this meeting, who did not feel rejoiced at the communication of instruction to the numerous interesting little objects around him; and we most fervently express our hope that these feelings will not be allowed to expire without some assistance of a more substantial nature being afforded to the funds of so valuable an institution."

CALCUTTA AUXILIARY CHURCH

MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

On the 1st of Dec. 1823, a meeting of the friends and supporters of the Church Missionary Society was held in the Old Church Room, Calcutta, for the purpose of forming an Auxiliary Church Missionary Society; the lord Bishop of Calcutta in the chair.

G. Udney, Esq. opened the business of the meeting by adverting to the operations of the Church Missionary Society at that residency. He stated, that in 1807, the society voted 2501. for the furtherance of missionary objects, and constituted him, together with the late Rev. David Brown and the Rev. Dr. Buchanan, a Corresponding Committee; that in 1809 the grant was increased to 5001.; and that the Society had gone on increasing their contributions as circumstances called for them, and that they now remit annually 30001. With the assistance thus afforded, and the contributions raised in India, the Corresponding Committee had established schools in various parts of the country, had supported missionaries, and had been enabled to extend their operations much beyond their expectation. quence of the increased importance of the labours of the Committee, and of the enlarged measures of the Society, which required additional patronage and support, the Corresponding Committee had, with the advice and concurrence of the lord Bishop, and agreeably also, as they conceived, to the wishes of the Parent Society, called the present meeting with a view to form an Auxiliary Society.

In conse

Various resolutions were then proposed and adopted.

The Bishop expressed the cordiality with which he accepted the office of pre

sident of the Society. He observed, that he had noticed the proceedings of the Church Missionary Society from its formation; and, though he had no connexion with the excellent men who established it, except a common feeling for the objects aimed at, he had, in common with many others, always admired the prudence, perseverance, and energy with which its operations had been conducted. He also congratulated the meeting on the success which had attended the operations of the Society in Africa, and, he would add, in India also, where extensive good is accomplishing by its means, in conjunction with other societies of a similar nature: he added, that he should be happy to render it all the assistance in his power.

The Society's affairs in the north of India have been placed under the charge of this Auxiliary Society, and in that relation to the Episcopate which gives the best promise of extensive and permanent usefulness.

CHURCH-BUILDING SOCIETY. The Report read at the last annual meeting of this Society states, that, during the year, 182 applications had been received for assistance, some of which are still under the consideration of the Committee; and that grants have been made in sixtytwo cases, amounting to 13,7551., and by the aid of that sum additional accommodation afforded to 17,630 persons. The number of free and unappropriated sittings will be 13,088. The whole number of applications made since the establishment of the Society is 556; 316 grants have been made; in thirty-six cases, in consequence of offers of increased accommodation, the original sums voted have been increased; and the total of grants amounts to 71,3951. At Beddington, Kingsbury, Cirencester, and Southend, increased accommodation was effected, and the grants rated by the Society were not claimed, the parties having found their own resources adequate to the work. The Society has lent its aid towards producing additional accommodations for fifty, forty, or thirty-five persons, where only that number was required; and contributed to provide church room for much greater numbers at Bath, Wrexham, Walsall, Coventry, and other places; and by the grants which have been made additional accommodation will be provided for 92,655 persons. Of this number, the free and unappropriated sittings amount to 69,295; but still there are thousands and tens of thousands for whom church accommodation remains yet to be provided; and the Society, to continue their work, must depend entirely on the public. The whole amount of the donations received, and which has been invested in the public funds, is

61,209. and that of annual subscriptions 3001.

A munificent subscription was made by the company, amounting to upwards of 2000.

INFANT SCHOOL SOCIETY. It gives us great satisfaction to state, that a Society has been formed for the purpose of promoting the extension of Infant Schools throughout the country. From what we have said on former occasions respecting these institutions, our readers will infer the high value which we attach to them; and we shall feel much pleasure in reporting their future, and, as we hope and anticipate, rapid progress. The meeting at which the Society was formed was most numerously and respectably attended, and the subscriptions have been already most liberal. The Marquis of Lansdowne took the chair on the occasion. The first object of the Society will be to establish in some central part of the metropolis an institution which, while it dispenses its benefits to the adjoining population, may also serve as a model for imitation, and as a seminary for training and qualifying masters and mistresses to form and superintend schools.

CHARITIES OF ENGLAND.

It appears from a statement made by the Commissioners of Charities to the Secretary of State, which has just been laid before the House of Commons, that the number and income of the charities they have investigated in the counties of Bedford. Berks, Cumberland, Derby, Devon, Essex, Gloucester, Hereford, Hertford, Kent, Lancaster, Middlesex (including London and Westminster), Northampton, Nottingham, Oxford, Rutland, Salop, Somerset, Southampton, Stafford, Surrey (including Southwark), Sussex, Westmorland, Worcester, York, and the city of Bristol, are as follows:Total number, including chartered companies and general charities, 10,736 Number of the above, the income of which exceeds not 21. Above 21. and not exceeding 51. Above 51. and not exceeding 101. Income from rents L.216,157 19 6

3,670

2,265 1,045

from rent charges - 23,048 8,3 from other sources - 83,503 0 1

Total income L.322,709 7 10 To the above, including the far greater part of England, remain to be added the particulars of a few counties not yet investigated. The information elicited and collected by the Commissioners has been highly valuable and important; and numerous abuses have been discovered and corrected by their exertions.

VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

FOREIGN.

FRANCE. The scheme for the reduction of the interest on the national deht has failed, being rejected by the peers after passing the chamber of deputies. The loss of the measure has been followed by the dismissal of the viscount de Chateaubriand from office.

PORTUGAL. The king of Portugal, who escaped on board an English ship of war during the revolutionary movements of his son, the infant, was shortly after enabled to return to his palace; and the usual order of government was restored. The king has dismissed his son from the command of the army, and sent him on his travels to France. His majesty has since is sued a proclamation, restoring the ancient Cortes of the three estates of the nation.

DOMESTIC.

We can only glance at a few of the many interesting questions which have engaged the attention of Parliament during the month.

Bills have been passed, originating in the Crown, to reverse the attainders of the earl of Marr, the earl of Kenmure, the earl of Strathallan and Perth, and lord baron Nairne, and to restore their living representatives to the honours forfeited by their forefa thers. To these acts of grace has been added the reversal of the attain der of the earl of Stafford; the injustice of whose sentence is familiar to every reader of history.

Mr. Hume has called the attention of Parliament to the impressment of seamen the only defence set up in favour of which by its advocates is, that it is a necessary evil; an occa sional violation of the rights of individuals, and of the constitution, for purposes of paramount policy. This is one of those questions which, when fairly sifted, will, we trust, ultimately be brought to that conclusion which Christianity, humanity, and civil liberty abke demand. It is not just to inflict upon a particular body of men a grievous and exclusive hardship for the alleged general welfare. If impressment is "Becessary," the fact only proves that the pay or the regulations of the navy are not such as to ensure, in time of war, a sufficient

number of volunteers: the fair way, therefore, is to raise these to the market price of the required service, and not to force individuals into our fleets by an act of unconstitutional violence, and often of extreme severity. Why, with our insular situation, our maritime habits, and our overgrown population, cannot our ships of war be manned by free enlistment, as well as those of the United States, where the wages of labour are so much higher than in this country?

The question of the recognition of the South-American Governments has again been brought before Parliament by Sir James Mackintosh. Government have not yet adopted the measure; but, from the tenour of their repeated declarations concurring with the strongly expressed wishes and manifest policy of the country, we trust it will not be much longer delayed. The message of the Vice-president of Columbia, which has just arrived in this country, materially strengthens the grounds on which the recognition appears desirable.

We grieve to state, that the condition of Ireland still remains so deplorable that the continuance of the Insurrection Act, in the disturbed dis tricts is considered necessary. Would that we could see a decided and concurrent effort among all parties to rendvate that unhappy island, which can never be effected by temporary expedients, severe or lenient, however necessary they may be on particular occasions! The real malady lies much deeper, and needs to be probed to the bottom. We are thankful, however, for the adoption even of partial mea sures of a right tendency, and parti cularly for the progress which the cause of education has of late made in that country. The discussions dur ing the last session will, we trust, have produced a powerful effect in this impurtant respect; and will also stir up the zeal of the ministers and members of the Established Church, the extension of whose religious and benevolent efforts is so greatly needed.

A debate of two days continuance on the case of the Missionary Smith has taken place in the House of Commons. A motion was made by Mr. Brougham, to express the serious alarm and deep sorrow with which the House con

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