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sound. I could easily find employment for

fifty chaplains.

I confirmed yesterday thirteen young persons prepared for the solemn rite by Mr. Peet, who has most kindly visited Quilon from time to time; and been a minister to this little flock without a shepherd, as far as his other arduous duties would permit. In my sermon I endeavoured to explain the history and intent of confirmation, and the authority on which it rests as an Apostolic institution; and Mr. Peet followed up the subject in a most energetic discourse in the evening. To day being the festival of St. Thomas, I consecrated the Church which I named after that saint; assisted by my missionary chaplain Mr. Jones, and by the reverend Messrs. Peet, Chapman, and Hawksworth. Although not very well, I felt it my duty to preach on this occasion, and my sermon appeared to be listened to with interest. The consecration of a Church in India, the setting of it apart for ever to the worship of God, after the religion of our fathers and our home, is a very touching ceremony, and I think that all present felt it to be so.

December 22.

I have nothing further to record of this pretty cantonment. The chaplain whom I contemplate placing here will find some difficulties peculiar to the station, but at the same time very much to encourage him. In fact I am persuaded, that the Church has only to show herself in this country what she really is, to be adhered to by far the greater number of the English and Indo-British inhabitants, and to be honoured by all. Whenever a clergyman does his duty conscientiously and charitably, he invariably gains a commanding influence. I have not the slightest desire that the Church of England in India, should interfere with the mission of others who are come hither out of love to Christ to assist us, however uninvited, to teach his Gospel to the heathen; but she is bound faithfully to fulfil her own, which is for her clergy so to preach Christ crucified, and so to live after the example which He and his Apostles have set before us, and in obedience to the commission which He has expressly given to us, as to silence all reason

able objections against either her doctrine or her discipline. Should Providence continue to us the possession of this wonderful empire, I have not a doubt that the Church system may be fully developed and carried out here; and it is the prayer and the hope of the Indian Bishops and clergy, that the parochial system of England may be brought home to every congregation of our communion; and that they may eventually possess each their duly ordained native parish minister, and their duly consecrated native parish Church.

The school here appears to be well conducted; but of course in this as in all things, Quilon feels the chilling influence of having been so long without a resident minister. An occasional visit from the most devoted and active clergyman, can have no permanent effect upon the hearts and lives of the people: they are excited by it for the time, but the excitement soon subsides, for what abiding impression was ever made by excitement? The mind rapidly falls back into its wonted lethargy, and indemnifies itself for the unusual fatigue of reflection and self-examination by a longer and

a deeper sleep. The Lord is not "in the wind,” “in the earthquake," or "in the fire;" but in "the still small voice," speaking constantly to the ear and heart of the sinner.

I receive from time to time most cheering letters from the Bishop of Calcutta, full of that glowing piety, hard good sense, and tender affection, which are so beautifully and peculiarly blended in the character of our excellent Metropolitan; and it is a very great comfort to me to find that we are treading in the same path, although I follow in it, as the child Iulus followed the hero Eneas, haud passibus æquis.

The view from my window here is remarkably pretty. The Backwater sweeps gracefully round the little peninsula, on which the residency is built, and several boats are passing with oars and sail up and down and across it; and were it not for the sepoy guard at the door, and the melancholy clank of the chains from the convicts at work in the garden, it would not be very difficult to fancy myself in some villa overlooking the Thames.

Trevandrum, December 23.

Here we are at last; but I cannot say much in favour either of the water or of the road

by which we came. We left Quilon at five yesterday afternoon, and arrived here at nine this morning; we were six hours working our way up the Quilon canal, half of which time we were aground. It was very hard work for the poor boatmen, but they laboured at it most cheerfully and manfully. We then landed, where I know not, and getting into palanquins, scrambled over seven miles of almost the worst road that in all my various wanderings it has yet been my lot to encounter. Occasionally it was necessary to get out of the palanquin, as otherwise the bearers could not have carried it. One very steep and rugged descent brought us to the sea shore, along which our course lay for three or four miles, and the sea was uttering its mighty voice, as it has done from the beginning of time. There is something to me peculiarly grand in the heavy roll and break of the sea at night; I have heard some call it monotonous; to me it is sublime, and

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