soil. As we passed along this pleasant grove, Mr. Armour directed our attention to a house in which a Mahomedan prophet had professed to fast forty days. To prevent the imputation of imposture, his followers had procured the seal of a magistrate to be affixed to the door, at the commencement of the stipulated period; and at the termination it was broken with great solemnity. As the tiles of the house were merely laid on the roof in the Indian manner, without mortar, or any other cement, it was evident that food might have been conveyed to the inmate with perfect ease, without violating the seal.

A short distance further we passed the residence of the Count Ranzow; a near relative of the consort of our late beloved monarch, George the Third. He has a numerous family of daughters, some of whom are married to respectable young men of the island. He is said to have passed through scenes of varied suffering; but his affinity to the illustrious house of Brunswick cannot fail to procure for him the sympathy of every British heart.

With feelings which it would be difficult to express I entered the Colombo Pettah, the appointed scene of my future missionary labours. A consciousness of inability caused me involuntarily to shrink from the mighty undertaking. But a conviction of duty, and the hope of sufficient aid, united with pity for the deluded votaries of idolatry by whom we were surrounded, kindled an impatience to commence the work which had brought me amongst them.

On arriving at Mr. Armour's residence, which is situated in the Grand Pass, we were received by Mrs. Armour, a Tutecorene lady, who manifested

The principal road from Colombo to the interior of the island.

much pleasure at our safe arrival. The other members of the family were introduced; and each vied with the rest in expressions of kindness, and in the performance of a thousand little offices, which while they tended to promote our comfort, illustrated the amiableness of their dispositions, and powerfully conciliated our regard.

CHAP. XI.

Interview with Archdeacon Twisleton-Visit from the Chief JusticeSubmission of the Kandyan territory to the British Crown--Audi. ence with His Excellency the Governor-Death of Mr. Ault at Batticaloa-His epitaph-Mr. Lynch preaches his funeral sermon before the Governor-Baptist Mission church-Arrival of Mr. Clough-Village preaching-Singhalese interpreter-Weekly meeting of preachers-Dutch church-Malabar Christians-Purchase of estate-Public subscription-Captain Schneider-Sunday School -Levee-Lady Johnstone-Colombo theatre and Orphan HouseMission printing press-Government press-Day school-Ava priest-Head printer-Illness of the Author-Kindness of the Catholic Missionaries-Journey to Galle-Preaches in an idol tem. ple-Visits the Government schools-The Ava priest embraces Christianity, and is baptized.

THE kind offices of Mr. Armour procured for me, the day after our arrival, an introduction to the Hon. and Rev. T. J. Twisleton; of whose valuable services to our Mission I had heard so much from my companions; and for whom, though a stranger to his person, I felt a strong and grateful attachment. The affability with which he received me, and the interest he evidently felt in the important objects of our Mission, impressed my mind with a reverential regard for this most excellent clergyman; who, unshackled by the prejudices which confine so mary within the narrow circle of their own sect, rejoiced at the prospect of a wider spread of the gospel of Christ by our means; and cheerfully wished us success in extending the boundaries of the Redeemer's kingdom.

The church newly-erected by the Government for the Tamul Episcopal Christians in Colombo, was generously offered for our religious services; but as Mr. Armour had previously hired a house for that purpose, and had commenced a Portuguese service, the offer was respectfully declined. A suitable residence in the Main Street of the Pettah was also engaged by Mr. Armour, to which the Mission property was immediately removed; but, as the house had been long unoccupied, we continued to reside with Mr. Armour's family until the necessary operations of cleaning and ventilation were completed.

That no time might be lost, and as little expense incurred as possible, Mrs. Harvard and myself daily superintended the people employed. One morning, while thus engaged, we were thrown into some little consternation by a visit from Sir Alexander Johnstone, the Chief Justice, on his way to the Supreme Court at Hulfsdorp. A couple of chairs comprised the whole of our household furniture; and our dress and appearance were by no means suited to such an interview. But the kindness of our visitor at once removed our embarrassment. He expressed the most lively pleasure at our safe arrival after the dangers of the voyage from Bombay to Ceylon; and, after some general remarks, and a pleasant allusion to the employment in which he had surprised us, took his leave; having first given us an invitation to spend that evening with him and his family at his seat at Colpetty.

An event, which furnishes an important era in the history of Ceylon, took place a short time previous to our arrival at Colombo. The king of Kandy by his cruelties had long rendered himself the object of terror to his oppressed subjects. At length one of his prime ministers incurred his displeasure; and, dreading the effects of his wrath, took refuge in the British territories. The enraged and sanguinary monarch,

disappointed at losing the object of his meditated revenge, seized the wives and children of the fugitive, and put them to a cruel death. The feelings of nature. prompted to revenge : and, as his own arm was too impotent to reach the author of his woes, he applied to the British Government, and offered, if a small military force were granted him, to employ his powerful influence to reduce the Kandyan dominions to the British crown; but as no direct outrage had been committed by the Kandyan monarch on any British subject, the Governor, while he sympathized with the bereaved and justly indignant applicant, did not consider himself authorized to sanction such an attempt. But when, a short time after, the inhuman king, as if infatuated to his own ruin, presumed to seize some British subjects; and cruelly mutilated them, by cutting off their ears, nose, and tongues; the rights of outraged humanity, and the honour of the British crown, alike demanded the interposition of the Government. An expedition was sent against the unnatural monarch, which was accompanied by the ex-minister; whose wrongs impelled him to exert all his influence against his late master; and whose knowledge of the country, and acquaintance with the disaffected chiefs, enabled him to render the most important aid to those entrusted with the command.

The British troops were hailed as deliverers at every stage of their progress; the Kandyan dominions submitted to the British crown; and the tyrant, by whom every tie of humanity and justice had been violated, was delivered a prisoner into the hands of the Governor. Thus was the whole territory gained almost without the loss of a single life; and a way opened for the introduction of the Gospel among those idolators, between whom and the means of salvation a barrier seemed to exist a few months before, which would require the lapse of ages to remove. The Lord reigneth! and it is not the least interesting employment of the Christian,