with the view of qualifying them for the important purpose of extending the knowledge of Christianity in Asia. Being himself a Hebrew scholar, his first object has been to ground them well in the Hebrew and Syriac Languages; rightly judging that a knowledge of these forms the best foundation for ability to produce accurate translations of the Scriptures in the other Oriental Tongues. But they have now added to these first languages the Arabic, Persian, and Hindoostanee, which they pronounce like natives of the East. They have had the advantage of the best teachers in the different languages, particularly of SHALOM, an eminent Hebrew scholar from Arabia. So that this little Institution in Mr. Brown's house, may be called the HEBREW SCHOOL in Bengal.

It is understood to be Mr. Brown's intention to send his three sons to England, at the proper age, to finish their education at the University, and to enter the Church; with the view of their returning to exercise their ministrations in India. Mr. Brown himself has now seen two or three generations pass away in Calcutta, (how short is a Calcutta generation !) and has exhibited to a large and refined society the doctrine and the example of a faithful minister of the Gospel, Marquis Cornwallis first recommended him to

the Court of Directors as a proper person to fill his present important situation, and this he did from a personal knowledge of his truly upright and disinterested character. In the many Governments which have succeeded, there is not one, as the Author believes, which has not recorded a public testimony to the merits of their Senior Chaplain. Marquis Wellesley, in particular, honoured him with his confidence and esteem, to the end of his administration. It was under the auspices of that Nobleman, that Mr. Brown instituted the "Calcutta CHARITABLE FUND for distressed Europeans and others;" of which it may be truly said, that it has been a Fountain of Mercy to thousands in Bengal for ten years past, it having been established in the first year of the new century.* Mr. Brown would have probably returned from India with his large family by this time, but his diffusive benevolence in private charity, and in public undertakings, both in India and England, and the frequent demands on a man in his public station, he being at the head of the Church in Bengal, have not permitted him to increase his

* This Institution not only assists occasionally, but pensions permanently, Europeans, Mahomedans, and Hindoos.

fortune suitably. And now, the prospect which opens to his view of being more extensively useful than before, in encouraging translations of the Scriptures, in promoting the objects of the Bible Society, and in educating his sons for the Oriental Church, makes him willing to remain a few years longer in India.

THE ARMENIANS.

A LEARNED author, in a work published about the beginning of the last century, entitled "The "Light of the Gospel, rising on all nations," observes," that the Armenian Christians will "be most eminently qualified for the office of "extending the knowledge of Christianity

throughout the nations of Asia."* This is undoubtedly true. Next to the Jews, the Armenians will form the most generally useful body of Christian Missionaries. They are to be found in every principal city of Asia; they are the general merchants of the East, and are in a state of constant motion from Canton to Constantinople. Their general character is that of wealthy, industrious, and enterprising people

* Fabricii Lux Evangelii, p. 651,

They are settled in all the principal places of India, where they arrived many centuries before the English. Wherever they colonize, they build Churches, and observe the solemnities of the Christian Religion in a decorous manner. Their Ecclesiastical Establishment in Hindoostan is more respectable than that of the English. Like us, they have three Churches in the three capitals, one at Calcutta, one at Madras, and one at Bombay; but they have also Churches in the interior of the country.* The Bishop sometimes visits Calcutta ; but he is not resident there. The proper country of these Christians is Armenia, the greater part of which is subject to the Persian Government; but they are scattered all over the Empire, the commerce of Persia being chiefly conducted by Armenians. Their Patriarch resides at Erivan, not far from Mount Ararat.

The history of the Armenian Church is very interesting. Of all the Christians in central Asia they have preserved themselves most free from Mahomedan and Papal corruptions. The Pope assailed them for a time with great violence, but with little effect. The Churches in lesser Ar

* In Bengal alone, they have Churches at Dacca, Sydabad, and Chinsurah.

menia indeed consented to an union which did not long continue; but those in Persian Armenia maintained their independence; and they retain their ancient Scripture, doctrines, and worship, to this day. "It is marvellous," says an intelligent traveller, who was much among them, "how the Armenian Christians have pre"served their faith, equally against the vexati

ous oppression of the Mahomedans their Sove

reigns, and against the persuasions of the "Romish Church, which for more than two "centuries has endeavoured, by Missionaries,

Priests, and Monks, to attach them to her "Communion. It is impossible to describe the "artifices and expences of the Court of Rome, "to effect this object; but all in vain.”*

The Bible was translated into the Armenian Language in the fifth century, under very auspicious circumstances, the history of which has come down to us. It has been allowed, by competent judges of the language, to be a most faithful translation. La Croze calls it "The "Queen of Versions." This Bible has ever re

*Chardin, vol. II. p. 232.

† Mr. Joannes Lassar, who is now making a version of the Scriptures in the Chinese Language, in Bengal, is an Arme