“The native Christian I formerly mentioned, has renounced the errors of Popery, of his own accord, after a good deal of argument in favour of his old opinions. I believe him to be sincere, and that his heart is right with God. Sometimes he seems amused rather than grieved with the opposition of the Jews to our Lord; but this, though it gives me pain, is not so much to be wondered at, from the extreme want of reflection manifested by all the natives. I now allow him support for himself, wife, and two children. He is very ready in reproving and exhorting a class of people, descendants of the Portuguese, who are very numerous in India, and are nominal Christians. He warns them faithfully of the sin and folly of people called Christians, living as do the heathen; and, at my instance, he reads to them the Scriptures very frequently: so that I hope he may be made an instrument of good. By his means, also, a Mahomedan has been brought at least to doubt the divine commission of the lying prophet. This man now frequently comes to me. He has read the Sermon on the Mount (which I happily had by me, translated into Persian, by a Mr. Chambers, now dead) and manifests a very pleasing earnestness in search of truth. Nearly one hundred and twenty children are learning to read, at my expence: the circumstance of being able to read the Scriptures when put into their hands will be of no small advantage; as the custom of the son’s persisting in the business and steps of the father, precludes the multitude from ever thinking the knowledge of letters desirable. Indeed the character in which their sacred books are written is not allowed to be read by any but Brahmins. The written and printed characters are the same; as they have had no printed books till of late; so that in learning they have an advantage over us, as they learn to read and write at the same time, first making the letter with chalk, or in the dust, and then pronouncing it. I have had much pleasure at times in exercising the proficiency of the children. Some of them have countenances expressive of every good quality: the difference of the complexion is forgotten under the impression that ‘of one blood hath God made all the families of the earth.’ A small present delights the little fellows; and they sometimes come up to me with smiling faces, as I pass; and make _salaam_ with great appearance of attachment.