eachers, catechists, and native
preachers, these occupy honourable and useful positions, and have been a
great blessing to the Church and the world. In the course of our
residence in India we have seen many of the missions in the North-West,
but our acquaintance with them is too slight to enable us to mention the
number given by orphanages to the higher class of native agents. We have
known several who are worthy of all respect, confidence, and affection.

[Sidenote: ORPHANS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS.]

To the question, "What is the general character of the large community
of native Christians formed of orphans and their descendants?" it is
difficult to give a satisfactory reply, though easy enough to give one's
impression. A characterization of communities is one of the most common
and at the same time most unsatisfactory of operations, as the data for
its being done well are so wide, recondite, and difficult to grasp. As I
proceed I shall have occasion to give my views of native Christians
generally. All I can now say about orphans and their descendants is,
that considering what human beings are, as shown from age to age,
considering the circumstances and surroundings of those of whom we are
speaking, the moral and spiritual results are what might have been
expected, though not all that had been wished for and hoped for.
Sanguine spirits had hoped that they would have had a striking
superiority to their fellow-countrymen, which would have drawn forth
their wonder and led them to inquire whence the superiority had come;
but no one will maintain this has been the case. A few, I believe very
few, have turned out utterly reprobate. The character of some who have
not lapsed into gross wickedness has been very unsatisfactory. Many are
respectable members of society, and make the profession of religion
implied in attending public worship and calling themselves Christians. A
considerable number show in different ways spiritual character. What
more can be said of congregations composed of those whose advantages
have been immeasurably greater? It would have been a most pleasing, but
at the same time a most remarkable and unparalleled result, if orphans
brought up under the charge of missionaries had gone forth a united
band, with no defaulters, to maintain the cause of God among their
countrymen, by a life so adorned with excellence that its testimony to
Christ could not be resisted. The result actually attained, though
chequered,