530 Literary Discoveries in India. 



a happy event, and favourable to the advancement of reli- 

 gion." It is in contemplation to send to England some of 

 the Syrian youth for education and ordination. 



The present bishop. Mar Dionysius, is a native of Malay- 

 ala, but of Syrian extraction. He is a man of respectable 

 character in his nation, and exercises himself in the pious 

 discharge of the duties of his high office. He is now seven- 

 ty-eight years of age, and possesses a venerable aspect, his 

 white beard descending low to his girdte. On public occa- 

 sions he wears the episcopal mitre, and is robed in a white 

 vestment, which covers long garments of red silk ; and in 

 his hand he holds the pastoral staff. The first native bishop 

 was ordained by the Romish church in 1663 ; but he was 

 of the Romish communion. Since that period the old 

 Svriaus have continued, till lately, to receive their bishops 

 from Antioch : but that antient patriarchate being now 

 nearly extinct, and incompetent to the appointment of 

 ■ learned men, the Christian church in Malayala looks hence- 

 forth to Britain for the continuance of that light which has 

 shone so long in this dark region of the world. 



From the information given by the Syrian Christians, it 

 would appear that the churches of Mesopotamia and Syria, 

 (215 in number), with which they are connected, are strug- 

 gling with great difficulties, and merely owe their existence 

 to some deference for their antiquity ; and that they might 

 be expected soon to flourish again, if favoured with a little 

 support. It would be worthy the church of K'lgkiiid to aid 

 the church of Antioch in her low estate. The church of 

 England is noio what the church of Antioch ouce ti'as. The 

 mode in wliich aid can be best afforded to Christians under 

 a foreign power in the East, is not chiefly by contributions 

 of money, but by representing to those governments, with 

 which we may have friendly intercourse, that these Chris- 

 tians are of the same religion with ourselves ; and that we 

 are desirous that they should be respected. The argument, 

 from the sameness of reiigion, is well understood by all 

 Asiatic princes, and can never fail when seriously proposed ; 

 for they think it both natural and obligatory that every 

 ioyeriiment should be interested in those who are of its own 



religion 



