42 CEYLON BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



testimonials. It appears that they departed on account of cer- 

 tain misunderstanding which had arisen at Jaffna, and had ren- 

 dered their ministration less acceptable to the people. The Co- 

 lombo consistory with the co-operation of Government had for- 

 bidden the Jaffna Church to grant the document which the 

 Batavian people considered an unjustifiable interference with the 

 liberty of individual Churches and congregations ; and an injury 

 to the said ministers not only because it deprived them of a fresh 

 employment, but because both they and their wives were fur- 

 Dished by the Jaffna congregation with attestations of member- 

 ship, which was sufficient proof that no objection had been made 

 to their life and christian conversation. The classes on being 

 informed of the matter upheld the Colombo consistory. A few 

 years previous to this there was also at Trincomalie an unpleasant 

 occurrence which brought forth a lengthy correspondence. A 

 deacon was excommunicated after repeated admonitions on the 

 charge of intemperance and domestic disturbances. The ag- 

 grieved party would not submit to the censure and brought the 

 case before the Magistrate. The Trincomalie consistory were 

 thought to have committed themselves by giving reasons for their 

 step to the Magistrate, who after all acknowledged that he could 

 not entertain the case, which was of an Ecclesiastical nature. 



Tn a letter of the classis in 1700 a few remarks are made 

 which would indicate that notwithstanding their pious and zealous 

 efforts to establish religion both in Ceylon and in the colonies, 

 abuses existed among the Dutch which could not but have a 

 contrary effect. " But worthy Sirs and Brethren we cannot 

 omit giving utterance to our anxious thoughts on the state of 

 Indian Churches, both with respect to heathens who embrace 

 the christian faith as also with respect to Europeans, on account 

 of the following circumstances which have reached our ears, and 

 We believe on good authority. 



1st — Respecting the natives, that in some places attempts are 

 made by improper and unallowable means to coerce them to 



