Description | Has just received letter [6]; appreciates value of CMS work and will co-operate as much as possible; in accordance with resolution passed by CM committee while J. was in England he has found two young Singhalese men of rank, who might benefit from the proposed education in England; they are cousins; their great-grandfather Philip Philips Wesayacone Pandebaratna was appointed maha modliar of the Singhalese inhabitants in 1744, by the Dutch, and had his eldest son Henricus Philips educated in Holland for the church at the public expense; Henricus revised existing translations of the New Testament, translated the remainder and also the Old Testament; Henricus died leaving three sons, who were also educated for the church, the eldest at the seminary in Colombo, the other two at a university in Holland; the youngest son died in Holland, having officiated there for some time as a clergyman; the eldest died at Colombo; the second son, after ordination in Holland returned to Ceylon in 1790 and died a few years since, leaving his father's translations (which J. is now endeavouring to collect for publication); the eldest son of this man, John Gerard Perera Appohamy is one of the men chosen by J.; both the chosen men are cousins of two Singhalese who in 1806 translated the late bishop of London's 'Evidence of Christianity' under J.'s direction; would have sent these latter two, but their health is not good enough; Governor Brownrigg has agreed that government will pay for their voyage to England; they are expected to leave Colombo in Oct or Jan next; had read in reports, of CM Associations, and intends proposing formation of such groups in Colombo, Jaffna, Galle and Tricomalee, the principal British stations in Ceylon; in order to procure the help of the natives he has had certain numbers of the Register translated into Singhalese, Tamil, Dutch and Portuguese; hopes that from this they will gain an idea of the plan of associations and will be encouraged to form their own
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