The plottings of the brahmins continued through the day, but in the evening two new orders were received from the Collector, one to the Mamletdar and one to Pandoorung. The latter circumstance, being something new, excited much curiosity and talk. "The contents," Mr. saulting the said girl and attempting to rob her of her costly ornaments. The Mamletdar hastened to the Munsif and the Munsif to me-all in great excitement. I explained the circumstances, and the Munsif went and explained them to the Mamletdar. Fortunately, in com- | Wilder says, "have not yet transpired, but pliance with a petition from Ramkrishna Pandoorung has suddenly left the place," perhaps some three weeks since, the Collector of to obey a summons to the Collector. The conduct Ahmednuggur had sent a very stringent of the two brahmins who were leaders in the oporder to this Mamletdar not to molest the position had been reported to the Collector by the Christians here in any way whatever. missionaries, with a request that he would remove This helped to keep him in check. I them to some other place. "His kindness in felt troubled; but the house we have issuing the previous order to the Mamletdar enpurchased, and in which are my temporary lodgings, s, is built after the no-courages us to infer that these orders bring to these mischief-makers no welcome tidings." fashion, being enclosed by a massive brick wall, some fifteen feet high, the entrance to which is very strong and protected with heavy bolts. Assault in the night would be quite impracticable, except to the most desperate. I retired at my usual hour, and being very weary with the labors of the day, my cares were at once forgotten. ОБ A Great Point Gained. From the above sketch you will perceive that there is a good deal of excitement here, which forbids all hope of any great opening for the truth just at present. We can hardly expect to esHe was, however, soon disturbed. A profess-Time will be necessary to correct false tablish schools, or gain many hearers. edly friendly native rapped at the door, and in-views, and months and years may pass formed him that the whole village was excited away before any saving impression shall and all the brahmins were in council, conspiring appear in the hearts and conduct of against the missionary. "The poor fellow seem- this people. Still, you will see a very ed to fear something terrible. I assured him desirable point has been gained. The that my trust was in God-that I was sorry he brahmins are shrewd enough to perceive had disturbed me, and only wished he would go that their maddest efforts are not able to home and go to sleep." Judging from former prevent our ultimate success; that naexperience, Mr. Wilder thought it best to exhibit tive Christians have civil rights, which no alarm, and "in a few minutes," he says, "the highest in authority among them was asleep again, and awoke much refreshed for the Sabbath." יזן First Sabbath at Newase. I was anxious to commence our first Sabbath here with regular service, and thus add one to the small number of places in India, where the Sabbath is honored and the word of God made known. I had given notice, the previous day, that there would be religious service at nine o'clock. Eight, and half past eight o'clock came and went, and not one of the villagers came in. At nine, however, two or three came in and I commenced the service. Others came and the number soon increased to twenty. I took for my subject, the gospel law of love to our neighbor, and had a far more interesting occasion than I had anticipated. The remainder of the day was occupied in familiar conversation with small bands of five and ten, who continued to come until the time of our evening prayers. must regard; and they will most likely, hereafter, be more cautious in their opposition. They will no doubt continue to visit suspected offenders with the severest penalties. The brahmin who has sold us this house, will very likely be made to rue the day on which he did so vile an act. He lives at Poona, but owns other houses and lands near here. The brahmins of this place are writing to Ahmednuggur and Poona to get a general council and put the poor fellow out of caste. They are even plotting to deprive him of his property and rights, and it would not be at all strange if they should succeed. But while the great adversary is thus raging, as though he knew his time was short, he does not understand that he is working his own defeat. Every such expulsion from caste-every such excitement as has prevailed here, (accompanied by such ultimate results,) serves wonderfully to break down caste-prejudice and open the eyes of the people. Thus God causes the wrath of man to praise him, and the remainder will he restrain. To him be left, they posted off horsemen on two all the praise. On the 22d of February Mr. Wilder wrote again. different routes to intercept and bring him back. Very fortunately for the poor man, he had quietly ensconced himself in a small village, some four miles distant, waiting a message from me, and the pursuers passed him. They afterwards fell in with him, at a large village some fifteen miles from Newase; but here police officers were at hand and he obtained protection. Prospects Improving. On the 26th of March Mr. Wilder wrote again, from Newase. You will be glad to hear more in regard to Newase. Events are taking place which must perceptibly advance or retard the cause of Christ in this field. Since my last, of the 11th inst. it has become quite evident that the "unpleasant incident" at Newase would more properly have been called a brahmin plot. The brahmins dare not assail me with open violence, and therefore devised that means to bring an accusation against me. They immediately forwarded a complaint You will be glad to hear that we are to the chief Magistrate, and it came to able to continue favorable reports of this me in due form last Tuesday. It gave out-station. Our enemies have desisted me the trouble of calling on the Magis- from all direct opposition. Of the metrate, and sending in a written reply to morial which they forwarded to the genthe charge. The result has not yet trans-eral government, praying for our removal, pired, but probably their wicked device we as yet hear nothing, and very likely will only injure their cause, and bring upon them more severe punishment. The order of the Collector, which came so timely and held them in check, soon became public. It removed one of the leaders to a distant Zalooka, and demanded an account of themselves from two others. Still the brahmins are persevering in their opposition, and are now preparing a memorial to the general government, to petition the removal of the station from among them. it will secure no attention whatever. I reached here yesterday, in the course of another tour among these villages. I find the school has increased to twentytwo in number, and the state of feeling toward us is evidently changing very Under date March 4th, Mr. Wilder adds: I have just made another visit to Ne-rapidly. Ramkrishna has fixed his hour wase. All there is quiet. The brah- for morning prayers at ten o'clock, for mins have sent in their memorial to the the sake of strangers, who usually come Governor in council, praying that the in about that time. This morning there padre station may be removed from were eighteen strangers present, some of among them. The result will help us to them from villages twelve and fifteen infer our standing in the estimation of miles distant-strong, intelligent men, the English Government. The brahmins earnest defenders of their false faith, have also resolved to put out of caste and yet here brought in direct contact any one who shall come to our school in with the truth and made to feel its Newase. Of course no brahmin boys power. come, but eight Koonbe and Mussulman boys have commenced coming, and the prospect of a school is quite as encouraging as we could expect. A few days later, having left Newase, Mr. Wilder wrote again, on the same sheet, from Wudaley. My visit at Newase has been of the most gratifying character. I formed the acquaintance of the assistant Collector, Mr. Leighton, now encamped there in tents, and secured his attention to the case of the persecuted Christian family at Toka.* He very kindly consented to which these extracts in regard to Newase are taken, *This case is spoken of in one of the letters from but no account of it has been published. re-examine the case, and gave me good reason to hope he would reverse his decision. In my communications of December 13 and January 14, I spoke of Yasooba. He lives at Pimplegaw, a small village some ten miles from Newase. He has long professed sincere faith, and been anxious to receive baptism. There seemed no reason for farther delay, and last Sabbath he was baptized at his own village. The occasion was one of deep and solemn interest. His family connections are very numerous in this region, and having had due notice of his purpose, a large number of them came together to dissuade him from it. The trial was evidently more severe than he had anticipated, still he remained firm. When the relatives found their efforts unavailing with the father, they attempted to dissuade the children from receiving baptism. But in this they were equally unsuccessful. The children were much affected, but resolved to cleave to their father. The oldest, an intelligent lad of some ten years, replied, "I with father wherever he goes," though at the same time he was struggling manfully to repress the gushing tears. am The case of bribery which had come to his notice, has brought all the corrupt native officials of Newase at our feet. The servile flattery of the natives, at such times, is quite disgusting. They come to beg our interference with government, not from any good will to us, for they cannot but know that Ramkrishna has been a principal agent in bringing their iniquity to light. He felt constrained to do it in self-defence. The sudden change in public feeling towards us there, is truly wonderful. A month since, Ramkrishna felt lonely and unhappy, and I was obliged to tax invention to devise work and means to occupy and interest him there. Now, he is pressed with labor to the extent of his ability. Then, as he walked the streets, he felt himself regarded by all as a vile thing. Now, his house is thronged with visitors, and he could not desire more marked respect. This state of things may prove temporary. We expect it will, in part. Still, the interposition of Providence there has been so marked, that we feel bound to acknowledge it with devout or six neighboring villages, and witgratitude. I feel the influence of the nessed the solemn and impressive ordimovement there in every village I visit.nances of our holy faith. At the mornOn my way here, three men, whom I had ing service Yasooba was baptized, and in never seen before, avowed their faith in the afternoon eight children, four of YaChrist, and begged me to baptize them. sooba and four of another Christian Four more, from a distant village, have brother from a neigboring village, were come to me here with the same request. baptized, and the sacrament administered Of course they are not fit for baptism. to the little band of Christians present. "They know not what they ask." Still, Our large tent was crowded, and all listhis state of feeling is most encouraging. tened with fixed attention through both Men's minds are roused, thought is busy, long services. All the Christians seemed the fallow ground is broken up, and the to feel that Christ himself was present. present seems a most favorable time to The mission have consented to establish cast in the good seed, which we may a school at Pimplegaw, and we hope the hope will bring forth fruit unto ever-present will prove but the earnest of lasting life." Providence has given us a vantage ground here, and my heart aches that we cannot avail ourselves of it more fully. It will be impossible for me to visit this region again for months. My duties in Ahmednuggur press hard for more attention. Having thus given extracts from different letters, presenting a connected account of circumstances at Newase, a few extracts from one of the same letters, relating to other matters, will be published. Baptism of Yasooba. Some notice of this case will be found in Mr. Burgess' report of the Ahmednuggur station, on a preceding page. The occasion excited much interest, and a large audience assembled from five more blessed and glorious results. God permits and encourages us to exercise "great faith;" to labor for, and expect, great things, in connection with his kingdom and glory. Encouragement at Wudaley. Under date Wudaley, April 1st, Mr. Wilder makes the following interesting statements in regard to this out-station. I reached this place some three days since, and have been closely occupied in giving instruction to the Christians and the heathen who have come to see me, some of the latter from a distance of ten and twelve miles. The little church here is evidently manifesting more life and courage. Four individ- this drug, there are coming to China, this uals, connected with Christian fami- year, seventy thousand chests, of one lies, are anxious for admission into the hundred and thirty pounds each, and to church. Of all of them I think favora- be sold to the people at a sum total of bly, and in regard to three of them see not less than thirty-five millions of no cause for delay except for a better ac- dollars! Thousands, nay tens of thouquaintance and examination, by the sands, are falling by this poison, worse church in Ahmednuggur. This whole than the Bohun Upas. Almost every field, for the last two years, has been day, as I pass through the city, I see its sadly neglected. Brother Fairbanks' time victims dying or dead in the streets. and strength were engrossed with a sick Most of these are men, between the ages family, and he could not labor here. The of twenty and thirty-five. In some of little increased attention we have given the neighboring towns and cities many, it the past cold season, is developing and a few in Shanghai, are dying of precious results. I only regret that we hunger. The crops of grain, over all cannot follow up our efforts more vigor- the plains of Kiang-nan, were much inously. jured, last year, by inundations. the northern provinces too, there was but a poor harvest of bread stuffs, and the winter has been long and severe. There is probably grain enough in the Canton. In LETTER FROM MR. BRIDGMAN, MARCH empire to supply all, could it be equally 16, 1850. Changes within Twenty Years. MR. BRIDGMAN, writing from Shanghai, first alludes to changes and prospects in China, in the following hopeful terms. Eclipse of the Sun-Death of the Emperor. distributed. But the means of transportation are inadequate. The number of poor, who are now suffering, in the district of Shanghai, is said to be two hundred thousand. To these the public granaries are being opened, and large contributions are made for food. Only a few More than twenty years have now rods from our own door, there are colpassed since the first messengers from lected, in one group, two thousand chilthe churches in America reached the dren, all under the age of ten years, and land of Sinim. When "the beloved furnished with food by the government. Abeel" and myself arrived here, there Foreigners are contributing generously was, in all this wide field, only one Prot- to aid in these charities. estant missionary, and only limited access to the people at one port. To propagate Christianity, on the part of the foreigner, and to embrace and practice it, on the part of the native, was then An eclipse of the sun is an ominous alike, in either case, a capital crime. event in China, and much dreaded by the In these twenty years what changes people. Such an event, this year, was have we seen! Morrison and Abeel have to happen on their New Year's day, Febgone to their rest; and many others, who ruary 12th, according to our calendar. came subsequently to China, are also To prevent such an occurrence on such gone; yet nearly a hundred laborers, a day, an imperial decree was issued, men and women, preachers and teachers of Jehovah's blessed gospel, are now in the field; and we have free access to millions of the people. The first fruits of a great and glorious harvest begin to appear. All this is a token for good. He who has done so much will do still more. All the inhabitants of Sinim shall come to the Lord, even to Jesus our Savior. directing that the following day (February 13th) should be made the first day of the current year! At this the people demurred; the proclamations were torn down; but the day being rainy, the eclipse passed unnoticed, and business went on as usual. A rumor, however, had gone abroad, that there was death in the imperial family. After some days the fact transpired that the Emperor's mother expired on the 12th moon, January 23d. Proclamations have since been issued, requiring the whole nation to go There is abroad in the land, at this into mourning. Her age was about sevmoment, a good deal of distress ;-dis-enty-three; but she was not the Empetress caused partly by famine and partly ror's own mother, he being himself in by the intemperate use of opium. Of his seventieth year, the twenty-ninth of Use of Opium-Famine. his reign. In the midst of this unusual mourning another stroke has fallen upon the nation. Two days ago, on the 14th inst., a dispatch arrived here from Peking, announcing the demise of the Emperor Thukuáng ; and the succession to the throne, by the father's will, of his fourth son, (the eldest living,) who was born in the summer of 1831. All was said to be quiet in the capital. Three years' mourning are appointed, and the rules for the same, and for the great sacrifices, &c., will be promulgated in a few days. Progress in Revising the Scriptures. But to turn from these affairs to work in hand; in revision we have reached the third chapter of John's Revelation, progressing about twenty verses daily. It will probably be about the middle of April before we reach the end of the book. We shall then have to turn back to the commencement of Paul's Epistle to the Romans, and carefully reconsider the whole of this last half of the New Testament; which probably will occupy all our time till midsummer, say July 15th. Then, after all this, the whole, from Matthew to Revelation, must be subjected to a final reading, carefully correcting our respective copies, as we compare them one with the other, and these with the Greek text. This last work will be the most critical and the most important part of our whole labors, a part in which I feel an intense interest. West Africa. terest was awakened in her mind in behalf of the heathen world, by the perusal of the memoir of Africaner. In 1837, she was appointed a missionary teacher of the Methodist Episcopal Board, and sailed for West Africa in June of that year. In 1839 she was married to Rev. W. Stocker, of the Methodist Episcopal mission in Liberia, but was soon left a widow. Her connection was transferred to the mission of the American Board at Gaboon, in 1842, and in 1845 she was united in marriage with Mr. Bushnell. She was a most devoted laborer in the missionary field, and on her dying bed, bequeathed the sum of fifty dollars, which she had deposited in a savings bank in New York, with the interest due on the same, to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, "as a dying thank-offering for having had the privilege of laboring thirteen years, (including two years spent on a visit to the United States, on account of health,) on the shores of Western Africa." As was to be expected, she met death in perfect peace, and with the full assurance of hope. The following is an extract from Mr. Bushnell's letter. She had very humble views of herself, and often said she had never done any thing to recommend herself to the favor of God-that she had no merit, but the merits of Christ were infinite. His righteousness was perfect, and in Him centered all her hopes of heaven. She was often affected to tears when speaking of the distinguishing goodness of God, which had safely conducted her through life and now gave her so sweet a hope of heaven. She regarded her missionary life in Africa as an exalted privilege which had been conferred upon LETTER FROM MR. BUSHNELL, FEBRUARY her; and wondered that others were so 26, 1850. Death of Mrs. Bushnell. THE friends of Mrs. Bushnell have been long unwilling to avail themselves of the privilege, and to regard the solemn duty, of obeying the last command of their Savior. She said, with tears, "Tell prepared to hear that she has been called to her young Christians in America, that my dying testimony is, that the missionary rest; her health having been such, for many work is a blessed work, even in Africa. months past, that her death, at almost any time, I have found Christ's service here, easy would hardly have been unexpected. "She fell and pleasant, and now I find it good to asleep in Jesus, ten minutes before eleven o'clock," suffer his will." The last week of her in the evening of Feb. 25th. "I had been antic-life she was nearly helpless and able to ipating this mournful event," says her husband, converse but little. But during her "and it had long been a subject of familiar con- waking and dozing moments, her mind versation with us. I thought I was prepared for was dwelling upon Christ and heaven. it, but alas! how little did I know of the bitter-"Blessed Jesus," "Sweet heaven," "1 ness of the cup which my Heavenly Father was preparing for me to drink. But, thanks to his name, he mingled it with sweet consolations." Mrs. Bushnell was born at Salem, West Chester co., N. Y., January 20th, 1811. In early life, while a member of a Sabbath school, a deep in shall soon be there and see the King in his glory," and similar remarks were frequently falling from her lips. At one time, when a little revived, she called me to her bed-side and gave me her dying charge to the Mpongwe people, |