rising interest are few and poor, still they are exerting themselves most laudably by collecting cards and other means to reduce the debt. None but those who are acquainted with the almost heathenish darkness of many of the villages in the county of Norfolk, can duly appreciate the value of their self-denying labours. They have met with signal encouragement and success: the great head of the church has evidently smiled upon them. A kind friend has promised to give us £30; another dear friend £10, on condition we raise the £90 by next July. Under such circumstances they feel warranted in asking the generous aid of sister churches. The smallest trifle, either in post stamps or post office orders, made payable on the Swaffham Post Office, and addressed to the pastor of the church, will be thankfully received and duly acknowledged; and will not only help to lessen a heavy burden, but encourage both pastor and people in their great and arduous work. Signed on behalf of the church.

JABEZ STUTTERD, Pastor.

GEORGE HARRISON, THOMAS CLARK, Deacons. The case is recommended by the lamented and beloved J. G. Pike, late of Derby, J. C. Pike, of Quorndon, T. Gill, of Melbourne, T. Scott, of Norwich. RIPLEY BAZAAR.-Our best and warmest thanks are tendered to all those kind friends who have already assisted us, and as we doubt not there are many more anxious to help, we beg to state that it will be esteemed a favour if intending contributors will forward their parcels by the second week in May, 1857, to W. Gray, Ripley, near Alfreton, Derbyshire. It may be well to state that we are intending to build new school rooms, as well as enlarge our chapel, and so greatly need assistance. W. G., Ripley.

COALVILLE BAZAAR.-May I be permitted to apprize our friends generally that it has been determined to hold the Bazaar in aid of the effort to extinguish our remaining debt, on Monday, March 9th, 1857, and one or two of the following days, and that we shall feel much gratified and obliged by their kindly help. Those friends who have so very readily responded to our appeal by promising their aid, will much oblige if they will forward their contributions in the early part of the previous week. At Coalville is a station on the Leicester and Burton Branch of the Midland Railway, so that parcels, &c., may be sent to us direct. JOHN CHOLERTON.

LEICESTER, ARCHDEACON LANE.-The above place of worship having undergone considerable alterations, a committee of ladies have been appointed to prepare a Bazaar, the proceeds to be devoted towards defraying expenses incurred. Articles of any description from friends sympathizing with this design, will be gratefully received by any of the following members of the executive committee:-Mrs. G. Stevenson, Mrs. Wallis, Mrs. Noble, Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Russell, Mrs. Roper. The Bazaar will be held on the 12th, 13th and 14th of May next.

HEYWOOD, LANCASHIRE.-On Lord's-day February 1st, we had the pleasure of commencing a new General Baptist interest in this thriving and populous town, on which occasion the Rev. J. B. Lockwood, of Birchcliffe, Hebden Bridge, preached two appropriate and telling sermons. It was a happy and delightful day, and God of a truth was with us. The Sunday following we opened a Sabbath school, the Rev. J. Horsefield, of Todmorden Vale, preached. Comparatively we are but a few and poor people, with many difficulties to contend with; yet notwithstanding we feel confident that He that is for us is more than all that can be against us. WM. MOORE.

NOTTINGHAM, STONEY STREET BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.-The Annual Report of this Society presents the details of several sick persons who were hopefully converted by the conversation of the visitors and the blessing of God; of one hundred and forty one visited, fifty were the poor of Christ's flock. Some of the others were sunk in the lowest depths of ignorance. It is pleasing to contemplate institutions like these connected with the christian church, diffusing around it blessings both temporal and spiritual. The total income of the above Society for the past year was £67 2s. 8d.

J. T.

BERKHAMSTEAD.-On New-Year's-Eve, December 31st, 1856, the members of the General Baptist church, Water Lane, held their annual Tea-meeting; which was numerously attended. Tea being over, Mr. Sanders (one of the deacons) in an affectionate, earnest, and appropriate spirit, addressed the pastor, and in the name of the church and congregation presented to him a large and handsome Pulpit Bible, to bear the following inscription in gilt, on morocco:"This Bible is most affectionately presented to the Rev. T. Stanion, by the church and congregation assembling at Water Lane, Berkhampstead, as an expression of their high esteem for him as a faithful minister of the Gospel, Dec. 31st, 1856." Mr. Sanders congratulated the pastor on the improved state of the church and congregation-expressed his approbation of his ministry, and his cordial hope of future prosperity. The Rev. T. Stanion, in reply, accepted the present with great pleasure, and expressed his determination to make the Bible his only guide in his ministrations. The experience of the past is in this respect a pledge of the future. The remainder of the evening was spent in speaking, singing, and prayer. It was resolved unanimously to introduce chanting into the Sabbath public service. The principal reasons urged for its adoption were, that it was the ancient practice of the church and therefore scriptural,—that it was used by our Lord and his disciples at the institution of the Lord's supper,and that in chanting the pure word of God was used in preference to human compositions. The friends retired from the meeting much pleased, and hoping, if spared, to hold a similar meeting next year.

BAPTISMS.

R. P.

LEICESTER, VINE STREET.-On Sunday evening, February 8th, six persons were baptized.

COALVILLE.-On Lord's-day, February 1st, 1857, two estimable friends were baptized and received into the General Baptist Church at this place. The various services of the day were very interesting, were attended by crowded congregations, and have been proved to have been made useful in several instances.

RIPLEY.-We had the pleasure of baptizing two on the evening of November 30th, 1856; the chapel was crowded, and a discourse on "the Law of Believer's Baptism" was attentively listened to. We have several more candidates, whom we hope soon to baptize. W. G. R.

SPALDING. On the first Sabbath in the year, six persons were baptized by our pastor, and received into the church on the same day; five of these were from the Sunday-school, and the sixth is an inmate of the union, a middle-aged man, and who at the meeting of the guardians prior to his baptism, applied to the Board for leave to become a teacher in our school; this being a novel application the chairman enquired of the master as to his manner of life, who replied that he was the best behaved man in the house; this testimony at once induced a unanimous vote, and leave was given accordingly.

W. W. BELPER.-On Sunday, Feb. 1st, our esteemed friend Mr. W. Shakespeare, from the Academy, preached in the morning and afternoon. After the morning sermon brother Taylor baptized four young persons (two Wesleyans.) In the afternoon the two newly baptized remaining with us were as usual received into the church. May God's blessing ever be with them, and may they richly adorn their christian profession. The Rev. W. Bailey, Missionary, preached for us in the evening, and made collections for the mission; the congregations were very good. We believe were we at once financially in a position to obtain a minister our congregations would very speedily be trebled. May the Lord of the harvest send us help in our great need.

E.

FLEET. We rejoice the Lord still continues to add to our numbers, of such, we hope, as will be saved. On the last Lord's-day in October, five were baptized, after an impressive sermon by our pastor; on Lord's-day evening, November 30th, four others were buried with Christ; and on January 25th two others submitted to the sacred rite. These have all been added to the church; one of them had formerly been a Wesleyan local preacher. May all of them be ornaments to the church.

A. F.

Notes of the Month.

ECCLESIASTICAL.

February 20th. The convocation assembled on Wednesday, February 4th. In the upper house there was reference to the refusal to read the burial service over persons "dying in deadly sin," and the Bishop of Oxford recommended the Bishops to shelter their Clergy in such refusals. In both houses there was some discussion, but nothing of importance was done. The Puseyites have started another journal, which goes more boldly on the way to Popery than any of the papers hitherto patronized by that party. The Denison case is still unsettled. The Congregational Union had its special meeting, Jan. 20th. It was somewhat stormy, but the Rivulet controversy and its adjuncts were referred to a committee, and may be now supposed to have ended. A new College for the Education of the Sons of Ministers is about to be erected near Halifax, by J. Crossley, Esq., M.P. It will cost £20,000. New Missions to Africa are projected.

The Wesleyans are making vigorous efforts to relieve their Chapels from debt. The Free Church of Scotland asks for £200,000 to build Manses, &c., for their Ministers. Their Sustentation fund is in advance of last year.

The Catholic Church boasts of having 894 churches and stations in Great Britain, and 1,162 priests; 23 religious houses of men, and 106 convents!

In Sweden a very hopeful and extensive revival of religion is taking place. It is chiefly effected by the circulation of religious books, and the reading of the Scriptures.

France, according to Jesuit authors, is, as to its morals, in the lowest state of degradation; we presume they refer to the Romanist population.

Religious liberty is advancing in Sardinia.

A Hindoo widow of rank has recently been married! The ceremony was attended by "hundreds of Brahmins"!! Thus, by degrees, the heathen customs will die away before the light of revelation.

GENERAL.

Parliament was opened February 3rd, by commission, the Queen's Speech being read by the Lord Chancellor. The Speech promised nothing about Reform, or Church Rates, or remission of Taxes. It glanced at a number of things connected with our Foreign policy, as China-Persia-Naples-Siam-Neufchatel, &c. Some hints are given about the amendment of the law, and about the "Bank Charter.” The people of this country are thus taught to look to them. selves, and not to the present government, for any of the measures which may be desirable. Mr. Clay has given notice of a bill for the abolition of Church Rates. In the Budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposes to take off nine-pence from the Income Tax, and bring it for the next three years to fivepence in the pound on incomes under £150, and seven-pence on those above. He means, however, to keep on extra duties on Sugar and Tea!

The French Legislature has been opened by a long speech from the Emperor. He states that France is prosperous, having added 210 million francs to the revenue. In Naples things are ominous. The king is shut up in fear; the prisons are becoming full. The Emperor of Russia received at St. Petersburg a deputation of English merchants very graciously, and expressed a hope “that the commercial relations between Russia and England would become more and more developed, to the great advantage of both nations." Of America we have several notes, but they must be brief. The cold has been intense, so much so as to freeze the quicksilver in the thermometer. The spirit thermometers were at 49 below zero! The Hon. P. S. Brooks, the bludgeon senator who beat and abused Sumner, died suddenly at Washington, January the 27th. His was a painful end. The total wealth of the United States is estimated at 3,000 millions sterling!! A Negro, suspected of insurrection, has been burned at a stake, in the presence of some thousands of Southern citizens !

It is hoped, as the Persian Ambassador to Paris is coming to London, that in a short time the Persian war will cease. Little seems to be known of the recent proceedings in China.

Missionary Observer.

THE JOURNEY TO BERHAMPORE CONFERENCE.

EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER OF MR. TAYLOR.

Berhampore, Ganjam, Nov. 30th, 1856.

MY DEAR BRO. GOADBY,-It has been suggested that, being a new Sahib, I ought to furnish you with an account of our journey to the Annual Conference, held this year at Berhampore. I confess I cannot, with a good grace, say nay to this suggestion, because of my inability to do much direct missionary work. I scarcely need remind you that we find travelling in India vastly different from travelling in England; not only as it regards speed and manner, but also as to requisites for the way. In taking a journey in our fatherland, a portmanteau, hat-box, walking stick and umbrella are, for the most part, all that are necessary either for convenience or comfort: but here we must take even a tent, or run the risk of being exposed to the burning sun by day, and the chilling dews by night: for in many places there are no bungalows at all; and where there are, not unfrequently they are pre-occupied. It is equally necessary, if we would sleep at all, to take with us our own beds; as there are no "traveller's rests" by the way side, where one may obtain a night's lodging. We must needs take a table too: or else spread our food on the ground, and have the pleasure of seeing it speedily covered with swarms of ants. A chair or stool is no less needful, unless we adopt the native fashion; namely, of squatting ourselves down upon the earth. Cooking utensils and eatables, are, of course, indispensible; and not unfrequently have we to take even water from home; being literally unable to drink such as we find in many places we visit. You will therefore perceive that a journey of upwards of a hundred miles, under these circumstances, was a rather formidable affair; at least, so it appeared to us, and accordingly, we busied ourselves the whole of the week previous to leaving Piplee in making preparations.

Before commencing an account of the journey, I may just state that in reference to the first day, I must leave the Cuttack friends to narrate their own story; inasmuch as they went one way, and Mrs. Taylor and I went another.

Well-On Monday, October 27th, we rose at two a.m., and began our packing operations, or rather, what of them remained to be done; for the principal portion had been attended to on the Saturday previous. We then partook of some refreshment, and subsequently rang a bell; when several of the native christians assembled in the bungalow, and united with us in prayer, and then gave us an affectionate farewell. We now made an effort to start; but the bearers, who, as usual, gave us considerable trouble, delayed us till about five a.m. Owing to the very recent cessation of the rains, we found the roads (if such they might be called) in a wretched condition. At this time of the year even the main roads in India are, in some parts, scarcely passable: but the way from Piplee to Khoorda-a distance of about seventeen miles-lay across a long succession of rice fields, many of which were covered with water and pathless; while others afforded a foot-road of not more than twelve inches in width. We reached Kudeare-a place mid-way between Piplee and Khoorda, about ten a.m. The sun had waxed very hot, and as there was no bungalow in which to hide ourselves from his burning rays, we gladly availed ourselves of the awning nature has furnished in this place, and took shelter under the gigantic branches of the banyan tree. Having previously visited Kudeare, in company with my esteemed colleague, Mr. Miller, I was prepared for its disadvantages: but this was my dear wife's first journey into the country. In looking round, therefore, she eagerly

inquired, "Is there no better shade than this to be found?" when I endeavoured to console her by the assurance that we were highly favoured; for that there were many places vastly inferior to our present position. Well, breakfast being ready, a question arose as to where we should spread the cloth, for we had nothing in the shape of a table with us: as, in consequence of the bad state of the roads, we had been compelled to send most of our conveniencies round by Cuttack. Having with us a medicine chest and writing desk, it was at length decided that these should constitute our table; and at once we commenced operations, much to the amusement of the crowd of natives that had surrounded us. While at this place we distributed some tracts among the people; and my Pundit held a discussion with two Brahmins, in the presence of several persons, not without some good results, I trust.

About half past two p.m., we re-commenced our journey and proceeded about two miles; when suddenly we came upon a market densely crowded, so much so that the bearers could scarcely make their way through. By some means or other the people got to know we had books with us, and so at once regularly besieged my palky, and begged I would "show mercy" and give them a tract; and such was the pressure of the crowd in their anxiety to obtain the books, that more than once I almost lost my equilibrium; while some eight or ten of the people near were fairly upset. At length I found it necessary to cease giving, both for my own safety and that of the people: but as many had been unsuccessful in the market, several followed us a considerable distance, and would not leave us until we had supplied them. May the good seed thus incidentally sown, spring up and yield an abundant harvest. In marching on our way we soon came to an extensive jungle; and here we found the road, though dry, attended with almost as much difficulty as that of the morning: the huge rough stones projecting out of the earth, and the clusters of bamboos and thick bushes which frequently extended across the path so as almost to obstruct the way, rendered our progress very slow. And now the sun began to hide himself behind the mountains, while the shades of evening were gradually encircling us; and neither we nor our bearers knew where we were, nor how far we had to go ere we reached Khoorda. The guide we obtained was ignorant or insane; but after much bewilderment we reached Khoorda, and took up our quarters at the bungalow. We were extremely tired, but not more so than thankful to that kind Providence that had suffered no evil to befall us by the way.

Our Cuttack brethren had previously engaged to meet ùs at this place on the Tuesday. So the next morning, about eight o'clock, we had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Stubbins, Mr. and Mrs. Brooks and their three children; Mr. and Mrs. Buckley, Mr. and Mrs. Miller and little girl, and Miss Lacy. Having taken breakfast, we united in singing a hymn of praise to Him "from whom all blessings flow:" after which, one of the brethren read a portion of scriptures and engaged in prayer. About half-past two p.m., we left Khoorda and pursued our journey. For the most part we had a tolerably good road; though for some hours after we started, the sun was excessively hot. About sunset, several of us walked a few miles, and greatly enjoyed both the refreshing evening breeze, and the lovely scenery; the latter is truly grand in this part. We reached Junkea, our next stage about half-past seven p.m., thoroughly tired. On Wednesday we rose at four a.m., and after a little refreshment, recommenced our journey. The morning being fine, and the air bracing, several of us got out of our palankeens and walked three or four miles. The scenery on each side of the road here is really magnificent! There are long ranges of lofty mountains, covered with beautiful green shrubs, that, in the distance especially, look very romantic; while the fine rice waving at the foot of some of these hills, greatly adds to the beauty of the whole. Owing to the length of the stage, and the bearers being greatly fatigued, we did not reach Bangi until half-past ten a.m., consequently we were pretty well broiled. Brother Miller fared worse than the rest of us; for his bearers kept him roasting in the sun until nearly twelve o'clock; so that when he arrived he was almost exhausted. Early in the afternoon we made arrangements regarding our baggage; and at four p.m., we started for the Chilka Lake, where we arrived safely about