with a hymn. After this, went to our friend's, who had about fifty workmen and others assembled. Read and spoke to them on the 'flood.'- Afternoon, Brother Abdool not being well, I officiated in the native church-about one hundred and fifty assembled. Read and expounded part of the twelfth chapter of St. Luke, and concluded by reading and expounding the history of the flood, from the sixth and seventh chapters of Genesis.Evening, went again to the Sepoy lines-about thirty assembled. Read and expounded, in both languages, a portion of the sixth chapter of St. John's Gospel: concluded with a Hindoostanee hymn and prayer.”

"1815. Jan. 7.-Accompanied a friend to a place where upward of seventy devotees of the Vishnu tribe have, for these few days, taken up their lodging. "Many of them had their backs and bellies scorched with the fire which they constantly use to keep off the cold. We saw several couples asleep, with a fire of logs of wood between them. Their bodies were rubbed over with ashes, and their faces whitened as with chunam. We spent two hours in conversation with them. Some of them gave us a patient hearing; but, in general, they were not inclined

to talk."

"Jan. 16. With a Christian friend spent about two hours with the Faqueers. An old woman, supposed to be not far from her latter end, was brought before these deceivers, in order to secure her salvation. After first presenting a few pice, she bowed down before them, and was permitted to touch the leader's feet, while he pronounced her blessed. We could not be silent, but spake specially to the aged matron and her followers, on the insufficiency of any man whatever to redeem a soul; but that God, of his infinite mercy, had laid help upon one mighty to save to the uttermost all those who come to God through him. They seemed atten. tive."

"Jan. 81. Read and spoke to about twenty on the sufferings and death of Christ, from St. Matthew, xxviith chapter. These people appear to take much delight in hearing of the love of God in the gift of his Son, and do not seem so much as to suspect their craft in danger. May the Holy Spirit enlighten them, by His gracious influence, through Christ our Lord! Amen."

2. MADRAS.

It has been determined that the Society's two missionaries, Schnarrè and Rhenius, shall be fixed at Madras, to which place they were to remove from Tranquebar, in January 1815. At Tranquebar they had been employed in acquiring the Tamul language, and in attending to the schools, which they say are very promising, but which are now almost entirely supported by the Society's grant of money.

3. NEW ZEALAND.

In March 1814, the Rev. Mr. Marsden, having purchased the brig Active, sent her, with the lay missionaries Kendall and Hall on board, to New Zealand. A young man, the son of a chief, who had lived some time in the colony, accompanied them. The object of the voyage was to pave the way for the projected settlement. Mr. Marsden wrote to Duaterra, engaging his good offices, and sent presents for the chiefs. He gave particular instructions that the Sabbath should be observed on board with the greatest solemnity, and that the servcie of the Church of England should be read. The party was kindly received by Duaterra, and the other chiefs at New Zealand: and having procured with their help a loading of spars, flax, potatoes,&c. sailed thence on the 25th of July with Duaterra; his uncle Shunghee; Depero, the eldest son of Shunghee; four other chiefs, Tenhanah, Ponahhoo, Toi, and Kurrokurro; and four common men, on board, and arrived at Port Jackson on the 22d of August. It appears that the name of Mr. Marsden is well known in New Zea

"They tell me, that, when they return, they shall sit up whole nights, telling their people what they have seen; and that their men will stop their ears with their fingers: we have heard enough,' they will say, of your incredible accounts, and we will hear no more; they cannot be true." "

The Governor of New South Wales, anxious to promote the improvement of New Zealand, and to prevent the recurrence of those atrocities which have disgraced the British name in that quarter, has issued General Orders, to make it known, that the natives of New Zealand and of the other islands are taken under his Majesty's protection; and has appointed Mr. Kendall to be resident Magistrate in New Zealand, with powers to enforce, in conjunction with the chiefs Duaterra, Shunghee, and Kurrokurro, certain regulations which he has framed for the prevention of similar offences in future.

Mr. Marsden himself returned with the chiefs to New Zealand, and took with him three Missionaries with their families, intending to leave them there. One of them is a carpenter, another understands flax-dressing, &c. We select some interesting passages from his letters, written about the time of his departure.

"I have purchased a vessel expressly for the purpose of promoting the civilization of these people, and did intend to visit them about seven months ago myself, but could not obtain the Governor's sanction." "I am fully convinced that these people will become a great nation, if they can only get iron." "My first object will be to introduce agriculture, in general, amongst them. My friend Duaterra has set them an example in growing wheat, &c. He is now with me. I have had some of their own flax dressed before them, spun and wove, and made into clothing, which has astonished them very much. The

wheels, looms, &c. appear to them wonderful. They are very proud of wearing clothes made of their own flax."

"Duaterra is fully confident, if he can but obtain iron, that, in three or four years, the whole island will be supplied with bread. He says, it is not long ago since the first potatoes were brought to the island; and now they are cultivated in every part, and have proved the greatest blessing to the natives. One pig only was put on shore by Mr. Turnbull, master of a whaler, and now they have a great number, and take much care of them. I supplied him, at different times, with wheat; but it was either lost in the vessels, or never given to him. When he first got home, I supplied him with seed. He immediately explained the value of the wheat, and gave a part to all the different chiefs with whom he was acquainted, reserving some for himself. The chiefs put the wheat into the ground, and had many consultations about it; but when it was near ripe, they thought Duaterra had imposed upon them, and had told them some fine stories as a traveller. They examined the roots; but, not finding the grain, as they expected, growing like the potatoe, they set fire to all their crops, and burnt the whole. Duaterra was much distressed at this circumstance, as he could not prevail upon them to give credit to what he said. He reaped his own wheat, and threshed it, and shewed it to the chiefs; but still they would not believe that it would make bread." "Duaterra borrowed a pepper-mill from a whaler, to shew his countrymen, by grinding the wheat,, that it would make bread. But the mill was so small that he could not produce a sufficient quantity, so as to remove their prejudices. By the Active I sent a new supply of wheat, and a wheat-mill to Duaterra.' When he got this mill, he immediately ground some wheat: when the chiefs saw the flour come from the mill, they

shouted for joy. He told me he afterwards made them a cake in the frying pan, and gave each a piece, which fully proved the truth of his former assertion, that wheat would make bread. This was the highest gratification."

"I am now (Nov. 18, 1814) embarked on board the Active for New Zealand, together with Messrs. Kendall, Hall, and King. I have, deemed it necessary to take a few select mechanies, to assist the settlers, for the present, to form their establishment. The chiefs and their attendants return with me, excepting one young man, who remains with my family at Parramatta, in order that he may improve his mind in useful knowledge."

The chiefs have heen much gratified with their visit to this co lony; and the inhabitants, in general, have treated them with kindness and respect. His excellency Governor Macquarrie has been very kind and attentive to them; and has given them three cows and a bull-one cow to each chief. I shall take a horse and two mares for the future benefit of the settlement. The Governor has also given to each of the chiefs a suit of military officer's clothing, which has been very acceptable to them. They all seem very grateful.

"At my request, his excellency the Governor has appointed Mr. Kendall to act as a magistrate, which will be a check upon some of the masters and owners of ves sels, and their crews, who visit New Zealand.”

4. WEST AFRICA.

The following is an extract of a letter from Colonel MacCarthy, the Governor of Sierra Leone, to the Secretary, dated 13th Aug. 1815:→ "I shall be very happy to give every support in my power to for ward the benevolent views of the Church Missionary Society. Mr. Butscher has received all the boys which he has demanded; and the whole of the captured negro boys

and girls will be placed in his hands, as soon as he can ereet a building for their accommodation. An allotment of one thousand acres of land, in addition to the one huudred acres granted to the Society, has since been made."

"Here is an ample field for ten or twelve persons. They would have at their command every assistance that might be afforded by Government; and the good which they would do is incalculable."

"I most sincerely rejoice to hear from you, that Government has acceded to the propositions of the Society; and shall, on my part, with the bighest gratification, de liver into the hands of the Missionaries all the liberated children; being convinced that the plan now adopted will be attended with the most beneficial results.”

An English clergyman having been appointed chaplain of the colony, Mr. Butscher will be at liberty to attend to the formation of the establishment projected on Leicester Mountain, for the reception of all the liberated children, amounting probably to upwards of a thousand, There are three houses in preparation, one for the boys and one for the girls, with apartments in each for the teachers, and one for the su perintendant.

From Baskia, in the Rio Pongas, Jellorum Harrison, the son of a chief in that river, who in early life quitted it with the Rev. Mr. Brunton, aud afterwards resided with him for many years at Karass near the bottom of Mount Caucasus, but who has lately returned to his native district, under the auspices of the Society, and is now placed there as a teacher of youth, thus writes:—

"Give my best respects to Mr. Wilberforce, and assure him I take it upon me, in the name of all the slaves of my unfortunate country, to return both theirs and my own thanks and gratitude for the bu mane feelings which he has shown toward our injured land. What a

happy thing it is, to see the peaceable state that this country is now in!-quiet, and free from war and slave vessels!-no dragging of families from one another!-no innumerable slaves chained together, male and female!-and the enemies of humanity, the slave-traders, gradually quitting the country! It has struck me forcibly, that where the Gospel makes its appearance there Satan's kingdom gradually diminishes. May God give grace and perseverance to his servants to carry on his work; and make them instruments in his hand of bringing it to perfection! And may God raise up some from among us, who will never forget the gratitude which we owe to that blessed shore, and evermore be thankful to our distinguished benefactor!"

On the 4th of June last, our king's birth-day was celebrated at Bashia in a singular and affecting manner. Ninety children and one adult were baptized into the faith of Christ. On this occasion Jellorum Harrison thus writes:

"I never was better pleased in my life-time, I may say, than to see so many of my countrymen brought so far as to be baptized; and was delighted to witness the great solemnity that attended the administration of the ordinance, and particularly when I saw a grown-up native come forward for baptism. We had likewise the happiness of seeing our church so full, that some were obliged to stand out of doors. Five or six of the native chiefs were present on the occasion. I had more hopes that day than I ever had, that God will shew mercy to these perishing countrymen of mine."

On the Bullom Shore, opposite to Sierra Leone, Mr. Nylander states, that the number of scholars of both sexes is increasing. He has transmitted a copy of St. Matthew's Gospel, which is now printing by the British and Foreign Bible Society, and is the first book of the word of God translated CHRIST. OBServ, App.

into the language of the West Coast. He has also translated the Morning and Evening Prayer of the Church of England, and some of Watts's Hymns, into Bullom.

WESLEYAN METHODIST MIS

SION IN CEYLON,

In the year 1818, the Rev. Dr. Coke, accompanied by six Missionaries, sailed for India. The Doctor died during the passage. The Missionaries, on their arrival at Bombay, were kindly received and hospitably entertained by Sir Evan Nepean, the governor. One of them, Mr. Hayward, remained at that place. The other five proceeded to Ceylon, where they were courteously received by Governor Brownrigg and others in authority. The Rev. Mr. Bisset, the chaplain, took a friendly interest in their destination, and with his aid and that of the Governor, it was agreed that Mr. Lynch and Mr. Squance should be stationed at Joffna, Mr. Ault at Batticaloe, Mr. Erskine at Matura, and Mr. Clough at Galle; and that while they were acquiring a knowledge of the native languages, they should open schools for teaching the natives English, for which the Governor would allow to each a salary of fifty rix-dollars a month. They forthwith repaired to their stations; and besides the business of their schools, employed themselves in preaching in English to those who understood that language, or through an interpreter to the natives. The Missionaries speak in the highest terms of the Rev. Mr. Bisset, and also of the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Twisleton, chaplain to the government, whose heart they state to be engaged for the religious and temporal improvement of the natives. The speak also of a Mr. Armour, who resigned, some years ago, a lucrative employment, that he might devote himself to the care of the schools and the work of the ministry. He 5 X