one hundred and twenty tons, in order to kill the seals for the sake of their skin and fat. Mr. John Woods, a member of our society, and also a Leader of a class, fitted out a vessel this spring, engaged an intelligent and respectable Captain, and, in order to give the Captain authority sufficient in the time of temptation, drew up an agreement specifying that no seals should be killed on the Sabbath: this was signed by all. A new thing this, which caused much talk among the profane! However, the crew and Master went out with the blessing of the Lord; and they returned from a most prosperous voyage in the short space of a fortnight. I was very pleased with a circumstance connected with a young man, one of the crew of the above ship. His father is a poor but pious and respectable man, living at PortugalCove, about nine miles from St. John's. On the Sabbath before the vessel sailed for the ice, I went to preach at the Cove, and stayed at the house of the young man. The aged parents were in great distress; for no member of their family had as yet gone on a voyage to the ice, God having provided for them in some other way, in which they were not so tempted to break the Sabbath. But poverty this winter pressed hardly upon them, and the son determined to seek out a "berth" in a sealing vessel. The Sabbath before he started, his father, with tears, observed to me, "I would rather he would come back without a seal, than break the Sabbath." "Fear not," said I; "he will be in good com "The Juvenile Christmas Offerings have equalled, if not exceeded, last year's; and this, considering the great distress which prevails, is indeed a matter of joy. Two little girls, who were indefatigable in collecting, and who brought to the Treasurer the sum of £6. 3s. 6d., were overheard by their mother conversing on the ill and good success they each had met with in their walks. 'You were always likely to collect more than I, you are older,' said Emma to Ellen. That is not the reason,' replied Ellen: you might have collected as much as I, only you did not go the right way about it.' "I am sure I went about as much as you did, and went to as many people.' 'Ah, but you did not pray before you set off in the morning.' 'Pray! why, no: it is the Lord's work, and surely he will bless us without asking.' 'O, but you know, we should do nothing without prayer.' 'Why, then, did you pray?' 'Yes, every morning: I asked the Lord to direct me where to get money for his poor Heathens, and I never returned home without some, except one morning; and that morning I got nothing, because I went without prayer.'" RECENT MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. MADRAS. Our work among the native people here is growing in interest; and I am not without hope of seeing a prosperous Mission in Royapettah. It is true, that the people about us have a mighty prejudice against Missionaries, arising partly, I suppose, from the late disturbances in Madras, on the subject of native education; but we have found them, on the whole, better than we could have expected. The other evening I took a few tracts, and one of the Gospels, and went towards Triplicane, where the Mahommedans of this part chiefly reside. I walked soberly down the street leading to it; and, from the curiosity and remark which my appearance attracted, it would seem as if a Missionary's visits were few and far between. Looking on either side for an opportunity to speak to some one, I saw a man leisurely sitting in the verandah the door of a native man's house, and another reading aloud, was rather a novel scene. Passers by were arrested, and one and another came, until my friend's door was thronged with people. I thought that the man, of course, would charge me with the confusion, and express it in no measured terms; but he was growing better disposed, and left his side of the verandah for me to sit down, at the same time making salaam, and requesting me to do so. I gave the reader the tract, and there was a clamorous inquiry as to who I was, and what I was, and why I came there, &c. One respectable Mussulman spoke to me in very imperfect English. (They like to show off their English.) I asked him what language he spoke then. "Why, it is your own language," exclaimed he, laughing. "That my language?" said I, with apparent astonishment. Some suggested that I was a Frenchman, and I had no more broken English. I found that the greater number spoke Hindoostanee and Telugu; and they begged hard for books in these languages. I now addressed them, told them who I was, and why I had left my country: showing them a Testament, I told them its character, and, inviting them to come to the Mission-house, where we had plenty of Christian books, I took my leave. I walked nearly to the bazaar, and, in returning home, a man beckoned me, and wished to know what book I carried under my arm. I told him it was part of the Christian's Bible, that which recorded the life of Jesus Christ. He demanded, in a strain of banter, who Jesus Christ was, and what Jesus Christ was to me. I told him that he was the Creator and Saviour of the world, and proceeded to show this; but when I came to speak of sin, and to affirm that all were sinners, the man grew violently angry at what he thought an assertion of unequalled impudence. "How do you know that I am a sinner? How do you know who in this crowd" (for a number had gathered about us) is the righteous man, and who the wicked?" The man would stop for no reply; but, putting his hand over his mouth, ran out of the company. That he was a sinner, was too much for his self-righteous pride to admit. However, he left the impression that anger is not argument. To this delightful work of carrying the words of eternal life to the dwellings of the people, I devote every Tuesday evening; and have the prospect of being able to spend another such evening in the town, when Mr. Roberts returns from the District-Meeting. Rev. E. E. Jenkins, Royapettah, January 24th, 1848. MANARGOODY.-The Hindoos are a deeply-interesting people, but completely under the power of that false system of religion which has existed among them from the remotest period. Idolatry is interwoven around their very hearts, and carried into every circumstance of life. They are so constant and diligent in the performance of those ceremonies which are laid down in their Shastras, or sacred books, that, in their way, they are certainly the most religious people on the face of the earth. They are deluded by "the Prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." Many of them, it is true, are willing to listen to the word of life; but to embrace Christianity they manifest the greatest repugnance. I trust, however, the Spirit of God is operating upon the minds of many of this benighted population. A few days ago I received a communication, both in English and Tamil, from an individual who, during my three years' residence in Negapatam, was employed by me as a Moonshee, or, in other words, to instruct me in the Tamil language. He is a very sensible man, and for many years has had a knowledge of the leading doctrines of Christianity. Often have I addressed him in reference to spiritual matters. Again and again have I endeavoured to persuade him to come out from among the ungodly, and to confess Christ before men. On such occasions he has generally referred to the very strong objections which his relations and friends had to his embracing Christianity. It is no easy task for a native of this country to renounce the religion of his ancestors. It is the greatest crime, according to the Shastras, of which a Hindoo can be guilty. I think, however, that the person to whom I now refer, feels his need of salvation. The letter to which I have alluded, reads as follows:-"Rev. and dear Sir,-My soul is sick, and I am disquieted and restless both day and night. I have rejected Christ, and now he rejects me. I fear death. Most kind father, pray for me, and advise me how to attain his (Christ's) favour." These are his own words, and I sincerely hope that the Holy Spirit is working upon his mind. I have written to him, and directed him to that Saviour who is the Physician of the sin-sick soul, and who, by the application of his blood, is able to restore the soul to perfect health and soundness, and to take away the sting of death, and enable the believer to say, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me."Rev. John Pinkney, April 5th, 1848. TURK'S-ISLANDS.-About two weeks ago I returned from our District-Meeting, held in Nassau, which commenced January 26th. I was exactly four weeks from my family and the societies committed to my care. The passage from Nassau to Turk's Islands was tempestuous and long. We were in sight of our port on the seventh day; but, in consequence of very stormy weather, and some damage that the vessel's rigging sustained, we were obliged to retreat and seek shelter, so that we did not reach our destination till the eleventh day. Our District-Meeting was a season of deep and delightful interest; the brethren were united in affection, their social intercourse during the sittings of the Meeting was eminently Christian and profitable, and all the public services were signally crowned with the blessings of the great Head of the church. The Chairman rendered himself very dear to his brethren. His intimate acquaintance with our entire economy, and conscientious regard for our usages and discipline; and his manifested devotion to the cause of God, the comfort of his brethren, and the welfare of the District; could not fail to secure for him a place in our affection. In a former letter from myself, and also through the medium of the Minutes of the DistrictMeeting, you have been informed of a grant of £80 having been made by the Honourable House of Assembly towards our new chapel at Salt-Cay. In conformity with the decision of the DistrictMeeting, I am now collecting contributions to be united to the above sum, and employed in bringing the erection to as speedy completion as possible. The walls will be finished in about two weeks, and the roof is about to be commenced. I am grateful to God in being able to inform you, that the work of the Lord in some degree prospers on this station. Our congregations are large, and our influence is evidently extending in these communities. True, we have difficulties to contend with; but God is with us amid them all. There is a degree of political excitement among us at present, on the question of the Turk'sIslands becoming a separate government, -a question that is now before the House of Assembly, it is said under the recommendation of the Home Government. Of course, as a Wesleyan Missionary, I stand aloof from all political parties; yet, as a watchman in Zion, I am obliged to guard and caution our people when I see them in danger. Whether the measure, if carried, will be for the general good or not, I profess not to say; but, if carried, sincerely do I pray that the cause of God may be thereby promoted.-Rev. Thomas Pearson, March 10th, 1848. DEATHS. WE announce, with feelings of deep pain, but in humble submission to Him who cannot err, the death of the Rev. Robert Lean, who had recently arrived at the Gambia, Western Africa, and had commenced his Missionary career under circumstances of great promise. He was seized with fever, at Macarthy's Island, on the 11th of March, and died on the 23d of the same month. During the short time which Mr. Lean had spent in the Gambia, he had acquired the love both of the people of his charge, and of his Missionary brethren. We have also received the afflictive intelligence of the death of Mrs. Cross, widow of the late Rev. William Cross, of the Feejee Mission. Mrs. Cross, subsequently to her lamented husband's death, had removed to Paramatta, in the Australian District, where she died, happy in the Lord, on Sunday, November 14th, 1847. LONDON-PRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS, HOXTON-SQUARE. |