Extract of a Letter from the Rev. W. Ward to Lieutenant Moxon, dated June 19, 1814.

Yesterday our friend Mahammed Bahar came into my room with a letter from Mr. Loveless of Madras; he had been wonderfully delivered out of the hands of the mussulmen. He went down to Calcutta to get a few rupees that were owing to him by a mussulman; this man was going off in a ship, and he was induced to go to the house of a mussulman to seek him; here they offered him the Hooka, which they had prepared with an intoxicating drug, and by which he was laid senseless. In this state he was put into a palanqueen and carried in a twelve-oared boat, to an Arab ship just about to sail. As soon as he came to himself, to his surprize, he was in the hold; and endeavouring to come up on deck, to complaiu to the English pilot, they knocked him down, and beat him so unmercifully that the scars are yet in his body. They also put him in fetters, and kept him in this state until the pilot had left them, when they made him work in the ship; kept him upon three biscuits and some water a day, and once or twice tied him up to compel him to renounce Christ! They were thus proceeding, when a violent storm compelled them to cast anchor at Goa; there, in the night, he slipped down by the side of the ship, and fled to the city, where a Portuguese man took him in, and hid him for seven days, till the ship had left the place. From hence he travelled to Bombay, and got a passage to Madras. On his arrival at Madras he made himself known to Mr. Loveless, who, with the assist ance of the "Friend-in-need Society," paid his passage in a vessel to Bengal; and thus our poor friend, a young man Vol. VII.

18 years of age, a native of Arabia, returned to us, having escaped from the hands of those who sought his destruction.

Lieutenant Buck was baptized a few days ago, by brother Carey. He is now gone to join his regiment. I think it is at Futtyghur.

Leters from the Rev. Eustace Carey and Mrs. Carey had been received at Nagpoor, stating their safe arrival at Madras, the 24th of June, where they would remain 15 days,

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The difficulties and dangers of the missionaries of this Society in Western Africa, arising from the infamous Slave Trade, are fully and faithfully related in the “ Missionary Register" for Deer. 1814. The missionaries have been greatly distressed by the war between the Foulahs and Susoos, which seemed. for a time, to threaten the existence of their settlements; but at the date of the last dispatches, these fears had been happily removed. They have had great difficulty in conducting themselves in such a manner, as to avoid the consequences of the ill-will of persons whose interest it is to misrepresent them to the natives. Mr. Wenzel, one of the missionaries, speaking of the summer of 1813, deeply regrets the renewal of the Slave Trade in the Rio Pongas:--“ With much reluctance and grief I have to mention the reviving of the felonious Slave Trade. More than 1000 persons were carried off from this river in the course of the last six months; and many more will be carried off in a short time. The Slave Traders take advantage of the war with America, and enter the river even with American privateers as their convoy. The slave vessels come in, deliver their cargo, and in the course of 24 hours are filled with slaves and depart again. If this abominable trade should so continue, in what a miserable condition shall we be placed! The traders irritate the head-men against us?" Speaking of these traders, it is added, “They are a disgrace to our nature, and a curse to the country which harbours them.". Much affliction has prevailed in this mission. The laymen and their wives, six in number, who accompanied Mr. Butscher from England to Africa, are reduced to one within M

eighteen months, The missionaries have been divinely strengthened to persevere in their Master's work, in the midst of trials, heavy, and, of late, unparalleled.

EDINBURGH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Crimea. By a letter which the seeretary has received from Mr. Pinkerton, at Petersburgh, the grateful intelligence is received, that the ten copies of the Tartar New Testament, which the Missionaries at Karass had, in compliance with the request of the Petersburgh Bible Society, sent to Mr. Bellugin, for distribution in the Crimea, had reached that gentleman; who, in his letter of acknowledgement to his excellency Mr. Popoff, one of the secretaries of the Petersburgh Society, communicates the following most interesting intelligence concerning the manner and effects of their reception.

"Forgive me,' says he," that I have not written to you sooner, on account of my not having had an interview with the Mufti. But now I have had the honour of seeing him, and of presenting him with a copy of the Tartar New Testament, which he accepted with exultation and many expressions of gratitude. After we had much conversation and many explanations, he expressed a desire to become a member of the St. Petersburgh Bible Society, and subscribes annually fifty rubles.

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Asia. The missionaries in the service of this society, who left England in January 1814, have safely arrived in Batavia. Mr. Kass, Mr. Supper, and Mr. Bruckner were received with great kindness by Dr. Ross, the only surviving Dutch minister. Mr. Kass, at the direction of Mr. Ross, is gone to Amboyna, Mr. Bruckner is appointed to Samarang, and Mr. Supper was desired to remain at Batavia, as the colleague of Dr. Ross. Mr. Le Brun has arrived safely at the Isle of France. The governors of the respective islands have shewn a friendly disposition towards the missionaries.

Africa. Mr. Reed has sent a very circumstantial account of the establishment of a new settlement called Theopolis, and of the state of the missionary settlement at Bethelsdorp,

founded by the late Dr. Vanderkemp. At the latter place two of the Hottentot brethren were set apart as Elders, and instead of one, two deacons, and two deaconnesses: all of them converts from among the Hottentots.

Mr. Reed speaks of numbers under conviction; and of others they expect to receive into communion, among whom is a Caffre woman, who cannot speak a word of Dutch; but, he says, "the Lord has made her understand him, and she is seeking him very earnestly." Mr. Thom has began preaching in Dutch, and on a journey had collected upwards of 300 Rix Dollars for the Society.

FRANCE.

State of Religion among the Protestants in the South of France. Extracts of a letter from a French protestant Minister. (Translation.)

I exceedingly rejoice to see the zeal of so many servants of God in England, for the advancement of the Kingdom of our dear Saviour; a phenomenon the more remarkable, because, as it seems to me, it has appeared at a time, when Satan entértained expectations of destroying christianity in France, and perhaps, throughout the whole world. How delightful would it be, were we to behold a similar zeal animate our France; but alas, the number of true Israelites is still very small, or, at least, little known. Yet, after the seasou of sifting and apostacy, through which we have passed, one is astonished to see that the number of evangelical ministers is greater than before, though, unhappily, not sufficiently great. The spirit of the world reigns in our churches, the essential truths of christianity have been obscured, particularly the doctrine of justification by faith, which is the fundamental and distinguishing truth of the Reformation. It is amazing that the doctrine of the Reformation has become unknown in the very bosom of the reformed church, and that people debate with a dry and barren morality, after the example of pagan philosophers, without attending to Him who has said, "Come unto me, and I will give you rest." "He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me ye can

do nothing." I think we have reason to believe that the decayed state of the congregations originates with the universities, or that, at least, they very much contribute thereto.

Arianism has made great efforts to introduce itself there, and several of the students have imbibed it. The spirit of the world, which is the spirit of philosophy, falsely so called, infects even ecclesiastical assemblies and the pulpit. A sensible and pious man remarked to me, a short time back, that so much immorality has never been seen among protestants, as since the period that morality alone is preached. There are still among us, God be praised, persons possessed of genuine simplicity, sheep of the good Shepherd; and it is observed here, and I believe elsewhere, that when the gospel is preached in its purity, and with unction, the hearers are respectful and attentive; but the dead have need to hear the voice of the Son of God, that they may live; we see it expedient that the Holy Spirit should come and breathe upon our souls, and reanimate our dry bones, in order that we may form a living church of Christ.

At Nismes and St. Hypolite, there are private assemblies for christian edification. At St. Hypolite there is no temple, though there are near 4000 protestants; divine worship takes place in the open air when the weather is fine. The number of persons of both sexes, who can neither read nor write, is considerable, in all our churches; and that is, because the protestants have no Charity schools, with the exception of a very small number of churches, and because the poor are not sufficiently encouraged to seek instruction. We had formed a little establishment in this town, for the instruction of six poor children, but, in consequence of the severe times, through which we

have passed, it has fallen to the ground. I commend myself and my congregations to the affectionate intercessions and kind remembrance of the disciples of Jesus in England. I beg you to assure them, that I cordially love them in our common Lord and Saviour, and that I wish them the happiness of bringing unto him many souls, who may be able to declare,. "Thou hast loved us-thou hast washed us from our sins in thine own blood."

TOLERATION IN FRANCE,

On the restoration of the Bourbons to the throne of France, a spirit of persecution was manifested by the Catholics at Nismes, one of the principal Protestant cities. Expecting a general massacre, 300 men, armed in self-defence,watched night after night, for some time. The Government being informed of this circumstance, sent down a Commissioner, who having ascertained that the Protestants were well affected towards the new order of things, a Royal proclamation was issued, and affixed to the churches, declaring the determination of the King to protect all his subjects in the undisturbed exercise of their religious principles.

Dreadful Ravages of War.

The German journals contain a particular account of the loss of men, owing to the wars of Buonaparte, since 1802. The aggregate amount is 5,800,000 men in ten years, which is more than half a million annually. This calculation does not include a great number of premature deaths, caused by the accidents of war, by fright, despair, &c.

How delightful the prospect of Messiah's predicted universal reign, when" Wars shall cease to the ends of the earth."

IRELAND.

BAPTIST SOCIETY. This Society, established in London, during the last year, is, as yet, but little known to

the religious public. The Baptist denomination being reduced very low in Ireland, it was not to be expected that any considerable exertions could

be made in so short a period. We are happy to find, however, that the "Corresponding Committee" in Dublin, have been very active, and that a commencement has been made both as to Itinerant preaching, and the establishment of schools for teaching the native Irish to read the scriptures in their own language.

The following particulars will shew the utility of this İnstitution, and will doubtless gratify those who have contributed to its support.

Mr. M. was strongly recommended to the Committee, by several respectable persons, as a pious man, who could speak the Irish language fluent ly; and, who had, through a divine blessing, been the instrument of the conversion of about thirty catholics. He was, accordingly, engaged by the Committee to go from house to house, or, rather, from cabbin to cabbin, to read and explain the Irish testament. He has been thus employed for some time past, in the dark county of Counaught, and gets easy access to the lowest order of the catholics; a privilege which could not be obtained by any one in the character of a preacher; or, as they would denominate him, a swaddler.":

We understand that Mr. M. has twenty lads placed under his care, to learn Irish; their parents having charged them to attend to what M. says to them, let their priests do what they will.

Another person, a Catholic Schoolmaster in a Village in the West of Ireland, engaged by the Secretary, last June to read the Irish testament to his neighbours, for a trifling remuneration, has, on account of his faithful services, had a further sum granted him to extend his labours. We understand people go with their rushlight candles for half a mile round to bear him read and F. is so pleased with his employment, that he says, if he received no money, he would not give it up. His hearers say, that, "whatever opposition the priest may make, they will go to hear the new will read !"

A subsequent letter from Mr. M.

December 21st, 1814, furnishes the following encouraging Account. "I find such an opening in the houses and hearts of the poor people in Ireland, for me to read and explain the Irish testament, that exceeds all my expectations. If I could make twentyfour parts of myself, I could not, even in a small degree, fulfil their or my wishes. Such is the ardent desire of the Irish, to be instructed in the native language."

Mr, N. a Pædobaptist minister in the County of Sligo, has assisted the Committee by distributing thirty Irish testaments; all, excepting two, being given to Catholics. They not only read them, in their cabbius, but to their neighbours. They take great pleasure in perusing them, kaving never seen an Irish testament before!"

Mr. D. employed as an Itinerant at Sligo, and its vicinity, has preached twice on a Lord's day to a small congregation of baptists, since the beginning of November During the week he preaches at several villages: he informs the Committee, that there is a large field for usefulness, for many miles round, which he should occupy, if he were provided with a horse to enable him to extend his labours. He indulges hopes that one poor woman, who wishes to unite with the church at Sligo, has been converted by his ministry.

Mr: M'C. still labours incessantly in the county of Westmeath; he preaches either statedly or occasionally, at 15 different places. A neat place of worship, that will scat about 200 people, has been hired, since June 1814, at Port-Arlington, at the annual rent of six guineas. This laborious Itinerant, who is a very acceptable preacher, and a native of Ireland, preaches almost every day, and sometimes two or three times in the same day, at different places. He preaches in the morning before poor people go to their labour, and in the evening after they have done. The following are extracts from his quarterly journal.

"Wednesday, July 13. Went to Roserea to preach to the soldiers and inhabitants in the barracks at 8 o'clock