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CHINA.

THE subjoined communications afford renewed occasion for the exercise of gratitude and hope, in connexion with the operations of the Society in this part of the world. It will be seen that a very encouraging commencement has been made at Ningpo, one of the five ports to which free access has been secured to our countrymen by the Treaty of Peace; and there, under the guidance and favour of Him whose kingdom ruleth over all, it may be confidently anticipated that a permanent footing for the Christian Missionary will be obtained. It will also be seen that a general meeting of the brethren was about to be held at Hong-Kong, for the purpose of deliberating on the further measures to be adopted in order to improve, to the utmost practicable extent, the present facilities and opportunities for the extension of the Gospel in China. To the proceedings of that meeting, conducted as we are assured they will have been, under a deep sense of the importance of the subject, and with earnest supplication for divine counsel, we look with great interest and hope; and trust we shall be able, in an early number, to place them before our readers.

(From Rev. W. C. Milne, Ningpo, January 22, 1843.)

It were needless for me to enter into detail upon the views and feelings which prompted me to take the step of leaving Chusan at least for a time, and of proceeding to Ningpo, to reside, if possible, in the heart of the city. The principal objects I had in view were, by being thrown entirely into Chinese society, to assimilate myself to the people in speech and manner, and to become acquainted with them as they really are, these objects, if gained, would qualify me for further usefulness in whatever sphere I might to fill during the rest of my life.

With these views, I left Chusan on the 7th of December, at noon, in a common native passage-boat. Beside myself, there were, my teacher, a servant boy, and some twenty passengers-all Chinese.

It was

about six in the evening of the same day, that we dropped anchor at one of the principal jetties, near the eastern gate of the city. I landed, and proceeded at once with my teacher and boy to the house of a surgeon, whose acquaintance I had made at Chusan, and whose frequent invitations encouraged me to place myself under his family-roof for a few days, until I should be able to procure suitable lodgings. received me with a hearty welcome, and has acted with uniform kindness.

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To the people of the city, it was not a novel thing to see an Englishman, for a steamer had only left Ningpo the same morning with several British officers, who had been on a visit. But the sudden appearance, in the dusk of the evening, of a solitary individual, dressed in a habit different from the uniform of the United Service, to which the inhabitants had become

accustomed, excited a little stir; and presently messengers appeared from the public offices to inquire into my name, my rank, and my objects. Late in the evening, I had a card sent me from the Chi-fu of the department of Ningpo, by whose marks of attention I had previously been honoured in Chusan. It was my intention from the first to make my early respects to some of the principal authorities; and the next morning, I called upon Shu Kungshau, the officer mentioned above. He received me with great politeness, and entertained me kindly. There were one or two other Civil Officers present. From his worship Shu I have, since that visit, received marks of friendship and real kindness. A day or two after my call, he returned it in person, and has again and again sent me his card, occasionally adding a present. It was also through his influence that I got into comfortable lodgings; and afterwards, when I was obliged to seek other quarters, it was one of his private Secretaries who arranged for the rooms I now occupy.

The other officers of the place also have been courteous, and nothing has been done, said, or hinted, indicative of a desire on their part that I should leave the place; but, on the contrary, strong wishes have been expressed that I should remain. This I have taken as a token for good. I would not, however, have it to be inferred from what I have just written that they are in any degree favourable to the Christian Religion, for they yet scarcely understand my objects. From what I have heard, they anticipate that my acquirements in the language will be called into exercise on the

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FOR NOVEMBER, 1843.

opening of the trade at this port, when they seem to suppose I shall be employed in an official capacity as a medium of intercourse between the subjects of the two nations.

As for the people, a change has come over them as great as over their officers. By many of the respectable and influential citizens I have been visited: from some of them I have received the most flattering assurances of their good-will, and from others sensible expressions of it, such as sometimes test one's modesty and patience. The late war has left an indelible impression on this part of the country; and the awful dread of the British soldiery and arms, in which all alike share-high and low, rich and poor, man and woman, young and old-is, I think, almost a sufficient guarantee that the peace will be kept, until the benefits, reaped from commercial and friendly intercourse, shall have strengthened the alliance against further violation. Since the 7th of December, with the ex

ception of the opening week of this year,
which I spent at Chusan, I have remained
here a solitary Englishman amid a bustling
population of Chinamen, and under the
paternal government and protection of the
Emperor of China-none daring to make me
afraid. I have been now nearly six weeks
a resident in this city, and, during that
time, have associated constantly and almost
solely with the natives.

In the opportunities of friendly intercourse, I have been favoured with, during this stay, I trust I have not entirely forgotten my vocation: it has been my endeavour to teach my visitors that "this is life eternal, that they might know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent." In this conversational mode of communicating scriptural truths, I find myself daily gaining utterance; and it only needs that I should be faithful to my calling, and energetic in wielding the sword of the Spirit, to improve the acquirement.

(From Dr. Lockhart, Chusan, July 11, 1843.)

I ARRIVED at this place, June 13th, and immediately sent word to my dear brother, Mr. Milne, of my arrival. In a few days he came over from Ningpo, and after staying here for a short time, he returned to that city, and I went with him, and stayed with him till his departure for Canton, overland, through the interior of the country, of which important event I will afterwards speak further. As you may have heard from him, he had been living seven or eight months alone at Ningpo, and on my arrival there I was much pleased to see the cordiality and kindness with which he was every where received by all classes: he has obtained an extensive knowledge of the dialect of the place, and speaks it readily and fluently.

Ningpo is a large, populous, and flourishing place; much activity and bustle pervade the streets, and, wherever we went, civility was displayed. While I stayed there I daily attended to a large number of patients, who flocked to the house, and crowded round it; and I was pleased to see that an influence could so soon be obtained over the minds of the people. The mornings were wholly taken up with my medical duties, and the afternoons and evenings spent in visiting various parts of the city, and gaining such information as I could regarding the place. This city is a most desirable position for some of the agents of our Society, and I trust it will be speedily occupied; that is, if Shanghae and it are both to

be taken as stations of the London Missionary Society; but, perhaps, of the two, Shanghae is the more important.

Since Mr. Milne heard that he would have to attend the meeting at Hong-Kong, it has been a subject of fervent prayer, and of anxious thought, whether it would not be highly desirable for him to proceed overland through the interior of the country, rather than by ship: his teacher, who has gone with him as guide, assured him of the practicability of the plan, and urged him to adopt it. On my arrival he explained to me all the circumstances, and after we had talked the matter over and prayed on the subject, I gave my hearty approval of his plan, and wished him to follow it out; and last Sabbath but one, July 2nd, he determined, if it should be the Lord's will, to take the journey; and eventually last Friday was the day fixed on for his departure, viz., July 7th, which will be a day memorable to me as long as I live.

The remainder of the morning was spent in various preparations for the journey, and making all arrangements regarding the teacher, servant, and boy, who were to go In the afternoon I with our dear brother. sent off all his English articles, books, clothes, &c. &c., with my own luggage, to the boat that was to take me to Chusan. We then prayed together for a successful issue to this great undertaking, and besought the Lord that he would grant every support and guidance by the way, and bless

the traveller in all his course, delivering him from evil and danger, and watching over him to the end of the journey.

Before starting, we again commended each other to the divine protection. About half-past ten, p. m., we left the house, Mr. Milne's luggage being sent on to his boat: we passed through the city gates together, and after turning a few streets, our roads separated, and we bade each other a final adieu. He went to the boat which was to take him up the river, and on to ShaouLing, while I went down the river, and to Tinghae.

I expect to hear frequently from him on his journey, but cannot have a letter till the end of this week at the earliest he hopes to reach Hong Kong in about thirty days, if all be well. May the Lord watch over my dear brother, grant unto him every mercy on his way, and carry him to the

end of his journey in peace and safety. The information that he will obtain will, doubtless, be very valuable both to himself and the brethren whom he will meet at HongKong; and as the meeting of our brethren is to be held in August, Mr. Milne will, I think, be able to reach that place in time.

How soon is it the intention of the Society to send out new agents to this country? It would be very desirable, and would greatly expedite the work, if some were to be sent out at once, so that the new stations determined on might be speedily occupied; for it is a pity to lose any time when so effectual a door is thrown open before us in this land. If I might express an opinion, I would urge on the Directors the necessity of sending out three or four instantly, and the remainder can follow as soon as may be judged convenient.

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(From Rev. Dr. Legge, Hong-Kong, July 31, 1843.)

As the Government steamer, Akbar, leaves this settlement to-morrow with despatches for Bombay, I embrace the opportunity to inform you of our safe arrival here on the 10th instant. We were altogether three weeks on the voyage from Singapore to Macao, and, through the goodness of Divine Providence, experienced not a single storm of any violence. I hope the brethren, Medhurst, Dyer, and John and Alexander Stronach, who were to leave Singapore on the 15th of this month, will be as highly favoured, and that we shall have the pleasure of greeting them in the course of the present week. It is not likely that Mr. Milne will be down from Ningpo so soon; perhaps not before the 10th of August. Mr. Lockhart went up to Chusan with his family in June, and he has not written whether he intends coming down again to be present at the meeting. With the exception of him, and should nothing untoward have occurred, all your Missionaries will be assembled here, and have commenced their deliberations before the middle of next month.

We are at present living in the Medical Missionary Hospital, with Dr. and Mrs. Hobson, who received us with all hospitality and christian affection. It is, in

deed, impossible at present to rent a house in the present state of the settlement, as the houses already built are not nearly suf ficient to accommodate all the merchants who must remove here from Macao, in the course of a month or two. This is owing to the Government having originally made limited grants of land for building purposes, and declined, during the last five months, making any such grants at all. We shall barely be in time to avail ourselves of the fresh issues which are soon to be made. The Plenipotentiary is to turn his attention to the subject after the departure of the Akbar, and it is desirable that an early application should be made by us, lest the situations best suited for our purpose should be secured by other parties.

I like the aspect of Hong-Kong. It is a long series of hills. The only level ground is in the intervening valleys. No people living here could fall into the mistake that the earth was a vast plain. The Chinese population is not yet very large, but as soon as the mercantile houses come over from Macao, there will be an increase of several thousands. Ultimately the island will become a hive, and I hope that many a christian swarm will go forth to settle on the adjoining continent.

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NEW HEBRIDES.-MISSION AT TANNA.

(From Rev. Messrs. Turner and Nisbet, Tanna, December 10th, 1842.) EVER since we landed, we have been favoured with as many encouragements as could be expected in the present stage of the Mission.

The war, that broke out about four months ago, still continues, and we know not when it will end. At present, we have no fear whatever for our personal safety. It is a sad hindrance, however, to our work,causing our schools to be unattended, narrowing our sphere of labour, and, in a thousand ways, working mischief. Still we must hope that it will all end, in some way or other, for the advancement of the Redeemer's glory. This is our daily special prayer.

War is not likely to be our greatest hindrance. Now that we begin to understand the state of things better, we find a priestcraft exercised here, from which we expect to meet much opposition. The struggle has already commenced. There is an extensive district in the neighbourhood of the Volcano, populated entirely by "sacred men," as they are called. These are supposed to cause almost all the sickness and death, and are thought to have the power of both under their control. They have gained an astonishing influence over the minds of the people: pigs and all sorts 3 of valuables are poured into their treasury from day to day; and thus they live as lords, or rather tyrants, over multitudes around. These wily fellows begin to see that if Christianity prevails, it will be a death-blow to their craft; and they seem determined, if possible, to exterminate us. They have made desperate attempts upon our lives, but these providentially have been arrested. One of our servants, however, lately received a blow from the club of one of them, which we feared would prove fatal. In great mercy, the Lord blessed

the means for his recovery, and he is now nearly well. Wherever we go we have to be on our guard against these fellows. The people all around are eagerly hoping that what we say is true, and that they may yet be freed from the shackles of these diseasemakers; but we fear it will be some time before their deep-rooted prejudice is extirpated. For a time we have deemed it prudent not to go near that district, where we are likely to meet with violence. We get the people to come from the places near it, for conversation and worship. Very soon we must try and visit them in some way or other. Yesterday, a Chief from that neighbourhood told us most affectingly that his people were weeping" on account of what had taken place, and fearing that it would prevent "Misi," as they call us, from joining them for a long time. Pray for us! We have no fear. The hairs of our heads are all numbered, and our Father will not permit anything to befal us but what shall seem good in His sight. We know too that we have Omnipotence on our side; and that He who is for us need but speak the word, and satanic opposition in every form shall be driven as chaff before the wind.

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We are sadly retarded in our work for want of native teachers. May we soon have some from among the Tannese themselves! But, in the meantime, we greatly need a few good Samoans or Rarotongans. We have only one teacher who is of any use to us on the island, and he is often unwell. We might settle some teachers immediately on many important parts of the island, where there are Chiefs from time to time sending pressing requests; and oh! do not let us be without as many European brethren as you can possibly send us!

SOUTH AFRICA.

UITENHAGE.

(From Rev. W. Elliott, Uitenhage, July 17, 1843.)

We have lately had the pleasure of receiving into church communion three Fingo women. I have every reason. to believe that they are all subjects of the grace of God, walking in the fear of the Lord. There is strong evidence of the sincerity of these people in their conduct under the persecutions they have to endure from their unbelieving countrymen. The believing

Fingos have found it advisable to separate themselves from the general body of their people, and form a little Christian village, about half an hour's ride from the town. It consists of five or six Christian families, who present a striking contrast to the Fingoes still living in a savage state. They are well clad, live in habits of industry, and are gradually accumulating property. They

hold religious worship together morning and evening; and manifest the most earnest desire for instruction.

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I had occasion, the other day, to ride out to their encampment, to visit a sick woman. As I had not seen much of that part of the country, I left the horse in charge of my little boy, and ascended one of the ravines in the neighbourhood. my return I found my son surrounded by the villagers, sitting on the ground, reading and spelling, delighted with the unexpected visit of their young teacher. The children manifest great readiness in learning; but their parents, with two or three exceptions, notwithstanding their indomitable perseverance, make but little progress. There is another interesting little village about the same distance from town, in another direction, consisting of ten or twelve Christian Bassouta families, who meet together morning and evening for worship. These people are, for the most part, more industrious and better disposed than the Fingoes. They dress uncommonly well, keep their houses beautifully clean, and supply many families in Uitenhage with milk from their herds and flocks. It is a remarkable fact, that though the Bassoutas and Fingoes form a considerable part of the Mission church, not a single charge of delinquency has ever been brought against one of them, and any little misunderstanding, that may take place among them, is easily adjusted. This is in a great degree to be attributed to the fact,

that not one of them, so far as I know, makes use of wine, or strong drink; and they are the only class of the coloured population of whom this can be said.

I had lately the pleasure of baptizing a man and woman, who give the most satisfactory evidence of a change of heart. They both trace their first religious impressions to the simple instructions of a member of the church, who lives at a farm about twenty miles from Uitenhage, and who has, for many years, held religious worship with his fellow-servants and others, every Sabbathday, and an evening or two in the week. The simple labours of this man have been wonderfully blest. His mother, wife, brother, and sisters, are consistent members of the Mission-church; and, together with several others, attribute their acquaintance with the truth to the instrumentality of their devoted relative.

The most prosperous class of the coloured population in these parts, and, I believe, throughout the Colony, are the late apprentices. They are now reaping the advantages of those habits of industry to which they have been necessarily addicted from their early youth. Many of them are respectable tradesmen, and if they were as provident of their earnings as the Fingoes and Bassoutas, they would be rich. From their habits and associations, they more nearly approach the European character than any other class of the natives.

CONVERSION OF AN ENGLISHMAN IN JAMAICA. (From Mr. W. Milne, Four Paths, March 13, 1843.)

DURING the past year, a large measure of outward success has attended the preaching of the Gospel at Four Paths, and Brixtonhill; and I believe that, in not a few instances, a genuine and abiding work of the Holy Spirit has been exerted on the minds and hearts of the hearers, enlightening them to know their true condition, and disposing them to embrace Jesus Christ as their only hope of salvation. Several white persons (emigrants and others) who formerly

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posed themselves," have become constant attendants on the preaching of the Gospel. I subjoin a short account of one of these, whose death-bed I attended, and respecting whom I humbly believe, that, though a sinner above many, he found mercy of the Lord.

From his youth he had been instructed in the Scriptures, and had even been a Sunday-school teacher, in connexion with an Independent church in England. But on coming to Jamaica, he cast aside his profession, and soon plunged into the worst

sins of the country. He occasionally attended chapel, but without putting away the evil of his doings; though at the same time he constantly affirmed to his companions that the doctrines preached by your Missionaries were in accordance with the word of God.

In the midst of this career of wickedness, a dangerous illness seized him, and compelled his reluctant mind to think of God and eternity. He sent for me, and requested me to pray with him. I told him that could not save him, unless by a sincere and hearty repentance, and confession of his sins to God, he turned from them to receive Jesus Christ as his only Saviour. I tried to bring his transgressions before him, and to fix his attention on them in all their aggravated malignity, as having been com mitted against the convictions of his own conscience, and amidst unnumbered mercies from his Heavenly Father's hand. He admitted them freely and fully; said they were his burden night and day; and that if

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