CAPE TOWN.

Extract of a letter from the Rev. Mr. Beck, Dec. 6, 1822. The pleasing alteration which has taken place in Cape Town, during the last four years, is really surprising Prejudice against missionary proceedings has vanished in a great measure; an uncommon interest in behalf of "the ignorant and those out of the way," has been excited; young persons have been found willing to devote their time and talents to their instruction; and, on the whole, we have reason to exclaim, "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we have reason to be glad."

Aware that you may feel anxious to know not only state. ments, but facts respecting our doings, I shall commence with the Sabbath, which is employed, both in the forenoon, and afternoon, in instructing the heathen to read; after which an Address is given by the Teachers in their turn. The number of Scholars has increased from 30 to 100, and the number of Teach ers from 6 to 20.

On the first Monday of the month, we are engaged in the Missionary Prayer-meeting, which is well attended, and the collections are often very liberal. On the second Monday, we have a Prayer-meeting for the Teachers of the Sabbath and Thursday Schools to devise plans for further usefulness; to encourage one another to go on in the work of prayer, hymns and addresses; to converse about those heathens whom we have reason to hope are under serious impressions; and to select the candidates for baptism, consisting, at present, of twelve individuals.

On the following Mondays, the candidates are examined as to the hope that is in them, and that knowledge of the sacred Scriptures which we deem necessary to constitute them fit subjects for baptism.

On the first Tuesday of the month, we have a Church-meeting, to admit members, and to converse with the members about their progress in knowledge, and in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Often, to hear the unadorned effusions of

a heathen mind under the influence of the grace of God, is really delightful. Should it be gratifying to you, I shall endeavour to transmit to you in future letter a few of their remarks.

On the Wednesdays, I preach to the inhabitants, and the meeting is well attended, consisting of those belonging to the Calvinistic and Lutheran denominations.

On Thursdays, we are engaged in an Evening School for the heathen, which has been commenced lately with flattering prospects, the number of scholars having increased from 60 to 280, of whom from 120 to 140 attend constantly.

On Friday nights, the Scriptures are expounded to the heathen; and on Sabbath evenings they are catechized, when, from 300 to 400 attend, and their progress is very pleasing.

On the whole, by the grace of God, we have not laboured in vain, nor spent our strength for nought. Many, though com- paratively few, considering the number who attend the means of grace, have been brought to the knowledge of the truth, during the last three years of our missionary proceedings.

You will probably feel desirous to know what is the state of our minds. They have not been without trials; but, thanks be to God, those trials have served to humble pride, to increase zeal, and trust in Providence, and our faith in the promises, to make us feel for souls, to endear friends, and to convince us, that the work in which we are engaged is the work of God, and must prevail. Pray for us, dear brother, that we may persevere to the end, and finish our course with joy.-Erang. Mag.

FLOATING CHAPEL.

We are glad to hear that a Floating Chapel has been opened in the Port of Dublin, for the use of the Seamen. A vessel of 260 tons has been fitted up for that purpose. lieve, the first chapel of the kind in the Established Church.

This is we be

Scientific Department.

Voyages and Travels of Discovery.

This is a head of Scientific information which we intend fre quently to introduce, for the purpose, particularly, of noticing every fresh opportunity that occurs for the spread of the gospel. We are not aware of any recent publication of Voyages or Travels with which our readers must not already be acquainted. In every way the most interesting publication of the kind is, Capt. Franklin's Narrative of his Journey to the shores of the Polar Sea. But both the moral and physical discoveries contained in it, have been fully laid before the public in a variety of ways. There have been published also, several volumes of travels in North America; but they do little more than describe vast regions yet uninhabited, the future populating of which connects itself with many interesting and important speculations respecting the moral history of Man. We cannot help asking ourselves, to what extent these countries will bear population, and when may their population be filled up; and we reflect with pleasure, that, from the very commencement, they will be leavened with pure Christianity; that here will be an extension of the kingdom of Christ, without centuries of struggling with long established superstitions, as in other countries. The history of the United States would furnish solid data for important conclusions on this subject, but we cannot at present pursue it.

From Central Africa we have the following information, taken by the London periodical publications, from the Sierra Leone Gazette.

"It is with great pleasure that we have to announce the return of Captain Alexander Gordon Laing, of the Royal African Light Infantry, from the interior, in the full enjoyment of good health. He left Falaba, the capital of Soolimana, on the 17th of September last, and on the night of the 28th ult. arrived at the village of Ma

harie, on the left bank of the Rokelle, where he was met by Captain Stepney, Senor Altavilla, and the Hon. K. Macauley ;/ next day he proceeded to this colony, where he arrived on Tuesday last, the 29th ult. It may be recollected that Captain Laing left this colony on the 16th of April last, on a mission to the King of the Soolimana nation, on which occasion the most enterprising portion of the merchants embraced the opportunity of forwarding a caravan with such articles of merchandise as were supposed suited for the trade of the interior.

"The path by which the Mission returned has been what is called opened, and many natives of the Soolima and Kooranko nations have accompanied it for the purpose of trading with the colony. Captain Laing, on his return, had sent a messenger to intimate his intention of visiting the King of the northern Koorankos, but was, nevertheless, compelled to wait two weeks for his arrival at Kamato, although his Majesty had expressed a strong desire of seeing him; he treated the party well, and agreed to permit the people of Sangara to pass through his country to this colony. The Sangaras are great travellers, and great traders, resembling in both respects the Saracooles; but as yet they have been obliged to barter gold and fine cloths in the Soolima and Footah countries for European articles; the natives of the latter countries, for political reasons, preventing their approach to the water side. The Koorankos, under the dominion of Ballansama, seem to be a better and more liberal people, manifesting an anxious wish to facilitate the intercourse of more distant nations to this colony. Several trad"ers from Sangara, who were on a visit to the king, accompany the Mission, and have brought a considerable quantity of gold; and the king has sent one of his sons and his only brother, to assure His Excellency the Governor of his wish to open and cultivate an intercourse with the colony. The King of Soolimas has also sent, a son of his to make similar assurances.

"Captain Laing has traced the whole course of the noblest branch of this river, the Rokelle, to its very source. He slept at its source on the 3d of September last. lat. and 10 deg. 5 min. W. long.

It rises in 9 deg, 45 min. N. After receiving many tributary

streams near its source, it swells out to a considerable river before it has run 30 miles-it might here be navigated, were it not for the numerous scattered rocks over which it has to flow.

"From two different eminences he saw the hill from which the mysterious Niger (there called Tembie) springs-the hill is named Loma, and forms the commencement of a chain extending to the northward from the Kissi country, where they first arise. The Niger flowing from the hill of Loma in 9 deg. 36 min. W. long. marks the boundary between Sangara and Soolimana, the former being to the right or east, and the latter to the left or west. The geographical site of Loma was ascertained by taking the bearings. from two points thirty miles distant from one ano her; and from the talent and well-known accuracy of Captain Laing, there can be no doubt of the observations being correct.

"The Camaranca River was also visited at several parts of its course by Captain Lain: it rises two days' journey east of the Niger, and makes a bold attempt to unite with the Rokelle, about ninety miles distant from this colony, approaching at one place within a few miles of it. In its westerly course it runs through the centre of the Kooranko country, which is one of the largest that we have any knowledge of on this side of Africa.

"Captain Laing also makes mention of the Mungo,* a large and very fine river, which disembogues itself into the ocean through the same mouth as the Scarcies; it is a river of greater magnitude than the latter, and it has hitherto been unknown to Europeans; it rises twenty miles to the northward of Rokelle, close to Beilia, a Foulah town two days' journey S. E. from Timbo. It was at this town that Serjeant Tuft and Musah Kanta were left by Alimamee Abdolkader, when he went to attack Sangara. The king crossed the Niger the second day from Beilia.

"In the Limba country the Mungo is joined by the Kabba, a river upwards of one hundred yards broad, and which rises about twen ty miles south of Timbo, the capital of the Foulahs. Captain Laing places Timbo in 10 deg. 52 min. north lat. and 10 deg. 34 min. west long."

ABOTANY.

Plants which were in flower in the Mission Garden, in March, 1824.

Monandria Monogynia.-Canna indica-nepalensis-coccinea-limbata. Phrynium capitatum-imbricatum. Kempferia

It is the wish of Captain Laing to change the nature name of this river to M'Carthy's River, in honor of Sir Charles M'Carthy.

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