the vanities of this world appear to me while I exclaimed, O happy souls! favoured with the presence of God, and communion with him, your enjoyments far exceed those of the worldling, for his are perishing-yours shall endure for ever. Public worship was well attended throughout the day, and from all I could learn it was a time of refreshing to many. From that period until the Tuesday morning, I preached nine times. While here the settlers told me that from the excessive drought, all their expectation was blasted in respect to the harvest, and requested me to lay their case before the Lieut. Governor, for an increase of rations, and, if possible, a new site for their village, both of which his Honour has since kindly acceded to. On arriving at Fraser's camp, I was informed that there are two small settlements in the neighbourhood, one at the Springs, and the other at the Buffalo Fountain; at each of these there are five families, in all 42 souls. I preached twice to them. The people here are really to be pitied, they have had no share of goats from the Governor's grant to the settlers, and their only support is, (with the exception of the men's rations,) the wild roots which they gather, or dig up in the bush; the females and children are not allowed rations. At Trumpeter's Drift the settlers are in rather a better condition, having had their share of goats, and being more successful in a procuring game. Though their gardens and Îndian corn failed, yet they have had “ something to support nature," as one of them thankfully expressed it. From all that I could perceive, the settlers at this station are happy and contented as to temporal things, but mourn on account of the want of spiritual instruction. I preached twice to a large and attentive congregation here. At the Junction, the most populous of our settlements on the Fish River, containing 215 souls in all, the settlers have exceeded my most sanguine expectations; their industry, it is true, failed of success, for three large gardens are totally burnt up; but not a complaining word was heard; on the contrary one said, "This is a trial of our faith;" another said, "Well, if our crops have failed, see the kindness of God; we have had an increase of 492 kids ;" and a third added, "We ought to be thankful, for even the river supplies us with fish, and our young men are frequently successful in hunting, why should we complain?" They have failed in leading out the water, but I am happy to state that the Governor has kindly granted, from my representation of their case, a farm formerly possessed by a Dutchman, where a water course is begun, and which, when completed, will irrigate many hundreds of acres. My stay at the Junction was, I trust, both pleasant and profitable, preaching twice every day, and four times on the Sabbath. ORPHAN CHILDREN AT BENARES, NORTH OF INDIA. In a communication bearing date 19th of April last, from the brethren at Benares, the following deeply affecting statement has been brought under our notice. We present it at the request of these brethren to the attention of the Society's friends throughout the United Kingdom, and would unite with them in expressing the hope that the distressing case which it makes known, as well as the valuable object it is intended to promote, may meet the kind consideration of the benevolent and compassionate. After referring to a number of other subjects connected with their labours, the devoted Missionaries observe : With respect to schools, our operations are now limited to the school for orphans and children of native Christians. This has not recently undergone any material change, but we are about to have a large addition to the number of children. A famine has been raging for some months in the western provinces, so severe that many human beings have perished. With a view to aid the sufferers, the magistrates in several places have collected numbers of poor helpless orphans who have been left in a state of utter destitution. We have engaged to take about fifty of these into our school, and bring them up as the adopted children of the Mission, so as to keep them from the contamination of idolatry. We are doing this, however, as a work of faith, our means of supporting them being very uncertain. But surely our friends at home will have mercy on the poor creatures, and assist us to bring them up in the fear of the Lord. If any friend will give us £3 a year, it will support an orphan who may be called by any name the donors may choose. We trust that these poor orphans, by becoming children of the church, may yet be the means of promoting the cause of God among their countrymen. [The Directors would gratefully receive, and gladly undertake to convey to the brethren in Benares, contributions in aid of the above truly interesting and benevolent undertaking.] ORDINATION OF MISSIONARIES. ON Thursday evening, Sept. 6, 1838, Ferdinand Sommer, D.Ph. and M.D., and J. H. E. Roeer, D.Ph. and M.D. of the University of Berlin, having been accepted by the Directors, and appointed as Missionaries to Bengal, were ordained at Silver-street Chapel, London. Rev. N. M. Harry commenced by reading appropriate Scriptures and prayer. Rev. E. Crisp described, in a most affecting manner, the moral condition of one hundred and twenty millions of the human family in India. The Rev. John Arundel cordially welcomed the two German brethren to the British shores, and to the fellowship of the British churches, and received from them most satisfactory answers to the questions on their personal religion, and on their views of the great doctrines of the Holy Scriptures. The Rev. Dr. Henderson offered the ordination prayer, with imposition of hands. The Rev. Dr. Bennett explained the ministerial and the Missionary course, which the brethren were expected to adopt, from Acts xiii. 46. And the Rev. E. Mannering concluded a service which was of an impressive order, and of unusual interest. DEPARTURE OF MISSIONARIES. REV. H. NOTT. ON Saturday, 18th of August, 1838, our venerable and beloved brother the Rev. Henry Nott, accompanied by Mrs. Nott, sailed from Gravesend for Sydney, in the ship Eweretta, Captain Gilmore. From Sydney, Mr. and Mrs. Nott will proceed to Tahiti, and resume their former station in that important island. REV. JOHN LUMB. On the 28th of August, the Rev. John Lumb, appointed to Combaconum, and Mrs. Lumb, embarked for Madras, on board the ship Mary Anne, Captain Tarbutt. Rev. G. GOGERLY AND FRIENDS. ON Saturday, Sept. 15, 1838, the following Missionaries embarked at Portsmouth, on board the Duke of Buccleugh, Captain Close, East-Indiaman :-the Rev. George Gogerly, accompanied by Mrs. Gogerly and two children, returning in greatly improved health, to resume his labours in Calcutta. The Rev. Drs. Sommer and Roeer, two German Missionaries, and their wives, appointed to the Bengal Presidency; and the Rev. James Kennedy, A.M., appointed to Benares. THE MISSIONARY SHIP CAMDEN. A STATEMENT in the South African Advertiser communicates the pleasing intelligence that the brig Camden, in which the Rev. John Williams, and other brethren embarked for their stations in the South Sea Islands on the 11th of April last, arrived in Simon's Bay, Cape of Good Hope, on the 1st of July-all well. No communications have reached us from the brethren subsequent to their arrival at Cape Town. NOTICE. THE Anniversary Meeting of the Somerset Auxiliary Missionary Society will be held at Fulwood Chapel, on Tuesday, the 9th of October. The Rev. Richard Knill preaches in the morning, and attends the public Meeting in the afternoon. LETTERS RECEIVED FROM MISSIONARIES, &c. SOUTH SEAS, 1837 and 1838.-Tahiti, Rev. J. Rodgerson, Nov. 21 (two letters.) Huahine, Rev. C. Barff, Oct. 7. Raiatea, Rev. G. Platt, Jan. 1, Nov. 16, and Nov. 28. Marquesas, Rev. J. Rodgerson, Nov. 21. Navigators Islands, Rev. Messrs. Barnden and Murray (jointly,) June 8. Rev. A. W. Murray, June 8. Rev. G. Barnden, June 8, and Aug. 25. Rev. C. Hardie, April 6. ULTRA GANGES, 1837 and 1838. Malacca, Rev. S. Dyer, April 16. Pinang, Rev. T. Beighton, Dec. 7, March 6 (from Cannanore.) Mrs. Beighton, Feb. 7. Rev. E. Davies, Jan. 1, Feb. 15. Singapore, Rev. Messrs. A. and J. Stronach, March 2. EAST INDIES, 1838.-Calcutta, Rev. A. F. Lacroix, March 12, May 4. Rev. J. Campbell, May 3. Chinsurah, Rev. G. Mundy, Feb. 25. Benares, Rev. Messrs. Buyers and Schurmann, April 19. Madras, Rev. J. Smith, March 9 (two letters,) May 7. Rev. W. H. Drew, May 7. Coimbatoor, Rev. W. B. Addis, March 12. Neyoor, Rev. C. Mead, May 4. RUSSIAN EMPIRE, 1838.-Khodon, Rev. E. Stallybrass, May 14 and May 15. MEDITERRANEAN, 1838. Corfu, Rev. I. Lowndes, April 16. SOUTH AFRICA, 1838.-Cape Town, Rev. Dr. Philip, April 4, June 1, June 18. Mrs. Philip, May 31. Hankey, Rev. E. Williams, April 23. Bethelsdorp, Rev. G. Schreiner, March 10. Graham's Town, Rev. John Monro, June 7. Griqua Town, Rev. P. Wright, March 5. AFRICAN ISLANDS, 1838.-Mauritius, Rev. D. Jones, March 30. Rev. Messrs. Jones and Johns, March 30. WEST INDIES, 1838.-Demerara, Rev. Messrs. Rattray and Watt, June 12, July 6, and July 12. Rev. R. B. Taylor, June 6. Mr. T. Henderson, June 20. Berbice, Rev. S. Haywood, June 20, and June 26. Rev. G. Forward, June 11, and June 27. Rev. H. S. Seaborn, June 30. Jamaica, Rev. J. Wooldridge, June 9, July 7. Rev. W. Alloway, June 11. Rev. W. Slatyer, June 19. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. The thanks of the Directors are respectfully presented to the following:-viz., To the young ladies of Miss Jameson's school, Ramsgate, for a box of useful articles for the schools in Jamaica; to friends at Stepney and Plaistow, for a box of useful articles for Mrs. Porter's orphan school, Vizagapatam; to "E," for a parcel of cotton prints, books, &c., for Rev. H. Nott; to friends at Greenwich and Blackheath, per Mr. Wilshere, for a cask of useful articles for Rev. R. B. Taylor's school, Demerara; to the congregation of the Rev. John Rogers, Lowestoft, for six lamps for the West Indies; to Mr. Whitehouse, City-road, for a cask of nails, and two bundles of spades for the Hottentots; to friends at Wem, for a parcel of useful articles for the Bangalore Mission; to Mr. King, Aberdeen, for a parcel of school materials for Rev. C. D. Watt, Demerara; to ladies at Hackney, per Mrs. Charles, for a case of wearing apparel for the Hottentots on the Fish River settlement; to "A Friend to Missions," for a parcel of axes for Rev. J. Williams; to the ladies of the Rev. R. Connebee's congregation, Dorking, for a box of wearing apparel for the Hottentots; to Mrs. Patrick, Commercial road, for a box of useful articles, and parcel of newspapers for Rev. Dr. Philip; to friends at Finchingfield, per Mrs. Christie, for a box of children's clothing for Theopolis; to the Rev. T. East, Birmingham, for a parcel of the "Patriot," and "Morning Chronicle" newspapers, for the Rev. John Williams; to Miss Thomp son, Hull, for a splendid robe of patchwork made by herself, for sale in India, the proceeds to be given to the Society; to the Ladies' Working Society, Union Chapel, Sherborne, for a case of useful and fancy articles for Rev. Edw. Porter, Vizagapatam; to Miss Nicholls, Nottingham; to Capt. Allen, and to T. H. Burder, Esq., M.D., for vols. and Nos. of the Evangelical and other Magazines, newspapers, &c. WESLEYAN MISSIONARY NOTICES, &c. OCTOBER, 1838. MISSIONS IN THE WEST INDIES. WE are happy to devote a large portion of this Number of our "Notices" to the fulfilment of the pledge given last month, by furnishing to our readers the information, then anxiously expected, and now recently received, from many of our West Indian Stations, in reference to the events and immediate results of the entire and universal EMANCIPATION of the Negroes, on the glorious FIRST OF AUGUST, 1838. We shall give that information in the words of our Correspondents themselves; prefixing to each extract the name of the Station to which it refers, and appending at the close the name of the Missionary from whose Letter it is taken. The general tenor of the intelligence thus communicated will be found to be exceedingly interesting and satisfactory. There seems to be good reason for believing, that the great measure of National Justice and Benevolence, now happily consummated, as far as mere enactment is concerned, will be carried into practical operation peaceably, without convulsion or material disturbance, and with quite as little of difficulty and inconvenience as any sober-minded man could reasonably expect to attend a change so important and extensive. To this pleasing result, it is now generally felt and acknowledged that the labours of Christian Missionaries, (and, most of all, those of the Wesleyan and Moravian Societies.) have, under the blessing of God, very essentially contributed; both by long and toilsome years of preparatory religious instruction and discipline, afforded to large bodies of the once-enslaved negroes by their honoured instrumentality, and also by the exertion of their pacific and salutary influence on the minds and conduct of their numerous flocks and congregations, during the crisis of actual transition from the state of servitude to that of unqualified freedom. What a rich reward, in addition to still higher spiritual and eternal benefits conferred upon thousands of converted and saved Negroes, has thus crowned the patient and self-denying efforts of the immortal DR. COKE, and of his companions and successors in the work of Negro-Evangelization, and the persevering zeal of those friends of the same cause in our own country, who have supported it by their pecuniary liberality! It is not in vain that our Society has, for more than half a century, persisted "through evil report and good report," in sowing the precious seed of the Gospel, and in watering that seed with tears and prayers. A glorious harvest has been already gathered in; and, if the work be duly followed up and completed, by an unremitting and adequate administration of the blessed truths and ordinances of Christianity, through the agency of our own and other Societies and Churches, one yet more general and abundant shall eventually be secured. We shall surely "reap," in a degree and to an extent that shall still more amply satisfy our holiest wishes, "if we faint not.” VOL. IX. OCTOBER, 1838. N KINGSTON, JAMAICA. On the In this Circuit, the first of August was celebrated as a day of thanksgiving, with suitable services, and will be long remembered by many. evening of the 31st of July we had a watch-night service in the Parade and Wesley chapels; and a very large congregation assembled at each place, to hail and welcome, in the house of God, the dawn of the glorious day of liberty. Mr. Edmondson preached at the Parade chapel, from Deuteronomy vi. 12: "Beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; " and afterwards proceeded to Wesley chapel, where he delivered an address, and closed the service. I preached at Wesley chapel, from Leviticus xxv. 10: "And ye shall proclaim liberty throughout all the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you: and then proceeded to the Parade chapel, where I delivered an address, and closed the service after the usual manner. The deep and hallowed feeling of joy which pervaded the congregations during these interesting services, was not expressed in noisy and tumultuous acclamations, but in suppressed and fervent aspirations of praise to Almighty God, by whose unerring wisdom, and powerful arm, the great event had been brought to pass. On the 1st of August, Mr. Edmondson preached at Wesley chapel, in the morning, from 1 Cor. 19, 20: "Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which are God's;" and in the evening, from Exodus xxiij. 2: "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil." I preached at the Parade chapel in the morning, from Jeremiah xxxiv. 15: "And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour;" and in the evening, from Psalm cxi. 9: "He sent redemption unto his people." The congregations on these occasions were very large, and the services fraught with an interest not to be described. We endeavoured to lead the people to a right understanding and improvement of the blessing of civil liberty, which was that day conferred upon them; that it might be seen, and acknowledged by all, that they were worthy of being raised from the degradation to which they had been subjected by slavery, and to take their station and rank as men. In addition to this, we had an open-air service in the afternoon in the most pub lic part of the city; namely, on the Parade, taking our station on the steps of the theatre. Mr. Edmondson opened the service, and I preached from 1 Samuel xii. 24: "Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you." The congregation on this occasion was immense, much larger than any I have seen on any similar occasion, and extended much farther than I could reach with the utmost exertion of my voice, and comprehended persons of all classes in the community. It was truly gratifying to behold the manner in which the day was observed. There was nothing approaching to riot or licentiousness; but throughout it was kept as a day of thanksgiving, and with all the quiet and decorum which is due to the Sabbath. Amidst all the festivities and rejoicings on the occasion, I did not observe a single individual who was intoxicated; and I very much question whether in any town of religious Britain, equal in extent of population to this city, an occasion so momentous would have passed off with so much decorum and propriety. This will be as pleasing to the real friends of the negro in Great Britain, as it is to ourselves. In this neighbourhood the people, as far as I have been able to ascertain, are doing well, and have quietly returned to their work, in the new character of free labourers. I regret, however, to say that this is not universally the case, owing to improper and unjustifiable interference. A combination seems to exist, to prevent the people going to work, except for a certain rate of wages. Thus thousands of deluded people are prevailed on to lounge about in idleness, to the serious detriment of their families and the estates. Rev. H. Bleby. ST. ANN'S BAY, JAMAICA. AUGUST 3d.-On Wednesday last, August 1st, the Act for granting entire freedom to all the apprentices in this island, came into operation. The evening before, we held a prayer-meeting here, and invoked the divine benediction on the services in which we hoped to be engaged on the following interesting day. In the morning we arose early, and blessed the Creator of that sun about to shine on happy Jamaica; now the land of peace, prosperity, and, best of all, of liberty! According to promise, I went to Ocho Rios, and held service at an early hour, to give all that could travel an opportunity of being present at the opening of our new chapel in this |