were holidays. On Friday, the people on the property nearest to this place, sat down to a very comfortable dinner, provided at their own expense. We were all present at the time, and were highly gratified with their clean and neat appearance, and also with their peaceable and orderly conduct. The following Sabbath found most of those who usually attend in their places in the house of God; and on Monday, many of them were busily engaged in picking pimento, for which they are paid by measure. I have not heard that any have returned to the cultivation of the soil, but I believe the circumstance is accounted for by the fact, that the managers have not yet agreed as to what wages shall be given. No doubt seems to be entertained respecting the successful issue of the great change which has so happily taken place.

Under the same date, Mr. Franklin writes from Morant Bay The day of the destruction of Slavery was anticipated by us with the most enthusiastic feelings. Our hearts leaped with joy as we contemplated the period in which every

:

slave in this beautiful island would become
free.
My expectations were realised, and
I must leave it for you, my dear Sir, to
conceive my joy.

After speaking of his desire to celebrate the first of August, in a way calculated to produce among the late apprenticed labourers a just impression of the value of freedom, and having mentioned the arrangements contemplated in order to promote this object, Mr. Franklin continues :

On the 31st of July, at half-past ten in the evening, I met about 200 of the people in the chapel. After singing and prayer, they were addressed on the subject of their emancipation. A few minutes before twelve every one fell on his knees, and silently lifting up our hearts to God in thanks

giving, we remained till after the town clock struck twelve. We arose. Every soul was full of gladness; and, standing before the Mighty Deliverer, with all our hearts we sung,

"Praise God, from whom all blessings flow," and then separated.

Mr. Franklin concludes with an animating account of the devotional exercises and social enjoyments which marked this ever-memorable occasion at Morant Bay.

SOUTH SEAS.

TAHITI.

THE latest communications from the brethren in the Georgian Islands supply a large measure of interesting intelligence respecting the state and progress of the work of God in this important section of the Missionary field. By a letter received from our brother, the Rev. W. Henry, the venerable Missionary at Roby Town, in Tahiti, dated 16th Nov. last, we are assured that the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom are steadily advancing at that station, and the evidences of the growth of pure and undefiled religion becoming increasingly apparent in the lives and conduct of the native Christians. We give below the portion of Mr. Henry's letter in which these pleasing facts are stated :

My last report, bearing date September 26, 1836, was forwarded by the Dunnottar Castle, Capt. Paterson. It contained an account of the conversion of two very aban

doned characters, and I expressed a hope that, after a considerably long suspension, the blessing was beginning to descend, and the Spirit of life and grace to breathe upon

the "dry bones" here. Glory and praise be to the God of all power and grace! that hope has been realised, and since the period above mentioned we have been favoured to witness greater displays of his power and grace than we had for years before; since then 13 adults have been baptised, and 17 added to the church, including the 13 baptised; and there are now 5 baptismal candidates. All those who were baptised and received into church-fellowship underwent the usual previous course of instruction and preparation for those sacred ordinances, as you know is the general manner of proceed

ing with us here, judging it the safest and best way of acting. The members of the church, especially the older and more spiritual of them, rejoice at such an increase to the church from among that class of persons whom they considered in time past hopeless; and also to see the few who had been excluded from the church for improper behaviour, and the suspended, professing repentance, and eagerly seeking to be re-admitted to the communion of the church, and privileges of the Gospel. Four members have been removed, it is to be hoped, to a better world.

EIMEO.

Under date 15th November, 1837, the Rev. Alexander Simpson writes from Eimeo to the Foreign Secretary, as follows:

Since my last letter to you, 14th August, 1836, we have admitted to church-fellowship 28 members, 11 of whom are from the young people in the schools; 8 from the class tutaeauri, and the remainder from the scattered remnant of the deluded votaries

of intemperance. During the same period we have excluded from church-fellowship 3 men and 3 women. There have been baptised 37 children and 8 adults; and 4 of the latter have become church members.

Having briefly noticed the number and order of the regular services held for the public worship of God, the encouraging observance of the Sabbath by more than two-thirds of the whole inhabitants of the island, and the state of the schools, in which 166 adults and 267 children were receiving instruction, Mr. Simpson states that 13 members of the church had, in the preceding year, been "called to their rest and reward." In reference to two of these, named Mere and Apooharuru, he supplies the following grateful intelligence. With regard to the former, our brother writes :

Mere died after a very short illness, in October last. He had conducted the services of the church, and taught in the schools at Afareaitu, with great credit to himself and benefit to the people. To the ex

tent of his knowledge he fearlessly preached the Gospel of Christ. When dying, he said, "I have but one refuge, Christ the Messiah."

Respecting the other of these individuals, Mr. Simpson states :—

Apooharuru, an old man, died during the same month; he had been long afflicted, and had been a great sufferer. His first religious impressions arose from a sermon preached at this place about six years ago, the text was, "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light;" when he said he awoke from his long sleep of sin. On being asked, if he were afraid to die, he replied, Why should I fear death? Has not Jesus died for sinners that they might live? My canoe is now ready. It lies on the beach with its prow in the water. The mast is erected, the sail is fastened, my paddles are ready, and my baling dish is finished. I wait for the blowing of the marae.'

I trust the others are also in glory; they died, trusting to the atonement of Jesus Christ.

*Trade wind.

South Sea Academy.

The number of children in this institution last year was 18. There is one less this year. We have experienced considerable difficulty in obtaining suitable supplies for the use of the schools, especially cotton prints. I wish it were in my power to convey to the Directors the pleasing intelligence that a work of real and decided piety had been manifested by the young people under our charge. Louisa Barff, one of the number, has, we hope, given herself to the Lord; and her deportment becomes the Gospel of Christ. Among the present number there is reason to believe that one or more will soon follow her example. I refer particularly to a daughter of Mr. Platt's. I feel persuaded that my sentiments are in union with those of the Directors, when I say that the conversion of our young friends to God is what we exceedingly long for.

We still endeavour to the best of our abilities to convey to them such instructions as tend to their present and everlasting good; and next to the approval of our own conscience is the kind notice you have been

pleased to take of our labours. We shall endeavour, in dependence upon Divine grace, to continue to merit that approbation which you have repeatedly expressed to us.

NORTH OF INDIA.-CHINSURAH STATION.

ALTHOUGH the power and pride of Hindooism are fast declining in this, as in all other parts of the Bengal Presidency, yet the external evidence of the progress of the Gospel of Christ, which it is the object of the Missionary to substitute for the miserable and debasing system now so rapidly decaying, appears to be of dubious character and limited amount. There are, nevertheless, many hopeful indications in the moral and spiritual condition of the people on which the eye of faith may fix and brighten, and from which encouragement to a holy perseverance may be gathered. The native mind is not in a state of listless in

difference, or unthinking torpor. On the contrary, it appears to be the seat of a great conflict between contending principles and emotions, at one period inclining to yield to the mastery of truth, at another to the dominion of falsehood and evil. A high tone of moral courage and decision, in the face of danger and obloquy, can scarcely be expected from the natural character of the Hindoo, even in cases where the Gospel has been firmly and sincerely embraced; but there is reason to believe that the understandings of many belonging to this station have been inwardly enlightened and convinced, though they shrink from making an open avowal of their belief in the presence of their countrymen. This is much to be lamented, and our brother, Mr. Mundy, has often referred to the circumstance with deep regret; yet the mental conflict thus produced cannot but be regarded as far preferable to that state of mind which is incapable of receiving any impression either for good or evil. The issue is in the hands of Him who

has all hearts at his disposal, and whose word cannot return unto him void. One of the latest communications from Mr. Mundy, dated 25th of February last, supplies the following portions of information relative to various departments of labour connected with the station at Chinsurah. The prosperity of the Mission schools, as noticed below, will be regarded with peculiar satisfaction among the numerous friends of religious education in India. Mr. Mundy commences his statements by presenting a brief view of his itinerant labours in the district surrounding his station, with reference to which he writes:

These I commenced rather earlier than usual this year, and have continued them, with occasional interruptions, to the present time; but as the heat is setting in with unusual violence, I fear I shall for a while be obliged to confine my labours to the immediate neighbourhood of Chinsurah. I have met, during these journeys, with a variety of circumstances, some of a pleasing character, and others the reverse; although can truly say, a greater number of the former than of the latter. It is, however, very painful to hear these people acknowledge the truth, as in many instances they do; freely admit that it is the word of God, and that without it they cannot be saved; yet assert with the same breath that they cannot receive it—at least not openly -only with the heart. This they frequently try to make me believe they have already

done, and contend against the obligation openly to confess Christ before their fellow

men.

I have a regular congregation at my house every Sabbath morning; the same people continually attending. These sometimes raise my hopes exceedingly; and though I have not yet brought them to the point, I nevertheless think that God will one day come and make them the monuments of his victorious grace. Last Sab bath morning I took the opportunity of showing them Mr. Williams's book, and of explaining to them some of its contents. I told them that my heart was quite bowed down on reading of what was going forward in those islands, and comparing the progress made there with the state of things in India. I said, moreover, that I should much like to leave this barren land and go

thither, where the seed was no sooner sown than the fruit was gathered in.

"Oh, Sir," they said, on hearing this, "do not leave us; our hearts are very hard, it is true; we have not yet sufficient courage openly to embrace Christ. We fear the people; but go on, it will come in due time. Your labour cannot be for ever in vain a similar change, we are quite sure, will ultimately take place in these lands: there can be no doubt about it; and you will, ere long, rejoice in your success, however discouraged you may now be."

:

During the past year I have had many more persons coming professedly as inquirers than at any former period, and also many more, who wished to receive Christian baptism, than formerly. I could, had I chosen, have laid the foundation of a church, to some extent, during the past year; but the plain fact is, I did not see one whose heart I thought was changed by Divine grace, and therefore I did not receive them. Of one intelligent young man I had considerable hopes, but although I could bring nothing positively against him, I saw sufficient to convince me that he was

not a changed character, and therefore I could not conscientiously baptize him.

My own schools and those under the care of Mrs. Mundy afford us much encouragement. The number of scholars collectively are larger than at any former period. The schools have not been at all injured by the college, but have, I think, rather received a fresh stimulus from it. Mrs. Mundy's Infant School has succeeded beyond her expectations. She has an excellent teacher, to whom we pay 447. per year. This school, containing about 35 children, has become quite an object of interest in the neighbourhood.*

We rejoice to find that our beloved society is prospering in its labours both at home and abroad. May the Lord of Missions continue to bless it, and may he raise up a large body of faithful, holy, zealous men, who shall be willing to go forth as the ambassadors of the Cross, in every part of the world! And may the Directors and all the friends of the Society be richly imbued with the Spirit's gracious influences !

THE instances of conversion resulting from the declaration of the Gospel in this quarter of the Missionary field have been of singularly rare occurrence, compared with the number of persons to whom it has been communicated. Our brethren have not spared themselves in endeavouring to persuade the benighted Buriats to cast away their idols, to seek the Lord while he may be found, and to call upon him while he is near. But although the saving reception of the truth, among those for whose eternal interests they are labouring, has been far from commensurate with their hopes and desires, it is gratifying to know that they have on the other hand been greatly encouraged and consoled by witnessing the Christian consistency, stedfastness, and love, of the few who have embraced it; and from the substantial character of the work thus exemplified, in connexion with the Divine promises, their confidence is amply sustained as to the ultimate triumphs of the Cross throughout the vast regions of Siberia. The subjoined statements are derived from a very pleasing communication received under date 14th of May last, from our brother, the Rev. E. Stallybrass, of the Khodon station :—

Missionary Meeting at Khodon.

Our young people met as usual at their annual festival-the white month-to collect their mites to cast into the Missionary treasury. They collected the sum of 45 roubles, which, with their last year's collection, makes 80 roubles. For this I have accounted with your worthy treasurer. I shall subjoin a specimen or two of the speeches which they delivered on the occa`sion, as reported by my daughter.

"Tekshi, the son of Morhozin, commenced the meeting by reading a paper,

When the Bishop was here, he came to our house to see the school, and was much pleased with it; and when he returned to Calcutta, he gave orders that when the report of their own schools was drawn up, that some reference should be made to Mrs. Mundy's at Chinsurah.

Mr. Stallybrass appends the following notice of the progress of the operations of the Mission in its printing department :