DEATH OF MR. NASH. In our last we announced this unexpected and afflictive event. The particulars were communicated by Mr. Wood in a letter dated Kingston, January 19th, 1844, which we take the earliest opportunity to lay before our readers. It is now my melancholy task to inform you of another mysterious and painful dispensation with which it has pleased our heavenly Father to visit us as a mission. I told you in my last letter of the dangerous illness of Mrs. Nash, from which when I wrote she was partially restored; and now I have to inform you that our dear brother Nash himself is no more. Mrs. Nash has been staying with us ever since her illness, and as Yallahs is at present very unhealthy, Mr. Nash has also spent the greater part of his time since that in Kingston, going up to his station to preach on the sabbath, and returning the beginning of the week. He left us on Saturday morning the 6th instant, apparently in perfect health, but as soon as he reached his house, he was seized with a violent pain in his head, which after a short time got better. He remained up the whole of the day examining candidates for baptism, and talking with the friends connected with his church, but towards evening the pain returned, and he went early to bed. On sabbath morning he was too ill to get up, and he remained in bed with very high fever all day. On Monday morning he resolved if possible to return to town, as he knew his life would be in danger if he remained at Yallahs; and he arrived in Kingston about nine o'clock, A.M. He immediately went to bed, and Dr. Fairbank, his medical attendant, was sent for, who was under no apprehension of danger. He had a great deal of fever on Monday, but towards evening it abated, and although he continued very weak, he seemed every day to get better. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday he came out of his room, and lay for several hours on the sofa. On Friday morning to all appearance he was doing well; he had slept well during the night, and without any inconvenience was able to take a little breakfast, which the doctor ordered; but about ten or eleven o'clock he was seized with a cold, aguish, shivering fit, which however lasted only a few minutes, but which was succeeded by a clammy sweat, with a coldness of the hands and feet; and from that time he began to decline. Dr. Ferguson was called in as soon as any danger was anticipated, and between three and four o'clock he came. He immediately pronounced the case dangerous. Powerful stimulants were then administered, and mustard cataplasms applied to different parts of the body, but without effect. Dr. Fairbank remained with him the whole night, with brother Oughton and myself, besides the nurse and attendants; but the skill of physicians, and the attention of friends, were of no avail. He gradually got weaker, until about nine o'clock on Saturday morning, when without a sigh, or a struggle, or a groan, he sweetly fell asleep. He retained his senses to the last, and spoke to us a few moments before he died. Thus in the bloom of life and in the midst of usefulness, has God been pleased to take away one of our most devoted missionaries. He was not permitted to gather in the first-fruits of his labours; he intended last sabbath to have baptized and introduced to the church eighteen young persons, who by his instrumentality had been turned from darkness to light, but God ordered it otherwise, and chose rather to take him to his reward in heaven. I need not say a word respecting his character: his praise is on the lips of all who knew him. By those who knew him best was he most beloved; and by them will his departure be most sincerely lamented. In every way was he eminently qualified to be an efficient and useful missionary. He was also eminently prepared for the happiness and purity the possession of which he now enjoys. His bereaved and disconsolate widow has received a shock almost too great for her feeble constitution: but I trust God will enable her to sustain it. She has hitherto manifested much patient and humble submission, and seems perfectly resigned to the will of God. She will remain with us until we hear from you, or until arrangements are made for her return to England. CEYLON. A letter from Mrs. Owen Birt to a friend in England, dated Kandy, Nov. 22nd, 1843, contains the following passages : We go on much as usual here, save that Mr. Dawson is about issuing a little magazine, to be continued monthly, in Singhalese and English, to be called the Commentator, Wees-thia-ka valunce. We hope it will be very useful, as it will contain a commentary great many have died, whilst numbers have had it in Candy, &c., &c. I mention it lest you should see a notice of it in the papers. It is five years since it prevailed in Ceylon. It is dismal to see the poor heathen taking offerings to their idol gods to stay the plague; and on the estates, Thomas says, the coolies have run up little rude temples, and put up a doll, to receive the gifts. He has had much talk with them, and yesterday a Mr. W. went with him to see one that his own coolies had built. "Well! what does your god eat!" Jaggery and plaintains," was the reply of one who, seated on the ground, acted for the time as priest. Well, give him one now, and let us see him eat.” After a little hesitation, the poor priest was obliged to own that they left the food some hours before the doll, and then ate it themselves. They then showed him that though it had hands, it could not work, &c,, and bid him ask a higher power to stay the moral plague that was raging in his heart. on the scriptures, of which as yet none exists Our presses are not sufficient for all the work that comes in. Mr. Dawson has therefore applied for a government one, which is now idle, but labour is at so extravagant a price here, that the profits are very trifling. Just imagine a report of some society, a little thicker than the Baptist Magazine, costing, in wages only, nearly or quite £40. But our type is so good that people will pay rather than go to the other presses. I cannot say I like my present abode at all, for the rats are ever running on my curtain and around me, centipedes fall from the roof, and I am in horror that the snakes, who pursue the rats to the very edge of the ceiling in the next room, will follow them when they take refuge in my chamber. Did I tell you last month that I was turned into this room for a few days? Well, I am still here, for having attempted to take possession of my chamber yesterday, I was forced back by the wetness of the floor. The workmen are so trying here, that Job himself, I think, would have lived in a hut, in despair of ever building himself a more convenient abode. They constantly employ themselves in undoing their own work; and three generally look on whilst two work a little. However, now my part of the house is ceiled, floored, and washed, and next week I do really hope to move in, though the roof is, for the sixth or seventh time, so badly put on that the wet has in three days almost spoiled the ceiling. I shall like my new room much, and the verandah will form a capital walk. Our front parlour will now be a convenient room. It will be very nice when we are all settled, and will be well for the mission, as we are to have all the premises at a cheap rate until all the money expended in the new part is refunded. The heat of the weather, I suppose, has induced a visitation of the cholera; not a He had often heard of Him before, but something visible must be had; they cannot realize aught else. One of them told Thomas, the other day, "There is but one moon, but if we fill 1000 chatties with water, and place them out at night, we shall see 1000 moons; so though there may be but one God, there are innumerable manifestations of him. They have, I think, three millions, and of course seldom any difficulty in finding some one or other at any place they may come to; but one poor man complained lately that there was no God for him to pray to, his God was in Malabar, and could not hear him so far off!" The Hindoos, who are principally moormen, have a nightly parade through their streets to their temples, headed by a priest with lamps, and repeating prayers (in Arabic, I believe). The people appear to take the responses, and continually raise the cry, "Allah il Allah!" To me there is something very solemn and affecting in their earnest and devout manner; and they stand out as very superior to the others, though their being right in worship of the one true God only seems a bar to their embracing Christ as the way of salvation. They will hear nothing of him, and seem quite immovable as yet, but "Jesus shall reign;" and so the time will come when they will bow. May it be in sincere and willing obedience! They are a fine, intelligent, and interesting set of people, and will converse freely on any but the one subject that is so hateful to them! I was much struck with the devotion of one who happened to be standing near the door of a temple one day when we were passing it. The reverence with which he bowed himself, then touched the ground, then rose and prayed aloud, and bowed and rose again, showed plainly that he felt he was approaching a mighty though invisible power, and contrasted finely with the cringing, servile crossing of the hands of a poor heathen, who would have withheld this had not his priest spoken, and so called for it. Mr. Dawson thinks offerings are very much less frequent than they were, and I fancy the last few months have made a difference. The people are not become Chris tians, it is true; but is not something gained when the children see their priests walking through the streets unattended by any state, and unnoticed? They will doubtless be more ready to embrace Christianity the more they become aware of the absurdities of Buddhism. HOME PROCEEDINGS. ANNIVERSARY SERVICES. MEETINGS FOR SPECIAL PRAYER, APRIL 17th & 19th. Under the conviction that the extension of Christian missions, and enlarged success, depend upon the more abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Committee have resolved on holding meetings, in connexion with the annual services, for special prayer. A prayer-meeting will accordingly be held on Wednesday morning, April 17th, at the new Mission House, Moorgate Street; the service to begin at eleven o'clock. District prayer-meetings will also be held on the evening of Friday, the 19th of April. The following are fixed : Soho, Rev. G. Wyard's.... New Park Street Eagle Street........... Shoreditch, Providence Chapel... To deliver addresses... Rev. G. Wyard and J. Cooper. J. Aldis and P. J. Saffery. Service to commence at each place at seven o'clock. ANNUAL SERMONS, APRIL 18th & 24th. The Committee have much pleasure in announcing that the annual sermons on behalf of the Society will be preached by the Rev. William Brock, of Norwich, and the Rev. Hugh Heugh, D.D., of Glasgow. The former will preach at Surrey Chapel on the evening of Thursday, the 18th of April, the latter at the Poultry Chapel (Rev. John Clayton's), on the morning of Wednesday, April 24th. Service to commence in the evening at half-past six, and in the morning at eleven. ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY, APRIL 19th. In addition to the public meeting at Exeter Hall, A General Meeting of the members of the Society will be held at the Mission House, Moorgate Street, on the morning of Friday, the 19th of April, for the election of the Committee for the ensuing year, and the transaction of other business. The chair will be taken at ten o'clock. This meeting is for members only. All subscribers of 10s. 6d. or upwards, donors of £10 or upwards, pastors of churches which make an annual contribution, or ministers who collect annually for the Society, and one of the executors on the payment of a legacy of £50 or upwards, are entitled to attend. SERVICES FOR THE YOUNG, APRIL 16th & 22nd. On the evening of Tuesday, the 16th of April, the annual meeting of the Juvenile Auxiliary connected with Regent Street Chapel, Lambeth, will be held at that place. Service to begin at half-past six. On the afternoon of Lord's day, the 21st of April, addresses will be delivered to the young, as shown in the following list. On the afternoon of Monday, the 22nd April, the annual meeting of the Juvenile Auxiliaries of London will be held at the Rev. A. Fletcher's Chapel, Finsbury. Chair to be taken at two o'clock. SERMONS, LORD'S DAY, 21st of APRIL. The following are the arrangements (so far as completed) for April 21st. The afternoon services marked thus * are intended for the young. the hands of a poor heathen, who would have withheld this had not his priest spoken, and so called for it. Mr. Dawson thinks offerings are very much less frequent than they were, and I fancy the last few months have made a difference. The people are not become Chris tians, it is true; but is not something gained when the children see their priests walking through the streets unattended by any state, and unnoticed? They will doubtless be more ready to embrace Christianity the more they become aware of the absurdities of Buddhism. HOME PROCEEDINGS. ANNIVERSARY SERVICES. MEETINGS FOR SPECIAL PRAYER, APRIL 17th & 19th. Under the conviction that the extension of Christian missions, and enlarged success, depend upon the more abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Committee have resolved on holding meetings, in connexion with the annual services, for special prayer. A prayer-meeting will accordingly be held on Wednesday morning, April 17th, at the new Mission House, Moorgate Street; the service to begin at eleven o'clock. District prayer-meetings will also be held on the evening of Friday, the 19th of April. The following are fixed :— Soho, Rev. G. Wyard's....... ...To deliver addresses... Rev. G. Wyard and J. Cooper. ANNUAL SERMONS, APRIL 18th & 24th. The Committee have much pleasure in announcing that the annual sermons on behalf of the Society will be preached by the Rev. William Brock, of Norwich, and the Rev. Hugh Heugh, D.D., of Glasgow. The former will preach at Surrey Chapel on the evening of Thursday, the 18th of April, the latter at the Poultry Chapel (Rev. John Clayton's), on the morning of Wednesday, April 24th. Service to commence in the evening at half-past six, and in the morning at eleven. ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY, APRIL 19th. In addition to the public meeting at Exeter Hall, A General Meeting of the members of the Society will be held at the Mission House, Moorgate Street, on the morning of Friday, the 19th of April, for the election of the Committee for |