themselves to this service. Several of these are now under the tuition of our Rev. brother Mr. Bogue, at Gosport, and promise to be eminently suitable for their expected work. In behalf of the Directors of the London Missionary Society JOSEPH HARDCASTLE, Treasurer. GEORGE BURDEr, LONDON, 9th Secretary. P. S. Since this letter was written we have received the satisfaction of hearing from Dr. Bethelsdorp are attended with considerable success. We shall rejoice, dear Brethren, to be favored, when convenient, with a further account of the state of your Society and its operations. The accounts contained in the Connecticut Magazines of the power which at-Vander Kemp, whose labors at tends the preaching of the gospel in North America fill our hearts with joy. The Spirit of God appears to be poured out in a very uncommon measure, and we trust the work will be found solid and durable, notwithstanding the very peculiar circumstances with which it is accompanied, and with which some persons are offended. Report of the Directors of the HE footsteps of Divine ernment of the world at large, are traced with devout attention by every real Christian; but those events which are visibly Herewith we send a copy of four discourses preached at our last anniversary, with the Re-connected with the extension of port of the directors, &c. We the Saviour's kingdom among also send a set of Magazines for men, and the salvation of those the last year and two numbers who had not heard his name, are of the Society's transactions.- observed with the most diligent These will fully inform you of and affectionate regard. To the nature and extent of our at- those who are the subjects of the tempts, and the present state of great Redeemer, the interests of all our affairs which will excite, pure and vital godliness are inno doubt, in your pious minds, expressibly dear; and the smallthankfulness to the God of all est advances towards the estabgrace, and fervent prayers for lishment of his gracious reign, our support and success. The where Satan ruled in pagan darkConnecticut Magazines are come ness, must be pleasing in the to hand, for which please to ac- highest degree. In this view, cept our sincere thanks. We the Directors of the Missionary beg your acceptance of the Mis-Society indulge a hope, that the sionary Sermons and Magazines Report which they have now the which accompany this. honor to make, will present to its members the path which they have trodden during the past year, sufficiently marked with mercies to excite their thankfulness to our gracious Lord, and May the good will of Him that dwelt in the bush be with your Society and may your labors of love be attended with much prosperity. to invigorate their holy zeal in pursuing the grand object of the Institution. OTAHEITE. sionary cause, the Directors think themselves bound to make the most grateful acknowledgment. From this kind interposition of Divine Providence in the resIt would have afforded great toration of peace in Otaheite, we satisfaction to the Directors, to are encouraged to hope, that the have been able to announce to patient and persevering labors of the Society any important infor- our faithful brethren, who still mation from that distant quarter persist in well-doing, will, by the of the globe, the islands of the power of the Holy Spirit, be ulSouth Sea, to which their first timately crowned with that suc efforts were directed: but, dur- cess, which shall inspire our ing the last year, only incom- souls with ardent gratitude, and plete parts of the Journal of the richly repay all the labors. cares, Missionaries in Otaheite have and prayers, which the Society come to hand, others having has bestowed on this object; and been lost, or detained in their they wait the arrival of the Jourpassage. They have, however, nals, which may be expected to lately been favored with the wel- contain such information of the come tidings of the complete actual state and circumstances restoration of tranquillity. The of this Mission, as may greatly Missionaries embraced an oppor-assist their judgment as to the tunity to transmit to Governor means of promoting its future King, of New South Wales, a interests. letter, dated February 3, 1803, The two Otaheitan youths, informing him that, contrary to Mydo and Oley, who were pla expectation, the disputes between ced for education at the MoraviOtoo and Pomere with the At- an school in Yorkshire, and of tahoorooans had been amicably whose improvement an encouradjusted, and the Government in aging report was given last year, the hands of the former fully con- have both been removed by firmed. Had the event of the death. The Society is thus diswar been reversed, it is probable appointed in the hopes which that our Missionaries would have were entertained of their becombeen in the most imminent dan-ing future blessings to their ger, or at any rate have been countrymen, but may receive no obliged to abandon the island; small consolation from the acbut in consequence of this favor-count which the Brethren have able termination of the contest, they continued in perfect safety, and were enabled to pursue their various avocations without molestation. This letter his Excellency has had the goodness to forward to the Directors, for the satisfaction of their minds respecting the welfare of the Mis-kind attention shewn to these sionaries for this and other strangers by the Brethren at marks of attention, which Gov- Mirfield, while they ascribe to ernor King has paid to the Mis- the God of all grace the glory of published concerning them, and in which they express much satisfaction as to their religious state. They both received Christian Baptism, and departed in the faith and hope of the gospel. The Directors cannot but acknowledge with gratitude, the calling and converting them by their instrumentality. AFRICA. invited him to an interview with them in London, together with the African strangers. An opportunity to behold and converse with some of the firstfruits of the Missionary Society's labors in Africa, and to hear them declare with their own lips The whole Society has abundant cause for joy and thankfulness, that ever their attention was directed to the wretched inhabitants of South Africa, so many of whom have been turned from" the wonderful works of God," "darkness to light, and from the afforded a new and unequalled power of Satan unto God," and kind of satisfaction and delight. in whose conversion the observ- Nor was this pleasure confined ation of St. Paul, concerning the to the Directors: they were infirst converts to Christianity, has duced, by the example of our again been verified-" God hath Dutch brethren, to comply with chosen the foolish things of the the wishes of many pious friends world, and the weak things of in London, to introduce them to the world, and the base things of the Missionary Prayer-Meetthe world, and things which are ings, and other religious assem despised that no flesh should blies; where, through the meglory in his presence." We bow dium of Mr. Kicherer, Mr. Vos, with reverence and gladness to and others who understood the the sovereign grace of God, who Dutch language, (which the Hothath "mercy on whom he will tentots spoke fluently, and one of have mercy," and embrace in them elegantly,) they discoverthe arms of our Christian affec-ed, in answer to a great variety tion those once-degraded children of Adam, who are now become the children of God, and fellow-citizens with the saints. In the last Annual Report, the Directors were only able to state concerning our beloved brother, the Missonary Kicherer, that his labors among the Corannas, and at Zak River, had been attended with considerable success. Since that time, in the month of October, information was received from the Society at Rotterdam, that he had arrived in Holland, accompanied by three members of his Hottentot congregation. Upon due enquiry, instituted at the request of the Directors, by the Society in Holland, and the statement which Mr. Kicherer offered of his reasons and motives, the Directors could not but cordially approve of his conduct, and therefore affectionately VOL. V. No. 8. of questions proposed to them by different ministers, their knowledge of the Divine Redeemer, their faith, their hope, and the ardent love they bore to Him, who had saved them from their abject state of sin and barbarism. Thousands were witnesses of that admirable degree of spiritual discernment, as well as of fervent piety which they possessed, and which afforded to every candid mind the most satisfactory evidence of a real work of grace on their hearts. It was affecting, in no common degree, to hear these dear people, themselves recently delivered from the power of darkness, earnestly picading in behalf of the heathen world at large, and of their own countrymen in particular. A few sentences to this effect will not be deemed impertinent; and though they have appeared N n so remarkably suited to the ardu ous situation in which he was placed; and especially for the singular blessing with which those methods were succeeded, to the conversion of many souls. Perceiving with inexpressible pleasure, the wide and effectual door for usefulness, which the Lord himself had so evidently opened in that country, the Directors judged it to be their indispensible duty to add to the number of laborers in Africa. Our brother Kicherer whose judgment they highly respect, recommended a Mr. Vos, of Holland, as a suitable person to become his assistant, in the capacity of a catechist and schoolmaster. This worthy man, of whose good character, abilities, and zeal, they have received ample testimony, together with his wife and child, will accompany in periodical works, may be thought proper to remain in the Report of the Directors, as the powerful voice of recovered humanity, intreating, in striking terms, the further assistance of the Church of God, like the man of Macedonia saying to a primitive Missionary, "Come over, and help us!" One of the Hottentot women thus expressed herself" What a pity, what a sin it is, that you (Europeans) who have for so many years en joyed in great abundance the heavenly bread, should keep it all to yourselves, and not spare que little crumb to the millions of poor heathen;" adding," that you may depend upon it, that you should not have the less for yourselves by giving some to them; but that the Lord Jesus would bless you and give you the more." She also observed, that "could we but conceive ful-him to the Missionary station at ly of the miserable situation of the Hottentots, we would certainly feel more compassion for them." She expressed her humble thanks to the English people for sending Missionaries among them, but intreated them ear nestly to proceed further in this good work, the Lord having opened an effectual door, and there being yet so many thousands who know not the Lord." When taking leave of the congregation, she said. "The last thing I would say is. O pray pray for poor heathen." The Directors have had the satisfaction of learning from Mr. Kicherer, the methods which were adopted for the instruction of the Hottentots and Boschemen, and cannot but express their thankfulness to our God and Saviour, for furnishing cur much valued brother with gifts Zak River. Three other Missionaries, the brethren who were originally under the tuition of the Rev. Mr. Janicke, at Berlin, and who have resided for about a year in Holland, for the purpose of acquiring the Dutch language, are also intended to sail with him to the Cape; and there to be disposed of in such situations as may be deemed the most eligible, by our experienced brethren, Dr. Vanderkemp and Mr. Kicherer. We have to regret the loss of Mr. Matthys, a valuable missionary from the above-mentioned seminary, who was associated with our brethren in Holland, learning the language; and who was expected to accompany them to Africa. It pleased the all-wise disposer of human life and affairs, to remove him from this world, by death, on the 4th of March last. The | tions from Africa, have hitherto Society is thus deprived of a pious and promising laborer, but it becomes us to say-" The will of the Lord be done." prevented the Directors from receiving any intelligence concerning those valuable Missionaries, Vanderlingen, Bekhar, and Tromp, who, they trust, are still diligently employed in the work of the Lord. It was the earnest wish of the Directors that Mr. Kicherer, with his friends, might return to Africa, as soon as possible; The same cause has operated to resume his useful labors, and to interrupt their intercourse to refresh the hearts of his poor with our reverend brother, Dr. people, who parted with him Vanderkemp, no direct advices. with extreme regret, and who having been received from him, fully expected to see him in the though there is every reason to month of March; but insuper- believe that several Letters and able difficulties, arising from the Journals have been dispatched by renewal of hostilities, have hith-him for our Society. Through erto prevented this desirable the medium, however, of the event; it is hoped, however, that Dutch Society, who have been a suitable conveyance, in a neu-more successful in obtaining his tral vessel, may ere long be pro-letters, intelligence of a very invided. teresting nature has been lately received, a brief summary of which shall now be stated. On the subject of this Mission, the Directors have only to add, that respectable travellers, sent The Doctor, with about 160 to explore that country, with Hottentots, part of whom had others who had opportunity to before attended his instructions observe the judicious plans adopt-at Graaff Reinet, arrived at Boed by our brother Kicherer, have ta's Place, near Algoa Bay, in borne the most honorable and the month of March, 1802, where public testimony to his integri- there was reason to hope that a ty and piety; and have spoken permanent settlement would be in the highest terms of appro- formed, which might be producbation of his wisdom and ability, tive of great advantages, in the in civilizing the barbarous na-civilization and religious instructives of Africa. Indeed the appearance of the converted Hottentots themselves, in the metropolis, excited no small surprise in the minds of some high-ters of the neighborhood, began ly respectable and well-informed to make their appearance among persons, to whom they were in- the people. Our honored brotroduced; who expressed their ther himself was afflicted with a admiration at the rapid advan- diarrhea and an intermitting feces they had made in so short a ver, followed by a violent rheutime, and who readily admitted matic disorder, by which his the efficacy of the Christian sys- public labors were totally sustem, in the improvement of the pended, and his patience tried most degraded of human kind. by a confinement to his bed for eleven months. The impediments which war bas opposed to the communica-J tion of the natives. Soon after the settlement was formed, some violent diseases, supposed to be occasioned by the stagnated wa It was a consolation, however, |