and often, before the sun is seen to gild the horizon, they will assemble at some house for prayer, and continue till it is time to go forth to labour. It has often happened lately, that, before the bell was rung, the half of the Congregation was assembled at the doors.

The experience of some of those who are but just emerging from Heathenish Gloom is, of course, very simple; and great discrimination on our part is necessary on receiving Members into the Church, at a season when there is so much to operate on the feelings. Some describe their state to be like that of one who knows that he is walking in darkness and tries in vain to find the road. Others say that their hearts are awakened from an awful death, and broken to pieces with the multitude of their sins. Some can scarcely find words to describe their state: a young man of volatile disposition came and stated that he knew and felt that all was wrong with him; but what was the matter, he could not explain. One man said that he had seen for some time past that he must be the greatest sinner; for every Sermon applied to him, and brought to his mind sins which he thought he had for ever forgotten. While conversing with the Bashuta Chief, he remarked, with great feeling, that when he reflected on his past life and the love of God to sinners, his head flowed waters, and slumber departed from his eyes. While writing these remarks, the Old Hottentot before mentioned sent his son with a Bible, re questing that Mrs. Moffat would point out the chapter (Hosea xiv.) which she had read to him the day before. When we see and hear these things, we cannot but recognise the working of the Spirit of God. Among those under spiritual concern, there are Batlapís, Barolóngs, Mantatees (Bakuens), and Bashutas. Let us hope and pray that the present may be but the beginning of a glorious day of grace.

Reflecting on what has taken place, we cannot but feel a lively sense of the goodness of our God and Saviour. To pour the balm of consolation into wounded souls, has hitherto been to us a strange work; but we look by faith and prayer to Him, who giveth liberally and upbraideth not. We lay our account with disappointments. Satan our adversary, who has hitherto reigned with potent sway, seeing violence done to what he deems his ancient rights, will attack us

on fresh ground: but the Lord Omnipotent reigneth!

Of the Native, Aaron Yosephs, mentioned above, it is said in a Note

This is the runaway-slave mentioned by Mr. Campbell. Having procured some ivory with a view of purchasing his liberty, Br. Moffat took it with him to the Cape; and, by the kind interference of Mr. G. Thompson, Author of "Travels in Africa," his manumission was obtained for 1500 rixdollars. Previous to his leaving the Colony, while in the service of Mr. Kicherer, he learned to read. He is a clever, industrious

man.

Improving Prospects for Education.

But we have to record more: for we have the happiness to see some fruits, the result of a real change of disposition. Several weaks ago, Aaron and two others came and proposed to take upon themselves the labour and expense of building a School-house; which, for a time, would also serve for Public Worship, till one for that special purpose was necessary. All, they said, that they required on the part of the Missionaries was to give the plan and dimensions, and make the doors and windows with their frames, &c : these also they would willingly do, but they lacked ability. We were not a little astonished at this proposal; it being entirely voluntary, without so much as a single hint on our part. We, of course, most cordially agreed to their wishes, entertaining no doubt as to their competency to the task, Aaron being by

trade both a builder and thatcher. We had scarcely laid down the plan (51 feet long and 16 feet wide) when Aaron set all in motion: they took their own waggons and oxen, and procured timber for the roof at some distance. Br. Hamilton (who derived, in this work, effective assistance from Mr. Scoon, a Settler from Roxburghshire, who is here on trading purposes) has been busily employed in preparing frames, lintels, &c.; and had there not been two weeks' interruption from heavy rains, the roof-work would have been commenced before this time. However, if no unforeseen hindrance occurs, we expect this will be the case in the course of two weeks more. The new building will be of essential use, both for School and Divine Service; the one which we now occupy being not only small, but inconvenient. If it please the Lord that the work should continue

to prosper, with that influx of Natives to the Kuruman which we do expect, we shall soon find it necessary to have a still larger building for a Meeting-House. The School, which is superintended by Br. Hamilton, in order that Br. Moffat may have more time to attend to the language, has lately much increased, and many of the scholars can read the Sichuan Catechism, &c. with great fluency; and, in writing, several have made considerable proficiency. We would hope soon to see a reading population, demanding books as fast as they are translated.

From former Letters, you would learn that the Gospel of Luke, with many other portions of Scripture, had been translated by Br. Moffat into the language. Some time, however, would be expected to elapse before he could commit them with confidence to the press : but if the number of readers increase, along with a thirst after the knowledge of Divine Things, we shall feel anxious to see something of the kind put into their hands, even though at some future period a Biblical Critic and an adept in Sichuan may see reasons for revision and new editions.

Improvement in the Temporal Affairs of

the Station.

Under repeated disappointments, it afforded some consolation to know, that the acquisition of the language was going on; that the knowledge of Divine Things was becoming more extensively diffused; and that, through the force of our influence and example on the people of the Station, many families, originally poor, and others who had been plundered of all, were enabled to derive tolerable support from grounds which never before yielded food for man. We have no hesitation in saying, that we have studiously attended, though it has been with much labour and suffering, to the temporal interests of the Natives. Indeed, this

course of conduct was absolutely necessary for maintaining our ground, in a country desolated by war and depopulated by famine. In attending to this secondary object, we have always had an eye, not only to arresting the attention of a people whose minds are exclusively alive to the wants of the present hour, and to whom the past and the future are things of little moment, but likewise to the probable advantages to the Society, from a reduction of that expenditure which the Stations would otherwise require.

Sept. 1829.

In reference to this subject, the Missionaries subsequently add

As to the temporal affairs of the Station, these have fully answered our expectations in the first point at which we aimed; and the good likely to arise from the system which the Natives on the Station have been induced to adopt, will, we have no doubt, lead the people at large to follow their example. The gardens, &c., have produced abundance of wheat, maize, pumpkins, tobacco, beans, and native grain (millet), water-melons, &c. Lately, Br. Hamilton, assisted by six labourers, carried across the valley a mound of earth, and cut a ditch along the opposite side, in order effectually to dry the ground, and prevent inundations from heavy rains, or the main ditch from giving way: from this, we shall, if spared, have the satisfaction to see, during the ensuing winter, a great extent of ground, not requiring irrigation, brought into a state of cultivation: this mode of obtaining excellent ground may, with comparatively little trouble, be carried to a very great extent by the Natives. We have good reason to hope, that, ere long, those public works which are immediately connected with the Station will be attended to, and kept in repair, without trouble and expense to the Missionaries.

Preaching-the Printing Press.

It was quite natural that the attention of the whole Christian World should be thus forcibly drawn to this most interesting portion of the Globe. The events of Six Thousand Years are associated with this region. The destinies, temporal and eternal, of the whole Human Race are bound up in the awful and glorious events connected with these lands. These countries witnessed the rise and the oppressive sway of the two great Antichrists of the World; and they witness now the rapid progress of that decline which, we have reason to believe, from the sure Word of Prophecy, will finally issue in both being laid prostrate at the feet of Him, who goeth forth conquering and to conquer. The events of the last Ten Years confirm the expectation, that greater still are at hand, in fulfilment of the Divine Purposes.

The Committee will state the GENE

RAL COURSE OF FUTURE PROCEEDINGS

in the Mission, which appears to them expedient; but will, first, briefly review the MEASURES ALREADY PURSUED, and trace the PRESENT CONDITION OF THE

MEDITERRANEAN AS A SPHERE OF MIS

MEASURES ALREADY PURSUED, that it will be expedient to fix the attention on the following

Classification of Stations, hitherto occupied, or visited, or kept in view by the Society, in this sphere of its labours

1. Malta-2. Greece; including the Ionian Islands and the Archipelago3. Turkey: from Constantinople by Smyrna, and all Asia Minor-4. Syria, and the Holy Land-5. Egypt-6. Abyssinia-7. North Africa; of which only Tunis has been as yet visited.

Particular Objects pursued or proposed at

those Stations.

The objects hitherto engaged in, or proposed, either by our own or other Societies, as essential, at these Stations, are as follows:

1. MALTA: Rendezvous-Centre of

2. GREECE: The Scriptures in Modern Greek have been conducted by othersalso the Scriptures in Albanian-also the Scriptures in Hebrew - Spanish -Preaching, as by Mr. Hartley-Schools, as by Dr. Korck-The possibility of New Churches being formed, and the probable course of Reformation to be considered separately-Tracts and Books to be translated-the Introduction of Hebrew Studies, with a view afterward to all the other Stations-the Press, if possible.

3. TURKEY: The Bible actually printed, by the British and Foreign Bible Society-Conversion of the Jews-Preaching to Native Christians—Armenian and Turco-Armenian Scriptures - Discussions with Mahomedans, to be separately considered - Correspondence with the Armenian and Persian Missions.

4. SYRIA and PALESTINE: Conversion of the Jews-Itinerant Preaching (see Researches in Syria, pp. 379, 380)—the Arabic Scriptures are ready-Help in the Translation of Arabic Tracts-probably Mount Lebanon would be found an eligible place for Education, when practicable-Corespondence toward Mesopotamia, with the hope of a Mission there at some future day.

5. EGYPT: Frequent Voyages up and down the Nile, with Conversational Preaching-Depôts of the Scriptures and Tracts-Schools-Translations-Correspondence with Arabia and Abyssinia.

6. ABYSSINIA: Sketched in the Instructions to Mr. Kugler. (See pp. 309312 of our Number for August.)

7. NORTH AFRICA: Will be noticed hereafter.

In reference, generally, to the Measures already pursued, the Committee would remark, that they have ground of thankfulness to Almighty God, that, under His blessing, they have not been disappointed in the results expected.

These measures have had respect to two great points stated in your First Instructions-the Acquiring of Information, and the Propagation of Christian Knowledge.

Acquisition of Information, one General

Object of the Mission.

The Acquiring of Information relative, as was proposed, to the State of Religion and Society, and the best Means of

meliorating that state, has been made a main object in your Correspondence with persons in different countries-in your various Conferences with Natives and others-and in your personal Observation of the state of things in such parts as you have visited.

In your Correspondence carried on from Malta while resident there, as the Head-Quarters of the Mission, you were enabled to collect much useful information, by the free communications of intelligent friends; and had there many opportunities of Conference with visitors from various quarters: but, as the work of Conference and Observation required visits to the different people, in order to their being known and understood in their actual habits, the Committee had much satisfaction in witnessing your visits to various countries-in 1816, one, of five months, to the Ionian Islandsin 1818, a second, of two months, to Smyrna and Greece-in 1819, a third, of ten months, to Egypt and Smyrna in 1820, a fourth, of three months, to Egypt-and, in 1823-4, a fifth, of eight months, to Syria and the Holy Land. The result of these visits has been communicated to the public with much advantage, as the Committee have reason to believe, in the two Volumes of Researches which you have furnished to the Society.

Propagation of Christian Knowledge, a Second General Object of the Mission. In reference to the Second Object the Propagation of Christian Knowledge -by means of the Press, Journeys, and Education-the Committee cannot but observe, that the PRESS has already attained a degree of influence beyond expectation. The number of Languages in which it is now made instrumental of good-the variety of Books and Tracts already in circulation-the readiness, varying indeed with times and places, for their reception-and the opening which the progress of public events is continually furnishing for more extended circulation-all these facts demonstrate the value of this branch of our measures.

In your various JOURNEYS, although, from the newness of language, and the ignorant state of the different countries which you were one of the first to visit with such objects as those of the Society in view, much immediate fruit was not to be expected; yet the Committee per

ceive, with pleasure, that personal acquaintances were formed, which prepared the way for the visits of your associates and fellow-labourers, and which they have been enabled to extend.

It may be remarked, that these two Means of diffusing Christian Knowledge have an important mutual bearing. The Press has furnished the means of rendering Journeys profitable; which very Journeys have been suggested by the accumulation of such means of usefulness as the Press supplies. The Journeys of your Brethren in Greece, Syria, the Holy Land, and Egypt, subsequent to your own, have added largely to the stores of Information, while they have contributed greatly to the circulation of Christian Knowledge.

The third chief Means for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge, the EDUCATION OF NATIVES, has made rapid strides within the last few years; but, as yet, this instrument of good is not in vigorous action beyond the boundaries of the Ionian Islands and Greece. If, however, Education shall continue to advance in those countries, its progress there will have important influence on their neighbours. In Syria, efforts have been made by our American Brethren; and with success, until the obstacles opposed to their work, and even their personal danger, obliged them to relinquish that country for a season. In Egypt, the Society's Missionaries are sowing the seeds, the Committee trust, of a future harvest.

There is one Means of propagating Christian Knowledge, specially appointed of God, and on which, in proportion as it shall be employed with wisdom and in faith, a peculiar blessing may be expected-the PREACHING OF THE CROSS. Preaching, however, under the present circumstances of the whole Mission, must, probably in most cases, be almost confined to what may be denominated "Conversational Preaching," in which the Missionaries, whithersoever they go, speak to all men, as proper opportunities offer, as being Ambassadors of Christ and Ministers of Reconciliation.

Europeans, however, of different nations, resident in various places which you and your Brethren have visited, or where you or they have resided for a season, have gladly received your Ministrations; and, in some instances, the most important results appear, through the Divine Blessing, to have followed

from these labours: and, latterly, your associates, Mr. Hartley in some of the Churches of Greece, and Dr. Korck in his School Addresses, have been enabled publicly to declare, among the Greeks, that Gospel, to the simplicity and purity of which it is our most earnest desire to aid in recovering that interesting people; but the Committee are assured that you will all watch every favourable opportunity for preaching, both among those who profess to receive the Gospel and those who are yet its avowed enemies, the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Though, indeed, in bringing men to the saving knowledge of God as reconciled in Christ little has yet been done, we have reason to be grateful, that, not among European residents only, but among Natives, whether Roman-Catholics, Greeks, Armenians, or Abyssinians, and even Jews and Mahomedans, the Society has had the joy, in concurrence with other Bodies of Labourers, to gather some first-fruits. Among Mahomedans, indeed, almost insuperable obstacles present themselves in countries where the Dominant Power is under the delusion of that Imposture; but, even there, some hopeful cases have occurred.

SURVEY OF THE MEDITERRANEAN AS A SPHERE OF MISSIONARY LABOUR.

In considering the present condition of the Mediterranean as a sphere of Missionary Labour, the Committee would observe with respect to MALTA, hitherto the Head-Quarters of their Missions and the Point of Support to all their more-distant efforts, that, in the present unsettled state of the surrounding countries, and under the uncertainties which hang over the future, they cannot but be thankful for the many advantages afforded to their exertions by the secure footing obtained in that island. In these advantages various other Societies participate with our own. It is well known, indeed, that our country possesses that territory under restrictions not favourable to the free efforts of Christian Love and Zeal among the inhabitants of the island itself; yet even in this respect, symptoms of improvement are not wanting. The single fact, of the RomanCatholic Priesthood having been made amenable to the Civil Power, affords great encouragement to look for a better state of things, from the influence which it will assuredly have on principles and morals. The reformation of other evils

by the Government, and the countenance shewn to Education and the cultivation of the Maltese Tongue, are indications full of promise. The Scriptures have, indeed, been hitherto shut out from the Schools; and the Translation of the Scriptures, now so happily in progress under your own eye and with your own labour, has been discountenanced by the Roman Catholics: but both difficulties will doubtless yield, in due time, to the overruling Hand which governs all things. The Committee cannot but rejoice that the Maltese Language has been fixed by their late Translator, Mr. Vassalli; and that it is now cultivated for religious purposes-prayer being offered daily to the Throne of Grace, and the praises of God daily ascend, in that tongue; while it will serve as an easy introduction to the Arabic spoken throughout the whole extent of North Africa.

In the IONIAN ISLANDS this Society has, as yet, formed no establishment. Your visit to them, in 1816, prepared the way for that of Mr. Hartley, who spent among them, with much encouragement in his exertions, nearly the whole of the year 1825. They have long enjoyed the labours of the Rev. Isaac Lowndes, of the London Missionary Society; and, latterly, other Instructors, both male and female, have been established there, with the more particular view of promoting Education. The Greek Scriptures and Tracts have been abundantly distributed: the New Testament, in Albanian, has also been published. Public Preaching has been allowed; and encouragement is given, under the British Authorities, to prudent efforts for the greatest good of the people.

TO GREECE, the eyes of benevolent and pious men are very generally directed; while the Christians of the Western Shores of the Atlantic seem disposed to enter into a holy rivalry with those of Great Britain and the Continent, in promoting its intellectual and religious renovation. In the circulation of the Scriptures and other Books, in the promotion of Education, and even in the Public Preaching of the Gospel, your coadjutors Mr. Hartley and Dr. Korck have been enabled successfully to exert themselves. Mr. Hartley has been listened to with a degree of candour, which, under all circumstances, could scarcely have been expected. Symptoms of partial opposition to our