land; but mere formalism prevails, with little godliness. There have been baptized, seven; received by letter, two; removed, two; increase, seven'; number of members, forty. We have six sub-stations, at which the attendance varies from twenty to fifty. We have about 100 children in the school; and about forty of our magazines have been taken during the year. LEINSTER. There are six principal stations in this province,-Dublin, Rahue and Ferbane, Moate, Athlone, Parson's Town, and Abbeyliex. DUBLIN. REV. J. MILLIGAN. We have remained almost stationary. We are not in a flourishing state. We have to deplore the want of spiritual life. There are some who labour and pray for the good of souls, and who sigh for the abominations in the land. We have had three additions; we have lost two by removal; present number of members, forty. RAHUE AND FERBANE.-REV. J. M'CARTHY. I have four stations, which I visit about once a fortnight. There is a lamentable prevalence of apathy and indifference. attendance is steady. We have had no additions and no losses. The The schools have suffered from priestly opposition. But the parents of the children will send them back again. A spirit of inquiry has burst out among the people in the neighbourhood of our schools. I have heard of several who have openly protested against the doctrines and practices of the church of Rome. The neighbourhood of C is agitated beyond what I have ever known before. MOATE. REV. W. THOMAS. I trust the knowledge and piety of the people have considerably increased. We have thirteen members. Two have been baptized, and I expect soon to baptize others. The school has about ninety scholars. Our Sunday-school prospers. At Clonola we have a good congregation. The school contains about fifty scholars, and great numbers of chapters of God's word have been committed to memory. At Clara the attendance is very encouraging. When I visit the out-stations I usually go to Ferbane and Banagher, and the attendance is usually good. I can thus help my brethren in whose districts these places lie. ATHLONE. REV. T. WILSHERE. During the past year, says Mr. W. (who is not supported by the Society, but by the trustees of the late Mr. Boyce's fund, but who occupies the Society's chapel,) I have not met with such fierce opposition as before, but various efforts are made to cripple our operations. Two have been baptized, and two others have been before the church for membership, and all the members remain stedfast. Our present number is eight. PARSON'S TOWN.-REV. M. MULLARKY. Through the twenty-one years that I have been engaged in the missionary field, I have never witnessed such determined opposition by the priesthood, but I never saw their exertions in this way attended with less effect. destitution five families have left us for a In consequence of the wide spreading foreign shore, and three members have died; in all we have lost eight members. We have had three added, and several are likely soon to join the church. The four out-stations average an attendance of thirty. The Sunday-school is well attended, in which there are sixty children. The daily school at Borisokane continues to flourish. There are over 200 children, chiefly Romanists, and there are about 180 in daily attendance. ABBEYLIEX.-REV. J. BERRY. The church has received several additions, and the congregations and the number of inquirers and candidates for baptism have increased of late. There have been seven baptized, we have lost nine by removals and exclusion, and our present number is thirtyone. We have five sub-stations, nine evening schools, and an average attendance of nearly thirty hearers, at the out-stations. MUNSTER. In this province we have Kilcooley Hills, Clonmel, Waterford, and Cork. KILCOOLEY AND CLONMEL.-REV. R. J. WILSON. During the past year I have removed to the Hills. Here there are four stations. We have a prospect, through a kind friend, of getting a plain place of worship, which will seat about eighty persons. Five have been added by baptism, which make the number in the church nineteen. At Clonmel there is little to encourage, but we must perform our work with fidelity and patience. WATERFORD.-REV. F. BUGBY. The whole aspect was extremely discouraging when I came here, the attendance not being more than twenty. That is now doubled, and gives every prospect of being soon trebled. At Dunmore the reader has access to thirtyfour families, one half of whom are Romanists, who receive him cordially. The average attendance on Lord's day is about thirty-seven. We have received four to the church-two have been dismissed, and our present number is twenty-five. CORK. REV. B. C. YOUNG. As I came here in the autumn I cannot report for a whole year. When I pitched my tent in Cork the work was standing still; now we are moving. I have baptized twice, and two have joined the church who were baptized before. Our present number is twenty-five. Our Monday evening meetings for conversation are very interesting. From forty to sixty persons have attended. A passage of scripture is read, and some person or persons are perhaps present who are unknown to us. Objections are started, and discussion follows. What may result I know not, but if these facts be indicative of the general feeling, then Ireland is in a condition of hope, far in advance of that which existed a few years ago. The reports from the missionaries in connection with the society, and which appear in the previous pages, supply the facts which enable the Committee to estimate the usefulness of the mission during the past year. The number of daily and evening schools has been somewhat diminished, and the number of scholars is at least one third less than that reported last year. This has arisen from two causes-first emigration, which has carried away to distant shores vast masses of the population, and chiefly from those districts where the greatest number of the Society's schools where located; second, the almost universal poverty of these districts, whereby immense numbers of families with their children have been compelled to seek an asylum in the union workhouses. During the winter there were thirty-one schools in operation, containing nearly two thousand children; but nine of these were only temporary, and will be closed during the summer months. They were opened to enable some pious members of the church at Abbeyleix to teach the destitute poor in their neighbourhoods; these members themselves being in great straits. They preferred giving their time to this object, at the small salaries of £1 per month, to asking for grants from the Relief Fund with out labour. In their case the grants made to them were for work well done, and with great advantage to themselves and their numerous poor scholars, and who, but for this arrangement, would have had no instruction whatever. These reports likewise supply satisfactory evidence as to the growing spirit of inquiry amongst the masses of the people. This is not confined to one district. It is perceived in Munster as well as in Connaught. Opinions formerly considered indubitably true, because sanctioned by the authority of the church, are now in a vast number of instances compared with the statements of the inspired record. Numerous classes of inquirers are to be met with in several of the stations; and their earnestness and apparent sincerity encourage those missionaries who have formed them to hope that they will supply numerous accessions to the churches under their care. There are fifteen churches of which your missionaries are the pastors. To these there have been added during the year one hundred and thirty-eight persons. The losses by death, emigration, and exclusion-and the number of the latter is very small-amount to sixtyone. The clear increase is therefore seventyseven. The additions to each church average rather more than nine, the clear increase to each church averages about five. Compared with the previous year, the number of additions to the churches is somewhat greater, the clear increase much more so. Last year the average gross increase was under nine, the clear increase scarcely three. In both respects, therefore, the results are more satisfactory. The members in these churches now number over five hundred. Only one of these churches has been stationary; and one has fewer members now than twelve months ago, notwithstanding that seven members have been added to it during that period, but emigration and death have swept out of it an unusually large number. The state of the Society's finances has been to the Committee a matter of very deep concern. Some months ago a Sub-committee was appointed to look narrowly into the whole question, and report accordingly. It appeared to them that retrenchment had been carried to its utmost practicable limit. To reduce the Society's agency in Ireland any further would almost nullify its operations, and render it unadvisable to carry it on with its present organization. Every effort has been made to increase the income; yet the liabilities, three months ago, were over £2000! An appeal has been made to those churches who have not recently contributed, and to private friends. The sum realized towards the liquidation of the debt, up to the 31st of March, was £347. Your committee hope, however, that the liberality of the friends of Ireland is not exhausted, and that some further reduction of this balance may be yet expected. Instead therefore, of having to report, as was feared in December last, a debt of £2000, the Committee have the pleasure to state that the balance against the Society is less than it was at the last anniversary; being £1670 8s. 6d. instead of £1756 1s. 2d. Meanwhile it must not be forgotten that this state of pecuniary embarrassment tends to impede the Society's operations. To the numerous demands for assistance, it raises an insuperable difficulty. No advantage can be taken of the openings which present themselves. Some of the agents are overwhelmed with labour, beneath which their health and spirits are fast giving way; and no such aid, as they absolutely require, can be afforded them. At this very time there are two gentlemen, one at Ballina-once a Romanist priest, and lately a curate of the endowed church-and another at Cork, a scholar and a member of Trinity College, Dublin, who have lost all their means of temporal support, by joining the churches in those places; and who are ready to occupy any post which the Committee may assign them. They are superior Irish scholars, and capable of preaching in the native tongue. While the Committee cannot, at present, hold out any prospect to these brethren, of permanent engagement, yet they do not think it right to give them up altogether. They think it prudent to test their qualifications as far as possible, and they have requested the Rev. S. Green to visit Ireland, on a preaching tour, in company with one of the parties referred to, and they are happy to state that Mr. Green has cheerfully complied with their request, and will probably be in Ireland during the month of May. The Committee are less discouraged by this state of pecuniary embarrassment than they would be if the Mission were in a low and languishing condition in Ireland. Success there supports the expectation that aid will be rendered here. They feel that they have a better reason than ever, on which to ground their appeal to the denomination at large. While God is graciously blessing the preaching of the cross in Ireland, and giving many souls to your missionaries as the seal of their ministry, they cannot but hope that, in due time, funds will be supplied sufficiently ample to sustain and enlarge their operations. It only further remains to your Committee to advert briefly to the administration of the Relief Fund during the past year. They withheld all grants up to the latest moment, consistent with the claims of humanity. Very little has been given away in the form of gratuitous relief; and only in cases of extreme destitution. They lament to add that all accounts concur to prove that destitution to be extensive and severe. They have tried, in every way, to relieve through the medium of employment. Some Christian brethren have been assisted, who have established evening schools, others have been put to dig, and prepare turf-a few to break stones, to be afterwards sold for the repair of the roads -and many young women have been employed in making useful articles of lace, which have been sent to ladies in this country, who have kindly undertaken to dispose of them, and the proceeds applied to keep them employed during the winter. But at Ballina the Committee have adopted a scheme first suggested by Mr. Hamilton, of a larger and more systematic description. They have taken a farm consisting of about 136 statute acres, with the view of giving steady employment to as many labourers as possible, and paying them according to the quality and amount of work done. The expense of cultivation has been carefully estimated, and amounts to about £500 per annum, and the property is held on a lease terminable at the option of the Committee, at one year, or any third year after, during a period of twenty-one years. The rent is £80, exclusive of the customary rates and taxes. Mr. Middleton, a person who has been accustomed to farming, is overseer, and twenty labourers have been employed during the winter, whose wages have enabled them to support their families in comparative comfort; and by an outlay for three months of £100, of which rather more than £70 is for labour, more than one hundred persons have been supported, who, but for this farm, must either have gone into the union, or perished. Up to the present moment, Mr. Hamilton reports that the work proceeds most satisfactorily. The overseer has established a bible class, to meet on Lord's day evenings at his house, besides prayermeetings during the week. Three labourers reside in cottages on the property, members of the church at Ballina; and while regard is had to the promotion of the temporal interests of the people, their higher interests are cultivated with equal care. Your Committee have every reason to hope that the produce of the farm will equal the outlay. But even if money be sunk, all persons will admit that this mode of applying the funds committed to their care is infinitely preferable to giving the same amount away, and which could only tend further to pauperize the recipients. On this plan they hope to improve their habits, and elevate their character; and the labourers who have been employed cherish the deepest gratitude for the generosity which has placed funds at the disposal of the Committee for their benefit. The Committee place these facts before their constituents with confidence. They feel the Society to be one of growing importance and usefulness to Ireland. The blessing of God has rested on the mission, and they commend it afresh to the liberality and prayers of His people, in the earnest hope that this hitherto almost uncultivated moral wilderness may ultimately become as the garden of God." Subscriptions and Donations thankfully received by the Treasurer, JOSEPH TRITTON, Esq. Lombard Street; and by the Secretary, Mr. FREDERICK TRESTRAIL, and Rev. JOSEPH ANGUS, at the Mission House, Moorgate Sreet; and by the pastors of the churches throughout the Kingdom, J. HADDON, PRINTER, CASTLE STREET, FINSBURY. THE BAPTIST MAGAZINE. JUNE, 1849. EARLY LIFE OF THE LATE REV. THOMAS BURCHELL, TWENTY-TWO YEARS BAPTIST MISSIONARY IN JAMAICA. THE Baptist Magazine for June, 1846, contained a sketch of Mr. Burchell's career from the commencement of his public course to its close, concluding with these words: "We hope to be favoured speedily with an authentic account of Mr. Burchell's early life." That hope has not been realized till now; but we are more than compensated for the delay by the full and interesting memoir which has just been published by the deceased missionary's brother. No other individual in modern times, we believe, has had the honour of gathering into the church of Christ so large a number of converts as the late Mr. Burchell, and it will be found pleasant and instructive to read the following account of the manner in which God prepared the instrument for the work to be performed, and of the ways in which adaptation for foreign labour was indicated while the future missionary was but a private member of a Christian community at home. VOL. XII.-FOURTH SERIES. Thomas Burchell was born on the 25th of December, 1799, at Tetbury in Gloucestershire, where his grandfather was pastor of the baptist church. His father was a woolstapler in that town; and he himself was apprenticed to a cloth manufacturer at Inchbrook near Nailsworth. Under the able ministry of Mr. Winterbotham, at Shortwood, his mind was instructed and impressed, and by him he was baptized and introduced to the fellowship of the church at Shortwood, in his eighteenth year. The following account of his early religious experience was read by him at his ordination :-- "It was my happiness to possess pious parents, who ever cherished the most earnest solicitude for the spiritual as well as temporal interests of their children; and who never neglected any favourable opportunity of instilling into their minds the reverential fear of God, veneration for the scriptures, and love 2 x to religion. From earliest infancy I had a kind and affectionate mother, who watched with tenderest concern to improve every occasion of leading my mind to the Saviour, as the best and most beneficent of beings; and of impressing me with the conviction of the baneful and destructive nature of sin, that I was myself a sinner against the Most High, and that Christ alone could save me and cleanse me from the pollutions of guilt by his blood. "These instructions, however inefficient in accomplishing the great object for which they were designed, the conversion of my soul,-which could be effected only by the almighty influences of the Lord the Spirit, were, nevertheless, highly beneficial; and I have since been led to consider them as having (by the divine blessing) prepared my mind to receive the seed of divine truth. If they failed to renew my nature (as all merely human efforts must), they yet had this effect: I could not sin so cheaply as some of my school-fellows and associates. When they displayed a feeling of bravado, by the language of imprecation, I have been restrained from following their example by the thought, 'How could I, in such case, again enter into the presence of my parents, who would be so justly offended?" When inclined to shake off the restraints of a partially enlightened conscience and of religious scrupulosity and be as other youths, it has been then I have felt the advantage of careful domestic instruction. It has proved as a corrective of many a pernicious feeling, and prevented me from plunging into those deeper and darker scenes of depravity and vice to which I might otherwise have been carried to my ruin. "As I advanced towards the age of fourteen, I often and seriously considered the claims of the soul, of religion, and of eternity. I was uneasy, for I felt that I was not what I ought to be; nor what I must be, if ever I were saved. Comparing myself with others, I deemed myself better than many. Still I was conscious I was not a Christian. Sometimes, after retiring to rest, I have meditated on my character and prospects, and wept with anguish at the thought that I was far from the kingdom of God: and although I palliated my guilt, and endeavoured to ease my conscience by referring to my outward morality, still I could not rid myself of the impression that I was living 'without God and without hope in the world.' At times I prayed, but more generally endeavoured to divert my thoughts to other subjects. This period was one of great perplexity to me. I had no pleasure in a course of sin, and still less in retirement. At length I resolved on a new mode of life, to forsake my usual associates, and to devote more time to reading and self-improvement. After pursuing this for some time, my conscience was set more at ease, but I sank into a state of apathy. "Although I had now struck upon a rock most truly dangerous, my recently adopted course was overruled for my benefit. For, having arrived at a critical period of life, when the character begins to unfold, and the inclinations acquire firmness and decision, it occasioned peculiar anxiety to my friends, who watched my every movement in order to give a correct bias. My mother, perceiving I was disposed for retirement and reading, improved the circumstance by expressing her approbation, and by requesting me, during the winter evenings on which I had then entered, to read to the other parts of the family. Having observed that I took particular pleasure in missionary intelligence, she procured for me, in addition to the Baptist and Evangelical Magazines, many numbers of the Baptist Periodical Accounts which, while |