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DEPARTURE OF THE "DOVE" FOR WESTERN AFRICA.

Our readers will see on the other side a view of the "Dove" starting from Gravesend for Fernando Po. It was intended that she should leave about the 1st of December, but through an accident in anchoring at Gravesend she was obliged to put back into dock, where she was detained for a week in order to be repaired. The accident was in her rigging and spars only, and the expense will not fall on the Society.

She left Gravesend on Friday, Dec. 8, having on board Captain and Mrs. Milbourne, Mr. and Mrs. Newbegin, Mrs. Saker, and Mr. and Mrs. Yarnold—the latter going out to Fernando Po as teachers. The presence of these brethren will be warmly hailed by the missionaries who are already in the field; and we trust that the Great Head of the church will give them a speedy and prosperous voyage. It may interest our friends to know that the "Dove" takes out a new and valuable printing press for Bimbia-a special gift of friends in Scotland and Norfolk, through Mr. Newbegin. She also takes out a small sugar mill, the gift of Mr. Peto. A large quantity of stores and provisions is also sent out for the use of the mission. Two Fernandians and a native of the Eboe country are among the crew.

When our brethren reach the field of their labour the Society will have in Africa, including the wives of missionaries, eleven European agents and eight native preachers and teachers.

Since 1841 the bread fruit tree, the pomegranate, the mango, the avocado pear, and the mammed-productions of great value, and all suitable to the climate, have been introduced by our brethren; garments sufficient to clothe not less than 20,000 persons have been distributed; many hundreds of the natives-it may be said thousands have received medical assistance; three principal stations have been established; and about eighty persons have been baptized. An Introduction to the Fernandian tongue has been written by our friend Mr. Clarke, and, with specimens of translation, has just been published by him at Berwick. The Gospel of Matthew, the book of Genesis, and Scripture Extracts in Isubu have been published by Mr. Merrick at Bimbia; and Mr. Saker is engaged with the Dewalla at Cameroons.

Judging from these results, and comparing them with the results of the first seven years of labour in India or other fields, we cannot but regard the labours of our brethren in Africa as very encouraging and important.

The expense of the "Dove" for outfit and stores for the year amounts to about £600. We trust our young friends, to whom we have hitherto looked for meeting this expense, will make an additional effort this year to raise the whole amount. It will be impossible to meet it through the ordinary income of the Society, which is already taxed to its utmost limit.

Since the above was written, we learn that the "Dove" has been detained for several days in Ramsgate harbour, where our friends have received much kindThe thanks of the Committee are especially due to the church meeting in Cavendish Chapel, and to their pastor, from whom we have received the following note, dated Dec. 16th, and to the Rev. Edward Hoare, incumbent of Christchurch.

ness.

I just drop you a line to say the "Dove' left our harbour this afternoon between three and four o'clock, all well on board. I was on

board, and prayed with them just as she was going out. One of the members of our church, who is a seafaring man, and who thoroughly

understands the whole of the English coast, evening, if the "Dove" should remain in the generously offered his services gratuitously to harbour. We accepted his invitation, and all pilot the boat all round the coast to Plymouth. the friends spent a most pleasant and, I hope, I introduced him to Captain Milbourne, who profitable meeting. He invited many friends readily and cheerfully accepted his services, to meet us, and prayer was offered specially and he is gone off with him. We paid our for the friends and mission generally. Mr. steam-tug to pull them safe out of the harbour, Newbegin gave us an address on Monday and our ladies have made and presented the and Wednesday evenings, and we collected Captain with a new silk flag, with the Dove after the prayer-meeting £2 12s., to pay harand olive branch, which was waving in the bour dues. Several ladies of Mr. Hoare's breeze. I think it right to state that all our church sent to offer beds, or any other accomfriends have manifested a great deal of kind- modation, for our friends while they remained, ness, and a very deep interest in the mission but the members of my church and congregahas been felt. The Rev. Edward Hoare, in- tion had made all necessary provision of every cumbent of Christchurch in the Vale, called kind. Our ladies began work, and furnished on me last Monday morning, and having ex- shirts for the three Africans on board, and on pressed his interest in the mission, invited the Thursday twenty met together to prepare a whole of the friends on board the "Dove" to box of clothing for Africa, and many presents take tea and spend the evening, with Mrs. were made. I think there was a kind proviWills and myself, at his house on Tuesday dence in the "Dove" visiting us.

ASIA.

CALCUTTA.

We have received from Mr. WENGER, under date of October 7, 1818, the following information in reference to his labours.

General Review.

I hope the review of this year may prove somewhat more cheering than that of the last two or three years. We have all been permitted to introduce into the churches rather more new members than usual. As far as I am concerned, I must acknowledge that success is not owing to increased labour, but solely to the sovereign mercy of God, who ordains the seasons of spiritual as well as of temporal blessings.

Translations.

The Sanscrit Old Testament is proceeding. The printing has advanced to Joshua ix. The New Testament, which we are now reprinting, has advanced to the beginning of Mark; a new edition of the Bengali New Testament to the beginning of Luke, and the carefully revised Bengali Old Testament to the 2nd of Judges.

BARISAL AND DACCA.

It is not often that the stations above named are visited by missionaries of other societies than our own. They lie to the north-west of Calcutta, and out of the usual track of travellers. Recently, however, Messrs. Danforth and Stoddard, of the American Baptist Missionary Society, have visited these districts on their way to Assam. Extracts from their journal cannot fail to interest our friends.

We have at length reached our long looked- and then again so narrow as scarcely to for home. We started from Calcutta on the admit a boat to pass us. Sometimes we 14th of April, in the steamer "Jumsur," seemed to be in a small lake, then passed passed down the Hoogly until we reached into a little inlet, then crossed a large river; Sauger Island, and then turned into the thus we continued our way for three or four "Sunderbunds." Here, for the space of a hundred miles. The banks on either side week, were we passing to and fro in every were covered with a dense jungle. The possible direction,-now going north,-now shrubbery is very low; but so thick as to south,-now east, and again west. Some- ren ler it impossible to penetrate it. It is times the river was five or six miles wide, inhabited only by wild beasts. Tigers are so

lies upon a sick bed, unable to do any thing for these precious souls. There is no missionary nearer than Calcutta on one hand, and Dacca on the other. Our hearts were filled with sympathy and sadness. After a season of prayer, we left him to the care of that Being who says, "I will never leave nor forsake you."

numerous that it is dangerous for persons to of promise! and yet the only missionary there go on shore. They have in a few instances ventured into the river and carried off natives from their boats. This singular place can scarcely be called any thing else than the Bay of Bengal, thickly studded with islands. The land is, probably, nothing more than a deposit, brought from the country above. All the rivers in this region are exceedingly muddy, and ever changing their course. The river may be traced out one year, and the next season will find it completely filled up, and a new channel cut out. Hence the great difficulty of giving the topography of the rivers. Two men, one on each side of the boat, were constantly employed in sounding, from the time we left Calcutta till we reached Gowahatti.

Stopped over night at Dacca. Called on brother Robinson, a missionary of the Baptist Missionary Society. Having been in the mission for many years, he was able to give us much useful information. Were much interested in an interview with father Leonard (an Irish missionary associated with brother Robinson). He is seventy-six years of age, but he still preaches: has been in the work fortyfour years. How encouraging to see this old veteran, about to lay down his arms and receive a crown of glory. His wife is still living. Dacca was once the capital of Bengal, and though it has lost much of its former

Formerly the Sunderbunds are said to have been inhabited; it is now nothing but a solitary waste. The atmosphere at certain seasons of the year is almost death to the traveller. Farther up we found the country densely populated in some places. The in-greatness, it still contains a large population, habitants are Bengalis.

Revival at Barisal-Dacca; a veteran missionary.

together with numerous populous villages around it. Yet there are but two missionaries here. Four or five more could not meet its wants. The Romanists have planted themselves here, and, as in all other places, are very zealous for the mother church.

The in

We stopped a few hours at Barisal (a station about 400 miles from Calcutta by After passing through many rivers, we at river). Went ashore and called on a length reached the Brahmaputra. It is a brother missionary (Mr. Page) residing there. noble river, sometimes five or six miles in He was sent a short time since from Calcutta, width, with a very rapid current. to gather in a harvest of souls, which the habitants of the populous villages thronged Lord had been preparing. About a year the banks, and gazed on us with wonder. since, a revival of religion commenced here Their degraded, miserable appearance called among the lowest castes, and 150 souls were loudly to us for pity and assistance. But hopefully converted. The instrumentality what could we do? Nothing but pass on, was so very small (there being no missionary and leave them to their destruction. There on the ground), that all were forced to ac- is not a missionary between Dacca and Goknowledge that it was of God. What a field wahatti, a distance of more than 400 miles.

MONGHIR.

A letter has been received from Mr. PARSONS, dated the 8th of September, the following extracts from which will be interesting to our readers.

Barth's Church History in Hindee. An interval has occurred since my last letter to you longer by two mouths than I usually allow to elapse, I having had, iu both instances, hindrances to writing, which I hope will be sufficient to exculpate me from the charge of neglect. A good part of the mouth of July I was using all the time I could muster from out-door engagements in finishing the translation of "Barth's Church History,' which I was privileged to do on the 20th, with the exception of having to finally correct the manuscript of the "Fourth Period," after revision by an esteemed member of our church,

Mr. John Christian, who is a good Hindee scholar. An edition of 1000 is being printed, 500 of which are the Tract Society's, on consideration of their furnishing paper for the whole, and paying for the binding of their own copies. The responsibility of the rest lies on me, for which I hope (D.v.) I shail be able to provide. And as I have no idea of profit, but my earnest desire is to get the information contained in the work speedily into the possession of the native brethren, and yet experience seems to show that the gratuitous distribution of books is not, at all times, desirable, but it is rather advisable to begin to accustom our native brethren to purchase

books; I therefore propose to sell the books | Bya, the old stream of the Ganges, and the to Europeans at cost price, and to natives at Ganges itself. On the Gunduck and the half price. Two Christian friends liberally Ganges we have often itinerated; we visited the and spontaneously offered me fifty and twenty- Balan the year before last, and have been five rupees respectively, altogether £7 10s., now on the Bya, which, taking its rise in the towards the printing of the book, which will Upper Gunduck, near Hajeepore, falls into be a material aid in reducing the price, as the Ganges about thirty-five or forty miles above stated, to native purchasers. above Monghir.

Poverty and liberality of the converts in India.

We would gladly endeavour to lead our dear people, as suggested, to think of supporting their pastor, but their situation and resources are not at all equal to any such effort. For the most part, we ever find them most willing to contribute to every good work, in proportion to their income, which is, if I mistake not, very far beyond what is contributed by brethren in England, with few exceptions; but only a few of them enjoy more than a bare supply for their temporal wants, and more, I think, than half the members of our church are in such poor circumstances, as in case of any little extraordinary expense which may fall on them, to be grateful for assistance from others. We pay the salaries of our own native preachers and schoolmasters, the expenses of our own chapels, and a comparatively large sum every month for widows, &c., and make an occasional subscription-usually annual for the Calcutta Auxiliary and the Translations, besides responding to calls for building and repairs of chapels and other objects, from other stations. Lately, on learning the amount of the Parent Society's debt, some of our friends came forward with contributions amounting to upwards of £17 sterling, on which occasion one dear and esteemed brother's free-will offering amounted to more than two-thirds of his monthly pension. And really I cannot feel at liberty to appeal to them to do more than sustain this rate of liberality. For ourselves, we endeavour to our utmost to practise strict economy, that we may be able, as largely as possible, out of the salary so kindly supplied by the liberality of our esteemed British brethren, to give to him that needeth, and help forward the missionary operations we are carrying on here, for if all believers are stewards for God of the property they possess, then we feel that we must be so in a peculiarly emphatic sense.

Mission Itineracy.

I will now attempt to give you some account of my late tour, in which I was accompanied by our indefatigable and, through grace, excellent native brother, Nainsukh. The district to the north and north-west of us is intersected by several streams, on the banks of which are lines of villages, and as these streams are not far distant from each other, there are but few villages in the intervening country. These streams, beginning from the one which comes from the most northerly quarter, are the Gunduck, the Balan, the

Among the thirty-four villages we visited, two-Tegra and Mow-are deserving of the name of towns for their size and the number of inhabitants. I will transcribe a few items from my brief journal.

Some hear, some forbear.

Friday, August 4. Entered the Bya Sota, about one o'clock. About five o'clock we reached the village of Nipaniya, whither we went to speak. We had many round us, among whom were some very noisy disputants, especially an old brahmin and an infidel Vedantist, and for a long time we could get no opportunity to discourse, and eventually went towards our boat, but as the sun had not set, and many people were following us, we stopped, and getting on an elevated spot, began to discourse, Nainsukh reading Matt. vii. 7-23, and speaking of God's judging and dealing with men according to their fruits, after which I read to the end of the chapter, and spoke of the necessity of a firm foundation for eternity, and contrasted the sandy foundation of idolaters with Christ, the only safe rock of hope.

Saturday, 5th. In the morning intended to have gone again into Nipaniya, but the people collected at the boat, and first Nainsukh had a long discussion with the old Brahmin, chiefly on the subject of ca te, but when he and some others went away, a good many better disposed persons remained, to whom we both preached the gospel, and then proceeded to Barownee, but on account of rain could not go out for some hours, during which many respectable persons came to the boat for books, from Barownee, and also the neighbouring village of Phoolwureea. About three o'clock we went to the latter, a large village, and spoke in four places; first, in the midst of the village, among the power people, who heard well, notwithstanding that some brahmins came to question and discuss. Then, before a zemindar's house, where also we had a large congregation and no opposition. Again, at Pundit's house, whose father had married the daughter of Hingun Misr, the first native convert of Monghir. A large number assembled, but a Mussalman Moonshee and others persisted in discussion, and allowed us no quiet opportunity of preaching. Lastly, in the bazar, where Nainsukh and myself spoke with little interruption to a large congregation of perhaps 150 persons. Returning to the boat, a good number of persons, assembled on the shore, heard respectfully.

rich

Lord's day, 6th. In Barownee, spoke in

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