and monster, Gezo, the king of Dahomey. What a degradation of mankind, to see men and women promiscuously slain, proving the barbarity and unnatural action of the king of Dahomey, who is employing women to do a thing contrary to their nature! It was

a heart-sickening scene. I would scarcely have believed it to be to such an extent, had not I seen it with mine eyes: the grass field was literally covered with dead bodies.

"On the other hand, some of the Egbas who had fallen into the hands of the Dahomians when the soldiers went to oppose them in the river yesterday, as well as poor innocent farmers who were then returning home, ignorant of the Dahomians' coming, to the number of about 100 persons, on their departure in the night were all killed, boys and girls not excepted, and their heads cut off and carried away as trophies to their king. This is the character of the monster who attempted to get us into his power; but the Lord defeated him. This is the acknowledgment of all, both old and young, men and women 'God has delivered us from the Dahomians. That an army of about 16,000 should be beaten off in so short a time was the work of that God whom the white men serve.'

"My own feelings during the excitement of war were, that surely God would not allow the enemy to prevail, though He had permitted them to come so near, for these reasons, which I have always made a plea before God previous to their coming

1. That this is the only place in this part of the country which God has opened to Christian Missions, and the light of the Gospel is being lighted therein. 1 felt, in my heart, that God would not permit that light to be put out by such a tyrant and monster of wickedness as the king of Dahomey.

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"2. That the labours of philanthropic England for the abolition of the slave-trade, and her benevolent efforts to Christianize and civilize Africa, which has now commenced through the return of thousands of liberated Africans to this country, would not be suffered to be

thwarted by a blood-thirsty man, who seeks nothing but the destruction of a fellow-man to feed his barbarity and pride.

"3. I was firmly persuaded that prayers are constantly offered up by thousands of good devoted Christians for God's protection over us and our Mission.

"These have been my pleas at the throne of grace. The forty-sixth Psalm has supported my faith, that God would defend us as He had done in a thousand cases in times past."

What a happy contrast to such terrific scenes is presented to us in the Christian services of the next Sunday, and the prayers and thanksgiving of grateful worshippers, impressed with a sense of the deliverance which they had experienced! Such is the happy transition contained in the following paragraph

"March 9, 1851: Lord's-day.-Through the Lord's mercy we were enabled to meet again in his house for our usual Sabbath services. I preached in the morning and afternoon, and in the latter service received twentyfour adults into the Church by baptism. Two, whom I should have baptized, were kept at home by illness. I have therefore been privileged to receive forty-nine adults into the Church since my return from Europe, one of whom, since his baptism, has entered into rest.

SELECTIONS FROM DIFFERENT AUTHORS.

WITHOUT rules the honourable man will act correctly; and no rules will restrain those of an opposite character. -Lord Denman.

The happy man.-How happy is that man "whose help cometh from the Lord!" Though the whole creation frowns upon him, and all nature looks black upon him, he has his light and support within him, that is able to cheer his mind and bear him up in the midst of any horrors that may encompass him. He knows that his Helper is at hand, and is always nearer to him than any thing else can be which is capable of annoying or terrifying him. In the midst of calumny and contempt, he attends to that Being who whispers better things within his soul, and whom he looks upon as his defender, his glory, and the

lifter-up of his head. In his deepest solitude and retirement, he knows that he is in company with the Greatest of Beings; and perceives within himself such real sensations of his presence, as are more delightful than any thing to be met with in the society of his creatures. Even in the hour of death he considers the pains of his dissolution to be nothing else but the breaking down of that partition which stands between his own soul and the sight of that Being who is always present with him, and who will manifest Himself to him in fulness of joy.→ Addison.

The soul cheerful in affliction. The considerations that make the soul cheerful in affliction, are, that God is merciful; that as He is not ignorant so neither is He unmindful of our troubles; that He is a friend who knows us in adversity no less than in prosperity; that He hath not subjected us to the necessity of being overcome by our spiritual enemies, but hath "with the temptation made a way for us to escape."-Bp. Horne.

How terrible, and yet how forbearing, are thy judg ments, O God! The slenderest motions of godly sorrow, the most imperfect symptoms of repentance, are not rejected of Thee. The bruised reed and smoking flax shall stay thy hand awhile; for Thou waitest to be gracious. But justice will not always be mocked: whom mercy by sparing does not reform, judgment, without mercy, shall finally destroy.-Wogan.

The occasions for sublime virtues are rare; to most men they never occur at all. Christian principles will languish or die, if they be not habitually exercised in those quiet little duties which are always at hand.

We shall especially honour God by discharging faithfully those offices which God has entrusted us with; by improving diligently those talents which God has committed to us; by using carefully those means and opportunities which God has vouchsafed us of doing Him service, and promoting his glory.-Barrow.

Horns of an altar.-1. By "horns of an altar" is meant the Divine protection. "The horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground" (Amos iii. 14); that is, there shall be no more atonements made upon the altar.

The asylum or sanctuary thereof shall not stand. Anciently, both among Jews and Gentiles, an altar was an asylum or sanctuary for such persons as fled to it for refuge. 2. By "horns" is meant strength, glory, and power. Horns (it is well known) are emblems of those qualities both in sacred and profane writers, because the strength and beauty of horned animals consist in their horns. By the seven horns, attributed to the Lamb in Rev. v. 6, is signified that universal power which our Lord obtained, when suffering death under the form of an innocent victim: He thereby vanquished the formidable enemy of man. "All power," said He to his disciples immediately after this conflict, "is given me in heaven and earth." (Matt. xxviii. 18.)--Barrow.

Let us beware, whatever we may think, that we do not fall under the curse of making the blind to wander out of their way (Deut. xxvii. 18).—This is a crime which is seldom committed; there are few opportunities for it; there is little temptation to it; it is doing mischief for mischief's sake, an enormity to which few can easily bring themselves. Blindness in all languages is put for error and ignorance; and in the style of the Scriptures, ways and paths, and walking, running, going, wandering astray, stumbling, falling, mean the actions and behaviour of men. These observations will lead us to the moral, mystical, spiritual, and enlarged sense of the law or commination; and it is this: Cursed is he who imposeth upon the simple, the credulous, the unwary, the ignorant, and the helpless; and either hurts, or defrauds, or deceives, or seduces, or misinforms, or misleads, or perverts, or corrupts, or spoils them.-Dr. Jortin.

Cease to do evil; learn to do well.-The foundation of acting right is the avoiding of every thing wrong: several parts of Scripture lay down this rule in almost the same terms: "Cease to do evil; learn to do well." (Isa. i. 16, 17.) "Hate the evil, and love the good." (Amos v. 15.) "Depart from evil, and do good." (Ps. xxxiv. 14; xc. 10.) "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." (Rom. xii. 9.) And many express or imply the same doctrine. Scarce any words are strong enough to express how much good bare cessation

from doing evil would produce, and how great is the importance of the plain humble duty of an inoffensive life; in proportion as we root out hurtful inclinations, right ones will not fail to shoot up, and bring fruit, if in less quantity, yet such as will be accepted, but probably in plenty.-Abp. Secker.

EXTRACTS FROM NEWSPAPERS.

HONESTY AT THE DIGGINGS.-About twelve months ago a young operative, who had fallen into embarrassed circumstances, abruptly left Glasgow without giving any notice of his intended departure. His landlady, to whom he was indebted 37. for board and lodging, especially lamented his sudden disappearance. Last week, when she had quite forgotten the runaway, she was astonished at receiving a letter from the Australian diggings, containing an explanation of his apparent dishonesty, and, what was more to the purpose, a check for 107. It seems the lad managed to find his way to the gold regions, and prospering, as he deserved, took the earliest opportunity of rubbing the stain from his character.-Glasgow paper.

The advantages of banks for the deposit of small sums were pleasingly and at the same time gratefully acknowledged on Tuesday last, by an individual who had benefited by the facilities afforded him at Stamford for the accumulation and increase of his savings. The following letter, which was delivered to the manager in attendance this week, is alike honourable to the writer and gratifying to those who take an interest in the prosperity of the industrious classes: "To the Managers of the Stamford and Rutland Savings Bank.-Gentlemen, I thank you for the advantages which I have derived from the above institution, and I fully recognize the value of your able and gratuitous services to the same, as without those services myself as well as others could not have obtained the benefit of such an important and useful institution. I am, &c., HENRY STENSON.-Stamford, Dec. 21, 1852."

THE FALL OF RAIN.-To the Editor of the Times. Sir,-The depth of rain fallen since the drought of last spring is so extraordinary, that a statement of the quantity fallen at Greenwich may be acceptable to the readers of your valuable journal.

In May last 2.25 inches only of rain fell; in June 4.76 inches-greater than registered for many years; in the month of July 2-22 inches in one great thunderstorm; in August 4:55 inches; September gave 4.00 inches; again in October we had 4.18 inches; and last month (November) the extraordinary depth of 6 08 inches: making a total depth of water on the surface of the earth above 28 inches, or 2 feet 4 inches. The effect of this unusual mass of water continually falling has been amply detailed in all the leading journals of the day. Certainly since the year 1800 so much rain in this locality has never been registered. I am, Sir, &c., J. HENRY BELVILLE.-Hyde-vale, Greenwich.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We have received the communications of S. B.; Rev. T. Farley; A Layman; and some Anonymous Correspondents.