New York. He did not like the war, because it was to set free the negro. Though a Southern man, he had never owned a slave; was favourable to emancipation, but not to the war as a means of effecting it; thought that the North would not submit to a conscription, and held the opinion that the resistance to the draft last summer failed through the conduct of the worst portion of the population. In endeavouring to converse on spiritual matters, I found that he had some knowledge of the Bible and of Christian doctrine; was ready to admit the excellency of Scripture precepts, but had not yet submitted his heart to them. The mate was a native of Holstein, and complained very much of the conduct of the Danish government in forcing the Danish language and institutions upon the Duchy, and in taking the peasantry for soldiers and sending them to Copenhagen. Two before the mast were Prussians, who had travelled almost all over the world, and were strongly opposed to an aristocracy. One of them was rather sceptical, but open to conviction. I distributed a few copies of Old Jonathan among them.

Having reached the island after a tedious passage of five days, in consequence of head winds, I spent a week with the people, visiting them in their homes by day, and preaching to them at night. They are a very industrious people, and when not engaged about their salt or in their fields, employ themselves in platting. From the palmetto leaf torn into narrow strips they make hats, mats, and screens, of which latter article they sell a great many to persons trading to Cuba for sugar. Most of the inhabitants belong to our Society, and at present no other denomination has any church in the island. The Episcopalians had a church there, but the roof was blown off about eight years ago, and has never been replaced. During my stay in the island, almost every individual whom sickness did not prevent was present at the services, and I trust that their attendance was not altogether in vain. All parties tried to make me as comfortable as they could during my stay among them.

No teacher has ever been sent to this church from Nassau, but the services are conducted by two young men of the island, named George Gibson and Charles Maycock. The old teacher, William Cacussey, died in the early part of the year. He was an African, who obtained a knowledge of the truth in Nassau, and going to Ragged Island to settle, made known to the people what he had learned of the Gospel, and was made the honoured instrument of founding one of the most interesting and intelligent of our out island churches. He died happy in the Lord, and by the request of the people a notice of his death was inserted in the Nassau Guardian.

I went one day in company with Brother Gibson to Racoon Cay, where we have a few members. It is distant from Ragged Island about nine miles, and as the wind was fair, we had a pleasant sail in our little boat both going and returning. There are but four African families in the Cay, and these talk of leaving it, at which one cannot be surprised, as they have scarcely any educational or religious advantages. Yet that the place should be entirely abandoned is to be regretted, as there is a good salt-pond on the Cay of about ten acres in extent, yielding on an average 18,000 bushels of salt per annum. The land in some parts is very good, and produces excellent potatoes and corn. I suggested that some one should visit them from Ragged Island on Sundays when the wind is fair. In consequence of the smallness of the Cays, and the sparseness of the population, it is very difficult to keep up an effective supervision. Happily the people are religiously disposed, and never refuse a religious tract; and though in voyaging from New Providence to Ragged Island one meets with Cays in which but a single family resides, one never meets with a house in which there is not a religious book.

I returned home in a small schooner, belonging to the island, deeply laden with salt, and as the weather was rough, we had the sea on her deck for a good part of the voyage, besides which she had a leak, which required the use of the pump every twenty minutes to keep under; but through the good Providence of God I reached home in safety.

THE FIRST OF AUGUST IN NASSAU.

(From the Nassau Guardian.)

On Monday last the 1st inst., in the course of an evening ramble, I strolled up East-street, and, when I had arrived at the Baptist Chapel, I was agreeably surprised at seeing a considerable assemblage of respectable black and coloured people within the space of the enclosure of the Mission house, in a state of evident, but temperate hilarity. Social happiness is infectious. I caught it at once, and stopped to contemplate the groups before me. Upon enquiry into the cause of the festivity, I was told it was the Baptist celebration of the Anniversary of Emancipation.

The rationality, piety, and good taste of this mode of observing the day, struck me as very superior, in every point of view, to the drunken, and frantic orgies with which I have seen many other anniversaries, of an equally important nature, deplorably desecrated.

Double lines of tables, placed under the shade of the large almond tree in front of the Mission house, were covered with very extended tea equipages and the usual adjuncts of that social evening meal. The teachers and children, elegantly and tastefully dressed, were seated at the tables. So far as I am myself concerned, I consider good taste in dress as an aspiration in the right direction. Any class of society in which luxury of apparel has became a necessity, must be far advanced in civilization. We gradually become what we assume to be, and full dress creates dignity, augments consciousness, and enforces distance.

I could not help feeling internally proud that I belonged to a nation which, if it had done wrong in ever permitting slavery, had also by one munificent act, unparalleled in the history of the world, made atonement by bidding

"The sorrowers cease to weep,"

and raising millions from the abasement of a crushing bondage, to the noble position of a free people.

I was no indifferent spectator of the festive scene, pleased to see the social feelings called into exertion as auxiliaries to Religion, and pleasure exalted and sanctified by alliance with a reverent and grateful purpose.

The cheerful aspect of the varied groups gathered round the " cups that cheer, but not inebriate," were likely to afford more lasting gratification to a reflecting mind, than the more elaborate displays of ball-rooms, the reminiscences of which are generally as worthless as the faded flowers and tarnished frippery flung aside by exhausted dancers in the morning.

While the Baptist community conduct their festivities and anniversaries with such good feeling and propriety as were manifested on this occasion, every one must concur in thinking them worthy of the great boon of freedom which they have turned to such good account.

It would not be just to close this brief communication without adverting to the zealous and successful labours of the Rev. Mr. Davey amongst his congregation. Much of what was admirable in all I saw on the evening of the 1st inst. must, I am persuaded, be attributed to his precepts and example, aided by the refining influence of his amiable lady.

EDUCATION OF NATIVE CHRISTIAN YOUTH.

We have received from our highly esteemed brother, Babu Goolzar Shah, the pastor of the native church in South Colingah, Calcutta, the following interesting account of an attempt to elevate the native Christian community. We most cheerfully give it a place in our pages and commend it to our readers as a

spontaneous and praiseworthy effort of our native brethren. The Committee of our Society have already expressed their sympathy with it, by a contribution of ten rupees a month. It has also received the hearty commendation of our missionary brethren in Calcutta.

It is now generally admitted by those who have thought seriously on the subject that we must look to the agency and influence of the Native Christian Church as the great means of extending the Kingdom of Christ in this land.

Hence it becomes a matter of very great importance that the youth of the Native Christian community should receive a sound Christian education, such an education as will fit them not only to fill respectably the position which they now occupy and to maintain worthily the ordinances of Christianity amongst themselves, but also to exert a salutary and Christian influence on their fellowcountrymen.

In view of the present general advance of intelligence it is a grievous thing that the Native Christian community should be left in ignorance, and thus rendered unfit even to understand the great work which the Church of Christ has before it in India.

The apostolic exhortation, "do good to all men, especially to them who are of the household of faith," surely requires of those who have the power that they should seek to lead on Native Christian youth to that condition of intelligence in which they may by God's grace become, by their conduct and their active efforts, lights in the surrounding darkness of heathenism and unbelief.

The difficulty, if not impossibility, of meeting the present urgent demand in all directions for efficient native preachers and teachers, is in itself an indication that we have been hardly alive to the important duty of training our youth for the work of Christ in this great country.

Deeply impressed with these considerations, the undersigned has been induced to attempt something, however feebly at present, in the way of raising the Native Christian community of the nighbourhood of Calcutta to a condition more worthy of the Christian name and enterprise than that state of lamentably deficient education which is seen in our Christian Churches and families in the villages South of Calcutta.

He has accordingly decided on bringing to Calcutta some of the most promising of the christian youth of those villages, for the purpose of giving them a good education in a Christian Institution, whilst he intends himself to watch carefully over their moral and religious training.

With this object in view the undersigned has already built a house at his own expense on the premises of the Colingah Baptist Chapel.

Fourteen lads have come and are attending daily at the Christian Institution, Intally.

Their parents, who are anxious for the better education of their children, have promised to pay a certain sum monthly, but their means will not enable them to bear more than a fourth of the necessary expenditure. Therefore, the undersigned appeals to those who have at heart the welfare of the Church in India for help in this humble effort towards preparing the youth of the Church to take an efficient part in that struggle between truth and error which is now only beginning in this his native country.

The number of boys at present on the premises is 14.
The present monthly expenditure is about 60 Rupees.

Donations will be very thankfully received, but as the expenditure is monthly ---monthly subscriptions, however small, will be especially helpful.

GOOLZAR SHAH.

MISSIONARY MOVEMENTS.

SERAMPORE COLLEGE.

As the result of the first year in which the pupils have had to pay fees for tuition, the School Department has contributed £158 17s. Od. and the College Department £81 38. Od., a total of £240. It appears to be the opinion of the brethren that the frightful event at Juggernath's festival was an accident.

DACCA.

The young man mentioned in this year's Report continues his studies at the College. Mr. Robinson has a class of six thoughtful students, meeting in the Chapel vestry on Saturday afternoon for the purpose of reading the Testament. The question arose as to opening the meeting with prayer. Those of Brahmist tendencies objected to prayer through Jesus Christ, and at length it was decided that each should pray in his own heart for enlightenment. This done they open

their Bibles to read.

MONGHYR.

Mr. Edwards has been engaged in visiting from house to house with much acceptance. He has met with several persons reading the Scriptures regularly, who do not attend the public service. The visits also of female Christians are very welcome to the people.

BRITTANY.

The work of God here continues to give much encouragement. A Breton member of the Church has offered himself for service as a colporteur, and will most likely enter on that work. The priests of Quimper have translated and printed a portion of the Society's Report, in order to awaken the fears of Romanists at the progress of the truth. At St. Brieuc a fortnightly service has been commenced, two widows generously throwing open their parlour for the purpose.

TRINIDAD.

Mr. Gamble reports that at Fifth Company three persons have been baptized. The new Chapel at Montserrat is covered in, and the Pastor hopes to have it finished for opening next dry season.

HOME PROCEEDINGS.

The missionary meetings during the month of September have been numerous, and so far as intelligence has reached us, both interesting and very satisfactory. The following table will best show the districts which have been visited, and their respective deputations:

Besides these brethren, who were specially deputed to represent the Society, the meetings have been attended, and the deputations assisted, by a large number of the brethren resident on the spot. To the very efficient aid of the auxiliary secretaries by whom the arrangements were made, and to the services of the local brethren, we are greatly indebted for the success of the meetings. May these labours, and the gifts of His people, be largely blessed to the advancement of His cause by the Head of the Church.

The next Quarterly Meeting of the Committee will be held (D.v.) on Tuesday, the 11th of October, in Birmingham, at eleven o'clock.

We have pleasure in inserting below some notice of the useful and efficient labours of our esteemed missionary, the Rev. T. Evans, from Dr. Prichard, of Llangollen.

From Madras has been forwarded to us a very interesting account of the service held by the church to bid farewell to the Rev. A. Sturge. It is with very great regret that the church with which he has so successfully laboured, part with their beloved pastor through domestic affliction. A purse of 800 rupees was presented to him as a testimony of their affection and esteem.

DEPARTURE OF MISSIONARIES.

A deeply interesting farewell service was held on the evening of Wednesday, the 21st ult., at Bloomsbury Chapel, to take leave of the brethren, the Revs. A. Saker and Q. W. Thomson, proceeding to the mission on the Cameroons River, Western Africa. The Rev. W. Brock presided, and after introductory worship, made some appropriate observations. Dr. Underhill then gave some account of the Society's labours in the island of Fernando Po, and on the coast of the continent; after which Mr. Thomson and Mr. Saker gave expression to the views and feelings with which they are looking forward to the work of God among the miserable savages of Africa. Mr. Thomson spoke of the Apostle Paul as the model of missionary life; while Mr. Saker dwelt on the degraded condition of the people, and the successful efforts made to give them in their own tongue the Word of God. Both brethren earnestly pleaded for the sympathy and prayers of the Lord's people in their arduous work. The Rev. C. M. Birrell followed with a very impressive address to the missionaries, founded on the words, "The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit." They were then commended to the care and blessing of God in prayer by the Rev. G. Gould, of Norwich, and the meeting closed.

On the following evening the church at Inskip, in Lancashire, over which Mr. Thomson has presided as pastor for the last year, met to bid him farewell, at the same time presenting a valuable testimonial of their love for one whose ministry has been so largely blessed among them. The Rev. W. F. Burchell presided, and addresses were delivered by Rev. S. G. Green, B.A., Rev. Fred. Trestrail, and the deacons of the church. The brethren sailed from Liverpool on the 24th ult. Mrs. Saker and her three daughters also accompany our highly valued missionary brother, Mr. Saker.

On the 17th of last month, the Committee also had the pleasure of sending Mr. T. S. Roberts to the assistance of the Rev. D. J. East, of Jamaica. Mr. Roberts will assume special charge of the Normal School department of the Calabar Institution, for which his attainments eminently fit him, and will also render to our long-tried brother, Mr. East, all the assistance he can in the other work of the Institution.