In the evening my beloved wife visited a sick family, and sat with them upwards of an hour. The conversation of the converted Jew, and her subse quent conversation with the afflicted, took such hold of her mind that she did not sleep the whole night. For this I praise thee, O Lord. May we feel deeply interested in every thing that concerns the prosperity of Zion. May we favour the stones thereof, and take pleasure even in the dust of it, that our solicitude for souls may be like that of Paul's, who could say to the Galatians, "I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you." Gal. iv. 19.

March 7th, Friday.-Visited Miss and found her rejoicing with joy unspeakable. What a change! Very lately all was gloomy; but when God smiles, all smiles. In ancient times, the Lord took one of a family and two of a city, but this young person is the fourth sister of one family who in a short time has been called out of darkness into marvellous light. Bless the Lord, O my sou!! I had been preceded in my visit to this young Christian by my dear sister. I am indeed highly favoured in having so many, who, like those holy women mentioned by the apostle, literally "labour with me in the gospel." And the men are not less active. When any ask the way to ion there are many to direct them; and when temporal distress appears, many are ready to run to its relief. And I record it to the praise of the glory of divine grace.

's

March 8th,Saturday.--Went to Mrs.to visit her daughter, who is afflicted. While there, her mother said to me, "Mr. Knill, did you not say on Sunday night, that except we are converted we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." I replied, this is no new doctrine.

The Bible is full of it. Do not you recollect what the Saviour said on this subject? "Yes, that is all true; but when shall I be converted?" Are you not converted already? "No, I am sure that I am not." Well then, as you know that you cannot enter heaven without conversion, and that you are not converted-these are two very im

portant discoveries I affectionately warn you not to rest satisfied until you have obtained the inestimable blessing of conversion. God only can give it, and his language is, "Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find." Much more was said to the same purpose, and the whole left such a sweet savour on my mind as made it the happiest visit that I ever paid to the house of mourn

ing. How ought my soul to thank Jesus Christ my Lord for counting me faithful, and putting me into the ministry. May every week of my short life prove more and more interesting. Amen.

I remain, Rev. and dear Sir,
Your affectionate

RICHARD KNILL.

SIBERIA.

Scottish Mission, Astrachan.

[To the Secretary.]

Dear Sir,-I HAVE lately received a letter from St. Petersburg, informing me of the conversion of a young Persian of the name of Mirza Mohammed Ali Bey, by the blessing of God on the labours of the Scotch missionaries who are settled in the Government of Caucasus. He in consequence expressed a wish to be baptized into the Protestant faith, and by the hands of those missionaries who had been the instruments of his conversion. An objection however was made to this proposal; but the subject being laid before the Emperor, the following satisfactory reply was communicated by Prince Galitzin. I remain, Dear Sir, Yours very respectfully,

Bridport, August 14, 1823.

W. R.

His Excellency Prince Galitzin's reply to the British missionaries at Astrachan, respecting the converted Persian's request to his Imperial Majesty; dated 30th May 1823.

Your most agreeable letter, dated Astrachan, the 7th of May, respecting the conversion of the Persian Mirza Mohammed Ali Bey, and the enclosed petition from him to His Majesty the Emperor, I have duly received. I was at the same time favoured with a communication from His Grace Abraam, Archbiship of Astrachan and the Caucasus, relative to the same subject. Taking a cordial interest in the conversion of this young Persian, I considered myself bound to embrace the earliest opportunity of bringing it before His Imperial Majesty, that the pious wish of Mirza Ali Bey to obtain the sacrament of holy baptisin might be fulfilled with all possible despatch. His Majesty the Emperor, having himself perused with the greatest satisfaction the account of the conversion of this Mahommedan, has most graciously been pleased to order me, Gentlemen, to inform you of His Majesty's pleasure, that this Persian

should receive baptism in that commu nion with which he wishes to be united. This measure is in perfect accordance with the privileges graciously bestowed on the 25th of December, 1806, on the Scotch colony settled in the Government of Caucasus, in the 12th, 13th, and 19th articles of which is contained a sufficient decision, authorizing them to receive by holy baptism, all who are converted to the Lord through your instrumentality. The delight with which I communicate to you this pleasing intelligence is equal to the cordial joy which was afforded me by the perusal of your interesting letter. May the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed and glorified! May His blissful reign be extended every where throughout the earth! Requesting you will transmit to me in future an account of those individuals who like this Persian are converted with their whole heart and soul to the faith of Christ, it is with pleasure I at the same time assure you of my sincere good will towards the object of your society, and my constant readiness to render you my services and all necessary protection. With the highest respect, I have the honour to remain,

Gentlemen,

Your most humble servant, (Signed) PRINCE ALEXANDER GALITZIN. St. Petersburg, May 30th, 1823.

BURMAN MISSION.

(From an American Publication.) IN attending the Monthly Concert for prayer on Monday evening last, we heard the following facts stated respecting this Mission, which gives new hopes to its friends.

It is well known that before Dr. Price's departure for this station, he was initiated in the practice of physic and surgery. About the middle of April last, he performed the operation for a cataract on both the eyes of a Burman woman, who had been blind two or three years. Soon after the experiment she could, by the aid of spectacles, see to read distinctly. The fact so great a curiosity, that the house in which the Doctor resided was thronged by visiters with diseased eyes. So great was the concourse, that they were obliged to bar the doors of their house that they might study or eat without interruption. With the advice of Mr. Judson, Dr. Price has hired two or three native converts to assist him in the performance for good cataracts, and all easy surgical operations. By the assistance of these men, whom he considers faith

ful, he occupies two or three hours in a day in attending to the cases presented. The governor's wife has sent for the Doctor twice, and he is strongly inclined to the hope that God will grant Mr. Judson and himself the favour of the rulers of this land. In August last, when Mr. Judson had nearly completed the translation of the New Testament, having proceeded to the end of 2d Book of Corinthians, including Ephesians, Hebrews, and the Epistles of John, he was suddenly interrupted in this labour by an order which arrived from the Emperor of Burmah, summoning Dr. Price to Ava, his Majesty's residence. The report which had reached him of the medical skill of Dr. Price, was the cause of this royal order. Mr. Judson and the Doctor were to leave Rangoon the 23d of August, in a boat provided by government; and Mr. Hough was to take charge of the mission in their absence. For several weeks previous, there appeared to be an increased attention to religion in the minds of some of the Burmans. The assembly on Lord's Day amounted to thirty or forty. Five have been recently baptized, and there were several others that were considered hopeful inquirers. Under those pleasing incidents, it is easy to conceive that Mr. Judson must have felt some reluctance in remitting his labours; but as the path of duty seemed to lead to the royal palace, he determined to accompany Dr. Price, earnestly supplicating that the Lord would direct and prosper this second effort to gain a footing in the capital of the empire. One of the natives who had been admitted into the church, they had been under the necessity of excluding from their body, on account of such inattention to religion as appeared to be inconsistent with a christian profession. Another had deceased, giving evidence that he had died in the faith of Christ.

DEMERARA.

Extract of a Letter from Mr. Elliot,
March 26, 1323.

Mr. ELLIOT relates a circumstance respecting the dreadful effects of Obeeah (or pretended witchcraft) on the minds of the negroes, which deserves notice.

"A negro, named William, on the plantation called Philadelphia, and who is thought to be an intelligent, well-disposed man, had been Obeeuhied," (or put under this supposed influence.) I was. requested to visit him, and found him so exceedingly reduced, that he could

not sit up in his bed without assistance, and he spoke with great difficulty. The doctor had given him up. I spoke to him on the folly of believing in Obeeah, and on the necessity of being prepared for another world, to which he appeared to be fast hastening. I assured him that he might yet obtain pardon, and be saved from the punishment of his sins, for God so loved the world, &c. I then turned to the Obeeah-man, who had been brought in that I might see him. I reproved him sharply, and endeavoured to show him the great wickedness of his conduct, and the certainty of that dreadful punishment which the wicked must endure in eternity, and exhorted him earnestly to repent and turn to God.

"A gentleman who was present said, after we left the sick-house, that he observed a great change for the better in the countenance of William, and felt persuaded that he would recover. In fact, he soon began to amend, recovered his appetite, and regained his spirits, so that on the Sunday week following he was led to the next estate, to attend the preaching. He was gradually restored, and now enjoys good health."

Ebenezer Chapel has been enlarged, and the congregation is comfortably accommodated. The number of members of the church is 210, and 14 candidates for admission. In the course of last year, Mr. Elliot baptized 192 adults, and 105 children. All the adults learn the Catechism.

The Chapel on the coast is 65 feet by 43, and seats 850 persons, besides benches for about 30 children. When the negroes can attend on the sabbath, it is well filled, but not crowded. Very few white people attend.

The Chapel in Cumingsburg is 40 feet by 24, seats about 250 persons, but not so well attended of late since Mr. Elliot resided on the coast; yet the congregation is pretty good.

Deaths of Missionaries.

We noticed in our last Chronicle the decease of that truly excellent and useful missionary, Mr. William Ward, of Serampore. The general cause of missions, as well as that of the Baptist brethren in India more especially, has sustained in his death a most serious loss a loss which no doubt we feel the more keenly in consequence of the opportunity we lately enjoyed, by his visit to England, of witnessing his

worth, his piety and zeal, and since, of reading his "Farewell Letters," which contain such a copious fund of affecting information, and which so powerfully recommend the East India missions.

The mancholy event to which we allude, took place on the 7th of March 1823. He was attacked on the 6th by that most formidable and fatal disease, the Spasmodic Cholera, which proceeded, with such rapid force, as to terminate his mortal existence. He had attended the Monthly Missionary Prayer Meeting, at Calcutta, on the preceding Monday, the 3d of March; when he enjoyed good health, and was thought by his friends to look remarkably well. But on the following Friday, in the morning, when his venerable brother, Dr. Carey, called upon him, he was fast approaching "That bourn from which no traveller returns." In the afternoon of that day, Dr. C. wrote the following note to one of the missionaries at Calcutta :

"Our dear brother Ward breathed his last about half an hour ago, viz. a quarter before five o'clock, and will be committed to the grave to-morrow evening. It will be a comfort under our affliction, to see any of our brethren from Calcutta, on that painful occasion."

Mr. Yates, another of the missionaries, in a letter to a friend in England, communicating this mournful intelligence, says, "I know not of any death that has affected me so much since that of our beloved Trowt. Chamberlain's death we were prepared to expect, but this has come upon us like a thunder clap, which has filled us with consternation."-" O, how true it is, that in the midst of life we are in death!"— "The disease of which he died was so rapid and so violent, that it incapacitated him for conversation, and I believe he spoke very little. How mysterious are the ways of Providence, that he should have been preserved in his journeys by land and by sea, and then taken away as in a moment from the bosom of his family, in the full enjoyment of health and strength!"

"I pray that this event may be gra ciously sanctified to us all. Does it not say, Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh ?" "His late visit to England and America will, I am sure, make his death to be deeply lamented by all the friends of the mission. I am afraid that coming so soon after the death of his son, Felix, it will have too powerful an effect on the doctor's mind, though, on these occasions, it it asto

nishing how much Christian resignation he displays."

The Baptist Mission has sustained another loss in the death of Anunda, a converted Brahmin, and useful teacher, who was so highly esteemed by the brethren, that they generally speak of him as the "beloved" Anunda. On the 7th of September he was suddenly attacked by the cholera morbus, and in six hours his strength failed, and his spirit quitted its earthly tenement. He had been baptized about one year, and had laboured together with the late Mr. Harle, with whom also he chiefly resided.

We are grieved to be obliged to add to these distressing bereavements, the death of several other missionaries connected with the West African Mission. The yellow fever has again visited Sierra Leone, and in the course of six weeks carried off no less than eighty Europeans. The Rev. W. A. B. Johnson, the Rev. S. Flood, the Rev. H. Palmer, the Rev. W. H. Schemel, and Mr. Bunyer, have all been removed in a short time.

The Committee of the Church Missionary Society have published the following account of these distressing

events:

At a Meeting of the Committee of the Church Missionary Society, held on Monday the 14th of July 1823, the Secretary stated that he had very afflicting intelligence to report from Sierra Leone, not less than five persons connected with the Society having been removed from their labours between the 20th of April and the 8th of May, among whom was their excellent friend the Rev. W. Johnson. On Sunday, April the 20th, Mr. James Bunyer, Schoolmaster in Freetown, died about one o'clock, in the morning, after a short illness, and was buried the same evening.-Friday, the 25th, the Rev. W. H. Schemel died, after several weeks decline.-Saturday, the 26th, the remains of Mr. Schemel were committed to the grave: on the same day, the Rev. W. Johnson sailed for England, apparently in perfect health.-Tuesday, the 29th, Mr. Johnson was taken ill.-Saturday, May the 3d, the Rev. S. Flood, First Colonial Chaplain, sailed for England, somewhat indisposed at the time; and on the same day the Rev. W. Johnson died at sea.-Sunday, the 4th, the Rev. H. Palmer, Second Colonial Chaplain, preached in the morning at Freetown, and administered the Lord's Supper;

but was taken ill in the afternoon, and was carried up to Regent's Town.Tuesday, the 6th, the Rev. S. Flood died at sea.-Wednesday, the 8th, the Rev. H. Palmer died at Regent's Town.

Resolved, that, while the Committee record with grief and regret the death of these valuable friends and labourers of the Society, and sympathise with their afflicted widows and relatives in their bereavements, they desire to bow with submission to the Divine Will: and to urge on all the members of the Society the duty of special prayer to Almighty God, that He would sanctify to all concerned this trying Dispensation of His Providence-would take the African missionaries and converts under His gracious protection-and would render efficient, by the influence of the Holy Spirit, the endeavours of the Society to supply faithful labourers in the mission, and especially to prepare native teachers who may be the means in His hand of perpetuating and extending in Africa the saving knowledge of Christ.-Misionary Register for July 1823.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

Anniversaries.

KENT.

THE Third Anniversary of the Kent Auxiliary Society was held at the Rev. Mason Anderson's chapel, Sandwich, on Wednesday, July 9th. Rev. B. Rayson, of London, preached in the morning. Rev. E. Jinkings, of Maidstone, one of the Secretaries, read the Report at a public meeting in the evening; by which it appeared that 646l. 4s. 8d. had been sent during the past year from the county of Kent, to the London Missionary Society. The Rev. S. Gurteen, of Canterbury, being called to preside, the following persons addressed the meeting-Rev. Messrs. G. Townsend, of Ramsgate, H. Townley, missionary from Calcutta, B. Rayson, of London, Atkinson, of Margate, T. Thomas, of Enfield, J. Palmer, of Westbury, T. James, of Woolwich, J. Davies, of Queenborough, J. Vincent, of Deal, and J. Slatterie, of Chatham. The Rev. Messrs. H. Townley, from India, T. Young, of Margate, and J. Morris, of Olney, conducted the devotional services of the day, and a sum of upwards of 18l. was collected.

DUBLIN.

THE Fourth Anniversary of the Hibernian Auxiliary to the Missionary Society of London was held on the 22d of July. The large room in the Rotunda,