red a steady tone, and ceased to be subject to those fluctuations which had characterised it in former times.-When I returned from London in July 1823, so far restored as to be able to read the small print of a newspaper; such was the state of the nerve, that either mental or bodily exertion would soon produce comparative blindness. As soon as I suffered my mind to fix itself intensely on any subject, or proceeded to any thing like a regular chain of ratiocination, I found the cloud return; and was instantly under the necessity of traversing my thoughts, and of discontinuing all consecutive thinking. But now, and for many months past, neither mental nor bodily exertion injures me at all. I can pursue my studies and labours as well as ever I could, without inconvenience. I confess I am a wonder to myself and to many!

Before I conclude this paper I beg leave to remark two things: first, among the various means employed I am persuaded I have derived, all along, more benefit from blistering than from any thing else. This I did in the case of my left eye at Liverpool, which I entirely lost, I now believe, for want of perseverance in blistering and this also have I done in the present case. I will not say that I derived no benefit from cupping or leeching, or mercurial snuff, or electricity, or a seton, and various other things included in the remedial process to which I have been subjected; but I do say that I have always derived the most immediate and sensible benefit from blisters; and ultimately, under God, it was a blister nine inches long and three or four inches broad, which restored me to that happy state of vision which I now possess.

Secondly: My own dulness of apprehension, or the treachery of my memory, or both, were the means employed, by an overruling providence, to effect a perfect cure. I have stated above, that I received my information from a young friend at Stourport. So I thought. But on a late visit to that place, I sent for that friend to inquire from whom she received the advice to blister the spine a remedy which, as far as I had been able to ascertain, had not been employed either by oculists or physicians, in Bristol or London ;-when, to my utter surprise, she told me she had never had a blister on her spine; that she never had said she had one there; and that it was quite impossible she could have said so; but that she had told me she had a blister on the back part of her neck. The word back occasioned the mistake. Back and spine were associated in my mind; and hence the application of the blister to the spine; which probably was the only part where such an application would, in my case, have been successful. The Lord can, not only make the wickedness of men to praise him, but also overrule their inattention or stupidity to the healing of their diseases. I owe my cure to my blunder; or, to speak more correctly, to the special providence

of God, who appointed or permitted it, to confer upon me this great benefit; which, having freely received, I freely communicate; most earnestly praying, that it may be as successful in restoring sight to others, as it has been in restoring that inestimable blessing to me.

There are three considerations which ought to induce persons similarly afflicted to make the experiment. First, The success which has already attended it in my case, and in the case of two others, at least. Secondly, The remedy is perfectly innocent: if it do no good, it will do no harm. Thirdly, A discharge from the back, occasioned by a piece of skin being rubbed off through long confinement to bed, restored a woman afflicted with amaurosis, or gutta serena, to sight, in the Bristol Infirmary, in the year 1817: an interesting account of which was published in "The London Medical Repository for January, 1824," by J. C. Pritchard, M. D.: which case furnishes a strong presumption that blistering will be of essential benefit. To which I might add, that several medical men, with whom I have conversed on the subject, agree in thinking that it is very likely in many cases to succeed.-Wesleyan Methodist Mag.

RELIGIOUS AND MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

REPUBLIC OF HAYTI.

As considerable exertions are now making by many of the citizens of NewYork, and elsewhere, to encourage the emigration of free coloured people to Hayti, in consequence of the flattering offers made by PRESIDENT BOYER, we think it expedient to present our readers the following information respecting the religious freedom enjoyed there. We had indeed hoped, and we still hope, that the time is not far distant, when the shackles will be broken, even in this place, and when the light of the pure gospel "shall have free course," to "run and be glorified" among the inhabitants of Hayti. Of the benevolent disposition of President Boyer, who appears to be an enlightened statesman, and a friend to suffering humanity, we are not disposed to doubt; but that there is, from some quarter, a strong counteracting influence exerted to prevent the full display of his good intentions, we are equally well satisfied. Neither do we mean to advise our coloured friends not to emigrate, if they are satisfied that their condition may be thereby meliorated; but we wish them, before they embark in this undertaking, to understand the true state of the case in regard to the religious privileges they are likely to enjoy.

A mission was sent by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, to Port-au-prince, in 1816,* which, at first, promised success; but after contending with a variety of difficulties, the missionaries, without any act of impru dence, either real or pretended,† (for they were dismissed very courteously by

* See Methodist Magazine, Vol. IV. p. 14.

It has indeed been stated verbally, that the society had provoked the wrath of their enemies by imprudent conduct, by indulging too much the warmth of their feelings in their devotional, exercises; but we consider this an "idle report," as it has never been alleged in any correspondence on this subject, nor pretended to the missionaries themselves, as we had an opportunity VOL. VIII. 10

the President, though peremptorily,) were obliged to desist from their labours, and to abandon the island. Previous to their departure, however, they had been instrumental in establishing a society of thirty members, who endeavoured to maintain their integrity, though much persecuted; and the persecutors were encouraged by some high in the authority of the government, though it does not appear they were sanctioned in their proceedings by the president. But the true state of these matters will best appear from the following documents, which we copy from the July number (1824,) of the Wesleyan Methodist Magazine:-

Letter to his excellency the PRESIdent of Hayti, signed by order of the Methodist Society, Port-au-Prince.

"PRESIDENT,-You are acquainted without cause. We have been treated with our society, formed here six years as enemies to the government, yet we ago. The end of our meeting together are not such. Yesterday we were aris to invoke the blessing of God, not rested and put in prison by order of only on ourselves, but also on the go- General Thomas, who at once, without vernment, its magistrates, and even on examination pronounced our sentence. those who evil entreat us without And we know this was not by order of cause; for we do not hate them nor the president, which renders it our inrender evil for evil. This is what our dispensable duty to give you informareligion commands. It is not that we tion thereof. wish by our meetings to disobey our president; but our desire is to obey God our sovereign, and his law requires that we should love the head that he has placed over us,

"President, let our society be narrowly examined, and if fault is found in us, we are willing to suffer the punishment we merit.

"Confidently expecting your favour"We know that your excellency able reply, we have the honour of saluwill not approve the conduct of those ting you most respectfully." who have stoned and evil entreated us

A note which accompanies this document adds,-"The president did not reply, but ordered us to be set at liberty; and the evening of the day on which we were released we had a public meeting."-Ten days after the date of the above letter, St. Denis writes :

A PROCLAMATION was made in the yet the people did not cease to ill treat name of General Thomas, command- us, and cry after us as we went along. ant of the place, to prevent any one General Thomas gets out of that affair from throwing stones at the Methodists, by saying that they only made use of forbidding every one to evil entreat his name, when he had nothing to do them, or to go before their houses to in it. "But take care," said he, “if insult them. But by that proclama- that continue, that it do not cost the tion we were also forbidden to meet life of some one." One of our sisters together, and informed that should we visited the president to whom she made meet the police is ordered to arrest us; her complaints, and informed him that but as for the people, they ought not it was said, that it was by his order to interfere, nor throw stones, because that these things were done. He rewe are citizens of the republic. This ceived her very politely, assured her is the substance of the proclamation. that this was not so, but that he was Although this proclamation was made exceedingly sorry that we should be

of conversing with those men, and saw the document furnished them by the president, testifying to their good behaviour, on their leaving the island: and he even accompanied their dismission, however paradoxical it may seem, with a very considerable donation to the Missionary Society. No, It was for speaking against the reigning vices of the place, which provoked the vengeance of some of the people; and it is highly probable this circumstance afforded a convenient pretext for the display of a little ecclesiastical finesse, to rid the island of men who might ultimately "endanger a craft," which now tyrannizes over the consciences of men. However well founded this conjecture may be, we rejoice to behold in the president of Hayti, a mind soaring above the mean jealousy which actuates less disinterested individuals, and struggling, as far as political circumstances will admit, to rise to that independence of thought and action, which, by one bold stroke, might put an end to religious intolerance, and proclaim the republic of Hayti, the asylum for the oppressed descendants of Africa.

improperly_treated, and that he had change in her conduct; and she afterwritten to General Thomas to that ef- ward cast in her lot with the persecu fect, and if the general did not attend ted servants of Christ, and opened her to his orders he could not hold any house for public worship. A few parcommand in the republic. In conse- ticulars relative to her happy death are quence of this the general made the thus given by her daughter Mary Marabove proclamation. The president tha Michot:also told her that he could not allow us to hold our meetings, because we were not in peace; that France was proposing to march upon us, &c. &c. Since the last persecution, we enjoy, by the grace of God, the means of praying, when several of us meet together.

"It is with sorrow that I inform you of the loss I have lately sustained in the death of my dear mother, who departed this life on the 13th day of September, 1823. I feel it painful to be separated from her, but what shall I do? It is my duty to submit to God, and I One of the friends, Madame Michot, endeavour to be resigned to my Sathe owner of the house that was de- viour. In her last illness she often molished by the rabble, has since been testified to me her desire to leave the removed from that scene of suffering to world and to be with her heavenly the rest which remains for the people Father. I asked her if she felt in her of God. She was on her death bed at heart the peace of God; and if her the time the outrageous assault was being willing to die proceeded from a made, but was conveyed to the house confidence that God would receive of one of her neighbours, who humane- her? She answered, 'Yes.' I asked ly afforded her an asylum at that try her farther, For what reason she ing moment. When her daughters thought God would receive her? She became decidedly religious, she vio- answered, For the sake of the blood lently persecuted them; but at the of our Lord Jesus Christ.' And this time when Messrs. Brown and Catts she continued to testify unto her last left the island there was a manifest moment."

These documents confirm the observation we have made, that President Boyer himself is favourably disposed to religious toleration, as indeed every enlightened and philanthropic statesman must be; and from the general prevalence of intellectual and religious truth among mankind, we cannot but hope that the Republic of Harti will soon participate in the diffusion of those principles which restore mankind to the dignity of free and rational beings; and, perhaps, the present movements in and toward Hayti may contribute to the furtherance of this very desirable event. But that this time has not yet arrived as it respects this place, will be seen by the following article which we copy from the last November number of the Wesleyan M. Magazine :— Since the publication of the last num- whom are walking in the fear of the ber, brother St. Denis Baudhuit has ar- Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy rived from Hayti. This young man has Ghost, and give eminent proofs of contaken a leading part in the religious stancy and devotedness to God, amidst services of our persecuted society at daily reproaches and frequent insults. Port-au-Prince, and has the strong re- So wonderfully has this infant church commendation of all the members. He been preserved, and even multiplied, reports that their meetings are still pri- in its destitute state; the pledge, we vate, and that they are prevented, by trust, that its constancy will at length the violence of the mob, from holding subdue the wrath of the opposers, and public assemblies. The number of that the work of God, in that large and classes amounts to six, and the mem- important island, has taken imperishahers to eighty-eight; the majority of ble root.

We shall wait patiently, though not without some anxiety, for the result of the present proceedings in relation to the emigration to Hayti; and in the mean time express our most hearty desire that the exertions of those benevolent citizens, who are labouring to effect the general emancipation of negro slaves, and to provide an asylum for those who are already free, may meet

with speedy success, and finally realize their utmost wishes, by witnessing these descendants of Africa,-many of whom are now both worthy citizens, and pious Christians, seated "under their own vine and fig-tree," worshipping the common Father of all, "in spirit and in truth," "none making them afraid."

WESLEYAN MISSIONS.

From the November number of the Wesleyan Methodist Magazine, we copy the following items of missionary intelligence. We had, indeed, prepared some copious extracts from the October number, with a view to insert them in our last; but the interesting narrative from Bishop Soule, containing an account of an episcopal visit to the Wyandot Mission, coming just at the moment our sheet was going to press, prevented us from giving the extracts above-mentioned. What follows, however, will give a general view of the state of the Wesleyan stations in some of the West Indian and South Sea missions :

WEST INDIAN MISSIONS.

ST. CHRISTOPHER'S.-Extract of a letter from Messrs. Morgan, Davies, and Cox, daled Basse-Terre, June 30, 1824.

Ar the commencement of this quar- to the rising generation. Our object ter, we introduced more fully the plan in taking this step was to provide the of publicly catechising, devoting to it means of instruction for those country half an hour a week, after our evening children, who, on the Lord's day acservice. In most of the chapels the company their parents to the town, and hearers are more numerous on the return with them in the afternoon. By evening of catechising than they were this means they are prevented from formerly, and great interest in this idling away their time in the streets, or simple mode of instruction is manifest- what is still worse, lounging about in ed. In Basse-Terre from four to five the market, and getting infected with hundred regularly remain after the those demoralizing habits which preservice is concluded, in order to be vail to so great an extent. This school catechised. The slave parents show continues to afford us much encour still greater solicitude for their children agement. to learn to read; that at home, as well At Old Road, as well as at other as in the house of God, they all may parts of the island, our opportunities profit from the catechism. In the for teaching the benighted multitudes course of the quarter no fewer than have become more numerous, (several five hundred of the catechisms which proprietors and managers having kindyou sent out have been purchased, ly expressed a desire to have their chiefly by the negroes. We feel con- negroes frequently instructed,) and to fident that this mode of teaching will the utmost of our strength we intend most materially contribute to the mo- to diffuse among them the "Light of ral and religious improvement of such life." It will be pleasing to you to as avail themselves of it. know, that several of our people who In Basse-Terre we have opened a commenced the quarter with us, and sabbath-noon school, in addition to the whom we now number among the other sabbath and week day schools, dead, fell asleep in Christ, in the full aswhich continue to be a great blessing surance of dwelling with him for ever. DEMERARA.—Extract of a letter from Mr. Mortier, dated George-Town, July 15, 1824. WITH regard to the work of God in in the love-feast last Sunday, and from town, we have abundant cause to be the personal conversations I have with thankful and rejoice. We meet with the members, as well as the general no interruption either in our public or tenor of their conduct, I believe they private assemblies. Our chapel is fill- are generally growing in the divine ed on the Lord's day, and generally so life. They are indeed grateful for the on Thursday evenings. From the continuance of their religious privisound Christian experience expressed leges. Often do tears of gratitude ac