and take possession of it, as soon as the Tacazze was filled, which will be in the course of this month. Before that time he would not have ventured to come, for fear of Oubea's passing that river and falling upon him, which it would be difficult to do when at its full height. But this fear has been dispelled by the appearance of Oubea on this side the Tacazze. He is now at Zanah, one day's journey from Adowah; and has ordered the Governors of the country to bring victuals for his army thither. He will probably not come to Adowah, there being no provisions here for his army; but intends, it is said, to go to Serawe, and to Hamassien. God be praised that He has preserved peace until now! and may He grant a long continuance of it; and, above all, a full enjoyment of the blessings of the Gospel to the poor inhabitants of this afflicted country!

Notwithstanding these difficulties, it appears that various travellers, for their own purposes, venture into this country. Mr. Isenberg makes mention of this in his Letter of March 2, 1836; in which he thus refers to the

Rescue of Two French Travellers in
Abyssinia.

Although I have only a few moments to write these lines, I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without writing. The bearers of this from hence to Egypt are two French travellers, formerly St. Simonians; but who, in consequence of a better acquaintance with the conduct of the leaders of that sect, separated from them; and now, I think, by the dealings of Providence, particularly by this their journey in Abyssinia, have been made conscious at least that there is a Living God, who is not far from any of us; experiencing, particularly, His mercy in rescuing them from death, in answer to their prayer, among the Mussulman Gallas, who robbed and imprisoned them when on their way from Gondar to Shoa, and held them captive for, I think, eight days, and intended to kill them. They stayed, afterward, two months in Shoa; and returned thence to hasten again to their country, and arrived here ten days ago. They appear to be in a state of religious inquiry, and were favourably disposed to receive what we

told them of the Word of God.

In the midst of the many discouragements and difficulties attendant on this Mission, it is animating to find that the spirit of the Missionary himself is still supported by strength from above. Mr. Isenberg thus continues to lay plans for the future, in the midst of a variety of contingent circumstances: the Committee would be sincerely rejoiced were it in their power-which at present it is not-to extend their operations agreeably to the wishes of the actual Labourers in the field. In the mean time, they present to their Readers the sketch which Mr. Isenberg draws of the advisable extension of the Mission. He writes, Feb. 8, 1836—

When I am once master of the lan

guage, so as to be able to preach the Gospel in it, which I hope to attain in the course of this year, under God's blessing, I do not expect many obstacles, except such as arise from the Clergy. And even among them, I think it is not unreasonable to hope that there will be found some who will come by night, inquiring, like Nicodemus; and others who are capable of judging impartially, like Gamaliel. At all events, if you send us Brethren, there is much work for them: their first time here being chiefly occupied in the study of the language, we shall then be able to dispose of them. If God, in His mercy, should restore Mr. Gobat to health, he would go to Gondar, and take one Brother with him: another should remain with me in Tigré. If not, yet two Stations could be advantageously established, and even three, in Tigré; one at Adowah, another at Axum, another at Chelikut. Other Stations may be advantageously established; and Gondar especially recommends itself, for many reasons. Besides this, Wolkait, Gojam, Lasta, and particularly Shoa, seem to offer many advantages; also Hamassien, which is nearer the sea coast: but for all these (except Hamassien), Adowah appears necessary, for the sake of communication between the exterior and interior. Even if a Mission is to be formed at Gondar, Adowah must be first secured, otherwise the Missionaries at Gondar would nearly be cut off from the Red Sea.

It is chiefly on this account that we agreed, Mr. Gobat and myself, before we entered this country, that Mr. Gobat should stay with me at Adowah until I had attained to the knowledge of the language, and the two Brethren arrived; and then he should take one of them with him to Gondar; and the other should stay with me, either at Adowah or at Axum. As Adowah, in the latter years, after Mr. Gobat had left it, has become, to a certain degree, a place of refuge, it may not perhaps, in case of general disturbance, be necessary to leave it; and there is therefore another advantage which recommends it as a Missionary Station.

We add the following short account, dated July 11, 1836, of the sufferings of Mr. Gobat, whose return from Abyssinia we reported at p. 303 of last year's Volume.

Dear Brother Gobat is still, I am sorry to say, confined to his bed of sickness. During the month of March, and part of April, he had an interval of comparative ease: his disease diminished considerably, and his pains were much more tolerable than they had been; and we all enjoyed the hope of his gradual convalescence. But in the latter part of April he gradually relapsed into his former state; and in May and June was several times under such intense pains, that he expected them to have carried him into eternity; and we, for compassion's sake, could almost have prayed the Lord to take him into eternal rest, had we not felt our want of him in this still uncultivated and little-supplied field of labour. At present, he feels somewhat better than a fortnight ago, when he was on the verge of death; but the Lord, in His mercy, and in answer to our prayers, alleviated his pains a little. Earnestly longing for more Fellowlabourers, Mr. Isenberg adds

We hope that your Society, being satisfied as to our measures, will send us another assistant as soon as possible, to accompany those Brethren whom it is our sincerest desire you would send, to become our Fellow-labourers in this part of the Lord's vineyard. Mr. Gobat intended to write a few lines himself; but fearing that it would be impossible for him, he labouring under great pains again to day (8th Feb.), requested me to impress it as strongly as possible upon your minds, to RECORD, Jan. 1837.]

send some other Brethren to assist me in this work; since death was so close upon him, that he feared he should be some day transported into eternity unawares, and I should be left alone in a great, important, and difficult work. I need only mention this request of his, without adding any thing in order to give you to understand the necessity of that measure. We have been exceedingly sorry to understand that our two first-appointed Fellow-labourers, Messrs. Knoth and Volz, have been prevented from joining us, the one by death, the other by illness. Let not that trying event hinder you from appointing new Brethren for this Mission; for its importance has not decreased, and its prospects have not been clouded. The country is, at present, in comparative tranquillity.

It is painful, in perusing the preceding extract, to observe that both the Labourers above referred to have now been called away from their Missionary prospects, to enter the eternal world. Mr. Volz had passed through his preparatory course at Bâsle, and come to this country; but was soon under the necessity of returning, for the recovery of his health, to the Continent; but in vain; as, after a few months, he died, without having been able to do any thing in the work so near his heart. Mr. Knoth's unexpected death taking place at Caïro, where he seemed to have reached the very threshold of his future labours, would be a severe blow to the ardent feelings of his precursors, already engaged in the Abyssinian field.

By the afflicting event, already noticed, of the death of Mr. Knoth at Caïro, the prospects of the Mission were diminished: his companion, the Rev. C. H. Blümhardt, was, however, at the latest accounts, on the point of departure for Abyssinia. He had found a suitable European fellowtraveller: and of another, a Native, he thus writes from Caïro, Oct. 7, 1836

A second companion is a young Abyssinian lad, the brother of one of those young men that went from hence with

D

Messrs. Gobat and Isenberg. This youth arrived here a few days back, and was on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He paid us a visit; and as soon as he heard that I was shortly going to Abyssinia, he abandoned his idea of a meritorious peregrination to the Holy Land, and said he would go back to his country with me. He understands the Ethiopic, Tigré, and Amharic languages, and speaks a little Arabic; so I have opportunity to make a beginning in the Abyssinian languages, which is of the greatest importance to me.

Under the latest date of his communications, Aug.28,1836, Mr.Isenberg thus urges upon us the

Necessity and Value of Believing Prayer.

The present situation of this country is more unsettled than that of last year. Oubea is in Hamassien, chastizing several districts for their disobedience; but it is very doubtful, whether he will be able to maintain that country, and, in fact, whether he can maintain Tigré at

all. Cassaï has not yet declared against him; but his allegiance is very dubious. May God give peace and happiness, and the blessings of His Gospel, to this poor country!

Remember us at the Throne of Grace, particularly now we are more reduced. Pray with and for us for a large supply of grace and mercy and peace, that at every step the Lord may be with us, for nothing else will suffice; but this abundantly suffices.

And, in another Letter, he thus writes, in the same affecting strain—

July 11, 1836-In conclusion, I recommend this Letter to your indulgence. You will see by it that there is much reason for thanksgiving, much encouragement; but, above all, that there is much reason for prayer. We labour under many difficulties; but our hope is in the Lord. His we are; to Him our whole being is devoted. "To live and to die unto Him who gave His holy life for us sinners," is our watch-word. Remember Abyssinia!

Delivery of Instructions to a Missionary. THE Instructions of the Committee were delivered to Mr. Edmund Corner and Mrs. Corner, on the 27th ult., on occasion of their departure to Jamaica: and a few words of counsel and encouragement having been addressed to them, they were commended in prayer to the favour and protection of Almighty God, by the Rev. C. Smalley.

Departure of Missionaries.

The Rev. W. Krusé (Vol. VII. p.22), having visited London on the 10th ult., to take leave of the Committee, left for

West Africa-Mission-By despatches from this Mission, dated Oct. 27, 1836, we are informed, that the Rev. J. Weeks and Mrs. Weeks (Vol. VII. p. 221) arrived in safety at Freetown on the 10th of that month.

We also learn that Mr.W. Croley had been ill of fever, but was recovering.

South-India Mission By a Letter from the Rev. J. Tucker, dated August

31, 1836, we learn, that in consequence of Mrs. Applegate's ill state of health, it would be necessary for the Rev. T. H. Applegate to remove to the Nilgherry Hills for its restoration.

West-Indies' Mission-Messrs. M'Arthur and Williams (Vol. VII. p. 304), who had been obliged, on account of weather, to put into Portsmouth, sailed from thence for Trinidad on the 23d ult.