thought that families might safely reside || Rabbins: one of the things against which there. I confess that I left it, soon hoping they declaim is, it is said, the regulation to have my family there: but we all saw reason, this year, to hesitate. If this Station relative to food, which so effectually continues to be untenable, Safet and Tibe- debars them from social intercourse with other classes. It is a remarkable rias alone present Stations within the confines of Palestine, for those set apart for the Jewish circumstance, that 52 copies of the Old Cause the numbers in the other towns are and New Testaments in Hebrew, bound very inconsiderable. What I have as yet together, had been very lately sold at seen of the Jews in this land leads me to the Depôt of the Bible Society: the think that they are very prejudiced and unChief Rabbin demanded of a Merchant willing to listen. I do not think that they are at all prepared for the Hebrew New-Testa- who had purchased a copy that he should ments. If any Missionaries are likely to deliver it up to be burnt, but the Mergain acceptance, it is Germans. chant refused. Mr. Lewis observes on this intelligence Mrs. Dalton was, at the last dates, at Beyrout, in Mr. Bird's family, where Dr. Dalton left her when he set out for Jerusalem, and where she and her two infant children received the most kind attention. Mr. Nicolayson thus speaks on the subject of the Mission Though the observation has been repeatedly made among us, (the American Missionaries, Mrs. Dalton, and myself,) when speaking on the subject, that the Lord seems to frown on this country, in having permitted it, within a short time, to be deprived of five of its most active and able Missionaries, who, twelve months ago, were all labouring, in the strength of the Lord, to restore to this land that knowledge of the God of their salvation, which first went out from this their highlyfavoured country; yet I feel assured, that the Committee will, in dependence on the Lord's blessing, make the greater efforts and exertions to reinforce and continue this interesting though difficult Mission. The Committee will, therefore, fully see and feel the urgent necessity of sending, with the greatest possible expedition, as many and as wellqualified men to engage in this work, as the Lord of the Harvest, in answer to fervent prayer, shall raise up and enable them to send. Though the Jews here, who are but few in number, were at first exceedingly prejudiced against the Missionaries, yet they have gradually changed so far, that we now have a good hope of soon establishing a School for their children. In another quarter of this field, among the Jews of Constantinople, not only is a spirit of inquiry among the Jews manifested by the demand for complete Hebrew Bibles, but actual conversions, as we have already shewn, and that under remarkable circumstances, appear to have taken place. Mr. Leeves, in writing to Mr. Lewis before Mr. Lewis left England, gives some particulars of the state of the Jews of Constantinople, previous to these conversions. A secret Society had been formed, it appears, among upward of 200 Jews, some of them persons of consideration, who are discontented with the tranimels of superstition in which they are held by their But the great fear, as Mr. Leeves rightly mentions, in a country like Turkey, for the persons who adopt these New Testaments is, lest they should be tempted, from secular motives, to take refuge in Mahomedanism. I look upon events of this sort as loud calls to the Society to send forth its Missionaries to these particular places; not merely for the purpose of fanning the flame, but of seizing such favourable opportunities for powerfully directing the minds of the malcontents to Him who has fulfilled the Law and the Prophets, even Jesus Christ, as the way, the truth, and the life. On account of a similar secret Society existing in Smyrna, as well as for other reasons, you may recollect my having recommended that place as a Missionary Station: I would now recommend Constantinople, where there are 40,000 resident Jews. Indeed I intended mentioning also as stations, Salonica and well as other interesting Adrianople, as places, on the way to Palestine, to be occupied by the Society, as soon as fit Agents can be procured. Mr. Leeves states that the reading of the Hebrew New-Testament is strictly prohibited to the Jews, and that orders have been issued by the Grand Rabbin for the destruction of all copies. It is said that one of the four chief Rabbins, who has the character of being a very learned man, has a copy of the New Testament, of which he is writing a refutation, with an intention of publishing it. Mr. Neat and Dr. Clarke continue their labours in Italy. One of them, after describing the difficulties which arise, in attempting the conversion of the Jews in countries professedly Christian, from the very general inconsistency of the lives of the people with their profession, adds, in reference to the Jews in other quarters In Asia and Africa, Judaism comes more into contrast with Paganism or the imposture of Mahomed, than with the abuses of Christianity. The Missionary is there less identified with the character of professing Christians: he stands or falls more directly on his own merits; and his object is, not to exculpate himself from the defects of the community to which he belongs, but faithfully to preach the truth as it is in Jesus, and to approve himself their servant for Christ's sake. Besides, in these Continents, the situation of the Jews is one of great sorrow and privation. The dregs of the cup are there wrung out for their portion: a servant of servants, bowed down and afflicted, are they in these two Quarters of the Globe. Now little penetration is required to see how a people so circumstanced are more likely to take heed to the things that are for their peace, than their brethren who enjoy a more tolerable if not a prosperous condition, as in some parts of Europe. It cannot escape those who have intercourse with this interesting Nation, how little their original character is changed: a time there was when Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked; and so it is at this day, when temporal prosperity allows them to raise up the long-fettered limb, and the yoke of bondage is removed from their galled necks. A communication to the Malta Jews' Society, from the Rev. H. D. Leeves, furnishes the following notices relative to the number of Jews in some parts of these Seas: Constantinople and the adjoining villages, from 10,000 to 12,000 families-Salonica, not including the surrounding villages, 40,000 souls Rumelia and Greece, about 2100 families, of which 500 are in Adrianople, and the same number in Monatir and the ame in Larissa-Syria, about 2000 familiesin its vicinity, the following families: Aydin, 300; Tyria, from 170 to 200; Casaba, 50; Magnessia, 290; and Bergamo, 30. LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. S. Sheridan Wilson, Missionary. Mr. Wilson preaches thrice weekly in English; and once in Italian, to about 30 Maltese, who are desirous of uniting themselves as a Reformed Church. A Prayer-Meeting is held every Tuesday Evening. In a Sunday School, there are about 50 English and Greek Children. He has translated into Italian the First and Second Catechisms of Dr. Watts, and is preparing a Greek Primer. Upward of 6000 of his Greek Spellingbook, Catechisms, &c. have been printed during the year. Flavel's treatise "On keeping the Heart" was in the press. He chiefly availed himself, before the arrival of the press sent out by the Directors, of the kindness of the American Missionaries in the use of theirs. CORFU. 1819. Isaac Lowndes, Missionary. The English Congregation is liable to fluctuation from the removals of the military. Mr. Lowndes has preached occasionally in Italian and frequently in Greek: 80 persons would sometimes attend the Greek Preaching. A Greek Sunday School was opened in November 1825: the Master is a Greek Priest: there are 40 Scholars. Scott's Essays are in preparation in Modern Greek, by a Native, with the assistance of Mr. Lowndes: his Brief View of Ecclesiastical History is suspended, till he shall have more fully ascertained how far such a work would be acceptable to the Greek Ecclesiastics. About 1200 copies of the Scriptures, in different languages, have been put into circulation during the year, by the Ionian Bible Society, of which Mr.Lowndes continues Secretary. Tracts are sold, at a low price, to a travelling hawk; and many copies are thus circulated. Albania, in consequence of that country Mr. Lowndes has postponed his visit to being so much infested with banditti as to render travelling unsafe. RELIGIOUS-TRACT SOCIETY, The following new works have been published, in Modern Greek, at the expense of the Society The History of Abraham-James Coveythe Christian Indeed-the Interpreter's House, from Bunyan. About 5000 English Tracts and Books have been sent to the Mediterranean. Two sums of 201. and 251. had been, in former years, granted to the Rev. W. Jowett toward the printing of Tracts: the sum of 501. has been added. Mr. Jowett sends to the Society a number of copies, either for distribution in London to such as understand the respective languages, or to be sent to foreign parts where they are spoken. The Committee give the two following instances of the acceptableness of Tracts in Greece: The anxiety of the Greeks for instruction is truly great. A Greek Youth, who was educated in this country and has returned to his native land, says, in a Letter from Napoli de Romania-"I cannot express how eager the Greeks are for education. They are desirous of reading the Holy Scriptures. I procured some Religious Tracts from Malta. I was astonished at the eagerness of both priests and people to obtain some of them. I speak to them often about religion, and they listen to me with great attention." A Lady at Ithaca has translated the Book of Ruth into Modern Greek, and has undertaken other works for the benefit of the Young she speaks of the eagerness with which the Greek Children receive the Tracts: : "A poor Widow," she says, "brought me her boy, about thirteen, who had learned the Greek Catechism, and knew The Dairyman's Daughter by heart, which he had read to her and his relations: she begged I would give him some other books. I told her I was sorry I had none. She looked disappointed, and said, as she had no books, the little education which she had given the boy would be forgotten; for she had no money to buy books, if there were any in the Island. She then opened a handkerchief, and was very desirous of making me accept two dozen of eggs, which, of course, I declined." SCOTTISH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The relinquishment of the Society's Mission near the Caspian was stated in the last Survey: from the late Report of the Directors we extract the following notices on this subject. Messrs. Glen and Mitchell have made arrangements for bringing to a close the Mission at Astrachan; but unexpected difficulties have been experienced in disposing of the Mission House: the magistrates of Astrachan had offered to purchase it, but they objected to the price; and in consequence of the death of the Governor, the negotiation for the sale has been interrupted, as a reference had to be made, through him, to the Supreme Government at St. Petersburgh. In consequence of this and other circumstances, Messrs. Mitchell and Dickson did not return to Scotland last year; but they both intend to leave Russia in the course of the present season. Mr. Glen, as was mentioned in last Report, will remain at Astrachan, for the purpose of superintending the translation of the Poetical and Prophetical Books of the Old Testament into Persic, under the auspices of the British and Foreign Bible Society, yet still in connection with this Society. Mr. Paterson-a decision, the propriety of which has since been unhappily confirmed, by the measures which he has adopted in regard to the affairs of the Colony. In the Summer of last year, Dr. Ross left Astrachan and Mr. Carruthers the Crimea, on their return to this country. Though Dr. Ross took his departure from Astrachan before the Letter from the Directors authorising him to return reached that place, and consequently dissolved his connection with the Society, yet, as they were fully satisfied with his reasons for leaving Russia, they considered him as still in the service of the Society; and, from the opinion which they had of his talents and other qualifications, they were perfectly prepared to send him to some other quarter of the world: but, after taking the subject into consideraconviction of his own mind, strengthened by tion, the Doctor intimated that it was the the opinion of his friends, that any field of usefulness in a foreign country, which the Directors could assign him, was not the sphere in which he ought now to labour. Mr. Carruthers has, in like manner, resolved on settling in Britain. Having recalled him from the Crimea, the Directors were anxious to send him either to the East or West Indies: South Africa was also mentioned as a field to which they might probably not be indisposed to undertake a New Mission; but he declined acceding to any of these proposals, chiefly, he said, on account pre of the nature of his constitution and the This question he agreed, at the request of the Committee, to take into consideration; but afterward he wrote, that, having deliberated on all the circumstances of the case, he considered it his duty to resign the Missionary Office. WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. John Keeling, W. H. Rule, Missionaries. Mr. Rule joined Mr. Keeling on the 27th of April. The Committee report In last Report, it was stated that a nego-it. ciation had been entered into for a transfer of the Colony of Karass to the Bâsle Evangelical Society; which is anxious to have some such establishment in Russia, as the basis of its Missionary Operations in that empire. In consequence, however, of the nature of some of the conditions proposed by the Bâsle Society, there were considerable difficulties in the way of such a transfer; but, as the Directors of that Institution appear disposed to modify the conditions, with the view of meeting these difficulties, there is now a fairer prospect of this object being accomplished. Mr. Dittrich, the agent of the Bâsle Society, has written to his fellow Missionary, The Mission presents an encouraging aMr. Zaremba, at Shusha, to repair to Tiflis, spect of permanence and prosperity. The to solicit General Yarmeloff's permission to opposition, from the intolerance of the Rotake the necessary steps for receiving the Co- mish Priests, has been great; and was, at lony in such form as may be agreed on; and, one time, formidable-threatening to obshould this application be granted, it is ex- struct the peaceful proceedings of Mr. Keelpected that the views of the Bâsle Societying, whose life was for a time in great may then be carried into effect without much hazard; and to demolish the Chapel, which further difficulty. Should the transfer be he had succeeded in erecting. Owing to the effected, Mr. Galloway will still remain at firmness of the Local Government in proKarass, and will carry on his labours in con-tecting the freedom of Religious Worship, cert with the Bâsle Missionaries; but the Directors have found themselves under the painful necessity of dissolving their connection with the Congregation at Valetta now assembles in peace; and some promising openings for usefulness in other parts of the island having presented themselves, a second Missionary has been appointed, for whose residence a respectable Maltese, whose heart has been affected by the truth, has offered a house. A spirit of inquiry after the Word of God and its saving truths, has been excited among several Maltese. ALEXANDRIA. 1825. Donald Macpherson, Missionary. Mr. Macpherson proceeded to this Station in June 1825; not in May, as stated in the last Survey: he landed on the 26th of June. The Committee report Mr. Macpherson was, for some time, prevented from any regular engagement, by the prevalence of the plague; but has since held conversations on religious subjects, in different languages, with various persons; and has hopes of the true conversion of a respectable Abyssinian Lady, whom he found unacquainted with almost every form of religion, and to whom he has administered baptism. He has, for some time, regularly preached to the seamen in the Port, on board one of the vessels. SELENGINSK. He gives the following view of the Mission, in one of his recent Letters I have now arranged the labours of the Sabbath as follows: I preach at the Consular Hall, at 9 A.M.- afloat, at 11 o'clockand, in my house, at 4 P.M. I hope soon to be enabled to report more favourably of Alexandria. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. I have also some thoughts of soon commencing preaching in Arabic: my teacher informs me that he thinks several of the Natives might be induced to attend. A fair trial can now be made of Alexandria; and I have so far changed my mind, from the above encouraging circumstances, as to recommend to the Committee the continuation of the Mission, at least till a full trial be made. ZANTE. 1826. Walter Oke Croggan, Missionary. Mr. Croggan, who had spent several years in the Society's Mission in France, has been appointed to establish one at Zante: he arrived at Malta, with his wife and child, on the 2d of November, and sailed for Zante on the 18th. Siberia. A Military Station south-east of Irkutsk and Lake Baikal-about 160 miles from Irkutsk-Inhabitants about 3000, exclusive of those of several villages collect, during the vacation, the sons of their neighbours, and instruct them in the things which they themselves have in the centre of all the Buriats, on the east side of learned from the Missionaries: no Re the Baikal. LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 1819. Edw. Stallybrass, W. Swan, Robt. Yuille, Missionaries. port has been received of the state of the Seminary. There are Five Girls under instruction. Mr. Stallybrass and Mr. Swan are proceeding with the Translation of the In reference to the Ministry the Di- Scriptures into Mongolian: other parts rectors state There are Services every Sabbath-at the the Mission House, at a place called the Bordiger, and at a spot in the vicinity where 8 or 9 tents are pitched: in winter, the latter two Stations are exchanged for the neighbouring islands of the Selenga, to which the people retire, with their flocks and herds, during the cold season: this arrangement is rendered necessary by the indifference and dispersed state of the people. Every morning, Family Worship is performed in Mongolian, at the Mission House, when the female scholars attend, as well as the Buriats in the service of the Mission. Mr. Swan resides, during a portion of the year, at the Mission House on the banks of the Ona, for the purpose of communicating instruction to the Chorinsky Buriats in that part of the country: during the period of his visit there, a Mongolian Service is performed every Sabbath, as at Selenginsk. Some of the pupils of the Native Seminary, mentioned in the last Survey, are undertaken by a Young Native, under the direction of Mr. Yuille. Mr. Stally brass has compiled a Mongolian Grammar, and Mr. Swan two Scripture Catechisms. Of the distribution of the Scriptures and Tracts it is said In the districts most frequently visited, nearly all those persons who are willing to receive books have been supplied by the Missionaries; who would be happy to in crease the distribution in more remote districts, which they, at present, only occasionally visit, could they spare time for the requisite journeys. Some of the Buriats read the Word of Truth with attention, and are desirous to have further portions of Scripture as they issue from the press. The Lamas, in general, and such as are influenced by them, refuse to receive the Mission Books. The Missionaries are very desirous to extend the Mission to the Buriats on the Irkutsk side of the Baikal, should facilities be presented for that object. CANTON. LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 1807. Robert Morrison, D.D. Missionary. China. entitled, "The Chinese Miscellany;" and a Volume of Sermons, preached abroad, on various occasions, &c. entitled, "A Parting Memorial." The period to which Dr. Morrison purposed to extend his stay in his native land having terminated, he embarked, with his family, for China, on board the Hon. East India Company's ship the Orwell, commanded by Captain Farrer, which sailed early in the present month (May); and we feel persuaded, that no person, who has the cause of that the life of this devoted Missionary of Christian Missions at heart, will fail to pray himself and family may be conveyed in safety Jesus Christ may be greatly prolonged; that to the sphere of his future labours, aird that every needful blessing may attend them to the end of their days. In consideration of the very extensive field for Missionary Labour even now presented Islands of the Eastern Seas, where Chinese by the Empire of China and the numerous have settled, it is the desire of the Directors that no proper means of giving effect to the operations of the Society in that quarter of the world should be neglected. Dr. Morrison views of the Directors on this subject. has been made fully acquainted with the Endia beyond the Ganges. SINGAPORE. A small Island, at the southern extremity of the Peninsula of Malacca-taken possession of by the English, in February 1819; and now ceded, with 10 miles round its shores, in full sovereignty to the East-India Company-rapidly increasing, both in coin merce and population-Inhabitants, at the end of 1824, were 11,851, being 8620 males and 3231 females; besides 368 soldiers and their dependants: of this population, 81 were Europeans, 132 Native Christians, 5130 Malays, 1704 Bugis, and 38.8 Chinese: of these Chinese, 267 only were females. 1819. Claudius H. Thomsen, Missionary. Gospel by St. Matthew, and other books, in Malayan, have been dispersed in many of the surrounding countries: the whole of the edition of the above-mentioned Gospel printed at Malacca, several years ago, consisting of 1500 copies, has been put into circulation. New editions of two Tracts, in Malayan, have been reprinted: the Assembly's Catechism, in the same language, is in the press. The Malayan translation of the Acts of the Apostles is printing at Malacca. MALACCA. The Chief Town in the Peninsula of Malacca-the The last Report gives the following Settle nent was restored to the Dutch in 1818: but view of this Station The three Malayan Services, on the Sabbath, are continued as usual; but, we are concerned to state, with rather diminished attendance: the Mahomedan Priests exert themselves, with vigilance, to prevent the progress of the Gospel; and difficulties have arisen, independently of their influence, from the misconduct of some of the Malayan Congregation, of whom favourable sentiments were entertained: one of these has manifested signs of repentance which encourage hopes of good conduct in future. The Mahomedan Priests will enter into no defence of their own tenets; but, to evade the unwelcome discussion, will ostensibly concede the validity of the arguments, employed by the Missionary, in support of Christianity. Another Malay School has been commenced, in which are 10 boys. There are now two Schools for Malay Boys, and one for Malay Girls. A considerable number of copies of the Jan. 1827. has been again placed under the authority of Great Britain. LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. James Humphreys, David Collie, John The Mission House has been enlarged, by the addition of seventeen apartments. On the exercise of the MINISTRY the Directors report― There are two Chinese Services every Sabbath in the College-Hall: Mr. Collie is now able to preach with ease and fluency in the Mandarin; and, with a view to extend his usefulness, has commenced the study of the Fuhkeen Dialect: the Services are attended by 14 of the Teachers and about 80 of the Boys belonging to the Chinese Schools; I |