God. As our dear brother lived, so he died. Even in his delirium his heart was fixed on God, and scarcely a sentence escaped his lips that had not some reference either to the cause of missions, or the work of grace on his own soul. On Thursday evening his remains were consigned to the tomb, with the sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection to eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gungree.

The station of Gungree is about twenty miles south of Calcutta, situated in the midst of a marshy country, which extends nearly forty miles. Each village in this district forms a distinct island, and the mode of travelling from one to another is by small canoes, formed of the trunk of a single tree. The quantity of putrid vegetation and other deleterious substances, which abound in these parts, produce malaria, which affects the European constitution much sooner than it does the native. On this account the missionary has not been able to take up his abode at any of these village stations, in consequence of which a great portion of his time is occupied in travelling, and the exposure occasioned thereby materially affects the health.

At

Gungree are nearly fifty baptised persons, and as many candidates for baptism. The distance of the place from Calcutta being so great, and the labourers at the latter so few, the care and attention necessary to bring a rude, uncultivated, barbarous people into proper order, has never been given to it; hence the church at that station is in a worse state of discipline than any other connected with the mission. Mr. Ray, who formerly had charge of it, owing to family and other circumstances, could not give that attention to it which it absolutely required, and, on his departure for Europe, Mr. Lacroix undertook the superintendence of it, in which he had my occasional assistance; but the duties of the Rammakalchoke station pressed so heavily upon him, that he found it quite impossible to do justice to the work in both places. Kristnapore being situated in altogether a different direction, prevented me from rendering any other assistance than a service on the sabbath day. Mr. Adam, therefore, having at last made such proficiency in the language as to be able, in the opinion of the brethren to enter fully into the work, was appointed to this important station, and, had it pleased God to have spared his life, we doubt not he would have brought it into a very flourishing state. The church at that place is now, however, again without a pastor, and what we are to do to supply the deficiency we know not.

(Signed) GEORGE GOGERLY.

MADRAS.

Extract of a Letter of Rev. John Smith, dated Madras, 17th June, 1831, addressed to the Directors.

Particulars relative to the Death and Character of Mrs. Smith, lute Wife of the Rev. John Smith, Missionary at Madras.

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1 proceed to detail the particulars of event which has afflicted my soul with deep anguish which has deprived me of the dearest object of my affection on earth, and reduced me to that condition for which no word is better suited than "desolation."

My dear wife departed this life on Wednesday evening, the 15th of June, 1831: her death was sudden and unexpected. On the Friday preceding, she was mercifully delivered of a daughter, and our gratitude was commanded by the favourable circumstances which attended her confinement. In the course of the day she was, to all appearance, doing well; and we were sanguine enough to hope that she would speedily recover. On the third day her pulse was remarkably high, and though we were favoured with good medical advice, every means adopted to reduce it, failed. It continued to increase (to the surprise of our medical attendant, as there were no symptoms of inflammation), and was necessarily connected with much restlessness. On the 5th day the fever raged, and suddenly hastened the flight of my nearest and dearest relative to the realms of everlasting day.

In the course of the last day of her life, her mind was considerably affected; but neither of us fully realized the idea of her approaching dissolution till the afternoon of the day in the evening of which she expired. She was, however, mercifully favoured with a lucid interval, and in that short period her mind was supported and consoled by the influence of those religious principles which had distinguished her for many years. The interval to which I refer was not more than half an hour.-Oh, how thankful am I that her character was already formed, and that the interests of religion were not left to this brief period of time! In answer to inquiries presented, she declared Christ to be her only resting-place, and that she felt herself to be reconciled to God. She put up several prayers, in which, with great seriousness, she addressed God as her everlasting portion, and surrendered her interests, for life or for death, into his fatherly protection. These expressions of sentiment and feeling, considered in connexion with the excellency of her character, founded on Christian principles, are a cordial to my afflicted mind, animate me with a conviction of her present blessedness, and a sure and certain hope of her joyful resurrection.

Death of Mr. Jennings.

Our dear brother Jennings departed this life after a course of suffering but of short duration; and is now resting from his labours. It is satisfactory to reflect that though his course was short, it was connected with vigorous efforts, ardent devotion, and a holy life; and I cannot but hope that his labours at that station, from which he is now removed, will bear, in a train of happy consequences, on the mental and moral improvement of the people for whose eternal good he lived and died. I severely felt this bereavement; and, associating his demise with that of Mr. Adam, I was induced to inquire, How does it occur that these bright ornaments of the Society are removed from their spheres of labour at the time of their being best adapted for their office? But we are children, with undeveloped and limited capacities, and cannot comprehend the divine dispensations: we cannot see the end from the beginning. (Signed) JOHN SMITH.

By letters which I forwarded to you a short time prior to my departure from Cape Town, you would receive all the information I had to convey, for the satisfaction of the Directors of our Society, respecting my return to Madagascar, together with the reasons which have led to the adoption of that measure, On leaving Mauritius last year to visit the Cape, I certainly had no expectation of resuming, at so early a period, my sphere of labour in Madagascar. I expected, as you would be aware, to remain, at any rate, two or three years in the colony, and most probably to visit some, if not all, the missionary stations there, agreeably to the idea suggested by Dr. Philip, in his letter, inviting me to Cape Town. The prospects of the general state of Madagascar at that time, and of the mission in particular, were sufficiently gloomy and discouraging; and though, as I have previously assured the

at

Directors, I never for a moment considered that I had abandoned that vast and important field, I confess, I had not any rational expectation that events would have proved so auspicious, as they now are, within this very limited space of time. The hand of Providence is clearly to be seen, and ought to be most gratefully acknowledged, in the present posture of affairs. Instead of intestine wars desolating the country, the whole island appears, from the latest accounts which I have received, to be in a state of tranquillity—or, any rate, not to be suffering more serious disturbances, than existed in consequence of petty opposition in some few provinces to the government of the Hovas, in the time of Radama. The queen's power seems to be thoroughly established, and her disposition to encourage the mission has been proved beyond suspicion. I have received voluminous correspondence from the members of the mission within the past few months, besides several letters from native teachers, and from some of the officers (that from the queen I have already mentioned), and all impress me with the conviction that our mission is favoured with considerable prosperity in its actual state, and may reasonably hope for still greater, unless some new events arise to impede its present operations. I have not received any definite accounts of the state of the schools; but from various orders issued by the Malagasy government, and from the attendance on public worship on the Sundays, I am under no painful apprehensions on that head. The voluntary attendance of several adults, and of those just arriving at maturity, on the public institutions of religion, is one of the most pleasing signs in the case; and, it is also a tacit proof, that the true disposition of the government is favourable to our exertions there. We have been taught a lesson, indeed, in the history of Radama, "not to put our trust in princes," or the arm of governments, but we have also numerous instances of the vast importance of the countenance and good-will of the native authorities in a country where the will of one is the supreme law.

You will, I think, be gratified if I insert here a translation of two or three of the letters which I received from some of the native teachers. As to the penmanship I will only say, it would, in some instances, be no dishonour to any mercantile house in London. But the friendly tone in which they are written, and, I may add, the religious feeling manifested, are highly encouraging and satisfactory.

Antananarivo, 2 Adalo, 1831.

(To Mr. Freeman.)

And health and happiness to you, my friend. I received your letter some time since, with very great pleasure and delight.

The pleasure was, however, not unmixed with pain. I rejoiced to receive your handwriting, for we have been both favoured of God, in like manner, having received each other's communications. But still the countries are far remote, and hence I am still left in some uncertainty respecting you. I regret the distance which there is between us, and which prevents our knowing the exact situation of one another's families respectively. You have remarked in your letter," 1 shall not forget you, nor the journey which we had together to V- and the conversation we had there." And I reply, "If you, amidst so many engagements among us, can say, shall not forget you," with how much greater reason may I say, I shall not forget you, who addressed us and instructed us so long.

I

When shall we have the pleasure, through the blessing of God, of meeting again? I am hoping for it, as well as yourself. I trust we shall yet meet some day-and, at any rate, in the day of Christ. May we be favoured of God, so as not to be found wanting in that day, but to be numbered among them that are his !

My best salutations attend you, your wife, and children. And thank you for your remembrance of me, and for the book which Mary Ann, your daughter, sent me; for I esteemed it as the receiving of much treasure, that I should receive the very book which you yourselves had sent. Now farewell for a season!-farewell till we meet! We are all well. God has added to my family a short time since, and I named the child Ebenezer, saying, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us:" 1 Sam. iv. 12; for I said, "This is the first son whom the Lord hath given

me."

In the above translation I have endeavoured to preserve a just medium between a strictly literal rendering, which could scarcely have conveyed the meaning to an English reader, and that perfectly free style which would have lost sight of the idiom and simplicity of the native composition.

The following is a translation of another letter which I received from five youths who are employed in the press, under the instructions and direction of Mr. Baker. Printing being altogether a new art in Madagascar, the native language had not, of course, any word to express the idea for the word " press," a generic term is employed, found in the language, "fanerena," signifying an instrument of pressure; but for the term, " printers," it appears that the English word itself is retained, and I like it much, as it identifies the art itself, in Madagascar, with the labours of our English mission. We give them the art, and they adopt our name for it.

Antananarivo, 6 Adalo, 1831.

(To our Father, and our Relative, and our Friend, J. J. Freeman, and to his Wife and Children.)

And how are ye all in family?-say we, the printers. And how is it with ye?-for we are well, and we send you our salutations. And we have received the letter which you sent us, and we were rejoiced when we read it, and heard that you were all well.

And the instruction which you sent to us we have received. It is good, and has rejoiced us. It is, Sir, sweet and grateful to us, for it is the act of a friend we are sureyea, more than of a friend- -of a father; since it is the part of a father to give wholesome counsel; albeit we do not say that our own father has given us such counsels. Your

word is just, in which you say, "Christ is a shield, and the word of God a means of defence to the mind."

And you say that perhaps you shall visit us again. We shall be happy when you come among us, that we may see our friend. We have now printed the Testament, and we are happy, for it is doing a good work; for the word has come to us that is the root of instruction, which is not the word of man, but the word of God.

And thank you for your remembrance of us in whatever way it be; and farewell till

we meet.

(Four names subscribed),

Printers.

The following is a translation of a brief note which I received from a youth who was formerly one of Mr. Jeffery's scholars, and who had, I believe, never ceased to cherish an affectionate respect for the memory of his teacher. I have always entertained a good hope respecting him.

Antananarivo, 27 Alholsy, 1831.

And health and happiness to ye, Mr. Freeman, and how are ye in family? I am well, and am happy to hear that you will come to see us again. Delighted are we that we shall see our friend. May you come well and safely, through the providence and protection of your God! We shall continue to pray to God that he may bless you, so that you may happily come here among us, that we may rejoice in seeing each other, and may unite together in praising God, whose care is over all his works. Saith

R

To this great field of labour I am, therefore, now returning. I have felt it no smal sacrifice to leave Mrs. Freeman and my two young ones; but, as I have already explained in my former letters to you on the subject, it appeared the only proper measure to be adopted. Mrs. Freeman and the children

will, I hope, find, ere long, a favourable opportunity of leaving the Cape for England, where they will remain till some further arrangements are made, and such as future circumstances may render most expedient.

Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson reached Cape Town by the Conch, on her return from Algoa Bay, and, during their short stay, had time to make final preparations for Madagascar. Mrs. Atkinson availed herself of opportunities there to improve her practical acquaintance with the infant-school system, and Dr. Philip has very kindly, by means of the funds left under his disposal by friends in England, made us a present of the apparatus required for the establishment of an infantschool at Tananarivo. Should the queen give her sanction to the formation of such a school, I anticipate most important results from it, in reference to the increase of our scholars in the mission schools, and in the general character of the native youths. I have written to the queen, stating the object, and requesting permission for Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson to be allowed to join the mission at Tananarivo. Dr. Philip has also addressed a letter to the queen, recommending infantschools to her patronage, and, of course, soliciting her good will towards the new members of the mission.

In preparing for the present voyage to Madagascar, I am under great obligations to various friends at the Cape for the assistance they have rendered. By chartering a vessel direct for Tamatave, I am enabled to meet the request of the queen, her officers, and the members of the mission, more than I could have done had I returned by way of Mauritius; and for the business of chartering the vessel I am indebted to Messrs. Rutherfords. Besides a large stock of provisions, clothes, &c., for the mission generally, we have on board seventeen mares and horses, twelve Merino sheep, and three head of cattle (Teeswater breed), not having the " loup" on the back, as all the Madagascar cattle have a few useful dogs-some rabbits and Batavia fowls. All these will, I hope, be of use to the country, and especially so the large quantity of seeds, bulbs, plants, and young trees, we are conveying there. A subscription was entered into at Tananarivo to meet the purchase of the latter, from which, with some additions made to it at the Cape (including a donation from Colonel and Mrs. Prendergast of £5), I expended about £35. But, having explained the objects in a letter to the "Commercial Advertiser," by which they became very generally known in the town and neighbourhood, I received a very considerable supply from various quarters, embracing all kinds of kitchen, garden, many flower seeds, both European and colonial; bulbs, fruit trees, some useful forest trees, shrubs, and smaller plants. Of vines and figs I have, I believe, most of the va

rieties known at the Cape. Those already in Madagascar are, so far as I have seen them, much inferior in quality. Should the soil and climate suit the oak, of which I take a large quantity, it will be a most useful addition to Imerina, as will also the Proteas. In many of these objects I have been assisted by donations of seeds, plants, &c., from the Rev. Mr. Faure, Dr. Adamson, Mr. Bowie, botanist; V. Ludwig, Esq., Mr. Nisbet, Mr. Locke, Mr. Cowell, Mr. Tredgold, Mr. Procter, Mr. Gregory, Mr. A. de Smit, and many other gentlemen. You are not familiar, perhaps, with many of these names, but I have thought it right to insert them here, that, if any notice is published in the "Missionary Chronicle" of my return to Madagascar, or of the circumstances connected with it, I might offer this acknowledgement to the friends of Madagascar. Indeed, I must say, I found a very general interest excited in the Cape in favour of that country, and of our mission there; and for much of this I feel not a little indebted to our friend Dr. Philip, for the cordial reception he gave and to Mr. Fairbairn, Editor of the "Commercial Advertiser," for his notices of the state of Madagascar, at different times, in his paper, and for the extent to which he allowed me his columns for communications respecting that sphere of our missions. To Mr. Greig, also, publisher of the "Advertiser," and of the " Cape Directory," I am indebted, not only for repeated offers of any assistance he could render me in the prosecution of the objects before me, but for having really assisted me in them. I owe many thanks to Dr. Bailey, of Somerset Hospital, for his numerous and valuable medical communications, as also to James Abercrombie, Esq., for assistance of a similar nature. feel most unwilling to omit the names of many other friends who have, in various ways, contributed to the promotion of my plans, and yet to specify all would exceed the limits of a letter; and I must content myself with adding only those of Mrs. Philip and her daughters, and of Mackrill, Gray, Innes, Pears, Beek, Horts, Jardin, Rose, Steedman, and Mr. Stapleton.

me,

Ι

I shall always recur with feelings of lively interest to the Cape, and shall be, indeed, delighted to find that any useful commercial connexion can be established between that colony and Madagascar. If the Malagasy are not wanting to themselves in a spirit of industry, and are not interrupted by the aggressions of foreigners-I mean the attacks of the French-they may there find a large market to which they may export much of their surplus rice, and, perhaps, ere long, other articles of commerce.

Before I quit the subject of goods taken by us to Madagascar, I must not omit naming the promise of the queen, to have all the plants, trees, seeds, &c., carried up, from the

And

coast to the capital, free of expense. orders have also been given that as many bearers as are required are to be collected for the journey, on arrival of the ship at Tamatave, so that trouble and delay will be avoided, if not expense.

It is to me, also, by no means the least interesting fact connected with my return to Madagascar, that I am enabled to take with me five natives of that country, who were torn from thence as slaves some years since captured on their voyage by British vesselscondemned to be prize negroes-and, having served out their time, and being declared free, have embraced this opportunity of returning to their homes. Four of them are men; one of them is married, and takes his wife with him. This female was a young mother when taken from the island, and left her two children then living. She returns with much emotion, anxious to ascertain if her children are still living. Many others, in similar circumstances at the Cape, expressed an earnest wish to be taken back also; however, I could only conveniently take these five. The men look after the cattle on board. Their return home, with some habits of industry, and some knowledge of European manners, may be of utility to their own country. I have no doubt they will be well received by the queen. My wish is, that she may be disposed to give them such encouragement as may induce others, when they hear of it, to return also, as opportunity may offer, especially such as have any acquaintance with the mechanical arts. I regret that these are so few. The majority of the prize slaves I have met, instead of having been taught to be useful handicrafts, have been mere personal servants, or employed in menial work, as stable boys, &c. &c.

(Signed) J. J. FREEMAN.

Tamatave, 31st August, 1831.

P.S.-We had the pleasure of arriving here safely on the morning of the 22nd, and are enjoying good health. We expect to leave this for the capital in the course of a day or two. Nearly all our packages are sent forward, and will be conveyed to Tananarivo, free of expense, by the queen's orders. Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson are allowed to go up for However, I entertain no doubt of their being allowed to remain longer, provided they are found useful-that is to say, if the Malagasy are pleased with them, and with their services. I shall write again from the capital by the earliest opportunity.

one year.

J. J. F.

WEST INDIES.

BERBICE.

Extracts of a Letter from Rev. Michael Lewis, dated Berbice, British Guiana, Oct. 22, 1831, addressed to the Foreign Secretary.

Increase of the Congregation and Church.

You are aware that an enlargement of the chapel was proceeding when I removed hither: I have added a gallery more than Mr. Wray or myself thought necessary when he left, and now we have not nearly room enough to accommodate the numbers who wish to attend, so that in point of attendance you will perceive our congregation has much increased. Fourteen also have been added to the number of our communicants, and several others who are on probation, will, I hope, be admitted to that privilege at our next church meeting. The impressions among the young persons of the town are of a very pleasing character. Prayer-meetings have been established in four houses in town, belonging to members, besides the one previously established at the Winkel department; and from the manner in which they have been conducted by the members, and an individual by whom I am much assisted, I hope they will be very useful in cherishing and further exciting the minds of the population.

Sunday School.

Our Sabbath school is in a most flourishing state. We have had an uncommon accession of help. We now number ten female, and eight male teachers, with two or three assistant teachers, and many of the children becoming old enough and fully competent to teach. I baptized one of the scholars a fortnight ago, a fine lad about fifteen years of age, which excited an uncommon interest in the congregation, and I hope at some future period he may be made useful to the church. I give him daily instruction, and would attach him to my family were he not an apprentice.

Missionary Labours on the Sabbath.

To give you an idea of your missionary's labour on this side of the Atlantic, I may mention the regular service of the Sabbath, at this station. I expound the Scriptures at seven o'clock in the morning; immediately after see the negroes who may be assembled from the country; commence school at a quarter before ten; preach at eleven; assist in the instruction of adult classes till two, P. M.; recommence school at three, continuing it till five, and preach again at a quarter before seven in the evening: all this except the morning school (which has been established since I came) was attended to by Mr. Wray.