Bengal. From the effects of this exposure and suffering he does not appear to have recovered. He died at Colombo, on the 21st of April, 1847, full of Christian hope and triumph, deeply regretted by those who only for a short time had witnessed his zeal and desire for the conversion of men to God. 6. WILLIAM WEBB, 1st, of Charlotte-Town, Prince Edward's Island. His conversion to God in early life was followed by a deep conviction of obligation to a personal consecration of himself to Christ, in whatsoever manner Divine Providence might open his path. In 1827 he was received as a candidate for the Missionary work, and sent out to Nova Scotia. After pursuing a course of unimpeachable integrity, and considerable ministerial success, he was seized with an illness which ultimately proved fatal. Every sentiment which he expressed, during his brief but severe affliction, evidenced great confidence in God, and was indicative of the strong consolation which he perpetually received. His brethren in the ministry being absent from the island upon District business, he was visited by a Clergyman of the Church of England, to whom he emphatically gave his last and glorious testimony to the truth and blessedness of his experience, in the following words: "I am standing on the Rock;" "I have not believed in cunningly-devised fables; but I feel the power of the Lord." He fell asleep in Jesus whilst his sorrowing family, with some pious friends, were in prayer commending his spirit to the God of his salvation. He died July 4th, 1847. VARIETIES. ROBERT HALL.. After we had waited for about a quarter of an hour, Mr. Hall made his appearance. He was rather below the average height, stout, and inclining to corpulency. His chest was very broad and capacious; the face large, and its features massive. His eyes were large, dark, and full, and his forehead high and broad. The head, which was bald, except at the back, and over the temples, had an indescribable grandeur about it. The worst part of his face was the mouth, which was very large, and the under lip somewhat protruded: the chin was large and projecting. This gave an appearance of heaviness to his general aspect. No one with an ob servant eye could for a moment gaze on Mr. Hall's majestic countenance without being at once struck with the expression of almost torture which was evident in i'. He seemed to be constantly endeavouring to conceal bodily suffering: and it was so, for he was in reality a martyr to one of the most painful diseases that can afflict humanity,-calculi in the kidneys. After he had divested himself of his great coat, he had a pipe and some tobacco brought to him; and having puffed away for a little time, he pulled off his dress-coat, lay down on his back on the hearth-rug, and was soon enveloped in a cloud of smoke. This was his usual habit, before entering the pulpit. agony he endured compelled him to spend a great portion of his time in a re The cumbent position; and it was only by the use of tobacco and opium, in large quantities, that he could ever obtain even comparative ease. His custom was to smoke prodigiously until the very moment arrived when it was required of him to commence his sermon. He would then rise, and leave his pipe at the door of the pulpit, in readiness for him to resume his Nicotian habit the moment after he had concluded his discourse.-Pen and Ink Sketches. THE OAK OF MAMRE.-Mr. Borrer, in his "Journey from Naples to Jerusalem," describes a tree which tradition says is the same under whose branches Abraham received the angels. "It is," says the traveller, "a venerable tree indeed! its wide-spreading branches covering an enormous space of rich refreshing turf. Josephus, speaking of the Patriarch, says, 'Now Abraham dwelt near the oak called Ogyges; the place belongs to Canaan, not far from the city of Hebron,' &c.; and again, ‘Abram, as he sat by the oak at Mamre,' &c.; also, after relating the descent of Simon of Gerasa upon Hebron, and speaking of the great antiquity of the city, he relates, There is also there shown, at the distance of six furlongs from the city, a very large turpen ine-tree, and the report goes that this tree has continued ever since the creation of the world.' It is not impossible that this may be that same tree so mentioned by that ancient Jewish historian, though it can hardly be called a turpentine, or balsam, tree, being a prickly oak; neither are there, as far as we observed, at the present day any other sort of trees around Hebron that would produce turpentine or balsam. This species of oak being very slow in growing, the bulk of this individual tree announces its extreme age, the trunk being above twenty feet in girth. From the specimens I brought away, it proves to be of that species of oak known as the Quercus Gramuntia, or 'Holly-leaved Grammont oak,' the acorns of which are edible; and the ancients believed that by them the tunny-fish, in their passage from the ocean to the Mediterranean, were fattened in those days when the shores of Andalusia were clothed with dark forests of this noble tree." DOUGLAS THE BOTANIST.-I found a new resident at Monterey, David Douglas, Esq., a naturalist, from Scotland, who had been indefatigable in his researches throughout the northern re gions of America, and was adding to his treasure the peculiar productions of California. I was told he would frequently go off attended only by his little dog, and, with rifle in hand, search the wildest thicket in hopes of meeting a bear; yet the sight of a bullock grazing in an open field was to him more dreadful than all the terrors of the forest. He once told me that this was his only fear, little thinking what a fate was in reserve for bim. He went afterwards from Monterey to the Sandwich Islands. One morning he was found at the bottom of a pit which had been prepared as a trap for wild bulls. It is supposed that, from curiosity, he had approached too near to get a sight of the furious animal that had been ensnared, and the earth, giving way, precipitated him below. The merciless brute had gored him to death. His faithful little dog was found near the spot, watching a basket of his collections. - Life in California, by an American. WESLEYAN MISSIONS: OR, INTELLIGENCE ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY, AND ALSO OF THE STATE AND PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD UNDER THEIR DIRECTION : EXTRACTED CHIEFLY FROM THE 66 MISSIONARY NOTICES," AND FROM OTHER SOURCES PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARIES. * FEEJEE ISLANDS. "We want great MR. WATSFORD one of the Missionaries, says, faith for Feejee; pray for us. A perusal of the following letters will confirm the assertion, that great faith is wanted for Feejee. War, cannibalism, Popery, in addition to the natural enmity of the human heart to the things of God, combine their opposition to the efforts of the Missionaries. But it is cheering to observe that where "sin hath thus abounded, grace hath abounded" much more. Many of the worst cannibals in Feejee have been converted to God; a multitude of the common people, and some of the Chiefs, have been brought to a saving knowledge of the truth. The influence of these conversions is very * Our readers are earnestly requested to avail themselves of the opportunity to procure the entire copy of the "Wesleyan Missionary Notices," published by the Secretaries of the Society, and sold at the Centenary-Hall, Bishopsgate-street, and at 66, Paternoster-row, London. Our selections from this invaluable record of the progress of the Gospel in heathen lands must, of necessity, be brief: we are therefore very desirous that the "Notices" should receive an extensive circulation among all classes of the religious public. extensively felt and acknowledged among the people. The New Testament is translated into one of the dialects of Feejee; and before this time, we may hope, is printed, and the entire precious volume in the hands of both teachers and people. Still it is our solemn duty to pray for the Missionaries in Feejee. Many are their dangers, and trials, and privations. Their work is very arduous and wasting. Let us remember them at the throne of the Heavenly Grace. It is worthy of special mention, as showing the great interest which the Wesleyan Missions in Feejee are exciting even in foreign countries, that the Countess Hahn, by the Rev. Johannes Gossner, of Berlin, has sent a contribution of ten Fredericks-d'or for the Feejee Mission. Mr. Gossner has a Missionary Seminary of his own to support, from which many valuable labourers have gone forth to various parts of the world. His friends do not confine their support to their own Missions. Indeed, such a Mission as that to Feejee should command the prayers and the contributions of all the friends of Christ and of the human race, and has a special claim on the supporters of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, by which the Mission has been com menced and sustained. FEEJEE.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Richard B. Lyth, dated Vewa, November 2d, 1846. OUR annual District-Meeting was held in Vewa in August, which attended. It was an important one, on account of the subject of printing forthwith a complete version of the New Testament in the Bau dialect, which came under consideration. Though none beside myself attended from the other Circuits, yet, the sentiments of all being known, our course was clear. It being the opinion of the brethren generally that I should remove to Vewa to join the Chairman and printer in this Circuit, for the purpose of assisting in the work, this arrangement was at once determined upon; and I, with my family, have accordingly removed, and Mr. Watsford has gone to the Lakemba Circuit. The work proposed is great, and circumstances for undertaking it at present are peculiarly favourable; more so than they ever were before, or are likely soon to be again. Divine Providence seems to point our path. It is in this light that the subject is viewed by the brethren: we have seized the opportunity, and you, with us, will pray that the work may be brought to a successful issue. The people want the Scriptures; and Feejee, threatened with Popery, needs that the streams of the water of life be sent forth before the corrupting errors of Romanism have spread their antichristian influence. It is but just to our excellent and laborious Chairman to observe, that my work is simply to assist him in making the final examination and corrections for the press. VOL. III.-FOURTH SERIES. Matthew and Acts are already printed. Attending our District-Meeting, and our removal, have occupied three months, or nearly so. Twenty-four nights of this time I spent at sea, and some of them in unusually rough weather. The Lord graciously delivered us and the "Triton" from many dangers. To his name be the praise! We are now entered on our new station, in the enjoyment of tolerably good health, and every needful blessing. My heart's desire and prayer to God is, that I may be useful to the people among whom I am called to labour. The Vewa society is in a good state. In this Circuit the opening for usefulness in a medical point of view, is greater than any I have yet been in: medicine has already been the occasion of many coming under the sound of the Gospel, and of disposing many more to be favourable to the truth. So I am entering on a beaten path. Mr. Hunt has been very successful in this department, which is here a very arduous one. By the blessing of God, I may lighten his labour in this important part of our work. 3 s I feel for the souls of the perishing Heathen around; and pray that I may be filled with the constraining love of my divine Master. O pray for us! Your prayers are of more importance than your supplies. My late valued colleague, Mr. Calvert, will have given you all needful information concerning our work in the Lakemba Circuit; so I shall content myself with saying but little on this head. Our cause is prospering in that place. There has been a gracious outpouring of the Spirit at the towns of Wathewathe and Waitambu. Mary Jane, the wife of Zephaniah Lua, Chief of Wathewathe, and daughter of the King, has been soundly converted. Immediately after the blessed change, she went to the King, and besought him with filial importunity at once to embrace religion, stating that she had just now found its reality. About forty persons, mostly members, have obtained good in this revival; and several of them (I cannot speak particularly) know that they are now the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. This is cause for heartfelt gratitude; and particularly so as it occurred at the time when the Papists were making great exertions, and had received an accession of from twelve to twenty proselytes. Some of the people of Nayau and Thethea, two Heathen islands, have renounced Heathenism, and desire Teachers to be sent to instruct them in Christianity. Those of Nayau were induced to turn by witnessing the good conduct of some Tonguese and Samoan Christians, whose canoe, having drifted to Feejee, touched at their island. The Committee will rejoice to hear that Benjamin, our head Teacher at Samoa, with his party, were the persons whose regard for the Sabbath and general good conduct had won the hearts of the Nayau ans. They were drifted when on their way to the Tonga group from Samoa. As we touched at Somosomo, on my way to the District-Meeting, and remained there a week, I had an opportunity of seeing the state of that Mission. The Natawa war was just ended, and the warriors had left Somosomo to return to their own lands; so that now the longtalked-of time for their embracing Christianity was arrived. Not that such pro mises are at all to be depended upon. I found Tuiilaila and people in their usual state of mind; the former perfectly unconcerned about religion, and the people as afraid as ever of their Chief. The brethren were labouring under discouragement, and themselves and families suffering in their health, partly from the unhealthiness of the place, and partly from want of suitable food. I felt much for them. There was an evident fear in the minds of the Chiefs that the Missionaries were about to be removed. As soon, therefore, as the Mission-ship hove in sight, a consultation was held, and it was proposed that a boy, a son of Tuiilaila, should lotu, for the purpose of securing the countenance of the Missionaries; for, although they do not like our religion, they like our knives and hatchets. This showed a wretched state of mind. My conversations with Tuiilaila resulted in nothing definite. As to himself, he has no desire, and, I fear, no intention, to cast off Heathenism. Some of the younger Chiefs would probably be of a better mind, if they durst think for themselves. I conversed with several, and found them more serious on the subject than usual. Upon the whole, our prospects at Somosomo are dark and discouraging. Were Mr. Lawry here, I think he would remove the brethren. For my own part, I should advise it on this principle, not that their case is hopeless, (by no means,) but that there are other places in Feejee, where the services of the Missionary are more needed, where there are hundreds of our people, who, if Somosomo be continued with our present number, cannot have the pastoral oversight of a Missionary. FEEJEE.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. John Hunt, dated Vewa, AT Vewa we have had much of the presence of God in our meetings of late. The spirit of prayer has been poured upon us, which, we know, is a token for good. As many appeared to be concerned for salvation, we determined last week to commence a penitent-meeting on a Saturday night, and to invite all those who felt a desire for salvation. The time of meeting arrived, and a good congregation assembled. After singing and prayer, the object of the meeting was stated, and the people were exhorted to pray without being called upon by name, and to pray short, and to the point. One of our oldest and calmest members commenced, and prayed with great feeling. Another followed with increased feeling; and the sacred influence increased as the meeting pro ceeded; so that long before its close nearly all the people were praying together. As they had never seen any thing of the kind before, there could be no deception in the case. It was evident that the hand of the Lord was among them. Many were pricked to the heart, and cried in agonies for mercy; and some were enabled to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and were made happy in a consciousness of their acceptance with God through Him. Then they prayed for others with amazing fervour; and thus the holy fire spread. The meeting was not long; but the sacred influence remained with the people, until most of them were converted. To describe what followed is impossible. Some of the worst cannibals in Feejee were suddenly seized with the most powerful conviction, and a sight of their state and danger threw them into the most awful agonies of sorrow. They wept and wailed most piteously; and some were so agitated, as to require several men to prevent them doing themselves and others bodily harm. there was nothing foolish in what they said. They bewailed their sins, and prayed for mercy in a manner which astonished us. Yet Some of them had but very lately abandoned Heathenism; yet their knowledge of the Gospel, and the propriety with which they expressed themselves in prayer, would have done credit to a person who had been born and educated in a Christian country. Were they not taught of God? What some of them had long heard without much apparent effect, was now of the greatest use. Conversion to God is the only proper means for making theological knowledge practically useful. I never saw this truth so clearly illustrated as in the case of some of the older members of our so ciety in Vewa. We had long mourned over their apparent inability to understand the plan of salvation by simple faith in Jesus. Their class-meeting statements showed a defective experience they were, in fact, servants, not sons, of God. Now the difficulty was removed by the faith-inspiring Spirit. His inspiration made all easy, and his testimony to the fact of their acceptance made all clear and satisfactory. At the end of five or six days we visited the whole of the people, for the purpose of learning their state; and we found upwards of seventy who had found peace with God. Some of our people visited the out-stations in this Circuit on business, and took the sacred fire with them; so that when we paid our regular visit to them, we found them fully prepared, not merely for the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's supper, which we went to administer among them, but for the salvation of which these are but the signs and symbols. We had, indeed, a blessed spiritual visit. Many times, when administering the Lord's supper, the people were so overwhelmed with the power of God, that they could scarcely receive the elements. Let men deny our right to administer the sacred ordinance, so our Master and Lord honours us with his special presence, and makes it the means of salvation to those who receive it at our hands! Our societies have increased in number about two hundred during the year; but our increase of numbers gives but a poor idea of the extent of the good work. Those who have had a name to live, but were in reality dead, have been quickened; and, indeed, all have partaken more or less of the blessed boon of saving grace. During part of the revival the Bau Chiefs threatened the Vewa Christians with everything fearful; and, indeed, they appeared determined to root out Christianity from every place where they had any influence. Our Teacher was sent away from Ovalau; and other persons who had embraced Christianity in places connected with Bau were obliged to leave their homes, and come to reside at Vewa. A Bau Chief who was favourable to Christianity was sent to Vewa, where he became a Christian, and is now meeting in class. The storm appeared to be gathering, but it burst in blessings on our head. We were delivered by our God; and now the persecution appears to have ceased, and the word of the Lord continues to grow. It will not be imagined, that, now the greater part of the people of Vewa, and some other places, are truly converted, our work is accomplished. No; they require all the attention of children. They are children in two respects. They know but little more than children on many subjects; and they are but babes in Christ. Again: but few, comparatively, even of our professing Christians, are clear in their experience. Perhaps four hundred during the year have obtained remission of sins in various parts of the group. Many more have professed; but even if all are truly saved who profess to be, a great many remain who are not. We want a perpetual revival, and one which will reach the Heathen. For this we entreat your prayers, and the prayers of the church of God, |