spiritual welfare it is their earnest desire to promote. Various communications have of late been made to the friends of the Society respecting the progress of the cause of God in this part of the world, calculated to animate their feelings, to call forth their thankfulness, and to assure them that the exertions of the devoted men whom they have sent forth to make known Jesus Christ and Him crucified among the now emancipated negroes are not in vain. The appended extracts of letters from Mr. Forward, who is engaged at the Lonsdale station, are peculiarly adapted to confirm these pleasing impressions. In February last, he proceeded to the island of Barbadoes with Mrs. Forward, whose health, as well as his own, required a change of air, and after an absence of three months they returned to Berbice with recruited strength to pursue their all important work. Shortly after his return, viz., in the month of June, our brother writes as follows:

Missionary meeting-liberality of the

Negroes.

I was very desirous to be at home before the annual missionary meeting, held at Lonsdale on Whit-Monday, and providentially arrived here on the Thursday preceding (June 11.) From sickness, and other necessary causes, none of the brethren could attend except Mr. Haywood; so we were obliged to look to other sources for our speakers. One or two of the teachers, and some of the most intelligent and useful of our negro brethren, were called upon to address the assembly. They were listened to with great attention, and a good effect was produced. The collection was in a high degree encouraging, amounting to between 607. and 70%. sterlin, and that exclusively from negroes-men who were not long since slaves-men neglected, despised, and thought almost unworthy the name of men, much more of Christians. Such fruit as this we have often the honour to see, proving a great encouragement in all our difficulties. Another circumstance serving to place this effort in a stronger light is, that within the preceding three

months the same people had subscribed above 1501. towards the cause of religion. I hope these efforts will induce you to do all you can to send us additional labourers, for we are ready to faint for want of help.

Desire of the Negroes to send the Gospel to
Africa.

Our people are beginning to feel deeply in behalf of their own race in Africa. Nearly 100 members of our church are natives of that land, and most of them feel a great degree of interest in all that relates to it. Some of our young men have expressed their willingness to carry the Gospel to the land of their fathers, especially since our late meeting, on which occasion the subject was prominently brought before them. I have every reason to believe this will ultimately be the case, and that the descendants of Ham, the offspring of those forcibly separated from their friends and native land, are destined to be honoured instruments in performing great things towards the moral renovation of that unhappy country.

Such is ever the effect of the Truth on those by whom it is received in love; their first desire is to convey to others the unspeakable blessings of which they themselves have been made partakers.

Forward observes :—

Attention of the people to the preaching of

the Gospel.

With respect to the members of the congregation, there is much to encourage; they always exhibit great attention, and occasionally a depth of feeling, convincing us that God condescends to come among us in the exercise of his convincing power and saving grace. Our congregations generally are rapidly advancing in knowledge, so that very little, spoken by the minister whom they usually hear, is lost upon them. The attendance at the services has always been good on the sabbath-days, the chapel often overflowing; in fact, before we had regular

Writing on the following day, Mr.

services at Salem chapel, hundreds came who could not get within the doors.

Freedom a test of Christian principle among the Negroes.

It was generally supposed by the colonists, that after the 1st of August many who had previously attended the house of God, would become remiss in that important duty. It has certainly been a time of trial, and it is probable we may yet experience something of the sort. Whilst in a state of slavery, or apprenticeship, there was a leaning on the missionaries, who were the professed friends of the people-they had

none to whom they could look with equal confidence-thus situated, there was an attachment felt, and a dependence evinced, by the majority, which would not have been the case under ordinary circumstances. That all this arose from religious principle, it would be folly to suppose, and without doubt many made this their religion, and all their religion; and many might even be so self-deluded as to suppose that this was religion. It is possible that many of those who compose our churches have mistaken their true character, and imposed on their respective ministers. It would be too much to expect that instances of this kind would be generally or often discovered at the time, or even afterward under the old regime. Now it is different-the people know and feel that they are free. If there be not principle and genuine religion, many may be expected to leave the house of God, and turn their backs on the services of the sanctuary. Interest no longer binds them to us, but tends rather to draw them away; consequently it may be well said that this is a season of trial. As yet no diminution has taken place among us but rather an increase, inducing the erection of an additional gallery in the chapel, so that we can now, including children, accommodate 1,000 people.

Prosperous state of the church-necessity for ir creased exertion.

highly satisfactory state. It is really gratifying to see so many of the degraded sons of Africa coming to join themselves to the Lord in everlasting bonds. Many of those who in previous years, by their appearance and conduct, had excited my highest expectations, have relapsed into their former indifference-their religion has been "like the morning cloud, or early dew, that soon passes away;" whilst others, of whom but little hope had been entertained, have exhibited a saving change, and are now united to the visible church of Christ. I should be rejoiced could I refer to a mighty movement in the minds of the people of my charge, but this is not the case. It is true some join us every month, and some weekly give in their names as candidates for the ordinances of religion. This is good, but not the good I long to behold. We are authorised to expect great thingswithout them we cannot, ought not to be satisfied. The people are passing off the stage of time, very many of them unsanctified and unsaved. Missionaries are dying, or leaving the shores for their native land; -error is being widely promulgated in our midst. The precious seed of the word has taken deep root in the hearts of many, but still much remains to be done and great exertions must be made, or these fair fields for the exhibition of Gospel truth and the enjoyment of Gospel privileges will become blighted, and prove as barren as the sterile desert.

The church during the year has been in a The paucity of labourers in Berbice at the present time, compared with the extent of the field, the claims of the people, and their intense desire for religious instruction, is a fact which cannot be viewed without the deepest regret, combined with importunate prayer, that the Divine Spirit may move the hearts of those suitably endowed to carry on the work, to offer themselves on the service of their faith in a field where the harvest is so invitingly prepared for the sickle of the reaper. Since the retirement of Mr. Edwards, followed by that of Mr. Seaborn, the number of Missionaries, exclusive of assistants, is reduced to three, on whom the care of seven extensive stations and several out-stations has been devolved. The Directors feel most painfully concerned that their brethren should have such an overwhelming amount of duty laid upon them, and are constrained to reiterate the call for help, which has of late been so frequently urged upon ministers of the Gospel, or those preparing for the ministry, in this country. Under date of June 20th, Mr. Forward thus describes the enfeebled state of the Mission: his representations will plead more powerfully than any appeal which it is in our power to put forth :

Exigencies of the stations with regard to

labourers.

You can easily conceive what my engagements are, with the pastoral charge of these two extensive stations, in addition to the two of my own, and the demand made upon me to supply one sabbath every month in town.*

At this station alone there is ample work for two agents, as there are two chapels, two schools, and two congregations. It is impossible for any one, not on the spot, to conceive of the increased demands made on our time and attention. Since August almost every separate estate requires as much attention as we can now give to the

New Amsterdam.

whole. I feel myself quite unequal to the discharge of the ordinary duties of the station, so much have they increased. To seek after additional work, and to form new plans of usefulness, is quite out of the question.

We have now eleven chapels, besides preaching places, and service should be conducted at least once every Lord's-day in each; and, if they had it, each within a year would support its own agent. I am desirous to impress these things most em

phatically on the minds of the Directors; because if we are to maintain our ground we must have an increased agency. There is now every thing to encourage. We have the hearts of the people in almost every part of the colony. If we can at once take possession, and follow up with energy, it is my firm persuasion that no colony of the British empire, so far as religion is concerned, will present a more encouraging aspect than this.

SOUTH AFRICAN MISSION.

WE resume the extracts of Mrs. Philips' journal from last month's number. On leaving Pacaltsdorp our friends proceeded to Dysal's kraal, thence to Hankey, and afterwards visited in succession Bethelsdorp, Theopolis, and Graham's Town. At Dysal's kraal, Mr. Melvill had made a satisfactory commencement of his labours among the newly emancipated population. Hankey had been restored to a degree of prosperity equal to what it possessed at any former period, although not free from trial in its temporal affairs. Mr. Williams was endeavouring to introduce the arts of spinning and weaving among the people. Notwithstanding the patient exertions of Mr. Kitchingman, the Bethelsdorp institution was in a deeply depressed state. Theopolis was also suffering under a combination of adverse circumstances. The schools at these stations, however, exhibited for the most part a decidedly promising aspect, particularly the infant schools.

Our friends left Graham's Town on the 6th of December, for the Kat River settlement, and having crossed the Fish River, Mrs. Philip thus describes their progress:

We proceeded as fast as bad roads and a hilly country would permit, the country becoming more mountainous as we approached the Kat River. On the morning of the 8th of December we passed the grave and former residence of the missionary Williams, who resided on the Kat River in 1816 and 1817, when it belonged to the Caffers. It was with peculiar interest we gazed on the spot. Alas! how soon was he cut off in the midst of his usefulness. Yet God did not suffer him to labour in vain. Two years after his death, when another missionary was sent into Cafferland, eight or ten persons, who had been at the Kat River, joined Mr. Brownlee at the Chumie; and Mrs. Robson, the widow of Mr. Williams, had the pleasure of sitting down at the Lord's table, at Philipton, in the Kat River settlement, with twelve Caffers, who had formerly lived on their station, had subsequently embraced the Gospel.

What a difference in the state of Caffer. land now and at that time! When Mr. Williams died there was not a missionary left in the country; now there are from ten to twelve stations, and from fourteen to sixteen missionaries.

A little beyond this place we came to the location of a number of people from Theopolis, called Blinkwater. Leaving them,

we came to a location of Gonas, under Hans Noeka. On the opposite side of the river is the farm occupied by Makomo. Noeka's party can all speak Dutch; bat most of them understand the Caffer language. They have led out the water, but have not yet had their land measured out to them; as soon as that is done, they will remove to their land on the opposite side of the river; they will then be on the same side as Makomo, with whom they appear to be on the best terms.

On this spot it is proposed to settle Mr. Calderwood. Living at this place he will be under the protection of Government, and close to Makomo's residence. He will not only have the people of that chief, Noeka's people, and the Blinkwater Hottentots, but a large body of people, about 500 in number, situated in a kloof on the opposite side of the river from Makome, under Hermanus. Among these people Dirk Hather labours. Another party, called Gola's people, are still farther off, yet within the range of the missionaries' influence.

It will be necessary for whoever is settled here, to have native teachers at each of these stations, and to keep the superintendence of the whole. It will be an important and extensive sphere.

We outspanned at Noeka's location, and