assimilated to each other, which are now spread over Africa; and though the Berber language might once, perhaps, have extended over the northern regions of Lybia, yet it is doubtful, from its resemblance to the oriental tongues, whether it was of African origin, or merely introduced by Asiatic or European colonies; but this we do know, that it was never adopted by the Negro nations. Mr. Bowdich, and other travellers, fully prove that the Negro dialects are almost as numerous as their towns and villages; and clearly testify that the curse directed against the Cushite Babylonians was entailed upon their posterity, and is still an existing proof of the divine judgment, and the truth of Revelation, plainly showing that idolatry and confusion were indeed the birth-right of the Hamitic nations. What are we to learn from all these facts? That it seems evidently the design of Deity that the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is to be propagated in Central Africa by means of the Arabic language. Shall Methodisin, then, which has been one of the most efficient instruments in extending the consolations of Christianity to heathen lands, neglect this plain intimation, or refuse to enter those dark avenues of delusion, "while her lights are burning," and when the facilities of such a tongue, the most unmixed of all languages, so pure and so copious, demand her most serious attention? Can we refuse to run the race set before us, when the prize is in view, and the victory is certain, in the name of Jesus? The opening doors of Providence are every where presenting themselves even in the depths of Africa; and is it not the duty of our Missionary Society, or rather its high privilege, to adopt some immediate measure for the acquisition of the Arabic and other languages, "that our oil and our wine may increase?" With this view, I gladly hail the Wesleyan Institution, so worthy of its name, as by its establishment our exertions must be greatly increased, and the talents of the Connexion brought to bear on the intellectual vices of the age. It will furnish the Missionary field with well-qualified instruments. It is therefore the earnest hope of the writer, that the Directors of the Institution may speedily be able to add to the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, the important and greatlyneeded oriental and occidental Arabic; making it binding on all Missionaries, intended for India, Ceylon, Persia, Arabia, Syria, Palestine, Asia Minor, Egypt, Barca, Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, Morocco, Fezzan, Central and Eastern Africa, &c., &c., to learn the grammatical construction and accent of those dialects which will the more speedily qualify them for their respective stations.(Authorities: Dr. Clarke's Bible; Dr. Pritchard's Physical History of Mankind; Malte-Brun's Asia; Shaw's Barbary; Bowdich's Ashantee; Hebrew, Chaldee, and Ethiopic Bibles.) A. H. Bridlington-Quay, Dec. 9th, 1834. JERUSALEM IN 1834. To the Editor of the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine. THIS unhappy city has been under the avenging hand of God for nearly two thousand years. It has been sacked, pillaged, or destroyed, innumerable times, by invaders of many different nations. "Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still." In fact, such instances of desolation have become so common, that they seem to attract little interest amongst the surrounding people; and they are only noticed by the traveller, and the philanthropist, who have been accustomed to scenes of order and of justice. The visitation which befel Jerusalem and the surrounding country, during the last year, seems scarcely to have been heard of by Europeans; and was falsely exhibited by the authorities of Egypt, as a matter of very trifling importance. The Pasha wished to take the young men of Syria as soldiers for his army, and also to monopolize some parts of the trade of the country. General discontent prevailed among the people; and whilst the inhabitants of the cities feared the rage of the tyrant, and were waiting for some favourable opportunity of throwing off the yoke, the peasants who dwelt in the fastnesses of the "mountains around Jerusalem" prepared to assert their independence by force. The Pasha's officers were overwhelmed at a village in one of the defiles near Nazareth, by the women and children, armed with stones and other missiles. Vengeance was taken upon the hamlet, which was totally destroyed. The mountaineers flew to arms, and cut off the straggling parties of the soldiers. The defiles between Jaffa and Jerusalem were seized; and all communication between the city and the coast was thus intercepted." Ibrahim hastened to the place of tumult from the south of Arabia, where he was then extending the Egyptian conquests. An earthquakз first shook Jerusalem to its centre, overthrowing or damaging many houses; so that the inhabitants retired to their gardens, or other places of refuge. Before they had recovered from the terrors of this unexpected shock, the mountaineers poured down by tens of thousands into the plains, and sacked the city. The garrison was feeble; and, after a short resistance, retired to the citadel. The city was then broken up, and pillaged for several days; whilst roving parties of marauders, from without, cut off all the supplies of provisions that it was attempted to bring into the town. Meanwhile the plague made its appearance, and several fell victims to this awful scourge. Famine also now stalked abroad, with its dreadful attendants of rapine and plunder. The citadel was attacked, and the soldiers fired upon the town. Upwards of three thousand troops, which were sent from Damascus to relieve Jerusalem, were cut off on their journey, near the ancient town of Sychar; about three hundred only escaped by flight. I saw one of these, a Frank surgeon, a few days afterwards. Ibrahim raged with fury; but at length he passed the defiles, with the loss of some of his men, and reached Jerusalem. It is said that a considerable body of troops was sacrificed on that occasion, that the rest might pass by a stratagem. Although this report was universal in Syria, no authentic information of the matter could be obtained. The dreaded name of Ibrahim spread consternation among the insurgents, who retired from Jerusalem, which was now taken possession of by the Pasha, whose soldiers committed more outrages than even the mountaineers. However, when the smallness of the Governor's forces was discovered, the panic-struck peasantry returned, and several skirmisbes between them and the troops took place. The Pasha pushed forwards, but was repulsed near the Dead Sea. Finding himself now hemmed in on all sides, and perceiving that his situation was exceedingly perilous, he made peace with the insurgents on their own terms; consenting to relinquish his present oppressive and tyrannical measures. Ibrahim returned to Jaffa, where Mehemet Ali had already arrived with the Egyptian fleet, and with a small reinforcement of men and stores. Mehemet will never fail for want of schemes and stratagems. All Syria was in commotion; and the guards in the streets of Damascus were doubled, and kept under arms all night; for the inhabitants of this and other large cities were only waiting to see which way the balance would turn, before they declared themselves. Mehemet, therefore, sent messengers to the various Governors, announcing a peace, and ordering the guns to be fired in honour of Ibrahim's victories! The people, ignorant of the true state of affairs, were struck with terror, and did not dare to rise. Whilst the wily Pasha at Jaffa pretended to be indignant at the treaty which his son had made, he declared that he himself had never been consulted in its ratification, and refused to abide by its stipulations. Dispatching, therefore, his reinforced troops to the country about Nazareth, these fell upon the inhabitants, who were now disjoined and unsuspicious of such perfidy; and despoiling them of their arms, he reduced them to obedience. A noted robber was taken from the galleys at Acre, and appointed Governor of Jerusalem! He soon fulfilled the duties of his high office to the heart's content of the Pasha. Such is a specimen of the evils which are constantly befalling Judea and Jerusalem. They attract but EGYPT IN 1835. To the Editor of the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine. DURING the preceding year we had many alarms as to the entrance of the plague into Alexandria; several persons having died in the lazaret at different times of very suspicious diseases. But there were two parties amongst the medical men, (so called,) and the truth could not be ascertained. At length it indeed made its appearance; and the Europeans shut up their houses, performing a voluntary quarantine. For some time only a few cases were reported daily; but towards the spring they began to increase. Apprehensive of being shut up in the city, and being fearful of consequent famine, many of the poorer inhabitants fled from Alexandria, and dispersed themselves throughout the country. The most decisive measures were adopted by the Pasha to stop the course of the pestilence. Wherever it appeared, the poor inhabitants were taken out of their houses, and sent to the lazaret, whilst all their effects were destroyed. Or, if sufferers were in better circumstances, a guard was stationed at the door for forty days. This guard they were obliged to pay. Alexandria was subsequently surrounded by a military cordon; nor could any persons go out of the city, without first performing quarantine. Provisions were now more scarce, trade was almost at an end, and the people began to murmur. To escape the effects of having the pestilence in their houses, many of the poorer classes concealed the sick, and buried the dead in their houses, or exposed them by night in the streets, that the officers might carry them away. Some were thus exposed in a frightfully mutilated form, that it might not be known who they were, or in what house they had died. The Turkish merchants, and even the Pasha's officers, began to complain, "It was from God, and how did man dare to stop it?" Meanwhile the pestilence also broke out in the upper country, especially at Kené, a small town where the Mahometan pilgrims assemble to cross the desert to the Red Sea. No person fears plague or cholera more than Mehemet Ali. He was flying from Cairo, where the dreadful disease had begun to appear, to the upper parts of Egypt. When he found that the pestilence had anticipated him, he returned, and shut himself up in a country palace, near the metropolis. It was then that I first reached this large city, which contained about two hundred and eighty thousand inhabitants. The Euro peans were laying in stores of provisions, and shutting up their dwellings, anticipating the most fearful events; nor were they deceived. Having no home nor place of residence, and more apprehensive of being shut up alone in such a place than of encountering the worst forms of pestilence, I returned to Alexandria. Some of the villages through which we passed were already visited by the desolating scourge. It was impossible, either by threats or promises, to restrain the recklessness of my Arab crew and servants; and so I had to commit myself to the guardian care of divine Providence. When I passed the guard which was stationed around Alexandria, and entered the city, I could not help exclaiming, "How has the joyous city ceased!" Biers met my eyes, and the death-howl struck my ears. The streets were comparatively empty. Most of the shops were closed; and those which remained open were barricaded, and their provisions were sold at the doors. Silence pervaded the streets. No busy persons were to be seen bustling in different directions, nor idlers loitering at the corners. Each European was armed with a long stick, with which to keep off any that might come near. Having looked about me, I took up my abode (for want of a better) in a small store, where I had deposited my baggage. The plague raged around, and many who dwelt in the same pile of buildings were hurried into eternity. But I did not see the worst. After I had embarked, the Pasha abandoned his preventive measures, being influenced, no doubt, by the complaints of the Mussulmans, and the seeming desperation of the case; as well as for the purpose of saving the city from famine. The warm weather was just beginning to set in, and the plague now burst forth with irresistible fury. In Alexandria nearly three hundred are stated to have been the daily mortality at one time of the awful visitation. Whilst in Cairo, two thousand are reported to have perished in a day; desolating the city, and emptying whole streets of their inhabitants at a stroke. It is thus that the population of these Mahometan countries is rapidly decreasing. War, famine, pestilence, and oppression unite to extinguish the religion of the false prophet. A fifth of the inhabitants of Egypt are said to have perished by cholera; and the plague must have taken away a considerable number of the survivors. "The Lord shall smite Egypt, and he will heal it." R. MAXWELL MACBRAIR. LETTERS TO A BEREAVED MISSIONARY. To the Editor of the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine. THE subjoined letters were addressed to me by Mr. Ayliff, one of my Missionary brethren, whilst I was on the Buntingville station, in South Africa, when my heart was bleeding on account of the loss of my dear wife, and the Amapondo were expecting an attack from the Amazulu. As these epistles have been a means of great good to me, it has been suggested to my mind that if they were made public, they would probably afford comfort to others who may be placed, by a bereaving Providence, in similar cir would fain hope that the danger is passed for the present. God grant that it may. cumstances. WILLIAM SATCHELL. Bungay, Nov. 5th, 1833. Butterworth, May 10th, 1835. MY DEAR BROTHER,-Yours of the 4th instant we duly received, and can assure you that we felt much for you; but as several days have now passed without our hearing any thing further from you, we The church generally, and each member of it in particular, has to wrestle against spiritual wickedness in high places; for it is against “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience," that the believer has declared eternal war; and hence he labours, believes, and prays, that the kingdoms of this world may become the "kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ." Can we wonder, then, that Satan should rage, "And call forth all his hosts to war?” Rather let us wonder that our lives and health have been preserved, considering that we have taken possession of the enemy's country. We have erected the banners of Emmanuel in this land, where Satan's seat is; and we believe and pray that Christ may here, even here," destroy the works of the devil." We prove that what Satan said to the Lord, in reference to Job, can be said of us, "Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hand, and his substance is increased in the land." (Job i. 9, 10.) Direct your mind upwards, my dear brother, to the Rock from whence your help cometh; and he will continue to be, for your soul, a "refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." I find your heart still bleeds at the remembrance of your late dear wife, who rests with Jesus. We continue to feel for you; we sympathize with you in your affliction; and could I offer a word of consolation to your mind, I would most gladly do it. Your soul rests, we know, in the wisdom and goodness of God. You believe that what he has done, he has done well. O then let this faith be your stay! He often hides the reasons of his working, in deep and unfathomable mines" of never-failing skill;" and we must be content with that word, "Thou shalt know hereafter." O yes, we shall then wonder, and adore his wisdom and goodness to all eternity; and declare that he did all things well. Then, let us look up. After only a few more days, and we also shall be with Jesus in glory! Butterworth, May 31st, 1833. MY DEAR BROTHER,-I write to say, that we were most happy to hear from Mr. Warner, on his way to Clarkebury, that your dear child is quite well. Thus the Lord is pleased to mingle some sweets with your bitter draughts. I did not think that he would live. I thought the Lord would call him to an early rest with his mother. But it seems to be the design of our heavenly Father to spare him, to be a support and comfort to his parent in the decline of life; perhaps to comfort him with the consolations of the Gospel, when mortality is about to be swallowed up of life. What a blessed thought! Our children will comfort us at death; our God and Butterworth, June 15th, 1833. MY DEAR BROTHER,- Yours of the 11th instant I have just received; and as the men wish to return immediately, I sit down to write a few lines, if by any means I might comfort your heart; for be assured your letter has occasioned much concern. That you should suffer dejection at any time, would excite my sympathy; but for you to be a subject of dejection in your present circumstances, is trying indeed. It is well that you refer to the case of Jacob, and behold the opening of day upon him; for, rememher, my dear brother, that "the heritage of Jacob" is yours. It is said, "I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy |