Hakka whom I baptized at Kway-T'ham | thus persecuting this feeble member of the in February. In my letter regarding him, flock. I mentioned that he was just about to start for the province of Kwang-Si. It appears that he did leave for that place soon after his baptism, though with much reluc

tance.

I mention all these things that you may have some idea of the various experiences both missionaries and converts meet with in this heathen land. Both our hopes and our fears have often been disappointed. Some of whom we had high hopes, and who seemed to be beginning to run the good race, have, through the craft and malice of Satan, and the power of this present evil world, fallen off and turned aside to their old ways; others are, though faint, yet pursuing; others, again, seem to be alive and little more than alive.

PROGRESS AT AMPOW.

THE FOO CITY

STILL CLOSED AGAINST THEM.

Mr. Smith is still at Yam-tsau, awaiting the long-wished-for settlement of the ToaSua-T'haw case. For three successive Thursdays, I have accompanied Dr. Gauld on his weekly visits to Ampow. We still desire to wonder and praise the Lord for the remarkable change in that place, once so bitterly and violently hostile. We now go in and come out in peace and enjoy excellent opportunities for both preaching and healing.

After a journey of thirty-three days, he arrived at his destination, accompanied by his brother and other emigrants. On arriving at the district city in or near which they intended to settle, they were alarmed by the rumour that there was a band of local rebels (i.e., robbers) about to attack it. The ruthless ravages of this kind of robbers are too well known in China, and it is no wonder a panic attends their movements. A-Long and three or four of the other emigrants at once determined to return to their native place. After about a month's journey they reached the homes which they had so recently left; but of course in very impoverished circumstances. It would appear that they did well in returning, for a letter has since come to hand from Kwang-Si stating that two of their fellow-emigrants who remained there had been killed in the attack made by the rebels. Let us hope that the Lord who has thus strangely and unexpectedly brought him back to us will yet make him useful among the Hakkas in the KwayT'ham region. His trials are severe, for not only is he a much poorer man than he was some months ago (he had sold his house and fields before setting out for Kwang-Si), but his wife, who formerly seemed gladly to unite with him and his son in the worship of God, is now bitterly opposed to him because he worships God. Thus our The hot season is now drawing to a close; poor brother is much tried, and we fear as a mission we have much reason to be he is in part overcome by these trials. He thankful for the good health continued to has not of late been coming to Sabbath us all.

worship, but he tells our brethren that he

It is but right to mention that we are disappointed in our hopes of being able personally to enter the Foo City. The British Consul accomplished his visit, and stayed there for a few days. The people, intimidated by the presence of a large body of soldiery ("braves "), offered no insult or violence; but, so far as we can learn, the city is still as much or even more than ever closed against other foreigners.

AND OTHERS.

does no work on that day, and that he REQUEST FOR PRAYER FOR THE CONVERTS spends it by himself in a little hut among the hills. The taunts and threats of his wife and neighbours seem to have so far prevailed as to keep him from openly uniting with the brethren in keeping the Lord's day. They, however, do not doubt his sincerity, and are hopeful that he will yet, by Divine grace, overcome the adversary and those who are his willing slaves in prayers. The opportunities for preaching

In bringing this letter to a close, I would again, as so often already, ask the prayers of the Church on our behalf. For such as Un-a-Long and others sorely tried; for the candidates for baptism; and for the whole number of the baptized, whether assistants or others, we desire your continued

I remain, &c.,

(Signed)

H. L. MACKENZIE.

LETTER FROM DR. MAXWELL.

INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF THE EVAN-
GELIST BUN-KO.

66

Takao, Formosa, vid Amoy,
July 31, 1866.

enjoyed in connection with Dr. Gauld's climate, it is so often difficult to escape. work have been remarkably good during I found it my duty, therefore, to send him this summer; surely we are all bound to over to Amoy, giving him two months' pray and to look for fruit. leave of absence, and hoping that the sail and the refreshment of a brief time with his own friends might bring him back to the old point. Before he went away, I was telling him that, if spared to recover and return, he should not go out so much, but keep more to the chapel in Takao. "No, no," he said, "that cannot be; if I am to be here I must get out from time to time to the places around." I shall never forget a scene on the evening before he left for Amoy. There is a young man here who has held a respectable position as a merchant, but who has of late greatly dishonoured the Christian name by his notoriously ungodly life. We had not seen him for a long time, when that night, on account of some difficulties with his superior, I had an interview with him. I brought the young man back with me to our mission-rooms, and brought him in to see the old man, who was to leave next morning. The old man had been unable to leave his couch that evening, but no at once sat up, and, without a single presooner did this young man enter than he liminary remark, went straight to work, pleading with this young man to repent of his backsliding and wicked ways. It was to me such a picture of a soul engrossed with the spiritual life and need of souls around that I cannot forget it.

A LITTLE Over a fortnight ago our working corps" in Formosa was sensibly weakened by the departure of Bun-ko, one of my Chinese helpers, for Amoy. He has had to retire, for a time, at least, on account of his health failing him. He is a man well advanced in years, being now sixty years of age, during thirty of which he had been an opium-smoker. Before his conversion he was employed in one of the Yamuns of Chang-chew. Four years ago he was converted; and having shown a warm, active interest in the propagation of the Gospel amongst his friends and neighbours, he was selected, and freely consented,

to come with me to Formosa to act as
chapel-keeper wherever we should be
located. Since Mr. Douglas left me, he
has been my right hand in the work, not
because of any peculiar intellectual vigour
for in that respect he was inferior to the
others-but because of a ceaseless warmth
of affection for the work of the Gospel,
and for the salvation of precious souls. I
do not know that I have ever seen a finer
type of Christian character than in this
old man. Often my heart has been
lightened of its own disquietudes and
faithlessness by the sight of this old man
in his calm confidence in the power of the
Gospel; and, though so old, there was
nothing in which he so much delighted as
in going forth to outside villages to preach.
Many, many nights he lost his sleep be-
cause of the reaction after a long day and
long evening's earnest speaking to the per-
sons in chapel. About six weeks ago he
got colded.
This was followed by dia-
rrhoea, and then there ensued one of those
states of weakness from which, in a warm

I am glad to say that the three days' old man. voyage to Amoy greatly revived the dear I have just heard this by letter from Mr. Douglas.

MR. SWANSON'S VISIT.

Mr. Swanson and Mr. Van Doran arrived eight days ago. They were heartily welcome, you may suppose, and my one regret is that it will be out of their power to remain very long. I am quite sure that it will recruit the health of both of them to have this change, and, in future years, if God spares us, I believe that this station of Takao will be a very valuable one to the mission in this respect. The Takao people are charmed with the ring of Mr. Swanson's voice; he is intimately acquainted with all those little niceties of language

which constitute the difference between a | again. I enclose a brief letter for the foreigner's and Chinaman's utterance of children, and remain, Chinese, and so they listen to him with great delight. But of this visit more

Ever yours affectionately,
(Signed)

J. L. MAXWELL.

JOURNAL OF A MISSIONARY TOUR.

BY THE REV. BEHARI LAL SINGH.

(Continued from page 310.)

IN going down the Ganges, and its branches, we advanced with the velocity of the current, which runs during the rains from five to six miles an hour. We could not, therefore, visit the hamlets and the villages without coming to anchor and going ashore. The journey up the rivers was exceedingly slow and tedious, owing to their numerous windings and the wind and current being against us. Besides, in the month of October, when the rivers rapidly fall down, the large sandbanks which were under water make their appearance, and compel the boats to move in a semicircle instead of moving in a direct course. All this, however, affords facilities for the prosecution of the missionary work. Our boatmen sometimes took half a day in rounding the sandbank, the serpentine windings of the river, or dragging their boat against the rapidity of the current. We, on the other hand, travelled on foot in a straight line, and were in advance of her by several hours. This interval we spent in making incursions into the nearest villages and distributing the Word of God among their inhabitants. At midday our boatmen lay at anchor, and were busily engaged in boiling their rice and preparing their curry. We also took our dinner which our cook had prepared, and then went ashore to speak to our countrymen who happened to be there. In going up and down the Bhagiruttee river we found the Bengalee Hindoos addicted to a practice which is, happily, unknown in other parts of India, and which is extremely revolting to humanity. The cruelties connected with the exposure of the sick, their partial immersion in the stream and suffocation with muddy waters, have been so often reprobated, both here and in England, that any details in this journal would be superfluous. We said this inhuman practice was unknown in other parts of India. As illustrative and confirmatory of this we may notice the following:-A number of educated Bengalees had gone up the country and taken their quarters in one of the large towns. They brought their sick to the banks of the Ganges, and commenced

besprinkling him with the muddy water and pouring it down his throat. A number of up-countrymen who were bathing in the river dissuaded the Bengalee Baboos from stifling or suffocating the sick, but to no effect. They then presented the Baboos with bamboo buxis (a beating), at which the cowardly throng took to their heels, and the patient was rescued from a premature watery grave. We notice this to show that while so much has been done for and said about the enlightenment of this tribe by their western friends and admirers, they should give up the barbarous practice of their more ignorant and superstitious forefathers, and seek to imitate the manly virtues of their English and Scotch friends.

24th October, 1865.-Bandel is a considerable village three miles above Chinsurah, and contains the oldest Roman Catholic church, erected, I believe, upwards of two centuries ago. I was satisfied with the inhabitants of this village; at first there were but few hearers, but the congregation was soon increased, and heard us with marked attention.

26th.-Gooptiparah is famous for its monkeys, which are sometimes very mischievous. They enter the houses of the villagers and eat up their provisions. I spoke to the shopkeepers and gave them some books, with which they were pleased.

Ballagor is the dwelling-place of highcaste Brahmins, and contains a temple dedicated to the second person in the Hindoo Triad. It is partially swallowed up by the river. It being late in the day, the shopkeepers were off to their houses, so that we could get but a small congregation. We addressed them on the evils of idolatry.

27th, 28th.-Culna is a principal town of the Burdwan district, which is populous, fertile, and rich. Its zemindar, or landholder, is a Rajah belonging to the Rajput or Khetnya tribe, perhaps the most manly, noble, and independent race of the Hindoos. This gentleman has a mansion here in which there is accommodation for weary travellers and beggars, who are daily fed at his expense. Inside the royal house there are many temples, ranged in two concentric

Bome Intelligence.

THE PRESBYTERY OF LONDON.-The | have been given by Professor Lorimer and monthly meeting of this Presbytery was the Rev. Mr. Wright, of Southampton. held on Tuesday, October 2, in Queen The Rev. Mr. Matheson, of Hampstead, Square House-the Rev. Mr. Edmonds, Convener of the Presbytery's Church ExModerator. It was agreed to postpone the tension Committee, verbally reported that subject of the College regulations, and also they had fixed upon a station half way be-of the Union question, on which notices tween Camberwell and Denmark Hill.

one.

They had agreed to rent a hall capable of before the usual recess, considerable proholding 400 people; and he had to request, gress had been made with the printing. on behalf of the Committee, that authority While doing so, however, the Presbytery of should be given to apply to the Synod's Lancashire sent up to the Committee a Home Mission Fund for a grant for it. The memorial which had been laid on the table locality was considered a very promising of the Presbytery, containing very many The Presbytery agreed to comply suggestions by Mr. Macfie. Coming to with the request. The Rev. Mr. Alexander, them from so important a quarter as the of Chelsea, gave in a report of his visit to Presbytery of Lancashire, the Committee the Presbyterian congregation which has felt that they were bound to give to it the just been originated in Norwich. He stated most careful consideration. At the earliest that he had preached there on four Sab- possible moment the Committee were sumbaths, besides lecturing on week-days in moned and devoted a long sederunt in one of the largest halls in the place, and going patiently over, item by item, the that matters seemed to be in a most pro- very numerous suggestions of the memomising condition. The promoters of the rialist, and adopting every essential alteramovement to establish a Presbyterian tion. The difficulty increased, however, as Church in that city found that for the sum they proceeded; fresh alterations were sugof £1,900 or £2,000 they could purchase gested; these, however, were also consithe hall to which he had referred, including dered; and he had no hesitation in stating the freehold. The body of the ball would that the prayer of the memorial had been hold 500, the gallery another 100, and very carefully attended to. It was imposanother 150 could be accommodated by sible for them to say that they had sucthrowing in another part of the building, ceeded in removing all his objections; but or 750 in all. The people are themselves he believed that when the book is pubprepared to raise £500; if the sum of lished it will be found that Mr. Macfie has £500 was raised by the friends of the received full consideration, every justice, at Presbyterian Church in addition to getting the hands of the Committee. Mr. Macfie a similar sum from the Church itself, the was desirous that a copy of the Hymnhall would virtually become the congrega- book, as amended by the Committee, should tion's. Mr. Alexander stated that in his be submitted to him. The Committee, howopinion there were all the elements of a ever, did not see that it would have been good Presbyterian congregation at Nor- their duty to have done so. It would have wich, and pointed out that if they suc- been neither respectful to the Synod by ceeded it would be a stepping-stone for whom they had been appointed, nor just to moving onwards to Ipswich, Yarmouth, themselves. The book had been again and Lowestoft. It was agreed on the placed in the printer's hands, and he hoped motion of Mr. Wright to approve the re- the Committee would not now listen to any port, and thank Mr. Alexander for the further suggestions that might be offered; good start he had made, and cordially to and certainly it would, he thought, be adremit the case to the Presbytery's Church mitted by all, that the patience which they Extension Committee. Mr. Wright begged had displayed in listening to suggestions to be allowed to put a question to Mr. was somewhat remarkable. Had it not Watson about the Hymn-book. This been for these hindrances the book would question was, When was it likely that it have been ready long ago; in fact, it was would be published? His reason for seek- just on the point of publication when this ing information on the point was that up-memorial reached the Committee. With wards of twelve months ago, all the Psalmbooks in the booksellers' shops in Southampton were exhausted, and as they did not renew their supply in the prospect of a new Hymn-book, the consequence was that, for the last six months, his congregation could not obtain copies of the psalms and paraphrases in order to join in the worship of God. Mr. Watson said he was very glad to have the opportunity of stating as briefly as he could how the matter stood. It was the desire of the Hymn-book Committee to give the utmost care and consideration to the suggestions which any one might offer, but the effect of this had been to delay the publication of the book. However, after carefully weighing the suggestions which had been forwarded to them

regard to the time of publication, he might state that the large edition, a copy of which had been sent to ministers for their consideration, and the corresponding edition without music, would be ready in three or four weeks; and the small editions, together with that with the tonic sol-fa notation, was being proceeded with as rapidly as possible, and would rapidly follow. Mr. Wright was glad to hear that they were at length to get copies of the book for the use of their congregations, and that its publication was not to be delayed till after next Synod.

PRESBYTERY OF NORTHUMBERLAND.— Alnwick, Oct. 9th, 1866.-Which day the quarterly meeting of Presbytery was held here, and duly constituted. The roll being called, sederunt, the Moderator (Mr. Cath