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Mr. King went to see this poor Widow. His Journal thus speaks of his visit :

On entering her room, I found her sitting on the side of her bed, leaning with one hand on her stick, and with the other putting some clothes in order. I was introduced to her as a Missionary, on my road to preach the Gospel abroad. Her countenance then assumed a brightened aspect; and she expressed herself in a manner which denoted her obligation to the Almighty, by whose power she had been enabled to live to His glory. I then spoke to her of Anna and of Simeon; and asked whether she put

her whole trust for Salvation in the merits of Jesus Christ. She answered this question with an eagerness which marked the feeling of her mind-" To whom then should I go? He has the words of eternal life." After having thanked her for the gift which she had made to the Society, I spoke to her of the Woman who had brought the precious ointments to anoint the feet of Jesus. The poor Woman was no longer able to restrain her tears. She lifted her eyes to Heaven, and, striking her hands together, uttered some words which I could not hear. Then she added, "I acknowledge my sinfulness: I am but dust and ashes." I asked her if she feared death. She again put her hands together and said "I must die,

in order to see God!

Jesus has been

pleased to enlarge my faith. I am nothing of myself." I asked her the history of her life. She answered me in a recital, interrupted by many tears. Among other things she told me that she had been educated as a Roman Catholic; but that, at the age of thirteen, it had pleased God by the power of His grace to touch her heart, and to convert her.

One of the Members of the Nismes Missionary Society expresses a wish that this gift may be the corner-stone of their Institution; and justly adds

One more honourable has rarely been made in any age of Christianity.

Western Africa.

Sierra Leone.

IN the Obituary of Mrs. Palmer, in the present Number, we prepared

our Readers for further ill tidings from Sierra Leone.

Great Mortality among the Europeans,

Mr. Philip Vaughan writes to the Secretary of the Church Missionary Society, on the 18th of June, from Freetown

Br. Nyländer informed me that his last Letter was the most alarming one that he had ever written to you; and I am sorry to say that the information that this contains is also truly alarming: though I am happy to be able to add that our Missionary Friends are all still living, and fast recovering from their severe afflictions. I shall, therefore, proceed to inform you how awfully Death has been executing the Decree of Heaven-in a manner, indeed, before unknown even to the oldest inhabitant. The following is the number of Europeans, who have died since my arrival in the Colony :

In the month of December, 7—January, 2-February, 9-March, 11 April, 12-May, 24-and (to the date of this Letter) June, 12: Total 77. Among this unhappy number, I have buried three Medical Men-Andrew Kennis, M. D., Philip Duigan, M. D., and James Pemberhacken, M. D., who all died within twelve days: and also three of our Council-Thadeus O'Meara, who has left a wife and four daughters to lament his loss; John O'Neill Walsh, Acting Colonial Secretary; and Edward Fitzgerald, Chief Justice: Mr. Fitzgerald was only three days ill, and died on Tuesday Morning, June the 2d.

Very few of the Europeans who have recently died, have fallen victims to the fever of the climate. The Medical Men have not ascertained the character of the disease. Almost all die of the black vomit; and very few that have died have had more than three or four days illness.

Oh that these dispensations of Providence may be sanctified to all our souls!

On the day on which the Chief Justice died, Letters were received from Sir Charles MacCarthy, informing us that he is gone to the Gambia. He passed this place, on the Sunday before the Chief Justice died, at a distance of about 140 miles. His Excellency says that it has been a very unhealthy time at Cape Coast; and that he has lost many men: but the greatest loss to him was Dr. Nichol, who died at Cape Coast. Two of the sur

viving Medical Men have been very ill. We had only Dr. Barry for several days to attend to the Hospital and the Colony at large. So many were sick in Freetown, that none of our Brethren could have medical aid. A schooner has been sent off to the Isles de Loss for assistance.

We mentioned, in a former page, the death of Mrs. Vaughan: to this we are grieved to add those of the Rev. C. W. Beckauer and Mrs. Bunyer-all of the Church Missionary Society; and the Rev. John Huddlestone, of the Wesleyan Society. Particulars of these distressing events have not yet arrived.

Lamented Death of Chief-Justice Fitz-
gerald.
On this afflicting subject,
Vaughan adds

Mr.

I can

He was our sincere friend. truly say that he acted as such toward me. Since the death of Mr. Palmer, he has done every thing in his power to assist me in conducting the Bible and Poor Societies; and assured me that he should be most happy, in every practicable way to help forward whatever might be undertaken for the good of the Colony. The day he died was a day of general mourning and lamentation. His house was filled with people. I should think that upward of 2000 people attended his funeral: it had a grand and awful appearance, for there were but few Coloured People

down whose cheeks tears of sorrow did not stream. There was the greatest solemnity and order which I ever remember to have seen on such an occasion. All the military followed the corpse to the grave, where Br. Nyländer buried him.

Importance of an Efficient Ministry in

Freetown.

We have had repeated occasions of noticing the active benevolence of the Chief Justice; and have now before us a Letter addressed by him to the late Rev. Samuel Flood, of the 1st of May, on occasion of Mr. Flood's sailing for England, from which we shall extract some passages, as it both marks the anxiety of the writer for the best interests of the Colony, and supplies some

intelligence in relation to those interests :

I have much gratification in the assurance afforded by the observation, compatible with the short time that has intervened since the arrival of your present highly-gifted co-operator, the Rev. H. Palmer, that a confidence may be placed in his exertions after your departure, similar to that which has been so fully justified by your exertions, in the interval between the departure of Mr. Garnsey until the arrival of his successor.

But if it should happen, that your future views may be directed to climates less trying for Mrs. Flood's constitution and for your own, I beg you to impress on those concerned in the nomination of your successor, the importance of providing a person whose good understanding and acquirements may correspond with those of the Minister whom he will have to succeed, and of the one with whom he will be associated.

The Congregation of the Church at Freetown is as large as the Church will admit; and the progression, in future years, is likely even to exceed the ample accommodations which will be furnished by the Great Church, now approaching to completion. The European Inhabitants, composed principally of the Gentlemen of the Civil and Military Departments, the Naval Officers belonging to the Squadron employed on the Coast, resident Mer

chants, and occasional Visitors on mercantile pursuits, form collectively a more respectable and more enlightened community, than is usually found in towns of the same magnitude. Many of the leading Coloured Inhabitants may be characterized in similar terms.

The dispositions prominent among the community are, in many respects, excellent; and such as would appear to present the most inviting field for the labours of a zealous and well-qualified Minister. But I must add that a Minister of inadequate qualifications would, in all probability, be, in a corresponding degree, unsuccessful; and that the dispositions now so attractive would be checked in their growth by his mismanagement, and rendered unproductive of the good fruits which would surely be derived from them by proper cultivation.

I am not by any means disposed to undervalue the importance of the wonderful improvements, so rapidly accomplished in the Villages of this Colony, in which the Africans, liberated from Slave Ships, have been settled. The happy change in the character and condition of these Africans is, indeed, miraculous: but, according as they shall be removed by the advance of years from immediate contrast with what they have been, the wonder will subside; and they will be in the situation of ordinary Christian Communicants, of subordinate class. It is certain, at least, that this will be their situation, when the generation in which the change has been effected shall have passed away. Then, Freetown must be acknowledged to be, what I have always held it-entitled to the first rank in religious consideration; and qualified to furnish the leading example for the other towns of the Colony, as well in matters of religious duty, as in those that regard civilization, industry, and all the other acts that minister to the improvement of social life.

The importance of preserving the Ministry of the town in a state of respectability, calculated to uphold the character of what must be and ought to be the first Christian Community of British Africa, will be strengthened in this further view, the correctness and propriety of which you can best appreciate and I am sure you will not fail to impress it, on every occasion, according to your feeling of its truth, and of its beneficial tendency.

Urgent Want of Two Chaplains. The Committee of the Church Missionary Society are anxious to be enabled to recommend to His

Majesty's Government, without delay, two Clergymen, who will labour, under the Divine Blessing, to occupy faithfully the important office of Chaplains to the Colony, so well described, in its present and future bearings, by the late Chief Justice.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Sickness of the Rev. H. Düring. We regret to have to state the following particulars to our Readers. On the 17th of June, Mr. Düring

thus writes concerning himself from Gloucester :

I have been severely ill: obstruction was followed by inflammation, which I thought would have put a stop to my earthly existence; but, through the upholding hand of our God, I am still spared, and am in some measure enabled to attend to my duties. For the first time since the 11th of May, when I administered the Lord's Supper at Regent's, I held Service here twice last Sunday, with the assistance of William Tamba, who has been here every Sunday during my illness. He is quite restored; which is a mercy to us, as he is continually wanted some where or other.

Mr. Düring's recovery was, however, but temporary. On the 9th of August Mr. Nyländer adds the following afflicting intelligence :

Br. Düring seems to be at the point of death. We held a Special Meeting on the subject, on the 7th; when a Certificate of the principal Medical Gentlemen was read, stating that Br. Düring is labouring under a dropsical affection of the abdomen, together with a generally diseased state of the viscera of that cavity, which, it appears, is no longer capable of performing its usual functions; and that, to proceed to Europe as soon as possible affords the only prospect of recovery. A brig sails to-morrow, but all the places having been engaged, Br. Düring could not be sent by her. There is a ship to sail in two or three weeks time: should Br. Düring, who is now in a state of great pain and weakness, be spared so long, he will sail in her.

Plea for more Labourers.

Mr. Nyländer thus earnestly urges for more help in that great work, which thrives under their hands, while their strength is weakened :

Africa now stretches forth both her arms to the Society, praying, Come over, and help us! Send us help, or we perish for lack of knowledge!

Mr. Vaughan is much esteemed. Mrs. Schemel is usefully employed at Freetown. Br. Wilhelm labours under great bodily infirmities, and is fre

quently confined to his bed: Mr. Lisk is of great help to him. Mrs. Lisk is always sickly. All the others belonging

to our Missionary Family are well; and the Lord does wonderfully support me with health and strength according to my day. My children are well, and so is Mrs. Wenzel. George Thomas continues my assistant.

Pray send Br. Johnson, and many more like him, as soon as possible to Sierra Leone; and may the Lord guide you to choose men endued with the grace of the Holy Ghost, and wisdom granted from above, that they may be useful in this benighted land!

Bear us especially in mind before the Throne of Grace!

We are happy to add that the late distressing events in the Colony have not appalled the hearts of the servants of Christ. They have, indeed, induced the Committee to subject the persons destined to that coast to a still more rigorous medical examination. Great caution has been heretofore used in this respect; but it is well known, that, except in cases which decisively disqualify men for encountering a tropical climate, so many circumstances tend to modify the effects of such climate on particular constitutions, that there is little certainty in any judgment which may be previously formed on the subject.

Two Clergymen, who have been several Years in Holy Orders, offered themselves for Sierra Leone: to one of them the First Chaplaincy of the Colony was given by Earl Bathurst; but the final decision of their medical advisers made it their duty to decline this service.

Mr. and Mrs. Pope are proceed ing, in the true spirit of Christians, to assist Mr. Vaughan in the Freetown Schools: and while, as is the fact, the desire of temporal advantages makes me urgent to step into the secular employments left vacant by the death of those who have gone before, we cannot but believe that there will be no want of men, devoted to the higher objects and sustained by the sure supports of the Christian Labourer.

We have been the more encou

raged in this expectation by the heroic spirit manifested at Bâsle, on receipt of the distressing tidings which first arrived from the Colony. We quote Mr. Blumhardt's words on the occasion, addressed to the Secretary :

You have suffered a great and irreparable loss, in the death of our dear and truly-lamented Johnson. Our Missionary House is mourning for the decease of such a Hero in the Israel of God; but we do not mourn like those who have no hope nor consolation. Our dear Schemel was happy enough to be his attendant in his going to heaven, and to bear his mantle. Praised be the Name of our Lord, who gives us victory every where and always!

It was a remarkable movement in our Camp, when this lamentable news was heard among us. Every one of our Brethren was preparing himself by the most serious meditations, to come forward, and to offer himself as a sacrifice for the Lord.

Should many more such

tidings of an immortal world arrive, we could not longer detain our dear brewhere the Heroes of the Church are thren-soldiers, from going to the spot fallen. The desire to be employed in the work of conversion among the poor Negroes, was never stronger in our Missionary House, than in these days. May the sovereign grace of the Lord Himself prepare them to stand fast on the evil day, and to live and to die as true disciples of Jesus!

Merciful Alleviations of Affliction.

It will have been already seen, that mercies are mingled with these afflictions. As a further evidence of this, we quote what Mr. Vaughan says of himself and his Native Assistant in the Freetown Schools :

Mr. G. Fox has been very ill with fever: I was apprehensive, a day or two since, that he would not recover, but now I have great hopes. I have, in consequence, the Schools to attend to myself; which, with the other duties that lie upon me, is almost more than I can get through. I have, indeed, great reason to be thankful to the Father of Mercies, for the health which He has bestowed upon me since I have been in Africa. Oh, that He may enable me to use that talent to His glory!

We may add, also, as a further alleviation, the continued increase of Native Teachers. Mr. Düring wrote on this subject before his late attack of illness

There are three of my Young Men, who were desirous before I sailed of being admitted as Native Teachers; and, since my return, they are still more SO. One of them conducted both the Day and Evening Schools during my absence. There is a fourth, also, who offers himself, whose ability in learning is beyond question.

We cannot but subjoin, under this head, a striking passage from a Letter of Mr. Düring to the Secretaries, of the 11th of June:

The ravages of this fever have been so great, that there are only three leading Members now left, on whom, in the absence of the Governor, the direction of the Colony devolves. But, notwithstanding this awful dispensation, our Stations are in a thriving state. The work of Almighty Grace seems daily increasing. The numerous applications of people to speak to me about the distress of their minds, often make me doubt whether the concern manifested is real : but, on examining them, I find that all right to withhold from them the Means of Grace is cut off. Thirty are on trial, and have received daily instruction for Baptism since the 1st of April.

Thus, my Dear Sirs, we see every trial sanctified; as plainly as if the fact were written with a sun-beam! No sooner has the violence of the storm passed over our heads, but the Sun of Righteousness bursts through the remaining clouds with redoubled splendour and glory, to revive the half-slain, and to cause us still to go on our way rejoicing, though that way is but rugged.

REGENT'S TOWN.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

State of the Settlement. MR. DURING, who was to have his eye on Regent's Town during Mr. Johnson's absence, writes thus to his friend, in the Letter of June 17th before quoted :

You no doubt feel anxious to know how matters go on at Regent. I shall give you a conscientious statement, though as briefly as I can.

Mr. Norman has hitherto dealt with the people to my entire satisfaction: he does not use the least hard measure, but gets one as well as another to do any thing he tells them by soothing them. In this he has completely succeeded; and I find, to my great comfort, that the people are pleased with him, and look up to and respect him. I, in my had the least occasion to speak to him for turn, have encouraged him. I have not careful; for, in the least difficulty in any fault whatever: he is remarkably which he sees himself placed, I am sure to have a long Letter from him asking advice, and which I always give.

One thing, however, has caused me much anxiety. Two men, whose names I do not know yet, had begun to sell Rum secretly. T. Richards, whose activity in finding out things is almost unparalleled, was the first that had suspicion of it, but could not succeed in tracing out the offenders.

Mr. Düring then mentions four men by name, who were found in a state of intoxication; and adds

This confirmed T. Richards in the belief that the liquor was sold in the town, as none of these men had been out of it all that day. As soon as I heard of this, I desired Mr. Norman to send all the constables to search the whole town for the pernicious liquor. Three men were, in consequence taken: in the house of one of them, was found about a gallon: another partly pleaded guilty: and of the third I do not know whether he is guilty or not. If the weather permits, I have proposed to go there tomorrow, and settle the palaver, and speak to the people.

One of the four men above mentioned was a Communicant. Düring writes, in reference to this Mr.

man

I am truly grieved on his account. I do not know how his mind is affected as yet; but I shall have no rest until I have seen and spoken to him, before any other. This is all the palaver which I know about, at present; and I am sure if there therefore, I say with confidence, that all were any more I should know: and, things, with the exception of the last mentioned, go on as well as can be expected. Be not therefore troubled, my Dear Brother! To prevent men from falling into sin, no man can: but to see that outward things go on quietly, I

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