son, while he was here, baptized a few of them, and a good few of them at Lac Seul; but they all have proved themselves perfect hypocrites. I shall not baptize one of them until I shall be convinced that they are indeed "born again of the Spirit." It is a standing belief with these people that the Missionary who baptizes them is ever after obliged to feed and clothe them.

Some of the Indians of whom I entertained a good hope, took it into their heads during the past year, that each one of them should have two wives, as the rest of their neighbours; and our female Chief, down the river, who gave me many encouragements, saying again and again, that not only herself but her people would soon become Christians, now, during the past year, she also took it in her head to give her hand to a man who had a wife already, so that the man now has two wives. I am truly sorry for these bad acts of theirs. As a Missionary amongst them, all these things are against me.

During the past year, one of our female converts at this place was poisoned to death by an unknown heathen Indian.

The Heathens had often threatened the family with the vengeance of death on account of the family embrac

ing the Christian religion. A few hours before the departure of this poor woman into the other world, she called up all her bereaved family around her, and gave them a good, long, and faithful exhortation. The exhortation is too

long to be related in this letter. The deceased assured her bereaved family that she was then going to ishpeming (heaven).

In opposition to our Mission-work in this District a year or two ago, after we first came here, a Romish Priest from Red- River settlement came and erected a large chapel amongst the heathen Indians in another part of this District, and made many wonderful promises to the Indians which he was never able to fulfil to them. The Indians now call him "the man of falsehood." Notwithstanding his great advantage over me in his display of his silver crosses, and of his barber-shop-like pictures, which are very pleasing to the eyes of the Heathen, he (the Priest) has met with no better success with his Indians than I do at

this place. The Priest has altogether abandoned his Mission, and left his chapel in the hands of the Heathen; and I have no doubt but that in a few months the Indians will consign the Romish chapel to the fire.

BAR-LE-DUC, FRANCE.-I received yesterday an interesting letter from Barle-Duc. M. Prunier had been called, about a fortnight ago, to bury a woman, an Anabaptist. A large company assembled in the church-yard of the village, which is principally Catholic. M. Prunier addressed them. "I spoke," he says, "on what death is for wicked man, on what it is for a child of God. I showed what the salvation is which is in Christ Jesus, and pressed my hearers to receive Him. Their hearts were touched, and tears flowed freely. I did not know that the parish-Priest was there he was behind me, close to the wall. All at once he cried out, I summon my parishioners not to take notice of what is said, under the penalty, if they disobey, of losing their right to the title of Catholics. They have already heard quite enough: besides, they have not the instruction necessary to judge of

what they hear.' I turned hastily round, astonished indeed, and saw a man full of wrath, trembling, pale, not able to contain himself. He cried out to me,' You are not sent to preach to my flock.' I answered him, 'Sir, I am delivering a discourse on the tomb of one of my fellow-Christians. It is my duty and my right to do so. You, Sir, you violate the law. You forget your character, and insult your parishioners. But, as you have interrupted me, perhaps you will accept a public conference with me, in which we can explain anything in my discourse which does not appear to you to be evangelical.' 'I disdain, I disdain,' said the good man, shaking his head. I then addressed the crowd, who had remained quiet spectators of the scene. I explained to them the true sense of the word 'catholic,'-the title which, according to the Curé, they had just lost. I distributed many tracts, and

An address signed by twenty men in the village was sent to M. Prunier a few days after, begging him to come and preach to them: he did so, and here is his description of the scene:-"At six in the evening, I went to the house in which I was to preach. I found it full: the people were talking in an animated manner. I requested silence. All were immediately quiet. My discourse was divided into two parts: 1. What we do believe; 2. What we do not believe. terminated by an appeal to their common sense, their reason, and their conscience, and besought them to receive the Gospel. I finished by a prayer; and my Amen at the end was repeated by every one. I cannot describe the emotion manifested while I was speaking. I spoke a full hour. I was interrupted from time to time by expressions of applause. And when I had finished, it was quite another thing. All of them cried out, We will be Protestants! We will be Protestants! We will not be deceived any longer!' Some poor old men begged that, when they should die, I would bury them. I distributed a great many tracts. I could not leave them wi hout promising to return in a week, and preach the Gospel to them. A woman offered to give me a bed and my food when I should come." M. Prunier inquires whether I can authorize him to go regularly. He says an expense of six francs each time must be reckoned upon. He is invited, also, to another village in the neighbourhood.—Rev. Charles Cook, Paris, December 11th, 1849,

KING-WILLIAM'S TOWN, BRITISH KAFFRARIA. I arrived at this place, in accordance with my appointment at the last District-Meeting, in January last. The printing-establishment was removed hither shortly afterwards. A chapel had been commenced previously to my arrival, and is now finished. It is a neat and substantial stone building, capable of seating about one hundred and fifty persons. The opening services were well attended, and the collections, considering the commercial depression of the times, satisfactory. The cost of the erection has been, in round numbers, £400, of which we shall be able to pay off at once £300, thus leaving a debt of £100; to meet which we shall have a sinking-fund arising from the income of the chapel. Most of the sittings are already let, and I trust

that from the rent of these, and from other sources, we shall be able to liquidate the above debt in the course of a year or two, so as to allow the income of the Circuit to go to the credit of the Society.

We have lately received the type and other printing and bookbinding materials, which you were kind enough to send us. They have been a very seasonable acquisition, and you may rely upon my endeavours to have every work brought out in a correct and creditable style. I regret you sent us no paper, of which we are greatly in want. For immediate use we have obtained a few reams from the Colony; but I hope you will send us at least half a dozen bales as soon as possible. I dare say Mr. Shaw will write to you on this subject.

On Sunday last, I was down at East London, where our prospects are very encouraging. There is ample work at that place for a resident Minister, not only amongst the English, but also amongst the Kaffirs and other natives. At present, however, we are only able to supply it once a fortnight. We want two or three additional men for British Kaffraria alone. "The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few."-Rev. J. W. Appleyard, May 14th, 1849.

PLAATBERG, SOUTH AFRICA.— Since I wrote to the Secretaries, a very gracious work has commenced on the station. Many have been awakened, and several have found the Lord. About fifty have been received on trial, and we feel much encouraged. The awakening has been principally among our young people. May God in his mercy continue and extend the work !-Rev. Richard Giddy, Plaatberg, South Africa, July 6th, 1849.

CAPE-COAST, WESTERN AFRICA. By the "Emily," I embrace an opportunity of dropping you a line, just to acquaint you of the welfare of myself and brethren in this District; as we are assembled for the purpose of holding the District-Meeting, which has commenced under favourable circumstances and delightful feelings. We are holding special services during our stay at CapeCoast, hoping thereby to awaken, both in ourselves and people, more earnestness in working out our personal salvation, more zeal for the glory of God, and more love for the souls of our fellow-creatures. Never before, in this District, have I seen such pleasing and hopeful signs of a revival of religion: we have already had the droppings of the shower; but we are anxiously expecting an abundant

outpouring of the Holy Spirit. May our expectations be more than realized!— Rev. Charles Hillard, Cape-Coast-Town, December 14th, 1849.

OCHO-RIOS, JAMAICA. It gives me pleasure to inform you, that a good proportion of the young people, whose conversion I reported to have taken place about the end of last year, continue steadfast, and afford pleasing evidence of progress in the divine life.

At Morley we have had to contend with difficulties of a peculiar nature. During the early part of the year, the chapel, which had, long been in a very dilapidated state, fell down. This rendered it necessary, in order to keep the congregation together, to set immediately about the erection of a new one; an arduous task in these hard times. For several months the people were obliged to worship under a shed, which only partially screened them from the rays of a scorching sun. Yet, under this humble canopy, God often deigned graciously to visit us; "and of this and of that man it " can "be said, They were born there." We have partly succeeded in the erection of a chapel, thirty-six feet by twenty-three. The members of society, about sixty in number, are very poor; but they have come forward nobly, and given their labour gratis. I have had to purchase nearly the whole of the materials, which has involved me in debt. The District-Meeting did not feel at liberty to grant me permission to borrow and expend money at the present juncture. I am about to hold a bazaar, the proceeds of which will, I trust, nearly extricate me from pecuniary difficulties. I may just say, that for a goodly number of the articles I am indebted to the ladies of Plymouth and Tavistock. It is matter of special thankfulness to Almighty God, that, amid the deep and general distress which affects more or less all classes of the community, the means of grace are so well attended. There is a disposition to hear the word. How extremely painful the fact, that for want of funds the Committee are unable to strengthen sufficiently its Missionary staff, even to keep together the souls which have been already gathered out of the world! May the good Lord put it into the hearts of British Christians to care for his suffering church in Jamaica!-Rev. William Sinclair, OchoRios, Jamaica, October 18th, 1849.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA.-Perhaps you have heard, that when the Rev. Dr. King, of Glasgow, was here in the early part of the year, he succeeded in forming

a Branch of the Evangelical Alliance, between several Ministers of various denominations in and about Kingston. Since its establishment, monthly Union prayer-meetings have been held in the city, at which addresses on important subjects have been delivered; and united prayer has been offered up, by the assembled Ministers and people, for the revival and extension of the work of God. Hitherto the attendance has been large, the most perfect harmony has prevailed, and a very gracious influence has pervaded the minds of the people. The last Meeting was held in the Rev. Mr. Baxter's chapel, Church-street, on Wednesday evening, November 7th: Ministers present, and who took part in the service, the Rev. Messrs. Wheeler and Beardslee, Independents; Oughton and Hanns, Baptists; Baxter, Wesleyan Association; and West, Johnson, Hodgson, and myself, Wesleyans. Mr. Johnson delivered an excellent address on the importance of Sabbath-schools; several of the others engaged in prayer; and, I am persuaded, all felt it good to be there. -Rev. William Tyson, Kingston, Jamaica, November 20th, 1849.

NEVIS. We lately held our Missionary Meetings in this Circuit. Messrs. Aldis and Turtle, from St. Kitt's, kindly came to our help. The Hon. George Webbe, the long-tried friend of Wesleyan Missions, took the chair. The cause of Missions to the Heathen was ably advocated by the Missionaries, and several of our lay friends. Our collections unavoidably fell a little below those of last year: yet, considering the great depression of trade in these islands, our people have done well. As soon as we can close our accounts, I shall forward the amount of our receipts. In Charlestown we receive weekly a few additions to our numbers, and I trust our people are upon the whole improving. We enjoy peace, and are labouring and praying for prosperity. Mr. Blanchflower and family are well.-Rev. John Horsford, Nevis, October 27th, 1849.

NEW-PROVIDENCE, BAHAMAS.During the last quarter our Society in the eastern district manifested signs of gradual improvement, both in spiritual and financial matters. We have not been favoured with such a descent of divine influence as was afforded during the previous quarter; but scarcely a Sabbath has rolled round that has not witnessed one or more uniting themselves to our ranks by attending our classes. The return for the quarter, in the eastern Society's book, reports a clear increase of