:

THEOPOLIS.

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The Missionaries Ullbricht and Barker have recovered from a state of great indisposition. The School prospers it had 134 Scholars in attendance: the number on the books was 185, but many Children assist their Parents, at a distance, in burning lime and cutting wood. The external concerns were in a state of gradual improvement. The erection of a water-mill was begun. The people paid taxes to Government, in 1817, to the amount of 440 rix-dollars. The Caffres greatly infested this part of the Colony.

The preceding Stations are all within the Colony: those which follow are beyond its borders.

KAT REVIER.

We mentioned, at p. 9 of the Survey," the death of Mr. Williams at this Station, which is within the borders of Caffraria. Mrs. Williams and her children proceeded, in consequence, with

the property belonging to the Mission, to Theopolis. The people

still continued together. The Deputation will adopt such measures as circumstances may authorize.

HEPHZIBAH.

It does not appear that the Missionaries who had been ordered by Government to leave this Station had been succeeded by Mr. Moffat and Mr. Kitchingman, as was implied at p. 9 of the "Survey." The latest intelligence states it to be without a Missionary, and that nearly all the Bushmen who had settled there had fled to the mountains; and that of the huts and gardens which covered the land, not a vestige was to be seen. It is hoped that the Deputation will obtain permission from the Government to

re-establish the Mission.

GRACE HILE.

The Missionaries at this Station also were directed by the Government to remove within the Colony. It still remains without a Missionary.

GRIQUA TOWN.

We have already given the chief particulars mentioned in the Report, at p. 9 of the "Survey.'

NEW LATTAKOO.

To the particulars given in the "Survey," the Report adds others. The King and his Chiefs attend Public Worship. Some of the Bootsuannas discover a sound understanding, and no inconsiderable knowledge of religion. The calls for Teachers, by Bootsuannas in different quarters, were increasing. Mr. Helm, at Griqua Town, would probably be authorized by the Deputation to remove to this Station, in order to provide portions of the Scripture and other Books for the Bootsuannas, for which he is competently qualified.

Mr. Hamilton's mechanical labours had been unremitted. The water of the Krooman had been led

Mr. Bevan to re-commence his Missionary Labours in the Island at that place. Mr. Bevan had begun to form a Vocabulary of the Madecasse Language;

DEMARARA.

To the notices in the "Survey," we add the following from the Report.

At Le Resouvenir the effects of Mr. Smith's labours continue to be highly encouraging. On hearing of the general observance of Family Worship by the Natives of Otaheite and Éimeo, a Negro gave it as his opinion, that, on some of the plantations, there was not less than one house in five where the Slaves pray with their families. A New Chapel had been proposed; but as suitable ground could not be obtained, the sum subscribed by the Negroes (nearly 2001.) was to be appropriated, with their concurrence, to the enlargement of the Old Chapel.

At George Town, Mr. Davies, in the midst of opposition, was encouraged by the great success of his labours. The recovery of his health had rendered an intended voyage to England unnecessary.

On the West Coast, Mr. Elliott had begun a Chapel, toward which the Proprietors of the neighbouring Estates had subscribed 2004. and the Negroes engaged to render every assistance in their power. The Chapel and House of the late Mission in Tobago, being the jointproperty of the Society and of Mr. Elliott, were to be sold, and the

TRINIDAD.

produce appropriated to this Chapel.

An intended Mission at Mahaica, a populous village near George Town, had been unavoidably delayed. The Wesleyan Missionaries having, in the mean time, opened a Chapel there with an evident effect on the people, the call for religious instruction had, of course, become less urgent.

The Society's Missionaries in this Colony purpose to hold an Annual Meeting, in the month of May, at the time of the Anniversary in London.

BERBICE.

We noticed, in the "Survey," the return of Mr. Wray to his Station.

His prospects have much improved, though he has still to contend with difficulties. The Slaves throughout the Colony appear ripe for Christian Instruction. Applications are frequent for Testaments, Catechisms, and SpellingBooks. From forty to fifty children attend his Morning School, and from twenty to thirty in the Evening. A New Chapel has been built, toward which upward of 400l. was subscribed by the inhabitants. The late Crown Estates, restored to the Dutch Company, have been purchased by a Planter, who encourages Mr. Wray to visit them, as he did when they belonged to the British Government.*

Bond an infringement on religious liberty, refused. The Directors, viewing the subject in the same light as Mr. Mercer, while they entertain no apprehension that the

We take this opportunity of correcting an error in the "survey." At p. 44, it is said that the restoration of these Colonies to the Dutch

had been the occasion of difficulties in the way of Missionary Labours. The Colonies themselves have been ceded to Great Britain, but it was the Crown Estates, above mentioned, which should have been referred to. EDITORS.

In conclusion, the Directors, in reference to the excess of 5000/. in the expenditure of the year beyond its income and to the increased calls for exertion, strongly ürge the augmentation of the Funds, by an increase in the energy and the number of Auxiliary Societies.

In reference to the Foreign Proceedings it is remarked—

From the review which has now been taken, it appears that there are comparatively few of the Society's Missions which do not afford evidence of progressive advancement; either in the attainment of

the Native Languages-or in the Trans. lation or Publication of the Scriptures→→→ or in the actual communication of Chris. tian Knowledge-or in Plans for a more extensive diffusion of it-or in improved Civilization and Manners-or in respect to Examples of decided piety and virtue. Whilst, in several places, the facilities for the direct communication of the Gospel, by preaching, are multiplying, the Directors perceive with much pleasure an increasing disposition on the part of the inhabitants to listen to its gracious proposals. In those Stations where few advances have been made by the direct ministration of the Gospel, the indirect means which are employed for the dissemination of Christian Knowledge, by the distribu

institute the solemn inquiry, whether it is not the duty of some of them to engage in Missionary Efforts under the direction of the Foreign Missionary Society. He has also been requested to prepare for publication a short tract on the subject of Missions, addressed generally to the pious Youth of our country.

The Contributions received from various quarters amounted, by the last statement of the Treasurer, tó 1453 dollars.

The Report concludes with a strong appeal to the gratitude of Christians, and to the zeal of the Youth of America :

Permit us, Brethren, to call your at tention once more to the state of the Heathen and Antichristian Sections of our

Globe. Look at the Maps of Asia, of

Africa, of America, and even of a part of Europe itself, and see how far the God of this World has extended his dominion. Behold nations, numerous as the sand of

the sea, rising into being, living without God, and dying without hope!

When we contemplate their situation, Brethren, we are reminded of our own idolatrous origin. Can we forget the time when our ancestors first saw the Heralds of the Cross?-first turned a listening ear to the soul-arresting message which they delivered, and bowed to the overpowering majesty of truth?

That era is to us memorable indeed! Had not those messengers of peace been willing to land upon inhospitable shores-to meet the averted eye-the finger of scorn-the scowl of bigotry-and even the arm of violence itself, our fathers had, humanly speaking, never heard the Gospel. Those who sent out these men, acted in Christian Character: the command of their Saviour had not only fallen upon their ears, but had vibrated upon the chords of their hearts. And the Missionaries themselves, though standing in spiritual things on high and sheltered ground, yet when they realized the state of the Heathen, and evidently saw them perishing in their sins scorning mercenary calculation and personal fear, they nobly resolved to rescue them, or to perish in the attempt.

The causes which impelled them to action still exist with undiminished force, May God now give to the Church, by the outpouring of his Spirit, minds that shall feel and hearts that shall beat in

unison with theirs! We have no prophetic powers, Brethren, and yet will not hesitate to predict, that our Missionary Zeal must rise many degrees higher than its present elevation, before we can calculate upon its extensive and powerful agency in the Heathen Wilderness. It is consoling, however, to reflect, that the Heathen of our day are as easily brought over to the knowledge of the truth, as the Heathen of the Apostolic Age. Having the command of God for Missionary Efforts, we may certainly, calculate upon success. All then that appears necessary

for the Church to perform, is to say that these efforts shall be made.

We cannot close this Report, without making another appeal to the Christian Youth of our country.

What cause of congratulation would it be, if God, at this very time, should pour out upon them a Missionary Spirit! The Cause of Missions in our land is, at this moment, pining for the want of suitable Missionaries.

done something in the Missionary Cause Although our Eastern Churches have

to redeem the American Character; yet nothing has hitherto been attempted in our country, that is either proportioned to its population or its means.

The glory of this work, we fear, is not sufficiently appreciated. What great and good men think of it, is well expressed in a Letter written by the Archbishop of Canterbury, at the commencement of the last century, to the Christian Missionaries at Tanjore. "Your province, Brethren,” said he, " your office, I place before all dignities in the Church. Let others be Pontiffs, Patriarchs, and Popes-let them glitter in purple, in scarlet, or in gold-let them seek the admiration of the wondering multitude, and receive obei

sance

on the bended knee: ye have acquired a better name than they, and

a

more sacred fame; and, when that day shall arrive, when the Chief Shepherd shall give to every man according to his work, a greater reward shall be adjudged to you. Admitted into the glorious society of the Prophets, Evangelists, and Apostles, ye with them shall shine like the sun, the lesser stars, in the Kingdom of among your Father for ever. O happy men, who, standing before the tribunal of Christ, shall exhibit so many nations converted to his faith by your preaching! Happy men, to whom it shall be given to say before