in the Lord's vineyard; and to seek the spiritual welfare of the people of our charge. "Of course, twelve months did not pass away without some change having been wrought. Some whom I left here are now numbered with the dead; and, of course, their places know them no more. And two faces which were always present and very dear to us, were now absent, being separated from us by oceans, and removed five thousand miles. But though far from us, they are near to God, and, I trust, the great purposes for which they were left at Walthamstow will be answered, and the devout wishes of the committee be fully realized. "After the duties of the day, which consisted of three public services and two classes, besides riding twelve miles, I was completely worn out, and my arm literally ached with shaking hands, for nearly all of both congregations, young and old, came crowding round to shake hands with us and express their joy at our return. 66 During the week many came, and some from considerable distances, some bringing fowls, others fruit, and others eggs, as tokens of their regard, and expressive of their pleasure. "Since my return the congregations have been good at each place, though somewhat smaller than when I left. Their condition, however, reflects great credit-and I feel pleasure in testifying to it-upon the brethren who kindly supplied, as far as their other duties would allow, my lack of service; upon the native teachers at the stations, who appear to have conducted themselves with great propriety; and upon the people, who have kept together well, though deprived of the benefit of a resident Missionary. two schools were well attended, there being one hundred children at Four Paths school and seventy at Brixton Hill. The "Through mercy the cholera appears to to have left the island for a time, but the small-pox and measles are spreading their influence fearfully. In the neighbourhood of Brixton Hill the measles have prevailed very extensively. Daily the school lost eight or ten children, who had been attacked, till it was emptied; and nearly every house in the locality had some one suffering from fever or measles, although there is not, perhaps, a more healthful place in this district. One of the members of the church here came to me last Sabbath day for relief, and stated that he had no fewer than seven of his family prostrated with small-pox. "You will be sorry to learn that, though we have returned so recently, affliction has been laid upon us already. About a week ago our dear boy was taken ill, his sickness pronounced to be a combination of small-poz and measles. This morning our little girl has shown symptoms of the same disease. One of our servants is also ill, and Mrs. Clark has a severe cold, and fears it may issue in something similar to the attack from which the children are suffering. But we are in God's hands, as well as engaged in his work, and I trust he will be better to us than our fears. I am glad to add that I am quite well. The "On Wednesday morning last, we were much alarmed by a very severe and longcontinued shock of an earthquake. I never felt anything like it, although I have experienced several. To give you an idea of its severity, I would observe that, although there was not a breath of air, the trees shook as if agitated by a strong wind. Vessels containing water in our house were so affected that their contents were thrown away. weights of our clock were set in motion like a pendulum; books were hurled from the shelves in my study to the ground. Our house was cracked by it, and I feared it would come down. Mrs. Clark and myself had the children in our arms at the door, and were ready to run out as soon as the building should give signs of falling. The furniture shook as if it would be thrown over. The water in the tank was so disturbed that it had to remain a considerable time before it could be used." In the preceding letter, allusion was made by the writer to the ravages of small-pox and measles throughout the island. Concerning the progress of the former dreadful malady, some additional particulars of later date are given by another of our Missionary brethren. Under date 9th Sep tember, the Rev. William Alloway, of Whitefield Station, makes the follow ing affecting statement: "You have no doubt already learned, through the public papers and other channels, of the dreadful ravages made in various parts of this island by small-pox. I am sorry to inform you that, during the last month, it has prevailed to a dreadful extent, and is still raging in this village. I took pains to vaccinate a great number of the children, on the approach of small-pox some months since, and others were vaccinated at the expense of the parish, so that the children are, to a great extent, safe from the disease, or have it in a mild form. But many are its victims among the middle-aged. The disease, loathsome in a temperate climate, and under the most favourable circumstances, is especially so here on account of the heat of the climate, the habits of the people, the want of medical attendance, and (in this place) the crowded state of the population. No language can describe the scenes of misery which I have witnessed during the last few weeks. The people, although so heavily taxed, are almost entirely destitute of medical attendance; and the parochial arrangements for the relief of the distressed are, that they send to the rector or custos, both of whom are resident ten miles distant from this. The receipt of £5 from a friend, has enabled me to supply medicines and nourishment in more than 150 cases of distress, but every penny of that fund will soon be exhausted, and the disease is still raging. "In the course of my visits I have occasionally met with some cheering proofs of the power of the gospel to sustain the afflicted, comfort the dying, and console the mourner. It is, indeed, the best relief that mourners have.' A few evenings ago I called to see a young man, who had recently joined my Sab bath class, but was now very ill of con fluent small-pox. I was grieved to find that he had lost the sight of one eye; but, on the whole, I thought him better. The next day he begged his mother to let all be still whilst he commended his soul to God. He then offered a most fervent and suitable prayer, grew suddenly worse, and, in the course of the night, died. The next day, on my way from his funeral, I called to see another whom I had frequently visited before: I saw that s days were numbered. I spoke to him, but he was unable to reply; and while I was thinking for a moment what I would give him, and while his eyes were fixed on mine, and, as if anxious to speak, he breathed his last. In a moment his dear wife, fearing the worst, stepped quickly to his side, laid her hand on his chest, and exclaimed: He is gone;' and then, without another word to her friends, she clasped her hands, and looking upwards, addressed the Saviour whom they both served, saying: Blessed Jesus! me Lo find fault with you. It good for him, though it bad for me. Poor me!' In visiting another, a female member of our church, seeing her dreadfully ill, and unable to take a moment's rest, I remarked, that she had need of much grace to enable her to bear her sufferings patiently. She thought, that I feared she was impatient, and immediately replied, Minister! the Saviour is with me, and keeps me from fretting and complaining; and when the pain is not too severe, enables me to sing his praise; yes, to sing his praise. I never thought he could be so good to me.' I need not comment on these incidents. greatly encourage me in this hour of trial." DEATH OF THE REV. JOHN MELVILL. They THE excellent subject of this notice closed a life of devotedness to the cause of Christ on the 6th of August, at George Town, Cape of Good Hope, at which station he had latterly been associated in Missionary labour with the Rev. William Elliott. The following interesting account of our departed friend and brother is taken from the Cape Town Mail of the 17th August. "The Rev. John Melvill was born in London, June 10, 1787. At an early age he accompanied his father, who had the command of a vessel, to sea, and in the year 1799 arrived at the Cape, where he took up his abode. Having enjoyed a good mathematical education, and being an excellent draughtsman, he was able at once to enter into lucrative employment as landmeasurer, and had soon the pleasure of seeing himself at the head of his profession,-being appointed in the year 1811, in consequence of his professional skill and excellent conduct, with ample emoluments, to the office of Surveyor-General. The duties of this office he discharged with great credit to himself, and advantage to the public service, till the year 1822. In the year 1812, he was received as a member of the Lutheran Church, but entertaining some scruples in reference to church government, he joined the Presbyterian Church, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. Thom, of which church he became an elder; and when, on the secession of Dr. Thom, that community united itself with the Independents, he became a member and deacon of that united church. During this time his hospitable house was the home of ministers and missionaries of every denomination, and the resort of such as feared the Lord, more especially military officers and civilians from India. In the year 1822, the failure of his health rendered it necessary that Mr. Melvill should remove to a more salubrious climate. At this time the regions to the north of the colony were in an exceedingly disturbed state, and it was judged expedient by government to appoint some suitable person as government agent in those parts. Mr. Melvill was immediately fixed upon as the best qualified by his extensive experience and well-known prudence to engage in this important mission: he was therefore invested with the needful authority, and despatched to Griqua Town as government agent. His views however, at this time, were by no means exclusively of a political character. He was ardently desirous of communicating to the heathen those unsearchable riches of Christ which he had found so precious to his own soul. For two years, he faithfully and efficiently discharged the duties devolving upon him as representative of the colonial government, and it was his privilege to be the instrument in the hand of God of preventing much bloodshed, and alleviating much suffering in those dark regions. But he soon discovered that the political relations in which he stood were altogether incompatible with the principal object he had in view in taking up his residence among the heathen; he therefore relinquished his connection with government, and entered into the service of the London Missionary Society. He remained five years at Griqua Town as a missionary of the gospel of Christ, testifying to the truth as it is in Jesus, and persuading men to abandon their evil ways and cleave to the Lord with full purpose of heart. From Griqua Town Mr. Melvill removed to Philippolis, where, under discouraging circumstances, he continued five years diligently dispensing the word of life. From thence he removed to the missionary institution at Hankey, where, during another term of five years, he laboured in the vineyard of the Lord, in company with a man of kindred spirit, the late Mr. J Kitchingman, and where he was solemnly ordained to the work of the ministry in which he had already laboured so many years. The failure of his health again rendered it necessary that he should remove to a more salubrious climate. He went to Dysel's Dorp, on the Olifant's River, where he succeeded in establishing a missionary institution, which has been eminently blessed by the great Head of the church. Here he laboured with great comfort and manifest success for the space of eight years, but his eye-sight failing him, he removed to Matje's Drift, where for two years, in partial blindness, he held forth the light of life, and established another missionary station, which has proved a great blessing to the neighbourhood. Having now become perfectly blind, he went to Wellington, in the neighbourhood of which he remained two years, not ceasing earnestly to testify to the grace of God. In the year 1848, Mr. Melvill removed to George Town, where, in renewed health and invigorated strength, though in perfect blindness, it was his privilege to preach the gospel of Christ with great acceptance, and with evident tokens of the Divine blessing, almost to the day of his death. On Thursday evening, the 29th ult., he preached from 2 Cor. v. 1-—1 He appeared to enjoy the most realizing views of the heavenly state, and was overwhelmed by the intensity of his feelings, which almost choked his utterance. All were struck with the earnestness and solemnity of his manner, and more than one remarked, Mr. Melvill has preached his own funeral sermon tonight. Sabbath morning, he preached a powerful sermon from Isa. v. 3—5, his favourite subject; and the following evening, at the missionary prayer meeting, he offered a prayer of remarkable comprehensiveness and earnestness. His public work was done. On Wednesday afternoon, the 4th inst., he retired to his room, after remarking to one of his daughters that he had never felt himself better in his life. He was observed to spend an unusually long time in private prayer. He came into the parlour, calling some of his children to read to him. He sat on the sofa, reclining his head on the table. Continuing in this posture some time, Mrs. Melvill became uneasy, and spoke to him. With difficulty he twice uttered the name Elliott, and became speechless. He was immediately carried to bed, where he remained in a state of apparent unconsciousness till two o'clock on Friday morning, when his happy spirit gently departed, without the slightest symptom of pain or distress,-thus realizing his often expressed wish that it might please his Heavenly Father to indulge him with a sudden death!” ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF MISSIONARIES. Rev. John Chalmers and Mrs. Chalmers arrived at Hong-Kong, June 28. Rev. Jas. Scott arrived in London, from Demerara, Sept. 23. Mrs. Johnston, wife of Rev. R. D. Johnston, of Vizagapatam; Rev. L. Valett and Mrs. Valett, embarked at Portsmouth in the Trafalgar, for Madras, September 14. Mrs. Dalgliesh, wife of the Rev. J. Dalgliesh, of Berbice, and two children, embarked at London, per Lady Hilda, for that colony, Sept. 14. |