children, of varied diseases, dialect, and age, who come with the greatest confidence from a circuit of fifty miles, bringing with them their bedding, cooking utensils, rice, and fuel, to be simply healed of their diseases. The patients are made to feel at home, treated with kindness, and as much done for their benefit as their cases will admit of. And being inoffensive, quiet, and of temperate habits, there is little management required. Their diet is simple and their constitution good, and united to a ready susceptibility of medicinal agents, with no prejudice from caste, a better class of patients does not probably exist. When, in the providence of God, it appeared to be my imperative duty to return to England for a few months, three kind and disin. terested medical friends came forward to superintend the hospital and native assistant in charge of it, during my absence. Two of these, Dr. Dill, Colonial Surgeon, and A. Tucker, Esq., Surgeon of the Naval Hospital, have been since removed by death, and their loss has been deeply lamented by the whole foreign community in China. According to the objects for which I have been sent thither by the London Missionary Society, I have laboured to make the hospital an efficient auxiliary in spreading a knowledge of Christ Jesus among its applicants for physical relief. There have been religious services regularly held in the house morning and evening, which consisted of singing the praises of God, reading and expounding the Holy Scriptures, and concluding with prayer. These were conducted principally by two Christian native assistants, aided by Rev. Dr. Legge and myself. Some interesting cases of inquiry and conviction have shown themselves from time to time to encourage our hearts; and though the greater part have not given evidence that they have felt or have been influenced by the truths of the holy gospel inculcated, the fault has not been so much from want of opportunity to hear and learn them, or persuasion to practise them, as from the difficulties arising from a want of ready intelligibility in language, from the differences in dialect, and most of all from innate apathy and indifference to religion generally. Much knowledge, however, has been diffused, and often has it comforted my heart to find the useful little tracts carried into the villages and hamlets preparing the minds of their readers for instruction by the living voice. Yay Soo, the name of Jesus, is, in the province of Canton, becoming familiar to every ear. Oh that they may hear and live, trusting in that precious name! And now on returning to the former scene of my labours I am desirous, with God's blessing, to carry them on with re newed energy, seeking above all things by them to commend the word of God's grace to these people perishing from want of knowledge. Medical missions and education are only valuable in my eyes as they are subordinated at all times to the fulfilment of the great commission of our Lord to preach the gospel to every creature. And being satisfied that, as means, they are not to be despised or undervalued, especially among a people so peculiar, exclusive, and prejudiced as the Chinese are proverbially known to be, it is my purpose (D.V.), with the additional aid provided, to strive to further the propagation of Christianity by superadding to the healing of the sick, the education of selected Christian students in medicine and surgery, and if circumstances and pecuniary means will admit of it, to found a school for that purpose. To show the necessity of such an institution, it may be here mentioned in a few words, that there is no university, college, or examining board, to educate or exercise any control over native practitioners, so that their knowledge is confined to books that were written 2000 years ago, utterly false and absurd in theory, and ineffective in practice. The true circulation of the blood is unknown, and all anatomical research discountenanced and forbidden. Surgical operations, except of the most trivial kind, are never attempted, and even diseases of the eye, affecting as they do so large a portion of the native population, are equally misunderstood and mismanaged. The importance of the above object will be best shown by mentioning some of the advantages that would result from its accomplishment. Such are-the more effectual and extended relief of the maladies so incident to so large a population,-the gradual introduction and extension of a better system of medicine, and other useful branches of knowledge,—and the liberalizing influence of these upon the Chinese mind. Medicine is intimately connected with many of the natural sciences, which strikingly display the wisdom and beneficence of the great Creator, and to which the attention of the students would be carefully directed. These studies, together with moral and religious training, will, with the Divine blessing, prove a powerful instrument of good, by forming a class of men of superior talents and acquirements, well suited to move and remodel the torpid, stereotyped mind of China. It may be by little by little, and step by step, that such a change upon the ancient customs of the country will be accomplished; but this kind of agency does appear to many to be that which is most likely to attain the proposed end. To show that the scheme is not a visionary one, it is proper to state that it has been tried on a small scale, and found successful. The difficulties in the execution of this project are by no means small, but considering that the plan is not altogether an untried or doubtful experiment, and being fully persuaded that if it is carried into effect it will convey great and lasting blessings to the people of China, producing a favourable impression of the enlightened and benevolent character of those whose hands have dispensed the blessings, and above all, that it is calculated with other means to win the confidence and esteem of the nation that we would turn from darkness to light, and from idolatry to the service of the only true God, I feel unwilling to allow such a direct avenue to influence and moral power to pass by without an attempt to improve and subordinate in this manner the science of medicine to the education of the native mind, and directly or indirectly to the propagation of Divine truth. A medical missionary appointed by the London Missionary Society, a student formerly of Berlin University, a convert from Judaism, of good qualifications, aptness for acquiring languages, rcbust health, and a long-cherished interest in China, will accompany our party, and will it is anticipated prove a valuable helper in the good cause. The Society for Promoting Female Education in the East being anxious to strengthen the valuable and disinterested efforts of Miss Aldersey at Ningpo, have appointed Miss Selmer, a native of Stockholm, and peculiarly well fitted to occupy the post assigned to her, to join us in our voyage to the land of Sinim. Dr. Lockhart, another agent of the London Missionary Society, continues, from the latest accounts, to pursue with unwearied diligence his works and labours of love at the important mission station at Shanghae, acting harmoniously with Rev. Dr. Medhurst, and by their united efforts of preaching, healing, and teaching, bringing thousands under the sound of the gospel, who might not otherwise have so much as heard of the name of Jesus, much less have been invited to believe in him as the Lamb of God, the Saviour of the world. For the information of your readers I mention numerically the strength of the Protestant Mission to China. 3 A Friend, by ditto J 0 0 200 Shanghae, about 800 miles north of Hong-Kong. London Missionary Society.-Missionaries, one a medical man Three appointed and sailing immediately-two ordained missionaries and one printer American Church Missionary Society-one a bishop, two ordained missionaries, and two female missionaries for education English Church Missionary Society Another appointed, sailing soon. Dr. Wilson, Inspector of Naval Hospitals G. C. Tuting, Esq., Beverley Professor Quain, University College THE MISSIONARY MAGAZINE AND Chronicle. SAMOAN PRINTING OFFICE, AT LEULUMOEGA, ISLAND OF UPOLU.-Vide p. 210.1 SAMOAN PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT. THE Rev. J. B. Stair has kindly furnished the following account of the Samoan Mission Printing-office, at Leulumoega, Island of Upolu-the sphere of labour from which he has returned; including a brief notice of the station generally: "The first Printing-press arrived in Samoa in May, 1839, and printing operations were commenced in the middle of July following, much to the delight and amazement of the natives. For the first three years, there was only one Press in use; but, in the close of 1842, another and valuable one was received. "For several years great inconvenience was felt, and expense incurred, by the want of a suitable building for the office; and it was deemed important to erect one of such a nature as would resist the ravages of the white ant, which makes sad havoc and destruction of wooden or plaistered buildings. The present office was, therefore, commenced in April, 1844, and completely finished and fitted up by the beginning of October following. It is substantial, convenient, and spacious, being 70 feet long, by 17 wide. The walls and partitions are built of coral-stone, and plaistered, and the building presents a very neat appearance. The lower part comprehends the rooms for composing, press-work, and binding; and there are two good upper rooms, one of which is used as a store-room for paper, &c. "The Samoans rapidly acquire the art of printing; but frequently, at the time when they become most useful, their families entice them away, or they grow weary of the continued application, and return to their homes, At the close of 1845, when I left Samoa, there were fourteen Samoans, young men and lads, engaged in the office, as compositors, press-men, and binders; also several girls employed in stitching and folding. "To the close of 1845, there have been issued seventy-nine thousand copies of the principal portions of the New Testament; with numerous other publications, such as hymn-books, catechisms, spelling-books, a Life of Christ, and Sermons; also the Sulu Samoa, or Samoan Torch, a Magazine of general information; amounting together to seven million seven hundred and twenty-one thousand pages, which have been scattered throughout all the Islands. "Since the end of November, 1845, to February, 1846, Mr. Sunderland, my successor, reports, as having been issued, several portions of the New Testament, amounting in all to one million and thirty-three thousand two hundred pages; thus making a total of nearly nine millions of pages issued from the Samoan Press, since its establishment. The Gospel of Matthew had long been in circulation at Samoa, having been printed at Huahine by Mr. Barff; so that the whole of the New Testament is now in the hands of the people. A Revised Edition of Matthew has since been printed, and the Press is still in active operation. "It is a cause for devout thanksgiving that God mercifully shielded the Islands against the attacks of the Papists until the people had this safe-guard against error placed in their hands. Alas!' said one of the Teachers at my station to another, alas, that these Papists should have come to lead us astray.'' There is no danger,' replied the other; we have the Balance-the word of God-with which to weigh what they teach.' "The station was in a very interesting and cheering state at the period of my departure. Many good chapels had been erected by the people through the district, and the attendance of the people on the public means of grace was very encouraging. They appeared not only to value the Gospel themselves, but manifested a delightful spirit of liberality, and strong desire to send the Word of Life to regions beyond them. Since I reached England, accounts have been received from Mr. Sunderland, which show that the Station still continues to prosper." Anniversary Sermons in May. NOTICE. THE Directors are gratified in announcing to the Friends and Members of the Society, that they have made the following arrangements for the Anniversary in May next :— MONDAY EVENING, MAY 10. Rev. W. W. EWBANK, Incumbent of Everton, Liverpool, will preach at the Episcopal Chapel, (Rev. T. MORTIMER'S,) Gray's Inn Lane. WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY 12. Rev. GEORGE SMITH, of London, will preach at SURREY CHAPEL; and in the Evening of the same day, Rev. WILLIAM BROCK, of Norwich, at the TABERNACLE. THURSDAY, MAY 13. Sir E. N. BUXTON, Bart., will preside at the PUBLIC MEETING, EXETER HALL; and the Rev. Dr. LEIFCHILD at the ADJOURNED MEETING, to be held in the Evening at FINSBURY CHAPEL. FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 14. The Rev. SAMUEL MARTIN, of Westminster, will preach a SERMON TO THE YOUNG, at POULTRY CHAPEL. The usual CONGREGATIONAL SERMONS will be preached on LORD'S DAY, May 16; and the MISSIONARY COMMUNION will be held on the following Evening. *** Further particulars in our next Number. CHINA. DEPARTURE OF FIVE MISSIONARIES. THE Public Service, held at Surrey Chapel, on Tuesday evening, March 2nd, to take leave of five Missionary Brethren proceeding to China, was deeply interesting, and the attendance overflowing. On no former occasion, connected with the interests of the Missionary cause, was this spacious edifice more densely thronged; and many friends, who sought admission, were compelled to retire for want of room. The Missionary Friends who bade public farewell to the Christian Public on this occasion were Dr. Hobson (returning to Hong-Kong,) and Mrs. Hobson ; Mr. Hirschberg (Medical Missionary,) appointed to the same station; Rev. W. Muirhead, Rev. B. Southwell and Mrs. Southwell, and Mr. Wylie, Superintendent of the Press, appointed to Shanghae. VALEDICTORY SERVICE. The Rev. J. J. FREEMAN gave out the hymn commencing, "Arm of the Lord! awake, awake!" The Rev. J. BURNET read Psalm cx., and offered the Introductory Prayer. The 117th Hymn having been sung, The Rev. Dr. LEGGE addressed the audience to the following effect: That part of the Scripture (he said) on which I trust I shall be enabled to found some observations |