last Prayer-Day, March 7th, 38 persons were either baptized or received into the Congregation, and 20 were admitted to the class of Candidates: at our last Communion, March 21st, 14 persons were confirmed, and partook for the first time; and 30 became Candidates. In the family bereavement which your Letter announces, we sincerely sympathized. What a comfort do we, however, derive from the thought, that what is loss to us, is gain to those who fall asleep in Jesus, having overcome by the blood of the Lamb. May we be found worthy, when the day of OUR departure shall arrive, to join their happy company! That day was much sooner to arrive to himself than he had probably expected; and his Wife was called to exercise that faith in the loss of her Husband, with which he was girding up his own mind to meet the anticipated departure of his Wife. Of the closing scene it is said: In little more than a week from the date of the foregoing Letter, the Writer himself received permission to rest from his labours, and to enter into his Master's joy. For this event, he had long been in a state of blessed preparation; and the summons, however unexpected by himself or others, could not therefore be unwelcome. His last Ministerial Service was per formed at Mountjoy: whither he went, for the first time since his arrival, on Good Friday, April 9th; and where he addressed a large company of Negroes, on the important subject of the day. On his way home, he complained of being unwell; and the symptoms of his disorder, an affection of the bowels, rapidly increasing in violence, it soon became apparent that it would be the means of his departure. His demeanour under these circumstances was truly edifying. The thought, that he should soon see his Saviour face to face, filled him with joy; and even the prospect of separation from his beloved and afflicted Wife was not permitted to disturb the tranquillity of his mind. Having taken an affecting leave of her, and commended her and their faithfulness of Jesus, he breathed his last dear surviving child to the mercy and in the most gentle manner, on the 16th (April), in the 56th year of his age, and the 21st of his Missionary Service. His affectionate, peaceable, and humble character had obtained for him the love and esteem, not only of his Fellowlabourers, but also of the Negroes and White Inhabitants. Of this the many tears shed at his funeral, which was most numerously attended, were a sufficient evidence. Though he had been stationed in Antigua only four months, his services had been already greatly blessed; and his loss is, therefore, severely felt by the whole Mission. Proceedings and Entelligence. United Kingdom. SERAMPORE MISSIONS. Appeal in Behalf of the Missions. AN Appeal for enlarged support to the Missions carried on in India by the Serampore Brethren has been reprinted in this Country: it is signed by Dr. Carey, Dr. Marshman, the Rev. John Mack, and Mr. J. C. Marshman, and is dated June 17, 1830. We subjoin nearly the whole of this document. Circumstances of the most extreme urgency compel those who conduct the Serampore Mission to appeal to the Christian Public in Great Britain. For themselves, they have nothing to ask, but the good-will and the prayers of their Fellow-Christians: but their petition must be earnest for support to that Sacred Cause in which they are engaged. The objects of the Serampore Mission are complicated in no small degree. They may be arranged under the three heads of Translation and Printing; Education; and Missionary Labour, or the Natives of India. For these different direct Preaching of the Gospel to the objects, they require pecuniary aid in different degrees. I. In the department of TRANSLATION AND PRINTING, the Sacred Scriptures hold, of course, the chief place: yet Religious Tracts, and Books of Elementary Christian Instruction, are of no small moment; for even the Brethren of this Mission are unprovided for the effective prosecution of their work, unless we have at all times supplies of Tracts in Bengalee, Assamese, Burmese, Hindee, Oordoo, Punjabee, Nepalee, Persian, and various other dialects: in the Translation and Printing of the Sacred Scriptures, we do not at present require much assistance; for, in fact, the liberal contributions of the Public have accumulated upon us, chiefly because our necessities in other respects have required that the Press should be greatly occupied in work that would produce pecuniary aid for the Mission. For the publication of Christian Tracts and Books, we do need assistance; but, for the reason just mentioned, unless it were accompanied by corresponding assistance in other departments of the Mission, it would be almost nugatory. We have always been accustomed, according to our ability, to supply any Missionary, and indeed any Christian Friend, with Tracts for distribution; but even were we to limit our issues to our own Missionaries, much less than 100,000 copies would not be a sufficient yearly supply for our Stations: the cost of such a supply would be about 4365 rupees, or 4367. II. The DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION embraces Serampore College, the Benevolent Institution, Native Boys' Schools, and Native Female Schools. after holding any situation of usefulness or respectability within their reach as Native Christians: and Eight other Young Persons, chiefly Indo-Britons, some of whom are already, and all are expected to be, Candidates for Missionary Engagements, are receiving such an education in ancient and modern learning, sacred and classical, as may tend to complete their fitness for the exalted object of their wishes: there are likewise a number of Heathen Youths of respectability, to whom the College is affording the important benefit of a sound English Education. The Benevolent Institution is supported by local subscriptions; and we mention it now, only to shew that the charge of such an Institution, whose expenses ought to be regular, while its receipts are of necessity irregular, will very frequently add to our embarrassments arising from the deficient support of those objects which are more properly the subjects of this Appeal. The Native Boys' Schools are, with the exception of five, nearly provided for from local subscriptions or endowments; and the present rate of contributions in Britain to this object are sufficient for the five which are not. The Native Female Schools, in which, during the last year, 619 Girls were educated for about 2857 rupees, or 2857. have been hitherto fully supported by the contributions of our friends at home; and we have nothing further to desire than the continuance of that kind interest with which they have been hitherto regarded. III. But it is the purely MISSIONARY part of our engagements which causes our deepest anxiety, and for which we now especially make our Appeal. The immediate wants of the College, on the present scale of its expenditure, may be met without any great increase of the contributions which are now received: but its expenditure must be increased, before it can be regarded as duly efficient. Three additional Professors are required, for Theology, Classical Literature, and Oriental Literature in the Native Department, respectively: it might then be considered nearly complete for present circumstances; and it We cannot expect that any of our is not improbable, that, if public libe- friends can fully sympathize in our feelrality enabled it once to attain this degree ings respecting the Brethren labouring of maturity, it might soon be able, with at our Missionary Stations, and the the assistance of the sums funded in Churches under their care. We can Britain and America, to stand, and even scarcely imagine that even the Conducincrease, independently of further gra- tors of any other Mission can feel for tuitous aid, by receiving, in the European their own Mission, as we do for ours. Department, students who should pay for Our Brethren have not merely gone their education by regular fees. It forth by our desire-been attended and would contain within itself another prin- constantly followed by our prayers and ciple, both of permanence and efficiency. our counsels, and calling for, have always To secure this great object would not received, our deepest sympathies-but, require more than 9001. annually, for a with scarcely an exception, they were very few years. In the College, Thirty- either themselves converted under our five Native Christian Youths are now Ministry and were Members of the receiving a learned and religious educa- Church under our care, or they have been tion, which may qualify them for here- converted through the Ministry of such as were so. Thus, in all its ramifications, the Serampore Mission is still only the original stem and branches of the first Protestant Church planted in Gangetic India, which included its proper Natives. Although the Churches at the Stations are all independent of us, in every thing relating to Church Government and Discipline, yet our connexion with them has always been so intimate, that a bond, almost equal to that uniting a Christian Family, is felt to prevade the whole system, and to give strength, confidence, and happiness to all embraced by it. Hence arises the keenness of our anxiety, when the welfare, and much more the continuance, of any portion of our Mission is endangered-hence the keenness of our present anxiety. Although we do not expect our Christian Friends to participate in our feelings, we yet hope that their interest will be powerfully awakened. We can make it plain to them, that, through this Mission, the Blessed Gospel is widely preached to the inhabitants of India. We need not make the assertion, that the Gospel is also aptly, purely, and diligently preached by our dear Brethren: for, in our Periodical Accounts, we have allowed them to narrate their own labours, and are confident that the impression produced by their simple narratives will be entirely in their favour. It is not in the power of man to command success; and a Missionary Brother is sufficiently entitled to the support and approval of his fellow-men, when he has faithfully performed the work allotted to him in the administrations of God: yet we may speak of the Lord's goodness in blessing the labours of our Brethren, as greatly adding to their interest; although we would much rather call on our friends to pray for a greater increase of their success, than dwell on its present amount. Is it nothing, Dear Friends, that we can point out to you, from year to year, fresh individuals upon whose previously dark minds the truth of God has shone, and who appear to have fled from the wrath to come, and to be laying hold on eternal life? Is it nothing, that, every year, we have to record, that there are those, who, notwithstanding all their temptations, the difficulties of their circumstances, and their own natural weakness, have, through grace, been found faithful unto death; and have entered into rest, calling on the Name of the Lord Jesus, and committing their departing spirits into His hands? Surely, Friends, you have rejoiced in the additions which we have received to the Household of Faith, and have heard with some emotion the dying experience of our weak but much-loved Brethren: and can you bear to be told, that we are in such pecuniary straits, that we know not how we shall be able to carry on our labours? Yet such is the fact! During the past year, we were led to extend our Mission, by the addition of Three New Stations; one of which, however, is permanently provided for in a great degree. We could now extend it further; as there are most interesting Stations in several directions, to which our exertions are invited, and Brethren ready to occupy them. We should rejoice, therefore, were we furnished with the means of complying with these invitations; and we might urge the importance of our being furnished with those means. But we press it upon our friends, that we are now distressed, not because of our incompetence to undertake new efforts, but OUR INABILITY TO CONTINUE OUR PRESENT EXPENDITURE. A Tabular View is given of the various Stations under the Brethren; the particulars of which will be found at pp. 31, 36--38 of our last Number. The Appeal then proceeds:— Let our friends, glancing at this Table, remember the extent of country through which the Stations there enumerated are scattered the variety and interesting character of the Tribes occupying that country-and the fact, that the far greater part of these Tribes have NONE to address to them the Everlasting Gospel but the Brethren of this Mission: for, through all the Eastern Provinces, what Missions are there, but these Stations, in Arracan, Chittagong, Dacca, Assam, Burrishol, Jessore, and Dinagepore? And who is there beside our indefatigable Brother Thompson to send the Truth to the extensive and yet unexplored Provinces of the West and the North? And must the Gospel be withdrawn from any one of these posts? When our readers pass on to the columns exhibiting the expense at which these Stations are supported, they must feel convinced that it is moderate in the extreme. Here are TWENTY Stations, principal or subordinate, each of which has one or more resident Preachers; and THIRTY-TWO Missionary Brethren-European, Indo-British, or Native: and the entire annual expenses of the Mission which they compose is 15,335 rupees, or about 15337: to this sum, however, must be added 2730 rupees, for allowances to the Widows and Orphans of the deceased Brethren; so that the entire annual expenditure of the Mission is about 18,065 rupees, exclusive of Translations, Tracts*, of the College, and of all the Schools. It has been said that we are rich: were we so, we should send forth no such Appeal as the present, We are really poor and nothing but our poverty compels us to call for help. The only members of the Mission who have it in their power to contribute to its funds, are Dr. Carey, Dr. Marshman, and Mr. J. C. Marshman: they do contribute, to the utmost of their ability; but it has pleased God greatly to curtail that ability. The -British Government have just abolished the Professorships in the College of Fort William; and Dr. Carey, being reduced to a pension, has suffered a loss of 500 rupees per mensem: he will, therefore, not be able hereafter to contribute more than 300 rupees monthly to the funds of the Mission. Dr. Marshman's very heavy expenditure during his long and important visit to Europe-no part of which he allows to be defrayed from the contributions to the Mission-prevents his having much now at his disposal; and indeed the Schools under the care of himself and Mrs. Marshman have so much declined in his absence, as greatly to abridge his resources, independently of his late extraordinary expenses: he has no prospect of being able to do more than Dr. Carey. Mr. J. C. Marshman, in conducting the Printing Office and the Paper Mill, is overburdened by obligations contracted in the erection of the College, and in carrying on the Mission when we were without support from Europe; and he cannot, at present at least, without sinking just so much in debt, exceed the contributions of his senior Colleagues. We have thus at our disposal 900 rupees monthly, the proceeds of our own labour. If the whole of this were available for the support of our Missionary Stations, we should still have a deficiency of nearly 400 rupees monthly, besides the whole of the pensions to our Widows and Orphans: but it will frequently happen, that a considerable sum is wanted for the current expenses of the College, for the printing If the sum mentioned for Tracts be added, still the whole will amount to no more than 22,430 rupees, or about 2243 4. of Tracts, and other occasional demands; and then, as we have no other resources, we are constrained to take just as much as is needed from our contributions to the Stations. We acknowledge, with gratitude, that we have been favoured with several liberal donations from friends in India: they have been of the utmost importance to us, in this time of our need; but they are altogether inadequate to our full support. This, then, is the great object of our Appeal. We entreat of the Christian Public a few Hundred Pounds per annum; for we have them not ourselves. We do not even know how to borrow them, in the expectation that relief will eventually be sent to us; for we have no reserved and unappropriated funds, on the security of which we could ask from any one a loan of present supplies. Christian Friends! these are our wants. Do you refuse us-do you refuse these Stations-these our Brethren-thes mall degree of support which is required? Which of them is to be abandoned? We cannot think of ONE. If unceasing industry or self-denial could, by any means, furnish us with the supplies which we beg from you, we would toil and deny ourselves with joyful alacrity, and leave you unimportuned: but our hopes are small in this respect; and they are precarious in the extreme. Our present incomes even are uncertain. Again, then, we implore your help, and we trust we shall not implore in vain. But a few years have past away since the Protestant World was awakened to Missionary Effort. Since that time, the Annual Revenues collected for this object have grown to the then-unthought-of sum of 400,0007. And is it unreasonable to expect that some unnoticeable portion of this should be entrusted to him who was among the first to move in this enterprise, and to his colleagues? To this Appeal the following Notice is subjoined by the friends who have put it into circulation:— The preceding very important commurampere Missionaries, is now laid before nication having just arrived from the Sethe friends of Christianity in Britain and Ireland. On the occasion of the destruction of their premises by fire, in 1812, the public attention became more alive to the objects in view; while the spontaneous and immediate relief which was afforded only fixed the designs of the Missionaries more firmly in the affections of many. On an occasion like the present, when a combination of circumstances abroad is presented, in each of which every genuine Friend of Missions must and will sympathize, and which altogether so powerfully suggest the necessity for prompt and liberal assistance, it is not to be once imagined that such aid will not be as readily afforded. Of course, all the friends above mentioned will feel the force of the Appeal now made to them, and exert themselves in their respective neighbourhoods. The Seniors in this Mission, their long and justly-endeared friends, cannot address them in vain ; but it is presumed that many more than they will feel the concluding paragraphs in this Appeal to be irresistible. Western Africa. Liberia. GERMAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THE melancholy circumstances at tending this Mission have been noticed at p. 8 of our last Number and the parts of the preceding Volume there referred to. In the last Report of the Society we find the following view of the Trials and Prospects of the Mission. Notwithstanding the many great trials, which our Committee and the Missionaries from the very first beginning had to encounter, yet there seemed to be many encouraging reasons to continue this Mission: and the unhealthy climate, the death of one of the Missionaries, and the many hindrances and difficulties laid in the way by the Slave Traders, did not seem to be sufficient reasons to give up the hope of establishing the Church of Christ on these unhappy shores of poor Africa; because the people at Monrovia declared themselves willing to receive the Missionaries, and Mr. Kissling soon was enabled to establish a school of about 50 Negro Children, where he laboured with success, and where he also had some promising Negro Youths, of whom he entertained the hope that they might, through the grace of God, become fit for the desirable end of assisting the Missionaries, as Native Teachers among their people. The King of the Bassa Land was also desirous to have Missionaries among his subjects, and willing to open ways for them to settle in the country for the purpose of instructing his people. Encouraged by these inviting prospects, our Committee, in the summer of 1829, Feb. 1831. sent three other Missionaries, Dietshy, Buehrer, and Graner, with Mr. Lessing; who, having been in Africa before, and having made a visit to Europe, now returned to Liberia, where they all safely arrived. All were attacked by the climate fever: Mr. Lessing recovered; but Dietshy, Buehrer, and Graner, after severe and long sufferings, ended their pilgrimage, and were called to enter into the joy of their Lord, as faithful servants: not, indeed, that they had time or opportunity to do much with the talents committed to them for the furtherance of the Church of Christ; but they were called to glorify His Name in another way-by prayer, humility, patience, and resignation to His holy will; and thus they were made willing to lay down their lives for Christ's sake, from love toward souls so dearly redeemed with His blood. About the same time, the Slave Traders began to carry on their tyrannical work in the country, with greater cruelty than before; and Mr. Kissling was obliged for some time to give up his school. The Letters from the Missionaries about that time were very discouraging. After some time, however, the Lord again manifested to them His uneeasing mercy-removed the greatest of the difficulties and strengthened their faith and hope. Mr. Lessing writes, under date of the 18th of June, 1830 After great storms and trials, it has pleased God to give us a time of peace. He has strengthened our weakened health; and this we consider to be a special gift of His goodness. The fact, also, that the Slave Traders have now left the Bassa Country, gives us new hope and courage. Mr. Kissling has resumed his school. We have again begun to preach in the Methodist Chapel; and we continue the instruction of our four Negro Youths, who now live in our house. May our God and Saviour prosper and further His Cause; and make us also, and many of His servants, fit instruments in His hand for building up His Church in this desert! Mediterranean. BRITISH & FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. MR. BARKER, in writing from Smyrna under date of the 3d of December, makes the following statements relative to the Circulation of the Scriptures in various |