account of Petro Bey and his Son George, by the Rev. Jonas King, will be found at pp. 513, 514 of our Volume for 1829. Church Miss. Soc.-The Rev. C. F. Schlienz returned to Malta (see p. 72) on the 22d of October, from his visit to Germany, with his health entirely re-established: he was accompanied by Miss Damm, who is about to be married to the Rev. F. Hildner, to whom she has been engaged for several years. Mr. Weiss had recently lost a promising child, a Boy, five years-and-a-half old-The Rev. J. A. Jetter, in a Letter dated Boujah, near Smyrna, August 13, states, that the Plague had subsided in that neighbourhood; but that the Cholera Morbus, then raging at Constantinople, threatened to visit Smyrna. BAGDAD. self for the benefit of those who could not read; secondly, explained that verse to them; and thirdly, asked them occasionally some questions: and, having thus gone through one or more verses, if the connexion would permit to take only one. I proceeded to the following; at every time beginning and ending with prayer. I found them generally very attentive. They were thankful for the Means of Grace which were daily tendered to them; for they showed their gratitude to God, by their conduct. WEST INDIES. The Late Hurricane-The desolations occasioned by this awful visitation, which were described at pp. 468-470 as they affected the Settlements of the United Brethren at Barbadoes, extended throughout the Island. The Public Buildings have all suffered : every Place of Worship is either destroyed or materially injured: Government House is almost a total ruin: Bishop's Court, the Episcopal Residence, is nearly demolished. Of the buildings belonging to the Gospel-Pro Dreadful Depopulation — Mr. Kitto, who was for some time at Malta under the Church Missionary Society, but accompanied Mr. Groves to Bagdad, has sent home most affect-pagation Society it is said "That venerable ing details of the ravages to which that devoted city has been subjected. The PLAGUE prevailing to a fearful extent among the inhabitants, part of them attempted to escape into the country, but were arrested by a sudden INUNDATION of the Tigris, by which numbers perished, and the rest were driven back into the city. Thousands were falling under the deadly influence of the pestilence, when the water made a breach in the walls, and swept away many of the habitations. The wretched inhabitants were crowded together, and compelled to take refuge even in houses left desolate by the plague. When, at length, it pleased God to stay the hand of the Destroying Angel, it was found that out of 80,000 human beings, not more than 25,000 survived! But the SWORD followed quickly in the rear of these desolating judg. ments! The Plague had scarcely ceased, and the Waters subsided, when troops arrived, in the name of the Sultân, to depose the Pacha: fierce and bloody contests succeeded before a temporary calm was restored. Deaths in the Family of Mr. Groves-Not a house, Mr. Kitto says, escaped the Plague. That of Mr. Groves was the last attacked; and, as this was not till near the conclusion of the Visitation, they had hoped that no evil would have befallen them. These hopes were, however, disappointed. Mrs. Groves was first seized, and died on the seventh day. Mr. Groves had a slight attack, but soon recovered. The Wife of the Armenian Schoolmaster soon after took the contagion; and then, in succession, a Female Servant, the Schoolmaster, and his Son: all died. NEW SOUTH-WALES. structure, Codrington College, whose massy walls it was supposed would have resisted almost any violence of tempest, and which lately had been largely extended for the reception of Students, is now a melancholy heap of ruins." On the injury sustained by the Wesleyan Missionary Society in Barbadoes and St. Vincent, the Committee make the following Appeal : Five Mission Chapels and one Dwelling House have been wholly destroyed, and the remainder so seriously injured as to require large repairs. With gratitude to Al mighty God, the Committee state that all the Members of the Mission Families have been mercifully preserved, though several of them were in the greatest danger. But the Societies and Congregations in several of the Stations are left without a place in which to assemble for Divine Worship; and, in consequence of the poverty and dis tress to which they themselves are reduced, are wholly unable to make any exertion toward restoring them. The Committee, before the arrival of this distressing news, had made all the grants in aid of Chapels in the West Indies, for the present year, which their funds would allow; and have now authorised bills to a considerable extent to be drawn upon them, in part to meet this calamity: but, to remedy it in its full extent, is out of their power; and the losses sustained by those persons, who, had they not suffered themselves, would have been disposed liberally to contribute to so necessary and sacred a work, cut off all hope from the Islands themselves. The only resource is in the kindness of Friends of Missions at home; and they, the Committee are persuaded, will come forward cheerfully, as they have done on former occasions which specially called for extra exertions, to rebuild the Houses of Prayer; and thus to restore to the Pious Negroes the benefits and comforts of their religious exercises, and to collect again their Children into the Chapel Schools, where that course of instruction may be recommenced which to the rising generation has been attended, through the Divine Blessing, with such beneficial results. Baptist Miss. Soc.-The Rev. John Griffith and his Wife sailed in May, to strengthen the Society's Mission in Jamaica, and landed in the early part of July. On the 20th of that month, only nine days after his landing, he was hurried to the grave by an attack of the Yellow Fever; but not before he was enabled to testify that Christ was precious to him, that He was the foundation of his hope, and that his mind was at peace. Mr. and Mrs. Philippo returning home for the recovery of their health, Mrs. Griffith accompanied them: I read with the Convicts, in the hold of the vessel, a por- they landed at Falmouth on the 25th of Church Miss. Soc.-The Rev. J.C. S. Handt (see p. 120) arrived at Sidney on the 25th of June, after a voyage of 19 weeks. It will be remembered, that he bad charge, during the voyage, of the Convicts transported under the late Special Commissions: of his course of dealing with these misguided peasants, Mr. Handt says Every day, except there occurred a particular hindrance, tion of Scripture: I first made one of them read one verse, then read it loudly and distinctly over again my. October, DECEMBER, 1831. Biography. OBITUARIES OF NATIVES OF RAROTOGNA. MR. PITMAN, Missionary of the London Missionary Society at the Harvey Islands, has given an account, under date of June 1830, of a severe visitation which befel Rarotogna, the chief island of that groupe. From that account the following narrative is extracted. In my last, I informed you of the destruction of our large Chapel by fire, and its re-erection. From that time it was well filled, and often crowded on the Sabbath Morning; but not so well attended in the afternoons: our Schools also were well attended, both for the grown people and the children, and things appeared to proceed as favourably as could be expected: but it pleased the All-wise Disposer of events, for a season, to interrupt our labours in this department, and to visit us with a most severe Scourge. About three months ago, a disease broke out at the other Stations, which soon spread among the people, and several were quickly launched into the eternal world: it was chiefly confined to those who were well known to have been the troublers of the land, many of whom died, and, previous to their death, confessed their guilt of attempting to set fire to Mr. Buzacott's Chapel and Schoolhouse... In a very little time, the disease spread in every direction, till nearly all the people were more or less infected with this dire malady. For some time we were at a loss to ascertain its true nature; but at length concluded it to be an inflammatory fever, which, in many cases, ran into the typhus. About two months previously, we had received your most valuable supply of medicine, which enabled us to use, immediately, some means for the recovery of our poor afflicted people: but for this supply, humanly speaking, nearly all the people would have died: great numbers, notwithstanding all possible exertion, have fallen victims. Those who were first attacked lingered long, and many recovered: but, afterward, it assumed a more terrible appearance; and, if not immediately taken in hand, those seized Dec. 1831. with it were in a few days committed to the grave. From that time, till within a few days past, my whole time, from morning till night, has been occupied in visiting the sick and dying: upward of a thousand people have we had sick for weeks, every one of whom I visited every other day in their own dwellings, taking with me a boy or two to carry the necessary medicines. My heart is truly pained within me, when I call to mind the scenes which I then witnessed. Whole families were seized at a time; and, in many cases, not one was left to wait upon them: where there was one to be found to attend upon the rest, he generally caught the disease in its worst form, and, almost without warning, was swept into eternity. Death now began to execute his commission, and in vain were our efforts and prayers when once he took his aim. His ravages were great among those who dwelt at their lands, and but seldom came into the village or to the House of God: many of them were brought into the village, but it was not till the disease had taken such a firm hold as to baffle all our attempts for restoration. Those of two or three districts, in particular, which had ever manifested much opposition to the advancement of godliness, and caused considerable trouble ever since the introduction of Christianity, have been nearly all cut off. The numbers who have died in this Settlement, for the last two months, have been from two to ten daily; and so, in proportion, at the other two Stations; which, in an island of 6000 inhabitants, is a great many. It has pleased God now to stay the plague, and the deaths among us are not so frequent. The people are fast recovering, and we have again been able to 3 U commence teaching. What effect this severe dispensation may produce upon the hearts of the people, time will develope. They seem to be generally convinced that it is a judgment of the Almighty, in consequence of their guilt... There are some, I hope, whose souls have been benefited by these afflictive events... Of my conversation with some in their dying moments, I know not that I can give you the substance better than by making two or three extracts from my Journal. April 29,1830-In my visits this day I had conversation with a sick person, who gave me some hopes as it respects his soul. He said his heart was continually grasping after the Word of God-a very strong expression in the native language. I said to him I was glad that it was his HEART which desired and grasped after it. I spoke to him on the compassion of Jesus-of His willingness to receive all who came to Him and trusted in Him, and that He would not cast out any that did so; which seemed to give him great pleasure, and which he continually repeated. Asking him how he thought to be saved, he replied, If he were saved, he knew it could be only through Christ, as his heart was full of evil and darkness, and there was no goodness in it. His relatives said that he was continually praying, and spoke of nothing but the Word of God. who was so near death, that she could only I had conversation with a poor woman also, answer me in very low whispers. Her views of the Way of Salvation appeared very clear: she said she knew that Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and that He was now full of compassion, and would save His people when they prayed to him. I asked her if she prayed to Him: she said she did, but perhaps He would not regard her prayers. spoke to her on the value of her soul: she replied, that was the GREAT thing; the body was a thing of NO WORTH, and would soon rot in the grave. On asking, if she trusted in Christ, or in her own "good heart," for salvation, she replied, "In Christ only ;" and, by signs and broken sentences, made me sensible that HER goodness was like her body, which was indeed in an emaciated state. Afterward she could only make me understand by significant expressions of countenance, which convinced me that she understood what I said to her. When in health, she was an active and intelligent woman-constant in her attendance on Divine Worship, and paid great attention to what was delivered. Mrs. Pitman says, in her conversations with her, when in health, she by no means found her defective in knowledge; and that she would always repeat the text of my discourse, however long, with the greatest accuracy, and nearly the whole of the divisions. She could not read. May 13-Was pleased with the conversation of one apparently near his end. I asked him if he prayed: he replied in the affirmative. I asked, "To whom?" He answered, "To Jesus." I asked him for what he prayed to Jesus: he raised his head, looked up, and said, “I pray to Jesus to have mercy upon me, a sinner"- laying an emphasis on "sinner." I again asked him, for what else he prayed to Jesus. He said that he prayed to Him for His blood to wash away his sins, and for the Holy Spirit to make him clean. Here his strength failed him; and, while I talked with him, he fell into a state of insensibility, from which I believe he did not recover. : May 19-Had conversation with a Young Man this day, who is apparently within a few hours of death. The Way of Salvation he seemed to understand. He said, his desire was very very great to be at the Chapel on the last Sabbath, but was unable to get there. I asked him, if he loved the House of God: he replied, "Why should I not? Is it not the House of God?" I exhorted him to look to Jesus, and think of nothing else but His sufferings and death, and for whom He died he said that his thoughts were wholly occupied about these things; and that soul in His own blood-that He would forgive he ceased not to pray to Jesus to wash his all his sins-and that he might be saved alone by Him. He has been constant in his I lately called upon him to pray, and was attendance on all the ordinances of Religion, not a little delighted with his prayer: I have speeches too, at our Friday Meetings, were not heard many Natives pray like him. His cerning them. generally good and to the point. The deaths of such do not leave us without hope con June 8-This day died a very useful man-a great Chief, who attached himself to us from the first. He could not read, but was striving hard to learn. He committed to memory the Three Epistles of St. John, part of the Galatians, the Tenth Chapter of Acts, and the First Chapter of St. John's Gospel, which I had taught him in the School, correctly; and used constantly a portion of in the mornings: these he could repeat very one of them in Family Worship, and when called upon to pray in the Chapel on the Sabbath Morning. He also taught a class of adults these portions of Scripture. In my conversation with him this morning, prayers were generally good, and Scriptural. I exhorted him to look entirely to Jesus, and Him alone, for salvation: he said, he thought he had now finished his earthly career-that he had taken his heart to God, and there left it; meaning, that he no more His thought of this life, but had made an entire surrender of himself to God. He did not say much, but listened attentively to what I said to him. He is now numbered with the dead. June 20-We have this day lost, by death, one of our most useful men in the islandKo Manavaroa. He was a very great Chief. His death is a most severe loss to us and to the Station. No one has more strongly attached himself to us and to the Cause of the Redeemer: he has used all his authority and influence, to put down evil in the land, and to establish that which is good. Just before this dreadful disease came upon us, he had recovered from a disorder which had confined him to his house for more than a year: often did he then regret to me his inability to attend the House of God and the Schools: he said that others were increasing in knowledge of the Scriptures, but he was still in ignorance. Both myself and my Wife have had many pleasing conversations with him, in our evening visits, on the afflictive dispensations of Providence. Mrs. Pitman once said to him, "You know, when children will not listen and are obstinate, you parents are displeased; and will chastise them, not because you do not love them, but because you wish them to be good. This is the way in which God chastises His children." The idea much pleased him; and he often said to us, afterward, that God was chastising him for the wickedness of his heart; and this seemed to reconcile him much to his affliction. Well do I remember the joy which he felt on his being again able to go to the House of God: while many manifested much impatience for the Service to be over, I scarcely remember once looking at him, when his eyes were not intently fixed upon me, with a countenance full of expression of the delight which he felt at again listening to the words of eternal life. But, alas! this was but of short duration. He was soon attacked with this dreadful disorder, which has swept off such numbers, and, in a very little time, him also. I was much pleased with his conversation. He manifested, I think, more humility of heart than any Native whom I have conversed with. Just before his death, he lamented to me his ignorance of Divine Things, and said that it caused him much grief. I directed him to Jesus, as his only refuge: he replied, that Jesus was his only trust, and that he did not cease to call upon His Name for salvation. I quoted many passages of Scripture, which seemed to afford him pleasure. His Wife has since told me, that he called her to his side, and his children, and exhorted them all to hold fast the Word of God, and listen well to the Teacher; and added, "I do not desire to live in this world." He then continually prayed, till his strength was exhausted, and he sunk into the arms of Death. He was a man universally beloved, and I have not heard one say the least thing to his discredit. We deeply feel his loss. July 2,1830-This morning one of Ko Manavaroa's People told me that his dying charge to him was, never to forsake the Teacherthat if he wanted any thing done, to be always there to do it-and to keep a strict watch that no one injured us by taking our property. He also exhorted him to listen well to the Teacher's instruction... He had committed to memory five chapters of the Acts, three or four of St. Matthew's Gospel, part of Galatians and Hebrews, and, I be lieve, a chapter in Daniel. Thus you perceive, My Dear Sir, some have been removed from us, whom we greatly desired to retain. When I consider their constant attendance on Divine Worship, and their acting, so far as I knew any thing of their moral character, agreeably to the instructions given them -and that these instructions they had enjoyed not more than three years, part of which time I could not speak to them so correctly as to be clearly understoodI cannot but indulge a hope, that some who have died have been admitted into the presence of God, as the first-fruits of the Harvey-Islands' Mission, Proceedings and Entelligence. ANNUAL RECEIPTS OF MISSIONARY, BIBLE, EDUCATION, AND TRACT SOCIETIES. NOT having been able to ascertain the last year's Receipts of a few of the Societies contained in the following List, we have reprinted, in such cases, the year's Receipts given in our last Volume. BRITISH & FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. WE rejoice to witness the Christian Vigilance manifested in the following Resolutions, providing a Seasonable Loan of New Testaments, under the Apprehension of Cholera Morbus. At a Meeting of the Committee, held on the 21st of November, it was Resolved— -That it be referred to the Sub-Committee for General Purposes to confer with the several Auxiliary Societies as to the practicability of supplying the whole of the Poor who are destitute of the New Testament with a copy on loan, in order, that, in the event of the Epidemic Disease being permitted, in the course of Divine Providence, to visit their families, they may not be found without a copy of God's Holy Word; and that the Sub-Committee be authorised to direct the issue of such copies, for the above purpose, as they may think proper. The Sub-Committee, having taken into consideration, on the 25th, the subject thus referred to them, adopted the following Resolutions: -That while this Committee have much satisfaction in knowing that in every place the necessary precautions are actively taken to prevent, if Divine Providence permit, the introduction of the Cholera, and that suitable preparations are also entered into to meet it, should it appear, they do consider that there is a Voice of the Almighty to be regarded in this Visitation, and a Duty to be performed by the British and Foreign Bible Society. -That this Committee record their devout conviction, that the truths of the Sacred Volume, when accompanied by Divine Teaching, can minister patience Irish Society of London ........ 1830-31.. 1918 19 11 577 9 6 and strong consolation under the severest sufferings, and prepare the immortal spirit for its departure to another world, by the reception of the knowledge which they convey of Him, who, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, was lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. That this Committee express their hope, that, when the hand of the Lord is lifted up, some may be led to consider their ways, and to desire the instructions of Heavenly Wisdom; and they, therefore, regard it most necessary that the New Testament should be ready at hand for every one whom affliction may be the means of disposing to peruse it. -That while this Committee remember, with gratitude to Him who has crowned the past labours of the Society with good success, that there are countless multitudes now in possession of the Scriptures, who, humanly speaking, would not have possessed them but for the efforts of Bible Societies, they yet remember, that, in England generally, and in the Metropolis especially, thou sands of FAMILIES still remain unsupplied. -That it be recommended to the Committees of Auxiliary and Branch Societies to communicate with their respective Associations; and to appoint an immediate investigation into the wants of their neighbourhoods, and, wherever they find A FAMILY destitute of the Scriptures, to offer a copy of the New Testament, with the book of Psalms, as a Loan. -That the expense of providing a Loan Stock for the above purpose be borne by the Parent Society. Testimony of the Committee to the late Mr. William Greenfield. The Committee having sustained a heavy loss, in the death of the Super |