faithful to the means of carrying out his Chiefs are professedly opposed to it. I redeeming purposes, which he has impart. have lately had to inrestigate several ed to them, he will call another to the cases respecting this subject. The terms dignified and responsible work, and with on which the people of this place lire draw the light of his countenance from with those of the surrounding towns, will the former ; for the truth must spread. appear from the following short extract “My word shall not return to me void," from my journal, dated July 27th :saith the Lord. Sure we are that there is “ During the whole of the past night no evil in the most degraded heathen triumph and exultation prevailed in all country, which the Gospel is not able to parts of the town, in consequence of an remove. No permanent obstacle can be occurrence which took place two or three anticipated from this source. Deeply days ago The Porto-Novians and the fallen and greatly darkened by their prac people of this place being sworn enemies, tices the Heathen are ; but the “ Lamb of whenever an opportunity offers they fail God” has fathomed the lowest depths of not to do all the injury to each other in divine displeasure, and being now es their power ; and not more than a roath alted at the right hand of God," bis Spirit ago, a party of the former towni stole and his Gospel are sent forth to accomplish thirty men, Datives of this place, from a his benevolent purposes, and to finish and little town on the Lagoon, whitber they beautify the spiritual temple of which he had gone to trade. The kinsfolk of those is the “chief corner-stone." And this men bare not had an opportunity of great work they shall effect by enlightening avenging themselves of this insult until and elevating the benighted tribes of men, within the past week, when a conpars of and bringing the great truths of revelation them laid wait for an individual who was so vividly and powerfully before mankind appointed by the Porto-Norians to proml universally, as to lead them by millions to around in the bush, as near Badagry as the hallowed cross. “For 1, if I be lifted possible, to capture any child or defenceup, will draw all men unto me." And thus less person who might be so unfortunate shall the “top stone be brought forth with as to fall in his way; and succeeded in shouting.” capturing him, when they immediately Mr. Freeman, I doubt not, is with you beheaded him on the spot. The arenging long ere this. He will give you all neces party continued their expedition until they sary information respecting the other parts met with another company, when they of this District. You have also heard of succeeded in capturing two more, with the death of our late brother Greaves, whom they returned, and who are now His departure from the field, so soon after their prisoners in the town. How they that of Mr. Watkins, and the temporary will be disposed of, I know not. Death, absence of our Chairman, must render the or being sold into slavery, seems the only work very laborious for the brethren at outlet to prisoners of this description in Cape-Coast. A mere statement of these this country.” facts will, I am sure, be quite enough to In the above instance we see the map. lead you to send out a fresh supply of stealer stolen, and he whose work it was labourers as soon as it is in your power. to lie in wait for others, himself captured. And what is to be done in this way for How distressing it is to the enlightened poor Badagry and Abokuta ? After what mind to be in the midst of a people who I have already stated, I need not tell you are thus glorying in human plunder, and how much the services of another Mission triumphing over the capture of a fellowary are required. I leave it with you and creature ; and yet, at the same time, how the Christian public at home. May the just delightful that the true God bas estabdemands of this injured people be fully met! lished his cause in such a place, and It is with gratitude to the great Dis that the lamp of revelation is permitted poser of events, that I inform you of the to scatter its light amid the shades of health of my beloved wife, who has ex such dense darkness! I bless God that I perienced scarcely any sickness since our am here. arrival at this place. We have several times been threatened The Chiefs continue to be very friendly with invasion from the above people. Io and deed Sodaka, and those under his authority, greatest interest in my welfare. There seem to be the only people whose bands have been recently many “palavers” be are not against Badagry. Our situation tween them and the Chiefs of the sur here is very critical : there being no reigui. rounding country, most of which have ing King, and the Chiefs being so jealous originated in the practice of the slave of one another's influence and power, that trade, which continues to be carried on I find it very difficult so to act as to keep to a very great extent. We doubt not on terms of friendship with all; an object that there are many in this town who highly desirable. secretly engage in it, although all the The school, I am happy to soy, with me, is improving, and had I materials, (books, dence of any brother in Badagry will be slates, copy-books, &c.,) I might extend uncomfortable and hazardous in the exits borders considerably, as all the Chiefs treme. The Akus are evidently our only are disposed to let me have their children real and powerful friends in this part, the to be educated. My dear wife desires me people in Badagry being more or less to beg you to forward the parcel which sinister in all their dealings towards us. you kindly promised for the girls' school, And I have already put off the King again by the first opportunity, as she can do and again ; and how to act towards him, but comparatively little without it. As and our own members in that part now, I the vessel is about leaving, I must draw know not, as the heathen people particularly to a conclusion. May the great Head of will doubtless conclude that I have hitherto the church grant that the claims of this been deceiving them. I leave the case with people, and the prospects which present you and the friends of Missions at home. themselves, may so impress the minds of Those who perish at Abokuta now, the public at home, as to lead them to without being favoured with the Gospel, determine that no more time shall be will do so with the desire heaving their lost (much less two years) in sending them breasts to hear the glad tidings. My dear what they so much require, and so justly wife joins me in kind regards to you. We demand. If a Missionary is not sent both beg that in your prayers you will almost immediately to Abokuta, the resi think of us in this dark corner of the earth. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Henry Wharton, dated Biabou, St. Vincent's, September 25th, 1844. For some time past it has been strongly at the Wesleyan chapel, and begged that I impressed upon my mind to address you would approach nearer by connecting myon a subject which immediately concerns self with him in church-fellowship, &c. my own peace of mind, and the Missionary I promised to consider of it, and left him work in which I am engaged. I have with feelings not to be described : his therefore thought the present a fit opportu. words fastened upon my mind “as a nail nity for conveying to you a full, free, and in a sure place.” For several weeks I unreserved expression of my views and suffered dreadful distress of mind, my spirit feelings in simplicity and godly sincerity. was harassed by day and troubled by night. In doing so, I will endeavour to lay before I felt continually as though an invisible you something of my history and expe- being accompanied me wherever I went, rience, both past and present, that you awaiting my decision; and that if I had may be the better able to judge in the rejected the invitation given, my eternal important matter which I now submit for destiny would be sealed. After many your decision. resolves and re-resolves, Nicodemus-like, I am a native of the island of Grenada, I visited my pious friend “ by night," and a person of colour. At an early age and conversed with him on the troubled I was sent to a boarding-school in Scot state of my mind, desiring him to proland for the purpose of education, where I pose me as a member of the Wesleyan remained for about six years. At the ter society. I attended class-meeting the mination of that period, I again embarked following week. Shortly after I became a for my native land, where I arrived in Teacher in the Sunday-school, and filled safety after a perilous voyage. Shortly successively the offices of Treasurer and after my arrival in Grenada I engaged in Secretary of the same. Tbrough unbelief, mercantile pursuits, living three years in I sought the blessing of pardon longer than one situation, and five in another. was necessary. I, however, obtained a while I was thus employed that it pleased clear sense of my acceptance in the the Almighty, in unerring wisdom, to Beloved, at a class-meeting, on Monday chasten me with the rod of affliction; and evening, February 24th, 1840. I was apalthough the affliction was but slight, it pointed to the office of a Leader the followwas nevertheless an instrument adopted by ing week, and engaged in my calling with an all-wise Providence in turning my steps much “ fear and trembling." In July, from the ways of sin and death, to the 1841, I was appointed as a Local Preacher paths of peace and true holiness. Shortly by the Rev. W. Moister, the Superintendafter I had regained my health, duty called ent the Circuit. About this time it was me to the house of a mercantile gentle powerfully impressed upon my mind that man who had in his employ a Local the Lord had still greater work for me to Preacher of the Wesleyan society. Hav do in his vineyard : I therefore applied ing transacted my business, and coming closely to the study of such books as I was away, he accompanied me to the door, and directed to. Just at this very crisis, my congratulated me on my recovery from providential path being thrown open, I illness, saying, he had frequently seen me humbly offered myself as a candidate for It was the Missionary work, in which I am now as a Missionary for Western Africa, are engaged. Through the usual recommenda the following: tions, I accompanied the Rev. W. Moister 1. I have read occasionally with feelto the annual District-Meeting, held in ings of sorrow of the mortality of our this island (St. Vincent's) in February, Missionaries in Africa. Being a native of 1842. My examination having met the the West Indies, and inured to a tropical approval of the District, I was recom climate, I am convinced in my own mind, mended and accepted by the Committee humanly speaking, that I could much better and Conference the same year. endure the wasting effects of an African It will doubtless be in your remem climate than any European. brance, that when I offered myself as a 2. I have frequently conversed with my candidate for the Mission work, I confined respected Superintendent in reference to my offer to the West Indies, from an idea Africa ; I have read the heart-stirring, that family circumstances might require soul-animating communications of the inmy presence on some occasion in Grenada. defatigable Freeman; and from various Africa, hapless, benighted Africa, was, other sources can form a tolerable idea of however, at that time in the eye of my the labonrs, privations, and prowess requimind; and had I seen my way as clearly site for the African Mission work; and, after as I now do, I would most cheerfully have deliberate and mature consideration, I cheeroffered my services as a standard-bearer fully and voluntarily offer my humble serto those deserts of superstition and idola vices for that field of Missionary enterprise. try: I trust, however, that it is not too I have endeavoured simply to unfold to late. I have only served two years in the you the naked sentiments of my heart. Mission-field. I have youth, health, and The acceptance or rejection of the offer I vigour on my side, and no matrimonial en. have here made lies with you. I now gagement. I place myself at your dis respectfully request that a reply at the posal, and with a trumpet-voice cry across Committee's earliest convenience may be the vast Atlantic, “ Here am I, send me.” forwarded, should my proposal meet their My principal reasons for offering myself concurrence or otherwise. It would be wholly unnecessary, did our space allow, to enlarge upon the preceding documents and communications. No comment which we could make upon the facts they contain, illustrative of the prosperous state, the opening prospects, and the growing demands, of our Missions in Guinea, would equal the eloquence with which the facts themselves speak to the understandings and hearts of the friends and supporters of the Society. It will surely be strongly felt by our readers, that there exists a necessity for one combined and vigorous effort, on the part of our Ministers and people, in every place, for the purpose of raising the income of the now closing year (1844) to an amount which will enable the Committee to meet the claims of the Missions specially brought under review in this Number of the “ Notices," and to maintain all our other important Missions in various parts of the world. It is our earnest hope that united and strenuous exertions, equal to the present emergency, will be immediately made in all our Circuits . Intimation has been given already, that a list of special subscriptions has been commenced, towards raising the sum of £7,935. Os. 3d.; being the excess of the expenditure at the Gold-Coast, Ashanti, Badagry, and other parts of Guinea, for the years 1841, 1842, and 1843. A selection of liberal donations, already received for this object, has also been noticed at page 1058 of the present Number. It is only requisite further to add, that, by the time when the satisfactory winding up of the present year's accounts shall have taken place, the special subscription-list, which is in preparation, will be duly laid before our friends; and that, although we are anxious that nothing should interfere with the exertions for augmenting the regular and ordinary income of the current year, should any of our friends be disposed at once to add their names to the special list of contributions before it be published, their subscriptions will be very thankfully received. INDEX TO VOL. XXIII. OF THE THIRD SERIES. N. B.—Besides the particular references to each Article, the following at, 578 Africa, early plans for the benefit of,, Apuleius, remarks on the “Golden 552. See also Southern and Western Ass” of, 567 Aquinas, Thomas, account of the treatise Life,” 42, 106 Wesleyan Missions in Nova-Scotia respecting, 42 787 of American literature, 306, 1021- Bailey, Mrs., visit of, to the death-bed cerning regeneration in, used by the Baxter, Mrs., of St. Vincent's, men- Baxter, Rev. Richard, quoted, on pas. remarks on, 494. See also Mission- Bayley, Dr., mentioned, 102 Becon, Thomas, extract from a treatise of, 910 Benson, Rev. Joseph, notes of, on Matt. 988 family catechising, 550 : : Bernard, St., quoted, 42-referred to, 567-essay on the truth, power, and beneficence of, 808–introl uction of, CHRISTIAN OBSERVATIONS The Educational Movement, 72 Signs of the Times : Influence of Portugal : Persecution of Proteste proaching Session of Parliament, death-bed of the Rev.John Crosse, 103 Opening of Parliament: Irish Affairs : tioned, 478—munificent grants of, 690, Mr. Sheil's Misstatement respecting the Treatment of Protestants in ment, 245-248 Scotch Church: Instance of cleri. riages in Ireland : Reduction of the rical memoranıla relating to, 52—pro quest of Gwalior, 336–340. the Irish Trials : Debates on the Bill : the May Meetings, 492-496 upon, in the Visit of the Emperor of Russia and the King of Saxony, 611-615 the late Session of Parliament, 950- “ Christian Observer," extract from the, “ Churchman's Monthly Review," ex• tract from the, 826 quoled, 475_observations on, 573 the, 554 cival, Jaffna, 82, 83_letters from the 119, 121_high pretensions of a party by the “ Record,” noticed, 117-treat- Church of Scotland, Hetherington's of the exclusiveness of, 683 ceedings of the, 859 ties and barbarities practised at Rome Clarke, Dr. Adam, letter of, to the late Rev. John Stamp, 114_conjecture of, respecting the sources of the Pilgrim's Progress,"115_wish of, that the “Pil- |