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1. AN APPEAL FROM HYTHE SCHOOL or MUSKETRY.—From a Stoff-Sergeant to the Rer. C. Prest.-I take the liberty of addressing you, in order to bring before you the case of the military at this station. We have a permanent staff of ten officers, and about fifty staff-sergeants and privates. Four parties of men from different corps, ench consisting of fifty officers and two hundred and fifty non-commissioned officers, are sent here in the year for instruction, so that two hundred officers and one thousard men pass through the school yearly. There are, of course, "declared" Wesleyans among them: from thirty to fifty are generally marched to our chapel. The n-commissioned officers and men are selected for their educational advantages and character. They come from all parts of the Lingdom; and if they could be influenced for good here, they would be widely useful. We need more efficient pastoral attention than can possibly be given to us by the ministers of the Circuit. Their attention is necessarily devoted to the numerous places under their care. We need a regular ministerial supply for the Sunday morning parade-services, so that the Wesleyans arriving here may be encouraged, and that others may be led to join our ranks. I know that you have the welfare of car soldiers at heart. Can you help us? Con your Committee send us a zealous maister? If you can, a military friend here premises five pounds per annum, and I will give two pounds. I know also of others who would help. We hope our test may be met.

2. MAURITIUS.-The Rev. W. S. Cal*dott, who was zealously and successfully Freecating his labours among the Wesleyaas in the army stationed in this colony, and who paid exemplary attention to the sick and dying during the prevalence of the fever which was so widely fatal to the population, has himself been laid aside from active work. Repeated and severe attacks of fever placed his life, for a time, in danger, and left him in an enfiled condition. He was, consequently, forced to leave Port Louis, to try the efect of his native air and rest, in the Cape of Good Hope colony. Since he has been there he has had relapses; and we

et to say that his health is now in a debtful state, arousing the anxiety of his friends and of the Committee. He purposes returning to his post, should his strength be restored. Many of the military

VOL. XIV.-FIFTH SERIES.

have been sent home "invalided" through the epidemic. The sanitary condition of the Mauritius is still unsatisfactory to the authorities, and the 86th Regiment, which sailed some months since for that island, is still detained at the Cape of Good Hope.

3. Extract from a letter from a soldier at Dinapore, September 11th, 1867, to the Rev. A. S. White.-I have had many trials since you left India. I am now in Bengal, with the river Ganges just before my door. My wife and myself are earnestly striving to love and serve the Lord. There are no Wesleyan ministers in this place, so we go to the English church, where there is a good and useful minister. It is a sorrowful thing that no Wesleyan minister is here, as a large European congregation would be secured, if one were appointed.

4. EXTRACTS FROM SOLDIERS' LETTERS.

-From Sergeant -, 83d Regiment, to the Rev. James Tobias.-Gibraltar, August 12th, 1867.-We have a good chapel, but the congregation is not so large as when the 32d Regiment was here. I feel happy in the love of God, through believing in His Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. My wife and I remain firm in our attachment to Methodism, and we are praying for more wisdom and grace. I am now reading Wesley's Sermons, and find great profit in doing so.

From 83d Regiment, Gibraltar, to Rev. James Tobias.-May 15th, 1867. -We arrived here after a rough passage. I and at once joined a class; and on Sunday last my soul was greatly refreshed. I felt as thongh a river of pleasure was running through my heart. There is sweetness in godliness, in mortifying the flesh, in dying to the world, and in living in and to God.

From Bullevant, to Rev. J. Tobias.-May 8th, 1867.-Our hearts were gladdened by receiving your kind and most welcome letter. We are starving here for want of spiritual food, though we are cheered by a brother belonging to the 62d Regiment. There is a Wesleyan minister at Mallow, but that is seven miles from us. He has preached occasionally in our barracks. God is with us. Our class-mecting is kept up, and we are blessed in it. We are thankful for the

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trouble you have taken to get the Rev. Mr. Geddes, of Fermoy, to visit us. His visit refreshed us much, as did the visit of an officer who prayed with us. We will take your pastoral and fatherly advicc as to our companionship.

From 4th Dragoon Guards, Curragh, to the Rev. James Tobias.February 20th, 1867.-I have counted the cost, and am determined to live for Christ. If I could be of service by standing in the street, and telling people the happiness they would enjoy by believing in

Christ with penitent faith, I would gladly do so. I have just returned from one of our class-meetings, and truly God has blessed us. I occupy my leisure weeknights in attending public service aud Bible and other classes. Our regiment is about to be removed to Scotland, and I shall sadly miss my kind friends here; but I hope to meet with Methodists where we are going. Wherever I go, I find God is my portion and help. You, Sir, were the first that caused me to think of my soul's welfare. I am grateful, and I wish to hear from you.

HOME-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE.

1. LONDON.-Chequer-Alley.—From the Rev. James Yeames.-November 11th,

1867. We are going on prosperously here. The public services are well attended by the population of the Alley. On Sunday evenings the place is filled. I have a night-school on Thursdays, with an attendance of about sixty young people, who work in the day-time. Our Sunday-school has increased, and its order has been much improved. There are, on the average, one hundred and eighty scholars, including two large classes for "big" beginners, and two select classes. There are one hundred and forty children in our day-school. We are encouraged by witnessing signs that good is being done. Miss M'Carthy's class has sixty-six members in it; and I am about to form another class. We hope to see the work of the Lord prosper in this needy locality.

2. LONDON.-Spitalfields. From the Rev. J. S. Cooke.-November 9th, 1867. -We are now working Globe-road chapel with Spitalfields, preparatory to making a vigorous effort for Mile-End-road, with its numerous and destitute population. In both places we are favoured with signs of improvement. We have repaired and cleaned the Globe-road chapel, and have been enabled to defray the expense. Our school in Mile-End-road is prospering, and I hope to secure a preaching-place there, so as to keep our hold upon it. The scheme for raising £2,500, to place Spitalfields in a right position, is hopefully launched, and we are looking for good results.

3. GERMAN MISSION IN LONDON.November 27th, 1867.-The prospects of this Mission are still encouraging. The

congregations are steadily improving, more especially at our new station in Whitechapel, where a Sunday-school of about eighty German children has becu gathered during the past six months. It will soon be necessary to take steps towards the erection of a chapel in this locality. The growing wants of the Mission cannot be adequately met by our present hired preaching-rooms. By the exertions of Mr. Quilter, of the Richmond Theological Institution, Fulham has been placed on our German Plan, at which place services are held for the benefit of the Germans employed in the gas and other works.

4. LONDON.-Great Queen-street Circuit.-From the Rev. A. G. Ward.November 28th, 1867.-You will be glad to hear of the success which has attended the opening services of our Home-Mission school-chapel in the Prince of Wales'road, Haverstock-hill. The congregations were large, and the services of the ministers engaged were able, and calculated to produce a deep religious impression. The people who compose the congregations are, with few exceptions, of the working-class, from whom £90 was obtained at the opening. It was a cheering sight to see the chapel, on Sunday evening last, filled with working-men and their wives. Six persons were in great distress on account of their sins, and two of them found peace with God through faith in Christ. We hail these as the first fruits of what, we hope, will be an abundant harvest, to be gathered in this thickly-peopled neighbourhood. Our chapel will accommodate about six hundred persons. We have one hundred and fifty sittings in pews, of which we have already let a fair proportion, and expect to

let them all before long. I believe that, with diligent culture, this will prove a sphere of successful Mission labour. We have commenced two new classes under highly encouraging circumstances. It is right to say, that our friends in the other parts of the Circuit have given us valuable assistance. We have built our school-chapel on part of a large site, secured for the erection, at a future, but we trust no distant period, of a first-class chapel.

5. WATFORD. The great want here is the speedy erection of a suitable chapel, towards which the few Methodists at Watford have made, and are making, laudable exertions. The Rev. Edward Day writes, November 26th, 1867 :-The London and North-Western Railway Company, by their system of grauting free passes to persons building houses above a certain rental, have so stimulated the laying out of estates for building purposes, that a very considerable population has been gathering here during the past few years. It has been almost entirely drawn from London. In fact, Watford and Bushey, are now, practically, suburbs of the metropolis. The loss which Methodism has sustained, partly for want of a more frequent ministerial supply in the pulpit, but chiefly for want of a better chapel, will never be known. I have reason to think that hundreds now live in Watford and Bushey who were trained in Methodism, and who were accustomed to attend the ministry of our church until they came to reside here. These, for the most part, go to the services of other denominations, and have become attached to those who provided for their wants when we were either unable, or neglerted, to do so. This process of alienation from us cannot be stopped till we get a new chapel built. The present one is both comfortless and in a wretched situa

ton. Even if it were a good building and well situated, it is too small for our requirements. Among fourteen thousand people we Methodists provide for not more than two hundred and fifty hearers. The total church and chapel sittings here are estimated as being under three thousand!

6. CUERTSEY.-From the Rev. Newton R. Penny.-November 19th, 1867.-One great want in our Mission-work here has just been supplied in the finishing of a separate building for our Sunday-school. Twelve months since we commenced preparations for the erection of these schools, af the contemplated cost of about £400. More than three-fourths of this amount

has been realized, and we hope to pay the balance in a short time. The schools

have been open only a few weeks, and they have already been hallowed by powerful visitations of the Holy Spirit. The cry has been heard in them, from some of the elder scholars, "What must we do to be saved?" On Sunday, November the 10th, three boys earnestly sought and found mercy through faith in Christ Jesus. One of the most refreshing parts of my Mission work is to meet in class nine youths who, during the past year, have yielded themselves to God. The more I become acquainted with the irreligious and immoral condition of this neighbourhood, the more I am convinced of the necessity of thorough Home-Missionary appliances. Formidable opposition exists in the deepseated and ignorant bigotry which obtains, to a large extent, among the people. An old woman refused a tract, because she "takes the sacrament at the church;' another refused a tract, because it was offered by a Methodist ! however promoted and stimulated by ridiSuch bigotry, culous, though mischievous, High-Church pretensions, cannot hinder us, while it brings its promoters into contempt, and their system into danger.

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7. LIVERPOOL.-Pitt-street.-From the Rev. J. Dixon.-November 11th, 1867. -It is a pleasure to me to say that the Mission at Pitt-street is prospering. The congregation has increased. Last Sunday the attendance was very cheering. The members of Society are becoming more earnest in their endeavours to save souls. We have arranged bands of prayer-leaders, and commenced holding cottage-services. There are now more than forty tractdistributers engaged every Sabbath. It is up-hill work; but we are doing what we can, and hoping to see still happier

results.

8. BRADFORD, YORKS.-Eastbrook.From the Rev. John Clegg.-November 11th, 1867.-You will be pleased to hear that the work of God is in a state of prosperity in this Circuit. We expect to be enabled to report at our next QuarterlyMeeting nearly two hundred persons on trial for church-membership.

9. GLASGOW.-Cathcart-road.-From the Journal of the Rev. John Smith.October 26th, 1867.-Our Mission congregations during the past quarter have been very good, though many of our people are away in the summer months. We have

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nal classes have declined 15 per cent. in London. The towns dependent on agricultural districts - represented by Ipswich, Exeter, Reading, Shrewsbury, Lincoln, Winchester, Hereford, and Bridgewater-exhibit an increase of 28 per cent. in the entire criminal class.

The year 1866 is no exception to the general rule, that crimes are less in number, and apprehensions are higher in proportion, during the summer than the winter quarters of the year. The total number of indictable offences committed in 1866 was 50,549, being a decrease of 1,701, or 3 per cent. as compared with 1865. The proportion of apprehensions is rather on the decrease. Murders, as reported by the police, were 131. The coroners' returns would show more; but the verdicts of coroners' juries are not always endorsed by the criminal courts.

One important consideration connected with these returns, is that which relates to the detection and punishment of crime. As already stated, 50,549 indictable offences were placed on record. The persons apprehended in consequence were 27,190, of whom 29 per cent. were discharged. Of the 18,849 committed for trial, 24 per cent. were acquitted. Referring to the sentences passed, great changes are apparent. In the year 1834 no less than 864 persons were sentenced to transportation for life. In the year 1866 the life sentences-to penal servitudewere only two. To these we may add 13 capital sentences commuted. In 1856, the last year in which transportation was the rule, the sentences of ten years and upwards were 275. In 1857 the transportation and penal servitude sentences of ten years and upwards amounted to 209. In 1858, when the system of penal servitude was fully established, the sentences of the foregoing duration were only 66 in number. In 1866 they were 78. Sentences to death were 69 in 1856, 20 in 1865, and 26 in 1866. Since 1862 the punishment of death has been reserved for murder actually accomplished. that year one case of attempted murder received the capital sentence. In 1861 there were five such cases wherein sentence of death was passed; and in the year before that there were nine. In 1861 we find the sentence of death recorded in 50 instances, of which only

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31 had relation to murder. Unnatural crimes, burglary, and robbery, (if accompanied by personal violence,) and arson of dwelling-houses, were all liable to the death-punishment up to 1861, but not afterwards. With a solitary exception, in 1862, the line is sharply drawn at the close of the former year. In 1866 we had 12 executions, in the previous year seven, (one criminal escaping the scaffold by committing suicide;) in 1864 the executions were 19; and in 1863 they were 22.

To keep the criminal classes in check we have a police and constabulary force for England and Wales of 23,728, as shown by the returns for 1866. Here, as might be expected, there occurs an increase; the augmentation as compared with the previous year being rather more than 2 per cent. The total cost is £1,827,106, being an increase of 4 per cent. The whole borough police of England and Wales costs £462,984; the county constabulary, £678,747; the dockyard police, £50,795; the city of London police, £60,123; and the metropolitan police, £574,157.

Altogether, it is satisfactory that crime shows some symptoms of diminution; and we may hope that our police on the one hand, and moral and social agencies on the other, will succeed still further in reducing the number of offenders against the law. The sword of justice, and the hand of mercy, may well co-operate in this matter. Vagrants and prostitutes form more than one-half the total of those who are technically enumerated as the criminal classes. Juvenile crime also continues to claim our special attention. Education is needed for multitudes of destitute and ignorant children, who swarm in our large towns. The facts are before us, and, formidable as they are in themselves, they ought not to prove too great for the spirit and appliances of an age like this; whilst of all those agencies none supersedes the plodding house-to-house visitation of our agents, whether male or female; and none so truly has the sympathy of the poor as those sent out by Committees on a Christian basis. Will our friends help us to extend our operations at this time?-Journal of the Country Towns Mission.

[The extracts which appear in our pages under the head of "General Religious Intelligence" are carefully taken from the most trustworthy sources at our command. We cannot undertake, however, to answer for the propriety, in all cases, of their literary style; to guarantee, in every instance, the accuracy of dates, or of the naines of persons and places; or to endorse all the views which, on particular subjects connected with evangelical enterprise, agents of the various Religious Societies and Committees may advance.]

EFFORTS FOR THE ELEVATION OF THE CONDITION OF SYRIAN PEMALES.-At a recent meeting, held at the Friends' Chapel, Bishopsgate-street, E.C., several ladies and gentlemen associated with missionary efforts in Syria and Palestine communieated a number of particulars relative to Christian work in those regions, some of which will, doubtless, be acceptable to our readers.

The sanguinary massacre of the Syrian Christians in 1860 by the Druses and Mohammedans, when seven hundred men and youths were slain, left many women and orphans in a most pitiable condition of privation and neglect. The lively sympathy of Mrs. Bowen ThompSon, the excellent wife of Dr. Thompson, of Beyroot, was drawn forth to the poor sufferers on that occasion; and she forthwith consulted, with her friends in Syria and at home, as to the best means of rendering the aid so urgently needed under the circumstances. It was determined to take prompt measures for furnishing homes and training to the poor orphans at least, and, eventually, to combine with these efforts as much assistance as possible to the widows, and to the other portion of the Christian population of Syria and the Lebanon. From that time, the good work has been steadily maintained to the present date, often amid great difficulty and discouragement; but it has never been intermitted. Earnest, persevering prayer has been greatly relied on for its support; and not in vain. Very striking answers to these petitions have been received; and the blessing of the Lord has manifestly rested upon the undertaking, which has now assumed considerable proportions. Fourteen schools, containing an aggregate of nine hundred papils, have been established by Mrs. Thompson and her helpers in the mission. At the school at Hasbaya, in the heart of the Lebanon, one hundred and twentythree pupils receive instruction. Three native Bible women are engaged in the Beyroot district, and some arrangements have been made for teaching men and boys as well as females. The total annual expense of all these operations is

about £2,000. In order to render as much assistance as possible to so important a work, Mrs. Thompson's friends in Great Britain have organized themselves into a "Ladies' Association for the Social and Religious Improvement of the Syrian Females," under the presidency of the Hon. Mrs. Baptist Noel (of 36, Westbourne Terrace, W.). The Treasurer is General Augustus Clarke, of Lee, Blackheath, who will gladly receive contributions for the objects of the Association.

The large orphan-house and school at Beyroot, under the personal care of Mrs. Thompson, was visited by the Prince of Wales during his journey in the East. He was much pleased and surprised to hear a number of Syrian women and girls sing, in his own language, "God save the Queen,' ," "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds!" and other English hymns. Specimens of fancy work, neatly executed by the pupils, were shown to him, and elicited his admiring approval. When he was on the point of leaving the institution, Mrs. Thompson observed several young women in tears; and, on inquiring the cause, was informed, that these had been engaged in plain work, none of which had been shown to the Prince, or noticed by him. She then mentioned the circumstance to the royal visiter, who immediately answered good-humouredly, "I will go back directly, and look at their work also." He accordingly walked up to the plain-work pupils, and kindly noticed their productions-to their very high gratification.

On another occasion, when the Rev. Mr. Tristram, author of "The Land of Israel," was travelling from Damascus across the Lebanon, he and his companions arrived weary, and with torn clothes, (owing to the rocky, bushy nature of their mountain route,) at the village of Hasbaya, where they were astonished at being accosted in good English, by a group of Syrian girls, who exclaimed,

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May we mend your clothes?" These were pupils of the mission-school at that place. Their progress in English and Arabic, and in needlework, afforded much gratification to the party of visiters, who

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