Missionary Register

Philanthropy into all the detail of Christian Duties, and we shall find that it possesses an efficacy surpassing all that we have yet conceived. Let us make the dear children of our charge sharers in the effort and in the blessing. If God has so blessed us in our limited and feeble eforts, and notwithstanding the mixture of our motives, will He not much more bless the ardour of youthful devotedness, and the simplicity of childlike sacrifices? On many a youthful candidate for His notice, who pressed forward to lay a palm-branch at His feet, the glance of the merciful and condescending Saviour doubtless fell with affectionate approbation; while the voice of Infinite Love attested, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise. Are the offerings of children less acceptable to Him now? or from His high throne in heaven has He ceased to regard them?

GIVING ENLARGES THE HEART.

This truth, so encouraging under the necessity for repeated and importunate applications in support of the Cause of Christ, is forcibly illustrated by Dr. Chalmers, in the following extract of his Address to Dr. Duff, on the return of that zealous Missionary to his labours in India :

Jealousy has been sometimes felt by the advocates of different Societies. This jealousy proceeds on a false arithmetic; or rather on a misapprehension, by virtue of which it is that natural and moral arithmetic are confounded together. By natural arithmetic, we estimate the means; by moral, we estimate the motives: and it is quite a natural thing, that by the very process by which the means of benevolence are alienated from our Society, a tenfold force is given to the motive. Nothing can be more palpably true, than that the guinea which is parted with for one charity is no longer in reserve for another: but that appliance, which drew the guinea from the hand, sent at the same time an impulse to the heart; so that he, who has been operated upon, has become a much more hopeful subject for a fresh application than the man whose purse has never been opened, and that because his sensibilities have never been addressed in the cause of liberality.

It is thus that our different schemes might work, and in fact do work, to one another's hands. Should the first have preceded, and gone over the whole of Scotland, the second only finds the ground the more softened and prepared. It acts not by exhaustion-it acts by fermentation. Exhaustion!—the notion is preposterous. Who exhausts himself? Who has abridged one item of his expense in the cause of charity? Who has cast more into the treasury of the Lord, than a very small fraction of that, which is familiarly known by the name of pocket-money? They are mainly the same names which are to be found over and over again in all our great Charities. We do not count on the power of alchymy, which would transmute every thing into gold: ours is a higher and nobler alchymy-the alchymy of the heart; by virtue of which it is that the charity given for one object expands to another, till the giver exercises a wide and wakeful eye on all the sufferings and wants of humanity. Those who would cast jealousy between two Societies have never attended to the facts or the philosophy of the subject. They display an equally gross want of philosophy with those who would repress the liberality of the working classes in favour of our Bible and Missionary Institutions, lest it should bring them nearer the workhouse, and hasten their descent to pauperism: the fact is, it widens their distance from pauperism; and translates them into the dignity of givers, from that degenerate sloth and sordidness which turn many of them into receivers.

EXPLANATION OF THE FOLLOWING SURVEY.

Under each Division is first given an abstract of the chief proceedings of Bible, Tract, and Education Societies, where such are in action: and this is followed by a view of the Stations, Labourers, and Notitia of the different Missionary Societies. The Societies are placed in such order as the length or sphere of their exertions within the respective Divisions, or other circumstances, seemed to point out.

The Stations are ranged in their usual geographical order. Under each, the following particulars are noticed, so far as information could be

obtained-A brief description of the Station, with the date when first occupied -The names of the Missionaries; and, occasionally, those of Assistants, whether Catechists, Schoolmasters, or Artisans; with the number of the Native Assistants-Returns of numbers relative to the Ministry and to Education, with brief notices on the state and prospects of these two main departments of labour-Miscellaneous notices on Publications, the Press, and other matters connected with the Station; with references to the pages of the preceding Volume where particulars relative to such Station will be found.

The abstract of the proceedings of each Missionary Society, given in the several Divisions of the Survey, is closed by extracts printed across the page, from the communications of the Missionaries or the Reports of the different Societies, whenever such extracts can be obtained as convey brief but comprehensive views of their proceedings or prospects. Such extracts as have reference, more comprehensively, to the state of that Division of the Survey are printed at the end of the Division.

The references to pages are always to those of our last Volume, when not otherwise specified.

Western Africa.

GOVERNMENT EXPEDITION UP THE NIGER.

EXTRACTS from Lord John Russell's Letter to the Lords of the Treasury were given at pp. 14, 15 of our last Volume. The recommendations contained in it have received the sanction of the Treasury, and have been acted on. Three iron steamers have been built and equipped, as stated at p. 64, with the greatest attention to the probable necessities of the Expedition. It was remarked, at p. 108, that the Committee of the Church Missionary Society had obtained permission from Government to allow two members of the Sierra-Leone Mission to join it.

From causes, stated at p. 120, the Expedition delayed its setting out till the months of April and May; and sailed from Sierra Leone in July, see pp. 272, 430, 472. The bar of the River Nun was passed (p. 520) on the 13th of August. It has pleased God, however, to visit the Expedition with much fatal sickness (p. 555): one-third of the crews had, on the 29th of September, invalided, of whom 27 had died. It appears, that of the entire number of Whites, one-eighth have perished; of the officers, one-seventeenth; and of the men, about one-sixth. The scientific men attached to the Expedition have suffered very slightly; and the Rev. Messrs. Müller and Schön not at all.

The loss is much less than that of former expeditions. Park's whole retinue was annihilated. Captain Tuckey, in 1816, died with nearly onehalf of his officers and crew; and all the scientific men, with a single exception. Captain Owen lost nearly two-thirds; and Laird, by the time he had arrived at the confluence, had buried half his white crew, and more than half his officers. This latter gentleman gives it as his decided opinion, that the fever was less malignant in this case than in his own; that they have "passed through their greatest danger with much less loss than any reasonable man anticipated;" and that those who have escaped are not likely to be attacked again, unless by returning to the swamps. This opinion, combined with the confirmation which they give of the healthiness of the country above the Delta, goes far to remove the natural fears for their future safety. Treaties have been concluded with Obi, of Eboe, and Attah,

Jan. 1841.

of Egarrah, for the entire abolition of the Slave Trade, and of Human Sacrifices. Of the conduct and deportment of both these Princes, the Commissioners speak very highly.

A tract of land has been purchased, 16 miles in length, and four to six in width; extending, on the right or eastern bank of the Niger, from Mount Pattéh on the north to Mount Soracte on the south, and including Beaufort Island. The ground rises gradually from the bank of the river, and is dry; while Mount Pattéh rises 1200 feet above the level of the river.

The country is represented as fully open for enterprise; the Natives perfectly peaceable and friendly; their eagerness for Missionaries and Teachers highly encouraging. Obi and Attah earnestly desired a Teacher to be left with them; and were much disappointed at finding that their request could not be granted.

The Albert" was proceeding, at the date of the last despatches, up the Niger, and the "Wilberforce" up the Tchadda.

It is thought that one of the steamers may probably go down to the sea for the winter, for the purpose of surveying the various outlets; but all are expected to join in pursuing their Mission up the river next spring. As the "Albert" was on the point of ascending the Niger, and the Wilberforce" the Tchadda, when the last accounts left, we may perhaps shortly hear of various important interesting discoveries up these rivers.

BIBLE, TRACT, AND EDUCATION SOCIETIES.

B. F. BIBLE SOC. The Sierra-Leone Auxiliary has remitted 767. 9s. 2d., being the Receipts of the last six months of the year ending Jan. 1841: of this sum, 10. 68. 4d. was collected at a Public Meeting held in Freetown, at which between 2000 and 3000 Natives were present. The Society has ordered 524 Bibles and 24 Testaments, in addition to 600 Bibles which had been previously received a grant has been made, on behalf of the Ashantees, of 250 English Bibles and Testaments, 12 Arabic Bibles, and 40 Portions of Scripture; and, for the use of the Niger Expedition, 120 Bibles, 50 Pen

tateuchs, 25 Psalms, and 120 Gospels and Acts in Arabic; and 50 Pentateuchs in Hebrew-P. 15.

PRAYER-BOOK AND HOMILY SOC.- The Auxiliary in Sierra Leone has remitted 141. 88. 4d.; and made application for a further supply of Books-P. 15.

RELIG.-TRACT Soc.-Missionaries have been supplied with about 2480 Tracts: and Libraries, to the value of 15., on reduced terms, were granted for the "Albert," Wilberforce," and "Soudan," on application of their Commanders, previous to their proceeding on the Niger Expedition-P. 15.

STATIONS, LABOURERS, AND NOTITIA OF MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.

Africa; and encourage the prayer, that Sierra Leone may yet prove the fountainhead of a River of Life, which may fertilize this vast continent with the Blessings of the Gospel.

A Sermon was preached in the new Mission Church at Freetown, in aid of the Society, by the Rev. D. F. Morgan, Colonial Chaplain the Collection amounted to 51. A Meeting was also held, at which the Governor, the late Sir John Jeremie, presided: the amount collected was 10%.

The Total Contributions raised during the year amount to 497. 2s. 3d.; which, added to former remittances, makes the total received by the Parent Society from the Auxiliary, 18857. 38. 10d.

See, at pp. 164-169, 208, 209, 454462, 486, 487, many details of proceedings in the Mission; at pp. 108, 109, remarks on some of the Native Languages; at pp. 311, 429, notices of the deaths of Mrs. Young and Mrs. Schmid; at pp. 433, 434, an Obituary of Mrs. Young; and at pp. 204-207, 521, 522, Obituaries of several Africans.

Labourers.

Rev. John Warburton and Mrs. Warburton, Mr. and Mrs. Townsend, and Mr. and Mrs. Ilott, arrived at Sierra Leone on the 15th of Dec. 1840; and Rev. N. C. Haastrup, Rev. D. H. Schmid and Mrs. Schmid, on the 12th of January, 1841. Rev. J. W. Weeks and Mrs. Weeks, with Rev. Ebenezer Collins and Mr. Isaac Smith, arrived in London on the 2d of June; and Mrs. Schön has, by ill health, been obliged to return to England. Rev.

Christian T. Frey, and Rev. Charles A. Gollmer, were admitted to Deacon's Orders, by the Bishop of London, on the 6th of June; the Rev. Henry Rhodes, Rev. Christian T. Frey, and Rev. Charles A. Gollmer, to Priest's Orders on the 12th of September; and on the 15th of October, the Instructions of the Committee were delivered to the Rev. John U. Graf, Rev. Henry Rhodes, Rev. Christian T. Frey, Rev. Charles A. Gollmer, and Mr. John Reynolds, and their Wives, on the occasion of their departure to Sierra Leone: they embarked in the "Roslin Castle," Oct. 28th-Pp. 15, 16, 174, 224, 310, 428, 429, 471, 520.

Stations.

Freetown -1804 James F. Schön: Thomas Peyton, Cat.; John Ilott, Surgeon; Thomas King, Richard Bowley, Nat. As.; George Nicoll, District Visitor

- Communicants, 82-Scholars: Boys and Girls, 380; Youths and Adults, 319

P. 16; and see, at p. 430, a notice of the embarkation of the Rev. James F. Schön, with Thomas King, a Native Catechist, and other Natives, in the vessels engaged in the Niger Expedition.

This day I have been under the painful necessity of dismissing from our Day School 59 children, who, after repeated admonition, refused to attend church on the Lord's Day. In the course of the day, all the parents of the children, except two, came, begging me to receive them again. I told them, that I would re-admit them, if they would send them to church on the Lord's Days. I assured them, that I required of every child attending the Day School, except in cases of sickness, a constant and regular attendance on Public Worship. The parents replied: " Master, what you say is very right: we will send our children to church, if you will be so kind as to take them back to school." It was pleasing to see them come in so becoming a manner; and it afforded me equal pleasure to receive them.

I went to the house of a poor woman who had sent for me; and found her suffering severely from the effects of intemperance and debauchery. She said, that many times her heart had told her that she was living in a bad way, and that she should go to the bad place when she died. "I shall be sure," she. continued, " to go to hell. Many times my heart has told me to go to church, and learn to serve God; but I loved my sins too much, and I not go." She confessed every aggravating circumstance which she could remember of her iniquity. I shall never forget the way in which she addressed herself to me, after she had gone through the melancholy tale of her life, With a look of the most exquisite distress, she directed her eyes to me, and said, "Sir, is there no mercy for me, such a great sinner?' I directed her to the Lamb of God, as an allsufficient sacrifice, who taketh away the sin of the world. [Mr. Peyton.

Christian Institution-1828- Edward Jones, Superint.: Henry Townsend, Cat.; Sam. Crowther, Nat. As. Students, 17P. 16; and see, at p. 430, a notice of Sam. Crowther's joining the Niger Expedition.

Mr. Isaac Smith, who has had the charge of the Institution since the departure of the Rev. G. A. Kissling, reports very favourably of the religious state of many among the Students.

This Institution may be regarded as the most important of all the Missionary Operations carried on at Sierra Leone. Many causes have hitherto prevented its attaining that position, as an Educational Establishment, which the

Church Missionary Society— Committee desire but measures are now in progress, with a view to make it an efficient Training School for intelligent African Youths; and thus, under the Divine Blessing, the means of preparing Africans to be themselves the Teachers of their own countrymen. [Report.

On two days in the week, an hour is devoted to Infant-School Instruction; by which the Students gain a practical acquaintance with an important part of their future duties.

During the quarter, six have applied to be received as candidates for the Lord's Supper: I sincerely hope their motives are pure. It was cheering to me, to hear them plead for admission upon no other ground than a desire to be made acquainted with the will of God, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, so as to have an interest in Him. The number receiving instruction for Baptism is 4; and for the Lord's Supper 11. I am therefore encouraged to consider the Institution as prospering. [Mr. I. Smith.

RIVER DISTRICT-comprehending Kissey, Wellington, Hastings, and Waterloo; lying E. and SE of Freetown, from 3 to 20 miles Fred. Bultmann, David H. Schmid: William Young, Cat.; John Attarra and 12 other Nat. As.-Communicants, 555-Scholars: Boys and Girls, 1294; Youths and Adults, 1261-P. 16. The following is an extract from a Native District-Visitor's Report :

I put down all the names of backsliders, because I wish to call on them in their houses and to speak to them. On the 27th of July, I go from house to house; but I did not find many of them at home. Then I said, "Never mind; on Lord's Day I shall see them all." On that day, I tell them to come to my house next day. They come well, and I read to them Jer. iii. 11-15. Some remember well; but some began to draw back again, as our Saviour says, Matt, xii, 43-45.

To-day I met two Communicants: one of them very bad attend church. I ask the careless: What is the matter you not come to church?" He says, "I have had trouble, which prevents me to come to church."-I say, Your trouble ought to lead you to God." The man began again to complain.-I say to him," Brother, stop!" I took his own Bible, and read to him Lam. iii. 31-40. I turn to Rom. viii. 35-39, and speak to him many good words; told him that he must not do so; and begged him to go to church. He says, "Yes."

I pass on, and come to another man. I ask him, "You go church?" He says, "No.""What is the matter you no go church?" I am a poor man."-I say, "You no

I say, He say,

hear what the Bible says? Rich and poor, all must go and pray." The man say, "But look at my cloth." He put on a blanket without sleeves, without collar: so I say to him, "If death come to-day, you cannot say to him, Look me poor man." The man said, "I will go."— I also told him, " God done send the rain to make the ground soft: we must plant cassadas, and ginger, and every thing, and get cloth, and

go to church."

I met a man, in his house, worshipping an idol. I told him, "This is not good;" and told him of the goodness of God to man; and how man has sinned against God. I took my Bible, and read Psalm cxv. 2-8. I told him of the deadness of his idol. I turn to Jer. xliv. 1419. The man say, " True what you say: many people come to me, but never read to me as you do."-I told him, "I will come and see you again." He say, "Yes." [Kissey, MOUNTAIN DISTRICT comprehending Gloucester, Leicester, Regent, Bathurst, and Charlotte; lying S and SSE of Freetown, from 3 to 6 miles - John Warburton, Niels C. Haastrup: James Beal, Cat.; Matt. T. Harding and 11 other Nat. As.-Communicants, 693-Scholars: Boys and Girls, 1160; Youths and Adults,

1132-P. 16.

SEA DISTRICT-Kent: the most southern Station in the Colony: 40 miles from Freetown-Joseph Bartholomew, Thomas Lefevre, Nat. As.-Communicants, 43Scholars: Boys and Girls, 180; Youths and Adults, 210-P. 16.

TIMMANEE COUNTRY-Port Lokkoh: a Native Town, about 40 miles from Freetown, has been fixed on as a Station in this country - Christian F. Schlenker : Nathaniel Denton, Cat.; William C. Thomson, Translator; George Metzger, William Dick, Nat. As. See, at pp. 17, 18, a notice of a Journey into the Timmanee Country; and at pp. 103-107, many details of the journey, and the commencement of a Mission.

The expedition which was made into this country ascertained that very favourable openings for preaching the Gospel presented themselves. The desire which is felt by many for Christian Instruction is illustrated by the following statement made by Mr. Smith:

On Friday last, Neu Sükoh, the Timmanee Chief at Yongoroo, came here, and was present at the opening of the School; when we sang a Hymn and read the Scriptures, at which he appeared quite affected, and said, "True, white man have sense too much." He is exceedingly anxious to have a Missionary at Yongoroo: he points out the spot where the Rev. G. Nyländer once resided; and says he keeps it for us, if we will come and teach them : he also says that the people will erect a School House, and a house for a Schoolmaster.

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