will, doubtless, have heard a full account of the devastation which the hurricanes have made in different parts of the Bahamas. Of their effects in other places I have no authentic account; but here they were tremendous. The first began late on Saturday evening, July 29th, and continued till Monday morning, the 31st. I was from home, having left on Friday, the 28th, for Pear-Key; which place I attempted to leave for Tarpum-Bay in a boat; but the weather obliged us to return, and remain at Pear-Key till Tuesday, August 1st, when I had a rough and dangerous passage to Rock-Sound. I rejoiced to find my wife and child safe. She had thoughtfully packed up all my books. All was confusion within doors and without; but the joy we felt on seeing each other, after such fearful forebodings, cannot easily be described. On Friday evening, August 4th, another gale commenced, and continued until Sunday morning, the 6th. The natives mention the gales in 1813 and 1824, but the oldest agree that they have never witnessed such a gale before; and that the houses must all have been blown away, had they not been much stronger than they were a few years ago. The destruction in the plantations has been great; nearly all the provision is destroyed. Many of the people are, consequently, in great distress and poverty: but we have too much complaining, and too little thanksgiving and prayer; for there are some relieving circumstances. We are prone to look at the darkest side; yet one thing especially should be spoken of with gratitude: most of the Indian corn was ripe, or nearly so; therefore, though blown down, it could be gathered up and used, except where the plantations were very low and filled with water. Being much exposed in going from one settlement to another, I have taken several severe colds during, and since, the gales. In the month of June I was driven into the sea by a large dog: the horse ran back so far, that a heavy wave washed him down, so that we were both buried in the water. I had miles to ride in wet clothes, a miserable place to lodge in, had not sufficient change of raiment, no fire to dry me, and much rain. The Lord was better to me than my fears. I had suffered much during the sittings of the District-Meeting; and stayed at Nassau nearly ten weeks, partly in consequence of weakness, and partly from other circumstances. Once I was about to return to my Circuit, and had sent my luggage on board; the weather detained us a day, and the next day I was seized by the fever again. About a fortnight after, another opportunity offered; but I was suddenly afflicted a third time. A fourth opportunity offered for ine to return; but Mrs. Lofthouse was in dying circumstances, and Mr. Lofthouse unequal to his work. A few days after Mrs. Lofthouse died, Mrs. Eacott was confined four days; after which I returned to my Circuit by way of Harbour-Island, being anxious to get back to my work, and no vessel going direct for some time. Through mercy, I now feel as well and as strong to labour as ever I did. Mrs. Eacott has suffered much: we wonder not, as most of the natives have been much afflicted since the gales. Thank God, her health is in a much better state than it has been. I hope the late visitation has been the means of awakening some to a more serious concern for their souls. Many of our old members profess to see and feel what they never felt before. I have been obliged to reprove, yea, to rebuke, and in some instances to expel; but think I see some improvement, and have some hope. I must now stimulate the people to build. At Savannah-Sound chapel is blown quite down; and the chapels at Tarpum-Bay and PalmettoPoint are unsafe and unfit to worship in; they were in a very dilapidated state before the gale. The chapels at Governor's Harbour, Pear-Key, and Rock-Sound need repair. I hope, by the the assistance of the Chairman, Mr. Corlett,-who, I rejoice to hear, has arrived at Nassau, to secure the chapel-lots to the Connexion. I feel I have a formidable work before me; but I hope the people will make an effort, and that the Lord will own my labours among them. BAHAMAS: NEW-PROVIDENCE.— -Extract of a Letter from the Rev. John Corlett, dated Nassau, Nov. 7th, 1837. HAVING arrived here before the September quarterly visitation, I had an opportunity of knowing how the members attend their Ministers on these inter esting occasions. I found that very many of the male members were absent, either at sea, or at the out-islands, pursuing some avocations ashore. I thought that the circumstances of our members, our hearers, and the colony, required it and I therefore determined, as soon as possible, to spend one or two weeks in this quarter in visiting some of the most neglected parts of the colony; and I have ascertained the following facts, and arrived at the following conclusions, from what I have seen and heard during my excursion: 1. The population of Great and Little Exuma and Hog-Island was, when the last census was taken, 1,360; but is, in my opinion, more at present, as children are numerous, and many of the captured Africans are apprenticed on these islands. 2. The people are absolutely "as sheep having no shepherd;" and they have been in this awful state thirty-four or thirtyfive years. 3. Long-Island is only about three hours' sail, with a fair wind, from LittleExuma; and has, I am credibly informed, a population equally numerous and desti tute. St. Salvador, famed as being the first land discovered by the immortalized Columbus in the western world, is only thirty-six or forty miles distant from Little-Exuma, and contains a considerable although scattered population, without religious teaching and religious ordinances, without that which is next to the redemption of the world in the catalogue of the believer's chief mercies from heaven, "the means of grace," and, I fear, too generally without "the hope of glory.' 4. To me it appears highly desirable to open a Mission at Little-Exuma ; where, I am informed, on unexceptionable testimony, there are from five hundred to seven hundred persons residing during the salt-raking season. If we could provide means whereby these people, while so concentrated, may "be brought to the knowledge of the truth," they would, in some instances, it may be hoped in many, carry along with them, on their return to their respective places of abode, the seed of the kingdom. A Missionary residing here would have an opportunity of preaching the Gospel to hundreds of souls every Sabbath during the salt-raking season, and could, on the week evenings, hold catechetical and other services. He would also have it in his power to prevent the profanation of the Sabbath, and check and restrain those evil practices which usually are found among such promiscuous assemblages of persons of different ages and sexes, where there is not any person of acknowledged superiority, of religious and moral character, to exercise a religious influence over them. There are, too, a few respectable individuals who would, I am sure, readily co-operate with a Missionary, in carrying on an efficient Sunday-school. Vessels from different parts of the world are constantly coming here, and a great number of persons are employed in shipping salt nearly throughout the year; but should there be any period of the year when a Missionary would not find his hands full at this place, the adjacent islands, before mentioned, will require that he go over to them, and help them. 5. There is, in my opinion, another very important reason why a Mission should be commenced without delay at this place. There is an increasing thirst for knowledge abroad; the ability to read is becoming more general; periodicals, containing the most pernicious views of religion, are brought here in the vessels which arrive from time to time; they are read first by the master, then by his children, then sometimes in fragments, or as a whole, to the servants: and though the tares may not spring up immediately, nothing will preserve this now-uncultivated moral soil from becoming one vast field of tares throughout the entire length and breadth of the land, but the presence of a skilful and good husbandman, who will break up the fallow ground, who will sow in righteousness, who will sow good seed; -one who, by vigilance, will betimes prevent the enemy from sowing his tares; one who will laboriously toil, in the morning sow his seed, and in the evening not withhold his hand; who will sow beside all waters; one who will wait for the precious fruit of the earth, and have long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain; one who will not observe the wind nor regard the clouds when they are apparently unfavourable, but will, if needs be, go forth sowing in tears, that he may reap in joy, and return again, bringing his sheaves with him. That the Lord of the harvest may send forth into this corner of his vast field such a labourer, through your instrumentality, shall be my constant prayer, as it is my ardent desire. ST. VINCENT.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. John Cullingford, du.ed Biabou, November 16th, 1837. OUR Missionary Anniversaries for the year having ended, I embrace the earliest opportunity of forwarding the account, requesting, at the same time, that it may have a place in your next Report. The Meetings, three in number, were well attended, and the spirit of liberality, especially of the apprenticed labourers, was such as evinced no ordinary interest in the holy cause of furnishing means to send the Gospel to the Heathen. I must not omit mentioning a circumstance which will be interesting to you: About a fortnight before the Meeting was held at Biabou, I spoke to the people on the subject of Missions generally, but particularly respecting Africa, and their duty to help, by their subscriptions, to send the Gospel to the land of their forefathers. They entered very pleasingly into the spirit which I wished to see; Collectors were appointed for the different estates; and, when preparing the list for the pub lic Meeting, I found that nineteen appren tices had subscribed 4s. 4d. each; three, 8s. 8d. each; two, 6s. 6d. each; one, 5s. 6d.; and the children of the evening school, 8s. 10d. These amounts are sterling value. After the public Meeting, one of the old Leaders came and said, "Massa, I give ten dog and five dog at the Meeting; I feel I no been give enough; I bring you this dollar for me and my wife." The following day another member came with two dollars for himself and wife; and several others since have brought their dollars. The subscription-list for the District Report has the names of twenty-seven apprentices, who have given to the Mission Fund from 4s. 4d. to 8s. 8d., sterling, each. Consider, dear Sir, the circumstances of the apprentices, and you will not say that they are deficient in a spirit of benevolence. A very considerable amount has also been raised in smaller sums. TRINIDAD.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. George Beard, dated Port-of-Spain, December 21st, 1837. NEARLY two years ago, when I commenced a subscription to repair the chapel in town, I drew up a Memorial, and presented it to the Governor and Council, asking for such aid as to them might seem fit. This was, I believe, read and thrown aside: at least I heard no more about it. After Mr. Bilby's lecture, I found that much was still to be done, and moreover, that I had run in debt above one hundred dollars. I did not like this, and thought that I would try again. The beginning of last month, I drew up a "Petition to His Excellency the Governor and the Honourable Members of the Council of Government," stating the case, and asking the grant of £100 sterling to complete the repairs; and I am truly thankful to be able to tell you that yesterday forenoon the Colonial Treasurer paid into my hands the doubloons, which I brought away rejoicing. The petition was presented by the Honourable John Losh; but, before its presentation, I waited on nearly all the members, and obtained the promise of their support. I then wrote a letter to the Governor, soliciting his patronage; and the gentleman who laid the petition before the Board states to me, that we are under considerable obligations to His Excellency for the prompt manner in which he moved the Resolution. TRINIDAD.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. George Ranyell, dated San-Fernando, November 16th, 1837. LEAVING San-Fernando and SouthNaparemar, I shall point out our prospects in the Savonetta, Couva, and Caropachima Districts. This part of the field is decidedly the most promising. On the Cedar-Hill estate we have a society of more than eighty persons, attentive to all the means of grace, and whose conduct has been much improved. The proprietors have recently given me the Overseer's house, a good building, to be converted into a chapel and school-house for the estate's people. The Mistress of the dayschool, formerly an apprentice, has purchased her freedom for the sum of fiftyfour dollars. The proprietors will give her a small salary; but she requires further assistance, having to refund the money for her manumission, which was advanced by a friend. She has a strong claim on the benevolence of British philanthropy. Can you allow her a small sum annually for the day-school? She is a good Christian, an excellent Leader, and an indefatigable Teacher. Mr. Bilby has kindly given her a month's training; and promised some books for the school. I shall use my influence with the proprietors, and, if you will allow her thirty dollars yearly, dare venture to say that a salary of one hundred dollars will be realized for her. In the above-named quarters I regularly visit the Carolina, the Milton, and the Providence estates; preach in the village of Couva, and occasionally, when time will admit, on other properties. The chapel we are building in the Savonetta quarter near Couva, stands in the centre of the estates mentioned, and of a variety of others, to which doubtless we could have access. It is in a forward state, and we hope will be completed by the end of the year. The residence above the chapel will be roomy, airy, and, I trust, healthy. I am happy to inform you that the inhabitants have manifested a very kind and liberal feeling towards our cause; the prospects for extensive usefulness are cheering, and with Heaven's blessing we trust that a number of immortal souls will soon be gathered into the fold of Christ. May the power and presence of the Holy Ghost accompany the ministration of God's word, as in the primitive ages of the church. The Catholics have recently commenced building a church near our chapel. The Protestants contemplate the erection of one also; so that, in all probability, we shall soon have three resident Ministers in a quarter which was only visited occasionally by a Methodist Missionary. BARBADOES.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. William Fidler, dated OUR building at Scotland is of wood, and not of stone; because it was impossible to get stone sufficient within a reasonable distance. The stones promised to me were not too far from the land we had first engaged, but which the owner would not secure to us; but they were a mile, on the other side of a mountain which divided them, from the land which we were at last obliged to buy, or go without in that quarter. We were fortunate in begging part of the wall of a very old windmill; and the apprenticed labourers carried stones from the bed of the river, or picked them up over the cane-fields; and thus we obtained as many as raised the sill of the frame of the house about one foot from the ground on the higher side of the slope on which it is erected. Had we waited for a supply of stones, we must have been without a building for many months beyond the present year; or spent at least about £500 sterling. Our present school-chapel, erected of wood, very strong, forty feet in length and twenty in breadth, together with a small residence for the Master, twenty two feet by twelve, and a rough boarded kitchen, and a stable for the Circuit horse, will cost not less than £290 sterling, when finished. The school itself cost more than the £200 allowed for its erection. Mr. Maddison, the Master at Scotland commenced with us on the 8th of April, 1837, and Mr. Church at Speight's-town on the 5th of June, 1837. They are very useful as Local Preachers as well as Schoolmasters. Send us more labourers, either Schoolmasters or Missionaries. Can nothing be done for Nelson-street, and other places already often named to you? A proprietor, and Member of the House of Assembly, offered me, a few days ago, land and stones for a schoolchapel on his estate, about three miles from the one we have at Scotland. If you could grant £200, and guarantee the Master's salary, we should be able, I believe, to do great good in that part of Scotland; and from thence could obtain access into a parish we have never yet been able to visit. TORTOLA.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Robert Hawkins, dated IT will afford you pleasure to learn that I have, within the last few weeks, re-opened our Mission on an estate not far from town, which the Missionaries have not been allowed to visit for about thirteen years; and that the proprietor of that estate has been twice to the town chapel of late. There is not an estate in the country closed against us at this moment. We may preach; and we may, if we please, and if we can, establish schools on them. I have lately made application to two of the leading gentlemen in the island, namely, the Hon. B. Lloyd, and the Hon. Isaac Thomas, for a more eligible site for our expected new chapel at the west end; and have been offered a piece of land in the most gentlemanly manner. Yesterday an old member of society, also a Class-Leader, departed this life in peace with God, aged one hundred and four years. I have frequently visited her, and always found her ready for the Master's call. She has heard that call, obeyed it, and gone to her eternal rest and enjoyment. The above-named gentlemen, in the course of the last year, afforded me material help in effecting the repairs of the large chapel in Road-town; as you will see by a reference to the cash received in our last chapel-account. I received from the former a donation of eight dollars in cash, and from both of them (for at that period they had vessels between them) the freight of thirty thousand shingles from St. Thomas, which was a subscription equal to nearly sixty dollars more. The former gentleman, who resides at the east end, has kindly offered to help me again, when we can begin the erection of the chapel there; and I have no doubt but that the latter gentleman will also help considerably. I have enclosed a list of donations, &c., received by me when repairing the chapel in Road-town in 1836, and also faithfully accounted for by me at the last District-Meeting. LETTERS have been received, written by the direction of Lord Melbourne and of Sir John Hobhouse, respectively acknowledging, in the usual way, their reception of the Memorials on the subject of the practical encouragement afforded by British functionaries to idolatry in India, which had been forwarded to them by order of the Committee, as mentioned in our last Number. From the Secretary of the East India Company, the following answer has been received, addressed to Dr. Bunting :-" East India House, Feb. 8th, 1838.-Sir, I have laid before the Court of Directors your letter, dated the 26th ult., addressed to the Chairman of the East India Company, transmitting a Memorial from the Wesleyan Missionary Society, on the subject of idolatrous worship in India; and in reply I am commanded to assure you, that the subject has for a considerable period received, and that it will continue to receive, the attentive consideration of the Court. I am, &c., JAMES C. MELVILLE."-Earnestly do we pray, that the result of the "attentive consideration" of the Directors may be the speedy and effectual termination of the enormous and aggravated evils of which the Memorials of our own Society, and of other ecclesiastical or Missionary bodies, have so justly complained. RECENT DEATHS. MR. S. S. JOHNSTONE, formerly Assistant-Missionary in the NovaScotia District, died of pulmonary consumption, October 30th, at HarbourIsland, in the Bahamas, to which place he had been obliged to return in April last, by the failing state of his health. He died in great peace; and "has left behind him," says the Rev. W. West, "a name that will live long in the affections of those who knew him, and a reputation which many greater than he might envy. He lived and died a Christian." With melancholy feelings we announce the decease of Mrs. Lofthouse, the excellent wife of the Rev. Wilson Lofthouse, of the Jamaica Mission, which occurred on the 17th of November last, at Montego-Bay. And we have the painful task of further reporting that the apprehensions expressed |