may be proposed, even in the future, should be founded on merely pecuniary considerations. Shall we withdraw the Missionaries from the West-Indian Islands? The West Indies were the scene of our earliest labours and sufferings;-of our largest success ;-and of our most signal triumphs. Shall conquests so dearly bought, and so intrinsically valuable, be tamely yielded? To abandon the West-India Missions, would be to obliterate one peculiar feature of the Society,-its professed care for the progeny of Ham,-and its desire to offer some compensation to the present inhabitants of the West Indies, for the wrongs inflicted on their progenitors by the civilised nations of Europe. Shall we ignore the debt we have hitherto acknowledged to Western Africa, now happily accessible to the Christian teacher, by ceasing to support our Missions at the Gambia, at Sierra-Leone, and at CapeCoast? Should we, in such case, prove ourselves worthy to be associated, even in name, with those sainted men, who, in the spirit of Confessors and Martyrs, have now for many years successively exposed their lives to a climate which, the experience of their predecessors showed, would probably prove fatal to themselves, not counting their lives dear to them, that they might turn sinners to God? And it may fairly be questioned, whether the Missions in South and Interior Africa are so nearly adequate to the opportunities afforded to Christian labourers, by God's providence, in those vast regions, or to the responsibilities we have hitherto habitually acknowledged, as to admit of being allowed to remain within their present limits;—to say nothing of reducing them to any considerable extent, so as to save any material amount to the Funds of the Society. Having thus referred to several large sections of the Society's Missions, we take the liberty to remark, that the only consideration that is applicable to the other Missions of the Society, which, it will be observed, are strictly Christian Missions in Heathen lands,-namely, those among the North American Indians, and those in Ceylon and India, in NewZealand, and the Friendly and Feejee Islands,-is, that they ought to be permanently strengthened and increased, if adequate means could be found for that purpose. We are therefore shut up to the conclusion, that, under present circumstances, it would be neither wise, nor prudent, nor economical, nor for the honour and interests of the Society, or of Methodism at large, to reduce either the labour and responsibilities of the Missionary Committee, or the charge on the Society's Funds, by discontinuing the Missions in any section or sections of the field which the Society is now endeavouring to cultivate. It is concluded that the Missions must be continued and supported in their present form, and to their present extent. No immediate change can be made in the Society's Missions with any prospect of material advantage in the reduction of annual Expenditure, nor without a more than corresponding decrease of the present annual Income. The Committee do not shrink from the labour and responsibility implied in the maintenance of the Missions as they at present exist; but they earnestly and affectionately call upon their friends to come to their help, for the immediate and effectual support of those Missions, with their usual liberality and promptitude. They take the liberty to request, 1. That means be taken not to allow the Missionary contributions from any Circuit to fall below those of last year. In order to this, all the old sources of income should be carefully examined, and made again available. There are also, no doubt, many persons who would become subscribers to the Missions, if suitable and timely application were made to them; and these new subscribers may be found equal to those whom we have lost by death and other causes. The Collectors of small sums, and the Christmas and New-Year's Juvenile Offering Collectors, should be stimulated and encouraged to new and spirited exertions; (and, with this view, good use should be made of the cards and pictures sent by the December book-parcels ;) and the Anniversary Meetings yet to be held should be made as telling and productive as possible. It is not possible to contemplate a diminution of income, and an increase of the debt, this year, except as a calamity much to be deprecated; while, on the contrary, by God's blessing, a timely and vigorous effort throughout the Connexion, may be followed by a happy increase of means for the prosecution of our great work. Is there not a cause that such an effort should be made most promptly and most cordially? 2. That an increase of contributions for this year be sought, with a view to reducing the debt of the Society. The debt in 1848 was £13,358. 16s. 1d.: this was happily reduced, last year, to £10,841. 13s. 2d. We do not presume to ask, this year, that a Capital Fund should be raised for the Society; though this is a most desirable object, and should be kept in view but we do ask a generous effort to increase the contributions, in order to sustain existing Missions in full operation, and in order, too, that the debt of the Society may be liquidated. 3. That a very prompt and early remittance may be made of the contributions now in hand, and of the balances of the year, as soon as they shall have been received. More than one-half of the anticipated income of the year has yet to be realised; and it is devoutly hoped that no time will be lost in effecting this great object. The accounts of the year cannot with propriety be closed until the balances are received; and if they come in too late for the accounts, the income of the Society for the year is not properly represented in the Report; and an intricacy is introduced into the financial columns which it is most desirable to avoid. The Ministers and officers of the several Auxiliary and Branch Societies would do well to remind each other occasionally of the amounts yet to be collected, and of the desirableness and necessity of an immediate remittance of money received; and the Local Secretaries are respectfully requested, at the close of the accounts, to prepare and send forthwith accurate lists for the Report, and to accompany each list with a cash account, explanatory of all items of local expenditure. 4. That the interests of the Missions be frequently mentioned, both in the prayer-meetings and in the public congregations; so as to call forth devout and earnest intercession and supplication on behalf of the Missionaries and their work. Prayer for the Heathen and for those who are labouring among them will be acceptable to God, who acknowledges Himself as "the Father of the spirits of all flesh," and will be followed by His effectual blessing. We wish also very respectfully to intimate to the Ministers who preach on behalf of the Society, that they should make their sermons and addresses bear directly on the Missionary subject, and that they should point out some practical use of the facts recorded in the Report, and other publications of the Society, and press on the affections and consciences of their hearers the powerful motives which may be successfully urged from the present state and prospects of the Missionary enterprise. 5. That the Committee and officers of the Society may have the continued and affectionate confidence of their brethren throughout the Connexion. They have no interests to seek or to serve but those of the common cause. They indignantly repudiate the injurious imputations against them which have been so industriously circulated and repeated. They humbly assert their own honesty of purpose, and conscientious diligence in the discharge of the duties which are devolved upon them. They are conscious that they are doing a great work; and they cannot always submit that their work should be stayed and interrupted, by the employment of their time and energies in replying to oft-refuted statements and unfounded slanders. They rejoice in the testimony of a good conscience, and in the honour of being permitted to work, and in some sense to suffer, in the cause of Christian Missions; and, under these circumstances, they venture confidently to ask your aid, your sympathy, and your prayers. We are, dear friends, Yours with much respect, Extract of a Letter from the Rev. John Pinkney, dated Negapatam, RECENT EXTENSION OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, &c. You will doubtless be glad to hear that we are getting on in this part of the great Mission-field. Though we are not permitted to see many forsaking the worship of imaginary deities for the worship of the one true and living God, yet we cannot but think that a brighter day is about to dawn upon this benighted country. Hitherto the Hindoo, by the abandonment of the religion of his forefathers, and by a cordial reception of Christianity, has been liable to the loss of the property which he possessed previously to his conversion; but it affords me unspeakable pleasure to be ableto state that this law has been abolished, and the Act for the establishment of liberty of conscience has become the law of the land. The editor of the "Friend of India," in an article on this subject, says, "The Act for the Establishment of Liberty of Conscience became the law of the land on the 11th of April, 1850, a day which will be as memorable in the annals of British India as the 4th of December, 1829, when the rite of suttee was abolished, and, for the first time in twenty centuries, the Ganges flowed unbloodied to the sea.' Henceforward every man throughout India will be at liberty to profess whatever creed his conscience may incline him to, without being reduced to beggary through the instrumentality of the courts of justice. The inestimable value of this boon will be at once seen by a reference to the law of the land as it previously stood, and which was thus expounded by Sir William Macnaghten: Whatever property the individual, previously to his conversion, was possessed of, will devolve on his nearest of kin who professes the Hindoo religion.' It was impossible that so monstrous a violation of the first principles of religious liberty could continue to be tolerated under the enlightened Government of Britain in the middle of the nineteenth century; and the wonder is, not that it has been abolished now, but that it was not abolished before. One of the effects of this new law will be to remove all penalties from the profession of Christianity; and it is possible, that when the profession of that creed becomes safe, it may also become more common." I know you will rejoice with us at this important change, which I cannot but regard as a token of the future triumph of Christianity. Another encouraging circumstance to which I would refer, is the determination of the Committee of the Madras Auxiliary Bible Society to give to the whole population of Southern India a portion of God's blessed word, at the suggestion of the Rev. William Arthur. At first the Committee regarded Mr. Arthur's proposal as impracticable; but they thought much more might be done to increase the circulation of the Scriptures among the Christian, Mahomedan, and Heathen population of Southern India. They resolved to print large editions of the Gospel by Luke and the Acts of the Apostles in Tamul, Telugu, and Hindustani, especially for the heathen population; and also to apply to the Parent Society for permission to draw upon them to the extent of £1,500 in the coming three years. In a letter recently received from the Parent Society, they have most cheerfully granted that request of the Committee. The Rev. W. Porter, the Secretary, has since written to me to ascertain in what way and to what extent I can aid them in I carrying out this glorious design. have written to the Committee, and expressed my great pleasure in having an opportunity of co-operating with them in a work of so much importance to the welfare of thousands around us, who are perishing for lack of knowledge. Colportcurs will be employed to visit the towns and villages in each District, and to furnish those who are able to read with portions of the Bible. This, also, we regard as a pledge of prosperity. Such a step seems most opportune at the present crisis. The Jesuits, as you are aware, have established themselves in Negapatam, and it is their intention to imbue the minds of the natives with the principles of Romanism. The circulation of the Scriptures will, in a great measure, I trust, counteract their pernicious influence. In this Circuit we are endeavouring, to the best of our ability, to spread abroad the knowledge of Christ and Him crucified. We have services in the streets of Negapatam almost every day. On these occasions we distribute tracts, with which the Madras Tract and Book Society have supplied us; and we trust that these silent monitors will tend to lessen the prejudices of the people, and prepare them for the reception of the Gospel of our Redeemer. We beg to be remembered in your prayers. are not ignorant of the difficulties with which we have to contend in this seat of Satan's empire. The certainty of victory nerves our arm for the conflict. The Gospel which it is our privilege to make known to this people shall, ere long, be embraced by thousands who are now the slaves of a degraded superstition. You We are all in pretty good health, for which we are grateful. FEEJEE MISSION. FEEJEE.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Richard B. Lyth, dated Lakemba, January 31st, 1850. PROFESSION OF CHRISTIANITY BY THE KING OF LAKEMBA, &c. I HOPE an opportunity is near for forwarding you some account of the work of God in this Circuit, and important passing events. It is with feelings of pleasure and thankfulness that I report the conversion of the King of Lakemba to Christianity, and with him of several of his influential friends and people, who had long stood out against the calls of the Gospel. It was about ten days after the "Wesley's" leaving Feejee in October last, that this joyful event took place. By this event, so long prayed for and earnestly desired, the * On parting with Mr. Watsford on October 10th, the King said he should lotu, that is, become a Christian, from that day. On the following week he lotued. whole island, and those dependent on it, have become wholly Christian, at least in profession, and are all placed under religious instruction. We have now the happiness of seeing Tuinayau and his people bowing together "before Jehovah's awful throne." It will be gratifying to you to know that his conversion to the profession of the Christian religion was not the result of a suddenly-formed resolution, but of a conviction of its truth, long resisted, but yielded to at last, and therefore gives promise of leading to the best effects. It has at once removed a powerful hinderance to the success of the truth in producing a good influence on the minds of the whole population, and in establishing Christianity on a firmer basis. Its good effects in the better government of the people, and the union of the Chiefs and people on better principles, are already apparent. By God's blessing on the labours of His servants, we have the prospect of seeing the word of God grow and prevail. The King regularly attends the preaching every Sabbath morning, has family prayer conducted by a Local Preacher morning and evening, and has, moreover, manifested a strong desire to learn to read. We have given him a New Testament, which he values very much, and delights to hear it read. On his embracing Christianity, one of his first measures was to establish the government of the land on a better foundation, and to correct abuses. To accomplish these objects he called a public meeting, the result of which has been a decided improvement in the condition of the people. A remarkable event in the history of Lakemba took place on the day following this meeting, which, but for the overruling providence of God, might have ended in very disastrous consequences. This was, the sudden appearance of a Bau Chief, closely connected with Lakemba, who, having taken umbrage, came with an army of three hundred fighting-men, with purposes of revenge. Six large canoes anchored at midday within musket-shot of the beach, filled with armed Heathens; and nothing but an interposition of Divine Providence prevented their landing, and at once commencing the work of destruction and murder. The hostile Chief, and one or two with him, were allowed to land without molestation, and to enter the town of Levuka. He gave orders that his army should presently follow him; but in this he was disappointed. As they were attempting to land, a Tonguese Chief stepped forward, and ordered them back to their canoes at the peril of their lives. This threat was sufficient, a fear from God fell upon them, and they did not make a second attempt, but remained in their canoes all night; the beach being strongly guarded, in the mean time, by armed parties of Tonguese and Feejeeans. At first fighting appeared inevitable. The Chief was very angry; but at length his eyes were opened to see his pitiful position, (separated as he was from his men,) he was glad to submit, and beg for his life, and his heathen friends as glad to be allowed to depart in peace. After two days the Chief himself left the land, chagrined and disappointed. Since then three months have rolled over. Baffled and unable to gain assistance from Bau, he finds his only resort now is, to submit to the evils he has brought upon himself. Whatever grievances he had to complain of, (and they were less than he had given just cause to expect,) he has certainly been dealt with throughout with great forbearance and kindness. In all these events the hand of the Lord has evidently overruled, and the pacific disposition of Bau towards this place, when all looked for trouble and war, has tended greatly to confirm the King and his friends in the profession of faith in the true God. It is the "Lord's doing," and to Him be the glory. The seeing God's hand in these events, greatly confirms our own faith amidst the trials and difficulties we have to contend with. All these things make our path rough and our work difficult; but the consideration that the "Lord our God is with us to help us, and to fight our battles," is very encouraging. Since entering on the work of this Circuit, in October last, I have made two voyages to the neighbouring islands that occupied about a month. We have divided the islands into Circuits, with our most experienced native Teachers for their Superintendents, who are to visit all the places under their pastoral care every quarter, in order to meet the classes, &c. This arrangement will tend greatly to strengthen the hands of our Teachers and people in places seldom visited. The most that we can hope to do in this extensive Circuit is, to visit each distant place once a year; and often then our stay must be necessarily short. We believe the plan adopted will prove a great blessing, and render our own occasional visits much more serviceable. Our Institution for training young |