pose. If this be not a falsehood, and that of a very aggravated nature, I know not what is worthy of the name. With respect to what I have said of Dr. Haweis, I shall make no ob servations. There the world will do me justice. But I cannot help noticing the way in which my words in one instance are quoted. I am represented as giving the following account of the effect on the Missionary Society of Dr. Haweis' representation of the success of the first mission to the South Sea Islands, "Animated, however by this dazzling description, &c. on the very next day they passed a resolution to undertake another voyage to the Pacific Ocean." There is then some reasoning which proreeds on the supposition that I have represented the second mission to the South Sea Islands, as entirely the result of Dr. Haweis' splendid description, and this the reviewer is pleased to represent as an absolute falsehood. Now I will frankly acknowledge, that if I had given such an account, it might have been liable to the charge of faleshood; the statement at least would have been imperfect. But if I have not,-if in the very same sentence I have stated other powerful causes, and if this is kept out of sight by the reviewer, on whom does the charge of misrepresentation fall? My words are these, “Animated, however, by this dazzling description, as well as by their own sanguine hopes, the Missionary Society determined to lose no time in prosecuting a work they had so successfully begun. Now I would ask, Why are these words which I have marked in italics omitted? If clauses of a sentence are in this manner left out; if they are passed over under the shelter of an &c. who is proof against mis-representation ? But indeed the writer of the article seems sensible that Dr. Haweis' representations cannot be entirely vindicated; at least I can see no other reason why he should be displeased at my bringing them forward. He would seem to insinuate, that there is a kind of absurdity in introducing into a History quotations from au Address and a Sermon; and he afterwards asks, "Why did our author prefer quotations from the glowing language of a public orator to such as he might have adduced from the official publications of the Society? The first paper of this kind that he has referred to is the instructions for the conduct of the Duff's second voy. age." But surely it might have occurred to the Reviewer, that if in an Address or a Sermon, facts are brought forward or what are represented as facts, there can be no impropriety in introducing them into a work of a historical nature. But these statements, it is said, are not official and the first document, it is alleged, that I refer to of an official nature, is the letter of instruction to Capt. Robson, with respect to the second voyage of the Duff. This, however, is not perfectly correct. The address, (or rather Memoir, as it ought to have been called,) and the Sermon by Dr. Haweis, were published by authority of the Missionary Society, and though this may not imply, that every sentiment contained in them met with the approbation of the Society, yet certainly the Directors must be considered as lending their sanction to the general purport of them, especially as they immediately after acted upon them. The letter of instructions to Capt. Robson, is so far from being the first official document of the Society to which I have referred, that the whole of the preceding account of the Mission is, with some trifling exceptions, taken from Serious preached before the Missionary Society, from the Missionary voyage, and from the Transactions of the Missionary Society, and if these are not official documents, I acknowledge I have yet to learn what are the official publications of the Missionary Society, After some remarks on the style, to which I shall soon advert, the Reviewer observes, "A more serious pretence for contempt of missions will probably be grounded on the manner in which the conduct of them is some times unguardedly (and we apprehend unjustly) represented. We are told, (vol. 2. page 459,) that when the missionaries (to the Boschemen) first entered upon their work, they laboured to convince their hearers, by arguments addressed to their understandings; but afterwards having found this method unsuccessful, “they insisted chieflyfon the dying love of Christ, in a simple affectionate manner," which was atended with remarkable success. So (page 118.) it is said to be a rule with the Moravian Missionaries, to enter into no discussions concerning the existence or attributes of God, &c. until the savages appear to believe in Christ.' The same statements occur elsewhere; and unfortunately the example of the apostle Paul is generally alleged in support or illustration of them. A sceptical reader would of course conclude, not only that the Missionaries propagated stark nonsense among their converts, but likewise that the Apostles did no better." Of the wisdom and piety of this last remark, I shall say nothing; the simple mention of it is enough to satisfy a serious mind. But I would ask, Have I in this instance, misrepresented the practice of the missionaries? Had the Reviewer consulted the authorities to which I have referred, he would have found that I had not; and as it is the duty of an historian to represent facts simply as he finds them, it would then have followed, that the charge of exposing missions to contempt, did not devolve so much upon me, as upon the poor ignorant missionaries, who pursued according to the opinion of our Reviewer, so absurd a plan. It so happens that in my account of the mission among the Boschemen, I have done little more than quote the words of Mr. Kicherer, When we first entered on our work," says he, we laboured to convince our hearers, by arguments addressed to their understandings, but our endeavours in this way had little success. They continually raised objections and difficulties. We then resorted to another method; we insisted chiefly on the dying love of Christ, in the most simple and affectionate manner." This statement, let it be remarked, stands on record in the "Transactions of the Missionary Society," vol. 2, page 12. But such are the candour and consistency of the Reviewer, that whether I draw my materials from the official publications of the Society, or, from those he calls not official, 1 am equally liable to censure. But what will the Reader think, when he learns that the Evangelical Magazine, while un 66 66 der the charge of the present editor, has, with respect to the Boschemen, and the very same missionaries, to whom I have referred, given nearly the same statement as I have given! In the Number for January 1804, there is an accouut of Mr. Kicherer's labours among these savages; and among other particulars, we find the following: 'At first Mr. Kicherer attempted to preach to them systematically; but he found little effect from this. He then had recourse to the method which the Moravians found the most useful, simply preaching the life and death of Jesus Christ, inviting them to come to him that they might bave life." A similar statement is also given in the course of the examin ations which Mr. Kicherer and the Hottentots underwent in London, the account of which, it is well known, is given in the Evangelical Magazine, with expressions of the highest satisfaction. I am fully sensible indeed that in a Magazine carried on for a number of years, perfect consistency is not to be expected; but certainly it is very strange that what at one time is spoken of with approbation, should at another, be treated as stark nonsense. With respect to the quotation relative to a similar practice among the Moravians, it is made in such a manner as implies not so much a serious concern lest missions should be subjected to contempt through my indiscretion, as a fixed design to misreprcsent my History. As given by the Reviewer, the statement is as follows: "So (page 118.) it is said to be a rule with the Moravian missionaries to enter into no discussions concerning the existence or attributes of God, &c. until the savages appear to believe on Christ." As given by me, the account is the following: "It is now a rule with them, to cnter into no discussions concerning the existence or attributes of God, the doctrine of the Trinity, and other similar truths, until the savages appear to believe in Christ, and to feel the transforming influence of the gospel upon their hearts and lives. It is proper however to remark, that though the brethren make the death of Christ the grand subject of their preaching among the heathen, they by no means confine their instructions to this particular 1 point. There is no part of divine truth, whether of a doctrinal or practical nature, but what they endeavour by degrees to instil into the minds of their converts." If the Reviewer was really concerned lest persons of a sceptical turn should view missions with contempt on account of the "stark nonsense" with which the missionaries were chargeable in contenting themselves with speaking to the Heathen of the love of Christ in a simple affectionate manner, why did he again resort to the artifice of an &c. instead of bringing forward that part of the sentence which I have marked in italics, and which might have sof tened the contempt of at least some of those friends of reason? Why, especially, did he omit the whole of the two following sentences, which would have dispelled in a great measure the objections to which the practice of the missionaries might seem liable? Surely this was like one who was determined to misrepresent my statements, while at the same time, he affected to deprecate the pernicious consequences which they were calculated to produce, though in fact, they had little or no tendency to produce these consequences, unless from the mutilated and imperfect account which he was pleased to give of what I had said. con My style is another ground of objection. "The well-disposed reader," it is said, "will regard with candour, defects of arrangement, and blemishes of style. It is indeed to be regretted that the latter are so frequent, and so gross, as to throw considerable obscurity on the sense. Prepositions and junctions are commonly used in a manner so foreign to an English ear, that a Scottish glossary would have been serviceable. At, of, on, with, yet, &c. are introduced so as only to be in. terpreted by the context. Fricisms (perhaps Gaelicisms) also not seldom demand an opposite construction. The words indeed, and besides (the latter both as adverb and as a preposition) incessantly recur; and precision of terms seems to be wholly disregarded. These faults we notice in the hope that they may be hereafter corrected: and we are chiefly concerned on account of the scope they will afford to cavillers against Missionary undertakings, for turning them to ridicule. By such persons, the piety of the Author's sentiments, (which might compensate with religious readers, for greater defects,) will not be admitted in apology for so disgusting a style." That there are Scotticisms in my work is highly probable; for there are few persons who have been born and educated in this part of the Island whose style is entirely free from this defect. But that there should be Iricisms, or Gaelicisms, is, I think, not very likely, as I happen to be entirely norant both of the Irish and Gaelic languages, and therefore it is scarcely probable that I should often fall into the idiom of either of them. I would also remark that I suspect my Reviewer is neither an Irishman nor a Highlander, and of course is as ignorant of these languages as myself, and therefore I imagine, that had I fallen into Iricisms, or Gaelicisms, he, at least, would not have been able to detect them.*. Of the style, it becomes not me to speak, but I understand it is considered by others as not de scient in simplicity, perspicuity, and correctness. It is possible indeed, that the reader from the many proofs which he has already had of the accuracy of our Reviewer, may have begun to suspect that there may, at least be some foundation for this judgment. But my History is a work of little or no research. "The materials," it is said, "which the author has collected, were such as were most easily procured, aud not one hundred pages of his work relate to any thing that occurred more than a century ago." In other parts of the critique, the want of information and the want of research, is more than once insinuated.+ Now, I will frankly acknowledge, that I had imagined that whatever were the faults of my History, the want of research was not among the number, and notwithstanding the assertions of * By Iricisms I have understood the Reviewer to mean the idioms of the Celtic language as spoken in Ireland, as Gaelic is spoken on the Highlands of Scotland. But if he means the idioms of the Irish in speaking the English language, still the above observations are true to a certain extent. The Reviewer has particularly noticed that my account of the Missions of the t this writer, I am not afraid that my readers will bring forward the charge against me. Let any person of ordinary candour take up the work; let him observe the variety of books, from which I have compiled my account of the missious previous to the last century, to which the Reviewer has particularly alluded: let him glance over the authorities to which I have referred throughout the rest of the work; let him turn to the Appendix; and I apprehend he will scarcely charge me, either with want of research, or with drawing my materials only from such works as were most easily procured. I suspect that the Reviewer himself could name to me very few books of much importance on the subject of Protestant missions, but what I have consulted in the course of my History. I shall follow the Reviewer no farther, most of the other remarks which he has made, might be answered in a similar manner; but enough, and more than enough, I suppose has been said to satisfy the reader of the correctness and veracity of this Reviewer. I am, sir, your most obedient servant, WILLIAM BROWN. Prestonpans, near Edinburgh, Nov. 7, 1814. Remarks on the Review of a Pamphlet called the History of the Baptists, in the Evangelical Magazine, in a letter to the Editor, wherein it is shewn that the Reviewer has left the Baptists and their System in the Bible, and condemned Pædobaptism. By a Country Pastor Button and Son, price 4d. I have left you an example. Jesus Christ. The Practice and example should be both of one kind, for every man of sense must be convinced of this, that one kind of example can never support another kind of practice. Reviewer. The Author of this Pamphlet, addressing the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine, fully expresses our sentiments, and we conclude those of our readers, when he says, "Had such a performance appeared by itself, it would have deserved no notice whatever, and might have been suffered to pass on to oblivion, the place of its destination, without a single remark." We are not, however, quite certain that he is so correct when he adds, "It is the circumstance of its having your approbation, sir, that renders it at all necessary to pay any attention to it, as in that case it may be considered as expressive of the sentiments of the conductors of the Magazine on the subject of which it treats, as well as of the writer himself, which gives it the appearance of a combined production." That the Review in question had the approbation of the Editor, and perhaps of a few other persons, engaged in conducting that work, may be fairly inferred, but that it was sanctioned or approved by the great majority of the Ministers, whose names appear as its conductors, may be safely questioned, or even positively denied. The fact seems to be, that certain persons, who some years since performed the principal obsequies in the funeral of Bigotry, have been since detected in re-acting the part ascribed to the friends of the staunch republican Milton, after the restoration, viz. of proclaiming a premature death, and having a mock funeral, We recollect, indeed, that about a to preserve the life of their favourite! year afterwards, an honest ancient Briton informed them, "that though they had buried bigotry in England, its ghost had been since skulking about in Wales: but that he hoped it would never be permitted to re-cross the Severn to torment the good English people again." Recent events have proved that this monster could only have slept and not have deceased at that period, or if apparently dead, that the process of resuscitation having been long and successfully employed by some member of THE (humane) SOCIETY; he has been restored to life, and exercises even more than his former strength to teaze and torment those who were never his favourites! It is unnecessary to make large Swiss, the Swedes, and the Dutch, occupies only 23 pages. Perhaps it is not generaily recollected that the REV. GEORGE BURDER, the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine, along with another gentleman, issued, some years ago, proposals for a general History of Missions, in which, so far as appears from the proposals, it was not designed that these missions should occupy a single page. extracts from a pamphlet which may be purchased for fourpence; but we cannot refrain from giving part of the concluding paragraph, because it so admirably expresses our feelings upon this subject. "I consider it no small part of the happiness of my life, that I have enjoyed the friendship of many worthy Padobaptists ever since I knew any thing of the grace of Christ. We have agreed to differ on the subject of baptism, and have loved as brethren, and sorry should I be were it to be other wise in future. But were Pædobaptists in general of the same cast as your Reviewer, sir, I should be in clined to think that all friendly intercourse between them and the Baptists would be at an end. It is with pleasure I can say, that none such have come within the reach of my personal acquaintance, and my regard for those. I do know, inclines me to think that there are not many Pædobaptists, at least who deserve the christian name, that would either extract from Robertson's History the account of the Munster Anabaptists and entitle it "The History of the Baptists," or. that would disgrace it with such a Review. If the Baptists owe any regard to such men, it is that which they owe to their enemies." MISSIONARY RETROSPECT, AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. BAPTIST MISSION. Letter from Mr. Ward, addressed to a female servant in London, who had presented Bagster's Edition of Henry's Bible to the Mission Library. Mission House, Serampore, Feb. 24, 1814. Dear Sister K We have enriched our Mission Library with the valuable present you were so good as to send us of Henry's Bible. We thank you. God will not be unmindful of your love to his cause. May you find his presence your guide through all the changes of life; and may the consolations of that blessed book be your staff as you pass through the dark valley of the shadow of death. We have begun this year by exploring a way for the formation of a Mission at Dhacca, a large city; by sending brother Carey's third son, Jabez, to the island of Amboyna ;— by sending brother Kerr, a native brother, to Allahabad, a large city in Hindoosthan;-and by sending two brethren to join brother Robinson at Java. Pray for us, our work is great, we are weak, sinful, and dying. Yours, affectionately, Fire at Rangoon in the Burman Empire. Letter from Mr. Judson to Dr. Carey. Rangoon, March 28, 1814. Dear brother Carey, A Since your son Felix left us for his station at Ava, we have till lately occupied a house within the walls, on account of the danger which was apprehended from the robbers. week ago we were driven back to the mission-house by a dreadful fire which has laid the whole town in ashes. It commenced about 9 o'clock, A M. in the suburbs, and in the course of the day swept away almost every thing within the walls. The ruin is said to be more complete than that of the last fire. The Goverment houses, the Portuguese church, and every building which escaped the last fire are now destroyed. The King's godown, in which the mission press was deposited, and a few houses in the range of the godown, are alone preserved. How remarkable the providence, that the little section of the town, which contains that invaluable deposit, the press, remains amid the general ruin! especially, when we consider that in the last fire the godown was consumed. We succeeded in the commencement of the fire in removing every thing out to the mission-house, grateful that we were distinguished from all around |