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such efforts, both by prayer and by pecuniary aid, without which such efforts could not, of course, be continued, much less, as is so very needful, be greatly extended.

An Eastern nation* has an account of a thief,

six, and ended at a quarter to ten. I feel persuaded that Roman Catholics possessing and using any considerable reasoning powers, must have laughed in their hearts at the tissue of sophisms uttered. No wonder the Cardinal should refuse discussion with Dr. Cumming. Dressed with a kind of head dress covered with pink bows, and a silk cape and silk sleeves, in addition to gown, I was very forcibly reminded of some old nurse, repeating some nursery tale to the dear children; but I mention this matter on account of allusion made to the office of City Missionaries. One reason given why monastic orders should be cherished was, that in "the Church of England and elsewhere," a class of ministers, distinct from the regular priesthood, had been found needful, and an engine of great power. The Cardinal glowingly described the access they obtained to the population, and the manner in which their office enabled them to act upon it. His estimate of the office was correct.

“A magnificent seed-time," to borrow a phrase from the late Mr. Bickersteth, is certainly being slighted, or two hundred and fifty districts, urgently needing Missionaries, would not be left unoccupied.

*The London City Mission has proved a blessing even to the East. A kindred Society is in existence in one of the three principal Anglo-Indian cities, Madras, which not only supports its own Missionaries, but remits several hundred pounds annually for London. The Rev. Mr. Lugard, Secretary, with whom I am personally unacquainted, will please to accept my best thanks for the perusal of his

who having been detected in criminality, and condemned to die, thought upon an expedient by which he might possibly escape death.

He sent for the jailor, and told him he had an important secret to disclose to the king, adding, that when he had done so he would be ready to die. The king commanded him to be brought into the royal presence. He informed the monarch that he was acquainted with a cabalistic secret of producing trees that would bear gold, and craved a trial of his art.

The king consented, and accompanied by his prime minister, courtiers, and priest, came with the prisoner to a certain spot which he had indicated, who commenced his incantations. He then produced a piece of gold, declaring that if sown it would produce a tree, every branch of which should bear gold. "But," he added, "this, O king! must be buried in the earth by a person perfectly honest. I, alas! am not so, and therefore I humbly pass it to your majesty."

The countenance of the monarch was troubled, who at length replied, "When I was a boy, I remember purloining something from my father, which, although a trifle, prevents my being the proper person. I pass it, therefore, to my prime minister."

The prime minister received the piece of gold with many prostrations, and said, "On my eyes be it, may the king live for ever!" with many other expressions of devotion; but

encouraging letter, received last spring by our Mission, which was handed to me on the occasion of my being offered the superintendence of the Madras Mission-a second invitation to India within a few years.

Probably the issue of the present work prevented the pleasure of my having much and loving personal acquaintance with Mr. L. I beg he will be pleased to accept my prayers, and to afford me an interest in his.

finding the king becoming impatient, he at last stammered out with great confusion, "I receive the taxes from the people, and as I am exposed to many temptations, how can I be perfectly honest? I, therefore, O king, give it to the priest."

The priest, with great trembling, pleaded some remembered delinquencies in connection with his conduct in receiving the sacrifices. At length the thief exclaimed, "In justice, O king, we should all four be hanged, since not one of us is honest." The king was so pleased with his ingenuity that he granted him a pardon.

The application is very simple. We are all sinners; the language applies to each of us, "Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation ?" We cannot pardon the souls of our outcast brethren, but we can instruct and direct them to the Fountain opened for sin and uncleanness, and bid them regard with faith "the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world," John i. 29.

This is wisdom; not indeed the speculative philosophy of a past age, nor the dreamings of learned indolence, but true wisdom, true knowledge, which, in the words of Lord Bacon, "is not a couch whereon to rest a searching and restless spirit-or a terrace for a wandering and variable mind to walk up and down with a fair prospect or a tower of state for a proud mind to

raise itself upon-or a fort or commanding ground for strife and contention-but a rich storehouse for the glory of the Creator, and the relief of man's estate."

And the days, dear reader, in which we may do good on earth are numbered :—

"Oh let our souls their slumbers break,

Arouse their senses and awake,

To see how soon

Life with its glories glides away,

And the stern footsteps of decay

Come stealing on.

"Our lives-like hasting streams they be,
That into one engulping sea

Press on to fall:

The sea of DEATH, whose waves roll on

O'er king and kingdom, crown and throne,
And swallow all.

"Sweet Christ of God,' our thoughts arise
To Thee,-eternal, good, and wise,

To Thee-we cry;

Gird us a useful life to run,

And grant that we at last sit down,

With Thee on high."

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The cholera-Statements of the Board of Health-Filth, intemperance, and cholera-Extraordinary statistics-Characteristic notice of the writer's district in Board of Health's Reports-Death of a Missionary after visiting with the writer-Hopeful case of a fowler who died of cholera-A peculiarly awful death from cholera-The writer attacked-Comforts of the Divine presence-Hopeful case of a drover-Hopeful conversion of a life-guards

man.

THE cholera months of 1849 formed a period of much additional anxiety to the Missionaries of the City Mission, especially to those located on certain districts.*

The Commissioners of the Board of Health, in a very valuable volume entitled "A Report on a General Scheme of Extramural Sepulture," dated February 15th, 1850, stated "the epi

* See London City Mission Magazine, October, 1849, which is entirely devoted to an account of the operations of the Mission in connection with the cholera.

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