giving, that, since the opening of the Bathurst Infant-School, October 22, 1827, it has not on any day been closed in consequence of the sickness of those who conduct it.

Our first aim has been, the inculcating of the elementary truths of religion. Next to this, it has been our desire, to impart a knowledge of such other subjects as, under the Divine Blessing, might be most likely to make the children, in after life, useful members of society. We have endeavoured to cultivate upright principles, founded upon a firm basis-to encourage in them purity of motive-to animate them with hopeto kindle gratitude to God their Creator and Benefactor, and supreme love to Jesus their Redeemer and Saviour; and to lead them to seek the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit.

The Teachers, however, daily feel the need of a gentle, persuasive, spiritual strain; and that they may be enabled to adapt their instructions to the capacities of their little scholars. But they do not expect to bring them so forward as children who attend similar Schools in England not that the capacities of these children oppose any obstacle to this, for their capacities are quite equal to their tasks; but they are necessarily a greater part of their time with their parents, who generally converse in their own country language or broken English, whereby the children are prevented from learning, in an imperceptible manner, the meaning of many words used at school, and which become familiar to the infant in England by the constant course of family conversation. This difficulty will only gra dually give way, as the population of the Colony shall become more settled and stationary.

The work has, however, been carried on; and the attainments of the children have, in many instances, exceeded our most sanguine expectations. The minds of many of them appear to be fast opening and it is the earnest prayer of the Conductors, that the seed sown may spring up, and bear fruit, and produce an abundant harvest; so that, at last, many may be found to have been plants of the Lord's own planting.

In the former part of the year, the number of children was 75. In the month of July, the Liberated-African Boys from Charlotte attended, which increased the number to 105: in addition to these, 12 of the Liberated-African Girls in the

Bathurst School attended, making a total of 117. Toward the end of the same month, about 30 children, born in the Colony and residing with their parents at Charlotte, began to attend, and have continued to do so to the present time; thus carrying the number to 147.

Since the Missionaries have declined the inspection of the Liberated-African Schools, the Charlotte Boys have been removed to Regent; and many of the Girls belonging to the Liberated-African Girls' School at Bathurst have been apprenticed: the present number of the Girls who attend School is 21; making, with 119 Infants, a School of 140.

The School opens at nine in the morning, and continues till noon; when the larger Boys are allowed one hour for recreation: at one o'clock they return, and are taught writing and ciphering; and the elder Girls are taught needlework. Many of the larger children can now read the Scriptures. The attendance of the children at Church on Sundays, and at Daily Morning Prayers, gives rise to many a cheering hope; and the accounts, which some of them give of the text and what they have heard, evinces their attention.

Conclusion.

The Missionaries say, in allusion. to the preceding report of the Infant School

We cannot but adopt, generally, a sentiment of our Sisters in charge of the Bathurst Infants; but which applies as well to every one of us who desires to benefit the souls under his charge. We all feel a need of that "gentle, persuasive, spiritual strain," which ought to pervade the whole life of a Religious Teacher. It is too often interrupted by the hurry and the multiplicity of our engagements-by the impatience, which the ignorance, the waywardness, and, in many instances, the duplicity of the people with whom we have to do, often excite-and by that irritability, which seems to be the general effect of this climate upon the mind clogged with a European Constitution. Most fervently, therefore, would we pray for a larger effusion of the Divine Spirit of love into our own hearts, that we may more en. tirely exhibit, by our example before our Congregations, the loveliness and blessedness of obedience to Christ's precepts. We know, that God's purposes of mercy toward men of all kindreds and

tongues will be fulfilled; and we would still hope, that instruments, so weak as we know ourselves to be, will be made use of by Him, to the promotion of His glory in this part of the world.

Mediterranean.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Cefalonia a promising Station. THE Rev. Frederick Hildner, of whom some notices will be found at p. 51, has been received into connection with the Society, with particular reference to Greece. In the beginning of April, he thus states his views of the most promising sphere for his labours

The Ionian Isles, notwithanding all that is and has been done, doubtless still

stand in sufficient need of Christian Instruction; and afford an eligible means for the preaching and distribution of the Word among the Greeks. The present moment, according to the best information which we can procure, is not the time for settling in the Morea; while what can be done by itinerating, is already accomplishing - the Missionaries King, Robertson, Anderson, Smith, &c. being at present engaged therein. Labour in the Ionian Isles, and my settling in one of them for that purpose, might be at present for me the most eligible plan. Corfu, the most considerable of them, enjoys already the valuable labours of the Rev. Mr. Lowndes: at Zante, Mr. and Mrs. Croggon reside, and also latterly Dr. Bialloblotzki, with particular reference to the Greeks. Of

the remaining Islands, Cefalonia attracts my particular attention: it is true, that our friends the Dicksons are stationed there; but they are almost exclusively confined to their Boarding School for Girls; besides which, they reside four miles from Argostoli, and therefore a fine

field of labour would still remain for me: it lies in the midst of the three Islands, St. Maura, Ithaca, and Zante.

Proceedings of Rev. John Hartley at
Smyrna.

It appears from the latest communications, that Mr. Hartley had postponed his intended journey (see p. 172) in Asia Minor, and continued at Smyrna. Of his proceed

ings there he thus speaks, in a Letter of the 4th of May

I have deferred my proposed journey. Providence has given me more opportunities of usefulness at Smyrna, than I could for the present expect to find elsewhere. The English appear disposed

to hear the Gospel; and I have also Greeks, Armenians, and Roman Catholics, who come habitually to receive my instructions. On Easter Monday I administered the Sacrament to two congood reason to hope that their hearts verted Roman Catholics: they give us are set on a much higher object than that of merely changing the name of Roman Catholic for that of Protestant. I have no hesitation in admitting converted Roman Catholics to the Communion in the Church of England, but I do not admit either Greeks or Armenians: I advise these, when they become enlightened, to abstain, most religiously, from all the errors of their respective form, most willingly, to all that is agreeChurches; but, at the same time, to conable to the Scriptures: by this plan I trust that truth will win its way into the heart of these ancient Churches. A Young Greek gives me great pleasure: not only does he join me habitually in prayer and plays, so far as I can observe, signs of the perusal of the Scriptures; but disconversion: another Young Greek has also embraced the truth: I might mention several others; but I hope to have further opportunities of labouring for their benefit, and then I shall inform you of them. It is but lately that I with the Armenians: from the great have commenced religious intercourse readiness with which four of them have embraced correct views of truth, and from the pleasure which they appear to take in pursuing these inquiries, I conceive good hopes of them.

The books, which the Committee were so kind as to send me, have already been placed in a situation in which they are likely to become useful. Mr. B. Barker have most gladly added them to those having opened a Religious Library, I which he had already collected: thus will they be circulated freely among all who wish to read them; while they will remain always the property of the Society.

If any Christian Friends have French with which they could entrust us, they Religious Works of a useful tendency would be of great service in Smyrna: I should be most thankful to receive good

French Works against Infidelity and Popery, and on Practical Religion.

On Saturday I returned from a visit of eleven days, which I made to the large Town of Magnesia. Here I had more intercourse with Mussulmans than ever before. Having engaged a Young Man to read Turkish with me, I found him perfectly willing to make use of the New Testament for that purpose. From this and other instances which I have ob served, I conclude, that, were we to circulate the Scriptures among the Turks, many of them would peruse them with interest.

Notice of John Baptist Castro.

In reference to this Young Jewish Convert, Mr. Hartley writes in his Letter, above quoted, of the 4th of May

To-morrow, God willing, John Baptist Castro will sail for Constantinople. While here, he has had opportunity, not only, I trust, of obtaining additional improvement in the most important parts of religion, but he has also made himself active amongst his own countrymen. He has preached the truth to the principal Rabbi, and to many Jews in inferior He informs me, that, lately,

stations.

a considerable number of Jews waited, in a body, on the Chief of their Nation in Smyrna, and demanded of him openly whether the Messiah were really come A circumstance not unworthy of notice is this, that the Pacha, having

or not.

heard of his conversion and labours, sent him word to go on boldly in his attempt to enlighten his countrymen. How extraordinary!-a Mussulman Pacha encouraging the conversion of Jews to their true Messiah!

I wish that our Young Friend may be fully tried before the plan of employing him in the work of converting the Jews be put in execution. Hence, I have advised him to return to Constantinople-to earn his own livelihood-and, at the same time, to labour among his countrymen. I wish him to be able to adopt with truth the language of St. Paul: I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered to my necessities, and to them that were with me. Let us earnestly pray that God would open a wide and effectual door among the Jews in Turkey: then may these humble beginnings be the prognostics of glorious things to follow.

Opening of a Girls' School at Cairo. Mrs. Krusé writes, on the 24th of January

I endeavoured for a long time to establish a Girls' School; but in vain, because the people had no confidence in us to send their Girls to our house; for the Franks, in general, have an ill name among the Arabs. But now, seeing and knowing, by Mr. Kruse's Boys' School, that it is only their good which we have in view, they become willing and ready to send their Girls also.

The School consists, at present, of 10 Girls, from five to seven years of age: eight of them are Copts, and two Mahomedans-all very poor, so that they are scarcely able to cover their little bodies: only the two Mahomedans bring their

own bread with them.

alphabet, they, at first, seemed to like it When I began with teaching them the much; but, the next day, one of the Coptic Girls came, saying," My Mother said to me, You need not learn reading." I replied," All those, who will come here into my School, must learn to read the Bible: whoever will not do this, I cannot receive." Hearing this, she was immediately willing, for the sake of learning to sew, to learn also to read.

Arrival of Girgis in Abyssinia. The departure from Egypt of Girgis, the Young Abyssinian of whom we have made frequent mention, for his own country, was stated at pp. 246, 247 of our last Volume. Mr. Lieder gives the following particulars relative to him:

Among my hearers there is one who peculiarly arrests my attention. He is not far from the kingdom of God, and affords me cheerful expectations. He is a journeyman tailor, and was a companion of those German Travellers, who, in the year 1826, sought to enter into Abyssinia from Egypt; but were repulsed at Massowah by the Turks, whose claims for money they were unable to satisfy, and who afterward, in the year 1827, had returned to Caïro with Mr. Coffin, whom they had met on their way: see Miss. Register, 1827, p. 587. short time after, this tailor proceeded alone on a second journey to Abyssinia, in order to seek for curiosities: at Massowah, he providentially found Girgis, that dear and pious Abyssinian, of whom you got intelligence by the Letters of

A

Brn. Gobat and Kugler: with him he passed the frontier without difficulty, and advanced as far as Adowah, the residence of the Prince of Tigrè, where he delayed for some time; but Girgis remained but a few days there with him, and then continued his journey to Gondar.

This man gave the most favourable accounts of Girgis; which are the more credible, as he was not aware of our acquaintance with him, but spoke of him only incidentally. He said that Girgis was a very pious man; that he had never on the way sworn, or cursed, or deceived, or told lies-which testimony is of much greater signification in the East than in England and Germany. This man further stated, that Girgis had two books with him-two copies of the Amharic Gospels-in which he read as often as he could, and afterward prayed; and that he was often heard to say, that those books were exceedingly dear to him. Girgis presented one of the books to the first merchant of Gondar, a very respectable man, who was greatly gratified with it. Finally, Girgis had told him that he had in Caïro very dear English Friends, who would follow him to Abyssinia; and that in the event of their staying out, he would return to Egypt; because, since he became acquainted with them, he could no longer live among his ignorant and vicious countrymen.

Letter from Girgis in Abyssinia. The following Letter is translated from the original, addressed by Girgis, since his return to Abyssinia, to the parents of his friend, the Rev. Samuel Gobat. It will be observed

that he places Berne in England: for not only is he little versed in the geography of Europe, but, as the Lutheran Missionaries are under the protection of the English, they pass for English; and indeed all Protestants, or rather all Christians, are called English throughout the Levant.

May this Letter, sent in the Name of the Lord, arrive in England, to the Canton of Berne, to David, father of the Priest Samuel, to Susanne his mother, and his brother David, with the saluta tions of Girgis. O you, who are the brothers of the Apostles, the children of Christ, the beloved of the Lord! you who have the heart purified by the truth,

without falsehood; who are engaged in the work of an Evangelist; you are blessed! Do not forget me before the Lord, in the constant prayers that ascend from your enlightened hearts. As for me, I have told your Son that I much wish to see you, after having heard of your occupations. May the Eternal bring you to perfection! You, who take pity on those whose souls are enslaved, who give to eat to the hungry, who give clothes to those who are naked, and medicine to those who are sick *; you, who keep what the law of the Eternal commands; you, who are truly the children of God in England, under the empire of Girgis; you are blessed, you who keep the doctrines of Jesus Christ. For me, since I have met with the Priest Samuel, I have found many things food for my body and instruction for my soul. O you! fathers, mothers, sisters, and friends of Abuna +Samuel! I salute you a thousand times, after having heard news of you which equalled the heavens and earth, to the glory of God.

Yet another word on Abyssinia, on the beings of our complexion. We are all blind. The Abyssinians read the Bible in an unknown language: the English translate for us. The English are active, according to their enlightened knowledge: the Abyssinians persist in looking on in their ignorance. The English walk in the light: the Abyssinians grope on in the dark. Therefore you, who constantly pray, do not forget the Abyssinians, remembering it is for the Instructions of the Committee to the Mis

love of the Lord.

sionaries to Abyssinia.

On the Rev. Christian Kugler's leaving England, in October, on his return to the Mediterranean, Instructions were delivered to him by the Committee, for the direction of his proceedings and those of his associate the Rev. Samuel Gobat, which give such just and compre hensive views of the nature and difficulties of the Mission, that we shall lay the chief parts of them be

fore our Readers.

In reference to preparatory measures, it is said

He means the Gospel, which the English send to Abyssinia to console the inhabitants.-Translator † Abuna is properly the title of a Bishop, but it is also applied to a Minister.-Transiator.

To your joint communications, sent from Egypt, through Malta, is, in a considerable measure, to be attributed the increased activity which has been displayed by the British and Foreign Bible Society, in that laborious and difficult work, the carrying of the Amharic Scriptures through the Press. You will now have the satisfaction-one of the highest and purest pleasures which can be enjoyed by a Missionary-of bearing to the Natives, copies of the chief part of the New Testament, never before seen in that country in the vernacular tongue.

To this, by seizing the favourable opportunity while near to the only Abyssinian Press in active operation in the world, you have added the advantage of compiling and printing an Amharic Spelling-Book: the use of which will be, to form Schools where scarcely any existed hitherto; and extend, with the Divine Blessing, the means of reading the Holy Scriptures, which are now for the first time prepared for them.

The general course of the Missionaries is thus laid before them

It is the wish of the Committee, that you should return direct to Egypt, with as little delay as possible. Having joined Mr. Gobat, it will then be the subject of your united conversations, inquiries, reflections, and prayers, how you may best press forward, together, to the immediate vicinity of Abyssinia, and, as soon as practicable, enter the country. When this essential point is gained, and not till then, they will feel, in strictness of speech, that the Abyssinian Mission is begun.

To distribute, and obtain remarks upon, the Ethiopic and Amharic Scriptures, furnished to you by the British and Foreign Bible Society, will obviously be one of your first and leading objects.

From the information before the Committee, it appears probable, that the province of Tigrè, and not that of Amhara, will be the station where you may with most advantage fix yourselves, in the first instance. It is the first in respect of geographical position, and the nearest for purposes of communication with the countries which you leave; and, in point of influence in Abyssinia, there appears to be ground for supposing that it is the most powerful. Should these circumstances be found, on trial, to be matters of real advantage, the Committee would then wish that you should aim, if possible, at settling down somewhere in

that province; nor would they at all encourage in you a desire of change of place, however interesting it might be to push forward your journeys to the ancient Capital of Gondar, or to the most distant recesses of the Nile. To these regions, should you find it good to remain at Tigre, be satisfied for the present with sending the printed Amharic Scriptures; and do not too soon yield to the imagination that you are not to stay in Tigre, if you do not quickly see some fruit of your labours. There is much preliminary and new work to be done in this province. The cultivation of its hitherto-unfixed language will lead you to aim at the Translation of some portion of the Scriptures for that country. For example, the Committee would delight to hear, that, through your instrumentality, the Gospel of St. Luke, the Acts of the Apostles, and the Epistle to the Romans, were translated into Tigre, and copies forwarded to Malta or London, prepared for the Press. This would be indeed seed-corn; and, were your lives to be spent on no more extensive a work than this, it would be an ample service this your labour would not be in vain in the Lord.

But we indulge the hope, that the Great Head of the Church, who for SEVERAL years has been gradually opening more widely the door of entrance to Abyssinia, and who has thus far favoured you in all your preliminary preparations, may have it in His purposes, to make you a signal blessing to that country. The simplest, humblest, and most patient course, on your parts, will be that which will most encourage Christians at home to believe, that God is prospering, and that He will prosper you. With the Bible in your hands, you will preach constantly not indeed as we do in our own land, where our title is recognised, standing in a public, well-ordered assembly, and on an eminent place; but as our Lord Jesus Christ and His Apostles most commonly preached, at first-by discourse, and conversation: this they did by the way-side, in the house, in the solitude of a desert place, or on the top of a mountain; to the many, or the few; to the captious Pharisees, to disreputable publicans and sinners, or to faithful wo

men.

Wherever you are, preach, in the purpose of your mind, constantly: be you ever ready to press forward some good word, for the enlightening, awakening, reproving, establishing, or comfort