duced also a far better and more regular attendance than last month. The poor children suffered this summer severely by the fever; it is a great pity to look upon these thin, pale, skeleton-looking young sufferers, yet, as soon as they recover, cheerfully they come to school. Their numbers are now complete, with the small exception of two or three, who are still very weak. In the course of this month the Bible Class finished, in the Old Testament, Exodus and Deuteronomy; in the New Testament, the first 16 chapters of the Acts of the Apostles. The Messianic prophecies they go through again from the beginning, in order that they may be the better versed in them. In geography they ended also just now the map of North and South America. The junior class is making some progress in drawing and in arithmetic. Natural history they repeat also what they have learnt; we advanced till the fifth class of the quadrupeds.

The 22nd inst. I had the pleasure to have the German clergyman from Gallatz as a visitor of my school; he was struck with the cleanness and neatness of the children (during school time they wear their best dresses, but coming home in the evening they must undress). He examined them in the history of the Old and New Testaments, and was pleased with their ready answers. They sang also several hymns. He expressed his great surprise that these poor Jewish children are trained like the Christian children in his congregation; he repeated often, "A perfect Christian school." The children likewise were pleased with their kind and friendly examiner ; all of them related it at home to their parents. On leaving he gave them also a short address.

The 28th inst. we had again our usual regular monthly missionary concert. The topic was this month the "Namaquas" in South Africa, and the famous Chief "Africaner." They contributed again their mites. It gives me pleasure to report that dear proves a clever boy; he loves the Word of God, and believes with all his heart in our glorious Redeemer. He has the very rare advantage that not only is he not hindered or checked by his father, but on the contrary encouraged by him as much as he can, by proving him of the Scriptures that "this Jesus is Christ." They search the Scriptures diligently, like those in Berea. The whole summer through I instruct him privately every Sunday morning in the Westminster shorter catechism, and reading the Gospel according to St. John, and kneeling, I pray with him. At ten o'clock he attends with us the German service; at noon he dines with us; he is favourably inclined to our most holy faith. I am just planning and making the first steps for the future best of this interesting boy. You cannot imagine, dear sir, how difficult it is in this respect in these benighted countries; in England or in Germany I could apprentice him with a pious tradesman. I wrote to this effect to the Rev. Mr. Koenig, at Constantinople. May the gracious Lord bless my feeble efforts in behalf of his spiritual and temporal welfare!

The Saturday meeting is only attended by the two often-mentioned shoemakers, and a third one occasionally. We read the sections of the law and of the prophets, and then in the Hebrew New Testament. Good takes every Saturday some tracts, distributing them among the people during the week; he is really salt and light among his benighted and ignorant brethren.

The Jewish villager, who could not recover here from his obstinate fever, is gone to Bucharest, via Ibraila, where I hope he will call upon our dear friend and brother Mr. Gellert. At his last call I spoke in earnest with him, to improve this his precious time of grace, and to seek the Lord our righteousness. He promised to call upon the missionary there; to that effect I gave him a letter of introduction to my personal friends there, one of whom I met at my last visit at Ibraila.

CANNSTATT.

Mr. GOTTHEIL gives us some interesting recitals of his operations:

Since my last to you I have made an attempt to interest several Jewish teachers, acquaintances of mine, to entertain the plan I mentioned to you some time ago, viz., to meet, at stated periods, for the discussion of scriptural subjects; of course confining our attention, in the first place, to Old Testament subjects. Though entertained in a friendly way by some, I yet apprehend great difficulties. In the first place, they cannot leave their places of abode without permission from the superior authorities and the rabbis; in the second place, there is the fear of man in general. But we may possibly overcome these difficulties, leaving the matter for the present in the Lord's hand. The necessity of an efficient literature, not only tracts, but books, becomes more and more pressing even in the Jewish mission. People will read now-adays. And, alas! how the devil understands to avail himself of this reading propensity of the age to scatter his poison! What kinds of books we now meet with in Jewish houses! Here Christendom in general comes in guilty. It is in the midst of Christendom that this poison is prepared, and so gilded as to make the multitude swallow it unsuspiciously. I believe that a great amouut of that infidelity which is now rampant among the Jews has its source in the wretched literature of the day. To counteract this, evil we must use the press, and employ it largely, more than we have done hitherto. A pleasing feature in this dreary picture is the fact that there is now a periodical among the Jews (lately established) which boldly maintains and boldly asserts the doctrine of a Messiah. This is a significant fact, when we remember that for the last fifty years or more intelligent Jews have mostly given up that idea of a Messiah, especially a personal Messiah; the thought has dwindled more and more from their minds; people have grown ashamed of it; the public literature has either scouted the idea or ignored it altogether. As I myself heard a rabbi say from his pulpit, in an Easter sermon, "People talk of a Messiah; I tell you, the emancipation is our Messiah, and if we have that (political emancipation) our Messiah has come, and we wait for no other." This has been the prevailing idea. We may hail it as a sign for good, to see some of the Jewish leaders not ashamed again to stand in the way and inquire for the old paths. The journal boldly contends for the doctrine of a personal Messiah, and for the expectancy of a restoration to the land of their fathers. I humbly look upon this as a furthur result and fruit of our missionary work, equally so with that other fact I mentioned to you some time ago, of the Jews establishing two Bible societies among themselves. We may positively assert that but for the patient labour of the Jewish Mission, neither would the Jews have ever thought of doing anything of disseminating God's Word among themselves, nor would they have risen in defence of the doctrine of a personal Messiah. The Lord be thanked for that result, and to Him be the glory! Unfortunately, the same journal, along with the Messianic doctrine, maintained also the divinity and necessity of Talmudic tradition, and of course involves itself in many contradictions and difficulties. Still I would rather see a Jew conscientious in the observance and consideration of what he deems a divine will than, as the great majority are now, launched on the troubled sea of doubt and indifference, without all light and every compass; in such a case the conscience must needs become seared and deadened. I would rather have to do with a man whose conscience is alive, though he be in error: there is hope for him. The indifferent and the callous: the Lord have mercy on them! You will be glad to learn that my Jewish friend, the teacher, Mr.

is nearing a

decision in favour of the truth. I have of late had several deeply interesting conferences with him. Itrust the Lord will so guide matters as to enable him to manifest to his brethren, of whom many, I may say most, highly esteem him, the power of the truth in Christ Jesus! We are now in almost constant intercourse, either by letteror personally.

I have also, I think, made a step in advance with the other young friend, inasmuch as we now read portions of the New Testament twice a week. It is like the dawning of a new day upon the young man's mind. He takes in these new ideas with great avidity. Another young man has also once or twice visited me, and we have met several times outside the house. He has been introduced to me by a friend at who takes a great interest in the cause of Israel. He is deplorably ignorant of his Judaism, and of his Bible, but not thoughtless or altogether indifferent. I have sought to interest him in the great and memorable events of the past history of Israel, preparatory to what is to come to pass in future. I don't know how much will be gained by this system,—it is a trial. I find that the facts of Israel's history are taken by them simply as dry facts, historical events, whilst they undoubtedly are more— they are prophecies, evidences and testimonies of God's hand in history.

I believe I have mentioned to you already that the day of baptism of my young catechumen is now fixed. He looks forward with deep anxiety, but yet with joy, to the realisation of his ardent wish. Pray for him, that his soul may be strengthened, and the enemy of souls may be kept from him!

He thus expresses his regret, in which you will fully sympathise, that the pecuniary condition of the Society has rendered it necessary to restrict missionary journeys until Christian consideration and liberality shall justify the renewal of this useful and almost essential department of the Missionary's labours :

My last to you had been despatched, and I had gone on what I fondly thought a lengthened missionary tour with brother H——, when your last note arrived here. Owing to its important contents, Mrs. Gottheil sent it after me, and thus my journeyings came to an unexpectedly sudden stop, and I am now at home again.

I am grieved to hear that the Society's finances are in such straits, but am inclined to believe that, in the Lord's good pleasure, it will prove only a temporary difficulty. At the same time, I am sure that every one of the brethren in the field, on hearing of it, and learning your anxiety on that score, will consider it his duty more than ever to economise the Society's resources. The Society's agency, compared with its income, is very large, which makes it all the more important to exercise great care.

You speak of missionary stations being given up. Such an emergency would indeed be lamentable. Looking at the Herald of late, I have been struck with the fact that our Society's stations seem never to have been in a more blessed and healthful state than they appear to be at present. The last issue (September) just come to hand is again most interesting, showing evidently that the Lord's hand is with us. Will the Lord's people now draw back, and force you to give up stations? From what I know of His people in England, I should say no. But still you are nearer home, and understand matters better than I can pretend to do.

You say, "At all events journeyings must be laid aside." My dear friend, a missionary station without journeying is as good as no station at all. Take any station you please, of our own Society or of others, and see whether I am not correct..

You plant a station; the Jews which that station is to reach and influence are not all in one place-they are scattered; they do not come to the Missionary—it is not in the nature of things that they should; so the Missionary must come to them. He must travel; if he cannot do so, he must sit at home and do nothing, and there are none of us like to do nothing. Therefore, he must travel-though he will do so, as far as circumstances permit, with care. Stimulated by your letter, I have been looking back to my accounts with the Society, and have found that my travelling expenses scarcely ever exceeded £15 in any one year-last year it was a little more, owing to my journey to Geneva-frequently they reached not even that.

ITALY.

Dr. MAYER, on being informed of the pecuniary pressure at present interfering with the progress of the Society, at a time, too, of opening prospects, has nobly expressed his willingness to contribute largely out of his salary to meet the emergency :

What is to be done with those indispensable expenses without which we cannot labour to the satisfaction of all, and according to the demands of the work? I, for instance, gave the other day a MS. to the printer, tracts being necessary; after receipt of your letter, I have countermanded my previous order. Another instance of more importance is this:-Dr. Stewart and Mr. Ribett, the Waldensian ministers, who both find the preaching to the Jew in a place of worship a most necessary thing, offered the Waldensian church to me for three times a week gratuitously; still there are the expenses for light, &c. Now, I have chosen Friday night as suitable for the Jews, and for this purpose announced it by bills; and Friday next Perazzi will preach for the first time, under my direction, of course. The Jews are full of expectation, and we entertain the best hopes for our success. But allow me to ask you, confidentially, shall the work drop for want of funds? My aim is great, my plans accordingly; and for the promotion of Christ's kingdom we ought to sacrifice something at least; we have the opportunity, the Lord himself offers us the work. He has proposed it by blessing our beginning-ought we not to proceed with zeal and energy ? I have formed many more new acquaintances, of whom I entertain the best hopes for the future. I dare say, with confidence, that there is already more Christianity among the Jews here than there has ever been among the nominal Christians of Roman Catholic Italy.

A great work I hope will be done after the Jewish holidays. The rabbis, seeing that the Jewish High School does not answer the wishes and notions of modern Jews, intend to introduce philosophy and philology into their "Beth Hammidrash," to be taught and preached by some of their own body. I have made known among the intelligent young Jews that I am willing to assist them in their studies of languages and philosophy gratuitously, provided there be a respectable number to form a class or two. Seven have already called upon me, in order to be inscribed as students; and many others will follow after the holidays.

Our friend Mr. Davidson is highly respected here among the Jews. "Let all Christians be like your friend," said a Jew to me, the other day, "and you will see how we appreciate Christianity." They all inquire after him, and their lips are full of his praises. Some called, after his departure, to pay him a visit, and were rather Il-pleased not to find him here.

Subsequent communications give additional interest to Dr. Mayer's field of service. And again we express the hope that he will not be precluded from culturing the tender plants which have grown up under his hand, or be forbidden to go forward sowing the seeds of eternal life.

LEGHORN.

We close our foreign extracts by a Report from Mr. DAVIDSON of his proceedings at Leghorn, during the absence of Dr. Mayer:

I have again spent three months in Leghorn, endeavouring to keep alive, and, if possible, to add to the interest excited here among the Jews by Dr. M., during his absence in England; and, at all events, to preach to them Christ and Him crucified, but alive again for ever, seated at the right hand of glory, as the great and only High-priest, waiting till His enemies will be made His footstool.

I have already, in a previous letter, made you aware of the disadvantage under which I laboured this time, in consequence of the excessive heat of the season, which almost entirely prevented me from going out during the day-time, so that my operations were exclusively confined to the evenings till late in the night. Had I failed in this, my mission, it could not, under these circumstances, have been derogatory to the character of the station; it should have been regarded as an unfair trial; but the result under such an unfavourable opportunity rather heightens, in my estimation, the value of that field of labour. From about seven o'clock, p.m., till eleven or half-past, in the streets, the piazzas, and the fronts of the cafés, I met with old friends, or was accosted by some I had forgotten; and, in the course of time, a goodly number of new acquaintances was added, some seeking thus by religious conversation to beguile away the time in the cooling air, others led on by curiosity, and others again, as far as human discernment can go, by the best of motives-to know whether these things be so. There is one good and ominous feature of the people of this place, that they are, from whatever motive, patient listeners, and the missionary has the consolation of feeling that he has conscientiously discharged hist duty, having done all that human agency ever can do in spiritual matters-to have declared the whole counsel of God without let or hindrance, whether they would hear or forbear.

This

In general there is but little opposition and vain disputings; and where this happened to be the case, counting upon the disposition of the bystanders, I generally sought to discard such with the greatest possible promptitude and brevity by some convincing and convicting home-stroke, briefly proving either the insincerity or the levity of the opposer, in order to clear my way and proceed with my subject. manner of proceeding I found seldom without its good effect upon the hearers: they perceive that we are in earnest, that we seek truth in the inward parts, and have no pleasure in trifling or glory of victory in quibbling, and that, as we are in earnest, we expect them also to be earnest in all they bring forward. Thus a noted Talmudical opposer, when he first met me in company of others, began by asking me whether I had made many converts among his people? My reply was: "I do not pretend to be able to convert any of you; read your own history: Moses tried it, the prophets tried it, and all the messengers of God tried it, and they all failed, as your condition at this very time proves it; God alone can convert you, and I am sure that He will (Ezekiel Xxxvi.) This very man introduced me to the Jewish library, to show me old copies of the Talmud, which still contain fabulous accounts of Jesus of Nazareth, upon which he lay great stress, and by which he seeks to refute the Gospel history. He challenged me to a public discussion in the presence of a goodly number of Jews, which I accepted