was thus disturbed in some work which she was busy about. The woman who first held the child seemed to be a poor woman good-naturedly wishing to do a good turn to her neighbour; the mother looked like a poor woman, too, but rather flaunty in her dress, and had long ear-rings on, but seemed as if she had been busy in washing, or some such employment. I could not help pitying the case of poor people, who must be doing something to maintain their family, and must have the house affairs to look after, and who cannot properly attend to their children, so that three or four little things are left to run about the streets wholly neglected and in danger of their lives; and are often dreadfully scolded when at home, and often beaten, because they are in the way, and interrupt their mother's work. In truth, there is much patience required here. It is hard; but, if there is this rough dealing with children, all without reason, and just because the mother is in a passion, there is perfect ruin for the children. No distinction is made between right and wrong: the child cannot know why it is beaten, any more than why, at another time, it is kissed and coaxed and hugged, when perhaps a very different treatment would have been for its good.

When I had passed through this town, I continued my ride along a retired lane, where I could see only one house; it was a very poor-looking cottage, sloping down from the side of the road, and embedded in trees. A little child, just old enough to crawl, had got about twenty yards from the cottage. The mother saw it; came out in a violent passion; seized the child by the arm; dragged it along the road, scolding it violently all the way; and then pushed it down the steep place from the road to the cottage. Oh, mothers, how can you use your children so? Is it for their good, or for your own ill humour? Do you think that you can teach them to know what is right and what is wrong, if you beat them when they cannot know why? Will not this show them that you yourself are in the wrong ?-for they will be able to judge of this as they grow a little older; and can you expect thus to bring them up in a love of what is

right? In truth, this is the very way to make them despise you, and to encourage in them every ill feeling to yourself and to others, and to make them cross and discontented and ill-tempered all the rest of their lives. I believe that it is bad bringing up that makes many people so uncomfortable and fretful during the rest of their lives. I am aware that it is a very hard thing for poor people to know how to get through the troubles of a young family; but they should try all they can to bring them up in a spirit of kindness and gentleness and love; and whenever it is necessary to correct them, to be sure beforehand that correction is needful, and that the parent is in the right and the child in the wrong. In our infant schools, where the mistress is a good one, very great attention is paid to the tempers of the children, and they are taught to be gentle and kind and attentive to one another. They are not scolded when there is no reason for it, and are encouraged when they are doing well. The children in these schools seem generally happy; and no wonder, as they escape the vexations to which they are often exposed at home. There is no better place for little children than home, when they have a mother who is able to teach them, and who has time to watch over them, and a patient temper to understand their little troubles, and lead them on in the right course; but where there are many children in a small house, and the mother engaged in work of one sort or other, the children cannot be well looked after; and the crossings and the cryings and vexations and beatings set the children against the parents, and turn the minds of the parents quite away from the right feelings towards their own children. If these children are well attended to in an infant school, or any little school where the mistress is a kind and sensible person, these little creatures will be safe for the greater part of the day, and when they come home at night their parents will feel a comfort in seeing them, a vast deal of vexation will be spared, and a great deal of good to the children may be expected.

V.

MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

NEW ZEALAND.

THE Society's labours in this country have been zealously continued, and large numbers have professed their faith at different times, among whom there are many evidently converted to Christ. But the sad effects of war have been felt of late in retarding the success of the Gospel. Even, however, under these circumstances, the missionaries have often been enabled to do great good, by moderating the violence of the people, and preventing them from engaging in battle. An incident has lately occurred of this kind. The Rev. G. A. Kissling, during a tour in his district, was met by a messenger, who told him that the people of Kauakaua were at war, and that his interference was urgently needed. When he arrived at the place, the two parties of natives agreed to meet before the Mission house; and Mr. Kissling thus relates what followed.

"At last the warriors met, the chief occupying one side of my garden, and Agrippa, with his mob, the other. To describe the fierceness with which they eyed each other is next to impossible; but I almost trembled for the consequences of having brought these hostile parties into so close a contact. The Lord, however, gave me strength; and placing myself between these men of violence, I asked whether they would agree to my commencing the business with prayer; they all assented, and knelt on the grass. I began with our most excellent Litany, and one and all joined in the responses with as much fervour as though they were devout members of the Church of Christ. Some other Collects, bearing on unity and peace, having been offered, I addressed them all on the evil effects of war, and pressed for a reconciliation between them. The parties then respectively addressed each other, dwelling at some length on the points wherein they considered themselves aggrieved; but perceiving that this course was likely to kindle the fire afresh, I asked, 'What is the good of your long talk? Arise, and make peace!' As if moved by a secret

spring, they all jumped up, gave each other the hand, rubbed noses, and exclaimed, 'It is finished! It is finished!' The chief and Agrippa only still kept at a distance; but when I took Agrippa by the hand, and led him to the chief, these two also rubbed noses, accompanied with a tangi (crying, or mourning). A few sprinklings of unfriendly feeling were subsequently observable; but the storm of passion was effectually quelled."

Another account says,

"When I commenced dealing with these people, nearly two years ago, there was not a man who would stand to his word or agreement. The fence around the land, which the chief of the place presented to the Society, was more than once threatened to be razed, and the chief himself prohibited the supply to me and my family of the requisite food. This lasted ten days, when I received a letter from the chief, expressing his great love to me, and stating that he had sent me two pigs to make amends for what had passed. In a similar manner one cloud after another passed away, owing to the influence of the Gospel, and I begin now to feel more like a father amid a large circle of children, than a defenceless stranger before an excited crowd of savages."

The following notice of the death of a Christian, a chief or ruler of the New Zealanders, will show that good fruit has followed the planting of the truth among them.

"A Christian chief, Paratene, entered into rest on the 10th of October, 'in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life.' He was baptized by the Venerable Archdeacon W. Williams, and was ever afterward an ornament to our Church, and a support to me under my difficulties. Patient and resigned to his Saviour under his sufferings; reading the Scriptures, and teaching the blessed truths contained therein to his fellowmen, so long as his feeble strength permitted; discreet in his conversation; just and noble in all his dealings; and looking for . . . the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; he could say, at the close of his earthly career, I have finished my course:

and, I doubt not, a crown was given unto him which fadeth not away."

Administration of the Sacraments.

Oct. 5.-As it was a rainy day, I was obliged to have Service in the Church, although it would not contain the congregation. The building was The building was so crowded that the atmosphere became almost insufferably hot. I administered the Sacrament to 221 natives and 3 Europeans: it was received with the greatest reverence. The hearty way in which all united in the responses of our beautiful Service realized the wishes of its compilers, and presented a strong contrast to the feeble way in which they are made by many European congregations.

In the Evening Service I baptized forty-two individuals, about twelve of whom were infants. I had a very attentive congregation. The Service was not terminated until long after sunset, which is here equivalent to being in the dark, so soon does night follow that bright luminary in his flight.

Great desire for Prayer Books.

A Native was very importunate for me to give him a Prayer-book. I told him I had not one with me; but that if he liked to walk to Wanganui, distance nearly sixty miles, he should have one: to this he readily assented.

WEST AFRICA.-SIERRA LEONE.

The people here are black people, for the most part formerly slaves, but now set free by an act of the English Parliament.

The report for the year ending February 7, 1846, states that the average attendance on public worship, in all the stations of this mission, has been 6068. All our churches are filled on the Lord's day morning, and we have manifest indications that the Word of the Lord is glorified in the midst of us.

The services of our Church have been regularly maintained, and the Gospel preached, in all the villages and towns embraced by this mission; in addition to the duties of the Adult Sunday schools. During the past