provided with spinning-wheels and looms, we cannot yet make use of it. We wish to have a printing-press, and some glass for windows.' The people of the surrounding tribes have expressed so great a desire to hear the gospel, that Mr. Albrecht says, ; We have already, by the help of God, made two nations of the Namaquas acquainted with the gospel, besides the Hottentots who live along the Orange River; the Gorlam, or more cultivated Hottentots; and the Bastards: bat Three Missionaries can by no means supply them all. If, therefore, the Directors could send us five-and-twenty more Missionaries, they would find work enough in this country, where a Missionary may speak freely everywhere on religious subjects. "Our congregation is now increased to seven hundred, whose names are written in our church-book; and there are also many others, whose. names are not yet inscribed: but all our scholars cannot remain constantly with us; they are obliged, for the sake of their cattle, to live near waters and grass-fields. These come, occasionally, to hear the word of God; or one of us goes to them, to instruct them and their children; for which reason also, niore Missionaries are necessary to help us in cur labours, for we have a large field before us. In my late journey westward, I found everywhere among the Heathen an open door; and that the people would rejoice if Missionaries would come and dwell among them. Blackmodder Fountain, or a place a little north of it, would be very suitable for a Missionary station. Others might go to the sea coast (west); where they might find the most advantageous place for a settlement; because their wants would probably be supplied by ships that touched there.' [The Directors are at this time taking measures for strengthening this promising Mission to the Namaquas, by additional labourers.] 1808. An instance occurred of the Chinese att sing the truth of an assertion, by cutting off the head of a fowl. They consider it, however, very solemn; and do not like to do it but on special occasions. There is nothing similar to our oath exacted by the magistrates when taking evidence. Appeals to the gods are only made by private individuals, when they question the ve racity of each other; and this is done, not only in the manner above stated, but in various ways; as, by deshing a potter's vessel to pieces, and wishing that if they speak faisely, it may be done to them in like manner; by blowing out a candle, and wishing that they, in like man ner, may be extinguished, &c. I walked out to the temple of Pakti-pu-saat (the great northern deity) where a large concourse of people were assembled, and which was filled with the smoke of their offerings. They brought, in small baskets, fowls, pork, vegetables, and fish; came which, after the prostrations s were finished, they took away with them. They had also candles, the fragrant matches, and paper. These were entirely consumed; while only part of the wine was poured into a trough before the altar, or thrown on the ground. One poor woman with an offering of pork and green peas; she had neither fowl nor fish. When the worshipper throws his flaming paper on the metal altar, an attendant in the temple beats a large drinn, and strikes a bell, as if to rouse the attention of the god to what is offered. Several of the wor shippers muttered a prayer on their knees, or standing, taking up a crooked piece of wood, like a cow's horn divided lengthwise, and throwing it down again and again, till it fell in a manner that they wished, or thought ominous of good. There is nothing social in their worship, nor any respect shewn by those who are not engaged. One is praying, another talking and laughing, a third cleaning utensils, &c. As in every idolatrous country, there ap pear to be favourite deities, as well as particular times for their worship of one in preference to another, hence many of the temples are quite deserted, whilst that of Pak-ti-pusaat was crowded. About two in the morning, the noise of the fire-works announced the introduction of the New Year. The people dressed themselves on the preceding evening, and waited for its approach. I arose, and walked through the suburbs; which were thronged by persons repairing to the temples, carrying with them various offerings. On this day the Chinese send to the Europeans slips of red paper, on which they express a wish, that the person to whom it is sent may enjoy health and prosperity. I am informed, that at 60 or 61 years of age, a person has the privilege of walking with a stick, and wearing a button of a peculiar kind on the top of his cap. At 70, he may walk where the Emperor is sometimes seen; and at 80, stand and look him in the face. How low is the idea which the Chinese must entertain of the engagements of departed spirits, when they suppose that they are pleased with the performances of strolling players, or the noise made by fireworks! Strings of crackers, proportioned in length to the gratitude and wealth of the person exploding them, are heard at all seasons, morning, noon, and midnight. March 27, 1808. At this time serious appréhensions were entertained of scarcity, from the dryness of the season. Public prayers were offered up in most of the temples. Papers were pasted up in them, reminding the individual worshippers of that which was desired. for three days was in contemplation; but did not take place. A fast Conversing with a person, I mentioned, That if I should go to P. I would return, if life were spared.' I perceived he did not like the allusion to a possibility of dying; and on further enquiry, found that it is by no means pleasant to the Chinese in general, either to think or speak of death. Alas! to them the sting remains they know not how to extract it; and, like thousands clsewhere, endeavour to forget the evil which they cannot avoid. O, to be XVIII. able to preach fully to them Jesns, and the resurrection! My assistant is of opinion, that the translation which I have of the Gospels and Epistles (copied from the MSS. in the British Museum) was made by some Chinese, - the style being superior, he supposes, to that of any foreigner. Oct. 5 was a great holiday, on ac count of the harvest-moon, which was this evening full. Thousands 'bowed down and worshipped it, presenting at the same time offerings of fruit, fowls, wine, &c. SWEDEN. To the Editor. Rev. and dear Sir, AN Account having appeared in your Supplement for 1809, of the Tour of the Rev. Messrs. Paterson and Henderson thro' the northern parts of Sweden, for the purpose of procuring information concerning the religions state of the country, in which the scarcity and high price of Bibles is noticed,—it will, doubtless, be gratifying to your readers to be informed, That, through the exertions of these devoted servants of Christ, a Society was formed at Stockholm, which, early in the last year, received the royal sanction, under the denomination of The Evangelical Society, whose object is to print the Holy Scriptures and Reallotted to each purpose separate); ligious Tracts (preserving the funds and this Society having been encouraged by pecuniary aid from the British and Foreign Bible Society, for the express purpose of printing the Swedish Bible on standing types, in. order to furnish a perpetual supply: at a low price, are actually engaged in printing this work, which has suffered little or no interruption from the revolution that has since taken place in Sweden, although they found it necessary to suspend, for a short season, their proceedings in the other branch of their benevolent labours; but have again resumed them since they have had a settled government, having been granted to them to propermission ceed with the printing and circulation of religious tracts; which must G prove a lasting blessing to their country. con It will also be interesting to some of your readers, to be furnished with some account of the Rev. John Paterson, and the Rev. Ebenezer Penderson, whose zealous exertions have proved so highly beneficial to the north of Europe. In the year 1805, they were sent out by some of the churches in Scotland, with the intention of going on a mission to India, by way of Denmark; but on their arrival at Copenhagen, the places in the packet being all previously engaged, they were strained to wait for a future opportunity. In the mean time, like St. Paul when waiting at Athens, their spirit was stirred within them, when they beheld the city given in a remarkable manner to irreligion and the open profanation of the Sabbath, they proceeded (with a zeal worthy the imitation of other missionaries who may be detained at places short of their ultimate destination) to preach the everlasting gospel to the English, and to such Danes as understood the English language, both at Copenhagen and Elsineur:-they also distributed a number of religious tracts, and procured Danish translations of some of them, which they priated, and distributed among the natives. - a Whilst they were thus employed, their attention was turned to the state of Iceland, and having procured accurate information as to the want of the holy Scriptures in that island, and the capacity and disposition of the inhabitants to read them, they learned that the religious society at Funen were about to print 2000 copies of an Icelandic Testament; which appearing to be a very inadequaie supply, they opened a correspondence with the committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, who added 3000 more at their expence, and encouraged them to make preparations for printing the whole Bible in the Icelandic. But this was prevented by the unhappy breach between this country and Denmark. The New Testament, to the execution of which, Messrs. Pa During the siege of Copenhagen, in 1807, the friends, in Britain, of these worthy men felt much anxiety for their safety and it afterwards appeared, that Mr. Henderson had left that city previous to the siege; but Mr. Paterson thought it his duty to remain there, and visited the distressed people, from house to. house, admin stering the balm of consolation afforded by the gospel. It becoming necessary after the.. siege for all British to leave Den mark, Mr. Paterson and his worthy colleague removed to Sweden where the same spirit of enquiry into the state of religion, and the same disposition to be useful to the souls of men, induced them to concert measures of the greatest importance:-here they circulated, at their own expence, extracts from the publications of the Religious Tract Society in London; and of the British and Foreign Bible Society: and also an address which they prepared, in order to shew the necessity for similar institutions in Sweden (which they were obliged to circulate in writing, as printing is not so readily allowed there as in this country); and after having travelled many hundred miles for the purpose of obtaining informa tion on the subject, they happily succeeded in rousing the latent energies of the religious people in Sweden; and convincing them of wants which had before escaped their notice. They, therefore, formed The Evangelical Society abovementioned, on a plan which, there is reason to hope, will render it a permanent and active society. They have already printed and circulated a very considerable number of religious tracs in the Swedish and Finnish Janguages, which have been, I believe, chiefly translations from the English. Mesirs Paterson and Henderson have also printed in Sweded, a con siderable number of Danish tracts, for the benefit of the prisoners of war, at the charge of the Religious Tract Society in London, who have also contributed liberally to the funds of the Evangelical Society, to enable them to commence their operations in that department; and their example has been followed by a handsome subscription in Sweden. Messrs Paterson and Henderson bave also turned their attention to the Finnish Refugees; and having found some Finnish Testaments in Stockholm, they prevailed on the British and Foreign Bible Society to purchase them, for the purpose of distribution among them; which was readily entrusted to their care. They have also discovered where a Lapland Bible was printing, and made an engagement for 5000 copies of the New Testament in that language, on account of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Whilst they were busily engaged in the pursuit of these important objects, and in preaching the gospel to their countrymen, they have uniformly conducted themselves with such propriety, and evinced such sound judgment in all their proceedings, as to command the respect of their superiors; who, in their correspondence, always speak of them in the highest terms of peculiar regard. When we consider the vast field which the continent of Europe presents, for the exertion of such talents as are given by the God of all grace to these devoted missionaries, may we not hope that their future labours will be of the same important nature in other countries with those abovementioned ? and the contemplation of the past events relating to them, should lead us to adore his inscrutable dispensations; who, when he disappoints his servanls that have engaged in his work, and thwarts their purposes, is overruling them for his own glory, and often for the more extensive en largement of the church of Christ, than would probably have been the effect of their labours in the line which they had proposed to themselves. AMICUS. Provincial Intelligence. HIBERNIAN SOCIETY. The Committee with pleasure submit to the Religious Public, the following extract of a Letter from Mr. T. G. one of the preachers sent over by this Society, dated October 4, 1809. THE box of Bibles, Testaments, and tracts, as mentioned in your letter of May 6, I received :-a very acceptable supply indeed. All the common Testaments, except two or three, are disposed of, and some Bibles. The desire for them I think continues to increase, and the means cf supply increase with the desire, which is a peculiar blessing. The Cork Bible Society does great things, and the secretaries are very zealous ; they sent a supply to this town yesterday. Thus the bread of life is offered to the starving Irish, and the living streams flow into their houses. that they may cat, drink, and live for ever! One man, a Roman Catholic, to whom I gave a Testament, upon his earnest request, carries it about in his boson. With another 1 have had much conversation; and I hope the minds of both are opening to the truth. These are generally at our place of worship; several others occasionally attend, and many more we should have, were it not for fear of wearing the white sheet congregation on the Sabbath evening, I think, increases: we have ge nerally between 2 and 300 people. The I have been discouraged by the conduct of some, of whom I had entertained fond hopes. However, I think this a very promising field of usefulness; and if the preacher had all that zeal, energy, faithful. ness, and holin ss, the nature of his work demands, much might be expected; though, without the Holy Spirit's influence, all would be in vain. That no good has been done, I dare not say. I bave the pleasure of knowing that several persons are seeking Jesus; and, through the rich grace of the Saviour, the Society already begins to reap the fruit of their labours. It has been with unspeakable delight that I have lately pointed to the Lamb of God some who came to complain of their wicked hard hearts.' town::- I mentioned, I think, in a former letter, that once a week I had preached in the Barracks in the this I continue to do, with a pleasing prospect of good being done. The Sunday Sesool and the Weekly Schools are tolerably well attended. The monthly sermon to the young people is always anxiously looked for. This is one of the most pleasing exercises in which I engage. One of the first of these services was made useful to a young person, whose conver-. sation and conduct are becoming the gospel. The above account must be very acceptable to the Society, demands their grateful praises, and I hope will stimulate them to greater exertions. I lament that this is such an out-of-the-way place, that ministers coming from England to supply the chapel at Dublin, can never visit us. If such a thing could be done, the beneût might be great; or, if any more could come for the express purpose, at certaintimes, to make a tour, 'to visit the brethren, and see how they do,' it would be exceedingly refreshing and useful. posterous to the eye of reason and philosophy, and has been found so inadequate, by a long experience, that nothing but that spirit of opposition to popery, which gives a sanction to every thing, could still induce any people to persevere in its adoption. To see this book of wonders, this book of mysteries, this book of prophecies, this book containing the earliest history of mankind, laid before an ignorant peasant for his edification and instruction! Can we seriously applaud the measure! After this we need not wonder that orders have been issued, not to accept a religious tract, nor to pick one up from the ground, unless to burn it, or to carry it to the priest ! We rejoice to hear that the British and Foreign Bible Society are about to reprint the New Testament (Bishop Bedell's edition) in the Irish language. Such is the partiality of the Irish to their own tongue, that we hope the most desirable effects will be produced by this measure. ORDINATIONS, &C. The Rev. Mr. Fernie, of the seminary at Hackney, was ordained to the care of the church recently formed at Brewood, in Staffordshire. Mr, Chesters, of Uttoxeter, began the service as usual; Mr. Williams, of Stone, asked the questions, &c.; Mr. Wilks, of London, offered the ordination prayer; Mr. Collison, of Hackney, gave the charge from Malachi ii. 6; Mr. Mosely, of Hanley, preached to the people from Mark ii. 17; Mr. Salt, of Lichfield; Mr. Cooke, of Stafford; Mr. Smith, of Wolverhampton; and Mr. Scarrot, of Shiffnal, engaged in the other parts of the service. July 12. The Rev. Js. Cooper was ordained over the Independent Ghurch assembling in the Old Meeting-house, West Bromwich, Staffordshire. Mr. Hudson, of West Bromwich, began with reading the Scriptures and prayer: Mr. Phillips, Junior Tutor at Rotherham, delivered the introductory discourse, and asked the usual questions; Mr. Grove, of Walsall, prayed the ordination prayer; Dr. Williams, the Senior Tutor of Rotherham, gave the charge; Mr. James, of Birmingham, preached to the people; and Mr. Steele, |