instrument too powerful to be neglected, when, by its intervention, the sufferings of the righteous may be alleviated, or the wickedness of the wicked arrested. I dare not withhold from those who pray for the persecuted and the persecutor the following state

ment.

On the 19th of December last died at St. Jean, valley Luzerne, Madame Blanc, an aged, respectable, and pious widow, mother of a valued friend of mine, Mr. Blanc, pastor of the reformed church of Mens, in the department of the Isere, France, and of his pious and zealous brother, Mr. Antoine Blanc, proprietor at St. Jean. The family was formerly established at Briancon, but being the only Protestant family in that town, the father, Mr. Blanc, purchased a small estate in the valley of Luzerne, and retired to that spot with his family, in order to enjoy the advantages of Protestant society and of Christian worship. Madame Blanc, lately deceased, was the widow of this worthy man; Mr. Antoine Blanc, married to a Vaudois, lived with his mother and managed their little property. During the illness of Madame Blanc it was reported that, in case of decease, her remains would not be received into the Protestant cemetery; but the family hoped that such brutal malignity would not really be exercised. Immediately after the death of Madame Blanc, Mr. Gay, the minister whose name occurs in the letter inserted in your last number, accompanied by a friend, waited on the Syndic, Mr. Volle, a Protes tant, to make arrangements for the funeral. This Syndic refused to attend to their request, and declared that the deceased should not be interred in the burial-ground, but added, that it was the business of the Consistory to decide. Mr. A. Blanc, the son, then applied to the pastor of St. Jean, Mr. Mondon, who, after many unsuitable observations, said, he should not oppose the burial of "the mother of the poor," but that he should not be surprised if there were a riot on the occasion. Mr. Gay, the minister, found it necessary to appeal to the Commandant of the Sardinian government, at Pignerol, on behalf of the family. He was received by this officer, a Catholic, in a very friendly manner, and referred by him to the judge of Luzerne. The next day this magistrate, with his officers, made a formal appeal to the Consistory on the subject. The Consistory deliberated, and resolved that permission for interment should not be granted, because the deceased had changed her religion. The judge forwarded a copy of this resolution to the Commandant at Pignerol, and an order was returned that notwithstanding the resolution of the Consistory the interment should be made. This order arrived at three o'clock in the afternoon;

the judge immediately took measures for its execution; he accompanied the funeral procession; directed two gensdarmes to precede and two to follow the cortège, and charged them to protect the mourners from outrage and insult. -a necessary precaution; for the enemies of the professors of the new religion" had sworn, (unhappily I can testify that they can swear most profanely) that they would tear the mourners in pieces. The Syndic, obliged to cede to the supreme authority, took his last revenge by refusing to open a grave near that in which the husband of the deceased had been interred, and by selecting the spot in the cemetery the most ignominious, that in which are interred the remains of persons who die by their own hands. To add to the agitation and affliction of this distressed family, it was quite dark before the body of their beloved parent could be deposited in this grave, obtained with such difficulty and at such risk. The family was not, however, left without the consolations and supports of the gospel, nor even without the sympathies of Christian friends; in spite of the threats of their adversaries, those who were united by the same faith and hope, came from La Tour, Angrogne, and Rosa, and followed the remains of their departed friend to their dishonoured grave to weep there.

It is not possible that the hatred that could thus pursue the dead should spare the living. The appearance of the same piety which distinguished the deceased widow is the signal for all kinds of annoyance and oppression: if the individual be engaged in business, his creditors unite to embarrass his affairs; if he need relief, the poor fund is closed against him. It could not have been the intention of benevolent Christians in England, and in other countries, that their charity should furnish means of religious persecution; and yet. it is reported in the valley, that very soon the children of those of "the new religion" will be excluded from the primary schools, the masters of which are supported by foreign contributions. I am not surprised at such events the scenes I witnessed had prepared me to expect any excess of wickedness and cruelty from the enemies of Christian truth and liberty at St. Jean, the richest commune in the Protestant valley of Luzerne; but surely the pastors and consistories of other communes should feel that it is time to put a stop to such scandalous conduct, and to ensure entire religious liberty to all the Vaudois ; at least they should feel, that it is time to protest publicly against its violation, and to acquit themselves of all participation (even that of inaction) in scenes now so long continued, and which cannot but dishonour, to a certain degree, the whole Vaudois population. Yours ever and most sincerely, M. W.

NEW ZEALAND.

Extract of a Letter from a Missionary at Waimote, in New Zealand, dated Sept. 1831.

By the blessing of God I arrived safe at Sydney, in New South Wales, on Dec, 21, 1830, and here, Feb. 6, 1831. I thank my heavenly Father that I am in good health, and like the country very well; and I hope the Lord will be pleased to bless my feeble endeavours among the poor heathen, for which cause I left my native country and all that were dear to me on earth....

"The Lord has done much in this land of gross darkness. Great numbers have heard

the gospel, and many that were dead in sin have heard the voice of the Son of God and live. I am much pleased in hearing from my own house the natives, even at midnight, singing the songs of Zion, and offering prayer to God through Jesus Christ. ...

"I am stationed at the New Settlement, which will be a beautiful place, as it is situated in a fine valley, which extends as far as the eye can reach. Here,' as the excellent Heber says, every prospect pleases, and only man is vile.'

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In this station 3000 can hear the gospel every Sabbath, none of whom ever heard the joyful sound before."

THE REV. I. MANN, A.M.

The church of Christ has sustained a great loss in the unexpected death of this amiable, intelligent, and energetic minister, the esteemed pastor of the Baptist church assembling in Maze Pond Meeting, Southwark. At the early age of forty-six he was called away from his sphere of active labour to his eternal rest, on Saturday, the 31st of Dec. 1831. The affliction which terminated the earthly career of this good minister of Jesus Christ began with symptoms of severe cold, accompanied with spasm. We have been informed that his liver was diseased, and that though he was distinguished by a large measure of patience and fortitude, he must have been a great sufferer. His end, however, was peace; and to him death was great gain. But his bereaved widow, and four fatherless children, together with the church over which he presided, are left to mourn this severe visitation of Divine Providence.

year, leaving a widow and a numerous family of children and grand-children, the Rev. Joseph Corbishley, forty-two years pastor of the Independent chapel at Abbots Roothing. He was a native of Stockport, in Cheshire, received his education for the ministry at Homerton College, and was nearly the last survivor of the students of his day. Always resigned to the Divine will, his cheerfulness, affability, and suavity of disposition, even when suffering under severe and trying dispensations, had so generally endeared him to all classes and sects, that persons, for many miles round his village, were eager to pay a last tribute of respect to his remains, when conveyed to their final abode, in Fyfield churchyard. His death was improved, on the following Sabbath, in a most impressive discourse, by the Rev. Mr. Berry, of Hatfield Heath, from 2 Tim. iv. 7. "I have finished my course." The service was so numerously attended, that many could not obtain an entrance, and were obliged to remain in the chapel-yard.

THE REV. A. BROMILEY.

We regret to announce the death of the Rev. A. Bromiley, of Blewburgh, Berks, and formerly of Leamington Spa. The event took place Dec. 29, 1831.

THE REV. THOMAS HEATHCOTE.

This excellent minister of Jesus Christ, late pastor of the Independent Church, Gornal, near Dudley, was seized with severe indisposition on the 7th of December and died on the following day. We intend furnishing our readers with a brief memoir of his life and labours next month.

continues to conduct the Malay service at our chapel every Sabbath-day at noon, and L. Mouton discourses to the convicts every other Sunday afternoon, when I am employed in the Dutch church.

Visits to the Natives and Chinese.

My visits to the Malays and Chinese, in their own villages and dwellings, have been continued almost daily during the past half year. The Chinese willingly receive the tracts and portions of Scripture which I always carry about with me, and listen without objection to my discourses on religion. At a Chinese feast, which I visited, they displayed the greatest eagerness to obtain the tracts which I brought, so that they went as fast as I could deal them out; but, generally speaking, when I come to treat on any of the peculiar doctrines of the Gospel, or enforce on them the necessity of a change of heart, I find them slow to hear, and unwilling to afford the attention which the all-important subject demands. Indeed, they are not only ignorant of God, but averse to be informed on divine subjects; the peculiar work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in the creation, redemption, and sanctification of mankind, is a topic to which they are most inimical, and their own interest in that work they are most backward to consider or acknowledge. The distribution of tracts among the Malays has gone on as formerly

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about 1000 Malay tracts and Gospels having been put in circulation during the last six months. The people in the markets receive them eagerly, and we seldom return from our excursions into the country without having given away all our stock. In conversing with the Malays, I find their prejudice greatly removed, and that shyness and distrust, which at one time appeared on every countenance, now seldom met with. Still their hearts are dreadfully hard, and the all-awakening truths of the gospel, with the melting tidings of a Saviour's love, seem to make no impression on them. Objec tions are sometimes made, and questions proposed, but, generally speaking, all direct exhortations to repentance, and offers of mercy, are received with silence, and sometimes with contempt. There seems a general want of conviction of sin; no man fancies his state so bad as is represented, or sees the need of that immediate and urgent application for mercy which is recommended." They are saying to themselves, Peace, peace, when there is no peace; and nothing but the effectual teaching of God's Holy Spirit can possibly cure them of that vain notion of self-righteousness, which clings to them in spite of every remonstrance. There are some, however, with whom we come into closer contact, and two Malay priests attend me weekly, for the purpose of receiving instruction in geography and astronomy, to whom I

hope, by degrees, to be able to make known something for the good of their souls.

Schools.

Our schools consist of two Chinese and one Malay, which, I am sorry to say, do not prosper so well as formerly. The teacher of the Chinese school at Pasar Senen having become nearly blind, we were obliged to procure a new teacher in his stead, who is by no means so capable or well-trained to our methods of instruction as the former one; consequently the boys have not made such progress as we could have wished, and the numbers have, in some degree, declined. The blind teacher was formerly sent from Malacca by Dr. Milne, and, having been ten years in the employ of the mission, we thought it but right to provide for his return to China; but a free passage having been offered him by the navigator of a Chinese junk, he was allowed a small gratuity on his return to his native country. The school-master of the other Chinese school was also afflicted with a paralytic affection at the beginning of the year, which, though it has not disabled him entirely from going through the duties of the school, has prevented his moving from his seat without help, in consequence of which his pupils have fallen off in numbers. The Malay school has but few attendants, but those few have made good progress, having most of them got through the one hundred preparatory lessons which were drawn up for them, and two hundred more tablets have since been prepared, in which they are also tolerably well advanced.

Literary Engagements.

Since the completing of the Hok-keen Dictionary I have been employed in drawing up a preface, system of orthography, and necessary indexes, which have been sent to Canton, to be printed with the work itself; though, I fear the disturbances in China will retard for a time such peaceful occupations, as the bringing of literary works through the press. In addition to the above, I have been much taken up in correcting, revising, and improving the translation of the Scriptures into low Malay, the printing of which is now carrying on at the Government press, and is advanced to the end of the Gospel of John. The further I proceed in this work, the more I find that it needs a close and undivided attention, particularly as the epistles are more difficult than the gospels; however, if life and health continued, I hope to see the work pretty well advanced by the end of the year.

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Some of my former Chinese tracts have been corrected, and forwarded to Mr. Dyer, at Pinang, who has kindly offered to get them recut and printed in a neater form; it is my intention, in a short time, to revise the whole of my former productions, and then to

attempt the improvement of some of Dr. Milne's old tracts, which, having been penned on his first commencing the study of Chinese, would admit of great alterations in style and expression, without affecting the arrangement or general sense.

Assistance in the Mission.

Mr. Young continues to afford me his valuable assistance, and grows daily in the respect and esteem of all who know him. A friendship, founded on the best of principles, has grown up between us, and, while I endeavour to render him all the aid in my power, my children enjoy an inestimable privilege in being under his care and instruction. Whilst Mr. Abeel was here he went with him through the epistles, which course I am now continuing. A young man of amiable disposition joins with us in these exercises, which, I trust, will not be without benefit to us all.

Mr. Medhurst's Family.

My wife and four children continue in the enjoyment of good health, for which I desire to feel grateful to the Giver of all good; our mercies are new every morning, and truly can we say, that not one good thing of all that the Lord hath promised, hath ever failed us. May we be enabled to make suitable returns, in humble devotedness to the God of all grace, and find our reward in our work! (Signed) W. H. MEDHurst.

EAST INDIES.

CALCUTTA.

Extracts of a Letter from Rev. A. T. Lacroix, dated Calcutta, 11th July, 1831, addressed to the Directors.

Church at Rammakalchoke.

My labours at the Rammakalchoke station, during the past year, have been conducted much in the same manner as formerly. I am happy to state, in addition, that the native converts being deemed sufficiently advanced in Christian knowledge, were formed ten months ago into a regular church. Two deacons, from the more advanced in age, piety, and Christian experience, were chosen by the people to assist me in the discharge of my pastoral duties among them. Meetings have since that period been held, monthly, to conduct the affairs of the little society. At these meetings, at which I always preside, the names of candidates for baptism and the Lord's Supper are mentioned, the opinions of those best acquainted with them is taken, and they are accordingly either admitted, or referred to a longer trial. The conduct of any of the members, if it be of such a nature as to deserve public reproof, is taken into consideration, and discipline exercised, as

the case may require. A collection has also been made every month, among the members, for the purpose of assisting the poor, and though the means of the people are extremely limited, the amount collected has been sufficient to relieve the distress of many.

The formation of the converts into a regular church has been productive of beneficial effects: union between the different members has become more cemented, discipline has been better enforced, and it is to be hoped it will prove beneficial likewise to the interests of Christianity among the surrounding heathen, who are thereby convinced that the spirit of our holy religion is a spirit of love and unity, whilst the public and uniform expression of disapproval by the whole body of immoral conduct, shows that the Christian church is not an asylum for crime.

Baptisms.

In January of this year I baptized, at Rammakalchoke, seven adults and four children, and subsequently two adults at Gungree. Mr. Ray, previously to his departure, had baptized six adults and four children at the latter.

Chapel at Bhowanipore.

The chapel at Bhowanipore, which I mentioned it was my intention to erect, was completed in August, since which I have attended there twice or thrice a week. The congregations have been numerous and attentive. The people do not, as they used almost every where formerly, content themselves by standing at the door for a few minutes, and then pursue their way; but they enter the chapel, seat themselves on forms-Brahmins, Soodras, and Mohammedans, together-and listen often for more than an hour to the gospel, with all the attention and decorum of a Christian congregation. And though no instance of conversion connected with this place can be mentioned, yet I consider my labours amply repaid by the wide diffusion of Christian knowledge which has been the consequence, and which I humbly trust may contribute to pave the way for the ultimate reception of the Gospel in these parts. In the evenings, the congregations are usually composed of the inhabitants of the place, several of whom attend frequently; and in the morning they consist of strangers, from all districts of Bengal, proceeding to the great temple of Kalee Ghaut, or to the southern parts of the country. Numbers of tracts are distributed on every occasion after the preaching. Chitlah has been attended on market days, and other preaching stations as usual.

After Mr. Adam's lamented demise, Mr. Piffard and myself, on several accounts, thought it advisable, for the present, to reunite the three stations of Kidderpore, Rammakalchoke, and Gungree, into one, and to