We now bring our review to a close, by congratulating the religious public on the publication of this valuable performance. They who are alive to the importance of Christian education, will hail it with joy. While juvenile delinquency is making so rapid a progress, and threatening, in many of our large towns and villages, to blast all that is fair and interesting in the rising generation, how necessary is it to put forth all our efforts to counteract the alarming evil, and to go to the very source of the disorder, and to impregnate the fountain of life with those holy instructions that diffuse a salutary influence among all our families and connexions! We doubt not that the labours of Dr. Wright have a direct and powerful tendency to accomplish this end. He is a man of prayer, and we question not that the divine blessing will accompany his work. We sincerely thank him for this volume, and we entreat him not to stop in his career of usefulness; but as God has endowed him with talents for benefiting the young, that he would, from time to time, favour them with fresh tokens of his regard.

Wellesley Grey; an Interesting History. By Lieut. TENDERTON of Port Denny. Edinburgh: 1824. Price 2s. 6d.

ALTHOUGH it is not quite a heresy in our church to deny the

utility of Sabbath schools, yet we believe there are now comparatively few who do not confess their importance. Experience has done much of late years to prove their efficacy, not only as the means of instructing children, who would otherwise have remained ignorant of the way of life; but even, in many cases, of leading parents themselves to the acquisition of knowledge, and to the study of religion. The notion is now exploded, that religious instruction, conferred upon children in Sabbath schools, tends to relax the exertions of parents, and to make them unmindful of their duty. The truth is, that parents and guardians, who were formerly willing to rear the youth under their charge in the ways of godliness, will be more active and zealous when they see others joining them in the good work; and we know well, that in many cases, the example and labours of the scholars have had the happiest effect, by bringing the truths of the gospel more immediately under the review of those who were their natural protectors and guides.

Thus far as to Sabbath schools; the beneficial tendency of which it is the design of the little book under our notice to illustrate; and we consider, that though they had produced no happier effects than just calling forth such productions as this, they would have ranked high, as tending to the edification and the welfare of our youth. They have been the nurseries for these little books, in which the truths of religion have been set forth in the most agreeable forms; as teaching. us to live in holiness, and enabling us to die in peace, and thereby winning us to the knowledge and practice of the gospel.

Wellesley Grey is a simple story, given in the words of a Lieutenant Tenderton, who, after a series of military campaigns, came to settle

coast of Scotland, and it embraces the conversion and sudden death of a young man, who was formerly wayward and wicked. As the nephew and protegé of a sea Captain who lived at that port, Wellesley Grey was bred up with all the prejudices of his uncle, and with all the bad habits which could arise under such a protector. The death of a companion, however, recalls him to a sense of his situation and of religion; he attends a Sabbath school-profits from the instruction which he receives-his uncle is induced to be a visitor for once; and, struck with the neatness and propriety of the arrangements, and the progress of the pupils, becomes, instead of a reviler, one of its patrons. The effect of all this is soon brought to the proof. The young man, with a companion, sails for Liverpool; his ship is wrecked almost before getting to the open sea; and we are left with the comfortable assurance that the truths which he had received had supported and consoled him, amidst the dreadful circumstances that marked his dying hour.

This story is told with much simplicity, and not unfrequently with the most touching powers of a lively imagination; and what is of great importance in publications of this kind, there are no trifling incidents recorded unconnected with the main object in view, which is to show the influence and importance of religion. It is sufficiently interesting to command the attention of youth, while it contains truths from which even the experience of riper years has no occasion to turn away. It contains some very good defences of the system of Sabbath schools, and some very useful hints as to the arrangements which ought to

VOL. XXIII. NO. I.

We are not aware from whose pen this little interesting work proceeds; but from the strain of that lively imagination and simplicity of style, we are apt to trace something of the author of the "Cottage Scenes," and "Advices to the Young;" two valuable publications, which we had occasion lately to notice, and which have met with much public approbation; but whoever the author may be, we cannot help expressing our gratitude to him and such persons who employ their time in furnishing works of this kind, for the instruction of our youth. If the assertion was true, that the person who made ballads for the people wielded a wider power than he who framed the laws, what must be the influence of those who write the books that are to be read by our children, and who sow the earliest seeds of religion in their youthful minds! Their labours are important, their reward may not be literary honours-it is a higher one-they are the benefactors of their country, the best friends of their race.

There are some inaccuracies in style, and there is much carelessness in punctuation, which have offended us in the course of perusal; but we have not leisure to particularise these faults; and we do not mean to say more of them, than that they are very inexcus able, since they might have been easily avoided.

H

of the saints in light,' it must be through the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ, our Lord; if we ever join the blessed company of heaven, we must be clothed with the spotless robe of the Redeemer's right

eousness.

"The medium through which reconciliation is to be obtained with Almighty God, was mercifully revealed to man immediately after the fall, when he stood a trembling criminal before his awful judge; and we find that all nations have had some confused idea of the necessity, some faint representation of the efficacy, of an atoning sacrifice, originating, most probably, in the traditions derived from our first parents.

The ceremonial worship instituted by Moses—the types, shadows, and sacrifices of the Levitical law, all speak the same language, all declare the necessity, that an expiatory sacrifice should be offered.

"There is a harmony the most perfect subsisting between the attributes of God justice, mercy, and holiness, meet in beautiful concord in the divine character: nor can there be a stronger proof of this indissoluble union, than the sacrifice made on the cross for sin; the dignity of the spotless victim there offered, the costly price at

which man's redemption was purchased, proclaim it in language not to be misunder stood.

"Infinite justice required a sacrifice of incalculable value, and infinite mercy provided and accomplished the sacrifice. At the cross, the rights of justice, and the claims of mercy, were fully and for ever reconciled. The ransom was paid, the debt cancelled, the good shepherd laid down his life for the sheep.".

To Him, therefore, who loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and to Him alone belong honour and glory.'

"The saints who surround the throne of God, with a perpetual hymn, boast not of their love, their obedience, and sacrifices. They cast their crowns to the dust, exclaiming, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain; and let our feeble voices echo the

heavenly strain. While we work out our salvation, let it be with fear and trembling; and let us never forget that our sufficiency is of God; that we too may swell the joyful chorus, which ascribes Blessing and honour, and glory, and power, to Him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb for ever."

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Demerara.-The directors have at length the satisfaction of informing the members of the society that they have received a letter from Mr. Elliot, dated October 18, enclosing a copy of one written to the treasurer on the 25th September, but detained in the colony; besides communications from other persons.

The letters of Mr. Elliot assert the innocence of the missionaries of all participation whatever in the crime of the insurrection; and the directors entertain no apprehension of advancing that which they shall have to retract, in saying, they give full credit to the declaration. They will quote the terms in which these assurances are made to themselves, convinced that the manly feelings of conscious integrity which shine through them, will carry to the bosom of every impartial reader a conviction of the veracity by which they are dictated,

Numerous false reports have been sent forth against Mr. Smith,"➡(Mr.

Elliot might have added against himself also)" but assure yourself and all the directors, that whatever reports you may hear, the only crime the missionaries have committed is their zeal for the conversion of the negroes. They have neither been so weak nor so wicked as to excite the negroes to rebellion. The missionaries want justice only; they have no favour to ask; they have nothing to fear. The missionaries have not degraded their holy calling, nor dishonoured the society of which they are members, by sowing the seeds of rebellion instead of the Word of Life. The real causes of the rebellion are far, very far from being the instructions given by the missionaries." He adds, we are not cast down; the Lord our God supports us; and we are persuaded that He who protected Daniel in the lion's den, will support and protect us.'

The directors are persuaded that the friends of the society will approve of their not making larger quotations from these communications at present, and that they will accept the brief statement which they

are about to offer, in the confidence that they will be enabled, ere long, to present to them a circumstantial justification of the character and conduct of their greatly calunniated missionaries.

The statement, brief as it is, will be sufficient to show the falsehood of the almost innumerable reports which have been industriously circulated through the kingdom, and indeed through the world.

The colony of Demerara is divided into the East and West Coasts by the Demerara River, the former, including Mahaica, being on its right bank. Mr. Elliot is stationed on the West, Mr. Smith on the East Coast, about twenty miles distant from each other.

It appears that the insurrection was entirely confined to the East Coast, so that no commotion whatever took place on the estates on which Mr. Elliot labours, and not one of the negroes under his instruction was implicated in the rebellion.

Mr. Elliot's being taken into custody was therefore owing only (though he had threatenings given him) to an alleged "disobedience of orders," which he had not understood to be such, in visiting Mr. Smith at the Colony-house the day after he was sent thither. After a detention of about ten days, during which his papers were all taken from his house, he was allowed to return home, under an injunction not to interfere with the trials. No charge was preferred against him; and thus are the vehement accusations against all the missionaries of the society within the colony, circulated for several weeks past throughout the country, reduced to that only against Mr. Smith.

The insurrection, it should seem, manifested itself first in Mahaica, the district to the eastward of that in which Mr. Smith resides. Its appearance on the Le Ressouvenir estate, where Mr. Smith resides, was on Monday the 18th August, in consequence of an order to take into custody two slaves belonging to an adjoining plantation, whom the negroes of the Le Ressouvenir, as the prisoners had to pass over it, rose to rescue. Mr. Smith was at home. He successfully used his endeavours, on perceiving the tumult, to rescue the manager from the negroes, and continued his exertions to induce them to return to their duty, till he himself was driven with violence, and with a weapon held to his body, from the estate.

Mr. Smith was taken into custody on the evening of the 21st August, and all his papers seized. He is kept a prisoner in the Colony-house, and has since the 24th of August, had a guard stationed over him. Mis. Smith is not detained as a

prisoner, but does not avail herself of her liberty, lest on leaving her husband, she might be refused access to him again. After the 22d August, Mr. Elliot had no communication with him. Mr. Smith was, on Monday, the 13th October, brought to trial before a court martial, the legality of which proceeding is greatly doubted in this country. The public papers have stated four charges as forming the indictment against him, but of their accuracy the directors are not enabled to judge. They trust that, under the direc tion of Divine Providence, he has been able to prove himself guiltless of them all.

It is not, however, to be concealed, that he will have had much to contend with from the violence of public prejudice in the colony, and it is to be feared, from the false assertions of some of the unhappy ne groes, whom the hope of favour towards themselves may have led to bring against him "things that he knew not." Indeed, the directors are informed, upon authority on which they can rely, that some of the condemned negroes, finding the hope of life taken away, had in the most solemn manner declared that they had been indu ced 30 to act, and that others, on being questioned whether they had not been incited to rebellion by Mr. Smith, had, in the strongest terms which their broken language could supply, denied the imputation. It is stated by the writer of one letter, that he has often heard charges circulated against the missionaries, as if spoken by the negroes at the time of their execution, which he knew (for he was a near spectator) that they never had uttered.

The issue of Mr. Smith's trial is not yet known in England; but it is stated in the public papers that, by a vessel arrived at one of the out-ports, letters have been received of the date of the 27th October, which mention that the evidence for the prosecution closed on the 25th October, and that the court would meet on the 1st November to proceed on the defence.

While waiting for the decision, the directors are much grieved in knowing that the health of Mr. Smith has for some time been in a dangerous state, and that his physician had, just before the insurrection broke out, advised him to take a voyage to England, as the best means of recovery. The directors have written to him, recommending his compliance with this advice, as soon as circumstances will allow him so to do, which it may be hoped will be the case ere long.

The directors have received letters from Mr. Davies, dated the 15th and 18th Oc tober. He arrived with his family in Demerara on the 11th of that month, through