moved, and seconded, by Brothers P., Vara, Patii, Mare, Tetuecho, Tearua, Horoiruu, Aburido, Teururaau, Tapuni, Turahoi, &c. &c. accompanied with speeches, which at once warmed our hearts and excited our gratitude to God, who has done so much for these people, in making known to them his truth, and which has had such an effect upon them in improving their intellectual powers. The meeting was concluded with prayer by Brother P.; and each one returned to his tent, pleased with what he had witnessed, and expressing thankfulness for the enjoyment he had experienced. We were much pleased to see so evident an improvement in the outward appearance of the people; most of the women having very decent bonnets, made in the straw-bonnet fashion, of Purou bark, plaited or sword grass, or some other plant or grass. The men also have got hats, like the common straw hats, of the same materials, which make a very decent and respectable appearance.

From Messrs. Henry and Platt, referring

to the Annual Meeting.

We shall only observe, that it was an agreeable and happy meeting. Several speeches were delivered, that warmed and rejoiced our hearts. Our six Deacons were among the speakers. One of them (Mare) charmed us with his eloquence, and the excellence of his matter. He is rather diminutive in person, but possesses a great soul. He can read and write well, understands some figures, is the most intelligent and best informed upon this, or perhaps on any of these islands; and we trust is possessed of real piety.

We have commenced the building of our new church. All the island is to be engaged in the erection of it; and it is to be large enough to hold all, or nearly all, the people of the island. It is to be of an octagon form; the walls consisting of stone and coral rock.

Funeral of Mr. Bicknell. Mr. Platt, in another letter, thus writes-We have lately lost two of our veterans (Bicknell and Tessier) a gloomy dispensation indeed-cut off in the midst of apparent usefulnessa large congregation-athronged school -a large population, looking up to

Two of the members of the church offered their services as assistant Missionaries to the islands south of us. Their names are Tohi and Toma.

them as their spiritual guides-left destitute!* and Mrs. Bicknell left a widow, with five children.

The people were very much grieved at the loss of their teacher (Mr. Tessier,) but when Mr. Bicknell became dangerously ill, many of them could hardly tear themselves from the house. They began to think themselves chargeable with some great crime, for which God thus visited them. And when the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was administered by Mr. H. on the Sabbath before his death, there was scarcely a dry eye in the place.

When his corpse was about to be removed to Eimeo, all the people followed it to the water side; and when they could follow it no further, they stood, and gazed, and wept, till the boat was far off at sea.

The corpse was brought hither on the morning of our Missionary Prayer Meeting; after which, our people went to fetch the body, which was carried by members of the church, and followed by a great number of people. After the interment, the people, of their own accord, paved the grave over nearly with stones, and strewed on the top white coral, which has an agreeable appearance.

RUSSIA.

Extract of a letter from Mr. Knill, to IF. A. Hamkey, Esq. dated St. Petersburg, 2d Oct. 1821.

"The favour of a king is as the dew upon the grass." Solomon said so, and I have found it to be true. We have long been desirous to have a Charity School connected with our little con

gregation, and about a month since I drew up a statement to present to the public, soliciting aid. But before any thing could be done officially, it was necessary to obtain permission from the Prime Minister Galitzin, who is Minister of Spiritual Affairs and National Instruction. In order to obtain this permission, my dear friend, John Venning, Esq. took what I had written to that excellent Christian Princess Mischertsky, to give it an elegant Russ translation. She cheerfully accepted the work, and while engaged in translating it, his imperial majesty called on her, and the whole matter was laid before him. The Princess was pleased to mention my name, the Chapel, &c. and added that she frequently heard me

para.

Another Missionary has since settled at Pa

It was sabbath eve, when, at a friend's house, we were all sitting in the piazza, conversing about the exertions now making for the heathen. It was a lovely evening, and the conversation most interesting. "Father," said little Har riet, after listening a long time to our conversation," Father, do these little heathen children wish to learn to read the Testament?" "Many of them are very anxious for this; and all would be anxious, did they know its value."

But, father, have they all got Testaments, if they did know how to read?" "No, my love, few of them only ever heard any thing about the Testament -about God-about Jesus Christ!" "Will half a dollar buy one Testament for one little heathen girl?" "It would." "Oh!" sighed the little Harriet, "how 1 wish I had half a dollar! Father, may I sell any thing I've got, if I can get half a dollar "Yes," said the Father, smiling at his daughter's simplicity. The conversation here ended.

Almost every child has some toy of which he is peculiarly fond. Harriet's toy was a beautiful tame gray squirrel, which she had brought up, to which she was excessively attached. It would eat from her hand-attend her in her rambles, and sleep on her pillow. The pretty little Jenny, for this was its name, was suddenly taken sick. The little girl nursed it with every care, and shed many tears over it as it died on her pillow in her lap. Her father endeavoured in vain to console her

assuring her that Jenny was now insensible to any pain or trouble. "The end of its life has arrived, and it is now no more: but when my little daughter comes to die, if she is a good girl, her immortal spirit will only leave this world to wing its way to a world happier than this, Be comforted, my daughter, or you will make your father unhappy. Why do you grieve so "Father, said the weeping Harriet, "did I not love my squirrel?" "Yes.' "Did you not say I might sell any thing I had for half a dollar, and send a Testament to the heathen children?" "Yes." "Well, I was going to sell my pretty squirrel to Mr. who was to

give me half a dollar for it, and I was going to send a Testament to the heathen; but now my Jenny is dead."-She ceased, her speech being choked by her sobs. The Father was silent-a tear stood in his eye-he put a silver dollar in his daughter's hand-and the little girl dried her tears, rejoicing that Jenny's death would be the means of sending two or three Testaments to the heathen, instead of one!

GENERAL BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

This Society was formed in the year 1817. A General Meeting was held at Loughborough, June 27th, 1821, when a Report was made of their proceedings, and plans suggested for the further extension of the institution. It appears that the income of the first year was about 1541.; that of the second, nearly 5001.; of the third, 7721,; and of the fourth, 9601.

The expenditure of the fourth year was 1551 7s 10d; being chiefly on account of the outfit, passage, and salaries in advance of two Missionaries, the Rev. W. Bampton and the Rev. J. Peggs, and their wives, who have proceeded to India with the Rev. Mr. Ward.

On the subject of their particular station, their instructions are as fol lows:

With respect to your station, we beg you to consider it a leading principle in directing your decision, that it shall be one where the field for usefulness appears wide, and as yet unoccupied by others.

We wish you, if practicable, to convey the Gospel to some nation, for whom as yet, no man cares.

We cannot, with propriety, decisive. ly fix on your future station, but suggest one or other of the following → Assam; the Punjab; Central Hindos

tan, viz. the country in the neighbour. hood of Aurungabad; or one of the great eastern islands which may be as yet unoccupied. The first of these may probably be found the most eligible; the last, the least adviseable.

When you reach Serampore, consult the Missionaries there on the eligibility of the above stations; or, if none of these should seem suitable, on any other that may appear eligible. Value their advice, and treat it with deference : yet you are to consider it as advice, and not as actual direction; but must endeavour to act as, before God, seems most adviseable to your own minds.

DEPARTURE OF MISSIONARIES.

On the 10th of October the Rev. Messrs. Micaiah Hill, James Hill, and Joseph Bradley Warden, and their wives sailed from Portsmouth in the ship Ganges, for Calcutta.

On the 30th of the same month, the Rev. Alexander Fyvie and his wife, sailed from Gravesend in the ship Hadlow, Capt. Craigie, for Surat.

On the 8th of Nov. the Rev. David Collie and his wife, appointed to Malacca, and the Rev. Edmund Crisp and his wife, to Madras, sailed from Portsmouth in the ship Windsor Castle, Capt. Lee, bound for Calcutta.

We have no doubt but these beloved brethren and sisters are committed to the care of the Great Lord, to whom they have consecrated themselves, by the earnest supplications of the Christian church.

THE BEGGAR AND THE TRACT.

Communicated for the London Evangelical Magazine, by "C. Brooker, Alfriston, Sussex."

About five or six years ago, while passing through a meadow, I observed before me a beggar; he appeared to bend with the weight of years, having a bag on his back, containing I suppose, his kettle, &c. on the top of which was a bundle of sticks. After walking a short distance, he frequently paused, as if tired or afflicted. When I overtook him, I mildly accosted him and said, "Well master, where do you think you shall be in twenty years time?" He stopped, immediately fixed his eyes on me, and after a short interval re

"Be

plied, "In heaven, I hope master.""In heaven, (I rejoined) Why do you hope you shall be in heaven?" cause I hope I shall, master."-" But (said I) you know there are two kinds of hope spoken of in the Scriptures: the hope of the hypocrite which perisheth, and the hope of the righteous which is an anchor to the soul; which hope of the two is yours?" "Why faith is a great thing master, is it not?" "Yes, faith is certainly very important." "To be born again is a great thing, is it not, master?" "Yes to be born again is a very great thing: but (I continued) where did you get all this knowledge?" "I will tell you master: About nine or ten years ago I was begging for something at one of the houses of the Royal Crescent at Brighton; after waiting for some time, as no one gave me any thing, I turned and walked away; a servant then came after me and said that a lady had sent me a penny and a little tract, which she desired 1 would read; it was that little book, master, that taught me to know about faith, and about being born again." "What was the name of the tract?" "A Dialogue between a Traveller and yourself: and such was the effect master, which this little tract had on me, that I learned every word of it by heart." "Can you repeat it now?" "Yes master." "Let me hear you." After repeating a small portion of it, his shortness of breath prevented bis proceeding any further." Master (said he,) I have got an asthma, and cannot go on." Wishing much to as certain the truth of his statement, I asked him to call on me another day, and repeat the contents of the tract; to which he readily consented. Before we parted he said, "Master I wish you would give me some prayers. "Give you some prayers, (I replied;) you do not find any difficulty in supplicating for a supply of your temporal wants at persons' doors, cannot you ask the Lord to give you spiritual blessings in the same way?""Yes, master; but my prayers are so sinful, I am afraid the Lord will not hear me."-I endeavoured to explain to him the nature of prayer, and how the Lord would accept the prayers of sinful creatures like ourselves, through the mediation of the Saviour. However, I promised to give him some prayers when he called.

In two or three days after, he came to my residence, when, having in my possession the tract before specified, my dear consort (now no more) and myself, heard him repeat the whole of the tract, both questions and answers, without missing, I believe, a single word;

although he was, as he informed me, and I have no doubt of the fact, eightytwo years of age.

I now examined him respecting his general view of religion, which I found to be correct, and which he informed me he had gathered entirely from this excellent tract. Indeed, I am well persuaded, though I wish ever to attach a proper suspicion to the deposition of strangers, that the Lord had so blessed the reading of this little production, as to make it instrumental to the salvation of his soul. He informed me that he was a mason by trade, and that the tract was given him not long after he became incapacitated for labour. After providing him with some prayers, and these, Mr. Editor, I believe were from a little book on "Self Examination," written by yourself, he departed, promising to call on me again when he came into these parts. I have not seen him since. It is probable he soon after paid the debt of nature; and if so, there is no doubt but he is now ascribing salvation to God and the Lamb among the countless number who surround the throne of glory, acknowledging that little messenger of mercy, the tract, as the instrumental cause of his salvation.

SWEARER! BEWARE!

[Charleston S. C. Intelligencer.] Mr. Editor,-The following event occurred in p*********, my native town, some time since. A young man, about 20 years of age, of the name of G****** ̧ on a public day, being somewhat intoxicated, rode down the main street with considerable rapidity, and meeting a friend, reined in his horse, which was skittish, in order to converse with him. Not many words had passed, when the young man's friend, requested him to turn about and go with him to the "North Woods." "I'll go to hell first!" was the reply. The words hardly escaped his lips, when his horse suddenly reared himself on his hind feet, and pitching backwards fell on his rider, and crushed him to death! He was taken up a lifeless corpse and carried into an adjoining house, where I saw him. He was taken at his word! Oh! where is his soul? TITUS.

ANECDOTE OF A PAWNEE CHIEF.

From the National Intelligencer.

The following anecdote of a Pawnee half-chief, (a son of Old Knife,) now on a visit to this city, highly creditable to his courage, his generosity, and his

humanity, is copied, with leave, from Rev. Dr. Morse's Report, just presented to Congress by the President. The facts in this anecdote were taken by Dr. M. (by permission) from a very interesting journal of Capt. Bell, of his expedition with Major Long to the foot of the Rockey Mountains, in 1820, and are sanctioned by Major O'Fallon, Indian Agent near the scene of the transaction here related, and who commands the Indian Delegation, now here.

This Chief, of fine size, figure, and countenance, is now about 25 years old. At the age of 21, his heroic deeds had acquired for him in his nation the rank of "the bravest of the braves."* The savage practice of torturing and burning to death their prisoners then existed in this nation. An unfortunate female taken in war of the Padnea nation, was destined to this horrid death. The fatal hour had arrived; the trembling victim, far from her home and her friends, was fastened to the stake; the whole tribe was assembled on the surrounding plain to witness the awful scene. Just when the funeral pile was to be kindled and the whole multitude of spectators were on the tiptoe of expectation, this young warrior, having, un noticed, prepared two fleet horses, with the necessary provisions, sprang from his seat, rushed through the crowd, liberated the victim, seized her in his arms, placed her on one of the horses, mounted the other himself, and made the utmost speed towards the nation and friends of the captive. The multitude, dumb and nerveless with amazement at the daring deed, made no effort to rescue their victim from her deliverer. They viewed it as the immediate act of the Great Spirit, submitted to it without a murmur, and quietly retired to their village. The released captive was accompanied by her deliverer three days through the wilderness towards her home. He then gave her the horse on which she rode, with the necessary provisions for the remainder of her journey, and they parted. On his return to the village such was his popularity, no inquiry was made into his conduct, no censure was passed on it. And since this transaction, no human sacrifice has been offered in this or any other of the Pawnee tribes. The practice is abandoned. Of what influence is one bold act in a good

cause.

*The braves are warriors who have distinguished themselves in battle, and stand highest in the estimation of the tribe.

†This custom does not exist in the surrounding tribes.