excellent objects embraced in Missionary From Mr. W. H. Pearce. Denmark Hill, Dec. 13. 1837. My dear Friend, every year, and that notwithstanding the A. PERREY. OUR last number contained an acknowledgment of a donation of one hundred pounds towards our Translation fund. It was intended at the same time to print the brief and modest letter from the anonymous friend who made the generous gift, but the crowded state of our columns prevented it. We insert it, therefore, now, as we cannot allow our readers to be deprived of the instruction naturally suggested by the perusal. Rev. Sir, To Mr. Dyer. Edinburgh, Oct. 23, 1837. A few years ago a pious father in B., who had a large family to bring up, and whose means at that time were but small, in the exercise of faith in that Providence which had formerly provided for him, and which he trusted would still provide for him and his, gave me one hundred pounds to commence business on my own account. On thanking my father, he desired me to let my gratitude ascend to heaven, for it was only part of what God had lent him, and to God I was the debtor. Since that time it has pleased God to bless my endeavours, so that I am now able to return it to the cause of Him who gave it. Among the many In my letter published in the November Herald, it is mentioned, that Dr. Hoby and myself, had just come up to London, to make our appeal on behalf of India, to the tried liberality of the friends of missions in the inetropolis and its neighbourhood. satisfy the inquiries of many liberal supporters, who are anxious for the accomplishment of the object we have all at heart, it appears right briefly to relate our proceed To After sending out a large number of appeals and circulars, explaining fully the object contemplated, my colleague and myself proceeded to call on those to whom they were addressed. We prosecuted this plan for three weeks, during which we obtained subscriptions to the amount of £500. At the end of this period, Dr. Hoby was obliged to return to his pastoral charge at Birmingham; and owing to the necessary fatigue and exposure to which my enfeebled constitution was unequal, I was taken ill, and was obliged at once to intermit my exertions. Though now, through divine mercy, much better in general health, I am yet troubled, (among other things) with a severe affection of the throat, which to the present day forbids all exposure to the weather. I have therefore been unable to call upon the greater number of those to whom the circulars were addressed, and have in consequence only received a few donations, sent to our worthy Treasurer's by generous friends. If any others who see this notice will forward their contributions also, to you or myself, I shall feel greatly obliged, Upon all who do not send, I shall take the earliest opportunity of calling that health will admit. Taking into account all that has been subscribed, either conditionally or otherwise, in answer to the appeal, I find the result to be as follows: Total amount pledged to the object, if £2750 0 0 650 £3400 0 0 00 To complete £5000, (being the amount required to secure the sending out of ten missionaries by the committee, £1600 more therefore, are necessary, and on obtaining the whole of this sum depends not only in part the £650 above mentioned, but also £50, being one half the donation generously promised by the Rev. W. Knill, and £100, a contribution most handsomely offered on this express condition, by the Rev. Dr. Reed; together with a still more munificent donation of £1000, from an unknown friend, as will be seen in the following announcement. "A friend, by Dr. Hoby, £500 in June, 1838, and a subsequent contribution to the same amount, in three months afterwards, provided the entire object is carried into effect; the design of the donor being, that in addition to the sending ten missionaries, the building, as specified by Mr. Pearce, estimated at £1000, (namely, a chapel with a large school room underneath, shall be erected-total £1000." The friends of missions will therefore perceive, that if the £1600 yet needed to complete the object be not contributed, we shall be exposed to the loss of £1800 besides, which is cheerfully offered by liberal donors, on condition that others also shall exert themselves according to their ability. The intelligence contained in this month's Herald affords satisfactory evidence of the pressing need of more labourers in Bengal, and of the abundant blessing which may in due time be anticipated, if the church, without delay, will send out a goodly number of devoted associates to the help of those already in the field. No other representations surely are needed to satisfy those who have the means of promoting this latter object, as to the duty and privilege of their doing so. May he who has the hearts of all men in his hands, and who will hereafter graciously reward every effort made for his glory, inspire his people with a determination at once to secure its accomplishment. W. H. PEARCE. Contributions received on Account of the Baptist Missionary Society, from November 20 to December 20, 1837, not including individual subscriptions: Narberth. Pembroke Pembroke Dock Milford Haverfordwest Galilee Southdairy. Graesgoch. Llangloffan Middlemill Harmony 15 10 0 68 41 23 16 1 7 15 0 .100 0 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 1 11 0 11 3 4 3 3 0 Swyddflynnon Aberystwyth -88 19 8 595 1894 £3 from the church at Ebenezer, Pembroke. shire, was omitted in the last Annual Report, Additional Contributions towards sending out Ten Missionaries to India. Errata. In our last number, instead of £8. 09. 7d. from Heckington and Helpringham, read £8. 78. Also £1. 78. received from Horsington, and omitted in the list for Lincolnshire. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Thanks are presented to Mrs. and Miss O. Clarke, of Bath, for a parcel of fancy articles, &c., for Mr. Abbot; to Miss R. Stacey, of Tottenham, for several parcels for different Missionaries; to a Friend at Loughborough, for books for Mr. Knibb. Also for a box from Harlow, for Jamaica schools, and another (supposed to be from Birmingham) for Mr. Knibb. J Haddon, Castle Street, Finsbury. G. Maliphant, Esq.. 3 3 0 J. S. Elliott, Esq. 5 5 0 1 1 0 2 20 0 10 4 50 0 0 10 IRISH CHRONICLE. JANUARY, 1838. Subscriptions and Donations received by the Secretary, Rev. S. GREEN, Walworth; by the Rev. J. DYER, at the Baptist Mission Rooms, 6, Fen Court, Fenchurch Street; and the Rev. STEPHEN DAVIS, 92, St. John Street Road, Islington; the Messrs. MILLARD, Bishopsgate Street; SANDERS, 104, Great Russel Street, Bloomsbury; LADBROKE & Co., Bankers, Bank Buildings; BURLS & Co., Lothbury; by the Rev. C. ANDERSON, Edinburgh; the Rev. Mr. INNES, Frederick Street, Edinburgh; the Rev. J. FORD, 1, Rathmines-road, Dublin; by Mr. J. HOPKINS, Bull Street, Birmingham; by Mr. J. H. ÁLLEN, Norwich; and by any Baptist Minister, in any of our principal towns. IN the Month of June last, as is already known to our readers, the stations of the Society in Ireland were visited by a deputation from the Committee, consisting of the Secretary, and the Rev. J. Davis, of Church Street, Blackfriars. The object proposed was chiefly to obtain, on the respective spots, such information as would direct in rendering the labour of the Society's Agents as effective as possible. The Committee are increasingly convinced, that to do permanent good in that country, the gospel must be freely preached the Churches already existing strengthened—and others established wherever it may please God to crown the ministration of his word with success. And it is due to the brethren who went to say, that they have brought home a mass of important information, upon which several alterations are now being effected, and others will in due time be proposed, likely, under God's blessing, to make the Society take that stand in the approaching moral change in Ireland, to which it is adapted both by the purity of its principles, and the simplicity of its aim. From their report the following statement is taken : IT will not of course be expected, that your deputation should say much of the country itself a country more beautiful, perhaps, than almost any other of equal extent-nor will it be deemed requisite, that they should speak of its political condition; this is a subject for other men ; yet it is impossible not to feel, as the dull and sickening uniformity of Ireland's wretchedness passes under review, that some gigantic evil is at work, impairing its strength and consuming its vitals. This evil may be political or it may be moral, or partly both. No patriot, no enlightened Christian, can refuse to examine it, or be backward to employ every possible effort to limit and neutralize its unhappy influence. The deputation are unwilling to say any thing which can involve the Society in those party questions with : which Ireland-from east to west, from north to south-is so fearfully agitated. They could not, however, close their eyes to the melancholy indications of some deeply-seated mischief universally presented. The entire absence, except in a few towns, of that middle class of the people which forms the strength of a country-the deep and squalid poverty of the thousands pouring forth from the countless huts or cabins-the listless indolence of multitudes (though a large portion of their fields are uncultivated; though scarcely a man or woman among them is more than half clothed)-the mutual suspicion the ignorance - the drunkenness and Sabbathbreaking, which abound-could not but show, that Ireland is pre-eminently the land in which to develop the energies of a benevolent G philanthropy, an enlightened statesmanship, and a liberal, well-directed, and ardent Christianity. A fairer field on which political economy may gather her laurels, or the religion of Jesus Christ exhibit its power, can scarcely be desired. Early in June, the brethren above mentioned, proceeded first to Dublin. They had not time to inquire further than into the state and prospects of our own denomination. In this city it was gratifying to see that, under the labour of our esteemed brother Ford, the Church lately meeting in Swift's Alley, are recovering from depression. They meet in a large room in Sackville Street, having disposed of their old meeting-house, as a preparatory step to the erection of a new one in an eligible spot which had been procured. Mr. Green preached morning and evening of June 11, to a congregation deemed pretty good. Here a gentleman from Belfast, who was present at worship, earnestly entreated that a visit might be made to that place, a few friends being exceedingly desirous of obtaining assistance in establishing a Baptist Church there. But this had to be declined, partly because it did not fall in with the object of the deputation, to visit the North of Ireland, and partly because the funds of the Society would not permit the hope to be entertained of a vigorous effort there at present. Mr. Davis had proceeded to Athlone, a large town at the extreme boundary of the province of Leinster, where Mr. Hamilton has been placed by the Society for nearly two years past. He seems to be labouring with encouraging success. In a convenient room in his own house he preaches regularly on Lord's days, and on Monday and Friday evenings, to about thirty persons. A church has been formed of eleven members, with which the deputation met for conference; they were highly pleased with the spirituality and devotion of this infant society. Two or three young persons, who have since been baptized, were inquiring the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward. Our brother Hamilton has been made useful to several young people. He is engaged, with the assistance of some of them, in conducting a Sunday-school, which Mr. Davis examined, and found to be well-conducted and useful institution. It contained 15 children - a small number truly; but it must be remembered, that whatever our day-schools contain, Sunday-schools have no children of Catholics in them. The concurrent opinion of persons of observation in the town is, that if Brother H. had a meeting-house, his congregation might con ́siderably increase-and the deputation could not but encourage him in attempting to obtain one; though, as the funds of the Society have never been devoted to the erection of In their way, the deputation called at Killbeggan, the residence of Mr. M'Carthy, one of the oldest agents of the society; but they had to regret his absence from home, on one of his preaching excursions. Mrs. M'C. they found in a distressing condition as to health-crippled and benumbed in almost every limb and joint-and suffering often extreme pain, but pouring forth, with animation and energy, the overflowing joys with which religion inspires her heart. In this place, Mr. M'C. occasionally preaches in connexion with ministers of other denominations, in his own house. The old Baptist Church at Rahuc, in Westmeath-containing 28 members-that at Ferbane, Westmeath, one at Abbeylieux, and one at Moate, were all under his care; the two latter have since been placed, one under Thomas Berry, long employed at Ballina and the vicinity, and one under Mr. Hamilton, being nearer to his residence than to Killbeggan. Mr. M'C., whom the deputation afterwards met at Athlone, stated that his Lord's days were equally divided among these churches-one or two of them meeting at other times than when he is with them. His week evening services are distributed among these and many other places. Perhaps from 150 to 200 persons hear from him, every week, the gospel of Christ. That he preaches in vain is not to be imagined. Many, the fruits of his ministry, are, or have been, in communion with one or other of his churches— though Mr. M. deplores greatly the removal of a considerable number who, he hopes, were receiving the truth-some from fear of their Catholic neighbours, some, and no wonder, in the hope of bettering their condition in another land. The deputation offer only facts, not opinions, still they cannot help saying on this, as well as on another field of labour to be mentioned presently, that the want of evident success may perhaps be traced to the fugitive nature of the efforts made. The preacher arrives at a stationis announced-the people assemble-he preaches-and goes on; he can do no otherwise, or he thinks so, from the extent of his field. Would that every man located his |