day or two refused it altogether. When the cage was darkened, he became more quiet, and in about a fortnight recovered. A similar fit of impatience however seized him in December, in which he totally refused food, and died from want of nourishment.

EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

VIII. General View of the Wesleyan Missions.

The following View of the Wesleyan Missions, which has lately reached us, must we think be interesting to all who have at heart the best interests of mankind. The obligation of all Christians to fulfil the benevolent injunction of their Redeemer by communi cating to others the superior blessings they enjoy, is now generally acknowledged; and the efforts of a single denomination of Christians, whose venerable founder has not been dead thirty years, while they are honourable to themselves, furnish a pleasing proof of what may be effected by exertion and perseverance.

1. Ireland, commenced 1799 Six Missionaries, who preach in the native Irish language, are employed in the darker parts of this country, principally among the poor Catholic peasantry, whose utter ignorance of the great truths of religion renders them peculiar objects of the compassion of Christiaus. The circum

stance of these Missionaries' using the native Irish language för the instruction of their hearers, and the neglected condition of the pecple in that part of Ireland, are the reasons which have induced the Conference to support this mission from the foreign fund, without the aid of which it could not be continued.

2. France. The congregations at Beauville and Perier, in Normandy, are supplied by the visits of the preachers from the Norman Islands. At the latter place, the increase of the congregation has rendered it necessary to erect a chapel. The number in Society is 35. An opening having occurred at Cherburg, very recently, Mr. Coutanche has been for some time preaching there to large congregations.

3. Brussels, commenced 1815. Mr. de Kerpedron preaches in English, French, and German. He has lately obtained a distinct French congregation.

5. Gibraltar, commenced 1808. Thomas Davies. Number in Society 63, with a considerable congregation. This Mission has been very useful to the garrison, and many of the inhabitants, and has been much encouraged by successive Governors.

II. ASIA.

6. Ceylon, 1814. Columbo, W. M. Harvard, B. Clough. Cal tura, W. B. Fox. Galle, J. M'Kenny. Matura and Belligam, J. Callaway, W. A. Lalmon. Negumbo, R. Newstead. Jaffna, T. H. Squance, E. Jackson. Point Pedro, R. Carver. Trinco malee and Batticaloe, G. Erskine, T. Osborne.-Two converted Budhist priests are also employed as schoolmasters.

"By preaching, catechising, conducting native schools, and printing the Scriptures and useful books, they are laying the foundations of a work, which, if zealously supported, promises, under the blessing of God, to re-erect the temples of Christ, now in ruins through the neglect of Christians; to arrest the devastat ing progress of Paganism and Mahomedanism, now almost triumphant over the feeble remains of Christianity; to re-assert the bonour and victories of the Cross, and convey the knowledge of God and salvation through an island, the essential principle of whose religion is to deny a God, and the almost universal practice to worship devils."

The Mission Chapel, in Columbo, was opened on Sunday, Dec. 22, 1816; on which occasion the Governor and his Lady, with the principal Gentlemen of the Civil and Military Establishments, and a number of respectable natives, attended. The Mission possesses, in Columbo, a compact establishment, in an excellent situation; consisting of a dwelling-house, printing-office, chapel, type-foundery, &c. in one inclosure, detached from other premises. There is a Sunday School in the Fort, and another large one in the Pettah. An establishment somewhat similar, is contemplated for Jaffnapatam. The Bishop of Calcutta visited every part of the Society's premises at Columbo, and expressed himself

much pleased with them. Sir Alexander Johnston bears the most honourable testimony to the zeal, prudence, and success of the Missionaries.

In May, 1817, Mr. Fox writes-"Through many difficulties, with prudence and disinterestedness, the Missionaries have conducted their infant Mission forward to strength and vigour. Schools are every where an object of prime consideration. The press is a powerful auxiliary. From two presses belonging to the Bible Society, one to the Government, and two to the Mission, books are issued by them in English, Portuguese, Tamul, and Cingalese. In four months, from 20 to 30,000 tracts were printed in the last two languages. Most of the Missionaries preach in the low, or country Portuguese, and two in the Cingalese.

"The schools for the children of the natives are in a highly promising state, both as to numbers and management. In the Columbo station, there are eight schools, and 697 children; in the Galle station, one school, and 40 children; in the Matura station, six schools, and 234 children; in the Jaffna station, three schools, and 66 children; in the Trincomalee station, one school, and 40 children. Total, 19 schools, and 1077 children. From the efforts of the brethren in this department of usefulness, the best results may be anticipated; and the liberal exertions of the public will, we hope, be continued for the support and extension of these important establishments for affording Christian instruction to the children of the Pagan or semi-Christian Cingalese."

10. Madras, commenced 1817. J. Lynch. The conference at home have directed the Committee to send out another Mission

ary to Madras. Mr. Lynch preaches from three to five times a week. He regrets the want of a chapel: but " 'as yet," he writes, "I have no prospect of a suitable place."

11. Bombay, commenced 1816. J. Horner; another Missionary is to be sent by the Committee. Ms. Horner reached Bombay on the 5th of September, 1816, after a passage of about four months. He was learning Mahratta, which language is spoken by two-thirds of the population. His teacher was an intelligent

brahmun. Ile had an interview with the Bishop of Calcutta, then at Bombay, the day after his arrival. His Lordship spoke highly of the zeal and conduct of the Society's Missionaries in Ceylon, and wished Mr. Horner equal success in Bombay.

12. New South Wales, commenced 1816 S Leigh, W. Lawrey. Mr. Leigh's labours have been so much encouraged in the colony, that an additional Missionary has been appointed. Mr. Leigh itinerates among the scattered settlers, many of whom, before his arrival, had not heard a sermon for many years, whilst their children were growing up in ignorance and irreligion. Forty. four persons have been united in society, and it is proposed to erect three chapels, one at Sydney, one at Windsor, and one at Castlereagh. Four Sunday Schools have also been undertaken, with great prospect of success and usefulness.

III. AFRICA.

13. Sierra Leone, commenced 1811. Wm. Davies, S. Brown. Members, 115. Mr. Brown has a school of between 20 and 30 children, at Portuguese Town; and Mrs. Brown had another of upward of 40 girls, at the West end of Free Town, but she was lately removed to her eternal home. Mr. Brown preaches in Portuguese Town, the population of which is about 200; and also in Soldier's Town, where the black soldiers live. In each place is a wattled building, the cost of which is about 5£. and which answers the double purpose of a meeting-house and school

room.

14. Cape of Good Hope. Mr. Barnabas Shaw having moved into the interior, another Missionary is to be sent to Cape Town by the Committee.

15. Namaqua Land, commenced 1817. B. Shaw, E. Edwards. Mr. Shaw, the last Missionary sent to Cape Town, led by a strong desire to preach the gospel to the heathen in the interior, has, with the consent of the Committee, fixed his residence among the Little Namaquas. He has commenced building a house for himself, and a place for Divine worship. The Hottentots appear not only willing, but eager to be instructed-a people pre

pared for the Lord. Mr. Shaw has shewn the Boors that he can plough to better purpose with an English plough and four oxen, than can be done with their own ploughs and twelve oxen this has encouraged the Hottentots to begin cultivation, and made them eager to have corn. This Station is on the Khamies Mountain; it bids fair to become of importance; as there is no church within perhaps 150 or 200 miles, and no Missionary settlement near M. Schmelen kindly accompanied Mr. Shaw, and saw him settled.

16. Madagascar. Two Missionaries are to be appointed to this Station by the Committee. Governor Farquhar, of the Mauritius, has been urgent for an attempt to communicate Christianity to Madagascar. Every preparation has been made by him, to furnish such Missionaries as may be sent out with the best information respecting the island, and the most promising measures to be adopted. He has a vocabulary, grammar, and dictionary of the Madagascar tongue, which he proposes printing. They were collected by a French gentleman, and cost nearly twenty years' labour. He has works in French and Madagascar, which occupy nine folio volumes, and contain a mass of materials respecting the island. The Madagascar is written in the Roman character, as they have no character of their own.

IV. AMERICA.-WEST INDIES.

The West India Mission has, for its principal object, the instruction and conversion of the negro s'aves, and coloured peope of the islands, who are chiefly in a state of Paganism. Its success, since its establishment in 1786, has been so great that more than 20,000 persons, chiefly negroes, are now members of the Methodist Societies, exclusive of the children under instruction, and the regular hearers.

17. Antigua, 1786. S. P. Woolley, S. Swinyard, G. Bellamy, J. Chapman, jun. In this oldest and most successful of the West India Stations, the Mission has lately had an increase of 400 members, and enjoys the full confidence and protection of the lo cal authorities. Members-Whites, 25; Blacks, 3552.