Letter from Mr. Milne, at Malacca.

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Prince of Wales Island, when he waited on the Governor Members of the Council, who received him graciously, ily granted him a piece of land at Malacca, on which to Missionary house and other needful buildings. Malacca = been restored to the Dutch government, which appears qually friendly to the object. The expense of the erecich will be considerable, will be defrayed, partly by the and partly by subscriptions raised in the Eastern Coun

Chinese scholars, under the care of Mr. Milne, had increas. Mr. Thomsen had commenced a day school, and an school for the instruction of the Malays. These have been by the temporary suspension of Mr. Thomsen's labours, induced, on account of the threatening illness of Mrs. , and by the strong recommendation of the physicians, to oyage with her to Batavia. Her disorder not abating, she sed to remove to the Cape, or to England. We are conto state, that she died on the voyage; but Mr. Thomsen, urned to England for a short time, has again taken his deto Malacca, there to resume his labours in behalf of the

dition to Mr. Medhurst, who went out last year to assist ne, Mr. Slater, a student from Gosport, is appointed to the tion, and has just sailed with Mr. Thomsen.

Milne continues to prosecute his translation of the Scripto the Chinese language; and to publish his monthly Chiagazine, which contains information combined with entert, and seems to promise great usefulness to the Chinese dispersed among the numerous and populous islands of the Sea. It is read with avidity by them.

DISTRIBUTION OF TRACTS IN CHINA.

of a letter from the Rev. William Milne, dated Malacca, April 18th, 1816.

ing been requested to send home 1,000 Chinese Tracts, to ced at the disposal of the Religious Tract Society, for the such Chinese Sailors as visit the metropolis, I now forward For that purpose.

ent lately to Penang, for the purpose of distributing the Holy ures and Religious Tracts among the Chinese; and having n the course of this month, sent away a great many Tracts m and Cochin China, by trading junks, my stock is at prexhausted, or I would have sent you more. Just now I have e type-cutter, and his time is mostly occupied with the ly Tract, which we call The Magazine. From the peculiar and advantage of printing with stereotype blocks, I shall soon le to furnish a fresh supply of Tracts, and shall not fail or rding more by some convenient opportunity.

ave written to my revered friend and colleague, the Rev. R. son, to send you some hundreds of various Chinese Tracts,

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Memoir of a young person, named Matilda,

The more I see of the ignorance of the Heathen, and the difficulty they find in understanding the truths of the Gospel, so much the more am i convinced of the vast importance of Religious Tracts, written in the simplest possible style; and so much more clearly does the magnitude of the Religious Tract Society's object appear. The lively interest which the Religious Tract Society has taken in promoting the conversion of the Chinese, and the liberal assistance afforded for the extensive circulation of divine truth among that people, make me often almost wish for a body of brass, the wings of an eagle, and the heart of an angel, that I might cooperate more extensively and effectually with you. I resolve that I will do what I can. The Lord help me to do it from a pure principle, and in a prudent manner. Our field is indeed immense ! But how little can be effected by the efforts of one or two individuals!

From some intercourse lately had with persons belonging to Cochin China, I have had an opportunity of satisfying myself, by writing and conversation, that the written language of that country, of Tung-king, and of Hai-nan, is the same, in all respects, (in form and idiom,) with that of China. This is pretty generally known; but I was not so well convinced of it before. It will open a wide door for the word of God. May it have free course, and be glorified!

I am,

&c.

JUVENILE DEPARTMENT.

A short Memoir of a YOUNG PERSON, who died February 26th, 1816, in the 15th year of her age.

Our journey through the world is short, but important. We move upon the swift wing of time, which rapidly hurries on the traveller, and suffers him not to rest till he arrives at home in the bosom of eternity. As we proceed along the road, we pass through a variety of prospects, which quickly change. Every stage brings new scenes to our view, while others vanish out of sight, and are seen no more for ever. We just look at them, and they are gone as a shadow, and return not again. At some periods all is light and sunshine all is gratifying and delightful, while the candle of the Lord is shining on our dwelling. In these days of prosperity, our hearts are ready to dance for joy, and vainly to hope that this may always last. We are too prone to assign perpetuity to what is présent, be it pain or pleasure, light or darkness; but who hath found it so? All things must quickly change, for so hath God decreed; tears turn to joy, and joy to sorrow; pleasures turn to pain, and pain to pleasures; so all below the sun go on in a constant round of vicissitude, and never continue in one state. Generally the sources of our bighest earthly delights are in their turn the fountains of our bitterest lamentations: so uncertain are all our creature comforts! They alone are wise who seek their enjoyment and rest in the unchangeable God, in that Saviour who is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. In our thoughtless moments we forget the nature of the world we are now. passing

who died in the 15th year of her age.

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When we go forward with a full tide of prosperity we y mountain shall stand fast for ever, and I shall know more." But, at an hour when we least expect, our sky the storm gathers and bursts; all our pleasant prospects d aside; the whole scene is changed: we descend at the mount of joy to the dark valley of mourning and Thus exactly has it happened to the family in which I A very little while ago, few of the families on earth had hare of comforts and enjoyments, or fewer evils blended pleasures. A family of children, under the care of a ffectionate mother, with other friends, formed a little oined together in love and harmony, in full enjoyment and all that can make life desirable. They then little hat the moment was so nigh at hand when their number e lessened. The time is come when one is to be taken, est left to mourn the loss which they so deeply feel. ell on our much beloved Matilda. It pleased God to out of this happy domestic circle to join the hosts above. or a time left to weep in a world of wo, while the dear soul, we hope and trust, is singing with joy unspeakable mple above. Could that lovely soul now address us, = her voice would be, " Weep not for me; I have done with sin and sorrow, and have gained the height of all my in arriving safe in glory to be for ever with the Lord." survivors trim their lamps, and prepare to meet their e time is coming, the day is fixed, and cannot be distant. describing characters, strong affections must necessarily error, I am in danger: yet, as I regard truth, I shall faithleavour to adhere strictly to it in giving to the young a moir of my dear Matilda. God, who giveth unto every rally, as he will, was liberal in his gifts to this dear child. unquestionably a fine mind, quick, comprehensive, and nd rather a retentive memory. I am not afraid of erring say that few of the children of men are blessed with a more emper and disposition than she possessed; meek, mild, mate, peaceable, and forgiving. In nothing did she excel an in contentment and self-denial pleased with every at was appointed for her without murmuring or disputing. d not proceed from insensibility, for few had finer feelings re sprightliness. I have had the fairest opportunity of obher from her infancy, and always observed that it was her t study, and delight to make all happy around her; and he had an idea that she had caused pain to any, it was pain to herself, and she could not rest till all was rectified. view of her life I can recollect next to nothing that I could ad been otherwise. For a child, she was remarkaoly tful, orderly, and correct. She conducted herself towards body with the greatest affability, and with the strongest on to her friends. We need not wonder that so amiable a ter should be greatly beloved, which certainly was her

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A short Memoir of Matilda,

When this amiable girl came to lie down on a death-bed, did she ground her hope of salvation on the excellency of her character, on her good understanding, amiable tempers, and correct morals? No, verily far, very far from it. She had no idea of human merit, and had no confidence in the flesh, but knew that a sinner must be saved by grace. One day early in her affliction, when conversing with her on this subject, she exclaimed, with considerable earnestness, "I am a great sinner." Her life, however, in the eyes of the world appeared to be the most correct and spotless that could easily be found. One of the grand mistakes and fatal errors of a blind unbelieving world is resting their hopes of happiness on human merit, which in fact has no existence. When they behold an amiable youth, possessing sweet dispositions, and a virtuous life, they conclude without doubt or examination, that this must procure the favour of God, and secure heaven. They never stop to ask how the soul is affected towards God; and they forget that some youth, of the most amiable manners towards their fellowbeings, may yet hate God, reject Christ, and neglect the great salvation. Great pains should be taken to instruct the young ones to know the way they are to be saved; to prove to them that they merit nothing but death; that there is a new way to the father; that "Christ is the way, the truth, and the life," and "that no man cometh to the father but by him." These radical truths were familiar to the mind, and I trust stamped on the heart of the subject of this memoir. She appeared to me to have not the least expectation of salvation but in and through Christ Jesus, and to count all things else but dross in comparison of him. In no one instance did she discover the least confidence in any excellence in herself as the ground of hope, but lamented her sinfulness and guilt, and earnestly prayed for mercy and forgiveness of sins.

I have not here to describe any extraordinary character, nor to record any remarkable experience, nor yet to repeat some wonderful sayings, to surprise the reader; but what is to me at least full as satisfactory, I have to speak of a young Christian, who practised holiness in the fear of the Lord, and I trust died in the faith. To see godliness living habitually in characters, is of all others the most satisfactory proof of its reality and power. This dear child always carried about her strong marks of one sanctified from the womb, grew in holiness as she grew in years, and died in the exercise of true religion. Being extremely modest, she said but little, yet evidently appeared to fear God, and love His holy ways. Her whole life was truly consistent with the rules of Christianity few were less under the power of self-will, or obeyed the dictates of conscience more correctly. She took pleasure in doing her duty, and grieved where she failed. Such was her life: a review of it gladdens our hearts, while we deeply mourn our loss in her removal. Her example, I trust. will be long kept in view, and imitated by her surviving and affectionate relatives.

We shall now follow this dear object of our affections to her sick chamber and dying bed, where she was confined about two months.

who died at the age of 15.

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deed a lovely death-bed. It pleased God in mercy and ndness to allow her and us time for reflection and prayer, e painful hour of separation arrived And not a day passe prayed with much earnestness and shed many tears tothe moment we fell on our knees around her bed, she in her hands together, and lift up her eyes to heaven, and arnestness sought communion with God. And frequently, yer was over, she was observed by those that attended e full of spirits and joy. A considerable portion of her spent in reading such books as were suitable to her preation, chiefly the following,-The Sick Man's Friend, by Mr. Fry; The Sick Man's Pious Assistant, by the Rev. ls; Baxter's Dying Thoughts; The Young Cottager, by . L. Kichmond; Janeway's Token for Children; The r and the Moravian Hymns; and Songs in the Night. But e of God was of all others her chief delight; this she ot suffer to be moved from her bed, from the day she was ined to it, to the day she closed her eyes in death.—A book no stranger to before her illness; she, as well as her sis1 committed to memory, so as to be able to repeat at the e whole book of Psalms, the Proverbs, the Gospel of St. d the Epistle to the Romans. After this they studied with n the Scripture Directory, a book that was written profess= their instruction, especially on the Old Testament, withleast intention at the time of ever offering it to the public. ar girl seemed to prefer the Psalms to all other parts of re, and the 103d Psalm in particular. Every day I gave he select portion of Scripture to assist her meditation; and the last, when memory declined with the frame, I gave y expressions, or short texts, some of which were these, eve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved;" any as received him to them gave he power to become the God;" "God is become my salvation, therefore will I «Trust in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is sting strength;" "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh the sin of the world;" "I have said unto the Lord, thou art od ;""Fear not, I am with thee;" "God all-sufficient;" there shall be no night there;" which was the last, on the he departed. Her sufferings were very considerable, as is the case in consumptions, having constant pains, and sleepearisome nights, and her wasted frame torn with a violent ; yet not one murmur, not a word of complaint, not a sympf discontent, not one look that discovered impatience, have itnessed in her. She continued meek, patient, resigned, ful, and thankful to the very last. In her acutest pain she say, "It is nothing to what my Saviour suffered for me." had no desire to remain longer on the earth; but, from the mencement of her illness her longing was to depart, and she reedly said, "It is far better to be in heaven than here;" and ently, when I spoke to her of the happiness of heaven, her