vided with a sufficient number of forms. Its length is 117 feet, and breadth 27.

There are about 25, who have not yet adopted the religion of the Saviour, but who have renounced idolatry. They say, “We have no books, nor proper Missionaries to instruct us; and we will wait till one comes, before we become Christians." The rest appear very anxious that they should have a guide, like the happy islanders of this place.

This surprising and happy change has taken place within the short space of only four months! It happened upon a great feast day, when all the natives and chiefs

were assembled.

The chief of the island, Tahuhu, together with Para, (the teacher) most earnestly solicited that they might have a Missionary sent to instruct them. I promised my utmost efforts to effect their wishes; and I doubt not, Gentlemen, your wishes and your feelings will accord with mine in their common and desirable object-the enlightening of these people in the knowledge of our Saviour, and the road to happiness and eternal life. I am, &c.

SAMUEL P. HENRY."

This account is confirmed by letters from the Missionaries; and Messrs. Henry and Platt, in a letter dated Roby's Place, Eimeo, 9th April 1821, say-" We intend, God willing, with the concurrence of the King, to send to Raivaivai, the two" (of the converted and best informed natives) " who had offered their services to assist in Missionary work."

Another New Station at Rurutu, or Oheteroa.

By letters from Messrs. Williams and Threlkold, dated Raiatea, 2d and 4th of July 1821, we find that a chief of an island, called Rurutu, with several of his people, drifted ashore on Raiatea, and continued there three months. The chief applied himself with great diligence, to learn to read, and also paid a serious attention to the word preached, of which he has attained some knowledge. He expressed a strong desire that instructors might be sent to his island, and declared his unwillingness to return home unless such should accompany him; and an opportunity being presented by the Brig Hope, for conveyance to Rurutu, two members (natives) of the Church at Raiatea accompanied, as teachers, the chief and his people, amounting to about 30, on their return to that island.

In a letter written by the brethren immediately before the Hope sailed for Rurutu, they say, "The Church has entered into it with much spirit; they are not sleeping to-night, but employed in preparing, as Capt. Grimes sails in the morning. They are collecting cloth, food, &c. for the two who

Burder's Point.-Since Messrs. Darling and Platt have settled at this place, they about 200 children. There are three schools, have baptized upwards of 300 adults, and one for adults, in which there are about 380; in the children's school 230; and in another part of the district, about 80, chiefly adults. The work of the Lord appears to prosper, and some progress is made in civilization, as appears in cultivation, building, and clothing A large place of worship has been built in the English style, at which the people laboured willingly.

EIMEO-HUAHEINE-RAIETEA.

Eimeo.-A letter from Mrs. Mary Ann Bicknell, the widow of our late worthy Missionary, dated Eimeo, June 5, has come to hand. It appears that he preached the funeral sermon of Mr. Tessier, a brother Missionary, who died in July 1820, from Rev. xi. 5, was taken ill the next day, and died in a fortnight after, August the 7th. During his illness his mind was calm and comfortable, saying, he had a good hope, through grace. His body was brought, by his own request, from Taheite to Eimeo, and interred near the remains of one of his children, and of the Missionaries who died before him. When he died, he left four children, and another was born six months after his decease. The

eldest boy is about eight, and is sent to school at Port Jackson.

Interesting accounts have been received concerning the state of the Missions at Eimeo, at Huaheine, and Raiatea - their annual Missionary meetings in the month of May, and, which is peculiarly pleasing and important information that the Lord appears to be raising up, in the churches which have been formed, pious men endowed with promising gifts for the work of the ministry, and who will probably become Missionaries in other islands.

Captain Grimes has brought home in the Hope, a considerable quantity of Cocoa-nut oil the contribution of the Auxiliary Missionary Society, composed of the converted natives of Taheite, &c. in aid of the Funds of the Parent Society.

(Larger accounts in our next.)

South Sea Islands-Clothing.

THE native females at the several Mis

sionary stations having adopted the use of clothing, after the example of the Missionaries, Shopkeepers and other persons who have in their possession printed calicoes of unsaleable patterns, or which may have been damaged in printing; also, coloured bombazeens, stuffs, and ribbons, that are equally defective, would render essential service to the Mission by sending the same to the Society's Rooms, No. 2, Old Jewry, London, from whence they will be duly forwarded.

The Missionaries finding it difficult to communicate to the limited capacities of the natives, correct ideas of the forms of things which are the most familiar in other coun

tries, they will be very thankful for pictures, or prints, or subjects in Natural History, or of other kinds, which would assist in improvthe natives in useful knowledge.

MADAGASCAR.

A LETTER from Mr. Le Brun, dated Mauritius, 12th June 1821," informs the Directors that Mr. Griffith, a Missionary to Madagascar, embarked at the Mauritius, for his station, on the 23d of April on board his Majesty's Corvette, the Menai, Captain Moresby, in company with the Prince Endrien Semisate, and M. Hastie, Esq. the British Agent. They arrived at the sea-port Tamatave, on the 27th. After having remained for some time on the coast, they commenced their journey towards the capital (Tananarive) on the 15th of May.

Mauritius.

Mr. Le Brun says, "The Mission here prospers. The church has increased to 40

members, and the congregation is large considering the part of the town where the chapel is situated. We have three schools, one for boys, and two for girls; the total number of children instructed is 202."

Mr. Le Brun speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of Governor Farquhar, to whom the Society is under the greatest obligations, and to whom, under God, is to be ascribed much of the success of the Society's efforts, both in the Mauritius and Madagascar.

Mrs. Griffith (he says) is well, and her little boy. She expects to leave this place in September next, to join Mr. Griffith at Madagascar.

Mr. Le Brun encloses a letter from Mr. Jones, Missionary at Madagascar, to the Secretary, from which the following is an

extract

Tananarivoo, May 3, 1821.

"In the enjoyment of God's manifold blessings, I take my pen to write to you for the information of the Directors, that I have experienced the goodness of Jehovah, wonderfully manifested to me by encouraging, strengthening, and comforting me, in the face of temptation, and in the exercise of the functions of my office, ever since my arrival in this capital. Thanks be to God for his unmerited gifts."

[Mr. J. then mentions the difficulties he has found in the study of the language, as the dialect in the capital differs so much from that of the coast, where he formerly resided.]

"My time has also been employed in teaching about 16 children, committed to my care by RADAMA (the king) to receive an English education. Three of them are the children of his sisters, who board with me ; one of whom is heir to the crown. The others are all children of the nobles, who possess bright talents and a quick understanding. A boy, who is not yet six years old, his sister, and two others, begin to read portions of the Sacred Scriptures in English, with some fluency, although in November last they knew not even the alphabet.

On Sundays I catechise them, and teach them to sing the praises of God. They can repeat by heart four hymns, which they can The king is sing to four different tunes. highly delighted with their singing, and frequently comes to hear them. They know that they have immortal souls, and can answer many questions which I propose to them, concerning God, Jesus Christ, death, heaven, satan, &c. But I find it very difficult to convey to their minds any ideas of religion; and this difficulty is increased by the want of suitable words in their language whereby to express spiritual things.

I have conversed with many others, be. sides children, on religious subjects, and have experienced the same difficulties. However, the little progress that they do make, and knowing that the children teach their parents what I teach them, affords me much plea sure and encouragement; and I hope to have the number of my scholars increased, on the arrival of one or two assistants. If I had two more Missionaries with me, I could immediately establish another school, in a different part of the town, on a more extensive plan, for children of all descriptions who would be willing to attend; for the school at present under my care is confined to the children of the royal family, and a few of those of the nobles; and, to attend to this school, and pursue my other studies, is more than I can accomplish without injury to my health.

As to the religion of the natives, I find that they believe in the existence of One God, who made and governs the world, whom they call ZANAKAR, or, more generally, ANDRIENMANITZ. I have not been able to discover that they have any stated times of worship, except the men called Diviners, who pray to him to direct their divinations. They also believe that there is a devil, whom they call Ranakandrien, and who, they say, dwells in a cave not far from the town. They pretend that many have spoken to him from the outside of the cave, and that he has replied to them in their own tongue.

They have very confused ideas concerning their souls, and a future state of rewards and punishments. They pray to their ancestors, and pay great reverence to their tombs.

RADAMA says that he does not believe in the superstitions and fooleries of his people, but that he conforms to some of them, as the established customs of the country over which he presides; that he does not wish by any means to encourage them; that it is impossible to induce his subjects to relinquish their divination, polygamy, &c. at once; but that he hopes, by degrees, their minds will be more enlightened, and that a great change will take place in the course of a few years."

In a postscript Mr. Jones says, "Since I began to write this letter, I have seen the greatest assembly I ever beheld. On one day, nearly 30,000 people were convened, though the greatest part of the women were absent; and in about a week afterwards, about 50,000 assembled together on the same spot; a great part of whom were the King's generals, captains, and heads of villages under his dominion in Ova, not including more distant provinces which are subject to him. He intends, in about two months, to take the field against the Saka

THE late visit of RATAFFE, a prince of Madagascar, to England, excited no small interest in the minds of our Missionary friends. We follow him with our best wishes, and indulge the hope of his becoming a helper to the truth in his own populous country, where, we trust, he has before this time arrived, together with the Rev. Mr. Jefferys, and the four missionary mechanics who accompanied them. These brethren, with Mr. Jones and Mr. Griffith, will form a respectable and efficient body for the com mencement of this important Mission, all the circumstances leading to which appear to have been marked out by the finger of God. Still, however, all depends on his blessing, and to him let the members of the Society constantly look up by fervent prayer.

We are persuaded that it will afford an innocent gratification to our friends to possess the portrait of Prince Rataffe; and we are happy to learn that a striking likeness is in preparation for the January Number of the Evangelical Magazine, the Editor of which has procured a drawing, taken by permission. from a fine picture of the Prince by Mr. Ross.*

MAURITIUS.

THE following account of Prince Rataffe, &c. which appeared in the Calcutta Journal, may be acceptable to our readers.

Port Louis, Nov. 25, 1820.-" Yesterday, the 24th, at one P. M. the Ova princes, Rataffe and Endrien Semisate, accompa nied by Mr. Hastie, the envoy of his Excellency Gov. Farquhar, disembarked from the grab Eliza, on which they had been brought hither from Tamatave.

These two princes, brothers-in-law of Radama, king of the Ovaas, to whom Rataffe is prime minister, have arrived as ambassadors to his Excellency, and have been received with the honours due to their rank.

* We understand that a larger and more finished print, done in the Lithographic manner, is intended for publication by Mr. Ross.

They have in their suite seventeen guards or domestics; and bring the confirmation of the treaty made for the abolition of the slave trade with Radama, who, as a pledge of his sincerity, has sent with his ambassa. dors ten children of the first families in his kingdom, to be forwarded to England for their education.

The first result of the treaty has been that all the individuals brought to the coast to be sold as slaves have been sent back

from Imirne, and having been now rescued from slavery by Radama, are to be employed in the occupations of husbandry and manufactures of the country.

What more gratifying glory could Great Britain expect from the employment of a small portion of her resources during the peace, than that arising from the entire civilization of a people so numerous and so ingenious as the inhabitants of Madagascar, which is every day making remarkable progress!

Mr. Jones, who had followed Mr. Hastie, has remained at Imirne; and is occupied in researches and studies necessary for completing and translating into English the French and Malegache dictionary of M. de Froberville."

ISLAND OF JOANNA.

Visit of Geanna, the Prince of that island, to the Cupe-residence and instruction there, and his return home, accompanied by a Christian Preceptor.

Mr. CAMPBELL, in his speech at the last Annual Meeting of the Society, mentioned a remarkable occurrence which he had noticed at the Cape of Good Hope, of which we are now able to give a fuller account.

The island of Joanna is one of a group of islands, called the Comoro islands, situated between Madagascar and the eastern coast of Africa, opposite the coast of Mozambique. The ships bound for India frequently touch at this island, the king of which is friendly to the English, his people also are partial to them. Gearna, the eldest son of the king, and his suite, consisting of two Aides de Camp, an Interpreter, Secretary, &c. left the island with a design to perform the pilgrimage, which the Mahometans wish to effect once in their lives, to the tomb of the prophet at Mecca; but they were shipwrecked at Hafoon, near the mouth of the Red Sea; from thence they got to Museat, where they found a vessel bound to Penang; and from thence proceeded in an Indiaman, which touched at Penang, in her way to England.

While waiting at the Cape for a convey

ance home, they applied to the Colonial Government for a person to assist them in acquiring the English language. Here Dr. Philip and Mr. Campbell had an interview with them, when the acting governor introduced them, before dinner, by saying, "The Prince and his suite have been prevented. from visiting Mecca by shipwreck and the loss of their property. I hope the next pilgrimage they undertake, after receiving instruction from you, will be to Jerusalem ;"intending, no doubt, to express his hope that they would abandon the false prophet, and beome Christians.

They immediately applied themselves with great diligence to the study of English, and so earnest were they for its acquirement, that they were ready to suffer any privations, and to stay any length of time at the Cape, so that they might be able on their return to Joanna, to read and speak the English language.

The Prince possesses good natural talents, a large share of public spirit, and his ideas are certainly of a superior order. When at dinner, at the Government-house, he observed that the foundation of all the greatness of England was laid in her superior knowledge, and that no kingdom could be great without science. He added, that he could endure any thing to be the instrument of introducing the English language among the inhabitants of Joanna. "Make me a master of the English language," said one of his Aides-de-Camp," and I shall turn Schoolmaster immediately on my return.”—“ F also shall turn Schoolmaster," said the other, "if I can stay here till I can read and teach English." Smiling at the observation, the Prince added, "We shall all turn Schoolmasters on our return to Joanna."

Application having been made soon after. their arrival, and before the developement of their strong desire for instruction, for a vessel to carry them home, the Shear-water (Captain Robarts) was appointed for that purpose. It then became a general wish among the first persons in the colony, that a suitable individual might be found who might accompany them as a Preceptor. Such a person was providentially found in the person of Mr. Elliott, who had come from England with a view of settling near Algoa Bay, but having altered his intention, had commenced teaching in Cape Town, and was rising in the public estimation. Mr. E. had been introduced to Dr. Philip by a letter from the Rev. Mr. Smith, Classical Tutor of Rotherham Academy. He had taught the Latin in Cape Town, and was cultivating an acquaintance with the Greek.

This gen

tleman had also assisted Dr. P. in the instruction of the Prince and his attendants.

He had also expressed a strong desire to become a Missionary. Mr. Elliott was therefore judged to be a very suitable Preceptor to the Prince: the proposal was generally approved, and Mr. E. consented to undertake the important office.

The vessel sailed from Simon's Bay on the 18th of May. The Prince and his people were accompanied to the Bay by perhaps 1,000 of the Malay population. The most respectable part of their friends were allowed to take leave of them on board, and there was something very affecting in their separation. While in Cape Town, they were treated in the most respectable and hospitable manner by the Government, and by all ranks of the inhabitants, and they were not insensible of their obligations.

Mr. Elliott was furnished by Dr. Philip with a considerable number of books which would assist him in the study of the Arabic language, and enable him when he shall have acquired it, to make such translations as may be thought eligible. He will have the advantage of the best introduction possible to the king of Joanna; and it may be hoped that, by the blessing of God upon wise and prudent measures, the knowledge of the Gospel, and of salvation by Jesus Christ, will be received by the inhabitants of that island, and of others in its vicinity and connexion. These islands are particularly pointed out as affording desirable stations for Missions by the American brethren in their lively pamphlet "The Conversion of the World."

RUSSIA.

Extract of a Letter from Mr. Knill, to W. A. Hankey, Esq. dated St. Petersburg, 2d October 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 congregation, 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

preach. The result is this: last Friday Mr Venning received information from Prince Galitzin that the Emperor had appointed me Superintendant of the School with an annual salary of 2,000 rubles; 1,000 rubles for the master annually, and a donation of 5,000 rubles to commence the Institution. "Bless the Lord, O my soul!"

It was delightful to see so many people at the Missionary Prayer Meeting yesterday evening. I endeavour to collect all the Missionary Intelligence I can against those seasons, which has a very cheering effect. A gentleman was present at the meeting in September, and was so much pleased with the idea of supporting a native preacher in India, that he commissioned me to inform the Directors that he would contribute £10 annually for that purpose-the preacher to be called "John Meybohm Venning."

Last week we voted 300 rubles to the Scottish Missionaries at Astrachan for printing Tracts in Tartar and Persic. Two hundred and thirty-five to Mr. Rahmn for Calmuc Tracts, and 235 to the Missionaries at Selinginsk for Mongolian Tracts.

All the Missionaries in the empire are supplied with Russ Tracts by the Princess Mischertsky. She is an accomplished English scholar, and has translated great numbers of English Tracts into her own language, hundreds of thousands of which have been circulated, and are still circulating in Russia. I have this day heard from the Jewish Missionaries who are travelling in the Crimea, under the patronage of the Edinburgh Jewish Society. They have a large and interesting field before them. O'that the Lord may arise and have mercy on the offspring of his servant Abraham.

I have not heard very lately from our Missionaries. Their last accounts stated that they were all well. Doctors Paterson and Henderson have left Astrachan on their way to Tiflis.

Í have been much engaged lately in preparing for the press a Memoir of Walter Venning, Esq. who like his inestimable forerunner Howard, died in the prison cause. I hope it may prove interesting. Should any profit arise from the sale of the work, one half will be devoted to the cause of Prisons, and the other half to our Society."

DEMERARA.

Extract of a Letter from Mr. Elliot, May 1821.

It is with a lively sense of gratitude to the God of all grace, that I look back on the many mercies and blessings of the past year. Although at times indisposed, yet I have not been prevented preaching the un