gion, could not be induced, either by threats, or by promises, to leave us again. His capacious mind, and extensive knowledge, considering the country to which he belonged, are well known to every member of the settlement. Twice, last night, after I was in bed, he told Adam and another of our young people, whom I had sent to inquire how he was, that he anxiously wished to see me as soon as possible. He was satisfied when I sent him word that I should go in the morning; but although I went early, it was not till he had sent the priest once, the priest's son twice, and a Mirzah and a slave once, to call me. When I went he said almost nothing, but looked as if he wished to say something, which he hesitated about expressing.

"The priest sat down on the side of the dying old Sultan's bed, repeated the Mohammedan creed, and said several prayers, to which the bye-standers, who were not few, added their Amen; but the Sultan added neither Amen nor sign.-A Tartar Mirzah pressed him to make a profession of his faith, which the Tartars demand of all who are dying, and seem to think necessary to their salvation. The Sultan replied, that he believed in the Lord. As this was far from being satisfactory, he was earnestly pressed to make a farther profession; but he could not be prevailed with to say any thing more than that he trusted in God, and this Le often said without being urged. He never once mentioned Mohammed's name. This no Tartar would deny to be a real sign of infidelity. It cannot be pretended that be was unable to speak, for to tell all the other things that he said would require a whole sheet. Omar and others think that the fear of distressing his family, by being left unburied, prevented him from professing his faith in Christ. He confessed to Mr. Galloway, a few weeks ago, that the arguments in the first printed tract, in defence of the death, resurrection, and divinity of Christ, were very powerful; and left him much affected, and incapable of advancing the smallest objection. He was wont often to read the tracts, and Matthew's Gospel.

"We do not think," say the missionaries, that the directors should be discouraged for want of success. We do not desire to boast; yet we humbly hope, that our labour has not been in vain. When we consider the number of children we have gathered in from among the heathen-the number of adults that have been baptized--the printing and circulating of a vast number of CHRIST. OBSERV, No. 97.

tracts, and particularly of the Gospel by Matthew, in the native language-the inquiry that prevails, and the suspicions of the truth of Mohammedism that have been excited-the alarm of the chiefs-the apparent disposition of whole nations to receive the Christian religion, produced by our conversations, and the reading of our tracts and especially when we consider, our almost miraculous preservation till this period, amid the ravages of the hostile incursions, and almost constant warfare of the different tribes around us, we cannot help pleasing ourselves with the idea, that Providence has dealt kindly with us."

"April 10. Abizawan Oghli Musa, who was in the Kabardian country lately, came here yesterday, and told us, that he had seen Kamuat, the Sonna, who visited us about three years ago. Kamuat had iuformed him that the Sonna prince, his master, had directed him to desire us to send some person to instruct his people in the principles of the Christian religion. This business Kamuat committed to Musa, who, though Mohammedan, seems anxious to have this design accomplished.-Mr. Bruuton, foreseeing the danger that would arise from the Kabardians, told Musa that our people were little accustomed to go so far from home; that we had much to occupy us in our own place; and that we could not at present comply with the request of the Sonna prince; but that, if he sent two sober men, of good judgment, well skilled in the Turkish lan guage, we should endeavour to make their residence comfortable during their stay, instruct them in the principles of Christianity, and, if possible, teach them to read,

"The reports are still current with regard to the tribes on the other side the Kuban having renounced the Mohammedan faith. It appears that our tracts have had some influence in that part of the country; and if it. were in our power, we should open a correspondence with them.

It has been repeatedly mentioned, that' a Beshelbay village had renounced the Mohammedan religion: but it is now reported, that they were soon forced by their neighbours to return to their old faith. This violence, however, appears to have done little for the support of Mohammedism in that quarter; for the majority of the people in that part of the Turkish dominions which lies between us and the Black Sea, are said to have resumed their former religion. This event, L' am informed, has excited the utmost fierceness in some of the chiefs, who continue

H

May 1. On the 20th of April, General Bulgakoff sent Kattegary to request one of us to visit him at Georghievsk. On going thither Mr. Paterson found that the general sent for one of us, with the express view of thanking us for the interest which we take in the welfare of the natives. Mr. Paterson conversed a long time with him on the state of the country, and took an opportunity of laying before him the wretched condition of the common people. When he was told that the chiefs persecuted the people for reading our tracts, he was much displeased, and seemed to wish success to our exertions in Christianizing the natives."

"The persecution against the people in our immediate neighbourhood, for reading our tracts and commending our religion, still continues. Not long since, we learned, that the chiefs entered into an agreement among themselves, at the fast of Ramazan, to apprehend any priest who might be found to hear or to read our books, and whip him to death. Notwithstanding the hostile measures of the chiefs, however, the people evidently wish to know more about us and Christianity. Several of them have come privately and asked books, begging us not to. tell any person that they had received them. There are also a considerable number of young people learning to read. We hope that this will pave the way for the dissemination of Christian principles among them, by means of tracts. May the time soon arrive, when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover. the earth, as the waters do the channel of the deep."

We have heard nothing more as yet about the Sonnas. From reports which daily increase, it appears, that our information respecting the commotions on account of religion among the mountain tribes was correct. Hasan Seid told me to-day that one would be surprised, to see the number of scholars throughout the country; that some Effendis taught more than an hundred; and that the clicis had advised the people to get their

children taught to read, that they might be able to withstand our arguments, and defend their own religion. I was told yesterday by a Mola, who knows the mountain tribes, that Arslau Beg had attacked the Beshelbay village which renounced Mohammedism some time ago, and had carried off all the property belonging to it. The Effendi of the village, whose name is Ali, justified Arslau Beg's conduct, and declared all the inhabi tants of the village to be infidels, except one man, to whom Arslau Beg gave back 400 sheep, which he had carried off along with the property of the rest of the villagers. Two men were put to death. Yet it does not appear that any of the people have been reclaimed. On the contrary, it is said, that many more throughout the mountains are forsaking the religion of their fathers. The Mola who gave me this inforination, is an intelligent man, and has travelled over the greater part of the Turkish empire. He told me, that we were the subject of conversation every where, both on this, and on the other side of the Kuban."

OTAHEITE.

In consequence of a serious war which had broken out in Otaheite, the greater part of the missionaries had thought it necessary for their safety to retire to the neighbouring island of Huaheine, where they had been received in a friendly manner. Four missionaries had been left at Otaheite, but were expected soon to follow the others. The war, it was thought, would end in the total overthrow of Pomarre's government.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

A mission has been established among the Namaquas, which is said to proceed favourably; and the surrounding tribes have expressed a great desire to hear the Gospel. The missionaries' congregation has increased to upwards of 700. Besides these, many, who are obliged for the sake of their cattle to live near water, come occasionally to hear the word of God, or one of the missionaries goes to them to instruct them, aud their children; for which reason, observe the missionaries, we want help in our labours, før we have a large field before us.

were, that the garrison should be prisoners of war, and that the persons and property of the inhabitants should be respected.

French troops appear to be pouring into Spain in great numbers: 350,000 men, it is said, are to be sent there. The English army under Lord Wellington has taken a position on the frontiers of Portugal. The headquarters were at Coimbra about the beginning of this month,

SWEDEN.

The late King of Sweden has been removed, with his family, to Stralsund, whence he is to proceed to Switzerland, which, it secms, is the appointed place of his exile. He will there be in the power of Bonaparte, who, we fear, retains too deep an impression of resentment for the inflexible resistance which he experienced from this gallant monarch, to use his power generously.

Peace has been concluded between Swe"den and Denmark, and also between Sweden and France.

NORTH AMERICA.

The American Congress began its sittings on the 27th of November. The Message of the President treats at considerable length of the relations of the United States with the belligerent powers, and especially with England. The disavowal by his Majesty of Mr. Erskine's provisional arrangement, is spoken of as a measure which was not justified by the circumstances of the case, and of which no satisfactory explanation had as yet been officially made to the Government of the United States. The attack on the Chesapeake is styled "a murderous aggression;" and the conduct of Mr. Jackson is adverted to in strong terms of reprehension. "Forgetting the respect due to all governments, he did not refrain from imputations on this, which required that no farther communications should be received from him"

but a ready attention will be given to communications through any channels which may be substituted."-Of France, all that is said is, that, though her "trespasses on our commercial rights have long been the sub*ject of our just remonstrances, the posture of our relations does not correspond with the measures taken on the part of the United States to elect a favourable change."-The expenses of the year 1809, the President states, would be met by the money remain ing in the treasury from former years: but, owing to the failure of the revenues arising from commerce, a loan would be required for the ensuing year. In enumerat

ing the many blessings enjoyed by the United States notwithstanding the external wrongs and vexations to which they have been subjected, Mr. Madison observes, that health had never been more universal; that the produce of the year had been ample; that the country every where presented proofs of enterprize, extensive capital, and improvement; and that its dependence on foreign countries, both for raw inaterials and useful manufactures, was greatly diminished. "Recollecting always," he adds, "that for every advantage we are indebted to that Divine Providence, whose goodness has been so remarkably extended to this nation, it becomes us to cherish a devout gratitude, and to implore from the same Omnipotent Source a blessing on the consultations and measures about to be undertaken for the welfare of our beloved country."

The correspondence between Mr. Jackson and the American Secretary of State has been published; and, while it must be admitted that neither of these gentlemen has always chosen the most conciliatory modes of expression, we must nevertheless think, that the former has greatly the advantage of the latter in argument. It would be quite inconsistent with our limits to give a detailed exposition if the points in dispute, many of which were exceedingly trivial, though urged with much heat and acrimony. The circumstance which afforded a pretext to the American Government for breaking off all intercourse with Mr. Jackson, was, that gentleman's having affirmed, and, after the fact had been denied by the American Government, having repeated the affirmation, that it was known to that government that Mr. Erskine had departed from his instructions in agreeing to the arrangement which had been disavowed by his Majesty.

There is 'great reason to hope, notwithstanding the unfavourable aspect of the President's speech, that our differences with America may still be accommodated.

INDIA.

In our number for last September we noticed the spirit of insubordination which had manifested itself among the officers of the Company's troops on the Madras establishment. This spirit, instead of subsiding, as was expected, arose to such a height that it was found necessary to employ an armed force to repress it. The officers of several of the native regiments induced the troops under their command to seize several fortified places, and to set themselves in direct hostility to the Company's authority.