"Türken Strasse, Vienna, May 15.

"Rev. and dear Sir,-Admission to the Exhibition on Sunday was reduced to a gulden, or tenpence English money, the now fixed sum for that day, and as the result the immense building and its many outside erections were for the first time densely crowded. Continental

exhibitors were there in large numbers, much of their machinery was in action, and all was excitement, business, work, and pleasure. But in the British and American portion of the transept and in their sections there was a Sabbath calm. Not an exhibitor was to be seen. Many of the cases were covered, and others remained

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undressed. In our machinery and agricultural annexes many objects were covered, and few persons passed through them. With the exception of here and there a visitor, I had no one to converse with, and therefore made my way to the English and American refreshment restaurations, in order to speak to the people in them.

"In the former were many friends, as the acquaintance of the waiters had been made during a rather rough seapassage across the Channel, and to these I have since then added to the list the principals and six young people who serve refreshments. Upon entering, a few days ago, I was told that one of their number had been taken seriously ill. I asked for his address, and immediately went to see him. It was with difficulty that he was found, as he was lodging at an hotel in the old part of the city. So valuable is space here, that he was sleeping in a kind of cellar comfortably fitted up as a dormitory for eight or ten men. Though it was the middle of the afternoon, he was in total darkness; but he gave an exclamation of pleasure when he heard my voice. An attendant brought a lamp, and we sat for some time in earnest conversation. He was very ill and low, and in great spiritual distress, as he had been 'overtaken in a fault.' He informed me that he was a member of a Baptist Church, and had never before, since his conversion, worked upon the Lord's day. The inducement of high wages and the desire to see the Continent had, however, led him to accept the appointment; and he was

now distressed at the prospect of six months of unceasing toil. I entered with sympathy into his trial, and in a subdued tone of voice comforted him with many passages from the Book of Life-declarations of Divine love which give assurance that He who has received His people into His covenant of unceasing love will 'heal our backslidings,' and again apply the 'blood of sprinkling' which cleanseth from all sin. After this, we took refuge and sought for strong consolation in prayer. was most grateful for the visit, as he seemed to feel that I had come direct from the Lord to him. It was indeed worth the journey to Vienna to visit this erring disciple in his affliction.

He

"There is also much opportunity for Christian effort in the American refreshment places, to one of which reference shall be made. A lady of rank wrote to ask my opinion upon the introduction of Drink-halls for the sale of light and unintoxicating beverages into London. While reading the letter, I passed a refreshment temple in the Prater, and noticed that 'America' was written over one window and 'England' over the other. At the first window there was a negro, and at the other a pretty English girl. I entered into conversation with the negro, who at first made light of my words, but soon became very attentive. As it was evident that he had been well instructed in the truth, inquiry was made concerning his parents, when, with the starting tear, he informed me that he had sinned against light and

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knowledge, and went on to say that his father was a born slave, but became a Methodist preacher. He was sold to a master who beat him cruelly for preaching to and praying with other slaves. A quaker gentleman heard of this, and arranged his escape to Canada, where he became a regular Wesleyan minister. 'And I was raised there,' the negro continued, and used to pray in meetings; but since father and mother died I have been awful wicked.' He was reminded that he was the child of prayer, and of 'parents passed into the skies,' and exhorted earnestly to seek mercy.

"In the Exhibition grounds there are other acquaintances of his nation and colour, especially in the Wigwam, a large South American refreshment booth. Sixteen negro waiters serve in it, fifteen of whom are Wesleyans and Freemasons. They have all brought Bibles with them, and several have expressed their sorrow at having to work on Sundays, and at the lack of means

of grace.

"As I had been supplied with a number of tracts in German and other languages, effort, has been made to do good among the Viennese themselves. This, however, is very difficult, as the law is framed to keep out the light. There is an abundance of crucifixes of horrid distortion both of face and limb to be seen at the wayside, and even in the tap-rooms; but there is scarcely a trace of the pure Christian religion. The light of the written Word has long been shut out of the city, as no

bookseller dare place the Volume of Inspiration in his window or offer it for sale. The giving of tracts or religious papers of any kind is against law and regulation; and even religious services cannot be held without authorization from the police. The resident minister is now in trouble, having an 'intimation' that the Presbyterian form of service is not one recognised by the State, and must therefore be conducted merely as domestic worship. There is, indeed, a reign of spiritual death throughout this beautiful European city. On the Sabbath evening, not a single place for Divine worship is open-not a church bell is to be heard; but the public gardens, with bands of music, Museums, Zoological Gardens, Polytechnic, and Picture Galleries are all open. Sentimentalism about the elevating influence of a pleasure, as opposed to a religious, Sunday has no influence here, as they possess the evil. It is said in England that such an arrangement would prevent drinking, and I have put this statement to the test by walking through many of the drink-shops here on the Sunday evening. In the comparatively few where ardent spirits are sold, I saw many working-men more or less inflamed by them. In others beer was as freely drunk as in our tap-rooms; but its effects are less felt, as Viennese bèer is not so intoxicating as English. But to make up for this, the men smoke excessively, and they, no doubt, upon the double enjoyment, spend more money than our workingmen. From early in the morning all the drinking places