"I had the honour of accompanying her Excellency in her first visits to the prisons, in which a very affecting scene took place between this lady and the female prisoners. She began by addressing them in the most tender and affecting manner. She told them, with tears, that she came there to do them good, to feed, to clothe, and to instruct them in their moral duties, and that she would often repeat her visits. They were astonished at her kindness, and although they were ignorant who she was, yet by her attendants they must have been convinced that she was a person high in rank; they immediately threw themselves at her feet, but she gently reproved them, and forbade them to do so again, telling them that such a posture was only becoming to their Creator-and that they might not over estimate her kindness, she informed them that her visit was only an act of duty, and it was at the will and pleasure of her sovereign, who had appointed her to this work of mercy, and to him their thanks were due.

"On hearing this, the prisoners burst into tears, and the good old lady wept with them. After this she proposed that they should be employed, to which they all agreed most cheerfully; and accordingly they have been supplied with materials, needles, thread, &c. One of the best behaved of the women was selected and appointed superintendent. The young women who could not read were placed under the care of an elderly prisoner, who promised to instruct them. Others whose offences were slight, were recommended to mercy: and her Excellency sent them all a good dinner the next day from her own kitchen.* Knill's Memoir, pp. 61, 62.

Mr. Venning's benevolence was not absorbed by the hapless criminals he visited. His papers prove that he constantly had a great variety of cases of distress to relieve, which were not before the public eye. On examining his manuscripts, he is found one day reclaiming an unhappy English girl, who was seduced from her country and robbed of her virtue by a heartless wretch, who left her impoverished and deserted, to die in a foreign land, from which she was delivered by his timely aid; another day he is collecting money amongst his friends for a poor but

*This excellent lady had a presentiment that she should die on the approaching birth-day of her husband, which was actually the case, and she departed in the faith and consolation of the Gospel.

very respectable widow and her orphan children, for whom he obtained that assistance which saved her from a prison, and the children from want.

Indeed, his known and indiscriminating philanthropy secured for him the purses of those who were happy to have a wise and faithful almoner of their benevolence. An English gentleman gave him at one time 1000 rubles, to be distributed amongst debtors and the poor at his discretion.

He was excited to increased diligence in these works of mercy by the affecting instances of mortality which occurred within his own immediate circle. Mrs. Paterson, the excellent wife of Dr. P., was removed, in the midst of her increasingly useful labours. Mrs. Kazadavloff followed soon after, and then the admonitory voice was heard within his own dwelling, by the death of a dear nephew, who left England for St. Petersburg, to learn the business of this world, but happily acquired there a knowledge of Him who is the only true and living way to the enjoyments of the next.

Mr. Knill justly remarks

"Instead of fleeing from the post of active duty, we should rather endeavour to fill up the vacuum which death has occasioned. Those who are departed have bequeathed to us their labours. Our sphere of action is enlarged. The calls for our exertion become more abundant, and a voice from their tomb addresses us, saying, Work while it is called to-day.' In this way Mr. Venning acted, he listened to the voice he obeyed the commandand as soon as the fervent rays of the sun had removed the ice from the Gulph of Finland, he visited Cronstadt, and inspected the prisons. He was exceedingly. gratified to find the hospital in such excellent order, and reported the same favourable account of it which that great man, Howard, had done nearly half a century before."-pp. 63, 64.

This visit led the way to a meeting for the formation of an Auxiliary Prison Society at that place, at which he was present, with his friends Mr.Papoff, Dr. Pin

the visitors received the infection. Mr. V.'s companion soon sickened, and his case was considered hopeless, but he was unexpectedly restored. Mr. Venning's attack assumed the usual symptoms of a cold, and made insidious progress, which for seven days alarmed neither the physician nor himself, till, at length, decided symptoms of typhus appeared, which continued, with some delusive intervals, for seven days more, when the conflict closed in death.

"When I saw him first, says Dr. Paterson, in a letter to Mr. Stenner, I hoped all would be well in a few days. This day week the fever became a marked typhus nervous one, but of the milder kind. He began to apprehend danger, and his physician ordered that none of his friends should see him, as his head was a little affected. This coming to his knowledge, he sent for Mr. Knill and myself, and requested that we would not keep away from him, and that even if he got worse we would come and see him. We shall soon,' said he, all be angels, and no physician shall prevent me seeing those in my last moments with whom I hope to spend an eternity in glory.' This was on Thursday, and on Friday the physicians (for now a second had been called in) pronounced him much better. On Saturday he shaved himself, with his own hand, and had a short, most interesting conversation with Mr. Knill, in which he charged him to preach Christ, and him crucified, for the salvation of poor sinners, declaring that this was the sole foundation on which he rested, and the only one which could give him support and comfort in the near prospect of death and the judgment seat."

On Monday he was worse, and when the doctor, with Mr. John Venning, entered the room, with some other christian friends, they found him apparently insensible; they, however, kneeled around his bed in prayer, and commended his departing spirit to Jesus, which took its happy flight to heaven in the night of Monday, January 22, 1821, in the 40th year of his age.

His death produced a most salutary influence on the minds of more than one of his near relatives. These yet live to promote the cause of God and of humanity in St. Petersburgh. The attendance at his NEW SERIES, No. 3.

funeral attested the general sense which was entertained of his worth. Sir Charles Bagot, the British Ambassador, and his suite; Prince Galitzin, with many other Russian noblemen; General Gorgoley, Master of Police; the gentlemen of the British Factory, and all the members of the Prison Committee, accompanied his remains to the grave, in the Smolensky buryingground, on Williams's Island, where they were deposited beside those of his beloved nephew, alike awaiting the resurrection of the just.

A few days after his funeral, the annual meeting of the Prison Society was held, when his bereaved friend, Prince Galitzin, pronounced an eulogium, which discovers alike the skill of the orator, the affection of the friend, and the piety of the Christian. It closed with a proposal to erect a public monument to his memory.

"Not splendour, nor vain show, nor empty eulogy, said the Prince, ought to constitute the symbols of this monument, but a simplicity which shall speak to the heart and excite to pious reflections.

"While Russia has to show near one frontier the ashes of his countryman, who marked the first traces of amelioration in the condition of prisoners and of the sick and suffering, let her also show another monument of a Second Howard-here, a worthy follower and emulator of the good deeds of the first. The Lord blesseth his work when he bestows the instruments of his grace on the earth; the Lord has accomplished his work when he taketh them

to himself in heaven."

This has been accomplished. It is a square altar tomb, surmounted, after the Russian taste, with an irradiated cross. A basrelief, representing Mr. Venning entering into a prison, with a Bible in his hand, occupies the front side, beneath which are inscribed, in Russ and English,

"The Society of St. Petersburg, for the improvement of prisons, have raised this monument to the memory of their beloved fellow-labourer, WALTER VENNING, the countryman of Howard, and founder of

the prison institutions of this country. He was born in November, 1781, and died in the Lord Jesus Christ, on the 10th of January, 1821."

ON MISSIONARY COMMUNITIES.

(To the Editors.)

Gentlemen,-I presume that no apology will be deemed requisite for introducing, through the medium of your Magazine, the following observations on some desirable, and practicable methods, for rendering Christian Missions amongst the heathen more efficient than they have hitherto been. The author of these observations is not a theorist, who has amused himself by speculation at home; or one who has been contented with speeches, contributions, and prayers on behalf of the cause. Many years ago he left his native land" sojourned

in a strange country," subjected himself to privation, study, and solitude, in circumstances of peculiar trial, and by the blessing of God on his exertions, effected achievements that will confer on distant ages the most important benefits, and endear his memory to generations yet unborn. What he has suggested on the subject of Missionary Communities," is the result of personal observations, and a painful experience of the inadequacy of existing methods of operation in the particular stations to which he considers his remarks as applicable. His object in submitting these hints to public examination, is to promote free inquiry and discussion; and to elicit those sentiments and opinions which may either prove the fallacy, or confirm the practicability of his plans. Having thus taken the liberty of introducing my esteemed friend to the notice of your readers, I shall do nothing more than transcribe his own suggestions, for their candid and impartial consideration. I am, Gentlemen,

Your's respectfully,

A FREIND TO MISSIONS.

IT is my deliberate opinion, that in every place selected as a station by Missionary Societies, there should be an attempt made, as soon as possible, to form a Missionary Community, consisting not only of preachers, but of persons not preachers, to be associated with them; some having leisure to write books, or to be engaged as catechists; others to be employed as schoolmasters and schoolmistresses. It might be desirable to

have some brethren, who would attend exclusively to secular concerns, under the general direction of the seniors of the community. At present, in the stations, we are too few to do well the many things we have to do. A missionary, whose duty it is to teach, and preach, and write, requires at first, and indeed always, considerable leisure to devote to these objects. It should never be forgotten, that the study of pagan languages, their literature, opinions, prejudices, and customs, requires much time; and whilst the acquisition of these is necessary to his ultimate object, they are not in themselves of any value, except as they bear on that object. Still their utility is obvious and indispensable. But if these necessary attainments are to be made, and if, in addition to these pursuits, there be numerous matters of arrangement and detail, of a merely secular kind, imposed on the missionary; how can his time and strength be adequate to his engagements? Something must be neglected, perhaps the most important concern, because affairs of inferior consequence may be immediately more urgent and imperative in their demands on his time; and thus what a subordinate class of instruments might accomplish, is done by those whose time and talents, on the principle of a salutary division of labour, ought to be far more efficiently occupied. Missionaries require, in various ways, the co-operation of Christian brethren;-such persons of humble spirit, who without interfering with the direct and ministerial duties of missionaries, will do all

in their power to be "helps" to them, acting cheerfully as subordinate agents to preserve unity of design and effective co-operation. With such tempers, there are many poor pious persons in the united kingdom, who might be of incalculable value in our missionary establishments, by discharging various peculiar duties, which devolve

on missionaries for want of this kind of assistance. When missionaries are absent from their stations to explore surrounding districts, or to itinerate for the purposes of evangelization, then persons at home might have general arrangements confided to their temporary management; and in the event of death, be a sort of" locum tenentes," till supplies were afforded.

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I should wish this "Missionary Community" to consist of persons of both sexes, of various qualifications. In order to assist pagan females to understand Christianity, pious females are essential; but the wives of missionaries who become mothers, are seldom sessed of sufficient health and leisure. The unmarried daughters of the secular members of this community, or pious young women, might teach those of their own sex amongst the natives, whether children or adults, and thus render essential service. A community established on these principles, might become a nursery for young missionaries, an asylum for the old, and for orphan children, and be made A HOME for all.

Some representations of the missionary character are overstretched; qualifications for sustaining it are made hyper-apostolic, and many who might be encouraged by lower expectations, are deterred from offering their services. This especially applies to those who might usefully engage in the subordinate duties I nave described. The missionary that some people praise, is a sort of ideal being, while their lofty

and magnificent eulogies will still allow them to neglect, if not to despise, the real missionary.

I doubt whether the present method of procuring missionaries be, at least in all cases, or as a general rule, a good one; viz. selecting young men, sometimes of no education, of no experience in reference to the knowledge of men and things, but who have worked themselves up to a certain measure of high-toned devotedness, and are willing to go any where, and under these impressions are sent to a missionary seminary! I am inclined to think it would be better for the directors of Missionary Societies to announce, in some cases, that "agents are wanted for such a country, or such a station; for example, Singapore or Malacca: three or four are needed as ministers of the word.' We need also some to be Chinese or Malay students; and as others may have less talent for public speaking than for composition or conversational instruction, if any are disposed to offer themselves for subordinate duties their services will be accepted, if they have the requisite qualifications." Another announcement might encourage the application of pious persons to offer themselves for secular undertakings, in certain stations; these might most efficiently promote the interests of the missions, by mercantile, mechanical, or agricultural operations. They might act as deacons in new missionary churches, and their respective families provide ample materials for the enlargement and perpetuity of the respective stations. If individuals and families are often so willing to emigrate to new settlements, even with no prospects of returning to their own country, and require, comparatively, but little assistance, in order to their future and permanent organization, surely christian principles might supply a sufficiently power