tration of justice, and by exposing the faults that are, more or less, inhe rent in a system, which will be felt, with increasing conviction, to be as great an evil to the proprietors themselves, as to the enslaved population; -a system, the mischiefs of which must be borne, till a wise policy can safely abolish it; but to the final extinction of which, the late plans of Government have taken the first step. If those plans be honestly persevered in, zealously pursued and extended, and firmly upheld by the united voice and exertions of the nation at large, they will at no very distant period accomplish its utter extinction. This is a consummation to which every principle of Christianity and true policy gives its most solemn sanction; and which will confer blessings upon every class of the community in the islands, the extent of which can only be appreciated by contrasting the condition of our own country with those of its colonies where slavery prevails. SLAVE-TRADE PIRACY ACT.-ABOLITION OF THE INTER COLONIAL SLAVETRADE. From the painful subject to which we have just adverted, we have great satisfaction in turning to two Acts of the late Session of Parliament, equally consistent with justice, and gratifying to humanity. We refer to the Act for making the Slave-Trade Piracy, and to that Clause in the Act for consolidating the Slave-Laws, which abolishes the Trade in Slaves that has been hitherto occasionally carried on between Colony and Colony in the West Indies. In the former measure, the United States of America co-operate with us; and thus two of the greatest maritime powers have at length agreed to throw an effectual shield, as far as their own subjects are concerned, around the shores of Africa, and publicly to brand with the infamy of piratical transactions those enormous violations of the law of Gop and of nations, the guilt of which several European Powers still continue so largely to incur. The other Parliamentary enactment will prevent those affecting and cruel separations of man and wife, and of parents and children, which have so long disgraced the colonial system, and outraged humanity. Several most painful instances of this have come to our own knowledge, in which christian slave-families have been broken up, and the nearest relatives have been, as to this world, separated for ever. The justice of the British Senate has at length abolished this wrong; for though the full operation of the Act is not to take place till three years from its date, the prevention of such sales, except by special licence from his Majesty's Government, even within that period, will substantially cure the evil, and is almost equal to an immediate prohibition. The bearing of this truly great and beneficial measure upon the Marriage of Slaves will be easily perceived. It will remove a considerable part of the objection to regular marriages, which the negroes manifest; and will call the domestic affections into a richer flow. Above all, it abolishes cruelty in one of its most painful forms; and is another gratifying recognition of the existence, in a negro slave, of the feelings and sentiments of our common nature. REVENUE-OATHS.-The religious part of the community have heard with the greatest satisfaction the intimation given to the House of Commons by MR. HERRIES, in consequence of some suggestions of MR. WILLIAM SMITH, that Government has under consideration "a project for rendering unnecessary, in nine cases in ten, the Oaths now so frequent in the Customs-department, and for substituting a Form of Declaration, with a penalty annexed in all cases of deliberate falsehood." We earnestly hope that this project will be adopted in the next Session; and that thus one of the most fruitful sources of perjury and public crime, which all good men have long deplored, will be, in a great measure, closed. These are reforms, highly creditable to the administration by which they are proposed, and to which the Legislature, we are persuaded, will feel it to be both right and politic to afford their decided sanction. London: June 25th, 1824. PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE WIDOW OF MR. SMITH. We have just received an article on this subject, which, as we cannot now find room for it at length, in the body of our Magazine, we readily insert on the last page of our COVER. We cordially and earnestly recommend it to the attention of our Readers, of every Denomination. PROSPERITY OF RELIGION IN VARIOUS CIRCUITS. FIRST LONDON DISTRICT.-This comprises the London North and East, London South, Waltham Abbey, Deptford, Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Brighton, Hastings, and Chichester Circuits. We are happy to state that at the DistrictMeeting, held in the last week of April, on examining the Circuit-Schedules, it appeared that there had been an Increase of six bundred and two Members in the District during the three preceding quarters, viz., from Midsummer, 1823, to Lady-Day, 1824. We trust that the fourth quarter of the Methodistical Year, now hastening to its completion, will be found to have been equally successful. Of the increase above-mentioned, more than two thirds belonged to two of the Metropolitan Circuits, which are inIcluded in the First London District; and the Chichester Circuit alone had to report an accession of eighty-eight new Members. Where that godly discipline, which is one prominent characteristic of Wesleyan Methodism, is faithfully enforced, such additions to the Societies may fairly be considered as affording no unsatisfactory indication of spiritual prosperity. The accounts which we have heard of the reports made at several other District-Meetings, are equally pleasing; but we are not in possession of the details. We have good hope, that at the ensuing Conference, the hearts of our Ministers and People will be once more gladdened by the annunciation that the word of the LORD has been generally glorified among us, during the year, and that multitudes have been added to CHRIST and to his Church, by his blessing on his ordi nances. ELY.-Extract of a Letter, dated Ely, May, 1824. "Soon after the last Conference, it was found, on examining the Class-Books, that some whose names were there enrolled, had not met in Class for many weeks. We therefore, after suitable addresses had been delivered to the different Societies, thought it our duty to leave those without Quarterly Tickets, who continued indifferent; and consequently, at the Christmas Quarter, there was a considerable reduction in the number of Members. But before that time, we were greatly encouraged by a large increase of Hearers in this City, and a few other places. Towards the end of November, five or seven persons appeared to be awakened by the Ministry of the Gospel; and fervent prayers were offered up to GoD for them. The first to us." We DUNBAR.-Extract of a Letter, dated Dunbar, May 14th, 1824. “Dunbar is one of those places in Scotland which was visited by the late Rev. JoHN WESLEY, at an early period of Methodism. In the year 1763, he remarks in his Journal concerning it, I am still persuaded much good will be done here, if we have zeal and patience.' Time has shown that this great man was not erroneous in his expectations. Great good has been done in the conversion of sinners to the LORD, who have adorned their christian profession by a holy life, and some of whom have been useful in calling others to repentance, and are now reaping the fruit of their labour in the paradise of Gor. In the Methodist Magazine for 1820, in the account given of that holy man, Ms. ALEXANDER CANNON, by the REV. JOSEPH BEAUMONT, it is justly remarked, that 'Methodism in Dunbar, though still confined within a narrow compass, has arrived at a consistency of form, a depth of root, and a soundness of character, which are to be found in but few of our Societies in Scotland." This character it still retains, and the LORD is among us' at present in rather an extraordinary manner. Last year there was a very blessed influence among the people; but it was then chiefly confined to the members of the Society, whose souls became remarkably alive to GoD. But the present visitation from on high is not confined to the Society, but extends to the abodes of ignorance and impiety. Those who were afar off have been brought nigh: prodigals have returned to their father's house : notorious transgressors are .repenting and turning to the LORD: some eminent servants of sin' have become the zealous 'servants of GoD,' and now have their Some who used to 'fruit unto holiness." stand aloof from the excellent of the earth, from the house of GoD, from the sanctification of the Sabbath, and from every thing that had the appearance of piety, are now the companions of them that fear GoD, walking with them to his house as friends, and attentive to every moral and religious duty. Some who used to drink the cup of the drunkard, now drink the cup of salvation; blasphemies have been superseded by thanksgiving; and, in houses where riot and profigacy prevailed, an altar for GoD is erected, and their neighbourhood is enlivened with the sounds of prayer and praise. This is the LORD's doing,' and 'marvellous in our eyes.' Within the last six months our Society has been about doubled, and continues to increase. A Prayer-meeting, which was instituted expressly for the Sailors and Fishermen of Dunbar, has been rendered a great blessing; the word having reached many of those who would not attend either the Kirk or the Chapel. A pious officer in His Majesty's who is a Class-Leader in our Society, has kindly appropriated a part of his premises to this purpose; and has been well repaid for this act of zeal and benevolence, by seeing the wandering sheep brought home to the fold of CHRIST.-Dunbar never before saw such days as these; and the blessed work is Scotland is a land of still going forward. light; and, thank Gop, we have heat too, as well as light. May it increase in every direction, until all Scotland, from the Tweed to JOHN O'GROAT's house, shall catch the flame,' and 'partake the glorious bliss."" navy, SHETLAND ISLES.-Of the arduous labours, and most encouraging success, of the Wesleyan Preachers sent to these islands, the best accounts continue to be received. The recent auspicious opening of the Methodist Chapel at Lerwick will be reported, under the proper head, in another portion of this Number. Four other Chapels at Sandness, Dunrossness, Sandwick,and Northmavin,-places where the congregations are large and serious, and the Societies rapidly increasing,-are in contempla. tion; and the Preachers' DwellingHouse at Lerwick is begun. The completion of these pecessary and truly pious works must materially depend on the continued liberality of friends in England, as the Shetlanders, on account of their extreme poverty, can contribute little, except their labour. MR. DUNN, in a Letter to the Rev. DR. CLARKE, dated April 27th, communicates some pleasing particulars respecting one of his itinerant excursions. We copy the closing paragraph of his Journal on that subject: : "March 22. After showing this morning to nearly two hundred hearers the blessedness of those who do his commandments,' I walked fourteen miles to Lerwick, and arrived in safety. I think I never laboured so hard before. I have met in Class each day, [since March 10th,] on an average, fifty persons, and preached three sermons, not one of which has been shorter than forty minutes. More glorious effects I have never seen produced by the word of God. The LORD has been spiritually present to wound and to heal. I have admitted within a fortnight, no less than eighty persons, on Trial, into our Society. We have as yet no Leaders in any of the places: hence I always meet the Class after preaching, in every place." 2 The following is a brief specimen of MR. DUNN'S Journal, during a similar tour, at a subsequent period: At ten this "April 11. Dunrossness. morning there were, I should think, nearly one thousand persons collected on the hill, to whom I preached without the least covering, from Isaiah ix. 6. This, as it blew a strong breeze from the N. E., and the ground was wet with the snow that had fallen, gave me a pain all over my body. I however met the Class; eighty-five were present, to whom I continued speaking until two,-the time for me again to preach. I was obliged to remain within doors, though I suppose I had not one-fourth of the hearers I should have had, could I have preached out. At night, I spoke to a great number, and then met the Class,-sixty-five present; five had not met before. Though I have been talking nearly all day, through mercy, I feel myself no worse than I did in the morning. Of a Letter from MR. LEWIS to DR. CLARKE, dated May 10th, we also subjoin a few extracts : "Since the date of my last, I have been through every parish, and in nearly every village, on the Mainland of Shetland, and in GOD enabled me to several of the Isles. preach three times almost every day, through. out the winter, though sometimes my strength was well nigh gone. The poor people in the country are truly kind to us, and, thank GOD, our labour has not been in vain amongst them. "January 17th, I left Lerwick for Whiteness. On the 18th I preached three times in the school-room, to very full congregations. On the 19th I preached in Whiteness, crossed the Sound of Weesdale, and preached twice in Trester. On the 24th, I reached Weesdale school-house. During the week I preached in Hoolan, Eith, Closter, Twatt, Trester, and Weesdale. I have preached three times every day. This has been the hardest journey I have had in Shetland, as I could get no milk, no eggs, no fish ;-the poor people kindly gave me the best they had, which was bannock without butter, and tea without sugar or milk. They lived on potatoes and water: I never witnessed such poverty as they labour under. "28th, I got home in a boat, after an absence of ten days, during which I preached twentynine times. 31st, I walked to Sandlodge; the road was very bad, so that I was five hours 2Q VOL. III. Third Series. JULY, 1824. in walking twelve miles, and at my journey's end very tired. Feb. 1st, I preached three times in the Meeting-house to such congre. gations as I never saw before. The people sat on the backs of the seats, whilst others were in the seats. The aisles and pulpit were full, and the cross pieces of wood were covered with young men, who climbed thither in order to get a place. The attention was great: I believe this day will never be forgotten. At "5th, I preached in Bigton to a very crowded congregation; and then walked to Dunrossness, and preached at two o'clock, and met the Class. I did not intend to preach again; but by five, the house was full of people, and I must either preach or send them away. The latter I could not do; so I preached again. 6th, I preached at ten. The house was not only full, but many went on the top of it, and laid their ears to the 'roof, so as to hear. two I preached in Quendle, and at six in Vickey the places were excessively crowded. 7th, Congregations the same. 8th, Sunday, I borrowed a barn, which was the largest building in the parish. When I came, I found the people waiting, and attempted to stow them In the barn; but after all my efforts not one half could get in. I turned out, and stood by the barn-wall, the people being around me, whilst I laboured to enforce the glorious truths contained in Heb. vii. 25. At two I stood in the same place, although it was very cold. Our situation was within a few hundred yards of the shores of the Atlantic, which dashed her waves with so much fury against the cliffs, that the spray ascended to the very of doors consisted of about six hundred. "North Mavin is the largest parish in Shetland; I think that it is twenty miles long. It has one church; this stands in Hillswick, which is on the S.W. side of the parish. There are hundreds who cannot reach the church either in winter or summer; as many of them are from ten to twelve miles from it, and immense hills are between them. I preach in every district of this extensive parish: the people attend well." MR. DUNN States in another and more recent Letter to DR. CLARKE, that the number of members in Society, to be returned to the Conference, is two hundred and thirty-five; besides seventyfive others who remain on trial. This is indeed a gratifying report from a part of the vineyard in which our labourers have been actively employed only for a period considerably short of two years. METHODIST CHAPELS LATELY ERECTED OR ENLARGED. SNEYD-GREEN, near Burslem, Staffordshire." A small Chapel, built on a frugal plan, and intended to serve at once the purposes of a place for preaching, and of a Sunday-school, was lately opened here by CAPTAIN BARLOW. The collection was handsome, and every seat is let." CARDINGTON, near Bedford.—"A neat Chapel, twenty-one feet by thirty, was opened here, April 7th, 1824, by the REV. JOHN GAULTER. The Collection amounted to £15, and the previous subscriptions to £130, including a donation of £10. 10s., from W. H. WHITBREAD, ESQ., M. P., who also liberally furnished the ground. The preaching of the Methodists in this village commenced about two years ago. The Chapel is so situated, as to accommodate also the adjoining village of Cople. A good congregation and Sunday-school are likely to be collected. Nearly all the seats are let. Cardington was once the residence of HOWARD, the Philanthropist." VARTEG IRON-WORKS, South Wales. Extract of a Letter, lately received : "Much to the honour of the Company, to whom these works now belong, they have established an excellent Week-day School, both for male and female children, who are taught in separate rooms. There is also a Sunday-School of nearly two hundred chil dren. In one of the school-rooms the Methodists have had regular preaching for some 2 time. The number of members in Society is fifty two. The Varteg-Hill is four miles from the Parish Church, and a little more than two The Company, desirous of promoting the miles from the nearest Methodist Chapel. spiritual welfare of the people in their employ, have, in the most handsome manner, presented the Wesleyan-Methodist Society, in the Abergavenny Circuit, with land to the extent of one-fourth of an acre, stones, lime, and Twenty Pounds in money, besides wards the erection of a New Chapel. It was granting other considerable advantages, toopened on Sunday, April the 18th, by the REV. JAMES WOOD, and the Rev. WILLIAM PEARSON, sen. The Collections at the opening amounted to £71. 15s. 6d.; and the Private Subscriptions, including the Donation from the Company, to £133. 10s. The Chapel has a gallery in the front. The sittings are is forty feet by thirty, within the walls, and nearly all let. I am thankful to add, that we have now a Chapel in every Iron-Work of any extent in South Wales." WITCHAM, in the Ely Circuit."This Chapel has been lately improved by the erection of a Gallery, and was re-opened, April 28th, by the Rev. THOS. ROWLAND. The whole of the expense has been defrayed.” LERWICK, Shetland Isles.-Extract of a Letter from the REV. S. DUNN, to the REV. DR. CLARKE, dated May 25: "I have now to inform you, that after much anxiety of mind and labour of body for the last nine months, in drawing plans, purchasing materials, superintending the workmen, and not unfrequently working with my own hands as long as I was able, besides preaching within the time above two hundred sermons, and attending to all my other ministerial duties, to £47. Rodsley is centrally situated; being contiguous to five or six other villages, where there are small Methodist Societies, but no Chapel. The prospect of usefulness is highly encouraging." BRUNSWICK CHAPEL, Macclesfield.-" This additional Methodist Chapel was opened on Sunday, May 30th, 1824, by the REV. JABEZ BUNTING, and the REV. ROBERT NEWTON. By the unanimous request of the Trustees, the Morning Service of the Established Church was read in the forenoon. The opening of a Second Chapel in Macclesfield was considered a fit opportunity to accommodate the views of several persons, who first became partakers of salvation under the Ministry of the late REV. DAVID SIMPSON, and whose attachment to Methodism is consequently associated with a just veneration for the sound, ancient, and impressive Liturgy of the Church of England. The three services in the new Chapel were attended by large congregations; consisting in each instance of not less than fifteen hun the most Northerly Wesleyan-Methodist Chapel T. STEAD. The Collections amounted in the World was at last brought to completion, and opened on the 6th of this month; a day for which I had long prayed, and which I believe I shall not soon forget. I preached in the morning from Psalm cx. 3; Brother LEWIS in the afternoon, from Acts, xvii. 11; and Brother RABY at night, from Daniel xii. 4. The Chapel was well filled, and the Collections amounted to £7, which make, with the private Subscriptions which I have received in Shetland, £45. After the evening-service, we held a Love-Feast, for the first time in these islands. As the day was remarkably fine, and most of the country people were busily engaged in sowing their seed, there were only about sixty of the members present. These were not backward in telling what great things Gop had done for their souls. Had it been convenient to have kept the Love-Feast twice as long as we did, I believe all the time would have been well taken up. Many testified from blessed experience, that the Son of Man' had still power upon earth to forgive sins,' and with such soundness of speech as could not be condemned. Indeed a blessed feeling pervaded the whole meeting; all seemed delighted and profited. It forcibly reminded me of what I have often seen and heard in my highly favoured county. The Chapel is forty-one feet by thirty-five, outside measure; and is sufficiently high to admit galleries when necessary. The whole cost (including £65 for the purchase of the ground for it and the dwelling-house) is £425. This sum will probably surprise my English friends, as they scarcely will have any idea that workmen's wages, and materials in general, are as high in Shetland as in most places in England. The stones were all brought from the quarry to the building by boats, a part of the way, the remainder by barrows, for we have no carts. Be assured that not one penny has been designedly wasted: the circumstances in which I was all along placed prevented this; for had it not been for your unwearied attention in sending me advice and pecuniary assistance, I should more than once have been obliged to desist. May my GoD remember you for good, for all the good deeds that you have done for the house of my Gon '-We have left about one half of the Chapel as free forms, for the accommodation of the poor : there are only about thirty pews, two-thirds of which are let for twelve and fifteen shil lings per year, as they contain four or five sittings. We have let most of them for the year, and received payment before possession. Since it was opened it has been well attended, and the door-collections have increased accordingly. Annexed I send you a summary of the ChapelAccounts, Ordinary Deficiencies for the year, Furniture-account, and a General Statement. Do not be surprised to see the General Statement made out in your name, for I could not find a more suitable person. You will perceive that I have brought you in debtor £334. 28.: nearly the whole of this sum has been actually paid. About £200 I borrowed of a friend here, but he must have it in about six weeks, or two months. RODSLEY, in the Derby Circuit. "A new Chapel, thirty-three feet by twenty-three, with a Gallery at the end, was opened May 7th. Sermons were preached on that day, and on the following Sunday, by the REV. R. NEWTON, the REV. JOSEPH TAYLOR, sen., and the REV. dred, and in the evening of about seventeen hundred persons. The old Chapel was also full in the evening.-The inte rior appearance of Brunswick Chapel, though destitute of any gaudy ornament, is remarkably pleasing. Its dimensions inside are twenty-four yards in length, by eighteen in width.-The Collections made at the three services in the Brunswick Chapel, and, in the evening at the Sunderland-street Chapel, amount to £153. 5s. 1d. The subscriptions which were given previous to the Opening, including several sums of £100 and £50, with a munificent Donation from the late MRS. PALFREYMAN, of £600, and a Legacy of £200 from the same generous person, exceed £2000." MILES END, in the Ely Circuit."A small new Chapel, thirty-feet by nineteen, was opened here, June 7th, by the REV. THOMAS POLLARD, and the REV. JOHN ROADHOUSE. £51 have been raised by Subscriptions and Collections; and a debt of £50 still remains unprovided for." LEEGRAVE, in the Luton Circuit."On June 3d, a new Chapel, thirty by twenty feet, was opened here, by the REV. JAMES DIXON. The whole cost of the erection, independent of the ground, and carriage of the materials, which were kindly given, is £140; towards which, £55 were raised by private Subscriptions, and £30, 10s., by Collections at the opening." |