"LADIES and GENTLEMEN,-The object of this Meeting is to give every support, by every means in our power, to the laudable exertions of the Missionaries in this colony, who are so diligently employed in conveying instruction to the untaught mind, particularly the slavepopulation, and instilling into their minds those important duties which are absolutely necessary for a Christian State. The Christian Religion teaches the slaves their duty to GOD, their duty to their master, and their duty to their fellow creatures. And I fear, without such principles, there can exist very little good order in any class of people. "The basis of our happiness, and the regularity of society, must depend on a due attention to religious rites and duties, and if this first important duty is neglected, confusion must be the consequence; therefore I view with great delight, the improvements which. the instructions of the Missionaries have produced in the slave-population, and such exertions cannot fail to form good principles in their minds, and tend greatly to insure peace and good order in Society. Having offered these few remarks on the object of this meeting, I propose the following resolution,That this meeting, having witnessed with much satisfaction the beneficial labours of the Wesleyan-Methodist Missionaries in this Island, assembles on this occasion with pleasure, to form an Auxiliary Society, to aid the General Wesleyan Missionary Society, in its laudable and christian object of spreading the glorious Gospel of GoD our SAVIOUR to the ends of the earth." This Resolution was seconded by FREDERICK CASSELL, Esq., Collector of His Majesty's Customs in this island, and was carried unanimously; as were also the other Resolutions. I cannot sufficiently express my obligations to the Gentlemen who took an active part in the proceedings of the meeting. His Honour Jos. HERBERT, ESQ., President, and FREDERICK CASSELL, Esq., I have named. M. W. BLAKE, Esq., G. B. JEFFERS, ESQ., and WALTER PRICE, Esq., Members of the House of Assembly, and several other Gentlemen, assisted on the occasion, and to them we are much indebted. The Court-House was well filled, and the proceedings of the day seemed to give pleasure to every one. The collection amounted to £29. 8s. 10d., with many gold ornaments, and some old silver. Had it not been for the great distress which prevails, it would have been much more. Many I know did not attend because they had not money to give. On the Thursday following, I received a very obliging note from the HON. and REV. JOSEPH GERALD, accompanied with a donation, and expressing his good wishes. He is the only Clergyman of the Establishment in the island, and has always shown the most friendly disposition towards the Missionaries. TRINIDAD.-Upon the first accounts of the insurrection in Demerara reaching this island, accompanied with a general implication of Missionaries in the affair, MR. WOOLLEY very properly waited upon the Governor, and stated, that from what he knew of MR. MORTIER and MR. CHEESEWRIGHT, our only Missionaries in Demerara, he would take upon himself the responsibility of declaring his absolute confidence that they had acted according to the Instructions of the Committee, in every part of their conduct. Under the date of Oct. 17th, he writes : You will, no doubt, be pleased to learn that the affair of Demerara has done us no harm, in this island: the step I took on the occasion, in waiting on the Governor, gained me the confidence of the public. They are most warm in their expressions of approbation, and say that every encouragement shall be given to the Mission, while it is conducted by prudent men. Since the unhappy event of Demerara, I have gained access to three estates. When speaking to the proprietor of one of them, (the Chief Judge,) I told him I expected a young man to help me in the work; he asked," Have you confidence in him, and will he be under your care?" I answered in the affirmative; and he replied, "That is enough. I will give you. land and assistance from my estate, to build a chapel and a house.' Thus we shall get a chapel on a spot surrounded by more than a thousand negroes. I thank God for this new opening. MISSIONS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA. AFTER much anxiety on account of the Brethren, MESSRS. HODGSON and BROADBENT, arising from their not having been heard of at the Cape for a con siderable time, and from the accounts we had received of the disturbed state of the Boschuana country, which had been invaded by a powerful predatory party from the North, we have at length received letters from them, which are of a very gratifying nature, both as they state their personal safety, and the commencement of a Missionary establishment in a part of the country which promises to open the door to the diffusion of Christianity among a numerous people. The new stations in South Africa, to which Providence has lately directed the Brethren, appear, without design, to have brought a very extensive and populous part of the eastern country within the range of Missionary operations. The Caffre Mission, which has been entered upon by MR. W. SHAW,-the Boschuana Mission, commenced by MESSRS. HODGSON and BROADBENT,-and the Delagoa-Bay Mission, where MR. Threlfall is now employed, and to which Mr. WHITWORTH has just sailed,-will form three important points, at a great distance from the operations of other Missionary Societies, from which, should the divine blessing attend the work, a chain of Mission Stations may be in future drawn, so as to bring the numerous tribes of this large portion of the continent, from the eastern coast considerably into the interior, into the fold of CHRIST. The following are extracts from the communications recently received from the Boschuana Mission. In a joint letter, dated July 1st, 1823, from Maquasse, MESSRS. HODGSON and BROADBENT write: I will give you pleasure, while it is to us a cause of much rejoicing, that the LORD has enabled us to form a Missionary Station, which, after three months' experience, promises to be a permanent one; and with a Chief and people, by whom we were received with open arms, and whose conduct uniformly denotes a desire for our continued residence among them. The Maquasse Mountains, in the neighbourhood of which we reside, and which give the name to this Boschuana town, are situated, we believe, about three degrees east of the junction of the Craddock, and one day's journey north of the Great or Yellow River. Our houses stand near a small fountain; and the cattle, we are informed, will always have a supply of water from two small rivers near us, and abundance of grass from an extensive plain, by which the mountains are surrounded. The air is most salubrious, and the soil evidently capable of improvement by cultivation. In respect to situation, we are where we wish. SIBBUNEL, the name of the chief with whom we are, is the person mentioned by MR. CAMPBELL, (see his Travels, vol. ii. p. 357,) whose former residence was Kwattaba, or, as MR. C. names it, Yattaba, from which he retired upon the approach of a Commando out of Caffraria. At present, he and his people are herein temporary houses; but we have the most solemn assurances that their permanent ones will be built here, as soon as the country is relieved from the confusion in which it yet remains, from the terror excited by the operations of their enemies. SIBBUNEL is of considerable consequence among the different tribes around us, and, from the attentions shown by the small parties who have occasionally visited him, apparently respected. Though a heathen, he is shrewd and sensible; rules his people with authority; possesses abundance of cattle; and shows friendship for us, and confidence in us, on all occasions. We cannot give a correct estimate of the people attached to him, as they are scattered at the different cattle-posts; but on one occasion we found his village to consist of 500 houses. The population around us is, as far as we have seen and heard, considerable; several villages may be visited on horseback; and all, from whom inquiries have been made, state the population, east of us, to be immense. We are, thank GOD, in the Boschuana country, amongst those whose language is spoken by many tribes, and where a door is opened to a large field of usefulness for missionary exertion, among a people, who will, when the Gospel prevails amongst them, greatly excite the interest of the religious world. The people are absolute heathens; for though some of them admit the existence of both a good and a bad Being, superior to themselves, yet they candidly confess that they know nothing relative to the soul, or a future state of existence but the Gospel has not the rubbish of idolatry to remove before its foundation can be laid, for we have not seen the smallest vestige of religious worship amongst them. It must not, however, be expected, for some time, that the Gospel can be made known to them; for although Brother B. can converse upon common subjects, we have not one interpreter who can be employed in explaining the Gospel to them; and indeed we fear the language is yet to form, as far as it respects the introduction of terms to convey to their minds the simplest spiritual truths. Our interpreter is only a boy, of about fourteen years of age, sadly depraved in his disposition, and manifesting much aversion to any subject connected with religion. He was, however the best, and indeed the only one we could obtain. We have built two comfortable houses, and are far advanced with two smaller ones, for our people; and though we are too late in the season to attempt sowing corn, we hope in a few months to benefit by the productions of a garden. In accomplishing our object, we have met with many difficulties; we have been exposed to a few dangers; and we have felt most strongly the necessity of a patient, persevering, and resolute spirit; especially as we approached the seat of war, where also no Europeans had been before us, and we were attended by mere hirelings uninterested in our object, and whose cowardly spirit was often difficult to manage. Nothing of importance occurred to us till we reached the Great River, over which we were floated by men kindly sent to our aid by MR. SASS, the Missionary at Campbell, where, as well as at Griqua, we were received with the greatest affection. After leav ing Campbell, all our people, dissatisfied without cause, and accrediting the idle rumours spread by the Corannas, who wished to detain us amongst them on account of our guns, &c., resolved to return, and actually left us a whole night. At the next village the same insubordinate spirit appeared; and even till we had our oxen yoked, and ready to travel, we bad much reason to fear that we must drive our own waggons, or desist from our purpose. The LORD, however, at the time of our extremity, interfered, and enabled us to influence one of the men, which led to success with a second; and as we could, under these circumstances, command the interpreter and sheep-watcher, who attempted to conceal themselves, we gladly left a third, who had been the chief promoter of the disaffection that appeared. Soon after this the interpreter fled, influenced to do so by some wicked Corannas, who were envious at the preference we gave to the Boschuanas; and we were obliged to retrace our steps in order to recover him. After getting back the interpreter, and journeying eastward a few days, we narrowly escaped the main body of the Caffrees, being met by a small party of observation, as we supposed, by which circumstance we were cautioned to alter our course. Meeting with two Boschuanas, whom we engaged as guides, we determined upon another attempt; and proceeding in a north-west direction, we travelled on the banks of the River No, until the night of the 31st of January, when all our oxen and cows were stolen by some natives residing in the bushes not far from us. Our people went in search of the cattle; but, from cowardice and mismanagement, they were unsuccessful. A second effort was made, but when we arrived at the werf, to which the oxen had been traced, the robbers fled, leaving the skins,&c.,of two of the oxen which they had slaughtered, and the rest of the cattle were dispersed. It appeared afterwards that the natives had fled, fearing an attack from us, and had suffered the oxen to roam at large. Our situation was indeed trying; with a murmuring people, without the means of removing our waggons, our food daily lessening, and not knowing the extent of the danger to which we were exposed from the Commando. A communication was however opened with SIBbunel on the 9th of February; and on the 17th we were visited by him, with twelve of his attendants, bringing a cow for slaughter, thus kindly anticipating our want of food, and an ox, as food for himself and people during his stay with us. On the following day, while we were arranging to send our men to Campbell for the oxen we had left there, those which we had lost appeared in sight, driven by three of SIRBUNEL'S own people, who were stationed at a cattle-post, and who had found them all wandering at large, except six, which had probably been devoured by lions. On this occasion we were overpowered with gratitude to our heavenly FATHER, who had so wonderfully interposed in our behalf, and given sufficient proof of his approbation of our efforts by restoring our oxen; thus preventing the incon venience of sending our men a tedious journey, and enabling us to join the Chief with whom we wished to be, at the same juncture of time. It is premature to solicit assistance by additional Brethren for this Mission; but as we may not have an opportunity of writing again for many months, we shall not be accused of being too sanguine in putting in our claim to be kept in mind in this respect, particu larly as a Missionary, when properly settled, can be supported at as little expense here as in any part where we are likely to have stations in Africa. We are only one day's journey from a party that if we would not remain with him, he would sigh his life out." Whatever motives may have given rise to this man's conduct, it sufficiently indicates that no difficulty then existed in remaining with him. In apportioning out the various presents sent for the general use of the Missions, perhaps we shall be favoured with a few axes, adzes, picks, hammers, files, garden-rakes, hoes, light blacksmith's tools, and other useful kinds of cutlery; and should this Mission be extended, a small printing-press would be of incalculable use, to provide us of Corannas, (and in a line with Caffraria,) where a desirable station might be formed, and where a Missionary will always have a people, amongst whom to itinerate: for, though the Corannas are a most unsettled tribe, this situation will, we think, always attract a population; and if one of the pious men from the Khamiesberg station would consent to live there, and act as interpreter, the Gospel might at once be preached to this people. At present, we believe the Corannas are without the Gospel, as the London Society have withdrawn their last Missionary in MR. SASS; and, indeed, we are under a pledge to one of the Coranna Captains, who anxiously desired our residence with him, to mention his case to you; a promise which was extorted from us when his anxiety led him to drive off our cattle to the place he intended residing at; and when, finding us determined to seek the Boschuanas, he followed our waggons as if determined to abide by us, and stated, that "He had long had a desire for the Word, and We have received copious Journals from the above-meutioned Brethren, from which we shall insert Extracts in our succeeding Numbers. The following are Extracts of recent Letters from MR. W. SHAW, stating the commencement of the Caffre Mission. Under the date Graham's Town, Aug. 28th, 1823, he writes :— WITH the view of arranging with the Caffre Chiefs, and of selecting a situation for our first Missionary station in Caffreland, I took a journey into that country, the latter end of July, and returned in the beginning of this month. Of the particulars of my journey you shall hear shortly, by means of my detailed journal for that period, and which I will transcribe as soon as I can obtain a little leisure; but I am anxious to send this, that you may be acquainted with the general result. Through the good hand of GoD upon me, not only my life was preserved while travelling on horseback among barbarous and savage men, and wild beasts; but my health also, notwithstanding my generally sleeping on the ground, in the open air, and experiencing very heavy rains during the journey. These, however, are small mercies, compared with the more important particular of having, through the blessing of GOD, succeeded in my object far beyond my most sanguine expectations. I travelled through the country, from the residence of the Government Missionaries, which is in the neighbourhood of King Gaika, toward the coast where the district of Caffreland, under the immediate jurisdiction of the Chief or King Pato, is situated; and in which district I was with elementary books for any school which may be established; particularly as being so far from CapeTown, it is impossible, and would, if practicable, be very undesirable, frequently to visit it. The latter hint is suggested from the great advantage which will arise from the introduction of letters amongst the natives as soon as possible. Be assured that it is our wish to meet your approbation, while serving the LORD in the great and good cause in which we are engaged. desirous of selecting a spot for the station, should the Chief prove favourably disposed. Pato is son and heir of old Congo, who was killed some years ago in a war with the Colonists. The eldest son of Congo, who bears his name, was for several years Regent of this country, during the minority of his younger brother Pato, who, in consequence of his being the son of old Congo's Tambookie wife, is, by the established law of succession, the proper heir to the authority; and having come of age, he lately assumed his power, as a proof of which we noticed, hung up in his cattle-kraal, an elephant's tail, the ensign of royalty in Caffreland. I am happy to inform you that not only Pato, but all his brothers, including Congo, the late Regent, and also a number of his inferior Captains ad Counsellors, assembled on the occasion, acceded with evident pleasure to the proposal of our commencing a Mission amongst them; and they have given the best proof of their friendly disposition, by allowing me to take possession of a place for the station, which lies between the immediate residence of Pato and that of his elder brother Congo. I might, no doubt, have found other spots better adapted, in some respects, for a Missionary village, than that for which I asked Pato, and which he so freely gave me ; but the laws and government of the Caffre nation, in many things, are so peculiar, that I discovered that for the King and principal Headmen to live immediately upon the station, would be a decided and great advantage to the Mission. The place itself, however, is not objectionable; on the contrary, those by whom I was accompanied (the REV. MR. THOMSON, of Chumie, MR. SHEPSTONE, and the Interpreter,) all pronounced it an extremely fine one. We saw as many kraals, or villages, within two miles of the place, as must contain a population of at least a thousand souls; and this number will doubtless be increased from other parts, as soon as the Mission is established. The scenery around the place is pretty; there is a very sufficient supply of water; abundance of grass; and, from what we could learn, good timber at no great distance: it has also the advantage of proximity to the sea, being not more than ten miles from the mouth of the river Kalumna, where there is also abundance of fish. I am under the necessity of purchasing or many indispensable articles, which, could I wait for them, I have no doubt would be given by our munificent and zealous friends at home; however, if any of them feel disposed to furnish any of the following articles, for which I can wait some time, they will very materially assist the work, and save the Society a considerable expense, as such things are necessarily very dear in this colony. We want a bell to call the people from the neighbouring villages to public worship. There are no clocks watches among the natives, which renders this highly necessary : we must crack a whip for this purpose, until a bell can be obtained. A plough; a few useful carpenter's tools; a few hatchets ; nails of the useful sizes, as what are called tenpenny, &c.; common handkerchiefs; clothes, which will assist us in a projected plan of inducing the Caffrees to appear with some degree of decency at least; spades will be very useful; indeed with any thing of the kind we may barter with the Caffrees for the necessaries of life, of which they have great abundance. SOUTH SEA MISSIONS. We have not heard from MR. LEIGH since his removal to Wangaree, the place of his permanent Mission-Establishment. The following are Extracts from MR. LEIGH's last-received Journal: They sufficiently and painfully show the need of Christianity in these "dark places of the earth, the habitations of cruelty." DEC. 20th, 1822.-A tribe have killed four slaves, and eaten them within view of Rangahoo! A mother and son had been taken as slaves in war; the mother was given to a tribe in the Bay of Islands, and the people, fearing that the son would run from them after his parent, killed and eat him! They also murdered and devoured a beautiful young woman, the same evening, for a small offence. 22d. A young Zealander lately died at Port Jackson, and was buried there; his father was much distressed on account of the spirit of his son not being able to find its way to New Zealand; but one night he dreamed that he saw his son in his own village, and conversed with him as he had done before his death. This circumstance gave him rest. 26th.-To-day I visited a village, and had twenty children and ten adults, all of whom continued for one hour repeating lessons, and the LORD's Prayer, in their own language: each of them expected a fish-hook. 29th.-I have had twenty-eight children and a number of adults to repeat prayers and lessons. I think one of the adults must have been seventy years old. He sat among the children, and repeated the lessons with as much eagerness as any of them. MRS. LEIGH and I visited a village, where we had a number of children and adults, who repeated their lessons with great ease, and gave us satisfaction. Among the number was an old woman, whom we supposed to be eighty years of age. She was very earnest in repeating some prayers, and observed it was very good to karakia, that is, to read or pray. I have found that the children in the village will not come together to any house, but if the teacher will fix his standard a little way from the village, all then will flock to him, and likewise many adults. I have for some time visited the children of a neighbouring village twice a day; many of them can nearly repeat the LORD's Prayer and the Ten Commandments. I have no doubt but this will be a step to something further. February 1st, 1823.-I walked some distance in the bush. On my way I met several slaves with wood on their backs; they all exclaimed as soon as they saw me, "MR. LEIGH, will you teach us to |