eived no explicit reply. So that I began to suspect that he had come from the government-house, to enforce a trifling request which in the morning we had declined. He soon however, undeceived and astonish ed me, by asking, "How long time will it take me to learn the religion of Jesus?" I replied, that such a question could not be answered. If God gave light and wisdom, the religion of Jesus was soon learnt; but without God, a man might study all his life long, and make no proficiency. But how, continued I, came you to know any thing of Jesus? Have you been here before? "No." Have you seen any writing concern. ing Jesus? "I have seen two little books." Who is Jesus? "He is the Son of God, who, pitying creatures, came into this world, and suffered death in their stead." Who is God? "He is a Being, without beginning or end, who is not subject to old age or death, but always is.” I cannot tell how I felt at this moment. This was the first acknowledgement of an eternal God, that I had ever heard from the lips of a Burman. I handed him a tract and catechism, both which he instantly recognized, and read here and there, making occasional remarks to his follower, such as "This is the true God-this is the right way," &c. I now tried to tell him some things about God and Christ; and himself; but he did not listen with much attention, and seemed anxious only to get another book. 1 had already told him two or three times, that I had finished no other book; but that in two or three months I would give him a larger one, which I was now daily employed in translating. "But," replied he," have you not a little of that book done, which you will graciously give me now?" And I, beginning to think that God's time is better than ours, folded and gave him the two first half-sheets, which contain the five first chapters of Matthew; on which he instantly rose, as if his business was all done, and having received an invitation to come again, took leave. Throughout his short stay he appeared different from any Burmans I have yet met with. He asked no questions about customs and man. ners, with which the Burmans tease us exceedingly. He had no curiosity, and no desire for any thing, but more of this sort of writing." In fine, his conduct proved that he had something upon his mind, and I can. not but hope that I shall have to write about him again.' 66 SOUTH AFRICA. Extract of a Letter from Mrs Hamil ton to a Friend, dated (Nerv Lattakkoo) Krooman River, March 9.1818. Things here are going on better than we expected in so short a time. We have no opposition from the Bootsuannas; on the contrary, some of them are thanking God for sending us and his word among them, and praying that we may never leave them. Once their cry was, 'Away with the Dutchmen,' (meaning us white people.) When we see such a change, we are constrained to say, What hath God wrought! Many now attend the preaching of the Gospel. I last Sabbath counted fifty-two. Some of them begin to see the vanity of their former way, and have a desire for the one thing needful.' • We have an experience meeting every Wednesday for them. I en joy greatly these opportunities. I long for Wednesday as much as I used to do when I have been going to Broadway Chapel. Perhaps some of the simple expressions of the Boctsuannas at these meetings may be interesting to you. Momeits said, " Since I have heard God's word, I daily see more of the vanity of dancing, and all the foolish customs in which I used to delight; and, if I were able, I would put a stop to them all; and all people should come and hear God's word.' Class said, 'I do not know what sort of hearts other people have, but I know I have a very bad one. As one goes into a dirty house with a broom, and sweeps out all the dirt, so I pray that God will make his word a broom to sweep out all the filth that is in my heart.' Chakka, (or Chakkie), a chief, said, I cannot say I do not understand, for I understand so much as to know how I may be saved; but one thing I want, that is, a determination to give myself wholly to Christ, in spite of every thing that may oppose it. Such is the language of some of these people. I do not say they are converted, that is known only to God; but these are pleasing beginnings, and give us much encouragement. When I hear them talk thus, I forget all the toils and troubles through which I have passed, and am ready to encounter fresh ones with cheerfulness.' In another letter, Mrs H. says, 'One, whom we loved, the Lord has taken from us. I think I mentioned him to you; his name was Class: he went to Grigua town to exchange goods with the Griguas, a fever was sweeping away the inhabitants of that place, it is now here. Class returned in health, and went the same day to his friends and took an affectionate leave of them, saying, Jesus Christ would have me to be with him.' Jesus,' said he, is going to make me dead, and take me to heaven.' The next day he took the fever, and scarce spoke afterward, until a little before he died. Read asked, if he knew him, he said, Yes.' Do you pray? O yes, it is good to pray! God is good! God is good these were his last words.' 6 MORAVIAN MISSIONS. Mr THE following extract of a letter from one of the missionaries of this Society, stationed near Montego Bay, Jamaica, breathes so much of the spirit of harmony and peace, that we feel much pleasure in presenting it to our readers. April, 12. 1818. The Methodists are coming round to these parts of Jamaica; a married missionary being stationed at Falmouth, 18 miles from hence, ever since Christmas. Government encourages them, and a temporary place has been given them to preach in. They hold their meetings in the town, before and after the church service. Captains, merchants, and attornies are among the number of their hearers. We rejoice at it, and pray God to give them success. There is room for us all. The highways and hedges are still occupied by poor, helpless, and perishing sinners. The Baptists have also a mission here. Moses Baker, a brown preacher of that community, and my neighbour, living about five miles from hence, is a man of the right stamp, a blessed and active servant of our common Lord and Master, notwithstanding old age has almost blinded his eyes, and made his legs to move slowly. During his thirty years' labour in these parts, he has had to endure much persecution. In some instances, his ardent zeal for the cause of God may have now and then, as with many, occasioned his running too fast, and brought trouble on himself. The most abominable lies have been propagated concerning him, and still serve to amuse idle people; nay, I know one man who confined him a whole night in the stocks, and others would have destroyed him, had they had him in their hands, but God had him in bis. There are some clever and gifted black Baptist preachers in this country. May the Lord make them and us useful in his work, by keeping us lowly, and depending upon him alone, without whom we can do nothing. THE CHRISTIAN HERALD. APRIL 12. 1819. REPORT BY MR JOWETT OF HIS VISIT TO SMYRNA, &c. [Concluded from p. 86.] 66 I ARRIVED at Athens on the 13th of June, and remained there four or five days. During this time it was vacation at the school, so that I did not see the master. The bishop also was absent, in consequence of troubles which had taken place in the church several months before. "I constituted myself, however, a member of the Literary Society' at Athens. which has existed now five years, and of which many English are members. This society has a good library; and the school of Athens is almost entirely dependent upon it. I lett, therefore, a written advertisement respecting the Modern Greek Bible, to be filled up with names at the school. I also sold several Greek Testaments, and presented the library with an English set of the Reports of the British and Foreign Bible Society. "In this library there have been left, at different times, many English books; for English travellers are frequent at Athens. We found there, on our arrival, no fewer than nine. I presented, also, a few handsome copies of different versions of the Scriptures, in the name of the Malta Bible society; and this Committee will, doubtless, gladly complete the set. "In this library there was a small Summary of the history of the Bible Society, printed in Greek, a year or two ago, at St Petersburgh. Brief as it was, it had contributed to prepare my way. What could not be effected by a regular supply of printed reports; circulated, for example, monthly, from this spot, VOL. VI. Q to all the ports and adjoining cities in the Mediterranean ! This circumstance has been before noticed; and the British and Foreign Bible Society are already informed, that their friends in Malta would, in due time, undertake regularly to furnish reports of this nature, in Spanish, French, Italian, Greek, Turkish, and Arabic. "From Athens, which every classic traveller quits with emotions of regret at the memory of times now past, we proceeded to Hydra and Milo. At these islands, we only touched an hour or two. An opportunity offered of distributing a few Greek Testaments. "At Zante, where we arrived June 23d, we staid five days. This station is well known to the Committee, by correspondence. We cultivated acquaintance with the Protopapas and the Masters among the Greeks; and, among the English, with those who have previously distributed our Greek Testaments, especially Mr Barff. I inquired, how far he could engage himself to promote the Society's object when visiting the Morea on business? He will comply with this suggestion to the utmost of his ability; and will recommend it, also, to the other English friends in the Ionian islands. But "The Committee will no doubt, most gladly avail itself of the casual, but frequently most essential, aid, which may thus be rendered by friends to the general cause, who are found in every country, following their own commercial concerns. we must remember, that such active coadjutors often have but little leisure from their own business, or are unacquainted with the native tongues. Hence it appears the necessity of their being furnished with Reports, as well as with the Scriptures, in the proper languages. "On proposing at Zante, a subscription to the Moscow Greek Bible, I found myself anticipated; being informed, that names had been sent to Moscow for fifty or sixty copies. This was a most pleasing indication of their zeal, and of their acquaintance with what Russia is doing relative to the Bible. "In the course of this tour, various learned persons have been moved to take a part in the translation of the Old Testament into Modern Greek. The details of such a project will, however, more properly be reserved for the consideration of the British and Foreign Bible Society; in whose name the plan was proposed, and by whose counsel and pecuniary aid its execution will be best attained. It may be sufficient, at present, to state, that, in recommending this object to the Greeks at large, 1 endeavoured to provoke them to jealousy by the example of the Turks. These,' I said, will have the Old as well as the New Testament in their spoken language, before you for the Turkish Bible is actually now printing at 6 Paris thus, we shall see, the last will be first, and the first last.' "For my return to Malta in health, which took place on the 4th instant, and for the joy which I experience in meeting once more the Committee, I desire to render hearty thanks unto God our Saviour. "Before this Report is closed, it will be proper to collect together a few points of information, which may be useful to future travellers on account of the Malta Bible Society. : "The importance of SMYRNA rises, in part, from the popu lation of the city itself; in number, computed to be upwards of 130,000: in character, composed of various denominationsTurks, Jews, Greeks, Armenians, Roman Catholics, and Protestants. Further, its relation with the interior of Asia Minor is very important: there are several towns and cities, such for example as Magnesia, where manufactures flourish in the valley through which the Caister runs, there are many large villages, wholly inhabited by Greeks, who live by agriculture; and, no doubt, in the surrounding parts, there are many favourable circumstances as yet unknown to us, because not yet explored by religious travellers. But, to the eastward of Asia Minor, it would be proper to travel, not from Smyrna, but with the caravans that go from Constantinople to Aleppo. It is of consequence, also, to take into account the immediate con, nexion between Smyrna and all the. Greek islands, the amount of the population of which is exceedingly great, and the people. daily increasing in humanity and the love of knowledge. The direct trade of Smyrna to all the principal ports of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, is very great, and likely to continue so consequently, measures originating with the Bible Society there, may often be more rapidly executed than by us in Malta. "Haivali enjoys a great degree of liberty, being peopled almost entirely by Greeks. Its population is estimated at about 20,000. It has communication overland to Smyrna about three times a-month; and often, by sea, with Smyrna, Mitylene, Mount Athos, &c. While I was there, two young men arrived from the Monasteries of Mount Athos, to study; and such arrivals continually take place, from various parts of Turkey. It is from this circumstance that Haivali becomes important in our plans. Its College educates and sends forth men, who afterwards set up schools in their native towns and islands in Greece. They enumerated ten such schools, one of which was established on the southern coast of the Black Sea. "These considerations apply with yet greater force to Scio. This island, with a population of 120,000 souls, is considered to enjoy a larger share of liberty and literary privileges than perhaps any other spot in the Turkish dominions. It derives |