letters from the missionaries at the islands, though no public. ones. They in general contain the most gratifying intelligence. You will learn with much real pleasure that Pomare is going on well, and has finished his immense building for the worship of the true God. Last month the natives were to hold a grand Pentecost. Nothing like this, as I have had occasion before to remark, has occurred since the days of the apostles. The work is all of God. The missionaries, humanly speaking, had no strength for such a work, although in the discharge of their duty, they have endured rdships and privations which will er be known in Europe. Indeed, robable, men of more refined on and habits could not have m. Had any of the great f the earth seen Joshua ding the walls of Jericho, n his rams' horns, how contemptible would his conduct have appeared in their sight. Many, even sober thinking men, for years viewed the mission to the islands with sovereign contempt, and considered it as the offspring of intemperate zeal. The mouths of gainsayers must now be stopped, and infidels silenced. Facts, which are open to the examination of the bitterest enemies of the cause, cannot be contradicted. This work is evidently of God, and his foundation is sure. What less than infinite power could induce a nation to forsake its gods? The Otaheiteans, king and people, have forsaken their gods and cast them into the fire, because they were no gods. Their altars no lon ger stream with human gore; their infants are no longer murdered as soon as born; nor does the poor savage any longer remain without hope and without God. The blessings of Divine Revelation, even on this side the grave, can never be duly appreciated. It is impossible for those who have never seen a heathen near death, to imagine the terrible nature of his situation. He has no magnetic point by which he may be usefully than in the <, having little or in the long winter eare more disposed to come ner to hear the word of God.— And we are happy to find, that the pastors of the churches in these districts, with the aid afforded them by the Congregational Union and other Societies, are enabled to improvė such favourable opportunities. this way, the poor Highlanders occasionally are taught the way of salvation, where the means of regular instruction are so greatly deficient. FOREIGN. LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. RECENT INTELLIGENCE FROM THE SOUTH SEAS. Extracts of a Letter from the Rev. Samuel Marsden to the Secretary, dated Parramatta, New South Wales, June 8. 1819. 'I HAVE just received various In the gospel of the Son of God, which you so affectionately and reasonably require. The information communicated by your Address, respecting the state of religion in Scotland, and, particularly, the Highland and Northern districts, has deeply affected our minds; and we cordially sympathize with our brethren, whom you describe as preaching the gospel in those parts with unusual diligence and toil. We fully concur with you in appreciating their labours very highly, and in thinking, that to assist them in their work, and to add to their number, is of great importance, and demands the cheerful support of Christians in the southern part of our island. The general purposes to which the funds of your Union are applied, appear to us likely, under the Divine blessing, to repay your anxious and zealous cares, in the promotion of our Redeemer's spiritual kingdom among your own countrymen. These purposes having been made known to most of the Congregational churches in Essex, under the pasto tion to assist our laborious friends in the North, and to add to the supplies by which your Union is endeavouring to accomplish important and extensive plans of usefulness. 66 Accept, dear brethren, the assurances of our Christian regard and fellowship. We rejoice to hear good tidings of your faith and charity, and pray that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing; being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness. Brethren, pray for us. "Signed by the Committee ap- W. CHAPLIN, Bishop Stortford. October 18. 1819. The Editors of the London Chris remarks: ral care of the Associated Ministers, tian Instructor, subjoin the following and also to a few others, whose pas tors are not members of our Body, a small sum has been most cheerfully raised, as the first fruits of your Address, towards the support of your funds. In the name of those churches, we now transmit to you sixty pounds. It would have been gratifying to us to have presented to you a larger sum, but it is as much as the numerous and urgent calls upon Christian liberality in the present day would allow us to propose or expect on this occasion; especially as we indulge the hope of seeing a strong feeling excited throughout England, by an extensive circulation of your impressive ADDRESS. Should other county associations follow the example of this, a large sum will be raised with very little trouble, and without interfering with any other ob. ject. It will give us much pleasure to witness among the brethren of our denomination a general disposi In laying before our readers the foregoing document, we cannot refrain from expressing our hope, that this is the beginning of a more active union and fellowship among Congregational churches than has hitherto existed. The most beneficial results might be expected from a general attention to this important object. At any rate, such opportu nities as that afforded by the Address from Scotland, should be willingly seized and improved. yet, we suppose, the Congregational Union in Scotland might, in reference to England, adopt the language of the Apostle Paul, and say to the Essex brethren, "No churches have communicated with us, as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only." But surely the example is worthy of imitation. And if our information be correct, the mode As adopted in this case, is such as is practicable every where. It was not intended to contribute a large sum, lest it should in any way interfere with other channels of benevolence; but merely to raise a trifle from the county, as a testimony of good will and Christian fellowship towards those who are struggling with diffi. culties and hardships, in promoting the knowledge of Christ in a dark and dreary part of our own country. We understand that the sum specified in the letter was raised by a small donation from each church; a pound from some; from others two; and from a few, a little more. The Address was read at several churchmeetings; and at others, where a copy could not be procured, the extracts from it given in this work. A Correspondent requests us to remind the friends of religion, that our brethren in the Highlands of Scotland itinerate in winter as well as in summer, and that they can be much more extensively and usefully employed in the former than in the latter, as the people, having little or nothing to do in the long winter evenings, are more disposed to come together to hear the word of God.And we are happy to find, that the pastors of the churches in these districts, with the aid afforded them by the Congregational Union and other Societies, are enabled to improve such favourable opportunities. this way, the poor Highlanders occasionally are taught the way of salvation, where the means of regular instruction are so greatly deficient. FOREIGN. In LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. RECENT INTELLIGENCE FROM THE SOUTH SEAS. Extracts of a Letter from the Rev. Samuel Marsden to the Secretary, dated Parramatta, New South Wales, June 8. 1819. I HAVE just received various letters from the missionaries at the islands, though no public ones. They in general contain the most gratifying intelligence. You will learn with much real pleasure that Pomare is going on well, and has finished his immense building for the worship of the true God. Last month the natives were to hold a grand Pentecost. Nothing like this, as I have had occasion before to remark, has occurred since the days of the apostles. The work is all of God. The missionaries, humanly speaking, had no strength for such a work, although in the discharge of their duty, they have endured hardships and privations which will never be known in Europe. Indeed, it is probable, men of more refined education and habits could not have borne them. Had any of the great. generals of the earth seen Joshua surrounding the walls of Jericho, with his rams' horns, how contemptible would his conduct have appeared in their sight. Many, even sober thinking men, for years viewed the mission to the islands with sovereign contempt, and considered it as the offspring of intemperate zeal. The mouths of gainsayers must now be stopped, and infidels silenced. Facts, which are open to the examination of the bitterest enemies of the cause, cannot be contradicted. This work is evidently of God, and his foundation is sure. What less than infinite power could induce a nation to forsake its gods? The Otaheiteans, king and people, have forsaken their gods and cast them into the fire, because they were no gods. Their altars no lon ger stream with human gore; their infants are no longer murdered as soon as born; nor does the poor savage any longer remain without hope and without God. The blessings of Divine Revelation, even on this side the grave, can never be duly appreciated. It is impossible for those who have never seen a heathen near death, to imagine the terrible nature of his situation. He has no magnetic point by which he may steer his shattered bark through the to follow closely the openings of Providence. Extracts of a Letter from Mr Henry to the Rev. S. Marsden, dated Eimeo Feb. 4. 1819. 'I am now alone here (Papetoai) with my family, and have the school to attend, and all the other duties of the station to perform myself. My colleague, Mr Platt, resides for the present near the sugar-works, assisting, together with Mr Darling and Mr G. Bicknell, in putting them up. They are situated two or three miles from hence, at the head of a most excellent harbour, where there is fine land and plenty of water, to keep the mill going the whole year round, should that be necessary. I am happy to say, that the mill an swers, and leaves the sugar-cane, after pressure, quite flat and dry. Little has, as yet, been done with respect to planting. The absence of the King at present is a great disadvantage. Were he on the spot, I do. not doubt that we should soon get a considerable quantity of ground cleared and planted, but we have no reason to expect him here until after the General Meeting in May. The people are proceeding with much spirit in procuring cocoa-nut oil, and I doubt not but they will persevere in procuring it and other articles, as their subscriptions to our Auxiliary Missionary Society from year to year. * 'The King's great chapel in the district of Pare, in Otaheite, will soon be finished. It will be a wonderful building for this part of the world. The sides consist of upright planks closely joined together. The great meeting in May is to be held. in it. It is expected that the King and a great number of others will be baptized on this occasion, although some of us think it will not be a good time for the administration of the rite, as there will then be so much business to transact, and that it would be better to baptize Mr Darling, in a letter to Mr Marsden, states that there are few on these islands who are not subscribers. those who are deemed fit subjects for it, at the respective stations to which they belong. Mr Tessier, who is now with Mr H. Bicknell, in Papara, Otaheite, informs me by letter, that the King, who has resided for some time in that district, and has but lately left it on his tour around the island, strictly observed the Sabbath while there, and attended the worship of God, both public and private, regularly. So particular was he with respect to the observance of the Sabbath, that he had grass cut for his horse on Saturdays, and water prepared, so that there might be no occasion to take him out on that day.' Extracts of a Letter from Mr Crook to the Rev. S. Marsden, dated Paofai, Wilk's Harbour, Otaheite, Feb. 24. 1819. 'THE Chiefs of Atahuru and of Papara, Utami and Tati, two sincere good men who are with us, and mean to take up their residence here, are preparing to build a large boat each. Hitoti also, the Chief of Tiarei, who lives near us, is getting on very actively with one of 32 feet keel. The principal view of these Chiefs in building these vessels seems to be to visit other islands and carry the Gospel to them. They have themselves profited much by the word of God: they understand the Gospel of Luke, now in their hands, better than most common Christians among our own countrymen. you mention any subject contained therein, they know where to find it, and if you ask them the meaning, they can in general give a pretty consistent account thereof. I ex If air sickness has been very general for some time past. Mr and Mrs Bicknell have been ill, Mr B. apparently near the grave; he is now better, but not considered out of danger.' SIBERIA. ranslation of a Letter from Badma, one of the two Buriat Saisangs * (or Siberian Nobles,) now at St Petersburg, to the Treasurer, dated September, 1819. It is my great desire to return the expression of your highlyvalued good wishes, communicated to me by my brother, Mr Swan.f We are united together in brotherly affection by our mutual desire to do all the will of God. The book of lies which formerly completely covered us has been peeled of. The allseeing God made us wish to come hither, and hither we came; and we are now lying at the feet of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and in this attitude we embrace him, and pray to him always as our only Intercessor. I subscribe myself, with humility and |