not only saw the ancient baptistry, but found it still filled with water, so clear that we could see to the bottom, though about four feet deep, and so sweet that we drank it with pleasure. Rome has scarcely known of the existence of this; it is scarcely ever visited, even by priests; the guide

told me it was almost entirely unknown. He knows where there is another, and some time I hope to visit it with him.

"I have just received 30,000 portions of the New Testament, which I hope to have sent out shortly into all classes of society."

A Visit to the Mountains of Jamaica

T

BY THE REV. ELLIS FRAY.

HE following letter from Mr. Fray will give our readers some concep tion of the missionary work yet to be accomplished in Jamaica. It is gratifying to hear that our brethren are vigorously endeavouring to overtake the spiritual destitution which prevails, and that the native ministers are doing their full share of this important work:

"I started early on the morning of the 16th, and reached the Alps about 10 o'clock, where I had a hearty welcome from Mr. and Mrs. O'Meally. After breakfast we started for Ulster Spring, about three miles beyond the Alps, and held a missionary meeting in the new school-house, which Mr. O'Meally is erecting at that place. A great deal of interest was manifested by the people, as it was the first missionary meeting ever held at that place, and the first time the building was used. We had a collection of £6 6s. 7 d. The school-house is in an unfinished state, but the friends are making an effort to finish it by October: it measures 40 ft. by 20 ft. As you are doubtless aware, the people who formerly resided at the Alps have removed farther up into the mountains; and if we do not follow them, we shall lose them, especially as the Wesleyans and Episcopalians have recently commenced operations in these mountains. I have therefore advised Mr. O'Meally to enlarge the school-house so as to accommodate at least 500 persons, and to begin at once to conduct regular Sabbath services there. As his residence is still at the Alps, he could give a Sabbath evening service to the few that reside there. Do you know any one who has £20 or £30 to give to a good cause?-please advise him to give it to Mr. O'Meally to assist in this new building.

"The next day we started for Ebenezer, five miles beyond Ulster Spring, and had a tolerably good meeting; collection £2 1s. 3d. The chapel at this place is very small, and needs enlargement.

'The same afternoon we started for the Hector's River district, about five miles further up into the mountains. We were benighted, but, fortunately for us, a number of young men came to meet us with torches, and guided us to

our resting-place for the night. Next day we held a meeting, and the people gave us a warm reception. This is a very destitute district, and a missionary ought to be sent there at once. There is a population of at least 1,000 persons, and all the religious instruction they receive is once a month, from Mr. O'Meally, on a Sabbath-day, and once a month on a week day, from an Episcopal minister in the parish of St. Elizabeth. About six miles from this place, towards the Manchester Mountains, is a place called "Craig Hill," with a population of about 500 persons. A missionary residing at Hector's River could also extend his labours to the Craig Hill district, and a mission-station at this place would be a connecting link between our Trelawny and St. Elizabeth stations— it being thirteen miles from the Alps in Trelawny, and ten from Wallingford in St. Elizabeth. I forgot to say that one-third of the population at Hector's River are English immigrants, and their descendants, who came to Jamaica many years ago.

care.

"We continue to have tokens of God's presence in the Churches under my On Sabbath, the 31st of July, I had the pleasure of baptising twentysix at Waldensia, and on the following Sabbath twenty-two here. I only hold the pastorate of the Church at Waldensia pro tem. ; as soon as they have erected their new chapel they must get a settled pastor. I must not omit to tell you that we have sent Mr. Morris, lately a student in our college, as a home missionary to the parish of St. Mary.

"May the Holy Spirit so direct you all on the 20th of September as to lead you to send help to our beloved mission in this island!"

N

African Cruelty.

BY THE REV. ROBERT SMITH.

OTHING can better illustrate the savagery and barbarism among which our brethren labour in Africa, than the following narrative. Scenes of cruelty are less common now than formerly in the neighbourhood of the missionary stations. Nothing but the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit can change the bloodthirsty natives into children of peace and love:

"Every now and again, some of these heathen people show their thirst for blood, by committing some horrible deed of wickedness. A few days since a slave was seized by a number of freemen, and dragged to the beach, close to our mission; they were about tying his legs together, but when they saw me descending the hill, they hurried

him into a canoe, which was taken out into the middle of the river; the poor fellow was thrown into the water, but, being a swimmer, he tried to hold the canoe, but was beaten across the head with paddles and sticks. When I saw that they wanted to murder the man, I had my boat got ready, and was just rushing off, when Mr. Thomson came

along in his boat. We pulled hard, but the cruel demons of men had broken the skull, and marked the water with the man's blood; the poor fellow sunk just as Mr. Thomson was about to stretch out his hand to rescue. When the men in the canoe saw him sink, and

that we were too late, they gave a savage shout of triumph.

"They landed amongst a large crowd of people on the beach; I followed them aud told them of their sin, and that it would be remembered against them."

:

In another letter Mr. Smith continues the narrative :"The slaves, who are powerful in numbers, were very angry, and banded themselves together the following morning, and made an attack on the town, driving the freeborn and their masters before them. Those who had committed the deed took shelter on mission-ground. The countryfashion,' or superstition house, was burnt down; nearly all the plantain-trees were destroyed, and two men wounded.

Much consterna

obtaining food. Many were their threatenings, and it is a mercy no lives were lost; we were amongst them continually, heard their complaints, and sought to satisfy them. In a few days King A'kwa returned home, had a meeting, and settled the serious palaver. Had the freemen been equally willing to hear us as were the slaves, they would have saved much suffering, and the life of the young man would have been saved also.

Frequently these palavers occupy much of our time, but it is not time lost; for it increases our influence for good amongst them, and often saves greater evils, and the depression and stoppage of trade, both among themselves and between them and the European merchants."

tion and danger prevailed. We were afraid other depredations would occur. Several headmen from A'kwa town, myself, and two or three members, went amongst them, and got them, after much difficulty, to retire to their own quarters. Much inconvenience was felt by prohibiting the wives of the freemen going to their farms and It is cause of gratitude to God that in carrying out these works of mercy, none of our brethren have ever been injured. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God!"

Missionary Notes.

CHEFOO, CHINA.-After an interval of quiet, Mr. Richard reports the renewal of threatening rumours, and in consequence the departure of the American missionaries from Tung-chow. In Chefoo, missionary work proceeds as usual. Mr. Richard has been twice into the country during the six months of his stay, and on the 26th August was able to conduct family worship in Chinese. He also assists the native pastor, Ching-sen-sien, whom he speaks of as a noble worker, and a willing one. In the dearth of missionaries the station at Ki-san-soh has for the present been given up.

CEYLON.-The Rev. H. R. Pigott reports a visit to the station at Medampe, where the work is making satisfactory progress. Some candidates for baptism were accepted, one of whom remembers having heard Mr. Daniell preach. The congregations were good at both the Singhalese and English services.

COLOMBO.-In the girls' school, under the charge of Mr. Waldock, signs of the Divine blessing are apparent. Several of the girls are not without serious impressions, and two, if not more, have been led to join themselves to the Saviour. On the 30th October four persons were baptised at Makewitte, all of them young people. Others are seeking the same privilege. These are the firstfruits of the ministry of C. Pieris, one of the students who was lately settled at Makewitte.

CAMEROONS, WEST AFRICA.-The work interrupted at John A'kwa's- town, by the plunder of Mr. Fuller's house, has been revived by Mr. Saker. At the first meeting a goodly number of the people were present, and after the service a school was held of sixty children. The next Lord's-day both the service and the school were yet more largely attended, to the encouragement of the native pastor, N'Kwe. Mr. Saker hopes that this auspicious recommencement of the work may lead to the settlement of a teacher on the spot. Though Mr. Saker and his family have suffered much from the bad season, at our last advices they were all well.

HICKORY, OR MORTONVILLE.-Mr. Smith reports that, notwithstanding the wickedness of the people, and much that is unpromising, the meeting-house is sometimes nearly full of hearers. There are five promising inquirers, and some of the children give hopes of future usefulness. From Bell's Town, Mr. Thomson writes that much of his time is spent in the investigation of palavers between the towns, the traders, and the natives.

VICTORIA, AMBOISES BAY.-Mr. Pinnock informs us of the death of one of the first converts baptised by Mr. Clarke at the commencement of the mission. She died at Clarence, whither she had been removed by her daughter, trusting in the Saviour she had so many years loved and served.

JAMAICA, MOUNT HERMON.-The Rev. J. Hume reports that the general condition of the island has certainly improved, but he fears that the churches are not equally so. The facilities afforded by the new courts of law seem, in some cases, to encourage litigation. Mr. Clarke is well, and shares with Mr. Hume the duties of the churches at Mount Hermon and Jericho. The seasons are very favourable, and the crops abundant; but the liberality of the people is not so manifest as is desirable.

MONTEGO BAY.-The Rev. J. E. Henderson reports that the state of things throughout the island continues hopeful, though the people receive very low wages, and the seasonal rains have been very injurious. The applications for admission to the institution at Kingston are rapidly increasing in number, and give hope for a future good supply of ministers and schoolmasters. Mr. Henderson has opened a fourth day-school in connection with his congregations, but stands in great need of £10 a-year to pay the rent. About £50 are also required for the completion of the new chapel at Watford-hill. It is with great regret that we report the death of Mrs. Reid, the wife of the Rev. J. Reid.

HAYTI, JACMEL.-Our native brother, J. M. Lolo, reports that his meetings. in the country are largely attended, sometimes by three or four hundred persons. He urgently asks the Committee to send a missionary as soon as possible. Madame Cajoue reports that her Scripture readings are much and widely

welcomed among the people of the town. She has also visited the prison, where she has been permitted to read the New Testament, and to pray with the inmates. Metellus Menard has returned to St. Raphael, and reports the work of God as growing. He had baptised fifteen persons since his return.

BRITTANY.-Mr. Jenkins informs us that Omnes, the colporteur, has been obliged to join the army at the camp of Conlie. Boloch has taken up his work about Morlaix, and has sold some Breton Testaments, besides giving away tracts. The war naturally absorbs all attention, almost to the exclusion of every other subject. At St. Brieuc, Mr. Bouhon has had the pleasure of meeting several pious soldiers from various parts of the country.

THE

Home Proceedings.

THE month of December is not generally available for missionary meetings. It is usually filled up with the claims to which our Churches are liable towards the close of the year. December is commonly the month devoted to benevolent institutions at home, and in which special provision is made for the poor. Our own meetings have therefore been few. Though not numerous, however, they have been encouraging, and the reports we have received concerning them have been in a high degree satisfactory:-

PLACES.

Haverfordwest and district

Isleham, Soham and district, Camden

road, Arthur-street, and Somerleyton Providence Chapel, Hackney

DEPUTATIONS.

Rev. J. Smith (Delhi).

Rev. J. J. Fuller.

Rev. W. A. Hobbs.

Sible Hedingham, and East-street, Walworth. Rev. C. Bailhache. In all the above places, the resident ministers and other brethren have cheerfully given their valuable aid.

There was a speciality about the above-mentioned meeting at East-street, Walworth, which deserves a passing notice. The meeting was convened under the auspices of the Young Men's Auxiliary, and was intended to be a conference of Sunday-school teachers. The attendance was small, only three schools being represented; but the interest manifested was great. The Rev. W. Alderson presided, and the question discussed was, "Whether home claims should be held a sufficient excuse for relaxed or suspended efforts on behalf of Foreign Missions." Mr. Bailhache opened and closed the discussion, the sense of the meeting on the proposition being in the negative. Wisely conducted, we think this sort of meeting would be very useful. We shall be glad to see the experiment repeated.

SYSTEMATIC EFFORTS.-The pastor of one of our country churches writes as follows:-"Our members are mostly poor, and the amount raised annually is due chiefly to systematic effort-namely, by inducing families to take boxes as 'domestic' boxes, and holding public meetings at our various stations By these means, for the last ten or twelve years we have raised upwards of £30 per annum above the sum formerly sent from our Church. If other Churches wil kindly adopt similar plans, the annual income of the society might be easily augmented."