ships, generally fifteen, that are discharging copper ore from Caldera, or loading coals.

"The town of Mendoza, on the other side of the mountains, has been entirely destroyed by an earthquake of a most terrific character, quite amounting to a sign of the times. Two-thirds of the population were killed or wounded; 6000 are positively reported killed, and some accounts say 8000. The earthquake occurred in separate shocks, extending over many hours; the principal one being 8 p. m. March 20. There have been subscriptions raised in Valparaiso to meet the terrible cases of destitu tion and bereavement. Only one house is left, every public building was destroyed, and the postmaster killed; the nunnery fell and buried more than half, 80 I believe out of 134 nuns perished. Since the earthquake of Lisbon there is scarcely one on record in which so large a proportion has been killed of inhabitants. It has occasioned as much consternation locally as the moral earthquake of the States has universally.

"I have limited the number of the children to 20, that my cousin may take charge when the Indian work commences and my journeys amongst them. More wish to attend, but to take more would be to fetter myself to the place.

"I am resolved (D. v.) to visit the Indians, and thoroughly explore their settlements for 120 miles south of Arauco Bay, as soon as the winter is over, and have got a horse all ready and trained for the journey.

"The provincial Spanish spoken on this frontier is very poor, about 600 words, the colloquial dialect; the Indian language is probably poorer still. However we must get a few plain texts and hymns translated this summer into Indian, as a commencement, and gradually hope to see the stupidity and ignorance of heathenism

vanish before the central truths which we are bid to tell the heathen; that the Lord is King, and not the devil, and that He will judge the world, and therefore commands all to repent. These three truths are the sledgehammers which break up Satan's forts quicker than anything else if vitalised by the Spirit's power. My health and strength are quite recruited, and the preliminaries being now all finished, and the school full, I wait for spring and the direct mission work.

"With our best love, yours affectionately,

"A. W. G."

Mr. Despard's Journal,

(Continued.)

We have received by the late Brazilian Mail a Journal from the Rev. G. P. Despard. No letters, however, have reached us for some time. We imagine that some vessel must have passed within hail of our Mission Station, the captain of which could not afford time to wait for letters to be written, but was willing to carry any despatches already made up. We are not in a position, therefore, to announce any thing of very recent interest in connection with our Missionary party at Keppel; but we are persuaded that no friend of the Mission will read without feelings of pleasure and thankfulness the subjoined extracts from the Journal of the Rev. G. P. Despard. We consider them to be of a very satisfactory nature. The jottings down of daily life at Keppel are not likely to be very exciting; but for faithfulness of detail and greatness of spirit the Journals of Mr. Despard are always valuable. We derive from them a clear view of whatever passes at our little Christian outpost; and we are refreshed by the cheerfulness of heart which, in

spite of all difficulties, is conspicuous in our brethren. Especially does our interest gather round and deepen, as we watch the two representatives of the Fuegian tribes, and witness the slow but steady clearing away of the gross darkness which has surrounded them, and the growth in their minds of new ideas and truths. These ideas and truths seem indeed, as yet, to be but plants in the wilderness, fair and beautiful in themselves, but making the unreclaimed soil look wilder and more barren by the contrast. Yet they are not waste beauties, the capricious growths of a sunny hour, but the result, we believe, of the careful sowing of the "good seed," watched over by the Lord's husbandman, and watered by His Spirit.

In reading the following extracts, our friends will not fail to be impressed with the promising condition of the work in Tierra del Fuego; and we heartily desire that many may be stirred up to renewed and more vigorous efforts to promote a cause which the Lord has blessed.

"January 6th.-I have nothing particular to record of the days since my last entry: just the ordinary employments of the station. I have taught my dear Firelanders regularly; and certainly one of them is not wanting in grateful and affectionate feelings. Holland says that Ookokko keeps to his peat-cutting, even till 9 in the evening. He has now made a famous quantity, and will I am sure derive additional comfort from it next winter, as the fruit of his own industry. Yesterday two years he first landed here: what was he then? what is he now? God be praised for the difference.

"On Thursday, Ookokko dictated a letter to Mr. Scott, of which I wrote a copy, and he is now preparing, from it, a fair writing. To-day I took the Sermon on the Mount for him, He read nearly two pages, and very

fairly, with so much zeal, that when I broke off, as having read enough, he turned to again. We stopped every now and then, to explain the meaning of words. Of course he understands little that he reads; but when he comes across the name of a familiar object, he gives a little satisfied grunt.

"Jan. 9.-Most lovely day. Ookokko has taken a fancy to Germany talk,' and this morning saluted me with, 'Good morning, Herr Despard.' I invited him to come and read in the evening, for a second lesson; but being detained, I omitted to ring the bell for his summons. He nevertheless came up at the right time, enquiring whether he had missed hearing the alarum. This shows his zeal for learning. I gave him a copybook to take home and write in, with pen and ink, and had headed the pages with slips in Tekeenica. He was highly pleased, and when I went down to give him stores at noon, he had nearly and very neatly filled the first page.

"Jan. 12.-This afternoon the Fairy came in. Capt. Travers returned in her, with his hand recovered from the sad accident mentioned in a former Journal. With him our letter-bag was landed, and better still, our faithful missionary Mr. Schmid. He has compassed South America, to return to his poor Tsoneca flock. The Good Shepherd be his Guide back to their plains again, and make him His voice in the wilderness, preparing a people made ready for Himself.

"January 13, Sunday.-Service well attended; my little study quite full. Capt. Travers and Messrs. Schmid and Hunziker were our guests at dinner. Ookokko and his wife, as usual, came to tea. When they were going home from church this morning, arm Cammilenna stopped when Capt. Travers came

in arm,

up, put out her gloved hand, and said softly, (without a prompter,) "Good morning, Capt. T." She has baked

bread for her family, which my daughters upon tasting pronounced good. She waits for her husband to come to his tea. This is but a just return to him, for he always waits for her to go down with him after lessons, takes her by the arm, and carries her parcels.

"Feb. 9th.-H. ran up in breathless haste, to say that a steamer was coming in.' The fog was dense, so we could ascertain the truth only from the plash of the paddles, and anon from the shrill whistle of the alarum bell. She shortly came to anchor, and proved to be H. M. S. Ardent, Capt. Parish, last from New Zealand. At 8 p. m. Mr. Silk, captain's clerk, came on shore with letters from England, and a polite message from Capt. Parish.

"Feb. 10, Sunday.-Capt. Smyley came, with a note from Capt. Parish, offering (in answer to an offer from me,) a service on board, between 9.30 and 12; but could not have an afternoon or evening service, as it would interfere with the ship's arrangements. I answered, that my regular duty at the Station prevented the morning service on board, but that I should be glad to see all that could come at 11. In the afternoon Capt. P., and other officers from the ship, came on shore. I regretted exceedingly that the necessity of showing them attention should fall on a Sunday; but as they were to leave very early on Monday, it could not be avoided. Capt. P. asked if I would like Ookokko to see the vessel. I consented, and having first come up and held out his hand to Capt. P., with 'How do you do?' he went off in the man-of-war's boat, without a moment's hesitation, thus showing no fear of strange white men. He afterwards gave an amusing account of his visit.