articles is about £16 sterling at this place. I need hardly mention that the letters which you forwarded me for Mr. Hunziker, I did not fail to send; and also one from myself to Mr. Schmid, in which I requested him to let me know, by the steamer, which will (D. v.) pass through the Straits for this, probably in about Dec., 1861, what articles he especially requires, promising on my part to forward them by next communication from this, which I do not think will be before Autumn, or March, 1862. I think you will have another opportunity of communicating with your Missionaries about June, 1862, when, perhaps, one of her Majesty's ships will be put in Commission for this Station. Probably by that time you may think it desirable that your Missionaries should have rest: if so, I doubt not but that arrangements might be made by which their passage to this place could be given them, where, on arrival, I would receive them, and endeavour to provide whatever might be required.

"Mr. Coombes arrived here, Sunday morning, Sept. 29, and I regret that I had only a few moments' conversation with him. He left this, Monday 30th, at ten o'clock, and requested me to beg you to communicate with his father, apprising him of his safe arrival thus far. He appeared in perfect health.

"Would it not be advisable that the friends of Messrs. Schmid and Hunziker should forward you duplicates of their letters, one set to be retained by you, the other to be forwarded to me? the reason for this is obvious.

Praying that you may be the means of forwarding the cause of our holy religion,

"I am, dear Sir, yours truly,

"RICHARD DENNETT."

278

Letters from Rev. A. W. Gardiner, M. A. and Mr. W. T. Coombes.

The following extracts are from the letters of the Rev. A. W. Gardiner, dated Lota, Sept. 9, 1861, and from Mr. W. T. Coombes, Catechist,

"Most unquestionably the river Imperial, half-way between Lota and Valdivia, is the head-quarters of the Araucanian nation, for it is the only river now that they possess from source to mouth.

"Eventually a small station at the mouth of the Imperial, with a good boat, might become a valuable basis for missionary enterprise np the banks of the river; in fact, the River Imperial, and the River Negro, form a geographical telegraph across this continent, which we shall do well to avail ourselves of.

"As far as the information of the Chilenos concerning Araucania can be relied upon,—and (judging from their maps and surveys, and the fact that some of their officers speak the Indian language, and a few of their priests address Indian congregations e.g. at Osorno) they seem to have gathered their information from trustworthy sources-the Indian population of this part of South America will not exceed 100,000. Reckoning the Patagonian nation at 10,000, and the Fuegian at 10,000, we may, perhaps, call 120,000 the approximate figure of the Indian population

"March 1.-I may now name definitely (D.v.) as the date of my first journey to the River Imperial-unless I receive instructions from you to take any other direction. The Imperial appears to me so unmistakeably the central point of the Indians in their aboriginal state, that conious of the difficulties I met in Valparaiso and in Lota

in breaking through the blockade of narrow religious prejudices, and commercial timidity, I am very anxious to make use of my present position, (in Chili as far as advantages of civilisation go, and yet out of Chili almost as far as political or priestly influences go) and get fairly in amongst the real aboriginal tribes. On the Biobio I should first meet with traders and baptized Indians, on the Calle Calle with bell-book and candle-light, but on the Imperial stands the original and aboriginal Indianand the Imperial traces back to Villarica; Villa-rica to the Rio Negro, and the Rio Negro to the Atlantic ocean. Thus an itinerant Mission from the Atlantic might meet with one from the Pacific, without passing through a vestige of Popery, or an acre of Chileno territory."

From Mr. W. T. Coombes, the subjoined extract of a letter, giving his first impressions of South America, deserves attention

"I would that all those who enjoy the privileges of Christian England, and call themselves by the name of Christ, could see the heaps upon heaps of morally corrupted, and spiritually dead of this land, spreading contagion on all around them. Could they, I say, for one Sabbath, breathe the tainted atmosphere of this spiritual wilderness, I am sure if it was but for the sake of fallen humanity, they would no longer hold back with a niggard hand, but readily come forward to the help of the Lord against the mighty, and in true Evangelical spirit 'give half of their goods for the (spiritually) poor.' The language of Mr. Coombes gathers force from the fact of his being well acquainted with the dark side of social life in England,

Home Proceedings.

We beg our reader's attention to the subjoined report of Home Proceedings by the Rev. W. Gray. The facts stated therein are extremely interesting, especially in connection with Mr. Gray's work in Scotland. We pray that throughout the country generally a spirit sympathetic with that in Scotland may be kindled. If the means are forthcoming, there is no reason why quietly, and unobtrusively, but with decision of purpose, the Society should not extend its beneficent operations far and wide through the continent of South America. In another part of our present number this subject is distinctly referred to.

"It is now nearly three months since I left home for the Society. Although I shall probably remain six weeks longer away before returning to Clifton, I think that at this time a more formal report of my proceedings may be expected than that which I have forwarded from time to time. Before I left Clifton the Committee met, and, after much and anxious consultation, determined to take immediate steps for the appointment of four or five additional Missionaries, so that they might be in a condition to send them out in the Allen Gardiner, on her return to South America. To this resolution I believe we may, under God, trace the success which has attended my efforts to enlist sympathy.

During the past three months I have been enabled to preach thirty-one times, and to address twentynine meetings on behalf of the Society. The number of persons reached in this way could not have been less than 30,000. I shall now endeavour to give a general notion of my route, and its results. Our friends having failed, when I was there before, to make arrange

ments for either a meeting or sermon in Waterford, I was obliged somewhat to shorten my stay at home, and preach in the Cathedral of that town on the 25th Aug. On the 26th, a meeting was held in the new and nicely finished Protestant Hall, the Archdeacon taking the chair. An opening on the other side of the river was made by the Rev. A. Alcock most kindly promising his pulpit whenever I was in his neighbourhood, which is a wealthy one.

"Retracing my steps rapidly, my next resting place was Birmingham. Our collectors there had been lying on their oars. They, however, most kindly met me at the house of our valuable Hon. Secretary. And having been perfectly satisfied that the work of the Society was being well done, they promised that their contributions this year should equal those of last. This is a good deal; first, because there may be no sermons with collections to aid them; and secondly, because Birmingham is suffering from the American war. I had several very kind promises of help from the clergy, both in the way of sermons and school-room lectures, for next year, so that I think we may reasonably look for a large increase of support and assistance from the Association at that time.

"Liverpool received me on the 30th. My time was occupied in making arrangements for a future visit,—I am thankful to say I succeeded in securing some promises of valuable help-in preaching on the Sunday; and in holding a meeting, on the Monday, in Edge Hill. -I ascertained that the Welsh scheme for planting a colony in Patagonia was making progress.-My next meeting was at Manchester, in Collyhurst school room; the Incumbent, Mr. Clarke, seemed a good deal interested. I arranged for two other meetings on my way back, and