go wrong, then we think, if there is a God, But the husbandman, who walks behind He is in heaven, and not on earth. The his plough, singing and whistling as he cricket in the spring builds his little house in the meadow, and chirps for joy, because all is going so well with him. But when he hears the sound of the plough a few furrows off, and the thunder of the oxen's tread, then the sky begins to look dark, and his heart fails him. The plough comes crushing along, and turns his dwelling bottom side up; and as he is rolling over and over, without a home, his heart says, "Oh, the foundations of the world are destroyed, and everything is going to ruin!"

goes, does he think the foundations of the world are breaking up? Why, he does not so much as know there was any house or cricket there. He thinks of the harvest that is to follow the track of the plough; and the cricket, too, if he will but wait, will find a thousand blades of grass where there was but one before. We are all like the crickets. If anything happens to overthrow our plans, we think all is gone to ruin.

Missions.

CHINA.

Rev. Alexander Grant to the Treasurer.

Amoy, 8th December, 1860.dered time after time, and he seems MY DEAR MR. MATHESON,-It has now to be bent on leaving the place been our happy privilege to admit five for a situation where he may be pernew members at the last dispensation mitted to earn a living. of the Lord's Supper at Bay Pay. They have joined themselves to God's people in the midst of no small degree of persecution. Three of them belong to Kang Khau. One is the man in whose house the company of believers there have been meeting for worship, who has from the beginning continued stedfast in the doctrine of the Gospel; another, also an elderly man, who had formerly engaged in the lawless practices of the village; and the third, a son of the old man baptized in August last. An elder brother of this last also attended, but was not considered a suitable subject for baptism. He was, while returning from Bay Pay, taken prisoner by some people of a village near by, who accused him of having had a share in the loss of a ship belonging to them; but, through the intervention of his friends, he was released a day or two after. The remaining two were Bay Pay people; one of them a day labourer with Wat, of whom you have heard as having recently met with fresh persecutions. On that day on which the communion was dispensed, while Wat was attending the service, his fields, at his native village, were given over to another man by the hostile authorities of the village. His property has been plun

One of the elders set apart at last communion left this world just before the present celebration. He was an old man, who has long been desirous to have done with the world; we trust from views of the blessedness of a state of holiness in the next. His children do not follow his example, and remain in heathenism. The other elder, Ch-heng Soan, seems to be fitted for his duties in a wonderful way, and takes the chief charge of the congregation at Bay Pay. He and I, accompanied by an old man named Gam, from Pechuia, paid a visit to the Hien city of the district in which Bay Pay is situated. We stayed there several days, and had good opportunities of preaching. There seemed to be unusual interest in the case of one or two persons. We are, however, always called on to rejoice with trembling. At Bay Pay, one of the members, on being called before the elders, and confessing that he had on two or three occasions travelled on the Lord's days, was not permitted to sit down at the communion table. Messrs. Douglas and Swanson having come from Amoy to be present on the occasion; and Bu-liat having come from Pechuia, all matters of importance were brought before them, and nothing was done

except with the consent of all. At not realised our expectations. The Pechuia the ground room of the house, feelings of the people have been excited formerly occupied by the deceased to jealousy, and in many cases to bitter deacon, Thong-lo, has been opened for animosity. Our position has led us to preaching, as being in a more suitable know something of the apostle's state locality than the chapel. Some ob- when he wrote, "We are troubled on struction was attempted by the owner every side, yet not distressed; we are of the ground, but this seems likely perplexed, but not in despair; perseto be got over. cuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed."

At Kang Khau the spirit of opposition has shown itself. Adjoining the house where prayer has been made, and Sabbath worship kept, is a temple, the idol of which has not of late been so propitious as before to the village people. The latter accordingly raised a disturbance, and attacked the house, not, however, doing much mischief, but demanding that they should remove to a distance from the temple. I visited the place, and called on the head man of the village, whom we found to be a venerable man, but a miserable opium-smoker, and, poor fool, determined that his posterity should worship him, for which he had got a picture of himself prepared. He showed no special enmity, but repeated the request to remove to a distance. We heard that, during this commotion, another heathen had joined the worshippers of God.

By terrible things in righteousness God answers our prayers and yours. He will work, and who shall hinder ? I am, dear Sir, your's very truly, ALEXANDER GRANT.

P.S. Mr. Swanson would have written you this mail, but that I have done so. The brethren are all in good health, and Mrs. Swanson is becoming rather stronger.

In a letter, written from Swatow, dated November 13th, the Rev. George Smith says:-" Leaving money matters, I can at present enter but briefly on the work of our mission during the past year; and as I purpose writing fully in a few days to Mr. Barbour, it will be the less necessary. This year has been one of special trial. Our operations have been threatened at Swatow and Tat-hau-pow. It has been a great disappointment to us that Dr. Carnegie has not seen his way to come to our aid. Several individuals, who at one time seemed very hopeful, have

Still the Lord has very manifestly been a shield to us, and we have been enabled to hold our positions at Swatow and Tat-hau-pow. Some appear to be in earnest in seeking after the truth, and we have resolved, if the Lord will, to baptize one man on Sabbath next. We need much prayer offered up on our behalf that the Lord may sustain our souls in life, that the Holy Spirit may be poured out as floods upon this dry ground. Let the raising up of earnest native agency be constantly remembered in our supplications for this land; may the Lord grant that some chosen vessels, to bear Christ's name before this people, may be speedily sent to aid us from home.

His

Mr. Burns has been holding out to us the prospect of a visit soon. presence now would be most opportune. I trust we shall shortly be able to welcome him amongst us in the fulness of the blessing of Christ.

With Christian regards,
I am yours sincerely,
GEORGE SMITH.

CORFU.

to

the

Extracts from Mr. Charteris' letter dated 7th January, 1861, Treasurer :

DEAR MADAM,-I have much pleasure in informing you that the box you sent us, with all its contents, arrived in safety, and your presents have been very gratefully received by all parties to whom they were addressed. Already I have distributed a good many of both Noah's Ark and Willison's Forty Scripture Directions." I am certain the "Ark" must be a favourite, and, by the Divine blessing, must do much good. I have forwarded a few copies of both works to our friend Baron D'Oveston at Santa Maria. I have been much de

A work republished from the works of Willison, principally for sailors.

lighted with the History of the Com- forty years and more, advanced the memoration of the Tri-centenary; but Bible cause in the East. He has seen the lecture on the Conference on Mis- depôts established under his direction at sions at Liverpool I have not yet been Constantinople, Athens, Corfu, Smyrna, able to read. A new plan has been Alexandria, Tunis, Algiers, and latterly adopted in regard to the sailors when in Italy, so long closed against the word they get on shore, and the consequence of God. of the admiral's judicious arrangement has been, the town is enjoying a quiet beyond anything hitherto witnessed.

Among the soldiers, several of the 14th Regiment spoke of him in the warmest terms, and attributed to his inThe meeting of naval officers in my strumentality their conversion to God. room on Saturday evenings for prayer Mr. Wisely's present assistant is a Mr. and seeking growth in grace, still go on. Bodie, who preached last evening an exLast Saturday evening we had one of cellent discourse from John xiv. 15, an interesting character, as one individual" If you love me keep my commandpresent said that for two years he has scarcely had an opportunity of expressing his thoughts on religious topics, and he greatly enjoyed these re-unions.

In a letter to Mrs. Patison, dated Malta, 28th January, 1861, Mr. Charteris, after detailing his journey to Malta, undertaken for the benefit of Mr. Charteris's health, says :-"I preached yesterday for Mr. Wisely, my text being, Mark iv. 36, "Be not afraid, only believe."

ments." From time to time sappers and artillery-men leave Corfu, and are sent to Malta, we getting others in exchange for them. I was, therefore, agreeably surprised yesterday morning and last night to be warmly greeted by a few of my former friends from Corfu. The greeting I look upon as a token that they are continuing in the right way, upon which I hoped they had entered before leaving me. When it is otherwise with them, soldiers abashed hide their heads. Mr. Bodie mentioned to me one young man, a sapper, who says of Corfu that he "was born there"-that my ministration had been blessed to his conversion. This was very pleasant, and my joy in him was enhanced by hearing further that in a very quiet, unobtrusive way he had been the means of bringing others to Christ. Blessed are they who turn many to righteousness; yet what joy to a minister's heart to know of even one. One soul is more precious than the whole world!

The new church at Malta is a very handsome edifice. It is of Gothic construction, and is at present capable of accommodating from four to five hundred people. It might, if necessary, be enlarged by the erection of galleries. The vestry room, pulpit, gas-burners, &c., are all in fine state. A manse is being built, and it is proposed next to erect schoolhouses on ground contiguous; several rich merchants connected with the congregation have been liberal contributors, but I believe the greater part of the funds has been raised by the zeal and There is also in Malta another industry of the minister, Mr. Wisely, in licentiate of the Free Church, who has Scotland, where his appeal met with a long and with much success conducted a ready response from friends in the Free school. He is the Rev. Mr. Wilson. Church. He returned to Malta lately, He is now about to return to Scotland, having been absent a few months during and the school is to be continued by a the summer, owing to ill-health. He young man lately come out. I felt very is now nearly well, and, it is hoped, will much to leave behind my congregation soon get over his affliction altogether. on the Lord's-day morning. Colonel He is possessed of excellent talents, and Irving said that he would read to them of a most lively, affectionate heart, which one of Dr. Guthrie's discourses, and have endears him to many friends. After prayer and praise as usual. I hope that service we dined with our worthy friends in this way the lack of ordinances may Mr. and Mrs. Lowndes, upon whom age be supplied in some manner, and that it has made some change since we last saw may be to edification. Believe me, them. Mr. Lowndes is, however, one of the most active old men whom I ever met. He retires from the agency of the Bible Society in the spring of this year, and intends to return with Mrs. Lowndes to England. He has, during

Dear Madam,

Very affectionately yours,
W. CHARTERIS.

Correspondence.

To the Editor of the English Presbyterian Messenger.

10, Farrar Buildings, Temple,

the Classics, Mathematics, and modern Languages. As a help to a proper conception of the work before you, let me relate to you what we are doing at King's College.

The history of the Evening Classes in London is well worthy of consideration. For several years past there have been instituted in London Evening Classes for

Feb. 1861. DEAR SIR, -The suggestion to form Evening Classes, in connection with our Presbyterian College, is worthy of serious consideration. We are certainly far from deriving all the benefit we might expect from a College so well situated, in the very centre of the metropolis. Confined as it is to the in-young men, under the auspices of clergystruction of a very small number of students for the ministry, the parties benefited are very few, and the learned lectures and addresses of our eminent professors are comparatively lost. It is, indeed, surprising how, with so good a college in our hands, we waste the most splendid opportunities of imparting sound instruction to the youth of our Church! Where do our young men, and more especially the sons of our Presbyterian families, get their instruction in Divinity, Ecclesiastical History, and such like? Not at University College. Such subjects are not taught there. Not at King's College. Few Presbyterians have hitherto found their way there, it being, to a great extent, a Church of England institution. Where, then? Nowhere; because I cannot admit that home instruction, or the instruction derived from attendance at church, makes up for a thorough systematic knowledge of Divinity, such as is required at the present day to enable us to take any intelligent interest in the many questions which are constantly brought under public attention. Is it not, then, the natural duty of our College to impart such instruction to all, instead of restricting it to those who intend to become ministers of the Church? Our young men are most anxious to get knowledge. It is for this purpose that they attend their various societies, and that they form classes among themselves; and it is to this end also that, a few years ago, the Young Men's Society's Union was associated with the Society of Arts. Let the College authorities offer valuable intellectual treats to our young men, and I am quite sure they will respond with great energy. With digestive powers of the first order, our friends will of course expect to receive much at the hands of the College. But there is nothing to hinder Under such a conviction, the lectures them from furnishing food quite suited to were open to all, and from the first they their taste, such, for instance, as lectures on attracted considerable attention, many leadDivinity and Ecclesiastical History, on ing bankers and merchants having made Moral Philosophy and Metaphysics, Natu- arrangements for the attendance of all their ral Science and Commercial Morals, with staff. For many years, and even before I facilities to form classes, for the study of had the honour of being appointed to fill

men of the Church of England, and more particularly under the able direction of the Rev. Charles Mackenzie, who took the lease of an ancient and interesting structure in the City, called Crosby Hall. An inspection of that building, at the busy hours, from seven to ten, was indeed most interesting. All was life there. The many hundreds of young men who crowded those small rooms, up to the ceiling, appeared most eager to learn. Classes, lectures, libraries, were all well attended, and everything denoted that the institution filled a decided gap in our educational appliances. Yet much was wanting in these classes. With fees far too moderate, without a sufficient staff of teachers, with scanty accommodation, and with, none of that dignity and reputation which distinguish our Colleges, the Crosby Hall scarcely met the wants of the large number of young men engaged in the City of London. In 1852, however, the first step was taken to open in the evening one of our most important educational institutions, King's College; a College which, as you are aware, was founded on the express understanding that religion and science must go together. When on that year I took up my residence in London, after the completion of my large work on "Commercial Law of the World," my esteemed friend, the Ear of Harrowby, obtained for me the permission of the Council of King's College (of which he was a member) to deliver courses of lectures on Commercial Law. My impression has ever been that the knowledge of such a subject need not be confined to lawyers, and that merchants would derive much benefit from a knowledge of the requirements of the law which govern their profession.

the "chair of the principles and practice of Four classes of Latin, and four classes of commerce and commercial law," I was thus Greek, offer, surely, every facility to any lecturing alone in the evening, when the one inclined to master the great writers of able and most energetic Secretary of Greece and Rome. The Modern Languages the College proposed the formation of a come next, with their six classes of French, regular department of evening classes, and four classes of German, two classes of Italian, invited many of the professors and lecturers and one class each for Dutch and Portuguese. of the College to give their helping hand. English language and literature have their The invitation was responded to most heartily. due prominence, as we have learnt by expeConvinced of the great benefit that would rience that many are well conversant with result to the whole community by the exten- the Classics, and proficient in the wisdom of sion of sound instruction on the principal the ancients, yet they are quite ignorant of branches of science; convinced that a large their mother tongue. There are four classes number of persons would be ready to enlist on this subject; History has its place, with as students, if such a boon were presented this, as well as British Geography. And to them; convinced that the College is with six classes of Mathematics we complete most favourably situated for such a purpose; the purely scholastic part of the programme. and convinced, above all, that by heading a The next portion of the prospectus includes movement like this, the Church would gain, lectures on Commerce and Commercial and a wholesome influence would be exer- Law, which embrace an inquiry into the cised over a large and important part of the duties, rights, and privileges of merchants, intelligent classes of the Metropolis,-the and into the principles of Commerce in their Council, the Principal, the Secretary, and economical and financial bearings; the elethe Professors and Lecturers of King's ments of Chemistry, with their abounding College, were of one opinion as to the de- phenomena of natural life, ever new to our sirability of embarking in the undertaking, inexpert eyes and ears. Mechanics, and and we all entered into it con amore, regard- their application to engineering and maless altogether of the inconvenience or per- chinery, is taught with the advantages of sonal sacrifice that teaching in the evening the workshop, each student providing himwould entail after our whole day's labour, self with mathematical instruments. We and not less of the trouble of leaving our have a Professor of Drawing, including homes at night, for the City, in all weathers. landscape, figure, model, and architecHaving once agreed to open the College tural drawing. Then Physiology, including with all its resources, our first thought was the structure of living beings, and the to offer such advantages as would be sure to phenomena of digestion, circulation, resattract large numbers. We wished to deserve piration, and secretion. Next structural, success, and we spared no pains to attain it. physiological, and economic botany, ecoThus we gave the use of a large and most nomic science and statistics, and excomfortable library; we enabled the students perimental physics. These are the subto matriculate, by taking up a certain num-jects taught in our Evening Classes at ber of subjects; we even opened all the King's College. How can we wonder that honours of associateships, and studentships, a large number flock to our class rooms to the classes just the same as to the other branches of the College: in short, we formed of the Evening Classes a regular Department, entitling the students to the same privileges as are conceded to the day students. But the greatest care has been bestowed in the arrangements of the subjects of tuition. To make these sufficiently attractive, a full and detailed prospectus has been widely circulated, an ample bill of fare to suit the most voracious appetite. A slight glance at this prospectus will suffice to convince you that we were in earnest in our offer. Commencing with Divinity, the first of all the sciences, that which pre-eminently distinguishes King's College as an institution which has "sancte et savientur" inscribed on its arms, we have our excellent Dean, the Rev. Professor Plumptre, lecturing on Butler's Analogy in its relation to his time and our own. After Divinity we have the Classics, to which our College has always attached the greatest importance.

and fill our halls? And now as to some of the detailed arrangements. First of all, our winter course has commenced this year on the 15th October, and will terminate on the 22nd March, with a vacation of four weeks at Christmas. The summer course will commence on the 8th of April, and continue till the end of June. The fees are exceedingly moderate. For any single course except Divinity, £1 11s. 6d. The Divinity class is free to all students, and has in consequence, the largest attendance. For any four classes the fee is £5 5s., and in the case of several gentlemen entering from one firm or company, the fees are £1 6s. 3d. for any single course of more than five in number; and £1 1s. if more than ten in number, with corresponding reduction, if they enter for four classes. Students of the Evening Classes have the privilege, as I said before, of becoming "Matriculated Students of King's College, London," by paying an additional fee of £3 11s., including the cost of