taken home by his parents. After the arrival of his father, being still reluctant to take his medicine, Br. Mayor desired him to repeat the Fifth Commandment, and urged on him the duty of honouring his father by submitting to his advice: he also reminded him of what our Saviour said when about to suffer for our sinsThe cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? These considerations greatly affected him, and he became much more tractable; and, though much against his inclination, his father's request was afterward in general complied with.

His disease, however, had made such rapid progress, that we were soon obliged to anticipate a fatal result. His father was one of the first to make known the solemn tidings to him: he told his son, that he would soon have done with this world; and must, therefore, think no more about it, but must think about the world to which he was going. Coomaravel was not discomposed by this intelligence. On being asked, whether he wished to recover or to die, he said, "Whatever God pleases! God shall do as He pleases." This reply he always made, when the question was proposed to him: he would never say, that, if it were the will of God, he should like to be restored. He was asked, whither he thought his soul would go in case he died he replied, "To heaven, if I have a right faith in Jesus Christ." On being asked if he had not been a wicked boy, he said, "I have been a very wicked boy: I have neglected to seek my salvation while I had my health." We asked, "If you have been wicked, how do you hope to go to heaven, if you die?" He answered, "Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins"-"Do you think that Jesus Christ will forgive you your sins?" "Yes, if I believe aright."Do you not believe in Jesus Christ?" "I am trying to believe."

On the 21st, we perceived his end rapidly approaching. His school-fellows came to take their last farewell in this world: he turned round, and called to some of them by name, to shew that he knew them. We said to him in their presence, "Coomaravel, you cannot remain here much longer: in a few more hours you will have left this world: are you afraid of dying?" "No, I am not❞ -"Do you feel happy in your mind?" "No"-"Why? Are you afraid your sins are not forgiven? "No"-"Why, then, are you sorrowful?" "Because

At this season, his grandmother arrived. Having heard of his danger, she could not speak for rage: she was even ready to strike her son, the Schoolmaster, as the cause of the child's death; believing that he might have been saved, had their diabolical ceremonies been performed. The dying child entreated her not to grieve on his account; and assured her that he should be happy, and that he was not afraid to die: she was also reminded how many had died for whom every (Native) means had been used. She was thus, at length, pacified; and returned home less confident that she could certainly have saved his life, had she been allowed to do as she pleased.

He

On

The father manifested throughout very great feeling and affection, and was day and night unremitting in his attendance on his son. He displayed, moreover, such steadfastness of faith in Christ as we did not expect in him, and which surprised and delighted us. encouraged the faith and hope of his dying son; telling him that Jesus Christ both fulfilled the Law and died for usthat He could certainly save him-and that he must not doubt about it. one occasion, when he entreated him to pray, Coomaravel told him that he must tell him what to say, as he was too weak to think he repeated every sentence after his father, and prayed that God would bless us and all who were then attending upon him-his father, mother, brothers, sisters, and relatives-his schoolfellows, neighbours, countrymen, and all mankind. He prayed thus two or three hours a-day, entirely at the suggestion of his father; who was very anxious that he should pray that he, and his mother, and family might follow him to heaven. On the Sunday Morning preceding his death, we prayed for him in the Church: this seemed very much to affect both the father and the son.

The care of Coomaravel not to displease us, continued with him to the last: when any thing was proposed to him, he inquired whether we should like it; and desired that nothing might

be done which would grieve us. At the suggestion of his father, he desired us to forgive him all that he had done wrong. He also asked forgiveness of all his schoolfellows, and sent the same request to one who was not able to come over to see him. About four o'clock on the morning of the 22d, he died in peace, without a struggle. He retained his senses to the last, and enjoyed a blessed hope of eternal life through Him who loved him and died for him. In the evening of the same day, his remains were carried to the grave in our burying-ground by

six of his school-fellows. Our families and a few of the neighbours, beside the Mission School, attended. The Service was read, and a Hymn sung at the grave.

Thus, we believe, the Lord has taken to His own bosom one of the lambs of our flock; and that he is now joining in the song of the "glorious company" of heaven. We have reason to hope, also, that a good impression has been made on the minds of those who witnessed this affecting scene; and that some, at least, are in a better state to receive the word of the kingdom.

Her piety and devotedness to her Saviour, as well as her natural abilities, were of the first order: she was, however, remarkably humble thought meanly of herself and seldom spoke freely on religious subjects to any, I believe, but to me. Her hopes all centered in Christ; and the prevailing feeling of her heart, for years, has been, that to depart and be with Him is far better. She only valued life for the sake of being useful to others; and on this object, wherever she was, in whatever society she mingled, she kept her eye steadily fixed: the Malay Language was as familiar to her as the English, and many of the poor females of that depraved people have heard the Gospel from her lips: her last strength at this station (Digah) was spent in teaching a day-school at Dinapore, of boys and girls belonging to invalided European Troops: her daily aim was to impress their minds with the truth as it is in Jesus. She was the means of bringing many of the parents of her scholars regularly to attend the preaching of the Gospel.

She felt, at one time, an anxiety for life, for the sake of her children, which she thought inordinate; but from the time of losing one of them, her mind was wholly delivered from care on this

head: that stroke loosened her hold surprisingly on every thing earthly.

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As she felt her end approaching, her composure and resignation were remarkable. On the day before her departure, as I was leaning over her, she inquired if we were alone; and, finding that we were, she instructed me where I should find certain articles after she was gone, what I should do with regard to her clothes, and where I should deposit her remains, with as much composure as if she had been leaving us only for a few days. She once said to me, I do not feel READY to die—it is sad to die, and to have shewn no more love to Christ." On my replying, “ My dear Mary, you are ready, inasmuch as you feel your de pendence to be wholly on Christ, for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." She answered, “TRUE, TRUE!" A few hours before her death, seeing that her end was drawing near, I said," Are you willing to depart?" She replied, "Willing! willing!" She continued to enjoy the use of her faculties to the last. As Mrs. Rowe and myself were repeating texts of Scripture and Hymns to her, about two hours before her death, she distinctly and ardently said, "Come, Jesus Christ! Come, Jesus Christ!" and these were her last words.

As a Christian, his piety was of a high order: he appeared to be deeply convinced of the importance of enjoying, at all times, a sense of the favour of God: he lived much in the spirit of prayer; and several long and close conversations that occurred between us, and which are still fresh in my recollection, evinced at once his relish for, and deep acquaintance with, the hidden things of God. He was naturally of a warm temper: but he was deeply sensible of it; and if, at any time, he thought he had been betrayed by his feelings into any undue severity or even trifling impropriety of language, he had enough of Christian humility, to acknowledge the evil, and to lament the unnecessary pain which he might thereby have occasioned.

At our Love-Feasts, I was several times much gratified and edified by the explicit manner in which he spoke of his Christian experience: he seemed continually to be able to say, for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

As a Christian Minister and Missionary, his memory will always be cherished by those who knew him, and enjoyed the benefit of his ministerial instructions. His Sermons were not characterized by eloquence of speech; but nevertheless his language was generally correct, and always grave, and suited to the capacities of his hearers: his Sermons usually contained sound divinity, illustrated and proved in its various branches by the Holy Scriptures. He faithfully reproved sinners, and assiduously sought to reclaim the wanderers from the fold of Christ in those important parts of the Christian Minister's duty, he was eminently successful; and there are now, in Albany and in other parts of the Colony, several who I trust

will be the crown of his rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus. He was very attentive to his appointments on the Circuit, and was withal an affectionate colleague: when he saw me oppressed with the cares of building the Graham's-Town and Salem Chapels, and other affairs which at that time devolved upon me, he was always ready to propose relieving me of some part of the labour, whenever in his power. He seemed to have devoted himself entirely to the great work of preaching among the Heathen the unsearchable riches of Christ; and was, therefore, anxious to make known the Gospel, in those regions where Christ is not named.

Mr. Kay having come to the Albany Circuit, shortly after Mr. Threlfall's arrival among us, and our way, at that period, not being quite clear to commence a Mission in Caffreland, it was considered that we ought not to keep three Preachers on the Station; and, therefore, at the request of Mr. Barnabas Shaw, our late brother went to his assistance in Cape Town: scarcely had he arrived there, when an offer having been made by Capt. Owen, R.N. to take a Missionary in his ship to Delagoa Bay, Br. Threlfail readily offered to go thither, from a desire to open the way for the commencement of a Mission among the Pagan Tribes in the vicinity of that Bay. A short extract from a Letter received from him, while he was at Delagoa Bay, will shew with what cheerfulness he submitted to the privations of a Missionary Life: the Letter is dated from the "Village of Slengally, in the Kingdom of Temby," and he says

I feel myself very comfortable in mind. I live in a hut quite alone in this village, and never felt more at home in my life. I have no servant: I cook the food which I first provide myself, and wash my own linen: now and then I get a native boy to fetch me a little water, and boil my kettle.

A most alarming sickness, with which he was attacked shortly after his arrival, was the cause of his leaving Delagoa Bay; whence he was brought to Table Bay, in an apparently dying state, by the Master of a British Trader. In answer to some inquiries of mine, on the subject of his return, he says, in one of his Letters from Cape Town, now before me

My return from Delagoa was occasioned SOLELY by my sickness, as you suppose, and not by the massacre of the Portuguese. I had no more fear of the Natives than if they had been a flock of sheep; as, when we were blockaded in the Fort by them, I offered my personal services to obtain a treaty of peace with them, by being conveyed into their midst, as, through weakness, I was not able to walk so far, though not more than 500 yards: on the whole, the Portuguese ought to be grateful to me, that their old Fort and every thing belonging to it, with themselves, were not destroyed altogether.

Mr. Barnabas Shaw, of Khamiesberg, thus continues the narrative

On the return of Br. Threlfall from Delagoa, he was left to choose whether he would remain in Cape Town, go to Albany, or come to Khamiesberg. His choice was this Institution, where he arrived October 24, 1824. Though he was often exceedingly ill and unfit for any kind of labour, yet, when he could hold up his head, he would not be unemployed. Gardening was a work in which he engaged frequently; as well as teaching the children, visiting the sick, and administering to them medicine or advice exhorting the people to labour at their houses, which some of them had commenced building-shewing them how to lay the stones, and frequently assisting them with his own hands. In Febuary 1825, we commenced the erection of a new house, of which he was the architect.

In the month of March, Br. Threlfall was left alone in this place, while I went to Cape Town. Br. Threlfall and my self had frequently proposed going with Jacob to the Fish River, in order to see if the people were still desirous of receiving teachers; but the frequent relapses of Br. Threlfall prevented our setting off. Jacob had already chosen a companion, and was wishful to remain there till a Brother from England should be sent to join him. On the arrival of Br. Haddy in Cape Town for Namaqualand, I purchased a pack-saddle, &c., for the express purpose of going thither, with one or two of the people, in order to form a correct opinion as to the possibility of recommencing that Mission. When I arrived at Khamiesberg, Br. Threlfall was perfectly restored to health, and fully engaged in various kinds of labour. As I had left Mrs. Shaw a few days after her confinement, and she and the children would have to come up alone in the waggon, Br. Threlfall pro

posed to me to allow him to go with Jacob to the Fish River. This was agreed upon, and they immediately began to prepare for the journey; and set off about the last of June 1825. Jacob Links and Johannes Jager accompanied him, who were companions of his own choosing; and he was to be here again, at the farthest, by the 1st of October. In August I received from him the following note, bearing the date of July 4th, from Korase

We arrived here safely yesterday morning, and preached twice to a congregation of about 20 adults. We expect to set off again this evening, or to-morrow morning. We travel slowly. We have heard some alarming accounts of the state of the Natives and Country beyond the Orange River. They say Gammap and another chief are dead; and that the people of the Warm-Bath are dying of hunger. Some Bastards who live by the mouth of the Great River passed here yesterday: they said all that they could to discourage Jacob and Johannes: but these two brave fellows, to use a phrase of Ambrose's, had their courage and confidence "steeled ;" and declared themselves fearless through grace, and that they were not only willing to suffer, but to die in the cause of their Lord Jesus. I am sure they had more courage than I had, for my heart fainted within me: but, seeing their strength of faith, I got the better of my fears. They are companions to my liking; and often do my soul good, and put me to the blush for the weakness of my faith. They appear to be going on this journey with something of the same feelings as the Apostles of Christ had after their baptism from above. I am happy in my soul, and feel penitent for my sins before God. We have come so far in peace.

July 19, he wrote a few lines at the Warm-Bath, where they had remained some time to rest their oxen, and had also purchased others. He says, Tsaumap (whom they found at the WarmBath) had given them much information respecting the tribes to the northward; and that the Old Chief was very poor, having been robbed of all his cattle, not by Africaner's people, as had been reported, but by some of the disaffected people of Bethany. He adds, that it will be impossible for them to be at Lily Fountain by

October 1st, on account of the drought, &c., but that we shall be able to settle the accounts, &c. without him, and charges us not to be uneasy respecting them. That they were designing to proceed the next day. The above note I received August 23d.

Oct. 16-I received a Letter from

Br.Threlfal! and myself had been reading some of the works of St. Ambrose just before he set off, in which the expression was found.

Br. Wimmer, of Steinkopff, saying that he had heard the awful news that Br. Threlfall and his companions were murdered. Of this we took no notice, because reports of this kind are frequently circulated. We had long heard that Br. Archbell and three or four of our people had been killed by the Bergenaars. It is also reported that Br. Schmelen is no more.

Nov. 5-A Namaqua arrived from the Great River, who brought the same report, but differing in many circumstances connected therewith.

Nov. 13 Some of the people of Warm-Bath arrived, all of whom declared it as their firm opinion, that our Brethren were killed, and that Br. Schmelen would never return from the journey on which he had gone, viz. to the River Koesip. They brought with them several receipts written by Br. Threlfall, bearing the dates of August 6th and 8th, for articles for which he

had received oxen &c. On the back of one ofthe receipts was the following note

Being rather unkindly handled by this people, in their not finding or permitting us to have a guide, we returned here yesterday; after having been to the north four days' journey, and losing one of the oxen. I feel great need of your prayers, and my patience is much tried. These people are very unfeeling and deceitful; but, thank God! we are all in good health, though we doubt of Our cattle are so poor, that they cannot, I think, bring us home; but we shall yet try to go farther, and then it is not unlikely but I may send Joannes and a Native to you to send oxen to fetch us away. Don't be uneasy about us: we all feel often much comforted in our souls, and the Lord gives us patience. We are obliged to beg hard to buy meat.

success.

This is the last note which we received from Br. Threlfall.

Mr. B. Shaw adds

It would appear from all the accounts which we have heard, that they left the Warm-Bath about the 9th or 10th of August; and that the person whom they procured as a guide to the Fish River, (not one of the Warm-Bath,) either the first or second night after their departure, having met with two others as wicked as himself, took them to a small kraal of Bosjesmans, and murdered them in the night after they had lain down to sleep, or early the next morning. It would appear that they killed them merely to obtain a few trifling articles which they had taken with them for the purpose of obtaining food.

Mr. W. Shaw remarks

How mysterious do the attendant circumstances of our late Brother's death appear-cut off by the hands of men, whose present and eternal good he was assiduously seeking! But for such a result, how unexpected soever it may have been, I know he was not unprepared. I believe he had fully counted the cost, before he entered on the Missionary Work he seemed to me to be continually dwelling on sentiments like those contained in the following beautiful lines of the sweet singer of our Israel

The love of Christ doth me constrain
To seek the wand'ring souls of men;
With cries, entreaties, tears, to save,
To snatch them from the yawning grave.
My life, my blood, I here present,
If for Thy truth it may be spent:
Fulfil Thy sovereign counsel, Lord;
Thy will be done, Thy name ador'd.

On the character of Mr. Threlfall's companions and fellow-sufferers, Mr. W. Shaw adds

By the united report of all the Brethren who knew them, they were both pious men; and had been raised up under Mr. B. Shaw's ministry at Khamiesberg. They left all their friends and enjoyments, (and let it be remembered that Natives of Africa are even fonder of home and its enjoyments than the Natives of Europe,) for the purpose of assisting Br. Threlfall in communicating the light of Divine Truth to the benighted Great Namaquas. Jacob Links has long been known as the Native Assistant Missionary in Namaqualand, and he has been useful in his day and generation: the following description of his character and attainments you will read with interest, when I inform you that it is from the pen of Br. Threlfall himself, and was written in a Letter to me, dated Khamiesberg, April 11, 1825, within three months of the period when they commenced their journey to the interior. He says

Jacob Links is the Schoolmaster and Interpreter: he is well acquainted with the but he has still the peculiarities of a NamaHoly Scriptures, and is intelligent and pious; qua- weak in his resolutions, and timid in all his proceedings. He appears, however, to have a keen sense of his defects, combined with a gracious simplicity and deep humility: he is always cheerful, very affectionate,

and I believe he is established with grace: he is about 26 years of age, and has been married several years, but has no children.. There are some valuable men in the saine family.