Mr. Smith's letter for June.

"

Last month a grand Mellah took place at Béné Rám's Garden, called Ratjátrá, which continued for three days, where I went and declared the message of God to multitudes of people, and distributed Scriptures and tracts A Brahmin came forward, saying, "Behold our God sitting on a rat (car), richly adorned I asked him, "Did your god get into the rat himself?" The people began to laugh, and the Brahmin, after hesitating a little, answered, "We have put him up into the car ourselves." I told him "Your god is subject to you, he cannot move without your assistance, consequently he cannot be god. God is the Creator of the universe and upholds all things by his power, and is not subject to man." To which he made no objection, but asked for some Hindi tracts, which I gladly gave him. Several Hindus and Musselmans called on me last month for books, which I supplied them, and also went about the city with Brother Ram Surn, and declared the gospel to crowds of attentive people, and we felt very thankful that we met with no opposers. July 30, 1838.

CEYLON.

contains pleasing information as to his progress so far.

I am sure it will be pleasing to you to hear that our voyage so far has been extremely favourable. On a comparison with other vessels, which we have been enabled to make while here, we have been singularly favoured; and I cannot refrain from drawing therefrom a happy omen of our future course. My time, on board, was occupied (so far as weather and circumstances would permit) in furthering the objects of the mission by private study and public ministrations. The Singhalese language, I hope, becomes now somewhat familiar to me, and by a careful analysis and comparison of the Greek Testament with the version you were kind enough to procure for me, I am able to discern its genius, and lay hold of its idioms. No doubt, some time will elapse before I am competent publicly to instruct the natives, but I feel that I have eleared away a great deal of the ground-work by my application in England, and, consequently, I look for a proportionably shorter period of discipline in Ceylon, Your letter to Dr. Philip I found very useful. Mrs. P. has kindly procured us lodging. This step was necessary for the health and comfort of Mrs. H. and

children, as well as for the preservation of our linen, some of which is already much damaged by mildew from lying so long. circumstances of decided conversion among I wish it was in my power to detail to you any of the crew with whom we sailed. I have laboured, I may say truly, with much prayer and supplication to bring them to a right comprehension of their state in the sight of God, and have always been favoured with the most serious attention, and the most respectful behaviour. Nothing like weariness or disinclination to listen was discoverable on their countenances, and I generally found them reading either the Scriptures or tracts (which I distributed to them), during the other parts of the day. Profane language has scarcely ever been used, and the strictest order has been observed. With the captain and mate I have had frequent and close conversations, and I cannot but hope their purport and solemnity will be remembered when we are perhaps far separated from each other.

themselves to aid to the utmost possible extent the dissemination of that religion which alone has the stamp of God's hand upon it, and which brings such a number, as well as such a variety of blessings in its train. May a spirit of prayer fall on all their proceedings in reference to the enlightening of the Heathen nations.

We are told to expect about six weeks voyage from hence to Ceylon; and after what we have gone through this seems a mere trifle. I hope our respected brother Daniel's life will be preserved until our arrival. What awaits us is uncertain, but that "grace sufficient" will be at hand is just as certain; and, therefore, the apostle's lesson, I hope, I have in some measure learnt "in whatever state I am, therewith content." I am sure, if my removal hither has done no other good, it has increased my faith, my hope, my love. It has given me holier aspirations than I ever had before, and warmed my heart with a more extensive benevolence. It has enlarged my mind both in regard to God and man; and I have always had the pleasing attestation, that his hand hath led me, and upheld me. Mrs. Harris and the dear children are well and our servant likewise.

WEST INDIES.

JAMAICA.

BETHTEPHIL.

Extract of a letter from Mr. Dendy, dated Aug. 22.

Since the memorable 1st of August until the present time I have delayed writing, knowing that information concerning the manner in which the complete emancipation of the negro population was celebrated would reach you through the medium of the Island press. The Falmouth Post of the 15th inst. contains an account of proceedings at Salter's Hill, and Bethtephil Missionary stations. Our people on that occasion manifested their usual liberality, and to me their collection came at an opportune time, as payments are becoming due, and means for the erection of galleries, which are commenced, have to be provided for.

The people on the estates, by whom I am surro ended, have been remarkably peaceful, orderly, and quiet, since the 1st of August, and have manifested the most anxious disposition to work for wages; but I regret to state, that the managers of properties have not come forward with fair and equitable offers; but have, in some cases, endeavoured to intimidate the labourers to accept of an unfair rate of wages, by serving them with notice to quit their houses and lands within three months. I believe however

that in some cases of this sort managers have seen their folly, by recalling their notices, and I suppose will now be ready to make inore fair and equitable offers for labour; if they do so, the people will soon be regularly at work, which I feel persuaded they will perform with cheerfulness.

I anticipate a large increase to the number of day-scholars in our schools, in consequence of the termination of the appren ticeship, which has released a number of children of about ten or twelve years of age, who will now avail themselves of the opportunity afforded of learning to read.

BAHAMAS.

Turk's Island.-It is pleasing to find, by the following communication from Mr. Quant, that the day of freedom was observed, in that remote quarter, with the same decorum which distinguished it in Jamaica:

Since I last wrote you the much-anticipated, and, by some, the much-dreaded, 1st of August has passed. The Bahama legislature, as you have most likely been informed, abandoned the two years' appren ticeship and, on the first of August, made all her apprentices free. The news arrived at this extremity of the colony on the 13th, and caused among the apprentices universal joy. With many a feeling of holy joy and gratitude to God was produced; and in other places where the apprentices where uninfluenced by religious considerations, the feeling was so softened and subdued, that but few kept their jubilee at the rumshop; and I have not heard of a single case of disorderly conduct brought before the magistrates on that occasion. We have had a little salt to rake in the Cay since, and a few vessels have been in for cargoes; the people work merrily and cheerfully; and, as far as I can learn, quite to the satisfaction of their late owners; and all appear, as far as my observation extends, very well satisfied with the change. But this has been a very trying year for all on this Cay, both rich and poor, free and bond. Last year the hurricane destroyed so much of the salt, that but little was left to give the poor people an opportunity of earning any money by shipping it; and this has been almost a total failure for the salt-rakers. When I make up my accounts of receipts for the year in the classes, &c., on account of the society, I am afraid you will discover a falling off; and had I to build my chapel now, I know not how I should succeed, such is the depressed state of finances in the community. The sole dependence of ninetenths of the community is salt. When we have abundance of this article money

moves about briskly, and is spent and given away as freely as it comes; but when we have no salt, every body looks gloomy. As we have so small a supply on hand, I am afraid there will be but little work for the late apprentices; and if they are unable to obtain work, they must suffer very much before another season comes. These forebodings may not be realized, they may be merely the workings of unbelief, but I cannot help feeling in anticipation for the poor of my flock. On the 14th of August we held a thanksgiving meeting, to commemorate the goodness of God in liberating those who had been in bondage. chapel was crowded; the prayers of our poor people, or rather their thanksgivings flowing from grateful hearts, in strains simple and unaffected, proved how deeply many felt the benefit of the boon conferred upon them. Their broken, simple strains of gratitude affected me to tears. It was a service which I doubt not angels witnessed with joy.

Our

Next week I expect to take another trip to the Caicos, to lay the foundation stone of a small chapel, at one of the settlements there; and I expect in a few weeks to be compelled to commence another at a differ. ent part of the Islands. For a time they will occasion me some deal of anxiety and care; but I hope to get through the work, without troubling you for assistance; yet £50 sterling on loan for a year for the two, would very materially lighten my labour.

Subsequently to the date of the above letter, these islands were visited by a furious hurricane, attended with much destruction of life and property. We been entirely lost, which will occasion fear that the staple production, salt, has much distress to the poor inhabitants. Our readers will feel that this circumstance strengthens their claim to our sympathy, and renders it the more necessary to provide them with the means. of grace.