school is established, and fifty children meet regularly on the Sabbath to be taught the truth as it is in Jesus, which is a good commencement, and speaks well for those teachers who are engaged in the glorious work of training candidates for the kingdom of heaven. My prayer for them is, that the Lord would make them a thousand times as many more as they are. A moiety of the sum required towards the erection of a chapel is already deposited in the bank, and I doubt not that, by the blessing of God, our friends will ultimately succeed. Hunslet, Jan. 15, 1853.

R. B. MISSION. ANNIVERSARY, GATESHEAD.-On Sunday, Nov. 14th, 1852, two sermons were preached in Bethesda Chapel, Gateshead, on behalf of our Canadian, Irish, and Home Missions; in the morning at half-past ten by the Rev. T. Griffiths, of Sunderland; and in the evening at six by Dr. Crofts, of Birmingham--the deputation. The sermons were both of a very telling character, and made a deep impression; and though the day was very unpropitious, being very stormy and wet, the congregations were good, especially in the evening, when the Doctor very powerfully enforced the necessity of action for the world's conversion from 2 Cor. v. 13, 14, 15. On the same day, sermons were preached for the same object at High Felling and Dunston by the Revs. T. Griffiths, D. Sheldon, and Messrs. R. Foreman and E. Smith. On Monday evening a missionary meeting was held in Bethesda Chapel; John Allen, Esq., of Newcastle, was called to the chair; and, after a few practical and pleasing observations by the chairman, and the report had been read, addresses were delivered by the revs. the deputation, S. Saxton, T. G. Robey, S. Jones, and D. Sheldon. On Wednesday evening a meeting was held at High Felling; Mr. Edwards was called to the chair. In addition to the above speakers, the Rev. J. Innocent, of North Shields, rendered efficient aid. On Thursday evening a similar meeting was held at Dunston; Mr. R. Foreman occupied the chair. The services of the deputation have given a fresh impetus to the missionary cause in this part, and the collections at all the places are a little more than last year. S. JONES.

DUDLEY EAST.-On Sunday, Nov. 21st, sermons on behalf of our Missions were preached at Tipton, Oldbury, Dudley Port, and Tividale, by the Revs. A. Lynn and W. Willan, the deputation, and the preachers in the Circuit.

At Tipton, on Wednesday, Mr. T. Smith took the chair, and the meeting was addressed by the Revs. G. Grundy, W. Willan, A. Lynn, and Dr. Crofts. And at Tividale, on Thursday, the meeting was conducted by the deputation and the preachers of the Circuit, the Rev. T. Boycott presiding.

The weather on the Sabbath and some of the week evenings was very unfavourable, but at each place the collections present a decided improvement upon those of last year. A deeper interest in our Missions has been excited; and a desire has been awakened in the hearts of many of our friends to do more than they have hitherto done for the missionary cause. I scarcely need say that the services of the deputation have been highly acceptable and efficient. G. GRUNDY.

BALLYCLARE AND PORTGLENONE STATIONS.-The annual sermons on behalf of our Missions were preached in Ballyclare on the 7th Nov. by the Rev. John Taylor, General Superintendent. The sermons were practical, and gave general satisfaction to all who heard them. The collections amounted to £4 1s. 6d., being more than double the collections of last year. The annual sermon was preached in Portglenone by the Rev. James Argue, missionary on the station. The chapel was full; and the collection was three times the amount of last year. M.

OUR MAGAZINES.

A LETTER TO THE EDITOR. DEAR SIR,-Will you permit me to say a word in reference to our Magazines? I believe I shall be but expressing the thoughts and feelings of very many when I congratulate yourself and the Connexion upon the character of our periodicals for the beginning of the year. Looking both at the quantity and quality, there seems to be cause for something beyond mere satisfaction. And one thing which has struck me in reading the large Magazine and it is applicable in its measure to the "Juvenile" too-is, that in addition to the merits of the separate articles, there is an extensive variety, adapting it to a very wide diversity of tastes, and requirements, and frames of

mind. I shall be glad to learn that your expectations of an enlarged circulation, to correspond with enlargement of size, have been fully met. Three years ago, the Eclectic Review was reduced in price, from half-a-crown to eighteenpence. This was done after long deliberation, and on the confident calculation of a greatly extended list of subscribers. This calculation has been realized. The circulation became shortly about four-fold what it was before. And yet, exceedingly cheap as it is, it contains only 128 pages for ls. 6d.; whilst three numbers of our Large Magazine, which cost the same sum, contain 168-forty pages more, and each page containing on an average at least ten lines more than a page of the "Eclectic." Our "Connexion" is, therefore, fully abreast with the age in the cheapness of its literature. A quadrupled circulation you do not expect; but if ministers and friends are zealous in the effort to extend the circulation in proportion to the liberality of the Book Room Committee, the value of the Magazines, and the reading requirements and tastes of the Connexion, the moderate limit you have marked (of 4000 Large, and 20,000 Juvenile) might soon, I think, be reached.

The cost of both the Magazines is scarcely a farthing a day. Let this be compared with the value of the information they contain, the gratification and enrichment of the mind in and through the perusal, and the value of the volumes when complete. Let the members and hearers be led to see the matter in this light, and, in these times of abundance,

most families connected with us will, I think, be induced to expend this fraction upon the food for the intellect and the heart which is furnished in our Connexional Magazines.

A READER.

THE PEOPLE'S PROVIDENT ASSURANCE SOCIETY.-This society has grown out of the "Equitable Provident Society," an organization set on foot originally for the benefit of the members of our own denomination; and on this account we introduce it to the notice of our friends. As to its character, we beg to state that Mr. Neison, one of the most eminent actuaries of the day, who has given his utmost attention to the tables of this society, pledges himself that the rates, which are in no instance high, are amply sufficient for the perfect safety of all assurers; and that nothing is wanting in the construction of the society to insure the most perfect safety which human forethought can suggest.

Lord Brougham also, in a letter to the chairman of the directors, says, "I assure you no one can feel more interested than do in the success of so excellent a scheme-one SO calculated to encourage good habits in the people. I recollect no plan, of late years, that seemed so likely to prove useful to the working-classes. I must again

repeat my very hearty good wishes for the success of this most excellent plan." For a full exhibition of the provisions of this society we refer our readers to the advertisement which is stitched up with this Magazine.

THE LONDON TEMPERANCE LEAGUE. -The quarterly soirée of the members and friends of this Association took place on Wednesday evening, November 24th, in Hawkstone-hall, Waterloo-road. After refreshments had been taken, the Rev. W. Woolhouse Robinson, M.A., Incumbent of Christchurch, Chelsea, was called to the chair. In the course of some remarks by Mr. J. W. Green, it was stated that, according to recent parliamentary returns, there were in the United Kingdom 2,548 brewers, 89,080 victuallers, and 40,543 beer-sellers, a total of 131,171 persons engaged in making and selling intoxicating drinks; and taking a very moderate estimate of assistants, there could not be fewer than 600,000 persons

connected with the traffic, to say nothing of those other trades which depended greatly upon that traffic. About 130,000 houses were open in the United Kingdom for the sale of strong drinks; and the drinks manufactured and sold cost not less than sixty-five millions annually. During the year ending in February last, there had been made-Rum, 2,902,206 gallons; other spirits, 1,189,346 gallons; British spirits, 24,543,677 gallons; wine, 6,684,657 gallons; malt liquor, 42,000,000 gallons; making together, 77,319,836 gallons of various intoxicating liquors. A resolution to the following effect was passed: :-"That this meeting is of opinion that the most efficient mode of bringing before the public the iniquity

of the Sunday traffic in strong drinks, is to hold public meetings in every locality, to submit sheets for signatures to petitions for its abolition from house to house, and afterwards for a deputation of intelligent teetotallers to wait upon the Premier, intreating the aid and countenance of her Majesty's Government to put a stop to the Sunday traffic." The meeting was addressed by several gentlemen, who made practical suggestions for the suppression of intemperance.

OF

THE LATE DR. LEE, CANON BRISTOL.-A vacancy has been caused in the prebendal stalls of Bristol by the death of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Lee, which took place at his rectory, Barley, Herts. Dr. Lee, as a wonderful instance of what a self-taught man can attain to, was perhaps one of the most remarkable men and scholars that England has produced for the last century. The son of a very humble man, and serving his time to a carpenter and joiner, in which capacity he continued to work and contrived to support a family for several years after he had attained to manhood, he rose, by the sheer force of his selfacquired erudition, to the chairs of the Arabic and Hebrew Professorships of Cambridge, to be a Doctor of Divinity, Prebendary of the Cathedral Church of Bristol, and Rectory of Barley, Herts. For his knowledge in Oriental languages, and a profound and critical acquaintance with their spirit and construction, so to speak, Dr. Lee had no rivals among his contemporaries; whilst as a controversialist on philological and theological subjects he was distinguished by great energy, acumen, and, at times, by much impetuosity. He had the fault of many self-educated men-he was self-opinionated to a great degree, a fault which led him to underrate his opponents often with a contemptuous and vituperative hostility. This was the case in his controversy with some German scholiasts on a subject, we believe, partly philological and partly theological; and several of his pamphlets-especially one on the vexed question of the Cathedral intoning-show not only an adroitness of reasoning, but a caustic and even slashing declamation at times. There were few men, however, who possessed a more kindly heart, or a more unaffected forgiving nature, than the doctor. He was generous and charitable, and if he struck hard at his adversary in the heat of controversy (of which he was exceedingly fond), with the magnanimity of a generous foe he was prepared to receive as much as he gave,

and perfectly understood that when he hit hard he must be prepared for hard hits in return. It would be wrong to estimate Dr. Lee's intellectual attainments merely as a dry linguist. Mr. Jonathan Scott, an early friend and patron of Dr. Lee, and who was himself one of the first Arabic, Persian, and Hindostanee scholars of his day, speaking of Dr., then Mr. Lee, when the latter was master of a small Charity Foundation in Shrewsbury, said that he (Mr. Lee) had sent him translations into Arabic and Persian of several of Dr. Johnson's Oriental apologues in the Rambler, and of Addison's Vision of Mirza in the Spectator. He says that they were wonderfully done. "Mr. Lee," continues Mr. Scott, "in addition to his knowledge of the dead and Eastern languages, has made also considerable proficiency in French, German, and Italian. With his amazing facility in acquiring languages, he possesses taste for elegant composition, and has no slight poetical talents, of which I have seen some specimens in English and Latin; also a parody of Gray's Ode to Adversity in Greek Sapphic verse, which I am informed by judges (for I am myself no Grecian) is a surprising effort of self-instructed genius."-Bristol paper.

A NEW PLANET.-M. Charconnac, a pupil at the Observatory at Marseilles, has discovered a new planet in the constellation of Pisces. At midnight, its right ascension was 2 deg. 48 min., and its northern declination 1 deg. 46 min. It appeared like a star of the ninth magnitude. The director of the Observatory has proposed to call it Massilia, and to designate it by the symbol (20), characteristic of the rank of the disco

very.

EARTHQUAKE AT ACAPULCO.-The first shock occurred at twenty minutes past ten o'clock on Sunday night, December 4th, and the shocks, though less severe than the first, have been repeated every hour or so since. It came without notice or previous indication, except at about six P.M. the mercury suddenly rose to 88, being three degrees warmer than during the day; but even this cannot, perhaps, be attributed to the earthquake. The ground rolled like the ocean in a swell, and then a trembling motion was felt lasting thirty seconds. About thirty of the best buildings in the town have been ruined, some falling completely, while all of any worth have been seriously injured. The loss is at least 200,000 dollars.-Panama Star.

No. 101.

ΤΟ

CANADA.

[The Secretary, assured that the information given in the following communications from the Rev. J. H.Robinson, will gladden the hearts, and stimulate the zeal of the friends of our missions, ventures to send it forth in an extra Notice, and commends it to the attentive and prayerful consideration of every lover of Christ and His gospel.] [FROM THE REV. J. H. ROBINSON TO THE SECRETARY.]

Toronto, November 27th, 1852. Dear Brother,-On the 28th of September I left home to attend, and take part in the anniversary services of our London chapel. On my way, I attended a tea meeting in the Trafalgar circuit; the object of which was, to effect some improvements in one of the chapels in that circuit. The meeting was a very interesting one, and the pecuniary results were adequate to the expectations of the friends, and the occasion of the meeting. The day was very favourable, the speaking excellent, and a happy feeling pervaded the whole proceedings.

most

One of the speakers, brother Reid, related an incident strikingly illustrative of the spiritual necessities of the province a few years back, and illustrative of the spiritual condition of many parts at this moment. Returning to his circuit from Toronto, where he had been on some business, he overtook a man on the road, worn with travel and heat. He asked the traveller to ride with him in his buggie, perceiving that such an act of kindness could not but be accept

able to one apparently so tired. When the man was seated beside him, brother Reid, wishing to turn the opportunity to some good account, spoke to his companion on the question of his salvation, and having directed him to the Saviour, began to sing

66

Jesus, I love thy charming name,
'Tis music to my ears."

During the singing of this verse, the man burst into tears, and as far as his full heart would allow him, exclaimed, "Oh my wife, my wife, and my poor children; who will tell them of Jesus. They have not heard a gospel sermon for five years. We used to hear of Jesus at home, but now, no one comes to tell us of his love. Oh my wife, my wife, and my poor children; they are growing up in ignorance of the Saviour, who will tell them of the love of Jesus?

This man was one of a numerous class like himself. He had emigrated to this country, a religious, God-fearing man, and had settled in a remote part of the back woods, where there were no means of grace. Hard toil had occupied his days, and a solitary life of privation, without sympathy from others, without religious fellowship, without preaching and christian ordinances, sank him down into the condition of a worldling and a drudge; in which state he had lost his religion, forgotten his God, and of course, spiritual life and enjoyment had fled away. Brother Reid's hymn struck a spark which, falling on the dying embers of his spiritual life, warmed his heart, and led him to sigh, and weep, and pray for the return of that love of Jesus, which once made him and his so happy.

There were, and there are, still many in this country in the same condition, and, but for missionary labour, they

would perish in the deadness and coldness of heart, inevitably resulting from their condition of isolation and spiritual privation. This man had toiled hard on his own little clearing during the spring and early part of summer, and then to earn a little money, he had left his shanty and all that was dear to him on earth in the woods, and had sallied forth to seek more lucrative employment in the harvest fields contiguous to the large villages and towns of the neighbourhood. Hundreds and thousands are still situated just as he was. Some of these have passed the bound which separates a dormant from a dead condition of spiritual feeling. Isolation and want of spiritual activity have done their work, and truly the mental and spiritual condition of many whom I have myself come in contact with in the woods, is deplorable. Oh, how thankful ought those to be, who in blessed old England enjoy such a plenitude of the means of grace, and such a healthful and constant stimulus to their spiritual life, in the abundant and refreshing ordinances by which they are surrounded!

I found our congregations in London as good as when I was previously there last winter. The chapel is a commodious one, but extremely plain outside; a vestibule in front, and some other arrangements which the friends intend to make when they are rich enough, will improve the appearance of the building. We had a tea meeting on the Monday evening, which was well attended; conducted in first rate style, and the singing delighted me more than any singing I have elsewhere heard in Canada. I should suppose there is not such another choir in Western Canada, as our choir in London.

From London I proceeded to St. Thomas's circuit, and found_things wearing an encouraging aspect. Brother Gowan is labouring hard and successfully here. I went to see the chapel in the town of St. Thomas, which to OUR SHAME IS CLOSED, and all for a want of a little money. It is a large chapel, and well painted inside and out. It stands in the very centre of the important and rising town of St. Thomas, which is itself, the centre of one of the richest tracts of land in Canada, and yet the chapel is closed, because we cannot pay a debt contracted in its erection. useless working on as we have been doing, in reference to chapels and parsonages. We must either have these more plentifully supplied, and some of those we have, placed in better circumstances, or we are just beating the air; throwing away our money and our time in many localities, and consequently

It is

doing little towards the permanent establishment of the connexion. I have no faith in union chapels, which belong to everybody and nobody, and I have as little faith in rearing up churches in the district schools, where we can only just preach and then go home. I see everywhere, that a church will never be anything without a HOME. Wherever I have been, I have found weak, and in some places, dying churches, where there are no chapels of our own; and I have scarcely been in any place where we have chapels and parsonages, but I have found flourishing, or at least, hopeful churches. I want FIFTY POUNDS per annum, at least for some few years, for chapel and parsonage building, and this money I MUST have, we cannot do without it. With fifty pounds from home, I venture to say, we can build, or get out of debt, and settle on trust four or five chapels per annum. A little help in money goes a great way in this country. Land can be had, in most instances, for nothing; labour, also, is not difficult to obtain gratuitously; timber, there is plenty of, and almost anybody will give a little for a chapel. Carts and horses there are plenty of; so that for ten pounds in money I could build a chapel, with such help as that money will command, when I have it to offer.

From St. Thomas, I proceeded on a miserable drizzly day of rain, to Waterford, on which circuit I spent several pleasant and profitable days in preaching and visiting among the friends. We had an excellent quarterly meeting on the Saturday afternoon and Sabbath. These quarterly times are rare times in Canada. The order is this; on Saturday there is first a sermon, and then the business of the circuit is attended to, much as it is in England, with however rather less plenitude of cash. On Sabbath morning there is another sermon, then a lovefeast, then the Lord's supper; after that, baptisms, should there be any children presented for that rite, and this concludes the meeting. Generally, if a strange preacher is present, there is a sermon in the evening of the Sabbath, for as many of the people as can stay. The whole, in fact, is a circuit meeting; like a circuit meeting in England, with this difference, that in Canada, spirituals are mixed with temporals; sermons and circuit accounts, lovefeasts, sacraments, and quarterages, all go together, and it strikes me that in this arrangement, Canada has the advantage over England.

The work in general, all over the mission, is doing well. In some places, there is a great moving. In Trafalgar, the Lord is working mightily; in Nas