extend there the knowledge of Christianity, while they continued such a grant of money for the purpose of idolatry?

The Chairman asked whether the hon. gentleman intended to put his motion. The Court of Directors had withdrawn as far as possible from all encouragement to the idolatry of India, but it could not be said that pecuniary obligations were not to be observed. He would, therefore, recommend the hon. gentleman to read the papers now laid before the Court, and which he had himself moved for; and, if after doing so be persisted in making such a motion, then he could only say that he would be bound to listen to what would then be said. At present he considered that the speech of the hon. member was premature, as it was put. ting the cart before the horse. The hon. proprietor should have waited to examine the papers before he made such a motion.

Mr Poynder, after some words of explanaation, withdrew his motion, expressing a hope that in doing so he was promoting more effectually the object he had in view.

The Chairman said, that the Court of Directors had done their duty in regard to this question, and would continue to do it.

Mr. Poynder wrote to Mr. Peggs after the Court:-I made the motion, and was heard with great acceptance for above an hour, being strengthened from above. You have been very useful to me. It was thought expedient that I should withdraw it by Mr. Strachar, and so I gave way; but this is no part of my policy, as I had always rather be beaten, and be in a glorious minority of one, being then, as Knox said, "not ashamed of my company." I trust my com. pliance will be overruled for good. It is certain that the motion could not have been carried. On the whole I am fully satisfied with the result, if the papers do me any justice.'

WEST INDIES.

HAITI, OR ST. DOMINGO. Two natives of Haiti have been baptized by Mr. Webley in the Grande Riviere, April 22nd. The following is Mr. Webley's account of the interesting transaction:I have much pleasure in informing you, that I have administered the rite of baptism to two natives, who have long given evidence of true conversion.

This was a long looked for and happy day with us all; rendered the more happy by the prospect of a disappointment, as will ap pear in the sequel. On the Wednesday evening I had published the service, and as early as Friday the rumour had spread that a band of police were ordered to be on the

spot so as to prevent the baptism, as it was said that we were about to interfere with public order and thereby to break the thirtythird article of the constitution. As this information was well authenticated, I made it my business to inquire of Le General de la Ville if such measures had been taken, and if there was any impediment in the way of my baptizing. He assured me that I could not hold such a service unless I had had permission from Le Secrétarie d'Etat to do so, as he was strictly enjoined to preserve the public peace and order. I in vain remonstrated with him-of course with all due respect and assured him that Mr. Francis had previously baptized without such permission, and that then order was preserved. His reply was, that through his not doing so the priest had written to the Secrétarie d'Etat, stating that a great uproar had been occasioned by the baptism.

With this I left him. Determined, however, not to be foiled in my attempt to gain my point, I proceeded to one of the Conseil des Notables, and made known to him my design. He told me, that I must give a written declaration of my determination, that he would sign it on behalf of the Con. seil des Notables, and that would, in all probability, secure the permission of the General.

This proved to be the case, but after his permission, I had to obtain that of the General de l'Arrondissement, as well as that of the Commissarie de Police. Having succeeded with all these, I returned home in triumph to await the coming day. In the morning we were aroused, á la bonne heure de trois heures, by a vast concourse of persons assembled around our dwelling.

At five o'clock we held a short service in the chapel, which was crowded almost to suffocation. After this we set out for the appointed place of baptism in the Grande Riviere, followed by a multitude of people, perhaps not less than a thousand, where I held another short service, in which I implored the Divine blessing, read some parts of scripture referring to the ordinance, and gave an address explanatory of the rite, after which I proceeded to baptize. In the evening I administered the Lord's supper to the candidates, and to the two who had previously been baptized, as well as to the mission family. At this service we had a larger number than has ever been seen in our little place of worship, for within and without the chapel it is supposed there were more than three hundred people. This, amidst all our privations, was a hallowed season, and I have reason to believe that upon the minds of most a favourable impression was produced. Thus ended this happy day. O that this may be an earnest and a pledge of what God is about to do with us !—Bap. Miss.

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow.'Acts xx. 7.

THESE words suggest a variety of interesting coincidences not unsuitable to the present service. Paul was leaving those parts of Europe and Asia, where for several years he had promulgated the word of life; and was about to sail to Jerusalem, that he might bear to the brethren there the expressions of the good will and christian sympathy of the churches in Macedonia and Achaia. The contributions with which he was entrusted were the more valuable as they were the offerings of Gentile christians to those of the circumcision, who were apt to regard their uncircumcised brethren with some degree of jealousy and distrust.

He was

assembled church; and on the first day of the week, when it was customary for the disciples of our Lord to come together for holy and religious exercises, to break bread, or partake of the Lord's-supper, (a circumstance which implies the transfer of the Sabbath under the christian dispensation, from the seventh day to the first,) he enjoyed that privilege. He then not only united with them in celebrating the love of Christ by partaking of the memorials of his death, but himself engaged in offering to them such instruction and exhortation as were suited to the occasion; and which were doubtless rendered doubly impressive by the fact, that he was ready to depart on the morrow,' on a long and perilous voyage.

I need not now remind you in how many respects our circumstances and theirs at Troas coincide. This is the first day of the week, and we have assembled for religious worship, and have sanctified the Lord's day.' We

have commemmorated the love of Christ, and I, your minister and pastor, who for twenty-one years have never been absent from you for four successive Sabbaths, am about 'to depart on the morrow,' on a mission of christian sympathy and affection, from churches in these parts, to a large number of brethren across the wide Atlantic.

Our

Points of disagreement or contrast also present themselves. The number of christians in those days was comparatively small, though the progress of the gospel had been really so rapid as to demonstrate its divine origin and power. Paul was an apostle, and was leaving a people with whom he had had but a brief fixed residence. He was deputed to visit the brethren in Jerusalem; but he also expected to meet with many and malignant foes; and though he was not in immediate prospect of death, yet he had numerous premonitions that bonds and afflictions awaited him,' and an assurance that he should no more visit those parts of the world. He therefore found it needful to stir up within himself those deep and holy sentiments of entire consecration to Christ and his service which only the heroic martyr can display. Hence he said on a subsequent occasion, And now behold I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befal me there, save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying, that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.' These circumstances would give a depth and intensity to their affectionate solicitude, which would be scarcely suitable on the present occasion, either on your part

or on my own.

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In leaving the thousands of our brethren in England, as well as the

members of our own families and churches, to visit the tens of thousands of our American brethren, we who go have little fear of encountering any who will fiercely seek our lives; nor do we apprehend that 'bonds and afflictions await us;' and therefore, though we regard it as the path of duty to accede to the wishes of our associated brethren, we do not feel the necessity of that high resolve, and the urgency of that awful selfdevotement displayed by the illustrious apostle. We hope after the lapse of a few months to meet our families, our churches, and our friends here again, and to renew that intercourse and communion which we have for many years mutually enjoyed. At the same time we are sensible that it is proper for us to cherish the spirit of consecration to God in this matter: to seek his glory-to go away as not being unaware of the perils of the deep-the uncertainty of human life, and to prepare our minds for all that our Father and our Redeemer may permit to come upon us.

The object of our visit to our churches, and their Convention in the United States, is one of christian brotherhood. There are in the Northern States of America, nearly a thousand christian churches, holding in the main our sentiments, who are united together in connexional bonds, and are happily the decided and unflinching opponents of the crying sin of professed American christians

slavery: and who have already been induced, (through the instrumentality of brother Sutton,) to aid us in our missionary operations in the province of Orissa. With these brethren in their associated capacity, we have held, as a Connexion, some occasional correspondence. But we have never seen them. We have never sent one over to visit them, or to speak to them on our behalf. They have requested that a deputation be sent by our body to meet them at their next triennial convention, when

nearly all the churches in their union will assemble by their delegates. And as the living voice is always more expressive than any epistle, we go that we may see them for ourselves and for our brethren, that we may behold their order, and the steadfastness of their faith in Christ; that we may give them the right-hand of christian fellowship; that we may assure them of our brotherly affection; of our pleasure in their labours and prosperity; and that we may encourage and stimulate them in the great work of evangelizing the heathen, and cheer them by our testi. mony as to the delight which their brethren in England feel in their friendship for the oppressed negro, and their determined hostility to slavery and its aggravated abominations. If our visit shall afford their churches joy; if it shall increase their love to God and zeal for his cause; if it shall animate them in works of mercy and justice; and awaken and enkindle christian love we shall not have visited that land in vain our own happiness and theirs, and our union and true brotherhood will be promoted, and God glorified. A large portion of our happiness as christians on earth arises from christian union and love, and from the interchange of mutual kind offices and affections; and as the circle is extended the joy is increased. This is also a characteristic of heaven, where 'the whole family of God' are obviously one, and all the air is love.'

The appointment of the deputation is obviously scriptural. Our Lord prayed that his disciples might all be one.' Some attempt was made last year by many christians of different countries and sections, to obtain a general recognition of true believers in all nations: but the awful sin of slavery, as persisted in by many so-called American churches, not being duly reprobated, and regarded as totally disqualifying all involved in it for such an union, that Alliance'

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which might have presented a beautiful and edifying spectacle, was for the present marred and spoiled. It may, however, yet right itself. But in our case, we recognize our union with those who hold our views; who are as free from this abomination as ourselves; and thus form an Alliance' about which we shall have no reason to be ashamed, but for which we shall give praise to God. An alliance, I may add, which while it gives visibility to the power and excellence of christian principle, will carry out in some measure the spirit of our Lord's prayer, 'that they all may be one,'-that infidelity may be confounded, and the world may believe in the divine mission, character, and grace of Christ.

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Distant visits and deputations were not uncommon in the apostolic age. Paul and Barnabas proposed to visit the churches, to see how they did;' and Paul and Silas were especially 'recommended by the brethren,' at Antioch, to the grace of God,' when they set out on this mission. How anxious, too, was Paul to visit and encourage those churches that he had not seen: For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me,' (Rom. i. 11, 12;) For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ,' (Col. ii, 1, 2.) And when he was sent by the church at Antioch to Jerusalem, he and his companions passed through the intervening countries for the purpose of promoting cordial and christian fraternization. And being brought on their way by the

church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. And when they were come to Jerusalem they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them,' (Acts xv. 3, 4.) In return the brethren sent a deputation with them :

Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: and they wrote letters by them after this manner: "The apostles, and elders, and brethren, send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia: forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: it seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who

shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well." So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle whieh when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.'-See Acts xv. 23-33.

:

These were mainly visits of fraternization and brotherhood, to promote mutual recognition and christian harmony and love. This is an obvious fact. But the instance to which reference is made in the text, was still more in point. What was the object for which Paul and his

companions were deputed to Jerusalem? To bear expressions of christian love from churches in Europe and Western Asia. It was to take the contributions of the churches in Macedonia and Achaia; and also the assurances of their good will and brotherhood.

Now the money in all probability might have been sent by some conveyance, and the expressions of good will have been written, and forwarded in the same way. Paul and his companions, by journeying to so great a distance would inevitably involve considerable expence, which might thus have been saved. Navigation was then a very imperfect art; and there would be exposure to the perils of the deep, as well as the fury of Paul's foes at Jerusalem; all this might have been avoided by his not going. Yet in the face of all these difficulties and dangers, it was determined they should go. And why? That they might speak to the brethren, and tell them with their own lips of the christian affection, and zeal, and love which were cherished towards them by their brethren in distant lands, and thus enlarge their sympaThis was felt to be of an importance thies, and increase their joy and love.

that warranted the sacrifice. It reconciled Paul to the work, and the people to the loss of his presence.

So it is still. In the absence of the knowledge of each other, there can be none of the enjoyment of christian love: correspondence by letter awakens the existence of what may be called the form and shadow of christian fraternization, but the presence of a living deputation invests it with reality and power. Through this medium distant churches, as it were, come near, see, and embrace each other. Questions may be asked, information given and elicited, which a multitudinous correspondence could not secure. Union is thus realized which administers consolation, inspires zeal, strengthens