Society; competent salaries having been allowed to several Missionaries and students, both European and native, besides expending considerable sums in printing and distributing copies of the Bible and Common Prayer-Book, as well as various religious tracts. Of late, especially since the formation of other institutions with similar designs, the income of the Society has greatly increased. In 1732 the revenue of the Christian Knowledge Society alone was about £6000; in 1832 it was about £66,000, beside that of the Gospel Propagation Society, which, in 1831, was upwards of £35,000, including certain grants from Government.

It has been already noticed,' that the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel confines its attention chiefly to America and the West Indies. At an early period, the conductors of it sedulously endeavoured to obtain the instruction of the negro slaves, especially in New-York and its vicinity, where they employed and supported Elias Neau, "a plain, zealous layman," as a catechist, who, in the discharge of this office, went, at first, from house to house, but, on finding this plan inconvenient, prevailed with the masters of the slaves to send them to him every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at four o'clock in the afternoon, to be instructed in the first principles of religion. For this purpose Mr. Neau obtained a license from the Bishop of London. The draught of a Bill for the more effectual conversion of the negroes and other servants in the plantations was prepared by the Society, to be presented to Parliament. This was about the year 1703. (See MILLAR'S History of the Propagation of Christianity, vol. ii., p. 546.) In 1701 a Society was formed in Scotland, for propagating Christian knowledge, by the benevolent zeal of a few private gentlemen at Edinburgh, whose first specific object was the reformation of manners; and was thus designated. In 1709 it was incorporated by Queen Anne, with special reference to the highlands and islands; and obtained an increase of its power from George I., in 1738. The narrowness of its in

come limited its exertions, for some years, to Scotland; but the bequest of an estate at Catworth, in Huntingdonshire, by Dr. Williams, a Dissenting Minister in London, for the conversion of infidel countries, and still further aid being obtained in 1732, from the general court of the province of Massachusetts, enabled the Society to enlarge the sphere of its operations, and to send out several Missionaries to the North American Indians. Among these were the two Brainerds, David and John, men of eminent piety and distinguished zeal. The Society has, therefore, in promotion of its different objects, not only sent Missionaries into North America, but established many schools in the highlands, obtained a translation of the Bible into the Gaelic, supported several students occupied in obtaining a knowledge of the Gaelic dialect, beside printing and circulating tracts in the same language. The importance and necessity of these attempts to instruct the highlands, is sufficiently proved by the fact adduced by Millar, (Propagation of Christianity,) that, in the island of Kirta, or St. Kilda, the inhabitants were not so much as reformed from Heathenism till the year 1710, when the Society gave a commission to Alexander Buchan, who was afterwards ordained as Minister and schoolmaster there.

An establishment was also formed in New-England itself, for the instruction of the Indians in that province and the parts adjacent; but since the independence of the United States, it has chiefly restricted its operations to the Indians of NewBrunswick.

The Danish Mission to India was undertaken early in the last century, in consequence of representations to the King, Frederick IV., by one of his Chaplains. Application having been made to the Professors of divinity at Halle, for suitable persons to engage in such a Mission, Messrs. Ziegenbalg and Plutscho were recommended; and having consented to attempt the conversion of the natives of India, sailed, in 1705, for Tranquebar, on the Coromandel coast, and arrived there on the 9th

of July, 1706. These Missionaries were followed by three others, who arrived at the Cape of Good Hope in 1709. This Mission was early assisted by the English Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts; who sent out a printing-press, with the requisite apparatus of types, &c., and one hundred reams of paper, accompanied by Mr. Jonas Finck, a native of Silesia, as a printer. By this means the Missionaries were enabled to print a number of books for the use of the Malabarick school which they had commenced, beside various tracts, but especially a translation of the Scriptures into Tamul, begun by B. Zeigenbalg, and completed by B. Schultze. In 1714 His Danish Majesty, to promote more effectually his benevolent designs, established the Royal College of Missions at Copenhagen, for the instruction and preparation of such persons as were destined to engage in the eastern Missions.

In connexion with this College, the celebrated University of Halle, in Saxony, may very justly be noticed, not only on account of its general objects, but more especially from its having provided the Danish Mission with its first Missionaries, and several others, profoundly learned and most able men, as Ziegenbalg, Plutscho, Grundler, and Schultze, names dear to the Missionary cause, from their unwearied ministerial and literary labours. This extraordinary institution was begun by the pious Dr. Herman Augustus Franck, as an orphan house, erected by voluntary donations; and continued increasing in other departments of an important nature until it became deserving of royal patronage, and the designation of a University. Connected with the institution there are, or were, beside the orphan-house which provides for some hundreds of poor children, schools for the education of persons in superior circumstances; an institution for the relief of poor widows; an oriental and theological college, for the study of eastern languages and the instruction of Missionary candidates; a medical school, a seminary for catechists; and an extensive printing-office, chiefly for the pur

pose of printing and circulating the Scriptures in different languages.* At one period this University had more than three thousand students, from different parts of Europe. The Canstein and Jewish institutions are also intimately associated with the other benevolent establishments of Halle. The Canstein, or Bible Institution, was established in 1710 by Charles Hildebrand Baron de Canstein, for the purpose of printing and selling Bibles and Testaments at a moderate price, in order to secure a more general circulation of the Scriptures. In 1805 above three millions of copies of the entire Bible or Testament had been distributed. The founder of the Jewish institution, formed professedly for the conversion of Jews and Mohammedans, was Dr. John Henry Callenberg, one of the pupils of Professor Franck, and afterwards Professor of Divinity in the University of Halle. One of his most eminent coadjutors was Mr. Stephen Schultz, who was many years engaged in the east, in Missionary labours; and returned from Turkey to Halle in 1756.

In reverting to the Danish Missionaries, it will be satisfactory to learn, from the following questions, published as being what were expected to be answered in the affirmative, by the Missionaries, that their mode of preaching and instruction was of a scriptural nature. "Have you discovered some true workings of grace in the souls of the catechumens? Are you sure there is more in their conversion than a bare external compliance with, and verbal confession of, the Christian doctrine? What proofs and indications have you of an inward work of grace?" The venerable Swartz was one of the Missionaries sent out by the Danish College, though latterly sup. ported by the English Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, which has uniformly aided the Danish Missions, by the entire or par

For a full account of the many singular interpositions of Providence in the establishment of this University, see a small work written by Professor Franck, entitled "Pietas Hallensis."

tial maintenance of many of its valuable Missionaries. *

A Mission to Greenland was undertaken in 1721, with the sanction of this Society, by Hans Egede, a Danish Clergyman, who spent many years in that inhospitable clime; and

It is highly probable that the strong Missionary feeling evidenced by Messrs. John and Charles Wesley owed its first direction to the instructions of their intelligent mother, who had been deeply affected by the accounts published of the zeal and success of the Danish Missionaries; for, in Feb., 1712, she thus wrote to her husband :- "Soon after you went to London, Emily found in your study the account of the Danish Missionaries, which, having never seen, I ordered her to read to me. I was never, I think, more affected with any thing than with the relation of their travels, and was exceedingly pleased with the noble design they were engaged in. Their labours refreshed my soul beyond measure; and I could not forbear spending good part of that evening in praising and adoring the divine goodness for inspiring those good men with such an ardent zeal for his glory, that they were willing to hazard their lives, and all that is esteemed dear to men in this world, to advance the honour of their Master, Jesus. For several days I could think or speak of little else. At last, it came into my mind, Though I am not a man, nor a Minister of the Gospel, and so cannot be engaged in such a worthy employment as they were; yet, if my heart were sincerely devoted to God, and if I were inspired with a true zeal for his glory, and did really desire the salvation of souls, I might do something more than I do. I thought I might live in a more exemplary manner, in some things: I might pray more for the people, and speak with more warmth to those with whom I have an opportunity of conversing. However, I resolved to begin with my own children; and accordingly I proposed, and observed the following method. I take such a proportion of time as I can best spare every night, to discourse with each child by itself, on something that relates to its principal concerns. On Monday I talk with Molly; on Tuesday with Hetty; Wednesday with Nancy; Thursday with Jackey; Friday with Patty; Saturday with Charles; and with Emily and Suky together, on Sunday."-(See Memoirs of the Wesley Family, by Dr. Adam Clarke, p. 830.)

with incredible labour composed a short grammar, a catechism, and a book of prayer, in the language of the country; and also translated the Psalms and the Epistles of St. Paul. An interesting account of this Mission, and of the Missionaries engaged in it, and also of the Apostolic Swartz, is given by Mr. Carne, in his "Lives of eminent Missionaries."

The Missions of the Moravians, or United Brethren, commenced at an early period of the eighteenth century, and continued with a selfdenial and patient perseverance almost unparalleled. Their first Mission took place in the year 1732, to St. Thomas's, in the West Indies, by Leonard Dober, and David Nitschmann, senior, who set out from Herrnhut, by way of Copenhagen, on the 21st of August in that year, and arrived at St. Thomas's, Dec. 12th. Their second Mission was to Greenland in 1733. The Missionaries who engaged in it were Christian David, and Matthew and Christian Stach. Mission colonies were also established in different countries:

es

the first of these was in the island of St. Croix; the second was attempted in Holstein; the third was tablished in Georgia, in North America. This colony arrived in Geor gia in 1735.

The enterprising and unconquerable Missionary spirit of the United Brethren, or Moravians, was fully evidenced by the extraordinary fact, that within ten years, from their first Mission to St. Thomas's, they had established, or attempted, Missions in Greenland, St. Croix, St. Thomas's and St. Jan's in the West Indies; Surinam; Palestine; to the North American Indians, in Georgia and South Carolina; Guinea; the Hottentots; Laplanders and Samoides; Livonia; Ethiopia; Persia; the Calmucs; Ceylon, and China; besides vigorous endeavours to convey instruction to the Jews and the wandering tribes of gipsies. But, after the most laudable efforts, the resistance and persecution which they encountered obliged them to relinquish Lapland, Ceylon, and China. The number of persons associated

at Herrnhut, under Count Zinzendorf, at the period of these exertions, must have been exceedingly few, not more than about thirty years having elapsed since their first settlement on the Count's estate, in Upper Lusatia; and places their resolution and liber

ality in a striking point of view. For some time they have been greatly aided by public collections, made in many of the English churches, by Clergymen of the Establishment.

Crantz's History of the Brethren.

SAMUEL was born on St. Matthias's day, February 24th, 1766,-the same day which gave birth to Handel eighty-two years before. The seeds of harmony did not spring up in him quite so early as in his brother; for he was three years old before he aimed at a tune. His first were, "God save great George our King," Fischer's Minuet, and such like, mostly picked up from the streetorgans. He did not put a true bass to them till he had learned his notes.

While his brother was playing he used to stand by, with his childish fiddle, scraping, and beating time. One observing him, asked me, "And what shall this boy do?" I answered, Mend his brother's pens." He did not resent the affront as deeply as Marcello; † so it was not indignation which made him a musician.

Mr. Arnold was the first who, hearing him at the harpsichord, said, "I set down Sam for one of my family." But we did not much re

* His mother, however, gave to Daines Barrington the following convincing proof that he played a tune when he was but two years and eleven months old, by pro ducing a quarter guinea, which was given to him by Mr. Addy, for this extraordinary feat, wrapped in a piece of paper, containing the day and year of the gift, as well as the occasion of it. Mrs. Wesley had also an elder son, who died in his infancy, and who both sung a tune, and beat time, when he was but twelve months old.

This alludes to a well-known story in the musical world. Marcello, the celebrated composer, had an elder brother, who had greatly distinguished himself in this science, and being asked what should be done with little Marcello, he answered, "Let him mend my pens;" which piqued the boy so much, that he determined to exceed his elder brother.

gard him, coming after Charles. The first thing which drew our attention was, the great delight he took in hearing his brother play. Whenever Mr. Kelway came to teach him, Sam constantly attended, and accompanied Charles on the chair. Undaunted by Mr. Kelway's frown, he went on; and when he did not see the harpsichord, he crossed his hands on the chair, as the other on the instrument, without ever missing a time.

He was so excessively fond of Scarlatti, that if Charles ever began playing his lesson before Sam was called, he would cry and roar as if he had been beaten. Mr. Madan, his godfather, finding him one day so belabouring the chair, told him he should have a better instrument by and by.

I have since recollected Mr. Kelway's words: "It is of the utmost importance to a learner to hear the best music;" and, "If any man would learn to play well, let him hear Charles." Sam had this double

advantage from his birth. As his

• Incredible as this may appear, it is attested by the whole family; and that he generally turned his back to his brother whilst he was playing. "I think, however," says Mr. Barrington, "that this extraordinary fact may thus be accounted for: There are some passages in Scarlatti's lessons which require the crossing of hands; (or the playing the treble with the left, and the bass with the right;) but as what calls for this unusual fingering produces a very singular effect, the child must have felt that these parts of the composition could not be executed in any other way.

It is possible, indeed, that he might have observed his brother crossing hands at these passages, and imitated him by recollecting that they were thus fingered."

brother employed the evenings in Handel's Oratorios, Sam was always at his elbow, listening, and joining with his voice. Nay, he would sometimes presume to find fault with his playing, when we thought he could know nothing of the matter.

He was between four and five years old when he got hold of the Oratorio of Samson; and by that alone taught himself to read words; soon after he taught himself to write. From this time he sprung up like a mushroom; and when turned of five could read perfectly well; and had all the airs, recitatives, and choruses of Samson and the Messiah, both words and notes, by heart.

Whenever he heard his brother begin to play, he would tell us whose music it was (whether Handel, Corelli, Scarlatti, or any other); and what part of what lesson, sonata, or

overture.

Before he could write he composed much music. His custom was, to lay the words of an Oratorio before him, and sing them all over. Thus he set (extempore for the most part) Ruth, Gideon, Manasses, and the Death of Abel. We observed, when he repeated the same words, it was always to the same tunes. The airs of Ruth, in particular, be made before he was six years old, laid them up in his memory till he was eight, and then wrote them down.

I have seen him open his Prayerbook, and sing the Te Deum, or an anthem from some Psalm, to his own music, accompanying it with the harpsichord. This he often did, after he had learned to play by note, which Mr. Williams, a young organist of Bristol, taught him between six and seven.

How and when he learned counterpoint, I can hardly tell; but without being ever taught it, he soon wrote in parts.

He was full eight years old when Dr. Boyce came to see us, and accosted me with, "Sir, I hear you have got an English Mozart in your house. Young Linley tells me wonderful things of him." I called Sam to answer for himself. He had by this time scrawled down his Oratorio of Ruth. The Doctor looked over

it very carefully, and seemed highly pleased with the performance. Some of his words were, "These airs are some of the prettiest I have seen. This boy writes by nature as true a bass as I can by rule and study. There is no man in England has two such sons." He bade us let him run on ad libitum, without any check of rules or masters.

After this, whenever the Doctor visited us, Sam ran to him with bis song, sonata, or anthem; and the Doctor examined them with astonishing patience and delight.

As soon as Sam had quite finished his Oratorio he sent it as a present to the Doctor, who immediately honoured him with the following

note :

"Dr. Boyce's compliments and thanks to his very ingenious brothercomposer, Mr. Samuel Wesley; and is very much pleased and obliged by the possession of the Oratorio of Ruth, which he shall preserve with the utmost care, as the most curious product of his musical library.”

For the year that Sam continued under Mr. Williams, it was hard to say which was the master, and which the scholar. Sam chose what music he would learn, and often broke out into extemporary playing, his master wisely letting him do as he pleased.

During this time he taught himself the violin. A soldier assisted him about six weeks; and sometime after, Mr. Kinsbury gave him twenty les

sons.

His favourite instrument was

the organ.

He spent a month at Bath, while we were in Wales; served the Abbey on Sundays; gave them several voluntaries; and played the first fiddle in many private concerts.

He returned with us to London greatly improved in his playing. There I allowed him a month for learning all Handel's Overtures. He played them over to me in three days. Handel's Concertos he learned with equal ease, and some of his lessons, and Scarlatti's. Like Charles, he mastered the hardest music without any pains or difficulty.

He borrowed his Ruth to transcribe for Mr. Madan. Parts of it