Christian power, and to the only Christian power on earth that will do them good. Can there be any thing but the hand of the Lord in this? Can there be a question if it be our duty to cultivate that garden which God has thus given ns, and to cultivate it with the greatest diligence; under the sanction of the British power, which where it is most felt is most loved? Our last speaker said, that God appears to be taking the work into his own hands: and this must be acknowledged by all who consider the obstructions it meets with in the world: when you consider the little opportunity of instructing the people that Missionaries have had, and yet to see these people coming forward promptly and decidedly to cast their idols to the moles and to the bats; and the king and all the population acknowledging to the praise of Jehovah, that he is King of kings, and Lord of Iords-such has been the case in the -South Sea Islands; and the same feature is discovered among the North American Indians, though it could never have been thought of there; they appeared to show so decided an opposition to the work of God, that they seemed to be a people that must be forsaken by all; but now they are devoting the allow ance granted them by the American government, and one or two tribes in particular are giving up the whole of their allowance for the education of their offspring. Some of them are beginning to erect Courts of Justice, and the observations of our brother concerning them are most applicable and most encouraging; and therefore if we have not in some parts of the heathen world so much success as we could wish, yet there is in Otaheite, in Owhyhee, among the North American Indians, and in other places, a mighty work going on, and when the showers of

divine influence come down we shall all rejoice in the effects produced.

We have uniting with us in these Missionary operations, a population of ten millions of Christians in America. There seemed to be some hesitation at first among them, whether they should employ their efforts among their own Indians, or in foreign countries: but the voice for foreign missions at length prevailed; and the American government offered the most friendly assistance to them. When I was at Princeton, I was delighted and surprised at seeing coach loads of Missionaries, who were just then entering Princeton, consisting

of thirty families, who were then going

a journey of two thousand miles: We had a service in the church, and a delightful service it was; and when they went to embark in the steam boat which was to convey them, eight thousand American Christians followed them through the streets, and so pressed into the boat that it was almost ready to sink. The governor of the state of New Jersey himself accompanied them on horseback through his own state, to do them honour.

But I witnessed in that country a still more delightful scene: there is a most extraordinary out-pouring of the divine influence at Hartford, and at Newhaven. At Hartford alone, before I left America, there were 1000 persons under the most serious impressions of religion, all at the same time, among various religious denominations. So that we need not despair of seeing the most blessed effects: And may I, as a last word, encourage you to go forward, and give yourselves more decidedly to this great cause. I rejoice to hear this day that your receipts have amounted to 26,000l. It is a great sum, but I hope it will soon be 50,000l.; and that British Christians will contribute still more largely of that good which God has conferred on them, to promote this important work. We have not now to learn that Jesus Christ is to have the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession; and that before any long period of time, earth shall join with heaven in singing, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ."

Rev. J. Brown, of Biggar, in Scotland, then moved

"That the cordial thanks of this Meeting be given to the Ministers and Members of all Congregations; to the Treasurers, Secretaries, and Subscribers, of all Auxiliary Societies, As. sociations, &c. who have during the past year contributed to the Funds of the Society: and the Meeting adds its earnest recommendation, that increased efforts may be made, during the ensuing year, both in London and the Country, to obtain additional support to its funds, in all the ways by which Christian bounty can manifest itself, particularly in the formation of Auxiliary Societies, and Female, Juvenile, and Penny per Week Associations, &c." Living, as I do, in a remote country town, I am little in the habit of making speeches at public meetings, and I much rather preach a sermon than make

a speech here. I am, however, very willing to do any thing in my power to serve this cause, either by speaking or preaching, or, as I believe must be the case to-day, by both. I feel peculiarly elevated in addressing this meeting, after the scenes they have witnessed; and I would just lay before this meeting the feelings of gratitude from the nation to which I belong, of the church of which I am a member, and of myself as an humble individual. I am fully sensible of the many advantages which my countrymen have derived from this Society. Before this Society began, there was a large body of able and faithful ministers in the pulpits of our Scottish establishment; and almost all the dissenters were preachers of the truth. Nor was it that their ministry was not successful, for there were many who, like Zacharias and Elizabeth, "were righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless;" yet still the church in Scofland was rather in a disjointed state, the members of the different denominations did not know one another, they did not like one another very well; there was but little of an evangelizing spirit, and some of the finest fields for the labour of love were completely unoccupied: but the establishment of this Society in 1795, gave a different tone to religious feelings; good men met and consulted together for the propagation of the Gospel in the world; and from that period the consequences have been delightful; and I hope Scotland will never be ungrateful to this institution. She has indeed shewn her gratitude to you in the various contributions which she has willingly, if not largely, made to it, and which have been so kindly acknowledged They were considered by the people there as the payment of a debt of gratitude which had been so long owing. But Scotland has done something more than this she has given you a tutor, of whom I can say no less, and will say no more, than that no country could have given you a better. She has given you a Campbell, a Morrison, and a Milne, and many of her hardy sons are among your most active Missionaries; but. Scotland has not yet paid her debt, she acknowledges she has not, and she only regrets she has not a person here to-day to express it in a more grateful manner. In the name of the Scottish church of the secession, I have to express my most grateful thanks to this Society. The

union of the two connexions is to be attributed to Missionary Societies, and in a great measure to this Society; meeting together in circumstances which brought the points of union rather than the points of disunion into prominence, the members of the too long estranged bodies began to think that the points of union were greater and more numerous than they had thought; and the points of disunion were fewer and more trifling than they had thought; and when brought to this state, they were precisely in the proper state for a union; which by a little inquiry they might have found ont before. Before this period, they were like two companies of travellers, travelling over the same country, but divided by a thick fog; each supposing the other company had lost their way: but the wind arose, and the fog dispersed, and then they found their mistake, and they saw, for the first time, how small a distance there was between them! Good men are only divided because they are in the dark, through these fogs which have been emitted from the bottomless pit, but which are now dispersing by the Sun of righteousness; and they will now embrace as brethren, and the church will look forth on the astonished world, which will soon be her inheritance, "fair as the moon and terrible as an army with banners."

This Society has done much good in the way of converting the heathen, and much in the way of uniting Christians, and both in the way of promoting the glory of God its Saviour. The Secession church in Scotland will, I hope, instead of diminishing their exertions, increase them in the Missionary cause. We have ourselves a Missionary Society, we are the child and offspring of this Society, we bear the broad liberal principle of the London Missionary Society. I trust we shall always cherish towards this Society a feeling of liberality and affection; and I trust this Society will always cherish towards us the feeling of tenderness. They are united, or rather identified; but if they should ever seem to oppose each other, as long as there is so much love between the members of them, there will be no danger of collision. The agents of the Scottish Missionary Society have always found friends to support them in the London Missionary friends; and I hope the deputations from this Society which may visit Scotland, will always find countenance and support there. This has been the case, and I trust always

Your

will be, and that the friends will contribute to the promotion of both in a much higher degree than if there were no such communion. In my own name, I lay before this Society the acknowTedgments of my own heart. Society was formed just about the time when divine truth laid hold on my mind, and its success was the object of some of my earliest prayers. From that period, its interests have ever been dear to me. I have traced its progress, and triumphed in its triumph with no common interest; and it will be, I trust, the object of some of my latest prayers."Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces;" for my brethren and companions sake, I will now say, "Peace be within thee; because of the house of the Lord my God, I will always seek her good."

The Rev. Dr. Steinkopff seconded the

motion

"I shall not, after the deep and solemn impression which has been produced upon this meeting, and considering that my friend (fo (for I call Mr. Campbell my friend) has just returned from a far distant country, and must be possessed of much information, I shall not trespass upon the time of this meeting. But you will allow one, who has lately returned from the Continent, to state a few facts which have fallen under his notice. It has already been mentioned, that even in France, attention has been excited to the Missionary cause.

I

can confirm this statement by what my own eyes have seen. In a French village, I met with a venerable man, 80 years of age, who has long proved a blessing to his extensive parish: in his cottage I met a number of pious persons, and I found they were not unacquainted with Missionary proceedings; they said to me, "We remember our British fellow-Christians; ; we pray for them, and we bless them." When I got to Switzerland, at Basle I was present at the consecration of the Missionary House, and there I saw 19 young men, all of whom we had full reason to think were animated with the genuine spirit of Christianity, and I cannot express what a solemn feeling, I may truly say, of the presence of the Almighty prevailed at that season-all the Clergy, Magistrates, Merchants, and most of the principal inhabitants were present; many a tear flowed, and many prayers and thanksgivings ascended to the throne of grace; and you, Sir, and this congregation, were not forgotten by our Swiss brethren.

It affords me great satisfaction to state, that there exists now on the Continent an extensive Missionary Society; its centre is at Basle, but it comprehends the whole of Switzerland, and France, and Holland, and Prussia; and some of those friends are likewise liberal, for they have lately sent a gift of 3,000 florins, (about 3001.) to that Society. When I came to Gard, the capital of my native land, there I was present at one of the Missionary Prayer Meetings, which are held in the Cathedral every month: at this Cathedral they regularly meet, and on that occasion I saw the Cathedral (a more spacious building than this) crowded from one end to the other, and there was such an interest excited by the communication of the accounts of what was doing in England, as I cannot describe. After the service, I saw the plates filled with gold and silver, the free-will offerings of high and low, rich and poor. I will only mention two other facts. At Berlin there still lives that venerable good man, Mr. Jænickè; if this excellent man could behold a sight like this, he would be ready to say with Simeon, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Sir, this good man lived at Berlin at the time when religion was despised; when the Bible was, as it were, trampled under foot; when the old King of Prussia avowed himself publicly the friend of Voltaire: this good man was then despised; he was considered as a good sort of man, but weak and feeble minded; but now the King is his friend, and has lately written him a letter, engaging to become an annual contributor to the Basle Missionary Society. I saw at Berlin about 20 young officers in the army, who meet together every week, and feel deeply interested in the Missionary cause. So that if I consider what has been done on the Continent, as well as in England, I can only gratefully exclaim, "What hath God wrought!" The last fact I shall mention is, when I was at Dresden, the capital of Saxony, there was a Missionary meeting held there in a small room, for it is only the begining of the Missionary work there, but it was delightful to see the Minister of the King of Saxony, and the first Chaplain of the Court, present. All these things proved as a cordial to my own mind. I will not detain you longer; but as my friend from Scotland presented to you the cordial congratula

tions of his countrymen, I may, in the name of my Swedish, and German, and Prussian Brethren and Sisters, present you their congratulations, and say you have a place in their hearts and an interest in their prayers."

We are under the necessity of deferring the remaining Speeches, together with the List of Contributions, until next month.

Arrival of the Rev. John Campbell from

his second visit to Africa.

MR. CAMPBELL embarked at the Cape on the 15th of February, in the ship Castle-Forbes, on her return from Bombay; he touched at St. Helena the 1st of March; crossed the equator on the 16th; passed the Western Islands on the 17th; reached the Chops of the Channel May the 7th; left the ship, in a pilot boat, on the sth; arrived at Portsmouth, and reached London on the 9th, only three hours before the mencement of the meeting at Surrey Chapel.

com

We are desired to state, that the Directors of the London Missionary Society fully concur with Mr. Campbell in his wish to be excused from undertaking any journeys into the country, to attend the meetings of Auxiliary Societies, for the ensuing three months (June, July, and August.) This is necessary in order to his securing time to prepare for the press an account of his late journeys beyond the colony, as well as for the purpose of attending to his pastoral duties to the church from which he has so long been absent.

Departure of the Deputation and Missionaries for the South Sea Islands. On Saturday, May the 5th, the Rev. Mr. Tyerman and Mr. Bennet, the gentlemen who compose the deputation to Otaheite, &c.; Rev. Mr. Jones, Missionary, with Mrs. Jones; Mr. Armitage, Cotton Manufacturer, with Mrs. Armitage and two children; and Mr. Blossom, Carpenter, &c. with Mrs. Blossom; embarked at Gravesend, on board the Tuscan (a Whaler); but being detained in the Downs and at Spithead, by contrary winds, did not leave the latter place until Friday afternoon, May the 18th, when they proceeded on their voyage with a fair wind. They earnestly desire the prayers of all the members of the Society, and of pious persons in general, for their safe and prosperous voyage, a favour which we hope will not be denied to persons

now insert

The joint Letter of the Missionaries to the Corresponding Secretary.

Hanaroorah, Woahoo, July 23, 1820.

REV. AND VERY DEAR SIR,

FAR removed from the loved dwellings of Zion in our native land, surrounded with pagans and strangers, we would lift the voice of grateful praise to our covenant Father, and call on our patrons and friends to rejoice, for the Lord hath comforted his people, and ministered unto us an open and abundant entrance among the heathen. But here we see no altars of abomination, nor bloody rites of superstition. Jehovah has begun to overturn the institutions of idolatry, and to prepare the way for

the nobler institutions of his

worship.

own

While we were tossing on the waters of the Atlantic, and while the church was on her knees before the Hearer of prayer, He was casting down the vanities of the heathen, demolishing the temples of paganism, and holding in derision the former pride and disgrace of this people.

Wafted by the propitious gales of heaven, we passed the dangerous goal of Cape Horn on the 30th of January; set up our Ebenezer there; and, on the 30th of March, arrived off the shores of these long lost and long neglected "Isles of the Gentiles." But how were our ears astonished to hear a voice proclaim; "In the wilderness, prepare ye the way of Jehovah; make straight in the desert a highway for our God!" How were our hearts agitated with new and various and unexpected emotions, to hear the interesting intelligence, -