fact, here is all the African Superstition mixed up with the vices of the Whites; and some of their Teachers are ready to tell them that they mean no harm by these things. A Pass from a Manager is, in general, all the necessary preparation of Negroes for Baptism. Such is the state of things; and there is nothing to check them; and nothing but a preached Gospel will. Some of the people that come on a Sunday are naked, some half-dressed, others neat and cleanly: the Negroes, whether Husbands or Wives, think nothing of separating, and taking another; they are altogether in bondage, both of soul and body: no one proclaims liberty to the captive; no one shews them the freedom that is in Christ.

Mr. Strong, after adverting to the trying circumstances in which Mr. Armstrong is placed, remarks

Every Christian must sympathize with and pray for him, that, although banished all Christian Communion, all means of Grace, all ordinances-standing completely alone among his fellow-creatures-at present, a being of a strange birth to them, a citizen of another country, and living here among a people of a strange language-he may feel himself strong and happy in his Redeemer; and prove this Gospel truth, Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesusthat although ordinances are refreshing to Believers, they are not necessary to the spiritual life of those who are sanctified by God the Father, preserved in Christ Jesus, and called.

NORTH-WEST AMERICA MISSION.

THE return of the Rev. D. T. Jones, who is at present on a visit home, has been already noticed. Mr. Jones's health improved during the voyage; and he is about to return to his labours. The Rev. William Cockran and Mr. Cockran were in good health when Mr. Jones left the Settlement. Mr. Garrioch had suffered from weakness in his chest, but his health is somewhat improved.

Mr. Jones, in his interview with the Committee, gave an encouraging view of the progress of the Mission during the four years which have elapsed since its commencement. The Services at the two Churches on the Sunday, and the Meeting for Social Prayer at Image Plain, have been continued; and the MINISTRY OF THE WORD has been accompanied with an evident blessing. The Congregation at each of the Churches,

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which are nine miles apart, averages about 400 persons; of whose regularity in attending the Public Means of Grace, as well as their Social Meetings, Mr. Cockran speaks in gratifying terms.

At the request of an Individual, who has opened his house for the purpose, a second Meeting for Prayer has been commenced, at the lower extremity of the Settlement, about 17 miles from the Upper, and 11 miles from the Lower Church; which was attended, once a fortnight, through the winter, by one or other of the Missionaries, and about 30 of the inhabitants. This has been the means of effecting a change in their outward conduct; which is thus described by Mr. Cockran:

In time past, they would cut their wood, and fish on the Sabbath, the same as on other days: but now, instead of hearing the blow of their hatchet resounding through the woods, we hear them singing the praises of Jesus, who has redeemed them with His blood; and, instead of their attending to their nets for the meat that perisheth, we often see them in the House of God, and hear them joining their prayers and praises with us to Him from whom all blessings flow, and looking up to Him for the Bread of Life.

The number of Communicants, stated in the last Report to be 73, has increased to 134; of whom 7 or 8 are Indians. There is reason to hope that the only person, whom they had deemed it right to separate from Communion with them, has been brought to repentance. Of this infant Church Mr. Cockran gives the following account:

I think that the pure Gospel of Christ is still an interesting subject to those who have made a profession of religion in this Settlement. They behold as much beauty, excellency, and true riches in it, and feel as much their need of it, as they did when the Lord first stretched out His arm, and drew them out of the horrible pit, and set their feet on Christ the Rock. With many, Religion is viewed as the principal thing, the one thing needful: and other things are, in a great measure, kept in subordination to it; and regarded as good or evil, just as far as they will accelerate or retard the interest of Christ. I believe that our little visible Church approaches as near primitive simplicity and sincerity as any other to be found in any part of the world. The most of them are Bible Christians: to the Word of God they go for information, on every subject that concerns their souls. Christ and

his Gospel are all in all; and to Him they apply, for strength, for instruction, for direction, for encouragement; that, as men of God, they may be well-directed, instructed, and enabled to live in the performance of every good work.

Mr. Cockran adds

Do not think that I am endeavouring to persuade you that we have a perfect Church, and that every individual member is without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. No; I never expect to see such a Church on earth. Christ has told us that the tares will grow among the wheat. There may be many tares, and much chaff, amongst our wheat; but we have great reason to feel thankful to God for the refreshing dews of His Grace which He has commanded to fall so copiously on our Zion, that the wheat flourishes luxuriantly, and completely overtops the tares, that they are not apparent to an ordinary observer at present, and perhaps will not be, until some storm of adversity blows and bends the wheat: then shall the tares be manifest.

There are 4 DAILY SCHOOLS, at such a distance from one another as to afford facility for the greatest number of Children to attend: there is also a Sunday School at each of the Churches: that at the Upper, containing, on an average, 30 Scholars; and that at the Lower, 100: the numbers attending the other Schools are not stated. Of this part of their proceedings Mr. Cockran writes

In our Sunday and Week-day Schools we are not very successful. The Children who come only to the Sunday School seem to make very little progress in knowledge: and it is not for the want of capacity, or regular attendance at School, but from the inattention at their time of instruction and at home.

Mrs. Cockran continues to instruct the GIRLS, but with as little apparent success as attends the education of the Boys: some of them improve considerably in reading, and in gaining theoretical knowledge; but their inattention, especially on religious subjects, is great.

Mr. Cockran, in contrasting the former condition of the Children with the present advantages afforded them, makes the following remarks:

It encourages us, to see them in the House of God; especially when we consider, that a few years ago they were scattered, in the wilds of North America, as sheep without a Shepherd, fearing no God, knowing no Saviour, keeping no Sabbath. But now they are in the way of good; they are

kept out of mischief; and are under the sound of the Gospel; and hear of Him who is able and willing to save: they are lying at the pool, where we expect Jesus to pass by, and speak to them, saying, I will, be thou clean. This is our encouragement; this puts life into our prayers and endeavours, gives us patience, and enables us to persevere in teaching them.

In the midst of these exercises of their patience, Mr. Jones notices, in his Journal, one fact of an opposite description:

see me.

I went down the Settlement to see a Half-breed boy, who had been ill of a pulmonary consumption for a long time, in consequence of his having this morning expressed a wish to He had often excited and disappointed our hopes concerning him during his illness. When I entered the house, his mother (an Indian woman) told me, 'she hoped the boy had now found his Saviour, and had given himself up to Him.' I then went to his bed-side, and, seeing him very near his end, said to him, "Well, Harry, the time is drawing near now." "I suppose so," was the reply." How do you feel, my boy, at the prospect?" "Comfortable, sir."-" And what does your comfort rest on ?" "On the mercy of God, through Christ."-"Why did you wish to see me?" tell you that Jesus Christ is good to me."-As soon as a violent fit of coughing subsided, I said to him, "Now, Harry, I must go back to Church: tell me what testimony of your love to your Saviour are you going to leave with me?" He said, with great difficulty, "Tell the School Children, tell all, that He is very good, for He has saved the soul of poor Harry Spencer." He died very soon after. Perceiving his candle going out, he called to his stepfather and his mother, "Now kneel down and pray;" and was released from suffering, we hope to go to Jesus his Redeemer.

"To

In the School for Indian Boys, Mr. Cockran has not met with the encouragement which he desires. They have been taught to read and write, and are accustomed to learn portions of Scripture and Hymns: he complains, however, of their inattention; and, as yet, has not been able to trace any work of Divine Grace in their hearts. Of their industry he thus speaks:

I do not see better Boys in the Settlement, for executing manual labour quietly and properly, than ours. Our wheat this year, and likewise the barley and potatoes, have been very much overrun with weeds; and we employed the Boys to pluck them out: this gave us an opportunity of proving their industry. They weeded all our crops, twice; and while they were thus employed they were very cheerful and diligent. When I called them out of the school in the morning,

after the dew was off, to go and weed, they always came very willingly, and never absconded during the day: except, when the heat was very intense, the smallest of them would leave me slyly, and hide themselves.

Mr. Jones and Mr. Cockran are both desirous of extending their labours to the Indians. Their Ministry has hitherto been chiefly directed to the Europeans and Half-breeds; and though, by the blessing of God, individual good has been done to some of the Aborigines directly or indirectly connected with the Settlement, yet the Missionaries have no immediate access to them, and no systematic plan has hitherto been adopted for their evangelization. They are of opinion that this object might be greatly promoted, by settling a few Indian Families near them; who might not only receive Christian Instruction, but become the channel of communicating it to others. In connection with this subject, Mr. Cockran writes

I hope that the time is not far distant, when we shall be able to raise part of the clothing requisite for the Indian School, and for Indian Families, if they were permitted to reside with us. We have sown half-an-acre of flax, if it should come to perfection: if we had some of the Indian Boys instructed to weave, we might be able to raise summer clothing from it. Linen would be far better clothing for hot and wet weather than leather. We also expect sheep this summer: if they should come, and be fortunate, perhaps shortly we shall be able to make flannel and linsey-woolsey, which would be very useful for winter clothing.

Mr. Jones states, that the Settlement has recovered from the effects of the flood; and that means have been taken to render it less liable to the recurrence of such an event, by building the houses on higher ground. On a review of their trials, Mr. Cockran writes:

We have trusted in the Lord, and have not been ashamed: we called upon Him in the day of trouble, and He did deliver us, and gave us our portion of meat in a proper season, and made it doubly sweet by the zest of a thankful heart. We will, therefore, yet hope in His mercy; and live in the full persuasion, that He who clothes the grass, and decorates the lilies, will much more clothe us, who are better than they.