who recommended a warm bath (not hip-bath as in the letter). It was not long before the machine and everything requisite was in readiness, and as preparation was making, I left him and went in to Mr. C. Foster, to apprize him of what had taken place, and begged him to see him as often as he could, as it would be a comfort to him. In the evening I went again, expecting to find him relieved, but this was not the case, for he told me he was no better, and that the pain was coming on again. On our taking leave he desired to be commended to God in prayer, which I did. At the next interview, after some conversation on the ground of his hope, he said with great seriousness, putting his hand upon his breast very significantly, "Nothing here-nothing here, -the finished work of Christ is my only trust." I said, "Unto you therefore which believe, Christ is precious,' I hope you find him precious now;" he replied, "I do in part- I do in part." The last time I called to see him he appeared perfectly easy. I addressed him, but received no reply, and, concluding he was dosing, I was unwilling to disturb him, and resolved to wait awhile. His breathing became gradually more and more feeble till it ceased, when the redeemed happy spirit fled. It was indeed a gentle wafting to immortal life-a "falling asleep in Jesus."

This mournful event, so sudden and mysterious, created a great sensation in the town, and I thought it proper to improve it by preaching on the occasion, which I did on the following Lord's-day evening, to a very large and very attentive congregation.

A coroner's inquest was held on the body on the Monday morning; this did not appear to me at all necessary, and yet as a post-mortem examination was in consequence requisite, it afforded a satisfactory proof of the cause of death; the medical men judged, and naturally enough from the symptoms, that it was colic or inflammation of the bowels, but it was found that it was ulceration, with perforation of the intestines. The jury returned, "Died by the visitation of God." I was required to be present to give evidence. I have seen Mr. Parsons since the melan. choly providence, who told me that he was not aware of the use that was to be made of his letter or he could have supplied more on the subject than his letter embraced.

I should have mentioned on the other side that in my sermon, with a view to improve the solemn and affecting dispensation, in the absence of all previous knowledge of him or his religious experience, I remarked in each conversation, Deep humility, which appeared in his expressions of his own vileness, renunciation of everything in himself, and an earnest desire to give God the glory of all that had been done in him and by him. Resignation to the will of God; not a murmur escaped from his lips, but acknowledging repeatedly, " 'tis all right." Strong faith, speaking confidently of going home. And an earnest desire to do good, even to the last, losing no opportunity of speaking to his attendants and the medical gentleman. This was noticed by the nurse who was with me in the chamber when he died.

Your affectionate Uncle,

S. PERCY.

P.S. Since writing this letter I have received an Address to the Inhabitants of Guildford, headed "GUILDFORD TOWN MISSION." This is the fruit of poor Nasmith's visit. It was his dying charge to Mr. C. F. to form a Town Mission. The experiment will be made, and may it be abundantly prosperous !

THE FUNERAL.

"About twenty Christian friends, consisting of the intimate acquaintances of the deceased, and his late fellow-workers in the cause of Missions, assembled at the house of Herbert Mayo, Esq., at eleven o'clock, and after uniting in prayer on the occasion, left there soon after twelve, to follow the body, which was conveyed in a hearse, to the Wesleyan Chapel in the City-road, followed by six mourning coaches. The procession reached the City-road, at a quarter past one o'clock. The body was then

taken into the chapel, followed by about thirty friends and the whole of the missionaries of the London City Mission.

The third hymn in the second book of Dr. Watts, was read by the Rev. Mr. Lorimer, of the Scottish Presbyterian Church, and sung by the congregation; after which a part of the 15th chapter of the 1st of Corinthians was read by the Rev. Mr. Evans, of the Baptist Church, in John-street, Bedford-row. The Rev. Mr. Philip, of Maberly Independent Chapel, Kingsland-road, (the (former pastor of the deceased,) delivered a powerful and practical Address, which was listened to with deep attention. The solemn and intensely interesting service was concluded by singing the 18th hymn, 1st book, and prayer by Mr. Philip.

The body was then carried to the grave, where the Rev. Peter Hall (a highly respected clergyman and friend of the deceased) most devoutly and impressively read the beautiful burial service of the Church of England, after which were sung the following verses of a favourite hymn of our late beloved friend and brother.

'Christians and brethren, ere we part,
Join every voice, join every heart;
One solemn song to God we raise,
One final hymn of grateful praise.
'Christians, we here may meet no more,
But yet there is a happier shore,

And there released from toil and pain,
Dear brethren, we shall meet again.'

Thus, in the united attendance of ministers of different denominations, was presented an aspect of Christian union, in which Mr. Nasmith always delighted, and at which he at all times aimed, in his works of Christian usefulness. His body now rests in the grave, there to await the resurrection of the just."

We shall reserve for a future number some observations on the character and labours of our honoured and departed friend.

THE REPORT READ AT THE PUBLIC MEETING OF THE ISLINGTON ASSOCIATION, BY EMERY CAIGER, MISSIONARY.

In

Ir is distressing to have to report, that in so highly-favoured a parish as Islington very many bad characters are to be found. a parish than which few, if any, are more privileged in this country; where clergymen are pious and devoted, and other ministers are zealous, and in labours most abundant, and where its churches, chapels, streets, and fields are witnesses to their faithful exhortations to repentance in the name of Jesus. Private Christians from the District Visiting Society, Christian Instruction Society, and other kindred Institutions, are also continually going from house to house with tracts and Christian advice. It is pleasing to allude to these efforts which are being made on this locality to

evangelize its population. The fact of their existence has led some, sincerely desirous of the temporal and spiritual benefit of the people, to ask, "Can there be any want of a City Missionary in Islington?" In reporting to this meeting his past labours, your Missionary will, in the first place show, from facts which have come under his notice, the NECESSITY for, and, secondly, the UTILITY of, the Islington Association of the London City Mission. The district of visitation is bounded on the south by Britanniarow; on the east by Popham-terrace and South-place; on the north by Green-Man's-lane; and on the west by Lower-street. Although this will be found to occupy but a very small space in the map of Islington, yet within its boundaries there are 450 families, comprising about 1,800 immortal souls. The inhabitants are principally mechanics, labourers, and brickmakers. With the moral and spiritual condition of about one-half of those individuals your Missionary has obtained a somewhat accurate acquaintance; but he deeply regrets to report that out of these 900 individuals, after all the exertions of clergymen, ministers, missionaries, and visitors, a very small number give satisfactory evidence of being truly devoted to God; twelve of which small number, it is humbly hoped, have been brought into the way of peace through the instrumentality of your Missionary. Of the remaining individuals your Missionary has not been able to obtain so intimate a knowledge, though he frequently comes in contact with them; he is, however, apprehensive that their state, to say the very least, is not even so good as that of the others. Out of the whole population some time since, when he made it a special matter of inquiry, six hundred adults confessed with their own lips, that they neither frequented church nor chapel !

A considerable number of both sexes are addicted to drunkenness, fornication, and swearing, and not a few to thieving. A few cases will illustrate this statement, in which the names and residences of the parties alluded to, could, if it were prudent, be distinctly stated.

BLASPHEMERS.-Your Missionary seldom pursues his daily work without hearing oaths drop from the lips of hoary age, as well as from children who can scarcely run alone. But blasphemers of a worse class than this are numerous, who not only give utterance to the hasty oath, without considering its meaning, but who coolly and deliberately blaspheme the name of the living God, and "Jesus Christ whom he has sent." From the lips of a young Infidel, only a few Sabbaths ago, were words spoken in derision of your Missionary, of a character too awful here to report, through their lewdness and their profane parody of the words of the Bible, but which, if they could with propriety be repeated, would exemplify the fearful character of the Infidelity which is here to be met with.

To refer to one other case; a poor woman not long since from the country, who received great benefit at the meetings of your

Missionary, and who has since attended the faithful preaching of the Rev. Mr. Haselgrave, and who through these means, it is hoped, is truly converted to God, not long ago brought the wife of a notorious Infidel to your Missionary's Meetings, and subsequently on Sabbath evenings to St. Peter's Church. The Lord was pleased also, under these united means, to bless his Word to the Infidel's wife; and now she is found, not spending her Sabbaths as she heretofore had done in idleness, drinking, &c. &c. (the manner her husband and several other Infidels who meet at his house spend that holy day), but as often as possible in the house of God.

But this has exposed her, as well as the female who was the means of leading her to Jesus, to persecution from her unbelieving husband. On calling one day to give advice to one of the persecuted parties, the husband was about to "turn them all out of the house, declaring, with horrid oaths, unfit to publish, that he would have no "devil dodgers" in his house. It may also here be added, that your Missionary knows fourteen or fifteen Infidels who are very zealous in spreading their pernicious sentiments in his district, in consequence of which numbers are more or less infected. As may be expected, opposition from such characters to the endeavours to benefit them is frequent. A few months back, the Missionary on entering the house of a man whom he had heard was so insulting that the ladies could not visit with tracts, said to him, "Would you like to read one of my tracts, friend?” With an oath he began to swear at the tracts, and asked, angrily, "Why do you come here to insult me?" The Missionary replied that he did not come to insult him, and that his motive was puresimply to do him good. He again cursed him, and added, "I tell you, that you do insult me, and if you are not out of the shop in a minute, I'll kick you out!" Your Missionary was proceeding to expostulate with him, when he sprang from his seat in a great passion, seized him by the arms, and threw him into the street. He departed praying for his soul.

DRUNKARDS, WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION.-Shortly after the Missionary came into this district, he became acquainted with a family, the husband of which might rather have been supposed to be a New Zealander than an inhabitant of Islington. The barbarous act of which he was guilty might even make a savage blush. While an infant child of this man's was lying dead, he came home as usual intoxicated. On his wife's remonstrating with him for spending the money in drink which she wanted to defray the funeral expenses, he seized the infant corpse, and with it beat his wife in such a dreadful manner that she could not get up for several days. Some months after this he so brutally used his wife by beating her and throwing her into the street, which nearly deprived her of life, that he was taken up and imprisoned. On being released from confinement he again took to drinking. Your Missionary accidentally met his wife a few months back (as they

have since his imprisonment retired from this neighbourhood), when she told him, with tears in her eyes, that he was now in a lunatic asylum, a raving maniac, through drink!

Another case, under this head, will illustrate the misery into which drunkenness plunges some families in this district. Your Missionary in his regular course of visitation, one day observed a woman sitting on a chair, broken off at the back, looking very ill. She informed him that she had been lately confined of a still-born infant. The scene of misery which he here witnessed was truly distressing-seven little ones, the father and the mother, without food, without money, and without furniture; for not a table, bed, or bedstead was there in the room. The chair already alluded to, with a board blocked up on some bricks, composed the whole of their household goods. On inquiring the cause of this destitution and misery, the man frankly confessed that he was a silversmith, and accustomed to earn 27. 10s., and even 27. 15s. per week, but that he spent it on drink! and thus proving himself destitute of natural affection for the wife with whom he had been united.

AN IRISH WAKE.-Your Missionary in his visitations in Islington has seen the body of a female after a "nightly wake" presenting a most sickening sight, literally like a tap-room table; covered with the ashes of tobacco, which had been knocked out of pipes, with beer and gin spilled on almost every part of it. He saw a quantity of tobacco on one part of it for the men, and a saucer full of snuff on another part for the women, to take with the glass of "liquid fire" over the corpse of a poor fellow-creature.

Since your Missionary has been in the district assigned him by the London City Mission, out of the cases of death which have occurred, he has attended thirty-four persons on death-beds, who did not, in one single instance, receive other visitations.

During the last year 700 families were found without the Scriptures in Islington; although some have appeared credulous on this fact, not believing that Islington, with all its advantages, could be in a state of such destitution as to the Scriptures. The conscientious conviction of your Missionary is, that this was below the mark; as the very next month, in his little sphere, he found twelve families without the Scriptures, which had not been supplied by the persons who canvassed the district, through their absence from home when called upon. Many other statements might be added to the foregoing, but it is trusted sufficient has been said to show the NECESSITY for City Mission operations in this parish.

A few cases will now be mentioned illustrative of the UTILITY of your Missionary's operations. And he would first observe, that twelve persons have been gathered in from the world, and have united themselves to God's people in different sections of Christ's Church; all of whom are "adorning the doctrine of God their Saviour." Three backsliders have also been reclaimed, one of whom had been wandering eleven years from the fold.

A great portion of time has been spent with the sick and dying,