said of him, How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings! I confess I felt a peculiar love to him, as a devoted Labourer in the Vineyard of the Lord.

We supplied him with books; and on his departure he said, "I beg you to procure me 100 Testaments without delay: they will soon be called for; and, although I cannot pay you for them immediately, yet as I receive the money from my poor neighbours I shall faithfully deliver it to you. Farewell!" Circulation of the Scriptures among Servants and Labourers.

For several days my mind had been depressed with incidents connected with a pilgrim's life; when, in an unexpected hour, as if an angel were sent to comfort me, I was completely relieved by a visit from a Baron's servant. He was a welldressed, clever, and intelligent man. "I am come," said he, from a far country; and, if you please, I should like to have a copy of the New Testament, the Psalter," &c. " Who sent you hither ?" "It "that is singular enough," he replied, ever I should hear of you; but it came to pass in the following manner. Some of my master's people were at work in this city last summer; and when they returned to spend the winter with their families, they exhibited the treasures which they brought from the metropolis: a few of them had the books which I have now asked for. I had never seen any of the sort before; and I resolved, if it were ever in my power, I would possess them as my own: and, to my great joy, my master lately determined to come hither, and to take me with him. When this was known, my nephew requested me to bring a New Testament for him also. We are just arrived, and I had some difficulty in finding your house; but, thank God! I have found it at last." He was not sent empty away.

66

The next morning a labourer called for exactly the same books as we had sold this man the preceding day. 'Whence came you, friend?" He told us. “Why, there was a gentleman's servant here from the same place, yesterday." “O yes!" replied the man; "it was from him I have heard of it; and he has promised to carry these books, for me, to my relatives."

If, in ancient times, a Prophet said, How beautiful upon the mountains are the feel of him that bringeth good tidings! may we not say, How delightfully employed

66

In the spring of 1829, Timothy, the Hawker, called at my house with his wares. My servants, who recommend the Scriptures whenever they have an opportunity, talked with this man on the value of the New Testament, and advised him to buy a copy. "Of what use can it be to me," said he, when I am not able to read?" "Yes, it may be of great service to you: you can carry it to your lodgings, and have it read to you; or you can send it to your family, some of whom can read it. It will do good: buy one.' The man attended to this advice, and carried the book to his lodgings.

We saw nothing more of this man until autumn; when he returned, and earnestly entreated a copy of every kind of book "You can which we could give him. of the good form no idea," said he, that book has done, which I bought here in the spring. There are more than thirty of us who mess together at the same lodgings; and, at the time when I first took home the New Testament, these men spent almost every evening at the public-house, and returned intoxicated: but now the scene is quite altered scarcely a man leaves the lodgings in the evening. There are three among us who can read; and they take it by turns, and the others sit round and listen to them. There is no drunkenness in our party

now.

-

Oh, what an interesting scene would this group have presented to the eye of an Apostle!-thirty poor villagers, collected together from various parts of the country, listening to one of their number reading the words of Eternal Life; and, from this circumstance, breaking off from their vices, saving their hard-earnings for their families, and acting like rational creatures!

RELIGIOUS-TRACT SOCIETY.

A MISSIONARY to the Jews, who is resident at Frankfort,in accounting for the appropriation of a Grant from the Committee, gives the following particulars of his

Distribution of Tracts by Means of Travelling Workmen.

The Tracts were mostly distributed to

wandering German Journeymen, from various parts of Germany, especially from Bavaria, Austria, Baden, and Westphalia, who passed through this town. I had agreed with Mr. Claus to send such journeymen to me for Tracts, when they came to buy Bibles. By this means they were made acquainted with my intention, and many of them profited thereby to obtain supplies of Tracts; and, as they were wandering from this place, they met other journeymen, to whom they disclosed their discovery, so that they were led to apply to me also for Tracts: and,in this manner, about Four Hundred Journeymen, of various trades, obtained Tracts at my house; bringing each one a direction to me, written upon a small piece of paper. During my recent absence, One Hundred and Four Persons came for Tracts; so that, upon the whole, Five Hundred Journeymen have received them at my house.

None of these men remained in Frankfort; but continued their journeying from place to place, and from Country to Country: therefore it is difficult for me to speak of the fruits which the Tracts may have produced. It may be with these men and Tracts, as with the birds, who often carry with them the fruit or seed of herbs, flowers, and trees, to other parts, and so are the means of transplanting them from one Country to another. To whatever part on the Continent these journeymen may go and find work, I am sure they will produce their Tracts; and speak about their contents to their fellow-journeymen and masters. Most of these journeymen were Roman Catholics; and we do not know how great a blessing the Tracts, by the grace of God, may produce.

That this, my suggestion, is true, is to be seen from the immediate consequences which have followed; for more than One Hundred and Fifty Jewish Journeymen were stirred up thereby to come to me for Jewish Tracts, New Testaments, and Bibles; which gave me an opportunity to preach Christ crucified to them. Often I have had a Jewish, a Roman-Catholic, and Protestant Journeyman, at one and the same time, with me; and while I was directing the Jew to the Lamb of God, the Catholics began to pray, and the Protestants to weep, shaking my hands, saying, THEY HAD NEVER HEARD THE WAY OF LIFE STATED IN THIS MANNER! The Great Day of Christ will reveal it, if fruit to eternal life has been produced thereby.

During the month of September, the Great Fair was held here; and several merchants from Bohemia, and other Countries, came to ask for Tracts from me for themselves and children; saying, that they had heard from journeymen that I distributed such godly books, which they had never seen in their Country: and I am sure they will be read and circulated on their reaching home, for their countenances beamed with joy on receiving these books.

South Africa.

UNITED BRETHREN.

GNADENTHAL.

THE notices relative to this Settlement are collected from the communications of Br. Hallbeck.

State of the Girls' School.

Our Girls' School, exclusive of a number of bigger girls who receive instruction on Sundays, contains, at present, 125 scholars; and the average daily attendance is about 100. Through the blessing of God on the labours of Br. Luttring, who is assisted by a faithful Hottentot Sister, these children are now more forward than at any former period of the Mission; so that one half of the number constitutes the first class of Bible Readers; and a spirit of emulation has been excited among them, of which the Hottentots were not long ago considered incapable. We have already among our Married Sisters a considerable proportion of such as, by their general conduct, their careful education of their children, and their unfeigned love to our Saviour, prove, in the most pleasing manner, that the pains bestowed on their education in our School have not been in vain; and we trust, that, when the present generation of children shall have attained to years of maturity, the fruits of our School Labours will also be seen, and redound to the glory of our Saviour and the furtherance of His Cause.

Improvement of the Elder Boys.

The globe, which you lately announced as having been presented to us by some generous friends in England, has at length found its way across the mountains, and is now in use in our little academy. We beg to return our warmest thanks to the kind donors for so excellent an instrument, and promise that it shall be well cared for. You will be gratified to learn, that my young pupils are already prepared for the use of it, by a competent knowledge

of Mathematical Geography; and that the progress in other branches of education has been quite equal to my expectations. I never met with Boys who mastered Arithmetic with more ease than these Hottentots; and, if my time will admit of it, I have a mind, if it were only by way of experiment, to go through the First Six Books of Euclid with them. On the 23d of June (1829), I examined them in the presence of the Missionaries, in Reading, Writing, Orthography, Arithmetic, and Geography; when their progress appeared such as to excite general surprise and satisfaction. I hope that we shall be able to employ them, next year, as Under Teachers in our Boys' School. May the Lord hold His Hand over them; and influence their hearts by His Grace and Spirit! for, without this, all our labour will prove of little avail. State of the Young People in respect of Piety.

Among our Young People we find, to

our sorrow, that the wheat is not unmixed

with tares. The temptations by which they are surrounded are numerous and powerful; and we, therefore, do not wonder that they are occasionally overcome by them, particularly when we reflect on the natural depravity of the human heart, and the want of adequate parental controul. Yet, deeply as we grieve over every deviation from the mind and precepts of Christ, we cannot but feel thankful for the grace which prevails generally in our Congregation, and by which many of our Young People are led to consider their ways and turn to the Lord. Increase of Agriculture and Manufactures

in the Settlement.

It is now the season for planting and

transplanting trees; and we are, therefore, busily employed in operations of this kind: the whole valley adjoining our vineyard will soon be one complete inclosure, part of which will be prepared for the pasturage of calves and other weak cattle: the rest is already planted with vines and tobacco. As there is no room left near our Mission Premises for

such a purpose, a considerable plot of ground at Siebenfonteyn will be transformed into a plantation of oaks and other forest-trees. Through a friend at Cape Town, I have lately received a variety of seeds from Germany, which have been just committed to the earth: the present season is peculiarly favourable to vegetation seeds which were sown several

years ago, but which, for want of moisture, never germinated, now make their appearance. The Bedford Wheat, which failed when planted in our gardens, we have now sown on the fields of a friendly farmer in our neighbourhood, where it seems less exposed to the rust and the depredations of birds; and we hope it may produce a plentiful return.

Our little tanning business continues to prosper: not only are most of the Missionaries, and many of our Hottentots, already dressed in leathern trowsers of our own manufacture, but there begins to be a demand on the part of our neighbours for shoe-leather, which, I hope, we shall be enabled to supply to their satisfaction. If we could establish, in addition, a manufactory of coarse hats, it would be of essential advantage to us; as we should, in this case, be enabled to turn to profitable account the quantity of wool which now accumulates at the tan-yard. By thus finding em

ployment for our people, and converting

facturing village, we shall do more for our place by degrees into a little manuour Hottentots than by direct charities; and lay a better foundation for their future prosperity, than by urging them to suited to their circumstances. engage in speculations every way un

State of the Mission Family.

Our Missionary Family at this place consists of Thirteen Adults and as many Children: on an average, we have upward of 20 Hottentots in our service and employ; and not unfrequently, from 10 to 12 additional work-people: so that victuals are daily prepared in our kitchen for above 50 persons. Hence you may imagine, that our premises exhibit a

busy scene; and that my Wife, who, in addition to the care of the school for nee

dle-work, has this extensive housekeeping under her superintendence, finds herhowever, two very excellent Hottentot self pretty well employed. We have, there for about 30 years, and in whom we Servants in our kitchen, who have been can place full confidence; and thus the the vintage and fruit season, the bustle burden is considerably diminished. In hands occupied in the labour of gathering is greatly increased by the additional and drying the fruit.

Gratitude for Gifts of Clothing. In the beginning of October (1829) we had the pleasure to receive a very valuable present of materials for clothing,

and, likewise, some wearing-apparel, for the use of the Hottentots: the last-mentioned articles have been mostly given to the Brethren who have charge of the Schools, for distribution among the children, as rewards for diligence and good conduct. That portion destined for the Missionaries has been distributed as directed; and I am requested, by our whole Mission Family, to return their warmest thanks to their unknown Benefactors: the thought that a number of Christian Friends are employed, for a length of time, in administering to our comforts, even without our knowledge, has in it something so very encouraging and affecting, that I am really unable to describe the pleasing sensations which pervaded every breast when the distribution was made. Such acts of benevolence prove the steady and continued interest felt in the Cause of Missions, even more strikingly than the charitable donations occasionally drawn forth by the powerful pleadings of a public-speaker: nor can we doubt that those, who devote so much of their time and substance to the furtherance of this Blessed Work, will also remember, in their prayers, the Missionaries more immediately engaged in it. We pray that the Lord may abundantly bless them for the encouragement which they have thus administered unto us; and grant us grace to serve Him with more zeal and faithfulness, seeing how kindly we are remembered and supported by His Children in other climes.

Grateful Acknowledgment of Divine
Goodness.

:

I have just concluded (Dec. 28, 1829) my Twelfth Year in the service of this Mission and, when I now review the whole of this period, I having nothing to glory in, but in my own and my Brethren's weakness; and no other plea than this, God be merciful to me, a sinner! If something has been done in the furtherance of the Cause of God, perhaps ten times as much has been neglected.

The

advance is certainly not owing to our zeal, gifts, and talents, but to the influence of the Spirit of God; but whatever has been neglected stands certainly charged to our account. How then can we boast, sunk in debt as we are? And what other refuge is there left to us, than the everlasting mercy of the Most High? That we enjoy the confidence and goodwill of our Government, we accept with gratitude, as a gift for our encouragement from the hands of our Divine Master:

but it cannot elate us. Every year's experience impresses it more deeply on my mind, that our success in externals and internals depends mainly, under the Divine Blessing, on our being preserved in love and harmony together; and, for this reason, we encourage one another, on all occasions, to cultivate a spirit of mutual kindness and forbearance, and to yield to the wishes of our Brethren and Sisters whenever a sense of duty does not dictate the contrary: and I am happy to say, that we can again conclude a year with the pleasing reflection that a spirit of love has, in general, prevailed in all our Missionary Families; and that we feel, at this moment, truly united in Christ.

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

IN the last Report, the Directors give the following view of the State of the Mahomedans at Cape Town.

Mr. Elliott continues his labours at Cape Town, which are partly devoted to the Coloured Population. In his attempts, however, to benefit the Mahomedans, by the distribution among them of the Scriptures and Christian Books, he has to contend with the most formidable obstacles; among the principal of which may be reckoned the arbitrary influence of their Priests over the persons, property, and even services of their people—the inability of the Malays, generally speaking, to read intelligibly-their aversion to printed books-the prohibition, by the Imauns, of all Christian Publicationsand the difficulty which even the bestinstructed find in reading the Malayan New-Testament, in consequence of the idiom being in a considerable degree foreign to them; and from the prefixes and affixes with which it abounds, and which are in a great measure dispensed with in the colloquial Malay, at the Cape. When these things are considered, it will excite the less surprise, that of the 50 Malay New-Testaments, with which Mr. Elliott was furnished by the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, on his leaving England for Africa in 1824, he had, in the summer of 1829, sold only 13 copies. A number of copies, which, soon after his arrival out at the Cape, he had gratuitously distributed among the Malays, have, with the exception of one or two, been returned to him, in pursuance of the imperative orders of the Imauns to that effect.