The Fort Wiltshire to Grahamstown. soldiers had charge of the waggons which were going to town, but they had remained a little behind for some purpose; and while they were behind, three young men (Caffres) came up to them, and at first appeared friendly, until one of them requested one of the soldiers to give him his gun, and got hold of it; and while he stuck fast to the gun, one of the other Caffres struck the soldier in the back with his assagai, when he fell to the ground: the other young Caffre, who was a little behind, seeing what was going on, immediately threw his assagai at the other soldier, which entered into some part of his body, and he fell to the ground; and this was the man which Dooshanie brought to our station. I cannot describe my feelings when I saw the two bayonets belonging to the guns, and when I began to think that he had so recently imbrued his hands in the blood of Englishmen. Oh! when will the time come, that man will know nothing in man but a friend and a brother! The following day we had a large assembly, when the murderer was examined by Dooshanie: after which, he determined to send him, as a prisoner, to the charge of the Captain commanding at Fort Wilt shire. Mr Shrewsbury, in March last, thus writes, from Butterworth, on the subject of these murders:: Another Caffre has been brought to seek, and, I trust, to obtain, the favour of God. He is a Young Man of an exceedingly tender and contrite spirit; and his experience is sound and scriptural. I baptized him last January; and afterward took him to accompany me on my journey to Grahamstown. This incidental circumstance afforded me an opportunity of discovering further proofs of his sincerity and devotedness to God. On the evening of the second day of our journey, we arrived late at Fort Wiltshire, having travelled 150 miles in the two days. Here we were surprised to find, besides the ordinary troops of the garrison, an encampment of the military from Grahamstown, assembled to witness the execution of four Caffres, who were to undergo the sentence of death the next morning. They had been guilty of the murder of two English Soldiers. The British Officers were retired to rest. I immediately, however, sent to request from Lieut. Colonel Somerset permission. to visit the prisoners, which was readily granted; and John (for so this Young Man was named) and I passed the night with those wretched men, in the guard-room. now, At When we entered, they were all in a sound sleep, fastened to one another by fetters. We awakened them; and they sat up while we spake to them on the things of God; for this Young Convert was employed as an interpreter. first, the unhappy criminals seemed to be wholly stupid and unconcerned, and paid but little attention to our exhortation. I read and expounded Gen. ix. 5, 6; and insisted on the heinousness of their crime, and the justness of that punishment which was about to be inflicted upon them. When I had ended, I requested John to pray with them, as I could not pray myself in Caffre. And for the first time, I heard him call on the Name of the Lord; and, truly, he prayed with the spirit and with the understanding also. We rose from our knees, and sat a few minutes in silence. I then said, "John, are you not weary with the long ride of yesterday and today ?". He replied, "Although, Sir, I am weary, I have no wish for rest or sleep, on such an occasion as this." I then bade him address the prisoners inthey wished to lie down again, or would dividually, and inquire of them whether continue to sit and hear what might be further spoken to them. Each one replied for himself, "I will sit and hear." We then renewed the word of instruction and exhortation, opening and applying various portions of Holy Writ; such as, the narrative of the Thief on the Cross, the Parable of the Prodigal Son, &c.; and specially urging the necessity of an immediate application to Jesus Christ for pardon and salvation. At intervals we ceased, and requested them to bow their heads upon their knees, while both they and we continued in silent prayer to God. It was deeply solemn, at the midnight hour, to hear whispers for mercy from the lips of murderers who were so near eternity. In this manner nearly the whole night was employed. They became increasingly serious, attentive, and devout. On one occasion, toward morning, I asked them, after our silent supplications had been offered up, for what they prayed: one said, "I beseech God to forgive me all my sins;" a second, "I ask God to give me His grace; "a third, "I pray that God would take me to heaven;" and the fourth made a similar reply. At dawn of day the bugles sounded for the military to assemble under arms; and an escort came to carry the prisoners to the fatal spot. And now the terrors of death fell upon them. The young man who threw the first assagai shook in every joint; and all their countenances were strongly marked with fear. We walked with them, exhorting them to think of nothing but Christ, and His sacrifice for sin. When they came to the ford of the Keiskama, a river which divides Albany from Caffraria, the military were drawn up on the colonial side, and a small party only conveyed the prisoners to the opposite side, where the Caffre Chiefs were assembled to receive them. Here they underwent a short trial, in the presence of the British Officers; and, after the confirmation of the sentence, preparations were made for putting them to death. Having obtained permission to address the Chiefs, I explained to them also Gen. ix. 5, 6; and shewed, that what they had been required to do should not be by them considered as the demand of English Justice and English Law, but as impera tively commanded in the Holy Word of God; and that the same principle of justice ought to be adopted by them in the government of their people, since their own method of punishing muderers, by fine, was not equitable, but suffered the guilt of unavenged blood to pollute the land. We then finally exhorted the murderers to die with the Name of Jesus on their lips; and, having prayed with them once more, we departed; when they were all immediately executed by Caffres, at the orders of the principal Chief, Gaika. The elderly man, wh› was a petty captain, was first hung on a tree; and the other three were strangled: and the Caffres severally returned to their different places of abode. Mediterranean. BRITISH & FOREIGN BIble societY. Tour in Greece by Mr. Barker. MR. Barker left Smyrna on the 26th of May, in the Armide French Frigate, and reached Egina on the 28th. He here met with the Rev. Jonas King: by his assistance, Mr. Barker procured the introduction of the Scriptures in the Government School. From Egina, he proceeded to Epidaura, and thence visited the Schools at Napoli di Romania and at Argos. Having succeeded in introducing the Scriptures into these Schools, Mr. Barker sailed from Syra; and, from thence, visited the islands of Andros, Terio, Miconia, Naxia, Paros, Sephnos, Serpho, and Thermia, in its vicinity; and then returned to Syraeverywhere, as he had opportunity, inspecting the Schools, and furnishing them with the Scriptures. With Dr. Korck, at Syra, Mr. Barker settled a plan of future operations; and "returned," he says, "to Smyrna with a joyful heart, having 'experienced much satisfaction and pleasure during the whole time of his excursion." ." In this tour, Mr. Barker distributed 1214 copies of the Scriptures; and, by means of other persons, 2820 more. From his Journal, we extracted, at pp. 62, 63 of our last Number, his description of some interesting scenes in the Schools at Egina; and shall now add other passages. Promising State of the Schools at Egina. My surprise and pleasure were great, to find Egina full of Institutions for Instruction, mostly conducted on the Lancasterian System. These are called Preparatory Schools: that is, the children learn to read and write; and, in some, Grammar is also taught. I must confess, that all Mr. King had related to me, at Smyrna, of the increase of schools in Greece, and the desire of the children to learn, did not exceed the real state of the case. I was told (and now, from what I witnessed in Egina, and afterward in other parts, found it the fact) that the disposition for establishing Schools is the same everywhere in Greece. The town of Egina, being crowded, does not afford proper room for Schools, which are carried on in miserable huts or sheds: I saw the boys of one of these schools actually taking their lessons in the shade of a wall: in many, part of the boys were in a room, and the rest in boys and 15 girls, I saw the girls in the the open air: at a school composed of 34 Master's parlour (which served him likewise for bed-room and kitchen), at tended by a female; and the boys, with the Master, outside in the street. These schools are, if possible, still more miserable in regard to books: in short, what I witnessed is truly deplorable; for I could hardly find an entire book in schools of 40 and 50 children, excepting now and then a Tract printed at the Malta Missionary-Press: some boys had only half a book: others held a few leaves of one; and most of them had their lessons written out. Notwith standing all these inconveniences, it is astonishing to see the progress which the children make-how readily they go to school—and how anxious they are to learn and to excel. About twenty of these schools possess from 15 to 100 children; others, less numbers: there are, besides, the Orphan Asylum, which is now composed of about 500 boys; and the School for Ancient Greek, of 120. The latter, though better off with respect to books, is yet, compared with one of our schools, but poorly circumstanced: the schoolroom is the gallery of the principal Church; but so inadequate to contain all the boys, that some of them are seen sitting on the stairs leading to it, while the rest are suffering under the pressure of numbers. In this school the Ancient Greek Authors are read, and Geometry, Theology, Geography &c. taught. The building of a school for these boys is under consideration: but, from what I heard, the President will wait first to see Athens fall into it, so that he may erect a school there. The Orphan Asylum, lately built by subscription, and aided by contributions from the friends of Greece, is an extensive and fine edifice, and far superior to any other in the country. It was only opened two months since; and the boys who have therein found a home were previously beggars in the streets, in different parts of Greece, having lost their parents in the war. The Lancasterian System is adopted in this school; and the boys have already acquired the drilling part of their education, and are besides wonderfully improved in other respects, considering they commenced being instructed only a short time ago. The Greek Boys are naturally bright and clever, and little pains are necessary to teach them any thing. I had occasion to witness this in the progress of the boys in the smaller schools, who although labouring under all the inconveniences before mentioned, yet, in the course of a year, or at most two, learn all that their Masters can teach them, viz. Writing and Reading, a little Grammar, and Arithmetic. I have seen boys, who had been at school a few months, who could read quite as well as their Master; and, on one occasion, having requested a Schoolmaster to read aloud out of the Psalters, he did so only indifferently; whilst one of his scholars, a boy of seven or eight years old, read fluently out of the same book. This, however, I do not mention as a general case; for most of the other Masters, of the schools I visited, were, as far as reading goes, very capable of teaching children. There is no doubt that instruction will henceforth be not only general, but far superior to that which has existed in Greece for centuries back, provided the country enjoys tranquillity and a good Government: and if this takes place, Europe will be surprised at the rapid progress of Science that will be manifested in this small State; and, if I may prognosticate, of true Religion also,.for the Sacred Scriptures are readily received by the Greeks. Joyful Reception of the Scriptures in the Government School at Egina. The introduction of the Holy Scriptures into the Government School and aimed at; and, in the opinion of both the Orphan Asylum was what I most the Rev. Mr. King and myself, it constituted the most essential object of my mission for, when once this was effect ed, we might consider all opposition as ended, and we could proceed in the dissemination of the Word of God without restraint. Mr. Baker had his fears as to the result, but he adds In my consultations with the Rev. Mr. King on this business, it appeared, that my duty was simply to offer the Sacred Scriptures to the Government School, and leave the rest to the guidance of God's infinite wisdom and power. In consequence of which, the Rev. Mr. King, being acquainted with Count Viaro, the President's Brother and Patron to the Orphan Asylum, called on him, and acquainted him with the purport of my visit at Egina, and of my offer, with his permission, to place the Sacred ScripThe tures in the Government School. Count received the application graci “ ously his answer was, : With much pleasure;" and referred to the Priest Constantas as to the number of volumes which the school would require. Constantas, when I visited him with Mr. King, told us that it would be desirable that each boy should possess the New Testament or a Psalter; but as that was too considerable a number for him to presume that they could be granted, he would leave it entirely to us to do what we could for the boys. I told him that the English would be extremely pleased and gratified to hear that each of the poor orphans had the Word of God to peruse; and that, for the present, I would place in the school 250 volumes, and, as the boys learned to read, I would complete the number required. This has been done, and an acknowledgment given me by Constantas, as is customary when grants are made to schools. After this I was delighted to learn, that, in the Regulations of the Orphan Asylum, it was specified, that as soon as the boys were capable of reading a little, the New Testament was to be put into their hands. The reception of the Word of God at Egina was such as to create in me abundance of joy, as well as gratitude and thankfulness to the Almighty; and I reckon the few days I spent at this island amongst the happiest ones of my whole life. The Agents of the Bible Society often experience disappointments and sorrow, seeing the Word of God rejected and despised; but to witness, for a few days, an eager thirst after it repays years of vexation and heartfelt grief. Testimony to the Success of Dr. Korck's Exertions at Syra. At Syra, Dr. Korck took me to see his school, composed of 220 boys and 130 girls; and a most pleasing sight it was. I here witnessed what could be done with children by proper management. The boys, besides being cleanly, orderly, and assiduous in their studies, are ambitious, to a surprising degree, to excel one another; in order to be placed up. permost in their respective classes, or have a badge of good conduct to carry home to their parents. Their lessons are from Scripture; and they read and commit to memory, also, the New Testament: one of the boys, ten or twelve years old, learned, in the course of a week, 3000 lines out of the Modern Greek New Testament. I was astonished at the improvement of these children, especially that of some of the girls, whose sewing was extremely well done": to see a little girl hardly five years old read and write, brought this idea into my mind, that in the barbarous ages of Greece no instance of the kind was ever known. This school is by far the best of the sort in Greece, and is conducted on the Lancasterian System: it has such good repute, that some of the Roman Catholics, contrary to the reiterated injunctions of their priests not to send their children to the English School, permit them to go. I visited other schools at Syra, where the New Testament was the principal book read. In short, Dr. Korck had left nothing for me to do in Syra; and during my short stay there I had every day reason to rejoice and glorify God, as I saw that His Holy Word was not only acceptable to many, but found its way out of the island, to spots where, through the continuance of His grace, it will take root and produce fruit abun, dantly. Promising State of the Greeks. I found the people kind and civil; ready to converse on religious subjects, without any animosity or wrath: and, though I had much religious conversation with them, I can say, with thanksgiving to the Almighty, that I did not meet with a single instance of a person being irritated, or taking offence at the truth of the Word of God; so prepared are the people to receive the Gospel! I must observe, only, that I did not attempt to converse on religious topics with the first persons of the Nation, under the impression that their thoughts were too much occupied with State affairs to lend a patient hearing to any thing that I could propose to them of more consequence to their interests. Whatever others may have to say against the Greeks, in justice, for the good reception which I met with while I remained among them, I must confess that I found them very different from what I was led to expect; and I have every reason to think, that, if left quiet for a few years, under a good Government, they will surprise all Europe by their rapid progress in civilization. As I did not interfere with nor pry into their political transactions, I may be thought not sufficiently competent to pronounce an opinion on this subject but, when I view the Nation in general, anxious for information, thirsting after knowledge, desirous for peace, eager to receive the Word of God, erecting Schools everywhere, and, finally, strictly adhering to those Laws already established, I cannot but entertain sanguine hopes for their future welfare. An instance of this favourable disposition of the Greeks occurred at Argos. Mr. Barker says I was I had some interesting conversations with the master of the house and his family, where I passed the night at Argos, and with several priests and others, on the reading of the Holy Scriptures, and on religious subjects: the result was, that they were anxious to possess New Testaments. The master of the house, a Greek in good circumstances, had our Edition of the ModernGreek New-Testament, which he purchased at Egina, and was pretty well acquainted with its contents. much pleased to find the good effect which it had on him. He had heard the Rev. Mr. Hartley preach, and was relating to several priests the pleasure which his Sermons gave him; repeating to them the substance of one against Atheism and in support of the Christian Religion; and finished by saying "We, who think ourselves Christians, are far from being so, when compared to the English and Americans, who study the Holy Scriptures: they follow the precepts of Jesus Christ; and preach the Word of God, and not that of men." It is astonishing to see what a change is working in the hearts of the Greeks; and you expect to hear such sentiments from almost all those who have been studying the New Testament. GERMAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. MR. Blumhardt, of Bâsle, in a Letter to the British and Foreign Bible Society, thus speaks of the Promising State of the Armenians. If there is any Oriental Nation in the present day which is more particularly deserving of attention and encouragement, it is that of the Schismatic Armenians, who have stood forward, withfull strength, to unite together as a Nation and a Church, and thus to prepare the way for their spiritual regeneration. The latest Jour nals of our Missionaries at Shusha contain singular instances in proof of this; and one young Wartabet after another, desirous of receiving instruction, applies to them from the convents, for the purpose of being taught the languages of the Holy Scriptures. It is true, that already, here and there, a spirit of persecution has Feb. 1830. been awakened among the Clergy, and occurrences of an unpleasant nature have actually taken place: but the people in general are, in point of education, superior to the Clergy; so that the Clergy, as a body, and even the Synod at Ech miazin, are unable to exercise any considerable influence over the course of events. A remarkable circumstance even recently happened in the neighbourhood gation unanimously required of their of Shusha, where a considerable congrepriest, instead of going through the usual routine of idle ceremonies on Sunday, to Bible: on the priest's refusing to do so, read and explain a chapter out of the he was dismissed by the congregation. Progress of Education among the Armenians. In addition to the statements on this subject at pp. 188, 189 of our last Volume, we quote others from the "Quarterly Extracts" of the British and Foreign School Society. Of the Schools, generally, it is said The difficulties which presented themselves, owing to the children being unaccustomed to discipline, prejudiced against new plans, and still more against foreigners, have all been overcome. . . . The Schools are all full: the question will soon be, "What is to be done for the many who apply for admission, and are sent away for want of room to accommodate them ?" Two notices in the Journal of the Missionaries speak strongly on this point: -We have been obliged to make a law to receive scholars only four times a year; but many Armenian fathers applied so anxiously to-day for the admission of their sons, that we could not give them a refusal. -Still Armenians are making application for the admission of their children, but we are obliged to deny them: many come daily from the country. In reference to some Young Men (see p. 15) who were preparing for themselves for training as Schoolthe priesthood, but who had offered masters, and some of whom promised to become very useful characters, it is said Great difficulty is found in boarding these Young Men, during the time requisite for them to be under instruction. Owing to the little respect which the |