AFRICAN MISSION.

Letters from Dr. Vanderkemp.

Graaff Reinet, Feb. 1, 1802. Dear Sir, and beloved Brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, THE kindness of Mr. Bresler, Landdrost of this colony, gives me an opportunity of sending the inclosed journal, from October 6 to December 1801, to the Cape; to which I have annexed a copy of the first lines of a Plan for the Missionary settlement, which General Dundas has been pleased to approve, as you will see by the copy of his Excellency's answer to my letter; and I request you te com municate these papers to the Directors of the Missionary Society.

His Excellency continues to favour our design with his protection; but though his Excellency, by several subsequent letters, has urged, as much as possible, the speedy execution of his plan, and sent a ship with provision, for the use of the settlement, to Algoabay; promising, at the same time, to send the materials, utensils, and instruments, which we stand in need of as a present for the new institution,-several obstacles, arising partly from the disturbances in the colony, and partly from the uncertainty in which we are hitherto involved, in respect to what power the sovereignty of this country shall, by the definitive treaty of peace, be allotted; on which account, the Governor considers it adviseable to postpone the final adjustment of the proposed Hottentot establishment till the conclusion and ratification of that treaty. His Excellency, however, recommends us, in the strongest terms, to continue the instruction of this people in the neighbourhood of Graaff Reinet, and to transport those who cannot be kept conveniently here, to Algoa-bay; referring us, in this respect, to Major Sherlock, commanding-officer in this colony, who has already offered to facilitate our proceedings, by giving us every assistance and protection. It will, perhaps, not be amiss, if the Directors should think proper, to signify their gratitude in an address to Governor Dundas, on account of his benevolent and liberal conduct; and also to Mr. Maynier, Member of the Court of Justice, and Commissioner of Government, who made to the Society a present of all the corn which he had in the field at

Graaff Reinet.

If it please the Lord to make us successful in the execution of this last plan, it will require considerable expence, the reimbursement of which is very precarious and uncertain; we wish, therefore, that the Directors will favour us with their instructions, by which we may be regulated; chiefly in respect to the sum of money which they may intend to devote to this work, and the general directions of it. As to the money, it is, I think, for the present, and without making an actual experiment, impossible to estimate the expence ; I can only suggest two or three observations, which may give scire assistance in forming a rough calculation: — A Hottentot family, which I suppose to consist of a man, woman, and five children, may live upon the milk of four cows, a sheep and a half, and fortytwo pounds of bread every week. A cow is, at present, sold for eight or twelve rix-dollars; a sheep for two: most of the Hottentots have one or more cows, and a few sheep of their own. We pay to a l'ottentot. for a day's work, one shilling (two shillings Dutch) besides his victuals. The hut in which a Hottentot may live, custs him nothing. Blick and mason's work cost nothing, except the

pay

pay of the workmen, and a waggon, with oxen, to fetch the wood and clay, &c. to form and burn the bricks. Timber for building is enormously dear, unless we live near a wood, where timber may be cut freely; which is not the case near Graaff Reinet, and ironwork is still dearer.

Satan struggles very hard to keep the Gospel of Christ from the Heathen; but his artifices and delufions are not unknown to us. I doubt not but he employs not only his own slaves in this work, but he perverts also the pious intentions of the children of God, and causes them to assist him in executing his wicked designs, making them, in the mean time, believe that they greatly serve the cause of God. O that the London Directors may be kept upon their guard against these delusions! O! for a few faithful ministers like my dear Brother Read, who will devote themselves to go straightway to the helpless Heathen, and not give ear to the enchantment of those who inay endeavour to dissuade their labours from these abjects which call for our immediate help, under the specious pretext of labouring where sufficient means of instruction and grace are already, by God's providence, provided.

Recommending my Brethren and myself in your earnest prayer particularly that we may be kept immoveable against the machinaions of the Devil, I am, with the sincerest respect,

Dear Sir, and beloved Brother in Christ,

your affectionate Brother and Servant,

J. F. VANDERKEMP.

Bota's Place, near Algoa Bay, March 19, 1802.

Much respected and beloved Fathers and Brothers in Christ, As the Dragoon, who is to carry our letters from Fort Frederick to Graaff Reinet is detained a day longer than we expected, I embrace this opportunity to add a few lines to the full account which our Brother Read has given you of our present circumstances :-It is uncertain if we shall stop in this place, as it seems of important. use for Fort Frederick, on account of the timber, lime, and pasture which it affords: but it is probable that Government will either give it up for our establishment, or assign us another place in its vicinity. However that may be, we shall endeavour to fix it in the neighbourhood of Algoa Bay (the situation of which you may learn from Barrow's Map); and this will afford you an excellent opportunity of sending Missionary Ships immediately to us, without touching at the Cape, either with articles for the intended Hottentot village, or with Missionaries for the remoter parts of Africa, and Madagascar; which island I hope continues still to be an object of your attention. In erecting this settlement, you may be assured that we shall keep the pecuniary interests of the Society as much as possible at heart. We have inculcated it upon our people, that all which is necessary for their establishment and subsistence, ought to be the product of their own labour, except tools, and the ironwork necessary for building, &c. I have taken the liberty to lay a considerable portion of them upon the shoulders of the Governor, encouraged by his Excellency's liberal and voluntary offerings; and I shall annex the list of themn, in detail, to this Letter. Though we expect (if the Lord bless us) that afterwards your Missiona ries, employed in this settlement, may live upon the produce of their own industry, the present circumstances of Brother Read seem to require an annual pecuniary assistance out of the Fund of your

Society:

Society he has only drawn, when at the Cape, 100 Rix-dollars (at four shillings) upon your account; of these he has still sixty in hand; and I request you to determine in what manner this pur pose may be best answered. To authorise him to draw a certain sun, annually, upon the Cape Society, may, perhaps, be looked upon as the inost Convenient." Brother Vander Lingen we have left at Graaff-Reinet, with about sixty Hottentots, upon a small piece of ground, given, by the Commissioner Maynier, to your Society (2,660 feet long, and 537 broad). Time only will discover if it will be advisable to keep up this separate establishment, or to incorporate it with our new Institution. For the present, we are en. tirely separated; and Brother Vander Lingen, as we suppose, will himself write to you, respecting the money required for his subsistence, and the expences of his Mission. The Plan of our Institu tion, of which Mr. Read, in his Letter, speaks, I have sent you, in my Journals of the 31st of January. It is evident that the Lord is carrying on a great work among the Hottentot nation; and we thank his name that it had pleased him to make us, in some degree, his instruments in the execution of it. The work is arBuous, and the opposition strong; but if the Lord be our help, the end will be glorious, and the reward exceeding great with the utmost respect and fraternal love,

I am,

Dear Brethren and Fathers in Christ,
Your affectionate Brother and Servant in Christ Jesus,
J. F. VANDERKEMP.

ASSOCIATIONS.

THE WILTSHIRE half-yearly ASSOCIATION of Independent Ministers and Churches, was held April 21st, at Mr. Sloper's Meet> ing, in Devizes. Mr. Banister, of Wareham, commenced the service of the day; Mr. Ball, of Westbury, prayed; Mr. Honeywilly of Melksham, preached; M. Morren, of Yeovil, concluded. The ordinance of the Lord's Supper was administered immediately after the morning service; Mess. Sibre, of Frome, Clift, of Marlborough, and others, assisted.

Mr. Hyatt, of Frome, preached in the afternoon; and Mr. Jackson, of Warminster, in the evening: Mess. Evans, of Wells; Ralph (late of Dursley); Dunn, of Bradford; and Paul, of Castle Cary, engaged in prayer. Mr. Morren preached the preceding evening.

The GREENWICH UNION.-This Society's anniversary was held on Tuesday, May 25th, 1802, at Halfway-street, near Bexley, Kent: on which occasion, the Rev. Joseph Hartley, of Dundee, preached two appropriate sermons. The liberal collection made at the time will enable the Society to extend their labours to the many sur rounding villages that seem to be athirst for the word. In those places where they have established Sunday schools and regular preaching, the evident marks of God's power and approbation have excited increasing gratitude and zeal,

MAY 26. The Members of the SOMERSET ASSOCIATION met at Mr. Herdsman's, South Petherton; when a sermon was preached by Mr. Jackson, of Warminster, from Gen. xiii. 11.; Mr Paull, of Castle Carey; Pittard, of diartock : and Evans, of Weils, engred in prayer. After this service, the Lord's Supper was administered; when Mess. Tozer, Rogers, Morren, Magor, Williams, and Wheaton, were severally engaged.

In

In the afternoon, while most of the ministers were engaged in receiving the pleasing reports of the spread of the Gospel, and settling their necessary accounts, a congregation was collected at Mr. Ri chards's Meeting-house; when Mr. Westen, of Sherborne, preached, from 2 Cor. v. 14; and Mr. Wheaton, of Lynne; and Mr. Denny, of Maiden Newton, prayed.

In the evening, the whole body again assembled; when Mr. Hyatt, of Frome, preached, from John xvi. 13; and Mr. Priestley, of Shepton; and Mr. Vickery, of Compton, engaged in prayer.

The KENT ANNUAL ASSOCIATION will be held on the 7th instant, at Mr. Fowler's, Sheerness; when Mr. Vincent, Mr. Kent, and Mr. G. Townsend are expected to preach.

ORDINATIONS,

MAY 20th, the Rev. J. Barker was set apart to the pastoral office over the Baptist church at Towcester, in Northamptonshire; Mr. Fletcher, of Bicester, introduced the service; and Mr. Law, of Weston, delivered the introductory discourse, &c.; Mr. Keely, of Northampton, offered the ordination prayer; Mr Payne, of Walgrave, gave the charge, from 1 Tim. former clause of the 18th verse; Mr. Heighton, of Road, preached to the church, from 1 Thess. v 12, 13; and Mr. Chambers, of Barton, concluded the worship with prayer.

JUNE 15, the Rev Wm Luke Prattiman was ordained pastor of the Protestant Dissenting church, Farnham, Surry; Mr. Densham, of Petersfield, introduced the service; Mr. Kingsbury, of Southampton, delivered the introductory discourse, &c.; after which, Mr P. professed his faith; and Mr. K. engaged in the ordinationprayer, with imposition of hands; Mr. Bogue, of Gosport, gave the charge, grounded on 2 Tim. iv. 5.; Mr. R. Freer, of London, offered the general prayer; Mr. Griffin, of Portsea, preached from Eph. iv. 1, 2, 3., and Mr. Gardner, of Godalming, concluded. In the evening, Mr. Bogue preached from Mat. v. 13; Mr. Griffiths, of Alton; and Mr. Coulson, of Croudall, engaged in prayer.

CHAPELS OPENED.

GARFORTH. About two years ago, Mr. Jackson, of Hammerton, obtained leave to preach at a house in this village; which is about seven miles from Leeds. The Gospel was favourably received; which induced the Conductors of the Itinerancy, lately instituted at Leeds, to attach it to their circuit. Two young men, the sons of a respectable merchant of Leeds, have, alternately, given their attendance every Sabbath, for the purpose of reading to the people Burder's Village Sermons, &c The number of hearers increasing, the prospect soon became so flattering, as to suggest the expediency of erecting a place of worship. Application was accordingly made to the lord of the manor, who gave stone from a neighbouring quarry, sufficient for the purpose; and a neat, commodious place was erected, capable of seating about 200 people; and which was set apart for public worship on the 21st of April.

The service was introduced, with prayer and reading, by Mr. Howell, of Knaresborough; Mr. Jackson preached from Ps. cxxii. 6.; Mr. Taylor, of Osset, prayed; Mr. Cockin, of Halifax, preached from Exod. xx. 24. Several ministers from the vicinity, were present on the occasion; the place was full, and the congregation solemnly attentive,

Written and Set to Music by the Rev. Dr. HAWEIS.

Temptations sore obstruct my

And ills I cannot flee;

O give me strength, Lord, as my

AN HYMN,

Sung after a Sermon preached by the Rev. W. F. PLATT, from Luke xi 29. on May 30, occasioned by the Death of the Otaheitan Youth.

[Inserted by particular Request.]