seems a foolish policy for any European power. The possible advantage that can accrue to the white man from possession of the black man's country can never equal the expense and difficulty of governing it. Equatorial Africa is not a region to be colonised by Europeans, like Algiers on the north or Cape Colony on the south; nor is it a region whose own resources can defray the cost of ruling, protecting, and developing it like India. White men can scarcely exist there, on account of the climate. Products are at present few and of comparatively little value. Owing to the barbarism of the people, the tribes on the Congo can give little in any way, but need first to receive; and benevolence and Christian compassion, not selfish ambition, will for many a year be the only motives strong enough to sustain men under the difficulties and trials of life on the Upper Congo.

Hence we are inclined to think that, for the present at any rate, French annexation will be a fancy rather than a fact. If indeed France would make a railway from the Ogowe to the Upper Congo she would be doing the world a service; and we would fain hope that whatever influence she does acquire in this region will be more beneficial to the natives than Portuguese influence has been.

M. Savorgnan de Brazza, as well as Mr. Stanley, has shown much courtesy, kindness, and good will towards our missionaries. He has assured us that he would willingly assist us in any way should we wish to enter the Congo Valley by the Ogowe route, and that he thought the Belgium Association would rejoice to see Protestant missions planted on the Alima and Upper Congo. He kindly offered, if we wished it, to take one of our missionaries up with him on his return.

Whatever nation may attain predominant influence on its shores, the neutrality of the river Congo ought, in any case, to be stipulated for by the powers of Europe. The most accessible highway into the heart of the new world of Central Africa ought neither to be French, Belgian, Portuguese, or English, but cosmopolitan; and Europe should see to it that it is kept open.

In the House of Commons, Nov. 28th, the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was asked whether the Government could give any assurance that territorial changes which were said to be contemplated on the Congo river would leave unimpaired the freedom of commercial intercourse which had hitherto existed between this country and that part of Africa; to which Sir C. W. Dilke replied that her Majesty's Government are most desirous that there should be complete liberty of navigation and commerce on all the great rivers of Africa, and the matter is having their most careful consideration at the present time.

W

DEATH OF MR. WILLIAM APPEL.

E have already informed our friends by letter of the painful fact that another precious life has been sacrificed in the attempt to evangelize the Congo valley.

While the London Missionary Society are mourning the tragic death of their able and valued agent, Dr. Southon, at Mirambo's Town, and while the Universities Mission have had to sustain a triple bereavement in the deaths of Bishop Steere and two other clerical members of their mission; while the Church Missionary Society have to regret the early decease of the Rev. J. S. Bradshaw after only a few months in Yoruba, and the breakdown and retirement of several members of the Nyanza Mission: we too have to mourn the most unexpected removal of our beloved young brother WILLIAM APPEL, after a residence of only four weeks in Africa!

He sailed in May, arrived out in June, and died in July!

We were spending a few weeks in Scotland in September, and had reached Glasgow from the north late one evening to give an address on the needs and claims of Central Africa next day, when we were met by these heavy tidings. They stunned us completely for a time; we could scarcely believe them true! None of the deaths that had previously taken place in the Mission took us so completely by surprise. He had left us so recently, seemed so well suited to the climate, had written so cheerfully by the last mail, and had been exposed to no severe strain or great danger. It seemed so mysterious a providence too! We had hoped much from his labours; he was better prepared than many to render valuable service to the Mission, and no one who had joined it had seemed more full of faith and zeal, or more devoted in heart.

And was all this thrown away and lost? For a moment we felt as if it was. We were inclined to say amid our tears, Why this waste? Might not this life have turned to more account elsewhere? But then we remembered that the alabaster box of ointment broken on His head,

though very precious, was not wasted; only poured forth and expended in the best possible way, and privileged to win the Lord's own special approval. And we felt as if the Master was saying to us and to all whose hearts were made heavy by this news, "Lovest thou Me more than this one? Am not I worthy of this sacrifice ?"

The details of the event have reached us in the following extract from a letter written by Dr. Sims from Ponta da Lenha in July. He writes:

I have sad news to communicate to you by this mail. Mr. Appel was taken ill with continued fever on Tuesday, the 18th inst. The fever was a very severe one, and resulted in death on Saturday, the 22nd, at half-past two a.m.

As I before mentioned to you, he went up to Palaballa, and had a long and circuitous walk of fourteen miles from Nokki. He only stayed one night at Palaballa, and left the following day, after seeing Mr. Clarke, to rejoin the Livingstone at Wanga Wanga by a different route. He had walked thirty-two miles in the two days, rising from the sea level to 1500 feet, by very difficult and precipitous paths, incurring great fatigue. On his return to Banana to consult me, on the 11th, he busied himself in the store and house, re-hung the station barometer, decorated our dining room, etc. On Saturday night he addressed the boys and men of the house for the first and last time. (At Gaboon he had addressed about sixty natives at the Sunday service.) Sunday was spent quietly. On Monday, at daybreak, we both rose and went to the French house for some fresh bolts for the Livingstone, paying a visit to Mr. Stanley on board the Heron by the way. Early on Tuesday morning, finding the bolts unsatisfactory, we determined to make some from longer ones. He, James Showers (B.M.S.), and I took turn about with the file, and subsequently he and James Showers worked together, and finished the bolts by three or four o'clock, so that the Livingstone was ready to go next day.

At 9 p.m. Mr. Appel complained to me that he had fever. I found his temperature 102.4°. He told me he had been "seedy," and had had cold feet and pains, and that his head ached. I gave him remedies, and attended him every hour of the night. On Wednesday his maximum temperature was 104°. I had fever myself during the night, but was able to attend to him in the early morning, Miss Spearing and Mr. Smith kindly nursing him in the meanwhile. Thursday, at 5 a.m., his temperature was over 105°, and his general symptoms worse. He gave directions about many things, dictated a letter, and took leave of most of us in the house, though I assured him that his condition was not so alarming but that he might recover. I consulted with Dr. Rabe, who agreed with me that he was likely to tide over the attack. He was much excited during the after part of the day, rendering treatment more difficult. On Friday he was more or less delirious, and his temperature rose to 106-7°. Mr. Smith took the first watch that night, and James Showers the next. At 1 a.m. Mr. Smith left him apparently better, but at 2.30 James Showers called me to see him, saying that his breathing had suddenly changed. I reached his bedside just in time to hear his last breath, he quietly passed away in his sleep!

It is unnecessary to say that we had tried everything for his recovery, but every remedy and mode of treatment failed, and in spite of all our care the fever rose till he succumbed to exhaustion. We had to combat not only the fever but persistent hopelessness in himself, and a good deal of excitement; troublesome factors as you know. Throughout his illness his state of mind left nothing to be desired. He would so often say, "I am so happy in the Lord." He spent hours in repeating texts of Scripture with remarks, and it was wonderful how fertile his memory was during his sickness.

When I was reading John xiv. to him, at the words "Let not your heart be troubled" he said, "No, I am at perfect peace; I am not troubled, I am happy." "I go to prepare a place for you." "Yes, Jesus has gone to prepare a place for me, and I am going there. I shall soon be in God's presence, and in the presence of His angels, praising Him." "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life." At these words he repeated John iii. 16, and said Christ was the only Way for him, and that in that Way he was trusting. He read the texts round the room, speaking of redemption and the goodness of the Lord, and asked Miss Spearing for the lines of the verse:

"When this passing world is done,
When has sunk yon glaring sun,
When I stand with Christ on high,
Looking o'er life's history;

Then, Lord, shall I fully know

Not till then-how much I owe."

I tried to quiet him to sleep. He pleaded with the house boys to come to Jesus. It was touching to see him doing missionary work even in his sickness. Miss Spearing will tell you of much that he said to her, and Mr. Smith, who read to him, heard also many gracious words from his lips. On one occasion he took leave of me, and desired me to get to Stanley Pool safely and prosper. He remarked what a painful thing his death would be to his friends at home. Of one he said, "It will break her heart," and of you, "Poor Mrs. Guinness!" He desired me to write letters to several friends, and gave me particular directions concerning his property and scientific instruments. When Mr. Smith left him about an hour before his death he seemed preoccupied with heavenly things, and had a bright expression on his countenance.

The funeral took place in the afternoon of the same day. A good coffin had been made and covered with white cloth, his name, age, etc., on the lid; and four of the attendants, dressed simply in white, bore him to a grave at the back of the enclosure where twelve other Europeans are buried. It was under a beautiful tree, and in a good position overlooking the sea. Eight or ten white people and all the boys of the house were present. Some wreaths of white flowers were placed on the coffin, and the simple service was conducted amid very very sorrowful hearts. A neat Maltese cross marks the grave, which is surrounded by palings.

Other members of the Mission have given us additional particulars, all concurring that the peace of God kept the heart of His dying servant, and that he was able to rejoice in Christ Jesus to the last.

Mr. Ingham writes from Banza Manteka, August 16th: DEAR MRS. GUINNESS:

I wrote a long letter by the last mail, and enclosed it in one to dear Willie Appel. I sent it to Banana, but it came back to me unopened! I had written to him four times, but had had no word from him since last March, when he wrote me, "My heart is full at the thought of coming to join you in your work on the Congo." The next thing I had from him was his last message through Brother Smith, "Give my love to Ingham, and tell him I am going home." I had looked forward with exceeding pleasure to his joining me, and as he was so full of life and energy I thought he would stand this climate well, and be a great help.

It was a lovely morning, like spring in England, when the mails with the news of his early removal reached us. The sunshine and brightness seemed such a mockery, and made it almost harder to learn that he was dead and buried; and yet he is not

dead. Smith says "he fell asleep after I had given him some water, and did no wake again." Lord, if he sleep he shall do well! He shall behold Thy face in righteousness, and wake satisfied with Thy likeness! To be with Christ is far better. Whether we wake or sleep we shall be caught up together soon, for those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. Will you name the Lukungu river the "APPEL RIVER," or rather allow me to do so? suppose that Clarke and I were the first white men that

had crossed it, and I should like it to perpetuate his dear memory.

We are trying to help the Baptist brethren all in our power. I have sent them down a hundred carriers from here to Wanga Wanga. They found the journey from that to Voonda very long, however, and cannot take it all at once. They left some of their loads with me and some in the town, causing Hartland and myself a good deal of trouble and anxiety.

I am accumulating a good stock of peanuts here, so as to send all the rice up country. We shall cultivate a large piece of ground this year if all is well, more than three times as much as last year.

Alluding to this event Mr. Lilly writes: Dear Appel! I had one long walk with him. Little did we think it was our first and last together in Africa. His heart was intensely set on going up country. He told me enthusiastically of the work he hoped to do. We cannot understand why it has pleased our Heavenly Father to call him home, one who we thought would have been so useful with his scientific knowledge. When I heard of his death I could not help saying, "Oh, why was I not taken, who will apparently be of less service than he?" Rest assured, dear Mrs. Guinness, we are not in the least daunted by these deaths. Forward is the order, and by God's help forward we will go !

Careful consideration of the case of Mr. Appel, with brethren who have had experience of the country, convinced us that in one sense his life was thrown away, that it might probably with a little more prudence and discretion have been prolonged for many a year. His illness was largely attributable to over exertion on arrival. It is very difficult for strangers to the climate to realize the need of extreme caution on first reaching the Congo. They feel as usual, and fancy they may safely exert themselves as usual. A measure of excitement amid new scenes, the eager desire to get to work, the very enthusiasm which grace kindles in the soul at the first contact with heathenism, all incite the young missionary to immediate and earnest activity; while the change of climate demands quietness, causes even moderate exertion to be attended with risk. In future we shall lay the responsibility of caring for new arrivals on older and more experienced men, and require new recruits to yield to the guidance of veterans.

COME then, let us embolden ourselves, and when He brings the key, dare to die. It is to obey and enjoy Him who is our life and our all. Say we cheerfully each of us, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit: into Thy hands commit it, who hast redeemed it. "-Howe.