to judge of the precise moment when your longer continuance on Tanna would be indefensible on the ground of Christian prudence and regard for life. You who are on the spot, seeing every day for yourself the disposition of the natives, are much better qualified than we are to decide as to the proper time to withdraw. I will not conceal from you the feeling of the Committee, that if matters continue in the same way, with so little apparent security for life and pro perty as seems to prevail at Port Resolution, it would not be dutiful for them to continue the mission longer there at present. I trust, however, that, long before this reaches you, you will have had cause to mark the opening of the light through the dark clouds that have hitherto beset you. Indeed, we have had a hint that such is to a small extent the case. Mr Geddie, writing to Dr Turner at a later date than your last, reports matters on Tanna as being somewhat more encouraging than previously. We sincerely hope it may be so, and that your unceasing devotedness to the work may be beginning to yield some fruit, however small, to the praise of the glory of God. The Father has given the heathen to Christ as his inheritance, and we may yet hope to see Tanna and many other places brought to the knowledge of Him whom to know is life everlasting. Your faith has been of late months severely tried, but you must think often of the sower, who, going forth in tears to sow the seed, returns with gladness and joy, bringing with him the full sheaves."

It is possible that the worst of the danger is now over on Tanna, and that the native mind may soon undergo a change towards the missionaries, who are giving such striking proof of their earnestness in the work, by their unwearied exertions for the spiritual and temporal good of those among whom they are labouring. If one attentively peruses even those letters which have of late been given to the Church, he will find breaking through the darkness many glimpses of light. The missionary's influence among these rude, untamed spirits seems far from small. At times his unceasing, untiring perseverance in well-doing seems to impress them; and, above all, the seed is being sown-seed which requires but the fertilising influence of the Holy Spirit of all grace to cause it to spring up into the waving harvest of ransomed souls. Mr Paton's last annual report presents not a few encouraging items. Under the head of public worship, we find the following:-"Since the 18th of July (the report itself being dated 11th Oct. 1861), our audience at worship on Sabbath morning is increas ing, but fluctuates; some days we have 30 persons, and others only 10 present. Three young men now attend regularly, and after worship I meet with them and the children for religious instruction, and three or four chiefs often come to worship in the afternoon, and are willing to be instructed." Mr Paton's efforts to establish a school at Port Resolution are also noted. "A chief," he says, "who was a terror to our people has of late become very friendly, attends wor ship regularly on Sabbath, and in two weeks mastered the A B C, and rejoiced in carrying off the prize, which was an ornamented shirt, just received in the Loanhead Box. . . . . I cherish the delightful hope, that I will soon be able to form a regular day school in Port Resolution." We might have selected various coher parts of Mr Paton's correspondence, which shew that, amidst many dis oturagements and trials, borne with heroic fortitude and earnest trust in God, he is not without ground to hope that his labours are telling upon not a few in Tanna. The letters of our beloved missionaries have, we believe, excited more than ever the spirit of prayer among the members of the Church at homespirit which, as it grows and has free course, will more and more make evident the great truth that the promise of the Church's Head will be fulfilled in the experience of his faithful servants-"Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world."

As Mr Inglis has prepared a separate report of the interesting work in which he has been engaged during the past year, it will not be necessary for us to do more than state the advantage which, in several matters of importance that have come before your Committee, they have derived from his advice, to which long experience in the mission field, and intimate acquaintance with the wants of the New Hebrides mission especially, have given great weight.

It only remains now to advert to one or two of the points which have, during

the past year, come up before your Committee, and on which they would solicit your advice and instruction.

1. The original agreement with the missionaries sent out by this Church, in reference to salary and allowances, was, that the Synod would give to these missionaries the same salary and allowances as were given by the London Missionary Society to such of their missionaries as were employed in the South Seas. On this point we beg to submit the following letter, recently received by the Secretary from Rev. Dr Tidman, of the London Missionary Society :

"Bloomfield Street, Finsbury, London, E.C., 12th April 1862. "My Dear Sir,-In reply to the inquiries contained in your note of the 7th inst., I beg to inform you that, within the last year, the salaries of our missionaries in The Loyalty İslands has been increased from £100 to £120 per annum. In the several islands to the eastward, Tahiti, Raratonga, Samoa, &c., the amount is higher. This advance has been rendered necessary by the increase of expense invariably arising from the introduction of the gospel and the progress of civilization. In addition to salary, our Society meets all the expenses you specify, life insurance excepted; and, in all cases of widowhood and orphanage, a generous sum is allowed annually, according to the necessities of each case. Our missionaries are also encouraged to send home their children in the missionary ship for education, and the Society meets this expense, about £20 per annum, for a term not less than six years.-I am, my dear Sir, yours very truly, A. TIDMAN.

"Rev. J. Kay."

2. Mr Copeland has recently written home, informing the Committee that Mr Geddie and himself saw their way clearly to the appointment of Rev. A. W. Murray, lately of Samoa, as agent at Sydney to the New Hebrides mission. They suggest £50 per annum as remuneration to the agent-£25 of this sum to be paid by this Synod, and £25 by the Synod in Nova Scotia. Does the Synod confirm this appointment?

3. At a meeting of the New Hebrides mission held at Mr Geddie's station, island of Aneityum, on the 31st October 1861-present, Rev. A. W. Murray of Samoa, and the Rev. Messrs Geddie and Copeland (Mr Murray in the chair)a proposal was received from the brethren of the Loyalty Islands. It is embodied in a minute adopted at a meeting held at Lifu on the 4th and 5th Oct., and is as follows:-"That this meting is of opinion that missionary work on these islands cannot be safely and successfully carried on unless the teachers be more frequently visited than at present, as they are exposed to peculiar dangers from climate and from the savage character of the natives, and that a vessel of not less than sixty tons is wanted for this purpose; and, as the London Missionary Society supports the John Williams, that the New Hebrides brethren be requested to make a strong appeal to their respective Churches to procure such a vessel; and that an appeal be made to the children of these Churches, and to the children of the Churches in Australia, interested in the evangelisation of these islands, to aid in raising the funds necessary for her support." In reference to this proposal, it was resolved by the members of the New Hebrides mission present on Aneityum at the meeting of 31st October, "That we concur in the views expressed by the Loyalty Islands brethren as regards the desirableness of having such a vessel as that proposed. Resolved further, that an appeal be made to the children of the two Churches, and to the children of the various Presbyterian congregations in the colonies of Australia and New Zealand, to aid in raising funds necessary for her purchase and support, and that Messrs Geddie and Copeland be appointed to address them on the subject."

Eight islands of the New Hebrides group are already occupied by missionaries and native teachers connected with the mission. It is hoped there will soon be from eight to ten duly ordained missionaries from Scotland and Nova Scotia. The John Williams, on leaving the South Seas, will not revisit the islands for two years. The John Knox cannot visit the three northern islands, Espiritu Santo, Apee, and Fate-cannot carry supplies.

The necessity for such a vessel appears to arise from the following causes :—

As the mission advances in evangelizing those islands that have hitherto been involved in heathen darkness, whether by means of native teachers or missionaries from Europe and America, it will be requisite to have much more frequent intercourse with them than could be held by means of the John Knox. The necessities of the mission have already outgrown considerably the powers of this little vessel, which has already been of great service to the mission. It is expected that three new missionaries will shortly leave Nova Scotia for the New Hebrides, while it is earnestly desired that at least two more should enter upon Foreign Mission work from our own Church. The locating and regular visiting of these brethren will tax the powers of the John Knox to an extent for which the vessel is unfitted, causing, it is to be feared, considerable danger to life and property. We may state that copies of the appeal above referred to, addressed to the children of the Presbyterian Churches in the colonies, have reached us, together with an appeal to the Presbyterian Churches in these colonies; and a letter from Mr Murray, residing at present in Sydney, accompanying the two appeals from the missionaries on Aneityum. These we lay upon the table of Synod for your inspection.

Inquiries have been made in Sydney as to the cost of building and fitting out a vessel of 100 tons burden for the mission. The result of these inquiries we now lay before you :

"The Rev. Mr Murray.

"Cuthbert's Wharf, Sydney, Jan. 21, 1862.

"Dear Sir,--I trust I am not too late with my promised communication to you respecting the schooner. Pressure of business kept me so late with it. I think a vessel such as you describe, that is, a schooner of 80 tons, raised quarter deck, superior cabin accommodation, and everything of the best description of material and workmanship, will cost about two thousand pounds (£2000) for the hull, spars, iron work, &c., and about one thousand pounds (£1000) more for sails, rigging, chains, anchors, boat, galley, &c. I could build one equal to one of your 10 years' vessels for less money; but this sum is intended for a vessel of the very best description. If you think it will answer, I can furnish you with a model, and also particulars connected with the vessel. I shall be most happy to hear again from you; and if I should build a vessel for you, you may depend on having one that will bear inspection in any part of the world. As a speci men of my work, I can refer you to the brig Lady Denison, and H.M. s.s. Lytton (of the Queensland Government), now in Sydney, also H.M. cutter Spitfire, at present doing service under the Queensland Government.—I remain, Dear Sir, yours truly, "JOHN CUTHBERT.

"Mem.-I may remark that the sum I here mention is the extreme price of what it is possible she will cost. She will not cost more, and perhaps labour and material may be reduced so as to have the price less. I do not believe you can get a vessel of the same class in England for less money. If you should decide on having a few tons larger, it will not increase the proportionate price. "J.C.”

"The sum named by Mr Cuthbert is larger than I had expected it would have been. However, as the vessel is to be a model of her class, perhaps it is not out of the way. It is but what is required to repair and refit the John Williams every time she visits England. We have various hopeful quarters to which to look for help; and when the sum is divided among all, the share that will fall to each will not be very large. Perhaps it will be well for me to send you a draught of the vessel, that, in case you decide to send sails, &c., from home, you may be able to send everything the proper size. If I can procure a draught, I will forward it by next month's mail. "A. W. MURRAY."

On the receipt of this and accompanying letters, from the missionaries and others interested in the mission, your Committee took the matter under consideration. The result of their deliberations was as follows:-That the sum specified in the letter now read, seems very much more than a vessel built and fitted out on the Clyde would cost, even adding to the purchase money, &c., the expense of taking the vessel out to Sydney, and thence to Aneityum; that it would be proper to learn the views on this point of the Church in Nova Scotia,

as, in the event of their casting themselves heartily into the scheme, this Church might probably make the effort required; while if they did not see their way clearly to the raising of the necessary funds, our Church could not, unaided by them, address itself to the onerous work of raising what in that case would be required. The Secretary of the Board in Nova Scotia has been communicated with, and a reply is expected shortly. Meanwhile the Committee would recommend that authority be given them, should the answer from Nova Scotia prove in favour of procuring the new schooner, to raise throughout the Church the sum required, as our proportion towards paying for such a vessel; while, should the reply be unfavourable, no steps shall be taken till we hear definitely what has been the result of the application to the Presbyterian Churches in the colonies.

The question of building in Sydney or on the Clyde, is of considerable importance. Much has to be said on both sides. Colonial built vessels being built of a wood (blue gum) which sustains little injury from exposure to the burning. suns and heavy rains of the isles of the Pacific, and which is impervious to vermin, last fully one-half longer than vessels built in Great Britain or America. Vessels built elsewhere than in the colonies, require calking and repairing almost every season, whereas Australian built vessels will sail three or four years without requiring to be touched. The saving of time, the greater absence of risk in taking the vessel from Sydney to Aneityum rather than from Glasgow, may be set down on the one side, together with the deeper interest and enlarged subscriptions likely to arise and to flow in from the colonies, through the building of the vessel in Sydney. On the other hand, the much smaller sum that would be required, were the vessel to be built at home, has to be considered. In the event of building in Sydney, the amount which this Church would require to contribute would be somewhere about £750. Even this sum, we believe, might be raised with out trenching upon the ordinary resources of the Church. There are surely ten members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Scotland, who would subscribe £50 each, and other ten who would give £25 each. Already two gentlemen have promised to enrol themselves amongst the first class of subscribers, and the other eight would, beyond doubt, be easily found. Possibly, if the matter is taken up earnestly in the colonies, a much less sum might be required from the churches at home.

It only remains to be stated, that the missionaries upon the Loyalty group of islands are willing to engage, for half the sum required annually, for the support and working of the vessel.

The only other point that remains for your Committee to advert to in this Report is, the urgent necessity for more missionaries. During the past year, the Committee have had this repeatedly before them. As yet their efforts to procure two additional missionaries have been unsuccessful. This we feel the more keenly, as the Nova Scotian Board have already obtained the services of two missionaries to supply the place of Messrs Johnstone and Gordon, and are advertising for a third. In the field of Christian effort, there is allowable a holy rivalry in well-doing. While, then, we rejoice that the brethren on the other side of the Atlantic have succeeded as they have done, we feel not a little cast down that no offers of service in the sacred cause of missions have hitherto been made to your Committee. It is earnestly to be wished that every pastor in the Church would bring frequently and fully before the youth of his congregation, the claims of this important field of Christian labour; that Christian parents would strive to interest their children in the missionary efforts of the Church; and above all, that of those who are studying for the sacred office of the ministry, there were some whose hearts the Lord God would touch, firing them with holy zeal and ardour for the cause which we plead.

It may be said that, in a Church whose members are much more numerous, and whose resources are much more ample than ours, the very difficulty which we are now feeling has presented itself. That it should be so does not by any means free us from the responsibility which lies upon us-cannot justify us in becoming oblivious of the great object for which the Church has been planted on earth; but ought the more to stir us up to redoubled energy and prayer in this.

matter. There is much land yet to be possessed; there is much work yet to be done. O for a band of earnest-souled men, who would give themselves willingly to the Lord; who, when the voice is sounding from the temple, " Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" should respond, “ Here are we; send us.” We know that the time approaches when all men shall hear of him who, in the prosecution of his missionary work, left the bosom of the eternal Father, became a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame; a time when all nations which God hath made, shall come and worship before him, and glorify his name; when over every province of the earth, rich in the heritage of immortal souls, the Redeemer shall extend his mighty march of love,-joy, righteousness, and peace springing up wherever he plants his foot; when all crowns shall be clustered on the head that was once crowned with thorns; and when the soul of the greatest missionary that ever trod earth shall rejoice with exceeding joy: and when amid the pealing hallelujahs of heaven's host, "the daughters of Zion shall behold king Solomon, with the crown wherewith he was crowned in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart."

Synod entered on the consideration of the following matters brought up by the Foreign Mission Report, viz. :

1. The original agreement with the missionaries sent out by this Church, in reference to salary was, that they should have the same salary and allowances as were given by the London Missionary Society to such of their missionaries as were employed in the South Seas. As Dr Tidman, in the letter read by the Secretary as part of his Report, states that the sum at present allowed to the missionaries on the Loyalty Islands is £120 per annum, it was unanimously agreed that the salary of our missionaries be raised from £100 to £120 per annum.

2. Messrs Geddie and Copeland had seen their way clear to appoint Rev. A. W. Murray, lately missionary on Samoa, but now residing at Sydney, to be agent for Mission in the last-mentioned place; and suggest that a salary of £50 per annum should be allowed Mr Murray for his services in this capacity. The Court remit this matter to the Committee, with instructions to await the result of correspondence already sent to Nova Scotia on this subject.

3. The Missionaries, considering the extension of the Mission, and the inadequacy of the John Knox to accomplish all the work that should be accomplished in visiting and bearing supplies to the missionaries and native teachers, suggest that a vessel of about 100 tons burthen will be required, and inform the Committee that it is expected that the children in the colonics of New Zealand and Australia will contribute one-half of the sum necessary, while it is hoped that the churches in Nova Scotia and Scotland will contribute, between them, the remaining half. The Synod remit this matter to the Committee, indicating the propriety of corresponding with the brethren in Nova Scotia, in reference to the proportion of the contribution, corresponding to the number of missionaries which each Synod may have in the New Hebrides, and empowering the Committee, should it appear to them necessary to proceed with this matter, to use what means they may judge best for the purpose of raising the sum that may be required.*

Mr Inglis submitted an interesting report as to the progress made by him during last year, in the translation and printing of the New Testament in the language of Aneityum. The adoption of the Report was moved, seconded, and agreed to.

REPORT GIVEN IN BY REV. J. INGLIS.

Instead of a verbal statement, I think it will be more satisfactory to the Synod, for me to present a brief written Report, respecting my labours in connection

By letters received from Nova Scotia on Tuesday, 30th ultimo, we are happy to be able to Inform our readers, that there is every prospect of a sum, not exceeding £350, sufficing as the proportion of our Church.-[ED. R. P. Mag.]