vanced so far, may you daily experience what is the efficacy of the Redeemer's blood upon lost sinners! Rejoice us, as you have hitherto done, with further accounts of the success you meet with in your undertakings. These will prove, not only a rich feast to our own hearts, as often as we are here assembled together, but they will also serve to kindle a holy emulation in many of the members of our congregation. Finally, May He, our one only Lord and Saviour, lift up his once pierced hands over every flock committed to your charge, and shower upon them every blessing which he has in store for them in his compassion

ale heart.

[Answer to the above.]

To the Conference of Christian Ministers assembled at Hernnhuth, in June, 1807.

Beloved Brethren,

OUR dear brother Mr. Steinkoffp having communicated to the Missionary Society an extract from your Address of June 11, 1806, to the Missionary and Bible Societies, the same was read at our annual meeting held in London, in May, 1807, and which afforded us much pleasure.

We greatly rejoice that, notwithstanding those convulsions with which several nations of the continent have been afflicted, and in which many of you reside, you are enabled to persevere in your annual conference; and in maintaining your correspondence with Christian brethren of varicus churches, and in different countries.

The kingdom of our common Lord is an everlasting kingdom, not liable to those changes and revolutions by which human empires rise and fall, flourish and decay; and He who from his eternal throne surveys and controuls all the affairs of men, well knows how to bring order out of confusion, and to lender the shaking of nations the means of consolidating and extending his spiritual dominions. He has all power in Heaven and on earth, none can stay his hand, nor prevent the

execution of his gracious purposes to the children of men.

Ne

It has pleased God to cast our lot in a country marvellously exempted by his good providence from the devastations which have visited many other nations; to his sovereign goodness alone we ascribe that happy exemption; for alas, much formality in religion, many abominable vices, and great infidelity also, too much prevail among us. vertheless, there are more than a few in our highly-favoured land who have not defiled their garments; who know the joyful sound of the gospel, who wish to exemplify its holy precepts, and to endeavour, with all the ardour of their souls, to diffuse throughout the whole world the sweet savour of the Redeemer's name. We think it our duty, as a society instituted for the purpose of sending the gospel to heathen and other unenlightened nations, to embrace the opportunities which internal peace, commerce, and wealth afford, to exert ourselves to the utmost in this most important work; and it affords us great cause of thankfulness to reflect, that our Society has been the means of exciting a greater spirit of Christian Union and Christian exertion, than was before known among us; and that this institution has proved the occasion of forming several others, having the same glorious object in view, the extension of the Saviour's kingdom among the fallen children of Adam.

Accept, faithful brethren, our Christian salutations; let us have a share in the petitions you present in your assembly for all your brethren, and especially for all iustitntions directed to public benefit. We shall likewise remember you, and earnestly pray for the peace of the continent and for the prosperity of each of

you, your flocks, conferences, and all your schemes for general usefulness. With sacred joy we anticipate the time when the children of God, of whatever name, shall come from the east and the west, the north and the south, and sit down together at the marriage supper of the Lamb. To his care and keeping we commend you, and remain your affec

tionate brethren in Christ, the Missionary Society.

Signed, in behalf and by order of
The Society,

J. HARDCASTLE, Treasurer.
G. BURDER, Secretary.
London, May 14, 1807.

Extract of a Letter from Mr. Balfour, in America.

you

New York, June 10, 1807. IN coming to this place from Halifax, we were obliged, by contrary winds, to put into Liverpool in Nova Scotia. I called on the newlight minister, who invited me to preach. During my stay, I had an opportunity to preach three times to pretty large and attentive congregations. In that place there has been lately, what is not uncommon in this country, a great stir about religion. A few of the leading features of such revival may be interesting to you, and from which may judge for yourself. The one that has been lately in Liverpool, is considered one of the greatest which has been known in the province. It is said to have begun in the woods among two or three families, who live far removed from any place of worship. A young man from among them came to Li verpool; and on the Sabbath began in the chapel, during the interval, to tell the people about what had taken place with him and others in the woods. Of the people who heard him, one began to fall down, and another to cry out; some began to pray, others to sing; the people crowded to the chapel to see what had taken place as they came they were affected, fell down, and cried out with them. The minister merely looked on; for he could neither preach nor pray for the noise made by the people. This continued all night. When they dismissed. they met in clubs in the streets, and in one another's houses, prayed, sung hymns, and cried out as in the chapel. For a whole week there was no business done in the town, no not even so much as fire kindied with many of them to dress victuals. Poor and rich, male and female,

young and old, were all equally affected. There were but a very few individuals in the whole town who were not less or more affected on that occasion. By the time I was there, the matter was abated, and they were complaining of things being very cold among them. I wished to hear their minister preach; but neither he nor they seemed inclined while I staid there to permit me to be a hearer. I wished to visit some of their private meetings; but they made apologies, and declined my request. In all the three meetings I had with them, there was the utmost decency maintained. I earnestly wished to see how they went on with my own eyes, and to hear for myself; but all was composure while I was with them.

1 convers

ed pretty closely with several of the persons who said they were converted upon the above occasion. They talked much of the Spirit,-of the power of God,-of conversion, and of coming out, as they call it. They concluded themselves converted if they had on the above occasion been affected, fell down, cried out, &c. They talked with a degree of unpleasant confidence about themselves. They seemed displeased if you hinted to them the possibility of being deceived. What to think or say of it is difficult; nor would I pronounce upon the whole from a part.

EDINBURGH

MISSIONARY SOCIETY. LETTERS have been lately received from Messrs. Brunton, Mitchell, Pinkerton, and Fraser. The last is dated Karass, May 19; when they were all in good health. On account of the unsettled state of the couatry, and the hostile disposition which some of the Mohammedan tribes manifested towards the Russians, they were taking the most effectual measures in their power to render their situation as secure as possible. They had hired some Russian peasants to assist them in rebuilding Mr. Brunton's house, and in making another double fence round tacir little settleme . Ka

tegary, the young Sultan, was perfectly recovered, and is indefatigable in his endeavours to persuade his countrymen to embrace Christianity. There is good reason to believe that several are convinced, and would openly profess the gospel, were it not for the terror in which they are kept by the violence of their blinded and bigotted chiefs. The leaven, however, is working, and the effects, it is hoped, will by and by appear.

Both Abdy and Shellivy continue friendly. The latter comes almost every week to see the missionaries; but for fear of exciting the jealousy of the chiefs, he generally takes some bye-way, that he may not be observed. He speaks very freely to Mr. B. and tells him many things, which he durst not have told, he says, to his own father, had he been alive. It is to be feared that both he and Abdy persuade themselves that they may believe one religion, and profess another. They suppose, perhaps, that the outrageous violence of the Mohammedans, and the cruel tyranny of their chiefs, will afford them an apology for this strange inconsistency at the last day. Mr. B. mentions that Abdy is very useful to them, by giving intelligence of what is passing in the country; by which means, they have been enabled, on different occasions, to disconcert the plans of their enemics. They take notice of the progress which the children are making in their education, and

mention some who can read the Bible, and write a little. Some of the young people, they hope, will be soon qualified to be teachers of

others.

American Tradition of the Deluge.

THE President of the United States, some time since, communicated to the Congress the discoveries made by Dr. Sibley, and Mr. Dunbar, in exploring the rivers Missouri, Washita, and the Red River. The account states a remarkable tradition among six or seven nations inhabiting the western shore of the Red River, which de

serves particular regard, as it confims, in general, the Scriptural account of the Deluge. The tradition is, that the world was entirely covered with water, with the exception of one hill, which was inhabited by a family of one of these nations, called the Cados. This family was preserved by the Great Spirit, and the whole world is peopled with their offspring.

STATE OF THE CLERGY

IN FRANCE.

THE Bishop of Amiens, in a late Address to the Clergy of his diocese, complains that many of them had refused to pay a small contribution which had been fixed upon, towards the support of a seminary for cleri cal education. "Are you then ignorant," says this zealous prelate, "that Death mows down your pastors, and that we every day experience the heaviest losses? Two

years are not elapsed since we have sat on the episcopal seat of Amiens, and already 101 priests have sunk under their painful labours; in the same time we have only ordained four. We are, therefore, alarmed at the number of parishes which remain destitute of religious assistance, and of those which are threatened with the same calamity; especially when we reflect, that, among those who remain, 343 are more than 70 years of age; 94 have pass ed that age; and others, more laden with infirmities than with years, are apparently on the borders of eternity."

This representation corresponds with what has appeared in some of the French Journals, that the minister of religion in Paris, received,' in one day, four notices from mayors of different towns, stating that they had been obliged to perform divine service on one Sunday,

there being no priest in the neighbourhood, whom they could oblain for that purpose. It is understood, that the starving salary of the priesthood is the cause of this, as no young men will enter on a course of life which does not admit the hope of a maintenance. These