gaining some smooth water, behind a promontory; where we waited till it grew calmer, and arrived about sun-rise at our home. All our people were astonished at the mercy of God in saving us during this dreadful night, spent in a frail skin-boat, amidst such waves as threatened every moment to overwhelm us. I cannot say that I despaired, for I depended upon Him, who has noted my days in His book, and He comforted my heart; but I felt, at the same time, that it is difficult to maintain confidence in God, with the same freedom, when we have brought distress upon ourselves by following our own devices.

Br. Kleinschmidt, of Friedericksthal, gives the following Address of Nathaniel, a Native Assistant, to the Congregation.

The Assistant, Nathaniel, in the Morning Meeting, spoke as follows:

Let every one now attend to me. Dear Brethren and Sisters, whenever I am called upon to speak to you, I feel like a poor child, who does not know what to say: I am therefore ashamed, and tremble before you and before the Lord; for I have been a heathen, and spent much time in ignorance and sin: but hear me! I will speak only a few words to you, and tell you, that the Creator of heaven and earth came to us from heaven, shed His blood, and died for you. And why did he do this? He tells us Himself, in His Holy Word, that the thoughts and imagina

tions of the human heart are evil; He therefore shed His precious blood to wash and cleanse us from sin. On your account, He hung upon the cross, pierced in hands, feet, and side, and covered with wounds from head to foot. He endured revilings and buffetings for us; and if we always had Him present before us in this form, we should hate sin. He heals our hearts from that incurable disease, and clothes us in His blood-bought righteousness. Therefore, my dear friends, consider Him, who has suffered so much for you; and apply to Him every day of your lives; you will then not be confounded before Him on the day of His appearing.

It was very affecting and edifying to hear such a discourse, delivered by a man, who, but a few years ago, was a blind Heathen; and the words of our Saviour occurred to us, I will manifest myself unto them. Our faith is strengthened, that He will manifest Himself unto many more.

Br. Kleinschmidt adds a narrative of the

Singular Deliverance of Nathaniel from

Death.

The Assistant, Nathaniel, arrived here with his family, and immediately called upon us, both to make a report of

his success in the seal-fishery, and of the remarkable preservation of his life; the narrative of which might almost appear fabulous, had he not related it himself, and he is a man of unimpeached veracity. First, he exclaimed, "I have now experienced what it is to be near death;" and then related the following:

Being in company with another Brother, who was yet inexperienced in the management of a kayak, he met a Neitsersoak, the largest kind of seal, which he killed. He then discovered his companion upon a flake of ice, endeavouring to kill another of the same species, and in danger: he, therefore, left his dead seal, kept buoyant by the bladder, and hastened to help his Brother. They succeeded in killing the seal; but suddenly a strong north wind arose, and carried off both the kayaks to sea. They now, with terror, beheld themselves left upon a small flake of ice, far from the land, driving about in the open sea; nor could they discover any kayaks in the neighbourhood. They cried aloud for help, but in vain. Meanwhile, the wind rose in strength, and carried both the kayaks, and also the piece of ice, swiftly along with the waves. Having lost sight of the kayaks, they now saw themselves without the least hope of deliverance. Nathaniel added, "I continued praying to our Saviour; and thought with great grief of the situation of my poor family, but felt a small degree of hope arising in my breast." Unexpectedly, he saw his dead seal floating toward him; and was exceedingly surprised at its approaching against the wind, till it came so near the flake of ice, that they could secure it. But how should a dead seal become the means of their deliverance? and what was now to be done? All at once, Nathaniel resolved, at a venture, to seat himself upon the dead floating seal; and, by the help of his paddle, which he had happily kept in his hand when he joined his companion on the ice, to go in quest of the kayaks. Though the sea and waves continually overflowed him, yet, the body of the seal being sufficiently buoyant to bear his weight, he kept his seat, made after the kayaks, and succeeded in overtaking his own, into which he crept, and went in quest of that of his companion, which he likewise found. He also kept possession of the seal; and now hastened in search of the flake of ice, on which his companion was most anxiously looking out for him: having reached it,

he brought him his kayak, and enabled him to secure the other seal; when both returned home in safety.

We were thankful that Nathaniel had received no harm from so dangerous an adventure. During this affecting narrative, he ascribed his preservation, not to his own clever contrivance, but to the mercy of God alone; and added, " When I found myself delivered from death, and sat again in my kayak, I shed abundance

of tears of gratitude to our Saviour; for, in my great distress, my only hope was placed on Him: I ascribe to Him alone my deliverance."

We could not refrain from tears, on hearing the undisguised and simple account which he gave of this event; and joined in his thanksgivings to the Lord, who has thousands of means at His command, of saving those who call upon Him in trouble.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Society of Friends- The Society of Friends is withheld, by its religious views, from contributing to the Missions of other Religious Communities. It will have been seen, however, from our former Volumes, that a steady and self-denying zeal has led various Members of the Society to submit to many privations, and some of them to encounter death itself, in labouring for the Heathen in such ways as they felt consistent with their tenets. Other Members of the Society are going further; and are endeavouring to incite their brethren to a direct and decided participation in Missions to the Heathen. Mr. William Davis, of Taunton, has published a Letter on this subject, in the" Friends' Monthly Magazine,” a new Periodical Work printed at Bristol. While the Friends consider it within their province to aid the work of Education and Civilization, their peculiar views respecting the Christian Ministry forbid their uniting with Missions undertaken by other bodies; "it being," Mr. Davis says, "a fundamental principle with us, that the Gospel should be preached FREELY, and that the Preachers of it should receive their commission to preach from the Holy Spirit only." This question he meets in the following manner, and illustrates his argument by referring to distinguished instances of the self-denying zeal and piety of various Missionaries:

Would it not be uncharitable in us to doubt, that a great proportion of Christian Missionaries do go forth under this precious influence? for what else could prompt them to such perilous undertakings, or support them under their deep sufferings and privations, of which we, who are surrounded by the comforts of life, can form but a faint idea?

To suppose that these devoted servants of the Gospel are actuated by motives of interest, would be absurd, since many of them do not obtain a sufficiency of food and clothing for the wants of nature; and some have esteemed themselves happy to lay down their lives in the cause.

Wesleyan Miss. Soc. Of Mr. Keightly, who lately sailed for Sierra Leone, the Committee say

By his own choice and request, he has been appointed to that Station to succeed his friend Mr. Peck, whose lamented decease we have so lately noticed. The Christian zeal and courage of this devoted Missionary redound to the praise of Him, who thrusts out Labourers into His Harvest; and the deep interest which we feel in the preservation of his health and life in that unhealthy clime, and the spiritual necessities of those to whom he is sent to minister, should secure for him, from the Churches at home, an affectionate remembrance and unceasing prayer.

per at Boulah, the Port of Caïro, twice a week. It is entitled "News of Egypt," is of the common folio form, and in two columns, Turkish and Arabic.

American Board-In the middle of August, the Mission Presses at Malta were in very active operation: the Nineteenth Number of a Series of Tracts (see p. 13) in TurcoArmenian was in the press; and an edition of the New Testament in that language was on the point (see p. 12) of going to press.

INDIA WITHIN THE GANGES.

Church Miss. Soc.-By a communication received from Tinnevelly, it appears that the Missionaries were in good health at the end of September, and steadily prosecuting their labours-A Letter, addressed to the Secretaries by the Rev. T. Carr on the 2d of September, states, that the Missionaries, the Rev. Messrs. Mitchell, Farrar, and Dixon, with Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs. Farrar, were residing at Bandora, and in good health. Messrs. Farrar and Dixon were pursuing the study of Mahratta.

ciety's Station of Creekpath, in the Cherokee Nation, about the middle of September, giving evidence to those around him that he died in the Lord In the Mission, also, among the Cherokees of the Arkansas, the Board have suffered serious losses, in the death of the Rev. Alfred Finney, on the 13th of June; and in that of Mrs. Wisner, on the 24th of August. Of Mrs. Wisner, who was wife to Mr. Samuel Wisner, Assistant Missionary at Dwight, Mr. Washburn writes→ · She was a devoted and laborious member of our family, ready to put forth all her energies to promote the common interests of the Mission. She was greatly beloved by us for her amiable qualities, but especially for her elevated and steady piety.

College Students-The Editors of the NewYork Observer have prepared, from materials supplied by the Quarterly Journal of Education, the following Table, which shews the number of College Students from each State in the Union, and the proportion which this number bears in each case to the population of the State. The population is that of 1830, as estimated in a Report presented to Congress at their last Session by the Committee on Public Lands.

Massachusetts has less than one-twentieth part of the population of the United States; and yet, of the College Students, one in seven are her sons-three times her fair proportion! She stands at the head of the confederacy in regard to liberal education. Indeed no other State, except Connecticut, comes near her standard.

Emigrants to Hayti-Mr. Benjamin Lundy has recently returned from Hayti, whither he went to ascertain the condition of the Coloured Emigrants formerly removed from the United States to that island, and to conduct a few others. The whole number of Coloured Persons now at Hayti, who have emigrated from the United States, is estimated by him at 8000. The number removed thither at the expense of the Haytian Government was about 6000. Some became discontented, and returned: others are dissatisfied with the system of working on shares;

while others are doing remarkably well, and some are among the most respectable inhabitants.

Methodists-From the Minutes of the Annual Conferences for 1829, collected in the New-York Observer, it appears that the total number of Methodists in the United States is 447,743; being 382,679 Whites, 62,814 Coloured and Black, and 2250 Indians: this is stated to be an increase of 29,305, the total of the preceding year having been 418,438; but, according to the Returns quoted by us at p. 240, the total of 1828 was 421,105, leav ing an increase in 1829 of 26,638. The Travelling Preachers are 1697, and the Superannuated 120; being an increase of 175 in the year.

Presbyterians-An Abstract of the Minutes of the General Assembly for May 1828 was given at p. 240: from those of the present year it appears that the Presbyterian Church in the United States has now 19

Synods, 92 Presbyteries, 1393 Ministers, 205 Licentiates, 195 Candidates, 2070 Churches or Congregations, and 162,816 Communicants; being an increase of 3 Synods, 2 Presbyteries, 108 Ministers, 11 Licentiates, 102 Congregations, and 16,508 Communicants, and a decrease of 47 Candidates for the Ministry. Of the Ministers, 40 are Presidents or Professors in Colleges or Theological Seminaries, 3 are Chaplains in the Navy, and 15 are engaged in Missions to the Heathen. The Baptisms have been 3982 Adults and 12,171 Infants; exceeding those of the preCollections during ceding year by 1974. the year, chiefly for Education and Foreign and Domestic Missions, 73,068 Dollars.

Theological Seminaries - The Quarterly Journal of Education furnishes the following particulars relative to these Seminaries:

Baptist: Hamilton, in State of New York: founded in 1820 number Educated, 20: number of Professors, 4Newton, Massachusetts: 1825: Ed. 7: Pr. 2-Rock Spring, Illinoes: 1827: Pr. 1. Congregational: Andover, Mass.: 1808: Ed.444: Pr. 4-Bangor, Maine: 1816: Ed.51: Pr. 2Yale-College Theological Department, Newhaven, Connecticut: 1822: Ed. 42: Pr. 4-Dutch Reformed: New Brunswick, New Jersey: 1784: Ed. 147: Pr. 3. Episcopal Protestant: New York: 1819: Ed. 123: Pr. 5- Alexandria, Virginia: 1823: Ed. 60: Pr. 2. Evangelical Lutheran: Hastwick, New York: 1816: Ed. 13: Pr. 2-Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: 1826: Ed. 6: Pr. 1. German, Reformed: Carlise, Pennsylvania: 1825: Ed. 7: Pr. 1. Presbyterian : Princeton, New Jersey: 1812: Ed. 470: Pr. 3-Auburn, New York: 1821: Ed. 106: Pr. 3-Maryville, Tennessee: 1821: Ed. 22: Pr. 2-Prince-Edward County, Virginia: 1824: Ed. 11: Pr. 2-Alleghany Town, Pennsylvania: 1828: Pr. 1.

We omit a Unitarian Seminary, founded, in 1816, at Cambridge in Massachusetts; but would add particulars, if we had late Returns, of Kenyon College, at Gambier, in Ohio, founded by Bishop Chase. In Fifteen of the Seventeen Seminaries above enumerated, belonging to Seven Denominations of Christians, there have been educated 1529 Students, those at Rock Spring and Alleghany Town not having been ascertained: 103 left in 1828: the number now under education is 599, of whom 291 are aided by the funds of the respective Seminaries or by those of Education Societies. The Professors of the Seventeen Seminaries are 42 in number. The Libraries contain 35,960 Volumes.

During the last month have been received the melancholy tidings of the death of this valuable Servant of the Church of Christ. He departed this life on the 22d day of June, at the Mauritius; to which island he had resorted, with a view to the restoration of his health. It is but a just tribute to his memory, to say, that India has lost one of its warmest friends and most active and laborious benefactors. He was indeed a burning and a shining light; and many who have rejoiced in his light, will long remember him with sentiments and feelings the most grateful and affectionate. The memory of the just is blessed.

Few names will be recorded, in the Annals of India, which have conferred greater benefits upon it than that of our departed friend; and the Christian Philanthropist, when surveying the widelyextended territories of this vast Continent, and reflecting over those who have esteemed no labour too arduous, no services too severe- nay, who have counted not their lives dear unto themselves, so that they might plant the standard of the Cross amid the countless myriads of dark and fallen, but immortal, spirits, which inhabit its surface-will at once associate, in his mind, with Kiernander and Swartz, and Brown and Buchanan, and Martyn and Heber, the name of Thomason, as a no less true and sincere friend to the Cause of the Redeemer.

It is to be hoped, that a Memoir of the life of this sound scholar and sincere saint will be furnished by some of his connections, who have long known and can best appreciate his worth it could March, 1830.]

not fail to be received with gratitude and joy by many who have enjoyed the benefit of his instructions, both private and public. In the mean time, this brief and hasty sketch of his Life, his Ministry, and Death, is offered.

Mr. Thomason was born at Devonport, on the 7th of June in the year 1774. He was in early youth impressed with a sense of the importance and necessity of a religious life. His pious and feeling mother, whose worth is well known in a most extensive circle of acquaintance, has frequently remarked, that his behaviour was so lovely and engaging in this his innocent age of childhood, as to give the strongest hopes that his character would be distinguished hereafter for remarkable piety and usefulness. The Venerable Archdeacon Corrie, in a Funeral Sermon preached on the occasion of Mr. Thomason's death, mentioned a circumstance which greatly corroborates the truth of these remarks. When he was but thirteen years of age, the devotion of his mind to religious pursuits began to appear, by his refusing to accompany a friend to a place of fashionable amusement. His friend was so struck with his conduct on that occasion, as to be led to serious reflection, and to the renunciation of the pomps and vanities of the world. The fact shews, at least, how much he was impressed with the fear of God and the value of time: and those who have known him best, can testify how this early indication of his regard to religious duties has been cherished and exemplified in his subsequent life.

He entered at Magdalen College, Cambridge, in the year 1792; and his diligence and strict attention to his studies,

R

whilst at the University, are sufficiently attested, both by the high honours which he obtained, and by his being elected Fellow and Tutor of Queen's College. He took the degree of B.A. in the year 1796, and M.A. about three years afterward.

He married Elizabeth, youngest daughter of J. Fawcett, Esq., of Scaleby Castle, Cumberland, in the year 1798. After a lapse of two years, he removed to Shelford, near Cambridge; and there took pupils, many of whom are at this present time distinguished and valuable members of society, and from whom he had the most pleasing demonstrations of regard and attachment during his late visit to England.

During the time of his residing at Shelford, he held the Curacy of Stapleford, and continued Minister of that interesting village for several years. There are many now living who remember his zeal and fidelity in the discharge of his pastoral duties, and especially in the care of the lambs of his flock. The interest excited by his attending a Meeting of the Church Missionary Society in Stapleford, in the year 1827, shewed, in a most remarkable manner, the esteem in which his labours had been held so many years ago.

Previously to his marriage, his eye had surveyed the wide dominion of darkness and ignorance and depravity throughout this benighted world; and his affectionate heart had more especially rested upon India. Family ties and considerations, however, for a time, interfered; and it was not till the year 1808 that he saw his path clear, and was able to accept a Chaplaincy to Bengal.

On the 10th of June in that year, with Mrs. Thomason and their two children, he embarked on board the Travers, for Calcutta. Before arriving at this Presidency, they had to experience and record a most signal instance of the Providence of God, who bringeth near to the gates of death, and then sends his word and delivers from destruction. After a voyage hitherto pleasant, on the morning of the 7th of November, the Travers struck upon a rock, off Cape Negrais, and was in a short time a complete wreck. They escaped with the loss of all things but life: "God marvellously interposed," to use Mr. Thomason's own language, "and brought them off in safety." He did not fail to acknowledge, on this occasion, the merciful interference of God:-"Oh," says he in a Letter to his

*He was Fifth Wrangler; and obtained the Norrisian Prize Essay three successive times.

†The account of this shipwreck is given in an affecting Letter to his Mother; which was printed in the Christian Observer.

Mother, “that as I have now received my life afresh from His hands, I may consecrate it to Him anew, and be wholly, wholly, wholly His. My dearest mother, unite your prayers with mine, that this may be the case; and thank God, with me, for this dispensation; thank Him, I say, with me, for this dispensation: for though we have lost our all of worldly goods, we have been great gainers in other respects. When I see my dear wife and the dear children in safety, and reflect on the dangers through which we have been preserved, I find it impossible to lament our loss, being wholly absorbed in the greatness of our deliverance. Wonder, love, and praise, predominate so much, that I have neither time nor spirit to regret what has passed."

He had been appointed by the Court of Directors to the Mission Church, Calcutta ; and, on his arrival, he took immediate charge of it. Though his time was necessarily much occupied with his Ministerial Engagements, yet his thoughts were at the same time turned to the work of Translation: not that he in any wise neglected the more important duties of his Ministry; as all his surviving flock can bear record. But the urgent need of the Scriptures in the Oriental Languages was then so apparent, as to demand the co-operation of all who were capable of rendering assistance. Some knowledge of Hebrew he had acquired when at school, in his play-hours; and this early ground-work had been gradually built upon, until, in later life, his Hebrew Bible was as familiar to him as his English: thus was a good foundation laid for the acquisition of Eastern Languages. He also studied Arabic during the voyage, and made no inconsiderable proficiency; and, after his arrival, he prosecuted the study with such ardour, under Sheikh Uhmud and Sabat, as to attain eventually the rank of one of the first Arabic Scholars of his day. In the critical knowledge of this language, he was equalled by few, surpassed by none. His proficiency in this respect was immediately applied to the correction of Sabat's Version of the New Testament, printed under the direction of the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society, and now found to be very acceptable in Arabia and Persia. The benefit he has hereby conferred on those interesting portions of the globe have been incalculable; and his usefulness has been fully appreciated and acknowledged, by those who are best competent to judge of the merits of his Translation.

He next applied himself to the study of