to Velonades, at which place I had been twice last year. Here we gave away 56 tracts and 2 New Testaments, in modern Greek, one to an old man, and the other to the head priest of the village, whom I found in a poor wretched state, mending an old shoe. There is another priest to the village, and the second Testament I intended to be given to him, on his return (for he was not at home); but the priest, who was present, and the old man, both confidently asserted and maintained, that the other priest could not read it. I asked if he did not read his liturgy in the Church; they said he did; but that he had by long practice learned it, and certainly could not read any other book. O! that the spirit of God from on high may be poured out on the churches, that these dry-bones may live.

At these and other villages we distributed 550 Tracts, 24 copies of the New Testament, 7 copies of the Pilgrim's Progress, 2 of Mr. Wilson's Spelling Book, 4 of Mason, on Self-Knowledge, and 3 copies of St. Matthew's Gospel, in Albanian.

Visits Panelimona, St. Athanasius, and Messaria.

Early this morning, June 9th, I set out again on a tour to some of the country villages. This is the first time I had gone accompanied by a guide only, having before always had some one in the character of a friend. On this and the following day I went to eight villages, at three of which I had not been before. I left religious books at every place, but in the following short statement every particular circumstance is not mentioned.

When passing a place in the country called Panelimona, where a great number of the country people were working at a new road, a man came running after me, to whom I had promised a Testament, when at Spagos about six weeks before. When I took down my books from my horse, I was soon surrounded by men and boys, begging tracts. I gave away about 40, which they would take to their respective villages, where I trust they would be read to profit.

I next reached a small village called St. Athanasius. Last year I had passed very near this place, and gave a number of tracts to an aged schoolmaster, whom I found giving instruction to a number of boys under a spreading tree, near a small church. Today I went to the village. I found the circumstance of my having given tracts to the schoolmaster was remembered, but was sorry to learn that he was dead.

I was glad, however, to find his memory respected, and that a young man had been appointed to succeed him. I sent for this young man, and to him and others gave 31 tracts, and sold one modern Greek Testa

ment, and one copy of Mason. The village contains but about 100 inhabitants and four churches. About a fortnight after this, another young man called at my house from this village to beg tracts, saying the people had been very much gratified by my visits; that he was not at home when I called, and had, therefore, got no tracts. I accordingly gave him some.

Messaria. At this small village I called also last year, where I gave some tracts, and sold some larger books. I found again to-day the priest in the place, whom I had seen when here before. I gave at this place 20 tracts, and sold one Pilgrim and one Mason.

Visits Agraphus, Antipernis, Niphes, and Spartilla.

Towards evening I reached Agraphus, & village containing about 100 families, and 400 inhabitants. There is a pretty good monastery here, but only three monks reside in it. There are two schoolmasters, to whom I gave tracts. I gave at this place, in the whole, 200 tracts, 3 Greek Testaments, (to the monks, who had not had them before,) and one copy of the Pilgrim's Progress. I also sold two copies of the latter

I intended to proceed to another village, where I purposed to remain for the night, but the head of the convent and others urged me to remain with them; and as I knew no person in the other village, and found a favourable reception here, I readily consented. I told them I should like to preach to the people, when they came home from their work. The bells at the church, attached to the convent, were afterwards rung, and, I suppose, at least 150 people collected together in the church. I stood on a slight elevation on one side of the church, and addressed them from Col. iii. I. "If ye then be risen with Christ," &c. My hearers were very attentive, and at the close appeared much satisfied. Would to God they heard to profit. It is truly gratifying to find such opportunities for proclaiming Christ to persons of another nation, and different profession of religion. And who knows whether God may not in mercy condescend to bless the word. Success belongs to him: to labour in his strength is ours.

After the sermon I went home with the primate of the village, where I had to sleep, and was very hospitably entertained and lodged. I found here, as in many other instances, that the subject of religion was difficult to introduce ; and, unfortunately, any triffing circumstance served to displace it.

Early in the morning I left Agraphus, and in about an hour arrived at Antipernis, a small village containing about 20 families, and in which there are three churches, but no resident priest; the one who officiates resides at a neighbouring village. I gave

about 30 tracts to the people, and sold one copy of the Pilgrim's Progress.

To-day I visited Niphes for the first time. This is a village of the middle size containing about 400 inhabitants. There are 15 churches and eight priests. I was happy to find that one of them appeared to be a man of some intelligence, and he had previously got a Greek Testament from the British and Foreign Bible Society; the rest had not the Word of God. Three of these were present, and as they were all very poor, I gave each of them a modern Greek Testament, and one to an old man; I also gave away about 50 tracts.

Spartilla. Here I was last year. I found to-day the bead priest of the village, whom I had seen when here before. I went to his house, where he keeps a small school of about eleven scholars. This school is kept in a very dark kitchen, and the boys learn their lessons seated on the floor. Those who are at all able to read, do it in a singing nasal tone, making as great a noise, almost, as they can. As the priest had no Greek Testament, I gave him one, and also left 15 tracts.

On this tour I distributed about 450 religious tracts, 13 Greek Testaments, 7 Pilgrims, and 2 copies of Mason.

I have frequently preached in Greek in my own house this year; the last time was on the evening of the 13th inst.

Albanian Translation of the Scriptures.

Mr. Lowndes also states that, on a visit at Zante, he had met with Mr. Zervo, (a Greek) one of the Secretaries of the Ionian Bible Society, and adds:

"He had just returned from the Coast of Albania, and in one place had been on shore, where he had had conversation with several persons, especially with a priest, on the subject of the Bible Society; and when he informed the priest that a part of the Scriptures was printed in the Albanian, of which he did not know before, he was quite in raptures at the thought of procuring a copy, which Mr. Zervo promised to use his endeavours to get for him.

"Mr. Zervo told me one thing that deserves to be recorded, viz. that the members of the Eastern and Western Churches perform their services, in many instances in the same church at different times of the day.

"Mr. Zervo was returning to Albania, and I gave him, to dispose of in the best manner he could, twenty-five copies of the Gospel of St. Matthew, in modern Greek and Albanian, and six modern Greek Testaments. I hope to be favoured with some interesting communications on his return."

AFRICA. PACALTSDORP.

Extracts of a Letter of Rev. Dr. Philip, dated Bethelsdorp, 4th July, 1825, during an inspecting Tour to the Missionary Sta. tions, addressed to the Secretary.

My dear Sir,-A promise made to me by Mr. Anderson, that he would write you fully on every point connected with this mission, makes it unnecessary for me to enter much into detail; but there are a few things connected with the station, which it would be improper for me not to notice on this occa sion. The new place of worship is neat, plain, and yet handsome. The wood and mason-work are executed with considerable taste, and do much credit to Mr. Edwards and Mr. Clerk, and the Hottentots under them. It is not too large, nor, in other respects, unsuitable to the congregation, and yet it is by far the first building of the kind in the colony, out of Cape Town. The building is an honour to the Society. It furnishes admirable accommodation for the people, and adds to the means of perpetuating the preaching of the gospel. While Mr. Edwards and Mr. Clerk were employed in conducting this work, they have formed some good stone-masons among the Hottentots, and instructed them in the first principles of carpentry work. We calculated that the people present at the opening of the place of worship amounted to 500. Of these, about 400 were Hottentots, and the rest Colonists. After a few appropriate remarks on the opening of the new place of worship, I addressed the Hottentots, the Colonists, and the Missionaries, separately, on their respective duties to each other. On the minds of the Hottentots I endeavoured to impress a sense of their duty, by reminding them what they formerly were. It was an affecting sight to observe such a number of human beings, who were a few years ago reckoned as a people," without houses, living in holes of the earth, with no clothing but the filthy kaross, without books, without the worship or the knowledge of God, now worshipping in such an edifice, clothed in British manufactures, without a single kaross in the whole assembly, with Bibles and Hymn-books in their hands, listening eagerly to the words dropping from the lips of the preacher, evincing, at the same time, a spirit of intelligent and animated devotion, which would have done credit to any Christian assembly in Great Britain. On the minds of the Colonists present, I endeavoured to impress the duties which they owed to the Hottentots. After laying before the Hottentots the duties they owe to the Colonists, and inculcating upon their minds the connexion between the reception of the

"not

honesty and obedience, in general, I endea

voured to impress the Colonists with the conviction that the Hottentots are made of

the same materials as themselves-that they are under the same divine law-that they must be tried at last by the same Judge, and that we must all enter heaven through the same medium, and then enforced the claims which the Hottentots have to their just and compassionate regard. I afterwards addressed the Missionaries on the duties which are devolved upon them, and urged them always to recollect, that the souls of the farmers are as precious in the sight of God, as the souls of those who are more immedi

ately under their charge; and, in case of any differences arising, that they should act as mediators between them, and seek the good of both. When the service was over, I found that what I had said had approved itself to the consciences of all parties present, and I am not without hope that beneficial effects will follow. For the first time, I observed on this occasion, the farmers mingled with the Hottentots on the same seats,

In encouraging young men to come out as Missionaries, do use the greatest caution.--One wrong-headed, conscientiously obstinate man would ruin us. Humble, quiet, persevering men---men of sound, sterling talents, of decent accomplishments, and some natural aptitude to acquire a language; men of an amiable, yielding temper---willing to take the lowest place, to be the least of all, and the servant of all; men who enjoy much closet religion, who live near to God, and are willing to suffer all things for Christ's sake, without being proud of it; these are the men we need.

Formation of New Societies.

BRISTOL.

ON Tuesday, Sep. 13, 1825, a meeting was held in the chapel founded by John Fisher Weare, Esq. Long Ashton, near Bristol, for the purpose of forming a Branch Missionary Society. Stephen Prust, Esq. of Clifton kindly took the chair, and the meeting was addressed by the Rev. Mr. Jackson, of Stockwell, Leach of Shipton Mallet, Guy of Hope Chapel, Clifton, and Messrs. Thorn, Berry, and Weston.

Miss Barnes is the Treasurer-Mr. Weston the Secretary of this Branch.

ANNIVERSARY.

BOLTON.

"The Bolton branch of the East Lan

cashire Auxiliary Missionary Society, held its Anniversary in Duke's-alley Chapel in that town, on Lord's-day the 27th, and Wednesday the 30th of November, 1825. The Rev. W. Ellis, Missionary, was engaged to attend, but was prevented by indisposition, intelligence of which did not arrive till postponement was unavoidable. Allowing for the disarrangement and inconvenience arising from this circumstance, the services of this Anniversary were interesting and effective. The Rev. Dr. Clunie, of Leafsquare, near Manchester, and the Rev. Geo. Payne, A. M. Theological Tutor of the Independent Academy, Blackburn, preached on the Lord's-day, and on Wednesday evening appropriate addresses were given by various ministers from a distance. The amount of subscriptions and collections, &c. for the past year was 1227,"