the Missionaries, and became a subject of Divine grace. He has now lived many years, rejoicing in God's favour; afflicted, but pious; witnessing to the truth of his conversion by a holy life and gracious conversation. When Mr. Thomas came over to England, four years ago, he sent a message to his friends in this country, who rejoice over his altered character.

An American was convinced of sin under Mr. Thomas's first English service at Vavau, in 1835; he went back to his own country, and there became a Preacher of the Gospel.

There is a little romance about another story related to me by Mr. Thomas. A ship's surgeon, unconverted and ungodly, stayed for a while at Tonga. There he fell in love with one of the island beauties, and made proposals of marriage to her. He was bound in honour to accompany his ship; but he promised if she would only wait for him, that he would return in three years' time, bringing a stock of medicines, and would then marry her, and settle in the country. All this came to pass. The Tongan lady waited, and, more wonderful to relate, the English gentleman remembered her and his promise, and returned. Some time after his marriage he became an assistant Missionary. His health has since failed.

Another surgeon was compelled, through sickness, to remain on the island. He was visited by the Missionaries; through these visits, and the reading of Wesley's Sermons, Divine light broke in upon his mind; he sought and found peace with God, and died in the faith of Christ. These are but a few instances out of many that are known to our Missionaries. In how many more may the bread cast upon the waters be found after many days!

What is left for us to desire in reference to Tonga? Chiefly, I think, openings for commerce, and an enlarged literature.

Their

Some persons have called the Tonguese idle. But this is scarcely just. climate and their food are alike hinderances to severe and long-continued exertions; and then there has been no market for native produce, except that afforded by the residence of a very few Europeans, and the occasional call of ships. The few wants of the islanders themselves are readily met; but the sound of the mallet, from Monday morning to Saturday night, as the tapa-beaters (women) prepare the native cloth,-a cloth so frail in its texture, that a Chief's garment requires renewal every week,-speaks them an industrious people. Were there a larger demand for the products of their labour, there would be a larger supply. King George has lately paid a visit to Sydney; and it is hoped that this may lead to the

establishment of relations of commerce between that flourishing colony and the islands.

Mr. Thomas, too, returns to Tonga strongly impressed with the possibility of inducing the people to cultivate cotton with advantage. He has shown a specimen of native cotton to the President of the Chamber of Commerce, at Manchester, and has been told that it is superior to American, and equal to Egyptian, cotton, and that were it brought over to this country, the demand for it would be almost unlimited. Now, there are several uninhabited islands in these groups that might be converted into cotton plantations. It is easily planted. Deep holes must be made for yams; but to turn up the earth with a spade suffices for cotton planting, and children may be employed to gather it. And Mr. Thomas has reason to believe that arrangements may be made at Sydney for its purchase and transport to this country. Such a scheme, should it succeed, would tend to promote the industry and prosperity of the Tonguese.

Then, as to books. It is obvious that if the Friendly Islanders are to attain a higher civilization, a larger supply of these is needful. They are a people living apart from the world. Their little island homes are divided by the broad sea waves from all the old, highly-trained continental nations. The treasures of art and science are beyond their reach, except as they may be brought to their shores through the wonderful and mighty press. They are a reading people. The Missionaries have the key of knowledge; they can open and shut at pleasure, admitting only such books as are likely to subserve the best interests of their charge. Cannot something be done in the way of translating into Tonguese a few of our own standard works? Is there no lady, now living on the islands-none who has left but still loves the people, who will do for Tonga what Sarah Boardman, the second Mrs. Judson, did for Burmah? She was not a literary lady, according to the meaning that some attach to the words. She was a true woman-gentle, loving, active; a good housekeeper; the cheerful companion of her husband; her children's teacher and friend. Yet her heart so yearned over the Heathens around her, that, not contented with helping them simply by helping Dr. Judson, she felt that she must have her own hand in the work; and so, in the intervals of time that a busy domestic life allowed her, she sat down, and, page by page, translated the whole of John Bunyan's immortal dream. Her justlyadmiring husband says:-"Her transla tion of the Pilgrim's Progress' into Burmese, is one of the best pieces of composi

mese, about twenty in number, are probably the best in our chapel hymn-booka work which she was appointed by the Mission to edit. Besides these works, she published four volumes of 'Scripture Questions,' which are in constant use in our Sabbath-schools. It has been remarked that the translation of the 'Pilgrim's Progress into an Eastern tongue, is a work worth living for, if it were one's only performance." Who will copy her example, and do a like diligent and pious work?

One object of Mr. Young's recent visit was to make an arrangement by which the Friendly Islands Mission shall be henceforth placed under the care of the Australian Conference. This arrangement does not sever our South Sea Missions from English Methodism; but it lessens their dependence, and leaves us free to devote more attention to the claims of the other parts of the world.

Though our own immediate work in Tonga is at an end, we know that the change that has passed upon her sons during the last thirty years, is a type of the change that the large islands and vast continents of our globe are yet waiting for. What have we done for New Guinea, and the Spice Islands? What for Japan, Thibet, Tartary, Persia ? How inadequate is our supply of Missionaries in India and China! We have fringed Africa with a narrow and broken border of light; but what have we done for its dark and thickly peopled interior? And how few have turned their thoughts, and prayers, and speeches towards South America!

Have you seen Mr. Curnock's large map of the world, coloured so as to show, at a glance, the comparative spread of true and false religions? The Pagan countries are as black as ink; those where Popery prevails, red; and so forth.

Wherever a purer faith prevails, the spot is distinguished by bright gold colour. Mr. Curnock, some little time since, took his map to a certain shop, to be freshly done up. Calling a few days after to see how it was faring, the journeyman employed on it said, "It would look much better, Sir, if I might put a little more gilding "No, no, it will do as it is," said

on."

*The Rev. Nehemiah Curnock, now stationed at Leeds, whom Methodists may call their children's Preacher.

colours. The man started back, fixed his eyes on Mr. Curnock, and exclaimed, "And do you, Sir, expect to live to see all the world gilded?"

My dear young friend, cannot you and I "put a little more gilding on ?" It is not a thing too great for us to aim at it is not a thing too great for us to do. We may lead some soul to Christ, who shall one day be His messenger to the ends of the earth; we may speak a word to a stranger that shall never be forgotten; we may become subscribers to the Missionary Society; or, better still, collectors for it; we may take a Daily Offering Box, or a Christmas paper; we may listen at a Missionary Meeting, or read the story of success abroad, not only that our own zeal may be kept burning, but also to obtain the latest news for a contributor whose interest is waning, and who does "not know what is done with the money;" we may offer prayers in our closets at home that shall bring down "showers of blessing" on foreign fields, and cheer the drooping spirits of faithful Ministers.

It is impossible to say in how many ways we may aid the cause of Christ, if we only give ourselves freely and fully to God, and wait to know what He would have us to do.

This is an object worthy of being set before young people at their first entrance on life. If you elect and cleave to it, you will never know what "weariness of life" means. The "winter's night and summer's day" will be all too short; for you have a great work to do, and a little time to do it in.

""T is worth living for this, to administer bliss, And salvation in Jesus's name."

One word, before we part, as to giving. I am sometimes afraid lest the views of the world on this subject should get in advance of the church's practice. Hear what one of the poets of the present day, a poet of this world, says on this subject :

"The secret that doth make a flower a flower,
So frames it that to bloom is to be sweet,
And to receive to give. The flower can die,
But cannot change its nature; though the earth
Starve it, and the reluctant air defraud,-
No soil so sterile and no living lot
So poor but it hath somewhat still to spare
In bounteous odours. Charitable they
Who, be their having more or less, so have
That less is more than need, and more is less
Than the great heart's good will."