accounts the contraband trade in opium to China has become almost extinct. The Chinese ever desirous of putting it down have now become determined." I am a decided enemy to the opium trade, but am sorry to say that by these "last accounts" you have been seriously deceived, and from actual observation I regret to have to assure you that the "opium trade to China” is not only not "almost extinct" but at present flourishes to an extent hitherto unprecedented.

This trade which was formerly confined to the store ships stationary at Lintin is now actively prosecuted by means of eighteen square-rigged vessels, along the whole coast of China, from the island of Chusan on the Northeast, to the island of Hainam on the Southwest. The stationary ships at Lintin have also increased in number in consequence of the increased demand for the drug there. Besides these, there are thirty-two European schooners daily engaged in carrying the article through the very mouth of the Bogue up to Whampoa and Canton, where, particularly at the former place, the deliveries are very extensive and are becoming more and more so. A number of the foreigners have themselves become personal smugglers IN SMALL BOATS, of this contraband article of trade. Indeed it is a fact that they clandestinely deliver many chests some seven or eight miles up into the country above the city of Canton. Several large ships have just arrived in China freighted with opium from Bombay, and also from Calcutta the scene of your editorial labours. Why, my dear Sirs, the identical vessel which has just brought me the May No. of your valuable Journal brings from Calcutta this voyage between 12 and 15 hundred chests of opium.

Whether or not the above slight notices, and others yet to be mentioned, warrant the faintest belief that "the Opium Trade to China is almost extinct" I leave you and your readers to determine. That this fatal traffic should very speedily become not only almost but entirely extinct is a matter most devoutly to be wished by every philanthropist, for it is making terrible strides towards plunging the whole of China into evident and rapid ruin, by draining the specie from the country and withering the souls and bodies of the people. But do not let us be deceived on the subject and sound our pæans of triumph over the downfall of the OPIUM TRADE, while in reality, the trade is now revelling in all the desperate success of unprecedented activity. Twelve months ago the largest holders had probably but little expectation that the drug could soon be introduced within the Bogue, but now so successful are the attempts that even the foreign passage boats which lately passed between Macao and Canton have all entirely abandoned their

legitimate employments, and are exclusively engaged in smug-. gling opium on the river.

As to the Chinese being desirous of putting down this disgraceful trade, there is very great room for doubt. At this very time there are more facilities for pouring opium into the country than were ever known at any former period. Some years ago the Mandarins demanded of the native smugglers a stipulated sum per chest for their connivance (about $20) which was paid; of late they have demanded a larger sum (about $80), but the smugglers refusing to pay so much have nearly all been hunted down, and the Mandarins have taken this "contraband trade" into their own hands, and carry it on most extensively, coming in the government boats and junks and receiving the baneful drug from the foreign vessels. Chinese edicts against opium are all humbug, never intended to be enforced by those who issue them, nor obeyed by those against whom they profess to be levelled. It is commonly reported and believed that his excellency Governor Tang has himself privately promised his connivance toward all opium brought up the river by the Mandarins, provided he be paid twenty dollars per chest.

Several of the merchant ships proceeding to Whampoa for their regular cargoes have lately taken up with them from Lintin, opium to a large amount and disposed of it at Whampoa to great pecuniary advantage. Some few months ago a ship applied for a pilot to go up to Whampoa, the captain stating that his vessel was freighted with rice, upon rice-laden vessels there being exemptions of port duties to the amount of nearly two thousand dollars. A pilot was accordingly granted, the vessel proceeded with the least possible delay to Whampoa, and as a rice-laden ship from Java was immediately secured by a Hong merchant. It was soon discovered however, that in addition to a few bags of rice taken in at Lintin she had on board several hundred chests of opium. Sales went off rapidly for several days, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the security merchant, and his earnest solicitations that the ship would immediately leave Whampoa. At length this merchant who ignorantly secured the ship was threatened by the Governor and Hoppo with decapitation and confiscation if the vessel did not forthwith leave the anchorage, and although this information was laid before the captain, still he refused to go away notwithstanding he had had his ship secured under the false idea that he had no opium on board. Finally he agreed to weigh anchor on receiving for so doing six thousand dollars, which was paid down by the trembling security merchant to save himself, his property and his family, and the ship moved out of the river, not however until nearly all the poison had been sold. Such VII. 3 Y

disgraceful procedure by citizens of Christendom deserves the indignant frown and withering contempt of every honest individual. It is too black for comment. And there have been some transactions still darker which could be mentioned. In stating these things I mean no offence to any one, and in justice I may observe that apart from this poisonous traffic I have seldom met with men more kind and gentlemanly than are some of these opium dealers. They themselves have acknowledged to, me that they considered the opium trade a curse to China, but justify their course by the thrice exploded principle that if they do not engage in it others will. Twenty millions of dollars annually is the average amount paid by the Chinese for this fatal luxury, and as long as the present vast gains accrue from the trade there can be but little doubt but there will be found men in abundance, even from Christendom, to engage in it.

Yes! the Opium Trade is a "CURSE" to China, and if not sent, yet it is still allowed by a righteous God. In every age of the world Jehovah has scourged the nations of the earth for their wickedness and their contempt of his authority. Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. Many have been the cities which have met the fate of Sodom and the other fallen "cities of the plain." The affecting history of the scattered Israelites; the trembling knees of the astounded Belshazzer, the downfall of Babylon, the destruction of Jerusalem, (O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!!) the parted glory of the "eternal city," the continual residence of that awful scourge, the cholera, in the land of the Muhammadans, and a thousand other circumstances demonstrate that Heaven's vengeance becomes terrible on earth because of the crying guilt of guilty man. The Chinese, as a nation, have forfeited the favour of the Almighty. With daring blasphemy the Emperor has assumed the title of the "Son of Heaven," and proclaims himself the vicegerent on earth of the most High, and actually demands and receives that worship and reverence which is due alone to his God and Maker. As the high priest of the nation and the only mediator between God and man, he regards it as punishable heresy for prayers to be addressed to SHANG TE, the Supreme Ruler by any individual save himself. The laws of the empire class Christianity with witchcraft, treason and false doctrines, and all are alike punishable with fines, imprisonment, and death. Abominable idolatries, grinding oppressions both mental and physical, consummate collusion from the highest to the lowest officers of the state, presumptuous and senseless fancies, false philosophy as well as no philosopy at all, intrigue, &c. &c. &c. all, all are not only tolerated but supported, while the eternal truths of the eternal God are impugned, falsified, libelled and their entrance into the country denied

by positive and official prohibitions. Under this state of things therefore should it be regarded as a phenomenon in the history of the divine movements, that the terribleness with which this nation is now shaken should have been ordered by Him whom they have blasphemed, and against whom they have rebelled? At least we will believe that these deplorable evils, which in very many respects are the legitimate results of their own unwise and illegitimate policy, will be overruled by Heaven for good to the Chinese. The cure however, is a desperate one. The Opium trade, in which natives and foreigners are necessarily brought into such close contact with each other, may ultimately cause a collision which may result in placing them mutually in a more satisfactory and more honourable position toward each other. The present position of affairs between foreigners and the Chinese, particularly on the Opium subject, cannot surely long remain as they are, and that a very serious crisis is fast approaching cannot be doubted by the most sceptical. I think it exceedingly doubtful whether the British Government, as intimated in the Observer, intends appealing to arms for the purpose of supporting the Opium trade. What results, however, another twelve months' time may develop are known only to Him who judges the nations. One of the darkest and most humiliating features in this Opium drama is the part acted by the professedly Christian Government of British India. On this subject, however, I forbear observation for the present, suffice it to say that in Europe and America there is evidently a growing feeling of public disapprobation and disgust toward that trafficking monopoly which annually pollutes its treasury with the unhallowed revenue derived from its official connexions with Idolatry in India, and Opium in China.

China, June, 1838.

SIWEL.

VIII.-Brief Memoir of the late Reverend C. T. E. Rhenius.

We think that many of our readers will be gratified with the accompanying memoir of the devoted Rhenius, in the welfare of whose widow and family they have taken so prompt and liberal an interest. The memoir is extracted from the last half-yearly report of the Tinnevelly Mission.-ED.

It is with peculiar feelings that we enter upon the difficult duty of committing to paper some particulars of the life and death of Mr. Rhenius. We feel that his course has been an honourable one, and yet are we jealous over ourselves, lest, in giving him the praise which we think due to his memory, we should seem to forget that he was a man. It is our desire to do him the justice which was his desert, and it must be left to the reader to draw conclusions for himself. We intend therefore to confine ourselves almost exclusively to facts and plain narration—not to draw up a panegyric.

And we think, that on a review of the life and character of the departed saint, it will be found that to the work of a Missionary "many are called, but few are chosen."

Charles Theophilus Ewald Rhenius was born on the 5th of November, 1790, at the fortress Graudens in West Prussia. His father, Otho Rhenius, was an officer of infantry in the Prussian army, and died when his son Charles was but six years old. Besides Charles, one elder brother, a younger brother, and a sister were thus early deprived of an affectionate parent. The care of all four now devolved upon their mother, and most enthusiastically does her son speak of the affection, the faithful and anxious love with which she ever watched over the welfare of her children.

Till the year 1804, Charles visited the Cathedral school at Marienwerder. The three following years he spent at Balga, near Konigsberg; but, in the spring of 1807, was invited by an aged uncle to his estate near Memel, in order to assist him in the management of its concerns. Of this uncle, the departed always spoke with the greatest pleasure; for it appears that while with him real piety took deeper root in his heart and grew into strength. Of his reception at Bachmann, his uncle's estate, Charles writes thus ; "he received me with the love of a father, and I enjoyed the rights of a son.

These particulars, and others mentioned in this brief notice of his early life, are extracted from some papers written by him many years ago. The following passages are translated from the German.

"The year 1807, was memorable as being that, in which I was directed to the knowledge of divine things. It would be too long to relate fully the circumstances. One word of our Saviour I found verified again in my own experience, viz.: the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.' This word, together with the precept, follow me,' was the means of producing a saving change in my soul. The grace of God in Christ Jesus began now to dwell in my heart, and enlightened me with the pure light of the gospel: after which the sweet truth penetrated me— God become man, and died for man. It was then I could fully appreciate the word in John iii., God so loved the world, that he gave his only be gotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' The Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, who had manifested himself to me as the true God and life eternal, found a free entrance into my heart, and impressed me with the firm resolution to follow him.' Daily I improved in knowledge of myself, seeing my extreme sinfulnessI improved in the knowledge of the love of God towards poor sinners, and of the redemption which had been effected through Christ. And thus was I confirmed in my resolution by that blessed Spirit, to whom 1 committed myself, to follow Jesus, and in future to depart from iniquity-and to dedicate to him my soul and body with all their faculties for the practice of righteousness. To sum up all in a few words, a lively faith in Christ Jesus was begun to be wrought within me."

After some remarks as to the vanity of relying on mere moral and externally correct conduct, he proceeds.

"I now found, in the gospel, words of eternal life which pointed out the way of communion with my Creator and Redeemer. I discovered a force in it which overcame and cast down all carnal reasoning, and I found it confirmed by my own experience that Jesus Christ is God and Lord, no less than He was man. I could not understand it; but I could believe it; and this faith had been kindled in me by the power of God. I felt my heart longing for the things above, where my Saviour reigns. I felt enjoyment in Him, and in the meditation of His love during the silent hours of retirement. I knew what was truth, and desired to be but truth myself."