which was surprising to themselves. But after they had been there a little time they made a mortifying discovery. The Roman catholic church enjoins that spittle, oil, and salt be used in the administration of baptism. Salt itself was very scarce, and very medicinal, and very palatable to the natives of that country, and as a grain of salt was put on the tongue of every individual who received baptism, and it was a delightful relish which suited the African taste, it was this that induced their extraordinary zeal to become members of that church." He then alluded in touching terms to the death of Thomas Wilson, Esq., the treasurer of the society, and afterwards said, "I am happy that it falls to my duty to propose Sir Culling Eardley Smith to be the future treasurer He has a missionary heart; he will bring to your work the faithfulness which characterised the founders of your institution. I am persuaded he has a missionary heart. May I be pardoned for saying that there are several here who, on very interesting occasions, have witnessed it. When his dear little boy was born, the heir to his house, he said to his lady, 'Now, we will keep the child's birthday differently from our neighbours: we will hold a missionary meeting;' and thus, at Bedwell Park every birthday there are gathered missionaries and ministers; and the villagers and neighbours are invited to meet on the lawn, and to hear the addresses of those who are the servants of Jesus Christ in the missionary field. There I have met dear John Williams; there I have met Robert Moffat; there I have met my honoured friend Herschell, and brethren of the Jewish nation. We have witnessed again and again how devoted the heart of the honourable baronet is to the cause of Christ: and though he has been compelled to retire from public life in England, on account of the delicate state of his own health, and that of his lady, yet he has carried the missionary spirit into Rome. He has not been ashamed of Christ in that city of the beast."

The Rev. J. A. JAMES, of Birmingham, spoke in an interesting and touching speech of those who had died, but more particularly of Dr Fletcher and of Mr Wilson. Alluding to the removal of Mr Pritchard, the reviled and calumniated British consul, he said "I call upon this meeting and the religious public, to throw the shield of protection around that man, assailed, as he has been, with persevering malignity, by French tongues and French pens. Assailed-for what? For vin

dicating the honour of the English flag-for resisting the artifices of jesuit cunning, and manifesting himself as the devoted adherent of protestant missions-aye, and for opening his house to give an asylum to a helpless woman, driven from her house, and, for a season, from her throne, by the most dastardly act that ever disgraced a military or a naval power." In a beautiful manner he entreated them to recollect that God has his own ways of effecting his own purposes; the course of providence is not like that of one of our modern railways, without elevations or depressions, without windings or turnings, or like the ancient Roman roads; but it is like the course of a mighty river winding and turning, and sometimes apparently rolling back upon its source, but still, by the law that directs its motion, ever urged onwards to the point where it is to touch and swell the ocean. Perhaps this affliction is sent that we may be better prepared to carry on the work in those parts of the world which are still left open to us. Does not God, by this event in the south, seem to be stretching forth his hand to the east? By the growing darkness of the horizon in the south, and the growing brightness of the horizon in the east, does He not seem to say, "Though you do all in your power for the south, be sure that you do not neglect the east?" We have all India, from the Himalaya to Cape Comorin :

"The world is all before us where to choose,

And Providence our guide."

The Rev. J. ELY, of Leeds, gave an interesting account of the commencement of the mission at Tahiti. The Duff sailed with its pious captain and devoted band of missionaries. For sixteen years there was no apparent fruit;-all was as dark and as gloomy as when they arrived at first, but still worse, one of their own band, who went to convert savages into Christians, himself became a convert to the savageism of the islanders. But the missionaries were rewarded for their sixteen years' persevering toil: first, it was told that a man had been seen praying in the bushes, then came a multitude of praying and inquiring persons, then came the formation of a Christian church; island after island was visited, and group after group received the salvation of God. Tahiti is but one step-Tahiti is but the gate of Polynesia. Station after station, aye, and one missionary

society after another, must anticipate the visitation of France and Rome. In conclusion, he called upon the meeting, he called upon all to lift up their voices as one man, in every circle, in every scene, and by all their influence to raise their protest against that aggression of the French government, and against that silence of another-he meant the British government, by which the aggression had been sanctioned.

Captain GAMBIER, of the royal navy, was the next speaker. He said that he came there with the sole desire of bearing testimony to the excellent character of those individuals whom this sòciety had sent to those islands, and also, as an eye-witness, to bear testimony that the Bible has not only, as you have heard, reached the islands; but through the instruments whom God has been pleased to honour, whose Spirit has accompanied their preaching of his word, it has reached the heart of the people. He wished to examine the natives, and the missionaries willingly assented. His visit was quite unexpected, and, from the answers of the natives, he could bear testimony that the missionaries were not only doing the work they were sent to do, but with success. He said that Mr Pritchard, in his capacity both as consul and as missionary, was the most respected man in all those islands.

The Rev. JAMES HAMILTON, a presbyterian, said that Tahiti first brought him acquainted with this society. He little thought, when, many years ago, he used to read the accounts of the May meetings in the Evangelical Magazine, under the hawthorn trees round a country manse, far away in Scotland, as a little boy, that it would ever be his privilege to stand on the platform of the London Missionary Society; and he felt it striking that it should be to say a word on behalf of the mission church in that interesting island-"the island that first called my attention, I may say, to missionary matters at all.”

The Rev. J. ALDIS, baptist, said he felt great pleasure in being allowed to be there for a few moments, although he was connected with another division of the missionary army. Speaking of the occupation of Tahiti by the French, he said-" The fact is, that had there been a will there would have been a way, to prevent the calamity which we now deplore. It will not be alleged, forsooth, that it was for want of power. Did they not terrify the despot of Egypt, storm the fortress of Syria, bear

away captive the gates of Somnauth, and arrange the matters of Affghanistan, and at last seize hold of the province of Scinde? Did they not do many of these things, in spite of the bristling of 60,000 French bayonets? But in Tahiti the British lion cannot wag his tail!"

The Rev. T. STOUGHTON, of Kensington, said—About six years ago, the question was proposed on this platform with reference to an increase of the funds of this society, to the amount of £100,000 per annum. "Shall it stand?" A thousand voices responded, "It shall stand." But it did not standit fell; yes, and the resolution that was then passed seems to lie rent and torn before us! What shall we try to do THIS YEAR OF JUBILEE? Why, to put the resolution together again, and make it stand. Yet not alone to stand. I should like to see it move to see it walk-to see it run; for why should we stop at £100,000? Why should we not endeavour to get beyond that sum, and to realise an amount which would be more in harmony with the claims of our blessed religion, and the obligations under which we are laid to our Lord and Master?

The Rev. ROBERT YOUNG, Wesleyan missionary, said-He had recently visited the West Indies, and was very much delighted to find that the operations of this society had been blessed to the negro population. He witnessed a very great change in society, from what it was during his former residence in that country. Then the gospel was not allowed to be preached fully. The planters knew that slavery and Christianity could not longer exist together. They had no objection for a part of the gospel to be preached to their poor dependants; but the whole of the gospel they thought by no means applicable. When I was in the interior of the country, in my former residence in the island, I was waited upon by a white planter, who requested me to go to his estate to teach his negroes morality and industry. I accordingly went, and about 300 were at once made to assemble in his large hall. I commenced religious worship, and took my stand behind his table. I gave out a hymn, and he assisted me in singing it; and when I prayed, he responded as loudly as any of our Yorkshire methodists—as he said, to teach the negroes how to pray. I then gave out a text, which led me to speak against Sabbath-breaking, and another evil, very prevalent in that country-two sins of which mine

host was notoriously guilty. I perceived that the word was not very acceptable. He evidently writhed under the statements I made; he seemed by his look to say, "You are traveling beyond your record." But I had possession, and I determined to keep it. As soon as I had finished, he rose from his seat, under the influence of great excitement, and said, "I don't believe that. Now stop, my negroes. I brought him here to teach morality and industry-that is, that you are not to steal from your owner, nor to be idle while you are at work; but instead of that, he has been finding fault with me, which, to say the least, is very ungentlemanly conduct. Now," said he, "I will

expose the fallacy of all that he has said. He has told you it is wrong to violate the Sabbath; but he must have forgotten that the law respecting the Sabbath was given some thousands of years before the West India islands were discovered, and therefore it could have no adaptation to that part of the world. And, as regards the other crime of which he has said so much, I, for once, wish you could read your Bibles; for you will find it stated there, what I am about to say, that there lived once a gentleman, one of the finest Christian gentlemen the world ever knew; his name was Abraham-and he patronised the very thing that Mr Young has condemned." And thus, by the most shameful perversion of the Scriptures, he went on to establish his views, and sat down much elated with his performance. I rose and replied, and went further into the subject than I had done before : he rose and replied, and I rose and replied; and we kept up the contention for two or three hours, to the no small amusement of the negroes, who could no longer subdue their risible powers, but departed with a loud laugh, exclaiming, "Ah! Massa Parson have been too many for buckra." But, hear the sequel. Before I left that country, I saw this same proud planter a humble penitent at the feet of Jesus, putting his confidence alone in that blood which cleanseth from all sin. On my recent visit to the island, I waited upon him, and was delighted to see him.

APERAAMO (the native teacher from Samoa) then rose and addressed the assembly prior to his departure in "the new ship," the John Williams, to his native land. He stated that he was happy to be there that day; that he was thankful his health had been preserved; that so much money had been received for the missionary ship; and he bid the audience an affectionate