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MISSIONARY OBSERVER.

ADDRESS,

To the children who are, and formerly were, in the Sabbath
School at Barlestone.

Berhampore, 1840. I LAST wrote you from Cattack. You have doubtless heard that I now am living at Berhampore, another of our missionary stations in Orissa. I am still engaged in visiting poor, degraded, heathen females, and teaching school. In a former letter, I think I mentioned, that fourteen girls belonging Berhampore were, for a time, placed under my care at Cuttark. They were intended as sacrifices by the Khunds; they came with me to Berhampore; and, also, I have since received eleven new girls into the school, most of them came to us on account of the famine, some of them had nearly lost their lives, living on a few handsful of rice, or a little bran which they begged as they wandered from place to place; several are orphans, and all are fatherless. Besides learning to read and write, and committing portions of Scripture, hymns, &c., to memory, they are taught to cook, spin, sew, and other things, which may make them industrious in future life. Perhaps my little friends will be surprised to hear that in India we have no pump; that water is always obtained from ponds, or from wells; sometimes, as in the present dry season, the natives have to bring it from a distance; the round earthen pots they let down by means of a piece of rope, probably resemble the pitchers spoken of in the Old Testament, such as Rachael used. In this neighbourhood women carry them on the head. I must now tell you how the children are getting on as it respects their souls, as that is much more important than any thing I can speak of. Three girls are members of the church; several others profess to be inquiring the way Zion; one of these is especially hopeful, I believe she loves the Saviour and prays constantly in secret; she is quite a pattern to the rest; she is nearly twelve years old, ber name is Bame. The new girls know nothing of Jesus, heaven, or hell. When they enter the school, they have much to unlearn as well as learn. I will now try to give you an idea of the scenes of the past week; but I must first tell you that the dreadful disease called cholera, has been desolating this province. In some families, three, four, and sometimes six or seven persons have been removed in a few days. Up to the first Sabbath of this month, all our charge had been preserved in good health. On that day, we had the ordinance, and felt it to be a solemn time. In the afternoon, Mr. Stubbins addressed the native christians, and children, on the love of Christ, the uncertainty of life, and the necessity of being prepared for sudden death. Several of the girls who had hitherto appeared careless, listened with attention; and one or two wept much. After the meeting was over, I told the children, that if any wished to stay and talk about the state of their minds, I should be happy to converse with them. Four girls stayed, and all expressed a desire to forsake sin and give their hearts to Jesus without delay. I felt that though we were all well, we might never all meet together at public worship again; and so it proved: the next morning, about nine o'clock, a little girl who had been rescued from the Khunds was taken with cholera, we gave her medicine, but it was in vain, as she contrived to keep the pills in her mouth; and as soon as Mr. S. had left VOL. 3.-N. S.

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her threw them away. As soon as we found it out we gave her more, but it was too late. She died about six hours after she was attacked, and was buried the same evening. Had she taken the first medicine, she might have recovered, as some have done. Learn from this, my dear children, to take the medicine which God has kindly given as a remedy for the diseases we are liable to. This little girl, though not more than seven years old, was old enough to know and do the will of God; she was a good girl, but did not give those decided proofs that she loved Jesus that I could have wished. In her last illness she was too ill to attend to any thing that was said. The next morning, a girl about nine years old, named Sala, was taken with the some disease; she swallowed her medicine, but could not keep it on her stomach; she became worse, and died in a few hours. This child, I am, sorry to say, had been less attentive to religious instruction than many of her companions. Soon after she was attacked, I said to her, Sala, If you should die, were do you think your soul would go to? She replied, To hell. I told her of the love of Jesus, his willingness to save sinners, and begged her to pray for pardon. She repeated a little prayer, the purport of which was, that God would forgive her for Christs' sake. But, alas! her body was suffering; she could do but little more than turn from side to side. Sometime afterwards I asked her how her mind was; her reply was, Unhappy. The other children seemed much impressed. I hope the solemn scenes they witnessed, will be blessed to their souls. The same week, on Friday morning, or late on the previous night, a dear little girl, named Julia, and about eight years old, was seized; she had been with us some time, and we loved her much; but in the evening of the same day, she was snatched away by death; and is gone to give an account of herself to the Judge of all the earth. I could hope that she had thought more seriously than usual of death and eternity, during the week; for she knew that Jesus alone can save sinners. She did not seem to fear death. A little before she died, she said to her schoolfellows, who were weeping around her, Do not weep for me, I am going to the Lord. The four girls who stayed to converse about religion on the previous Sabbath night, escaped the dreadful disease. Three or four of our native christians and children had an attack, but recovered. A native female who lives with the children, was very ill, and at one time we despaired of her recovery; but she is now, through mercy, nearly well. She was very happy and resigned during her illness-said she had no fear of death; that the Saviour was her only hope. She was, a few years ago, a wicked woman; but is now a consistent christian. We feel thankful her life is spared, as I know not how her place could at present have been supplied.

I trust my young friends at Barlestone, Barton, &c., are not weary in subscribing to save the poor perishing orphans, and destitute children of Orissa. Though some are taken, others come to us. Since I commenced this letter, a little girl has come alone, and begged we would take her in the school. She said her father was dead, and her mother had gone and left her. She appears to be about six years old. I shall call her Lucy, as her heathen name is not a good one. At present we have not heard of any friends at home who subscribe to Berhampore school.

My dear young friends, in conclusion I would ask, Are you prepared for death? you may, like the children I have mentioned, be cut off in the morning of your days; or as the early bud, you may be nipped by the chill hand of death in the form of cold, or consumption. Permit one, who still

loves you and prays for you, to intreat you to flee without delay to the outstretched arms of Jesus: now he offers you mercy; now you may repent and believe on him: but on a death-bed it will probably be too late. Oh! that I could persuade you to choose religion without delay; till yon do, you cannot be happy. From your affectionate Teacher,

BAZAR AT ASSOCIATION.

E. STUBBINS.

To the Editor of the General Baptist Repository.

DEAR SIR,-Having been informed, that owing to an observation on the cover of the last Repository, we are likely to be some hams minus, the Ladies' Committee have requested me to state, that whatever others may think, they shall be much obliged to any of their friends who will send them such useful articles, as hams, &c. The Committee being quite persuaded, that they will meet with a ready sale, without either injuring, or interfering with the order of the Bazar.

In behalf of the Committee,

M. A. P. P. S. The Committee will feel obliged, by all friends sending their articles at least a fortnight beforehand; direct to Messrs. Wilkins and Son, Queen Street, Derby.

MISSION TO THE JEWS.

To the Editor of the General Baptist Repository.

Dear Sir, I have for some time been anxious to direct your attention, or some of your valuable correspondents, to the subject of a mission to the Jews. It appears strange that among the various points of missionary exertion by protestant dissenters, the ancient, chosen people, have been passed over. We are, I feel, among the least of the tribes of the spiritual Israel, and are but a small people; but I humbly conceive that nothing tends to increase and strengthen more than holy exertion in the Mission field. I am well aware that it may be said, that all our energies are required for India. I believe it; and on the same ground, all our energies are needed for England; yet few will deny that the mission to India has been a great blessing to us as a connexion. It has awakened our sympathies, drawn out our best feelings, brought us nearer to God, and, therefore, increased our spirituality and usefulness. And so would a mission to the Jews. Let us remember that God gives the energy and the means; our part is only to go forward in the path of duty, the blessing must follow. If the mission to India

has been a blessing to us, so would a Jewish mission; and no one will admit, that all the energies, of all the Churches, have been brought out in that cause. May we say that all the energies of any Church has been brought to bear on that point? We have, I understand, one of the sons of Abraham a member of the Church at Louth. He may, or may not, be a suitable person for the work; yet if the attention of the connexion was directed to the subject, suitable persons would offer; and though on a small scale, a mission to the Jews would meet with support from many a praying mind amongst us. I should be happy to name an amount to commence with, and an annual subscription; and so, I believe would many others. The more we do for the cause of Christ, on right motives, the more we are enabled to do. This is a period for increased exertion, as regards the increase of the heavenly kingdom; and at this time of the year the dif ferent religious communities review their past exertions, and plan future operations. Let our minds go into this very interesting subject, and speedily act, in humble assurance of the Divine blessing.

Yours cordially, J. S

GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

RECEPTION OF MR. KNIBB AND HIS 7th, the coast of the eastern side of our COMPANIONS AT FALMOUTH.-Very early on the morning of Thursday, January the

island became distinctly visible to our friends on board the Reserve, who had, for the last

five or six days, been anxiously waiting the approach to the scene of their future labours. The beautiful foliage of the rising grounds, and of the richly wooded estates adjacent to the ocean, presented a most lovely and interesting appearance, as seen beneath the silent grandeur of a tropical sky, from which the moon and stars shone in their brightest lustre, and shortly afterwards, as these fad. ed away, through the brief twilight which preceded the beams of the rising sun.

Many a silent prayer was offered that that island of the western seas, which had already been so highly favoured by the God of providence and grace, might, while re ceiving an accession to the number of its teachers, be yet more richly endowed with the blessing of heavenly light and truth, so that from every mountain top, shore, and valley, the varied shades of error and superstition might depart before the speedy rising of the Sun of Righteousness, and this island, filled with the sound of His praise and glory, be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

As the misssonaries passed, at five and six o'clock in the morning, Port Maria and St. Ann's Bay, two guns were fired at each place, the signal previously agreed on to acquaint the Rev. Messrs. Day and Abbott, the ministers of those stations, of the arrival of their friends. The latter gentleman, in company with the Rev. J. E. Henderson, soon joined Mr. Knibb on board the Reserve and letters were brought containing the welcome and long-looked-for intelligence that all the mission band on the island were living, and in the enjoyment of tolerable health. Thus, through the tender mercy and kindness of their heavenly Father, no cloud of distress was allowed to shade with its gloom the minds of those who now pre. pared to quit the vessel, in which, with watchful care, they had been preserved amidst the perils of the deep.

At four o'clock in the afternoon the whole missionary party (sixteen in number) with their esteemed friend, the captain, entered the long boat, while crowds of the natives, in eager expectation, lined the shores of the beautiful harbour of Rio Bueno. Two guns, fired from the vessel before the boat quitted it, were answered at once by a shout of rapturous exultation from those on land. The Rev. William Kuibb then gave out the hymn

"How are thy servants blest O Lord," altering slightly the second verse, in remembrance of the circumstances attending the early part of the voyage.

"When by the dreadful tempest driven High on the broken wave,

WE FOUND thou wast not slow to hear,
Nor impotent to save."

The singing of this hymn occupied the time required for the boat to reach the shore; there a most interesting sight presented itself. Hundreds of the black and coloured population were standing, their faces beaming with the most lively joy and gratitude, or streaming with tears, their hands clasped to heaven, in rejoicing praise to the Father of mercies, or eagerly stretched out to welcome him, their beloved friend and minister, who had so long been absent from them, and for whose safe and happy return they had for so many months fervently prayed.

Although, before the boat neared the shore, the most tumultuous feelings of joy had been manifested, all was now subdued and silent. As soon as the voices of the missionaries, in their hymn of praise, had ceased, their African brethren and sisters immediately struck up in delightful and heart-thrilling response, a few verses of affectionate welcome, written for the occasion. The voices of young children (of whom there were very many) were particularly discernible and interesting. As the whole company then walked up to the house of a friend on the shore, expressions of heartfelt pleasure became numerous and audible, many exclaiming in the simple, joyous manner of the country, "Neber see sich a sight before." "Neber hear of sich a ting before." The worthy captain they would not allow to depart, but held him fast, exclaiming, "Hi! neber hear of such a ting! bring dem all out safe, and den go away, and leave dem!"

After an interval of a few minutes, the concourse of Christian friends assembled in the chapel, when a most interesting meeting for thanksgiving and prayer was held, in which the deacons of the church, several of the missionary brethren previously on the island, and those now arrived, took part. All appeared rejoiced at once to give utterance to those feelings which could only be suitably expressed in adoring worship before Him whom they delighted to acknowledge as the Author and Giver of all good. At the close of this service, the new missionaries were dispersed to the houses of several esteemed friends residing in the country. Many accompanied Mr. Knibb to Mount Carfax, an interesting spot, on which a township is being formed, and where Mrs. Knibb and his beloved family were waiting to receive him, and to give the most affectionate welcome to those whom they met for the first time.

During the whole of the next day crowds continued to pour in from various distances

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