head of the Messiah, and from the ready admission he made when we proved our arguments from Scripture, I believe he is one of those who, whilst waiting for the Messiah, ponder on the possibility that Jesus of Nazareth was He of whom Moses and the prophets spoke. One Jew who,

in the presence of others, disputed with us, told Mr. Huhler privately, that he had no great faith in the rabbinism, and promised me that he would read the Bible without the rabbinical commentaries. Leaving this house we met several Jews in the street

I

who wished to speak with us. One respectable young Jew, who pretended to know no language but French, asked me for what society we laboured, to what sect we belonged, and what was our creed. told him we appertain to no particular sect, and that our work is to call sinners to repentance towards God, and the faith in Israel's Messiah. He then wished to know if we were Roman Catholics, and seemed pleased when told that we were Protestants. He at last asked if we had no books to sell; Mr. Huhler gave him Dr. Capadose's Life in French, and I gave him my address, where he may obtain more books on the one thing needful. Then we left for Cernay. Arriving at the hotel to have our meals, a Jew, whom I have known several years, came to see us, with whom we had a lengthy, and I believe very profitable, conversation. We left him much impressed with the truth as it is in Jesus, and went to see other Jews, all of whom received us kindly, and attended to our message willingly.

On the 16th, Mr. Huller and I went to about one hour's rail from Mulhouse. Leaving the station, we walked into the first house, when we saw many Jews of both sexes at the window. The landlord, a bigoted man, wished to remain what he was, but his wife, family, and a number of visitors, listened to us very patiently and attentively. The officiating minister being present, was the spokesman of this interesting company. When addressed on the importance of being guided by the Word of God, to which they were all strangers, and which alone could make them wise unto salvation, Mr. Chonestly acknowledged the truthfulness of it, and said: "Alas, we have more respect for the precepts of man than for the Torah!" Upon this, he was called out, and did not enter the room again. We continued, however, our discussion for some time with the remaining assembly.

We then directed our steps to the rabbi. He was instructing two boys, but as we entered he put the books aside, and received us very friendly, the pupils with

or

I

drawing to another part of the room. asked R. H- if he could realise the Hophtorah read in the synagogue on that sabbath? (it was "Shabboth Nachmou," "Sabbath of Consolation," when the 40th chapter of Isaiah was selected as the prophetical portion of Scripture); if he felt the consolation that "his iniquity was pardoned ?" He answered, this was promise yet to be fulfilled, when all Israel shall repent. This then led to the questions-Why do they not repent? What he, or the synagogue, called repentance? What do the Scriptures teach us about it? What was, or is to be, the work of the Messiah? When was or is He to come? What was the cause of the present exile, of its extremely long duration, and what may bring it to an end? If the Jews, in keeping the old law, were obeying God, or man? We then referred to the importance and efficacy of prayer; to the difference between the old and new dispensations; the letter and the spirit of the law. All this we spoke of in decided terms, and we met with no serious opposition, nor anything unpleasant. You will be surprised to hear that our carnest discussions have been attended by about a hundred Jews and Jewesses; that, when leaving, we had to wait some time until the people, who filled the rabbi's house, hall, and every spot of the staircase, made way for us. The rabbi himself, warmly shaking hands with us, remarked, "Surely you must be content, for you had a large congregation."

In the afternoon we visited the Jewish inn, where we met a great number of Jews, most of whom were young men. Before touching upon the Messianic point, we addressed them on their desecrating the Sabbath, their impious conversation, and their neglecting the study of the Word of God. Some of them were, at the commencement, inclined to scorn, but they were soon put to order by the rest, and listened very attentively all the time we spoke.

Mr. Ginsburg adds the following as to his labours at home :

There is very little time left for visiting, as the mission in Mulhouse has been so blessed, that it gives the missionary plenty of occupation at home. It must also be remembered that it is preferable to see the Jew with the missionary privately than in the house of the former, in the presence of his wife and relations. In the latter case he raises objections, and conceals his real sentiments. But if he come to the missionary, he will, after a short acquaintance, divulge the movement of his heart. Besides, the very act of his coming tells that

he is in want of something. Nevertheless, the one must be done, and the other must not be neglected.

Mr. K- visits me regularly every Saturday night. At the first visit, after my return from Creuznach, he told me that it was his opinion, and he frequently heard it from reliable quarters, that "if rabbinism survives another thirty years, it will be more than its most sanguine followers anticipate." He himself is making considerable progress. Mr. N― visits me every Sunday night.

Dear B- is again in Mulhouse, in his former establishment, where his salary has been doubly increased. The interference of some inexperienced friends, in my absence, has caused him of late new persecutions, and to postpone his baptism to a more distant period. He is faithful, and walks steadily. He was very much pleased with your kind epistle, and begs me to thank you, and say that he will soon write to you again.

In accordance with his father's wish, he is to learn Hebrew, that he may judge from the original if Jesus was the Messiah. The joy of our young friend, in anticipation of this privilege, is beyond description. But who was to be his tutor? -a friend of

the Gospel, Mr. K-! By this Divine Providence pupil and tutor are mutually joyful, and will, no doubt, receive mutual blessing. Mr. K- told me, if all his

he would not think

pupils were like Bteaching a burden! Mr. K- also thinks that if B learns Hebrew he may surely be the means of leading his hoary parents to the Cross. The Lord grant it!

I correspond with M. K- regularly; and according to a letter from good Dr. T-, M. is going on satisfactorily. He has become a member of the Christian Young Men's Association at Paris.

Miss E. A-, nineteen years of age, is receiving instructions from me. As she is the whole day engaged in business, she comes for her lesson at 7 a.m.

Another Jewish woman has of late been taking regular instruction of me.

Mr. B, who had lately returned to Mulhouse, resumed his regular visits.

There is every reason to hope that all except one will ere lang be numbered among the "little flock."

Several irregular visits which I have been favoured with since I wrote to you last have been of a very encouraging cha

racter.

Through the blessing of God, I have again reached my home in peace; the following are the notes of my journey:1. There are at about 100 Jews, the most of whom are shopkeepers. They have a synagogue, but it is only opened once or twice in the year. They have no rabbi nor school, but send their children to the Protestant school, where they receive a Christian education. I visited the school, and spoke to two little girls, who appeared to be well versed in the New Testament. The schoolmaster told me that one of the girls' fathers reads the prayers in the synagogue, when they can muster a sufficient number to hold a service, which is but seldom.

During my stay here I visited as many Jews as I could, and was glad to hear several of them speaking of Jesus in terms of the highest veneration and respect. I found some, who not only possessed New Testaments, which were given them by English visitors, but made them their almost daily companion. One young man told me that, last winter, an English lady

gave him a New Testament, which he and lis sister read every evening, and the more they read it the more they wish to do so. I hope that those Christian friends who visit and who have commenced sowing the seed of the Gospel among the Jews here, will continue to do so.

2. The first Jew I visited on my arrival at

was the rabbi, who received me very politely, and I remained with him for more than two hours, during which time I pointed out to him the way of salvation through Jesus Christ. He listened with profound attention, and said: "I believe that Christianity has greatly benefited mankind, and sometimes I think that Jesus must have been something more than a mere man." He told me that there were about 300 Jews here, some of whom were very rich, but that the most of them were poor; that they have no school of their own, but send their children to the Protestant school; and that he preached once a month; and when I was about to leave him, he told me to be sure to call on him before I left.

To-day (Saturday) I went to the syna.

gogue, and spake with several of my brethren, as they left, of the law of Moses, and proved that all that live under it are exposed to the curse because all do transgress. I then spake to them of the necessity of redemption from sin, &c. In the evening I addressed a few French Christians, after which I was requested to tell you that contributions will be sent to you.

Yesterday (Sunday) I was invited by Mrs. T-, an English lady, who is labouring among the Roman Catholics here, to address a meeting which is held in her house, and, among the rest of my hearers, I had the rabbi and his wife, who were invited by Mrs. T, and they listened with the greatest attention, as I related how I was led to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. He is a very interesting young man, of about 27 years of age, and of whom I have great hopes that he will one day be induced to believe in Christ. This morning (Monday) I called on him, and remained with him about an hour, and when I was about to leave him, he took my haud, and, in a low tone, said: "You are engaged in a noble work." I told him to read his Bible, and to write to me. 3. During my stay here I visited several families, to whom I preached Christ and Him crucified, as well as to a great number of my brethren, whom I met in the streets and other places; and although I was received by some as an unwelcome guest, yet, on the whole, I have nothing to complain of. I was listened to with apparent delight, and some even told me that not only would they reflect on what I had told them, but that they would even procure Bibles, and read for themselves. Several told me that if what I had mentioned were true, their state was a sad one. There are here about 4,000 Jews: they have two synagogues, a rabbi, and three schools, two for boys and one for girls. But what I found most deplorable here, as well as elsewhere, was not merely their indifference to Judaism, but the great infidelity which is grafted in most of their hearts; a very few of them believe in a future state: what a fearful condition to die in! I went to the synagogue, and spoke to several whom I had seen on Friday. I asked them why they went to the synagogue, since they did not believe that there was anything more after this life? They said that it was from habit they went, but nothing more.

I hope the Committee will take into their prayerful consideration the Jews in this place. There are here and in

more than 6,000 Jews, who are living and dying without having the Gospel preached to them: are they to be neglected?

The day before I left, I met a Jew,

with whom I entered into conversation, and I was pleased to find that he read the New Testament. He said it was now more than six months since he read the Testament, which he found most sublime, and that the words of Jesus very often touched his heart. I have met with several Jews here, who still remembered Professor Pétavel's visit, and seemed delighted to talk about him, and some would have that he is a Jew. I also met here two Jews, who attended the Jewish conference at Paris, and one of them told me that he was highly gratified with the addresses of the different gentlemen. 4. There are but very few Jews here, the number is about forty. I called on the few families, was well received by them, and permitted to declare to them the message of salvation. I was listened to without contradiction, and some of them expressed their high regard for the person of Jesus, and spoke of the superior advantages which Christianity has over Judaism. The Protestant schoolmaster told me that he has, from time to time, Jewish children in his school. At one time there was a colony of Jews here, and they established several most important institutions, of which the famous School of Medicine is one, and which still exists. have met here a Jew from T--, who told me that my visit had already given rise to several discussions among the Jews there.

5.

I

is quite a Jewish town. There are here ( included, which is a little town at the other side of the river), more than two thousand Jews; they have three schools, a rabbi, and a most beautiful synagogue, which I visited on Saturday last;

but I am sorry to say that their manners were very loose and indifferent, and the service appeared to me anything but a religious one.

When the Jews were driven from Spain, they settled down in a village a few miles from here, where they must have remained several years, as there is a large buryingground, the walls of which have only been rebuilt about two years ago, to preserve the place as a souvenir of their sufferings; but finally they removed to E——, where they found an asylum, and where the most of them still reside, and it is in that place they have their synagogue.

It is only about twenty-five or thirty years since that the Jews have been permitted to reside in this place. They were allowed to do business here, but were obliged to be in E- before sunset; but if, by chance, some of them were found after that time, they were hooted, stones thrown after them, and some of them were even thrown into the river. Poor Jews!

you can hear a sorrowful story about them wherever you go. They have been afflicted and oppressed; still they exist as distinct as ever; they are, indeed, something like the bush which Moses saw burning, but was not consumed.

I found the Jews here very ignorant of the truth, but exceedingly willing to hear the Gospel. I was quite a novelty among them: they had heard of Jews believing in Jesus, but the most of them never saw one, and I had only to make my appearance in some of the streets in E, and I had at once a crowd of Jews around me, to whom I preached the Gospel of Jesus for an hour or two at the time; and I am thankful to say that some of them felt so deeply interested in what I said about the Gospel, that after I had spoken to them for upwards of an hour they were still reluctant to let me go, and still desirous to hear more. Several told me that there was great need of a reform, and what I said to them went more to their hearts than the sermon which the great rabbi preached last Easter. I pray that some may find rest in Christ.

A most respectable Jew told me that he attended a meeting for the Jews, at Paris, last summer, and heard an English milord, and that he had read the New Testament since then. He asked me several questions, from which I could see that he was pretty well acquainted with it. I told him that it was not sufficient for us merely to know Jesus Christ theoretically, but we must pray to Him, and ask Him to dwell in our hearts. I do not think he understood me, but I hope the Lord will open his eyes and heart to receive Christ as his Saviour.

6. —.—There are here about 500 Jews, with a synagogue, two schools, and a rabbi. I called on several of my brethren, some of whom received me very kindly, and I freely expounded to them all the prophecies respecting the Messiah, and remission of sin through His name; but they were so badly informed of their own Scriptures, that I believe not half of them understood what I said. They were, however, greatly surprised that so much of Christ and Christianity should be found in the Old Testament, and some have resolved to study the Old Testament scriptures, Several appeared delighted when I told them that I hoped soon to visit them again, and two begged me to bring them a Bible each, at my next visit. I called on the Jewish schoolmaster, who told me that he had read the New Testament; but when I asked him what he thought of it and of Christ, he said: "What I think of Christ no one shall know: God knows it." The day I left I met an aged Jew, to whom I preached Christ more than once during my stay here, who told me that from this time he would search, and endeavour to settle the question whether Jesus be really the Saviour of the world; and when I was about to leave him, he said: "I never thought of Jesus Christ as the Saviour of Jews, until you spoke to me about it. I knew that He was the God of the Gentiles; but now I hope that God will reveal Him to me, ere I die." There are here two Jewish Christians of very long standing; one has known Christ twentyfive years, and the other about sixteen years. I believe both of them are members of the Wesleyan Society here.

Mr. Lowrtz states:

In continuation of my last letter, I will endeavour briefly to relate something of my proceedings after leaving Tlemsan. I returned to Oran on the 7th of May, and by the earliest conveyance I went to Mustaganem, a town of some importance situated near the sea, but has no regular port, and, like the most of Algerian towns, is half Moorish and half French, the population being of the same character. The Jews reckon about 2000; they all seemed to me in comfortable circumstances. I visited their principal synagogues, schools, and houses, and endeavoured to deliver the message of the Gospel of our blessed Lord, and to distribute tracts among many. The short time I spent in this place was profitably employed, and I have every reason to hope

that it has benefited not a few. The principal teacher, Mr. F, had many long and interesting conversations with me, as well as several others who came to my lodgings to speak with me, and to read the Testament. It was a pity, some of them said, that the chief rabbi was absent at the time, who would certainly have answered me in defence of Judaism against all such innovations. His absence, however, did not trouble me much, except that it deprived me of a personal interview with him. I took a Hebrew "Old Paths," a Testament, a few tracts, made up a parcel, and delivered it to the rabbi's wife, to be given to him on his arrival; she refused, at first, to take it, but when I told her that I came from England, she accepted it, saying, no doubt

it was a present from some relatives, and promised to take care of it until her husband returned home. I did the same thing for particular Jews, who were absent on different occasions; for the rest, my mode of operation in that place was nearly the same as in other towns. I cannot, however, omit to mention that I met the EnglishMr. J. Brown, who has a very good business there, and who kindly showed some interest in my work, which is a rare thing for the few English who reside in Algeria.

man,

May 13th-From thence I left in the steamer for the capital of Algeria. There were a large number of Jews on board the vessel, and after a little conversation with one of them, many of them collected themselves into a group, and became earnestly attentive to what I said about the truth of Christianity, especially when I quoted passages from the Old and New Testament, to prove that Jesus of Nazareth must be the long-promised Messiah, and the only Saviour of sinful man, whether Jew or Gentile. A few of them attempted to oppose my statement, but soon discovered their utter ignorance of the prophets, and consequent inability to argue the point in question. They thankfully received tracts, the reading of which kept them awake and employed for the rest of the voyage.

The

next day we arrived at the place of our destination, after a pleasant and safe voyage of thirty hours. I put up in the Hotel de la Marine, until I found suitable lodging. I soon went to see my friend Mr. Weiss, missionary to the Jews in connexion with the Scottish Society, where I was welcomed, and the utmost kindness shown me by him and his good wife, and which did not abate for a moment all the time I was in Algiers. We tried to work unitedly in that extensive field of labour. But before I say anything of my missionary work in that place, it may, perhaps, be as well to give you a brief sketch of this celebrated town. It is a place extremely well fortified on all sides, and most beautifully near the sea on an acclivity of a hill; at a distance from the bay, it has very much the appearance of an enormous mass of whitewash, and being surrounded by little hills and valleys, gardens and orchards, which are very numerous in the neighbourhood of the town, the Arabs therefore used to compare it poeti cally to a diamond set in emeralds and sapphires; but since the French have had it, they have altered somewhat the aspect of this simile, by extending the town beyond its original limits, by adding large suburbs, building villas and houses of materials and dimensions after their own fashion. Still the town

has every appearance of a triangle-the

vertex of it forms the Alcasbah, chiefly occupied by the Arabs and Jews, the base being peopled by Europeans, and contains the principal streets, which are pretty good, wide and long, lined with fine shops and bazaars; the rest higher up are very narrow and winding, but all are extremely well kept, which, together with those that are arched over, are well calculated to keep out the African sun, and the intense heat of the desert. There are several spacious squares and nice public walks; the finest of them is La Place de Government, facing the sea. It is a very striking sight to see so great a diversity of people assembled there, such as Jews, Moors, Bedouins, French, Spanish, Italians, Maltese, Germans, and soldiers, officers and others, promenading pêle mêle, each in their peculiar fanciful dress, aud to hear their different parlance in so many sorts of tongues is doubly striking and picturesque to the eye and ear of a stranger. Among other fine public buildings, there are a few for religious worship, such as the Protestant church, the Catholic church, and the new mosque. The Jews have about a dozen synagogues, large and small, but without any pretensions whatever. The number of Jews reckoned are about 7000; they have half-a-dozen rabbis, only one is paid by government, the rest being natives and maintained by themselves; they have likewise several schools on the same principle. As regards the character of the Algerine Jews, from what I saw and heard of it, I am sorry to say they have not, as yet, been much benefited by the French civilisation and good-breeding; it is true their condition has been materially bettered, but not getting a proper education, it has only made them proud and arrogant, the offspring of ignorance. There are but a small portion who have any knowledge of the law and prophets, but remain quite content with knowing something of the fables and dogmas of the Talmud; the women are still more ignorant and grossly superstitious. Among other absurdities, they give credit to the efficacy of charms, and have recourse to pretended consultors of evil spirits. One day Mr. Weiss and myself visited the famous spot where they are in the habit of assembling themselves for the purpose of offering sacrifices to what they suppose to be evil spirits; this place is but a little distance from the town at the sea-side,in the midst of some old ruins, rubbish, filthy fountains, and dunghills. It is customary with the Jewish and Moorish women, sometimes men also, who, being in any way afflicted with mental or physical diseases, to go there to be cured of their complaints. A number of old Moorish witches, chiefly blacks, acting as priestesses