missionaries has suffered severely at one station; but this is ascribed to an unhealthy residence. The schools are in a very satisfactory condition; and especially their institution for the education of young men, with a view to missionary labour, affords the highest gratification to the missionaries, and cheers their prospects for the future. During the past year, six young men of intelligence, and of considerable proficiency, have been appointed to various departments in the work of missions. The Church of England Missionary Society has sixteen stations; their communicants number 1894, while in their schools there are 3289 children, and 2388 youths and adults. No fewer than six ordained missionaries have, during the past year, been necessarily on a visit to Europe, for the restoration of their health. A very prosperous educational establishment is attached to this mission, with the view of training native youth for the gospel ministry. They have a grammar school with thirty pupils, and a christian institution with ten students. Besides an advanced course of English instruction, they are educated in Latin, Greek, and ma thematics. Quarterly examinations are held; and some of the papers containing the original answers of the pupils, have been sent to this country, where they have excited much interest. In the work of translation a little progress is made in rendering the New Testament into three of the native languages. In one station, about 100 miles inland, the mission, during the past year, has afforded but little encouragement. The missionaries have not been able to record any instance of conversion to God, nor any enlargement of the congregation or schools. On the contrary, the number of scholars has decreased to thirty-six. They contemplate opening a new station, about sixty miles farther south, where the people are said to be free from the influence of Mohammedanism, and very anxious for missionaries to reside among them.

Liberia.-We next come to the free black colonies, formed by some private societies in the United States of America, which extend from the Gallinas River to Cape Palmas, embracing a line of coast upwards of 300 miles. While we cannot but deplore the American feelings, degrading to human nature, which originated these colonies, we mark with the more lively interest any evidences of the moral welfare and improvement of survivors of the expatriated colonists, and of the progress of religion among them. They received their freedom from slavery in the United States, on the condition of their immediate exile to this pestilential coast. But He who brings good out of evil, can overrule their settlement there for the introduction of civilisation and christianity

among the surrounding native tribes. The societies whose missionaries labour within these colonies, are American. The Baptist Society has two principal stations, where fifty scholars are under instruction. The Episcopal Society occupies seven stations; scholars in the mission, 150. One missionary had so completely failed in health as to render his return to America the only hope of his recovery; the wife of another had died. The loss of missionary labourers causes much depression in the minds of those who remain, and has induced the committee of the society to resolve, that their missionaries on the western coast of Africa shall have leave to visit the United States every fourth year. The number of hopeful native converts since the commencement of the mission, is thirty-seven. The Methodist Episcopal Society has about fifteen stations; although their efforts on behalf of the natives are chiefly confined to three stations. Recent accounts from these stations are not favourable. The missionaries were doing very little among the natives; and some of the older Methodist missionaries in Liberia express little or no confidence in the revivals that have been among the natives. Of the hundreds who have been added to the church, very few can now be found. The Presbyterian Society occupies four stations. Two of their missionaries have been recently cut off by death. The mission has, during the past year, been discouraged and hindered at some of their stations by the opposition of the natives, whose head men expressed themselves decidedly adverse to the labours of the missionaries, and would, for a time, neither sell nor lease them a lot of ground for a chapel, while they were exercising their influence also against the school. At a later period this opposition, though not withdrawn, was less openly manifested. The building of a chapel has been commenced. The school at one station has been discontinued. In some things there has been an advance in the missionary work.

The

In

Gold Coast.-This is six or seven degrees to the east of the American colonies. Wesleyan Society has three stations, with several out-stations upon the coast. these they number 698 church-members, an equal number of scholars, and 2000 attendants on public worship. They feel themselves encouraged both by the improvement in civilisation observable among the people since their settlement among them, in that they are becoming more European in their clothing, and dwellings, and furniture; and also in the gradual advancement of their spiritual condition. The attendance of members in the classes has been, with few exceptions, very good-the

leaders seem to have more spiritual life; and the minds of the missionaries are deeply impressed with the vastness of the work which God is carrying on. They have to mourn, however, over the persecution which their members have in most places to endure. The families of some endeavoured by coercion to force them to conform to the native superstitions; and some have been driven from their homes. Two German societies, those of Hamburgh and of Bâsle, have missionaries at one or two stations on the same coast. The former lost one of its missionaries by death at Cape Coast, in June last; and four others had arrived, intending to seek out and occupy another station. The other of these societies has three principal stations, where there are in school 378, with an adult evening school at one station attended by eighty persons. They have attempted at two places the settlement of Christian negroes from the West Indies.

Ashanti.—The Wesleyan Society continues its mission at the capital of this dark African kingdom, where Satan, in his character of the murderer, still has his seat. The missionaries, two in number, have all freedom in the public preaching of the gospel, which is well attended; and marked attention is given to the truths proclaimed. But the king, although they are on the best terms of friendship with him and all his influential chiefs, still entertains his scruples, and withholds from them that freedom of access to the houses of the people, and that countenance to the educational department of their work, which the missionaries require, and which their work so justly merits. The "horrid cruelties," by which this whole region of Africa has become a proverb in civilized lands, still keep their ground here. At their annual festivals, human sacrifices are offered; and the executioners, horribly disfigured, and with the bones of human sacrifices strung around their necks, dance about the town with pieces of the flesh of the victims between their teeth; or a procession is made, in which the skulls of vanquished kings and warriors, including that of Sir Charles Macarthy, are paraded through the town.

Badagry. Three degrees farther east we come to this station on the coast, where the Wesleyans and the Church of England Society have been attempting the establishment of missions. Both missions have been greatly hindered by the prevalence of civil warfare, originating, it is believed, in the slave trade. The original destination of these missions, from both societies, was a town of large size, about four days' journey into the interior, named Abbekuta, or Abbeokouta, the native place of many of

the converts of both societies at Sierra Leone, who had recently returned to their original home, civilized, educated, and obeying the gospel. Their return led to an invitation from the chiefs for missionaries to settle among them; and after a considerable delay, from the unsettled state of the neighbouring tribes, the missionaries destined to them have left Badagry, and reached this hopeful opening in the Yoruba country.

A little more than five degrees farther east brings us to the Old Calabar River, the scene of our own mission, with the condition of which our readers will be familiar.

Bimbia and Cameroons are situated on the coast, about one hundred miles southeast. The Baptist missionaries, when compelled by the Portuguese government to quit the neighbouring island of Fernando Po, have been attempting to establish themselves at these two places. But, from the extreme unhealthiness of their stations, their whole missionary establishment, which consisted partly of coloured assistants from Jamaica, had suffered from sickness; two had died, and fourteen had been compelled to return to England or Jamaica for health, of whom two had since died. In Fernando Po they were gaining rapid ground; and in their new stations they are proceeding actively, in both the translation of the New Testament, and in preaching.

Gaboon. On this river, four degrees farther south, and immediately under the equator, the American board of missions have occupied two stations; and their missionaries have been labouring diligently in preaching, in schools, and in printing. They have printed 185,000 pages in the native language; but the French took possession of the place in July 1845; and, in the event of the labours of the missionaries being restrained by the new government, which has thus superseded the native authorities, the missionaries will be prepared to remove farther south, to some stations very favourably reported of.

LABRADOR.

;

THE safe return of the missionary ship of the United Brethren, from its annual visit to their stations in this secluded region, has brought with it intelligence in general very satisfactory. In all the four stations, the missionaries had, during the past year, enjoyed a very favourable degree of health and general health, with an abundant supply of provisions, had been shared by their people. Their mission-work had proceeded much in its usual way, their schools showing favourable progress; but no special religious movement among their people. We may afterwards give some of the details.

Aberdeen. The presbytery, at a meeting on the 14th inst., sustained a call from the congregation of Midmar to Mr Archibald Cross, preacher. The call is unanimous, and cordial.

Annandale.-This presbytery met at Annan on the 18th of January. Read the decision of the Synod's committee (for joining small congregations, &c.) in the case of the congregations of Annan, stating that they did not feel themselves empowered to sanction the arrangement respecting the giving of the property of the second congregation to the Synod, and recommended that parties should adjust pecuniary matters themselves. Agreed, that the presbytery are decidedly of opinion that there should be an immediate union between the two congregations; and they unanimously recommend that both of them unite in their endeavours in a brotherly spirit, identifying themselves with each others' interests, to remove present obstacles in the way of the consummation of union, and they have no doubt, that, by so doing, every obstacle shall immediately disappear.

Berwick. This presbytery, at its meeting on 15th February, appointed a moderation at Spittal on 13th March. The clerk was instructed to write to those ministers who had not yet reported their collection for the Synod's General Fund. The presbytery next entered on the consideration of "the Forms of Process," with a view to making suggestions for their further improvement, and agreed to the following:(1.) That to ch. 6, sec. 2, par. 11, the words be added, "it being always understood that there is no church censure for any kind of offence in a private member or

elder which the session is not competent to pronounce and that the reference is for advice only or from peculiar circumstances in the case." (2.) That parts of the 2nd sec. of the 5th ch. be expunged as inconsistent with par. 5. (3.) That passages 4 and 5 of the 5th sec. of 9th ch. be also expunged, as forming no part of the laws or regulations of the church. The presbytery unanimously agreed to report in favour of a delegated Supreme Court. The presbytery meets again on Tuesday 21st March.

Carlisle. This presbytery met at Wigton, Cumberland, 20th January. After fully deliberating on the reference of the supreme court, as to the expediency of a change in the constitution of that body, the presbytery unanimously decided in favour of a representative general synod, or assembly; and agreed to recommend, that should such a desirable alteration be effected, district synods ought to be instituted for watching over the local interests of the church.

Cupar.-This presbytery met at Cupar on 18th January; Mr Gorrie, moderator. A communication was read from the Synod's committee for the junction of weak congregations, intimating that the presbytery of Kirkcaldy had suggested the propriety of a junction between the congregation of Colinsburgh (within the bounds of said presbytery) and the congregation of Kilconquhar, belonging to the Presbytery of Cupar. It was agreed, that while the presbytery concur in the opinion of the desirableness of such a junction, if it can be effected to the satisfaction of the parties concerned, they are not prepared to enter on the subject till furnished with the grounds of this reference, as contained in the papers laid before the Synod's Committee by the presbytery of Kirkcaldy.

Dundee. This presbytery met on the 4th January; Rev. James Reston, moderator.. Prescribed exercises to Messrs Matheson and M'Nab, students under the presbytery's care. A letter was read from the clerk of Synod's committee, appointed to effect the junction of weak and struggling congregations in the same locality, asking information from the presbytery on that subject. The clerk was instructed to intimate that there were no such cases within the bounds of presbytery. Agreed to enter on the consideration of the Forms of Process at next meeting. The subject of supplying ministers' pulpits under affliction being introduced, it was unanimously agreed that the members of presbytery should supply every alternate Sabbath the pulpit of any minister afflicted. Inquiry having been made if the Temple Lane congregation had implemented the decision of presbytery come to in their case at a previous meeting, no formal answer from the congrega

tion was received. After some conversation, the presbytery agreed to instruct the session of said congregation to report respecting the decision, to which the court had unanimously come, at next meeting of presbytery. Agreed to meet in Dundee on Tuesday, the 22d of February.

Dunfermline. This presbytery met on 18th January; Mr Wilson, moderator. Mr George Scott having completed his trial exercises, was licensed to preach the gospel. Mr George Morris gave discourses with a view to license. A communication was read from a joint-meeting of the elders and managers of North Chapel Street congregation (Professor M'Michael's), and the elders and managers of Maygate Church (vacant by the demission of Mr Gibson), intimating that the two congregations were now practically united, and requesting instructions for the formal completion of the union. The necessary measures were taken to secure this object.

Edinburgh. This presbytery met on 1st February. The moderation at Peebles was reported, and a call, addressed to Mr John Semple, probationer, was laid on the table, and sustained. It was resolved, that in future all reports of the moderation of calls shall be made in writing. It was reported by the committee named at last meeting, that in their judgment there were no congregations within the bounds, the circumstances of which required the presbytery to submit their case to the consideration of the Synod's committee, for the junction of small congregations. A letter, asking advice to the congregation of Back Street, Dalkeith, was remitted to the consideration of the committee, and their report, in hoc statu, approved. The congregation of Bread Street petitioned for a moderation; but as the object of the meeting at which the petition was adopted had not been specified, the petition was refused as informal. With the view of accommodating the congregation, however, in the circumstances, it was resolved to hold an interim meeting, in hunc effectum, on Thursday 17th, at noon. Further supply to the station at Newington was named, and a committee appointed to meet with, and examine any persons worshipping there, who, approving of the principles of the church, may apply for fellowship, and to report. The presbytery considered and sanctioned a scheme for pulpit supply in cases of sickness of ministers. At the evening sederunt Mr George Paterson was licensed to preach the gospel.

Elgin. This presbytery met at Nairn on 18th January. On petition from the congregation at Keith, a moderation was appointed to take place there on 3d February, Mr Sprott of Knockando to preside. Mr

Robert Borwick, after delivering trial discourses, and sustaining the usual examination, was licensed to preach the gospel.

Falkirk.-This presbytery met on 1st February in the session-house of the East Church, Falkirk. The court was occupied a considerable time in reviewing the interim rules of Synod. Several amendments on these rules were suggested and agreed to; particularly in reference to that section which relates to deacons. The clerk, in communicating these suggested amendments to the convener of the committee on "Rules and Forms of Procedure," was instructed to intimate, that this presbytery purpose to overture the Synod on the subject of deacons. A committee, consisting of Messrs Smart, Steel, and Connel, was appointed to frame an overture upon that subject. Messrs Leckie, M'Laren, and Porteous, students, delivered discourses, which were very much approved. court resolved to meet the first Tuesday of every alternate month, and to hold its next meeting on the first Tuesday of April.

The

Glasgow. This presbytery met on the second Tuesday of February, in the Pres-. bytery House, Greyfriars; Dr Beattie, moderator. The case of the Rev. Mr Allan, chaplain of the Seaman's Friend Society, Glasgow, formerly pastor of an Independent church in England, but who, since his residence in Glasgow, had been led, as his petition read before the presbytery bore, to perceive and appreciate the importance and value of Presbyterian order and discipline, and thus to pray for admission into the United Presbyterian Church, was remitted to a committee, who were appointed to examine into the whole case, and advise with Mr Allan, and report. It was found that the sessions of Gordon Street, Campbell Street 1st, Campsie, Anderston, John Street, Wellington Street, Greenhead, Wellwynd, Airdrie, Campbellton 1st, Tollcross, Cambridge Street, Eglinton Street, Rutherglen, London Road, Regent Place, Partick West, Blantyre, had reported in favour of a delegated supreme court, on the understanding that the details regarding the same are submitted in due form to the consideration of the sessions of the church; and that the sessions of Govan, South Bridge Street, Airdrie, and Calton, had reported unfavourably to the proposed measure. The presbytery agreed to meet in committee of the whole house on the fourth Tuesday of the month, to take into consideration the whole matter brought before them by Dr Taylor's motion anent the increase of churches in Glasgow. A letter was read from Mr Blair of Drymen, resigning his charge of the congregation there, and declaring his resolution to leave the fellowship of the United Church. Mr Blair'