exercised with desires towards the After spending nearly three years work of the ministry. This was in the seminary, Mr. Jeffereys exat length made known to the pas-pressed his desire to be engaged in tor, and after his talents had been the work of foreign missions. He tried, he was recommended to the did not express a preference for Academy at Blackburn, then under any one part of the world, but said, the care of the Rev.Joseph Fletcher, "Wherever you think I can be A.M. and admitted a student in | useful, there send me." 1817. His character as a student, About this time, an interesting has received the following hon-letter from Radama, king of Madaourable testimony from his tu-gascar, was brought to England by Prince Ratafi; this, and the re

tor:

Though some of the students commendation of his tutor, inducmight possess a higher order of ed the Directors of the London mental capability, and previously Missionary Society to accept Mr. acquired advantages, none excel-Jeffereys as a suitable missionary led him in honourable and indus- for Madagascar, and to send him trious application, unaffected hu- | and Mrs. J. with several artisans, mility, fervent piety, and most to that place. Into the work he exemplary devotedness to all the entered with all his heart. duties of personal and social reli- He was ordained to the office of gion. It was soon evident to all a Christian missionary, May 30, around him, that he was not a can- 1821, at Chapel-street Chapel, didate for the ministry from secular | Blackburn. The Rev. W. Roby, or merely professional views; his of Manchester, the Rev. J. Thovoluntary exercises in the visiting | mas, of Chorley, and the Rev. Joof the sick, in conversation with the poor in their cottages, and in occasional village preaching, proved that his heart was engaged in the great work to which he had

consecrated his life."

seph Fletcher, his tutor, were severally engaged; after which, Mr. Jeffereys took leave of his friends, and concluded the service with solemn prayer.

On Saturday morning, Aug. 4, Long before his entrance on 1821, Mr. Jeffereys, his wife, and missionary labours, he exhibited a little girl of his by a former wife, the self-denial, energy, laborious left London for Gravesend. "As concentration of all his powers to we walked (says Mrs. Jeffereys) the advancement of the kingdom of through the streets of the metropoChrist, which are so essentially lis, towards the place of embarkarequisite in those who are to go tion, our hearts were crowded with ،، far hence among the heathen ; " | anxieties, which can be more easily and when his final determination conceived than expressed. was known, there was but one feeling of grateful and approving satisfaction amongst all who knew his excellencies, and admired his character.

We

felt that we were leaving our beloved and highly privileged country, and withdrawing from the fond ties of natural affection and endeared friendship, and said, 'Who is sufficient for these things?' But God bore up our spirits, and enabled us to proceed, notwithstanding the varied griefs that pressed upon us.

،، On our arrival at the quay, we

found our esteemed friend, the select a few incidents, chiefly of a Rev. J. Arundel, the Secretary of religious nature. the Society, waiting to take leave of us. His Christian sympathy,

The moral state of the Portu

guese at Madeira is very affecting. "On the Sabbath (the mis

and the consolatory encouragements he gave us in that season of sionaries say) we visited several of peculiar anguish, were received, their places of worship; all were and are still remembered, with highly decorated, but their sermuch gratitude. After a few mi- vices consisted of little else than nutes, spent in commending each ceremonial observances. The poor other to a covenant-keeping God, people are completely the dupes of we embarked, and arrived at a designing and crafty priesthood. Gravesend about noon. Here we Never did the value of a Christian were called to say Farewell, to the education, and the distinguished last relative I saw in England, my privileges of my native country youngest sister, who accompanied more affect my mind, than when I us from London. witnessed the ignorance and blindness of this awfully deluded people."

'When eyes are beaming
What never tongue can tell,
When tears are streaming

From their crystal cell;
When hands are lock'd that dread to part,
And heart is met by throbbing heart,

Oh! bitter, bitter is the smart

Of them that bid farewell.'

BISHOP HEBER.

"The next day we communed
at the Lord's table, with the society
under the care of the Rev. J. Kent,
and on Monday we went on board
the Columba, bound for the Isle of
France. We joined, as fellow-
passengers, Prince Ratifi, his se-
cretary, &c.
We were soon under
weigh, and as my lingering looks
hovered over my native land, I
said,

'England, with all thy faults, love thee
still:
My country!'

But, in obedience to the voice of
Him who says, 'Go into all the
world, and preach the Gospel to
every creature,' I can leave thee,
and go to distant climes."

Several things occurred on the voyage which are recorded in the journal, and which are well worthy of attention; but we must refer our readers to the book itself. Our pages will only allow us to

On the 27th of November, 1821, after a voyage of nearly four months, they arrived in safety and health at Port Louis. Here they were kindly received by Mr. Le Brun, the missionary of the station, and informed, that as the wet season had just commenced, they could not proceed to Madagascar in less than six months.

་

This place, it is remarked, presents many painful proofs that the slave trade is not yet abandoned. "As we sat at breakfast the morning after our arrival, we saw a heavy carriage of manure pass along the public road, drawn by human beings, with very partial covering on their bodies, and goaded and urged forward by a guide, who carried a lash in his hand, and who often used it very smartly, and this is a common sight. These' oppressed creatures are generally yoked together in pairs of six or eight, according to the weight of the carriage they have to draw."

"Any persons possessing slaves, have power to send them to the Bazaar to be publicly whipped, if they have been guilty of dishonesty or running away. Here the treatment is sometimes very inhuman.

Once, as I was passing, I beheld a poor creature lying on his face, fastened to a piece of timber, and groaning most piteously. On inquiry, I found he had received fifty lashes in the morning, and was condemned to lie there till evening, when he was to have fifty more !

Then what is man? And what man seeing

this,

And having human feelings, does not blush
And hang his head, to think himself a man?'

appear to a benevolent mind, it is a fact, that all the Europeans who have ever visited this country, with the exception of some Catholic and three or four Protestant missionaries, have done nothing to lessen or destroy its power. Gain appears to have been the object of those who came to this island with an intention to colonize and to civilize it, and to them it was a matter of no moment in what way it was obtained. To a very alarming and painful extent the horrible slave trade has been carried on here, which has brutalized the cha

While here, Mr. Jeffereys visited a Catholic priest: his habitation and person were most interesting,racter of the inhabitants.

and he, like Leander Van Ess, The British Government have appears to possess the "true grace recently put a check to this traffic of God." "He spoke of the er- in human blood. The king, also, rors of the Catholic church, and is fully disposed to abandon it, and said, that in his opinion popery to improve his people. would ultimately be abolished. On The kindness of God to Mr. parting, he very kindly and cordi- and Mrs. Jeffereys, all through ally shook hands with me, and their route to the capital, was wished me success in proclaiming much in their remembrance, and the Gospel of Christ." on the day of their arrival quite On the 1st of May the mission-overwhelmed them, constraining aries took leave of their kind friends them to utter many vows of entire at Port Louis, went on board devotedness to his service. the ship, hoping, if all were well, to reach Madagascar in three or four days. On the 7th they were safely landed at Jamatave, near the coast, deeply affected with the prospect before them, and full of thanksgiving to God for what he had done for them.

On the 21st of May they set out on their journey to the capital, which they reached June the 10th. The country through which they passed is described as very delightful, well watered and fruitful, but the pleasure created by these prospects was much damped by the painful proofs of moral desolation generally discoverable in the conduct of the natives. The demon superstition has reared his throne, and as yet reigns uncontrolled; and however lamentable it may

They were, on their arrival, presented to king Radama, who received them very kindly, and invited them to dine with him, which invitation they accepted.

On the Sabbath, at seven o'clock in the morning, they attended the schools under the direction of their friends; the children appeared so clean and respectable, that they were quite delighted, especially when hearing them join in the praises of God. After singing, the children were catechised. Public service commenced at ten o'clock.

Mr. Jeffereys preached from Acts xiii. 39. "He went on his way rejoicing." In the afternoon the children again met, fortyeight in number, when the King, Prince Ratifi, &c. attended. The examination was very satisfactory.

They departed, full of hope that they beheld the dawn of happy times in Madagascar.

"It was with much delight I found myself surrounded this morning by about forty adults, besides The first efforts of Mr. and Mrs. the school, who had met to hear Jeffereys were in a school, consist- the word of life. They appeared ing of nine boys and three girls. to listen to my discourse with great They soon found that the children attention. Some seemed much impossessed no mean capacities.-pressed with what they had heard, "Our instructions (they remark) and confessed that it was just and were received with gratitude and good. eagerness, and their progress astonished as well as delighted us. It is very seldom that any of that want of interest in their lessons is discoverable which is so common in English schools; their application is unwearied, till they have correctly attained their tasks."

That the Malagassy children are naturally shrewd and in the habit of reflecting, the missionary had many proofs, in the remarks made on the subject of conversation introduced among them. Mrs. J. has mentioned one:

"Lord's day, Sept. 27.-I left home after the morning service, with an intention to visit a village five miles distant, but met a number of men who were going to the forest for wood, for the king. To them I spoke of God, of man's lost condition, his need of a Saviour, of Christ, as that Saviour, and his willingness to save all who desired his salvation; they listened with attention; my heart glowed with affection towards them."

It was in this part of his work Mr. J. found the greatest pleasure, and to this he directed his principal aim. Hence arose his great anxiety to learn the language: his progress was so rapid as to astonish the natives. They used to say to him, "You are wise, you have learned to speak quickly." In less than a year he could converse with them, and for nine months before he left the island he

preached regular discourses on the Lord's day, at home or in the villages.

"As I stood one day by Mr. Jeffereys, catechising the children, I asked them which of the commandments was most difficult to observe. One mentioned one, and another a different precept, till at last a boy, about twelve years old, said the last was the hardest. Mr. J. said, Why is it so, my boy?' He replied, Because for one who is poor, to see another possessing a great deal of money, a great deal of clothes, and much cattle and rice, without wishing for some of Thus employed, it may easily be them, is very hard; I think no conceived that it was a source of person can keep this command-considerable regret to Mr. J. to be compelled to withdraw for a time, Besides school engagements, Mr. on account of Mrs. J.'s health. In J. when the weather and his strength permitted, daily went among the natives, to converse with them, or to meet them in the place appropriated to public worship. How these services were attended, and how much his own heart was interested in them, an extract from his diary will shew:

ment.'

the month of January it pleased God to visit her with a painful indisposition, which gradually wasted her strength; and this continuing, in the month of May her danger was so great, that they were recommended to visit the Mauritius for a few months. Accordingly, on June 4, 1825, they

set out for the coast, where they | midnight, when her spirit took its arrived in thirteen days, and on flight to the invisible world. the following Tuesday embarked "I was now quite alone (she for the Mauritius, in a vessel that says) in the gloom of the midnight came to trade with Madagascar for hour, agitated with the anguish of rice and cattle. An agreement this painful bereavement, and, in was made with the master, to con- anticipation, brooding over more vey them and their four children to bitter sorrows, as likely to come Port Louis for 200 dollars, for upon me." What the afflicted pawhich they were to have very com-rent anticipated she soon realized, fortable accommodation; but on for her husband continued getting going on board, they found them worse, so that she dared not comthe reverse. Their mattresses were municate to him the sad intelligence thrown on some sacks of rice in of the death of the child, but was the ship's hold, near the cattle, obliged to permit the body to be which were separated from them consigned to its watery tomb withonly by a few raised sacks of rice. out the father knowing of her death; They had no other spot to occupy, and in the course of three or four excepting when the weather per- days after his dear remains were mitted to walk the deck. The also committed to the silent deep, captain, who was a French Roman there to rest till the " sea shall Catholic, though sensible of their give up her dead." He died in disappointment, was not at all con- peace. cerned about it.

What the feelings of the heavily The first nine days of the voy-afflicted sufferer were, are most age the family continued in com- affectingly related by herself, parative health, but on the tenth," while she had the post of obserMr. J. and the eldest girl com-vation darker every hour," but plained of a pain in the head. The her God sustained her in this hour usual remedies were employed, and of peculiar anguish, so that she with some appearance of success was not permitted "to sorrow as as to Mr. J. but none as to the one without hope," but to manifest child. "I expressed my fears much Christian submission. (says the afflicted mother) to Mr. J. that the child was in a dangerous state, but he did not think so, and endeavoured to dissipate my fears, and to comfort my afflicted heart." In the evening of this day Mr. J. became much worse, and the delirium increased on him greatly, so that Mrs. J. began to despair of his recovery; but she divided her attention between her husband and the child, and fearing the latter Mrs. J. was thus left a widow would not live through the night, with three children, the eldest not she requested the captain to let above four years of age, and her have a light. "It is contrary in the expectation of soon adding to the rules of the ship, but I sup-to the number of her little helpless pose you must have one," said he charge. The "God of the widow" roughly! Mrs. J. continued to sustained her in that, and succeedwatch the dear child till about ing hours of trial. She arrived at

Thus we have briefly detailed the leading facts of the short, but eventful, course of Mr. J. Soon it pleased Jehovah to terminate the career of this useful labourer; suddenly was he snatched away from all the relations and endearments of life, and all the honourable services before him. It was, indeed, an agonizing and mysterious dispensation! But God is wise.