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and will, I think, next year, enter the higher department with several, principally Bassas. O! if with our present prospects we had but the number of intelligent, disinterested, devoted workers required, to live at the points at which such service is now the requirement. I would say, O yes! with a glad heart I would say, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation. On the last Sabbath I baptized three natives, and received them into the Church.

BISHOP BURNS writes: "I am pained to inform you of the death of one more of our preachers, Samuel F. Williams, who sunk to his grave with consumption. Brother Williams was a young man of some promise, humble, and good, and growing. It is distressing to see our ranks are thus thinning, without such a prospect as we could desire of witnessing a filling of the vacancies. I know not what to do. I do trust in God, but hope deferred maketh the heart sick' after all.

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MRS. WILKINS.-This name, embalmed in the hearts of our missionary friends, continues to be named in Africa with delight. We quote a passage from a letter just received from Africa: "I have heard of a countrywoman, living in a pretty large town of natives in the interior, who has been teaching school, and has taught many of the natives to read the Bible. She had herself been taught when a child by dear Sister Wilkins. As soon as the rainy season is over I hope to go and see her and encourage her to go on. It is a great encouragement to me to meet with or hear of, as I do, many of those dear girls with whom she labored and prayed; and while with many this labor was thought all in vain, afterward the seed sprang up, and those same pupils are going forth as sowers in turn of the good seed' among their people, the natives."

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AFRICAN BOYS HELPING THE MISSIONARY.-A missionary on the West Coast of Africa thus describes a preaching tour he took with some negro boys, who acted both as his carriers and interpreters:

"I began my journey," he says, "early in the morning, with a few of our native Christian boys, who carried our provisions and other necessaries. As it was still dark we took two lighted torches with us, which not only showed us the way, but kept off the wild beasts, which are always afraid of fire. We passed through a village which had been a large town, but war and sickness had destroyed the people, and now it contained only three or four huts. I preached the Gospel to the few villagers we saw, and told them about the great salvation; but as I could not speak their language well, one of the boys translated what I said to the people, and he did it nobly, with a

fine clear voice and good intonation. But the people answered that they had no need of repentance, as they had not committed any sin. I tried to arouse their consciences to a sense of their sad state, but at that time I could not stay to do more.

"In another village I found many people sitting, a few of whom invited me in a friendly manner to come and join them. This gave me an opportunity to converse with them, through my boys, on the glorious work of redemption. They answered, however, that God had given Jesus to the white man, but to the negroes he had given fetisch, (that is, dependence upon charms.) This is a folly we often hear. I then sought to show them that there was one God who was almighty, holy, and true, and who had forbidden all men to make the likeness of anything, as an idol, to bow down to worship it. At first they listened with great attention, but at length began to call for brandy. I told them I had none to give, and if I had I would not let them drink it. I asked them for their children, to instruct them, but only one of the men promised to send his boys. At length, to finish the sitting, I gave out a few verses of a hymn in their language, which my boys sang so sweetly that the whole people were mightily moved. With such boys well instructed any missionary might go through whole villages in this part of Africa and do much good. They are very apt in the languages and dialects which the people understand. Thus, out of the mouths of babes and sucklings in Africa God hath begun to perfect his praise."-London Juv. Miss. Mag.

LETTER FROM CORISCO.

We make the following extract from a private letter from the Rev. Mr. Mackey, of the date of December 5, 1861. After expressing his intense interest in the important affairs of his native land, he remarks:

"Our missionary work is progressing, and we are not without encouraging indications; but we have not the same evidences of the Spirit's presence that we had two years ago. Our church services, however, are pretty well attended, and our Sabbath school, especially at Evangasimba, is larger. Mr. De Heer seems much encouraged at Ugobe. I have not been able to visit Gaba since I have been out here, and do not know that I will be able to do so soon. I hear frequently from brothers Walker and Preston. The latter suffers from his throat, and very rarely preaches. Mr. Walker, I believe, enjoys pretty good health now. The expenses of the Mission there are, of course, very much reduced, and they are not attempting anything except at Baraka. Adnuga, I believe, is still at Neugeninge. The school at Baraka, I believe, goes on well. Mrs. Walker and Mrs. Preston have the girls divided between them, since Miss Van Allen left. I have a letter from brother Bushnell by the last mail. I presume he is in America now. When he closed his letter, he was about to sail from Liverpool for New York. We have been sending

out some of our young men to labor on the main land. Andeke is at Cape Estwias. Ibia is at Ihle. He has been there, as you perhaps know, for some time, and his labors seem to have been blessed. Belevi and Iume are at Bonita Brother Clemens returned a short time ago from Bonita. Belevi has a class of inquirers there, and Mr. Clemens thinks several of them are Christians. I expect to go with him soon to make a visit there, with reference to their baptism. We have several other young men whom we think of sending out as laborers, but none of them are licentiates. We have as yet licensed but two candidates, Andeke and Ibia. The members of the Mission are all well. We are expecting to all meet at Maluku, to take a thanksgiving dinner with Mrs. McQueen to-day. Mrs. Mackey sends affectionate regards.

Yours, &c.,

JAMES L. MACKEY."

GOREE.

From a Missionary.

Now, one word respecting Goree. This is headquarters of a French colony which extends from near Gambia some two hundred miles to the north, along the coast. Goree is upon an island of the same name, and about half a mile long, and one quarter wide. The island is in shape like a smoothing iron, with the wide end quite elevated, upon which there is a fort, with all the necessary appendages for self-protection. The fort takes up fully one-third of the island, and is well manned with soldiers. The balance of the island is all closely built over, so that the town cannot enlarge. The main land extends nearly all around the island, at a distance of from three to ten miles, upon which are a number of towns within sight of the island, and presents the grandest scenery of the kind I ever saw in Africa. The harbor here is also the best I have yet seen on this Yours, D. K. FLICKINGER.

coast.

[From the Dayton Telescope.]

GOOD NEWS FROM MADAGASGAR.

Madagasgar is a large island in the Indian Ocean, near the eastern coast of Africa. It is inhabited by about five millions people. Some years ago, under the reign of Radama I, the gospel was introduced and received by a goodly number of the inhabitants. Churches were planted, and the light was rapidly spreading, when suddenly, on the death of the king, the good work was arrested by the persecutions of the wicked queen who reigned in his stead. For years, access to the island was forbidden to missionaries, and those who loved the Savior were compelled to serve God in secret or suffer death. The word, however, had taken such root that no opposition could exterminate it.

God

watched over it and kept it alive. On 23d ofAugust last, Ranavalona, the queen, diad, and on the same day, her son, Rakatond Radama was raised to the throne of Madagasgar. Radama II immediately opened the prison doors and set the captives free. He struck the fetters from the enslaved, and proclaimed liberty throughout the land, to the gospel of Christ. It was a glorious day for the poor children of God who had suffered the loss of all things for Christ. One of these, writing to the Rev. Mr. Ellis, of London, says: "And now God has heard the prayers which we have offered to him, and Madagasgar is wide open for the word of God; those that were in bonds are now all released from their chains, and are come Antanananivo. On the 29th of August, we that were in concealment appeared. All the people were astonished when they saw us, that we were alive and not yet buried or eaten by the dogs, and there were a great many of the people desiring to see us, for they considered us as dead." Again unfettered these Christians send over land and sea, the Macedonian cry"come and help us." All is free, for Radama II said to us : "Write to our

friends in London, and say that Radama II reigns, and says that whosoever wishes to come up can come; and bring all the Bibles and tracts with you; for we long to see your face, if it be the will of God." Thus, again, has God triumphed gloriously. "The isles are glad for him." A door is now open to millions who a few months ago were shut out from the light of the gospel. A new responsibility is upon the Christian world. Let many laborers enter in and broadcast that field with the seed of the kingdom, and great will be the harvest. W. J. SHUEY.

[From the N. Y. Colonization Journal.]

FROM LIBERIA, TO FEBRUARY, 1862.

By way of England, advices were received in New York, March 3d, from Monrovia, Liberia, under date of January 17th.

The Bark John H. Jones, which cleared from New York early in November, with goods and stores for the Liberia Government, and with forty-two emigrants, had arrived at Monrovia about Christmas, and after discharging cargo, proceeded, January 13th, to Bassa, to land a portion of the emigrants. The bark was expected to return to Monrovia by the 20th of January, and to sail with quick despatch for the United States, bringing several passengers with her.

All the emigrants by the bark Edward were doing remarkably well, and had passed through the acclimation.

The inauguration of President Benson for the fourth term of two years each, occurred on the 6th of January, and was a time of great and general gladness. Speeches, fireworks, and large and elegant parties marked the occasion. The most gratifying feature of all, and what served greatly to increase the general joy, was the evident cordial friendship among parties who had for some time been estranged. May union and harmony ever prevail in Liberia! It is rumored that after the adjournment of the Legislature, President Benson will celebrate his nuptials with Miss Paulson, late of Brooklyn, and make a voyage to Europe in the March steamer.

The Trustees of Liberia College had recently held two sessions, and appointed January 23d for the inauguration of Liberia College, on which occasion Chief Justice Drayton was to make the opening address, to be followed by inaugural addresses from the President of the College, Hon. J. J. Roberts, who is also Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law, and from Rev. Edward W. Blyden, Professor of the Greek and Latin Languages and of Literature.

Application has already been made by a number of scholars for admission, but it is manifest that but few families in Liberia will feel able to support their sons in college. Endowments for scholarships are very much needed in connection with the college.

The steamer Seth Grosvenor, as early as January 5th, had her keel and bottom repaired and recoppered, and it was expected that she would resume her trips and carry the mails in February.

LETTERS FROM LIBERIA.

MONROVIA, January 7th, 1862. REV. JOHN B. PINNEY.--Dear Sir:--Yesterday, the inauguration of President and Vice-President of the Republic was celebrated, and, as was to be expected, it was quite a day of merriment and glee, and of stump speeches; but during the whole course of the proceedings, I saw not one person intoxicated. Ex-President Roberts and President Benson met on the occasion as friendly as they did on the 2d of May, 1855.

Truly yours,

D. B. WARNER.

MONROVIA, January 17, 1862. REV. JOHN B. PINNEY, D. D.--Dear Sir :-The pressure of my engagements since my return home has been such that I have not had much time to write to my friends abroad.

By the last mail we received intelligence that the Board of Foreign Missions have deemed it advisable to suspend the A. H. School. This throws out of school a number of hopeful scholars who were preparing for college, and leaves the college without any preparatory department. This is a little embarassing.

We have had several applications from needy but promising boys, but we have as yet no light as to the support of scholarships. Do you know any thing about this matter? Has there been any permanent endowment for the purpose?

The Board of Trustees for Libeira College have had two meetings during the past week. Preparations have been made for the inauguration of the College, which will take place on Thursday, the 23d inst. Chief-Justice Drayton, I believe, will make the opening address. Professors Roberts and Blyden will deliver ther inaugural addresses.

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