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at Otaheite. The gloomy prospects and painful trials which they anticipated, when the separation of the mission took place, of being plundered and dispersed among the heathen, have been dissipated and prevented; and instead of these calamities, "they enjoy good health of body, peaceable habitations, and unmolested means of grace." When these circumstances are considered, it will appear, that our reduced mission at that island (at the date of the last letters which have been received) enjoyed as many advantages as can be expected in a heathen land; and gave as great prospect of establishment and success as from their temporary residence and imperfect proficiency in the language and habits of the people can reasonably be cherished.

The mission, that sailed in the Royal Admiral, was prepared in circumstances of comparative darkness and uncertainty. The directors endeavoured to act with prudence and wisdom in its equipment and destination; and although some variation would doubtless have been made, if the last dispatches from Otaheite and Tongataboo had been previously received, yet they hope that neither the number, the conditions nor the equipments of the missionaries will be found inconvenient, embarrassing, or useless; and that, under the contin ved auspices of the heavenly Protector, they have before this time; joined their brethren at Otaheite, to promote with redoubled activity the work of God on that island, and to extend their exertions, at a suitable opportunity, to other islands in its vicinity.

In February last, the directors received letters from the mission aries in the Royal Admiral, dated at Rio Janeiro, 27th August 1800. So far they had proceeded on their voyage; and except the death of Mr. Turner, surgeon of the ship, and the temporary but severe illness of some of the missionaries, in consequence of a malignant fever that raged among the convicts, no circumstances of moment or of sorrow had occurred to them. Their journal gives a very satisfactory account of the commendable and profitable manner in which they employ their time; a great part of it appears to be spent in such exercises of devotion and improvement, as especially regard their intended missionary services.

Mission at Tongataboo.

Since the last general meeting, three of the missionaries who

were left at that island, have returned to this country; two have tarried at Port Jackson; one has chosen to remain at Tongataboo (but in such state of mind and conduct as to afford no expectation of any benefit being derived from his continuance there ;) and the other three of our brethren have fallen victims to the intestine commotions of the island, and the ferocious dispositions of some of its inhabitants. The directors have deeply and seriously examined the brethren who have returned home, on the subject of their mission. The result has been, that they have to lament its unproductiveness, as well as its fatal and sanguinary termination. Still, however, they think that impressions favourable to the characters and the. purposes of our brethren, have been made upon many of the natives of Tongataboo, which, in the event of another benevolent visit being made to that island, may be found to have produced some fruit, though of an inferior nature and of inconsiderable growth, to his praise and glory, who has often seemed to make the blood of his beloved martyrs the seed of a future Church.

South African Mission.

The state of this mission, when the preceding annual report was made to this society, afforded the directors abundant matter for -gratitude, and admiration at the goodness of God, and at the zeal and devotedness of the brethren who were then engaged in it. Since that time the four brethren who sailed in May 1800, have arrived at the Cape, and have commenced their missionary labours in its vicinity; and three brethren from Holland who took their passage in January last, have, it is hoped, reached the same destination. The mission to that part of the heathen world has been thus contin·ually increasing in its strength; and the directors are happy to "add, that the last letters which have been received from thence, include a call for additional missionaries to labour in a field of increasing extent, and of encouraging expectations. The spark of missionary zeal, which was wafted from this country to the Cape of Good Hope, appears to have been kindled into a flame in the bosom of our christian friends at that station. Already it seems to have taken hold on the outskirts of Satan's kingdom; and with the continued assistance of its Almighty inspirer, it bids fair to spread its holy energies into some of the recesses of the infernal empire.

The MissionarySociety at theCape, in August 1800, had no less than 1900 heathen under their tuition, and since that time the number has considerably increased. Our venerable friend, Dr. Vanderkemp, was, in December last, still among the Caffrees. His trials appear to be great, his safety precarious, his situation lonely and cheerless, and his encouragement not so great as might be expected from his exemplary diligence and zeal. Still, however, this missionary champion strengthens himself in his God, and patiently waits for liberty to visit his friends at the Cape; or for an opening in providence, that some of the brethren may be sent to him. May deliverance and success be afforded to this valuable and distinguished servant of our Divine Master.

The brethren Kicherer and Kramer, after having laboured with acceptance and success in the country of the Boschemen, have agreed to go eight days journey toward the Great River, agreeably to an impressive and often repeated invitation which they have received from near a thousand heathen of various tribes, who reside together; and who earnestly desire religious instruction. The brethren, Anderson and Edwards, are intended to reside among the Boschemen, to carry on the work which has been so propitiously begun. Brothers Lingen and Read are at present in Waggonmakers Valley, assisting the Rev. Mr. Van-Sulk, whose ministry is attended by about 300 heathen, among whom there are, it is said, "many strong believers," and many others on whom the work of God appears savingly to be begun. At a suitable time these brethren are intended to assist Dr. Vanderkemp, in his labour among Caffrees. Brother Tromp perseveres, with most commendable zeal, to instruct both Heathens and Christians. The efforts of our missionaries appear to be well supported by the kindness and generosity of the Christian friends at the Cape and its vicinity; and the Dutch ministers at several of the settlements, are labouring with diligence and success among their countrymen, and in the instruction of the surrounding slaves and Hottentots. With such encouraging prospects, and in compliance with an earnest request from the society at the Cape for additional missionaries, the directors have determined to accept of three German brethren, who have offered themselves for the work of God in Africa; who are well recommended by the Rev.

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Mr. Strache, of Hatshausen in East Friesland, and who, at present, are receiving appropriate instructions under the Rev. Mr. Jænicke, at Berlin. The directors were authorized by a resolution of the last general meeting, to "enlarge the missions in Africa, and to establish such new ones as circumstances shall render expedient.' They have acted in the spirit of this resolution, and trust, that the provision of missionaries which they have made will not be thought to exceed the extent and importance of the work, which the Providence of God appears to set before this society for its patronage and execution. East-Indies.

A letter, dated 5th August, 1800, has lately been received from Mr. Forsyth, the society's missionary in India. At that time he was well in health; had made considerable proficiency in the language of the country, and was about to begin a school for the instruction of the children of the natives. Mr. Forsyth appears to possess a true missionary spirit; and he exhibits fidelity and disinterestedness of character and conduct. The directors have long since been authorized to increase the mission to that part of the world; but circumstances have occurred to frustrate their desires and intentions. It is an object, however, which they think by far too important to be forgotten or neglected; they are, therefore, continuing their enquiries and their correspondence for the purpose of obtaining suitable persons to assist Mr. Forsyth, or to labour in any preferable parts of India.

Twillingate, in Newfoundland.

Since the last general meeting, two letters have been received from the Rev. Mr. Hillyard, who is stationed at that place, under the patronage of this society. Mr. Hillyard's account is pleasing, encouraging, and satisfactory. He appears to labour with diligence in the work of his ministry, in the instruction of youth, and in catechising children. Having visited some of the adjacent islands, he has recommended to the directors that another Missionary be sent from this society, to preach the gospel at Fogo, Bonavista, and Green-Pond Island. This measure has been maturely consid ered; and it has been resolved to comply with Mr. Hillyard's recommendation, whenever a suitable person shall be accepted and qualified for the proposed station.

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The following extract from a letter of the Rev. Joshua Marsh man, Missionary at Serampore, near Calcutta, (E. I.) is thought worthy of insertion.

"When I wrote last, the Lord had not actually appeared in a way of conversion among the Hindoos, but we now humbly hope that he has in a small degree. Dec. 28, 1801, we baptized the first Hindco, a man named Crushno, and since that we have baptized five others, one man and four women; so that we have now fix Hindoo brethren and sisters in our little church. They have lost cast of course, and have sustained the scorn, reproach and revilings unavoidably consequent thereon, with much of the christian temper; and, making allowance for the extreme darkness and the depth of wickedness in which they were before involved, they give us much pleasure by their walk and conversation. The new testament was printed off in February last, and we are now printing the old. Some thousands of copies also of evangelical tracts, hymns, &c. have been printed and dispersed among the natives, and they discover a considerable desire to read. The Brahmans however discover an im placable hatred to the gospel and the name of Christ, as knowing that the ruin of their antient, horrible and widely destructive system of priestcraft and idolatry is inevitably connected with the spread of it. But, "He must increase."

In fine-When we attend to Missionary exertion and influence; when we remember that a considerable number of the aboriginal natives of Asia, Africa and America, are now at gospel schools for the purpose of being qualified to publish the glad tidings of salvation to their respective colours and tribes, is there not reason to believe that the set time to favour Zion is at hand? O Lord, how long shall the book remain sealed? Shall not Christ soon have the heath

en for his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession ?

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