"Sister Smith wrestles with the infirmities of her body. Her constitution seems not calculated to endure the vicissitudes and coldness of this climate. She continues, however, hitherto, to fulfil, with an unwearied patienée, the duties of her office, superadded to the attendance on her knittingschool, in which she now intructs 27 young girls with a surprizing success. Out of the profits of their work, she raises a fund for the common benefit of her scholars, which is daily increasing; and at present consists of three cows and four heifers. Though she seems resolved to return to the Cape, she assures us that she does not intend to leave this place till she shall be enabled to commit the direction of the school to a person on whose ability and faithfulness we may depend. But as we cannot expect that this colony will afford such a desireable object, we should consider it as a valuable acquisition, if God would dispose a pious woman of such a description, in Europe, to devote herself to succeed Mrs. Smith in this difficult and laborious work; and it is with particular impression that we suggest this our wish, as an object of the attention of the Directors in London and at Rotterdam.

The following Letter from MARY, one of the Hottentols who were in England a few Years ago, to the secretary, will probably be agreeable to our Readers:

"Dear Brother,

"I was very happy to hear of you, our dear friend, chiefly that you continued in good health of body and soul. Through the goodness of our Lord God, I have found my dear children in a good situation in Africa,— the Lord has, in a particular manner, taken care of them; but my poor child Christian, who was born in Holland, I have lost by death in Africa; but I trust he died to go into everlasting life. The Lord has given me again a son in his place, who is about four months old, and is in good health. Three of my other children I have not yet seen; because of the great distance we are from one another: but the Lord gives me to be still, in his way, and I trust I shall see them in his time. O may I see them in Heaven! What happiness will it be for me to have brought forth children for everlasting life! My dear children who are with me, I tell them, many times, the happiness which I experienced in that dear England; and that makes them many times very anxious to see that country where the Lord dwells in such a wonderful manner, that they asked," Mother, O let us go some time there, to see such dear people!" With me, are John and my dear sister Martha. We have all for body and soul that may be necessary. We are with our Brother Kicherer and his wife, who behave as a brother and sister to us, and take care of us. O that I may be more thankful to my dear Lord and Saviour for his faithfulness and wonderful goodness! Help me, dear Brother, to pray, to thank for me: I can do nothing without the Spirit of Christ! Many times i spake with our Brother Kicherer about all the dear friends (with tears in my eyes I must confess it): chiefly it grieved me, when I recollected the last farewell to Mr. Hardcastle, then I sink away. O what shall it be when we meet one another again in Heaven, whon never shall have place a separating!

"O be so kind as to give my affectionate Christian love to all the dear brothers and sisters with whom I have had the honour to converse! what wonderful love 1 feel for them!

"Now, farewell, my dear Brother, remember me; I hope to remember you, in particular at the throne of grace. The Lord God dwell in your house, in your heart, in the hearts of your family, and make all things well. I am, dear Sir, with much esteem, your affectionate s:ster in the Lord Jesus, MARY VAN ROOY.

Graaff Reinet, January 8, 1807.

P. S. Thousand thanks for your pictures: I was very glad to see you again, John and Martha give their kind respects to you and all the friends.”

Extracts from the Third Report of the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

8

[Concluded from our last.]

Ir now remains for your Committee to report their transactions for promoting the object of the Society within the United Kingdom; and here they have the sincere gratification to state, that its importance, so far from being diminished in the public estimation, appears to increase in magnitude, and to attract proportionate encouragement.

The Welch and Gaelic Bibles are in a very advanced state of progress, and will be completed with all due expedition. Various editions of the New Testament in English, and one of the entire Bible, have also been printed at the expence of the Society, in a manner which your Committee trust will be deemed satisfactory.

Every exertion has been made by the University of Cambridge, for expediting the performance of its engagements with the Society; and as an additional number of printing presses a sare now employed, yourCommittee hope that all impediments to the efforts of the Society, in providing a sufficient supply of Bibles and Testaments, will now be removed.

The Association at Dublin, " for discountenancing Vice," &c. and the Bible Society at the same place, have been accominodated with Bibles and Testaments to the extent of their respective applications.

2000 Testaments have also been consigned to the care of a clergyman in the south of Ireland, to be disposed of at a price subject to his discretion. A gentleman in the north of the same kingdom, has been furnished with 1000 copies at half the original cost, for distribution among the poor; and an equal number, on the same terms, has been voted for the use of Sunday Schools in that country,

Your Committee have had the gratification to furnish copies of the New Testament to the convicts at Woolwich, the prisoners in Newgate, &c.---the German soldiers and seamen at Margate, Gosport, Guildford, Dublin, &c. It appears 2410 Freach prisoners, out of 5178,

XV,

and 800 Spanish prisoners, out of 1700, at Plymouth, were capable of reading the New Testament in their respective languages, and were desirous of doing it. They have been supplied by this Society. The anx iety of the Spanish prisoners exceeded all conception, many sought them with tears; and although the number allotted was nearly enough for all, they could scarcely be pacified until their wants were individually gratified. The New Testaments also, which were voted to the convicts at Woolwich, were most cordially received. To each mess a Testament has been allotted.

For the benefit of the poor Welch residing in England, it has also been resolved to allow Welch ministers. who are not subscribers to the institution, to purchase Welch editions of the Scriptures, at reduced prices, for their respective congregations.

The Association for aiding the Funds of the Institution by small subscriptions, is permitted to pur chase Bibles and Testaments at the reduced prices. It has also been determined to furnisu supplies of Bibles and Testaments, at the costprices, to the Naval and Military Bible Society.

The Committee have taken the subject of printing the Scriptures in the Irish language into re-consideration; and they are employed in procuring the means of deciding on a question of so much moment to the diffusion of religious knowledge in Ireland.

To enlarge on the benefits which may result from this Institution, must be superfluous to those who feel how much the happiness of individuals, and the prosperity of nations, depend upon their observance of the doctrines contalned in the Holy Scriptures, and their still greater importance with respect to the eterual happiness or misery of mankind. But it must be a gratification to the Society to mark, in the recital which has been submitted to them, the successful progress of the institution towards the attainment of its object, and the prospect of future utility gradually opening in magnitude and extent.

Whether the sphere of its operations be measured frem North to 3 D

List of Lectures, &c. in and near London, for August.

MINISTERS SUPPLYING AT

Surry Chapel, Mr. Williams, of Warwick
Spa Fields, Mr. Stodhart

Sion Chapel, Mr. T, Bennett.
Hoxton, Mr. Hillyard, of Bedford.
is changed from Tuesday to Wednesday.

POETRY.

ON THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE.

AFRIC, at length, has heard the joyful sound, "Thy sons are free! Fallen is the knotted scourge, "And burst the iron bonds! The oppressor's arm "Hangs powerless, and brandishes the thong, "The blood-stain'd thong, and torturing lash

-no more!"?

Is there a heart, all warm with British blood,
And born in Freedom's favourite isle, but hails
The dawning light on that ill-fated race,
Whose lingering years of ever-hopeless woe
(Unheard the voice of Friendship, and the ties
Of sweet affection sundered) long have dragged
Their weary round in Slavery's galling chains,
Whose lips have drained, even to the very dregs,
The bitter cup of bondage, and whose sighs
Unheard by all but Him who, gracious, hears
Alike the voice of master and of slave,
Of Afric's rude and England's polished sons?
Lives there the man who, sunk in brutal ease,
Luxurious, feels no joy that thou art free?
Nor thinks, while seated at his festive board,
Thy tears have watered, and thy sighs have fanned,
The rich nectareous juices he enjoys?

Oh! look, my soul, with horror on that man!
With him I claim no kindred; but to thee,
Poor and oppressed, an unenlightened slave,
With warm affection turn, and call thee "Friend,
"Brother beloved, though of a sable hue !"

Oh! that in nearer bondage we were join'd
To the same living Head; and both had drank
Of the same living Fountain, that for sin
Flows ceaseless, undiminished; and were both
Baptized into his death who dy'd for man!

The time shall come, nor distant be the date,
When the wide-spreading word, to farthest climes,
By promise long foretold, shall freely come;
When thou, my brother, shalt the promise share,
And hear of Jesus, and thy Saviour bless!
In patient expectation of that day,
Much I rejoice thy earthly bonds are broke!

But shall I joy for thee, nor for myself
Lift up the adoring voice, and tell his praise,
Whose more abounding grace on me has shone,
Who, on the cross, my glory, gave his life
A ransom for my sins, and, full of love
And tender mercy, dy'd to set me free?
Me, once a slave, in stronger fetters held;
And chains more galling, more enduring bonds,
Than Indian masters lay on Afric's sons!
Hard and oppressive as they are, and deaf
To Pity's voice, they but the body bind
In life-enduring bonds: but me, soul-chain'd
And blind of heart, a willing slave to sin,
From infant years the powers of darkness held
With iron grasp and heart-benumbing bonds,
Tied to a long eternity of woe, —
Hugging my chains, reluctant to be freel

O Love, beyond the stretch of human thought!
Who, less than God incarnate, could behold,
With such designs of mercy, one so vile?
Who, but the God of Love, devise the plan?
Who, but with arm omnipotent, could save ?

Burst forth, my tears, and ease my labouring heart,
Oppress'd with sense of mercy so divine,
To me rebellious, hardened, dead in sin:
Yet be not now the tears of deep despair,

As once, when conscience-struck, I stood appall'd,
And, Christless, sought in vain to find relief;
Plung'd in the deepening gulph, in which no beam
Of cheering light shewed the desired shore !

Mysterious are thy ways, Eternal; nor as ours
Thy thoughts, on mercy se intent to save,
When hope itself was dead, and all was dark
And dreary as the grave,
the cold retreat
Of Him, whose only hope is endless sleep!

Oh! why to me was this salvation sent?
Why, Lord, to me, unholy and unclean,
Unhop'd, unask'd for, was thy heavenly love
Thus graciously display'd, and the hard bonds
Of Death and Hell dissevered, and the balm
Of holy consolation poured profuse,

To heal the galling wounds that Sin had made?

--

Infinite goodness! - love beyond degree!
What tongue can speak thy praise! what heart conceive
The depth of that immeasureable grace
To me abounding, when my Jesus bore
My sins, and on the cross expir'd for me!
In humble adoration, Lord, Lown
Thy ways inscrutable to mortal powers;
But faith prevailing, sees the sacred truth,
And trusts the full completion of thy word.

With love to thee, my Jesus and my God,
Be filled my heart, nor let one doubt intrude
Of all that thou hast promised to the soul
That, humbled in the dust looks sole to thee
For pardon, peace, acceptance, and the crown
Of life and glory, which, ere time began,
Thou for thy chosen hast prepared in Heaven!

Extatic thought! and shall for me this love
Flow measureless, unmerited, and free ?
Oh, for a more appropriating faith,
To view my interest in this boundless grace!
"Lord, I believe: help thou mine unbelief!"

A SUMMER'S MORN.

SWEET the beams of rosy morning,
Silent chacing gloom away;
Lovely tints the sky adorning,
Harbingers of opening day!
See the King of Day appearing,

Slow his progress and serene;
Soon I feel the influence cheering

Of this grand and lovely scene! Lovely songsters join their voices, Harmony the grove pervades ; All in nature now rejoices,

Light and joy succeed the shades.

..........

AGONIZOMENOS.

Stars withdraw and man arises,
To his labour cheerful goes:
Day's returning blessings prizes,

And in praise his pleasure shows

May each morn, that in succession
Ådds new mercies ever flowing,
Leave a strong and deep impression
Of my debt for ever growing!
Debt of love, ah! how increasing!
Days and years fresh blessings bring;
But my praise shall flow unceasing,
And my Maker's love I'll sing!
Westminster.

Printed by G. AULD, Greville Street, London.