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mouths or in the lower parts of their course, and can never afford much assistance to reach the more populous and fertile districts in the interior. It is also worthy of observation, that in most parts of the interior, particularly in the southern portion of the continent, we find the rivers running through a table-land, narrow, and sluggish, but deep, and then descending over rapids and cataracts to join their collected aud concentrated outlets to the ocean nearer or more remote from their sources.

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[From the New York Observer.]

DEATH OF A FRIEND OF THE SOCIETY.

Rev. Charles Cummins, D. D., died at Muscatine, Iowa, at the residence of his son-in-law, Dr. James S. Horton, in the 87th year of his age. Dr. Cummins was born in Strasburg, Pa., July 15th, 1776. He commenced his classical studies at a Latin school on his father's farm, taught by a Mr. Sterrett. He was for a time a student at Mr. Cooper's Latin School, about five miles from Shippensburg. He also was a pupil of James Ross, author of Ross' Latin Grammar. Among his school-mates was the Rev. Dr. Herron, of Pittsburg. He was a graduate at Dickinson College, under the Presidency of Dr. Nesbit, about the year 1800. He was licensed, as near as can be ascertained, in 1803. His first settlement as a paster was at Chestnut Level, Pa., where we find him in 1804. As early as 1808 he became pastor of the Presbyterian Church, in Florida, Orange Co., New York. Here he had for parishoners Judge Seward, and his son, now the Hon. Wm. H. Seward. Dr. Cummins was highly gratified at receiving an autograph letter from Mr. Seward, a few weeks before his death. While in Florida, he was invited to take charge of a church in Washington city, but declined, and with the exception of a year which he spent in Virginia, as agent for the American Colonization Society, he continued his labors in Florida, until 1849, when he resigned his pastoral charge.

In 1852, he removed to Muscatine, where he has since resided. He received his degree of D. D., in 1830, from the College of St. John, at Annapolis. Dr. Cummins was three times married. His first wife, Mary Rowena Morris, by whom he had one chield, died in 1806. His second, Sarah Lisle Gamble, daughter of a Professor in the University of Pa., and a cousin of Governor Gamble, of Me., died in 1832. By her he had six children: Thomas Archibald, a merchant in New York; Mrs. Dr. Horton, of Muscatine; James S. L., a lawyer, of the firm of Cummins, Alexander & Green, of New York; Rev. John L. Cummins, who died pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Keokuk, Iowa, in 1852; Mrs. Jacob Butler, who died in Muscatine in 1849, and Francis Markoe, a Lieut. Colonel in the 124th reg., N. Y. Volunteers. His third wife was Margaret McCulloh, a sister of the wife of Rev. Dr. Ashbel Green. She died in Muscatine in 1852.

His

He was a "good man, full of faith and of the Holy Ghost." He possessed a vigorous frame, a strong constitution, good mental powers, was a laborious and successful pastor, a practical, instructive and forcible preacher. He was, in the highest sense of the term, a Christian gentleman; and to the elose of his life, he never forgot the injunction, "Be courteous." thoughts of late years have been often with his former people in Florida. He greatly desired to visit them again before he died. He preached his last sermon in 1856. Since then he has loved the house of God, and seldom been absent from it. He was able to attend the sanctuary up to a week before his death. His whole life is a proof that God is faithful to his promises. To the last he was a living witness of the power of Christianity to make one cheerful and happy. He passed gently away, and "died in a good old age, an old man and full of years." He rests from his labors, and his works do follow him.

ENGLISH CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

YORUBA MISSION.-The Committee of the Church Missionary Society has ssued a call for special prayer in behalf of the missionaries and Christians, nd the people generally of Abbeokuta, West Africa, presenting the followng statements in regard to the very trying and dangerous position in which hey are placed.

The circumstances of our mission in the Yoruba country, at the present ime, are such as may well arrest the attention of all Christians, and espeially those who are the friends and supporters of the Church Missionary Society.

Bahadung, King of Dahomey, imitating the example of his father Gezo in 1851, captured, in March last, Ishagga, a Yoruba town lying westward of Abbeokuta, and towards the frontiers of Dahomey, slaying on the spot onehird of its population, and carry the remainder into captivity; and, amongst the rest, Thomas Doherty, our native catechist, and his little flock of native converts. Doherty has since suffered, at Abomey, the cruel death of crucifixion, many, if not all, his Christian brethren, together with numbers of the heathen chiefs and people of Ishagga, having been decapitated at the same time, to grace the annual "customs.'

Amidst the wild excitement of these terrible scenes, the drunkenness, and the blood, Bahadung promised his soldiers, men and amazons, to lead them against Abbeokuta in November, that they might spoil and waste, as they had Ishagga.

Compared with 1851, the position of Abbeokuta at the present time is an isolated one. While the Dahomians are marching against it from the west, the Ibadans are in arms against it on the east: nay, more, the unhappy refusal of the king and chiefs to receive a British consul, has separated it from the advice and aid of the British authorities on the coast.

Yet let it be remembered that we have now, in this endangered city, the following valuable missionaries, with the wives and children of some of them-the Rev. H. Townsend, the Rev. G. F. Buhler, the Rev. J. B. Wood; also the native Clergymen, the Rev. Thomas King and the Rev. W. Moore; together with Dr. A. A. Harrison, and three European catechists. Let it also be remembered that we have forty native helpers, male and female, in this city, together with 1,500 native Christians, of whom 500 are communi

cants.

Are these valuable? Oh, how much so! Shall they be delivered up, without an effort, to the cruelties of Dahomey. This vineyard, which the hand of the Lord has planted, shall the boar out of the wood waste it, and the wild beast of the field devour it?

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[From the Missionary Advooate.]
AFRICAN MISSION.

MORE LABORERS.-Bishop Burns, in late communications to us, speaks earnestly of the need of more laborers; he also speaks hopefully of the prospect of the gift of some among themselves. His affecting statement of the heart's desire of the people to that end aids our faith in God, that from among the mission Churches planted on that distant coast, the children born among them will rise up to say, "Here am I, send me." I am weary and cannot forbear.

EMIGRATION. In the Bark Ann, which left our port in the month of November, Rev. Mr. Blyden, Professor in the Liberia College, was among the passengers. If it please the heavenly Father to bring him to his desired haven, Liberia will be benefited anew with his labors. Other laborers,

among them Rev. Professor Crummell, have left for that field in the "M. C. Stevens." Several persons, among whom were those qualified to teach in their common schools, and to advance their agricultural interests, sailed in that vessel.

CONSUL GENERAL.-It is gratifying to state that the Rev. Dr. Pinney, for many years the corresponding secretary of the N. Y. Colonization Society, has been acknowledged by the United States Government as consul for the Republic of Liberia.

COMMERCE. There was a decided increase in the exports and imports of Liberia during the past year, which is the result of the advanced stages of agriculture and manufactures in the republic.

EDUCATION. This cause is likely to be somewhat furthered by the appropriations made at the late session of the legislature. Every aspect in which we look at the young republic there is ground of encouragement for the friends of the religious and civil conditions of the people.

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[From the Times newspaper, Eng.]

Sierra Leone.

The Colonial "Blue Book," recently issued, comprises reports from our settlements on the west coast of Africa.

From Sierra Leone we learn that the census taken in 1860, found a population of 41,624, with 11,418 dwellings; 15,782 of the population were liberated Africans, and 22,593 had been born within the limits of the colony. Of the whole population only 3,351 remained Pagans, and only 1,734 were Mahommedans; 15,180 were Methodists, and 12,954 Episcopalians. 11,016 children were taught in the schools in the year. The Governor reports that the customs receipts have increased to £20,000, and that the internal trade of the colony is steadily growing, owing partly to the number of small native traders who have started in business of late years, and partly to facilities afforded by credit being given for import duties. British protection supplies a stimulus to native improvement and enterprise, and the population are rapidly learning the general customs of civilized society, engaging in commercial transactions with surprising diligence and avidity, submitting on the one hand to the various necessary imposts, and on the other gladly reaping the benefits of enlarged communication, and in many instances amassing wealth, enabling them to vie with European enterprise. Sierra Leone is thus proving not only a refuge for those who are rescued from slavery, but a nucleus of civilization and school of Christian teaching.

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M. Jules Gerard in Liverpool.

This celebrated African traveler has been in Liverpool some days past. M. Gerard contemplates an exploration journey into Central Africa. His chief aim will be to find a spot for the establishment of an independent settlement. This will probably be found in the mountainous regions of the interior, between Sierra Leone and the sources of the Niger. The object of this settlement is to extend the the relations between Europe and the interior of Africa.-Liverpool Albion.

The Arab Chiefs at Compiegne.

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The Arab chiefs who are now guests at Compiegne, have, it appears, obtained, to use a theatrical phrase, a great success. The quiet dignity of their deportment, and their remarkable sobriety, are admired by all. They spend an hour at prayer in the morning, and at nine they are served with a cup of milk and coffee. They partake of a frugal breakfast in their apartments at twelve. The six chiefs are of lofty stature, which is set off to advantage by their dress. Four of them wear the insignia of Commander of the Legion of Honor, and two, that of Officers, of the same order. The Commanders wear the cordon round the neck, over a rosary of amber beads. Two speak French very well; three understand, but speak it imperfectly, and one only does not either speak, or understand it.-Paris Letter.

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RECEIPTS OF THE AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY,

From the 20th of December, 1862, to the 20th of January, 1863.

MAINE.

Bath--Bath Colonization Society, from the following list of Rodney Hyde, Treasurer: George F. Patten, $25. Wm. Drummond, $5. G. M. Patten & Co., $2. James Oliver, $1. H. Hildreth, $1. John Patten, $10. Benjamin Riggs, $2. E.K. Harding, $1. Roland Fisher, $1. F. Partridge, $1. John Shaw, $1. Freeman Clark, $5. Wm. M. Rogers, $2. Chas. Davenport, $1. E. Arnold, $2. Thos, Harward, $10. E. S. J. Nealley, $2. Rev. Mr. Durell, $2. D. Patten, $1. N. C. A. Jenks, $1. John O. Fiske, $5. L. W.Houghton, $1. Wm. M. Reed, $1. H. W. Owen, $1. J. R. Houghton, $1. James F. Patten, $5. Sarah G. Clark, $5. D. T. Stinson, $2. A. R. Mitchell, $1...

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Newbury-Cong. Church and
Soc.,by Rev. H. N. Burton.
Windsor A Friend............
Woodstock-Mrs. Martha M.
Tucker.

MASSACHUSETTS.

Northampton--Mrs. G. W.
Talbot, for Libera College,
$5. Col. Society, $5......
Worcester-Legacy of J. H.
Kendall, late of Leomin-
ster, $1,000; less discount
for prompt payment $20..

CONNECTICUT.

By Rev. John Orcutt, ($58.50:)
Guilford-Mrs.Sarah Griffing,
$3. Rev. T. L. Bennett,
$2. Rev. W. S. Smith, and
others, $10
Rockville--C. Winchell, A.
Bailey, each $5. A. R.
Chapin, Clark Holt, each
$2. W. Butler, W. T.
Cogswell, Cyrus Winchell,
each $1. Dwight Loomis,
$3. Collection in M. E.
Church, $3 50..........
Glastenbury-J. B. Williams,
$8. George Plummer, $5.
Benjamin Taylor, E. A.
Hubbard, each $3.
Jerusha Hubbard, $1.......

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12 00

200

3 00

17.00

10 00

980 00

990 00

15 00

23 50

Mrs.

20.00

58 50

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By Rev.B.O.Plimpton, ($91.50:) Cleveland-R. P. Spalding, $5. Mrs. R. S. Spalding, $1.......

Madison-Chester Smith, $6.
M. Talcot, $2.....
Kirtland-Harriet Martin-
dale, $5. Samuel Gibbons,
$2. Chester Hart, $2.
Thomas Martindale, John
Parks, Alva Brown, each
$5. C. G. Crary, $2. D.
D. Morse, $5. Ira Bond,
$2. Jesse Tryon, $5 H.
G. Tryon, $1. Saml. Tom-
linson, $3........
Mentor-Thomas Morely, W.
N. Sperry, each $10. M.
E. Gray, $5....
Willoughby--H. C. Billson,
$5. Stephen Worrell, $1.
Hezekiah Ferguson, $2.
James J. A. Smith, C. W.
Devine, each $1. Cash, 50
cents..

6 00

8 00

42 00

25 00

For the Liberian Government, received for interest on funds of said Government, invested in "United States certificates of indebtedness".

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FOR REPOSITORY. NEW HAMPSHIRE Hancock-Anna Tuttle for 1863, $1. Gilmantown Rev. Joseph Blake, to May, '63, $2. Francestown-Herbert Vose, in full, $2............. VERMONT- Woodstock-Lyndon A. Marsh, 1863......... MASSACHUSETTS Boston-Morris Fearing, $1. Northampton-Mrs. G. W. Talbot, 1863, $1....... RHODE ISLAND-Paucatuck, Danl. Hale, to June, 1863. CONNECTICUT-Norwich-D. Buttolph for 1863, $1. South Windsor-3. T.Wolcott, 1862 and 1863, $2... DISTRICT OF COLUMBIAGeorgetown Miss Kate Redin, to April, 1864...... MARYLAND - BaltimoreMrs. H. Patterson, 1863... OHIO- Palmyra - Stephen Edwards for 1863, $1. Cincinnati-Young Mens'

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Mercantile Library, 75 cts.

Total Repository......

880 80

500

1 00

2 00

3 00

3 00

4.00

1 00

1 75

20 75

Donations............

301 00

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[*The above was by mistake credited last month to Colchester.]

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