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WEST INDIES.

Demerary.

The Directors of the Missionary Society stated in the last Report that, in consequence of Application to Goverument, the Restrictions which had been laid upon the Religious Instruction of the Negroes at Demerary, and in other Colonies, were taken off; Notice of which was sent by the Earl of Liverpool to the Go vernors of those Colonies. In consequence of which Major-General Carmichael, immediately on his succeeding Governor Bentinck in the Government of Demerary, issued the following Proclamation, which we copy from the Essequibo and Demerary Royal Gazette, of Tues'day, April 7, 1812, which is just come to hand:

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First, It is to be understood, that no limitation or restraint can be enforced upon the right of instruction, on particular estates, provided the meetings for this purpose take place upon the estate, and with the consent and approbation of the proprietor and overseer of such estate.

Secondly, As it has been represented, that on Sundays inconvenience might arise from confining the hours of meeting in chapels, or places of general resort,, between sun-rise and Sun-set, the hours of assembling on that day shall be between five in the morning and nine at night. Aud on the other days the slaves shall be allowed to assemble for the purpose of instruction, or divine worship, between the hours of seven and nine at night, on any neighbouring estate to that to which they belong; provided that such assembly takes place with the permission of the overseer, attor. ney, or manager of the slaves, and of the overseer, attorney, or manager of the estate on which such assembly takes place.

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Extract of a Letter from Mr. Adami at Port of Spain, Trinidad.

A FRIEND introduced me to the Governor, and on the same day presented a petition for me to the Gover. nor and Council; which petition met their approbation, and but for the state of the colonial funds, would have been very favourably answered. Notwith standing which, they were pleased to vote me L. 100. The morning after, the following warrant was sent me :

Trinidad, Governm. House, Dec. 5, 1811.

The Colonial Treasurer is hereby authorised to issue to the Rev. Thomas Adam 100 pounds currency, as a benefaction which I have thought proper to confer, on the part of Government,” to assist him in building a proper place of worship for his congregation; for which this shall be the Colonial: Treasurer's warrant.'

Some few more subscriptions have: also been obtained, which altogether amount, including the L 100 of the Missionary Society, to 3000 dollars.

Port of Spain, March 2, 1812.

"WHEN I Wrote last, you were it. formed that, in about a week, we expected to have service in the new church. Various delays occurred, so, that it did not take place till Sabbath, 1st of March; and regularly since, the congregations are encreasingly large. The first text was the words of Jacob,

For this is none other than the house. of God, and this is the gate of heaven.' That morning about 150, evening 200; the Sabbath following about 50 morning, 250 evening, and Wednesday 150;. yesterday morning 50; evening nearly 3co. Our prayer is, Lord, make the gospel the power of God unto their souls' salvation. The people are particularly attentive, and form a con

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trast with many congregations in EngJand, where, no doubt, there are many good people. I have lately had the pleasure of a tour down the coast, where I met with every encouragement to preach the gospel. Saturday, Feb. 15, I left town, and slept at Mr. Hewitson's; Sabbath morning I preached on Perseverance Estate, to about go, all very attentive; baptized two children. In the evening I preached on Providence Estate to about 150. All seem eager for instruction; visited some of their houses, and found it pleasant to speak to them of Jesus Christ. the morning of Monday, assembled about twenty children to say the catechism; and about twenty of the people assembled at noon, and 1 baptized two children; proceeded down the coast farther, being previously requested by Mr. Johnston to baptize his two children. On my way spent Monday night at the Lodge, and assembled about thirty, all very attentive. I am happy to say, that no sooner am I on the coast, than it is expected that I preach to the negroes go where I will: in daytime a boiling-house or some out-building; at night the manager's and proprietor's house are equally at liberty, and the slaves allowed to come from any other estate,-so willing they all appear that the slaves should receive instruction.'

MALTA.

Letter from Mr. Bloomfield, at Malla, January 21, 1812.

"We were unexpectedly detained at Cagliari for 19 days, 14 of which we were in quarantine, although we had no sickness on board. While we were there I translated the modern Greek Grammar, which Dr. Smith was so kind as to lend me; and trust that it will be highly beneficial to me. 1 intend, as soon as I am settled, to correct the translation; and will return the original by the first conveyance. I had an opportunity of distributing there also some Italian Tracts; which were well received. I gave a couple to two friars. The inhabitants of that place are all Catholics, much under the eye and comrand of the priests.

There is a considerable public library, in which I was happy to perceive the works of a greater part of the anrient Fathers, and also of Calvin and Vitringa. But these can be of no use to the common people, as they are in Greek and Latin. One woman, to whom I gave some tracts, lamented that there was nothing of the kind at Cagliari, and that divine service was performed in Latin; observing that it was

proper for people to understand what they were to believe. I was favoured also with a view of the interior of one of the principal convents, and of its library, which is rather unusual.'

Extract of a Letter from Messrs. Gordon and Lee, dated Vizagapatam, Oct. 23, 1811.

'WITH respect to this place, it is particularly necessary that we should have two more Missionaries :-taking into view the extent of the country over which the Telinga language prevails, one hundred Missionaries would be insufficient. It may be just necessary to mention how great the field of labour is, in order that it may dwell on the minds of the Society. On the seacoast the Telinga language prevails from Ganjam to Madras; by drawing a line from Madras to the Tungebad, from thence to this side of Hydrabad, thence to Ganjam within the Ghauts, the extent of country in which this language prevails may be ascertained as nearly as possible. But the knowledge of it is not confined within these lines, as it is well understood, spoken, aud written in the Mysore.

Bellary is a most promising central situation, and embraces every wish in regard to Seringapatam, as there would be an easy approximation whenever that door might appear to be opened. The same language is spoken, and Brother Hands has made good progress in the acquisition of the Canara.

We have received a letter from a friend, informing us of a most melan-' choly spectacle, witnessed by him on the 30th of September. A young Gentoo widow, about 21 years of age,' came with the cutwall (or constable) to' the commanding officer, asking permission to burn herself with her deceased husband. He used every argument to dissuade her from it, but in vain; ber family, and even her own mother abused her for hesitating, by going to the commanding officer. They were very poor, and did not provide sufficient wood and oil. Horrid to relate, the poor creature was heard repeatedly to cry out for more fire! more fire!-O! when shall these fires be put out!'

Extract of a Letter from Mr. Forsyth,

Chinsurah, Aug. 23, 181 1.

FROM your last letter I am happy to hear of the coming of Mr. Thom to join. with us in the Lord's work in these parts. I hope the friends in Britain will not be backward in sending him; there is uced of many labourers!

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the neighbouring settlements, Dutch, French, and Portuguese, Chinsurah, Chandernagore, and Bandell, there are none to preach the gospel of Christ, or to instruct the childreu, bat a poor worm, from weakness and unworthiness very unfit; but all our sufficiency is from God. I hope you will never forget these dark places of the earth, their necessities cry aloud, Come over and help us.' Let there be no time lost, no enemy dreaded, no danger or want feared; let us all join, at home and abroad, in love, harmony, and peace, for the glory of God and the good of all. I have written by this fleet to my friend, the Rev. Sir Harry Moncrief, of Edinburgh, to send more labourers into this vineyard. Should they come, even at the same time with our Brother Thom from Gosport, that need not, by any means, prevent him, for our Lord wants many labourers here. Let them all come-all will be welcome to Him and to me.

Provincial Intelligence.

March 18. A new chapel was opened, and Mr. Salt was ordained at Lichfield, not Lincoln, as stated in our last.

Suffolk Assizes, Bury St. Edmunds, March 19.-Mr. Justice Heath opened the Assizes this day. There were 42 prisoners on the crown side. The Judge, in his address to the grand jury, lamented, in strong terms, that the calender contained so many enor. mous offences,-even more than the whole circuit. He however congratulated the county on being among the first which gave countenance to the Bible Society; and observed, that by the inculcation of religion among the lower orders of the poor, offences would be less frequent, and of less inagnitude.-(Times.)

March 24. A neat meeting-house (30 feet by 40) was opened at Sawston, Cambridgeshire. Mr. Kinghorn, of Norwich, preached in the morning, from Neh. x. 39; Mr. Hillyard, of Bedford, in the afternoon, from Prov. ix. 1-6; and Mr. Wilkinson, of Walden, in the evening, from Matt. xvi, 18. The devotional parts of the service were conducted by Messrs. Feary, Jameson, Carver, Chase, Golding, Norman, Hillyard, and Wilkinson. The attendance was very encouraging.

May 5. The county of Essex Association was held at Stebbing. Mr. Podmore commenced the services by prayer and reading the Scriptures; Mr. Cooper,

of Chelmsford, offered the general prayer; Mr. West, of Chigwell Row, preached from 2 Cor: vi. 1 ; Mr. Morell, of Little Baddow, concluded.

May 12. A new meeting-house was opened at East Haddon, Northamptonshire. For nearly a century past, here has been a Sabbath Evening Lecture; formerly it was supplied by neighbouring ministers, and principally by Mr. Denny, of Long Buckley. Of late it has been carried on by his successor, Mr. D. Griffith; and such has been the increase of hearers, as to render a meeting-house absolutely necessary. The building was begun, and for a while carried on under the most discouraging circumstances; but the most pleasing prospects of usefulness are now presented. Messrs. Jackson, Horsey, and Gronow preached on the occasion; and attentive congregations were highly gratified, and it is hoped really pro

fited.

May 14. The Rev. L. Ellington was ordained pastor of the particular Baptist Church, at West Row, Mildenhall. Service was introduced by Mr. Cowell, of Walton; Mr. Cole, of Bury St. Edmunds, asked the usual questions and received Mr. E.'s confession of faith; Mr. White, of Ipswich, offered up the ordination prayer; Mr. Keeble, of London, gave the charge from Acts xx 28. Mr. Brown, of Stowmarket, addressed the church from Ezek. xliii. 12; and Mr. Middleditch concluded with prayer.

On Whit-Monday, May 18, the usual services were held at Peppard Greer. Oxfordshire, when three sermons were preached; that in the morning by Dr. Davis, of Reading, from Prov. vii. 14; that in the afternoon by Mr. G. Townsend, of Ramsgate, from Acts xxvi. 18; and that in the evening by Mr. Har rison, of Woburn, from Numb. xx 11. Messrs. Douglas, Arnold, Churchill, Watkins, and others engaged in prayer. A dinner, as usual, was given to the children and the poor; and a large and serious congregation attended the services.

May 18, 1812, Mr. R. Hall was set apart over the Baptist Church at Netherton, near Dudley, Worcestershire. Mr. Parsons, of Cosely, began the service by reading and prayer, asked the usual questions, &c.; Mr. Burton, of Bedworth, offered up the ordinationprayer, and delivered the charge from 1 Tim. iv. 16, Take heed to thyself, and to thy doctrine.' Mr. Read, of Warwick, addressed the congregation from Deut. ii. 28, Encourage him.)

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May 11. The Rev. Jos. Irons, late of the London Itinerant Society, was ordained pastor of the Independent church at Hoddesdon, Herts. Mr. Thomas, of Enfield, began the service with prayer and reading; Mr. Cox, of St. Albans, delivered the introductory discourse, &c.; Mr Richards, President of Cheshunt College, offered the ordination - prayer; Mr. Maslen, of Hertford, delivered the charge, from Col. iv. 17; Mr. Seaton, of Woodbridge, offered the intercessory prayer; Mr. J. Townsend, of Bermondsey, preached from Phil, iv. 9—11; and Mr. Knight, of Ponder's End, concluded.Mr. Read, of London, preached in the evening.

May 26, being the First Anniversary of Sion Chapel Sunday School, East Grinstead, a sermon was preached by Mr. Bryant, of Newport, Essex, from Ecel. xii. I; after which, J. Burt, Esq. of Stone House, gave a dinner to the children; of which 340 boys and girls, and other persons partook, to the number of 404.

May 27. The new chapel in Great George Street, Liverpool, was solemnly set apart for the worship of God. Mr. Jay, of Bath, preached in the morning, from Psalm cxxii. 6, They shall prosper that love thee.' In the even. ing vast crowds assembled; and although capable of containing upwards of 2000 persons, many were unable to procure entrance to the chapel. Mr. Fletcher, of Blackburn, read and prayed; and Dr. Collyer preached to a very crowded but attentive auditory,

from John iv. 8, God is love.' The Collections on the occasion were liberal; and the genuine spirit of Christian affection seemed to diffuse itself among the various parties of professing Christians who were present.

Mr.

On the following morning a large congregation assembled, when Rafles was set apart to the pastoral

office over the church and congregation. Mr. Sharp, of St. Helens, read suitable portions of Scripture, and affectionately committed the Pastor and the people to God. Dr. Collyer, who delivered the charge to Mr. Rafiles at his ordination at Hammersmith, then delivered an impressive sermon, from 2 Thes. iii. 1, Finally, brethren, pray for us,' &c.

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On this solemn occasion, the dear departed youth, whose hand laid the foundation of the building then dedi. eated to God, was not forgotten; whilst the friends of religion saw with gratitude, that great work rapidly advanc

ing, which was began by his short, but honoured ministry.

May 27. The Twenty-seventh Meeting of the Lincolnshire Association was held at Gainsborough. On the Wednesday morning, after a meeting for prayer, and for the arrangement of bu siness, Mr. Smalle, of Grimsby, began the services of the day by prayer, &c.; after which Mr. Clarke, of Brigg, preached from Col. i. 27. In the evening Mr. Gladstone began with prayer, and Messrs. Smelle and Bourn, of Wintringham, both preached; the first from Hosea ii. 23, the other from Ps. xlviii. 14. Mr. Newman, minister of the place, concluded with prayer. → The next Meeting is to be held at Lincoln, on Wednesday, Oct. 27.

May 28. The Annual Meeting of the Cambridgeshire Benevolent Society, for relieving the necessitous Widews and Orphans of Dissenting Ministers, and of Ministers, through Age and Infirmity, incapacitated for public Service, was held at Cambridge. W. Hollich, Esq. Treasurer; Mr. Audley, Secretary.

NEWPORT PAGNEL ACADEMY.

A MEETING of the Friends of this Institution in the Country, was held at Newport Pagnel, June 1st, for the purpose of forming a Cor. responding Committee, for transacting needful business on the spot, Two sermons were preached at Mr Bull's Meeting; that in the morning by the Rev. R. Elliot, of Devizes, from Luke v; 4~6; that in the evening by the Rev. W. Chapman, of Greenwich, from 2 Cor. 5, 18. About 20 ministers were present, 13 of whom (including three who are now on the Foundation) were educated at Newport. In the afternoon a number of resolutions were passed, and suitable

addresses delivered; a Committee was formed from the members of the Society at Newport and its vicinity, and a considerable sum was raised, by donations and subscriptions, towards the future support of the Institution.

The friends of the Newport Academy congratulate themselves on the probability of success; as they can hope for the concurrence of the religious public, on the ground that, while this Academy possesses peculiar advantages, it in no re

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spect interferes with other esta blishments. To use the words of Mr. Greatheed, in a letter to the Secretary, While larger esta blishments of a similar kind, about the metropolis, are indispensable to an adequate supply of our numerous congregations, and to numerous unenlightened parts of the country, they could not, from their situation, answer the same purposes with local academies at suitable distances, and in favourable centres for exertion, remaining on the same liberal footing as when first established in 1783,' agreeably to a plan suggested by the late venerable Mr. Newton, to admit young men of promising qualifications for usefulness, among whatever denomination their future services in the Church of Christ may be directed.'

June 2. The Buckinghamshire An

nual Association was held at Mr. Gardner's Meeting-house, Potter's Pury. Mr. G. Scraggs, of Buckingham, opened the morning service, by reading and prayer; after which Mr. Denham, of. Towcester, preached from Rom. iii. 22, and Mr. Biggers, of Nash, concluded. In the afternoon Mr. Gardner began in prayer, Mr. Fletcher, of Bicester, preached from 2 Cor. vii. 6, and Mr. Asten, of Buckingham, concluded. The next Meeting is to be held at Towcester, the first Wednesday in June 1813, Messrs. Scraggs and Gardner to preach.

A new chapel has lately been erected at Hormead, Herts, and, on the 2d of June a Meeting of Ministers was held there; when Mr. Phillips, of Clapham, preached in the morning, and Mr. Chaplin, of Bishop's Stortford, in the evening. The devotional services were conducted by Mess. Kirkpatrick, Jameson, Pearce, and Paritt.

June 3. Rev. J. Hanson was or dained over the newly-formed church at Takely, Essex. Mr. Berry, of Hatfield Heath, began by prayer and reading the Scriptures; Mr. Jennings, of Thaxted, delivered the introductory discourse; and Mr. Stevenson, of Castle Heddingham, addressed the mipister. Mr. Frost, of Dunmow, preached to the people; and Messrs. Chaplin, Gaffee, and Corbeshly, engaged in prayer.

Juue 3 and 4. The Western Annual Association of the Independents in

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South Wales was held at Faldyhrenin,
Carmarthenshire. There was a con-
ference with the ministers the first day
by ten o'clock; at three the public ser,
vice was introduced with prayer, &c.
by Mr. D. Powel, of Cachach; Mr.
J. Lewis, of Bala, preached from Luke
xviii. 26, 27; Mr. B. Griffiths, of Tref-
gam, from Eph. ii. 3; and Mr. G.
Hughes, of Croswen, from Rom. iii.
25. On Thursday, at seven, the ser-
vice began by Mr. S. Price, of Lame-
dy; Mr. D. Williams, of Lanwrtyd,
preached from Exod. xv. 11; and Mr.
S. Davies, of Maendy, from Ezek.
xxxiv. 29.
At ten the service was in-
troduced by Mr. W. Hughes, of Dinas:
Mr. M. James, of Treloch, preached
from Joha viii. 29, on the importance
of proper views on the person of
Christ; Mr. D. Peters, of Carmarthen,
2 Pat. i. 4; and Mr. D. Davies, of
Swansea, from Exod. xxxii. 26, when
a collection was made for the Mis-
sionary Society, after a discourse de-
livered on the subject by Mr. D. Davies,
At four o'clock the service began by
Mr. A. Shadrach, of Talybont; Mr.
M. James, of Merthyrtidvil, preached
from Math. vii, 25, 26; and Mr. H.
George, of Brynberian, from Luke'
xviii. 13. The auditors were numerous
on both days.

June 11. Mr. Bogue preached a sermon at his chapel to the Sunday School children of Gosport, and those of the neighbourhood of Forton and Elson, from Ps. xxxiv. 11, 'Come, ye. children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.' On which occasion there was assembled 1050 children from those schools. In the evening he preached a sermon to the parents of such children, from Pro, verbs x. 4, A wise son maketh a glad, father,' &c. and addressed them in the language of commendation, encourage, ment, and of counsel.

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June 17. Rev. J. Crudge was set apart over the church at Bythorne, Hunts. Mr. Morrell, of St. Neot's, began with reading and prayer; Mr. Ragsdell, of Thrapston, asked the asual questions, &c.; Mr. Freeman, of Cotton End, delivered the charge; Mr. Geard, of Hitchin, addressed the church; and Mr. Knight, of Staughton, concluded. Mr. Manning, of Spald wick, offered the ordination prayer; Mr. S. Hillyard, of Bedford, preached in the evening. Last November Mr. Ragsdell, in connexion with other neighbouring ministers, witnessed the formation of this infant church, and had the pleasure to behold it prosper.

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