information brought before them respecting fresh scenes of exertion, as may hereafter, under other circumstances, be acted on; and, in the mean while, to render such assistance therein, as may be done without injury to the present engagements of the Society.

In this view, the Committee now report proposals which have been made to them, for the establishment of Missions among the North American Indians of the British Territory.

It has been suggested to the Committee, that the western parts of British America, lying between the high ridge called the Rocky Mountains and the North Pacific Ocean, and extending from about the 42d to the 57th degree of North Latitude, offer a more extensive, promising, and practicable field for Missionary Labours than any other in that quarter of the Globe. The climate is, in general, temperate, the soil reasonably productive, and the surface of the country level. The people are not savage, ferocious, and wandering; but settled in villages, and in several respects somewhat civilized, though still in the hunter state; with few arts, no letters, no general knowledge, but a great desire to be taught by White Men, whose superiority they clearly discern. Numbers of them are scattered over this great range of country; and it has hitherto been very little known, that so great a portion of the North American Continent is covered with a stationary, aboriginal people, still however very much in a state of nature. The North-West Company trades through all the great space which lies between Montreal and the North Pacific, a longitudinal distance of not less than 4000 miles; and keeps up a direct communication by sea, between London and the mouth of the River Columbia on the north-west coast of America. A member of that Company, who is a highly respectable Merchant in Canada, informs your Committee that he has been frequently among the Indians in question, and thinks the prospect of the introduction of Christianity very promising, while many of the principal persons in Upper Canada are anxious for the promotion of that object,

Your Committee will take measures to procure further information on this matter.

Another proposal has been made to the Society, which has reference, more particularly, to the Indians living on the eastern side of the same chain, between the Rocky Mountains and Hudson's Bay. The Rev. John West, an active member of the Society while residing in this country, having been appointed Chaplain to the Settlement formed within the Territories of the Hudson's Bay Company, on the Red River, to the south of Lake Winnipeg, offered his services in establishing Schools among the Indians in the vicinity. The sum of 1007. was accordingly placed at Mr. West's disposal, for the year 1820, to enable him to make trial of his proposed plan*.

Both the North-West Company and that of Hudson's Bay are favourable to undertakings of this nature, and will render every practicable assistance.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The United Brethren having sustained great loss by the destruction of their New Settlement on the Witte Revier in South Africa, by marauding Caffres, your Committee, as an expression of the sympathy of the Society with the sufferers and of its cordial disposition to promote that common object in which the two Bodies are engaged, voted the sum of 1007. toward the relief of the Settlement.

In reference to the same quarter of Africa, it may be proper to state that the Committee have been urged to provide Schoolmasters, for part of the Settlers who have gone out thither, and with an ultimate view to the instruction of the Natives: but various circumstances

* In Appendix XII will be found some Account of the Red River Settlement; and a copy of a very judicious paper, on the most promising means of promoting the Instruction of the Indians in the Territories of the Hudson's Bay Company.

induce the Committee not to contemplate, for the present at least, any Mission in that part of Africa.

The Committee continue to maintain the most friendly intercourse with other Societies, at home and abroad. An interchange of publications, to mutual advantage, is still carried on with various Societies in the United States of America. The Rev. Dr. Milledoler, Secretary of the United Foreign Missionary Society, writes, in reference to the labours of these Societies in behalf of the Aborigines of their country

Our prospects are brightening; and we anticipate the period as not very far distant, when Missionary Establishments, blending the instruction of the Indians in Agriculture and Mechanic Arts with Religious Information, will light up, like stars, the darkness of our whole Western Wilderness.

The Committee would observe, in conclusion, that, in the various ways which they have enumerated in this Report, they have found full employment for the THIRTY THOUSAND POUNDS, placed at their disposal by the liberality of the Members: and, depending, under the blessing of God, on the continued and even increasing aid of the Society's friends, they have not hesitated, under the evident call of duty, somewhat to exceed, in their Expenditure, the actual Income of the Year-assured that they act herein in conformity with the feelings of the whole body of the Members, when they withhold themselves from no important work opening before them, through any distrust of future support-an apprehension, the indulgence of which the past experience of the Society would render almost criminal.

The Committee witness, with thankfulness to Almighty God, the increase of Missionary Zeal in our own country, and particularly among the Members of our own Communion: and, while they rejoice at the growth of this spirit among the Protestants of the Continent, they feel especial pleasure in the rapid advance

of zeal for the Conversion of the World in that other great branch of Protestant Christendom, in the New World, which speaks our own language; and which bids fair to outstrip in numbers, at no distant period, the country which gave her birth, and to apply to that Great Cause her enlarged resources with at least equal zeal. It is impossible for the Christians of the United Kingdom and of the American States, who speak the English Language and own one common origin, and the Merchants of whose countries maintain intercourse with all the shores of the habitable world—it is impossible for them to contemplate the means which the Great Head of the Church has already put into their hands for the hastening of His Kingdom, and the spirit which He is mercifully pouring out on them to incline them to the work, without feeling a grateful stimulus to redoubled exertions.

The Committee cannot conclude without some reference to the Awful Times in which Christian Societies are called to labour. The blessing of God has rested on the Society, during the year that is passed; and it is manifestly vouchsafed to Kindred Institutions: but viewing the Times in which we live, the Committee do earnestly press on all the Members of the Society the duty and privilege of committing its concerns, in unwearied prayer, to the guidance and protection of the Divine Hand.

The great work of converting the world will undoubtedly be accomplished. Not a tittle of the Divine Word will fail. Great shall be the Name of the Lord, from the rising to the setting of the sun. But, as that time approaches, and the servants of the Lord are pressing on in thickening ranks and with determined hearts to the conflict with the Powers of Darkness, that conflict is becoming more awful! The Malignant Spirit is labouring to wither the very Heart of the Christian Cause, and to exhaust its very Vitals. Tremendous proofs of his dire influence on the pride and passions of men are seen every where around us. But the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, beholding the evil

and the good-and the Arm of the Lord sheweth itself strong in behalf of them who fear Him. What difficulties His servants may be called to encounter in helping forward the establishmnnt of His benignant reign on the earth, and what sufferings they may be called to bear, they may confidently leave to His faithfulness and wisdom: but to THEM is the Victory assured; and on THEM, is the Eye of their Lord!

Vigilant, then, in maintaining the meek, forgiving, benevolent, and holy spirit of Christians-resisting all wickedness, and labouring for the salvation of all men— with humble but firm confidence in that gracious promise as thy days, so shall thy strength be, we will gird up our loins with renewed courage and zeal, to fulfil all the will of our Heavenly Master and Lord.