Hudson, with their families, whom I found quite well, and actively engaged in their Master's work. I arrived under circumstances the most pleasing and interesting, as it was the day fixed upon for holding a tea-meeting, to raise the means for building a new chapel, which is much needed. It was indeed pleasing to witness the simplicity of the people, and their union of heart and effort; for they all appeared to feel the greatest interest on the occasion. It would be vain to attempt a description of my feelings: I was delighted to see hundreds of persons who were once in the depth of degradation and destitution, met together as members of one family to promote the interest of that Saviour who had delivered them from the bondage of sin. I looked upon these as the fruit of Missionary toil, and was satisfied that God's servants had neither run nor la boured in vain, and convinced that if the friends of Missions could just see the beneficial results of Missionary operations in George-Town, they would be supplied with powerful motives to give to the uttermost of their ability for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, and to do so where it is especially needed. You will know from Mr. Hudson, who, I believe, intends writing by this packet, the arrangements which have been made, that I remain in George-Town with Mr. Hudson, and that Mr. Biggs will go to Mahaica. Soon after my arrival, Mr. Hudson and I went to see His Excellency the Governor, Henry Light, Esq. He received us very kindly; and from the remarks made during our interview, we believe that he is a sincere friend of the Wesleyan Missionaries in this colony. POSTSCRIPT. Wesleyan Mission- House, Bishopsgate-Street-Within, London, September 20th, 1844. MISSION TO THE SLAVE-COAST AND YARIBA; AND VISIT OF THE REV. T. B. FREEMAN TO THIS COUNTRY. BADAGRY.-The latest accounts received from Mr. Annear, are dated Badagry, June 2d, 1844. At that time the Mission was advancing in influence among the people, and enjoyed the good-will of the native Chiefs. Mr. Annear was then about to proceed into the interior, on a visit to Sodaka, the King of Abokuto : he did not expect to accomplish his journey without considerable peril, from the contentions existing among the different tribes through whose country he would have to pass, nor without risk to his health from the prevalence of the rains which had then set in. Notwithstanding these unfavourable circumstances, he considered it his duty to undertake the journey in compliance with repeated and very earnest entreaties from King Sodaka that he would no longer delay his visit, and that he might commence his pastoral care over those converted Akus, who had returned to their own country from Sierra-Leone. Missionaries to heathen nations, and inhospitable countries, should be specially and constantly remembered by us at the throne of grace. The establishment of the Mission at Badagry, and the general extension of the Mission in Guinea, have proved the occasion of large demands on the funds of the Society, far beyond any estimate or calculation of the Committee, or of the Missionaries themselves. The necessity of a revision of the Society's plans, with reference to expenditure, has been the occasion of a visit to this country by Mr. Freeman, the General Superintendent. We take this opportunity of stating, that the paramount urgency of the affairs immediately connected with his visit, will detain Mr. Freeman chiefly in London, during his limited stay in this country; and that he can accept no invitations to attend Missionary Anniversaries, except as in a very few instances they may fall in with the plans which the Committee are laying down for the accomplishment of the particular object of his visit. This general announcement will spare our friends the trouble of applications for Mr. Freeman's services, as in the very few exceptions which can occur, the local officers will have due notice from the Mission-House. Meantime we can assure our friends, that the promising commencement which has been made at several points of Western Africa, cannot be followed up by the Society, without augmented means to a very considerable extent; and our present fear is, that some of the Missions must be discontinued, and the Missionaries withdrawn, for want of adequate support. Whatever it may be in the hearts and hands of our friends to do, in order to avoid such a calamity to the natives of Africa, and to the cause of Christ, should be done promptly and without delay. MISSIONS ON THE GAMBIA. We have received letters from the Rev. George Parsonson, to the date of June 21st, 1844. Both at St. Mary's and M'Carthy's Island, there were tokens of increasing spiritual good in the congregations and schools; but the Missions at both these places, and at the native stations on the banks of the river, were languishing for want of a re-inforcement of Missionaries. Any failure in the health of either of the Missionaries now at the Gambia, would occasion, at the least, a temporary suspension of the Mission, and the probable abandonment of ground so nobly won by the perseverance of former Missionaries, and at the cost of much precious life. It is painful to the Committee to mention, thus frequently, the exigencies of the Society; but it is due to the friends of Missions, that they should be acquainted with the facts as they exist. ARRIVAL OF MISSIONARIES. NEW-ZEALAND. The Rev. Walter Lawry, General Superintendent of the New-Zealand Mission, arrived at his destination, in Auckland, on the 21st of March. The letter announcing his arrival is given in a preceding page. DEMERARA.-The Rev. W. L. Binks arrived at George-Town, Demerara, on the 27th of May. CEYLON.-The Rev. James Gillings landed at Point-de-Galle, Ceylon, on his way to Jaffna, on the 15th of July. Mr. Binks and Mr. Gillings are the only Missionaries who have been sent out by the Society since the close of the accounts of 1843. Nor would they have been sent, urgent as was the need for their services, had not the cost of their respective passages been provided by the munificence of two friends of the Society, in addition to their ordinary contributions. DEATHS. WE deeply regret to state, that two Missionaries have been called to suffer the most afflictive bereavements. Mrs. Davies, the wife of the Rev. Richard Davies, died at Port-Antonio, Jamaica, on the 18th of July; and Mrs. Simpson, the wife of the Rev. William Simpson, at Launceston, Van-Diemen's Land, died in March, 1844. Contributions to the Wesleyan Missionary Society, received by the General Treasurers, since our last announcement, up to the 14th of September, 1844. Moneys received at the Mission-House. T. E. E., Second Donation, 1844 Residuary Legacy of Mr. E. Webster, late of Alkborough, £. s. d. 225 0 0 0.0 Lincolnshire; Mr. William Tock, Executor: less duty... 174 6 0 Messrs. Smith, Payne, and Smiths, Lombard-street, Donation 100 Legacy of the late Rev. Henry Moore; Richard Smith and William Gandy, Esqrs., Executors: less duty.. M. N., Donation, by the Rev. John Beecham A. C., for the late Dr. Adam Clarke's Six Irish Schools Legacy of the late Miss Harvey, (Annual,) less Property Tax Ladies' Negro Education Society, For English Harbour Sunday-school...... ............. 90 00 50 0 0 40 0 0 25 0 0 23 6 0 21 0 0 10 0 For the Female Benevolent Society, St. Kitt's 5 0 Samuel Mills, Esq., London 5 0 0 20 0 0 Legacy of Miss Hester Smith, late of the Island of Nevis, and Camden-road Villa 15 0 0 Mrs. Scott, Pensford; for Bibles to the South-Sea Missions... Mr. and Mrs. John Chubb, Islington Lady Ellis, Donation J. D. Paul, Esq., Donation George Alexander, Esq., for the schools in Hayti J. Chandlish, Esq. A Servant, Aberystwith Miss Goodman, Doncaster; towards preventing a Deficiency for 1844 Rev. John M'Owan Thank-Offerings from Friends in the Barton-upon-Humber A Friend in Cardigan; a Wedding Gift... Rev. M. C. Dixon, (1843,) towards the Debt. Rev. Joseph Rayner, Ditto A Friend, Stanhope-street, after reading Mr. Hamilton's Ser- Mr. George Summerson, towards West-India Chapels 300 2 20 1 10 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 100 LONDON-FRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS, HOXTON-SQUARE. |