aptized Mr. and Mrs. Reeve and family emAugust barked on the 11th of April last, on ens, and their return to India. Mr. R. had number been appointed to Bangalore, its church climate being more likely to suit the perio health of Mrs. Reeve than that of Bellary,where he formerly laboured. BANKOTE, a town of Hindoostan, 60 m. S. Bombay, possessed by the English, including its dependent villages, contains about 1700 inhabitants. The language and with people are similar to those in Bomd0bay.

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182

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Rev. Samuel Newell, from the A. B. of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, late missionary at Bomwith bay, made several visits to this place and its vicinity, where he found the the people attentive and inquisitive, and among them he sowed much precious seed. Besides other labours for their good, at one time he distributed 300 books; at another, 30 aid copies of the Acts; 50 of St. Matthew's Gospel, and 200 tracts.

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abandoned the cause; and a third, who was sent to fill up the place of the first, followed him shortly after to the tomb. In May, 1767, Mr. Benjamin Bruckshaw arrived, and his design being approved by the president of the council and the resident clergy, he began immediately to preach to the negroes at Bridgetown, with the consent of many of the planters, who not only permitted their slaves to hear the Gospel, but occasionally encouraged the missionary by their own attendance.

In the month of August, Mr. Bennet came from North America. He was soon joined by otherlabourers; and as the hearers were continually increasing, they purchased and fitted up a 'building, both as a place of worship and a dwellinghouse. Here 6 negroes were baptized, and several of the planters invited the missionaries to preach on their own estates. A variety of difficulties, unhappily, afterwards arose; the slaves absented themselves from the chapel, pecuniary wants embarrassed the mission, and after the removal of Mr. Bruckshaw to Antigua, in 1771, and the death of Mr. Bennet, the following year, a spirit of dissension was excited among the remaining missionaries, and, at length, only one was left on the island.

BARBADOES, the easternmost of the Caribbe islands, 25 m. long and 12 broad. The exports are sugar, rum, cotton, and ginger; and it has most of the fruits common to the climate. The sugar exported bence is finer than that of any other plantation and it has a production called Barbadoes tar, which exudes from crevices in the clay hills on the E. coast, and is collected on the In 1773, some success appeared surface of water in holes dug for to attend the zealous labours of the purpose. This island always Mr. Augerman; but scarcely two belonged to the British, who colo-years had elapsed, when he was renized it in 1624; and it remained private property till settled to the crown in 1663. It has suffered much from hurricanes; particularly from one in 1780, when 4326 of the inhabitants lost their lives. The capital is Bridgetown.

In 1765, two of the United Brethren were sent to this island to commence a mission. One of them, however, died soon after his arrival: his companion, seduced by the love of the world, neglected and finally

moved by the hand of death, and though his successors continued the work, no change of importance occurred for several years. Very few negroes, except those who had formerly been baptized, and whose number did not exceed 20, attended the ministrations of the missionaries; and even those who assented to the truth, afforded melancholy proof that they were not under its power. The planters, also, with a few exceptions, were now averse to the

salvation; but at present, I find it impossible to visit them. Difficul ties enough, indeed, exist in the very structure of society, and the usages which prevail among the negroes in these islands. Among these I may specify the Sunday markets, and the dancing and revelry in which too many are engaged from Saturday evening to Sunday night, and which preclude attention to more serious concerns. Here the missionary stands in es pecial need of the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that he may fulfil the aim of his important and blessed calling."

instruction of their slaves; and, in, 1780, a tremendous hurricane involved the missionaries and their hearers in the most serious difficulties. In 1790, however, circumstances appeared more favourable than before; the congregations increased, and sometimes amounted to 150; the deportment of the negroes became more consistent: several, having given satisfactory evidence of conversion, were baptized, the proprietors of different plantations were gradually induced to lay aside their prejudices, and the local government treated the missionaries with kindness and respect. As their situation' was unhealthy and inconvenient, they purchased a small estate, in 1794, consisting of a spacious house and four acres of land, very eligibly situated, to which they gave the name of Sharon.

A short time after, he wrote:"Every successive Sunday we have the pleasure to see an increase in the number of our hearers; and the attendance at the evening meeting is much greater than ever I could have expected. When we last spoke with the new people belonging to our small flock, no less than 24 negroes came, for the first time, and most of them appeared to be truly concerned for their salvation. On Sunday next 5 women will be added to the church by holy baptism."

In the month of November, 1798, Mr. James Waller and his wife, together with an unmarried sister, named Mary Grant, embarked at Bristol, and, after encountering imminent perils, reached Barbadoes.

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Towards the close of 1817, the congregation consisted of 214 members, of whom 68 had been admit- At the commencement of 1827, ted to partake of the Lord's Supper. he says" In the year 1826, there The whole number of negroes bap- have been baptized at Sharon, 28 tized from the commencement of adults, and 14 children; 3 persons the mission, did not exceed 330 have been received into the conadults, and 150 children. Through gregation, and 9 re-admitted; 32 subsequent years, the work pro-admitted to the holy communion; ceeded, notwithstanding many trials 14 adults, and 6 children, have dearising from the want of labourers, parted this life; and 3 have been and from the sickness and death of excluded. At the close of the year, those who entered the field. In the congregation consisted of 79 August, 1825, Mr. Brumner an- communicants, 78 baptized adults, nounces, that more interest had and 33 baptized children. recently been excited among the these are added 86 candidates for children, and says "We have hi- baptism, and 188 new people, &c.,, therto met with no hindrance in the the total of individuals under our prosecution of our great object-care, will be 464.” the instruction of the negroes; on the contrary, several places have been offered to me, where I may make known the glad tidings of

If to

"Our Saviour," he subsequently remarks, " continues to bless our feeble testimony of his love to sinners. On our last prayer-day, our

44

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contempt, I never saw before." | who, mourning over the state of

feeling discovered, returned; and Mr. Robinson, his successor, laBoured with zeal and fidelity till July, 1807, when his life was sud denly terminated.

And, in 1797, the regular congregations seldom consisted of more than 40 persons, most of whom were whites, and 30 of them members of the Society. In the country places, they seldom amounted to more than 10 or 12; and through the whole island, exclusively of Bridgetown, the members of the society did not exceed 21.

In 1811, the society was composed of 30 persons, 11 of whom were whites, 13 were free persons, and 6 were slaves.

In the spring of 1816, an insur

In 1818, the mission was recommenced; and, in the ensuing year, a new and commodious chapel was erected; towards it several of the principal inhabitants contributed liberally; it was licensed by the governor's special authority

prejudice appeared to be giving way-and hope animated the bor soms of the labourers.

Mr.

In March, 1801, however, Mr.rection broke out among the neHawkshaw, who was proceeding groes on some of the plantations, to another place, in company with but it was soon terminated by a some other ministers, came to an military force. This circumstance anchor at Bridgetown, and went on was charged on missions, although, shore, expecting to spend a few out of a population of 71,215 nehours with the missionary; but, to groes, there were not more than 36 his great surprise, he found that the belonging to the society; and in preacher had locked up the chapel, the report of the committee apsent the key into the country, and pointed by the House of Assembly retired, about three weeks before, to inquire into it, the mischief is either to Antigua or St. Christo- traced to other causes. pher's. Several of the people, who were lamenting the loss of their privileges, earnestly entreated Mr. Hawkshaw to remain, and he complied with their request. His labours were attended with considerable success. The chapel, which he found in a very dilapidated state, was repaired, and rendered more commodious, during his stay; and though he was sometimes interrupted in divine worship, the decisive measures adopted procured a restoration of tranquillity. Owing to his removal to Grenada, the interest again sunk into a low state; but it was revived by Mr. Bradnock, who reached Barbadoes, March 21st, 1804; and who, encouraged and protected by the civil authorities, re-established the evening service, which, for a considerable time, had been given up. New spheres opened in the country, while divisions which had existed in the church at Bridgetown were healed, backsliders were reclaimed, and members gradually increased. In 1805, Mr. Bradnock was succeeded by Mr. Richard Pattison,

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In 1820, Messrs. Shrewsbury and Larcum thus wrote:-"Our prospects at present cannot be deemed flattering, but they are certainly brightening, as there is more likelihood of prosperity than was ever previously known in Bar badoes. On Sunday evenings our chapel is thronged, and multitudes crowd about the door to squeeze in, when there is the least opening. Besides our labours in Bridge. town, we have three estates in the ing th country, at which we preach once a fortnight. The proprietors (one of whom is a member of the House of Assembly), are firm friends to the missionaries, and have promised to use all their influence with other gentlemen of the colony to permit

46/

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assembled were of the first respectability! After Mr. S.'s departure, the people continued to meet, though they were threatened with similar acts of violence-but these were happily averted.

us to instruct their negroes." More encouraging still did the aspect of the mission become; crowds flocked to hear the Gospel-members were added to the society, and an auxiliary society was established, which, it was expected, would make an an- The re-establishment of the misnual remittance of not less than 507. sion was confided to Mr., Rayner sterling. But a fearful storm soon in 1825; but, after a corresponarose; Mr. Shrewsbury was abused dence with the governor, imas a villain in the streets, and vio-portant considerations prevented lently molested by the press. On his landing. In 1826, however, he Oct. 5th, 1822, the congregation returned to fulfil the trust comwas insulted, and the chapel was mitted to him: the mission-house assailed by violence; and so strong in Bridgetown is rebuilt; and the was the feeling in favour of the de- measures of the legislature, it is linquents, that no hopes of their hoped, will prevent the recurrence punishment could be entertained. of scenes which his predecessor On the following Sabbath the as- was called to witness. sault was renewed, and the most In the early part of last century, dreadful opposition contemplated; col. Codrington bequeathed two in the midst of which the mission- estates to the Society for Propagatary preached with considerable en- ing the Gospel in Foreign Parts, largement and freedom, from 1 to provide for the religious instrucCor. 22, 24, and thus closed his tion of the negroes in this and the ministry in Barbadoes. On the other Caribbe islands, and for 19th, there was no service in the erecting and endowing a college chapel, in consequence of the go- at Bridgetown, especially requiring vernor refusing to interpose on be- the religious instruction of the half of Mr. S.; and a multitude, slaves on these estates. The sopreviously organized, completely ciety faithfully complied with these demolished the building, without conditions, and the result has been the least attempt being made to auspicious. The negroes on these check them, either by the civil or estates were quiet during the military authorities. Providen- dreadful insurrection in 1816, in tially, Mr. S. and his wife escaped which about 1000 negroes were to St. Vincent's in safety. The massacred, either as actual ingovernor now issued a proclama-surgents, or on unfounded suspition, offering a reward of 1001. for cion. This circumstance has the conviction of the offenders. greatly abated the bitter prejuSuch, however, was the unparallel- dices which usually prevailed here ed effrontery of the rioters, that against the religious instruction of they immediately printed and the slaves, and has convinced many circulated a counter-proclamation, planters, that no such event would threatening that any person who have occurred if their slaves had came forward to impeach one of been diligently instructed, and them, should receive merited punish- brought under the influence of the ment-observing that no conviction Gospel. The college has been could be obtained while the parties built; but it is said not to have were firm to themselves, and stat- answered the designs of its beneing that the chapel was destroyed, volent founder. The annual renot by the rabble of the community, ceipts, on account of these estates, but that the majority of the persons amounted, from Jan. 28th, 1819, to