HAYTI. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. William Towler, dated Puerto-Plata, February 18th, 1846.

I AM Sorry to say the country is still in an unsettled state. I intended, before this, to have visited Samanca and the city of San Domingo, but have been prevented, first, by the sickness of my dear wife, who is confined to her bed at the present time, but is, I trust, in a fair way of recovery; and, secondly, we are credibly informed the Haïtiens are intending to invade this part in a few days. It is, however, the general opinion here that the matter must be terminated speedily, in one way or the other; which may God grant! As an attack on this town is expected very shortly, it is necessary for me to remain at home to attend to my family and the Mission property. We do not wish to incur the expense of retreating to any other country if it can possibly be avoided. In case of extremity, we think of retiring a few miles into the country, and putting our trust in that God who has so oft protected us in danger.

In the mean time we are going on as usual with our church and school. Some native children attend the school, and no one makes any objection to our teaching them the Conference Catechism, which we do with regularity.

Out of the three services on Sundays, I hold one in Spanish, and we have generally the attendance of a few persons; and I preach occasionally in the country settlements around us. We have also a zealous young man in our church, who also goes out to preach on Sunday afternoons a few miles in the country.

From Samanca I have pleasing reports from our Teacher of the prosperity of the cause of God; and as one informed me this morning, they are daily looking for me to visit them. And from the city of St. Domingo I have invitations to go and do something for them. Even the establishment of a school there for the Protestants, and as many of the Catho lics as would avail themselves of it, would be very beneficial to that city, if a suitable Teacher could be found. If I should be spared to visit the place, I will give you ample information of all that may present, in reference to the cause of God. I have not time to add more at present, as the vessel is to sail immediately. I beg an interest in your prayers, and trust you will soon be able to give us more help in this part of the island.

HAYTI.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. James S. Hartwell, dated CapeHaitien, February 10th, 1846.

I AM just returned home from the District-Meeting at Port-au-Prince, having been detained a fortnight on the road by fever. I became ill the day after I left Port-au-Prince, and was obliged to lie down under the hedge by the road-side, where I was barely sheltered from the sun, and many miles from any dwelling, and destitute of the invaluable blessing of a cup of water. In a short time, I summoned resolution to ride on to the banks of the nearest river, where I found the grateful shade of some large trees; and, having obtained permission to spend the night in a hut, upon a straw mat, and a log of wood for a bolster, I found myself so much better in the morning as to be able to ride into Gonaïves, and throw myself upon the kind care of Mr. Cardy and his excellent wife. There I experienced a renewal of the fever in a more violent form, which was still more increased by the unpleasant circumstances in which I was placed by the occurrence of a fire during the night of Saturday, the 24th ultimo. The alarm was so sudden, that I was obliged to leave the house barely

Mr.

dressed, and exposed with a burning fever to a north-east wind blowing (for the West Indies) bitterly cold. Cardy's house caught fire in two places; and, seeing no hope of its escape from destruction, I seized a pillow and a jar of water, and took shelter under a piazza at some distance from the fire. In this position I remained until, by a kind interposition of Providence, the houses, being watered by a gentle rain, were saved from the flames, when I was permitted to return to my bed. The following day I began to apprehend fatal consequences, and to think my days were numbered. In this apparent proximity to the eternal world, my only re gret was, that I had not been more zealous in my great work; but, by the blessing of God on the medical help promptly called in, and ably rendered, in a few days the disease took a favour. able turn, and in a fortnight I was able by easy stages to ride home.

The school increases in number but slowly, which is perhaps best; and the few scholars, with my assistant Teacher, give me great satisfaction.

LONDON PRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS, HOXION-SQUARE.

THE

WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE.

JUNE, 1846.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN ANDERSON,

BY HIS SON-IN-LAW, THE REV. JOHN HARTLEY.

(Concluded from page 428.)

IN 1833, Mr. Anderson again took up his residence in Manchester; little knowing the things that would befall him there. This period is painfully memorable in the history of Methodism. Our Israel was troubled; and though, through the wise and merciful providence of God, the whole has resulted in the firmer consolidation of our ecclesiastical system, and the more uncorrupted and healthful peace of our extended societies, yet the struggle itself was melancholy and dire. The establishment of the long-contemplated and truly Wesleyan Institution for the instruction of those whom God and the church had previously called to the work of the Christian ministry, was the ostensible cause of the disputes now alluded to. Many, doubtless, were sincere and single-minded in their opposition to this measure; but it can as little be denied, that, in other cases, it was but the rallying-point of disaffected faction that had been long accumulating; it was as the spark to the gunpowder. From the circumstances in which Mr. Anderson was placed, he was called to take a somewhat prominent part in these events. With many venerated men-with whom to be associated, even in obloquy and persecution, were itself an honour-he was called to bear the brunt of the battle. And, leal-hearted to Wesleyan Methodism, as he was, he did it with a willing mind. Time has given its award as to the whole of this controversy, and therefore we enter not into details. It is ungenerous to exult over a fallen foe. Others may delight to perpetuate the memory of these unhappy strifes, and even seek to renew them: we would not, save at the stern bidding of duty. Well for the church and the world will it be when Hooker's golden sentence is enshrined in every heart, "The day is coming when three words spoken in charity and meekness will receive a greater reward than whole volumes written with disdainful sharpness of wit."

We wish, however, to fix attention on the kind care of God in preparing Mr. Anderson for this trial, and on his own sentiments on the calm review of the whole, long after the excitement had subsided. The following extract from his journal will make the former apparent : -"On the 17th of September, I went to Tipton to fulfil an engagement. I was on the Birmingham mail: as we rode along, I had one of the

VOL. II.-FOURTH SERIES.

20

most extraordinary visitations from the Holy Spirit ever vouchsafed to me. It came through those words, 'O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord!' What I felt, baffles all description. I could not but tell of it when I reached Tipton, and all hoped it was an earnest of good on the morrow. We had a high day." When he returned home, he found, to his utter astonishment, that Dr. Warren had thrown down the gauntlet by publishing the speech which he delivered in the previous Conference, in opposition to the projected Theological Institution.

And then, as to his dispassionate views of the part which he had taken in the whole, the following record was made by him towards the close of 1835; and it would be unjust to his memory to withhold it: "Upon a review of the whole affair, as far as I was personally concerned in it, I have no reason to reproach myself; but much reason to give thanks to Almighty God for his aid and guidance. Neither as to Dr. Warren, nor as to the men in my own Circuit subsequently, when the rebellion broke forth in the camp, am I conscious of having done anything but what was imperatively called for. Only God knows the pain I suffered for several months. And often when in the fire and the flood' did I advert to the above-mentioned visitation from my heavenly Father, who, foreseeing the trouble and persecution which awaited his servant, anticipated it with extraordinary light, and comfort, and power. I would to God I had improved this grace yet much more abundantly. My mouth is stopped; my glorying is only in the Lord Jesus! I shall not try to record the attempts made against me; and how, after they were defeated by mercies, they were taken hold of by friends. I bury the whole in oblivion; I cast over all the mantle of forgiving love, and suffer wrongfully with patience; remembering that it becomes me, an unworthy sinner, to take the reproaches of

'Shimei's hand and Shimei's tongue

As kind rebukes from Thee!"

Let them curse, for God hath bidden them! Let them curse, if only Thou, O God, dost bless!"

By the Conference of 1835, he was appointed to the charge of the Leeds West Circuit. He had been requested to labour there when his term of residence in the other Circuit in that Goshen of Methodism had expired; and considerable disappointment was felt when he went to Manchester. But he had no part in the affair. He was cordially welcomed to this new and important sphere of labour; and, as the result proved, he came "in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ." In no period of his life, probably, did a richer unction from above more manifestly rest upon him, or was his ministry more greatly owned. When he came to Leeds, he found the society in peace, though not without evidence that it had been affected by the storm which had raged through the Connexion. An immense chapel was in process of erection, and in the following month (October) it was opened for divine worship. Those who were present will not soon forget the sublime, heart-breathed prayer with which Mr. Anderson dedicated the edifice to God. And how gloriously has that prayer been answered! God has often made that, "the place of his feet, glorious ;" and, "the Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people," a multitude of whom it shall be said, "This man was born there."