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THE task of composing an Annual Preface for Twentyfour successive years, would be more than a little irksome, were it not for the opportunity it affords of acknowledging the goodness of Divine Providence, in continuing to smile upon our undertaking, and the kindness of our religious friends in granting us their undiminished patronage, notwithstanding the great increase of similar productions.

Although the present year has not been so productive of remarkable events in the political world as the years preceding, yet, to those persons who feel their own interest identified with that of the Redeemer's kingdom, the events which are recorded in this volume will appear of greater magnitude and importance than usual.

The pleasing alteration that has taken place in the moral state of some of the SOUTH SEA ISLANDS is peculiarly animating, and cannot but excite our hope that we shall see still greater things, by the blessing of God, on the augmented number of Missionaries in AUSTRALASIA.

The continued and powerful influences of the Holy Spirit, attending the ministry of the Gospel in SOUTH AFRICA, manifested in the conversion of great numbers of Hottentots, Corannas, Bootsuannas, and even Bushmen, as described in this volume, have afforded, and will long afford, abundant, cause of thanksgiving to God. Nor has any thing, perhaps, occurred, in modern times, more extraordinary, or more affecting, than the introduction of the Gospel into the wild regions of CAFFRARIA, related in the number for November.

The state of society in INDIA, and other parts of ASIA, differs widely from that of the countries just named; but the changes more slowly effected in those populous, superstitious, and idolatrous nations, are highly gratifying to the pious reader. The light of Divine Truth is gradually increasing, and its holy influence

begins to chase away the horrid gloom that has long pervaded HINDOSTAN. The victims of the bloody Juggernaut are diminished in number; fewer widows are immolated on the funeral pyre; female infanticide has, in one province, been totally abolished; and CASTE, that hateful and formidable barrier to the truth, once supposed to be insuperable, begins to totter; while, by the translation of the Sacred Scriptures into the most ancient and venerated languages of the East, millions of our fellowmen, in China, India, and other countries, are enabled to read, in their own tongues, "the wonderful works of God."

We rejoice in the privilege we possess, through our religious connections at home, and our extensive correspondence abroad, to be able to present to our readers, from month to month, that variety of Original Intelligence which has given the EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE a decided superiority over every other monthly Journal; and we shall spare no pains in future to render this branch, as well as every other of our miscellany, as interesting as possible. We have the satisfaction of knowing, that not only throughout the United Kingdom, but in foreign and distant countries, the Religious Information we communicate is received with avidity, and perused with sacred delight. It is still more gratifying to know, that both personal godliness and public good are thereby eminently promoted, while many ardent thanksgivings ascend to the throne of God for the wonders he has wrought, and many fervent prayers are offered up for the more abundant effusion of his Holy Spirit. In addition to all which, are the grateful acknowledgments of many a pious widow, cheered in her lonely state, by the annual boon she receives from the pecuniary profits of the Work. "Not unto us"-" Not unto us," is the language of every Trustee and Stated Contributor, "but to Thee, O God of all grace, be all the glory, now and for evermore. Amen.".

EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE EVANGELICA

AND

MISSIONARY CHRONICLE.

JANUARY, 1816.

MEMOIR

OF THE

REV. WILLIAM EVANS,

LATE OF STOCKPORT, CHESHIRE.

THE subject of this Memoir was the only child of Evan and Jane Evans, of Bala, in Merionethshire, born in the month of May, 1773. Both his parents were highly respected for their superior understanding, as well as distinguished piety; on which account their house was the frequent resort of intelligent persons in their neighbourhood, and of the most eminent gospel ministers throughout the principality. "This," he observes in one of his MSS.." hath made me often to reflect with gratitude, that never were my opportunities for receiving and cherishing every serious impression more favourable than during the years I spent under my father's roof." His first abiding concern about the salvation of his soul, however, he has been heard to attribute, more particularly, to a solemn and very affecting scene that once passed, at an early period of his life, between his father and himself in private; in which his father, with much affection and many tears, entreated him to direct his attention to things of eternal moment; and concluded by presenting him with a book (what book is not recollected); tenderly requesting him to give it a

serious perusal. Like Timothy, therefore, his mind was early imbued with a knowledge and reverence of the Scriptures; nor will it be thought strange by any judicious reader that his first serious impressions were not attended with strong legal terrors, like many others when awakened to a sense of their guilt and danger, after being brought up in gross ignorance of the truth, or long walking in the ways of ungodliness. In this respect, he has been heard to say the Lord dealt very graciously with him; and sometimes he would add, Therefore I am the more unfit to preach about the terrors of the Lord.' Nor was this much practised by him in the course of his ministry, which pointed more especially to the glories of the Saviour, andthe unsearchable riches of his grace."

Under the influence of these early religious impressions, so soon almost as he was capable of distinguishing, he manifested a strong inclination towards the Christian ministry; and if at any time his father proposed his being brought up to any secular calling, his usual reply was, "I had rather be a preacher." His pious father, therefore, hoping, that

B

In

in due time, through the gracious before he went to the academy; disposals of Providence, his desire about which time, in his 15th or might be realized; yet sensible of 16th year, he was received into full the great propriety and importance communion with an Independent of a good education, as the outward church of the Calvinistic persuameans of acquiring useful talents sion, at Llanuwchllyn, then under for the discharge of that sacred of the pastoral care of the Rev. Timofice, placed him, at an early age, thy Titus. This period he very under the instructions of a sound assiduously improved in the study classical teacher, with whom he of divinity and ecclesiastical hiscontinued about five years, and tory; having ready access to the made considerable progress in the libraries of Mr. Tibbot and Mr. several branches of school-learning. Thomas, besides that of his father, During this period, his thirst after which contained a valuable collec general knowledge began to mani- tion of books: - by which means, fest itself in his eagerness to read as one of his brethren remarks, almost all kinds of books; and so "he acquired a more extensive acretentive was his memory, that quaintance with the works of our whatever he once read he could English divines, both polemical and clearly recollect and orderly review practical, than is attained by many it, so as to make the substance of at their quitting an academy." it his own. He likewise took great January, 1791, he was admitted by delight in the writings of the old the Congregational Fund Board inWelsh bards, and applied himself to their Academy at Oswestry, then with great diligence to the study of under the care of the late Rev. Dr. all the rules and measures of that Edward Williams, with whom he poetry; in which he was allowed, spent one year; when the Dr. from by competent judges, to have at- domestic circumstances, resigned tained a distinguishing proficiency, the office of Tutor in that seminary, as will appear from the following and took the pastoral charge of an well-authenticated anecdote : A Independent Church in Carr's Lane, public meeting of the Welsh Bards Birmingham. And it is observed being held at Bala, when he was by the Dr.'s immediate successor about 14 years of age, at which a in the work of tuition, that "whosilver plate was proposed to be ever knew both tutor and pupil, awarded to the best composer in can have no doubt of their formverse, an aged poet, Mr. Robert ing mutual attachment; nor of Mr. Hughes, was appointed judge on E.'s finding that a most profitable the occasion; who being aware of year which he spent under the care his young friend's knowledge of the of so holy, learned, judicious, and Welsh language, and of his accu- diligent a man as the late Rev. Dr. rate acquaintance with all the rules Williams certainly was." In conof that poetry, informed the bards sequence of the Dr.'s resigning his that he would not undertake the academical charge at Oswestry, the office unless Billy Evans were al- seminary was removed to Wrexlowed to be his assistant. This be- ham, in Denbighshire, and placed ing warmly recommended by a re- under the tuition of the Rev. Jenspectable clergyman, it was ap- kin Lewis; who further bears this proved of; and the venerable old honourable testimony to the clasman and the young boy sat as sical attainments of his young pucritics, and passed their united ver- pil, that "though Mr. E. was then dict on the performances of the only entering on his second year, day. he was judged the fittest person to assist in teaching the Classics; nor did the other students ever shew

After leaving Mr. Tibbot's school, he spent about two years at home