so large a body of English inhabitants as the military, united to the civilians, make, whose example is so directly hostile to evangelical and vital piety, produces an influence almost insurmountable upon the Papists to disregard all true religion, and to live as they list. I have been disappointed here in nothing more, than in the state of real piety; the prevalence of vice, and the animosity cherished against every thing denounced as Methodism, render the preservation of genuine religion almost a miracle; and, after having existed here so long, the religious influence of our Society in character, estimation, and effect, is extremely limited. What then, I am ready to ask, is the prospect among a people, so alienated by prejudices as the Spaniards, and so involved in the jointless, selfish, worldly spirit of the place? Among the English residents there is, I think, every reason to expect, that any interference with the religion of the Spaniards would be regarded with extreme dislike. The Roman Catholic religion is viewed with complacency, or at least with a smile; and so are the Jewish, and the Mahometan, and so also would any system of untruth be; but Methodism is not so, it is only tolerated, I do not mean by law, but by the habits of the place; because, 1. Its perseverance has been invincible, and thus its true spirit still remains ; 2. Its professors are settled down into a distinct section of the inhabitants, with whom the rest have the least to do that is possible; and, 3. No aggressive measures have for years been taken to extend the invasions of truth. The state of public feeling towards true religion, is altogether different from that prevailing at home; scarcely any young persons retain their piety, and at this moment we have hardly any in Society; and, should any of the Spaniards embrace the truth, they have no refuge from that persecution which is of the most dangerous kind, I mean the loss of caste, with all its consequences.

It is much to be regretted, that our good Brother Quierell's labours seem for the present frustrated, his class is dissipated, and his congregation entirely gone, and I am not aware if any one soul be truly and soundly converted to God; in short, there is now nothing to intimate any favourable result to the labours of a Spanish Missionary; by a slow and careful process, through a series of years, a few persons may, perhaps, be won over to the truth of the gospel; but his usefulness would, in all probability, be little among the residents of the Rock, and as to the others, there would be but few to shew whether he is useful or not. I am, for my own part, quite persuaded, that the Spaniards will not come to our Chapel; and the great difficulty in the way of doing any thing at all among them, will be that of gaining their attention; nothing of this kind can be attempted, till I obtain a better knowledge of the language, and to this object I can give but a partial attention until another Preacher arrives; however, all that I can, I will do daily.

SUGGESTIONS FOR AN IMPROVEMENT OF THE CAUSE.

283

If it should please Providence to spare my life, and to continue my strength in the same degree as at present, I should earnestly desire to be permitted to go to some neighbouring Spanish town for a few weeks, in order that, being entirely away from English tongues, I may, if possible, rid myself of that mauvaise honte, in speaking Spanish, which is such a deadly evil in my way. I am quite persuaded, that such a measure as this would be gaining instead of losing time; and I do not think, that the expense would be great, as I am sure it is my desire to be conscientiously economical.

I have conversed with several persons here, respecting the best means of promoting the object of the Mission, but I can obtain but little information. Among our own Society little aid can be expected, for very few possess any influence or even acquaintance; and the fear of attracting the notice of the higher powers seems very generally felt, if not so generally acknowledged. To myself, the only means that at present appear likely, is to obtain, if possible, a room large enough to conduct Divine worship, but which may also be used as a place of daily resort to me of persons desirous of conversing on religious subjects. There I could keep Bibles, and Tracts, and other books; and, if it were practicable to retain a room so devoted, which is very doubtful, there I could hold little religious services, chiefly conversational; for, as to preaching in the Chapel to a Spanish congregation, it is at present perfectly hopeless, and altogether chimerical. Judge of the circumstances: the utter indifference to religion, which is so general among the Spaniards, renders their prejudices more dangerous to their attendance at a Protestant Chapel; our own Chapel is too much out of the way; they would come with less suspicion, and with less danger of being noticed, to a room than to a Chapel; our Chapel is almost continually occupied by our own English services, the only portion of the Sabbath in which there is no English preaching is of course the afternoon, but then the Sunday-school occupies it; besides which, the afternoon is a portion of the day sufficiently inappropriate in England, but here it is intolerable for public worship, and it is precisely the time when the Spaniards take their siesta. My own conviction is, that the more independent the Spanish Mission is made of the English the better. And I should earnestly recommend the immediate introduction of the Church of England service, among those that may be induced to assemble; for, beside the obvious and grand advantages of such a mode of conveying correct principles by their constant recurrence, all the notions of religion among the Papists seem bound up with liturgical formality; and all the Spanish books of devotion, that I have seen, are over-run with exclamations and responses, as if thought the best mode of exciting that religious sentimentalism, which sometimes seems so much like true devotion. If these suggestions should be approved, and it should be deemed requisite to make

the attempt, though I confess that I am not at all sanguine about the success, I had better proceed without loss of time; for my own faith and piety, my love to Christ and souls, and consequently my happiness, are more in danger of injury from rust than from rubbing. If the Lord should graciously kindle within me the glow of a purer love, and the light of a more directing and sustaining faith, I shall, doubtless, through His word and power, be the means of saving some.'

My state of health and spirits has been the source of much grief, temptation, and discouragement; but here I am, through the mercy of God, preserved in Christ Jesus, and that amidst a very trying consciousness of my insufficiency, and of my want of faith and power from God. Should it be the wish of the Committee for me to stay here, or to remove elsewhere, I am ready to do either, and to give myself wholly to the Missionary work, as God shall enable me.

I am, Rev. and dear Sirs,

Your obedint Servant in the Gospel,

W. BARBER.

To his Father.

Gibraltar, July 11, 1825.

MY VERY DEAR FATHER,

It is not, with me, a matter of the lowest importance, or the feeblest gratification, that your late letter should have contained suggestions of a spiritual and impelling character: for I most sensibly feel that every thing, with me, depends on the lively enjoyment of the love of Christ, and the indwelling of the power of the Holy Ghost. There is very, very little here to help me. A Minister at Gibraltar must have a well of water within him springing up to everlasting life,' or he will wither away. His Bible and his closet are the only instruments, which he has to match against the climate, the world, the powers of darkness, and the struggling and bitter remains of inward depravity. Be assured, my dear Father, that your observations on this subject, are most appropriate and valuable; and, unless I unhappily lose my present taste for them, they will be always most welcome to me. The grievous state of things around me; the almost hopeless state of the Spaniards; the slowness of my attaining those qualifications, which are requisite to enable me to make a fair trial among them; the influence of the climate, which really seems to me to affect my understanding more than my body; and the rankling still within me of much poisonous and discouraging gloom; added, indeed, to the general dejection and affliction of Mr. D.'s family;- -are circumstances, which expose me much to the inward influence of the fiery darts of the wicked one, and powerfully tell in the breaches, already made by former unfaithfulness, in my faith, and hope, and

LOSS OF THE VESSEL IN WHICH HE TOOK HIS VOYAGE. 285

love. I have sometimes the greatest difficulty to believe or pray at all; but I am always revived when I can rouse myself, and go among the few persons that are accessible, and are lovers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In consequence of my being about to be left alone, till another Preacher arrives, more preaching labour will of course devolve upon me; but I am doing all my endeavours to be content with simple, short, and quiet sermons; though, alas! the sons of thunder themselves would be insufficient to arouse the sleepy, or to persuade the lovers of pleasure and sin to turn with purpose of heart to God; but then, ordinarily, He does use the means of his own appointment. I have the pain of thinking, that since I have been here, not one soul has been, through my instrumentality, brought to God; and that, by various circumstances, the Society is rather diminishing in numbers than increasing.

*

*

*

As to what concerns myself, you will not understand, that I have encountered any thing personally unpleasant; no one has shewn me the least disrespect; I have endeavoured to avoid all occasion for it. But the state of things cannot, of course, have been improved by Mr. D.'s afflictions, and his consequent general residence at San Roque. By his removal my comfort will certainly not be increased, as it regards attendance, &c.; but I did not come here for comfort, and I have not the smallest objection to have my patience and self-denial thus put to the test. O that I could bear with equal success or indifference the more mental and moral trials, to which my constitution and my calling expose me!

I

Among the incidents which you have mentioned, none more sensibly affected me than the loss of the Edward Protheroe.* I had not before heard a word of it; and, therefore, beg you to give me all the information you can. Were the captain and crew saved? If not, who were lost? Any of the particulars would greatly interest me. am not much surprised at the event, though I am much affected at the goodness of God in sparing me. There was a great deal of ill blood in the ship between the captain and the crew, and between the men among themselves; it was with great difficulty restrained before me, and I fully expected that they would afterwards lead a sorry life among them. The captain's mind also, seemed often quite oppressed with ill-bodings on the prosperity of the voyage, and so, I believe, were the men's, as well as my own.

In my present circumstances of peculiar and increased need, you will surely redouble your prayers to God for me, that I may go in and out before this people, adorning the gospel.' As to my life, it really is of little value; and, though I feel it my duty to take every

This was the vessel in which my Brother took his passage from England.—A. B.

possible care of it, and the unavoidable and natural urgency of selfpreservation must induce me to perform that duty; yet I know not what would deserve the more hearty congratulations of my friends than, if God should give me grace to die in faith, that I should be escaped from the world, from myself, and from sin. I am, however, sensibly better in health. God seems to have strengthened me for my present circumstances, and, though the weather is at present warmer here than with you, it is by no means insupportable to me. Never did I feel greater gratitude or pleasure in subscribing myself Your affectionate

And dutiful Son,
WILLIAM.

CHAPTER XI.

Removal of Mr. Dixon from the Rock-Painfulness of Solitude in the MinistryPlan for the Continuation of Family-Prayer-Attack of Cholera Morbus through improper Abstinence-Pastoral Visits-Alarming Appearances of Yellow Fever -Arrival of Mr. Pratten to take Charge of the English Work-Dreadful and disastrous Tempest-Attack by the Spanish Soldiery upon the Wreck of a Colombian Privateer-Daring conduct of some British Officers and Sailors— Affecting Narrative, and awful Death, of an emigrant Spanish Colonel-Commencement of Public Labours in the Spanish Language-Infidelity among the Higher Orders of Spaniards-Prosperity in the English Mission-Conversion of a Spanish Woman-Prosperity among the Spaniards-Dreadful state of SpainInfamous Case of Injustice and Bribery-Effrontery of a Highway-RobberImpudence of a Thief-Awful Assassination of a Murderer-Introduction of Spanish Prayer-Meetings-Affecting Conversation of a respectable Spanish Emigrant-Illustration of Romans viii. 28, &c.

Journal Continued.

JULY 13th.-All my apprehensions about Mr. D.'s removal, are this day verified. He and his family embarked at ten o'clock this morning, on board the Catharine, for London. I scarcely know what I think or feel about it, except that, upon the whole, it is right. The health and spirits of Mrs. D. and the children evidently require it, and it is not left to the option of my dear Friend himself, whether