Feb. 15th, Wednesday.-Some Bush men having stolen two heifers belonging to our people, two parties went out last night in quest of the thieves. This morning many Bushmen were brought to the station. The delinquents were discovered and whipped, and the other Bushmen were sent away with presents of meat, &c. This is another proof that Bushmen may be brought to punishment for their depredatory acts, and that in many cases (as in this) there is no need of discharging a gun, much less of shooting them. February 20th, Monday.-110 children attended the school.

February 27th, Monday.-Employed between school hours in visiting the houses. The word of God is proving a savour of life unto many.

April 1st, Sunday.-In the morning 200 persons attended the prayer-meeting. Our new church being so far ready, we were able to hold service in it to-day. This building has been erected entirely by the inhabitants of the district of Philippolis. The Society assisted with 200 rix-dollars (£15), and some nails, hinges, screws, &c. It will contain 500 persons. The walls are of stone, two feet and a half thick, and twelve feet high. To-day the church was filled, and the aisles crowded, and 100 were obliged to remain in the street. Four children were baptized; two members also were admitted by baptism to church fellowship. In the evening the whole congregation was melted into tears, during the administration of the sacra

ment.

April 2d, Monday.-335 children in the school.

April 3d, Tuesday -At the catechising of the children this afternoon many adults attended.

April 9th, Monday.--Rode to Dice Fountain (five miles distant from this place). All the scholars requested to go with me. I took as many as the wagon could contain. Such affection is very pleasing. On my return they (the children in the wagon) sung many hymns, which quite excited my feelings. At five o'clock met the members of the church.

April 15th, Sunday.-In the evening a Griqua came, desiring to speak to me. He stated that for some time past he had had great prejudices against me and my preaching; that he was sorry for it, and begged my forgiveness. I said, that I had always been praying for him, and freely forgave him all the evil thoughts which he had harboured against me. I advised him to refrain from Commandoes, and to seek Christ as his Saviour.

May 1st, Tuesday.-This afternoon a little girl eight years old was greatly affected in school whilst repeating the fourth commandment. I asked her the cause of

Ch. Adv.-VOL. XI.

her grief; she replied, "I feel that I have sinned, and that I do not turn with my whole heart to Jesus. She prayed; she knew Jesus would accept so great a sinner as she was, and she desired to seek him with her whole heart." Another female was also much affected during the catechetical instructions.

May 6th, Sunday. We trust that the Spirit taught us to pray, for the blessing of the Lord was evidently with us during the prayer meeting. During the morning service the congregation was much affected. One person left the chapel, being overcome by his feelings. I greatly rejoiced at the conclusion of the service, to see many persons going to the hills and ravines to pour out their supplications before God. O Lord-notwithstanding my unworthiness-O Lord, send us now prosperity! Our Chief, though no member of the church, is exemplary in his conduct, and attends the services.

May 8th, Tuesday.-After dinner, rode to a horde of Corannas, who were afflicted with the small-pox. Found two persons attacked with this disease. Exhorted them to believe on Jesus, and to prepare for eternity. One of these persons appeared to enjoy the comforts of religion.

May 23d, Wednesday-Having preached various sermons against drunkenness, calling upon the Chief and his council, from love to their country, to their people, and to their own souls, to do all in their power to prevent the bad practice which the colonists have of bringing brandy into this country. I rejoice to hear that the Chief has prohibited the sale of spirits at

the station.

May 26th, Saturday. -A Griqua, who came from Graham's Town with a load of goods to this station, stopped at Okkert Schallwyk's (a colonist residing near this station), where he had so much brandy given him to drink by the Boor, that he was found dead in his bed the next morning.

June 2d, Saturday.-To-day we were informed that a person had shot a Griqua in a fit of drunkenness. The ball had entered his hip, but his life was not despaired of.

July 9th, Monday.-Commenced the quarterly visitation of the people at their houses. At the first house we called, we found that all the inmates worshipped God. Three females, who have been for some time under religious instruction, were admitted as candidates. The next family we visited appeared to be careless, formal, without the true knowledge which is in Christ Jesus. In another family we spoke with an elderly female, who had been for some time under conviction of her sins. In the last house we entered, the father of the family was a man of much

3 U

us. The births for that period have been nineteen, the deaths eleven. Among those who have departed this life, one was a most worthy character. When a child he lost one hand, through the neglect of his mother; and twice in his life, while in the service of the Boors, he had had narrow escapes with his life. Once a large beam of wood fell on him, which laid him by for a long time; at another time he fell from a wagon loaded with wheat-sheaves, and the wheel passed over his body, yet his life was spared; and though a weakly man, having only one hand, he was very industrious. He had been in the Institution fifteen years; was never burdensome; his garden was cultivated in a manner far superior to any other in the place. He was also a very pious, good man, and in the closing days of his life spoke sensibly of his faith in Jesus Christ. I attended him to his last hour. Some of his last words were when asked, "Are you afraid of death?"-"How can I, while my eye is fixed upon the Lamb of God, upon a crucified Saviour?"—"Have you pain?"—" I have pain in my body, but no pain in my mind. I am going to God, my Father, through Jesus Christ, my Redeemer."

In September last Mr. Buchanan came here, from Cape Town, and introduced the Infant School System, which has been carried on since by two of my daughters, who conduct it until my two daughters, who went to Cape Town to learn the system under Miss Lyndal, return; and the progress that many of the children make, is wonderful. Some, who did not know a letter in the alphabet, three months ago, begin now to spell, and I do entertain the hope, that it will be of very great service

to the institution. I must here relate a very pleasing effect which this school has had already, in the instance of a child two years of age. When the parents sat down to eat, this their only child, first putting her little hands before her eyes, said, "Papa must pray; in our school we pray; papa must pray-why don't papa pray?" I was also told that she puts her hand before her eyes when she goes to bed in the evening. Having mentioned this circumstance in the church, without mentioning the names of the parties, it led to an inquiry among them who it might be, and afterwards I heard that there were two more children, of nearly the same age, who had acted similarly, and that the father of one of these children has since commenced prayer in his family, and shows marks of concern about his soul.

Requesting an interest in your prayers for further support in my advanced stage of life, I remain, dear Sir, yours very affectionately, in the bonds of the gospel,

(Signed) WILLIAM ANDERSON. P.S. We have a number of very poor,

old people at this station, who are well worthy of attention. Some few articles of old clothing would be very acceptable. We should also be glad if favoured with some articles for the sewing-school, such as needles, thread, &c., and some little things to use as rewards for the encouragement of the little ones in the Infantschool.*

BUSHMAN MISSION.

A Letter from Mr. James Clark, Missionary, dated Bushman Station, Caledon River, 1st November, 1832; addressed to the Foreign Secretary. REV. AND DEAR SIR,

I have the satisfaction to inform you that two of the Bushmen on this station, by their pious and consistent conduct, give evidence of their conversion to God, and that I now have the privilege to join in prayer even with poor despised Bushmen, whose conduct formerly used to be marked with all manner of irregularity and sin. We have worship every morning on the week days, when all to the number of fifty adults attend. I explain a portion of Scripture, and occasionally call one of the Bushmen to pray, which is frequently done in a very appropriate and interesting manner. One of the two above mentioned men keeps up family worship in his hut, and is very ready to converse with others on the goodness and mercy of his Creator; so much so that lately, in my itinerating among the Bushmen, I found his company very useful among them. I would also add, that one of the two Hottentots living here, gives also evidence of true conversion, and that he also keeps up family worship in his house, thus giving a good example to those around him.

With regard to the schools, our numbers continue much the same as formerly mentioned, viz., twenty Bush children, and sixteen adults; seven Hottentot children, and five adults, making in whole, forty-eight, taught daily in the school. Two of the Bush children spell words of four letters, six spell words of three letters; and the others, being very young, are yet in the alphabet, as also the adults; but they all, as well as several of the children (who understand the Dutch language) learn to repeat a small catechism, as also hymns, in which the children have

* Donations of the articles above specified, and of remnants of cotton prints, or other materials for useful female apparel, for this and other stations in South Af rica, whence similar requests have been received, if sent to the address of the Rev. J. Arundel, Home Secretary, Mission House, Austin Friars, will be forwarded to the stations by the earliest conveyance.

made considerable progress, and repeat very distinctly. Two of the Hottentots read in the New Testament, and two more are about to commence. The others are advanced in the Dutch spelling-book.

Our gardens completely failed last year, being repeatedly destroyed by myriads of locusts; and as we had no rain for nearly eight months from January last, the Bushmen had no support from the fields around, so that several were necessitated to go to a distance. Those who remained were chiefly supported from the small flock of goats, and the few cows here, the greater number of which have been lent them for their assistance. Since the rains commenced, those who went to a distance have returned, and all those who are able are engaged in making for themselves small gardens on the station. I would also mention that we have had frequent visits from Bushmen living at a distance, with whom we converse on the great truths of the Scriptures; but how far it has been accompanied with the divine blessing, we are unable to speak with certainty. We have the satisfaction to know, however, that they live more peaceably with their neighbours around, which I have no doubt is the means of preserving many of their lives, and which, I have no doubt, is to be ascribed to our residing among them.

As Dr. Philip is on his journey into the interior, I refrain from writing more particularly on the state of this station before his arrival here, when I hope to be able to write you more fully on that subject.

I am, dear Sir,

Your obedient servant, (Signed) JAMES CLARK.

Religion has made considerable progress in Madras among the European and Hindo-British population, since the arrival of your first missionary, Mr. Loveless. This change is principally owing to the labours of Mr. Loveless, and the different missionaries who have followed him. At the time that he arrived, and for some years after, until 1809 or 1810, there were only two churches and one church attached to the "Propagation" Society. There was then only one evangelical clergyman throughout the Madras Presidency. The holy Sabbath was almost universally spent in visiting, parties of pleasure, dinner par

ties, card parties, or balls; there were only about twelve persons who religiously observed it (1810). Now the sound of a violin is scarcely ever heard on that day; set visiting is given up, except (I regret to say) among the upper classes; there is a general regard to the decencies of the Sabbath, and there are more than 150 persons and heads of families who religiously observe it, in the strict sense of that word. Formerly conversation on religious subjects was never heard; now it is common, and even among those who are not pious. Scripture truths are generally approved; faithful preachers are estimated; there is a prevailing regard for religion and religious persons; and, more than all, family prayer is frequent, as well as social prayermeetings in private houses. There are now in Madras three Episcopal churches and chapels, four Episcopal mission chapels, a Scotch kirk; and whereas Mr. Loveless, when he first arrived, had to preach for some years with much caution in a private house, there are now five mission chapels. There have also been established within the last few years, a large number of religious societies-viz. a Bible Association, an institution of considerable importance, well supported, standing high in public estimation-a Tract SocietyChurch, London, and Wesleyan Missionary Society-Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts-a Christian Instruction Society-several Sunday schools, Free schools, Native schools, Asylums for Orphans, and other benevolent institutions. It is impossible to observe what has been done here, and to know that a proportionate progress in religion has taken place throughout the Presidency in every station wherever there are Europeans, without saying, "What has God wrought!" and without indulging the confident expectation of still greater things. Pious officers are greatly increasing.There are some in almost every cantonment. From various causes, there has not been, by any means, a proportionate impression on the native population of Madras, but we trust a brighter day is dawning upon them. The most flourishing stations in India, however, are in this Presidency, as you will perceive from the very interesting report of the District Committee, for this year.

*