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Dr. Gill's New Testament. Three vols. 4to, £ 4. 16.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE Directors have lately received Letters from the Cape of Good Hope, dated September; by which they have the satisfaction to learn, That the brethren Wimmer and Pacalt, who are intended to join Dr. Vanderkemp; and the brethren Pritchett, Brain, and Hands, who are destined to the East, arrived at Cape Tows in safety, on the 24th of August, after a voyage of sixteen weeks. Their Journals and Letters breathe the spirit of truly devoted servants of Christ, who, we trust, are likely to become frithful and useful Missionaries to the Heathen.

OTAHEITE.

We are extremely concerned to state, That from letters received by the Directors from Huaheine, an island in the South Sea, and from Sydney, New South Wales, it appears, that in consequence of a very serious war, which had broken out in Otaheite, the greater part of the Missionaries had thought it necessary, for their safety, to retire to a neighbouring island, about 16 leagues distant, where they were received in a friendly manner; some of them having visited that island before. Four brethren, however, continued at Otaheite; but were expected to follow them.

The Letter from the Missionaries is very short, being written imme. diately on their arrival at Huaheine, in the midst of their hurry in landing their goods, and the vessel being on the point of departure.

Extract of the Letter from the Society of Missionaries to the Directors. Honoured Fathers and Brethren, Huaheine, November 12, 1808.

You will, perhaps, at first sight, be ready to enquire into the cause of this being dated from Huaheine. We are sorry that time and circumstances will not allow us to enter into particulars.

The cause of our removal is a serious war in Taheite; and that, such as will, in all probability, end in the dissolution of Pomarre's government, and the total overthrow of his authority.

We arrived here yesterday, and are just now getting our things on shore; and the vessel is ready to sail. We hope soon to find an opportu nity to relate minutely the circumstances which led to our r removal to this island. Four single brethren, viz. Hayward, Scott, Nott, and Wilson, are still at Taheite; but may soon, probably, join us here.

The chiefs of this island received us kindly. Should we meet with encouragent, and some more Missionaries come to join us, we may, perhaps, attempt a Mission at Ulitea, under the protection of Tapoa.

Praying that the Lord may overrule this unexpected event, and to us painful dispensation, for the further good of the Missionary Cause, we reinain, &c. JOHN DAVIES,

for the Society of Missionaries."

This event, discouraging as it may at first sight appear, may event. ually prove, as the Missionaries themselves intimate, the means of more extensive advantage to the South Sea Mission. Providence has now separated the Missionaries; and, as it was in the beginning, when the brethren, scattered by the persecution at Jerusalem, went to various other places, preaching the word,-so, we bope, these brethren, having long laboured among the Tabcitans with little apparent success, may now find a people

prepared of the Lord, in some of the adjacent islands, more ready to receive the word of life and salvation.

When the war broke out, the brig Perseverance, from Sydney, in New South Wales, was in the bay of Matavai: she was detained 48 hours by the earnest request of the Missionaries, and took them, with their property, on board. They left Otaheite about noon, November 10; and anchored in the harbour of Huaheine, about no ›n the next day.

A Letter from the Missionaries, dated that day, to Mr. Campbell, of Sydney, one of the owners of the brig Perseverance, has the following passage:

You will observe that this is dated from Huaheine. A dangerous rebellion having taken place in Taheite, we were under the necessity of availing ourselves of the assistance of the Perseverance, to remove most of us to this place. The detention of the vessel for 48 hours, and our pas sage hither, you will learn from Mr. Keirumgaard's (the captain) papers. The charges, &c. we leave to the owners of the vessel, who will have to judge of all the circumstances; and, we doubt not, will be actuated by motives of justice, humanity, and honour.'

By another Letter from Mr. Campbell, dated Sydney, New South Wales, March 4, 1809, we find, that the owners had the goodness to decline making any charge for their passage; but he adds, I am extremely concerned for the loss of the Paramatta, that sailed from this port about a twelvemonth ago; by which conveyance supplies were sent to the Missionaries, which amounted to 165. as stated in my last and present account.'

The Missionaries, however, received some few necessaries from the brig Perseverance, with a cabooce for cooking their food. Further particulars may be expected by the first opportunity; and we cannot but indulge a hope, that, under the direction of infinite wisdom and goodness, all the things which have happened, have fallen out for the furtherance of the gospel in the southern islands.

SOUTH AFRICA.

LETTERS, of a very encouraging nature, have been received from Mr. C. Albrecht, who, with some other persons, took a long journey of three months among different tribes of the Namaquas. I have been,' he says, in a dismal wilderness, where the rocks and mountains render it impossible to travel with a waggon, and almost on horseback. I was obliged to seek these poor creatures in the most frightful holes and deas, to speak with them. When I approached, they fled: I was, therefore, obl ged to send a messenger before me to tra quillize them. These poor creatures hid themseives for fear of their neighbours, who are at war with them. I believe, however, that my coming conduced much to their peace and rest. They expressed a regaid for me, and said they hoped, if I should come again, to shew me greater kindness than was now in their power,'

In our congregation (at the Warm Bath) we have seventeen, in whose hearts, we trust, the Lord works by his Holy Spirit. To him be praise and glory for ever! A Hottentot, of the Kamioniquas, who has been about two years with us, died lately. Shordy before his departure, he exhorted his children to be constant in their attendance on the gospel, and to be obedient to their teachers. "The Lord Jesus," said he, "the Son of God, is with ine: he calls me, and I go to him." He died by an apo plexy. This nau is the first we have buried; and we conducted the funeral with as much solemany as our circumstances would allow. The people behaved with much silence and reverence. Four are baptized; and two enjoyed with us the Lord's Supper. Twenty read tolerably well.

We have planted some cotton; which grows well: but as we are not

provided with spinning-wheels and loons, we cannot yet make use of it. We wish to have a printing press, and some glass for windows.'

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The people of the surrounding tribes have expressed so great a desire to hear the gospel, that Mr. Abiccht says, We have already, by the help of God, made two nations of the Namaquas acquainted with the gospel; besides the Hottentols who live along the Orange River; the Ooriam, or more cultivated Hottentots; and the Bastards: but Three Missionaries can by no means supply them ail. If, therefore, the Directors could send us five and-twenty more Missionaries, they would find work enough in this country, where a Missionary may speak freely everywhere on religious subjects.

• Our congregation is now increased to seven hundred, whose names are written in our church-book; and there are also many others, whose names are not yet inscribed: but all our scholars cannot remain constantly with us; they are obliged, for the sake of their cattle, to live near waters and grass-fields. These come, occasionally, to hear the word of God; or one of us goes to them, to instruct them and their children; for which reason also, more Missionaries are necessary to help us in our labours, for we have a large field before us. In my late journey westward, I found everywhere among the Healhes an open door; and that the people would rejoice if Missionaries would come and dwell among them. Blackmodder Fountain, or a place a lite north of it, would be very suitable for a Missionary station. Others might go to the sea-coast (west); where they might find the most advantageous place for a settlemeat; because their wants would probably be supplied by ships that touched there.'

[The Directors are at this time taking measures for strengthening this promising Mission to the Namaquas, by additional labourers.]

1803. AN instance occurred of the Chinese altes ing the truth of an assertion, by cutting off the head of a towi. They consider it, how. ever; very solema; and do not like to do it but on special occasions, There is nothing similar to our eath exacted by the magistrates when taking evidence. Appeals to the gods are only made by private indi viduals, when tacy question the veracity of each other; and this is done, not only in the manner above stated, but in various ways; as, by drsing a potter's vessel to picces, and wishing that if they speak fa'sely, it may be done to them in ke aprer; hy blowing out a canale, and wishing that tsey, in like manner, may be extinguished, &c.

I walked out to te temple of Tek1-pa-stal (the grai northern deity) wher. a large concourse of people were assembled, and which was filled with the smoke of their offerings. They brought, in small baskets, fowls, poik, vegetables, and fish;

which, after the prostrations were finished, they took away with them. They had also candles, the fragrant matches, and paper. These were entirely consumed; while only part of the wine was poured into a trough before the altar, or thrown on the groand. One poor woman came with an offering of pork and green peas; she had neither fowl nor fish. When the worshipper throws his flaming paper on the metal altar, an attendant in the temple beats a large drum, and strikes a bell, as if to rouse the attention of the god to what is offered. Several of the worshippers muttered a prayer on their knees, or standing, taking up a crooked piece of wood, like a cow's horn divided lengthwise, and throwing it down again and again, till it fell in a manner that they wished, or thought ominous of good. There is nothing social in their worship, nor any respect shewn by those who are not engaged. One is praying, another talking and laughing, a As in third cleaning utensis, &c. every idolatrous country, there appear to be favourite deities, as well as particular times for their worship of one in preference to another,