"Having received a notice yesterday, in which my life is threatened unless I leave Dingle, I take this way of informing the writer that it has come to hand. I quite agree with him that there are many who would 'deem it an honour and glory to rid the world of such monsters' as myself and others are; as in all ages there have been those who, through ignorance and blind zeal have thought, as did Saul of Tarsus, that by killing those who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, they are thereby doing God service;' and the reason of which the Saviour gives, 'Because they

have not known the Father or me.' I will now tell the writer a few things.

"1st. That, whatever be the consequence, I am resolved not to leave Dingle.

"2nd. That I fear not him who can kill the body, but after that has no more that he can do.

find forgiveness at the hands of God, who alone can pardon it, and who has said that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.' "C. G.-."

Miss M. adds, "The same spirit is evidenced by Mr. Moriarty; indeed by all the converts. He writes, "They appear determined to "keep up the fire," and we are resolved, in the strength of the Lord, to stand our ground. We shall come through triumphant, or fall under it. Either end will be glorious. Our motto is, "no surrender." We are much cheered by Christian sympathy. "The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge." Present relief has been afforded to the sufferers, but as the same circumstance will probably recur over and over again, it is contemplated to raise a sum of money to open a shop for provisions and implements of work. It will support itself after the first outlay.

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Mr. Moriarty says, 'With regard to your proposal of a shop, I wish to say that such is most sadly needed here, to supply necessaries, as well as to save the converts the great danger of going out to buy them these times. Before this state of things, and for years, I have been wishing for it. We have houses newly built, and one is fitted up for a shop, and I have my eye on a fit person that would manage it. I wish much we could get a few cows, and give them to the readers to supply milk, as it is impossible to buy any, and in illness and frost this want is bitterly felt. The other day as I was going to Douguin, I met a convert going five miles in the wind and snow and sleet, to buy a pint of milk for his dying mother." "

FRANCE.

Paris, Feb. 12, 1845.

OUR worthy Colporteurs continue to be abundantly blessed in their labours.

Some of them have sold, this month, 200, others 250, and some even 300 copies. It is truly astonishing. Some, indeed, have not been quite so successful; but even these have been

much encouraged by meeting with individuals favourably disposed to listen to the truths of salvation.

In many places the people seem determined, at all hazards, to detain the Colporteurs for the purpose of obtaining explanations of various passages of Scripture. This feeling manifests itself particularly in places where the Scriptures have for a long time been read. It is of little use for our Colporteurs to declare that they are neither preachers nor evangelists; the answer is, that whatever they may be, they speak so well, and by their conversation effect so much good, that the people are determined to hear them. On several occasions our friends have been obliged secretly to withdraw, in order to put an end to importunities of this nature.

Almost all of them relate extraordinary instances of the eagerness with which they are visited in the evening at their lodgings. Sometimes people have gathered around them to the number of 30, 40, 60, and even 100. In more than one place money has even been offered to the Colporteur as an inducement to him to take up his regular abode there. The blessing of God does indeed rest upon our dear friends in a wonderful manner'; and a conclusive proof of this is, that none of them incur any blame, or meet with any obstructions on the part of the authorities in the country, who are in general under the influence of the clergy.

I may safely assert, that among these Colporteurs, apparently so simple and unassuming, there are Christians of a higher stamp, who deserve to be numbered among the most useful and most powerful instruments that can be employed in advancing the kingdom of our God.

Of the 124,360 copies of the Scriptures which have left your Paris Depôt since the 1st of April, 1844, 104,461 have been put into circulation by Colporteurs. Most assuredly so large a distribution proves the importance of their labours, and that they are more considerable than formerly; and the friends of the Bible have reason to offer up their thanks

to the Lord who has thus blessed their endeavours.

When we consider that at this moment there is, at least in many parts of France, a very decided movement opposed to the errors and superstitions of the Romish Church, and favourable to the religion of the Bible; and when further it is borne in mind that this movement has been brought about by the operations of the Bible Colporteurs; is it not worth our while is it not an imperious duty incumbent upon us as Christians, to pray in an especial manner that our Colporteurs may be protected under their present circumstances, and that their endeavours may continue to be abundantly blessed? Let us never forget, that though Paul may plant, and Apollos may water, it is God alone who gives the increase.

During the past month the Bible has been gladly received by numbers of people; and what is deserving of remark is, that several Curés, finding that they run the risk of losing the little influence which is left them, have come forward in favour of distributing the Scriptures.

Amongst others, there is a considerable district in a department in the centre of France, in which several Curés, finding the importance attached to the reading of the New Testament by their parishioners, have publicly declared, that so far from opposing it, they themselves were ready to read it in French from the pulpit every Sunday. And they have actually kept their word; while the people attend the church with their New Testaments; to see that the Priests read exactly what is therein written.

AMERICA.

Mr. Mitchell read a note from a friend of the cause, a pious young merchant in the city of Baltimore, which was handed to him on leaving that city, enclosing a donation to this society.

The donor commenced business about ten years since, with no other capital than a small sum saved from his salary as a clerk. He determined,

from the first, most solemnly and religiously to dedicate one-fourth of the profits of his business to the cause of benevolence. The three-fourths retained soon accumulated for him a capital ample for the successful prosecution of his business, when he resolved to devote the whole of his profits to the cause of God; and though now he is not worth probably more than 10,000 or 12,000 dollars, he has already given from 8000 to 10,000 dollars in Christian charities. Having, during the past year, given to the Maryland-State Bible Society 240 dollars, it was the privilege of the speaker this morning to present his first donation to the American Bible Society, which I understand he intends to continue or increase, from year to year, as God in His providence shall give him the ability. He would read the note referred to, and present the offering entrusted to his

care:

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Baltimore, May 6, 1844. "DEAR BROTHER MITCHELL,If any should contribute to the Bible Society, I should certainly be among the number. Left fatherless at an early age, possessed with wicked propensities, providentially I was introduced into a Sunday School, where a kind teacher persuaded me to read the Bible through by rule.

It was a

strange book to me, yet I persevered for nine months, regularly every day reading two chapters in the Bible and one in the New Testament. By this time I saw the character of my Creator and the description of my own heart so clearly, that I calmly and deliberately concluded to unite myself with the Christian Church, trusting fully in the atonement made for sinners by the Saviour. Soon I obtained the peaceful, joyful assurance that God, for Christ's sake, had pardoned my sins, and received me into His favour. Ten years have passed since then, and still I find the Bible to be a precious treasure. With cheerfulness Í enclose you One Hundred Dollars, as a donation to the American Bible Society, and as a thank-offering to the Most High for all His tender mercies to me. You may almost hesitate to receive this donation, in view of my circumMAY-1845.

Notwithstanding the painful circumstances which have recently transpired in the Tahitian group of islands, so as in a great measure to suspend our Missionary operations, we are happy to have it in our power to state that the attachment of the Natives to the Protestant Christian Institutions established amongst them remains unabated.

In no way, we conceive, can sympathy and aid be rendered to them in their present circumstances so effectually as by furnishing them with a new and large edition of the Tahitian Scriptures. This they could use for their instruction and consolation in the fastnesses of the mountain, where no Foreign Missionary can now obtain success.

It is to be remembered, that there were but 3000 copies of the entire Scriptures for a population of about 23,000 who have been trained in our Schools. And although a much larger number of Gospels and Testaments were sent out, the people universally said, "Why give us parts of the word of God? We have had it long enough in little bits; let us now have it entire." From this feeling we were pressed for copies of the Scriptures by the people in Tahiti and Eimeo, who could not be supplied, as well as from the Leeward, Paumotu, and Austral groups, so as to render our position often truly painful.

When the war broke out, owing to the French aggression, and the people were obliged to take to the mountains, many of them at first took their Bibles to their Missionaries, and said"Keep these in safety until we have beaten our foes, when we will ask for them again." But some time afterwards they returned, saying-" We are likely to be long absent from our dwellings give us, therefore, our Bibles again, that we may use them in the mountains." The officers of 2 G

our Churches also, who joined the people, asked for skeletons of Sermons, that they might use when called to address their brethren.

It should also be remarked, that long after the people had left their stations, even within a short period of our departure, many people from the Paumotu group were offering an increased price for the Scriptures; but of course could not obtain them.

We are happy to be able to state, that every Ordinance of Religion (the Lord's Supper excepted) is as regularly observed as when the people were dwelling on the sea-shore in their villages.

NEW ZEALAND.

Wanganui, March 21, 1844.

I cannot help considering the interposition of Providence in behalf of New Zealand as very remarkable. The Romish Bishop made his first appearance in the island at the same time that the New Zealand Testament issued from the Church Missionary press at Pahia. This may be regarded as a token, that although the Lord, in His inscrutable wisdom, permitted that emissary of an idolatrous Church to arrive in this portion of His vineyard, He had yet prepared a sufficient antidote in the gift of His holy word. And it is very remarkable, that the identical vessel which brought out the Priests, who came to form the Romish Mission in this country, conveyed also the first portion of the Bible Society's opportune grant, and thus enabled us to spread the word of God in every part of the island. This, combined with the general knowledge which the Natives have of reading, has mainly conspired to preserve them from the wily and insidious attacks to which they have been exposed.

Kauakaua, Hick's Bay,
Feb. 22, 1844.

I have no doubt you would witness with amazement, could you come here, the wonderful change which has taken place among these savage tribes around me. Those who, a few years ago, delighted in devouring human flesh, both of Whites and Blacks, and drinking the blood as it gurgled from their victim's throat, are now sitting at my feet, entreating me to tell them something of the word of life.

In reading the New Testament with the Candidates for Baptism at my Station, I found that a number of the people had no books; and being desirous to make some return to the British and Foreign Bible Society for their liberal grant of Testaments, I proposed to my people to bring me a supply of fire-wood, as payment for the Scriptures. No sooner was this plan proposed, than crowds of people set to work; and, in the course of a week, my yard was filled with wood, so that we could scarcely turn about. I had to stop the people in this work; and each one, for three days' labour, received a Testament. I have now about £7 in hand for the Bible Society on that account.-Church Miss. Rec.

VAN DIEMAN'S LAND.

Commercial Bank, Hobart Town, 13th June, 1144.

I have much pleasure in enclosing First of Exchange for £100, being a Free Contribution from the Van Dieman's Land Auxiliary Bible Society.

I am happy to inform you the good cause prospers at present with us. We held our Annual Meeting a few days ago: Sir Eardley Wilmot, our excellent Governor, took the Chair. The Meeting was crowded to excess, and all, with one heart and one mind, pledged themselves to extra exertion.

THE LATE LADY LIFFORD.

March 15, died at Astley Castle, Warwickshire, the residence of her son, Viscount Lifford, Alicia Viscountess Dowager Lifford, in her eighty-fourth year.

From her earliest years she earnestly endeavoured to do good in her generation, and was one of the first to introduce Sunday Schools into Ireland, and she contributed to establish one in the North of Ireland so early as about the year 1789.

And

For forty years she was most assiduous in teaching, and in providing for the instruction of the poor children in her neighbourhood. some of those who have been benefited by her instructions have been known to travel considerable distances (after they were themselves mothers of families) to thank her for the benefit which, through her instrumentality, they had received.

Lady Lifford was one of the first to suggest the introduction of the Church Missionary Society into Ireland, and was active and useful in promoting the objects of that excellent Institution. She was ever ready to relieve distress, and perhaps almost too slow in such cases to suspect imposition; and many are the instances in which she showed no less anxiety to reclaim vice than to promote virtue.

Seasons of severe weather, which generally in Ireland are the cause of wide-spread destitution, and a great prevalence of disease among the poor, peculiarly excited Lady Lifford's active mind, and gave occasion for her benevolent exertions. She was accustomed to seize with almost too much avidity every prospect of doing good, especially of promoting the spiritual welfare of others, and when advanced in life, she made exertions beyond what a due consideration for her health and strength would have permitted. It sometimes happens that persons who are eminent for their benevolent and pious exertions in

public have some infirmity which renders their domestic life less attractive to those intimately acquainted with them, especially the members of their family; but Lady Lifford's example was endeared to her children, her grandchildren, and her intimate acquaintance, by a warmth of affection evinced by the most active interest, the kindest manner, and the utmost sincerity.

In early life Lady Lifford's manners were highly attractive in general society. A residence on the Continent before the French revolution, with her grandfather (Ryder, Archbishop of Tuam), had supplied a well-cultivated mind with much information and many anecdotes.

In her early years the Spiritual doctrines of Christianity were less understood, and consequently a separation from many of the customs and practices of the world did not seem to be required; the question then being simply how far a practic, was positively evil, without looking to what might be its tendency to ourselves and others, or how far it was in harmony with true religion. But even when she lived in the world, and to a certain degree conformed to the world, she acted strictly up to the light she had, and in rigid obedience to the dictates of her conscience. She would never at any time countenance practices she disapproved, or persons whose characters were censurable. The writer of this has heard her boldly and firmly, but without asperity, reprove an irreligious sentiment from persons of whom many would have stood in awe. When once she fully understood the spiritual character of the Gospel, she had no hesitation in giving up every thing which she thought inconsistent with it, and avoided, not only what might be injurious to herself or prejudicial to others, by leading them to what might be harmless in her case but injurious to others, but she even avoided what she herself considered in every way