go to Lucea, and visit the bereaved family and Congregation. Next morning I returned to Cornwall, and, after some hurried preparations, commenced my sad journey. The Rev. Mr. Paterson, of Montego Bay, who had received the earliest intimation of what had taken place, and forwarded it to us, had hastened to the scene, and was in time for the funeral, which took place, according to the necessary custom of this country, on Wednesday evening, twenty-four hours after the decease, and just about the hour when I heard of it. The Rev. Mr. Niven, of Westmoreland, was also in time for the funeral. Both their stations are much nearer to Lucea than either Mr. Blyth's or mine, and thereby they were able to pay the last mournful duties to the deceased, which our distance put out of our power. On reaching Lucea on Friday, I was surprised and relieved by the unwonted degree of support which Mrs. Leslie had received. Her own health was unimpaired, which, with her humble resignation under the Divine hand, was more than I could have expected, after two such losses as she has sustained, and following one the other so closely, two of the greatest losses that a woman can sustain of earthly blessings her mother and her husband. She did then, and has since displayed a strength of mind and of grace, that I have never before seen in a similar situation-acknowledging the righteousness, and even the goodness of God in his late severe dealings, and checking every thing like repinings, or the workings of an unsubdued spirit. From her, and other friends on the spot, I learned the following particulars :-Mr. Leslie had been complaining a little from the time of his mother-in-law's, Mrs. McKinstry's, death, on the 31st of July, the particulars of which you must have heard ere now. The very day that she breathed her last he received a letter, which I brought out to him, informing him of the death of his father. Thus he lost both parents as it were in one day. The extent of his labours, in supplying the two Congregations of Lucea and Green Island, did not allow him to take care of himself sufficiently early, and the unhealthy nature of his residence on the sea side, between those places among swamps, did not favour the efforts which bis naturally good constitution might have made to throw off the incipient disorder, if it did not tend to produce it. He continued his labours, one day worse and another better, and perhaps deeming the symptoms not serious. A very kind. gentleman of Lucea, and a decided friend to the labours of your Missionaries there, A. Grant, Esq., at last prevailed on him and Mrs. Leslie to visit his mountain residence, a few

miles above Lucea, to try the benefit of change of air. Mr. Leslie rode thither on Saturday, the 15th ult., felt greatly better, eat a good dinner, and retired to rest apparently quite well. On Sabbath morning he was decidedly worse. On Monday, the symptoms were considered dangerous; yet his muscular strength was so great, that he was up, and walking up and down his room. Tuesday, they were of a fatal character, and he was told so. The propriety of making his will was suggested by Mr. Grant, and he immediately gave the instructions necessary. At two o'clock, he sat up in his bed without aid, and signed his will with a bold, free hand. He was in a composed, resigned state of mind, and not in the least alarmed at the prospect of death and the future world, thus suddenly opening on his view. His eyesight failed him, and becoming aware of it, he started up in bed and expressed some surprise at the loss to Mrs. Leslie; but next moment said that the eyes of his mind were not darkened, and that, thanks to his God and Father, his spiritual light by faith was as clear as ever. The elders, and some other members of the church, there, were around his bed, and their prayers and conversation refreshed and strengthened him. One of them read, and the dying Christian repeated after him, with marked satisfaction, the beautiful paraphrase, "How bright these glorious spirits shine!" At four o'clock, he expired. I believe that nothing was lacking necessary either to his comfort or recovery. His benevolent and generous host was assiduous in his attentions. He was buried in the church-yard, close by where the remains of Mrs. M'Kinstry were lying. They are the first who have been interred there. The Session have written to Mr. Watson to bring out with him two tomb-stones, to mark the spots.

You will, I doubt not, feel this stroke, as we all do, not only as most afflictive, but the most afflictive our Mission in this country has yet sustained. Our departed brother had just entered on his work with great delight, and with high hopes of great usefulness. Nor were his own expectations greater than those of others concerning him. His ministrations were very acceptable, and very useful from the commencement of his Missionary operations, and that to all classes, black, brown, and white. They seem to vie in their eulogiums of him, and the expressions of their sorrow for his loss. His funeral was the largest ever seen in the parish. The Congregations were always good at Lucea, and remarkably large at Davis Cove, where he preached to the Green Island people. These latter have sustained a peculiar loss. I feel deeply for them.

It was long after they expressed a wish for a Minister among them before they got one, Mr. Simpson, and he was not long permitted to continue theirs. It was long before they got another, and he has been called away still more speedily. The great Head of the church can, and I trust will, bring good to that Congregation, and to the mission generally, out of those things, though to us they appear evil. I preached, on the ensuing Sabbath, to an overflowing and much affected audience, from the words, "I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou, in faithfulness, hast afflicted me." The widow and child were present. She afterwards bore her testimony to the precious truth of the text.

We have arranged to supply the church at Lucea with sermon every alternate Sabbath. Mr. Niven and Mr. Paterson have kindly promised to assist Mr. Blyth and myself, in this additional labour, till Mr. Watson returns.

This unexpected and sudden loss is a loud call to us who are still allowed to remain a while longer, to be diligent, and labour while our opportunity lasts, and to be always watching, and ready for our summons. It is also a loud call to the church at home to send forth more labourers into the harvest, not only to fill up the vacancy thus produced, but to Occupy the wide and dark districts that yet remain in many parts of this island in the original heathenism. One has soon fallen in the field; but how much more glorious is his lot than that of many at home, who, though long spared, die, at last, without accomplishing any thing for the glory of God, or the salvation of men. One has fallen early; but only faint and false hearts will be thereby deterred from taking up the work in which he would gladly have spent a much longer life, and such we are better without. May God incline many to come in his stead, that at the end of the year we may have several for the one we have lost! This is the way to gain the victory. Let the church at home send us out two, three, four, aye five for every one lost here, and they will gain the victory. It is honourable, said the Latin poet, to die for our country; but how much more honourable to die for our God and Saviour! The words of our own poet should reach the hearts of Christians in such a case as this, and inspire them to noble deeds, "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; or close the walls up with our English dead."

Extract

of a Letter from the Rev. Mr. Blyth,dated Hampden, Aug.24, 1835. "You will be made acquainted, by Mr. Waddell, who is at

present in Hanover, of the unexpected and much lamented death of our late fellow-labourer, Mr. Leslie. The only cause to which I can attribute this melancholy event, is the unhealthiness of the house in which he resided. His first arrangements were to remain in Lucea, until the house which Mr. Watson had rented should be repaired; but, shortly after, he removed to Cove, as being more convenient and central for the two Congregations, and was settled in it before I was aware of his intentions. Indeed, it is only a few weeks ago that I learned how extremely unhealthy the residence is. On hearing of the death of his mother-in-law, I earnestly invited him and fantily to come here for a short time, for change of air, but he must have been near his end when my letter might reach him. He once preached to my Congregation with great acceptance, and I have heard a similar account of his public ministrations wherever he officiated. I likewise know of several instances of his great faithfulness in private, and he was much beloved and respected, on account of the amiable dispositions which he manifested. We considered him a great acquisition to our Mission, and hoped that he had been raised up by God for great usefulness in this country; but we have been disappointed. His labours indeed have not been in vain, his labours will follow him as witnesses of his faithfulness and zeal, and will be sources of endless felicity to him. I hope the Synod of Ulster will be able to supply his place, by another equally zealous and pious, or that one from some other church will offer his services. I hope his sudden and unexpected death will not intimidate others from coming forth to the help of the Lord. He would be unworthy of the name of a soldier of Christ, who would shrink from entering the breach because one had fallen in the attempt. We feel much interested in his afflicted widow, who seemed so fit to be the companion of such a man, who, along with her mother, was zealously employed instructing the young, and who, in such a short space of time, has been deprived of a husband and mother. We have invited her and her infant to come here and remain with us, till she may determine as to her future procedure."

1

THE VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLE.

THERE are certain ingenious theories, the fallacy of which cannot be easily detected and exposed, until we try them experimentally, by facts and observations, We may build an

argument rather upon what men should do, than upon what, in reality, they are likely to do, under the operation of the common laws of human nature. We may confound the abuses of a valuable institution with those great and important objects, which, under a different administration or reconstruction, both of materials and of instruments, it might eventually subserve. In our day, it is strongly contended, by some, that the total absence or withdrawal of Religious Endowments would set the church of Christ, in this kingdom, free from its trammels, and infuse new life and vigour into all its operations. Now, if this principle be the only legitimate and scriptural method of spreading the Gospel, as is boldly asserted, it cannot be unfair to conclude, that the practical workings of the Voluntary System, at present, will be found to gratify at least some of the sanguine hopes and expectations which are cherished and expressed by its conscientious advocates. It is here taken for granted, that many who contend for the total abolition of Religious Endowments, do so from the honourable motive of seeking out and applying the best human apparatus for extending and maintaining the interests of Christianity in the world. With infidels, their arguments and ultimate objects, we have no concern; we wish to deal plainly with the understandings and consciences of Christian men, who pray without ceasing for the prosperity of Zion, and are anxious to employ the most efficacious means for repairing and strengthening her walls and bulwarks. It is unfortunately in our power to adduce an example, which we think will prove, to unprejudiced persons, the danger of surrendering our churches, in this land, to the wretched and pitiful support afforded by voluntary contribu tions.

A case, literally as follows, was not long since submitted to a Presbytery, in connexion with our church. A deputation from the Session and Committee of a certain Congregation stated, that they had engaged to pay their Minister £80 per annum, but that, of late, the pew rents had decreased some pounds, owing, it was believed, to the exercise of faithful discipline; that they conceived they were at liberty to deduct so much from the salary of their Minister, who, they thought, acted most unjustly in still demanding the stipend originally promised at the time of his ordination. The Minister, on his part, stated, that he considered himself fairly entitled to the original sum promised him by the Congregation, so long, at least, as they, by their own confession, were fully able to pay it; that, having a family to educate and provide for, he