like offence will assuredly be punished by imprisonment.

Went to present myself to the American Consul, who is British Consul per interim, and showed him the letter of recommendation to Her Majesty's Consuls in the Mediterranean, with which Viscount Palmerston most kindly favoured me. He recognised me from my last visit to this town, and gave me a kind reception.

I then went to fetch the cases of Bibles and Tracts from the Custom-house, at Murs-el-Kebir, where nearly two hours were spent in sorting them. I was charged an exorbitant duty for those in French, and printed in England. On seeing the Hebrew Scriptures and Tracts, I was asked whether I, as Mr. Markheim, came to make Jewish proselytes; to which I replied, "I came to teach the truth of God's word to Jews, Frenchmen, and to all." I presented them with French Tracts, which they all accepted, except one, the chief authority, who, perhaps, thought it too humiliating to accept a Tract. I had also occasion to tell them a few plain words on the errors of Popery, and on the sublimity of Bible Christianity; which, by the blessing of its Eternal Author, may have an influence for good.

Mr. Cheviron having made accommodation, I removed to the "Bains Français," a cool and respectable lodging-house, situated in the centre of the town, and well known to the Jews.

Brother F. Ruiz came in the evening, and joined me at the throne of grace.

3d July.-Visited Mr. E. Rodes, M.D., mentioned in my journal of 1849. He received me with an embrace, and was exceedingly glad to see me once more. We had a long conversation, in which, to my surprise, I heard him endeavouring to prove, from the Romeward movement in the Anglican Church, that Popery will triumph at last; adding withal, that the Romish Church must, however, somewhat reform its ceremonies, thus conforming itself to the exigencies of the times we live in, before the Protestant Church will return to the bosom of the "Mother Church." This is the opinion of not a few learned French Catholics. May such a day never dawn on the Christian world, for the sake of God's glory! I, on my part, tried to show, from the general movement in England against the aggression of the Pope in appointing a Cardinal and Bishops to England; from the agitated state of the Roman States, and Italy in general; and from the infidelity and scepticism that exist in all Roman Catholic countries, especially in France, to such a fearful extent, that the doom of Popery is sealed, and its final execution cannot be far distant.

Mr. M. Naumany came to my lodgings with brother F. Ruiz in the evening, and remained till a late hour. I spoke on man's fallen state, and his incapability to justify

himself before God by his good works, notwithstanding all the Rabbis say to the contrary; to prove which, I read and explained Ezek. xviii. The subject led us to speak of the doctrine of purgatory, which both Popery and the Talmud teach in different ways. The latter says that all men must needs go there, for not less than eleven months, to be purged of the unrepented-of sins, &c., and then all Israel shall be saved: for the Rabbis place our father Abraham at the gate of hell to prevent the entrance of those of his seed who are circumcised. From Isaiah lxvi. 24, and Daniel xii. 2, I showed him that the Bible knows but two states,-everlasting life, or everlasting shame and contempt. He listened for above two hours attentively, and seems rather inclined to Christianity.

"The mercy-seat is open still,

Here let my soul retreat;

With humble hope attend Thy will,
And wait beneath Thy feet."

Brother R. stayed a little longer, and bowed with me before the Lord. I gave him Tracts to give to his Jewish friends.

This is the first opportunity of preaching the truth to a Jew in Oran.

4th July.-Not able to go out, (from indisposition,) I engaged, for nearly three hours, a Captain of the Foreign Legion, (a corps composed chiefly of deserters from every country, but principally Belgians,) who understands Spanish a little, in a discussion on the existence of a Supreme Being, the Creator and Ruler of all things; on the truthfulness of the Mosaic account of the world's creation, proved by geological discoveries; and on the inspiration of the Bible, most remarkably proved by the fulfilment of prophecy. He at first contended for the eternal existence of the universe; but was brought to admit that matter cannot have brought itself into existence; that there must be a cause to all existing substances; that it must be eternal and selfexistent; and that it is He who hath revealed Himself as the God of Israel. He then argued that fear was the origin of religion but I endeavoured to show that it originated in the wisdom and benevolence of God, who created man with a soul capable of enjoying all the blessing of heaven, and sent him to the world as a free being, into a state of probation, his eternal happiness or misery depending on his obedience or disobedience to the law of the righteous God; showed its absolute necessity for the present happiness of mankind, contrasting the conduct of those who fear and love God with the proceedings of those who live without God, and without hope in the world; and contended for the probability, nay, the necessity, judging from God's benevolent nature, of revealing Himself to man, the chief object of creation.

A WESLEYAN LABOURER

FOR CHINA.

"Ir has long been the desire of many friends of the Society to see a Methodist Mission established in China; but the extent to which our Stations are already spread, has prevented the Society from attempting this new field. A case, however, has occurred, which strongly appeals to all our friends for sympathy and prayer. Mr. George Piercy, a young Local Preacher in the Pickering Circuit, felt constrained by the love of Christ to labour in China; but, knowing that the Society was unable to incur the expense of a Mission, and having at his disposal property sufficient to carry him out and support him for some time, he resolved to proceed without aid from any public source. He procured a Chinese grammar and lexicon; and, having obtained some instructions, satisfied himself that he could master the language in time. He then devoted himself to the enterprise on which his heart was set, and sailed in the autumn of 1850, trusting in Providence to open his way, and to provide for his future wants. Before embarking, he received from the Rev. Elijah Hoole a letter to Sergeant Ross, who was known to be meeting a small class of pious soldiers at Hong-Kong. Mr. Piercy was favoured with a good passage; and, on landing, made for the barracks. Seeing a young soldier, he inquired for Sergeant Ross, and learned that he was dead. But it soon proved that the person he addressed was the only remaining one of the little class, some having died, some having fallen into sin, and he being left alone, longing for a companion. After this first proof of providential care, he was conducted by his new friend to the house of the Rev. Dr. Legge, of the London Missionary Society, by whom he was received in the kindest manner. Dr. Legge took him into his own house for some weeks, and did all that Christian kindness could do to encourage and to counsel him. Mr. Piercy was soon enabled to visit the soldiers in the hospital and in the barrack, formed a Society, which now consists of about twenty members, and procured a little chapel, capable of holding sixty persons, which Dr. Legge opened. He has also established a school, devoted

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himself to the study of the Chinese language, and apparently made considerable progress; and is studying medicine under a German physician, who kindly assists him in acquiring a knowledge of the most prevalent diseases, and their treatment. Hitherto the readiness of persons on the spot to aid in supporting this humble Mission has been most pleasing; and an old and liberal friend of the Society at home has sent Mr. Piercy an ample supply of medicines and surgical instruments, with other help.

"We are persuaded that this fact will be learned with gratitude by many; and that they will rejoice that the Lord has thus thrust out one labourer from among ourselves into the great harvest of China; and pray that He will support and prosper this one, and grant him the desire of his heart in adding many fellow-labourers."

Thus far the "Missionary Notices." To this we add, that this infant Mission in Hong-Kong, which, although in a British possession, may be made really Chinese if it be vigorously prosecuted, is altogether Wesleyan in its origin. In the year 1839, a gentleman in Her Majesty's service (engineering department) arrived at Gibraltar from England, and, after attendance in one of the English congregations, joined our church. In the course of three or four years he was at Hong-Kong, overseeing the erection of military works. On receiving his appointment to that station, he felt that it would be his duty "not only to build barracks and fortifications, but to endeavour to build up the church of Christ;" and the Superintendent Minister at Portsmouth, encouraging him in his purpose, gave him a Class-Book for use in that island. He collected the class which was afterwards met by Sergeant Ross, and is now revived by Mr. Piercy. If, however, "this one" is to have the desire of his heart in carrying the Gospel into China proper, it must be by the aid of "many fellow-labourers," any one of whom may, at any time, be reserved to shepherd the little English flock on the Anglo-Chinese island. God has, indeed, "thrust out" one labourer. May He put it into the hearts of His people to send out many into that vast field!

AN AUTO DE FE.

FAITH.

AND what is an Auto de Fé? The words, being translated, are an ACT OF An act of faith, as Christians understand it, is an effort of trust in Almighty God for pardoning mercy through the merits of Jesus Christ His Son our Lord. Or it would be an exercise of confidence in

our heavenly Father in any time of need. At Rome, however, an act of faith is a condemnation of persons who differ from the doctrine or practices of the Romish Church, to be imprisoned perpetually, to suffer loss of goods, to receive lashes by hundreds, to be hooted by the mob whenever they are exhibited in the street on

special occasions, or-which is the highest act of faith, the most solemn and glorious act of faith, an act performed for the exaltation of the Holy, Roman, Catholic, Apostolic Church-to be delivered over to "the secular arm," always with an earnest entreaty to the chief civil authority of the place not to do them any injury in life or limb, but to show them mercy. But, this piece of hypocrisy notwithstanding, the secular arm is the power of death; and the civil authority condemns the "heretics" to be burnt alive, or, if they will submit to the Church in the last hour of life, to be strangled, and their bodies burnt. At present, there is not a nation

GOING HOME.

in the world where people will suffer human beings to be burnt in open day, perhaps for the only crime of having read the holy Bible, or refused to go to mass; but the Inquisition exists, and acts up to its old laws so far as it can. The Inquisitors meet every week, at Rome, with the Pope at their head; their prisons are, at this hour, overflowing with prisoners; and, all the world over, they get "heretics," so called, into their power when they can, and punish them in such a way as they are able. And the British nation gives many thousands per annum to train up Priests FOR THE CHURCH OF THE INQUISITION. This is charity!

AN UNGRATEFUL SON. ABRAHAM CROFT had an only son, to whom he gave all the little property he had saved by many years' hard labour. All that the father desired in return for this kindness was, that his son should maintain him when he grew old, and unable to work. By means of the father's kindness, the son, when he married, was enabled to take a house, purchase a horse and cart, and hire a piece of ground for a garden. The poor old man worked early and late for his son, because he loved him. He laboured even beyond his strength, and at last he caught a violent eold, and was unable to work any longer. His son was then obliged to hire a man to do the work which his father had done. Both the son and his wife behaved very unkindly to the poor old man, and often suffered him to want those comforts which his age and infirmities required. But his little grandson was very fond of him, and behaved in so dutiful and kind a manner, that he often relieved and comforted his aged grandfather in his affliction. At last his unkind daughter-in-law told him positively that he must go to the poor-house, for they had something else to do besides nursing him. Shocked at these unfeeling words, the poor old man arose from his chair, and crept away to a little out-house in the garden. Here he was seized with a violent fit of coughing, and was ready to

die. The little boy, who heard what his mother said, followed his grandfather into the garden, who, in the anguish of his heart, told him to go and fetch the covering from his bed, that he might go and sit by the wayside, and beg. He burst into tears, and ran into the house to do as he was desired. On the way his father met him, and asked him what was the matter, and where he was going. "I am going," said the child, "for the rug of my grandfather's bed, that he may wrap it round him, and go a-begging." "Let him go," said the undutiful son: "who is to bear with his humours?" "I will go and fetch it," cried the boy; and he went, and brought the rug to his father, and said to him, "Pray, father, cut it in two half of it will be large enough for grandfather, and perhaps you may want the other half when I grow a man and turn you out of doors." Struck with these words, spoken to him by his own child, he began to reflect on his conduct, and to think what he should feel at receiving such cruel treatment from his son. He hastened to his father, and begged his forgiveness, promising that he would treat him with kindness and respect, and also insist upon his wife's doing the same. Abraham readily forgave his son, and returned with him into the house; but, in a few weeks afterwards, he closed his eyes in death.-Serjeant's Sunday-school Teaching.

OLD MOSES.

MR. B. was a merchant in Baltimore, and did a very heavy business, especially in grain. One morning, as he was passing over the vessels that lay at the wharf with their various commodities for sale, he stepped upon the deck of one, at the stern of which he saw a Negro man sitting, whose dejected countenance gave sure indication of distress; and he accosted him with,

"Hey! my man, what is the matter with you this morning?"

The Negro lifted his eyes, and, looking at Mr. B., replied,—

"Ah, Massa, I'se in great trouble." "What about?"

"Kase I'se fotcht up here to be sold."

"What for? What have you been doing? Have you been stealing? or did you run away or what?"

"No, no, Massa, none o' dat: it's because I didn't mind de audes."

66 What kind of orders?"

"Well, Massa stranger, I tell you. Massa Willum wery strick man, and wery nice man too, and ebrybody on de place got to mine him; and I break trew de rule: but I didn't tend to break de rule, doe; I forgot mesef, and I got too high."

"It is for getting drunk, then, is it?" "O, no, Sah, not dat nother."

"You are the strangest Negro I have seen for a week. I can get no satisfaction from you. If you would not like to be pitched overboard, you had better tell me what you did."

"Please, Massa, don't frow de poor flicted Nigger in de wata.”

"Then tell me what you are to be sold for."

"For prayin, Sah."

'For praying! that is a strange tale indeed. Will your master not permit you to pray?"

"O yes, Sah, he let me pray easy; but I hollers too loud."

"And why did you halloo so in your prayer?"

"Kase de Spirit comes on me, and I gits happy fore I knows it, den; den I gone; can't trol mesef den; den I knows nuthin bout Massa's rule; den I holler if ole Satan hissef come, wid all de rules of the quisition."

"And do you suppose your master will really sell you for that?"

"O yes; no help for me now; all de men in de world couldn't help me now; kase wen Massa Willum say one ting, he no do anoder." "What is your name?"

"Moses, Sah."

"What is your master's name?" "Massa Colonel Willum C-."

"Where does he live ?"

"Down on de Easin Shoah."

"Is he a good master? Does he treat you well?"

"O yes; Massa Willum good; no better massa in the world."

"Stand up, and let me look at you." And Moses stood up, and presented a robust frame; and as Mr. B. stripped up his sleeve, his arm gave evidence of unusual muscular strength.

"Where is your master?"

"Yander he is, jis comin to de wharf." As Mr. B. started for the shore, he heard Moses give a heavy sigh, followed by a deep groan. Moses was not at all pleased with the present phase of affairs. He was strongly impressed with the idea that B. was a trader, and intended to buy him; and it was this that made him so unwilling to communicate to Mr. B. the desired information. Mr. B. reached the wharf just as Col. C. did. He introduced himself, and said,

"I understand you wish to sell that Negro man yonder on board the schooner." Col. C. replied that he did.

"What do you ask for him?"

"I expect to get seven hundred dollars." "How old is he?" "About thirty."

"Is he healthy?"

"Very he never had any sickness in his life except one or two spells of the ague." "Is he hearty?"

"Yes, Sir: he will eat as much as any man ought, and it will do him as much good."

Why do you wish to sell him?"

"Because he disobeyed my orders. As I said, he is my foreman; and that he might be available at any moment I might want him, I built his quarter within a hundred yards of my own house; and I have never rung the bell at any time in the night or morning, that his horn did not answer in five minutes after. But two years ago he got religion, and commenced what he terms family prayers; that is, prayer in his quarter every night and morning: and when he began his prayer, it was impossible to tell when he would stop, especially if (as he termed it) he got happy. Then he would sing and pray and halloo for an hour or two together, that you might hear him a mile off. And he would pray for me and my wife and children, and all my brothers and