BENCOOLEN. great zeal and success, is now in this country, having been most kindly taken on board with his family by a worthy captain, just in time, according to human appearance, to rescue him from the grave. His illness was so clearly the AFTER a very long interval, we have received a letter from Mr. Nath. Ward, dated Bencoolen, 18th January last. After mention-result of his exertions, under a tropical ing what had occasioned the delay, he proceeds to state "During the latter part of the past year, I was engaged chiefly in carrying forward the translation of the Scriptures, or rather in preparing myself to proceed with it to advantage. From the period of my first acquaintance with the language, I have been sensible of the necessity of a new version, and have used every endeavour to procure one, but as Mr. Robinson was so well qualified to execute it, I never thought of having any concern with it myself. I consequently require a little preparation before I can hope to be successful in an undertaking so important. I had furnished the rough version of the Acts of the Apostles, and of the Epistle to the Hebrews; when a fall from my horse, early last month, put a stop to my progress. I scarcely know how I escaped with life, but thanks to a gracious Providence, I now feel no other effect from it than a little stiffness in the back, and hope immediately to resume the work." In a subsequent part of his letter, Mr. Ward mentions the difficulties which obstructed his progress, in consequence of the transfer of our settlements in Sumatra to the Dutch government; and it is most probable that these will lead to the removal of this active and valuable labourer to some more promising field. MONTEGO BAY. OUR readers will remember that, on several occasions, we have referred to the interesting circumstances of the Mission in this north-western part of the island of Jamaica, and the absolute necessity of providing a larger and more commodious place of worship for the congregation at Montego Bay. (See M. H. for 1825, pp. 79. 87. 94., and 1826, p. 31.) Mr. Burchell, who has, amidst many discouragements, laboured at Montego Bay and Crooked Spring, with suffocation by multitudes of the negroes, sun, in a place of worship crowded to eager to catch the sound of salvation from his lips, that the medical gentlemen by whom he was attended positively assured him that all their efforts would be useless while he continued to occupy his present chapel. Some months ago the Committee, anxious to second the efforts of their missionary brother to the utmost of their power, apprized him of their willingness to appropriate a considerable sum towards this object ; and since then several kind friends, to whom the case had been made known, have, in addition to their usual benefactions to the Society, made specific donations towards it. Hitherto, however, the amount of these has been small; and the great reduction which has taken place in the funds of the Society within the last nine months has deprived the Committee of the gratifi. cation of rendering that aid which they had previously intended to furnish. From the facts that have thus been stated, our Christian friends will perceive that the question has now assumed a very serious shape. In reality, the continuance of the station itself appears to depend on the manner in which our present appeal is received. To proceed as we have hitherto done involves, almost certainly, the speedy sacrifice of butions to the amount of little more than life; while, on the other hand, contri£1000 sterling would, in addition to what may be obtained on the spot, be sufficient to preserve our footing in a most important sphere, and where, in a most remarkable and encouraging manner,' the fields are white unto harvest.' Could we but fully detail the particulais connected with this station and its vicinity, it would be seen, not merely that the language we have already employed is strictly accurate, but that such indications of a Divine Hand, pointing to more extended exertions, are scarcely to be found elsewhere. It is hoped that Mr. Burchell will prepare a brief statement on the subject, by circulating which among the friends of the Mission, they may perceive how signally the Lord has blessed their past exertions, and what powerful inducements there are to spring forward to this new work of faith, and labour of love. We add a short extract from a letter, lately written to the Secretary by Mr. Burchell (the publication of which he will kindly excuse), in the hope that the spirit it breathes will awaken a corresponding emotion in every reader : 'My feelings, Sir, arise from what my eyes have seen, and my ears have heard. I have known the fatigue-I have seen the tears I have heard the cries-I have witnessed the thronging of the poor negro to the House of God, and I cannot but feel my soul interested on their behalf. Whilst I have life in my body, and strength in my limbs whilst I have a voice to be heard, and a tongue to speak — I will raise my voice in their behalf, and my cry shall be, Men of Israel, help. Nor can my cry be in vain. The Being who has opened this door of usefulness, who has excited this interesting disposition in the poor negro, will never forsake the people who step forward to the help of the Lord against the mighty.' Nor can I, nor dare I, disbelieve for a moment, that God will excite a disposition in his people to raise the means to supply the wants of these destitute negroes." In the month of November it will be requisite for Mr. Burchell to return to his station; and surely the interval will prove that his anticipations, just quoted, are not grouudless. Let but each individual, who peruses this paper, do but the tenth part of what he can do, and the whole matter will be accomplished with the utmost ease; and shall such an exertion be withheld? It is scarcely necessary to add, that nothing can be farther from the wish of the Committee, or would be more injurious to the cause of the Mission, than that subscriptions to the Society generally should be diverted into the channel of this particular object. The Society stands pledged to support a number of valuable labourers in different parts of the world, and the most active and persevering efforts are and will be required to provide for regular and indispensable claims of this nature. What has been said in this article, therefore, must be considered as addressed to those, and those only, who possess the ability, on suitable occasions, of presenting a contribution, independently of the sum they usually subscribe to the cause. To such then, whether in town or country, this statement is most respectfully, but earnestly, submitted. Contributions received оп account of the Baptist Missionary Society, from July 20, to August 20, 1826, not including individual Subscriptions. Sutton (Suffolk) Baptist Church, by Rev. Mr. Squirrell... Chester, Subscriptions, by Mrs. London 3 1 1 ...... Small Subscriptions at Fen Court, by Mr. Stanger Towcester, Collection, (with 10s. from Q. in the Corner) by Rev. J. Barker. West Middlesex Union, by Rev. Edward Lewis, Secretary: Chelsea, by the Rev. Thomas Burchell .... 15 5 7 ..... ..... Newport Pagnell, Sunday School, by the Rev. T. P. Bull A Friend, by Rev. Eustace Carey... Miss Lidgould, by the Secretary Samoth, by Ditto ... For Montego Bay. .Life Subscription. Ditto, by Ditto..... Mr. Joseph Gurney, by Ditto John Willyams, Esq. Scorrier House, by Rev. John Dore........... Mr. Wright, Wellingborough, by Mr. Rickett L., by Rev. Thomas Hutchings Two Friends, by Rev. Dr. Newman Lady, by Rev. Timothy Thomas P. S. Besides the sums acknowledged above, the Secretary has had the pleasure of receiving the sum of £13. 5s. 4d. as a remittance from the Menonite Baptist Friends, at Hanau, in Germany, by P. C. Walther, Esq. of that place. TRANSLATIONS. Greenock, Port Glasgow and West Renfrew Bible Society, by R. D. Kerr, Esq. 10 00 Edinburgh, Sundries, by Rev. C. Anderson 8 10 The thanks of the Committee are returned to the Ladies connected with the Devonshire-square Dorcas Society, for a quantity of Work Bags, together with Needle Cases, Pincushions, Scissors, &c. for the Female Schools; and to a Friend at Eye for the Baptist Magazines for seven years. Littlewood and Green, Printers, 15, Old Bailey. |