the Christians of Constantinople were thus unitedly commending them to the care and help of Heaven. Although the chaplain to the British Embassy was prevented, by the restrictions of his Church, from offering special prayer for the troops at the regular time of service, he held a prayermeeting on their behalf in the afternoon, precisely, in all probability, when they stood in most imminent need of the divine help. Thus, during the entire progress of that tremendous conflict, and till victory crowned the cause of right, were its brave champions sustained by the intercessions of their fellow-Christians, offered up in six different languages, and in twice as many separate services, in the capital of the empire whose independence is at stake. When it is remembered, that, in addition to this special concert of prayer, there probably is not one place of Protestant worship in the three kingdoms, from which, during the most uncertain stages of the protracted conflict, prayers were not ascending to Almighty God, that He would frustrate the efforts of the aggressor, and succeed those of the champions of liberty and right, it is not merely warrantable to believe, but it would be impious to doubt, that the wonderful issue of so unequal a contest was in answer to prayer. While, then, the hearts of those who unhappily deny, because they do not know its value, are failing them for fear, let Christian patriots see, in the still accumulating difficulties of the great enterprise, not less than in the signal manner in which those arising from the immeasurable superiority of the enemy in numbers and munitions have been surmounted, only new reasons for perseverance in referring the arbitrement of this bloody quarrel to Him who has hitherto defended the right, and who has pledged His word to break in pieces the oppressor."

But while that victory at Inkermann is thus seen to have been so remarkably given us in answer to prayers for our soldiers engaged in it, (and an answer given even "while we were speaking in prayer," Dan. ix. 21,) it is no less the subject of thankfulness to know, that such victories are gained by an army many of whom are men of God-good soldiers of Jesus Christ-who make their comfortless camp

the Bethel of communion with God, and the eve of battle the very hour of prayer for themselves and their enemies.

At a meeting held lately at Manchester, in aid of the Religious Tract Society, the Rev. P. J. Saffery, the secretary, related the following interesting circumstance of our soldiers now in the East:-"A Christian officer who had been out reconnoitering a camp late in the evening, thought he heard singing in a ravine he was passing. He dismounted, tied his horse to a bush, and creeping slowly and gently down, saw a number of soldiers standing at the bottom, singing a hymn which had been found at the close of one of this Society's tracts. When the singing was over, the soldier who had given out the hymn read the tract aloud to his comrades; and after he had finished reading, another soldier knelt down with the rest of his comrades and poured out his heart to God in fervent prayer, not only for those present, but for every soldier in the camp, for their country and their Queen, their kindred and friends; but what touched him most deeply was, that, with faltering voice, and evidently with deep emotion, he poured out his heart in prayer to God for the enemies they were about to engage."

In the hands of such soldiers as these are, how safe may we feel to be the honour of our country! In a struggle animated by such a spirit as was breathed from the lips of these brave men, we need fear no evil!

Let us be much in prayer, that God would multiply in our camp and fleet men who, having learnt to prevail with God before their battles, shall prove, in the hour of danger, that far more and mightier is HE that is on their side, than all who can be against them!

CALCUTTA ORPHANAGE.

THE Rev. Mr. Yule writes as follows to the lady who supports the orphan girl Christina, at the Orphanage, Calcutta, enclosing a letter from her :

CALCUTTA, October 3, 1854.

MY DEAR MADAM,-On receipt of your letter of July 14th, I spoke to Christina about writing to you, and told her of the deep interest you take in her. The enclosed note is her letter,-short, and perhaps not very interesting, but it is her first attempt at letter-writing, and as such I am sure you will kindly overlook its imperfections.

Christina is indeed a very good child. I do not consider her so quick as some of our other girls; but in sterling principle and trustworthy conduct she is second to none in the school. She seems to walk very much in the steps of our best girl, Diljahn, whom she calls her mother, and whose example among the other girls is all for good. Christina is a thin, delicate-looking child, but generally enjoys good health.

I am sure you will mingle your prayers with ours, that her soul may prosper, and be in health.

Your nieces have called several times to see her, and appear very much interested in her, and Mr. who claims an interest in her, and his claim is founded on good grounds, he having sent her to us.

I do hope that she is even now a child of grace, and if spared, that she will, in her after-life, adorn the religion of the holy name by which she has been called. In this you and ourselves will be fully rewarded for expense and labour, while our great Lord will be glorified.

Christina's Letter, translated from the Bengalee.

MY BELOVED MADAM,-I am very grateful for the beautiful box which you sent me; and I am grateful for all the kindness and compassion which you have revealed to me, even although you have never seen me; and I am more grateful that, having come to this school, I have been taught concerning the true God. I think you would like to hear what I am learning:-The English Bible, Shorter Catechism, Grammar, Geography, History of England. In Bengalee, Bible, Hymns, Grammar, and History of India.

I am also very happy to tell you, that in April, by the mercy of God, I received baptism; and I hope, that for me and for the school girls you will pray, that having daily increased in religion, we may grow; and for you I still pray; but without the help of God we cannot pray, for in ourselves there is nothing good.

This is my first letter, and I can think of nothing more, so will end it.-Your trusting CHRISTINA.

A NEW YEAR'S EXERCISE FOR LITTLE CHILDREN.

MR. EDITOR,-I wrote the following as a Sabbath lesson for a little child of four years old. I send it for your readers of a similar age, thinking it may be a nice New Year's exercise for them. I would humbly propose, (where this can be done,) that every child under seven years who can answer the whole of these questions on the first Sabbath of the New Year, should get some little reward.

A FATHER.

A Stands for a priest whom bright robes did adorn?
B Tells you the city where Jesus was born?
C Murder'd his brother when they were alone?
D Kill'd a great giant with sling and with stone?
E Went up to heav'n in a chariot of flame?
F Heard an apostle the judgment proclaim?
G Went out a leper for telling a lie?

H Caus'd the poor infants of Bethlehem to die?
I Stands for the prophet, of Jesus who told?
J Is he whom his hard-hearted brothers once sold?
K Did through the vale of Jehoshaphat flow?

L Stands for the mountain where cedars did grow?
M Stretched out his rod, and the Nile became blood?
N Built a great ark, and was saved from the flood?
Often refreshed the apostle when tried?

P Three times his Lord and his Master denied?
Q Greetings of love to the brethren sends?

R Meets with her kinsman while reapers he tends?
S Prayed, as he died, in behalf of his foes?

T Stands for a child who the Bible well knows?

U The high priest of old on his breastplate did wear?
V Christ Jesus himself to this did compare?

W Were guided by a star in the sky?

No word found in Scripture for X or for Y.
Z Stands for the hill which the Lord did so love,
The type of the courts and the temple above?

EDINBURGH, 13th November 1854.

M

THE ESKIMOS.

ISSION stations of the Church Missionary Society in Rupert's Land, at Fort George, on the east coast of James' Bay, afforded some prospect of communication with the Eskimos; and the Church Missionary Gleaner says, the Rev. E. A. Watkins persuaded an Eskimo youth, called Peter, to reside with him. Opportunities have been far fewer than had been expected, not many of that people coming so far southward, so much so, that during eighteen months he had only seen seventeen of them; while the impossibility of procuring dogs and provisions for the journey has prevented him from going more northward to visit them. Still, some opportunities of seeking their good have been presented to him; and one of these, of which he gives us an

VOL. IV. No. II.

FEBRUARY 1855.