It is about five feet long, two wide, and eleven and a half deep, and is painted and ornamented with carving and various figures; and within are placed the sacred provisions. The caterpillars left the potatoe-grounds in a short time; the natives attributed their departure to the influence of the Priest, not to any natural cause; and hence they preserve these sacred arks.

Oct. 5, 1819.-Weede-nakke.While we remained here, we had long conversations on the advantages of education, agriculture, navigation, &c. The Chiefs are, in general, very sensible men, and wish for information on all subjects. They are accustomed to public discussions from their infancy. The Chiefs take their children, from their mother's breast, to all their public assemblies; where they hear all that is said on politics, war, religion, &c., by the oldest men. Children will frequently ask questions in public conversation, and are answered by the Chiefs. I have often been surprised to see the sons of Chiefs, at the age of four or five years, sitting among the Chiefs, and paying the closest attention to what was said. The children never appear under any embarrassment when they address a stranger.

In every village, the children, as soon as they learned any of our names, came up to us, and spake to us with the greatest familiarity. At the age of eight or ten years, they appear to be initiated into all the customs and manners of their ancestors, by being the constant companions of their fathers, and attending them in all their public councils, and in the field of military glory. In this village, the number of children is very great, and ready for instruction.

Oct. 9, 1819.-At day-break this morning, we heard the lamentations of a poor widow, on the summit of the hill, weeping for her children. Her affliction of mind was very heavy. She was left wholly to the feelings of nature, which appeared to be intolerable. The consolations of religion could not pour the oil of joy into her wounded spirit. She knew not GOD; and evidently had no refuge to fly to for relief. In the fullest sense of the Apostle's meaning, she was without hope and without GOD in the world: and this is the situation of the whole of her countrymen, when under affliction. They will sit for months, night and day, mourning in a similar manner, for the loss of their dearest relatives. The blessings which Divine Revelation communicates to the whole body of a nation who are favoured with it can never be adequately estimated. The knowledge of the only true

GoD spreads its genial influences, from the King on his throne, through all the different ranks of his subjects, down to the condemned felon in his cell.

Oct. 21, 1819.-Tiami-Before I left this village for the next, I took a firestick into a shed, where our boxes and provisions were; and laid a little brimstone upon it, to see what effect the fire would have. As soon as the Chiefs saw the smoke, they were all dreadfully alarmed, and called aloud to me to take the fire out of the shed. I asked why they were so afraid. They replied that their god would kill them all; for there were provisions in our boxes in the shed, and if fire was taken into a shed where there were provisions, they would all die. To allay their fears, I threw the fire-stick down, and then endeavoured to convince them that all their fears were groundless,

that their tabooing of their provisions, the vessels out of which they eat, their houses, &c., was all a delusion,-that there were no such things in Europe,and that I was not afraid to eat any thing, nor sleep in any house, nor to have fire and provisions in the same house.

They said, if they did not pay very particular attention to all that their Priests told them, they would die. If they went to battle, and neglected any ceremony relative to their food, &c., and a spear only touched them, they would die immediately; but if they observed the ceremonies, and a spear should go through their bodies, they would not die. I told them that the observance of those things would have no effect in preserving their lives in battle.

We further told them, that POMARE, King of Otaheite, thought, some time ago, as they did. He tabooed his houses and provisions, and was constantly under fear lest his god should kill him and his people: but, since the Missionaries had lived at Otaheite, and he and his people had been taught the meaning of God's Book, he had abolished all tabooing, and had eaten any proper food, and had slept any where, like the Europeans, and was under no fear of being killed by his former gods. They were much surprised at this information, and inquired how long it was since PoMARE had ceased to taboo. We told them that it was more than three years ago, since POMARE had embraced our religion. The Chiefs then replied, that if we would send Missionaries to instruct them, and to convince them that their religion was wrong, and to prevent their gods from killing them, they would think and act as we did.

The conversation led to the origin of

the stupendous love of GOD!" A short time before her death, she said, I would not exchange places with any person. My bed is to me as a bed of roses." Thus, though like her LORD she felt "the sharpness of death," through him she was more than conqueror. Many things, which might have been recorded, in illustration of her dying triumphs, are omitted for the sake of brevity. T. L.

2. Died, June 8, 1821, MR. THOMAS KAY, of Flax-Moss, near Haslingden. Twenty-eight years since, he was providentially led to Burnley, where he lodged in the house of a Methodist, and was astonished to find that there was regular domestic worship. Against the Methodists he had early imbibed strong prejudices; but the good conduct of that family so removed them, that he accepted an invitation to hear their Preachers for himself. The light of truth shone on his mind, and the SPIRIT of GOD so opened the eyes of his understanding, that, in a short time, he became seriously concerned for his salvation. He had trusted to his morality, and to a form of religion; but he now saw their defectiveness; and his convictions of the evil of sin, and the deceitfulness of his heart, were such as filled him with unutterable distress. His sins were "a burthen intolerable," and his spirit nearly fainted within him. He was encouraged to pray for mercy; and, being stripped of self-righteousness, while he was engaged with GOD in fervent supplication, was enabled to believe on the LORD JESUS with his heart unto righteousness, and in a moment felt that he was justified by faith, through the atoning blood of CHRIST. Having thus received the peace of GOD which passeth all understanding, he was enabled, by watchfulness, prayer, self-denial, and the constant exercise of faith, to hold fast his profession, and to adorn it by a holy and useful life. Being a man of strict integrity, he was appointed one of the Trustees of the Haslingden Chapel; and his regard for its interests was evinced by his willingness to take his full share of the activity and trouble required for the due management of its concerns. He also united with others, who loved the souls of men, in carrying on prayermeetings in different parts of that town and neighbourhood, on Sunday evenings, after the public devotions of the day were closed. He lamented to see numbers of poor people, who never attended any place of worship; and felt a desire to pray with and for them, and to exhort them to prepare to meet GOD.

About twenty-six years ago, he engaged in the Sunday-School connected with the Wesleyan-Methodists in Haslingden. And since that time, be has not, (except in the case of affliction or distance,) been absent from it on the LORD'S-Day. His labours in this department were indefatigable. About thirteen years since, he was appointed a Class-Leader, and had six persons put under his care. By much prayer for them, and constant vigilance, they soon multiplied to twenty, and, before his death, to more than thirty. As a Friend, he was eminently faithful. There is reason

to believe, that no lawful secret which was committed to him, was ever divulged. As a Christian, he depended on CHRIST alone for mercy and eternal life, and evidenced his love to the REDEEMER by temperance,-by holy conversation,-by private, family, and public devotion,-by diligence,-by frugality,by his liberality to the poor and fatherless,

and by his donations in aid of the cause of CHRIST. As a Tradesman, he was punctual to his engagements, and as a Master kind and considerate towards his workmen. For the Ministers of CHRIST of all denominations he felt a cordial respect; but for those under whose ministry his soul was fed, he bore the strongest affection. His death was rather sudden. On Sunday, June 3d, he was twice at the house of GOD. But on Tuesday the 5th, an indisposition, under which he had laboured for some weeks, became more alarming. As he had not settled his temporal affairs, he was on that day mostly employed in that business. Such things should be done while people are in health, for making a will cannot cause a man to die the sooner. On the 7th, he expressed his thankfulness to GOD for the comfort he enjoyed in his soul, and for the help of faithful Ministers. On Friday the 8th, his spirit took its flight to another and a better world. Thousands of sincere mourners attended his funeral.

ROBERT MILLER.

3. Died, July 18th, 1821, at Cardiff, MRS. LYDIA COATES, aged thirty-three. In 1809, she heard a sermon, addressed to young people, which made a deep and lasting impression on her mind, and led her to pray earnestly for true repentance. Early and late she sought the LORD, and was determined not to rest without the witness of the HOLY SPIRIT with her spirit that she was a child of GOD. This blessing she obtained, while praying in private. From the time of her conversion, she manifested great tenderness of conscience, and anxiously desired the

:

entire sanctification of her nature. She read the works of WESLEY, FLETCHER, and others, upon that subject, and often conversed respecting it with experienced Christians and about five years before her death, she obtained a fuller baptism of the SPIRIT, which enabled her to love the LORD her GOD with all her heart. Through her long and heavy afflictions, which she bore with lamb-like patience, her greatest concern was, lest she should fall into any kind of impatience, or in any way dishonour GoD. Satan often annoyed her by the suggestion, that she would be forsaken at last, and left to die under a cloud. This gave her, at times, great uneasiness, but by renewed applications to the throne of grace her confidence became more strong, and her prospects more bright. To several friends who came in, she said, "I feel an overwhelming sense of the love of GOD." On the day before her departure her sufferings were very great; but her language was, "CHRIST is precious; he is precious." She repeatedly exclaimed, “I am happy ;—I am happy;" and was often heard to whisper, "Let me languish into life!" She continued in this state, till her spirit went to GOD. Teignmouth.

J. C.

4. Died, Aug. 4, 1821, aged 68, MR. ISAAC WILMAN, late of Batley Carr, near Dewsbury, Yorkshire.-The first twentyfour years of his life were spent in "walking according to the course of this world." In 1777, he heard the late REV. JOHN PAWSON; whose discourses made, through the divine blessing, a deep and permanent impression upon his mind. With a heart broken by deep convictions of sin, and venting its grief "with strong crying and tears," he soon applied for religious instruction, and was directed, by the same servant of the LORD, to "the LAMB of GOD which taketh away the sins of the world." Bread is not so acceptable to the hungry, nor water to the thirsty, as the tidings of a SAVIOUR were to him, in this his hour of anguish and distress. He prayed, he waited, he believed; his burden of guilt was removed, and he experienced joys to which he had before been a stranger.-When the blessing of pardon was imparted to him, his mind immediately turned toward the Giver of it; and his attention was fixed, not so much on the blessing itself, as on the goodness and mercy from which it proceeded. "How great is his goodness!" was the language of his soul. He often said, when speaking of the change which he then experienced, "I could instantly rejoice, not only in the goodness of God,

but in every perfection of his nature. Those which before filled me with terror, now were to me a source of rich satisfaction and grateful triumph. Iadmired and adored his justice, and gave thanks at the remembrance of his holiness." From this period, down to that of his death, he walked in the fear of the LORD, and in the comfort of the HOLY GHOST."-In a few years, he became the Leader of a Class. For this office he was eminently qualified. He was a man of good sense; he had a large acquaintance with the Scriptures, and his method of applying them was very judicious and affecting; he was "pitiful, courteous, tender-hearted; was deeply and uniformly pious; not self-willed, but a lover of peace; and a cheerful contributer of his talents, his money, and his influence to the service of God. Some time after this, he began to exhort his fellow-sinners to "flee from the wrath to come," and, being approved of by his brethren, was taken into the Local-Preachers' Plan. In this capacity he laboured with all his might, and with considerable effect. Preacher, he was plain and practical. His extensive acquaintance with the Bible, and his happy talent of quoting and applying, with great propriety, passages out of it, rendered his sermons savoury and impressive.-His last sickness was of a most painful nature. Nevertheless, he, in his patience, possessed his soul. He was able to converse but little; yet that little was highly satisfactory. To one friend he said, "All is well; I would rather die than live; my only fear is, lest I should grieve God, by wishing to be gone." To another he said, "I love the LORD; and I long to be with him." In this frame he continued, till he entered into rest. Dewsbury.

As a

W.S.

5. Died, at Margate, Sept. 23d, 1821, JOHN CHAPMAN, aged seventy-six years. He was a subject of early religious impressions. He remarks, in his Diary; "I used often to go into the cornfields to pour out my soul to GOD in prayer, and gave up myself to GoD in the best manner I was able. I delighted in reading the Scriptures, and found great encouragement to continue this profitable exercise. I was very serious, and lived to GOD according to the light I had. But all this while I had no one to instruct me in the gospel plan of salvation." For want of such instruction, at about the age of seventeen, he was entangled in sin and folly, and for many years sought rest, but found none.-At length the LORD graciously sent MR.

COLEMAN to St. Nicholas, the village where he then resided, under whose ministry MR. CHAPMAN was taught "the way of GOD more perfectly." His convictions of sin were now deep and powerful; but he was soon encouraged to commit his burdened soul into the hands of the REDEEMER, and in May, 1777, when about thirty-two years of age, he received a clear manifestation of the pardoning love of GOD, through JESUS CHRIST.From this period, he had to encounter various trials. The principal Gentleman then residing at St. Nicholas, had determined that whoever persisted in hearing MR. COLEMAN preach, should be turned out of his house, and discharged from his employment. But none of these things moved MR. CHAPMAN. He trusted in the LORD; and when the time drew nigh at which he was to be banished from his situation, an offer was made him of a far better house, and constant employment, from a quarter in which such kindness was least expected. MR. CHAPMAN became a LocalPreacher soon after his conversion to GOD; and continued to serve the LORD, in that character, zealously and usefully, till within a few years of his death, when he was laid aside by infirmity. His labours were abundant. It was no unusual thing for him to travel from twenty to thirty miles on foot, and preach twice or thrice on the LORD's Day; and in the early part of his career he often endured much persecution. Much fruit of his plain, but awakening and powerful preaching, is left behind.-He died in the peace and hope of the Gospel. Margate.

B. S.

6. Died, Nov. 14, 1821, aged seventy, MARY MOWAT, of Margate. Even before her conversion to Gop, she was remarkably regular in her outward conduct. It was not, however, till 1787, in the thirty-sixth year of her age, that she was brought to know her condition as a lost sinner. Under the ministry of the Methodists, she was convinced that all her supposed virtues were utterly insufficient to furnish a safe ground of hope towards GOD. She now felt the infinite purity of the divine law; saw herself to be under its curse; and cried to GOD for pardon, and for a clear evidence of her acceptance in the Beloved. She sought not in vain. On the 10th of June, 1787, she was brought into the liberty of the children of GOD, and went on her way rejoicing. It appears from the testimony of her christian friends, that she rapidly grew in the knowledge and the love of GoD, and had daily fellowship with the FATHER and the SoN.-Many were the precious

7. Died, Dec. 7, 1821, MRS. HAWKINS, of Warmington, Warwickshire, aged eighty-three.-About the year 1796, the Methodist Preachers, (acting on that plan of regular itinerancy and villagelabour, which has been pursued for so many years by the Wesleyan Connexion,) visited Warmington. By hearing them, MRS. II. was brought to understand her awful condition by sin, and to feel that "godly sorrow that worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of;" and afterwards, through faith in our atoning SAVIOUR, was made to taste that the LORD is gracious. She now felt it to be her duty and privilege to unite herself to that people, whose ministry had been so blessed to her, and was a steady member of the Methodist Society in Warmington until her death. About twenty-one years ago, she opened her door to receive the Preachers, both itinerant and local; and by her kind accommodation of them, as long as she lived, was justly entitled to the gratitude of the Society.-MRS. H. was frequently applied to, for instruction and comfort, by persons in distress of mind; and there is reason to believe, that her advice and prayers have been made a blessing to many. Her conscientious and circumspect conduct was evident to every candid observer. Her constant attendance on the means of grace was a strong practical reproof to indolent professors. The graces of humility and christian simplicity shone with peculiar lustre in her conversation, her conduct towards inferiors, her dress, her habitation, and her style of living.-It was supposed by some, that she was too parsimonious; a supposition which perhaps might have been removed, if those who held it had been apprized of the many generous acts which she performed.-The following are a few of the bounties she bestowed. In the year 1806, she sent £60 to the funds of the Connexion. In the year 1810, or 1811, she built a Chapel in Warmington, solely at her own expense, and settled it on the Methodist Connexion. Last year she gave (unsolicited) £46 towards liquidating a heavy circuit-debt, which at that time existed. She gave 2 C