Support, I felt as I had never done before, and as I cannot describe. And I believe we all felt in a similar manner, and our souls adored and praised God, who was indeed in the midst of us. O my fathers, the religion, or shall I not rather say, the love of Jesus Christ softens and warms, and enlightens the soul, and makes it happy and courageous. After singing and prayer, each of us gave an account of our Christian experience, and God made this a blessing to us indeed. O that we may never substitute the wisdom of man, or the honour that cometh of the world, for the love of God shed ubroad in the heart! Never did I see the necessity of this more clearly than I do at present. During the whole of our meeting, we felt our responsibility to God, and to you, and to the connexion at large. Most sincerely did I wish that one or two of our aged and respected fathers had been with us, and but seen and known our circumstances and motives.

In several cases we were clearly convinced that we should adopt new plans of usefulness, but a fear of not meeting with your approbation prevented us. After we had finished our examination of characters, we sincerely praised God that our confidence in each other was increased: and I believe each brother, with all his heart, approved of that strictness and impartiality which was manifested. I cannot say that in all things our several concerns were as regularly gone through as they should have been; but I believe more brotherly love and respect, and less of personal interest and unholy feelings has not existed in any meeting of the kind since the commencement of Methodism; and though our brethren in Europe cannot well judge of the several (to us) important matters which we had to consider, yet from our minutes you will be able to form some idea of our proceedings, and the circumstances in which we stand. several particulars we have thought it our duty to deviate from the directions which your most encouraging letter contained but we trust a plain statement of our case will be our best apology for doing so.

In

As to brother Harvard's removal to Madras, we are fully convinced that if you had known all circumstances respecting Colombo, and his state of health, you would have deferred making an appointment of a missionary for that place, important as it is, rather than have appointed to remove him to it.

The communications which we have had from His Excellency, and from the members of the Bible Society, together

with the state of the printing press, and the unfinished condition of the house and chapel, will, I doubt nct, fully satisfy you of the propriety of his remaining at Colombo another year. Some of the brethren proposed that the five, who had been on the island, should form a Committee, to choose the brother for Madras, and also to make all the other appointments. This we judged a prudent measure, and after much serious deliberation, and considering each brother's state of health and present circumstances, &c. it was concluded that I should visit Madras as often as circumstances would allow during this year; and that at the end of it brother Harvard should take that place as his appointment. On the death of brother Ault we had pledged ourselves that Batticalo should be occupied by us on the arrival of more help; and the people of Matura had petitioned His Excellency that a Wesleyan missionary should be sent to them; and both His Excellency and your letter, and our judgment, pointed out Trincomalee as a very desirable and important station. We felt deeply concerned for each of these places, but we had been of opinion that no brother should be sent alone; and there were now but nine of us, and six places. We prayed for direction, and while cur minds were deeply affected, four of our dear brethren stood up, and each of them most cheerfully offered to go alone, to any of these places. You cannot conceive how this generous, this noble proposal affected our hearts, and opened our way. The four brethren are Messrs. Squance, Broadbent, Carver, and Jackson. We accepted their offer as an intimation of the will of God, and, after the most mature deliberation, our little Committee appointed as follows:

Colombo,-William M.Harvard, Ben-
jamin Clough.

Point de Galle,-George Erskine,
John McKenny.

Matura,-John Callaway, -Lollman.
Jaffna,-James Lynch, Thos. Squance,
Robert Carver.

Trincomalee,-Samuel Broadbent.
Batticalo,-Elijah Jackson.

When the brethren came together, and heard the several appointments read, each expressed his full approbation, and some thanked God they had the very station which they most desired. With joyful hearts we praised God, and while we joined in prayer, and implored his blessing and protection on each brother, He was present indeed, and filled our hearts with love to him and to each other.

If ever I felt my soul willing to be any

thing or nothing in God's hand, or church, I do at present; I see myself as a little child; and I feel, yes, I sensibly feel concerned for the success of this important and expensive mission. Gross ignorance and depravity in the extreme; a deep rooted attachment to ancient customs and casts, and against the Christian name, together with the necessity of our learning a difficult and foreign language, are some of the obstacles that we have to contend with, in order to do good. Yet, thank God, they can all be overcome, and in a few instances have been overcome. I believe a wide door is now opened, and that we shall very soon have joyful news to send to you, and to all our Missionary Societies in Europe.

From Mr. ERSKINE to the MISSIONARY COMMITTEE.

Point de Galle, Oct. 7, 1816. FOR several months, since I addressed you last, I suffered much in my health from a hard dry cough, insomuch that physicians were apprehensive I was falling into a consumption. In compliance with medical advice, in June last I removed to Columbo to try a change of air. During my continuance, which was six weeks, I lived under the truly hospitable roof of brother Armour; and, under God, I attribute my recovery to the kind and uncommon attention of Mr. and Mrs. Armour. Through divine mercy, I am now able and willing to labour for God; yet still I feel a considerable weakness in my lungs, but I believe even this weakness shall pass away.

We still proceed in much the same way as I mentioned to you in my last. There are more than seventy children under our care, to whom we preach every Saturday. Some of these boys, on their coming to our school, though sixteen years of age, and upwards, I have found so ignorant as not to know the difference between good and evil; and, consequently, nothing of God, nothing of eternity, nor of the soul! We still continue to preach in English and. Portuguese in the Fort: in our excursions among the heathen, we preach by an interpreter. There are more than twenty members in our class, some of whom are under divine impressions. We intend that our excursions to the country villages should be frequent and regular; for I am persuaded that this is the most effectual way to bring about the conversion of the heathen. On these occasions, multitudes are convened, including both young and oldi male and female, to whom we always preach the word of life; and, in general,

they hear with considerable attention. -I must not omit to inform you of the conversion of a Budhist priest. He was sent to brother Clough, by the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Twisleton, and as he was soon to leave Colombo, brother Clough not having much opportunity of conversation with him, but understanding he intended to visit Galle, he wrote to me by the priest. I had two or three close conversations with him before he offered himself for baptism; but I judged it best not to baptize him immediately, and that in the mean time he had better lay aside his yellow garment, and dress as the respectable natives, and be under our instruction until he appeared to be a fit candidate for the sacrament of baptism. He lives at our house, attends our school, and has made some proficiency in the English language. A few months since he was baptized, and named Daniel Alexander, in Galle church. Although I cannot say that his heart is fully changed by the Divine Spirit, yet this much I can say, his conduct is orderly and moral; he loves christian instruction, reads a chapter in the Cingalese New Testament to the ser vants every night, prays with them, and speaks of the things of God. Some time ago he wrote a sermon on 1 Pet. iii. 12; and you really would be pleasingly as tonished at the attempt;-an attempt that certainly evidences a good understanding, and an attention to divine things. Brother M'Kenny and I intend often to take him with us when we set out on our country excursions, that he may have an oppor tunity of speaking to the people in the name of God: and also that he may ap pear as a trophy in favour of the Christian religion.

Mr. Lollman, a young man who has lived with us as our interpreter and assis tant in our school since the month of March, 1815, was appointed as an assistant Missionary at our last Conference., I have no doubt of his real conversion: his heart burns with zeal for God, and to promote the interests of his Redeemer's kingdom is his single aim. He is a des cendant of Dutch parents. If there was no other good done by our coming to this island than only this man's conversion, it is an ample recompence for all our pleas ing toil. Brother Armour has given us up his only son, hoping that God may deign to use him as an instrument to bring souls to the blood of Jesus. He lives at. our house. He is truly a sweet young, man; has a good knowledge of the Eng lish, Cingalese, Malabar, Tamul, and, Portuguese languages, and knows a little of Latin and French; and I humbly hope

that at a future day he may become a zealous Missionary.

The following is an extract froin my journal:

Wednesday morning, Oct. 2, 1816. Brother M'Kenny and I visited a heathen temple at Belligam. I entered into a long conversation with a priest, as follows: Missionary. What are the conditions, on the performance of which you are to be admitted to happiness after you die? Priest. According to our religion we are to believe in Buddhu, and keep close to his religion. M. Has Buddhu left you any laws or directions, by the attending to which you are to expect eternal happiness? P. The laws of Buddhu forbid drunkenness, stealing, killing even the smallest fly, lying, whoredom, living with more than one woman at the same time, covetousness, envy, &c. M. And if the followers of Buddhu do not attend to these things, if they break one or more of these commandments, are they to be punished after death? P. If, when they die, it appears they have broken one or more of these commandments; yet if while they were in this world they did more good than evil, then they may be saved by being born into a good state: (They believe in the doctrine of Transmigration.) M. Suppose your religion be false, how will it be with you? P. If the Christian religion be false what will Christians do? M. It will be very bad: you ought to examine every religion, and whatever religion bears the most sensible marks of truth, is most worthy of a God to give, and most suitable for man; this must be the true religion. P. We are forbid to examine any other religion; it is a great sin. M. This is a proof that your religion is not true; for if it were, you would not be forbid the examination of other reli

gions, for the more truth is examined, the brighter it appears. P. I must go and eat, it is almost twelve o'clock, and I cannot eat after the sun passes the meridian. M. I shall only keep you a moment or two longer. Consider several priests in this island. (one is now living at our house) they knew your religion; they examined the Christian religion, and they renounced the Buddhu religion, and embraced the Christian religion; which is calculated to make us happy in time and in eternity. Here ended our conversation. Thank God, I feel my soul engaged in the blessed work which brought the Son of God from heaven to earth. I know I am on God's business, and can in the utmost confidence, cast my every care upon his faithfulness, I feel very thankful for the privilege of having brother and sister

M'Kenny with me at this place. if brother M'Kenny was not successful at the Cape, I verily believe, it was not for want of piety, or prudence. He is truly alive to God, and his whole soul is engaged in the glorious work. I hope we shall see the power of our God manifested in the conversion of many souls of this place. I remain, Fathers and Brethren, Your's, in the Gospel, G. ERSKINE.

Letter from Mr. ERSKINE to Mr. BENSON. Point de Galle, October 10th, 1816.

DEAR SIR,

YOUR very kind and truly welcome letter, came to hand the 8th instant. The reception of it was peculiarly grateful to me; and particularly, as it is only the fifth letter I have had the pleasure of receiving, since my leaving England. My highly esteemed fellow labourer, brother Squance, was, at our last little Conference, appointed for Jaffna; and, at present, I am favoured with brother M'Kenny, for my colleague, a man to whom my soul is much united, on account of his piety, prudence, and zeal for his Master's cause.

Since my arrival in this island, I have experienced much affliction of body, and often painful exercise of mind; but, I can truly say, to the praise of boundless mercy, hitherto the Lord hath helped me. I enjoyed very little good health during the nine months I lived at Matura; but, thanks be to God, I was favoured with much of the fulness of grace and mercy that is in Christ Jesus my Lord. Matura exhibits a grand scene of idolatry; here, indeed, satan has his strong hold! At this place I first saw what is called the Devil Dance. When a person is so ill as to be given over by a doctor, the peo ple imagine, that the affliction is from some evil spirit; from a good God or spirit, they say, it cannot be, as nothing but what is good, can come from God. From this consideration, they appoint place for the horrid scene, and bring the sick person, whom they lay on the ground covered with a white cloth. The place is railed in so as to leave only one door or entrance. An offering is provided of cakes, flowers, &c. which they offer to the devil, to procure the cure of the afflicted. Two or more persons are prepared to dance, having a number of small bells about their legs; this, with a small drum, is all their music. often continues a whole night, the sick person all the time remaining on the ground; of all this I have been an eye witness. What a stimulation is this, to

This dance

cause the lovers of Jesus, and of immortal souls, to bid farewell to their native shores, and to burn with becoming zeal, to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ! And how should an affecting sense of the wretchedness into which idolatry and superstition have plunged the heathen, rouse the lovers of the amiable religion of the blessed Jesus, to communicate pecuniary assistance to this glorious work! I have seen two witnesses called to give evidence in the Supreme Court, and when examined, they said, they had no religion, did not know whether there was a God or not! "Do you think you will be punished if you tell a lie?" "We know not!" The Judge, who is a feeling, judicious man, remarked, "That it was truly mournful to see that numbers of people, in this island, are destitute of instruction in the Christian religion, and some, without instruction in any religion."

Thanks be to God, my health at present, is better than what it has been for some time past; my soul is engaged in the great work, and I feel determined to Ave to, and labour for God. Brother and sister M Kenny unite in kind regards I remain,

to you.

are certainly the most important; but then there are many other places where missionaries are much wanted, and where they are not only wanted, but where they would be well received. On the road from Jaffna to Columbo, there is Putlam, Calpenteen, Chilaw, and Negomba; within ten miles of Chilaw there is a large village of fishermen, containing several hundred inhabitants; they are all heathens, and have not so much as a schoolmaster among them; the place is called Oedepanearry. was much affected when I passed this place, my heart melted with pity for them: the circumstance of our blessed Lord's calling so many who were fishermen to be his disciples, came strongly to my mind, and I thought perhaps if these men had the gospel preached to them, some of them would, with willing hearts, follow the Saviour of sinners. Negombo is a beautiful and very populous village, and perhaps, in point of climate, next to Colombo. On the road from Colombo to Galle, there is Caltura and Bentatte. Caltura is a most desirable station; it is a populous district, and one of the most healthy parts of the island. While I was there, I performed divine service, and preached in the Government house to a small, but very attentive congregation. The brethren at Colombo, brother Erskine and myself, intend to visit as many of those places, and as often as it is in our power, until they can be supplied. Last week brother Erskine and I visited Cogle, and Belligam; the former eight, and the latter sixteen miles from this station. At Cogle, we examined some of the children of the schools, baptized 86 children, and preached to a very attentive congregation of Cingalese. We then proceeded to Belligam, and while there, we visited the Budhu temple. The priests discovered no unwillingness to our entering and viewing all its parts. The building is small, but very wonderful. All the walls within are literally covered with images, many of which are exceedingly frightful. What particularly arrested our attention was, the different images of Buddhu, their god; one of which lies upon its side, another stands upright, and a third sits as our tailors do at home when working. The image on its side is about 26 feet in length, and six in breadth at the shoulder; the one standing is about ten feet high; and the one sitting is about three. They are all painted yellow, and made of clay. We retired from the temple with painful sensations on our minds, to find a part of the human race so deeply sunk in heathenish darkness; but we have a humble hope