of the distinguished respect with which I have the honour to salute you. (Signed) B. INGINACE, Secretary to the Government. Mr. Reynolds, Commander (or Master) of the Ship Hebe. Letter from Mr. M. HEAD to Mr. JAMES WOOD. New Providence, Aug. 9, 1816. REV. AND DEAR SIR, I LEFT Abaco Saturday morning, July 27th. On my taking leave of the people there we sang and wept together, and commended each other to God by fervent prayer. It was truly affecting to see so many of the inhabitants following me at the boat side, and to hear their ardent desires for another preacher as soon as possible. They have a very neat little chapel, and two rooms for the preacher, with a convenient kitchen, all which have been built since I came among them. The seats in the chapel are all let. Were a preacher among the people there, I doubt not that much good would be done, for their hearts seem prepared to receive the word of truth. The people at Abaco are in general very poor, and hence cannot do much towards the support of a preacher, but they are willing to do all in their power. When I left the District in the month of April, I went by way of Harbour Island, (as no direct opportunity offered for Abaco) and after remaining there a few days, I proceeded towards my destination. When, after we had been out at sea four days, we drew near to a small isle on the coast of Abaco, about 64 miles from my appointed place; the Captain, at my request, ordered the boat to be let down, and some of the crew to row me on shore; as I had proposed to let the vessel go on with my luggage, and intended to prosecute the remainder of my journey in boats, and visit the small isles as I went along, After rowing about a mile from the vessel I had left, we came up with some fishermen, who at my request readily gave me a passage to their isle. On my arrival there I was conducted to one of the most respectable cottages in the place, the owner of which bade me sit down, and told me I was welcome to remain at his house as long as I chose. After having expressed my gratitude to to him for his kind invitation, I went and conversed with the people from cottage to cottage, and informed them that I intended to preach to them the next morning, which was the Lord's day. I read prayers, and preached twice: they all heard very attentively, and many of them appeared to feel the word. The next day, after being in an open boat, exposed to the scorching sun, about nine hours, we arrived at another isle, where I found many persons who had never heard a sermon. I conversed with a number of them, and proposed preaching; they unanimously agreed to attend, and assembled under a large tree, where they heard with deep attention. I believe that some of them felt the force of the divine truths which I was enabled to deliver upon the occasion. A poor man requested me to accept of a supper and lodging at his house that night, which invitation I readily accepted. The next day, after encountering the danger arising from a heavy thunder storm at sea, I arrived in another isle, where I preached in the evening. During the last quarter I visited almost all the settlements both north and southward of our chapel at Abaco, to the distance of about 80 miles. My time being so much taken up with the affairs of the chapel, prevented me from paying another visit to those parts. Through mercy, notwithstanding hard labour, &c. my health is good. I feel great delight in my Divine Master's work; and the more hardships I am called to endure, I experience the more spiritual consolation. I have received some letters from bro thers Moore and Ward, the former of whom has been unwell, but is now much recovered. The work of the Lord prospers in the hands of those brethren. Brothers Rutledge and Dowson are well, and going on prosperously in bringing sinners to God, and in building up believers. I am, dear Sir, your's, &c. MICHAEL HEAD. Extract of a Letter from Mr. M. HEAD, to a Friend in Jersey. Bahamas, August 18, 1816. DEAR FRIEND, THIS is Lord's day, about 5 o'clock, here, your bed-time in Jersey; for our time is four hours and a half later than with you. We have just come to an anchor for the night; we have been enduring a tremendous storm; I am on my voyage to Long Island, my new circuit. I left Abaco about a fortnight ago:-We have a neat little chapel there. After being out about a week, we landed at New Providence. The Bahama Islands are computed to be about 500 in uumber, large and small; but I can venture to say there are many more, some of them mere Pecks. At this season of the year it is very dangerous to go out of harbour, for the hurricanes are expected every hour. Det New Providence, and am no further than a hundred miles from it this evening. What a sabbath hath this been! nothing to be seen but water and rocks, and a heavy storm almost all day. Oh! what courage, faith, patience, zeal, and prudence are necessary for a poor Missionary in this part of the world! This is our hottest time of the year; many officers, as well as inhabitants, have observed to me they never remembered such a hot summer in their lives. After preaching we are obliged to change all our clothes. Our hours for divine service on the Lord's day are, five in the morning, when a prayer meeting is held; nine, for preaching, and at four in the afternoon; we have also preaching three times on the week evenings. This is in Providence, but we preach more on the neighbouring isles, so called. Through mercy I have enjoyed good health, and thanks be to the Lord, he has preserved me hitherto in the midst of fevers and contagious disorders of various kinds, which are ineident to a country like this. I can assure you, no person has any business here except he is prepared for death every moment. Thursday, 22d. The Captain offered to take any letter which I might have to forward to England, for he has charge of the mail, and is going to land me, and then go on to the furthest isle in the Bakamas to meet the British Packet. The Packet never comes further than the first island towards Jamaica; the coast is so dangerous that a vessel is kept on purpose, with a good pilot. I waited on His Excellency the Governor, to get permission to go in her, and to be at Long Island. He very readily granted my request, and gave the Captain orders; therefore it is one consulation, I am favoured with a good vessel, and good pilots; one on board, and the best of all, in heaven. We have had tremendous storms: the storms here are not as at home, for in a moment, when all appears fair, the thunder, lightning, and wind, come and knock the vessel on her beamends, except all sails are let go in a moment. Through mercy I can sit up in the cabin and read, and walk the deck a little; but it is oppressively hot, so that there is no showing on deck by day: poor black men chiefly steer by the direction of a white man below, in the cabin stairs. When I consider how the Lord has preserved me amongst contagious fevers, and the effects of the sun, I am quite astonished at his goodness; and it is my grief that I do not love him more than I do. I feel my mind drawn to covenant afresh with him from this hour, and to be more zealous in his vineyard, and to give my soul more fully to him. I believe it is my duty to work for God while I have it in my power. I intend to spare no time or strength, but to devote the whole to him on Long Island, come what may. I am inclined to think I shall not stand it long, but let God look to that; and his will be done. Friday, 23d. I expect to land to-mor row, if the breeze continue; we have had a long passage ever since Snnday morning the 14th, but the win of the Lord be done in all things. I remain, your's, in the best of bonds, MICHAEL HEAD. NEW SOUTH WALES. INTELLIGENCE has at length been received of the arrival of Mr. LEIGH at this distant colony. He landed there in July, 1815, and commenced preaching at Sidney, and some other places. The vessel in which he sailed left New South Wales in September, 1815, but Mr. LEIGH postponed writing until the Packet sailed. By that conveyance he sent his letters and journal, but as the Packet met with some accident at sea, they have not yet been received. After so long a delay, it is however very satisfactory to hear of the ar rival and the commencement of the labours of this Brother; and also a pleasing account of his diligence in religious duties during the voyage, from the person who made this communication. The Missionaries, Messrs. Fox, OSBORNE, and NEWSTEAD, for Ceylon, after being driven back by the dreadful gales of November 10th, 11th, and 12th, finally sailed from Portsmouth on the 22d. Their past preservation calls for gratitude, and we trust their future preservation in the hands of Him whom winds and seas obey. The following extract from Mr. Fox's journal, will be read with great interest. Nov. 9. It blows a furious gale. The sea runs literally mountains high; the vessel pitches very much. We have run all day under a single sail, (fore-top-sail), and that reduced to the smallest size, been close reefed. Brothers O. and N. very sick, all the rest well. Nov. 10. This morning I awoke very early by a considerable thumping somewhere aft in the ship. We were running with a strong breeze, and ours was the lee side, which was considerably in the water. The noise seemed to come from the rudder tackling. I was a little alarms ed, knowing, that if the weather tackling gave way, we should be laid on the beam ends at once. I arose, and with difficulty thrust my cabin door open, and down fell sheaves, blocks, &c. with such a noise that alarmed the whole ship, none knowing what was the matter. I called out up the fore hatch-way, "The lee tackle of the rudder is unshipped;" the captain when he saw it, said," Thank God, it is not the weather tackling." In about an hour, things were put right without further mischief. It has been so stormy and squally, that we have not been able to have public worship to-day. We have consecrated my cabin for a temple. Nov. 11. This last night I have scarcely slept; it has been blowing hard all night. Ours has been the weather side, and our feet have been higher than our heads. I was afraid of the rudder tackling failing again. About five this evening, it began to blow one of the most tremendous gales I ever witnessed; by my account we were about lat. 49 deg. 30 min. north; lon. 4 deg. 30 min. west. About five, P. M. I was on deck, assisting in hauling in the sails. When I went below, I left the fore-stay-sail up, and the fore-top-sail close reefed. I had not been many minutes absent from the deck, when one of the seamen came into my cabin, saying, "I know not what will become of us all; the wind has just carried away our fore-top-sail as clean as possible." The main top-sail was then hoisted and close reefed, and in a few minutes it shared the fate of the fore-top-sail, and the wind threatened to carry our masts also. I now saw the wise providence of God in causing the rudder tackling to fail the day before; had it failed now, we had gone to the bottom at once. The sea raged and waved dreadfully, and the wind made a terrific howling in the masts and rigging. The ship was laid nearly on its side to save the masts, and it was a perpetual effort to keep her there. The pumps were manned, but we had no leak. Brother O. was sick in his cot. Brother N. was laid on our sofa till he was thrown off upon deck; it was difficult to hold fast in any place. Mrs. O. was with us. I believe, not one of our little troop expected to see the morning, myself excepted. While the masts remained, the vessel water tight, and the helm manageable, I had but little fear. The seaman performed wonders; they did all that men could do, and providentially none were washed overboard. The ship was tossed about like a straw, and from the amazing agita tion of the sea, the few stars that ap peared, and the scudding clouds, appeared to have a motion equal to the flight of an arrow through the air. Having death just before us, I asked each of the company, if they did not now repent having embarked in the great cause, and if they did not wish they were in some other place? They all answered, No, we wish to be no where but where we are; we are willing to die, and go to be with God forever. My heart was sensibly touched. I saw a scene which I have heard orators attempt to paint: a little tribe of the ser vants of Jesus Christ, looking over the bounds of time without an anxious thought, amid the most awful war of contending elements. The dreadful storm continued with unabated fury till day-light, and the returning light invited one of the most appalling scenes I ever witnessed. Those who had been at sea twenty years, declared, they had seen nothing like it. Towards mid-day, the weather moderated, and the moderated state was a storm, and we unitedly gave thanks to our God, whose kind hand had screened us in the storm. We now steered N. E. endeavouring to run into some bay or harbour till the wind changed. We are all thankful for this kind interposition of Providence in our favour, which has excited feelings that cannot be described, and can never be forgot. The following is an Extract from a joint SINCE We last wrote, our exercises have furnished a few particulars. After we left the Downs, on Monday, Nov. 4, with much tacking, in a few days, we had nearly got out of the English Channel; when last Monday, the 11th, about four o'clock, P. M. a very heavy storm came on; about six we lost our fore-top-sail about nine our main-top-sail; both were clearly carried away, and we fully expected to have been driven of the wind 3 if we had, in all probability we had been wrecked. Much consternation appeared in most on board; but we were graciously supported; we knew the ways of the Lord were mysterious; yet we had a sort of confidence that we should be saved. We had two ports in view-Heaven and Ceylon, and which to choose we knew not. We felt happy in our circunstances, rejoicing that we were on such an errand, and had not the slightest wish to be any where else. We must acknowledge we felt much affection, at that time, for our good friends in Londen, and different parts of England; but much more for the heathen. This storm continued till the next evening, since then we have been sailing back, and the captain intende ing at anchor till the wind is favour, We have had a little trial of our faith, and I doubt not but it will teach us its itter from Mr. NEWSTEAD to Mr. BENSON. Portsmouth, Nov. 21, 1818. RET. AND DEAR SIR, i am, your affectionate Servant P. S. While detained here, and hindwed from my usual and regular pursuits, 79 FAREWELL TO ENGLAND. ENGLAND, farewell! a happier land than thee I have not seen, nor e'er expect to see; So fair thy beauties, and thy faults so few, "O bless my country, heaven!" a Patriot So sweet thy comforts, and thy sons so true. "O bless my country!" Christian hearts recried, plied; But heaven had answered ere that prayer was And blest her with his own Eternal Word. are seen In all the sweet variety of green. lair. Here mighty rivers roll their ample tide, scene, Like beauteous silver net-work spread on GOD IS LOVE. TROU, at whose touch the snow-clad moun- Eternal Wisdom! touch my lips profane! My lips breathe eloquence divine! for not Love has so long existed ;-God is love! Whate'er the bright effulgence of thy sun, orbs, Nature's whole system speaks its Maker kind! change Of day and night, the painted landscape round Of evening mild, the sweetly varied song, Proclaim him good-Lord of this blest do main. ceive? Consummate beauty! test of skill divine! Transmitted fair, in strains by heaven in- These had the gloomy bigot read abash'd, Fell from his perfect beauty, pure desire, above A brighter paradise than Eden's groves ; The promis'd Seed was giv'n; the fulness then itself No more contains the astonishment and joy, man. Oh! join the transports of th' angelic choir, What ruffian band is that?-whom do they Betray'd, insulted, through a scoffing crowd? Whom do they scourge?-whom crown with thorns remorseless! Yet, hold barbarians! snatch me from the sight Ye whirlwinds! Crush me, mountains!- Horrid! on the cross they strain, they nail rise; Nor this the least, for which my thanks I pay, New heart, new spirit, and new life be mi ne Printed at the Conference-Office, 14, City-Road, London, by T. CORDEUX, Agent, |