signs of the great destroyer of men, by preventing hostilities in this case, and inducing the people to return peaceably to their homes, we may hope the Prince of peace shall make war to cease through the length and breadth of the land. Moreover, I am persuaded that much lasting good will result from this visit, as many who had been indifferent to the grand truths of Christianity before, will thus be aroused to consider their importance. On our return, we spent a profitable Sabbath at one of the out-places connected with this station, where Mr. Bumby baptized nearly one hundred adults and children, and twenty-one couples were united in wedlock. About the same number were also baptized and married on this station by the brethren; and, since then, many others have come forward, wishing thus to enrol themselves on the Lord's side. I accompanied the brethren to Waingaroa, Mr. Wallis's station; which place they left three weeks ago, and I trust they have by this time almost reached Hokianga. The Lord be with them, preserve, and prosper them! I have just received a letter from Mr. Turner, from which I learn that he is on the point of leaving for the colony. We are sorry to part with him; and though we are happy in the prospect of his place being so ably and so satisfactorily filled by Mr. Bumby, yet we should have been glad for him also to have remained amongst us. He has been a great blessing to this Mission. His appointment was most providential and opportune; and though he has had to contend with a great fight of afflictions, and a great share of toil and reproach and sorrow has fallen to his lot, yet the effects of his labours will be seen after many days, and he will live in the grateful remembrance both of Preachers and people, when he is gone. Were it not for his family, I should say, this is his place. May the Lord bless him and his! I am thankful to say, the good work is going on in this neighbourhood. Great is the outcry for books; great is the thirst for religious instruction; and great is the need of help. Their spiritual, physical, and temporal condition calls loudly for assistance, and presses heavily on the heart and hands of the solitary Missionary. There is much sickness now prevailing among the natives, and the winter season is trying them much. May the great Friend of the human family send us help out of Zion, and save us ! P.S. If England can and will do anything for New-Zealand as a nation, her charity would be well bestowed; and, unless it be taken under her fostering care, I fear this people will yet fall a prey to the conflicting influences which are pervading the earth. I hear, the Popish Missionaries are increasing in number; and it is said the Romish Bishop is going to the colony to fetch more for the western coast, in addition to five who have just arrived for the eastern. What do these things mean? May He who doeth according to his will in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, arise and maintain his own cause! A deputation from Taranake has lately arrived at this place: their object is to get books and Teachers. I gave them what books I could muster ; and two baptized natives have gone with them as Teachers. But they seem to regard themselves as sheep appointed to the slaughter, and expect the Waikato tribes will give them no rest until they have made a full end of them. O that we had Missionaries for that part, before Popery, or the desolations of war, make it too late! I beg an interest in your prayers. FRIENDLY ISLANDS. ROYAL MARRIAGE AT TONGA. WE doubt not that the following communication from Mr. Tucker will be interesting to many of our readers; and we the more readily give it insertion, because the account which it contains of a royal marriage in the Friendly Islands furnishes matter of more than mere entertainment. The public recognition of marriage as a divine institution, and its connexion with the solemnities and sanctions of Christian worship and ordinances, is one proof, among many others, of the beneficial results of Missionary labours, among a population but lately reclaimed from the licentious habits of Heathenism. TONGATABOO :—Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Charles Tucker, dated" I REGRET that no opportunity has occurred, for several months past, for forwarding communications from this place to England, or to any other part of the civilized world. On this account, I have not written sooner, and, even now, know not when I shall be able to send the letters I am preparing. You will be informed, by the extracts from my jour nal, and those of my colleague, of various particulars connected with our work in the vineyard of the Lord, and of the state of things on this island. On Tuesday, the 14th instant, there was a royal wedding celebrated here. The bridegroom is a Chief of the very highest rank his Christian name is CICERO, and his title Tuibelehaki. He is a Local Preacher. He spent several years of his life at Feejee, and returned to this place near four months ago. But, prior to his coming, he had heard of the charms of the Princess Charlotte, of Vavou, King George's only daughter; and no sooner did he see her than he determined to pay his addresses to her. He wrote, and, according to the custom of the Friendly Isles, soon obtained a direct answer; which was in the affirmative. No sooner was the affair made known, than Josiah Tubou, and the other Chiefs here, requested King George to bring his daughter to Tonga to be married. He acceded to their request, and they immediately began to make preparations for the event on an extensive scale. All the heathen Chiefs, as well as Christian, contributed to it. Great quantities of yams and of native cloth were brought from the different fortresses to Nukualofa; and on the 11th instant, about noon, the fleet from Haabai and Vavou was discovered off this place. It consisted of twenty-six double canoes. A sort of drum was immediately beat, to collect our people together, to prepare kava and food for the reception of the guests. The place was soon in a bustle,-men, women, and children running to see the canoes, some of which were drawing near to shore. The King's canoe, in which were the Queen and the bride, was first, she having outsailed the rest. The scene was lively, and interesting in the extreme * With all due respect for the great Roman Orator, we cannot but think that, if this converted Chief must, on his baptism, change his name at all, he ought to have been advised to substitute a name more "Christian," and, as it seems to us, more suitable in every way, than that of Cicero."-EDIT. to us. The numbers of people on board were immense: there were one hundred and thirty persons in one canoe. As soon as the principal part of the Chiefs and men came on shore, they proceeded with King George to Tubou's residence, to drink kava. The ladies formed another party. The old King sat in the centre of his house; and the Chiefs, according to their name of office, took their stations on each side of him; while the bulk of the people sat opposite. In the evening, we had a great many visiters; and, the next day being Sabbath, we divided the congregations, which were immense. King George preached in the large chapel, in the evening, a very useful and excellent sermon. On Monday the preparations were made on a magnificent scale we reckoned sixty-two baked pigs, besides two hundred baskets of other kinds of food. Tuesday was the day fixed for performing the grand ceremony. The reeding, which formed the sides of the chapel, and the outside fence, were taken away, in order to accommodate, in some measure, the multitude who would assemble to witness the scene. Soon after day-light, the people began to collect in great numbers, Christian and Hea-then. The chief women were engaged, in the meantime, in adorning the bride and bridegroom; and a little before o'clock the lali, or drum," was struck, to give notice that all was ready. We went to the chapel; where there was such a mixed multitude assembled, inside and outside, as I never saw before there,--every one dressed in his best apparel. After waiting a short time, the bride and bridegroom made their appearance; the former walking first, as is the custom here on such occasions, both in going to and returning from the place of worship on the day of marriage. We began the service by singing and prayer; the congregation then chanted the Te Deum; after which Mr. Rabone delivered a short address on the duties of husbands and wives. I then performed the office of marriage, spoke a few words of exhortation, and concluded with singing and prayer. Thus ended one of the most interesting marriage-ceremonies I have ever witnessed in the Friendly Islands. There were two Kings and two Queens present, the Tamaha, all the Chiefs of Haabai and Vavou, with many belonging_to Tongataboo. The bride is a very fine person, quite the image of her father.. ten They are devotedly attached to each other. On Thursday, King George and Queen Charlotte, and the newly-married pair, dined with us. The King preached in the evening, and again on Sunday. We had an abundance of religious services. I should think, there were upwards of one hundred Local Preachers here from Haabai and Vavou. The visiters conducted themselves with the greatest propriety; and, I believe, great good will result from this marriage having taken place at Tonga. Fatu and Maafu, two of the principal heathen Chiefs, as well as WE publish, with sincere regret, the statement contained in the following letter, respecting the apparently entire failure of the health of Mr. Spinney, one of our Missionaries to the Feejee Islands. His afflicted family, we are sure, will have the sympathy and prayers of all our readers. The latter portion of Mr. Thomas's letter evinces the warm and grateful feelings with which our brethren in "the ends of the earth" have received the tidings of our Centenary proceedings at home, and of Mr. Waterhouse's appointment to the general Superintendency of our Missions in Australasia and Polynesia.. VAVOV.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. John Thomas, dated Neiafu, I WROTE you last by a whaler; (the Harriet, of London ;) but as she was not going direct to any port, I think it possible you will receive this, which I send by the Lætitia, before that which I have forwarded by the whaler. I am happy to inform you, that the brethren Peter Turner and Wilson arrived here in safety, about a fortnight ago, in the Camden, Captain Morgan, from Samoa, together with the native Teachers we had sent to that sta too. The brethren are now about to embark on board the Lætitia for Haabai; from thence she is proceeding to Feejee, having Mr. and Mrs. Lyth on board for their station, and Mr. Spinney and family on his way to Sydney. Spinney's complaint is that of consumption. He has not been able to attend to any duties since October last, and all human ground for hope is now taken away as to his recovery. But as he will be able to obtain many helps in Sydney which these islands do not furnish; and as his afflicted wife, with her three small children, would be in very destitute circumstances, in case his death should take place here; he is now about to make the trial. Much praise is due to Mr. Lyth, who has paid the most unwearied and affectionate attention to him from the time he was taken ill. I believe Mr. Mr. Spinney has written to you; and you will know, from what he has said of himself, that we are deeply distressed at parting with our dear brother and sister Spinney, both of whom have earned to themselves a place in the affection of their brethren and sisters here, as well as of the people to whose present and eternal interest they have devoted their lives. We have just now received the Minutes of the Conference for 1838, and a few Periodicals, and also the Watchman from June to November inclusive. We rejoice to find, that the Committee has appointed another Missionary for Vavou; and that the Rev. John Waterhouse is said to have arrived at Hobart-town. These are good tidings. But, O! the news about the Missionary ship for these parts,-this, this is glorious news indeed! and calls for our warmest thanks to the Committee, and to the friends of Missions in general;. but, especially, to the Methodists in good old England, who have so effectively come to the help of the Lord, the help of the Lord against the mighty! Glory be to God! glory be to God! who has put this into your hearts, and has thus lifted up our drooping minds! We exceedingly rejoice for all the good and great things which you are doing, and are about to do, in England. W'e bless the Lord, who has thus inclined you, and our dear fathers and brethren, to devise such liberal things. I am not worthy to speak or to write on the subject of the Centenary of Wesleyan Methodism. I feel myself to be less than the least of God's children, and a mere babe in the good cause; but I wish to cast in my mite to this good work, and to say I do most heartily approve of what you are now doing, and most earnestly do I wish you God speed. I am very thankful that we have received the information of the approaching Centenary before our Annual District-Meeting; as we shall be able to consult together before it takes place, and to bring it before our people, that we may seek the divine blessing, and thus unite with you, and the tens of thousands of our Israel, to glorify God, the Giver of every good and perfect gift. We are looking forward with much pleasure to the time when we shall welcome our dear brother Waterhouse to these shores. We bless the Lord, for having inclined the heart of his servant to offer himself up, and to give up all his friends and fellow-labourers in England, and to come to these ends of the earth. O may he be spared to visit us; and may it prove a great blessing to us all, and to our people! POSTSCRIPT. Wesleyan Mission-House, 77, Hatton-Garden, London, March 18th, 1840. INCOME OF THE WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY FOR THE YEAR 1839. WE are aware that the amount of the Society's income for 1839 is a subject on which many of its friends in the country have indulged very sanguine expectations, anticipating that it might be raised at once to an aggregate of £100,000; and that not a few of them have, in the most generous manner, augmented their contributions, with the view of realizing that anticipation. The Committee, however, whose position enabled them to judge more correctly concerning probabilities, never dared to reckon upon so very large an increase, in one year, of their regular funds; because they could not assure themselves of that universal as well as strenuous effort, which alone could have produced so great and desirable a result; especially in a year distinguished among their Wesleyan friends by unparalleled liberality in behalf of the Centenary Fund, -a Fund from which, indirectly, the Missionary operations of the Society have received, and will yet receive, a large and most seasonable supply of pecuniary aid, in addition to what we have here to report in the form of direct contribution to the Missionary Fund, strictly and properly so called. Taking this extraordinary effort into account, as well as the interruption to the usual course and time of holding Missionary Anniversaries, caused in many places by the Religious Centenary Services held in October last, and the certain reduction of the large sums last year received for Negro School-houses, the Committee's expectations were moderate as to the general aggregate of receipts; but they have, we are truly thankful to state, been much exceeded by the actual results, which to us appear to be, on a view of the whole case, most satisfactory and cheering. Those results are as follows:: 1. The Contributions, including Colonial Public Grants, sent directly to the Mission-house in London, and those received through the exertions of the various Auxiliary Societies, at home and abroad, amount to £. s. d. ..83,754 15 9a N. B. (1.) This item shows an increase, above the Contri- 2. The Legacies received in 1839 amount to N. B. The Legacies received in 1838 amounted to £1,417. 2,672 19 10 3. Special Donations, Dividends, and other Miscellaneous Income... 1,034 19 9* N. B. This is a decrease of £393. 11s 1d. 4. Donations on Annuity for Life N. B. This item exhibits a decrease of £3,827. 5s. 9d.; 975 10 9 3. Parliamentary Grants for 1839, for Negro Schools 1,176 0 0 N. B. This item also shows a decrease of £2,457. 1s. 5d. From the preceding statement it will be seen, 1. That the total or aggregate income of 1839, from all sources, has been £89,614. 6s. 1d.; being a net increase (when the decrease on some necessarily fluctuating amounts is deducted from the augmentation in the rest) of £4,795. 13s. 11d. 2. That this net increase has been mainly derived from the large increase in the regular contributions from both the Home and the Foreign Districts; proving not only the continuance, but the great and steady increase, of the Missionary spirit among the supporters of this Society, and that, as to its ordinary income, its condition is healthy and vigorous, and its prospects highly hopeful. But it is our duty to state, as last year, that the Society's expenditure has again very greatly exceeded even its augmented income! and that the added deficiencies of 1838 and 1839 constitute an actual debt * In the analysis of last year's income, given in the Notices for April, 1839, a sum of £36. 143. was, by mistake, reckoned in the General "Contributions received at the Mission-House," &c., which ought to have been put under the head of "Miscellaneous Income." The error was duly rectified in the revised Account printed in the Report of Income for 1838, pages 99 and 100. The totals were in both cases given correctly, and the comparisons here instituted are founded on the more accurate details inserted in the Report. |