11. As usual, a number of persons | the inhabitants in this city, are remindhave called during the day for books, ed of a long series of what they call and among the rest, a company of five oppressions, by the triennial tax of or six Siamese priests. After receiv- four ticals, which they have this month ing each a book, they walked down to to pay, or go to prison-not a comfortthe banks of the river before our houses able place in this country. and commenced tearing the books in 15. A circumstance occurred a day pieces, and trampling them under their or two since which may illustrate the feet. They then walked through the character of the people with whom we ship yard, scattering the leaves of the live, and show the present state of tracts after them, till all were expend-things in this place. One of our mised. We are credibly informed that our tracts are torn and scattered along the way through the bazaar daily. Many books have been circulated among the Siamese, and much knowledge of Christianity, by this and other means, has been communicated to the people, but we are not aware that an individual of the nation has, while residing in the country, given evidence of piety. The circumstance alluded to above is perhaps one of as much encouragement as any which has come to our knowledge, since it manifests a decided feeling on the subject, though it be one of hostility to the truth. The opium trade-War with Cochin China-Character of the natives. sionary friends sent his servant out with eight or ten ticals, to purchase some necessaries for family use, when he repaired to a gambling house, and spent the money. He returned at night with the report that he had been taken up by the government officers, on the pretext that he was an opium dealer, and that he could be released on no other condition than that of paying all the money he had with him. Seizures for opium dealing are so frequent about the city at this time, that his employer was led for the present to believe the report, and to join in congratulating the poor man on his fortunate escape from prison. It has since appeared that he well deserved the prison for his imposition upon his confiding employer. This is but one of the many instances that might be given to illustrate the perfidy and deceit which are often found in the heathen character. 12. We have learned to-day that a quantity of opium has been found in the hands of a Chinese, who had just purchased it from the naquodah of one of the Bombay ships now in the river. What will be the result to the A missionary, especially on first persons concerned, is not yet deter- coming into the country, needs to be mined, but this much is evident, that particularly cautious, or he will be inthe severity of the penalties now en- volved in constant difficulty by the forced upon the natives who violate faithless natives, who are ever ready to the law in the purchase or use of opi- take advantage of a man's ignorance of um, does not prevent its importation; the language and customs of the counand it is equally evident, that while the try. If in no other way, they will make authorities are imposed upon by smug- such appeals to his sympathy and glers, they in return, inflict punish- benevolence as will secure their obment upon the innocent with the guilty.ject; and a man will generally be taken Daily we hear of persons being appre- with their craftiness many times, behended who are as free from guilt in fore he can persuade himself that the this matter, as any of his majesty's sub-poor creatures would impose upon him, jects. especially if they are persons who have 13. It is now reported that the been taken into the family, and have Prah Klang, with a force of 5000 men, afforded some encouragement of yieldis going to war with the Cochin Chi- ing themselves to the claims of Chrisnese. Chau Kun-Bre-Din, a Siamese tian truth. It is a lamentable fact that officer of high rank, has already gone, they will often make professions of and has sent back for aid. The Cal-attachment to our religion, for the sake edonia, one of the Siamese vessels of better succeeding in their selfish built in European style, is taking on board guns for the expedition. From present appearances it would be somewhat remarkable if a long time should pass without witnessing some revolution in the government of Siam. The Chinese, by far the greatest portion of designs. On the other hand we need to be watchful and prayerful lest this view of the heathen character, however true, should lessen in us the little compassion we have for their souls. The weather is now oppressively hot; still we are preserved in mercy from disease, and are allowed to go on junks, the encampment, and two other with our employments. Chína. EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER OF MR. SHUCK, DATED macao, aug. 20, 1840. We have, in the extracts given below, a brief account of the seizure and abduction of the English missionary at Macao, and of the hostile attack by the British forces, which was its consequence. Our readers have doubtless been made acquainted with the principal facts through the public papers, but the subjoined sketch has the advantage of being from an eyewitness, and a Christian missionary. places. At three o'clock a large body of British troops landed on the Chinese territory, formed on the beach, marched deliberately onward amid volleys of musketry, and were in possession of the Barrier and encampment within five minutes' time. A brisk fire was kept up all the time by the ships, and the troops threw grape-shot into the took on shore with them. Having set junks from a field-piece which they fire to the encampment, and nearly destroyed the junks, they re-embarked about sunset. I saw nearly the whole and was within 200 yards of some of the British balls. We could have witnessed the engagement from our windows, had it not been for trees interAbduction of Rev. Mr. Stanton-Battle vening. I saw several of the poor at the Barrier-Defeat of the Chinese. creatures fall, and my feelings were Yesterday was a day of excitement, indescribable, at seeing my fellow-men beyond all precedent in the past histo- thus hurriedly plunged into eternity. ry of Macao, a day of anxiety, of war, I deprecate war in all its forms, but the blood-shed, and death. Two weeks Chinese government is hostile, essenago this morning, one of our mission- tially and practically hostile, to the ary circle, Mr. Stanton, a young Eng- great God and to the cause of his Son, lish missionary of much piety and and it would be no great cause of relearning, was seized by the Chinese as gret to me were the whole fabric soon an Englishman, and, wounded and to fall, to rise no more, before the face bloody, was carried to Canton and of offended heaven. The number of thrust into prison, where he now is. the Chinese killed and wounded yesHe went out to bathe in the sea alone terday, which, however, it is almost imat five o'clock in the morning, and we possible accurately to ascertain, must only heard of his abduction three days have been three or four hundred; after it occurred, although every rea- while of the British not a man, it is said, sonable effort was made to learn some- was killed, and only a few slightly thing of him. Capt. Smith, chief of wounded. We slept sweetly and safely that portion of the British squadron last night. God knows those who are now in this part of China, demanded his. He is our refuge, and we have Mr. Stanton's release. The taoutae no burdensome anxiety nor unhappi(intendant of circuit,) then in Macao, ness. Many rumors are afloat consaid he would repair to Canton, con- cerning the operations of the fleet on sult with the tsungtuk (governor,) and the northeast coast, but not sufficiently hoped to bring Mr. S. back with him. authenticated to warrant me in detailThe taoutae returned night before ing them here. We are all in only last, not only not bringing Mr. Stanton, tolerable health. Pray for us. I know but bringing a large body of troops, not what may be the next step the and threatened to attack the houses of British may take. I doubt whether the English in Macao, in which event yesterday's proceedings will make Mr. all other foreigners would have suffer-Stanton's situation any more secure ; ed. Evening before last, some Eng- I have many fears for his safety. lishmen were fired upon, while riding In a note dated August 3, Mr. S. thus speaks out. Yesterday, Capt. Smith receiving of the occupancy, by the British forces, of the nothing but insolence from the Chinese, at one o'clock in the day, moored island of Chusan, in July last. in two of his ships of war, also a large war-steamer and a cutter, and opened a heavy cannonade upon the garrisoned Barrier, which separates the Portuguese and Chinese territories. At this place also were fifteen war-junks, and a large encampment of Chinese soldiers. The Chinese returned the fire, from the The city of Tinghae is in lat. 30o N. There has the British flag been hoisted (July 5th, 1840,) under a royal salute, and Brigadier Gen. Burrell proclaimed governor of the Chusan Archipelago. This is a portion of the fertile and beautiful Province of Chekeang. At Chusan there are now tens of thou sands of Chinese on their own soil, few days, having been not above 90°; who are accessible to the Christian-generally from 800 to 850 in the heat missionary, and at the same time not of the day. Our children who were under the absolute control of either sick more than half of the time at PaCatholics or mandarins. tras, have been in excellent health all Creece. EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER OF MR. LOVE, DATED CORFU, OCT. 8, 1840. The letter from which the following extracts are made, is not of so recent a date as that contained in the February number of the Magazine, yet we doubt not its contents will be interesting to our readers. The transaction to which it chiefly refers, the baptism of the Greek convert Apostolos,-is an important event, in its bearing upon the character and prospects of the mission. We trust this will be to the Greeks but a dawning of light, which shall, ere long, open to a perfect day. We regret to say that later accounts from Mr. L. left him in a very feeble state, from another severe attack of illness which occurred about the first of November. The prospect of his recovery must now be considered very uncertain, and we look with anxiety for the next intelligence from him. State of Mr. Love's health-Climate of Corfu-Tract distribution. The summer has been to me one of great feebleness. Since my last, I have had three attacks of the spasmodic affection, and two of the country fever. The most of the time, however, I have been able to walk out or ride, but unfit for any active business. One of the attacks of the spasmodic affection was attended with high inflammation. The disease, however, continued but a few hours, and I was confined to the bed but a few days. This tenement of clay would, I think, be able to endure but a few more such attacks. Sometimes I have thought that my poor instrumentality was almost done, and rest at hand. But still our Father gives us to hope. The climate of Corfu is, I am quite certain, better adapted to my constitution, than any other just in these parts. Since our arrival at this place, I have had none of those severe colds, and oppressions at the lungs, from which I suffered so frequently at Patras. It has been unusually unhealthy, I learn, at Patras the past summer, the temperature for many days being above 1000 Fahrenheit. But not so at Corfu. I have felt no oppression from the heat-the temperature, except for a summer. My feebleness, as I have already intimated, has precluded me, for the most part during the summer, from active labor; we hope, however, that we have not been here in vain. I preached for Mr. Lowndes in English as much as I was able, during the two months that he was absent at the lower islands The exercises inspecting schools. were in the evening, and being unable at that hour to go to the school house, where Mr. Lowndes worships, we had of the last meetings the two rooms in which the service was held, were crowded, about seventy-five persons being present, and double the number which at first attended. The truth was listened to with much apparent interest, and a few conversions have ensued. Indeed our little congregation appears very much like the beginning of an American revival. the services in our own house. Some A week before Mr. Lowndes' return, I had an attack of the fever; since which I have not attempted to preach. We have had considerable religious conversation with our English friends, and particularly with some pious Wesleyan soldiers, and by their hands have sent many thousand pages of tracts into the citadel. The tracts have been extensively read. The number of hopeful conversions is four, and in two of the cases the tracts, I think, were particularly instrumental. One of these was a poor sick man in the hospital, who has since passed from time into eternity. The two regiments at Corfu, about to be relieved by three new ones from England, are soon to embark for the West Indies. They have applied to me for a large quantity of American tracts, particularly for the voyage thither. Our labors among the natives have been chiefly carried on through our assistant, Apostolos. He is a man of God. I preached a few times in Greek, in the earlier part of the summer, but feebleness not allowing the effort, I had to relinquish it about the first of July. Since which time I have attempted nothing directly, except personal religious conversation with those who have, from time to time, called at our house. Baptism of Apostolos-Its effect upon | the command of Jesus in this ordithe minds of the Greeks-A candidate for the priesthood. The 12th of August was to us a day of interest. We repaired to a beautiful little bay of the Mediterranean, and, sheltered there from a noontide sun by the branches of an aged olive, I read and explained the sixth chapter of Romans. We then sang a Greek hymn in the tune "Greenville," and prayed. After which, I baptized Apostolos εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρός καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ zal Tov Aylov Пlvεúuatos. We came up out of the water, and again commended ourselves to God by prayer, supplicating his blessing upon the act, which, in obedience to his command, we had just performed, and in imploring his mercy upon the perishing multitudes among whom we dwell. It was a day too of deep interest to our beloved Greek brother. How fervently, before descending into the symbolical grave of his crucified Lord, did he pray for a complete death to sin! and after coming up out of the water, how earnestly did he supplicate the grace of God, and the constant abiding of the Holy Spirit, that he might walk in newness of life, and adorn, by a godly conversation, the profession which he had now made in the presence of a number of witnesses. Two pious English friends, an officer of the medical staff, and his lady, with whom we were spending a little time in the country for the benefit of my health, accompanied us to witness this interesting scene. An entire nance, and it was attended with a peace of mind which he represented that he had never before felt. He was accustomed, in his own conclusive way of reasoning, frequently to say, "My parents put me into the water when I was an infant, as they would dip a stick. But how that can be my obeying the command of God to be baptized, I am not able to see.” Our English friends present, saw in the administration of this ordinance a dawning for Greece. Others, perhaps, may see a darkening. As for me, the command being clear, the duty was plain. The transactions of this 12th of *The baptism had been delayed some time in consequence of my ill health. Math. 28: 19-20. "HogɛvGirtes padŋτεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τό ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ του Αγίου Πνεύματος, διδάσκοντες αὐτούς τηρείν πάντα ὅσα ἐνετειλάμην υμῖν. ΚΑΙ Ιδού, Εγώ μεθ ̓ ὑμῶν εἰμι πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας, sws Tis ourtelɛias toù alávos. 'Aμiv” "Go make disciples of all nations, immersing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things, as many as I have commanded you. And lo, I will be with you al ways, even to the end of the world. Amen." 66 ("elui," will be with you, etc.") The Greek indicative present is frequently expressive in a high degree, of emotion, of determination, of affirmation, of assurance,-better expressed in English, by the auxiliaries "shall" and "will" emphatic,-of which the above, I think, is an instance. So also the following, "If I go and prepare a place for you, I 'will' come again, zouar ] I will not leave you orphans, I Where will come to you," [gzouan.' ] two or three are met together in my name, change has recently taken place in there will I be" ['èmi.' ] "From hencetheir views with reference to the or- forth ye 'will' know him," ['ytrwozete'] dinance, and this was the first scriptu- John xiv. 7. The idiom is very common in ral baptism which the doctor had ever modern Greek, a fact overlooked, I think, by witnessed. It was delightful to see how the translators of the modern Greek Scriptures. the simplicity and significance of the " And I will be with you."] It seems to me ordinance witnessed for God, in their this "and." It is the connecting link between that the missionary should contemplate well minds, though they had the disadvan- the last command of our crucified and arisen tage of understanding nothing of the Lord, and a promise big with glory. exercises connected with it, only as "Make disciples," " Baptize them," "Teach them." These are the injunctions-obey them, Mrs. Love briefly interpreted. A num"And"-O! blessed assurance!-"I will be ber of Greeks, attracted to the spot by with you always, to the end of time.-"One word our reading, singing, and prayers, more. This command of our sovereign Head, seated themselves under an adjacent "to preach the gospel to all nations," was given tree, and witnessed the ordinance in a to his disciples not as individuals, but as a body. Not that every individual of the body is to very respectful and becoming manner. preach the gospel to the heathen,—but rather The crew of a small craft, moored at that this body might participate in the acts of the beach a few rods distant, looked on all its members. Participation," then, is ensilently, and with much apparent in- joined upon every disciple of Jesus. And let terest. Apostolos has a son of sixteen, every disciple participate in the work, "and" the only surviving member of his fam-Jesus will be most assuredly with them, both at ily, who was also present. Our brother has long desired to obey "Go," home and abroad. Glorious is this privilege! but yet responsibility as weighty as eternity, is resting on the church of the living God. August are well known throughout the city of Corfu, and generally throughout the island. The reproach of "sprinkling," so many times cast upon the missionaries, and upon us in common with others, by the natives, is, so far as we are concerned, wiped away. They say of us no more, that we are "no Christians because we have not been baptized." I have never seen a Greek belonging to the Greek church, who regarded any thing other than immersion, as baptism. But the bearing of this transaction on the subject of "Believers' Baptism," is by far more important. Intelligent Greeks understand that their present practice of baptizing unconscious infants is an innovation; that it was their ancient practice to baptize only disciples. The following ancient formula touching this point is still every where read in the churches, and to an understanding Greek carries with it all the force of demonstration. “Oσoi xarηzovμεvoι лoоέzɛte” (literally) “as many as are catechumens, come forward." It was the declaration of the officiating priest in ancient times,(and kept up still, as a mere matter of form,) when he came forth to read the liturgy in connection with administering the eucharist, and its import is, that those who do not sustain the character of zanzovμe voi, not being baptized into the church, are to withdraw, a laconic mode of speaking, by which in addressing an affirmative to one class, the negative is announced to another; and when a part, and the first part, is put for the whole and what naturally succeeds. And as the word "zaτηzovμɛvoi” necessarily implies understanding, on the part of the candidate for baptism, so the question "what class of persons were baptized, whether infants or otherwise," is, in the mind of the Greek, without controversy. They know that we do not baptize our little children, and that we require as a pre-requisite to baptism, a state of mind that an infant is incapable of possessing. And on learning the practice of Baptists they not unfrequently reply" xala, for so our fathers anciently did." 66 There is still another view which our Greek friends take of the subject, which, to me, is no less interesting. Referring to the baptism of Apostolos, say they, "It accuses our faith. But are we not the orthodox! the peculiar people of God-the only Christians!! To these questions we answer them distinctly, "No." Except ye repent and be converted to God, and cease from sinning, and from loving your sins, you cannot be saved." Since the baptism of Apostolos, the spirit of inquiry seems to be greatly on the increase. There are, perhaps, twelve or fifteen intelligent Greeks in Corfu, who have been met, inch by inch, on the whole system of Christianity, according to the New Testament, and completely vanquished. They are now searching "the scriptures, to see if these things be so." Oh! sir, if this be of the Holy Spirit, these poor perishing souls will be converted. But if not, they will fall away into infidelity. We are making some arrangements with reference to publishing Wayland's Elements of Moral Science, which we now have in manuscript. A young Greek, educated in the Ionian University, for the priesthood, and now engaged as one of the teachers of the High School in Santa Maura, has been in Corfu a number of weeks of late, petitioning the Senate to release him from his obligations to become a priest. The Senate are highly displeased, and charge him with changing his religion. They give him six months in which to return to the church, and be ordained, or they will then take from him his situation. The young man declares that on no condition can he submit to the silly rites of the church, or comply with a requisition so repugnant to the dictates of his conscience; that auricular confessions and forgiveness of sins by the priesthood have no place in the Bible, and as for worshipping pictures, relics, saints, "the all holy Virgin," etc., it is the grossest idolatry; that he would have no objection to be ordained, if it were only to teach the scriptures; but all the above, with the appointed fasts and feasts, he will have nothing to do with. This young man copies our manuscript of Wayland's Philosophy for the use of the professor of Theology and Moral Philosophy, in the Ionian University, for which service he receives from the professor ten dollars. He has obtained about fifty subscribers at Corfu. The entire cost of one thousand copies of the work (the abridgement somewhat enlarged from the whole work) will be, I think, about five hundred dollars, exclusive of the cost of preparing it, overseeing the printing, etc. It may be printed at Patras, if we have a missionary there, for perhaps something less. A new press has recently arrived, and a week |