the beginning of April; but experienced a relapse at the end of March, which, in about a fortnight, brought her to the grave. Her Sister will greatly feel this bereavement; as, by advices received since those which we quoted in a former part of this Number, the Schools under her care had increased to 15, and contained nearly 400 Girls; and an opening had been obtained for instructing the Native Females of the higher classes. J. W. Sherer, Esq. a Member of the Calcutta Corresponding Committee,arrived, on the 17th of April, in the "Asia," Captain Balderson. Mrs. Sherer, who is Sister to the Rev. Daniel Corrie, had returned, with their children, a considerable time since. The Rev. Messrs. Maisch and Reichardt (see p. 37) left Madras on the 1st of October, and arrived at Calcutta on the 20th. Mr. Reichardt was to be stationed at Mirzapore with Mr. Jetter, and Mr. Maisch at Burdwan with Mr. Deerr, till they had obtained some proficiency in Bengalee: it had been in contemplation that they should proceed to Titalya, in order to prosecute the labours of the late Mr. Schroeter; but the lamented death of Major Latter, which took place in October, prevented the execution of this plan. Mr. Sawyer did not accompany them from Madras to Calcutta ; it having been arranged between the Corresponding Committees of Calcutta and Madras, that he should occupy the place of the Rev. Isaac Wilson, who was to remove to Calcutta. London Missionary Society. The Rev. Henry Townley and Mrs. Town. ley have returned home in the Asia, both improved in health by the voyage. The following extract of a Letter from him while at sea conveys afflicting intelligence:→ Awful have been the visitations in Bengal, as it respects death, during the past year. You will, I apprehend, already have been informed, by Letters despatched before we sailed, of the removal of that hard-working labourer, Mr. Keith, from his work to his reward. A mysterious providence followed the blow, by shortly after removing Mrs. Keith; and, a few days after that, Mr. Bankhead: they all lived together in the same house in Calcutta; and are, we hope, now living together in a better habitation, not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. On the 27th of February, Mr. and Mrs. Massie, appointed to Madras, sailed from the Downs for that city, in the Pyramus, Capt. Brodie and on the 9th of March, Mr. and Mrs. Crow, appointed to Quilon, South Tavancore, sailed from the Downs for Bombay, in the Euphrates, Capt. Meade. Mr. Peter Wright (see p. 350 of the last Volume) arrived at the Cape, on the 28th of November, after a passage of nearly 15 weeks, on his way to Kurreechane. The New Chapel at Cape Town was opened on Sunday the 8th of December, About 1000 rix-dollars were collected after three Sermons. Mr. J. Williams, on his return, in April, from Port Jackson to Raiatea (see p. 261 of the last Volume), again visited New Zealand. It is encouraging to find, from his testimony, in connection with that of Mr. Leigh in a preceding page, that the labours of the Settlers, in the midst of their difficulties, both from without and within, have been the means of preparing the Natives for that better state to which it is the great object of Christians to bring them. He writes We have been at New Zealand now three times, two or three weeks each time; and the language being somewhat similar to the Tahitian, I can converse withthem very well. I had three of them cut: ting grass for my heifers which I have on board they asked me if they must work on the Sabbath Day: I told them, No; certainly not. I have conversed with some on the propriety of regarding the Sabbath Day: they told me they regarded it all over the land as a day in which they did no work: whether it is so or not I cannot tell. All that is wanted at New Zealand, I think, is ac tive exertion. More good itinerant Missionaries, with the blessing of God, will turn the lion-like New Zealander into the humble and peaceful Christian. They are very kind to us. The Deputation from the Society to the South-Sea Mission, with Mr. Ellis, Missionary at Huaheine, and two Christian Natives with their Wives, were conveyed, in the early part of last year, in H. M. Cutter the Mermaid, to the Sandwich Islands, in their way to the Marquesas, where the Native Christians were to be settled as Teachers. Circumstances, however, prevented their proceeding to the Marquesas: and earnest invitations having been given, by the Chiefs and people, to Mr. Ellis and the Huaheine Natives to settle at the Sandwich Islands, it had been determined, with the full concurrence of the American Missionaries, that the invitation should be accepted. From the similarity of the language to that of the Society Islands, Mr. Ellis was able, in a few weeks, to address the Natives with ease and fluency. Wesleyan Missionary Society. Mr. and Mrs. Close, both in a state of ill health, have returned from Negapatam (see p.53). Mr. John Frederick England left Gravesend, in the ship Madras, Captain Clarke, to join Mr. Lynch at Madras, when Mr. Hoole would proceed to Seringapatam. Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher for St. Vincent's, Mr. and Mrs. Murray for Grenada, and Mr. Stephenson for Tobago, lately sailed from Bristol in the ship Henry Carter. In the middle of June, Mr. Lawry, with his family and several Mechanics, left Port Jackson, in the St. Michael, for Tongataboo, to begin a Mission in that quarter, under promising circumstances. Sir. Thomas Brisbane had presented to him, out of the Government Stock, eight cows, a bull, and six. sheep, to remain on the island for breeding. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. From February 21, to April 19, 1823. The Collections, Benefactions, and School Fund, will appear in the next Number. Wellington (Somerset) 12 18 1- 160 10 9 65 3 6 432 14 5 Wells 20 8 5 230 7 7 475 14 O 21 7 0 10 8 6 1 145 O 23 14 9 1190 9 11 Workington (Cumberland) 5436 8 7 Yoxall and Hamstall 53 Missionary Register. MAY, 1823. Biography. LIFE OF MATTHEW STACH. IN the Life of the Missionary Egede and the Supplement to that Life, given in our Volume for 1821, the principal circumstances were, stated relative to the foundation and present condition of the Danish Mission to Greenland, and were illustrated by a Map of the Western Coast of that country: that Mission was begun in 1721, The first entrance of the United Brethren into this inhospitable field was in 1733; which year was marked by the arrival of their Missionaries, Christian David, Matthew Stach, and Christian Stach. Matthew Stach was an eminent servant of this Mission. In our account of Mr. Egede (p. 174 of the Volume for 1821) we promised to lay a Narrative of Matthew Stach's Life before our Readers. In fulfilment of this purpose, we shall now give a Memoir of this distinguished Missionary, contained in the First Volume of the "Periodical Accounts;" interweaving with it such extracts from Crantz's Greenland, as may present a view of the foundation and early progress of the Brethren's Mission in that country. Narrative of his Earlier Years This Narrative is given in Mr. Stach's own words. I was born at Mankendorf in Mo. ravia, March 4th, 1711. My father, Christian Stach, was a pious man; and laboured diligently, though under great oppression, in the Gospel, among the few remaining in Moravia. The first occasion of my having serious impressions upon my mind, was a circumstance apparently insignificant. I was sitting and crying, that, in a distribution of cake among my companions, I had been neglected. My father reproved me for it, and said, "Ah, my Son, could I but once see thee weep as earnestly on account of thy sins!" These words pierced me to the heart, and I retained a lasting impression of them. May, 1823. In the summer season, I was chiefly employed in tending cattle in the fields; and, in winter, my father taught me, at home, to read and write, fearing lest, if I went to school, I might be hurt by bad examples. He did not agree with the Roman-Catholic custom of administering the Sacrament to children of seven or eight years old, and therefore kept me from it. I remember, about that age, to have been in great distress of mind about my soul's salvation, so that I often wished to have been any creature rather than a man. In my twelfth year, I entered into service; and, being no more under my father's immediate inspection, soon got a hankering after the vanities and pleasures of the world; though I was not able to launch out as others did, owing to my father's being counted a heretic, and the 2 D young men of the village shunning his connections. Whenever I visited him, his words penetrated into my heart, and brought back my former reflections. When I was sixteen, I moved to Zauchenthal, a place noted for licentiousness; and, alas! soon began to relish it myself. However, God was pleased to bless the frequent admonitions of a friend of my father's, called Melchior Conrad; who, by representing the dangers which I was exposed to, prevailed on me to resolve, that, as soon as I could save a little money, I would leave the country, and join the emigrants who then had settled at Hernnhut, in Upper Lusatia: but, being at my father's house on Palm Sunday, it happened that a cousin of mine, Martin Franke, was there, from Hernnhut; and I felt a great desire to accompany him on his return. He endeavoured, by every argument, to dissuade me from tak. ing this step; painting in lively colours, the poverty, hardships, and distress, which the emigrants had to struggle with, and how much worse my outward condition would be: all this, joined to the pain that my father felt at the thought of parting with me, had nearly overset my resolution but it soon returned with redoubled force, till at last I packed up my linen in a bundle, and went to take a final leave of my father. On seeing me firmly determined to go, he began to describe the difficulties which he had laboured under to provide something for me; "and now," said he, "you are going to leave me, just when, according to the course of nature, you would have soon stepped into your inheritance; but," added he, if your wish to emigrate originates from a pure desire to save your soul, and to enjoy liberty of conscience, I would not on any conside. ration in the world detain you." It is impossible for me to tell what comfort I felt at this last speech of my father's. I remained concealed in his house that night; and, the next morning, before day-break, my cousin, two other brethren, and I, set out on our journey. In the Forest of Troppau we rested a little, and I prayed earnestly to the Lord to grant me strength to proceed for the want of sleep, for two nights, had almost broken me down. At night, we arrived in Rosniz, where we celebrated the Easter Holidays, and then soon reached Hernnhut safe. Here I first lodged with my cousin, whose conversation and connections proved a blessing to me. I soon found great difficulty in earning my bread. I served in the Orphan House for some time; then took to spinning wool. Many a day I subsisted on nothing but a bit of dry bread; and, in short, met with so many trials of this kind, that the Brethren thought I should soon quit Hernnhut. But I never forgot my resolution, made. before the Lord, when I left my father's house, to persevere, should I even suffer hunger, sickness, and death itself. Thus I looked up in faith to my Heavenly Father, and trusted to his kind Providence from day to day; nor did I lack any thing needful for the support of life. In June, I was followed by my cousin, Christian Stach; but heard, soon after, that both his and my father had been imprisoned, as having countenanced our escape: my father was soon set free, but his father re mained in prison till three days before his death. The widow then sent to desire that we would come and fetch her and her two children to Hernnhut. We accordingly_attempted it; and, on Whitsuntide Eve, 1730, arrived at my father's house, where we lay concealed for a whole week. My father wished us not to stay for him; and thus we set out with the above-mentioned persons, and another widow woman. Finding it very inconve nient to bring the children along, we got a wheelbarrow on the frontiers of Silesia, and put the two youngest into it; and thus arrived safe in Hernahut. Meanwhile, the Roman-Catholic Priests resolved to secure my father. They sent searchers, unawares, into his house, and examined all his papers and books; and, among other things, found a Letter from me, with which they went to the parsonage-house, where a number of Priests were assembled, taking my father with them. He was left below stairs unguarded, while they perused the contents of the Letter. Knowing their evil designs, my father availed himself of his liberty, and ran home as fast as he could, where be informed his wife and children what had happened, and where he should hide himself, so that they might find him and emigrate together, The Letter filled a whole sheet of paper in close writing, so that the Priests discovered his escape too late. Hereupon they sent four men to watch the house; but, in the dark, my mother and three sisters escaped their vigilance, and joined my father. They now proceeded to Zauchenthal; butnot one of my father's old friends would venture to take him in. The second day, therefore, they spent in a cornfield, the owner of which discovered then, and humanely relieved their wants with some bread and milk. In the night they proceeded: but, find ing that the strictest search was made after them in all the neighbourhood, they remained in a place of concealment eight days; and, at length, fetch ing a large compass, arrived at Hernnbut on the 15th of June, 1730. shield, and such a firm reliance on His merits and death, that all my doubts and fears vanished; and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost took place within my heart. I was, soon after, admitted to the Lord's Supper; and enjoyed, in communion with my Saviour, and in fellowship with the whole Congregation, daily, new blessings and spiritual consolations. In general, love and simplicity reigned among us, and we forgot all outward poverty and difficulty. After the labour of the day was over, the Single Brethren usually took a walk into the wood, two and two, to converse with each other concerning what the Lord had done for their souls; and when they returned, they sang a hymn together before going to rest. Once, as we were passing by the house of the late Count Zinzendorf, he was just stepping out with Dr. Schaefer, a Lutheran Divine, then on a visit to Hernnhut. On I had now lived two years in Hernn- seeing us, he addressed the Doctorhut; and spent my days, in general," Here, Sir, you see future Missio contented and cheerful: but remained always deficient in obtaining an inward assurance that my sins were forgiven. This subject was treated of in all public discourses, and I grew more and more uneasy. But alas! I fell into working and striving to obtain it by my own merit, which caused me many a sad and anxious hour. I felt myself totally under the Law and its curse; and the more I strove to keep it, the more I discovered my fall. Therefore, wherever I was, I was wretched and miserable; and, finding that I could not procure peace of mind by any other means, I disclosed my whole situation to a confidential friend for his advice. His answer was, "If thou art hungry, eat-if thirsty, drink: all things are prepared for thee." I thought his advice very unsatisfactory, expecting that he would dictate to me a greater exertion of self-denial, upon which, at that time, I rested my hopes. Thus my distress remained; and I spent a whole night in tears and prayers to the Lord for His help and direction, humbling myself before Him as a poor undone sinner. In the morning-meeting, the next day, I can say with truth, that our Saviour granted me such confidence towards Him, as my strength and naries among the Heathen." I was much struck at bearing these words; and a desire, which I had felt for some time, to preach the Gospel to the Heathen, began to increase within me. About the same time, two Brethren, Leonard Dober and Tobias Leopold, wrote a Letter to the Con. gregation, mentioning their desire and willingness to preach the Gospel to the Negroes in the West Indies; and that, to gain this end, they were even willing to become Slaves themselves. Hitherto I had hesitated to mention a similar impulse of my heart to any one; but this Letter gave me courage to speak to Br. Boehnish, my confidential friend, about it. I rejoiced greatly to find in him the same disposition of mind; and we resolved to lay our desire before the Elders and the Congregation, in the same manner as the above-mentioned two Brethren had done, offering to go to Greenland. We had to wait two years before our wishes were accomplished; and, in the mean time, frequent inquiries were made, whether we continued in the same mind: and, thanks to the Lord! we could always cheerfully answer in the affirmative. During this period, I was sent to Hall in Saxony, and to Jena; with a view to inquire into the cir |