WESTERN AUSTRALIA.-A letter from the Lord Bishop of Adelaide, dated Perth, Dec. 19, 1848, was read at the Board of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge on the 5th June. The following are extracts from his letter:

"The young people born in the colony are a fine and intelligent race. I have been much struck with the earnest and serious manner in which the candidates for Confirmation have demeaned themselves; 379 have partaken of that solemn rite of the Church; and, from their mature age and deliberate action, 1 humbly trust a blessing has attended this administration. Nearly four-fifths of the whole population profess to belong to ourChurch. Two Missionary Curates are needed, but the people are not able to support them from their own scanty means. Immigration has nearly ceased; and yet there are fine districts, where a good soil and climate would soon render an industrious steady labourer, or small farmer, amply supplied with the necessaries of life. It is a land of corn, oil, and wine. The steady labouring settler has invariably done well; the speculating emigrant gentleman farmer, with few exceptions. has been ruined. The valley of the Avon and Swan, through its whole course, offers an agreeable, happy home, to those who are not afraid to labour, and at the same time cultivate the spirit of godliness with contentment. I have only to regret that a voyage of three and four weeks intervenes between this and the other part of my diocese. Swan River is practically much nearer Sincapore or the Mauritius than Adelaide the communication with those

places is frequent and certain. with South Australia it is irregular and precarious."

COLONIAL BISHOPRICS FUND.-The Treasurers have reported to the Bench of Bishops, that since 1841, the total amount contributed for these purposes is £133,600, which sum has been employed in the Endowment either wholly, or in part, of nine new Episcopal Sees, and in allowances for the outfit and passage of ten Bishops proceeding to their new Dioceses.

"It cannot fail, they add, to strike the mind of any intelligent and candid person comparing the amount of the Fund with the Offices and Endowments permanently established thereby, that great and perhaps severe economy has been pursued in fixing the rate of Episcopal Incomes; no one can object that anything has been indulged to luxury or splendour; we rather believe it has been thought that scarcely enough has been given to the reasonable claims for decent hospitality, and the still more urgent calls for Christian Charity. Your Lordships, however, reduced the scale so low, not without regret for the necessity; but you trusted that this would have no effect in diminishing the power of the Church to call on men of the highest intellectual mark and brightest worldly prospects, to devote themselves to her call, and it is a subject of unspeakable gratitude, that your confidence has never yet been disappointed.

"But the work, as you originally planned it, is still unfinished, and emigration goes on, and may be expected to go on so rapidly to increase the population of the Colonies, that we must look forward not only to the formation of new Dioceses, but to the subdivision of Dioceses now formed, and that without the

possibility of dividing at the same time the Endowment. It is our duty to infrom your Lordships, that the Fund may now be considered as exhausted. Your Lordships are the best judges whether the previous observations are well founded; and your Lordships are also best able to suggest the mode, and perhaps in great measure to carry it out, by which fresh Funds may be raised, and the still subsisting, and continually increasing wants of the Church in the Colonies in this respect be in some measure supplied.

"It is important to remark, that of the whole sum already raised, as much as £45,000 has been contributed by three subscribers, one of them having, with princely munificence, endowed two Bishoprics, while "a Brother and Sister" supplied more than half the endowment of a third. About £40,000 more was given by 160 persons, and £17,500 by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. These facts seem to show that comparatively few of the more opulent class have contributed anything, and that the class as such, has not at all contributed in proportion to its means, nor, it may be hoped, to its benevolence and sense of Christian duty. Probably the reason is, that the attention of the Public has not been sufficiently called to the existence and purpose of the Fund, nor to the decisive authority under which it came recommended to them."

Lambeth Palace,

Ascension Day, 1849. "The undersigned Archbishops and Bishops, having received the foregoing Report, do not hesitate to lay it before the members of the Church of England,

1845.

Rupert's Land (Outfit pro

vided by the C. B. Fund) 1849. "There is still an urgent demand for resident Bishops in SIERRA LEONE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, and the island of MAURITIUS. It is also to be borne in mind that no provision is yet made for the Sees of Nova Scotia and Montreal, after the incumbency of the present Bishops; and that in respect both to these and many other existing Dioceses, their vast extent and increasing population will soon render subdivision indispensable.

"From the statement which we now lay before the public, we trust it will appear that they, to whom the contributions of the Church have been confided, have been enabled to render a good account of their stewardship. We ask now for a

further supply of means, that the work may still proceed. We ask this with the more confidence, because the measure which in 1841 was comparatively untried, has been proved by experience to answer the warmest hopes of those who then devised it. The creation of Bishops for the several Colonies has been found immediately to promote the interests of religion, by concentrating the efforts of Christian zeal, both for the welfare of the heathen and of our own countrymen; by increasing the number, the influence, and the usefulness of the Clergy, and by establishing the doctrines and discipline of the Church of England in countries where previously its existence was practically almost unfelt.

With this conviction" of the sacred60 ness and importance of the work, and "in the hope that Almighty God may graciously dispose the hearts of His servants to a corresponding measure of 'liberality, we" once more "earnestly "commend it to the good-will, the assist66 ance, and the prayers of all the mem "bers of our Church." J. B. Cantuar. T. Ebor. J. G. Armagh. R. Dublin. C. J. London. E. Dunelm. C. Winton. J. Lincoln. E. Bangor. H. Carlisle. G. Rochester.

E. Llandaff.

Thos. Tuam.
G. Peterborough.
H. Worcester.
A. T. Cicester.
J. Lichfield.
R. Cashel & Elmly.
T. Ely.
S. Oxon.
Thos. Vowler, St.
Asaph.

J. P. Manchester.
R. D. Hereford.

J. H. Gloucester & J. Chester.

CHINA. The Lord Bishop of Victoria has favoured us with a Prospectus of his Missionary Plans, from which we have much pleasure in inserting the following Extracts:

The Island of Hong Kong, as a De pendency of the British Crown, and the Seat of an English Bishopric, involves no common responsibilities and claims. Situated off the Coast of Canton Province, and within ninety miles of the provincial capital itself, it labours indeed under the disadvantage of being in the vicinity of a Chinese population who have been long accustomed to regard with dislike, and to treat with contempt, the subjects of European Nations. The Chinese Immigrants to the new Colony are also likely to be, for some time, composed of the least respectable portion of the inhabitants of the adjacent mainland. A motley population, attracted from different parts, and formed of heterogeneous elements, presents, also, considerable difficulties, from the variety of dialects spoken by them. But notwithstanding these disadtages, arising from the character of the population and the diversity of dialects, Hong Kong presents facilities, in point of permanency and centralization, not easily obtainable elsewhere; and, as a scene of educational measures of a high order and on a large scale, may be considered as the most eligible locality for a central base of indirect Missionary Operations in China.

The more northerly ports of China present the most favourable field for direct Missionary exertion, considered in reference to the Chinese Empire at large. In the two most northerly cities of Shanghai and Ningpo (where the Church Missionary Society have established their Mission) the climate is favourable; the Boundary Regulations permit a considerable extent of Missionary exertion; the

people are friendly and respectful to foreigners; and the Rulers evince no disposition to oppose the efforts of Missionaries. Their central situation, in regard to the whole of China, and their important future bearings on the possible enlargement of our intercourse with the interior, combine, with the advantages which have been previously enumerated, to render these two cities the most promising field for the direct Missionary Efforts of the Church of England on the mainland of China.

An Episcopal College, of which the Bishop of Victoria is to be ex-officio Warden, is now about to be established at Hong Kong. The Special Committee of the China Bishopric Fund having succeeded in raising, from voluntary sources, the necessary endowment for the newlyconstituted See, have also directed their attention to this important object, and have taken initiatory measures for obtaining Contributions towards the Episcopal College. The commencement of such an Institution already exists, in a School erected under the superintendence of the Rev. Vincent Stanton, the Colonial Chaplain, at an expense of nearly £3000, to which he himself contributed the munificent sum of £1000. Mr. Stanton having been informed of the probability of a Bishop being speedily nominated for Hong Kong, has recently written to the Trustees in England, in whom the building is vested, expressing his wish that it might be made the foundation of the proposed Episcopal College. He states that the ground and building are in every respect excellent; that there is abundant room for separate buildings, or an enlargement of the present building; and that the house is well situated for the present residence of the Bishop.

The needful sum, therefore, for originating the Institution, and supporting its

current expenditure for the first year or two, cannot be estimated at less than £5000. Independent of this Building Fund, there will be required a permanent Sustentation Fund, in the form of Annual Subscriptions. For a portion of this annual expense the Founders of the Collage look to the liberality of British Residents in China, who have never shown themselves reluctant to support any charitable object which has commended itself to their approval. It is also deemed no premature nor unreasonable expectation to hope that Her Majesty's Government will assist, with an annual pecuniary grant, an Institution which will have an important influence in improving the tone of international intercourse between the subjects of the two countries. But it is believed that the support of the College will mainly devolve on Christians residing in Great Britain.

As no Public Society is likely at present to undertake a Mission of the Church of England at Hong Kong, the scale of operations in the proposed College must be altogether adapted to the amount of voluntary contributions. It is, however, the earnest desire of the Bishop-Designate to take with him to China at least two Clerical fellow-labourers in the College, as Subwarden and Tutor, to be associated with him in the blessed work of preparing the future Native Evangelists of China. He will also gladly attend to the proposals and cherish the offer of any zealous and well-qualified labourers, who, with their support guaranteed by a Public Society, or by friends at home, may be desirous of consecrating themselves to the service of God abroad, and of being sent forth as Ordained Ministers of our Church, to labour among British Seamen and Soldiers, or among the Heathen in China.

Special Contributions to the College will be thankfully received by the Rev.

Earnest Hawkins, Honorary Secretary of the Colonial Bishoprics' Committee, 79, Pall Mall, London. Donations may also be paid to the credit of the Bishop of Victoria, at Messrs. Williams, Deacon, and Co., Bankers, 20, Birchin Lane, London; which will be gratefully acknowledged, and duly accounted for.

The Bishop expresses his hope, in conclusion, that those pious and benevolent individuals who may aid him by their pecuniary Contributions, will also give him and his fellow-labourers the benefit of their prayers for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on his measures; that his labours may be greatly blessed among his British fellow-countrymen resident on the borders of the Chinese Empire; and that many souls from among that highly-civilized, but spiritually benighted nation, may be gathered into the fold of the Saviour of mankind, and be number

ed among "the general Assembly and Church of the First-born, which are written in heaven."

JAMAICA. The following brief account of the labours of the Rev. W. Gray, Missionary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in the Bahamas, is given as a specimen of the duties discharged in the West Indies. His district comprises the parish church of St. Anne, in the island of New Providence, Carmichael, an African settlement, and an establishment of the same kind at Adelaide. His duties on Sunday_commence with full service in the Parish church, at 11 o'clock; this over, he mounts his horse and rides ten miles to Carmichael, where he performs afternoon service with the negroes, having the ten miles again to ride home. Occasionally this journey is prolonged six miles further to Adelaide, for evening service with the negroes there. Among the northern is

lands of the Bahamas, Aboca, with a population of 2000 souls, Grand Bahama, with 850, Andros Island, with 760, and Berry Island, with 100, are all without a clergyman, and the only resident European minister of any denomination is a Wesleyan at Aboca.

MADRAS. In the reports of the Church Missionary Society, our attention has been caught by the name of the Rev. G. Matthan, a native of India, and a member of the Syrian Church on the coast of Travancore. The editor of this

Magazine preached the sermon at his ordination, as a Deacon in the church of England, at the Neilgherries, on the 2nd June 1844. He has since been ordained priest, and is prosecuting his ministry with every prospect of good. He is a young man of pleasing manners and much intelligence. The bishop of Madras appointed him to read the gospel at his first ordination, in token of his superior proficiency in the examination. All reports from the south of India agree in this important conclusion, that, with a proper supply of missionaries, idolatry might be extirpated out of large tracts of country within a few years.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.-A mission has been opened among the Mahometans at Capetown, by the Rev. A. M. Camilleri, missionary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The bishop is contemplating a second mission among the Caffre tribes, lately subdued by Sir Harry Smith. A private letter in the Colonial church Chronicle says, "The Bishop and his clergy are all very much liked. There is daily service morning and evening in St. George's Cathedral, the proper services every festival, and the holy communion every month. All looks like work in earnest."