CONVERTS FROM HEATHENISM.

It is impossible to know the number of regenerated heathens, as the returns are not furnished from some missions. Two thousand have been baptized by missionaries connected with Serampore, of whom six hundred are now alive and in good standing. In the West Indies, connected with the Baptist and Methodist missions, there are 69,000 communicants. The number connected with the London Missionary Society is 5,430; with the Church Missionary Society, 1,514; with the English Wesleyan Missionary Society, 48,795, exclusive of the members in British America; with the English Baptist Missionary Society, 18,720; with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 2,600; with the American Baptist Board, 1,900; with the Moravian missions, 47,000.* Some missions, for instance the Moravian, do not require actual conversion to God as the test of church membership; so that we cannot calculate exactly from their returns in this argument.

From the best data we can obtain, we may safely estimate the present number of converts, after deducting such as may be supposed to have been received on an outward profession merely, at more than a hundred thousand.

In many cases these are formed into churches, with pastors and deacons. The native preachers and catechists amount to more than a thousand. Many of these have received a good education in mission schools. Some (and the class is increasing) have become authors, and produced books, tracts, and hymns of great value. Let the reader pause and consider the facts contained in these last four sentences; for though they are barely named, they are of great importance.

In some places these churches have been so established, that if missionaries should retire, the cause would probably go on. The Rev. M. Baker, of Madagascar, declared in an address at Cape Town, several years ago, there were "not less than five hundred natives who had maintained a consistent profession of religion amidst persecution and danger." We have now seen, how with equal consistency, they could die for the truth.

Some of these churches have already begun to contribute, even in pecuniary ways, to the furtherance of the great work. It is thus at the Sandwich Islands, in Burmah, and many other stations. Even the poor Africans at Griqua Town contributed in 1836 to the funds of the Society a hundred and thirty dollars, and at Bethelsdorf, in the same year, four hundred and forty dollars.

In addition to these thousands of converts now shining as lights in dark places, we must not forget the thousands who have died in the faith. In the case of Serampore, out of two thousand baptized, *This calculation, and those which follow, were made in 1839.-ED.

only six hundred survive. We ought, therefore, probably to add another hundred thousand for converts deceased.

It would be easy and delightful to rehearse the distinct narratives of many who have crowned a life of evident piety by a becoming death. To speak of hundreds or thousands of converted heathens sounds cold, when we think of the hundreds of millions yet left to perish. But in tracing the history and religious experience of an individual, our impressions become distinct; and to number even units seems an ample reward for all we have done or given. Such as would taste this feast will find it largely spread out before them in the Moravian and Baptist periodical accounts, the histories of missions, and the reports of societies. Separate volumes are also published, containing the memoirs of many of these. He who knows the worth of his own soul could not rise from the life of Krishnu, Petumber, Abdool Meseeh, Asaad Shidiak, Africaner, Peng, Catherine Brown, Karaimokee, &c., and retain enmity to the system of means which, under God, saved them from eternal death.

These glorious fruits are now safe in the garner of God. Schwartz, Brainerd, David, Schmidt, Carey, and a great company of missionaries, have their converts with them before the throne. No apostasy, no temptations, no weakness, can overtake them now. There they are, where we would go. Some are there, to whose salvation we ourselves have ministered. Soon we shall embrace them, not only in the blessedness of a joint salvation, but in the delicious consciousness of having been the instruments of their deliverance.

If, after such thoughts, we could come down again to mathematical calculation, we might consider that the total number of conversions, divided by the number of missionaries who fully acquired the vernacular tongues, would give from three hundred to four hundred converts to each! Can the ministry at home reckon thus? Truly the measure of missionary success needs only to be closely scanned to become a theme of wonder rather than of discouragement. - Rev. Howard Malcolm's Travels in South-eastern Asia.

ASSIDUITY AND PERSEVERANCE.

THE most usual way among young men who have no resolution of their own, is, first to ask one friend's advice, and follow it for some time; then to ask advice of another, and turn to that; so of a third; still unsteady, always changing. However, be assured that every change of this nature is for the worse. People may tell you of your being unfit for some peculiar occupations in life; but heed them not: whatever employment you follow with perseverance and assiduity, will be found fit for you; it will be your support in youth, and comfort in age.-Goldsmith.

ALGIERS.

In the days when highway robbers flourished, the thief generally selected his ambush at a spot where two or more roads met, that his chances of plunder might increase with the number of travellers journeying from different parts. Upon this principle, there is no doubt that the Barbary States were selected for their "nest" by the pirates, who for ages infested the seas which on two sides surround them. Situated, mostly, on the northern coast of the Mediterranean, they command the high road between Europe, the Grecian and Syrian Archipelagoes, and Western Asia; while westward the trading voyagers through the North Atlantic

to Western and Southern Africa, Eastern Asia, and the Americas, were at their mercy. The map of the world does not furnish a more centrical point for the operations of sea robbery than these States; and from the earliest history up to the year 1830, the fullest advantage was taken of it for carrying on an organised system of piracy elsewhere unparalleled.

Gradually, however, the spread of civilization, and the increase of maritime power in Europe, drove the pirates of Morocco, Tripoli, Barca, &c., from the ocean. Algiers alone continued to remain the seat of piracy and Christian slavery, in spite of repeated checks, the most effectual of which

was given by the Americans, in 1815, and by the British bombardment of the town of Algiers, under Lord Exmouth, in the following year. Finally, in 1830, the French took possession of the country, and inflicted the death-blow upon piracy as a system.

A motley assemblage of the human race is congregated in Algiers to the amount of about two millions of souls. Originally one of the countries of the Berbers, individuals of that race make up even now nearly half the population; but Biskeris, Moors, Arabs, Negroes, Jews, Turks, Greeks, Circassians, Albanians, Corsicans, Maltese, Kolonglis (literally "sons of soldiers," descendants of Turks by Moorish mothers), Jews, and renegadoes of nearly every nation under heaven, together with the mixed descendants of all these, whose original

The Atlas mountains, taking a semicircular sweep east and west from Tunis, and then north and south through Morocco down to Cape Nun, intersect in the former direction the whole of Algiers*. They run through it in two nearly parallel ranges, called the Great and Lesser Atlas, -the former subsiding southward in low sand-hills which join the Sahara Desert, the latter trending along the coast. The country so much benefited by the existence of these mountains is called the Tell, which is comprehended between lat. 34° and 37°, and is, in parts, susceptible of high cultivation; but the remainder of Algiers is barren and useless. The Tell ranges separate in some places to form fertile plains, well watered by numerous rivers, the principal of which is never dry, and in the rainy season overflows its banks. The Metidjah valley, lying immediately south of the city of Algiers, is fifty miles long by twenty broad; and though in parts marshy and unhealthy, otherwise exhibits a most productive surface, being abundantly covered with vegetation. Farther south, the plains of Hamza are rich; and other luxuriant valleys exist in the eastern districts, especially those of Sateef and Majariah. The political divisions of the Tell consist of four provinces:-1. Algiers (Al Jezair), including the capital, and a small surrounding territory; 2. Titteri, to the south of it; 3. Constantina, occupying the eastern; and 4. Mascara, or Glemsen, including the western parts of the Tell. The barrenness of the rest of the country seems to have rendered it unworthy of any exclusive divisions. The whole country is above 500 miles in length, with a breadth which varies from forty miles to the east to 200 towards

the west.

* Algiers is sometimes called Algeria. It is bounded on the east by the regency of Tunis, on the west by the empire of Morocco, on the north by the Mediterranean Sea, and on the south by the Sahara Desert. This position nearly coincides with the Numidia of the ancients.

trace, constitute the remaining inhabitants; and to render this mixed mass the more heterogeneous, a considerable influx of French has lately taken place into the northern provinces.

The political institutions of this, in every sense, parti-coloured population assimilated to those of Turkey, while Algiers remained as a nominal regency of that empire. They were administered by a Dey or Pasha, generally selected from the Turkish soldiery, whose power was absolute over the people, and the divan or council which assisted him. The appointment of Dey was for life-so long as it lasted; for it seldom terminated naturally. In the words of Dr. Shaw, "any bold or aspiring soldier, though taken yesterday from the plough, might be considered as heir-apparent to the throne; and with this further advantage, that he lay under no necessity to wait till sickness or old age had removed the present ruler; it was enough if he could protect himself with the same scimitar which he had the hardihood to sheath in the breast of his predecessor*." All that remained was for the new Dey to notify his usurpation to the Grand Seignior; by whom he was uniformly confirmed in the regency. At present the government is administered by the commander-in-chief of the French forces in Algiers, assisted by a civil intendant, who are both responsible to LouisPhilippe and his cabinet.

The religions of this hitherto ill-fated country present as many varieties as its inhabitants. The Turks, Arabs, &c., professed, during the sway of the Porte, Mohammadanism, while the negroes are addicted to Feticism. What the precise creed of the Berbers is, has never been discovered; for they perform its rites amidst the most guarded secrecy. An austere class exists among these people, called mourabeys (marabouts), who sometimes perform pretended miracles. Their tombs are honoured as the sepulchres of the inspired; and this practice has crept in among the Algerine Jews, who pay their deceased Rabbis similar honours, and build synagogues over their tombs. The French occupation has, however, introduced the Romish faith; and many mosques have been converted into Christian churches. Morality-left at a low ebb by a nation of robbers * Shaw's Travels, p. 248.

--has not yet been materially improved by a conquering and devastating soldiery; but the system of colonization already begun, if steadily and successfully persevered in, will have a powerful effect in the march of civilization. The exterior manners of the people have begun to assume an European aspect ; and it is to be hoped, and not in vain, that European civilization will speedily follow. The French have established schools for mutual instruction in all the principal towns, which are chiefly superintended by Jews, who are the bestinformed people in the country. According to a late report there were, in 1837, one thousand two hundred and two pupils at the French schools in Algiers, Oran, Bona, &c.; but out of these, eight hundred and eighty-five were Europeans who were mostly instructed in Arabic; whilst the native schools could boast of no more than six hundred and ninety-five scholars. It has been found a most difficult matter to teach the French language to the native population, who speak amongst themselves a mixed language, the basis of which is Arabic, interspersed with Moorish and Phoenician words. Conversation with Europeans is conducted in a Lingua Franca made up of Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, &c. In short, in every aspect, Algiers and its people present a medley unequalled for variety in any other part of the globe, particularly in the principal city. Algiers itself is gradually changing the appearance of an eastern for a European city. "Hats are nearly as often seen as turbans," writes Sir Greville Temple, who visited it in 1835; "cigars have replaced the long pipes; and the Moorish bazaars give way to the glazed windows of French shops. Upwards of fifty merchants have established counting-houses; and a considerable number of mechanics and tradesmen, including of course a full proportion of modistes, couturières and perruquiers, are thickly scattered about.

Eleven grand cafés with billiard tables, four grand hotels (which are, however, execrable), three restaurants, one hundred eating-houses, two cabinets littéraires, one circus, a cosmorama, &c., have already been established." Add to this, cabriolets are in use, and omnibuses ply to and from the outskirtst.

Upon the justice or injustice of the quarrel which originated the French occupation of Algiers, nothing need be said‡. The question is, What

The imports of Algiers in 1837 were valued at 33,056,246 French francs, and the exports at 2,946,691 ditto.

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effect will the invasion bear upon the earnest desire of every philanthropist-namely, the civilization of Africa? It may be confidently answered, a beneficial one. France has effected one important object in the utter destruction of a nest of pirates which the jealousies of the maritime governments of Europe suffered to exist during many ages upon the confines of the Christian world. But this is not all which must be required of her. That benefit is merely external, being conferred upon nations whose commerce was occasionally impeded by Algerine depredations on the high seas-she must improve the internal condition of the countries. Conquest has its duties as well as its rights, and imposes the task of improving the moral and spiritual state as well as the political institutions of the conquered,-a task which, if persevered in with the right spirit, is by no means difficult. The heterogeneous elements of which the population of Algiers is composed implies an absence of social and religious cohesion that allows of an easier introduction of better morals and better manners than if union existed to uphold one set of barbarous customs, or a false but national religion. In forwarding the progress of intellect, everything may be justly hoped for from France; but it must not be concealed, that a nation standing by no means high in the scale of social civilization, and merely tolerating a national religion, is scarcely in circumstances to sow the only seed of which a deeplyrooted and progressive civilization is the fruit,— that of Christianity. The condition of our African fellow-creatures can never be raised by one European nation; and France will now be naturally looked to for assistance in the great aim which England has been for years striving to accomplish. No nation abounds more in men anxious for the civilization of their species according to their own views. The warriors of France having done their calling, the duties of her philanthropists and Christians must now commence. To them, all, whose exertions have been for many years expended upon the abolition of slavery, and the moral and religious improvement of Africa, will now turn for that co-operation which the moral responsibilities of a new conquest do not merely entail, but demand.

A CHARM.

"A LADY of property in Mull, a friend of mine," says Sir Walter Scott, "had a few years since much difficulty in rescuing from the superstitious fury of the people an old woman who used a charm to injure her neighbours' cattle. It is now in my possession, and consists of feathers, parings of nails, hair, and such-like trash, wrapped in a lump of clay."

gentleman in the mouth. So great an insult demanded instant reparation; though it was not taken till May 1830, when a formidable flotilla sailed from Toulon.