Went also to preach in a dwelling-house, only three persons were present; the reason of the small attendance was the death of a near neighbour, and the people were gone to the wake. We adjourned to the house where the corpse lay; it was quite filled; I conducted divine service, and many appeared deeply affected. Attended a prayer meeting conducted by a pious sergeant. It was good to wait on the Lord. While there, a near neighbour breathed her last. 1 had visited her many times, and had good hope in her end.

Sunday 14th. In addition to my usual work in which I was greatly blessed, I attended the wake of the deceased woman mentioned above. Spoke to the people on the subject of death and prayed with them, for which they appeared thankful.

This was a good week with us, and I was greatly encouraged to go forward. I met with a person who professed to have got good under my ministry. She has been made happy and joined our society. Met with a family of Roman Catholics who allowed me to read the Scriptures and pray with them; and when I was leaving, asked me when I would call again? On the Wednesday of this week, the sergeant above referred to, held a special prayer meeting in our chapel. The Lord of hosts met with us. Bless his name.

Sunday 21st. I had abundant labour, but as my day is, so is my strength. During the week attended to my duties with delight.

Sunday, 28th. Besides preaching in our chapel, held divine service in a farm-house two miles from town. This week I preached in dwelling houses, met three classes, assisted at a teetotal meeting; visited many of my little flock, and others.

Sunday Feb. 4th. Preached twice, attended the school, and examined the children. This week I proffered to meet the member's children once a week to give them spiritual advice; which met with a hearty approval.

Had some difficulty in getting permission to see a dying woman. But in opposition to the wishes of the neighbours, who thought I should be insulted, I went in, and was kindly received by the husband of the dying woman. The woman was insensible, so all I could do was to commend her to God in prayer, and warn those present to prepare to meet God.

Sunday 11th. By request I preached in the Independent Meeting House in

this town. It was a refreshing time from the presence of the Lord. Preached at night in our chapel, and gave an address to the members of society.

Monday 12th. The poor woman last mentioned expired this day. After preaching in a dwelling house, I attended the wake, and remained about an hour and half, singing, praying, and exhorting the people to prepare to die.

Sunday 18th. It was good to wait on God in his house. This week commenced my labours among the children of our members. Was also present at a wake, the house was filled with people, and they were very attentive while I spoke on the subject of death.

Sunday 25th. God made the place of his footstool glorious. This week, in addition to my regular duties, I had occasion to visit Belfast; while there preached to several hundreds in the open air, and by request in the Primitive Methodist Chapel. The best of all, God was with us.

Thursday night in Carrickfergus, attended a wake, was well received, and all seemed serious.

Sunday, March 3rd. Laboured hard in the vineyard-hope and believe with success. Wednesday attended a house of mourning, a member of the family having been brought home dead. The deceased was a sailor, twenty years of age, who met with his death by falling from the rigging of the ship. I tried to console the family, and endeavoured to improve the event for the good of all present.

Sunday 24th. Many of our friends having gone to hear a stranger, our chapel was thinly attended, but the Lord met with us.

Monday 25th. A place. I went, by dying young man : house, the Dean of

painful affair took request, to visit a when entering the Carrick was coming

out, and a very unpleasant conversation took place between us. After enquiring with all possible authority who I was, and whence I came? he said he would 66 not subscribe to Methodist doctrine." I told him, then he would "not subscribe to the New Testament." He then said, that he and his curate would attend and instruct the young man, in the discipline and doctrines of the established church. After further conversation he became more courteous, and introduced me, to the young man, as one who wished to do him good-and also said, that he wished to live on good terms with all parties. I conversed and prayed with

the young man; two days after he expired. I attended the wake, and endeavoured to improve his death.

The following will give some idea of my labours since the date of my last communication,

Sunday, April 7th, was a very precious day to our people, being the day appointed, for the celebration of the Lord's Supper; the presence of Christ was so manifest that we were constrained to say, Master, it is good to

be here.

Monday 8th. Held a church meeting, when the necessity of having a chapel of our own, in order to give stability to the cause, was the subject of anxious consideration. I am convinced that, unless we have a chapel here, the Society will ever be a burden to the Connexion; for although our Missionaries may be extensively useful to the people, yet we cannot get a proper hold of that support we otherwise should obtain. The following facts will substantiate this opinion. 1. The place in which we now worship, is badly situated, and its outward appearance is anything but inviting. 2. We know not how soon we may be ejected, the premises having just fallen into the hands of a new landlord, who intends to take them down. 3. The inhabitants of the town are aware of these things, therefore those stand aloof who might and would greatly assist if our cause were properly established. So that unless a chapel is built, we shall never get the confidence of the respectable portion of the people; and the consequence will be, as it has ever been, we shall lose their support. I spent the remainder of the week in my usual way; obtained some tracts, and used them to introduce myself to families not before visited. I find this an excellent plan. I also opened a new house for prayer, which was well attended. The service of God is perfect freedom. Sunday 14. About an average number present at public worship. It was good to draw near to God. In the week I visited many families; one poor soul rejoiced greatly at my visit, having been for a long time confined through sickness; she had a well grounded hope of eternal life. Assisted also at a meeting of the friends of total abstinence. Friday, the 18th. Sergeant Baker, referred to in a former letter, held a prayer meeting in our chapel, it was well attended, about six souls professed to find peace, one of whom was a

private soldier. Lord, ride on prosperously till all are subdued.

Sunday 21st. In addition to our usual sermons, the sergeant held a meeting at 4, P. M. the place was filled, many wept, and several rejoiced in the great salvation. During the week I attended to the usual duties of the Mission, visited many families, and distributed religious tracts.

Sunday 28th. Besides preaching twice, I attended the school, examined the children, and was pleased to find they make great proficiency in Scripture knowledge. Generally I am well received in my visits; but this week I met with a cross grained old woman. Upon asking her to come to a prayer meeting, her reply was, "I belong to the established church, and I will go to none of your prayer meetings."

1.

Sunday, May 5th. In addition to preaching in the chapel, I preached in the open air in the harbour, and had a few mockers, but there were also many attentive hearers. May the seed sown bear fruit. This week I met with two cases of importance. An old disciple (member of our church) tempted to despair; but the exhibition of God's promises revived her greatly. 2. A dying young man who eagerly listened to the truth as it is in Jesus. How true and how encouraging, "My word shall not return unto me void."

Sunday 12th. It was good to wait upon God in his house, morning and evening. In the afternoon I preached in the open air, to a good company. One wanderer from our fold was led to pay us a visit at night. Praise the Lord.

This was the most solemn week of my life, and in fact seriousness prevailed through the town. Wednesday, the 15th, being the day appointed for the execution of John Cordney, for the murder of Sergeant Dodd. I was permitted to pay him a visit the night before his execution. I was much pleased to find him prepared for his approaching end. He had repented of his sins, and sought and found the sinner's Friend. Peace sat upon his countenance. In addition to this personal interview, 1 saw three of his letters, which quite convinced me that he had been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear Son. On the day of his execution I attended Divine service in the jail. It was truly affecting. The culprit engaged heartily in the devotional exercises. Such a scene I never before,

and never expect again to witness. He shook hands one by one with his fellow prisoners, and bid them an affectionate farewell. Oh the power of saving grace. Nothing else could have

TO THE EDITOR,-DEAR SIR,

so supported the deeply fallen Cording. He had the same support to the last moment, and entered the eternal world praying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. M. W. BRADNY.

Some time since you stated, in the Magazine, that it was expected that information from all circuits receiving assistance from the Mission, should be sent for publication in the Magazine and Quarterly Notices.

I felt at the time the reasonableness of this, and as this Circuit has had considerable aid from the above source, I found my situation to be somewhat painful, feeling as I did the difficulty of sending you a truthful statement worthy of publication. I will however endeavour to furnish a true account.

In November last we opened our little Chapel at Up-Somborn, on which occasion we expected a number of old friends from the surrounding villages, who had promised their presence and their aid; but unfortunately, it proved a thorough wet day, so that we were disappointed of the pleasure and profit of their company, and I was thereby deterred from sending you an account of the opening services. It is however but justice to the Rev. W. Thorn, Author of Tracts on the "Errors and Evils of the Church of England," to state, that notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather, he rode over in a spring cart and gave us his acceptable service. Mr. Spencer, our kind friend, of whom mention is made in my former communication in reference to this chapel, has continued his services as a collector among the more respectable persons in the neighbourhood, and has nearly succeeded in clearing off the debt; £8 only remaining, and that he expects shortly to make up. Since the opening of this place of worship, God has given to the labours of his servants two souls; who appear to have been soundly converted and made partakers of the Divine nature; and I have good hope of a great improvement in this infant society from the removal to its neighbourhood of a judicious and zealous brother, who will become the leader of the class.

away to about eleven, and the congregation was proportionably small. However, about three months ago some of our brethren here got their souls revived, and agreed to set apart a week to pray for a revival of the work of God in the village; I renewed the covenant with them, and held a prayer meeting afterwards, and the good brethren continued their extra prayer meetings with occasional preaching for upwards of two months, four times a week; the result of these meetings was soon visible, the Lord poured out his Spirit upon them, the old members were abundantly quickened, eight souls were savingly brought to God, and several others brought under deep concern for their salvation. The congregations were doubled, deep seriousness sat upon every countenance, handkerchiefs were often seen wiping away the flowing tears from eyes that had perhaps never wept before, while hearing the glad tidings of a crucified Saviour.

KING-SOMBORN - Two miles from Houghton, and nine from Winchester. Here we have a chapel that will contain about 200. From my first coming into this circuit the congregations began to increase, and we have, on almost all occasions, a full congregation. This society has also held revival meetings, attended with evident manifestations of the Divine approval. It was agreed to pray that the Lord would bring the whole village under a Divine influence, and the Lord appears to be answering their united and fervent prayers; for some who had in former days "drawn water from the wells of salvation," but had grown weary, have been seen among their old friends again seeking the Lord that bought them, and have returned to the table of the Lord and joined themselves to Him, and his people. Many that had never attended a Methodist Chapel are now seen there regularly on the Sabbath day; some of these are above the ordinary class of our country hearers, persons in comfortable circumstances in the world, and who would some time back, have thought it a disgrace to have been seen in a Methodist Chapel; some of them

give evidence of their friendly feeling towards us by their liberal contributions. But the most interesting fact in this village is, the marked scriptural character of the cases of conversion; experience so deep, clear, and scriptural, I have rarely met with; and it is highly gratifying to add, that their brethren, as well as the world, bear testimony to the consistent uniformity of the Christian walk of these new converts.

MITCHELDEVER, seven miles from Winchester. Here we have a Society but no Chapel-the land being in the hands of one man who will not let us have a spot for a chapel.. Some of our local brethren in this circuit, about twenty years back, preached in this village with great success. But, for some years past, the influence of high church principles has here been as the deadly night shade to the cause of spiritual religion. Although, here, I have always had good congregations, yet, until very recently, there were no conversions no increase. Last Sunday, however, two souls were brought to God after the evening service; one of them had been a backslider for years, the other a poor drunkard! two other persons have also joined the Society.

WORTHY-Two miles from Winchester. In this place we have a small chapel and a class of poor but faithful souls, who have stood during a cloudy and dark day. O! that the day of their visitation may be near. O Lord, revive thy work.

TWYFORD-Three miles from Winchester.-A little faithful band has long borne the burden and heat of the day in this place they have had many revivals, and some remarkable conversions. Many who have been here brought to God are scattered in various directions. Mr.- now a Missionary to the Ashantees, was brought to God in the humble dwelling of one of our friends in this place-yet none but themselves can tell the amount of opposition and persecution with which they have had to contend. Some remarkable and awful providences have overtaken persecutors; but they still persecute those who venture to offer them salvation through Christ. O! that the salvation of God would come out of Zion!

WINCHESTER.-This city is a barren soil, church influence is great, and the present tactics of the church is, I am informed, to render the charities, which are numerous, a means of holding

back the poorer inhabitants from attending dissenting places of worship. The size, situation, and incommodiousness of our chapel, is also against us. We cannot report more than twelve persons added to the Society here during the last eighteen months. I am happy, however, to be able to say, that the congregation has recently improved. We have peace among ourselves, and a Divine influence rests on our assemblies.

MISSIONARY OPERATIONS. I was gratified in seeing the late circular, in reference to Local Missionary Committees. It has always appeared to me that in reference to Missionary exertions we are seriously defective. I have travelled in five circuits, in none of which have the Missionary exertions been what they ought to be, and would be, with proper Christian zeal for the glory of Christ and the increase of his kingdom. We have commenced our Missionary meetings for the present year in company with our brother Chesson from Gosport, and have been highly gratified as far as we have gone. Last year we more than trebled the amount collected the previous year, in all our country places; but being fully aware that the Mission fund can never be brought to meet the increasing demands of a Connexion by annual appeals to Missionary meetings and preparatory sermons; I have endeavourd to get our friends to work with weekly collecting books, but regret to say, I have not been able to succeed in getting the societies to work, except in one village. There is generally, such reluctance felt by our friends to attempt, what to them are, untried means, especially when the means proposed present any real or imaginary difficulties; and doutless, Missionary collecting requires no small share of perseverence and holy courage; especially in those districts where Methodism is in disrepute, and church influence runs high. However, I am happy to state, that we have succeeded better this year; our country Missionary meetings presented a most cheering aspect; brother Chesson was highly delighted with what he heard and saw among our Hampshire villagers.

In Houghton we had a large attendance and deep attention through the service; and at the meeting and afterwards we urged some of our friends to commence the collecting scheme by weekly and monthly contributions; two excellent sisters commenced the following morn.

ing, and that day obtained twenty-eight Subscribers of a half-penny or a penny per week, making an aggregate of about 2s. per week: now, supposing these good sisters were merely to keep up their list through the year without any increase, it will produce £5 4s. by the end of the year; and I am persuaded that instead of injuring the collection at the yearly Missionary meeting, it will rather tend to increase it, by the additional interest that will thereby be excited during the year.

King Somborn chapel exhibited a pleasing sight on the evening of the Missionary meeting, some youths were so struck with the crowded state of the chapel, that they counted the people as they retired, and found them to be 206! you might have walked on the people's heads; here also two friends have conmenced with collecting books, and I am quite satisfied that they may, with ease, raise £5 in the coming year.

Our Twyford friends have done nobly, they are about fourteen in Society, and in this village Methodism meets with much oppositon; yet they set to work immediately after our last year's Missionary meetings, and the result of their labour of love and zeal will be £5, at the close of the Missionary year.

The Winchester Missionary meeting and sermons produced one-third more

TO THE EDITOR,-DEAR SIR,

than those of last year; and I am happy to add that eight of our dear Sunday school children came forward, after the Missionary meeting, for Collecting Books, and are going round among their friends and neighbours soliciting contributions.

The result of my observations and calculations are as follow. This circuit raised £8 4s. 2d. for Missionary purposes the year previous to my appointment, last year we raised, including the amount for the Connexional debt £16, or about double the former year; what the present year will produce remains to be seen, I will not venture to conjecture, but hope when this paper is sent back to this circuit, through your Magazine, the zeal of our Twyford friends will provoke to emulation the other six societies in this circuit, and not allow it to be said that Twyford raised one-half, or one-third of the whole amount of Missionary money for the year 1844, from the Winchester circuit.

My own conviction may be somewhat startling to some of our good friends here, but I say it in sober seriousness, that, this circuit could with ease, raise for Missionary purposes, by a well organized and efficient Missionary committee £30 per annum; we have the proof in what Twyford has done, and in what Houghton is doing.

I FEEL much pleasure in forwarding you the following account of the cause of God in this circuit.

In Stockport our Sabbath school is increasing weekly. In September last there were only fifty-six scholars; now there are 120. The teachers are labouring zealously for the eternal welfare of the scholars. Three of them have obtained " peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ," and give pleasing evidence of their conversion. The congregation is much improved, several additional pews and sittings are taken, and a number of persons have joined our classes.

In Hazel Grove our congregations are good, the society closely united, and looking for the conversion of sinners. Some few have been snatched as brands from the burning; and we trust that ere long a saving work will break out amongst the young persons who regularly attend the ministry of the word.

R. ABERCROMBIE.

In October last, Messrs. Bancroft, Wild, and myself, commenced a mission in Hyde. I preached in the open air morning and afternoon; and as I concluded my sermon in the afternoon, a woman came to me, and kindly offered us her house to preach in. At six o'clock the house was crowded, and I preached from Acts v. 1-11. The word was made a blessing, and one person "obtained mercy." We preached several times in this house, and then Providence opened to us a more suitable place the Cross Street school room. On the 17th of December, Mr. Richard Williams, of Manchester, preached the opening sermons, and, already, some good has been done; more than thirty persons have given their names to meet in class, many of whom are "turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith