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Dalie to Isabella. The passage up the Gulf was the most delightful of its kind I ever saw. As we sailed up, the mountains on either side us were very high, nearly perpendicular, and covered with a rich variety of the most verdant foliage. This continued for about twenty miles, when the river opened into a large lagoon, which took us nearly a day to sail across; here the land brought the water again into a narrower compass, which continued for some few miles, when we were introduced into a still larger lagoon. After sailing a whole day in one direction across it, we arrived at Isabella. The inhabitants are few at this place; they choose to live more in the interior, on account of the pirates who trouble the coast. It is chiefly occupied as a place to receive goods to and from Guatimala and Belize.

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Indians of the Musquito Shore, and send them information respecting them. I feel fully satisfied with this arrangement, and see much of God in it. It appears of the greatest importance that a Mission be established here first, not only from its loud calls, the greater number of inhabitants you get access to at once, and the probability of its supporting itself at no very distant period, but of its local advantages, and the assistance it may afford to every other Mission in this part of the world. We may hope the period is not far distant when not only something will be done on the Musquito Shore, but amongst the Spanish provinces around this settlement. Indeed, it appears from their internal commotions, that things are now fast making way for the entrance of the Gospel ; and I have little doubt but that, in a little time, a The inhabitants chiefly consist of Lancasterian School might be estabIndians there are a few Spaniards-lished in Guatimala, a city containing they have no priest among them, and 32,000 inhabitants. seem, if possible, in a worse condition than those of the former settlement. | I took the liberty of talking a little with them, and got about seventy or eighty round me, among whom I distributed a large bundle of tracts to those who could read, and exhorted them to read them to those who could not. There was much eagerness manifested to get them; and among those who could read, and obtained them, were a considerable number of poor Indians, who had come many miles out of the interior, to drive the mules which carry the goods, and were going to return. To one man, who appeared trustworthy, I entrusted another bundle of tracts. He was going into the interior, and promised they should be faithfully distributed.

The following letter, addressed to a friend in Newcastle, gives a more general view of his situation and prospects.

July 17, 1823. You will probably hear, before this reaches you, that Belize is to be the place of my residence,and the commencement of the Mission in this part of the world; and in this, Divine Providence seems much to have interfered, and, by a long detention, and painful course of discipline, to have taught me the path of duty. I have received a letter from Mr. Dyer, stating it to be the opinion of the Committee, that I should remain at Belize; yet, however, they wish me stillto keep my eye on the

But probably you would wish to know what is doing in Belize, relative to religion. As to its means, we have, on the Sabbath, one service at six o'clock, A. M.; one at half-past ten; and between one and two, P. M. we commence the Sunday-school, which continues till about half-past four o'clock; and at half-past six in the evening, we have preaching. The whole of this has often of late fallen to myself, Mr. P. being from home, and Mr. S. being employed up the river. We have besides these, two services on different evenings in the week; also I have devoted a certain portion of time every week to visit the free coloured people, and converse and pray with them from house to house. This, I trust, will in time be attended with beneficial effects. The people to whom I here chiefly refer are disbanded soldiers, who with themselves and families are now near a thousand in number; and are divided into two villages, lying north and south of Belize; but the wet season, which has now set in, has rather obstructed me, the places being at this season in part under water. Some of these people are in the habit of coming regularly to the place of worship, and appear very attentive. Our evening congregations, are generally very good; those on the Sunday morning improve gradually, and the school is also on the increase.

From the inconveniences and bad situation of our place of worship, some who have come and expressed a wish to come again are kept away; and on

these and other accounts, the two chief of which are the smallness and high rent of the place, I have been induced to come to the conclusion of endeavouring to get a new place built. One of the oldest merchants has undertaken to procure a lot for me, and several of the magistrates are favourably disposed. I have drawn plans of our intended building, and sent them to America, where it will be constructed. By this step it will not amount to one-half of the expense it otherwise would do. In the plan I have strictly studied economy; if you know of any person or persons who can render us any assistance in paying the debt, which will be necessarily incurred, it will be thankfully received.

**

* I have been to two of the Spanish settlements, laying about from 200 to 300 miles south of Belize. Their state, in a moral and religious point of view, is truly wretched, At one of these places there was no priest, nor regular existing civil anthorities. The inhabitants are chiefly Indians. I took the opportunity of distributing a number of Spanish Tracts among them. They were readily and thankfully received; and what was still more gratifying, many of those to whom they were given could read. I left also a bundle of Tracts at this place to go into the interior; and who can say, by following them with our prayers, what through the Divine blessing may be done?

Chard, Collection, &c. by Rev. R. Horsey..

Cardiff, Collection and Subscriptions, by Rev. W. Jones
Towcester,

Ditto,

by Rev. J. Barker

Contributions received by the Treasurer of the Baptist Missionary Society, from October 20, to November 20, 1823, not including Individual Subscriptions. FOR THE MISSION.

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Mitcham, Subscriptions, by Mrs. Pratt..

Olney, &c. Subscriptions, by Mr. Wm. Wilson.
Foxton, Collection and Subscriptions, by Rev. J. Burton
Brechin, N.B. Society for Missions, &c. by Rev. D. Blackadder
Huntingdonshire Society in Aid of Missions, by R. Foster,
Junior, Esq..• • • •

Gloucestershire Auxiliary, by Mr. R. Winterbotham
Henley-upon-Thames Society in Aid of Missions, by Rev. J.
N. Goulty..

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Hull and East Riding Auxiliary, on Account, by J. Thornton, Esq. 100
Collected at the Half-yearly Meeting of the Associated Ministers
of the Isle of Ely, held at Soham, Oct. 1, a Moiety
Birmingham Auxiliary Society, by O. Johnson, Esq.:
Coventry, Baptist Church..

......

20 0 0

Ditto, Collection at Mr. Leslie's Designation 24 0 0

Portsea, Mary-la-bonne Sunday School Children, by Mr. Ralfs
Goswell-street Auxiliary Society, by Mr. Cox, Treasurer.
Devonshire-square, Auxiliary, by Mr. Edward Smith..
Suffolk, on a Journey by Messrs. Davis and Payne:
Beccles..

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3 12 0 Needham, (Norfolk) 10
12 17 6 Needham Market...

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0 11 9 Stowmarket.
48 5 1 Sudbury.
1 15 0 Trimley

1 1 0 Walton

3 12 8 Woodbridge

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Thomas Hartley, Esq. Roscrow, by Rev. S. Green,

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Friend, by Rev. James Upton, W. M. W. by Rev. Dr. Rippon,

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Henley, Society in Aid of Missions, by Rev. J. N. Goulty...

FEMALE EDUCATION.

Nailsworth, Miss Ryland, for "Nailsworth Female School"..

550

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TO CORRESPONDENTS.

THE Thanks of the Committee are presented to Mr. Joseph Webster, St. Neot's, for four Sets of "Burder's History of the Bible;" and to the Rev. Mr. Howes, Petersfield, for several Volumes of the Missionary Register, by Rev. George Pritchard.

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