continue uniformly large and attentive, and our social means of grace are seasons of profit. This city presents a fine field for ministerial labour, and especially for Wesleyan ministerial labour. A third

Chapel is much needed in this city; and a third Minister for this Circuit, to reside in the country, is imperatively required. -Rev. Henry Daniel, St. John, NewBrunswick, September 8th, 1848.

DEPARTURE OF MISSIONARIES.

On the 19th of December, Mr. and Mrs. Parsonson embarked at Gravesend, on board the "Augusta," Captain Barnett, for Graham'sTown, South Africa. Mr. and Mrs. Parsonson have been furnished with a gratuitous passage by the kindness of Mr. Cooper, of the Isle of Wight, and the co-owners of that ship. The Committee feel deeply indebted to those Gentlemen for the accommodation which they have thus so generously provided for Mr. and Mrs. Parsonson, as well as for the liberal provision which they have made for their comfort during the voyage. The Committee are encouraged to hope that this noble example will in many instances be imitated,-applications having been made to the Friends of the Missionary Cause connected with the Shipping Interest in different parts of the kingdom; to which, in almost every instance, encouraging replies have been returned. Such services are much needed, and would be most acceptable at all times; but in the present state of the Society's Funds, they are of the highest value and importance.

On Friday, December 22d, Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher, and Mr. and Mrs. Reid, embarked, at the same place, on board the "Ennerdale,” for New-Zealand. Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher have been appointed to take charge of the School for Missionaries' children, at Auckland; and Mr. and Mrs. Reid will have the management of the Native Normal School.

DEATH OF A MISSIONARY'S WIFE.

In recording the decease of the beloved wife of the Rev. J. Stewart Thomas, one of the Society's faithful and self-denying Missionaries in Southern Africa, we would express feelings of deep sympathy and condolence with the bereaved husband and family, under the afflictive dispensation through which it has pleased Him who cannot err to permit them to pass; but we would also, with solemn joy, give thanks to God, on behalf of our departed sister, that, in the hour of death, she was enabled to trust with unshaken confidence in that Saviour who had redeemed her spirit, and to bear testimony to His gracious support in the prospect of eternity. When spoken to upon the subject of her affliction, Mrs. Thomas replied, "Whichever way it may end, I know it will be for the glory of God. I have no fear: my hope is blooming with immortality. I can trust Him with all, with body and soul. He is my Saviour: I leave all in His hands:" and thus she calmly fell asleep in Jesus, on the 10th of September, 1848, at Morley, in Kaffraria.

LONDON: PRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS, HOXTON SQUARE.

WESLEYAN ACADEMY, MOUNT-ALLISON, SACKVILLE, NEW-BRUNSWICK,

THIS Institution, which owes its origin to the Christian liberality of CHARLES F. ALLISON, Esq., who designed it as a Centenary Offering, is pleasantly and conveniently situated in the township of Sackville, bordering on New-Brunswick, about equi-distant from St. John and Halifax, Nova-Scotia, and near the place into which Methodism was first introduced, by Emigrants to the latter province from Yorkshire and other parts of the North of England, about eighty years ago. In the same locality the late venerable WILLIAM BLACK commenced his arduous and successful labours as a Preacher of the Gospel; and thence the evangelical sound has since gone forth into every part of those extensive countries. It occupies an elevation of ground, now called Mount Allison. This name is given to the spot from sincere and deserved regard to the estimable gentleman who founded this greatly needed and highly

useful school, many of whose family connexions have long been distinguished for their attachment to Wesleyan Methodism.

It is proper to say, that the Wesleyan Societies had for some time felt the urgent want of such an Institution, and had not failed to make efforts to procure one. As an ecclesiastical body, they were among the first in the province of New-Brunswick to attempt the establishment of a literary seminary. Several years ago, some subscriptions were obtained, and a lot of land in Fredericton purchased, for the erection of an Academy; but a sufficient amount could not be secured to justify their proceeding farther than the purchase of the land, and the enterprise was abandoned for a time. The hopes, thus crushed, were most cheeringly revived by MR. ALLISON'S very munificent proposal.

That Gentleman had felt for some time that it was his duty to do more than he had done for the cause of Christ; and in contemplating the field of effort, he could fix on no point more worthy and more in need of the aid which he could bestow, than the establishment of a High School for the benefit of the Wesleyan Societies. Accordingly, in January, 1839, he addressed a letter to the New-Brunswick DistrictMeeting, containing his proposition.

The principles on which Mr. Allison wished that the Institution should be established are briefly, but clearly, set forth in the letter of proposal, and in his address at the laying of the corner-stone. My mind," says he," has of late been much impressed with the great importance of that admonition of the Wise Man, Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.' The establishment of schools in which pure religion is not only taught, but constantly brought before the youthful mind, and represented to it as the basis and groundwork of all the happiness which man is capable of enjoying here on earth, and eminently calculated to form the most perfect character, is, I think, one of the most efficient means, in the order of Divine Providence, to bring about the happy result spoken of by the Wise Man." It was under this impression, as he says in the letter, connected with a persuasion of his accountability to that gracious Being, whom he would ever recognise as the Source of all the good that is done in the earth, that he made his proposition.

A Committee, consisting of members of the two Districts of NovaScotia and New-Brunswick, met in Sackville, in the month of January, 1840, and determined on the plan of the building; which was commenced in May of the same year. On the 9th of July, the corner-stone was laid with religious services; on which occasion Mr. Allison made the following brief address, in the act of putting the stone in its place:

"The foundation-stone of this building I now proceed to lay, in the name of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. And may the education, ever to be furnished by the Institution, be conducted on Wesleyan principles, to the glory of God, and the extension of His cause! Amen.'

This building, which is of wood, is a noble edifice, one hundred and fifty feet in length, fifty feet in width, and three stories high, above the basement. It has a handsome portico in the middle of the façade, with four Doric columns from the ground-floor to the roof of the main building, and two half-square columns projecting at each end of the façade, at proper distances apart. The basement is built of red sandstone, or free

stone; the rest of the building is painted white. Its internal arrangement is planned in no narrow or stinted measure. The rooms of the lower or ground story, including chapel, library, recitation-rooms, parlours, and sitting-rooms, are high, large, airy, and commodious. The study and sleeping-rooms of the students are of sufficiently ample dimensions. There are accommodations for about eighty boarders. The basement is occupied with dining-hall, kitchen, &c., all light, dry, and comfortable. The Principal and Governor occupy apartments at each end respectively, which are separated from the rest of the building by partitions, so that the spacious middle hall does not pass throughout the building from end to end. The edifice is well and firmly built, and is neatly and comfortably furnished. It was erected at an expense of between five and six thousand pounds; four thousand of which Mr. Allison gave as a donation, accompanying his offering with a devotion of time, labour, and personal attention, which cannot be reckoned in the value of money, and which showed his deep interest in the enterprise. He has also endowed it with One Hundred Pounds per annum, for a series of years. Additional subscriptions, to aid in supplying furniture, library, apparatus, &c., were also procured, to the amount of more than one thousand five hundred pounds. Sackville, in the county of Westmoreland, lies at the head of the Bay of Fundy; and the Academy commands a view of its waters as they ascend, with their mighty tides, the numerous creeks which resemble rivers in length and breadth. The township is amongst the best cultivated portions of the fine province in which it is situated. It contains a great deal of excellent land, and is settled by a thriving and industrious population. The location is healthy, owing much of its salubrity to the high winds which purify the atmosphere, as they sweep across from the Bay of Fundy to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, about twelve miles distant. Immense tracts of marsh have, by diking, been redeemed from the waters of the Bay or creeks, (the work of the former French inhabitants,) which now afford vast quantities of English grass. Large herds of cattle, and considerable flocks of sheep, are raised in this as well as other parts of New-Brunswick; for it is chiefly a grain and grazing country, and is in the midst of a region abounding with interesting mineralogical and geological formations. The post-road between St. John, New-Brunswick, and Halifax, Nova-Scotia, passes through Sackville; while its short distance from the Gulf of St. Lawrence renders it easily accessible to the inhabitants of Prince Edward Island, from which several pupils have already been received. The patronage, already furnished to the Academy, and the supply of scholars, testify both to the demand for such an Institution, the general sense of its value, and the facility with which its advantages may be secured. There has been a gradual increase of scholars from the beginning. The first term, thirty-four in all attended; the second term, forty-five; the third, sixty-four; and the number is now considerably increased, and, indeed, amounts to nearly as many as the Institution will accommodate. It is enough to say, that this remarkable prosperity is unprecedented in the province, and furnishes signal evidence of the estimation in which the excellent character of the Academy is held by the public, both Wesleyans and others; for admission to its privileges is open to all classes of the community. It is becoming and pleasing to add, that the Institution is receiving a grant of one hundred and fifty pounds per annum from the Nova-Scotia Legislature, and one of three

hundred pounds per annum from the New-Brunswick Legislature. The able and zealous President of the Academy, the Rev. HUMPHREY PICKARD, recently visited this country, for the purpose of obtaining the sanction of the Missionary Committee to certain measures designed to promote its efficiency; one of which is the obtaining an Act of Incorporation from the Provincial Legislature, on such a plan as will secure in perpetuity the Christian and Wesleyan character of this valuable establishment.

The following extract of a letter from the Rev. H. PICKARD, addressed to DR. ALDER, dated Wesleyan Academy, Mount Allison, Sackville, NewBrunswick, Dec. 29th, 1848, affords pleasing evidence of the prosperous state of the Academy at the present time:

THE usual semi-annual examination of our students was held a few days since; and was a very satisfactory one to all the visitors who were present, as well as to all who are connected with the Academy. About thirty classes were examined; among which were five in Latin, four in Greek, two in French, one in Chemistry, three in Geometry, one in Algebra, one in History, two in English Grammar, four in Arithmetic, &c. Most of the students are now absent from the Institution, spending the Christmas vacation with their respective family-friends. The unprecedented depression of business, which is so painfully felt by all classes, and by almost every body in these provinces, has somewhat reduced our number of stu

dents during the year now ending, and will inevitably produce a similar effect for some time to come. But in these very hard times we are doing much better than we feared we should. Next Thursday, the 4th of January, 1849, we shall resume our regular exercises, entering upon the labours of another year,the seventh in the history of the Academy. We are already able to reckon a much larger number of students than can be found in any similar Institution within these provinces. Among the new students who have entered since my return, is the son of His Excellency SIR DONALD CAMPBELL, the Governor of Prince Edward Island; a satisfactory proof of the good opinion which SIR DONALD entertains of the Institution.

The subjoined Report of the Academy, presented by a Committee of the Lower House of the Provincial Parliament of Nova-Scotia to that Body, is highly satisfactory.

YOUR Committee have had under their consideration the accounts in relation to the Academy at Sackville for the last year; and find that the debt due on the 1st of January, 1847, of £991. 11s. 4d. was, on the 1st of January last, reduced to £654. 11s. 4d., and that to meet this there are debts and subscriptions due, to the extent of £383. 3s. 6d. The total amount of funds raised was equal to £3,076. 2s. 11d., and of expenditure, £2,738. 1s. 11ld. The total number of students in attendance were one hundred and forty-four; of these sixty attended the classical department, forty-nine the literary and

scientific, and thirty-five the primary. The classes include a very wide range of instruction:- the Classics, Logic, Astronomy, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Surveying and Navigation, Geometry, Algebra, Arithmetic, Geography, History, and Book-Keeping. Although none of your Committee have had an opportunity of personally visiting this Institution during the past year, they have reason to believe that it is in a creditable and prosperous condition; that a very useful and practical education may be obtained at it on moderate terms; and that due care is also paid to the moral training of the students.

EVERY Person who subscribes to the Wesleyan Missionary Society one Penny, or upwards, weekly, is entitled to one of these Papers; and every one who collects for the Society to the amount of one Shilling, or more, weekly, is entitled to the Missionary Notices. These Papers, the Monthly Notices, the General View of the Wesleyan Missions, Addresses, Cards and Books for Collectors, and Missionary Boxes, will be sent to the order of any of the Methodist Ministers, or the Secretaries or Treasurers of the Auxiliary or Branch Wesleyan Missionary Societies.-All Orders are to be sent to the General Secretaries, Centenary-Hall and Mission-House, Bishopsgate-Street-Within, London.

LONDON PRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS, HOXTON-SQUare,