Extract of a letter from the Rev. J. Williams, missionary, Rhiatea, to the Rev. L. E. Threlkeld, missionary to the aborigines, Newcastle

"Mr. Bourne has been a voyage to Rhiatea, and brings the most pleasing intelligence; all the people, perhaps 7000, have embraced Christianity. The teachers began to baptize soon after you touched there, according to the instructions given them. This induced many to embrace Christianity, and the candidates were so numerous, that one thousand were baptized before Mr. Bourne arrived; when five hundred more were baptized by him. Two or three thousand still wait, anxious to receive that ordinance. They have 180 plastered houses in the settlement, and a new place of worship, the former having been blown down by a hurricane. At Vaitulate, another island, they are going on well; 140 plastered houses are ranged along the beach, which makes the settlement look extremely well. At Rurutu an American vessel has been lost; the captain has given a certificate to the native teachers, testifying, in strong terms, his great obligations to the natives for their kindness, and the strict honesty they observed during the whole catastrophe. Captain Chase has made them a valuable present, in consideration of their good conduct. At Manaia, the island where we could not leave the females on account of the rough usage they sustained from the natives, a general sickness prevailed a few weeks after that circumstance took place; about 80 persons died; they concluded that the God of the teachers was angry with them for seizing their persons and stealing their property. They collected all they had seized, and cast it into a large hole, when the plague was stayed; 150 persons embraced Christianity, but the reception is not yet general. It was not begun with the king's first embracing Christianity, but quite the contrary; as soon as a person is inclined to believe, he leaves the king's settlement, goes to the teachers at the other side of the island, where a piece of ground is allotted to him for his house, and he immediately begins to cultivate and build."

How noble this spirit of these heathen chiefs and king-full liberty to exercise the rights of conscience without the smallest annoyance. This pretty island may now challenge the universe to follow its example, and say with justice to the most civilized nations, of whatever clime or colour, Be ye followers of L. F. T.

me.'

New South Wales.

The mission to the aborigines, to which the Rev. Mr. Threlkeld is devoting his labours, does not as yet assume that importance which in due time is certain to be manifested. Mr. Threlkeld is making great and rapid advances in the aboriginal tongue; and to those who are at all acquainted with the peculiar difficulties which lie in the way of improving this degraded race of beings, it must be a matter of surprise to see what Mr. Threlkeld has been able to accomplish in the lapse of a few months. Mr. T. is about to commit to the press some elementary tracts, which seem to have been prepared with much industry and care. This mission, as well as every other engaged in similar undertakings, has our most fervent wishes for its prosperity.

The Rev. Mr. Hassall is not returning on Port Macquarie, but some other clergymat will shortly be stationed at this promising settlement; as the venerable archdeacon, and the colonial government, are alike anxious that all our populous out-stations should be furnished with the superlative advantages of the ministry.

The Rev. Mr. Horton, of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, at present stationed at Windsor, will, at the close of the present year, 1825, return to Van Diemen's Land, to relieve the Rev. Mr. Hutchinson, now stationed at Lanceston, where he has been so successfully engaged in the duties of the ministry, as to render himself universally beloved; and his unavoidable removal to Tongataboo, one of the Friendly Islands, is sincerely deplored by the kind and liberal people of Port Dalrymple, and its neighbourhood. The Rev. Mr. Erskine, who is the superintendant of these missions, is on the eve of proceeding to Windsor; and the Rev. Mr. Mansfield will succeed Mr. Erskine, for the next two years, in the capital.

A very pleasing and novel circumstance occurred on the evening of Jan. 9, 1826. The usual missionary prayer-meeting was held in the Wesleyan Chapel, in Macquarie-street. A respectable though not numerous congregation was present. Amongst the missionaries assembled were, the Rev. Mr. Threlkeld, of the London Missionary Society, and missionary to the aborigines in the district of Hunter's River. He was accompanied by a native of Rhiatea, that had only arrived a few days ago in charge of Mr. Threlkeld's children from the Islands. He ranks as a deacon in the church of Rhiatea, and, through Mr. Threlkeld, addressed the congregation from the reading desk. The earnestness of the tone in which he spoke, and the freedom of his delivery, forcibly illustrated the power of that influential principle which had, by his own confession, completely changed him from all that was infamous to the contrary virtues, and had not only produced an external alteration, but also pleasingly effected a change of heart, without which all profession is vanity and vexation of spirit. He pathetically besought Christians, of all denominations, to promote the designs the gospel had in view, and not be satisfied with any thing short of personal holiness themselves, since be endeavoured to impress on their minds, how disgraceful it would be for the heathens to be saved, whilst the professors of Christianity were lost! We have no doubt that many will long remember the Rhiatean deacon.

Captain Crear, of the Triton, having in a very handsome manner, proffered his fine ship for the purpose of having divine service performed afloat on the sabbath-day, the Wesleyan Missionaries have with every readiness accepted the kind offer; and divine service now takes place every sabbath forenoon, at 11 o'clock.

Kangaroos.-This race of animals is far from being extinct, as 1000 skins were lately advertised for sale in the Sydney Gazette.

Grafting. It appears from experiments, made in America, that the fruit of apples engrafted on sycamore stocks grows very large, and as the blossoms appear late, they are less liable than others to be injured by the frost.

Speculation.-The following Table shews the amount of sums advanced as loans to Foreigners on various securities-the original cost-present priceand actual loss.

Thus the total loss amounts to the enormous sum of £19,239,750.! averaging

to about 61! on the

actual

amount

lent.

Hydrophobia. The following simple preven

tive of this dreadful malady, has been recommended to our attention by a correspondent who styles himself "An old Servant of the Country, in the army, for half a century past."

When an individual has been bitten by a rabid animal, let the wound be immediately washed with common water strongly saturated with salt; and at the same time let a table spoonful of salt dissolved in water be taken inwardly, and let the dose be repeated three or four mornings successively. The wound being washed as above stated with salt and water, a poultice composed of wet salt, bread, and water must be instantly applied, and renewed three or four times at the end of every six hours. The application, he observes, must be resorted to instantly, as delay will defeat its efficacy. It is added, that the same ingredients and process will effectually prevent any ill effects from the bite of a snake.

Enterprise, Steam Ship.-Of the voyage which this vessel made lately to India, a long and interesting account has recently been published, from which we gather that the undertaking was attended with more difficulties than had been taken into previous calculation. The supply of coals was insufficient throughout a considerable part of the voyage, the places being too distant from each other at which the stock could be replenished. On the whole, it seems probable, that no powerful temptation is held out by the late experiment to encourage repetition.

Increase of Bankruptcies.-For the half year ending June, 1825, the number amounted to 489-during the same period in 1826, the list has been augmented to 1827.

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