to compassionate that class in particular with an eye of more than common compassion, and one accompanied with the corresponding desire of becoming, in one way or another, instrumental to their salvation."

6

6

6

Secular concerns, in which he was for several years actively employed, in a great measure prevented this desire from manifesting itself, except in occasional visits to various seaports, for the purpose of promoting the cause of God amongst sailors, by 'the establishment of Sunday schools, the distribution of bibles and tracts, and occasional addresses. But the long wished for hour at length arrived, when he could thankfully give the parting hand to every earthly consideration,' and give himself entirely to him from whom proceed all holy desires and just views. ' without reserve, or one lingering look behind.' Accordingly, he devoted himself to preparatory studies, various courses of which he pursued at the Edinburgh University with characteristic ardour. With the unanimous concurrence of his friends, he spent one or two years at Brussels, in comparative seclusion, studying the classics, and particularly the Dutch and French languages, for the especial purpose of subserving the spiritual interests of sailors on the sea-coast of France and Holland; this object he continued to pursue at Rotterdam and at Zeist. While at the latter place, the constancy and the power of his principles of self-denial were put to a severe test; but they triumphed, and he refused accepting a station of great honour and emolument, for the sake of becoming a humble missionary to his poor perishing brethren of the sea. Having proceeded to the continent at first with the express view of qualifying himself, by the acquisition of foreign languages, to labour in a particular branch of service, he never lost sight of it, and the desire to advance the spiritual welfare of the maritime population of his own and other countries, entwined itself with 'his most cherished and anxious solicitudes. This love to 'souls made him a moral hero; and he acted both piously and nobly in placing all earthly considerations on the altar of conscience, to present them in sacrifice to God.' (Page 49.)

6

6

6

Mr. Angas united himself with the Baptist church, under the pastoral care of the venerable Dr. Rippon, and having thus identified himself with this denomination, he naturally pursued his catholic plans of usefulness, in harmony and connexion with it. Thus, in 1820, with Mr. Ward, one of the Baptist missionaries in India, he visited Holland, the Baptist Missionary Society, of which they were the appointed agents, desiring to establish more intimate relations with their friends of kindred sentiment on the continent. Mr. Ward soon returned, leaving his coadjutor behind him, who determined to pursue his course through North Holland. His plan was to pass northwards as far as the

island of Texel, where the Baptists are numerous; thence to cross the Zuyder Zee, and land on the opposite coast of Friezland; to proceed north-eastwards to Groningen; and return southwards to the borders of Germany. This plan he executed, as far as repeated attacks of fever and general ill-health permitted. The results, as to information acquired and correspondences opened with the Mennonites, a most interesting and numerous class of continental Baptists, were exceedingly valuable and important.

In pursuance of his first purpose, Mr. Angas, upon his return from the continent, sought the earliest opportunity of taking up his residence in the neighbourhood of the College at Stepney, that he might obtain some instruction in theology, preparatory to more stated ministerial engagements. Having adopted this plan, and acted upon it for some time with his usual assiduity and success, in a letter to his father he thus describes the state of his mind, relative to the one great subject that interested and absorbed all his thoughts and feelings. After alluding to his studies, as laying the foundation for a solid and useful superstructure, he says:

6

'The next consideration then is, what and where shall be my future scene and sphere of action? In coming to a decision upon so important a question, after long deliberation and much prayer on my part, the only consideration with me, it seems, ought to be simply this-not where and how I shall best advance my secular interests-nor where and how I should promote my own personal ease or comfort;-nor where or in what way I shall acquire to myself the largest share of popularity as a preacher or as a scholar, but where and how I may win most souls to Christ; and so to labour for him as to deserve from his lips, at the last and terrible day of God, this reward: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant! enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." With this view of the case before me, and under the influence of motives in some small degree, I hope, proportioned to the importance of it, I have been led to consider the following as the leading parts of a plan of future labour, which, under the blessing of him who disposes all things wisely, is most likely to embrace and ensure the largest share of usefulness in the work to which I have set my hand. First, by the grace of God, I give myself up to his service, with a special view to the spiritual welfare of seafaring men: 1. By preaching the word among them in the principal sea-ports and along the coast; 2. Visiting ships, British and Foreign, and distributing the scriptures and tracts among them. Secondly, to unite with the cause of seamen that of the Baptist mission on the continent, chiefly as my seafaring labours may call me there.

'The reasons with which such a course of labour as the above, with regard to myself, stand connected, will, I think, appear such as might be expected of me to assign. These are, 1st, Because seafaring men are known to all the world in general, and to me as one of that class in

particular, to be more destitute of the gospel than any other class of men. 2ndly, That a far greater proportion of them are swept into eternity than other men by premature death.-3dly, None is so likely to feel for them as one who has himself been an eye-witness to the dangers, hardships and sufferings which are inseparable from their lot; and having from a boy been accustomed to their habits and line of life, none more proper to enter into all the circumstances of their life; and consequently, the most fit to exhort, to warn, to admonish, and to console them in the great things of salvation.-4thly, Because of the paramount desire I feel, beyond any other class of men, that they should be made partakers with myself of the heavenly gift; of which I trust the Lord has, in much mercy, given me to taste.-5thly, This desire is the same which alone influenced me to leave all secular prospects for their sakes.-6thly, That I have reason to believe this desire was of God, from the circumstance of my having been enabled to turn a deaf ear to all, from other quarters, which promised so much more of what the world calls good and great, than it seems likely for me to realise in the line of duty before me.-7thly and lastly, Because He, from whom all good desires flow, seems so remarkably to have paved the way for me, since I first thought of his service, by raising up arks in different sea-port towns, causing several societies to be formed-and is forming more; all which seem in the plainest manner to say to me, "This is the way, walk ye in it.' And besides all this I am persuaded, that when true religion shall become more general among the seafaring classes, they will be most powerful auxiliaries to the cause of missions in the different parts of the world where their profession from time to time calls them to visit.

But there is one question which may properly arise to you out of all this: "Whence am I to draw my secular support?" I have no other reply to give to this, than, "Out of my own funds for the present." Do not infer from this, that I am of opinion the labourer is not worthy of his secular hire. I believe on the contrary he is, and that if possible more so than a workman in any other line. But then at the same time, I limit this to cases where there is no other adequate means of support. As to myself, I am as yet without any family incumbrance: and the interest of what is my own is abundant for me; which, in my expenditure I never have, nor ever intend to exceed.'

men.

In this spirit, so enlightened, so devout, and so generous, Mr. Angas was publicly ordained as a Christian Missionary to seafaring The solemnity took place on board the Floating Chapel at Bristol, on Wednesday evening, May the 11th, 1822. This office he undertook in connexion with The British and Foreign 'Seaman's Friend Society and Bethel Union,' in London. This Society he cherished and supported to the end of his days; and entertained a loathing approaching to horror, when referring, as he was sometimes called upon to do, to the base selfishness and hypocrisy with which it was assailed by one who as a 'brother seaman, ought to have sacrificed his life rather than injure, much less betray, the best interests of that class of men from

6

among whom he had risen, and with whose well-being he affected to identify his own.

In 1822 Mr. Angas visited the continent a second time. The direct purpose of this journey was, as before, to promote the objects of the Baptist Missionary Society. But at every port, in every harbour and river, he met with sailors. In the winter of 1823, he conducted worship to overflowing audiences on board different ships, and for six weeks alternately, in the 'Hope,' of Greenock, and The Admittance,' of Boston, the two most spacious vessels in the port of Hamburg at the time. But it forms no part of our plan to follow this good man through all the progress of his useful exertions. His brief notices, and sometimes animated sketches of the Mennonites, The Bernese Baptists, and The Baptists of Moutier, in L'Evêche de Basle, will be read with deep interest. It is one of the inscrutable mysteries. of Providence that a man of such principles, possessing such advantages for the successful prosecution of the arduous task which he had imposed upon himself, should have been SO soon removed from the field of labour. He, however, was nothing appalled by the suddenness of the summons. The last sentence he uttered was in these words: Christ is precious 'to me now-never so precious before-all my salvation, all my ' desire.'

The work before us will prove peculiarly acceptable to sailors, and we sincerely hope that it will excite the attention of the Christian Public to that society of which the respectable Author of this Memoir is one of the gratuitous secretaries—we mean the British and Foreign Sailors' Society-where a brother of Mr. Angas is a treasurer, and in connexion with which, in the true spirit of his departed relative, he supports a Thames Missionary at his own expense.

Art. IV. Sketches of Corfu, Historical and Domestic; its Scenery and Natural Productions: interspersed with Legends and Traditions. 12mo. pp. 445. London, 1835.

WE have taken up this volume more than once for the

purpose of forming a critical opinion of its merits, but have found ourselves unable to read far without growing tired of the pleasure which, for a page or two, it imparted. Yet we have felt irresistibly inclined to look into it again, and have always met with something to be pleased with. Thus, as often as we have made up our mind to be provoked with the signs of book-making it exhibits, we have lighted on some lively picture or some solid information, which has disarmed us of all critical severity. Gen

tle reader, have you ever listened to vivacious prattle till you were tired, and turned away from the groupe with something of lordly feeling, and then, after a while, found yourself attracted back again. If so, you will understand the critic's predicament, having to deal with the production of a lady, which has alternately pleased and provoked us with its strange patchwork texture of journal, legend, dialogue, narrative, poetry, and sentimental gossip. All that we can say is, that it is a very agreeable medley, but not so good a book as might have been made with the Author's talents and opportunities, had she been able to follow any plan, or to keep in the same mood long together.

The contents are arranged in chapters, bearing for their titles the names of the months from February onwards; the Author's design being to offer a faint sketch of the appearance of the 'country as the seasons progressed.' The legends and historical anecdotes interspersed are stated to have been collected from the conversation of the natives, the archives of the city, and various ancient chronicles. Our first extract will introduce the reader to the family in which she was domesticated.

Our house is a rambling old place, in which a great deal of room is completely thrown away; long corridores with no thoroughfare, halls that are never used, and recesses inhabited only by spiders. The ground-floor is a mere warehouse, and let out as such; the premier was, I suspect, never used before my arrival, being considered too good to be used. The family consists of my good host, the Count Giovanni Asinelli, his wife, two daughters, a son, son's wife, and a young niece from Venice, staying on a visit. The family sitting-room is furnished much in the Italian style, with large Venetian mirrors; bad engravings in ebony frames; a table which never leaves the centre of the room; an old grand piano, in which the forte predominates; and a divan that occupies two sides of the apartment. There is also a lamp hanging from the ceiling, but is merely ornamental. The picture of the Virgin is invariably placed in the master's sleeping room; a lamp burns before it day and night, and a variety of charms and offerings hang about the walls. As for books, I never saw one in the house, except my own; they are confined to the libraries of the learned and professional men; indeed, the Greeks are far too busy, running about from place to place to hear the news, to care much about reading.

The count himself is descended from one of the oldest families in the islands. As he married at fourteen, and began housekeeping a year after, he had no opportunity of remedying a bad education by travel, according to the fashion of his country. He is a very favourable specimen of the Greek nobility; and I fear, rather to be considered as a lusus naturæ, than as one of a genus. He is a man of strong shrewd sense, and possesses a larger portion of natural apprehension of right and wrong, than I ever before witnessed, for with every external disadvantage, abandoned early in life to his own guidance, living for many years under the most corrupt government in