There is one other fact for which the brethren feel deeply grateful. The public are aware that certain classes of the coloured population, chiefly Hottentots, manifested disaffection to the Government, though Christians. This has been a source of general disquietude, as discovering other than Kaffir sources of irritation, and it has proved a sore trial to their pastors and missionaries. And the matter of gratitude referred to is, that nothing of the kind has appeared among the natives connected with the Free Church Mission. The Jengus, in particular, who have of late occupied so much of the brethren's attention, are described as alike faithful and brave. Some connected with the Lapsdale station were among the fallen in battle on the side of the Government.

at.

The causes of the war are, to a large extent, beyond the province of a missionary report; and they are too diversified to be easily got The aggressions made by the colony on the native territory are, however, doubtless among the chief, and within the reach of all. The Kaffirs are, as a people, proud, daring, and yet remarkably shrewd and cool. They are jealous of every encroachment, particularly on their territorial independence; and yet, instead of getting into a blaze when wronged, as they suppose, they will bide their time, and never forget the wrong till opportunity serves their turn. Judge, then, of their feelings, when, from time to time, the frontier line has been advanced from river to river, till they are now threatened with being driven nearly out of the country which they once called their own.

And yet, without going into any statement concerning the colonial policy, every candid observer will see in the circumstancess enough to account for the course pursued. On the colonial side of the line are usually herds of cattle feeding on rich pastures, while the Kaffir herds, not being cared for in the same way, are, it may be, on sun-burned plains. The temptation is strong to make a raid across the borders, particularly as they reckon the lands which are now colonial to form part of their own patrimonial inheritance. The name of every hill and winding stream being in their own Kaffir language, is to them as the reading of a charter. But these forays are followed by reprisals, which at last issue in war; and as victory is always in the end on the side of the colony, the frontier line is as often moved eastward. In 1812, 1823, 1834, 1846, and now again, wars, more or less of this kind, have occurred, and in all the past instances the colony has gained on the native territory. And the settlement which took place after the war of 1846 was more crushing than any of its predecessors. The chiefs were reduced to tenants under the British Crown, and large districts of their wonted domain were parcelled out among other settlers--some coloured, and some European. This undermined the authority of the chiefs, as well as deprived them of territory and other resources

C

The object was to reduce the race to the condition of colonial settlers. And if the Kaffirs had gone frankly into the scheme, it would have proved a benefit. By depriving the chiefs of their feudal claims, these people would have been free to act according to their conscience, instead of being compelled to sin, or forced to seek shelter at some missionary station-they would have availed themselves more largely of the education furnished by the missionaries and the Government, which their chiefs discouraged all they could; and they would have cultivated their own lands as they saw others do. These were, no doubt, the ends contemplated by Government. And it is due to add, that all the missionaries speak of the Governor, and those acting under his authority, as kind and encouraging.

Some of the brethren have communicated their views of the future. They have no doubt that the Kaffirs will ere long be overpowered, and think it likely that large bodies of Fingoes, and perhaps Zoolas, both of whom speak substantially the same language, will be settled in another portion of the Kaffir territory. These tribes have shown a much greater willingness to be instructed than the Kaffirs, and, though inferior in personal appearance, they are also less proud, and may, in the providence of God, be admitted to privileges which the others have to a large extent despised.

But more will be known ere long. Commissioners have been dispatched to assist the Governor, and the missionaries are in the very places where negotiations will have to be carried on. Meanwhile, they are not idle. King William's Town is the Governor's head-quarters till matters be settled, and here there is a large concourse of native tribes, and colonial and British troops. And at Lovedale the missionaries, though using the seminary as their retreat, are often among the people, and have classes of catechumens under instruction.

It is known to the Assembly that Mr Govan was sent out to take charge of the seminary at the expense of friends chiefly in Glasgow and the west of Scotland. They have since sent out Mr Bryce Ross as Mr Govan's assistant. Mr Ross and his wife sailed from London about the beginning of April, and are likely to reach Lovedale early next month, by which time the war will probably be over, the season also being the depth of winter.

And, in connection with this, it is an encouraging fact, that not fewer than seven of the missionaries' sons and daughters are either already employed, or are about to be so, as instructors in Kaffirland. They were all born in the country, speak the Kaffir as their mother tongue; and are, so far as has yet appeared, of a similar spirit with their parents. Three of the seven were actually engaged teaching before the late outbreak; a sixth is Mr Bryce Ross, already noticed

as on his way; and his brother, a Free Church student in this country, is the seventh.

We have not mentioned Mr Bennie, the missionary, who has been longest in the country (almost thirty years), because of his being, with the consent of the Committee, among a coloured population within the colony, and without expense to the Church. Two of the seven are his, a son and a daughter.

The Glasgow Ladies' Society has also been engaged, as usual, with female education. The war has proved a sad hindrance to them also, but they are only taking steps towards renewed exertions.

And, in concluding, it will not be thought too much that the sympathies and prayers of the Church should be solicited on behalf of men so self denied and so greatly tried as the brethren of the Kaffir Mission. And if they claim our sympathy, their wives and families claim it, perhaps even more. No one can describe the inconvenience and sufferings to which they must have often been exposed.

DELIVERANCE OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

"3d June 1851.

"The General Assembly having resumed consideration of the Report of Foreign Missions, feel called upon to record their gratitude to Him who gave the heathen for a heritage to his Son, for the measure of success vouchsafed to the labours of the Missionaries of this Church during the past year, and the degree of liberality which has appeared on the part of the people, in supporting the great cause of Foreign Missions. They express their sympathy with those of the Missionaries who have been visited with trials and bereavements, and especially with the brethren in Caffraria, whose homes have again been devastated by the ravages of war.

"In regard to those portions of the Report which relate to the Act of the Supreme Legislature of British India, securing liberty of conscience, in certain respects, to Her Majesty's Indian subjects, the General Assembly resolve to memorialize the Court of Directors, as suggested in the Report.

"The Assembly have heard with much satisfaction of the success of the measures employed in the Synod of Perth, for drawing forth the liberalities of the people of the Free Church of Scotland in regard to her Foreign Missions, and remit to the Committee to proceed with that work through the different Synods and Presbyteries of this Church, in terms of the deliverance of last Assembly, and as Presbyteries and Ministers can make arrangements for carrying out the plan.

Farther, as the Charter of the East India Company will be renewed in the course of the year 1853, the General Assembly instruct the Committee to take advantage of any opportunity which may thus be afforded, for securing such measures as may seem fitted to advance the religious renovation and welfare of India.

"And in regard to the Native Catechists and Preachers, who are now,

by

the blessing of God on the labours of our Missionaries, engaged in imparting a knowledge of Christianity to their countrymen, the Committee are instructed to turn their special attention to this department, and that with a view to devise right means for supporting the converts in the mean time, as well as for giving effect to their labours, and to report specially on this branch of the subject to next General Assembly.

Finally, in regard to the Mission at the Cape, while the Assembly regret to learn that its affairs are not yet finally adjusted, they instruct the Committee to proceed to wind it up with as little delay as possible in terms of the Report, and, in terms of former deliverances of the Assembly, to bring the state of matters at Cape-Town under the notice of the Colonial Committee, with a view to the formation of a Free Church at the Cape of Good Hope, should that Committee see cause."

Extracted from the Records of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, by

THOMAS PITCAIRN, Cl. Eccl. Scot. Lib,

Free Church of
of Scotland.

REPORT OF EDUCATION COMMITTEE. Submitted to the General Assembly on 2d June 1851.

Your Committee will first present as usual an abstract of the present state of the Scheme, under the several heads into which it naturally divides itself.

The number of our Congregational Schools is 422, i.e. of schools connected with particular congregations, and receiving their rated proportional salary from the fund. Several applications for the sanction of new schools are before the Committee.

The number of Side or District Schools is 174, and of Missionary Schools, or schools planted in destitute localities, where an aggressive effort is to be made on the territorial plan, 13. Most of these are in connection with territorial churches, either in progress or in contemplation.

The number of our Grammar Schools is 5; to which we must add our two Normal schools of Edinburgh and Glasgow.

In connection with our congregational or other schools, there are about 33 Industrial schools, in which females are employed to teach needlework and other branches of female industry. A few of these are not connected with other schools, but entrust to the mistress the entire education of the children attending the school.

For this establishment of schools there are 687 teachers, receiving salaries or gratuities, more or less, upon the Scheme. In the normal schools there are 2 rectors, 18 male teachers, and 7 female teachers; in other schools there are 660 teachers; or 687 in all. Besides these, there are assistants, monitors, pupil teachers, and apprentices, aiding in the work of tuition.

Over and above the schools and teachers properly upon our establishment, there are Free Church schools throughout the country, some connected with congregations or bodies of adherents, and others set on foot by individuals on their own responsibility, which do not depend on our funds, but are yet effectually doing our work. We have not asked returns of such schools; but we have reason to know that they are considerably more numerous now than when the returns of them were formerly made.

With this establishment of schools and teachers, we can approximate to an estimate of the number of the youth of Scotland actually under the training and tuition of our Scheme. Our returns do not, indeed, enable us to make a complete statement. Out of 630 schedules of inquiry sent out, there are still 32 which we have not received back at all; and of those we have received several are very imperfect.

The number of children reported as attending our salaried day-schools is 53,902, besides 1450 attending the model classes of the normal schools, and 141 normal students. Taking an average from the ordinary day-schools returned for those not returned, we have to add 2894, making in all the number attending our salaried day-schools to be 58,387. But besides, we have children attending schools not on our scheme, but reported to us as substantially Free Church schools; and if we take them and the evening schools formerly reported into account, with an attendance of 15,000 children, which is an under estimate, we reckon about 73,387 of our Scottish youth as receiving their education more or less entirely at our hands.

In order to prove how our schools are distributed over the country, we give the following table of the number of our salaried schools in the several Presbyteries and Synods of the Church. There is no Presbytery without a school. Two Presbyteries have only one school each. Three have two each. Three have three each. Four have four each. That is, nine have under five schools. The rest have from five to thirty and thirty-four.