been too little attended to, though not entirely neglected. Most of the Missionary Societies now existing embrace too many objects, or occupy too many different stations and fields of labour. There is much truth in the following representation:

"It is perfectly well known that, except on peculiar occasions, the actual business of every charitable institution is transacted by a very small number of zealous individuals, who perhaps are as often thwarted and embarrassed, as aided by their colleagues. Of necessity, therefore, it must be that when a society occupies an extensive and various field of labour, the few efficient individuals are compelled, often at the expense of health and peace of mind, to give their distracted attention, in rapid succession, now to the home concerns of the society, and now to its foreign operations; and these foreign operations are of the most dissimilar character. Placed in circumstances so perplexing, what can be expected, even from the most accomplished talent, and the most unwearied assiduity, but a vague, inappropriate, and almost imbecile suffusion of mental strength over the immense surface of affairs. And what can be expected from zeal so disadvantaged, but a waste of resources upon projects which, though they might have succeeded had they enjoyed the benefit of undiverted counsels, could not but fail

read in the history and circumstances of the people to whom the mission is sent; and capable of giving such a direction to all the means in their power, as by the Divine blessing may be productive of the greatest effect. I would not confine the following observations to Mahometan missions; I would extend the principle to all missions. The parties who conduct them ought fully to understand every thing which relates to the field of labour which is occupied, and ought to be able to give a large portion of undistracted attention to it.

"In conducting a mission to Mahometan nations, is it enough that men should be zealous, prayerful, kind-hearted? Is it enough that they should be expert in managing those details of business which are common to a Missionary Society with every other charitable institution? Or is it enough that they should be competent to read sound theological lectures to candidates for the work, or that, in sending out their missionaries, they should be able to address to them powerful and pathetic harangues? Is it, in a word, enough, that they should be just qualified to do that which should be done if we had only to send out a company of preachers to officiate in the chapels of an English colony? All this is not enough. The projectors and managers of such an attack upon Mahometanism as the present moment

invites, should be the four or five individuals who might be picked out from the fourteen millions of our population. And these four or five gifted men should be solemnly called forth by the voice of the christian public, and should be placed in a condition in which they might freely devote the undistracted attention of their remaining years to the great work. And let the agency of these individuals be as much blended as you please with influence of a more popular kind; and let public opinion bear with its whole force upon whatever they do. We want no snug or sleeping secrecy; but we absolutely need qualified and permanent agents for the achievement of difficult tasks." Pp. 31, 32.

While I agree in a great measure with the author of this paragraph in the sentiment of the above passage, I frankly own that there is not only much difficulty likely to be experienced in finding these four or five gifted individuals; but in the present state of the religious world, if they were found, they would not probably feel disposed to take upon them so solemn and irksome a responsibility unless in conjunction with others. A very small number of persons would be regarded with great jealousy by the mass; while on their own part the consciousness of being the object of this jealousy, and apprehension of public dissatisfaction, would embarrass

and enfeeble their measures. As things are, though these richly qualified men are rare, it is quite practicable to make an appropriate selection of individuals for the several kinds of work which must be performed; and perhaps more is done in this way already than the author of the "New Model" is aware of.

On the general division of missionary fields, were the work to be commenced de novo, I think the suggestions of the author would well deserve consideration. But perhaps the substance of his views may be reduced to practice without any violent change in our existing societies. The Jews' Society is already sufficiently distinct; the Continental Society has only to direct its energies and resources more powerfully to the Catholic, and to the scarcely less ignorant and irreligious Protestant states of Europe. Had the Scottish Missionary Society not abandoned its operations in the Crimea, and in Russian Tartary, it might have employed all its funds and agents among the Mahometan nations. What hinders that it should give this direction yet to its missionaries in the East; or if it cannot, why, if we have the means, not form a society with an exclusive view to the benefit of the followers of the false prophet?

All the rest of the world, unless we would

have a distinct society for every nation under heaven, is divided into two parts, the civilised and the uncivilised. This, is in fact, the great and the most important division among the nations. In regard to the civilised nations of the earth, such, I mean, as India, China, and, generally speaking, the countries of the Eastern hemisphere, one description of means substantially will apply to them all-well educated men and suitable books. We must, and ought to have a large body of well instructed, energetic, tried, and enterprising men, for every part of this quarter of the globe; he who would thus be found qualified for one portion of it, cæteris paribus, would not be disqualified for any other. The man who can suggest the most likely method of finding such persons, would confer great obligation on the friends of missious. Whatever be our plan of operation, every thing, under God, depends on our having the right sort of men. I do not say we have not yet found them. Blessed be God, not a few such persons have been found, of which the writer of the following letters is an instance. But we require more of this description;--not merely men of piety and of zeal; but men of wisdom and prudence of enlarged and well cultivated minds; fertile in resource;