of both likely to be attained. Were this the case, there would be a vast saving both of time and of labor. It is perfectly absurd to find thirty or forty persons as gravely engaged in discussing the payment of a twenty pound bill, or the appointment of a porter, as in the direction and arrangement of a score of missionaries, on the other side of the globe. It is desirable that missionary directors should be men of information, talents, and influence; but it is not necessary that they should be all equally capable of doing all things. The present constitution of these societies does not necessarily involve this absurdity of management; I do not see, therefore, that it ought to be persevered in.

I very much like the idea which is suggested in this pamphlet, that the management of every Mission should be confined to a small number of individuals, known to be thoroughly qualified for conducting the undertaking-persons deeply 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 Mohammedan 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 labor which is occupied, and ought to be able to give a large portion of undistracted attention to it.

"In conducting a Mission to Mohammedan nations, is it enough that men should be zealous, prayerful, kindhearted? 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 Mohammedanism 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 feely 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. 38, 39.

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 Mohammedan 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 civilized and the uncivilized. This, is in fact, the great and the most important division among the nations. In regard to the civilized 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 e 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 missions. 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; patient as well as indefatigable in labor-capable of rousing a country by their energy, their fearlessness, and their devoted piety.

The barbarous or uncivilized parts of the world require a peculiar kind of labor, which de

mands scarcely less talent and wisdom, though not, perhaps, such eminent attainments as the other. The Christianizing of these countries is but one part of the work which must be done for them. It was taken almost for granted, at the beginning, that as soon as the gospel should be received by persons in such circumstances, they would become civilized. This is so far true. They are brought under the power of principles on which the whole structure of civilization may be reared. But unless we are prepared to assist the work of evangelization, after it has begun in a savage country, by all the means which the new state of society, and the new wants of the people will require, we only do the work in half. It will either, in the course of time, lose ground, or it will require all the resources of our societies merely to preserve the mission stations, which have been formed, in existence.

Whether Missionary Societies have adopted the wisest plan in bestowing so large a portion of their means and attention on barbarous, or semi-barbarous nations, while so large a portion of the civilized world remains unoccupied, this is neither the time nor place to discuss. But of one thing I feel deeply convinced, that we are in want of some additional means for carrying forward the work both of civilization and of conversion in those savage countries, which appear to have benefited from our labors. I do not hesitate to say that the London Missionary Society