society, and a committee was chosen to nominate gentlemen to act as Directors.

On the morning of the 23d, the Rev. Samuel Greatheed, of Woburn, Bedfordshire, preached a most ingenious and impressive discourse, at Haberdashers' Hall Meeting-House, from the words in Luke x. 29, "And who is my neighbour?" Of this sermon it is not saying too much to assert of it, that it remains, among the class of exercises to which it belongs, an unrivalled production. The devotional exercises were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Lowell, of Woodbridge, afterwards of Bristol; the Rev. Mr. Sloper, of Devizes; the Rev. J. Saltern, of Bridport; the Rev. Mr. Herdsman, of South Petherton; the Rev. Mr. Smelle, of Great Grimsby; and the Rev. Mr. Whitbridge, of Oswestry.

Immediately after divine worship, a meeting of friends was held, for the purpose mainly of completing the arrangements as to the first list of Directors. The Rev. Dr. Hunter, of the Scots' Church, London Wall, was called to the chair; and, after prayer to God for direction, the individuals who had been appointed on the preceding day to revise the plan of the society were requested to withdraw into the vestry, and to prepare a list of persons whom they might judge fit to take the oversight of the society for the first year of its eventful undertaking. Their nomination. of twenty-five individuals was produced and approved; and in the evening, after the service at the Tabernacle, the names of the parties selected were read, with evident tokens of public approbation.

On the evening of the 23d, the Rev. John Hey, of Bristol, preached at the Tabernacle, on "The Fulness of Times," from Eph. i. 10. The discourse contained a brief but striking sketch of the opposition which had been made to the spread of divine truth, and of the triumphs which had attended its publication in the world. The crowd was so great, that thousands retired without being able to gain admission into the place of worship. The devotions were conducted by the Rev. Joseph Slatterie, of Chatham; the Rev. Mr. Ralph, of Maidstone; the Rev. W. Jay, of Bath; the Rev. Mr. Rooker, of Gold-Hill; the Rev. Mr. Beaufoy, of Town-Sutton; and the Rev. George Townsend, of Ramsgate. After the meeting, the Rev. Matthew Wilks announced the names of the intended Directors.

Early on the morning of the 24th, a meeting was held at the vestry of Surrey Chapel, for the purpose chiefly of collecting the names of all the ministers who had attended the formation of the society, and of receiving the communications of such gentlemen as had been delegated to attend the meeting by congregations, or associated bodies in the country. On this occasion, the Rev. Dr. Haweis delivered an address of considerable energy, pointing out many weighty reasons for selecting

the South Sea Islands as the first sphere of the society's labours. The impression produced by this address was powerful and permanent; and many of the hints it contained were ultimately adopted and acted upon by the Directors of the society.

On the forenoon of the same day, the 24th of September, the Rev. Rowland Hill preached at Surrey Chapel, to a crowded audience, from Matt. xxiv. 14, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come." It was evidently an extemporaneous effusion; but it was so replete with noble sentiments and faithful appeals, that it produced a most hallowed feeling on behalf of the cause. Prayers were read by the Rev. Mr. Percy, of London, and the other devotional exercises were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Wood, of Rowell; the Rev. Mr. Griffin, of Portsea; the Rev. Mr. Audley, of Cambridge; the Rev. Mr. Douglas, of Newmarket; the Rev. Mr. Ray, of Sudbury; and the Rev. R. Hill, A.M.

On the evening of the 24th, the Rev. David (afterwards Dr.) Bogue, the original suggester of the society, preached at Tottenham Court Chapel, to an immense multitude, from the words of the prophet Haggai, i. 2, "Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, the time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built." This sermon may be fairly regarded as one of the best answers to objectors against missionary undertakings that has yet seen the light. The concluding paragraph is animated and striking.

"When we left our homes," he observes, "we expected to see a day of small things, which it was our design not to despise, but to cherish with fond solicitude. But God has beyond measure exceeded our expectations. He has made a little one a thousand, and has inspired us with the most exalted hopes. Now we do not think ourselves in danger of being mistaken when we say, that we shall account it through eternity a distinguished favour, and the highest honour conferred on us during our pilgrimage on earth, that we appeared here, and gave in our names amongst the Founders of the Missionary Society; and the time will be ever remembered by us, and may it be celebrated by future ages, as the ERA OF CHRISTIAN BENEVOLENCE!"

Prayers were read by the Rev. Mr. Edwards; and the other devotional exercises were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Jefferson, of Basingstoke; the Rev. John Cook, of Maidenhead; the Rev. Mr. Golden, of Croydon; the Rev. Mr. Thresher, of Abindon; and the Rev. Mr. Crole, of London. The Rev. J. A. Knight of London, closed with a brief exhortation.

On the afternoon of Friday, the 25th of September, a general meeting of the friends of the society was convened at the Castle and Falcon, Aldersgate-street, for the purpose of choosing the Treasurer, Directors, and Secretaries of the society. The Rev. Mr. Percy was called to preside,

and, after prayer to Almighty God, the meeting proceeded to elect a Treasurer. To Joseph Hardcastle, Esq. all eyes were directed, as a gentleman whose education, sound judgment, urbane disposition, munificent liberality, and fervent godliness, marked him out as preeminently adapted for the responsible post. He was accordingly nominated; and, though at first sight of the proposal he was disposed, with characteristic modesty, to shrink from it, yet, upon fuller deliberation, he acquiesced, and was unanimously chosen to an office, which he filled, for nearly a quarter of a century, in a manner that reflected the highest credit on his disposition as a man, and his grace as a Christian.

The meeting then proceeded formally to elect the twenty-five Directors who had been nominated by the sub-committee, and approved at the Tabernacle, Crown Court, &c.

When the list of gentlemen selected by the committee was read, they were requested to withdraw, and, by a distinct vote on each name, the following individuals were unanimously chosen :-The Rev. Messrs. Boden, Bogue, Brooksbank, Burder, Eyre, Greatheed, Hawes, Hey, Hill, Lambert, Love, Mends, Parsons, Platt, Reynolds, Steven, Waugh, Wilks, Sir Egerton Leigh, Bart., and Messrs. Foyster, Neal, Stokes, West, John Wilson, and Thomas Wilson.

The Directors thus chosen, with the full consent of the meeting, nominated the following gentlemen as suitable persons to be associated with them in the great work to which they had been called by the unanimous suffrages of their brethren in Christ :-The Rev. Messrs. Saltern and Audley, and Messrs. Alday, Campbell, R. Cowie, R. Steven, and Taylor.

The next business of importance which occupied the attention of the meeting was the election of a Secretary, upon which some perplexity arose, on account of the vast variety of qualifications requisite to the due discharge of the duties of an office involving such heavy responsibility. The important affair was ultimately referred to the prayerful and deliberate consideration of the Directors, who at their first meeting, on Monday, the 28th of September, unanimously agreed in the election of two Secretaries, the Rev. John Love, to whom was assigned the correspondence of the society in England, and W. Shrubsole, Esq., of the Bank of England, as the organ of communication with the future missionaries of the institution. A happier choice, perhaps, could scarcely have been made. Mr. Love had a dignity of mind, and a depth of piety, seldom equalled; and, with an urbane and gentlemanly demeanour, Mr. Shrubsole combined habits of business, talents for correspondence, and a power of ready address, which qualified him, in a remarkable degree, for his new and responsible post.

The last matter of importance which engaged the anxious and prayerful deliberation of the meeting, was the selection of the first sphere of the society's labours. This was a subject of vast moment, and received a degree of attention proportioned to its magnitude. After a full consideration of all the information laid before "The Fathers and Founders " of the society, it was determined, with perfect unanimity, that the first mission of the society should be sent to Otaheite, or some other of the islands of the South Pacific; and also that, as early as possible, missions should be attempted to the coast of Africa, or to Tartary, by Astrachan, or to Surat, on the Malabar coast, or to Bengal, or the Coromandel coast, or to the Island of Sumatra, or to the Pelew Islands.

It was also resolved, that if the Directors should feel themselves warranted and prepared to commence a mission before the next general meeting of the society, in May, 1796, they should be empowered to expend on it such a sum as might be necessary to carry its important object into effect.

These momentous resolutions having been severally agreed to, the proceedings of the first meeting of the London Missionary Society were terminated by solemn acts of prayer and praise; when with devout gratitude to God, the multitude of Christ's disciples who had been drawn together by the combined influence of "brotherly love," and compassion for the souls of men, retired to their respective spheres of action, to ponder on the things which they had seen and heard.

The feelings of the Directors, in reviewing the events connected with the formation of the Society, will be best expressed in their own words, as committed to print soon after their occurrence :—

"Looking back," they observe, "to this singular epoch, we cannot avoid expressing our sense of the condescension and tender mercy of our God, who hath benignly smiled on this rising institution. To him the unfeigned gratitude and praises of many are, we hope, on this account frequently ascending, like clouds of fragrant and acceptable incense. Let not, however, the appearance of success and prosperity in this arduous undertaking seduce our vain hearts into carnal confidence, security, and presumption. Let us 'rejoice with trembling.' 'Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast as he that putteth it off. The great difficulties of the warfare have not yet been encountered. In vain do men flow in crowds to the places of worship, in vain is gold lavished out of the bag, in vain do songs and shouts of triumph shake the starry vault, if there are not in secret places those agonizing wrestlings of faith, and compassionate supplication, which bear some proportion to the magnificent object-the conversion of the heathen nations. To these deep-felt, unostentatious, and truly Christian exercises apply yourselves, with your utmost might, ye children of the living God, ye friends of Zion, ye who love Jerusalem, and mourn for her.

As has already been intimated, the first meeting of the Directors took place on Monday, the 28th of September, 1795; on which occasion

several sub-committees were formed, for the purpose of facilitating the despatch of business; two secretaries were also chosen ; and other matters of great importance to the well-being of the institution were agreed upon with unanimity and affection.

After these preliminaries, the first object of deep importance which claimed the attention of the Directors was the examination of missionary candidates. This they felt to be a solemn trust, and, considering their inexperience and the difficulty connected with finding agents in all respects qualified for such an undertaking, it will be conceded by all candid minds, that they were, with some few exceptions, wisely directed in their choice. That they were not infallible in their selections, can be no impeachment either of their discretion or their integrity. While some of their first missionaries lived to disgrace their high and holy calling, the majority of them sustained a career of honourable and devoted service.

Among the early and striking interpositions of Divine Providence on behalf of the London Missionary Society, the generous offer of Captain James Wilson, without fee or reward, to hold himself in readiness, at the disposal of the Directors, to proceed to any quarter of the globe to which they might determine on sending a missionary ship, must be regarded as one of the most gratifying. He was a man of great nautical skill, of high standing and character, and of fervent devotion to the cause of his Redeemer; and though he had retired from public life, and realized an independent fortune, yet such was his attachment to missionary objects in general, and to the plans of the London Missionary Society in particular, that he was ready to enter once more on the toils and hardships of a seafaring life, if it should be the will of God to call him, by the voice of Directors, to do so, for the promotion of the Redeemer's kingdom on earth. His offer of service was generously made, and gratefully accepted: and, the mission to Otaheite having been finally determined upon, and the ship Duff having been purchased for the service of the society, he embarked at London, with his interesting company of missionaries and their wives, on the 10th of August, 1796, amidst the prayers and plaudits of multitudes of God's people. At Portsmouth they were detained for several weeks, waiting for the convoy; but Dr. Haweis, and other members of the direction, remained with the missionaries and Captain Wilson till the Duff weighed anchor, and proceeded on her voyage of mercy. The period of delay, as will be seen from Dr. Haweis' Journal,* kept at the time, was happily and usefully spent.

In the Memoir of Dr. Haweis is inserted, the interesting Journal which he kept during the detention of the Duff,