Mahommedans, Budhists, and Hindoos, who are treated as slaves (especially the Mahommedans,) by the Seikhs. Whole families of Mahommedans at Cashmere were burned alive, during my stay at Cashmere, by order of the Seikh commander of that beautiful valley; and, therefore, they were sighing in all the cities and villages from Simlagh to Cashmere. After the arrival of the British army, and the great Rajahs of the Rajpoots, at Rajawr, and other cities; even the great Mahommed Shah Nakshbandee, at Cashmere, who is the spiritual director of the Mahommedans, in the Punjaub, Affghanistan, and Toorkestaun, assured me that whenever a British army should enter the Punjaub, the whole of the Mahommedans and Hindoo population would fly under the standard of the Governor-General of India's army. I also know that in case the British government would cede Peshawr to Doost Mahommed, Khan of Cabul, Doost Mahommed and his son, Akbar Khan, with the whole of Affghanistan, would be reconciled to the British nation. The result of the conquest of the Punjaub, will be incalculably great to the benefit not only of the British nation, but of the whole Christian world. I don't know any people in Asia, so willing as the people of Cashmere, and even Lahore, are to hear propounded to them the glorious doctrine of the Gospel. Sir Claude Martin Wade, who resides at Ryde, in the Isle of Wight, was political agent of the British government in India, at the court of Runtjud Singh, at Lahore, when I travelled in the Punjaub, and he will be ready to testify that I fixed proclamations on the walls of the city of Lahore and Cashmere, calling on the king and nation to be baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ; and, nevertheless, I was treated not only with respect, but with veneration, by Runtjud Singh, Dehaan Singh, Goolab Singh, and all the Mahommedan Mullahs, the Hindoo Pundits, and even the fanatical, and every-one-insulting Akelees! People of Bradford! Lahore and Cashmere are the places to which not only missionaries ought to be sent, but also men of science, artists, and manufacturers, to extend their friendly and commercial relations with that country, where all that we read in the "Arabian Nights' exists in reality. By the possession of Cashmere, the British nation will be in possession of the gate of Thibet, Cashgar, Khokand, Samarcand, and Bokhara! and will be able not only to avenge the blood of Colonal Stoddart, Captains Conolly and Wyburd, shed by the king of Bokhara, at the instigation of Abd-ool Samut Khan, surnamed the "bloodhound" by the people of Bokhara themselves; but the British nation will also be enabled to command the tyrant of Bokhara to give liberty to 200,000 Persian slaves, who are sighing in the country of Bokhara. I confess that I consider the British government in India those kings of the East predicted in the revelation of St. John, who will be instrumental in bringing back the Jewish nation to their own land, before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in majesty and glory! In the meanwhile, I am sure that you will soon hear the tidings that the inhabitants of Cashmere have joined the British army. I am, your friend and PROTESTANT MINSTRELSY.-No. XV. THE MARTYR'S CREED. It is recorded of one of the sufferers (probably Alice Snoth,) in the latter days of Queen Mary's reign, that when brought to the stake, she summoned her godfather and godmothers, and made the appeal which is the subject of the following lines. THE flame is bright, the flame is fierce, Sharp teacher of a doctrine mild! Sore penance for a wayward child! The stake is set, the wood they bind, What armed man is hither brought, How often words of might are dropt, She bids them from the gazing crowd, "Is this the faith ye vowed for me, "Then I have wrought my Master's will, "It hath been rooted in my soul, "Bear witness in my Master's sight, Entelligence. GENERAL FUND, FOR THE RELIEF AND PROTECTION OF PERSECUTED CONVERTS FROM Having received affecting appeals We have heard of many who have been driven from their homes, destitute and forsaken. The wife cast out by her husband; the son by his father; and the tenants by their landlords. We have therefore determined, after much deliberation and prayer, to make their wants known, and ask the servants of the Lord to enable us to raise a fund, whereby relief can be afforded to the object of persecution, in whatever district of Ireland they may be, when properly recommended, and undoubted testimony borne to the truth of their statements. Our object is to provide spiritual instruction where there is no Irish teacher, Scripture reader, or School, to erect small refuge houses, where the converts have been turned out of their dwellings, and where land for employing them can be procured. To give no gratuitous aid, except in cases of sickness, old age, or orphan children. To give no money, except through well-known persons, and then to require a strict and minute account of how it has been laid out. We have heard of very many places in Ireland where light is breaking forth, but where persecution bars its progress. Three most interesting districts will be mentioned. Feale Bridge, under the ministry of the Rev. Edward Norman, a large congregation of converts are there collected, and are thrown upon Mr. Norman for support and employment. Ratoo, a description of which will be best given by the following ex tract from the letter of Tom Dowling, Irish Inspector; a man who, I believe, has been more blest in leading converts from Rome, in Ireland, than almost any other individual; though his name is hardly known upon earth, yet his labours are recorded above, and we doubt not his crown of rejoicing will be bright and glorious. He writes "January 7th, 1845. "MADAM-I wish you joy. May the Lord bless you and your partner in this world, and when time shall be no more, may the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for his own dear people, receive you into everlasting rest, where the redeemed are free from the hand of the oppressor. Amen and amen. I return you many thanks for your kindness in thinking of me towards my new house, and also for what you have done for my poor brother and family. I think I could collect five families of converts, and there are in the parish of Ratoo about thirty old Protestants, so that with some trouble, the flock in Ratoo could be made as strong as any country flock in the county Kerry. I am to go to Tralee in a few days, and then, if possible, to get a barn from Mrs. Gunne, so as to commence a little school in the season; it is very near the Reader's house, and he could be the teacher until the thing would be strong, so that we may save you expense as much as possible. Vain would be my efforts if you did not come to my back. When I am laid low in my grave, it will be said by others that my plan, if carried into effect, is one of the best: that is, to collect a flock here and there, and build up the old waste places, and not to crowd one spot too much. the Lord spares me, I hope to be living in Ballybunion in a few days— it is only an hour's walk from Ratoo, so that I can be of use there too. is a sandy desert, where a thousand If It poor souls are perishing for that Word that makes men wise unto salvation, &c. &c. "I remain, yours in the best bonds of Christian regard, "THOS. P. DOWLING, "Irish Inspector. "To Mrs. Inglis, Kerse Hill.” Through the kindness of a benevolent Christian lady, we have been enabled to place a Scripture reader at Ratoo, and we believe the Lord has greatly blessed his work. There is neither church nor minister at Ratoo. Christian friends, does it not claim your prayers, your sympathy, and your aid? The last district I will mention at present, is that of Ballingarry, in the county of Limerick, the accounts of which will be most interesting, as given in the following letters of the Rev. G. G. Gubbins: Glebe, Ballingarry, County Limerick, October 4th, 1845. "DEAR MADAM,-I have been some time in a most anxious state about the converts from Rome, in my parish. The Lord has been pleased to bring near sixty souls into the true Church, during the five years I have been permitted to labour in this parish. I had for nearly nine years laboured in Dunerlen, Ventry, Kilmackeader, and, in connection with my dear brother, Mr. Gayer, have had the pleasure of seeing souls gathered from darkness before my departure from that first scene of my labours. I have transferred the same line of acting to my poor countrymen in this my present parish, and the Lord has blessed my feeble efforts, but I am wholly unsupported; and through difficulties (in this very Popish county), I am often driven almost to despair of holding on, when I see the distress into which these poor people are plunged when they take the step of following Christ as their sole hope. "Of sixty souls leaving Popery, only thirty-five could remain here, the rest had to leave; they could get no work, and would starve. This I consider a great injury to the work of Reformation; as were they to be kept here as shining lights, ultimately great good may be done, through them, to the community. I know much of the Dingle work, being mixed up with it from the beginning, and I have no hesitation in saying, that this parish is as likely to become important in a spiritual sense, were the children of God only to assist with a little of the gold and silver of this world. I take the liberty of laying this statement before you, not that I should in any way interfere with your work in Dingle, for your hands are full enough there; but you, dear Madam, may interest some other good child of God, who may have like pity upon us, as souls are precious when gathered. We live under a grinding talented priest, but we have had no apostacy as yet; seven deaths, all triumphant in Christ Jesus, have sifted our little flock, and he preserved them. It is not too much to say, we are sadly persecuted, and often in extreme want. "Yours, with prayer, and much respect, Dear Madam, "GEO. GOUGH GUBBINS. "To Mrs. Inglis." January 31st, 1846, "MY DEAR MADAM-According to promise, I send you a site, plan, and elevation of my proposed little colony.' It will be on my Glebe, at my gate, in the middle of the village of Ballingarry, and opposite the church, and next the school-house. Two are already built, comprising school-house, and gate-house, in which are two families. The proposed enlargement, with yards, &c., comprises four houses, two stories high, behind which are two yards, for male and female school children; entrance to which, from the school, is by a stone stair-case-these would cost about £200. It would be very complete, as far as it would extend, and completely free from any annoyances, being on my glebe. I would then have together six families of Protestants: a porter, widow, schoolmaster, sexton, carpenter, weaver, shoemaker; equal to thirty Protestants. The Trustees of Ballingally Loan Fund have promised, if pos sible, to grant me £30 towards the work; this, with £20 from you, is a good beginning. I propose (D. V.), to begin next Tuesday, clearing for a foundation, and I trust He who knows my object and anxiety, will enable me to finish it," &c., &c. And another extract from a letter from the Rev. G. G. Gubbins, dated 7th February, 1846: "I have begun the work in the Lord's strength, and he will bring me through. I have many difficulties to contend with, but I feel I shall triumph over all, whilst I lean on Jesus for strength and support. It has been a great source of grief to me, that hitherto I have been unable to consolidate the converts from Rome As you understand this. soon as they leave Popery, all sympathy is gone for their wants; they are thrown altogether on me for support and protection; the consequence has been, that must scatter them in every quarter; many of the best converts I have sent away to situations, who, if I could maintain in their own places, would have been lights. now have determined to colonize; I shall begin with six families, in a row of houses, and from their situation, &c., &c., I think I am beginning well. Though I am not a person who fears a difficulty, still, I trust, I can understand the value of due precaution, knowing how dangerous a false step may be to the future wellbeing of our object. "To Mrs. Inglis, Kerse Hill, I "I have received the plan as abovementioned, by the Rev. G. G. Gub bins, and my first object is to raise the £200, and enable him to carry out his plan. There are many difficulties in the way, but if the work be the Lord's he will bring it to pass. "We believe there are many dark and desolate places in unhappy Ireland, where the Lord is preparing a people for himself. We know they shall all be gathered in, whether we are permitted to be the honoured instruments in doing so or not; but blessed will He pronounce those servants to be, who, for his sake, have fed his hungry, clothed his naked, and housed his scattered and persecuted followers. Above all, blessed are they who are instrumental in turning many unto righteousness, and giving the poor deluded Irish the knowledge of the salvation which is in Christ Jesus the Lord. "We would now close this appeal, praying that the Lord would direct his servants to help this work, as He sees to be needful for it; and that he would give us all grace to be so diligent in his service now, and so to abide in him, that when he does appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. (Luke xii. 35—37.) CATHERINE HARTLAND INGLIS. "Kerse Hill, Falkirk, Feb. 13, 1846." "We would beg any of our friends who kindly contribute to this object, to state so distinctly; that there may be no confusion between it and the funds for "the Dingle Colony ;" for which Mrs. Inglis is the Honorary Secretary. BRYAN SEERY'S CASE. THE late execution of Bryan Seery at Monaghan has produced no inconsiderable amount of contention in the sister country. Seery was tried twice. On the first occasion there were two Roman Catholics on the jury, and he was acquitted; on the second, the jury was composed exclusively of Protestants, and he was convicted. The charge against him was that of shooting at Sir Francis Hopkins; and so far as the evidence of Sir Francis went there never was a prisoner more clearly identified. Seery, on the scaffold, solemnly declared his innocence of the crime for which his life was about to be forfeited. The consequence has been that the press, the priests, and the people have almost ever since been industriously circulating two reports: first, that as he was convicted by an exclusively Protestant jury, the Protestants are desirous of compassing the deaths of their poor Roman Catholic fellow-countrymen at all hazards; and, secondly, that the declaration of innocence is proof positive |