—“The conditions of health in the Gaboon, West Africa,” says Rev. S. H. Murphy, a Presbyterian missionary, “are good living, godliness, cleanliness, tranquillity, patience, and quinine.”
—A Trans-Sahara Railway from Algeria to Soudan, across the Desert to Timbuctoo on the Niger, and another line from Senegal to the Niger, are proposed by the French. The necessary explorations for the first of these schemes are being made by Duponchel, a celebrated engineer, and for the second by Soleillet, another celebrated engineer and explorer.
—The Dutch Church in South Africa began on January 2d the publication of their first weekly religious paper, in the Dutch language, called “De Christen: Weekblad voor Kerk en Maat schappij;” (or the Christian; a Weekly for the Church and Society.) It is well gotten up, and is indeed quite an attractive sheet.
There are several large and enterprising secular sheets published at Cape Town.
ITEMS FROM THE FIELD.
Hampton, Va.—“I am glad to tell you that two of your Indian boys, Murie and Hustice, are to unite with our church on next Sunday.”
Raleigh, N. C.—The spiritual condition of the church is still very encouraging. Fifteen persons entered into covenant last Sunday, which made it a day of rejoicing. Six others have been voted into the church, and will enter into covenant at the next communion.
Wilmington, N. C.—A pleasing incident occurred at our communion season last Sabbath. Four generations in one family were represented, from the aged great-grandmother to the infant who was presented for baptism by its grandmother, a close-communion Baptist; her impenitent son, the father, and the young mother, who is a member of our church, standing by her side. The grandmother afterward communed with us.