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2. We plead for British annexation, because all the missions engaged in civilizing those islands, by giving them the Gospel, are British Societies, and all the two millions of money expended in doing all the good that has been done on them has been British money, per the Presbyterian, the Wesleyan, the Episcopalian, and the London Missionary Societies, by which the Bible has been translated and printed, and is now read in many formerly unknown languages; and by its teaching and elevating influences many thousands of savages and cannibals arc now converted and living happy peaceful lives, serving Jesus, and longing for British protection and annexation. 3. Those islands are all dependencies of Australia, and we, British subjects on them, are part and parcel of Australia. The most of us are supported by Australian Churches. Our children are all educated in Australia, which will be their land and home. The five mission vessels, and all the missionaries of all our Societies on those islands depend upon and come to Australia for all their provisions and supplies. By our New Hebrides Mission alone we have spent over £150,000, and for it we now spend about £6,000 yearly in Australia. Our mission ship, the " Day-spring," was bought and is chiefly kept by the money of the Australian Sabbath-school children, while of our missionaries Victoria has supported three, New Zealand three, Tasmania one, New South Wales one, South Australia one, Scotland three, and Nova Scotia three ; and seeing that, by great and continued persevering Christian labours, notwithstanding the trials, the dangers, and the loss of life suffered, from the death of John Williams to the three Gordons, Bishop Pattieson, and others, God has so blessed our labours with success that now about 8,000 on our group are under Christian instruction, and 70,000 ready and pleading for the British missionary to give them the Gospel, surely we have a right to be heard in pleading with Great Britain, through you and your Sydney Conference, to annex those islands, and protect us, our natives, and our philanthropic Christian work among them, and to protect Australia from all the evils sure to arise from any other nation annexing them. Praying that God may guide your Conference with unanimity to plead for British annexation, and lead Britain to grant it, and praying that in all your consultations and conclusions He may guide you for His glory, the general good of Australia, of the Islands, and of all concerned, — I remain, &c, JOHN G. PATON, Nov. sth, 1883, Cotham Road, Kew. Senior Missionary, New Hebrides Mission.

(9.) BE ANNEXATION OR PROTECTORATE OE ISLANDS ADJACENT TO AUSTRALASIA. The Rev. James Nish to The Honorable James Service. Dear Sir, Sandhurst, 29 November, 1883. I have been instructed by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria to forward to you a copy of the accompanying resolution, with the view of having it submitted, if you may see fit, to the Conference of Representatives now met in Sydney. I regret that the multiplicity of my engagements for the last eight days has led me inadvertently to overlook my instructions, but I hope it is not yet too late. Trusting that you will be successful in your philanthropic efforts, — I am, &c., JAMES NISH.

At Melbourne, and within the Assembly Hall, Collins-street, this 21st day of November, 1883, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria having met and been duly constituted. Inter alia, " The Assembly resolved to express their satisfaction that the Governments of the various Australasian Colonies are taking such vigorous action in favour of the British Annexation or Protectorate of the islands adjacent to Australasia, and most strongly to deprecate the landing of French convicts on the New Hebrides or even the allowing of these islands to come under French authority or influence, which would without doubt greatly hinder the progress of missionary work in the islands, increase the evils produced by the labour traffic, and blight the hopes which this Church entertains that before long all these islands now so open to missionaries shall be brought to the saving knowledge of the Gospel." Extracted from the records of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, by JAMES NISH, D.D., Clerk of Assembly.

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