The Mission towards CENTRAL AFRICA suggested by Mr. Moffat and Dr. Livingstone, was zealously commenced eleven years ago.  Successfully established, notwithstanding many disasters, it has continued to hold its ground.  When their revision commenced, the Directors proposed at once to strengthen this important mission.  Several new stations have been named by the missionaries which the Directors hope in due time to occupy.  During the last two years three new missionaries have been added to the former staff of labourers, and two others will join them next summer.  The missionaries north of the Orange River will then be thirteen in number, of whom nine will be engaged in direct missionary work.  This increase, required by our duty to the tribes waiting on our instructions, is entirely dependent upon the Society’s general funds.

Many years ago the MONGOLIAN MISSION, which had been carried on by our honoured brethren, Messrs. Swan and Stallybrass, near the Siberian edge of the Tartar deserts and among the Buriat Mongols, was broken up by the Russian Government, and our brethren were withdrawn.  The Directors have not forgotten that mission, nor lost their interest in the Mongol tribes.  Recent enquiries have shown that the effort may be renewed with excellent prospects, on the China side of Mongolia, and that the city of Peking will form a suitable base of operations.  Among their present missionary students the Directors believe that they have found a suitable man; and he will proceed in the spring to Peking to take up his new position.  The funds necessary at the outset have already been provided in the generous gift of Mrs. Swan.

Generally in INDIA and CHINA the Directors have been enlarging their operations by the completion and filling in of existing agencies.  New chapels at Tientsin; a chapel and dwelling house in Wu-chang; two houses in Canton; a school and dwelling in Almorah; a house at the newly-founded station of Ranee Khet; a new High School in Benares; a medical missionary in Singrowli; an additional house in Calcutta; additional missionaries in South India and Travancore; all have been asked for:  and the greatness of the requirements bears testimony to the importance of the sphere and of the opportunities which are open to the Society in these Eastern Empires.  Several of the buildings have already been provided or have been sanctioned:  others are under consideration.  But any solid extension of these two great missions must for the present be deferred.

The needs of MADAGASCAR cannot be overlooked.  The call of God’s providence and grace is so clear that the Directors have not hesitated to arrange for a decided increase of the English staff.  Five ordained missionaries will proceed to the Island early in the coming summer; and one, if not two, medical missionaries.  The Betsileo province has long waited for help, and it is proposed to place, if possible, four ordained missionaries and one medical man amongst