Oakland is more to San Francisco, than Brooklyn is to New York. The ocean breezes are so tempered in crossing San Francisco Bay, that a very perceptible change of climate takes place, and Oakland is able to boast of a genial air and a clear sky on many days in summer, when San Francisco is shrouded in fog or swept by heavy, dust-laden winds. It has the aspect, to a very good degree, of a large inland city in New England—Springfield or Hartford, for example. There is a good deal about it not yet very heavenly, but, when compared with the bustle and drive of affairs, both climatic and human, on this side of the Bay, it seems, like Auburndale, Mass., to be a sort of “Saint’s rest.” It is constantly skimming the cream off our San Francisco churches, so that when a brother and sister have fairly come to their places as pillars here in the metropolis, we expect soon to hear that “they are thinking of moving to Oakland.” These considerations have led to a more abundant provision for missionary work among the Chinese in that city, than anywhere else. Persons, coming to California to labor in this missionary work, are quite apt to become impressed with the necessities of the _Oakland_ Chinese. And so, if our mission had not been, by many years, the first in that field; and if there had not gathered about it a large number of Christian Chinese for whom it is a spiritual home; and, if it were not possible—thanks to the generous provision made for us by the First Congregational Church—to do more work there now, in proportion to expense, than almost anywhere else, I should feel like abandoning the field to those who have crowded in to help us. In the new, spacious and elegant church edifice, rooms much more commodious and much better furnished than those of any other school, have been prepared and assigned to our Chinese work. On the Sabbath, they are occupied by the Chinese Sunday-school, superintended so many years by our dear brother, the late Dea. Edmund P. Sanford, and now in charge of one like-minded, A. L. Van Blarcom, Esq. On week-day evenings, they are opened for our mission school, at which about the same pupils gather who are present on the Sabbath, and every session of which is, in large part, a religious service. About eighty Chinese account themselves members of this school, attend it when they can, and are under its gospel influence; but there are so many interruptions through the pressure of their daily work, that the average attendance is about thirty. Two teachers are employed, Mrs. B. C. Hawes and Miss L. Duncan, who, by years of service in this field, have won a warm place in the affection and respect of the Chinese. The expense is $40 per month. As fruits of this labor, we have 17 who are members of the First Congregational Church in Oakland, nearly as many more in other churches, and a goodly number who have professed Christ in the Association, but have not yet been baptized.