MISSION AT BOMBAY,

THE following letter will be read with peculiar interest, as the hand which wrote it was soon after motionless in the grave; and the person, to whom it was addressed, was, at that very time, numbering the last days of his earthly pilgrimage. Two other letters were written by Mr. Newell, on the same day with the following; one to the Rey. Dr. Woods, and the other to Mr. Bardwell, then at Calcutta. They both contain evidence, that the writer was much inclined to contemplate his own departure from the world as not very distant.

LETTER FROM THE REV. MR. NEWELL TO THE REV. DR. WORCESTER,

Bombay, May 11, 1821.

Rev. and Dear Sir,

It was my intention, when Mr. Bardwell left us, to write to you and send over land to Calcutta, in season for the letter to go by him to America; and though I have delayed longer than I intended, I still hope, that the letters, which I am now sending will reach Mr. Bardwell in season; if not, they will be forwarded by another conveyance.

I am happy to inform you, that on the 9th inst. Mr. Garrett arrived in Bombay. We hope and expect, that he will be permitted to remain; but as there has not yet been time for the pleasure of government to be made known on this subject, I cannot speak with certainty. If he should not be allowed to remain, our printing business must suffer much.

Since the beginning of the present year, we have printed about 12,000 Scripture Tracts of 24 pages, 12mo. for the Christian Knowledge Society; and for ourselves we have just printed the commandments in four languages: iz, Latin, Portuguese, English and

Mahratta,—for distribution among the Roman Catholics, most of whom understand Mahratta, many of them, Portuguese and English, aird a few of the priests understand Latin. The Committee of the Christian Knowledge Society pay us for the whole edition of the Scripture Tracts, (the history, parables, miracles, and discourses of Christ,) and allow us to take gratuitously as many copies as we wish for distribution. The translation, as well as the printing of the tracts, was done by us. It is a most encouraging circumstance, that the old and influential Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, is taking the lead in the circulation of religious tracts among the natives in this region. These tracts will be circulated through a vast extent of territory, which no missionary at present can be permitted to traverse. They cannot fail of producing some effect. If it please God to bestow his blessing, the effect may be great,

[Mr. N. here mentions some particulars of a proposed contract for printing at the mission press an English and Mahratta Dictionary by captain Hutchinson. Though it was altogether probable the work would be undertaken, yet, as the engagement was not positively made, it is sufficient to say here, that, if exe-. cuted, the work would bring some profit to the mission, and doubtless be serviceable to the cause, by facilitating intercourse between Europeans and natives.]

I have mentioned a few things which have occurred since the departure of brother Bard weli. For information concerning every thing previous to his leaving us, I refer you to him, and to the public communications forwarded by him. As our next public communication will probably reach you not long after the receipt of this, it will not be important for me to be more particular at present.

Mrs. Newell unites with me in kind regards to yourself and family.

Since the arrival of Mr. Bardwell, a letter has been received from Mr. Hall, by the way of England, written in great haste, to send by the British packet, which had then left the harbor. After announcing the sickness and death of Mr. Newell, the writer says: "I have just returned from the funeral, and have hardly had a leisure moment to reflect on this most solemn event; and I fear that what I write will be too late for the packet."

In regard to the sickness, Mr. Hall says: "The united power of the disease, and of the

medicine, rendered him quite incapable of conversation, or composed reflection."

The mortality occasioned by the cholera morbus is stated to be much greater than it was the last year. Twenty Europeans, mostly soldiers, died the same day with Mr. Newell. "The voice of the Lord," says Mr. Hall, "is most mighty to us, Be ye also ready."

kind attention to us, did not leave the house until after Mr. N. was dead. He was buried on the afternoon of the same day; and during the short time we were in the burying ground, the bodies of six Europeans were brought in for interment!"

EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL KEPT AT BRAINERD.

"On the evening of the 29th inst. I received a hasty note from our kind and respected friend, Mrs. Hall, wife of the missionary of that name, in which she stared, that she had just returned from Mr. Newell's, and he was thought "to be on his death bed."

Mr. Fletcher and I then immediately went to his house, to render any assistance in our power. He had been seized by the disorder during the afternoon, and was so much reduced on our arrival, as hardly to know one person from another. He continued restless and uneasy, though saying little, during the whole of the evening, until between 11 and 12 o'clock; when, perceiving that he was rapidly declining, we laid him in as easy a posture as we could, and waited the moment of his dissolution. He continued breathing more and more faintly, until a quarter past one, when, nature being entirely exhausted, without a sigh, a struggle, or any convul sive motion, "the weary wheels of life stood still." Indeed, so easy and gradual was the approach of death, that we scarcely knew when he ceased to breathe. His poor afflicted widow, who just then came into the room, was not aware of his departure, until Mr. Hall remarked, "Well, he is now safe; all his sufferings are over." Mrs. N. then exclaimed, "What is he gone indeed?” We were obliged to use a little gentle force with her to prevent the effects of so afflicting a scene, and to take her away to another apartment; as she herself was in a critical and delicate state of health.

"Every possible attention was paid to our departed brother. There were in attendance, Mr. Hall, Mr. Kenny of the Church Missionary Society, Mr. Fletcher, and myself; and Dr. Taylor, Lo whom we are all indebted for his

(Continued from vol. xvii, p. 342.) Demand for another Local School.

Sept. 2, 1821. Received a letter from the chiefs of Wills's Valley, which place is from 40 to 50 miles S. W. from Brainerd. They have had a meeting of their people, and all are anxious to have a school established in that neighborhood; and wish us, if possible, to send them a teacher, and particularly one who can instruct them in religion. The majority of these are the same persons, who requested a school at Battle Creek more than two years ago. Such was the urgency of their request at that time, that a brother was sent to them to explain the reasons why they could not have a teacher immediately; and to encourage them with the hope, (as we were then authorized to do,) that an additional number of teachers would soon be sent out, when they might probably be supplied. Soon afterwards, that part of the country was ceded to the United States. Without losing sight of the expected school, and religious instruction, they have re-settled them selves at Wills's Valley, and renew their request.

And what shall we say to them? Must we return an answer which will not only dash all their hopes, but give them reason to suspect, that all our professions of friendship were delusive; and that the government, and the Christian public, are not as anxious for their instruction as they have been led to believe? And how can we give them the least encouragement, when we have been obliged to suspend one school already, for want of means to continue it, and the state of the Treasury of the Board indicates, that we may soon be under the necessity of abridging still

more.

We know not what to say. If no more schools are to be established, we have said too much already. We

must tell the truth, and leave the event with God.

10. A number of the oldest boys in the school have for some time been in the practice of holding religious conferences and prayer meetings by themselves. Some of them say, it appears as if they were coming out of a dark dungeon into the light of day.

Applications to join the School.

17. Our feelings have been again tried by the painful necessity of rejecting two fine promising boys of suitable age, because our school is full. The parent, after finding that they could not now be received, urged us with im-. portunity to fix on some future time, when we would take them. But it was not in our power to do even this; as there are numbers now waiting to fill the places of any, who may be prepared to leave the school. We could only say, "We wished it were in our power to teach all the children in the nation; will take yours at some future time, if we can, and when you come again will talk more about it." We hear of many who wish to bring their children; but who do not apply, because they know the school is full. Under such circumstances, how can we think of lessening the number of our scholars; and yet it is certain we must, unless the Lord sends us more helpers, or gives additional strength to those who are now here. We know the Lord can do every thing; and hope he will not suffer our dear patrons to let this mission decline for the want of additional help.

20. Received a large and very valuable box of clothing together with a small box of shoes, from New Haven, Con. chiefly from the students in Yale College. The shoes were principally from shoe-makers in the city.

With the above articles, we received a box from Burke County, Geo. directed to Elliot. Did the friends of missions in the Atlantic States know the difficulty of transporting such articles from this place to Elliot, they would see the propriety of being requested to forward them by way of New Orleans.*

It is to be understood, that donations in clothing, designed for Elliot and sent to Brainerd, and vice versa, must be used at the station where they are first received; it being altogether impracticable, in ordinary cases, to send heavy articles from one of these places to the other. The distance is 400 miles-the road through a wilderness-and there is very little travelling of any kind. Editor,

Supposed Thirst of Indians for Spirits.

24. It is perhaps generally believed. that Indians have naturally a greater thirst for ardent spirits than almost any other people: but the sobriety of many families, who have become civilized, and live in the manner of white people, seems to render this hypothesis at least doubtful. So far as our acquintance extends, the well informed Indians have as few intemperate men among them, in proportion to their numbers, as the white people. But so long as multitudes of them are suffered to remain in their ignorant state, and the cupidity of their white neighbors is pouring in floods of whiskey among them, they must be expected to be cut down by this fell destroyer of life and peace.

29. Received a letter from the Treasurer, which made our hearts glad with the information that two brethren, with their wives, and a single sister, were expected to join this mission after a few weeks.

Oct. 7. Received seven boxes of clothing; viz. one from the Dorcas Society of Becket, Ms.; one from Female Cent Societies in Barnet, Vt.; one from Belchertown, Ms.; one from ladies and a Juvenile Society in Augusta, Me. including articles from Brunswick; one from Plymouth and Campton, N. H.; one from Cambridge, Vt.; one from Deerfield, Ms. In these boxes were also packed the contents of a box from Marlborough, Ms. and valuable books from Mr. J. B. Lawrence, of Salem, Ms.

Arrival of Local Missionaries.

12. Brother and sister Potter arrived from Creek Path. Catharine Brown and her mother accompanied them most of the way, and are expected to be here tomorrow. They left the members of the church there in a favorable situation, walking in love, and in the fear of God. One man has lately been received as a candidate for baptism. The school is not large. The average number this year has been eighteen. Most of these have made good proficiency in learning. Eight board in Mr. Potter's family.

The av

18. Brother Hall arrived from Taloney. His report is favorable concerning the school under his care. erage number of scholars has been between 20 and 30. From some specimeus of writing, and from his report, it