power, we have presumed upon their approbation of the intended visit, in view of what we consider to be weighty reasons in its favor, provided no material objections are opposed to it. Now we apprehend no increase of expense to our patrons, no loss of time, as our schools can be well conducted in the mean while, and the business of acquiring this language will not be retarded; no loss of influence with this people, who have heard a good account of the improvements at Otaheite, and desire to see the same here; no sacrifice of health, as it is the opinion of those deemed competent to judge, that there would rather be a prospect of promoting health. Nature of the Voyage. We have deliberately consulted the opinion of several gentlemen acquainted with the nature of the voyage and with the chiefs of both nations, who advise us to go, and who, from habitual acts of kindness, deserve our confidence as friends; such as capt. Davis and others. They tell us that the passage is uniformly pleasant, occupying about 20 days to go, and 15 to return. Tamoree is particularly anxious that one of the brethren from that station should go, and to the mission it appears desirable that one of the missionaries should also go from this station, which Tamoree decidedly approves. It has seemed desirable to us all, that some such expedient should be tried to revive the drooping heart and sinking health of brother Ruggles, for which medicine seems to be applied in vain. He has lately come to this island to make an experiment, to consult on the subject, and to inform us, that Tamoree says his brig is ready to sail; that he has engaged a good man to take charge of her as master; and that he wishes Mr. Bingham to come down with a view to embark shortly. Resolution to embark. pect to take passage, and, shortly after, Mr. and Mrs. Bingham will probably follow in the schooner Eagle, capt. Cole; and at Atooi complete the needial preparations, and embark thence shortly, should the Lord permit, and smile on our path. Should he hedge up the way, or materially change the prospect, so as to make it appear unwarrantable, brother Bingham will reside a short time at that station, attending on his appropriate duties, and return to Woahoo as soon as it shall appear to be best. Difficulties with respect to an unwritten language. We have now given you a summary of our present views on this interesting subject. You are aware of the very great difficulty which must meet us in the commencement of our work; difficulties in acquiring and printing an unwritten and an almost unknown tongue, without competent instructors, and without any standard of pronunciation; as we have reason to believe, that the youths who left this country at an early age, and have received the rudiments of an education in America, have but a very imperfect knowl edge of their own language, and an equally imperfect acquaintance with ours. There are difficulties, also, of fixing on a character in which to write the language, which will enable the learned of Europe to acquire a knowledge of it, and, the same time, make this language a convenient medium of access to the English language and to the Otaheitan books. Many of our pupils will doubtless wish to become acquainted with both. We have not yet agreed upon the alphabet to be employed. We are strongly inclined to adopt, as the basis, what are termed "the foreign sounds of the vowels" in the Roman alphabet, and then use so many of our consonants as this language requires. Thus we should have an alphabet not very unlike that of Otaheite, and so near to that of the English as not in acquiring the English, or the American in reading this language. But we think an interview with the missionaries at Otaheite would afford great help to us in this respect, as well as in many others. State of the Mission. With such facts, hopes and prospects be-greatly to embarrass the young Owhyhean fore us, we have resolved, unanimously, to avail ourselves of the present opportunity of visiting the Society Isands. Brother Bingham is designated as one, and brother Ruggles as the other, should there be, on his return to Atooi, a fair prospect of benefiting his health by the contemplated visit; otherwise brother Whitney would be allowed to go in his stead. Should brother R. go as one, his wife would deem it her indispensable duty to accompany him. Indeed, such is her anxiety for him, and her earnest hopes of seeing him benefited by such a measure, that she has been ready to lead the way, and to smile at the prospect of being allowed to make such an effort to save the valuable life of her hus band, and to prolong his important labors among this people. Mrs. Bingham also, to second that effort, and the more perfectly to carry into effect the whole design of the enterprise, is ready, and is approved by the mission family, to accompany her husband, committing her school, meantime, to the care of Mis. Thurston. Within eight days the ship Tartar sails to Atoo, in which, Mr. and Mrs. Kuggles ex We will now undertake to give you the outline of our history for a few weeks past. We have often heretofore had occasion to speak of the wonderful preservation of our lives and health. The family has lately been af flicted with sickness; though the chastising rod has been laid on us with a gentle hand. The dysentery has threatened almost all the family. Mr. Chamberlain, and Thomas Hopoo have been sick with it, and under the physician's care. Mrs. C. has lately been confined at the same time. An infant orphan taken into the family, bereft of its mother by death, of its nurse also by death, of its father, (a white man,) by desertion,nourished and cherished especially by Mrs. Loomis, died last week with a dropsy in the brain, and was decently interred by us. Yesterday we attended the funeral services of Mr. Lovell, second officer of the American brig Ino, capt. Grimes, who had been several weeks in the mission family, sinking in the last stages of consumption, and who died on the 4th instant. He was the son of Mr. Lovell of Boston, an officer of the customs in that town. From the care of the sick, disturbed rest, and apprehensions of an attack of the common complaint, Mr. Bingham omitted to preach in his turn one Sabbath: the only instance of the kind since our landing. Through the merciful kindness of our covenant Father, the family are now comfortable; though Mr. Chamberlain is not entirely recovered. School and School Fund. But let us with gratitude look upon another part of the proposed outline. During this season of affliction our flourishing school has passed its 4th quarterly examination, to the great satisfaction of the family, of the Amer ican consul, and some other gentlemen pres. ent. And in our report of the orphan school, patronized by foreigners, we had occasion to acknowledge $707 subscribed, and $527 collected during the last year for the support and education of orphan children; and the subscription has been augmented since to more than $800. Erection of a Church. The liberal gentlemen in port, with two of the principal chiefs, have subscribed from $400 to $500, for the purpose of erecting a decent church for the worship of Jehovah, with the full approbation of the king and chiefs. Capt. Brown subscribes for the pulpit; eapt S. turns 1000 feet of lumber, which we bought of him at $50, and places to that subscription: captains Ebbets and Davis subscribe $40 each, and $60 each to the school fund, be ides many other favors to the family. The house for public worship is to be built in the native style, thatched with, grass, and lined with mats; but will be furnished with glass windows, good doors, with two rows of long seats separated by an aisle, besides a decent pulpit and appropriate seats for the mission family, and will accommodate about 200 people, for a few years, till a obapel can be erected still more commodious and permanent. "It has seemel to me, that the hand was almost visible, which has directed the events, which have issued in the mission to the Sandwich Islands. I feel somehow a presentiment, that the brig Thaddeus will arrive in, safety, and in good time, with her precious crew at Owhyhee; and that the prayers of thousands will be answered in a prosperous establishment of the mission there. My anticipations are, that the Board will have returns, containing pleasing information concerning the circumstances and future prospects of this mission, in perhaps 12 or 15 mouths from the time of its sailing, last October, from Boston; and that it will be ascertained, that among those populous islands, the time has come, and the field is prepared, for an extended plan for missionary enterprise. Consequently the Board will have occasion to make future shipments of laborers and property, perhaps in two or three years from the time the Thaddeus sailed." The coincidence of this letter with subsequent facts is so striking, that we think it proper to say, that the original is on the files of the Corresponding Secretary, and that Dr. Worcester answered it, soon after it was re This we consider an important testimony from this government, as well as from the foreigners, in favor of the worship of the true God. And we would call on our patrons and helpers in our native land to help us praiseceived, which answer is on record. God for these gracious answers to their prayers. Some of the most interesting facts stated above, respecting the subscription for the house of worship, and the decided approbation of the king and chiefs, were communicated to us on the last Monthly Concert, and we were made to rejoice in the gracious promise, "While they are yet speaking I will hear." The success of the mission may be measured by the faith and fervency in prayer of its BEINFORCEMENT OF THE MISSION AT THE IT is known to our readers, that a reinforcement of considerable magnitude is to be sent, with the leave of Providence, to the mission at the Sandwich Islands, in the course of next summer. Thousands of Christians would be very unwilling that it should be delayed, for a single month, after the proper season of the year shall have arrived. Yet, it is obvious that an adequate reinforcement cannot be made, without considerable expense. The pecuniary advances for the mission, which sailed two years and a half ago, were more than $10,000; and there is reason to think, that the contemplated reinforcement will cost a still larger sum. At the same time, it is not to be forgotten, that the other missions need to be maintained in their regular course of operations. What remains, then, but for those, who set a just value upon the object, to exert themselves that the proper means be furnished. This is not a private concern; but the concern of all Christians. If private emolument were the object, there would be no lack of adventurers. Can there be a doubt, with respect to the support, which the present design will receive? -Various articles, necessary for the prosperity of the mission, will doubtless be furnished, by persons who manufacture them in their families, or their shops; or by associations of individuals, who will unite their labors for this purpose. Among the articles necessary are the following: viz. an ox cart, a large horse waggon, two single horse-waggons, two hand-carts, four wheel-barrows, plain articles of cooper work, put up in the most compact manner, all the parts of common chairs and tables ready to be put together;-common bedsteads; a considerable number of hoes, axes, hammers, &c. of the best workmanship; the common articles of kitchen-furniture; and harness for the horse-waggons mentioned above. Articles of bedding and clothing as follows; viz. a few dozen blankets of moderate thickness-cotton sheeting, matrasses, bed-ticken, and various kinds of thin bed-coverings. Cotton garments for children and adults, of both sexes: stationary of every kind, for the families and schools. Donations of these various kinds will be given subject to the condition, that if too many of one sort are received, the supernumerary articles may be sent to the stations among the Indians, or exchanged for other articles more needed. The Committee wish it to be distinctly understood, that the missionaries have nothing to do with commerce, strictly speaking; that no returns of property are ever expected in this country for articles sent out; but that these articles are designed for the use of the mission families and schools, and to be used, in barter with the natives, to procure such things as are necessary for daily consumption, in carrying on the plans of the establishment. AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MELIORATING THE CONDITION OF THE JEWS. MR. JADOWNISKY, of whom we gave a brief notice in our number for January, has commenced a course of study under the patronage of the American Society for meljorating the condition of the Jews, which was incorporated by the Legislature of New York about two years since. His design is to act as a Christian missionary among his brethren the Jews. Several very interesting documents, relating to his embassy to this country, have recently been published, and in a future number of the Herald, some further notice will be taken of them. INDIAN IMPROVEMENT. A SOCIETY has lately been formed in Washington, styled, "The American Society for promoting the civilization and general im provement of the Indian Tribes within the United States."-The general and ultimate object of this society is,—the civilization of the Indians. The particular and subsidiary objects are, to ascertain the intellectual and moral character of the Indians; to examine into their origin, history, memorials, anti. quities, traditions, governments, customs, manners, laws, languages, and religions; into their diseases, remedies, and manner of ap. plying them; into the efforts made for their improvement. into the number, names, and residence of the different tribes; the extent, soil, and climate, of their respective territories; the geography, mineralogy, geology, natural history, &c. of the Indian country:to collect specimens in all these branches of science for a national cabinet;-to select spots among the Indians for experimental farms;to introduce the best breeds of domestic animals, &c. Messrs. Adams, Jefferson, and Madison, the late successive Presidents of the United States, are the Patrons of the Society; the Vice President of U. S. is, ex-officio, President; the Rev. Jedidiah Morse, D. D. is the Corresponding Secretary; George H. Richards, Esq. of Washington, the first Assistant Secretary: Joseph Nourse, Esq. Treasurer; and the Hon. Wm. Wirt, Chairman of the Board of Directors.-The payment of five dollars constitutes a member of the Society. Members of Congress, General Officers of the Army, Commissioners of the Navy, Presidents and Professors of Colleges and Theological Seminaries, the Clergy of all denominations, Presidents and Secretaries of all Societies embracing Indians among their ob. jects, Commanding Officers of military posts, within, or near, the Indian territories; Superintendants of Indians, and Indian Agents; are, from their office, members. MADAGASCAR. THE Princes Rataffe and Endrien Semisate have visited Mauritius, (Isle of France,) as ambassadors from Radama, king of the Ovaas, (a powerful nation on the island of Madagas car,) to Governor Farquhar. These brought with them the confirmation of the treaty made for the abolition of the slave trade with Radama, who, as a pledge of his sincerity, has sent with his ambassadors ten children of the first families in his kingdom, to be cons veyed to England for their education. Mr. Jones is employed by the London Missionary Society as a missionary among this people; and as he has the full concurrence of Radama in all his plans and efforts, his pros pects of ultimate success are of a truly cheering nature He has a school in Tananarivoo, the capital of the kingdom, in which are about 16 children, committed to his care by the king, to receive an English education. One of these is heir to the crown; the others are all children of the nobles, possessing bright talents, and quick understanding. They make good improvement. SOUTH SEA ISLANDS. WE look with grateful astonishment, on the surprising moral revolutions which have taken place, and which are now taking place, in several of these islands. Pomare, in a voyage undertaken for the purpose, visited Raivaivai, or High Land, an island about 400 miles S. E. of Laheite, and after procuring peace between two contending parties, left Pura, a - converted Taheitean, to instruct them. Not long after, on a great feast day, the whole island renounced idolatry, removed their idols from their morais, mutilated them, and converted them into stools; built a church, 117 feet long, and 27 broad; and when capt. Henry, son of vir. Henry the missionary at Taheite, touched there, on the Sabbath, 848 natives were assembled at the church, to hear Para perform divine service. The missionaries Taheite have concluded to send two more converted naives to help forward the good work. The church at Taheite, at the latest date, was also actively engaged in fitting out two other native missionaries for Rurutu, another island where Christ had not been preached-Here are five converts from the darkest paganism, probably now employed, as heralds of the cross! What hath God wrought! OBITUARY. SOME account of the last sickness and death of Mrs Susan Poor, who died at Tillipally May 7th, 1821. Communicated by the husband of the deceased. Mrs. Poor's last illness commenced on Monday evening, the 23d of April. On Tuesday evening, Mr. and Mrs. Spaulding came to our assistance, and continued with us. As Mrs. Poor continued iH, and medical advice appeared necessary, we sent, on Wednesday morning, for Dr. Scudder. On his arrival, he found that her symptoms were in some degree alarming. Powerful remedies were used for several days without any favorable issue. During this time she was affected with severe pain. Her mind, as appeared from the frequent recital of passages of Scripture, and of parts of hymns adapted to her suffering state, was turned to God and divine subjects. On Thursday, A.M. in consequence of some unusual sensations of body, and more especially of some peculiar exercises of her mind that morning, she apprehended that the time of her departure was at hand. Under this impression, she began to address me. Having freely spoken of the strong consolations God had given her, she stated to me the views and feelings she had recently had, concerning the family and station. "I have been enabled," said she, "this morning, to make a formal and an entire sur render of husband, and children, and of all the affairs of the station into the hands of God. The strong desires, which I have here' tofore had, for continuing a few years longer, have been so entirely taken away, that even my beloved husband and children cease to be ties that bind me to the earth. Every cord is now broken. This is a victory that have scarcely dared to hope for, and it is, to my mind, a sure indication that I shall not long be continued with you." She then spoke of our past intercourse with each other, and of God's gracious dealings w'th us since we were united; especially in the work of the mission; and expressed a confident belief, that God would be with me, and comfort me, in my solitary state, and bless my labors among the heathen. She appeared to take firm hold of the promises respecting the children of believers. She expressed strong confidence in the belief, that, though her children were left motherless in a land of idolaters, God would be their Protector, and would raise up such friends as were necesary to watch over them. She urged the propriety of this belief, from the views she entertained of that covenant, which is well ordered in all things and sure, and which she thought had been established with our house. She expressed her thoughts concerning God's designs of mercy towards the heathen. The substance of her remarks on this subject was, that in view of what he had already done, and of the present indications of his Providence, she believed he would soon come down by his Spirit like rain upon the mown grass, and gather a people to the praise of the glory of his grace. The earnest and confident manner, in which she spoke on the two last mentioned subjects, was new and unexpected. Formerly, the idea of leaving her children, in this land of moral darkness, was extremely pain ful to her. Although she had been abundant in her labors and fervent in her prayers to promote the salvation of the heathen, she was ever fearful and doubtful, as to what God would do for those of the present generation; but now her language was that of triumphant hope, and joyful anticipation. As we assured her, that she had no reason to apprehend an immediate departure, she did not proceed to particulars; but observed, that what she had to say or do must be done before the hour of death came, as she could not expect then to be able to say any thing.. It was rather unpleasant to her to know, that she only was of the opinion that the hour of death was near. She continued in a quiet state of mind, speaking often of the great goodness of God, in entirely weaning her affections from her family, and in giving her strong desires to depart and be with Christ. "For some weeks past," said she, "I have dwelt with much interest upon the word IMMANUEL, as applied to Christ. But within a few days my thoughts have turned to him with peculiar delight, as bearing the name. JESUS." She many times quoted the passage, And his name shall be called Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins. On reviewing her conduct for several months previous to her late illness, I now discover many reasons for believing that the Lord was, in a special manner, preparing her by his grace for this season of trial. One of the many circumstances to which I here refer, was, that several weeks before her death, she proposed that we should regard every Friday, as a season of special prayer. As I stood by her bed side with a Bible in my hand, while she lay in a suffering state, she took the Bible, and directed me to the 118th Psalm, 14th verse and onward, as expressing her feelings. Many times, in the course of the day, she required those present to unite in prayer and thanksgiving to God on her account. In the afternoon we were happy to welcome Mr. Richards and Mrs. Scudder. Friday, P. M. we continued the active use of powerful medicines with much hope of her recovery. Her corporeal sufferings were great, arising from spasms of the stomach. Her mind was tranquil, and she had a strong desire to hear appropriate portions of Serip. ture. Most of the chapter of Doddridge's Rise and Progress, was read to her. It afforded her much pleasure, as it accorded with her own experience. About 4 o'clock, an unfavorable change took place, which she considered a sure indication of the approach of death, and a special call to her to set her house in order. At this time, Dr. Scudder was absent, having been called to Manepy to attend Mr. Woodward. Mr. Richards, though in some degree alarmed by the change to which I have here referred, did not express to us his fears. Mrs. Poor, after speaking of the quietude and peace of mind she felt, began to address me as from the borders of the eternal state. She repeated, with some additions, the same sentiments she had expressed on the morning of the preceding day. She commended me to the kindness of the brethren and sisters in the mission, and to God,-and rejoiced in the prospect of our being soon united in the mansions above. She then spoke of her own life and conduct; of her numerous offences; how unfaithfully she had served her God and Savior; and how undeserving she was of the numerous blessings he had bestowed upon her; but that, notwithstanding her guilt and unworthiness, she indulged confident hopes of pardon and acceptance with God, through the blood of Christ. She expressed a lively sense of God's goodness in manifesting himself to her in a special manner, at this hour of extremity; in his taking away the sting of death; in giving her peace of mind; and in filling her soul with precious foretastes of the joys of heaven. It did indeed appear, from her observations, especially from the manner in which they were made, that her fellowship was with the Father and with the Son Jesus Christ. She begged us to be faithful with her in that crit The chapter was inadvertently left blank. It was probably the 29th or 30th. Ed. ical hour, if we perceived that she was in danger of deceiving herself. After a short interval, she spoke of those dear babes she was about to leave. She adverted, with expressions of gratitude, to the exercises of her mind concerning them, on the preceding day; and observed, that she had committed them into the hands of God, and had no desire to see them again. She then pointed out the good and bad qualities of each of them; commended them to the kind care of the sisters present; and intreated them to bear with their defects, and to watch over them while they continued in this heathen land, adding, "God will reward you for all you do for them." She told with what feelings she had desired a son, and what were her hopes concerning him; viz. that he might perpetuate his father's name; that he might early become a child of God, a preacher of the Gospel, and a helper in the mission. She She then addressed the brethren and sisters present, and sent messages to some who were absent. She observed, that she had a good hope that they were all the dear children of God, that she had a love for them all; and left them with the expectation of being united with them in the world to come. pointed out some particulars wherein she thought, that, as a body of missionaries, or a church of Christ, we had all been deficient in duty towards each other. She advised to the use of some special means for watching over each other's souls, and for promoting the growth of divine grace in the heart. She urged the importance of our making it one distinct object of pursuit, to grow in the knowledge of the word of God. This she did, in view of what she considered to be her own neglect of this duty, and of her present convictions of its importance. She then spoke of her father, brothers, and sisters, and of many dear friends in Amer. ica, to several of whom she sent particular messages, and requested me to write to them. 1 observed to her, that, as some of her friends were opposed to her engaging in the work of the mission, they might wish to know how she viewed the subject at the last. "What they said by way of opposing," she observed, "was mere talk. Their objections arose principally from their unwillingness to part with me." Shortly after she said, "But in answer to what you have suggested, you well know, that I have no enthusiastic notions on the subject. I had no expectations of doing great things. On the contrary, my expectations were low, though I wished to do what I could. I think the opportunities for a female's usefulness here should be considered as on a level with those enjoyed in America. Many females there move in a more important sphere than they could in a heathen land. I never should have thought that I had any duty to do among the heathen, had you not invited me to come. I am satisfied with the course I pursued." For several years past she has often expressed the idea, that she did not originally expect to do more, or to see more accomplished in furtherance of the object of this mission, than she had already witnessed. Several months ago. when we were endeavoring to establish Tuesday |