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who greatly needed to be informed of the course, which the Committee wished them to pursue. The occasion of this embarrassment was the unfaithfulness of some person in the post-office, which was nearest to the station, and at which letters repeatedly arrived for the missionaries, as they learned in the most authentic manner, and as the post-master himself admitted. But when the letters were applied for, they could not be found: nor could any satisfactory account be given of them. In like manner, letters sent to the same post-office, addressed to the Corresponding Secretary, never reached his hands. The Committee are able to add, that the post master is removed. and it is hoped that a similar cause of complaint will not again exist.

the journey into the interior. They set out on the 20th, leading their horses, which were sufficiently loaded with necessary provisions and baggage. Soon Mr. Finney began to suffer from a fever; and, during the progress of the journey, all the company were more or less affected with sickness. Mr. Washburn was thought to be dangerously ill, for a time. Mr. Hitchcock suffered least. Part of the company betook themselves to a canoe, and part proceeded by land. Mr. Washburn reached the residence of the former agent of government among the Indians, July 12th, and the rest had arrived by the 23d.

[The Report here details some particulars, relative to the selection of a site, and the coinmencement of preparations for the removal of the mission family thither. On the 3d of October, Messrs. Finney and Washburn set out on their return to Elliot. Reaching the Arkansaw post Nov. 13th, they stopped three weeks to regain their health, which had suffered much by the way. The close of their journey is thus described.]

They recommenced their voyage on the 4th of December, in an open skiff, with the aid of a single boatman. At the renewal of their exposures, their fever returned.

On the 16th of May, 1820, Messrs. Finney and Washburn left Elliot. in a second attempt to reach the seat of their intended mission. Their wives, and infant children, remained with the mission family. In four days they ar rived at the Walnut Hills soon obtained a passage in a steamboat to the mouth of White river, (which is 200 miles above the mouth of the Yazoo,) and, about the first of June, entered the territory, which was to be the scene of their future labors. They waited at the Arkansaw post for two hired men, who were to follow them with horses from Elliot. While detained longer than they had expected, they had an interview with Gov. Miller, who had just returned from a jour ney up the Arkansaw river. This jour-by violent ague and fever they spent ney had been undertaken with the pacific intention of promoting a settlement of differences which had arisen between the Cherokees and the Osages. The Governor expressed to Messrs. Finney and Washburn his cordial approbation of their mission,

and his readiness to render them all the aid in his power.

On the 17th of June, the hired men arrived, having wandered among the swamps and bayous of the Mississippi, till they and their horses had nearly perished with fatigue and famine. The next day Messrs. Hitchcock and Orr were so happy as to join the mission company, which was now complete. It is quite remarkable, that the different members of the mission, proceeding by so different routes, and experiencing many unforeseen delays, should have met so opportunely, before either party was ready to proceed on

By the 14th they reached the Walnut Hills, immediate ly procured horses, and set out for Elliot. Drenched with the rains of the winter solstice,-detained by high water without food, or fire, or shelter,their bones racked with intolerable pain,➡ their bodies chilled and burnt

eleven toilsome, weary, aud anxious days, before they found repose in the missionary family at Elliot. They had been absent more than seven months, totally secluded from the world, not having heard from their friends in New England during the whole time, nor from their families at Elliot but once.

[After various preparations, the mission family left Elliot March 22nd, and the Arkansaw post April 19th, and reached the station named Dwight, May 10th, the passage up the rivers having been unusually successful. A reinforcement to this mission left New England about the 1st of Sept. 1821, consisting of following attestation is given by the Committhree persons, besides a hired man. tee to the temper and conduct of the missionaries.]

The

In concluding the account of this mission, the Committee cannot but express their approbation of the temper

Mahratta,-for distribution among the Roman Catholics, most of whom understand Mahratta, many of them, Portuguese and English, and 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, par

displayed by the missionaries, in all || their numerous trials and privations. A patient acquiescence in the will of their Heavenly Father, and a deter mination to do whatever they may have the ability to accomplish, appear to mark their conduct, as well as their letters. May they, and all their brethren, wherever employed in missiona-ables, miracles, and discourses of Christ,) ry labors, enjoy the exalted gratification of seeing multitudes rescued from sin, and made the subjects of holiness, by their instrumentality.

(To be continued.)

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

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 altogeth er 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 Bardweli. 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."

The Rev. Richard Watson, Secretary of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, kindly forwarded to the Treasurer of the Board the following extract from a letter of Mr. Hor'ner, a missionary of that Society, giving the particulars of Mr. Newell's sickness and death.

"On the evening of the 29th inst. I received a hasty note from cur kind and respected friend, Mrs. Hall, wife of the missionary of that name, in which she stated, 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 convulsive 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, to whom we are all indebted for his

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!"

MISSION AMONG THE CHEROKEES.

EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL KEPT AT BRAINERD.

(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 acq intance 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 then 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.

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

appears that they have, in general, made good improvement. He express es a hope, that a member of his Sab bath school, a black man, has lately be

come a new creature.

Sister Catharine and her mother,the Inquirer, and two sisters, -David Brainerd'st parents. mentioned in the journal of Aug. 15, together with several others, arrived.

Baptism of Two Cherokees.

14th. Lord's day. At our usual prayer meeting, the Inquirer, and Mrs. McPherson, candidates for baptism, were present. Father Hoyt asked, if their sentiments and determinations respecting the service of God were as formerly, and whether they now desired to be admitted to the holy ordinance of baptism? Both answered in the affirmative; and the man expressed his determination to serve God. He told us, that since he was here, last August, he had called together his family, mornings and evenings, and prayed with them; and had invited his friends and neighbors to meet at his house on the Sabbath, when he prayed and talked with them, as far as he was able; and that he had now brought some of his friends with him, that they might receive further instruction from us. He said, also, that he had brought his children, (except two, whom he left sick,) to dedicate them to God in baptism, according to his former instructions.

Father Hoyt then inquired of the church, whether the candidates for baptism should this day be admitted to that ordinance, and also, whether Darius Hoyt, a candidate for the communion, should this day be admitted to the Lord's table?—and was answered in the affirmative. We then repaired to the house of worship, where, in due time, the candidates for baptism, in the presence of many of their poor, benighted people, solemnly received that holy ordinance; the man taking the name of SAMUEL J. MILLS. Four of his children he dedicated to God in baptism. Mr. and Mrs. Butler also presented their infant, William Smith, for bap

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tism. After the forementioned exercises, we were invited to the table of our Lord, where we had the pleasure of receiving, for the first time, our dear brother, Darius Hoyt.

Evening Exercises.

At early candle lighting, Mr. Chamberlain collec ed the parents and children in the girl's school room, for religious exercises. After singing a Cherokee hymn and prayer, Mr. C. occupied a short time in teaching the children some of the essential truths of the Bible. After this brother John Arch addressed them in his own language; and then brother Samuel J. Mills in a most moving and affecting manner, made an address at considerable length, and the concluding prayer. We think this meeting, on the whole, the most interesting, which we have scen at Brainerd.

Annual Examination of the Schools.

15. Proceeded, in the usual manner, to examine the schools. This exercise occupied most of the day. All present seemed pleased with the appearance and improvement of the scholars. After examination, some of the children left us, to spend the season of vacation with their friends.

General Meeting for Business.

The communications from the Cor. Secretary and Treasurer of the Board were read, together with the minutes of meetings for business at Brainerd Adjourned till tomorrow morning.

16. Messrs. Potter and Hall reported concerning the schools under their care. The former presented a letter from the church at Creek Path, requesting us to send brother John Arch to that place, as an interpreter.

Resolved, that their request be granted.

Most of the scholars left us to-day. Four, two boys and two girls, intend tarrying with us during vacation. These dear children are our present joy, and our future hope. Their presence is delightful, and their absence painful to us. For them we rejoice to labor, and for them we intreat the prayers of Zion.

17. David Brainerd's parents left us. They appear still anxious to know more of God our Savior, and seem de-. termined to seek till they find.

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