board the ship Sally Ann, Wednesday morning, Nov. 3rd, and soon bade adieu to the shores of their native country. It was a part of the plan, that, as the ship was about to touch at Malta, they should seek acquaintance with the Rev. Mr. Jowett, Dr. Naudi, and others, with a view to cultivate a brotherly intercourse, and to obtain useful inform ation. They entered the harbor of Malta, after a favorable passage, on the 23rd of December. Though the rigid quarantine laws of that island would not permit them to land, they had the happiness to meet Mr. Jowett and Dr. Naudi, at the Lazaretto, and to be introduced to the Rev. Mr. Wilson, a missionary, and Mr. Jones, who had been American consul at Tripoli, where he had resided seven years. From these gentlemen they received much valuable information, and proofs of the kindest and most benevolent interest in their mission. They were favored, also, with letters of introduction to persons of intelligence and influence, at Smyrna and Scio. Mr. Jowett was at the pains to draw up a paper of hints, for the use of our missionaries; and has shown his love to the cause, and his hearty and zealous cooperation with all faithful laborers, by an excellent letter addressed to the Corresponding Secretary of the Board. This laborious missionary, whose travels in Egypt and Western Asia have been read with eagerness by the Christian world, not only received Messrs. Parsons and Fisk kindly, but, in common with his associates, was at personal inconvenience and expense to meet them almost daily, while they remained in the harbor. This generous attention had the most cheering effect on the minds of those, to whom it was shown, and will make a grateful impression on the hearts of American Christians.

On the 9th of January the ship pursued her voyage, and in six days entered the harbor of Smyrna. The missionaries were received with cordiality by all the gentlemen, to whom they had letters of introduction; particularly, by the Rev. Charles Williamson, chaplain to the British consulate, Mr. Lee and the Messrs. Perkinses, eminent merchants in that city.

During the voyage, religious services were regularly attended on board, according to the arrangement and at the request of Capt. Edes, from whom the missionaries received many acts of kindness on their passage, and after their arrival. They labored with assiduity for the spiritual good of the ship's company, and were encouraged to hope, that their exertions were not without some good effect. They appear to have been deeply impressed with the moral wants of seamen, and to have ardently desired the salvation of all, who sailed with them.

At Smyrna they found the most satisfactory evidence, that the shores of the Mediterranean present many extensive fields of missionary labor. By the aid of Christians in more favored parts of the world, missionaries may carry the Scriptures and religious tracts into every town and village throughout those benighted regions. .There are many professed Christians, to whom immediate access can be gained, and who would receive religious books with gladness. Christian missionaries may reside in any part of Turkey, so far as appears, without the least apprehension of interference from the government.

Numerous and powerful inducements urge to send forth laborers into this part of the harvest.

The acquisition of the Modern Greek, and other languages spoken in Asia Minor, principally occupied the time of Messrs. Parsons and Fisk. They found opportunity, however, to collect useful information with respect to the condition of the people in neighboring regions, and the various means, which could be used, for the promotion of religion. They distributed the Scriptures to various classes of persons, and gave occasional instruction to individuals, who fell into their private society. At the close of a journal, which they sent to this country on the 10th of March, they announce the intention of spending the summer at Scio, (the Chios of the New Testament,) an island 70 miles from Smyrna. Their expectation was, that they should possess superior advantages for acquiring the Modern Greek, under Professor Bambas, the principal instructor of the college there, to whom they had letters from Mr. Jowett, and other gentlemen of high respectability.

On the first Monday in February, the Rev. Mr. Williamson united with the missionaries in the monthly concert of prayer. This was probably the commencement in Turkey of a holy celebration, which will, at some Inture day, be observed in every village of that populous and extensive empire. The gentleman just named addressed to the Secretary an interesting and affectionate letter, from which it will be suitable to lay before the Board the following extracts.

"Smyrna, Feb. 1820.

"REV. AND DEAR SIR,-Although our friends, the missionaries, have acquainted you with their safe arrival in Smyrna, yet I would wish to join in the annunciation of the fact."

"I would first greet you and every member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Accept of my most cordial salutations, and Christian congratulations, on the happy commencement of an enterprise, which must, in due time, terminate in the completest success—in the conversion of the heathen and reformation of the Christian world. Every attention has been, and shall be paid to Messrs. Parsons and Pisk, and to all their successors, who will come as the messengers of the Lord, as far as my abilities and influence will pos sibly avail."

"Within the last fifty years, literature is beginning to peep out among the Greeks from her hiding places in Turkey. Some of the best informed are ac quainted with the history of the Reformation; and will grant that Luther was a great man, sent for the benefit of the human race, though they are far at present from desiring a like reformation. Luther and those other reformers, who did not condemn and sweep away episcopal superintendence, are respected by a few of the Greeks, though the majority will have nothing to do with reformation, and know nothing about it. Besides the Christians all around the shores of the Mediterranean, those of Egypt, Abyssinia, Arabia, Syria, Persia, Asia Minor, Russia, and Turkey in Europe, of whatever denomination they may be, all have their own episcopal magistrates in ecclesiastical affairs; and each party has fixed laws for clergy and laity, of which the violation of the most trifling these ignorant people consider as more heinous, than of the most important law of the

state.

"The sale and distribution of the Holy Scriptures, and religious tracts, have been hitherto the only missionary operations carried on, in this country. A missionary visiting the different towns must endeavor, not only to make the acquaintance, but to gain the confidence of the leading men and priests of the Greeks. With the assistance of his new friends, the missionary may be able to distribute many copies of the everlasting Word, in a language intelligible to the

people, a blessing of which those regions have been deprived for some hundreds of years. Next to the countenance of the Greeks, religious tracts, compiled from the first fathers of the Christian church, will be of the greatest service to missionaries. The Greeks highly esteem and venerate the ancient martyrs. Their writings are looked upon as oracles; but they are very scarce, and unin telligible to the people, as they stand in ancient Greek. In case of opposition, which sometimes happens, and of a deadly indifference, which generally prevails, tracts will be of the greatest utility in bringing forward the fathers to allay opposition, and to recommend the duty of perusing the Scriptures, as well as to awaken a spirit of piety, and of inquiry after Gospel truth."

"Two other important parts of missionary labor remain to be entered upon. The first is Education;-the other a translation, not of the Scriptures, for that is accomplished, but of all other good religious books and tracts. The printing of a religious monthly publication in Modern Greek, not offending the institutions of the country, is of primary importance, and would be, in the hands of prudent conductors, of incalculable service. The extensive fields of education are not, to foreign Protestant missionaries, so easily and completely accessible, as the rich and most abundant streams of a fount of types, which would ere long, silently water every portion of the field sowed with the word of God; and, with the divine blessing, would render luxuriant and plentiful the Christian harvest.”

The writer proceeds to offer several suggestions, in regard to the best methods of extending the knowledge of Christianity in the Turkish empire. He dwells on the vast good, which could probably be effected by a printing establishment, with Greek, Turkish, and French types, (the latter comprehending the general European alphabet,) at Smyrna; and another at Jerusalem, with Greek, Syriac, and Arabic characters. In the most unqualified manner he sanctions the opinion, which the Committee formed originally, that Smyrna is by far the best situation in the Levant for a permanent missionary establishment, on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, having a frequent communication with al the parts of the Ottoman empire; and that it is the best place in those regions for learning Greek, Turkish, Italian and French, and for the security and liberty, which foreigners and Christians enjoy. The advantages of an extensive printing establishment may be conceived, when it is stated, that though the Greeks are very fond of reading, there is not a single newspaper, or other periodical publication, in all the Turkish dominions. There is little reason to doubt, that the shores of the Mediterranean afford many of the best openings to Christian enterprise; and it surely is not too much to anticipate, that the churches of this country will delight to send back to those central parts of the earth, the inestimable blessings, which were derived from thence, but which have, in the righteous visitations of Providence, been so long banished from the countries, where they were first enjoyed.

MISSION AMONG THE CHEROKEES.

WITH this mission not only the Board, but the Christian community extensively, have become familiarly acquainted. It is near; seemingly even in the midst of us; has intercourse with all parts of the country; is established in the affections and confidence of all, who wish well to the long neglected natives of the wilderness; and, from various causes, has engaged general attention, and inspired elevated hope.

May it please the Father of Lights, that it may continue to be worthy of all these kind regards, and never disappoint its patrons and friends.

The company consisting of Messrs. Abijah Conger, John Vail and John Talmage, with their families, designed for the Cherokee mission; and the Rev. Alfred Finney, with his wife and Miss Minerva Washburn, an unmarried female assistant, for the Arkansaw mission; described in the Report of last year, as having then, as was supposed, just set out from Rockaway, N. J. arrived at Brainerd, on the 10th of November.

Their setting out was delayed by a heavy visitation of Providence. An epidemic prevailed at Rockaway, by which the families of Mr. Vail and Mr. Talmage were visited severely. Two sons of Mr. Vail were buried in one grave; and another, after the company had been detained about three weeks, the bereaved parents were constrained to leave behind, as too feeble to bear the journey. The affliction was deeply felt by them all; but appears to have been made, by divine grace, a means of promoting in them the feelings, suitable for all Christians, and especially for those, who are devoted to the missionary

work.

They left their houses and their kindred and friends with tender cheerfulness; went on their way rejoicing; and from Rockaway to Brainerd, a distance of more than nine hundred miles, had a prosperous journey, of only about six weeks. On their arrival, the hearts of the brethren and sisters of the mission, burdened as they had been with continually increasing labors and cares, were filled with gladness and thankfulness. "It is a time," say they in the Journal-"It is a time of great rejoicing at Brainerd. We feel, that the Lord has heard our prayers for help; and it is now our duty to render praise. O that we could be sufficiently thankful to our gracious Savior, for the abundant mercies, which we have experienced, and the sweet consolations now afforded us.' 99

On the 3d of January 1818, the Rev. Ard Hoyt with his family, and the Rev. Daniel S. Butrick, arrived at the station; and the Rev. William Chamberlain, on the 10th of the ensuing March.

About the last of May of the same year, Mr. Kingsbury with Mr. and Mrs. Williams, left this mission, for the purpose of commencing an establishment in the Choctaw nation: and your Committee regret to state, that about four months ago, Mr. Talmage, from some feelings of discontentment, retired from the mission.

It will be grateful to the Board here to be refreshed with a quotation from a letter of the Rev. Cyrus Kngsbury, 30th June, 1817. [See Pan. for Aug. 1817, p. 384.]

Such were the beginnings of our Cherokee mission three years and some months ago. During the first year, Mr. Kingsbury and his two assistants, Messrs. Hall and Williams with their wives, were the only members of the mission, bearing with exemplary fortitude and cheerfulness the privations and fatigues and discouragements of untried and arduous situation and enterprise.

There remains of the mission Mr. Hoyt, superintendent, with his wife and children, four of whom are very useful assistants; Mr. Conger, with his wife and children, and an apprentice, George Halsey,

about 20 years old, and a devoted helper of excellent promise; Mr. Vail with his family, Mr. Butrick, Mr. Hall with his family, and Mr. Chamberlain with his family.

Mr. Milo Hoyt, who served with his father in the work, as a true son, has lately been married to an amiable and distinguished native convert, Lydia Lowry. And as, by this marriage, he has become entitled to all the privileges of a native Cherokee, he thinks, that by occupying a situation near the establishment, or in an eligible place for a local school, he can well support himself, and render as much service to the mission, as if he were under the immediate direction of the Board.

The general plans and operations of the mission are all known to the Board and to the community. Of the state and appearance, particularly of the establishment at Brainerd, as found in December, a detailed and authentic account is given in the Report of the Visiting Committee, the greater part of which it is deemed fitting to quote in this place: [See Pan. for March, p. 132.]

This witness unquestionably is true, and should be recorded for the praise of divine grace.

At the time of the first Report referred to by the Visiting Committee, the buildings of the establishment were described by the Treasurer upon the spot, only a few days before, as follows: [See Pan. for July, 1818, p. 359.]

"There have since been built," say the Committee, "four cabins for the accommodation of the pupils, and a large cabin-house in which the girls are taught." Also, the frame of a barn is raised and covered." And since the Committee were there, besides finishing the barn, they have erected a house for Mr. Conger's family, and a warehouse about six miles distant, on the banks of the Tennessee, for the purpose of receiving corn and other articles conveyed for them upon that river; and a saw-mill is in forwardness with some other buildings.

To the farm, of which about sixty acres were in a state for cultivation, when the Visiting Committee were there, large additions and improvements have been made, and are making. The design, indeed, is entered upon with spirit, to raise from the farm, as soon and as fast as possible, a large and increasing proportion of the corn, and other productions of the soil, necessary for the establishment.

The number of scholars in the two schools at Brainerd has not been definitively stated in any recent communication; but the general representation has been, that the schools are full, and in a highly satisfactory state.

The gracious influences from on high, which have been so signally the glory of this mission, appear to be still continued. The young man John Arch, of whom so interesting an account is given by the Visiting Committee, has since been received to the church. Another hopeful convert also has been received, David Brown, a brother of Catharine. To your Committee, and to many others, who have seen him, he appears to be a youth of great promise. He is now in our school at Cornwall.

The whole number, gathered from the wilderness into this mission church, and thus made fellow citizens with the saints, and of the