us. We sailed about 3 o'clock the following morning. On Wednesday we were all very sea sick. It was a distressing day, especially to Mrs. Meigs. We were much alarmed about her on Wednesday evening, but the Lord supported her, and on the following day we were all better. We lay at anchor on Thursday night, for fear of the Pearl Banks; and on Friday noon we arrived in safety at the mouth of the river at Manar. Here the water is so shallow that dhonies are obliged to unlade, and occupy several days in passing through. On Saturday morning we all went up to the fort, about two miles, in a boat which Mr. Orr, the collector, was so kind as to send us; and we spent the day at his house, and were treated very politely. We tarried at Manar till Tuesday Oct. 1st, in a house near Mr. Orr's. We had been unable to get away before that time, having been obliged to oversee the unlading of all our furniture, and chat of our brethren, and having it safely lodged in the custom-house, till the dhony could get over the bar at the mouth of the river. We did not wait for this, as the season was far advanced, but hired two boats, in which we put a few of our most necessary articles, leaving the rest to be brought on in the dhony, and between 11 and 12 o'clock A. M. set sail for Jaffna, a distance of about forty-five miles, where we arrived the same day, but so late that we did not go on shore that night, but slept in the boat. The next morning, Oct. 2, we went on shore before sunrise, and proceeded to Mr. Mooyart's, where we found our friends and met with a most welcome reception, Mr. Mooyart is a sincere friend of missions and missionaries. Brother Newell lived with him while at Jaffna; after him Mr. Lynch; then brother Warren; so that the room in which they lived has acquired the name of the "Prophet's chamber."

Brother and sister Poor left Columbo four days before we did, that is, on the 20th of Sept. in a boat with Mr. Wilkins, a merchant of Columbo, who was coming to Jaffna on business. The dhony in which we came, being much crowded, did not afford good accommodations for more than two families, for which reason Mr. and Mrs. Poor embraced the opportunity of coming with Mr. Wilkins. Mrs. Poor suffered much on the voyage, and was reduced very low, but finally arrived in safety on the 26th of Sept.

In view of all that has passed since we left Columbo, we have the greatest reason to admire the goodness of God, in preserving us all in health and safety.— The same day that we landed, we took possession of a house opposite to Mr. Mooyart's, which Mr. Warren had hired for us. It is a delightful situation, retired from the noise of the public road, nearly in the centre of a large garden, sur rounded by a wall about nine feet in height. We expect to occupy this house for a few months, till the house at Batticotta can be repaired; this must of course take considerable time, as the house is large and much out of repair, and the rainy season is fast approaching, when it will be impracticable to continue the work at such a distance.

On Thursday the 4th, Mr. Warren and Mr. Meigs went to Batticotta, and there for the first time Mr. Meigs saw the place where he hopes to fix his future residence among the heathen in the eastern world. Many pleasing sensations and reflections were excited in his mind, while he surveyed the remains of these once aoble buildings,

We have already given some account of Batticotta in our private letters to our friends, but we think proper, nevertheless, to insert it here.

Batticotta lies about six miles N. W. of the fort of Jaffnapatam, about half a mile from the sea-shore, and in sight of it. The situation is pleasant and airy. Although it is surrounded on three sides by paddy, (rice) fields, yet the ground on which it stands is dry and healthy. On the north towards Changane the land is a little higher and very dry. It may be well to remark here, that the whole district of Jaffna, unlike the middle and southern parts of the Island, is very level; though the land is a few feet higher in some places than in others. All the ground belonging to the place at Batticotta amounts by measurement to 3 acres, 3 roods, 11 perches, and 159 links. On this ground are a church, a dwelling house, and five other small buildings, two yards, a garden, four wells, eleven margosa trees, and fifty-one palmyra trees; all belonging to the Ceylon government. That you may know in what state we found them, we give a short description of them.

1. The church. This is said to be the finest church in the whole district, and in the best state of repair. It was first built by the Portuguese, when they were masters of the island in the sixteenth century (as were all these churches and houses,) and repaired by the Dutch in 1678, as appears by the date on the western end of

the building. This is the reason why it is now in a better state of repair than the other churches in the district. After the English became masters of the island, in 1795-6, the church and houses were much neglected, and have been since fast going to decay. Many of the walls are much broken by the banians which grow in them, and break them down. This church has, however, received very little injury from them. But the walls of the dwelling house are much broken. The church is a very large and noble building. It is 171 feet in length on the outside, 163 on the inside, walls 4 feet thick. The width of it is 65 feet on the outside, and 57 on the inside. The walls are not hig, and they have no galleries in this country. There is no roof on the church, but the walls, pillars, and arches are almost entire. They are built principally of coral stones, which appear to grow harder by exposure to the sun. Many of the buildings have already stood nearly three hundred years, and would probably stand as much longer were proper care taken of them. From one end of the church to the other, at an equal distance from a line drawn through the centre, run two rows of massy pillars, 20 in number, each 10 feet in circumference, supporting eighteen fine arches, which are so much higher than the walls of the church as to support the roof. The width of the church is so great, that a roof could not otherwise be easily supported. We are anxious to cover the building as soon as we have the means in our power. Two thirds of it will be sufficiently large to contain any congregation that we, or our successors, shall probably ever be able to collect. By making a partition we can have one third of it for school rooms, or for a printing press, should we ever have occasion to use it for that purpose.

2. The dwelling house. This is only one story high, according to the custom of the country. It is more than 100 feet in length, and 41 or 42 in breadth. It will Contain eight rooms, five of which are large, and three smaller ones. The house requires a great deal of repairing before it will be a suitable habitation for two families. The walls are broken in many places by the banian trees. We found it without a roof, doors or windows; in short, nothing remained but the walls and floors, which are of brick. This, in the time of the Dutch, was the country seat of the second officer in command at Jaffna. It may be made a very convenient and pleasant babitation, and the expense will not be very great, as labor is cheap in this country, and particularly in this district. But it requires a large stock of patience to wait for these workmen to accomplish any thing, as they are uncommonly lazy, and have many feast days, and other things to interrupt them.

3. The five small buildings. These are a kitchen, a stable, a guard house, and two other small out houses. The walls of some of these are considerably broken, and all are without roofs or windows.

4. The yards. There are two of these directly back of the house, and about 57 feet by 25. They are surrounded by a wall about eight feet high, built of the same materials as the walls of the house.

5. The garden. From the large yard back of the house, you enter the garden through a door. The garden contains about one acre and three fourths of land, or nearly half of the whole. It is enclosed by a fine wall, built of coral stone laid in mortar, and at the top fixed in the form of a roof to shed the rain. It is nine feet high. It must have been built at great expense. The quality of the soil is not quite so good as that around Tillipally.

6. The wells. Three of these are in the garden to water it in the dry season, and one very excellent one in the large yard very near the house. The water in them appears to be good, though we have not yet had sufficient time and opportunity to ascertain.

7. The trees. The eleven margosa trees are in front of the house, between it and the church, which is about twenty rods from the house. The margosa tree makes very good timber and boards, and from the nut a valuable oil is expressed. The fifty-one palmyras are all but one in the garden. Of this number 29 are fruitful and 23 are barren. Of this tree there are the male and female. Both are necessary. The female tree only bears fruit, and is good for timber. The rafters of all these houses are made of this tree. The leaf of this tree forms the Olla, so much used by the natives instead of paper. It is also much used to form the roofs of houses, and it answers very well for two or three years, when it must be renewed. The ollas are cheap, easily procured and put on. The house at Batticotta, and also at Tillipally will be covered with them. The fruit of the tree constitutes the principal food of the natives one half of the year. Thirty or forty

trees will support a family. The tree often grows to the height of more than 100 feet without branches, and the trunk through this extent continuing of an uniform size, being from twelve to fifteen or eighteen inches in diameter. The fruit grows among the large leaves, which form a circle of ten or twelve feet in diameter around the top. The cocoa nut tree grows and bears fruit in a similar manner, except that the leaves are much longer, a single leaf being commonly twelve or fifteen feet in length. The cocoa nut does not grow so erect as the palmyra, and the color of its wood is much lighter. The wood of the palmyra is black, or a dark brown. A tall cabbage with long leaves that has no head, will give you some idea of the shape of these curious and very useful trees.

Thursday, Oct. 3. To-day we all dined together in our hired house, having previously taken our meais at Mr. Mooyart's. Mr. Warren and Mr. and Mrs. Pur will board with us till they go from Jaffna.

Saturday, 3. Yesterday Mr. Warren and Mr. Meigs rode into the Fort, and called on a number of friends, viz. Capt. Truter, commandant of the Fort; Dr. Nicholson, Lieut. Hunter, &c. To day we all called on Mr. Hooper, the collector of the district; and Mr. R chardson, the provincial judge. Toward evening the Rev. Mr. Glenie, his wife and three children called to pay their respects to us. Mr. Glenie is an excellent man, and a friend to missionaries; he is one of the colonial chaplains, and preaches the doctrines of grace. The English people here appear very friendly to us, and treat us with attention and kindness. Last evening Mr. Poor preached for the Rev. Mr. Lynch in his place of worship in the Pettah.*

Sabbath eve, Oct. 6. This morning at 7 o'clock, all the missionaries went to Mr. Mooyart's, and held a meeting for prayer and religious conversation with him and his family, and the Rev. Mr. Lynch. Mr. L. is a very humble, pious man, and evangelical in his preaching; we all love and esteem him as a Christian brother, and missionary of Christ. At 10 'clock, A. M. we attended church in the Fort, when the Rev. Mr. Glenie read the service and preached an excellent seraron. At 7 o'clock Mr. Meigs preached for Mr. Lynch in the Pettah.

Wednesday, 9. Mr. Meigs went to Batticotta to superintend the work. On the road home saw 30 or 40 of the original inhabitants of the country, the monkeys. They live here in great abundance, and many of them are very large. They have little fear of the natives, but flee from the presence of an European.

Thursday, 10. Mr. Mooyart and Mr. Richards went to Batticotta to examine the palmyras for the roof of the house.

Friday, 11. Sent a letter to Sir Alexander Johnstone in answer to his communications to us, and to the Secretary of the A. B. C. F. M., on the subject of the emancipation of slaves in this island.

(To be continued.)

JOURNAL OF MESSRS. WARREN AND POOR AT TILLIPALLY, CEYLON. OCTOBER 15, 1816. This day we find ourselves in the quiet possession of a dwelling house, among the heathen. At this interesting and joyful period of our lives, we are forcibly reminded of our obligations renewedly to consecrate ourselves to the service of our divine Lord and Master, who has been pleased to put us into his vineyard. O. that he would give us grace to be faithful, and crown our feeble efforts to honor his name among this people with much

success.

Though the house is in an unfinished state, being destitute of doors and windows, and some other necessary appendages, yet we think we shall render ourselves comfortable till the necessary repairs are made. Carpenters are now at work.

Sabbath 20. D. Bast, Esq. spent the day with us. In the morning about 30 people came to the house to hear what we had to say. We explained to them the object of our coming to dwell among them, and the manner in which we should proceed in accomplishing it. They professed to be well pleased with our intentions, and expressed a wish to have their children instructed. At the sug

The Pettah is that part of the town of Jaffna which is regularly built, and inhabited prinsipally by the descendants of the Dutch and Portuguese.

gestion of Mr. Bast, we appointed a meeting to be held next Sabbath at Mallagum, two miles distant toward Jaffnapatam in Mr. B's court house. This gentleman, a native of Dutch descent, is a sitting magistrate, and holds his court at Mallagum. His jurisdiction extends over fourteen parishes in this district. He appears to be a truly pious man; takes a lively interest in our settling here, and we think will afford us much assistance in our missionary work.

Sabbath 27. This morning sixty persons came to us. We held worship in our house. Sung in English, prayed in Malabar, by the assistance of an interpreter, and expounded the 2d chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, concluded with singing and prayer. After the services we had some conversation with the people. They were ready to acknowledge that what we had said to them was good, and expressed a wish that we might preach to them every Sabbath. We are aware that very unworthy motives may induce this people to come to us; but we are gratified in having an opportunity of opening to them the treasures of the Gospel, hoping that in due time, God will bless the means of his own appointment. In consequence of heavy rains we had no meeting at Mallagum. In the afternoon held worship in the family.

Monday 28. Very busy in collecting materials for a bungalo, and for a roof to the church, that we may have proper accommodations for schools and for preaching.

Wednesday 30. We see some good effects of the Rev. Mr. Palm's exertions among this people, though he labored under great disadvantages. The prejudices of the people are in some degree removed; some knowledge of Christianity was communicated, and here are ten or twelve boys who attended his school, now wishing to be instructed by us. Though we are not ready to open a school, yet as these boys are daily with us, we have given them passages of Scripture written on ollas, which they commit with surprising facility. They are also learning the English alphabet.

Monday, Nov. 4. Received letters from Calcutta, Bombay and America. They were peculiarly interesting in consequence of coming to hand on the first Monday evening of the month, the season consecrated to prayer for the success of Missions.

Tuesday 12. Engaged in studying the Tamul language. We much need the assistance of some one who is acquainted with the grammar and principles of the language. Such a person it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to obtain on this island. We have one set of elementary books. Books of this description cannot be purchased here. On the continent they are scarce, and excessively. dear. Malleappa, our interpreter is able to assist us in construing and pronouncing the language. He is the son of a native clergyman, is preparing for the ministry, and we think, gives some evidence of possessing the essential qualifications. This day we made our first visits among the natives. We visited two sick women; the one a poor widow, the mother of an active intelligent little boy, whò has expressed an earnest desire to come and write passages of Scripture with the other boys, but was under the necessity of using every exertion with his two brothers, to procure rice for the family. After proper inquiry, we concluded to give him two measures, nearly two quarts of rice, worth four cents per week, which will enable him to devote his time to study. We also gave him a cubit of cloth, which serves for a full dress, which he very much needed. He did not need a knowledge of our language to express to us his feelings. His countenance and gestures manifested the gladness of his heart, in being placed in such favorable circumstances. On visiting this boy's mother, we were pleased to see, suspended from the roof of the cottage, a number of ollas on which were written the passages of Scripture which the other boys had learned, and which this had transcribed. On asking the woman if she had any knowledge of Christianity, she replied, that she knew only what her son had read to her from the ollas. The other woman whom we visited was a person who had sent to us for medicine. At each place about 40 persons gathered around us, and thus gave us a favorable opportunity of addressing them on the subject of the Christian Religion. (To be continued.)

LETTERS FROM THE AMERICAN MISSIONARIES.

Letter from the Rev. Messrs. Hall, Newell, and Bardwell, to the Rev. Dr. Worcester.

REV. AND DEAR SIR,

Bombay, April 18, 1817. OUR present communications are intended to go by Captain Haskell, of the Saco. We have the pleasure of acknowledging the receipt of your communications, and also of letters and parcels from some of our friends by the same ship. They reached us in January last, about six months after date. We also received on the 7th instant, your letter of October, 1816, and one from Mr. Ralston by way of Bengal. Our last communications to you were forwarded Feb. 4th by Captain Orne, of the ship Malabar, bound to Boston. A duplicate of our pecuniary account, was forwarded a few days afterward, by a ship belonging to Baltimore, Captain Lancaster.

Since our last letters, nothing of special importance has occurred. We have been unexpectedly delayed in the business of printing the Gospel of Matthew, owing to some defect in our types, and the numerous articles which we had to procure in order to complete our printing establishment. On this subject Mr. Bardwell will write at large to Mr. Evarts. But though we have been disappointed of the pleasure of sending you a copy of the Gospel, as the first fruits of the mission press, we have the satisfaction of presenting to you a Scripture tract the Mahratta language, of which we lately struck off 15.000 copies. After so many discouragements as our mission has experienced, you will, we doubt not, rejoice with us in our being enabled, at length, through a divine goodness, to commence the delightful work of printing the word of God in the language of a numerous heathen people. We expect to put the Gospel of Matthew to the press in a few days, but shall not probably have it ready for distribution in less than three months.

Our press, we hope, will soon enable us to introduce improvements into the Dative schools. Hitherto they have not been supplied with books, except a few lessons prepared for them in manuscript. The tract, which we have just printed, has already been introduced into the schools; and it is pleasing to hear the name of Jehovah pronounced, without scruple or fear, by hundreds of pagan children. We would not convey the idea, that the children have abandoned their own religion. Far from it. They still carry on their foreheads the marks of idolatry, and are taught by their parents to worship the gods of the heathen. Still, we think there is abundant encouragement for endeavoring to imbue their tender minds with the principles of a purer religion. The seed thus sown, though it should lie buried, and apparently fruitless for a time, may yet spring up at some future period, and bring forth an abundant harvest.

A knowledge of the holy Scriptures must necessarily precede the general prevalence of religion among any people; and the establishment of schools, in which the Scriptures are used as a school-book, seems to be one of the most promising methods of disseminating a knowledge of them. In this point of view we consider the native schools as a very promising part of our missionary establishment. We shall carry our plans of education to the full extent of our means. We rejoice to hear by your last letter, that we may expect shortly to receive remittances for this object. Had our funds been sufficient, we should before this time have increased the number of schools.

We wish also, as soon as possible, to erect one or more buildings, which may answer the double purpose of school houses, and places of public religious instruction for the heathen. This we think may be done at a moderate expense. Since our family has been enlarged, we have had public worship in English, as formerly, at our own house on the Sabbath. A few persons in the neighbor hood usually assemble with us. We celebrate the Lord's Supper regularly once

a month.

We rejoice to hear that more missionaries from home may shortly be expected in this part of the world. We doubt not that Providence will open a door for them. With respect to the destination of future missionaries, we will write more particularly in our next communications. In regard to those whom we are now expecting, any thing we might suggest would arrive too late to be of any service.