hopes, to try us by adverse circumstances, and thereby blast the fond expectations of the Church at home, we can only reply, Not our will, but thine, Father in heaven, be done.

As we are inexperienced in the duties of our arduous undertaking, you will excuse our want of more particularity in specifying the subjects on which we wish for information; and permit us, respected

friends, to assure you, that any ins structions relative to the establishment of European or native schools, the management of domestic affairs, or any other subject that may occur to your minds, will be gratefully received, by Yours,

With much esteem and respect,
RACHEL F. BRADWELL,
SARAH M. MEIGS,
SUSAN POOR,

SARAH RICHARDS.

Extract of a Letter from Elder ROBERT Low, to the President of the Society, dated NEW-GLOUCESTER, March 7, 1817.

Dear Brother,

LAST evening I returned from my missionary tour, having spent thirteen weeks in the service of the society. I think I was never better satisfied, that I was in the business of my Lord and Master, than while preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ to saints and sinners. God has favoured me with a good degree of freedom; and I trust my labour has not been in vain in the Lord. The people in every place where I went to preach, received me with that cordiality which was truly pleasing. And such has been the attention to the word, that after the benediction was given, they would sit and wait for something more to be said. Some would say, they thought I had not preached more than ten minutes, although I had preached more than an hour.

In Farmington, I have spent four weeks. After a long winter, this little church has been blessed with the addition of twenty-three members, and a number more I think will come forward soon. They are

destitute of one to take them by the hand and lead them, and break unto them the bread of life. May the great Head of the church send them a faithful pastor. I have preached ninety-one sermons to the destitute churches in the counties of Kennebec, Lincoln, Oxford, and Cumberland. I have baptized twelve, four of whom were sisters, the eldest eighteen and the youngest twelve years old. There are in this part of the State several churches which need missionary aid, not being able to supply themselves with preaching. They expressed their gratitude to the soci ety in the most affecting language, and prayed to be remembered by them in future. The attention to preaching in this part of the land, is more special and extensive than I have seen in any former period since it was settled. God is riding forth in glorious majesty; and many have been brought to the knowl edge of the truth in the course of the winter, in Fayette, Livermore, Hebron, and many other places.

That the glorious day, when the knowledge of God shall cover the whole earth, may soon come, is the prayer of your unworthy brother in the gospel,

ROBERT LOW.

The Baptist Church in Waterford, to the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society, sendeth Chris tian salutation.

Much respected Watchmen on the walls of God's Zion, our kind Benefactors, and dearly beloved Brethren in the Lord;

WE view it with wonder, and we hope with unfeigned gratitude to God, as the cause; and to you, as the voluntary instruments; that we, so small, and so remote, should be thought of by you, with that spirit of paternal beneficence, in which you have approved yourselves to us; in that you have considered our destitute and indigent condition, and have remembered us to a dearly beloved Elder, Robert Low, of our vicinity, but your Missionary; who for the week past, has laboured among us with great constancy and faithfulness, in unfolding to us the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ. May the Lord reward him herefor, and you for sending him and make his word prosperous here, and every where, till the whole earth shall be filled with his glory. Waterford, Feb. 24, 1817.

In behalf of the Church,
DAVID CHAPLIN, Church Clerk.

and there appeared to be a prospect, that a gospel church might

soon be constituted in this destitute In Smithville, I neighbourhood.

preached six sermons, in different parts of the town. There is no settled minister of any denomination in this place. In Green, I preached two sermons, and thence passed through Lisle into Union; and in these parts spent two or three weeks, had many hearers, baptized three persons August 20, received about five dollars for the society, and an earnest request, that they might be favoured with more missionary labours. Leaving this place, I visited Berkshire, Caroline and Dryden, before I returned to my family.

In September and October, Í spent five weeks more in a tour to the South-west... In this tour I visited Ulysses, Cayuta, Elmira, Painted Post, Jersey, Wayne, Reading, and some other places in this State; and Tioga in Pennsylvania, preaching daily; but do not know that any extraordinary effects crowned my labours.

Between October 26, 1816, and February 18, 1817, I spent fifteen weeks and three days. During this time, I visited the counties of Oneida, Oswego (a new county) and Jefferson. In New-Stockbridge, I preached several times, attended an Indian wedding, was requested to pray at the close, and had an opportunity to make an address to the bridegroom and bride, and to others present; and from their missionary received the following:

"A short Account of the ancient and present Custom of those called

Red People, respecting Marriage. "When a young man feels an inclination to get a wife, he mentions his desire to his parents; they communicate his wishes to his mother's brothers and sisters; they then make a collection of a variety of things, such as blankets, stockings, &c. This collection is more or less valuable, according to the

wealth, and ability of the family. This clothing is then carried by one of the young man's uncles, and presented to the parents of the young woman, with a request that such a daughter might be given in marriage to his nephew. If this present is accepted, these articles are sent by the young woman's parents to her brothers, and sisters, and near relations, and divided among them. When this is done, all those who have received these presents are obliged to make a feast, when all meet; the match is made, and pronounced publickly by some of their chiefs. The Stockbridge Indians follow this custom more or less to this present day.

JOHN SERGEANT, Missionary. N. S. November 2, 1816."

The feast lasts several days after the marriage, and ardent spirits are used too freely at these times.

In Camden and Florence I spent some days, and received about three dollars for the Society. I preached Williamstown, and a number of times in Richland, in the county of Oswego. Here I saw a young man about twenty-three years of age, who, it is said, has not spoken a word to any human being for more than six months. He stands by his chair daily from morning till night, with his eyes and countenance fixed toward heaven, and appears to be continually engaged in prayer. He is all the time heard by those who are present, yet only a few of his words are so articulated as to be understood. He appears very solemn, and it is thought, that he incessantly utters the following words, "O beautiful Lord, wilt thou deliver me." I did not learn that he had ever made a public profession of religion. It is said, that before he got into this way, his mind had been entangled with the doctrine of universalism. He sleeps in no bed, nor does he eat on two days in succession; but passes two or three days, if not a longer time without eating at all. I took hold of his arm, and called him by name,

but could obtain no answer from him. He only appeared to pray the more earnestly.

I next preached in a destitute part of Ellisburg, and the last Lord's day in November to the citizens at Sackett's Harbour, and in the evening to the soldiers.

Finding that the soldiers were very destitute of religious instruction, I agreed to visit them again, the next week. And every week from this time until the tenth of January, 1817, I was usually at the Harbour two nights, and preached each week two or three sermons to the soldiers at different places, namely, at fort Pike, fort Tomkins, and at Smith's cantonment. I was treated politely by many of the of ficers, especially by Colonel Leav enworth, and Captain Anderson.

Many of the soldiers were disposed to hear, and sometimes appeared to be affected under the word. I conversed with many individually, when standing as sentinels, and at other times, and I hope that some of them will reap lasting benefit from the instructions to which they gave a listening ear. Two of them committed to memory the twelfth chapter to the Romans, for which I purchased and gave to each of them, a New-Testament.

There are three hospitals at the Harbour. I visited them all, but chiefly the one near Smith's cantonment. The greater part of the sick are at this place, and here I was kindly received by the physicians. When I first visited this hospital, I found not one Bible, nor Testament, nor any other religious book, neither with the sick, nor their attendants;* nor had they any one to teach them the fear of the Lord. Their spiritual and best interest appears to have been totally neglected. Immediately I borrowed four Bibles for their use, and furnished them with some other books. After this, whenever I was

merican Bible Society," which is in the Query. Why does not the "Asame State, supply them?

at the Harbour, I heard them read the Scriptures daily, and endeavoured to teach them and pray with them; and they appeared thankful for my attention to them.

When I was about to leave these parts, Colonel Leavenworth, who had often fed me, and my horse, gave me a dollar, and a writing, of which the following is a copy.

"Sackett's Harbour, Jan. 10, 1817. "Elder Peter Philanthropos Roots has occasionally preached to the soldiers and officers at Smith's cantonment he has preached once a week since the 26th or 29th of November last, and by his attention to the sick in hospital, as well as by his preaching and deportment generally, given conclusive evidence of his zeal for religion, and the consequent happiness of man. His conduct in every respect, so far as it has come to my knowledge, has been highly satisfactory, and I hope he will be pleased to accept from me, all a soldier has to bestow, my grateful thanks.

H. LEAVENWORTH, Col. U.S. Army." Those days of the week, which were not devoted to the service of the soldiers, were spent in places adjacent, namely in Houndsfield, Brownville, Watertown, Le Roy, &c. In the month of December I preached thirty-six sermons, and nearly as often the rest of the time during my missionary labours this winter. Special attention to religion is apparent in some of the places which I visited; but in others, errour, ignorance, stupidity, and wickedness prevail.

Two deaths took place at Brownville, December 21, 1816, calculated to show how very uncertain our earthly prospects are, though ever so flattering. Capt. Paddock, ạ Capt. Paddock, a wealthy merchant, of high expectations as to this world, was taken away by sickness, in the prime of life, in the midst of his days; from all his property, honours, and high calculations: and where is he!

The same day, a blooming youth in his thirteenth year, the oldest

son of General Jacob Brown, was skating on the ice, and went through, when, as in a moment, an eternal separation took place between him and all those scenes of grandeur, and worldly happiness, to which be seemed to be advancing. One hour blooming like the rose, sprightly and active, expecting to live many years in the possession of wealth and honour; the next hour in eternity! called from the embraces of his parents and other connexions into the immediate presence of the great Judge of quick and dead! The corps was obtained the next day, and the day following, December 23, the funeral of both the above named persons was attended by a large concourse of spectators, all of whom must soon follow the deceased into the world of spirits. Solemn thought! May we all be prepared to give up our account with joy, and find acceptance with God through the blood of the Lamb.

After leaving these parts, I visited most of the places, where I had been before since the first of November last, and also, Mexico, NewHaven, Scriba, and Volney in the county of Oswego. February 7, 1 called again at Sackett's Harbour, and found that two had died at the hospital in my absence; but no minister attended their funeral, nor had any person called to give the survivors a word of advice respecting their spiritual and eternal concerns since I left them on the 10th of January. O may they look unto Christ as their teacher, and great physician, for soul and body.

February 27, I left home on a tour round the heads of Cayuga and Seneca lakes, from which I have just returned. In this tour I spent three weeks and four days, and preached twenty-five sermons. About the heads of these lakes, and on the Western shore of Seneca, many are destitute of the stated preaching of the word. Some are very desirous of hearing; but others are very careless. I hope that the seed sown may spring up, and

produce a plentiful harvest. I wish to devote my time chiefly to missionary labours at present, and should be willing to receive an appointment for twelve months,

That the blessing of God may rest on you, and the Society, and crown all your labours with success, is the prayer of your affectionate friend and brother, PETER P. ROOTS,

RUSSIAN BIBLE SOCIETY.

THE progress of this institution has excited much interest among Christians of every denomination. The zeal and energy with which its affairs have been conducted, the patronage given to it by the Emperor Alexander, and other great men in the kingdom, and the vast multitude of immortal souls (not less than forty millions) whom it is designed to supply with the word of life, combine to render this one of the most important institutions of the present age. We have several interesting acCounts of the labours of this society, with which we would furnish our readers, did our limits permit.

The following is the latest information we have received. It is contained in a letter dated St. Petersburgh, December 28, 1816.

"WITH you, and our other friends, I had formed a very favourable idea of the Russian Bible Society. Their animated and comprehensive undertakings, the interesting and pious tenor of their reports, and the distinguished success attending their Jabours, commanded my surprise, and drew forth my affection. But I can truly say, since I came here, that the half had not been told me; I have now had an opportunity of observing the spirit with which the business is conducted, and am happy to be able to assure you, that it will be difficult to find a committee, that in London, perhaps, excepted, that entertain juster and more impressive views of the nature of the dispensation committed to them. Some of the leading men give evidence that they have experienced the power of the truth, and in almost all of them, there is

a strong disposition to hear any accounts that can be furnished of the spread of Christianity in the world. The president is a most worthy nobleman; and it gives me great pleasure to be able to add, that every day almost presents new proofs of the religious disposition of our imperial patron, ALEXANDER I. He takes great delight in reading missionary intelligence. I have lately made interesting extracts from Mr. A. Paterson's journal, which, together with Pomarree's last letter, and the state of things in the South Sea Islands, are about to be laid before him. We had yesterday a meeting of the Gener al Committee, at Prince Gallitzin's; it was very fully attended. The Archbishop of Tyers-two Archimandrites the Roman Catholic Metropolitan-were present; all dressed in the vestments of their respective communions,-together with a great number of starred gentlemen, who all listened with deep attention to the detail of facts presented, and to the chain of propositions submitted to deliberation. No sooner was it intimated, that letters from Messrs. Steinkopff and Owen were received, than a general, but pious curiosity was excited: and the prince himself called for and read the first, with a pathos and feeling, which evidently proceeded from the heart. The business of the meeting which lasted nearly four hours, finished with a letter from our Cairneyhill correspondent (M. B.), which received repeated expressions of approba