When breakfast is ready, the various Family is called together by the horn. Two long tables are supplied with wholesome and palatable, though plain, food. One of Mr. Hoyt's daughters sits at the head of each table; Mr. Hoyt and Mr. Kingsbury at the other end; and the other Missionaries, where it is most convenient. The Boys sit at one table; the Girls, occasional visitors, and hired men, at the other. They take their seats at table at they enter the room; and when all, or nearly all, are seated, a blessing is pronounced. Till the blessing is concluded, not one touches his knife and fork, or plate.

After breakfast there is another period of labour, which lasts till nearly nine, when the School commences.

The morning labour is about equally divided by breakfast, and amounts to two hours and a half. To this is to be added an hour's labour in the evening. The only time which the Boys have for play, is a little while before dinner, and again at dusk. They labour as cheerfully and as effectually as any company of Boys that I ever saw. They handle axes and hoes with great dexterity. I have been more particular on this subject, as it has often been said that the children of Indians cannot be taught to work. Each detachment of Boys has a leader, even when no more than two are employed upon a service. When all are convened, they meet at the sound of the whistle.

The School is opened by reading a portion of Scripture, singing a hymn and prayer; and closed by prayer and singing. It is conducted upon the Lancasterian Plan; a plan, not only excellent in itself, but peculiarly suited to catch the attention of Indian Children. The principal exercises are, reading; writing on sand, slates, and paper; spelling; and arithmetic.

When the Girls are out of School, they are under the charge of Mr. Hoyt's second daughter, now Mrs. Chamberlain, They are all (sixteen in number) lodged in one log cabin, which has a chamber. Here all their domestic industry is carried on. Two spin, two card, and the rest sew and knit. They wash, mend, and often make their own clothes; and assist in mending the clothes of the Boys.

of Blacks, has been kept up since last Summer. The improvement which a number of them have made, is truly wonderful. The greater part come, on foot, six miles; some, fifteen or twenty; and none less than two miles and a half. The number has varied from ten to twentyfive. Mr. Hall has paid particular attention to this School. The season for instructing these people is at the close of Public Worship. All pay the strictest attention to religious services.

Visiting Committee.

In order to strengthen public, confidence, and to promote in other respects the interests of the Institution, the Board has appointed a Visiting Committee of the Cherokee School, consisting of Gentlemen whose residences are not too far distant from the Station, who are requested to report annually on its state and progress. The Committee paid their first visit at the end of May, a few days after the Treasurer had left; and confirmed, in all points, his account of the Establishment.

Last Accounts of the Mission. From communications to the end of July, it appears that the Missionaries had not laboured in vain among the Natives. The Report gives the following view of the Mission:

Eighteen months ago, at the place now called Brainerd, and consecrated to the Saviour of Men, Mr. Kingsbury was a solitary stranger in the midst of a wide widerness. Now, there are commodious buildings-large and fruitful fields-herds and flocks-a school of about sixty chil-· dren and youth, collected from the surrounding forests; comfortably lodged and fed; instructed for the present world and for the world to come; and about twenty of them already able to read well-and a Church established on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets; and to which, within six months, have been added ten or twelve, who before were strangers and foreigners, having no hope and without

The facts now reported have the weight and conclusiveness of a thousand arguments in proof of three important points; viz. that it is not a vain thing to attempt the conversion of the Indians that they may be brought to the knowledge of Christ, before they are advanced to civilization-and that the plan of instructing them in English is feasible and eligible.

It is a truth, worthy to be repeated, until it reach the mind and heart of every friend of God and men in these Christian States, that, in proportion to the time and means employed, no Missions to the Heathen, since the Apostolic Age, have been more successful than those to the American Aborigines.

Nor has the success, in manifest conversions to God and in fruits meet for repentance, been delayed until the plastic hand of civilization had prepared the way. In the days of Eliot, of the Mayhews, and of Brainerd, and now in our own day, rude children of nature and of the forest-men, and women, and young persons of both sexes-have had their understandings enlightened and their hearts opened to receive the Gospel, and have become humble and exemplary followers of the Lord Jesus. The facts are as encouraging as they are incontrovertible. They are encouraging, in regard not only to the spiritual interests of the untutored tribes, but also to the melioration of their temporal condition. What so efficacious for subduing the ferocious spirit, and restraining the roving inclina

tions of the savage, as the renovating grace of the Gospel? What like this, to engage the mind to the noblest objects, and to generate and animate the desire for general improvement? It was by means of the GOSPEL that the nations of Europe were civilized; and by means of the GOSPEL may the tribes of the American Wilderness be civilized.

The Gospel prompts to general education: but tedious would be the process, and slow the advances of education, in

the vernacular languages of those Natives, whose minds are altogether unlettered, and their languages unwritten. Most auspiciously it is found, that the obstacles which have been supposed to lie in the way of teaching them in ENGLISH are rather imaginary than real. They are desirous of being taught, and of having their children taught, in English; and experiments at our Establishment have proved, that Indian Children, eight years old and upward, may be taken from the wigwams, and in one year be brought forward to read with a good degree of correctness and facility in the English Bible. In the mean time, they are making proportionate proficiency in speaking and understanding the language, and in various branches of improvement.

The necessity, then, of making Translations of the Scriptures and of Elementary Books into the vernacular languages, is superseded; and the labour, and time, and expense of doing it, are saved. If, indeed, Bibles and other books were already at land in those languages, it would be extremely questionable, whether any considerable use could be made of them." The Indians, old or young, would derive no benefit from them, UNTIL TAUGHT TO ᎡᎬᎪᎠ . But the young may as well be taught in English Books as in Indian; and the old would no sooner learn to read in Indian than in English; and, when once taught in English, they are brought into a new world, and the treasures of knowledge and the arts of civilized life are laid open to them.

CHOCTAWS.

Establishment of a Mission at Eliot. The Committee being fully persuaded of the efficacy of the system brought into operation among the Cherokees, have taken measures to impart its benefits to other Aboriginal Tribes. The Rev. Mr. Board, visited, in the Autumn of Cornelius, an active agent of the 1817, agreeably to his instructions, not only the Cherokees, but the Chickasaws and Choctaws also; and met a large Council of Creeks within the Cherokee Limits.

The effect of his visit is thus stated in the Report:

Everywhere he was kindly received, and found dispositions highly favourable

to the objects of the Mission. The Creeks wished for time to consider; but the Chickasaws and Choctaws shewed not only a readiness, but an ardent desire, to have establishments, such as that at Brainerd, commenced among them. The United States Government, also, has engaged to afford the same patronage and aid to establishments for the benefit of each of these nations, as for the Cherokees.

Being satisfied that there was an open door, your Committee resolved on commencing an establishment in the Choctaw Nation without loss of time. This is the

largest nation of the four, consisting of about twenty thousand souls. They have a fine country, are possessed of considerable wealth, and have strong tendencies toward a civilized state. The Government Agent, Col. M Kee, takes a lively interest in their welfare, and is disposed to exert his great influence in favour of our design.

The Rev. Mr. Kingsbury's acquaintance with the native character, his high standing in the esteem and confidence of both red men and white, and the experience which he had in commencing and advancing the establishment at Brainerd, combined to render it, in the view of the Committee, highly important, that the superintendence of the Choctaw Mission should be committed to him. sented to the proposal; and, in pursuance of arrangements made for the purpose, he and Mr. Williams and his wife left Brainerd about the first of June, and arrived at the Yalo- Busha, in the Choctaw Nation, in about four weeks.

He con

About the middle of June, Mr. Peter Kanouse, Mr. John G. Kanouse and his wife, and Mr. Moses Jewell and his wife, embarked at New York, having been designated as Assistants in the Choctaw Mission. They arrived at New Orleans on the 24th of July; on the 28th took the steam-boat for Natchez; and, on the 29th of August, reached ELIOT, the seat of the Choctaw Mission, and so named in honour of him, who has been called the "Apostle of the Indians."

This place is about 400 miles south

west from Brainerd: and near the Yaol Busha Creek; about 30 miles above its junction with the Yazoo. It is a fine country, in a situation supposed to be salubrious; and, by the Yalo- Busha, the Yazoo, and the Mississippi, will have a water communication with Natchez and New Orleans.

The first care of Messrs. Kingsbury and Williams, was to select a suitable spot, and make arrangements for erecting the necessary buildings. In this work they were assured of every assistance which the agent, Col. McKee, could afford them: but many difficulties were to be encountered; and, for want of good labourers, the work for some time must proceed slowly.

At the latest date, July 30th, Mr. Kingsbury writes-"The Half-breeds and Natives, who understand our object, appear highly gratified, and treat us with much kindness; though there are not wanting those, who look upon all white people who come into the country with a jealous eye."-" The prospect in this nation is, on the whole, favourable; but there are some circumstances which at times bear down our spirits, and sink our hopes. One is, the immoral and impious lives of multitudes of Whites, who are either passing through the Choctaw Country, or residing in it. Another is the prevalence of intemperance in drinking: this vice has of late increased to a most alarming degree. But our dependence is not on our own strength. Trusting to that, we must despair of success. But the Lord Jesus has all power in heaven and in earth; and has promised to be with His disciples, even unto the end of the world. Through Him we can do all things. And it gives us some satisfaction to state, that, notwithstanding the moral stupidity and licentiousness of both Whites and Indians, preaching is better attended than we had any reason to expect.".

May the same grace, which has been so signally displayed at Brainerd, be not less signally displayed at Eliot; and He, who has made of one blood all nations, mercifully shew himself the God, not of the Cherokees only, but also of the Choctaws!

In the Volume for 1818, pp. 61 -66, we gave a full report of the objects and state of this Institution; and, at pp. 41-52, some July, 1819.

account of Five Youths from the Sandwich Islands, under education in the School. Of the peaceful death of the elder of these 2 S

our

Youths, Henry Obookiah, Readers were informed in the same Volume, pp. 430, 431. The Committee feelingly lament his loss. Of the present state of the School they say―

The number of pupils is twenty-six from the Sandwich Islands; two from the Society Islands; one from the Island of Timor, a Chinese in language; one from Bengal; one from Malaya; six American Aborigines, of different tribes; and three Sons of our own Country. Of the whole

number, eight are Church Members, of whom four are from the Sandwich Islands; and several others shew marks of different degrees of religious seriousness. The Rev. Mr. Daggett, the Principal, in an official communication just received, says, "The Scholars appear to maintain a great deal of harmony in their intercourse with each other, have been very punctual and attentive at all seasons of devotion and religious instruction, and their general deportment, as well as their application to study, has been very satisfactory."

The abundant grace of the Lord Jesus continues to be displayed, in bringing forward Young Men of devoted hearts and furnished minds, to bear His Name to the distant Heathen. Messrs. Pliny Fisk, Levi Spaulding, and Miron Winslow, now closing their studies at Andover, and Messrs. Cephas Washburn and Alfred

The Donations to the Board, within the year past, have amounted to more than thirty-two thousand dollars, and the other sources of income to about three thousand. Though the receipts have surpassed those of the preceding year by about five thousand dollars, they have fallen short of the expenditures, which amounted to more than thirty-six thousand.

The number of Auxiliary Associations, under different names, which bring their collections to the Treasury of the Board, is about FIVE HUNDRED.

Finney, regular Licentiates for the Ministry, have offered themselves to be employed under the patronage and direction of this Board, severally with ample testimonials: and not a smaller number, now in a course of preparation, have made known their settled purpose of offering themselves in due time.

From year to year, as the plans and operations of the Board are extended, and its establishments and labourers are multiplied, the expenditures are of course and of necessity proportionably increased; and as the work proceeds, it must continue to be so. On this account, however, there is no cause of discouragement. Hitherto the liberalities of the Christian Community have answered, in a measure, the demands for them; and there is good ground for the confidence, that they will yet be more and more abundant.

It is as certain as any mathematical demonstration, that the Christian World is amply able to supply the means for evangelizing the many millions of the Heathen. The duty is clear and imperious. JESUS CHRIST IS Lord of all. The silver and

the gold are HIS. The world, with all its fulness, is HIS and His high command, that His Gospel should be preached to every creature, puts in most sacred requisition the necessary means for the purpose. No man can be justified in withholding his due proportion: no one is impoverished, or will be impoverished, by complying with the requisition in its utmost extent: every one who obeys it with a true and cheerful heart, will receive manifold more in this present world; and, in the world to come, life everlasting.

To many, indeed, the spirit of this New Era, as was that of our Saviour's Ministry, may be like new wine to old bottles: if occasionally infused into them, it may soon be gone. But, in others, it will remain; and the numbers of these, in whom it will be preserved, and be like a springing-well, will be continually and rapidly increasing. Views and feelings and habits, suited to the advancing and brightening era, will grow, be propagated, and prevail. Christians will learn what is meant by not living to themselves; for what other and higher purposes, than merely a temporal support for themselves and families and a hoarded provision for those who are to come after them, the bounties of Providence are bestowed upon them; and in what ways, and by what means, not limiting their bene

ficence to the narrow circles of their immediate connexions or communities, they may do good unto all men. Their merchandise and their hire shall be holiness to the Lord: it shall not be treasured, nor laid up. They will not give grudgingly nor sparingly. They will not wait to be solicited; but will come forward with their FREEWILL OFFERINGS, with singleness and gladness of heart, and fill the treasury of the Lord to overflowing. The Cause is

worthy. The treasures of Heaven have been freely given for it; and the treasures of the earth will not always be withheld. There is every reason for animated confidence and increased exertion; but the confidence must take hold on the all-sufficiency of Zion's Redeemer and King, and the exertion must be made in His

strength and with humble waiting on His will,

Letter from the Lord Bishop of Calcutta.

REVEREND SIR

Calcutta, 16th Nov. 1818.

I have received your Letter, conveying to me a copy of the proceedings of the Society, in the month of March last, on the subject of India Missions; from which it appears, that the Society have placed at my disposal the sum of 50001. and invite my more particular suggestions as to the most prudent and practicable methods of promoting Christianity in this country. The Society may be assured that I have been much gratified by this communication, and that I shall, with the divine blessing, heartily co-operate with them in an enterprise so honourable to our Established Church, and commenced under auspices which give it the character of a National Effort to disseminate in these regions our Holy Faith in its purest form.

In offering to the Society my opinion as to what may be prudent, with reference to the SAFETY of the measure, I can feel no embarrassment: the DANGER, generally speaking, of attempting to propagate Christianity in this country is not the difficulty with which we have to contend: ordinary

discretion is all that is required: and every proceeding I should consider to be safe, which did not offer a direct and open affront to the prevailing superstitions. In any attempt to enlighten, to instruct, or to convince, experience has abundantly shewn that there is not the smallest ground for alarm; and this, I believe, is now admitted by many, who once regarded such attempts with manifest apprehension. A more remarkable change of sentiment has seldom been effected within so short an interval.

The question, however, what may be practicable, so as most effectually to further the Society's views, is much more comprehensive. Experience does not hold out much encouragement to efforts which rely for their success entirely on the effect to be produced by preaching: they seem rarely to have excited any interest beyond that of a transient curiosity: the minds of the people are not generally in a state to be impressed by the force of argument, and still less to be awakened to reflection by appeals to their feelings and their fears: and yet preaching must form a part, a prominent part, I apprehend, in any scheme for the conversion of these people: what