ITEMS OF INTELLIGENCE.

DAKOTAS.-Mr. Riggs wrote from Davenport, Iowa, November 9. The order by which Dr. Williamson was excluded from the prison has been rescinded, and Gen. Roberts, on Mr. Riggs's arrival, at once gave him permission to visit the prisoners when he pleased, and directed that he should have all facilities offered him for imparting religious instruction. Most of the prisoners have asked the privilege of serving the Government, by enlisting in the army. No answer to their petition, recently sent, had been received. There are now in the prison about 250 Dakota men, and with them, sixteen women and four children. About 200 have learned to read, and 180 had given Mr. Riggs their autographs, showing that they can write. A large mail had recently been received by them from their friends on the Missouri, and a few days after, they sent 280 letters to the post office. But five were on the sick list, yet when sick they seem rather to desire death.

Having taken some pains to ascertain their religious condition, Mr. Riggs expresses the opinion that "a majority of them are holding on to their profession of attachment to Christ." "There are many who talk and pray like Christians." The demands upon them for labor in the prison, had interfered with their keeping up regular religious meetings upon week days, as they did before their removal to Davenport. Mr. Riggs, however, since he had been with them, had held a meeting every evening just before sunset, and about half the whole number usually attended. Letters from Mr. Cunningham, of Nov. 10th and 12th, speak of the trying circumstances in which the Dakotas who have been removed up the Missouri River find themselves, in a country where there seems to be no certainty that crops of any kind can be raised, owing to long continued droughts. They feel discouraged, and hope to be removed. Corn planted by them last season, after their arrival, did not come up till August, and potatoes never came up. 66 They are now on half rations, and have been for some weeks." Yet "their desire to learn seems more manifest than at any previous time," and their attendance upon public worship is better than ever before. The average congregation is about two hundred. "The afflictions of the people seem to have been sanctified to them."

SANDWICH ISLANDS.-Rev. L. Smith writes from Honolulu, that the Oahu Evangelical Association held a session of three days in September, and revised its constitution, to make it accord with the new order of things. It was resolved to organize three new churches on the Island, and six persons were licensed to preach the gospel. Those who are to constitute one of the new churches had invited Rev. M. Kuaea, of Hanula, to become their pastor, and it was expected that the church would be organized, and the pastor installed, early in October. Kapu and his wife, of the Kaneohe church, were expecting to go as missionaries to Micronesia by the next opportunity, in the Morning Star. There was a loud call for two more families to go, but they knew not where to find them. Mr. and Mrs. Thurston had returned from California, with health much improved.

CANTON.-Mr. Bonney made an excursion up the North River in August, in company with Rev. George Piercy, of the English Wesleyan Mission, Mr. Jones, U. S. Consul at Macao, Mrs. Bonney, Mrs. Jones, and three children. They went as far as Shee-ue Chow Foo, 230 miles north from Canton, where the principal civil and military officers invited the gentlemen to visit them, and the ladies to visit their families. The invitation was accepted, they were received very kindly, and

the

copies of the New Testament and other books and tracts were given away, Chinese General speaking decidedly in favor of "these good books." After the return of the party to their boat, crowds of people collected, and some copies of the Gospels and many sheet tracts were distributed, all being eager to get them. The city is thought to present many advantages as an out-station for missionary labor. It was never before visited by European women and children. The company were fourteen days in going up the stream, against a strong current, and but four days in returning. They visited three walled cities and fifteen or twenty towns, freely making known the truth, "printed or spoken," in each place. Health was much improved by the excursion, and good, it is hoped, was done.

MADRAS.-Two letters have been received from Mr. Winslow, dated at "Kotagherry, Neilgherries," in September, from which extended extracts, descriptive of different places in the hills, and their advantages as health retreats, would be given, if room could well be found for them in the Herald. He speaks of his health as much improved, and he hoped to return to Madras early in October. His native helper, left in charge of the station, is very zealous, and seems still to be doing well. Mr. Winslow mentions the recent death of one missionary, (Rev. Mr. Hislop, of the Scotch Free Church,) and the ill health of others, constraining them to leave their fields, and says the number of missionaries in India has rather diminished within the last two or three years; but "the native laborers are becoming everywhere more numerous and effective."

MADURA.-Mr. Rendall mentions, (Sept. 22,) the annual meeting with catechists, at which more than one hundred were present. "It was a very profitable meeting." The Native Evangelical Society, which undertakes the support of nearly all the native pastors, held its annual meeting, September 12. The receipts for the year had been 540 rupees, ($270,) a considerable increase over the income of any previous year. Mr. Cornelius, the President of the Society, had taken great pains to collect funds among the heathen, (many of whom had been his pupils in the English school,) and had in this way obtained 175 rupees. The Society seems to have a strong hold upon the affections of the people, and "although it now has on its list, for support, five native pastors, it will cheerfully assume the support of others."

NESTORIANS.—Mr. Perkins wrote, Sept. 28: "The Nestorians are very sorely oppressed by the Mohammedans; it seems to me, far more so than before I went to America. In their poverty-stricken state, their masters now call on them to pay for wheat loaned to them two years ago, when it was cheap, demanding the highest price it has reached in time of famine,-three and four times the ordinary price,which is creating great distress. Mohammedan fanaticism also appears in the abduction of Nestorian girls, and their compulsive conversion to Islamism. A distressing case of this kind has just occurred." Yet he says: "Under all the darkness and wickedness through which the light struggles in this benighted land, it is making sure and rapid progress, and the rage of the enemy may only indicate that he is conscious that his time is short."

room.

EASTERN TURKEY.-Mr. and Mrs. Parmelee have reached their station, at ErzA letter from Mr. Pollard, at that place, gives the details respecting a case of severe and persistent persecution against a Protestant, at the village of Elpis, near Chevermeh. In other places also, in that region, the lovers of the truth are called to meet m ch opposition.

CENTRAL TURKEY.-Mr. Schneider writes, from Aintab, that Providence has favored the brethren in regard to a site for a second church. A riendly Armenian

who has not yet declared himself a Protestant, but often attends the Protestant service, learning that they wished to build, made a donation of his house and lot for the purpose. Two small adjoining lots were purchased at once, and the whole secured before the Armenians had time to move in any measures to defeat the object. A more suitable location, it is said, could not have been desired. Arrangements are about completed for the settlement of another native pastor, at Birijik, on the Euphrates. Six native pastors met at Aleppo, early in October, for the discussion of various matters pertaining to their work, and to take preliminary measures towards securing some ecclesiastical organization. Mr. Schneider met with them, by their request, and was consulted in regard to all the measures proposed.

WESTERN TURKEY.-Mr. Byington writes from Eski Zagra, (Oct. 21,) that he cannot report favorably respecting spiritual progress in that field. The Bulgarians are beginning to want books, and the colporter has sold many; but thoughtful readers-honest searchers of the Scriptures-are not found. He states: "The attendance upon our Sabbath service continues to be small, and the unimpressibility of the Bulgarian heart continues to try our faith. I have made several efforts to reach the people in the surrounding towns and villages, but they do not wish to have any thing to do with me. Even with the aid of our colporter, I have not been able to get access to them.

"Our school has succeeded beyond our hopes. We have now, in regular attendance, nearly forty bright girls, who study as if they loved their books. The school is opened and closed with religious exercises. The scholars are encouraged to commit portions of Scripture to memory on the Sabbath, but as the school is closely watched, we are obliged to use great care in our efforts for the spiritual good of the pupils. We did, a few weeks since, commence a service for females, and let the scholars know that there was such a service, but they would not come. The Bulgarians evidently intend to get as much secular and as little religious instruction from us as possible."

Mr. Ladd, writing from Smyrna, October 26, refers to the removal of Mr. Dodd to Marsovan, leaving him alone until the arrival of Mr. Van Lennep. He laments much coldness in the church, and the necessity for discipline in several cases, yet thinks that perhaps, on the whole, there had not been more "spiritual interest" at any time since he had been at Smyrna. At Thyatira, the native preacher had so far gained the confidence of the people outside of the Protestant community, that they were beginning to send their children to his hitherto quite small school, and were willing to pay tuition. At Aidin, the intercourse of the native pastor and his wife, with the Armenians, was increasing. One family had placed a daughter, eighteen years of age, under their instruction, and another had asked the privilege of doing the same. More native helpers were much need d, and Mr. Ladd had written to Aintab in the hope of obtaining some from that field.

LETTERS FROM THE MISSIONS.

North China Mission.

LETTER FROM MR. CHAPIN, JULY 9,

1863.

IN this, his first letter to the Missionary

House from his field in China, Mr. Chapin

hai, which was "slow and tedious," and attended by some unpleasant circumstances, besides the usual sea-sickness, which made him and his wife " 'heartily glad, after a passage of 155 days, to reach the end of the voyage." Religious exercises were held on the Sabbath, on deck, when the weather per

gives some account of the voyage to Shang-mitted, other efforts for the good of the

culties which meet us are great. The population seems almost innumerable. One of the first feelings awakened in the mind of the newly arrived missionary here, is that of wonder at the multitudes which throng the streets, and who, not finding the land broad enough to furnish them all with homes, have covered the rivers and canals with float

sailors were made, and there were at times some favorable indications; but in the end, our brother saw "no reason to suppose that any gave themselves up to Christ." "At Shanghai," he writes, "our stay was exceedingly pleasant. We made our home with Mr. and Mrs. Roberts, of the Presbyterian Board, who gave us a most cordial reception, and showed us every possible attention and kindness. The same may be said of other missionaries there, whose acquaintance we made." After a detention of five weeks ating dwellings. This feeling is naturally

followed by one of discouragement. What is one among so many? Will not his influence be entirely lost in this great ocean of human thought and feeling? It seems almost an endless work

Shanghai-owing to the difficulty of obtaining passage to Tientsin, at any reasonable ratethey left by the English steamer, on the 12th of May, and on the way, spent a day at Chefoo; making the acquaintance of missionaries there, and finding scenery "at once grand and beautiful," hardly inferior to any simply to communicate a knowledge of they had seen in America.

Arrival at Tientsin.

On the morning of May 18, we reached Tientsin, the city so long looked forward to as our home, and associated in our thoughts with so many plans of future labor, and bright anticipations of happiness and usefulness. It was a joyful hour to us. Mr. Blodget and Mr. Stanley were soon on board the steamer, and most cordially welcomed us to our common field of labor. We find our new home a comfortable one, and far more pleasant than I had hoped for in a Chinese city. We are greatly pleased with our situation and prospects. I long to have my tongue loosed, that I may tell the tale of Jesus' love to the crowds of perishing idolaters whom I see on every side.

gospel truth to these myriads of souls, to say nothing of the enforcement of this truth upon their consciences, and the training of native converts, by line upon line and precept upon precept.

The appearance of a portion of the people is also calculated to exert a depressing influence upon the missionary. Beggars are laying siege at almost every door, as you pass along the street, many of whom are the most wretched looking objects my eye ever saw. Most loathsome skin diseases, and strange bodily deformities are very frequent. It seems almost incredible that these beings can belong to the human family,-can he possessed of souls made in the image of God. I have, however, been favorably impressed with the outward appearance of the larger part of the people. They seem much more active, sprightly and intelligent here, than the natives of Impressions-Greatness and Difficulty of Shanghai. My most discouraging views

the Work.

And now let me say a few words of my impressions as I look at China, and the work of laboring for its conversion to God. Viewed from a human standpoint exclusively, it seems a hopeless task; as hopeless as the attempt to battle down the almost impregnable defenses of Gibraltar or Sebastopol with the pebbles of the sea-shore. This is Satan's stronghold, and those who assail it are but a handful of feeble men. The diffi

of the condition and prospects of the cause of Christ have been produced by the gradual insight I have gained into the character of the people. Heathenism has done its work most effectually. I have had new views of the evil and detestable nature of sin, as I have seen how it can corrupt and degrade the heart, and crush out every noble principle and affection. Yet the difference between this and a Christian land seems to be, not so much that worse individual