to the Day tribe, who live all around us, were rather threatening. They had been fortifying their towns, especially on the side towards the colony, with strong barricades; had violated the treaty in some instances, and began to grow saucy. He was going to hold a Palaver with their head king the next day. This was a few days before I was taken sick. He went down to Monrovia, and we heard nothing of the result of the "palaver," for several days. In the mean time, we had a little alarm. Three weeks ago to-day, about 9 o'clock in the evening, we heard several muskets fired, and the blowing of a horn kept by one of the citizens, to be used as a signal on any special occasion. We thought it probable that the natives had commenced an attack upon our little town, and that the bloody tragedy of Bassa Cove was to be acted over here. We were, however, soon relieved of our suspense. One of the citizens was lost in the woods; and the man who kept the horn, supposing the fact was known, thought he might blow his horn for the benefit of the man, without disturbing the inhabitants. The man found his way out next morning. The difficulties between the Colony and the Dey tribe being settled, we are free from the apprehension of war at present. I suppose that most, if not all the native tribes, would be glad if the Colony were extinct. And it would be soon, probably, if the natives had a little more courage. But they are a timid race, and will be kept by God, I trust, from doing us essential injury. We feel very desirous of being able to converse with them in their own language. They come around our dwelling, and we attempt to give those of them who can understand any English, some ideas of God, and of their obligations to him, &c. But owing to the paucity of English words which they understand, it is difficult to convey any definite idea to their minds on the subject of religion. We commenced, some weeks since, the study of the Bassa language. We employ a young colonist about 17 years of age, who, coming out here when a child, and having constant intercourse with the natives, is able to converse fluently in two different languages, the Dey and the Bassa. The Bassa language being very extensively spoken, we have commenced with that. Owing to sickness in the family, we have not done much as yet. The young man who teaches us, is a cripple, son of one of the sisters in the Baptist church. As a compensation for his services, we board him, and are endeavoring to prepare him to be a school teacher. May the Lord convert his soul, and make him eminently useful. I feel very desirous of seeing a Baptist missionary establishment in this place where, as from a radiating centre, light shall be diffused far and widesome comparatively healthy location, which may prove a rallying point for the acclimation of new missionaries, and where facilities may be at hand for acquiring a knowledge of the native tongues. Such an establishment, I trust, will exist sooner or later. Whether we shall live to see it, is altogether uncertain. As the noxious vapors which produce so deleterious effects on unacclimated persons, do not seem to rise in a condensed form, very high, I think a house erected on some one of the elevated spots not far from us, would be comparatively safe for new comers. In learning the Bassa, we give out an English word to our teacher, and he gives us the Bassa word. After endeavoring to imitate his pronunciation as nearly as possible, by speaking, we then write it down, employing such a combination of letters as will give most nearly the sound. We find it no small matter to imitate the uncouth sounds of the native tongue. But he who endowed his disciples in ancient times with the gift of tongues, can furnish us with all the requisite qualifications for acquiring the languages necessary for the propagation of the gospel here. We hope, if we are not permitted to live long enough to complete the knowledge of the language, to be able to leave something behind us that will help others to acquire it. The gospel must, and will be preached to the natives of this country in their own language. If we are permitted to do any thing toward the accomplishment of this object, we shall consider ourselves highly honored of God. We are now passing through, probably, the most unhealthy season of the year,-the going off of the rains. We are constantly reminded that we hold life by a very frail tenure. A person may feel perfectly well to-day, and tomorrow be prostrated by a burning fever. We feel much the need of the prayers of Christians in America. I hope our brethren will never forget Africa in their supplications. We do not believe that God has forgotten it, but we believe he will yet make glorious displays of his mercy and grace in this land, aries lately sent to this country, before this letter can reach you; but as we had no intelligence to transmit to the Board beyond the information of our safe arrival, we have ventured to delay writing till now. We landed at Havre on Friday morning, the 20th of Nov., after a tolerably pleasant voyage of twentyfive days. "As to my own health," he adds, "I have been very much favored. I haveing a communication from your missionPerhaps you will have been expectnot had any severe attack of the fever as yet. This is perhaps what no white person, who has spent as long time in the Colony, has ever been able to say. This I attribute, under God, to my mode of living, which excludes animal food, and to the Thompsonian method of treating my symptoms. Still so great is the change of climate, (the glass being now, in the middle of December, up to 86 or 88, in the day time,) that I am obliged to use much precaution in regard to exposures. As we have been spared thus far, we have strong expectation that we may pass through the acclimation with safety. Our object in visiting the Cape at this time, is to procure a more coinpetent teacher of the Bassa language. Our present teacher has done tolerably well, but he is far from having a perfect knowledge of the language. We have not yet succeeded in getting one to suit our purpose better than he, but we are in hopes to do so before long. I bless God every day, that he has brought me to this benighted land. We believe that we are in the path of duty, and we have found God a present help in time of trouble: with the exception of the prospect of doing good, our earthly attractions are so weak, as to enable us to realize what it is to be "in a strait betwixt two." One of the kings of the Bassa tribe, Bob Gray, was at our house, some weeks since, and took several meals there. He resides at Bassa Cove, and was friendly to the Americans, at the time of the massacre. He seemed quite astonished at my having some knowledge of the Bassa language, and told me that if I would live with his people, I would become a black man in two months, (i. e. I should be able to talk their language.) We feel desirous of visiting Bassa Cove, as soon as practicable, to see what may be done by way of introducing the gospel among the tribes in that region. We hope to visit it soon. Dr. Skinner is there, at present; and has been there about 4 weeks, making arrangements for the accommodation of the new settlers. I understand that they have selected a new spot for their town, and are erecting a fort for its pro tection. It was a matter of regret to us, that there could be, on the part of the passengers and others in the ship, no common recognition of dependence on the Almighty, expressed in the solemn form of worship, not even on the Sabbath; but the captain, while he assured us that a religious service would be pleasing to himself, deemed it unadvisable to have any, on the ground that a majority of his passengers were, nominally captain Stoddard, to state, that he gave at least, Catholics. It is but justice to us, in his whole deportment and conversation, every reason to credit the friend to the cause of temperance, and sincerity of this assurance. does not allow his sailors to drink any ardent spirits. He was uniformly kind and gentlemanly towards us, as he was to all on board the ship. He is a As we were unprovided with passports from our government, we were day, and so much of Saturday, as to unavoidably kept at Havre, during Frihinder us from taking the Diligence for Paris, before Monday. Without a passport, no foreigner coming into a French port can go a single league into the country. We all reached Paris on Tuesday time, we have been mostly occupied in Since that morning the 24th of Nov. getting lodgings, and making arrangements for the winter. We are now pretty much settled. We have been greatly aided in all matters by the advice of br. Willmarth, by whom we christian. We feel that we have great were received with a cordiality truly cause for thankfulness to our merciful Heavenly Father, who has preserved our lives and brought us in safety to this Our scene of our anticipated labors. door of usefulness, and give us a heart prayer is, that he may open to us a wide to enter in and labor zealously for him. Donations from January 15 to February 15, 1836. Am. Tr. Soc., for Tracts in Burmah-per Rev. S. Bliss, Sec. A. T. S., Boston, $2000, Jay, N. Y. Fem. Miss. Sɔ-Betsey Stone, Treas., ་་ 66 66 66 1000, 13,50 9,70 23,20 100. Bap. ch., collected Jan. 1, 1836-per J. Purmort, Jr., 66 66 2, S. Carolina, Gen. Com. of Charleston Asso.-Mechanicsville ch. 99,50; Newport, R. I., Bar. Miss. So., Aux. &c., for sup. of nat. Bnr. missionary, to 225, 1, 81,37 200, 100, 15,81 2. Eunice Burman, ,50-Dea. Smith, ,25-Dea. Chandler, ,75-per J. Putnam, Troy, N. Y.-of J. L. Rundeil, Esq., a part of the bequest of Asaph Clark, deceased-per Rev. B. M. Hill, Boston-Miss H. Barker, for Ind. schools at the west-per Miss Mary Webb, South Carolina-Savannah River Bap. Asso., for ed. of Fem. Bur. children, Boston-Miss Eunice B. Wells, for ed. of heathen children, named John Batch- Virginia For. Miss. Soc.-Accoquan, 1,05; Dumfries, 2,01; First Bap. ch., Cambridge, Ms., Fem. Judson So., to ed. Bur. children, named Prudence Far- Rhode Island Bap. Convent.-Providence 1st Bap. ch., col. at mon. con. 59,77; Warren, three persons, 6,; dying contribution of Mrs. Ann Haile, 5,; Fall River, Ms., 1st Bap. Miss. Soc., 20,; Providence, legacy of Elizabeth Boyd, deceased, 20,; Warwick, Mrs. Ann Titus, 4,; Warren Asso. Anniv. col. 30,05; Coventry, Caroline and Penelope Waterman, 7,75; Providence, legacy of Mrs. Sarah Davis, 5,50-per N. Waterman, Jr., Esq., Treas., Killingworth, Conn., Harriet Griffing, for Bur. bible-per J. Putnam, Philadelphia, Pa., Mrs. Margaret Livingston, for Burman bible-per Rev. I. M. Allen, 342,85 10, 371,55 49, 158,07 4, 10, 25, 57,60 80,75 25, H. LINCOLN, Treasurer. Newton, S. S. children and females of 1st Bap. ch. and cong. Newton, for ed. of Boston S. S. Miss. So. of 1st Bap. ch. and cong., to sup. Bur. child named Errata. Page 55, for Rev. Charles Curtiss read Rev. Chandler Curtiss. An error has also occurred in numbering the pages of the second form. ness, and specially of his great learning. Or, to mention individuals with whose talents we may be still more familiar. John Milton or Robert Hall was more learned than Jonathan Edwards, but not greater; though each greatest in his sphere.-Although all learning is knowledge, yet there is a knowledge which is not the result of learning, in the sense in which we ordinarily use the term. Knowledge is often more the We use the term learning as less comprehensive than knowledge. Knowledge is the result both of study and reflection. Learning is the result rather of study. To illustrate our meaning by examples. Were we to compare Mr. Isaac Taylor, of Ongar, the author of the "Natural History of Enthusiasm "result of extensive observation and of and other works of deserved celebrity, with John Foster the British Essayist, we should say that the former is the more learned, while the latter has, perhaps, the more knowledge. Taylor is probably more familiar with the classics, has prosecuted farther the investigation of the sciences, but has less of the philosophy of observation than Fos-ical errors of Christendom. Whereas ter. Taylor sprinkles his pages more with his reading. Foster imbues his more with his own reflections. Andrew Fuller and Dr. Carey afford another happy instance to illustrate what we mean by the term learning. Fuller was not learned, and yet he was great. Few men have such power of rigid analysis, of giving so perfect moral definitions, and of making so nice distinctions in metaphysical reasonings, as Andrew Fuller. God seems to have raised him up for the object which he accomplished-to oppose the two great errors of Socinianism and Antinomianism. And perhaps a greater triumph scarcely ever attended the efforts of a single human mind. Carey, on the other hand, was learned. He spoke with tongues. He was learned because he was originally great, and greater because he was learned. The translations of the word of God, and the churches which he has established in India, are the monuments of his great profound reflection, than of the study of books. Now each of these mental endowments is adapted to its own peculiar sphere, and should they change places the power and usefulness of both would be diminished. Carey did more good as a missionary, than he could have done in combating the metaphys Fuller had not sufficient learning to have distinguished himself like Carey as a missionary. Learning is necessary for a missionary; much learning is important. We do not mean learning to the neglect or disparagement of that knowledge and sound practical sense which is the result of observation and patient thought, but in addition to it Nor, again, do we mean to say that men of limited attainments from books can do no good, and that even many such, who are devout and prudent, ought not to be sent out forthwith, since for such our brethren who are on the ground. who may be supposed to be qualified to judge, make the most impressive appeals-appeals which commend themselves not more to our sympathies than to our understandings. Still, the more learning any missionary has, the more useful he will be; and that some of our missionaries be even very learned, is indispensable. There is something in the calling of a missionary which ren selves to the undertaking, said to be men, not only preeminently distinguished for their piety, but also for their profound learning in the original languag es. To each of these six companies was assigned one sixth part of the Bible to be translated. Instead, therefore, of one man going over the whole field, he limited himself to one sixth of it, assisted also by six or eight others, all men of profound learning, the learning, and criticism, and judgment of each So many minds of their order, united on one object so limited as the sixth part of the Bible, must have been like beams of light, each of itself brilliant, flowing from as many sources, but concentrated with blazing effulgence on one common point. To these six companies of venerable translators the king gave, in connection with many others, the following excellent rules : "Every particular man of each company to take the same chapter or chapters, and having translated or amended them, severally, by himself, when he thinks good, all to meet together to confer what they have done, and agree for their part, what shall stand. ders learning peculiarly important; always so important, that it may well become a living, urgent motive upon the mind of every student while in his academical course, who anticipates the life of a missionary. To such an extent is this true, that the candidate for the missionary service sins if he does not improve to the utmost of his ability the means placed within his reach, for the acquisition of every thing included within the circle of a liberal education. His object is to teach, to teach the ig-being thrown into the common stock. norant. The knowledge which the missionary is to give, is book knowledge, emphatically. His mission is to instruct them in the Scriptures, the book of God. Whatever religion has to do with experience or practice, with devotion of spirit or purity of life, neither can be produced without being taught from this blessed volume. The heathen, like ourselves, are to be sanctified by truth, and God's word is truth. That the young man who expects to be a missionary to India, especially, ought to push his acquisition of languages to every possible extent, scarcely needs an argument. The importance of the ancient languages, particularly of the Greek and Hebrew, is urgent. And when we speak of the acquisition of these languages, we mean something more than that acquaintance with them which even good scholars, ordinarily, obtain in the colleges of this country. We do not say that it is indispensable for all, but it is indispensable for some, and important to all, to become even critics, in the original languages of the sacred Scriptures. Much as has been done in the East by Carey, and Morrison, and Judson, and their associates, the work of translating the word of God into the Eastern languages has but just been commenced. The talent as well as labor,-in a word, the amount of learning necessary, in order to give to a nation a standard version of the Bible, must be immense. To say nothing of the number of translators, or of the talents employed in the version of the Greek Septuagint, with whose history, without doubt, much that is fabulous is interwoven, yet, from the manner in which our present English authorized version was made, we may form some idea as to what is now needed in India, in the way of translations. Fifty-four learned men, divided into six companies, were appointed by king James for the accomplishment of this important work. And although seven of the persons appointed declined, yet, forty-seven gave them "As any one company hath despatched anyone book in this manner, they shall send it to the rest, to be considered of seriously and judiciously; for his majesty is very careful on this point. 66 If any one company upon a review of the book so sent shall doubt or differ on any places, to send them word thereof. "When any place of special obscurity is doubted of, letters to be directed to any learned person in the land for his judgment. "Letters to be sent by every bishop to the rest of his clergy, admonishing them of this translation in hand, and to move and charge as many as being skilled in the tongues have taken pains in that kind, to send his particular observations to the company." This was a work of nearly three years, and thus shows us the labor and talent and learning necessary to make a standard version of the Bible. Here was centred the wisdom, and learning, and criticism of a whole nation, and at a period, too, of great attainments in this kind of learning. "And now, after long expectation and great desire," says an ecclesiastical historian, writing some fifty years later, "came forth the new translation of the Bible, by a select and competent number of divines, appointed for that purpose; not being too many, lest one should trouble another, and yet |