Most of the children that have been with us as much as six months, have committed many questions of the catechism, several passages of scripture, the ten commandments, and eighteen or twenty psalms and hymns, which they sing with accuracy to as many different tunes. Almost all of them are remarkable for their fine voices and readiness to learn to sing.

They are obedient, apt to learn, and acquire habits of industry much more readily than we expected.

Already has the Lord in his abundant mercy visited some of them with his renewing grace, and others are daily praying that they also may be made partakers of this blessing. In short, humanly speaking, nothing is wanting but men and money to bring this long neglected and abused people, out of the dark shades of ignorance, sloth, and wretchedness, into the light and liberty of the civilized nations of the earth. And if means are perseveringly used, have we not reason to believe that He who "tasted death for every man," will continue the influences of his spirit, and bring, at least many of them, into the light and liberty of the sons of God.

Do grant us an interest in your daily prayers, and continue to give the poor Indians a place among those that are benefited by your active benevolence.

If you have another occasion to forward supplies to us, I will just observe, that a few Bibles to distribute to our scholars, and the black people who are taught in our Sunday School, would be very acceptable. There are also a few others in the nation who can read, and to whom a present of a Bible might prove a blessing.

With Christian regard to your dear family, and thanks for your many past favors, most sincerely yours in the bonds of the gospel.

Mr. R. Rulston.

ARD HOYT.

FROM THE REV. ARD HOYT, TO A YOUNG LADY IN PHILADELPHIA.

DEAR SISTER IN CHRIST,

YOURS of the 28th June, informing me that in consequence of information from the Rev. N. Patterson, clothing, &c. had been prepared, and would be sent, to supply the wants of our school, was received, together with the articles, on the 8th inst.

I take the earliest opportunity to acknowledge the receipt of them, and to express our gratitude to the Giver of all good, and to you and the other dear sisters who have been the kind instruments, for this very seasonable supply for our half naked children.

You must have expected they would reach us much sooner, and had you known our great need and their delay, you would have regretted that they were not hastened on. But they came to us just at the right time. Our covenant God knows when to give, and when to keep back. And he often brings his people to such straits, that they know not which way help can come, and then sends it in a way least expected that they may see, feel and acknowledge his hand.

That you may see how much we needed your charity, I will give you a brief account of our female help. My wife, three daughters, and the wife of Mr. Hall, schoolmaster, were considered as no more than sufficient to perform the labor of their department in this numerous family. Mrs. Hall's health was so poor during the summer that she could afford little or no assistance. Early in October, she was taken out to Tennessee for her health, expecting to ride as far as Knoxville, and to return soon. My eldest daughter went with her as a companion and nurse. Such was the state of Mrs. Hall's health, on her arrival at Knoxville, that it was thought unsafe for her to return, or to be left without my daughter. They both staid, and are there still. Soon after their departure we received permission to enlarge our school to one hundred. With an increasing family and decreasing help, our females soon began to sink under their accumulating labor, and to save life and recover health, were obliged to slacken their hand.

Now what was to become of the institution; more dear to us than life itself? We had promised to clothe the poor children; a failure might create disaffection -the children might be withdrawn, and who could tell where the evil would end. The cause of missions is the cause of God. He has taken the work into his own hands, and whatever instruments may be employed, He will shew that the

excellency of the power is of him, and not of us. More than half a year ago he moved your hearts to prepare the needful supply, at the moment of pressing need He caused it to be laid to our hand, without a care or thought on our part. "Why take ye thought for raiment? consider the lilies of the field." "Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things."

You say, "We shall be anxious to know if the garments are useful." Every article, to the last needle and button, will be useful-and not merely useful articles needed, but, more especially, coming to us in this way, they exemplify the religion we teach, and powerfully commend it to the consciences of men the most ignorant. This is the very thing needed amongst this people. Ever since they have had white men for their neighbors, they have been exposed to the depredations of the lawless. And every species of fraud and injustice has been practised to deprive them of their property and dispossess them of their lands. The missionary needs some unequivocal testimony, brought down to a level with their capacity, to shew that he and his supporters are actuated by very different motives-that he does indeed seek them, and not theirs. Your unsolicited charity is this very testimony-and we trust in God that it will be productive of lasting good.

You cheer our hearts by mentioning the formation of a cent society, &c. for the purpose of educating a youth of the Cherokee Nation. May the blessing of God rest upon the society-and may every member experience the fulfilment of that precious promise, "He that watereth shall be watered himself."

Whatever sum may be given by the society, we shall with pleasure give them the privilege of naming a child, and will endeavor to select one that may hereafter do honor to the Society.

Money for this purpose may be transmitted to Jeremiah Evarts, Esq. Treas urer of the A. B. C. F. M. Boston-or, if more convenient for you, by your dropping a line to Mr. Evarts, he may direct it to be deposited in one of your city Banks, from which we could draw it by selling a check to some merchant in this vicinity.

Be assured my dear sister, (for so I must be permitted to call you,) that you and your fellow helpers in this charity have done us much good. May the Lord reward you all an hundred fold in this life, and in the world to come, grant you the unspeakable happiness of hailing as fellow heirs of eternal glory, many of our red brethren, converted to Christ by means of your benevolence. Please to present our thanks and Christian love to every individual. I would add a few things respecting the present state and prospects of our mission, but my sheet is full, and it may perhaps answer the same purpose to refer you to E-D-, to whose care I direct this, not knowing the street or No. of your place of residence, Accept the Christian salutation of all the mission family, including that of your unworthy brother in the bonds of the Gospel. ARD HOYT.

Miss SW

FROM THE SAME, TO ANOTHER YOUNG LADY IN PHILADELPHIA.

MY DEAR FELLOW HELPER IN THE GOSPEL,

YOURS of July 3d, together with the articles therein specified, arrived on the 8th inst. all safe and in good order. Do not regret their long delay-they came in the best time. Our great Provider, who never suffers his children to want any good thing, knew it was best for us to be left without this assistance until our cir cumstances were such as to make us feel our need of your charity, in those very articles which He had before moved you to prepare. Ready made clothing must always be very useful to a mission like ours; but from a variety of causes they were peculiarly acceptable to us at this time; these I have briefly stated in my letter which accompanies this to your friend. As you have been copartners in your labor of love to us, I conclude you will be mutual sharers in our communi‡ cations to you, and if so, it will be unnecessary to repeat here what I have written there.

You did well in sending some of the cloth unmade, as you could not know the size of the children. The garments suited the largest scholars, for the small ones we could make of the cloth sent in the piece.

Should you and your pious neighbors "deem it a duty and a privilege," at any time to repeat this labor of love, it may be of use for you to know that our chil

dren are of all ages from five to twenty, and that the winters here call for the same kind of clothing that they do in Pennsylvania.

You mention receiving an account of this mission, from Mr. Patterson, I will add a few words respecting the Lord's dealings with us since Mr. Patterson left us. Two since that time have been added to the visible church, and we hope one or two others to the invisible. One of our scholars, a very amiable girl of promising talents, aged about sixteen, gives satisfactory evidence of a saving change, and is to be baptized the last Sabbath of this month, which is our communion day. All who have been admitted to the church, (for aught that appears,) walk worthy of their high vocation, and our hearts are refreshed from time to time with evidence of their growth in evangelical principles and piety.

You will rejoice and unite with us in giving thanks and praise to our covenant God for these his early blessings on this infant mission, and add your fervent prayers that what we have witnessed may be but the first fruits of a plentiful and glorious harvest. We do indeed look for, and confidently expect to see, greater things than these.

The general state of our school has been prosperous, and the desire to have their children instructed is evidently increasing amongst this ignorant and toa long neglected people.

You would be surprised to see what improvement these young plants of the forest make as soon as they are brought to feel the genial light and heat of instruction. In a few weeks they appear new creatures—and we can scarcely believe they are Indian children, or that we ourselves are in the midst of a tribe of natives. Doubtless we have some partiality towards them, but we really think them some of the finest children in the world.

We have two classes reading in the Testament, and one that has commenced arithmetic. Most of the children that have been with us as much as six months, have, beside their school lessons, committed many questions in the catechism, several passages of Scripture, the ten commandments, and eighteen or twenty psalms and hymns, which they sing with accuracy to as many different tunes. Their voices are delightful. I enclose a sample of the writing of one who has been in school but five months, and when he came could not speak a word of English.

It will indeed require a large sum to feed, clothe, and teach the children of a nation-but could the Christians of the United States, view this field as we do, standing in the midst of it, we think they would not hesitate a moment on the question of expense.

Let as much money be granted as has been expended in a savage war-let the children be taken up in a body at once, and thus cu off the channels by which ignorance, superstition and prejudice, have descended, and in a few years we might expect to see this whole tribe renovated.-From these a host of missionaries might be raised up, not only to carry on the work among themselves, but to assist in extending these blessings to the unnumbered tribes of the west—and, ere long, we might expect to see the blessings of Christianity and civilization extended to the Western Ocean. "The wilderness and solitary place would be glad for them, and the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose." Did as fair a prospect of increase open to the men of this world, the enterprise would not be suffered to fail for want of capital. And, in this case, we fondly hope the children of light will prove themselves at least nearly as wise in their generation as the children of this world. Should the American church come forth in her strength to this work and labor of love, I have no doubt that many who are now past the meridian of life, might see it mostly accomplished. The silver and the gold are the Lord's, and if, as we fondly hope, the time to favor this people has come, He can easily supply the funds.

In respect to your charity which has been the occasion of these lines, no doubt the Lord has approved your work and labor of love for these dear immortals. Do present our warmest thanks to all who have aided in this charity, and assure them of our fervent prayers, that He who said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive," will reward them according to the desire of their hearts.

Accept the Christian salutations of all the mission family, including your much obliged brother, ARD HOYT.

Miss E-D-.

TESTIMONY OF A VETERAN OFficer.

The following letter was recently received from the venerable Col. Meigs. This gentlemdu has been for several years the agent of government among the Cherokees, and is distinguished by his amiable manners, and his benevolent regard to the Indians. He is intimately acquainted with their state and character; and they look up to him as to a father. Most of our readers know, that Col. M. was by the side of Montgomery, under the walls of Quebec, and was there wounded and taken prisoner. A few months ago the late Rev. Dr. Spring mentioned the kindness and urbanity with which he was treated by Col. M., then a major, in the perilous march through the wilderness of Maine and Canada. While men, who were in their early prime, at the period of the revolution, are descending one after another to the grave, may their active influence, and their latest testimony, be employed in meliorating the condition of their fellow creatures.

SIR,

City of Washington, March 15, 1819.

The number of Cherokees on the River Arkansaw, including those enrolled and now about to remove, are estimated to be 5000, men, women, and children. Those chiefs whom you addressed at the Cherokee agency, arrived safe in that country. Great numbers have since joined them.

There must be now several hundred children there, at a proper age to receive instruction.

While the stream is small, it is easily directed to any course desired. I mean, that the minds of those children can be led to embrace such sentiments, as will direct them to that desirable point contemplated by your honorable Society. I hope the means of improvement will be as liberally extended to them, as has been done to those on the east of the Mississippi. I have no doubt the aid of the Government will be extended as far as the appropriation will justify it. And as a spirit of liberality seems to pervade all the states, I hope more ample provision will be made the next Congress; and that those wise and benevolent measures will be pursued, until they shall reach the mouth of Columbia river. It will not require much time to do all this, if peace shall be continued. If the children from seven to fourteen years old can be instructed in good schools, it will, by degrees, change their numerous dialects; and they will all speak and understand the English language. You have witnessed what has already been done on the east of the Mississippi; but to effect this it must be done by instructing the young children. The sentiments of those of adult years, a few excepted, cannot be altered.

It is, independent of benevolence, the interest of our country to make ample provision for the instruction of all the Indian children, within the limits of the United States. It may be said, this would require a million of dollars: admit it to be true; and yet this would be the most well devised economy. We must do this, or expend ten times as much in Indian wars. We know this by experience; and the same may be expected to happen again, unless prevented by attaching the Indians to us by giving them the useful arts and the knowledge of letters; and this will assuredly give them moral sentiments and religion.-Five hundred Indians situated in the wilderness, distant from our settlements, could not be reduced without the expenses arising from two or three campaigns; and these expenses would amount to millions of money, and the loss of many lives. All this may be prevented by prosecuting the measures of civilization, on such an extensive scale as its importance will clearly justify. And what can be more honorable, than by liberal and economical measures to save from extinction some, many thousand human beings; make them happy; and at the same time strengthen the empire? These observations are not visionary; they are practicable; the road is as plain as from Washington to the place of your residence.

I am, dear Sir, with great respect, your obedient servant. Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.

RETURN J. MEIGS.

REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN PEACHAM.

In a late number of the Boston Recorder appeared a very interesting account of the revival of religion in Peacham, Vermont. We extract the principal parts of it, and regret that our limits will not permit our inserting the whole. The narration is preceded by a suitable notice of the glorious work of salvation, which the Gospel displays, and by the ascription of all the glory to God.

A brief history of the church succeeds. It was gathered in 1794, and then consisted of 12 members. The present pastor was ordained in 1799. During the first ten years of his ministry only 11 were added to the church by profession; and during nearly eight subsequent years 46 more were added, in the same manner. Within this whole period 40 were added from other churches. Immediately preceding the revival two years had elapsed without a single person coming forward to profess faith in Christ. An unhappy difficulty had long subsisted in the church; the youth were immersed in worldly pleasures; the more advanced were busied in worldly pursuits; and wickedness abounded. The account then proceeds as follows:

In the latter part of January, 1817, the mind of one of the members became so deeply affected with his own backslidden state, and that of the church in general, that he felt it to be his duty to rise in the assembly on the Sabbath, to confess his own wrengs, and to call the attention of the church to their affecting and alarming situation. The immediate result was, the appointment of a special meeting of the church for prayer, and for the purpose of attempting to devise some means for removing existing difficulties, and restoring harmony among the members. At that meeting it was proposed that the church should all unite in a solemn and mutual public confession, and in seeking forgiveness of God, of each other, and of all the people before whom so much had been done to dishonor the cause of Christ, and then solemnly renew their covenant. The measure was readily assented to, provided such a confession could be prepared, as might give mutual satisfaction; though some of the members seemed to indulge almost no hope that any such thing could be done, or that any good would result from the measure proposed. Another meeting was appointed on the following week; and in the interium, a form of confession and covenant, were prepared. At the time appointed, the church, very generally, came together; though several of the memhers appeared to be still without faith, and nearly without hope, that the desired object would be attained. Others too, indulged, intermingled with some faith and hope, many "unbelieving fears." But the Lord had blessings in store for us, and would not suffer all our provocations, and all our unbelief, so to hinder, as that the way should not be prepared, that they might be bestowed. The confession, which had been drawn up, was evidently heard with great interest and tender. ness; and there seemed reason to believe, with some “searchings of heart." The hearts of the members, generally, appeared to be turned to each other; and they seemed ready mutually to confess, and to forgive. The proposed confession was unanimously asseuted to; as was also the renewal of covenant, with a single exception. The succeeding Lord's day, a day long to be remembered, the proposed confession was publicly made, and the covenant renewed, with much apparent tenderness and solemnity; and then the holy ordinance of the supper was cel ebrated. It was a peculiarly interesting and affecting season; there is reason to believe the Lord was graciously present; and some abiding impression was made on individuals at least, of the numerous assembly, who came together to witness the solemn scene.

From that time, there was much greater union in the church, than had sub sisted for a long season; and "the spirit of grace and supplication" appeared to rest on many of the members. An increasing solemnity also soon became visible in the congregation; and meetings for prayer, and for religious conference, were better attended. Nor was it long before we began to hear of one, and another, whose attention was called to the concerns of the soul; and, of here and there an individual, who indulged a hope of having "passed from death unto life." The decease of a beloved daughter of the pastor, who was endeared to many of the young people, and who had manifested much of the Christian temper, through a long and distressing illness, together with discourses delivered on the affecting occasion, by the blessing of God, left impressions on the minds of some, which were never to be wholly effaced. Still the good work progressed very gradually; and while some reason was perceived, for rejoicing in hope of a general revival, we could not but "rejoice with trembling."

There was no addition of new members to the church, until the first Sabbath in August, when 14 were received. Several of these had long entertained some hope, that they were savingly united to Christ; but they had neglected to come forward and own their Savior, and so had been standing in the way of others. As the number was larger than had ever been admitted here, at any one time, both the meeting for their examination, and the meeting on the Sabbath, were attend.