We were also told, that in the same family there was a captive girl, somewhat older than this boy; and that she was a sister of the Osage girl now with us. It was thought probable, that they might be persuaded to leave both the girl and the boy.

2. Further inquiry was made respecting these Osage children, and it was thought best to go after them immediately.

3. Father Hoyt and his son Milo set out in quest of the little captives.

12. Father Hoyt and his son returned. They had travelled between two and three hundred miles,-lay in the woods three nights, encountered several storms, swam one creek, &c., but could not obtain the objects of their pursuit. They found both the children. The girl is indeed Lydia Carter's sister, and appears to be about 15 years of age. The boy is younger than we expected, perhaps 4, or 5. It was very painful to leave these children to be taken back again to the deep shades of the forest, after having been brought so near the light; but nothing could be done to prevent it. The owner of the boy said, the Agent had misunderstood him.

In this tour father Hoyt spent two nights and a day at the house of Catharine Brown's father. He was received with great cordiality by the whole family; and Catharine's joy was so great, that he says, "I felt myself more than paid for the fatigues of the whole journey by the first evening's opportunity.' Catharine

said, it had been very dark times with her, since she left Brainerd; all around her were engaged for the riches and pleasures of the world; and because she could not unite with them, as formerly, they were telling her, they supposed she thought herself very good now;--that she expected to go to heaven alone, &c. Her greatest burden was, a fear that she should be drawn away from the right path, and at length be left to do like those around her. She felt herself too weak to leave the society and instruction of Christians, and go into the world alone. A small room full of people, more than half whites, were collected here to hear preaching, and gave very good attention. A Cherokee woman wept almost the whole time of the sermon.

Sabbath, 13. The little company of professors now left at Brainerd were again refreshed at the communion table, which our Lord in great mercy continues to spread for us in this wilderness. Only six communicants besides the mission family were present at this time; two of our Cherokee sisters being kept at home by sickness. But though our numbers were less than on some former occasions, we had the consolation to reflect, that none were willingly absent, or excluded for misconduct. We had a good day. Our communion with our Cherokee and African brothers was sweet; and the little sheaf, which the Lord has gathered here, appears more and more precious.

25. We were refreshed by a joint letter from our dear brethren at the Choctaw station. We rejoice when they rejoice, and weep when they weep. The Lord has again blessed them with health, and they are advancing with their buildings. The Choctaws have held a talk for 20 days, with the United States' Commissioners, and to a man refused to give up any of their land.

Brother Chamberlain left us this morning on a visiting and preaching tour down the river. He has an appointment for the ensuing Sabbath on the Tennessee, 40 miles below Brainerd.

Christmas is a great day among the whites and half-breeds in this country. It has been kept in such a manner, that the Cherokees have given it a name, which signifies shooting-day. Almost all the slaves have their time from Christmas to the end of the year, and generally spend it in frolicing and drinking. Considering the general abuse of the day by almost all classes of people, we had doubts whether it would be best to take any notice of it; but hearing that a number of blacks were designing to attend preaching on that day, if there were any, instead of carousing as usual, we gave public notice of preaching. Several black people, and some of our white and red neighbors, attended. Several of the blacks coming in too late for the sermon, we appointed an evening lecture for their instruction. The attention given at the evening service induced us to appoint a lecture for the next day.

Saturday, 26. About 20 blacks attended with our children to hear preaching. We can scarcely tell how much satisfaction we have taken these two days, in teaching this little handful of poor slaves.

Sabbath, 27. The little company of Africans were all present again to day, and continued their attention. We hope it will be for their everlasting good, that they have been inclined to leave those diversions, of which this class of people are generally so fond, to spend so many of their holidays at the feet of Jesus.

One of this company, of whom we entertain a hope, that he has been truly enlightened by the word and Spirit of God, is soon to remove beyond the Mississippi; probably, before he will have opportunity again to receive instruction from us. He was greatly distressed with the thought, that he should probably never see missionaries, or hear preaching again. We exhorted him to put his trust in God, and to live always near the Savior, by a prayerful obedience, to all his commandments, so far as he knew them; gave him such other instruction as we thought suited to his particular case, and indulged the hope, that even by this bondman the Lord would send some light into the dark region, to which he was about to be taken. He was greatly comforted when we told him, that possibly. missionaries might be sent into that country, where he would one day see and hear them. The Cherokees in general, even the looser part of them, are very willing their slaves should receive religious instruction; for they say, it makes them better.

29. Brother Chamberlain returned. He was very kindly received wherever he called; had an attentive audience on the Sabbath, of about 30 persons, and received, as a token of friendship, a number of Christmas gifts from different persons on his tour.

There is no place near us where a large audience can be collected. As the people do not live in villages, but scattered over the country from two to ten miles apart, to collect in any place 20 or 30, who understand our language, is as much às can be expected. If we could preach in Cherokee, we think we should have much larger assemblies.

Brother Butrick went out to-day to buy corn. What we raised is nearly spent, and we do not expect our general supply for several weeks.

Sister Anna is just beginning to recover, after more than three weeks confinement. Her sickness appeared to be occasioned by too hard labor in the kitchen. Sister Chamberlain still continues in a feeble state of health, and unable to assist in the labors of the family, or to take charge of the female scholars. Mother Hoyt, with all her bodily infirmities, has been, and still is, our main dependence in the female department. What distresses us most, is, that there is no female able to superintend and keep with the girls, while out of school. We see, and very sensibly feel the want of such a person. Considering the dark shades of the forest, from which these dear girls have so lately been brought, they do much better than we could have expected; but they, as well as the boys, need some one with them every hour.

Jan. I, 1819. The old king, and one of the principal chiefs from the southern part of the nation, came to visit the school. They arrived just at evening. On winter evenings our children are collected in one room, where they are exercised in spelling, answering questions, singing, &c. When the old king saw the children assembled this evening, he was greatly delighted, and shook hands with them most affectionately. He appeared much pleased during the first exercises, (though he does not understand English;) but when they began the singing, he could not refrain from tears; though evidently endeavoring to repress his feelings, as if ashamed to weep. The furrows of his war-worn cheeks were plentifully watered, and his handkerchief almost constantly applied to dry them. He spoke to the children affectionately, as did also the accompanying chief.

2. The king and chief visited the school. After the children had passed through their various exercises, the king addressed them in a grave and affec tionate manner, sitting. The chief then arose and spoke, as it appeared to us, in a most eloquent and persuasive manner, for some time. By his gestures, we supposed he was talking to the children about getting an education-then dispersing through the nation--doing great good through life, and thus meeting together above, to receive a reward. The children listened with great attention, and most of them were considerably affected. From them we afterwards learned, that our conjectures, respecting the subjects of the discourse were correct; that the chief told them the missionaries must be good men, or they would not be willing to do so much for them without pay: that we knew more than the Indians did; and they must listen to our instructions, keep steady at the school, and be obedi

ent, until they had learned all that we wished them to learn; and, that when they went away from school, they must remember and follow the good way they had learned here; if they did so, they would do much good to their people while they lived, and when they died they would go above and be happy.

After the chief had concluded, the king ag addressed the children a few minutes, and requested that they might all come round and shake hands with him, which they did. Both the king and chief then expressed their warmest thanks for the good we were doing to their nation; said they should think much of us, and of the school; and would tell their people, every where, that it was very good to send their children here, where they would learn good things, &c. This evening Milo Hoyt returned from Knoxville. He brings the agreeable intelligence that sister Hall was delivered of a daughter on the 27th ult. and both mother and daughter were likely to do well.

Returning, about 30 miles from Knoxville, Milo's business called him off the the main road; in getting into it again, he had to pass several miles through the woods. Within sight of a house, just before he came to the main road, he was met by a man on horseback, who accosted him as an old acquaintance, and rode up as if he would shake hands; when suddenly seizing Milo's bridle, and turning. his horse about, he presented a cocked pistol at his breast, and commanded him, on pain of instant death, to ride back. The boy positively refused to go one step back. The man (being, as was supposed, afraid to fire his pistol so near the house) then leaped from his horse, drew a large knife, and told the boy to deliver his money, or he would instantly cut his throat,-still holding the horse by the bridle. At this critical moment, the boy giving his horse a stroke with the whip, and twitching the bridle, made his escape. He had with him between four and five hundred dollars,

It is considered much safer travelling any where in the Cherokee country, than over the line on its borders.

Sabbath, 3. The place for preaching every second Sabbath in brother Hicks's neighborhood, has, by his request, been changed, from the house where we formerly met, to brother Hicks's dwelling house. Brother Chamberlain fulfilled the appointment there to day. About 25 Cherokees and a number of black people attended. The meeting was interesting. And brother C. hopes that good may yet be done in that neighborhood.

4. The corn, which was conditionally promised to brother Butrick, does not arrive, and we fear it will not come. Borrowed some of a neighbor, and sent four men to take our perogue up the Tennessee, intending that one of us should ride up the river, until we could find corn to fill it. They found the Tennessee had suddenly risen, and was so rapid that they could not ascend.

5. Borrowed corn of another neighbor, and threshed what rye we had raised. 7. Engaged a neighbor, who was going up the river on business, to go to the man who had contracted to deliver us corn some time in this month; and to engage him, if possible, to send some down immediately. We consume about 30 bushels of corn a week. To live by borrowing would soon exhaust the stores of all our neighbors.

8. The clothing prepared for our dear children, and forwarded last July, by the pious females of Philadelphia and Lansingburg, arrived this day. These clothes have been kept back until the nakedness of many of our precious charge prepared us to feel the importance and value of the gift. Had we received them sooner, we should doubtless have been less thankful for them. O could those dear sisters know how much good they have done to us, to the children, and to the cause of Christ here, they would feel themselves a thousand times paid for their labor of love. It is not merely assisting us in our labors and cares; it is not merely clothing the naked and relieving the distressed; but it is in fact, preaching Christ; and that in a manner suited to engage the attention and interest the feelings of the rudest savage. He beholds his child, the object of his warmest affections, comfortably clad. And who has done this? A person whose situation precludes the possibility of his expecting, or receiving, any return from his beneficiary. And what has moved him to do this? His religion. He is a Christian. It requires no metaphysical reasoning, no refined logic to bring the mind to the conclusion, that religion must be good. We think Christians generally, are not aware of the value of their charities in sending the Gospel to the heathen, considered simply as recommending the true religion, and gaining the attention of

the untaught by this act of benevolence. Every dollar given to supply the mission fund, may be considered, not merely as going to support missions, but itself becoming a missionary: silently, but forcibly, declaring the religion of the Gospel as a religion of benevolence; and therefore, from that God, who "is kind to the evil and the unthankful."

15: Hearing that our promised corn would not be down soon, and the Tennessee having fallen, we sent three men with our perogue after corn. We expect it will come high to us in this way; but we have no other resource, having lived by borrowing several days.

Sabbath, 17. Brother Chamberlain preached at brother Hicks's. The congregation there is rather increasing, and the people attentive to hear; but no other hopeful appearance.

18. Bought 60 bushels of corn from a boat on the Tennessee, at 75 cents a bushel When conveyed home, it will have cost very nearly, or quite, a dollar. 21. The three hands, who went after corn, returned. They have spent eight days, and brought 150 bushels. The Chickamaugah creek is too low to bring the corn up by water; we shall therefore be under the necessity of hauling it over the high land in a waggon.

Sabbath, 24. There has been so much uniformity in our Sabbath day congregations at Brainerd, for some time past, that we have nothing new worthy of par. ticular notice. They still continue much the same. While there is reason to hope, that some are edified every day, there is reason to fear that others are hardening more and more. They attend with decency; hear as if they assented to all as true, and yet remain, like many thoughtless hearers in old congregations, unawakened and unconcerned. But, through the power of divine grace, some appear to hear in a different manner. We hope for several, who have not yet publicly confessed Christ, that they do indeed receive the truth in love.

A slave, belonging to one of the old religious men, as their adherents call them, says he should be willing to travel twice as far as at present, for the privilege of such meetings; though he now has to walk 10 miles over a very rough and high mountain, and to return the same day. This man and his wife, of whom also we have hopes, appear much grieved that their master is about to remove with them to the Arkansaw, because they think they shall no more hear preaching. He was greatly rejoiced to-day, when we told him it was possible that God would send missionaries there.

A Cherokee man, who does not know his age, thinks he is about 25, but who apparently, is not quite so old, offered himself as a scholar. He spoke English, and his countenance indicated a mind capable of improvement; but having the dress and dirty appearance of the most uncultivated part of the tribe, and withal a mind and body so many years under the influence of these habits of savage life, we were sorry to hear him say any thing about entering the school. But after hearing his story, which was somewhat interesting, we thought best to take him on trial. He says he was born, and has always lived, near the white people on the borders of Carolina; that when he was small he went to school a short time, learned his letters, and to spell a little. After he left school, he studied his spelling book, at times, until it was worn out; that he had ever since, a desire to learn to read, but being too poor to support himself at school, and having worn out his book, he had given up the hope of getting learning, and nearly forgotten what he once knew. Being at Knoxville last Christmas, he saw brother Hall, and, for the first time, heard of this school. He there determined he would come, and try to enter the school, as soon as he could. He said he was never before in this part of the nation, and had been seven days coming. He readily agreed to our terms of entering and continuing in the school; but said he had no way to obtain clothes but by selling his gun,-that being all the property he had in the world. He had tried to sell this on the road, but could find no one who had money to pay for it. We had often heard that the people in that part of the nation, from which he said he came, were the most ignorant and uncultivated of any in the whole tribe, and knew not but he was sent here to obtain light, and be the instrument of carrying it back to that corner. His willingness to part with his gun, an article so dear to the Indian, we considered a favorable omen. We agreed to take his gun, and pay him in clothes as he should want them. With this he was highly pleased; stripped off his dirty rags, and we clothed him from the box lately sent from Philadelphia. He says his name is John Arch.

31. Previous to the administration of the Lord's supper, brother Reece offered for baptism an infant, and three other children, who till lately have lived with their mother, a woman not now considered as his wife; he having parted from her, and left the children with her, before his conversion. When separations of this kind take place, which are frequent among this people, the mother is considered as having the sole right to the children; but if she please, she can relinquish this right to the father. Since this brother has found the Savior, he has been very desirous to recover his children again, that he may train them up in the way they should go. A part of them he obtained, and offered in baptism some time since. Two of the three oldest offered in baptism at this time, he has lately obtained from their mother, and taken into his family as his own. The oldest of them the mother will not yet consent to deliver up entirely; but she has agreed, that this daughter shall be educated in the mission family and school. We therefore thought she might be admitted to baptism.

With these four children we also baptised Lydia Lowry, aged about sixteen. She had been in the school about 12 months, and became a hopeful subject of divine grace last summer. For several months she has been under particular instruction, as a candidate for baptism. Her whole deportment since the apparent change, has been such as to give increasing evidence that it is real and saving. She will now be considered as a candidate for full communion in all the ordinances and privileges of the church of God.

A Cherokee woman, supposed to be about 70 years of age, (the same mentioned in the report of the visiting committee last June, as a hopeful convert,) this day put herself under our care, for special instruction as a candidate for the holy ordinance of baptism.

The wilderness and solitary place is glad for them, and the desert blossoms as the rose.. O how precious are the privileges we enjoy here in this wilderness. We would not change our place and our employment for any thing short of that eternal rest, which God has prepared for those that love him.

After baptism was administered to the above-mentioned persons, the professed followers of Christ, consisting of black, red, and white, surrounded the table of one common Lord, and found "a feast of fat things." This day completes 12 months since the first new converts were added to this church; and it now contains 11 adult members, and 24 baptised children, beside the mission family. "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.”

(To be continued.)

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM RIO JANEIRO.

In our number for May, p. 231, was published a letter from Rio de Janeiro, written by a respectable gentleman to the Rev. Dr. Worcester. The following extract of a letter, from a gentleman residing in the same city, was published in "The Times," (an English paper) of Nov. 11, 1818. Our readers will observe how well it corroborates the statements of the firstmentioned correspondent.

"IN point of morals and civilization this city is at a very low ebb; and I doubt whether even the Princess, who possesses the hearts of the people, and who is evidently a sensible and well-educated woman, will be able to operate any material change for the better in this respect. No one, who has resided here for any time, and has reflected ever so little on what is passing before his eyes, can fail to observe how backward this nation is in every thing estimable and good. In every species of vice and extravagance they do not yield to the worst specimens of European manners. Brazil is one of the finest countries in the world, and would be a perfect paradise under a milder government than this, which seeks to retard all civilization and refinement; and where the clergy keep the people under the rod of the darkest Catholicism. The despotism that reigns here is excessive, and its influence is felt through all ranks of the people. The highest and most important offices of government are bought and sold in the most open manner; bribery, flattery, and servility, are the great agents in advancement."