Arrowwacks and free negroes in South America. The Esquimaux on the coast of Labrador, and in Barbadoes-and the latest accounts give the most pleasing hopes in thofe parts. Several attempts to carry the gofpel into other parts of the earth, made by the brethren, have not fucceeded as to the Laplanders and Samojedes-on the coast of Guinea-to the flaves in Algiers-to Perfia-to Egypt. Indeed in upper Egypt there was a profpect of being useful among the Copts, who have been vifited for fome years.

of

The brethrens' general practice is to preach the gospel to all heathen to whom they have accefs, and every foul is invited to be reconciled to God through the atonement made by Jefus Chrift. Befides the public teftimony of the gospel, the Miffionaries are diligently employed in vifiting and converfing with the heathen in their dwellings. If they are awakened to a fenfe of their undone state by nature, and of their want of a Saviour, and apply for further inftruction, giving us their names, they are called New People, and fpecial attention is paid to them. If they continue in their earnest defire to be faved from the power of fin, and to be initiated into the christian churches by holy baptifm, they are confidered as candidates for baptifm; and after previous inftruction, and a convenient time of probation, they are baptized. If they then prove by their walk and converfation that they have not received the grace God in vain, and defire to be admitted to the holy communion, they are first admitted to be present as fpectators, and then confidered as candidates for the communion, and after fome time become communicants. A free man or flave who acts contrary to the moral precepts contained in the Bible, is excluded either from the Lord's supper or the meetings of the baptized, or even, in certain cafes, from all fellowship with the congregation; for no fituation, or prevalency of custom, can fanction a pretext for any kind of disobedience to the rule of Chrift. Such are not readmitted until they have given fatisfactory proofs of true repentance. Miffions of late have been uncommonly expenfive, from feveral concurring caufes, and their funds reduced, but as God, whose work it is, has never failed to fupport it, a grateful fenfe of his favour produces faith and confidence in him. As to the manner of preaching the gofpel to the heathen, the brethren have by long experience found, that the word of the cross is the power of God unto falvation, to all men that believe. They therefore immediately preach Jesus and him crucified; fowing the word in tears, with patience and courage, knowing that they fhall hereafter reap with joy.

The Committee are indebted to the various perodical publications of the different Inftitutions, for these accounts; on whose veracity, and chiefly in whose words, they have made this fhort abstract.

An affecting account of the fuccefs of the united brethren among the fable children of Africa, is closed by the authors of the evangelical magazine, with this addrefs, which is thought worthy of repetition. "What christian can peruse this affecting narrative without bleffing God, who to our black brethren hath vouchsafed this abundant grace? And who can refrain from bleffing God who excited the Moravian church to these labours of love; and who hath fo wonderfully fucceeded their apoftolic efforts? Who that hath tasted that the Lord is gracious, will refuse the aid of his heart, his hand and his purse in promoting miffionary exertions, fo honored of our God and Saviour?

Extracts from two letters from the Revd. GIDEON BLACKBURN, (acting under the authority of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church in the United States, as a Miffionary to the Cherokee Indians,) to the Revd. Dr. Afhbel Green, Chairman of the Committee of Miffions.

REVD. SIR,

MARYVILLE, Nov. 2, 1803.

YOU have no doubt been waiting with confiderable anxiety to hear from me on the subject of my miffion. I did not wish to write until I should have it in my power to fay fomething decifive on the fubject. Immediately on my return to Tenneffee I took every opportunity of converfation with the leading characters of the nation on their vifits to our fettlement, and ftated to them my wishes. Some, I could not fee, I addreffed by letter, in order to prepare their minds for giving the proposals publicity. By information from Col. Meigs I found there was to be a general meeting of the nation on the 15th Sept. near south west point, about forty miles from this place. I attended, but the Indians had poftponed the meeting to the 15th Oct. Finding it would give dignity and respect to the inftitution to have the sense of the nation on the fubject, I wrote a circular letter, requesting an answer on that head at their meeting. At the time propofed I again attended, and met a general affembly of the chiefs, and a confiderable number of the people, in all near 2000. The council was held in a grove, on the Indians land, on the fouth of Tenneffee river.—I made my propofal in an addrefs: on the 20th the Indians took it into ferious confideration that evening and night, and in full council the next day rendered their answer in the following words, viz. "We approve of a school being established in our nation under the fuperintendance of the Revd.

Mr. Blackburn, and hope much good will be done by it to our people: two years are allowed in the first place, that we may have an opportunity to fee what progress our children make under the inftruction of the teachers, and we will fend fome of our children to the school."

Atteft,

THE GLASS.

RETURN J. MEIGS.

Speaker for the Nation,

A place was agreed on. The place chofen by the chiefs as most fuitable to their convenience, is near a town called Highwaffee, near forty-five miles in the Nation. I have procured a teacher, of refpectable character, approved morals, and ftrict piety.

The distance of the school from the fettlement made it neceffary for the teacher to live in the Nation: I therefore preferred one with a family-one is obtained, who has a decent companion, and one child he has entered into bond, and given fufficient fecurity for

his performance.

The school will be attended with confiderable expence, and immenfe trouble and labor; but I hope God will direct to refources, and enable to bear the fatigue. The advantage to the Nation, and the caufe of God, will, I trust, fully repay every exertion to promote the inftitution. To fee thoufands of immortals, capable, by improvement, to vie with a Boyle, a Bacon, and Newton, buried in the fhades of favage ignorance, and destitute of the means of enlightening, would infpire the moft ftoical mind (if religious) with apoftolic defires to refcue them fron their native ignorance and favage wildnefs. However I am fully perfuaded there is not a Nation of Indians on the Continent, which promifes fairer to reward the pious. exertions of generous benefactors, than the Cherokee Nation.

Before Christmass, I flatter myfelf, every thing will be ready to begin the fchool. One of the great obftacles to be furmounted will be, the wild and distant disposition of the young Indians: this must be engaged by allurements: perhaps a few fmall books, to be given to them, might be of ufe.-Should this defideratum be supplied, and a few others fuited to the undertaking be forwarded, it would evidently materially ferve the Miffion.

I rest affured we have your most ardent prayers, and those of your Society for our fuccefs, and will expect your friendly communications to affift in the difcharge of the inportant trust.

The Prefident, the Agent, and all the officers of government are much pleafed with the defign, and engaged to promote the undertaking by every kind office in their power, but unless God build the houfe the workmen will strive in vain.-May God grant his aid, afford his affiftance, and receive entirely the praise!"

"MARYVILLE, April 12, 1804."

"After immenfe labour and fatigue I got all things ready for opening the Indian school on the 21st February. The mafter had been under pay from December; and had been at the place, making neceffary arrangements-obtaining an acquaintance with the language, and familiarizing himself with the children. On the first day there came eleven scholars; on the 8th of March there were fixteen; on the 27th there were twenty; and several more are expected in a few days, as foon as I can get clothing ready for them.

The children behave past expectation; and I am perfuaded that by a difcipline well balanced by inducements and well timed authority, they can be kept in as good order as any school on the conti

nent,

Their proficiency is very remarkable: the first day feveral of them could diftinctly pronounce half of the alphabet; by the 8th of March all of them could say their letters, backward and forward, and could eafily know them wherever they could fee them; and three could fay their ab. They continue their progrefs; and I flatter myself that their proficiency will exceed the moft fanguine expectations. Two boys who have been taught in the fettlement, are now at school, and are beginning to write.

The activity, attention, and care of the master deferve the higheft notice.

I have spent three months in close service to the institution, befides numberless attentions I am obliged to pay to it at home. The interest I feel in carrying this bufinefs into effect would fecure my exertions, should I receive no pecuniary returns from any perfon on earth. I have pledged myself to the nation, and my property is at stake on the iffue of the undertaking.

I found it neceffary to engage in the business on a large scale, which involves confiderably more expence than at first I had calculated: the cloathing and boarding I found unavoidable: without this they could not eafily be weaned from favage, and introduced into civilized habits; nor could they have been continued at school, had they been boarded in Indian families. The Indians were not fufficiently fenfible of the advantages, to fubmit to the expences of the institution. I have therefore raised a tolerable large house with two fires, in which they are both boarded and taught, and thus are constantly under the eye of the master.

Enclosed are the most material directions which I have given to the teacher.*

In

every converfation I have had with the chiefs, I have inculcated the ideas of fettling in farms and cultivating the foil: I think a very fhort period will bring this about.

These immediately follow this letter,

The existence of a supreme being is almost universally acknowledged, and they admit his agency in matters of importance.

They are remakably fond of historical sketches; and in this way might easily be instructed in the history of the Bible. Should a number of gentlemen of talents and leisure publish a work in the form of a magazine to answer this end, and devote it to the use of the fchool, I am perfuaded it would ferve the cause of God.

The chiefs of the Nation are pleased with the thought, that their children fhould be taught to do business like the white people.

A few days ago I received a very earnest request from the principal chiefs of the lower district of the Nation for a school to be established among them. This would be attended with less expence, as a few refpectable white men live near that place who would board the fcholars free, and contribute confiderably for schooling their own children.

Shall it be faid by future writers of the hiftory of America, that once there exifted a Nation of Indians, confifting of upwards of eight thoufand fouls; but they are funk to ruin for want of information, though begging for the means of civilization from a rich, an enlightened, and a chriftianized republic. Shall not the fame ardor fire our breasts, which actuates the merchant, while, in the pursuit of wealth, he traverses the globe, or faces death upon the mighty waters! He is not daunted by the horror of the tempefts, or the changes of climate, until he arrives in Nootka found in quest of a few Otter skins; and fhall the falvation of fouls be of lefs confequence in our view, or fhall we be apathetic in our exertions to rescue them from favage ignorance and barbarity.

I wish to be fully informed of the wishes and designs of the committee on this fubject, and how far they will carry the attempt to civilize this Nation; also what funds they will appropriate to that end. Should the funds be inadequate, rather than the design should miscarry, I would chearfully commit the care of my family and congregations to divine providence, and, pleading the caufe of my poor red neighbours and brethren, I would endeavor, by representing their cries for relief, to excite a generous public to contribution.

Were the state of the school and its wants known to the Merchants and Bookfellers of Philadelphia, I am perfuaded that blankets, clothing, and books, together with an abundance of small articles which would ferve as prefents, and inducements to the children might eafily be obtained. Thefe would be of great fervice; and indeed without them the school cannot go on. All the prefents I have yet given them are at my own expence, as I was very defirous to make the beft I could of the funds on hand.

I need not specify the kinds of books which will be wanted; you are all judges of thofe things, and, having it in your power to felect from a great variety, you can do it to the best advantage.