winds, on a passage usually made, by such vessels, in one, and no time was to be lost, in despite of the great darkness of the night, and the danger of the surf, I landed immediately. The Mission House had been removed from the place of its original location, but familiarity with every spot, enabled me easily to grope my way through the luxuriant plantations by which it is now surrounded. But how great was my astonishment, at the peculiar circumstances in which I found our inestimable and beloved friends, Mr. and Mrs. Richards. Instead of being permitted, unobserved, to come to their very bed side with the salutations of friendship, and warm affection, as I had anticipated, how was I surprised to meet, at my first approach to the house, the presented bayonet, and to hear the stern challenge of the watchful sentry-"who goes there?" —and when assured that it was a friend, how inexplicable to my mind was the fact of receiving the cordial embraces of my brother, not in the peaceful cottage of the missionary, but in the midst of a garrison, apparently in momentary expectation of the attack of a foe, and to find the very couch, on which was reclining one, who to us has been most emphatically a sister, surrounded by the muskets and the spears of those, known to the world only by the name of savages!

My first thoughts were that a revolt of the island, against the general government, had taken place, in which our friends had been seized, and were guarded as captives-or that some formidable party of unfriendly natives had risen with the determination of destroying them, but from whom they were protected by the higher chiefs-but as soon as an explanation could be given, I learned that their peril was from false brethren, if the outcasts of a civilized and Christian country can be designated by such terms.The seamen of a large ship, at anchor at Lahaina, exasperated at the restraints laid on their licentiousness, through the influence of the Mission, had carried their menaces and open acts of violence, against Mr. and Mrs. R., to such an extent, as to cause the chiefs to arm a body of men, and defend them at the hazard of life. At that very hour, three boats' crews, amounting to near forty men, were on shore, with the sworn purpose of firing their houses, and taking their lives!-But as every thing, when I left them, was in a posture to secure their entire safety, it is unnecessary to enter further into the particulars of the subject, except to say, that the statement of these circumstances from them, with the unfolding of the character and object of my visit, on mine, made our interview most deeply affecting; and the remainder of the night was spent in

thought and conversation, of unmingled sorrow at the termination which was about to take place, of that union and intercourse, which, for near three years, had been the source of some of our highest and sweetest enjoyment.

At sunrise Mr. Richards and myself visited the spacious and well built and finished chapel lately erected by the chiefs; and in the pulpit from which we had expected and fondly hoped jointly to proclaim the glad tidings of salva tion to the thousands of willing hearers under our common charge, we in tears and in prayer looked to God, the arbi trator of our destinies, for his presence and blessing on our future divided labours in his cause. And in the course of an hour, after I had bid a hasty adieu to the chiefs and such of the people as were best known to me, we sorrowfully interchanged, perhaps, our last embraces in this world.

Never did the field of labour I had hoped to occupy for life, appear so truly desirable and I found my heart clinging closely to every object included in it, from my invaluable associates and the thousands eagerly desirous of my instructions and preaching, to the very trees and shrubbery I had planted and nurtured in our gardens. The dispensation of our removal seemed so mysterious, that added to the struggles of strong affection in my bosom, it filled me with sadness and gloom during our passage to Oahu, and before we came to an anchor, I had almost fully determined to permit the Fawn to depart without us, and venture a still further delay till the United States should arrive. How great then was my surprise and satisfaction to hear before landing, that there had been an arrival from South America, and that a packet from Com. Hull was waiting my return at the consulate. That gentleman could know nothing of my peculiar situation. Still I was persuaded that his communication would, in the providence of God, make my path plain, and remove every doubt then resting on it. And such was fully the case: for in the course of his letter, though utterly unaware of the importance of the information to me, he gave the most unqualified assurance that it would be impossible for him to make the proposed voyage to the Sandwich Islands. This was all that was necessary to render our duty clear as noonday, and we prepared cheerfully to follow the path we believed pointed out of God.

Thus, my dear friend, have I given the outline of the providences, both imme. diate and remote, which led to our embarkation for the United States:-An illness which proved itself unconquerable in a tropical climate, and threatened

speedy death, unless a removal should take place the unanimous decision of all medical advice as to the necessity of such removal-the approving judgment and authorizing vote of the mission in following that decision-and the unsought but singularly marked openings for put ting in execution the measure thus satisfactorily pointed out as duty. The view of them as they stand in their series "with their proper connexion," will, I hope, give to you, as one not only deeply interested in all the important vicissitudes of my life, but more especially in the history and circumstances of missionaries and missions, the same unfeigned satisfaction that their ultimate, though gradual and painful development, did to myself.

Notwithstanding the clearness of our path, and the persuasion. that in following it God our guide and Saviour would be with us, warm affection for our brethren and sisters, some of whom were in circumstances of affliction greatly to aggravate the sorrows of a separation-love to their work and to our work, and the highly encouraging and affecting state of the people, thousands of them delighting in our instructions, and tens of thousands perishing from a want of more labourers in a field ripe for the sickle-all caused us to bid farewell to the Sandwich Islands with feelings of the most painful depression. Rude as was the throng which covered the beach as our boats shoved off -unlike as was the whole scene, except in the murmur of sympathy and the salutations and tears of affection, to the enlightened and pious multitude, and the beautiful and classick ground on which our eyes rested, as we waved a last adieu to the American shores-it was scarce less affecting, and caused an agitation far more oppressive and afflicting than any we experienced on the 19th of November,

1822.

Mrs. Stewart was very ill about a fort. night after embarking-so much so that for several days we hourly expected her death; and were under the sad necessity of making every arrangement for such an event. Hope, however, again sprung from despair. Contrary to our fears she lived to reach the island of Tahiti, and continued to improve after our visit there till she was able, after passing Cape Horn, to spend much of her time on deck, and to walk with assistance. But she is again entirely confined to her sofa. We hope every thing from a change of air, diet, &c. &c. in England-but that hope is not unmingled with anxious apprehensions that the change may be without effect.

The time of our embarkation for Ame

rica will depend alone on her state and the advice we may receive in London. It is not probable that it will be thought prudent for her to go immediately to sea again-if so, we need not be expected in the United States earlier than the middle of June, or first of July.

To think of actually meeting the embraces of our friends, and of revisiting the scenes of our former years, seems even, in imagination, almost like being restored from the dead to the living. It is an event so foreign to all our expectations, that we can scarce yet feel that it will prove a fact. Perhaps we may be restored to many who counted us as among the dead-and perhaps we shall find many among the dead whom we have most fondly wished to meet among the living. It is now eighteen months since the date of our last letters, and my heart shrinks from the thought of the inroad death may have made on the number of my friends within even that short period.

*

*

Yours, respectfully and sincerely, CHARLES SAMUEL STEWART.

P. S. It would be doing great injustice to Capt. Dale, Dr. Short, and the officers of the ship, not to mention to you and our other particular friends in America, the very great obligations under which we feel ourselves to them for their unremitted kindness, and every attention during our voyage. In receiving us on board his vessel, Capt. Dale made a sacrifice of all his own personal accommodations-even to the removal of his cot for sleeping, to the open cabin, and his trunks in daily use into the steerage. His whole deportment since we have been with him, has been of a corresponding but increasingly kind character. Dr. Short, too, has been indefatigable in his art's health, and has been most watchful exertions for the benefit of Mrs. Stewand solicitous for an improvement in her state. All, indeed, on board the ship, în their respective stations, from the master to the cabin-boy, have treated us with undeviating respect and good will.

that Nicholas would at least have left the concern, where it was left by his predecessor. But it is evident that he is determined to do any thing for the gratification of his clergy which they may choose to request; for they are to be considered as the parties originally opposed, and most zealously opposed, to the free dissemination of the sacred oracles. The truth is, that a familiar acquaintance with the Bible by the people at large, would eventually and inevitably expose the gross superstitions of the Greek church, and thus diminish, if not destroy, the undue authority and influence of its clergy. This they perceive, and hence their opposition. At the same time, the emperor and nobles have come to be aware, that their vassals will not be likely to wear their chains as contentedly as they have hitherto done, if they become well acquainted with the truths and doctrines of divine revelation. In addition to all, the Pope no doubt has used all his influence-and of late it has been much greater than formerly in the Greek church-to give activity to this formidable hostility to the Bible cause. But "great is the truth and it will prevail." In despite of the wishes and efforts of popes, princes, and all the powers of darkness, "the word of the Lord will have free course and be glorified." If they continue their opposition, the King of Zion "will break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings, be instructed ye judges of earth; serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss

Russian Ukase, dated St Petersburgh, 12th April, 1826. O. S.

Most Rev. Metropolitan of Petersburgh and Novogorod Seraphim.

Having taken into consideration the representations of your eminence, and of the Metropolitan Eugenius, respecting the difficulties which present themselves to the progress of the cause of the Russian Bible Society, and those disadvantageous consequences arising therefrom; to the averting of which considerable leisure time is requisite, in order maturely and judiciously to examine into all circumstances: and considering your opinions well founded, I order you as Pretivity in all its operations, without excepsident of said society to suspend its action, until my further permission.

You are hereby empowered to extend this my order to all the Committees, branches, and associations, connected with the Society throughout Russia, and at the same time to obtain a particular account of all property, moveable and immoveable, in houses, lands, books, materials and money, belonging to the Society, wherever these are to be found, and circumstantial information possible thereof.

and to furnish me with the most accurate

The sale of the Holy Scriptures already printed in Slavonian and Russian, as also in the other languages in use among the mit to be continued at the fixed prices. inhabitants of the Russian empire, 1 perRecommending myself to your prayers, I remain, &c. (Signed)

NICHOLAS. His eminence immediately ordered a sions at present under the press, &c., and stop to be put to the printing of the ver

to make up the accounts as soon as possible.

Fund, viz.