removal from the Society to the Sandwich Islands. Nor do I reckon among the least auspicious of those events the ingenuous and benevolent manner in which we have been received by you, though coming from a different country, patronised by another Society, and originally designated to a different field. The broad and catholic principles which you have in the present instance so generously evinced, indicate an eminent degree of that disinterested and Christian liberality and benevolence so uniformly inculcated in the New Testament, and so conspicuous a feature in the signs of the times, when the principles of union and co-operation are so much better understood, and more universally acted upon, than in any preceding age of the church. Our union in the great cause which we have combined our energies to support, will be hailed by Christian philanthropists both in America and England, as an indication of the approach of that happy period, when minor distinctions among the ministers and people of God shall vanish, when they shall recognise each other as brethren wherever they may meet, and be as "one fold under one shepherd."

Allow me also to assure you, that in complying with the solicitations of the chiefs of these islands, and your own deliberate recommendation to remove hither, I have been actuated solely by a sense of duty. I have no interests whatever to promote, other than those equally dear to us both; no plans to pursue but those exclusively connected with the pure and unmixed doctrines and principles of the Bible, nor any object to accomplish but to aid in laying the foundation of that glorious kingdom, the stability and extension of which we mutually count it our happiness to spend and be spent in advancing. I feel that it is unnecessary for me to add that it is the undisguised wish of my heart to combine my efforts with yours, and uniformly employ any facilities which my acquaintance with the language, traditions, popular character, and general habits of the Society Islanders, may furnish, for the great object of meliorating the wretchedness of the long-neglected and degraded people around us, and con

have

We have recently learned to read, and have become acquainted with it. We vah for our God. We also regard Jesus respect unto God, and desire JehoChrist, as a Saviour for us, that our hearts [or thoughts] may be like yours.

Ours is a land of dark hearts. Had you not compassionated us, even now we should be quite dark. But, no, you have compassionated us, and we are enlightened. We are praying unto God, and we are listening to the word of our salvation. We also keep the sacred day of Jehovah, the Sabbath, which is one good thing that we have obtained; one good thing that we have lately known to be a temporal good. Mr. Ellis is come here to this place; we desired his comiug-we rejoice. He is teaching us that we may all be saved.

Write ye unto me, that I may know what you write [or, your writing to me.] Pray ye also to God for us, that He would give salvation for us, that our bodies [ways, actions, walk, conversation, &c.] may be made good, that our souls may be saved by Jesus Christ.

Great affection for you all.

(Signed) TAMEHAMEHA,

King of the Sandwich Islands.
To the Company of Directors of the
Missionary Society.

* Riho-riho has assumed the name of Tamehameha the Second.

Rev. Messrs. Bird & Goodell to the Rev. Dr. Macauley, of this city.-Malta, June 10, 1823. REV, AND DEAR SIR.-The kindness of our New-York friends, both while we were at NewYork, and since our departure, has been affecting to our hearts. We hope it may deeply humble us under a sense of our unworthiness, while it strengthens us to persevering labours, in the confidence that we are not labouring alone. We pray that, through much grace from on high, we may be enabled to discharge the important duties of our station in a manner acceptable to the Lord of Missions, as well as to our friends and patrons at home. We shall feel a peculiar happiness in giving, from time to time, such facts relating to our mission as we shall judge likely to be interesting and useful; and, for a reason too obvious to be mentioned, shall consider our. selves at liberty to write to New-York with more freedom and minuteness than elsewhere. The present communication is designed to present some facts illustrative of the state of the Catholic religion in this island.

The number of priests and other ecclesiastics in this city is variously estimated, as 1 to 15, and as 1 to 30. One cannot walk the streets without constantly meeting them. The number of churches is between 20 and 30, of which some are very large and splendid. They are kept open every day, for the inspection of the curious, and for the ceremonies of the superstitious; and what is singular, these two differ

ent classes of men can attend each to his own object, side by side, or face to face, without any mutual interruption. These public prayers, before some image in the churches, we are told, is, generally speaking, the only obedience the Catholics of this region yield to the command of our Saviour" when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray," &c. The constant ringing of bells for religious purposes, the frequent fæstas, or holidays, commemorative of some event in the recorded or traditionary history of the Church, the frequent religious processions, and the daily passage of the host to some dying man, all together make an imposing show of piety, and impress the vulgar mind with a sense of the importance, if not of religion itself, at least of religious ceremony. But it is painful to discover, through all this outward exhibition, a hollowness of heart, which forcibly reminds one of the "whited sepulchres" spoken of by our Saviour. In re

citing their formularies, it is a common thing for the priests to smile among themselves like children, when any one blunders or speaks with a singular tone of voice. Nothing is more frequent than, when the host is brought to the door of some dying person, and when all in the street, who are near, are upon their knees, to see the younger lads, even in that posture of reverence, sporting or quarrelling, as the case may be, with none to quiet or check them. And in the most solemn procession of the year, the anniversary of the crucifixion, in the very presence of all the crosses and bloody images of Christ, which are of such mighty efficacy in assisting the Catholic mind to bring up the scenes of the Gospel history, few appeared solemn, many indulging themselves in the levity of a mere agricultural show, and even some of the priests were seen evidently passing their jests with each other, in the midst of the procession, and in open sight of the multitude.

Since being here, we have heard but two Catholic sermons. They seldom preach. The former of these sermons was in praise of the Virgin Mary, accompanied with a high degree of vociferation and of action. The second was similar in manner, but the subject was the character of Christ. The speaker in this, as in the other case, addressed himself wholly to the passions of the audience. He stood near, and partly in front of an image of the expiring Saviour, and often fixing his eyes upon it, and addressing himself to it, endeavoured to make the same use of it as Anthony did of the body of Cæsar.

The common people are, as you may well suppose, exceedingly ignorant about every part of religion. Saying their prayers in the morning, seems to give them a license to cheat and pilfer all the day. The Sabbath is a holiday. The priests are exceedingly vigilant to keep all religious tracts and Bibles out of the hands of the common people, and the people themselves seem very well contented that their responsibility should lie entirely on the shoulders of the priests. Ask a common man about the doctrines of the Church, and he says he knows nothing about it: "This is no business of mine, but of the priests'." Let one fact suffice to show the extreme ignorance and thoughtlessness of the Maltese. much above the middle rank was lately conversing about Jerusalem, and asked very so

A man

berly and sincerely whether the sepulchre and bones of our Saviour were still to be found there!! Strenuous efforts have been made of late to injure the Bible Society here. The Government have been obliged to listen to the complaints of the bishop, as he has to those of his priests. The matter has been referred to England for a decision. We indulge the hope that such a decision will be given as shall open the door still more widely for the circulation of that Book which these pretended Christians are pleased to call accursed, and a book of the devil! The Lord have mercy on them. But all are not of this character. We could mention the bishop and some of the priests as being much more liberal on the subject of the Bible. We can expect to do but little good among the Maltese here, unless we should stay a year or two longer. Our preach ing is altogether to the English. They fill our large chamber every Sabbath morning and evening, and are very attentive. Let us have your prayers that the Word of God may have free course and be glorified, even as it is with you.

Our friends can write us, directing to the care of B. Henry, Esq. Gibraltar, or Messrs. Rabaud, Brothers & Co., Marseilles, as well as to Malta directly.

We not long since received intelligence from Messrs. Fisk, King, and Wolff. They were at Cairo, after having visited Upper Egypt, with great interest and apparent usefulness, and were to set off the next morning, on camels, for Jerusalem, by way of the desert.

We have been exceedingly rejoiced with intelligence of some special tokens of the divine presence among your people. May your whole city be abundantly watered with the dew of heaven, and filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Extract of a letter from the Rev. Mr. Fisk, American Missionary at Jerusalem, to Dr. Porter, of Andover, dated April 28, 1823.

My first letter from the Holy City shall be to my revered instructers and beloved brethren at Andover. I have now spent four days in the city where David lived and reigned, and where David's Lord and King redeemed the world. The house I inhabit stands on Mount Calvary; my little room has but one small window, and this opens toward Mount Olivet. I have walked around Zion; I have walked over Calvary; I have passed through the valley of Hinnom; drank of the waters of Siloam; crossed the brook Kedron; and have been in the Garden of Gethsemane. The next day after my arrival, I made my first visit to

the tomb of my Lord. I did not stop to inquire whether the place pointed out as his sepulchre is really such or not. If in this there is any delusion, I was willing to be deceived for the moment. The church was full of people; but, though surrounded by them, I could not suppress my feelings. I looked at the dome which covers the tomb, and thought of the death and resurrection of my Lord, and burst into tears. I entered and kneeled by the marble which is supposed to cover the spot where the body lay. My tears flowed freely, and my soul seemed to be moved in a way I cannot describe. I dedicated myself anew to my Lord, and then offered up my prayers for my father, brothers, sisters, and particular friends. I implored a blessing on Andover, and on all missionaries and ministers, and on all the world. It seemed then as if Jesus Christ, the Son of God, had really suffered, died, and risen from the dead. The period of time that has elapsed since his death, dwindled to a moment. The whole seemed present and real. O, what sufferings! O, what love! Dear brethren, it was for us he bled and died. Shall we not then live to

him? He died to save us from sin.

Shall we

not then avoid sin in all its forms? He died to save us. Can we then be unwilling to make efforts, and endure privations to save others? If you think I have made any sacrifices or undergone any hardships, I assure you I forget them all when in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. But alas! how little do I see around me of the efficacy of that blood which was shed on the cross! The Christian pilgrim cannot enter the building that covers the tomb of his Redeemer without buying permission from the enemies of his faith. I suppose at least three-fourths of the inhabitants of Jerusalem deny the divinity of our Lord and the atoning efficacy of his death; and I fear all, or nearly all the rest, adore his mother and his disciples with almost as much devotion as himself. When I was at Gethsemane there were so many armed Turks about that I did not think it prudent to stop, but only walked across the field.

"Where once thy churches prayed and sang
"Thy foes profanely roam."

I weep when I think of Zion and look at the desolations of Jerusalem; and I am sure you would weep if you could see what I see, and you would pray earnestly that another season like that of Pentecost may be enjoyed here. My first impressions in regard to our mission were discouraging. The first evening my spirits were depressed and desponding. But I now feel much encouraged. We have already sold and distributed about 70 Testa.

ments and Psalters, and more than 300 Tracts, and brother Wolff is engaged day and night in preaching to the Jews and disputing with their Rabbies. We are surrounded by dangers, and we tremble at every step; yet the Lord our Redeemer protects us, and I hope will protect us. Trusting in Him, we will go forward. Brethren, pray for us, and Oh! I entreat you live near to Christ. Meditate much on his love, his death, and mediation. This will

show you the world with its distinctions, pleasures, and strifes, in the proper light. May that Saviour who did here bleed and die for you and me, fill our hearts with his love, and make us all good ministers of his grace; may we be crucified to the world, and the world to us, bearing about in our body the dying of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,
·PLINY FISK.

Extract of a Letter from the Rev. I N. Wyc

koff to the Domestic Secretary.

The ladies of my congregation have collected various articles, valued at two hundred and eleven dollars and a half, for our Indian Missions, which I now transmit to you in a box accompanying this letter. We have endeavour. ed to impress the idea on all the donors, to send their prayers along with their gifts; and we trust not only that our charity will go forth attended with many prayers, but also that this effort will have a direct, beneficial influence on the religious state of the congregation. We have had it in contemplation to hold a general meeting of the contributors to pray for the blessing of God on this particular exertion, and on the friends and efforts in behalf of missions every where-a suggestion with which I am much pleased, and which I am confident will have the most salutary results. All regret is, that the box, containing the charity, cannot stand in the midst of the meeting, that while their eyes saw what was done, their hearts might be more strongly excited to do still more.

In the history of the efforts by which this charity has been collected, it is a fact most encouraging (as the result shows) to those who enter upon a similar undertaking, that appearances were very discouraging in the beginning. The design had been publicly an nounced from the pulpit. A general and pressing invitation had been presented to all those who were disposed to give, to lodge their contributions with a designated individual. But scarcely any thing was sent. The appeal was repeated more earnestly, and still very little was contributed. As the last resort, two of the zealous friends of the cause went forth in a light wagon to appeal to the sensibility and christian feeling of the ladies at their own dwellings. We expected to see them return empty and discouraged. How much and how happily were we disappointed, when they re

turned with the wagon well loaded with ge. nerous contributions. We thought that if, amidst the pecuniary embarrassments of our congregation, we could raise a box worth seventy-five dollars, we should congratulate ourselves, and feel quite elated with our success. By the good hand of the Lord, with our solicitors, you see whereunto it has grown, and how our expectations are exceeded. How audibly the voice breaks out of these facts-go forward and fear not; and how strongly, too, the encouragement to others, to go and do likewise!

Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in the

Western District of New-York.

Having had an opportunity of perusing the last Annual Report of the United Foreign Missionary Society, I felt much interested in its prosperity. I have, therefore, used my influence to collect something to aid its more than exhausted funds. I am sorry that I am not in a situation to contribute more myself to advance so good a cause, and intend ere long to do something more if not again disappointed.

The church is abundantly able, through the blessing of God, to support all the benevolent enterprizes of the day, but the great difficulty seems to be to make Christians feel their duty and fulfil their obligations. The circulation of Annual Reports and periodical publications appears admirably calculated to effect this object. It is with pleasure, Sir, that I transmit to you the enclosed eighteen dollars.

AMERICAN MISSIONARY REGISTER.

The present number closes the fourth volume of this work-the first volume since it became the exclusive property of the United Foreign Missionary Society. To the former number of subscribers, about eleven hundred have been added since the commencement of this volume. While the managers feel encouraged and gratified by this increase of patronage, yet they