MISSION TO THE WEAS.

Extract of a Letter from Rev. John Fleming, missionary among the Weas, to the Corresponding Secretary, dated Aug. 22, 1837.

DEAR SIR:

On the reception of your instructions, I left home, went to Pittsburgh, and, with the assistance of Mr. Thompson, purchased the supplies you ordered, as far as it was practicable; then set out from that city, and arrived at this Station on Friday last, after a tedious, though in some respects a pleasant, journey. I found the brethren well; but came on them by surprise, as they had not been advised of my coming.

The temporal affairs of the mission, under the management of Messrs. Bradley and Duncan, are in a prosperous condition. They have under cultivation twenty-two acres of rich land; a small part of which has yielded them a crop of oats this season, and the remainder is in corn. On six or seven acres of this field they purpose to sow wheat this fall, if the Lord preserve and prosper them.

In the spring, fifty dollars' worth of hogs was purchased; which, by increase and growth, are now worth $100. Our winter-meat-1500 or 1800lbs.-can be furnished from them; leaving an ample stock for next season. Besides this, there are, belonging to the mission, two horses with one mule-colt, one pair of oxen, four milch cows, and a number of young cattle.

Meetings have been kept up among the natives twice a week since the brethren arrived, and they are sometimes well attended. The church numbers ten native members, all of whom appear to be walking steadfastly in the faith and hope of the Gospel. There is also a class of catechumens, or persons who are desirous of uniting with the church; but they are not deemed fit subjects for reception into its communion. They are taken under the particular instruction and supervision of the missionary, and taught the doctrines and practice of the Gospel, preparatory to admission. Twelve have connected themselves with this class since April, and they are now in number upward of 20. Some of them give good evidence of piety, and will probably, ere long, be received. One old chief of the Pagan party, some time ago, joined this class, and has been so persecuted by his neighbors, that he has left his house and field, and is now living in a village whose chief is a Christian. His people collected round his house one night, and threatened to pull it down, and kill him, because he would not go and drink whiskey with them.

We have great reason to abound in thanksgiving to God for the prosperity with which he has blessed this mission. Beside what has been done, as above stated, in bringing some

of this people into the church, and training them up, as we hope, for eternal glory, a striking reformation has taken place in the habits of the whole tribe. They were notoriously filthy, indolent, and addicted to drunkenness and other degrading vices; but they now manifest a spirit of industry and cleanliness; and, in spite of their opposition to the Gospel, their condition is improving: and may we not hope that the Lord will carry on his work until the whole nation shall be converted to himself?

And now, dear brother, I hope you will remember us in your prayers; that the Lord would make us humble, zealous, and faithful laborers in his vineyard; and that the rich blessings of his grace may be poured out, for the salvation of this poor and perishing people, He can crown the weakest instrumentality with abundant success; for it is "not by might, nor by power, but by his Spirit." In this is our hope and consolation; and in the gracious promises of his word, that, in answer to the prayers of his church, in connexion with her labors, the triumphs of his grace shall extend over the whole earth.

Absence from my dear wife makes me often sorrowful and heavy-hearted. But I have committed her to a kind and gracious Guardian, and trust his tender mercies will be over her, to comfort and sustain her during our long separation.

MISSION TO THE IOWAS.

Extract of a Letter from Messrs. S. M. Irwin and Aurey Ballard, to the Corresponding Secretary, dated August 12th, 1837,

DEAR SIR:

Your very kind and satisfactory letter of June the 12th was received on the 29th of July, and would have received a prompt answer, but we were daily expecting some information which it was desirable to communicate. The information we wished has just come to hand; and this, with other facts, we hasten to communicate.

Until the present time, we have been hindered from making any improvement suited to the new Ioway village, from the fact that the division-line between the Ioways' and Sacs' lands has not until now been established. The opinion was, that the loways had settled on land which would fall to the Sacs; and we did not feel ourselves justifiable in making any improvements at an uncertainty. All the Governmental improvements have been detained from the same cause. This divisionline has, a few days ago, been established by the proper authority, so as to allow the Ioways to remain where they had improved. This is indeed to us happy and encouraging intelligence. For more than four months we have been prevented from commencing improvements, and our labor has been confined near

ly to visiting them as often as we could, and giving them what instruction we could during our short stay. Had this line been established early in the season, we do not see that any thing would have hindered us from having buildings up, and being moved by this time to the new Station. But we trust that all will work together for good; and we design going on immediately, to commence improvements, and to move as soon as it shall be in our power.

Since this difficulty is removed, our prospects are very encouraging. A few weeks ago, a contract was let by Government for furnishing rations for the Indians at twelve months, and they have now commenced to issue provisions. This will prevent the necessity of their wandering from home, and consequently enable us more fully to carry into effect our object among them. Before this provision was made, they were in a pitiable condition, and they were driven from place to place to procure some subsistence. Many of the infirm, and those who were not able to hunt, and who had no other refuge, came to us for assistance; and, as some of them were in a suffering condition, we felt it our duty to give them something to subsist upon, which not a little increased our expenses. In regard to the expenses of the present year, we cannot make a precise estimate. We, however, will do our utmost to keep within the limits you have prescribed. Our family in all contains twelve persons. A family of this size must necessarily be very expensive at this distance from supplies, and at a time when provisions are very high. But if you are able to send us some clothing in the fall, we think that our expenses for living one year will not exceed the sum you mention.

Since your letter came, we purpose, if health permits, to go on immediately, and put up our building as small as will at all accommodate our family, and on the cheapest possible plan. This, we think, with our own labor, will not exceed your limits. What we may be able to save from building a house of this size we will spend in the most necessary improvement, until we get farther instructions from you. The only material effect this alteration in our plan will produce, is, that it will prevent us from devoting our time so entirely and so ad

vantageously to the work before us, and we may fear its effect for some time to come. The comforts of life which it may cut off we regard but little.

We hope you will not infer from any of these statements, that we are discouraged or dissatisfied with our situation or with your arrangement. If we know our own hearts and intentions, we hold ourselves and our all as belonging to the King and Head of the Church; and, under your direction, we wish to labor in his vineyard until death or duty may call us away; using at all times, to the best of our knowledge, the means put in our reach.

There was nothing in your letter which conveyed more real gladness than the probability of having a minister to come to our assistance. If we could be favored with this, it would seem to compensate for almost all our privations. Though we have many enjoyments in a spiritual point of view; yet we often feel like sheep without a shepherd. We cannot think that, upon the Western frontier, there is a more inviting field for a minister of the Gospel. The Sacs have settled about one mile from the Ioways. They are about 500 in number, and may be instructed by our interpreter, who is as familiar with the Sac language as he is with the loway or American. By next season, it is expected that the white population will become quite dense on the opposite side of the river, who will doubtless need instruction. We have left ourselves but little room to state any thing in regard to the success of our labor among the Indians. In this we are not discouraged. Every day gives fresh encouragement, in regard to the children who have been adopted into the family, and brings additional proof of the propriety of such a course. In the Nation, without stopping to detail encouraging facts, we may simply state that we can see that much moral influence has been exerted; and we have great cause to hope that in many the leaven of Divine Grace is hid, which will soon diffuse itself to the glory of God and the demonstration of his power among the heathen.

With grateful feelings for your kindness, and a sincere request of having a deep and lively interest in your prayers, we are yours, &c.

which Christianity is making among the Hindoos.

Similar notices of native baptisms are often contained in the India religious papers, and are

BAPTISM OF TWO NATIVES IN BOMBAY.-On Sabbath, the 20th November, two Hindoos, a man aged 27 years, and his wife aged 17 years, were baptized by the Rev. Dr. Wilson

Tea plant growing there. It is said to be of the best quality and in the greatest abundance; and the East India Company are now attempting to prepare tea by Chinese laborers, whom they have employed for that purpose. Confident expectations of complete success are entertained by many of the best informed men in India. This discovery is of a most interesting character, and the experiment in the hands of a Company who can command every resource, and who will spare no effort to make it successful, may lead to the most important results. Calcutta may, perhaps, become as great a mart for Tea as Canton; and if so, the Chinese will be compelled, by the competition of commerce, to abandon their arrogant pretensions. Self-interest may induce them to court the intercourse, and even the residence, of foreigners among them, instead of repelling them, as heretofore, with violence and contempt. Indeed, we do not deem it visionary to hope that this discovery of Tea in Assam, may greatly hasten the overthrow of the political and the moral wall which has so long confined the energies of that great people; and which, far more than their celebrated wall of stone, 1500 miles long, has kept them inaccessible alike to those who would do them evil, and to those who would gladly do them good. Our readers will be delighted to see, from the notice of Mr. Tomlin's

departure, that Christian benevolence is likely to keep pace with commercial enterprise in its efforts to promote the welfare of Assam. To the preceding extract, we subjoin another showing the progress of the Tea experiment.

ASSAM TEA.-We understand that further specimens of tea have been sent down from leaves gathered in the month of December, are Assam, which, considering that they were from very passable, and fully equal, as we are informed by competent judges, to much of the tea imported from China. These were prepared out of season, merely to give the Chinese an opportunity of teaching some of the people of Assam how to render us independent of the Celestial Empire.-Orient. Observer.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S SCHOOL.-On Satur

day, the 28th of January, this Institution was ral and suite, and the Hon. Miss Edens. Afvisited by the Right Hon. the Governor Geneter hearing the higher classes examined in History, Mathematics, Astronomy, and the Evidences of Christianity, by the Rev. Messrs. ducted round the school, stopping occasionally Charles, Mackay, and Ewart, they were conto observe the system of tuition followed out in its various details, and the efficient manner in which the native monitors discharged their duty. We understand that his Lordship and party expressed themselves much gratified with the result of their visit, which lasted upwards of two hours. This is worthy of remark, as being, we believe, the first time that a Governor General of India visited a Missionary School.

MISSION TO CHINA.

MR. and Mrs. Squire arrived at Singapore Jan 11, 1837, and, on the 15th, he writes as follows:-I have decided for the present to remain at this spot. There is no Mandarin teacher attached to the Malacca College, and I have engaged the only one that was there employed. I took my first Chinese lesson from a native yesterday. Thus am I brought to the scene I often contemplated, by the blessing of God, in health and safety, five months and a half after leaving England, having been detained five weeks at Calcutta. Next month, we expect the annual junks, when I hope to be useful in supplying them with the bread of life. Medhurst's new edition of the Scriptures is published at Batavia in lithograph. The American missionaries here are now cutting blocks, to publish the same revised translation at Singapore. So we hope to be well supplied

with the word of God, and pray earnestly that the Spirit of God may bless it, to the salvation of many souls among this heathen people, who are in darkness.

This week 1 intend to commence Malay with Mrs. Squire. It must be before breakfast, as I am anxious not to slack in the Chinese. The Malay is comparatively easy, and is the general medium of communication among the numerous natives who have settled, or visit this station. Possibly I may visit Malacca, to commence the Fúhkeen dialect; but, at present, I must keep to the Mandarin, and the written character, which is the same in both dialects.

Singapore appears to be healthy, and a fine sea breeze is constantly blowing. The houses present a lively appearance; the shipping, junks, and native boats, rising and falling to the swell of the ocean; and, what is of much consequence in the Torrid Zone, frequent