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subjoin the following statements, drawn from a letter of Mr. Nichols to the Corresponding Secretary, dated June 30, 1822.

I have had no serious indisposition, since my return to my station; and though my former strength has never been recovered, yet I have been enabled to attend to the various duties of the mission with much satisfaction. I can say with truth, that no part of my missionary life has been more pleasant, or more encouraging. In obedience to the admonitions of medical friends, I have not passed my time in so sedentary a manner, as I was accustomed to do. I found by sad experience, that I could not sit all day in reading native books, translating, &c. Of course I have been out more among the people, seeking opportunities to communicate to them the blessed Gospel: and, in this respect, I have been much favored. I have greatly increased my acquaintance with the heathen in this large town, and populous vicinity.

This I conceive to be a matter of great importance. The heathen, in general, are not likely to be much affected by what they hear from a missionary, whom they have never seen before, and may never see again; of whose circumstances and feelings they have no knowledge, and whom they suppose to be equally ignorant of theirs. By their habits, manners, prejudices, and language, the heathen are at first separated from us by an almost impassable barrier. But this barrier must be passed, by a series of kind attentions and familiar intercourse. Light and knowledge must be let into their minds, through the medium of their own reflections, and in the channel of their own habits. Hence I have found it important to begin conversations with this people on worldly subjects; that is, such as affected them most; to sympathize with them in trouble, and to manifest an interest in all that concerns them. If it is important for a minister, in a Christian land, to remove prejudice and create affection on the part of his charge towards himself, it is not less so among a heathen people. To gain an extensive acquaintance requires intercourse every day; an intercourse, which must be continued for years. Let a Hindoo, or Mussulman, settle in New York, or Boston. He might be known there, as we are known here, by the distinction of dress, complexion, &c. in a short time; but how long might be reside there, before he could gain a tolerable acquaintance with a considerable number of persons? I am happy to say, (and I would do it with humility and gratitude,) that I have been enabled to extend my intercourse and acquaintance during the past year, to a large number of

people, whom I had not been able to visit before. Many, who were once shy, and cold, and jealous, have been led to free conversations on the Gospel, and on their own false religion.

Tannah is a very large and growing town, and, with all the region round about, is wholly given to idolatry. No breath of the Spirit has yet infused life into these dry bones. Yet, I dare not say, that the Spirit of God is not working here. I dare not say, that arrows of conviction have not been fixed in many a heart. Certain I am, that many have heard the Gospel frequently and distinctly proclaimed. Often have I returned home in the evening, after having been for hours in the high ways and hedges, my heart burning with the ardent hope that God was about doing great things here; and often have I returned with a heavy heart, saying, our hope is lost. But blessed be God, he does not cease to regard us in mercy, though he has not yet given us souls for our hire. We are satisfied with the portion he has given us, though, like Abraham in Canaan, we have no inheritance except by promise.

It will probably be found,-says the Report of the Committee, commenting on the preceding notices,-when Christianity comes to prevail in all western India, (as will surely be the case at some future time, and may be the case before the present generation shall have disappeared,) that the instructions of missionaries, given in the various methods. which they employ, will have excited many individuals to inquire into the nature of religion, and to seek for a better foundation of their hopes than idolatry and superstition can furnish. The history of the church does not afford any instance of divine truth being clearly proposed to the understandings and consciences of men, through a long series of years, without producing its appropriate effects in the conversion and sanctification of souls. Times of darkness and discouragement have not been unfrequent; and the result of evangelical preaching is not always seen immediately; but sooner or later it will be discovered and acknowledged, that the testimony of God is not declared in vain. On this unifor

mity of the divine proceedings,-on the command of Christ, the example of the apostles, and the numerous promises of a day of glory friends may securely rest, so long as they to the world, the missionaries and their cheerfully and faithfully discharge their respective duties. A reliance on God, as the only efficient cause of a spiritual renovation,

and as bestowing his grace according to the `decisions of unerring wisdom, does not imply, however, that Christians should look with the same emotions upon a moral desert, and upon a field which the Lord hath blessed. When tokens of the divine favor are withheld, and nothing but a vast region of spiritual death is spread before the eye, there is peculiar occa sion for mourning and humiliation before God;-for a strict examination, whether the message of salvation is delivered in the man. ner adopted by our Lord and the apostles; and for importunate prayer, that those who act as ambassadors of Christ to a guilty world may be under the special guidance of the Holy Ghost; and that those who hear may have their hearts opened; by the same divine influence, to receive the truth in love. It should not be felt, that the conversion of the heathen is to rest, so far as human instrumentality is concerned, upon missionaries alone. Every friend of Christ should take a share, not only in furnishing the resources by which the work is carried on externally, but in bearing upon his heart the burden of a world sinking under the weight of sin,-a world exposed to perdition, even now experiencing God's displeasure, and yet madly rejecting the salvation of the Gospel, which is so freely and invitingly proposed to all.

MISSION AMONG THE CHEROKEES.

TOUR OF REV. MR. BUTRICK.

DURING the last winter, Mr. Butrick penetrated further into the northeast parts of the Cherokee nation, than he had ever been before. We shall now give several extracts from the journal, which he kept during this tour, and in which there are some interesting descriptions of the country and its inhabitants.

Tuesday, Feb. 4, 1823. Left Taloney in company with brother Thomas Bassel, interpreter, and brother David Sanders, who is our guide to Mountain Town, where we have an appointment for meeting. Rode over a mountainous region fifteen or twenty miles,-and called at the Rabbit's. He is the head chief of Mountain Town and brother to the Creek interpreter. He received us with peculiar kindness and attention. Spent the evening in singing Cherokee hymns, conversing on the great concerns of religion, &c. Brother Thomas prayed in his own language. A

number of the neighbors came, 'and spent the evening with us. The chief thinks they should all believe, if they could have the Gospel explained to their understanding.

At Ta-go-i, where Thomas had many relatives, they spent two or three days. During this time they had much pleasing intercourse with the people. The following incident is related.

Sabbath 9. The chiefs desired me to read a letter from Mr. Hicks relative to their land. I took the opportunity of explaining the nature, and design of the Holy Sabbath, and requested them to wait till evening, which they agreed to do. Brother Thomas, when speaking of the Sabbath, told them, that Christians dressed in clean clothes, on that day. The old chief, (he is probably eighty or ninety years old) replied that he would dress himself. He accordingly went out and soon returned with a clean white hunting frock, a hat with a large silver band round it,-wide silver bands round his arms, a large silver crescent in his bosom, and below it a silver medal, given him by the President, &c. saluting us as a chief from a great dis

tance.

Monday, 10. The Rising Fawn and our guide from Board Town came. The Rising Fawn is a principal chief in this part of the country, and a distinguished speaker in the national council. He seems determined to follow the directions of the Bible. He wished me to state some time when we would come again, promising to accompany us from Turnip Town. In this place are many inhabitants, full Cherokees; and none, that I know of, able to speak or understand English. O will the Lord remember them and by some means bring them to a knowledge of his great salvation. After breakfast, in company with brother Thomas's uncle, and our friend from Board Town, we set out for the mission station in the Valley Towns, where we arrived a little after dark, having passed through a most mountainous region. little before sunset, being on high land, we had a clear view of the surrounding country; but the sublimity, the grandeur, the beauty of the scene I can never express. Before, behind, and on either side, were mountains above mountains, peak above peak, rising almost to the clouds.

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The mission here mentioned is under the care of the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions; and by the members of it Mr. B. was received with great kindness and cordiality. At their request he visited the schools and

both he and Thomas Bassel addressed the pupils. Messrs. Roberts and Jones are the missionaries They advised Mr. Butrick to proceed still further toward the northeast, for the purpose of visiting some secluded villages, and requested one of their pupils to go as a companion and guide. The youth cheerfully consented. His name was Soti. The first day, the travellers went about twenty miles to Long Town, where they staid over night. The following is an account of their next day's journey.

Tuesday, 18. Soon in the morning we set off for Otter Town where Soti's father lives. We left an appointment, however, to be here again on Thursday. We soon began to ascend a most difficult mountain. We were about two hours ascending it, and much of the time were climbing a very steep ascent. Sometimes to get round a peak on the ridge, we were obliged to go on the side, where it seemed impossible for a horse to stand. I found it enough for me to take care of myself, and committed the little poney to the care of Soti. I went forward with trembling steps, sometimes crawling on my hands and feet, afraid to look to the right hand or to the left, or think much of our situation. When I looked forward I was alarmed again and again, by mountains above mountains rising to an astonishing height, which we had still to pass over. I thought of going back, but the text for the day came to my mind, viz.; "Thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee; and whatsoever I command thee, thou shalt speak." And further I thought it impossible for the horses to turn about where we then were. At last the Lord brought us in safety, and with joy, to the top of the mountain. Here I had anticipated the pleasure of finding a little resting place, to view the surrounding region, which I had not ventured to do by the way, lest the extraordinary height, and the dismal steeps, frequently on both sides, should render me incapable of ascending the peaks still before me; but on the top, I found no rest for the soles of my feet. I durst not stop to take a fair survey of the country.

We therefore hastened our way down through the snow perhaps a foot deep, though at the bottom on the south side the ground was warm and dry; and, in about three hours from the time we first came to the mountain, through the kindness of God we found ourselves safe at the bottom, in a region where the Gospel had doubtless been forever unknown.

We called on the chief and proposed a meeting. He appointed it to-morrow about noon at the council house. We then rode about six miles to Soti's father's, having travelled about twenty miles. Some of VOL. XX,

the neighbors came and spent the evening with us. We improved the time in singing, prayer, and conversation on the great doctrines of religion.

Wednesday, 19. Spent the morning in conversation with Soti's father, a very old man. After breakfast we all kneeled before our common Lord, to implore his blessing, and then set off for the council house about six miles distant. The road

being bad, and our horses fatigued, we concluded to walk, being accompanied by our dear Cherokee friends. About fifty men besides some women and children assembled. After prayer and singing, brother Thomas gave them a short account of Christians at the north, their method of raising money, making clothes, &c. for the support of schools, &c. He also stated the contents of a letter from Mr. Hicks. After this I spoke of the Bible, as being the only light to guide us in safety through this world. I dwelt particularly on the way of salvation, pointed out in the Bible, through

our divine Lord and Savior.

I told them of his coming into the world, his character, miracles, sufferings, death, resurrection, ascension, invitation to sinners, &c. and of his ability and willingness to save all who come to him. After this we sung, and payed, and took our leave of the assembly. Before we left them, however, they wished to know when we would come again, stating that they needed some one to tell them often of these great truths, and expressed much gratitude for our present visit. We returned to Soti's father's and spent the evening in conversa tion, singing, &c. We attended prayer as usual, but Soti, who appears really serious, and inquiring after God, wished us to pray again. O how dear these poor people seemed to me. I often wept at the thought of leaving them exposed to all the wiles of Satan with no one to guide them to the fold of Jesus.

This town lies near the line of North

Carolina; is almost entirely surrounded by mountains; contains from one to two hundred families, and but one individual, that I know of, able to speak English. After breakfast, and after commending this dear family and people to God by prayer, we set off for Long Town. We returned a different way from that we came, in order to visit J. Arch's friends, and also to cross the mountain at a place where it is not so high, though steeper for a short distance. About 10 o'clock we arrived at brother J. Arch's mother's, where we found his brother, uncles, sisters, &c. assembled to meet us according to previous arrangement. Here we had a precious interview with these dear people; and after dinner, having spent about two hours with them, we set out for Long Town. The mountain, and the path

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through the mountain to its junction with the Hiwassee, a little above the Agency. This, I think, is about the darkest part of the Cherokee nation.

3. Turnip-Mine-Town, about eighteen miles N. E. from Taloney. Within a short distance of this town, are several others, which might all be benefitted by a school and religious instruction here.

4. Pinelog about half way between Taloney and High-tower. This town on a creek of the same name, contains many inhabitants, and a beautiful tract of land.

5. Beaver-dam, ten or twelve miles from Turnip Mountain, south of the Coosa river; or Cedar Creek town, twelve miles south of Beaver-dam. This last mention

tentive, and in no case was he interrupted by improper conduct. He visited eight large villages, where the Gospel had never been heard before. In his opinion, two evangelists might be well employed in that part of the nation' which extends from Otter Town to Hightower, one hundred and thirty-five miles, in a southwesterly direction, and from the Cherokee eastern line to Coosawaytee, about sixty miles. This territory contains more than half the Cherokee population.

osities on the Lookout Mountain.

6. Turkey-Town, bounded on one side by Alabama and on another by the Creek line, about twenty or twenty-five miles from the Creek settlements, containing many inhabitants, and a most beautiful tract of land. Here the Path-killer, the Boot, who is Creek interpreter, and many other chiefs, live. Here we could have frequent intercourse with the Creeks, and, by means of the Boot, give them much religious instruction. The Boot, though a Cherokee, is yet one of the Chiefs of the Creek nation; attends their councils; and has great influence with the people. He is frequently visited by the chiefs and hunters of that nation, with whom we could converse and thus spread the knowledge of divine things through that dark land.

7. Frog-town, or, as generally called, Brooms-town.

8. Aumuchee, fifteen miles west of south from Mr. Hick's, on the path leading to Turnip Mountain. I mention this place, on account of the great anxiety of the people last spring to have a school. There are ten or twelve families, and a beautiful tract of land.

9. Mouse-Town, or Bushey-head's settlement. This is a very important place, though not in as entire darkness as the others. 10. Spring Town, on the north side of the Hiwassee river, fifteen or twenty miles above Columbus.

From a summary of Mr. Butrick's labors, during a part of the year past, it appears, that he travelled about 2000 miles in the Cherokee country, and held about one hundred and fifty meetings with the people. At these meetings he either preached or expounded some portion of Scripture; or stated and explained some of the leading doctrines of the Bible; or repeated the history of our Lord's sufferings and resur rection. He found the natives peculiarly at

WE place the following extracts from Mr. Butrick's journal by themselves, for the sake of a connected view of the curiosities, which he has described.

Saturday, Aug. 28. In company with Mr. Chamberlain, I ascended the Lookout Mountain, to visit a citadel of rocks. This is just at the top of the mountain, and is composed of rocks as high as houses of one, two, or three stories. It is so situated as to afford streets and lanes, and to form many convenient shelters from the heat, rain, and wind. Especially we noticed one apartment, twelve feet by fifteen, and six feet high in the highest place, arched over head, and walled on each side, by solid rock; except an opening for a door, and one or two places in the corners, which would serve for chimneys. This natural fortress was formerly inhabited by the Creeks. We saw where they hung their meat, and where they prepared their lodgings. Here, after viewing for a moment the wonders of Omnipotence, being retired from all the world, we bowed with adoration before Him, whose favor is compared to the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

In the afternoon we explored a number of caves. The first we entered by a steep descent of eight or ten feet, through a small aperture. We then came to a large cavity, which extended to the right and left. - We first examined the cavern on the left hand, which extended a number of rods. This was beautifully ornamented with petrifactions. Here were shelves, benches, &c. supported, apparently, by studs and braces above and below, and some richly ornamented with various articles of furniture. Here, also, our attention was caught by curious petrifactions, which we could almost imagine to be a diminutive race of people standing around us in profound silence, as if struck dumb by the rash intrusion of strangers.