many kinds of manual labor; and their clothing is generally unsuited to such employments: but such must not be the feeling, or the dress, of the teacher of this school.

He ought to be able to labor. He must therefore enjoy good health, be acquainted with all branches of agriculture, and accustomed to manual labor. If he be healthy, and knows how to perform all kinds of labor, yet if he have, for considerable time, been unused to work with his hands, he may find it difficult, if not impossible, to recover the habit.

He should expect to labor with the boys, when out of school. Sometimes, it will be convenient, without doubt, for other members of the family to direct the labor of the boys; and sometimes it may be expedient to divide the boys into companies to be placed under the direction of the family; but generally it will be expected that the teacher will take the oversight of the boys out of school, and direct their labors. They ought never to be sent to work by thenselves, or left alone while in the field.

He ought to be a good singer. He should not only be able to practise music, but also be tolerably versed in the science. Ht ought, of course, to be able to teach his pupils to sing. On this subject, it is, perhaps, not proper for me to say much. think, however, when it is considered how interesting, edifying, and useful a part of the worship of our heavenly Father is singing his praise, the subject must be acknowledged to be important. If it be considered how much good has been done among the heathen, by the singing of sacred songs; and that there is no one belonging to this mission, who is capable of instructing in music, it will, I think, be felt to be peculiarly important, that the permanent teacher here should possess this qualification. To me it would seem desirable that he be without that fastidiousness of musical taste, which would cause him to be opposed to the use of any other tunes, than those of the highest merit, and which would very much disturb his feelings, if the tunes should not always be performed with perfect accuracy. I should think it desirable for him to be ready to adopt such tunes, as are generally sung in the southern congregations; and especially such as might be easily caught by children, and with facility, adapted to Cherokee hymns. Instead of trying to make his pupils perfect performers in music, he should strive, in this way, to do as much good, as a missionary, as possible; that is, he should endeavor to make singing the instrument of conveying as much religious instruction and of making as much religious impression as possible.

It is desirable that he be a single man, and

that he remain so, at least for a considerable time. The care of a family will render it very difficult, if not impracticable, to devote as much time and attention to the boys, while out of school, especially in the morning and evening, as seems indispensably necessary.

There are two clauses, in the foregoing document, which may appear inconsistent with each other, and may therefore require explanation It is said, that 'the instruction of children is a delightful employment, and that of Indian children peculiarly so:' and yet that the instructors of Indian children will need a tenfold share of patience.'

culiarly delightful employment, because these The instruction of Indian children is a pechildren usually possess very amiable tempers, and because the improvement of a mind never before cultivated is a most interesting object; especially when viewed in connexion with the anticipated result of the whole pro

cess.

The instructor of these children must have a tenfold share of patience, because they are ignorant of the English language, and therefore the elements of learning possess few charms for them; because they have never been subjected to restraint, and need to be treated with great judgment and delicacy, or they will desert the school; and because their parents are fickle, and, for a slight reason, will take them away. It may be added, that a peevish, or reproachful word makes a very deep impression upon the mind of an Indian child, or an Indian parent.

We must have food;-we must have shelter; we must have the means of doing something for the heathen. I feel most sensibly the importance of economy, and trust shall ever practise, so far as my personal comfort is concerned, upon the strictest principles of frugality; and I shall not fail to exert my influence, that like principles be acted upon throughout the mission. I am willing to fare as coarsely as any common sailor on board any of the ships that touch at these islands-to lodge in the cellar, as I have done some of the time since I have been here-to assist the natives in drawing the cart by hand-to labor as long as I have strength, at the

hardest work necessary to be performed for the mission. I did not devote myself to the missionary cause to be supported in idleness. It was not a maintenance, that I sought, as it sometimes has been slanderously said of missionaries, when I embarked for these islands. It was to work-to toil-to exhaust my strength in efforts to advance the cause, that I left my native shores.

Though the foregoing lines were probably written without the most distant thought of their being published; yet it seems proper that the feelings of missionaries, as expressed in their own language, with reference to their own labors and sacrifices, should sometimes be laid before the Christian community. In doing this, their most unreserved letters, and those which they least supposed would meet the public eye, may be selected as likely to be read with peculiar interest. After this brief explanation, the following remarks, on the short extract above quoted, are subjoined, from a belief that they may be useful.

From the writer's intimate acquaintance with the Treasurer of the Board, he was led to speak of himself particularly. This was the most natural manner of writing; especially as he had been led, by the subject of the letter, to express his own views respecting economy. But, in a subsequent passage, he expressly disclaims any peculiar willingness to serve, or to suffer; ard, beyond a doubt, there are individuals, attached to most missionary stations throughout the world, possessing the same self-denying spirit.

The circumstances of the writer had enabled him to evince his attachment to the missionary cause, in a somewhat different manner from what is common. Entering upon active life without any property, by the time he was 25 or 26 years of age he found himself, by the blessing of Providence on his own industry, in a safe and regular business, with ample credit. and an acquired capital of ||¦ about $4,000. His prospects of a rapid accumulation of capital, and of ultimately obtaining wealth, were as inviting, as the nature of human affairs will permit. In a word, considering the manner in which his business was conducted, and the advantages be possessed for prosecuting it there would have been but one opinion that, if life and health were continu ed, he would be almost certain of worldly prosperity and affluence. But he thought there were obj cis more desirable than ease, wealth, and respectability. Having devoted all his powers and faculties to the service of

God by a profession of religion, he was desirous of being more directly employed in benefitting the souls of men, than he could be while engaged in active business. He had received a very good common education, and now resolved to apply himself to study, with a view to future and more extensive usefulness. Having settled his affairs, he applied himself most industriously to the acquisition of knowledge; and, at the close of a year offered his services to the Board, as an assistant missionary, to be sent wherever he might hope to be useful, either as a teacher of au Indian school; or a laborer in any other part of the work. His offer was accepted, and he consented to stay at the Missionary Rooms, as an assistant in the Treasurer's department; though he would have preferred going directly upon mission ground. His health failing under the severe labor, which devolved upon him, it was thought expedient that he should join the reinforcement of the mission to the Sandwich Islands, where his services would be greatly needed, and a tropical climate might probably be favorable to his constitution.

At the close of the thirteen months, which he spent at the Rooms, he declared that, although he had never before labored so hard, he had never spent his time so happily. For his services during this period, he received from the Board only the reimbursement of his expenses, which were graduated upon a scale of the strictest economy; and, with respect to these expenses, it was a matter of entire indifference with him, whether he paid them himself, or not. It was thought, however, more becoming in itself, and more consonant to Scripture, that they should be defrayed from the Treasury.

On leaving the country, he fitted himself out for the voyage at his own charge, and left directions that the income of his property, (now in stocks, which cost about $3,700,) should be applied toward the payment of certain contingent expenses at the Missionary Rooms, which he knew to be very important. This he did entirely unsolicited; and the income for two years has been applied according to his request

Is it possible that the young men and young women of our country, when they see what sacrifices are m de by their companions and friends personally engaged in the missionary work, should not come forward with alacrity, and furnish every thing which is really needed for conducting it advantageously? Is it possible, that there should be so much hesitation, and

the Arabic Bible, and so did also the superior of the convent of Terra Santa, which I gave to them.

Nov. 7. I am told by the Capuchin friars that there are Turks at Damascus, who go into Christian houses to drink wine and brandy, and to please the Christians, will make the sign of the cross, and curse Mahomed. In the evening 1 had a conversation with the fathers of Terra Santa, about the true church.

Prior. Have you ever read our authors upon divinity?

Myself. have read Bellarmin, Bossuet, Fenelon, and Cornelius a Lapide.

Prior. What was the conclusion you drew after having read these authors?

Myself. That they contained several things which are true, and several things which are erroneous; and those things which are true in them, were taken from the Bible; and that we therefore ought always to recur to the holy writ, and not to the authority of a human writer, whether he be called a member of the Romish church, or of the church of England.

Prior. It is right that we take the Scripture for our chief guide, but there are certain points of doctrine in which the Protestants differ from Catholics: how can we ascertain which of the parties is right?

Myself. By the Scripture. The Scripture is the sword which must decide every point in question. Mention to me a doctrine in which the Protestants differ from Catholics, and let us examine it by the Scripture.

Prior. We Catholics say, that auricular confession is necessary for obtaining pardon from God, you say the contrary.

Myself. Shew to me a passage in Scrip ture in which auricular confession is commanded?

Prior. Jesus said to the leper whom he healed, "Go thy way, shew thyself to the priest," by this we see, that one who will obtain pardon must confess his sins to the priest.

Myself. I see no such thing as auricular confession by this text, but the Scripture itself tells us the reason for which Christ commanded him to shew himself to the priest, viz. to offer for the cleansing those things which Moses commanded-but he did not say, Go, and confess thy sins to the priest.

The Superior of the Capuchin convent then took up the argument, and said: "Augustin saith that this leper was not a leper in the flesh, but a leper in spirit, i. e. a sinner; by this we see, that Christ commanded confession to the priest."

Myself. I agree perfectly with the Roman divines, who maintain that the fathers of the church went too far in allegorical and mysti cal interpretations of Scripture. We have not the least reason to suppose that the leper mentioned in Matt. viii, was meant as a leper in spirit only. The whole context shews that he was a leper in body, in whom Jesus Christ manifested his power and omnipotence. Augustin however did not exclude the literal sense in his mystical interpretations, and even in his mystical comment he does not apply it to auricular confession.

Prior. How old is the church of England?

1. I do not talk about the church of England, but about the doctrine of Christ.

He

To-day I met a Maronite priest, called Abuna Michael, who is a very clever man. spoke of the conversion of the Jews with an interest which I never heard displayed by a Christian of this country. He is very liberal, and it does not seem that his liberal mind has led him to infidelity, as is the case with other liberally minded Catholics of this country. He gives me lessons in Arabic; and he offered to sell Bibles at Damascus for the Bible Society, without recompense.

Nov. 10. A Caraite Jew called on me whom I knew at Jerusalem, and to whom I there gave a New Testament: he said to me, "I really love Jesus Christ."

The wives of the Caraite Jews residing at Damascus, shew their hair, which the wives of the Rabbinist Jews are forbidden to do.

Nov 12. The Superior of the convent of Terra Santa called on me to-day, and said: “1 must speak to you on a subject which concerns the eternal life of a fellow creature. Muk. halla, a Christian, one of the most respectable families of this place, has become Turk, in order, as he says, to save his soul. His brother is afflicted, and cannot bear to stay longer at Damascus, to see his fine young brother united with the enemies of Christianity. Mahomed, for this is the name of the renegado, likes, however, to converse with his brother upon religion; and as he has heard that you, Mr. Wolff, have arrived here, wishes to have some conversation with you upon the authenticity of the Bible, and the divinity of Jesus Christ " The Superior asked me then, whether I should not be afraid to speak with him. I immediately made myself ready to go to him, but the Superior of Terra Santa went and brought the renegado, with his brother the Christian, Joseph by name. I said immediately to the renegado, in the presence of his brother: "You have forsaken a dear Savior, you have abandoned the Lord Jesus, who alone is mighty to save you: you have left the Light of lights, you have cast yourself into utter darkness-return unto him, return unto Jesus, who propagated his religion by the demonstration of the Spirit, through the instrumentality of poor fishermen; whilst Mahomed, whose religion you have now embraced, propagated his religion by the sword, as his followers do at this present day, and by oppression, tyranny, and the shedding of the blood of wretched Christians."

The Capuchin friar, who was present, said: "God grant that these words may be of use to his soul."

The renegado desired proofs that the Jews have not corrupted the Bible. Among other proofs I said:

1. The Bible contains prophecies which have been fulfilled many centuries after they were written down-How could the Jews have forged such prophecies?

2. Many of these prophecies predict things against the Jews.

3. If they had had a mind to pervert the Bible, they would have perverted those passages of Scripture which describe their stiffneckedness and unbelief.

The renegado then said: "You must come