uniform and condensed mode, the inclosed printed forms have been adopted for the annual returns of the respective superintendents or persons in charge of the schools. These should be filled up with great care, and forwarded to the department annually, on the 1st of October, accompanied by a report, setting forth, in detail, the prospects of the school; the dispositions of the Indians, whether more or less favorable to it; the names of the teachers and other persons; and the kinds of property belonging to the institution. Also noting any thing remarkable in the progress of any Indian child, accompanied by his or her age, and the tribe to which he or she belongs; the general health of the children; their advances in the work of civilization, with such remarks as may be deemed useful, as to the climate, soil, and productions of the surrounding country. "Any specimens of birds, minerals, Indian costumes, or other curiosities, which you can conveniently and without expense, command and forward, (also seeds of indigenous plants, with their names and virtues,) will be very acceptable. "Very respectfully, I am, sir, your ob't servt', "THO. L. M'KENNEY. "Rev. J. B. Finley, Sup't of the School among the Wyandotts, near Upper Sandusky, O." That my readers may have a proper understanding of this regulation of the War Department, in reference to the schools in the Indian country, I will give them a draft from one now before me, for 1826. These requirements of the government formed a new era in Indian missions. The public are now made acquainted with the amount collected for all these institutions. The expenses may be compared with the probable amount of good done, and the number of children taught. There were some complaints against this measure; and some said they would rather do without the aid of government funds, than have such strict inquiry, made into their private concerns. The department favored me with the amount of every establishment in the United States for one year, and I should give it now, but it is mislaid, and I cannot find it; but the reader will not think me vain when I say, that our school and mission was the most prosperous one under the government. I attribute its prosperity to the account of faithfully preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to these Indians, and its blessed effect on the hearts of those that believed. Nor do I believe that any mission can be successful to any extent, unless the power of the Gospel of Jesus makes it so. All these preliminaries to the civilization and christianization of the heathen world, are the inventions of man: the Gospel is God's own institution. All that is necessary is to preach the Gospel to every creature. It is adapted to his condition; and God has chosen it as the great means of saving the world. To human policy this plan is contemptible, and is judged quite inefficient; but it is the power of God unto salvation, to all who believe. CHAPTER XII. May, 1824-Missionary meeting at Baltimore-Anecdotes and address by Summerfield-The aunt and her niece—Mr. Wirt taken for an Indian-Note from Rev. Richard Reece-Influence of religion in civilization-Impulse given to missionary exertions—Letter of T. Jackson, Philadelphia-Also of L. Dorsey, Baltimore-Mr. M'Kenney's letter-Contemplated division of their lands-Mr. M'Kenney's letter on this point-State of the mission at the close of the year-Bishop Soule's letter-State of the Wyandott mission in Canada. DURING the session of the General Conference in Baltimore, in 1824, the "Baltimore Missionary Society" held its anniversary, on the 11th of May, to which I was invited by a note from William Brown, Corresponding Secretary. It was expected that some of the chiefs of the Wyandotts would have been present; but from circumstances which they could not control, they were prévented. Nevertheless, the assembly was large, and the venerable M'Kendree presided. With him sat on the platform, his worthy colleagues, Bishop Roberts and Bishop Soule, elect, the Rev. Richard Reece, delegate from the British Conference, with his colleague, the Rev. John Hannah, the Rev. John Summerfield, of precious memory, the Rev. William Capers, of the South Carolina Conference, with many other ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Bishop Kemp, of the Protestant Episcopal Church, was present; also, the Hon. William Wirt, with many others, too numerous to be named, graced the platform. This was a meeting of the greatest interest I had ever seen. Addresses were delivered by Messrs. Reece, Hannah, and Capers. I was called up to tell about the work of God amongst the Wyandotts. I felt confound ed, to speak after the thrilling addresses that had preceded me; and indeed should not have been able to say any thing, but from the encouragement of my English friends. I commenced telling how we preached, and what effect it had produced; how we lived, and what pleasure we had in the prosecution of our labors; that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was adapted to the condition of men in any situation; and the only means to be successfully employed in the civilization of man, wherever he lived, whether in the city or in the wilderness; and that missionary societies and missionaries promote civilization. These remarks opened a fine field for the eloquence of Summerfield, and the narration of appropriate anecdotes, which I shall never forget. First, he told us he was, in company with another Methodist preacher, sent as a missionary to some uncultivated district of Ireland. They traveled on foot-preached in the market places, and then from house to house. They cried,, "Behold, behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world." In one of these little towns, after they had preached, they looked for somebody to invite them home. He got an invitation; but his colleague stood on the street for sometime. At length a poor woman came, and asked him to her hovel. It was thatched with straw; and there was a table, and a stool, and some straw in the corner, on which the family slept. They accommodated their preacher with the best they had. In the morning, the poor woman thought she must get the preacher some breakfast before he went. She made a bannock (cake) of oat meal, and put it to bake. Then she went out to buy a half-pennyworth of tea. While she was gone, a poor woman, who had been convicted under the word |