of the Mission; that of course the Missionaries constantly appear in the character of benefactors, to all the children, who will be likely to exert an influence when grown to manhood; that the organization and superintendence of schools are the most successful means of procuring a regular audience, on the Sabbath, to attend the preaching of the Gospel; that the adult population can be approached in no other way so beneficially, as through the medium of their children; and that a patient, laborious, constant attention to the education of children, without expecting or desiring any reward but their good conduct, affords evidence of disinterestedness, and an earnest desire to do good, which neither the pupils, nor their parents, nor any other class of persons, can refuse to acknowledge.

Preaching the Gospel.

Public worship is regularly attended on the Sabbath, at all the stations. The mission families, domestics, schoolboys, and other natives attend. The whole number at Tillipally varies from 200 to 400, the usual number being about 300; the greater part of whom are children. Prayers are offered in the church, accompanied by the reading of the Scriptures, morning and evening through the week. The boys at the station, and some other natives, are present at these seasons. During several months that Dr. Scudder and Mr. Spaulding resided at Tillipally, they frequently made known the great truths of the Gospel, in the neighbouring villages, wherever access could be gained to the people, in the house by the way, or in the field. And since they have removed to other stations, Mr. Woodward follows the same course. At first they were obliged to preach by an interpreter; but their assiduous attention to the language so far conquered it, that two of the newly arrived Missionaries, Messrs. Winslow and Woodward, preached in Tamul early in November, only eight months after

they became settled on a mission ground.

Preaching has also been regularly attended at a rest house, in the neighbourhood of Tillipally, on Sabbath afternoons, for more than three years. Several of the head men are usually present, and many others who are unwilling to meet at the church. A striking effect of the preaching at this place has been, that a schoolmaster, strongly addicted to heathenism, has been induced to bring his boys with him to this place of worship; and after a long conflict with his old prejudices and feelings, has at last placed his school under the care of the Missionaries. Evangelical labours have been continued at all the stations, in the neighbouring villages, and among the people generally, as the health of the Missionaries, and other circumstances would permit.

It has been a subject of regret with the Committee, that the state of the Treasury would not allow of so large. remittances, for the purposes of education in Ceylon, as the wants of the children, and the openings of Providence seemed to require; nor even as seemed to have been already pledged by the previous remittances, taken in connexion with donations given for this express object. The missionaries themselves have been under apprehensions, in respect to a regular provision for their own continually recurring necessities; and have been obliged to avail themselves of credit, in order to proceed at all in their various operations. This necessity has arisen in part from the want of frequent opportunities to remit money to the east; but principally from the straitened circumstances of the Treasury, and the pressing demands from other quarters. Quite recently a considerable bill has been paid, drawn by the Missionaries, and negociated through the kind agency of a Wesleyan Missionary, and his Society in London. At the present rates of exchange, this mode of supplying the Mission is disadvantageous :

and would be avoided, were funds at hand to keep remittances somewhat in advance of estimated expenditures.

It is a very gratifying fact, that Missionaries of different societies co-operate harmoniously in Ceylon, where they often meet for united prayer and mutual councils. In many instances the Missionaries of this Board have experienced kindness from their brethren engaged in the same work, sent forth by the principal Missionary Societies in Great Britain But on no occasion has greater promptness been shown, than by the Corresponding Committee of the Church Missionary Society at Calcutta, who, when it was known that a printer had arrived in Ceylon, and the press sent from America could not be readily found, immediately resolved to present a press to the American Missionaries; a resolution which was not carried into effect, only because Mr. Garrett was obliged to leave his contemplated station.

It ought also to be mentioned, as a

pleasing and favourable circumstance, that the house of Arbuthnot, De Monte & Co. at Madras, through whose agency several remittances have been made to our eastern missions, generously declined receiving the usu al allowance for transacting business of this nature; and, in a polite note to the Treasurer and to the Missionaries at Bombay, offered their gratuitous services on similar occasions in future. Edward A. Newton, Esq. of Boston, expecting to reside several years at Calcutta, has made the same generous offer; and has expressed the utmost readiness to promote the interests of this Board, and of the cause of Missions generally, by every means in his power. When gentlemen of great respectability in the commercial world lend the influence of their names, their example, and their valuable services, to the work of spreading the Gospel, it may be taken as one indication, among many others, that commerce will eminently assist the progress of divine truth.

The attention of the Board, during the year, has been directed, in several instances, to the same field which have heretofore employed their efforts. It has been regarded by them as a most important object, to water the seed already sown, and protect the plants that are springing up. It will, however, be perceived, that they have by no means restricted their attention to these, but have entered upon other fields, not less deserving of the benevolent interest and charitable exertions of the community.

Mission to the State of Missouri.

The self-denying and useful labours of the Rev. Charles S. Robinson, who had been for two years your Missionary in the state of Missouri, recommending him to the continued patronage of the Board, his commission was renewed for the year. His labours have, as formerly, been principally confined to St. Charles, and several towns and settlements in its vicinity. His communications represent the congregation at St. Charles, and his meetings in the neighbouring towns, as increasing in number

of hearers and wearing an encouraging aspect of seriousness. A few individuals had been hopefully converted unto God, some of whom had made a public profession of their faith. He also speaks of the Sabbath School, which he had succeeded in establishing at St. Charles, as affording him, in the improvement of the children, a rich reward for the labour of conducting it. "My work," he observes, "is arduous, out I am not discouraged in my attempts to aid in building up the Redeemer's kingdom in these goings down of the sun. Missouri was not overlooked in the counsels of eternity." In a communication to the Board, dated at St. Charles, sometime in May, he says, "there has been good attention to the word in this place. Last Sabbath we enjoyed the interesting spectacle of four, as I hope, new-born souls, coming forward and publicly taking the vows of God upon them. Six others joined us on certificate. May this mercy prove only the commencement of an abundant blessing. O Lord revive thy work, is my daily petition; and, I believe, of some of God's people here. Several persons seemed much affected yesterday. O how much do we need help! Many infant churches, in this wilderness, are asking for spiritual bread, but, alas! there is none to impart it to them." Mission to the County of Genessee,

State of New-York.

Among those whom you have long employed as your Missionaries in this state, is the Rev. John F. Bliss, of Clark

son.

His services, while in your employment, have been principally devoted to such destitute places in Genessee County, as are adjacent to his pastoral charge. "Since my last," he says, in his communication of July 27th, " I have organized a church at Gaines, sixteen miles to the west, consisting of fourteen members, which I frequently visit. At Parma we have very good attention to the word, particularly on the Sabbath. The church has increased in numbers since its formation, and promi

ses to be a respectable society. I also visit several places to the north, from time to time, and preach to very full assemblies."

In a later communication, after repeating the circumstance of his attention being chiefly devoted to Parma, he says, "I, however, hold myself ready to answer every call for ministerial and missionary services, in all the destitute region round about; occasionally attending church meetings with the infant churches; spending a sabbath with one or another of them, to administer the sacraments, and attending occasional and stated lectures, and numerous funerals. The church and society at Sandy Creek, and those at Clarendon, depend entirely upon me for ministerial labours. A very destitute region to the north, and of large extent east and west, rerequires considerable attention. The inhabitants are so poor, and, consequent-. ly fluctuating, that it is impossible to find permanent materials for constituting churches at suitable distances. Between this and Lewiston lies a tract of country fifty-six miles in length, and about twenty or twenty-five miles in width; almost the whole of which is settled, and yet containing but one Presbyterian clergyman upon it. We need more ministers this way; but while I say this, the painful fact must be added, that the inhabitants are not as yet able to support them." Mr. Bliss is cordially received in all the places which he visits. The people evince an encouraging disposition to improve the means of grace, and some instances of hopeful conversion have occurred. He has been successfully attentive to the promotion of Sabbath Schools; and the distribution of Bibles, tracts, and other useful books. The Board are concerned to state, that the health of this disinterested and indefatigable labourer in the vineyard, appears to be unequal to his efforts.

The Rev. Calvin Colton, of Le Roy, in the same County, received a commission for four months. during the

present year. His report to the Board discovers that he has been industriously employed in disseminating the gospel in the region about Le Roy. He has directed his attention to the visiting of families. In this department of ministerial service," he has been much encouraged, animated, and strengthened; and is persuaded that it is of the greatest moment to the success of stated pastors." He proposes to restrict his labours, during the rest of his mission, to the town of Bethany. One reason assigned for this measure is, that he has found a little Zion there, prostrate, forsaken, and trodden down, but which now has the prospect of being soon increased from five or six to twenty or thirty members.

Mr. Colton has transmitted a truly affecting account of the prevalence of destructive errors and immoralities, in some parts of the county. He also confirms the statement of Mr. Bliss, relative to the want of religious teachers, and the inability of the inhabitants to support them. "What," he remarks, "is to become of the churches and people here, is a desponding inquiry; so weak are they in themselves, and so few the number of Missionaries. Do Christians every where remember the exhortation of the Saviour, Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth more labourers ?""

Mission to the Counties of Oneida and Otsego.

It having been represented to the Board that there were many infant churches in the counties of Oneida and Otsego, destitute of stated pastors, and unable to support them, they appointed the Rev. Henry Smith, of Camden, to perform a mission of three months in that region. He received his commission in January, and executed it at different times, as the state of his pastoral charge would permit. His attention was chiefly directed to the towns of Vienna, Western, Lee, Trenton, Florence, Wil

liamston, and two remote settlements at Camden. His reception by the people in these places, was such as must ever gladden the heart of the pious and indefatigable Missionary. In several, his labours were productive of very desirable consequences. During his stay at Lee, "he visited nearly every member of the church, (which contains seventy persons,) exhorting them to be faithful to their vows, and to strengthen the things which remained and were ready to die." With this preparation, he administered to them the sacrament of the supper, at which they appeared to be uncommonly affected and quickened in their duties. One individual from the world became a subject of conviction. And in consequence of Mr. Smith's advice and exhortations, an immediate and successful effort was made by the congregation, to obtain preaching for themselves.

His visit to the town of Vienna gave an impulse to the cause of piety there. A more than ordinary excitement was produced. His ministration proved, under God, the means of animating the professors of religion, and of leading some, who had long indulged a belief of their acceptance with Christ, to unite themselves publicly with his people. They were also sanctified to the hopeful conversion of a determined enemy to the truth. And the congregation were persuaded to take immediate measures for the support of Christian ordinances.

In Williamston there has been a revival of religion, which the labours of Mr. Smith had influence in promoting. He mentions the hopeful converts as being, in number, about twenty, and, considering their advantages, remarkably well grounded in the essential doctrines of the gospel. "In a meeting for inquiry respecting their religious views and feelings," he observes, "I was richly rewarded for my toils when I witnessed their growth in knowledge and grace." In some other towns, the dispensation of the Gospel was manifestly owned of God, and, it is believed, has

proved effectual to the conversion of precious souls.

Mr Smith attended from six to eight religious meetings a week; made two hundred and sixty family visits; baptized four adults, and seventeen infants, and admitted twenty-six as members of the church.

Notwithstanding the county of Oneida contains a large number of settled ministers, Mr. Smith states, that it has no less than seventeen destitute churches. The nearest settled minister, east of Camden, is eighteen miles; west, twenty-five miles; and north, forty. He is decidedly of opinion, that while Missionary, and other charitable associations, are bound to persevere in their endeavours to furnish these infant churches with religious instruction, it is of the greatest moment that they be early taught to do something for themselves.

Mission to the County of Steuben. The Rev. William Stone was appointed to a mission of six months, in Steuben County, it being left to his judgment to select the particular scene of his efforts. He entered upon the duties of his appointment towards the last of June, and arrived at Pulteny on the fifth of July. In this extensive town he preaches at three different places, on the Sabbath; and extends his labours into the adjacent settlements, as Providence permits. "I may advise you generally," he says, in a late communication to the Board, "that I deliver three discourses on the Lord's day, and from two to three in the week; attend monthly and other prayer meetings, and am almost constantly engaged in family visits, and religious conversation. I visit the schools often, and make religious addresses to the instructers and their pupils. I cannot but hope that something good and great from God, is yet in store for this people, who are like scattered sheep without a shepherd. May the High and Holy One afford them, in due time, the gracious effusions of his good spirit."

Recent Missions to other Western Counties.

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The Board have recently appointed two other Missionaries to the new settlements the Rev. Matthew Harrison of Prebble, to spend four months in the counties of Courtland, Onondaga, Chenango, and Cayuga; and the Rev. Samuel J. Mills of Moscow, for two months, in such places as he shall consider most deserving of Missionary aid. From these, no communications have been received.

With this detail, must the Report take leave of the more distant operations of the society; not, however, without stating that the managers experience an increasing desire to augment their exertions in aid of the new settlements. They are distressed with the thought, that so large a number of infant churches along our western border, and even far back in the country, are at this moment not only destitute of the means of grace, but entirely unable to procure them. In vain do these emigrants from our altars and paternal roofs turn back the longing eye, and extend the imploring hand for the bread of life. Unless some more efficient means are devised of supplying this vast and populous section of our country with religious instruction, it must soon present the aspect of a moral waste, and disclose a population almost literally ignorant of the God of their forefathers.

Mission to Long-Island.

The Board appointed Mr. Joseph D. Wickham, a licentiate of the New-Haven Association, to a mission of three months in destitute places on LongIsland. He commenced his tour on the fifteenth of May, and reached Rockaway on the seventeenth. In that district, containing about eighty families of different religious denominations, and a house for worship which is open for all, Mr. Wickham made his first. missionary efforts. He visited many families of the poorer class, distributing