of salvation preached to them. There may you be eminently successful in enlightening them, in dispelling the gloom of heathenish darkness, and disipating the thick mists of bigotry and superstition which now pervade their intellectual powers-may you be instrumental in the hands of Him who can still perform miracles, in irradiating their minds with those rays of knowledge which emanate only from the Great Sun of all truth and Fountain of spiritual light.While reading of the awful crimes which their false religion inculcates, we have been chilled with horror, and have often wished that some one would go and tell them better-tell them that their voluntarily sacrificing themselves on the funeral pile is not an offering acceptable to Heaven-this we believe you will faithfully do, and should it ever be possible, it would gratify us to hear that you have been successful. But we are afraid of trespassing on your patience. When you take your departure from our city and embark on the great deep, may the kind hand of providence protect you from all harm, and propitious breezes waft you to your desired port-and whether we should see you again or not, whether you ever return to your native land or not, may the choicest of Heaven's blessings attend you through this life and the reward of a faithful servant crown you in the next.

Be pleased reverend and dear Sir, to receive our most greatful and united thanks for your kindness to us and aceept this as our

last token of respect, and most affection-
ate farewell.

Harriet Clampffer, Catherine Cooper,
Mary Smith,

Hannah Wildes.

The dear children's offerings amounted to nearly thirty dollars in value. On Saturday May 11th, I sailed in the packet for New Castle, where we tarried three days, on the Monday I visited the Academy at that place, and addressed upwards of one hundred children.

On Tuesday May 14th, we sailed from thence, and on the Tuesday following, having experienced a very heavy gale of wind, we met with the accident which occasioned our return. As the vessel was too small to accomodate so many, together with the hasty manner in which she was refitted, and a variety of other circumstances, we thought proper to decline going to India at that time, and resolved to wait a more favorable opportunity.

As I was returning to Philadelphia, I formed to myself different plans of usefulness, among others that of a monthly lecture to the children and young persons, I made known my intention to the different ministers of Philadelphia, who approved of it, and gave notice to their respective churches; I visited personally more than twenty schools, informing them of the lectures, and sent notices to more than thirty others, by this means it was so well known, that I expected

B

that a goodly number of children would attend ; there were more than five hundred present at the first lecture, and from five to seven hundred children have generally attended: at the lecture on the fire at Richmond, there were supposed to be more than twelve hundred children present.

During the month of July I was busily em ployed in selecting and compiling the children's Hymn Book. In the month of September 1811, I made a tour to the city of New York; on my way I preached at Bristol, Burlington, Trenton and New Brunswick to more than eight hundred children. While in the city of New York, I visited and preached to the children at the Or phan Asylum, and at the New York and African free schools. One evening I addressed more than three hundred coloured children, and on the three last days of my stay in that city, addressed more than a thousand children each day. During this tour, which did not occupy a month in the whole, preached twenty-five times and addressed more than three thousand children, so that I trust I was not brought back to America in vain. In the month of August the children at Frankford and Germantown were addressed.

After my return from New York, a commit. tee of five persons, a branch of the Evangelical Society requested me to take the charge of a new school which was about to be raised in New Fourth street, and on Sabbath evening October 20th 1811, the school house which was scarcely finished was opened, and on the 28th day school

was commenced. It may not be amiss to remark, that the plan of instruction of the children on a Sabbath evening is similar in its nature to that made use of in England; such has been its success, that, in little more than two months, more than three hundred children were admitted into the school; on December 29th 1811, after having erased fifty-six names for non-attendance, two hundred and forty-six remained in the school; the plan may be seen by applying to any of the committee of the Evangelical Society.

On Friday evening November 1st 1811, I commenced a weekly lecture on the catechism, which the children learned on a Sabbath evening, taking two question every evening, and dividing the answers into small parts or particulars, I explained them in a familiar manner to the children; at this lecture, from one hundred to an hundred and sixty children have attended. The children were extremely ignorant, for before they attended at the new school house, only one out of twelve or fourteen children could tell me who made them. This lecture was concluded on Friday, February 7th 1812.

Thus I have endeavoured to give you a very brief account of my labours among the rising generation while in this country, as well as in my native land. I am nothing, Christ is all, for after having preached to more than seven thousand children, all will be in vain without the blessing of God on my feeble endeavours. I have sown the seed, but God must give the in

crease, if but one soul is saved, I shall rejoice and to God shall be all the glory.

"Hast thou a lamb in all thy flock
I would disdain to feed?
Hast thou a foe before whose face
I fear thy cause to plead ?"

Should there be any inclined to criticise this little volume of lectures to children, should they think I spoke and wrote in a style too plain and simple for the dignity of the pulpit, I can only say that I spoke and wrote for children in age and capacity, and not for men of taste and genius. We are too apt to presume upon the capacities of children in general, we think they know much more than it appears by examination they really understand. Let the attendance of the children on the lecture speak in my behalf. I have only to lament that my sudden and unexpected departure prevented me from rendering the lec

tures more correct.

Go my little book, and may the God of all grace by thy means bring many a wandering lamb to the fold of Jesus the good Shepherd and the children's best Friend. It is my earnest prayer to God for you all, that you may

be sav ed, that these lectures which have been so well attended, may prove a blessing to your souls, at the same time I entreat that you will pray for me, that I may be made abundantly useful to the poor children in India. ROBERT MAY.

Philad. Feb. 13, 1812.