not reason to fear, that he will be ruined himself for ever, and that he will be in a great measure useless, if not a pest to the community? How then can the Bible Society better dispose of a proportion of their funds, than by distributing the scriptures among the youth, who are destitute, in all parts of the state? And shall it not be a great object to increase the funds of the society for this purpose? What can be proposed to the Christian, or to the patriot, which is more important or interesting in its consequences, or more calculated to engage their benevolent feelings, or enlarge their liberal views ? But our charity is not all circumscribed within the limits of New-Hampshire. Without neglecting the needy at home, we can do good to millions abroad. As an auxiliary to the American Bible Society, our liberality may flow in the various and widely extended channels of that noble and highly favoured institution. In this grand national enterprise we have already embarked, with increasing numbers of our beloved countrymen, in almost every section of the United States. An enterprise like this never before invited the attention of the good people of NewHampshire. Here is ample scope for the exercise of their benevolence, and the display of their generosity; here they may show their compassion to millions of souls that are famishing for the word of life. Through the medium of our National Bible Society we may help to relieve the urgent necessities of multitudes. Shall we deny ourselves the privilege of relieving them? Shall we leave them to perish? We congratulate the friends of the Bible, and the friends of humanity, on the prosperity of the American Bible Society: its illustrious career is stil! pursued, under the smiles of that gracious Being, who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. In accomplishing the purposes of His love, this institution seems designed to perform an important part. In doing this it will reflect the highest honour on our nation, or those especially who are its generous patrons and most efficient agents. After taking a brief view of the operations of the National Society, and the societies in Europe, the Report proceeds :-Surely it must animate us to witness these exertions, and their success. When the word of the Lord is thus spreading and producing such changes, shall not every heart and hand be engaged? Can any hesitate as to duty or privilege? Can any friend of God or man be reluctant to enlist in this cause, or to promote it with becoming zeal? The cause will prevail; the word of God will be a light to all nations. Your every exertion in the cause of God, your every offering to the Lord, will contribute to the glorious consummation. We highly prize the smaller contributions of persons in humble circumstances, as well as the larger donations of the affluent. We solicit, and we thankfully receive, the aid of all; and, while we acknowledge with great pleasure the offerings of the rich, we likewise feel peculiar satisfaction in seeing how much is contributed by those who have far less of this world's goods: these should be more encouraged to present their humble offerings to the Lord: these may form themselves into Bible Associations, and subscribe one or two cents a week, or any other sum, as they please. From such small streams, extensively multiplied, a wide flowing river would enrich the Zion of our God. The members of such associations would find it more blessed to give than to receive. By such small contributions, they might have the satisfaction of supplying their own wants, and then the wants of others. This would endear to them the Bible, and give them more interest in its circulation. Many of the youth in Sabbath Schools might be very fond of joining such associations; and in this way, all the destitute in the school might at least be furnished with Testaments. We invite attention to this subject, and express our hope to see such associations formed in many of our towns and villages. UNITED FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Summary of the Fourth Annual Report, presented at the annual meeting, May 10, 1820. Rev. PHILIP MILLEDOLER, D.D. 121 Fulton-st. Secretary for Foreign Correspondence. The facts presented in this report are of a highly interesting character, and we shall not detain our readers from the perusal of them by offering remarks of our own on the importance of the subject, but let the details here presented speak for themselves; and earnestly pray that they may speak to the heart and conscience, and induce the rich and the poor to unite their prayers and their contributions to aid in this glorious enterprise, so evidently the work of the Lord. After noticing the favourable manner in which their correspondence has been received and reciprocated by the "Church Missionary Society," in London-the" Society in Scotland for Promoting Christian Knowledge," in which that respectable society express a willingness to co-operate with the Board in christianizing the Indians, and stating that auxiliary societies have been formed in Warwick, Orange county, in this state, and in Northumberland and Sunbury, in Pennsylvania, the Report proceeds to give an account of the journeys of their agents, whose appointment was announced last year. (See C. H. Vol. VI. p. 126.) "We announced in our last Report, the appointment of Messrs. Epaphras Chapman, and Job P. Vinall, as agents, to visit the Missouri Territory, to examine the state of the different Indian tribes, and to select suitable ground for missionary sta tions. Having been regularly licensed to preach the gospel, received their instructions, and made other necessary preparations for their journey, they left their friends at Princeton on the 5th of May, 1819, and, encouraged by the prayers of their fellow - students, and the parting benediction of their former instructors, went on their way rejoicing. During their stay in Philadelphia, they had an interesting interview with Peter S. Duponceau, Esq. Corresponding Secretary of the American Historical and Philosophical Society of that city, who encouraged them very much. He kindly offered to assist our missionaries in acquiring a knowledge of the language and customs of the natives; and if this society should be desirous of publishing any manuscripts on Indian languages, in possession of the Historical Society aforesaid, engaged to translate them, and to superintend and correct the press. He also advised them to visit, confer with, and profit by the experience of the United Brethren at Bethlehem, in Indian missions. Our missionaries were treated with much hospitality in all their way to the seat of government. At Washington they were kindly received by the officers of government, and were much indebted for the exertions, in their behalf, of Thomas L. M'Kinney, Esq. agent of Indian affairs, and Joseph Nourse, Esq. register of the treasury. From the Secretaries of State and War, they obtain ed letters with the public seals, recommending them to the special favour and protection of all officers of government, wherever they might sojourn. Colonel M Kinney also addressed letters of introduction to all the agents and factors among the Indians, wherever there was a prospect that they might travel; commending our missionaries to their care; urging them to promote the great work in which they were engaged; to furnish interpreters and guides, and to exert all their influence with the Indians to facilitate the objects of the mission. "To these documents they were very much indebted for the successful prosecution of their journey. "From Washington they proceeded through the western part of Virginia, and eastern part of Tennessee, directly to Brainard, a missionary station of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, situated on the south side of Chickawangah River, a branch of the Tennessee. By the people between Washington and Brainard, they were generally well received. A few appeared to regard the missionary cause with great interest, confidently anticipated the success of our agents, and firmly believed that the Lord was now appearing gloriously to build up Zion. A larger number doubted whether the Indians would ever be converted; and many appeared to cherish, from the recollection of former sufferings of themselves and relatives in Indian wars, the most inveterate prejudices, not only against the Indians, but also against all those who were disposed to show them any favour. Our agents exerted themselves, in passing In a through the states, to communicate as much missionary information as possible; to remove the prejudices of the people; to awaken in them a missionary spirit, and to prepare them for contributing, at some future period, to the missionary cause. great number of places in the valley of Virginia, and East Tennessee, they were promised by the friends of religion, that they would attempt to form auxiliary societies, assist in civilizing the Indians, and join with us in sending them the gospel. "Our missionaries were received, at the agency of the Cherokee nation, with particular attention and respect, by Colonel Meigs, the United States agent, and by his excellency the governor of Tennessee. "The governor addressed a letter in their behalf to the principal men among the Cherokees, on the Arkansas. Colonel Meigs also wrote to the chiefs of the Cherokee nation, in that territory. After informing them of the character and design of our missionaries, he observed- These good men will be glad to be instruments, under the guidance of the Great Spirit, in carrying into effect the object of their honourable society; it is not doubted by me, that you will receive these ministers as, indeed, your loving brothers, because you have already tasted, in a small degree, of what is now offered you. Your favourable answer will cheer their hearts, and enable them to make a pleasing report to those great and good men who sent these young ministers to see you. Your good disposition, and good sense, will enable you to consider the value of what is proposed to you, and to give them a proper answer; and may the Great Spirit direct and keep you and your children.' "In a letter from the same agent, to governor Clarke, who then controled the whole country through which our missionaries were to pass after an affectionate introduction, explaining the nature of their errand, and the advantage they were hoping to derive from the information and advice which he could communicateadverting to the views of our society, and the success of the missionaries at Brainard, he observed This plan promises more than has yet been done by our ancestors in this country. To consider industry as one of the moral virtues, and, as especially enjoined on man by the Creator, will be a sentiment inculcated by the teachers. If idleness can be banished, vice will go with it, and will be succeeded by industry; and the moral virtues, and civilization will be attained.' As strangers to the immense wilderness of the western country, they were commended to his friendly aid, and especially for advice on access to the Osage and Caddoo tribes of Indians. Letters of similar import were also addressed, by that gentleman, to Major Lewis, agent of the Arkansas Cherokees, and to Captain Charles Reese, formerly one of the great warriors of the nation, now a humble Christian, and an industrious farmer. On their journey they were accom VOL. VII. 2 A panied by Captain John Brown, brother of the celebrated Catharine Brown; and by Captain John Miller, the United States interpreter, entirely at the expense of the government. On their arrival at Brainard they were received by the missionaries with inexpressible joy. Few scenes,' said one of our agents, 'ever afforded me so much happiness as I witnessed there." "No pains were spared in affording them assistance, and forwarding the accomplishment of their object. From that place our agents addressed a letter to this Board, giving a general account of the rules for the government of that station, and communicating the plan of building for a new establishment, which has been seen and approved by the President of the United States. "The Arkansas Indians having lost their principal chief, and being, in consequence of it, in some disorder, our missionaries were apprehensive that they might fail of success. "They received every assistance, however, not only from their brethren at Brainard, but from the excellent Mr. Gambold and his wife, as well as from individual chiefs, and from collections of chiefs in the old nation. "They received an excellent letter from Mr. Charles Hicks, the most influential chief in the old nation, addressed to the beloved man or king, and his warriors, at Arkansas. After introducing our missionaries in the most impressive and affectionate manner, pointing out the society by whom they were sent, the object of their journey, and the advantages to be derived from the education of their children in religion, in letters, and in the arts of civilized life—having exhibited the nations of red people, from adherence to their ancient habits, as so melting away before the whites, that in some instances nothing was left of them but the national name, he observed-You may think it very strange for men to go so far to instruct your children, and yet ask nothing for their trouble. I will tell you that the Son of our common Father above, has commanded his believers to go and make his will known to all people who are ignorant of it, and in love to his revealed will are they come to you, to ask your consent to instruct your children, that they may be raised to their future prosperity. My friend, we know of no nations of red people who have gone so far to instruct the ignorant; it is, therefore, in perfect obedience to the mandate from above, that has brought forth great numbers of our elder brothers, among the different nations of red people, to instruct them to be as happy and prosperous as themselves.' This letter was closed with describing their experience of the character and conduct of the Brainard missionaries. We have found them,' said he, to be our true friends, for they are friends to all mankind. You will find that to be true which I have told you.' This letter was accompanied by one from a young chief, by the name of Ross, addressed to one of the principal chiefs at the Arkansas, replete with argu |