large; and in so beautiful an economy the idle had no where to hide themselves.

Among so good laws, what was most excellent, was, that every body was bred up in the spirit of observing them. A new custom was a prodigy in Egypt; every thing went on always in the same regular course; and the exact observance of small matters, maintained those of greater moment and so never was there a people that longer preserved its usages and laws. The order of their courts of justice served to keep up this spirit. Thirty judges were chosen out of the principal cities, to compose the court that judged the whole kingdom. None were to be seen in those places of dignity but persons of the greatest honour and gravity in the whole country. The prince appointed them certain revenues, that so being free from domestic incumbrances, they might bestow their whole time in enforcing the observance of the laws. Nothing did they get by law-suits, and making a trade of justice was yet a thing unthought of. To avoid impositions, affairs were discussed by writing in that assembly. Those sages were afraid of false eloquence, which dazzles the judgment, and moves the passions. Truth could not be set forth in too dry a manner. The president of the senate wore a golden collar set with precious stones, from whence hung a figure without eyes, which was called Truth. His putting it on was the signal for opening the sessions. He moved it towards the party that was to gain his cause, and this was the form of pronouncing sentence. One of the finest ar

tifices of the Egyptians, to preserve their ancient maxims, was to clothe them with certain ceremonies which imprinted them upon the mind. Those ceremonies were observed with due reflection, nor did the serious humour of the Egyptians suffer them to dwindle into bare forms. Those who had no business, and lived an innocent life, might avoid the scrutiny of that severe tribunal. But there was in Egypt one sort of trial altogether extraordinary, which nobody escaped. 'Tis a consolation on a deathbed, to leave one's name in esteem among men, and of all human blessings, this is the only one that death cannot rob us of.. But it was not allowed in Egypt indiscriminately to praise all the dead; this honour was to be had only by a public decree. The moment a man died, he was brought into judgment. The public accuser was heard. If he proved that the conduct of the deceased had been bad, his memory was condemned, and he deprived of burial. The people admired the power of the laws, which extended even after death, and every one, touched with the recent example, feared to disgrace his memory and his family. But if the defunct was not convicted of any misdemeanor, he was buried honourably; and a penegyric was made upon him, but without the least mention of his birth. All Egypt was noble, and besides, no praises there were regarded, but such as were won by merit.

Every one knows how carefully the Egyptians preserved dead bodies. Their mummies are still to be seen. Thus their gratitude to their kindred was immortal: children, by beholding the bodies of their ancestors, called to mind their virtues which the public had acknowledged, and were animated to love the laws they had left them.

To prevent borrowing, whence proceed idleness, frauds, and chicane, king Asychis made a decree, that no man should borrow without mortgaging his father's body to the lender. It was at once impious and infamous, not speedily to redeem so precious a pledge; and he who died without discharging this duty, was denied sepulture.

Religious and Missionary Intelligence.

MISSION AMONG THE WYANDOTS.

Extract of a Letter from the Rev. James B. Finley, to the Rev. S. G. Roszel.

DEAR BROTHER,

Sandusky Mission House, Feb. 20, 1822.

THOUGH We have a thorny field to labour in, yet, blessed be the name of Israel's God, we have some encouragement to labour on. Religion is on the rise; we have congregations, and great attention: some are converted, and some are quickened, backsliders tremble, and the pious rejoice.

I received your welcome letter at a time when gloomy clouds had darkened my mind, and I was under discouragement: but your favour quickened me in spirit. I have written to the Juvenile Society, and addressed the letter to your care. Our family at present consists of thirteen. We rise at 5 o'clock, have family devotion before daylight, breakfast, and then all to business. At 12 we dine: at 7, offer our thanksgiving for the mercies of the day, and retire to bed about 9. Our common fare is sassafras tea for breakfast, with some meat. At dinner, meat and hommoney, and at supper some take tea, and some water, sugar and bread. On these we have our health, and feel thankful. We hope soon to have some milk. I have no other desire than to do the will of my Lord and Master. I work hard every day, and sleep sound every night; but I want more grace. I still feel a want of more of God in my soul. Oh! that I could feel His perfect love, and in all things be conformed to the Divine Mind. Unless God opens the hearts of this people, I cannot be satisfied: without this, it seems to me I might as well be buried alive. I expect in one month to have twelve hundred pannels of fence

up, which will enclose about sixty acres. I have on hand a house, 48 feet by 38, of squared logs: and until I get this ready for occupation, I can do nothing to purpose in a school. I want almost every thing; clothing, bedding, and money to pay my hired labourers. If you can do any thing for us, I shall be thankful. May the Lord ride on prosperously, and may you be more and more successful every day in your labour of love, and patience of hope. Pray for us; and believe that I remain unchangeably Yours,

JAMES B. FINLEY.

TO THE JUVENILE FINLEYAN MISSIONARY MITE SOCIETY OF BALTIMORE, GREETING:

Sandusky Mission House, Feb. 13, 1822.

MAY grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and from our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, inspire your youthful minds with holy ardour and flaming zeal, to grow in holiness, and to spread the honour of his Name as far as the wretched race of Adam has peopled the earth, until "Holiness to the Lord" shall be the motto of all nations.

Although I am buried in this forest among red men, and secluded from Christian society, in a great measure, yet I must acknowledge, as a duty I owe to God, you and myself, I am not worthy of the honour you have conferred on me, by calling your laudable institution by my name. For I am conscious that the hardest station, or the most ignorant class of men in all God's vineyard, deserves a better minister than I am. I daily feel my leanness and barrenness of soul, my unprofitableness as a minister of God. Oh! for more holiness, more power, more love, more zeal, to perform with a ready mind and active will, all my duty in my present station. All my afflictions and sufferings are nothing, if I can only accomplish the benevolent wishes of God's people, and promote the kingdom of my blessed Master and Lord, who has done so much for my poor soul. In the accomplishment of this, I should for ever despair were it not for the promises of the gospel, and knowing that he who sent me, and inspires your youthful minds, hath all power in heaven and earth, and has said, "Ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." Such are the embarrassments and oppositions which present themselves, that to look at them through the eye of human reason, would freeze the soul and make the adventurer flee; but faith in the divine promise gives another colouring, and inspires me with cour age to perseverance, in hope of a final triumph. The difficulty of communicating by interpreters, the avaricious disposition of wicked traders, who vend spirituous liquors among them; their. violent opposition to having the minds of these sons of ignorance

*

instructed, with the prejudices of the Indians against education, and their deep depravity of heart, are some of the most formidable barriers to the progress of religion amongst them. But blessed be God! these difficulties are not altogether insurmountable; for some have "believed with the heart unto righteousness,” and I have reason to believe, that God at this time is most powerfully at work in their hearts. A few sabbaths ago I visited a part of my charge, twelve miles from this place, and for the first time explained our rules, letting them know that I was now determined to form classes, and to establish order and regularity in the societies, and that all who were determined to forsake the traditions of their fathers, and quit dram drinking, should have their names on paper with me; and those who wished to retain their former customs and vices must stay back. Such a season of the outpouring of the Spirit of God I have scarcely ever seen. Oh! what sorrows and joys were vented in sobs and tears. Twentythree came forward and enlisted under the blessed standard of the gospel, while sinners cried aloud for mercy, saying, "O! Sha-shus, Ta-men-tare," ," "for Jesus' sake take pity on us," while some fled from the presence of the Lord. Through grace we have one great advantage. Our best interpreters have caught the holy fire. Last Sabbath, cold as it was, in the open air, only sheltered by some old pieces of bark, I had about two hundred hearers, who sat patiently for nearly three hours to hear the word of God, (so tedious is our manner of preaching by interpreters) while I tried to preach to them. The substance of my sermon was, "Take notice! Jesus stands at your hearts and knocks, and says, if any of you will lay your heart open, and let me come into you, I will live in your hearts and deliver you from sin, and bring you to my good home in Heaven." We had a good time. On Tuesday night I lodged with one of the chiefs, named Between-the-logs, who is very zealous in religion. Almost all night, and until 11 o'clock next day, I was contending with the opposers of religion, particularly with one who had been zealous for God, but is now a wretched apostate. His name is Two-logs; but God gave me power to speak so that the old man felt himself confounded, and he requested the interpreter not to let me know what he said. This the Interpreter refused; and after that, the old man was dumb and all his party. Then Between-the-logs began a pointed and powerful exhortation. God was with us. The believing party wept, rejoiced, shook hands, and triumphed over the gainsayers. This evening we shall have a public prayer meeting at the Council house, and I have given out that I am determined to see who is on the Lord's side. This day I feel a great travail of soul for the success of this meeting. Sometimes I almost fear, at other times

*Hitherto no regulations had been entered into, but one open meeting had been held every sabbath.

I feel a holy triumph in my soul. Just before I commenced this scrawl I was alone in the forest, swinging my mall, and splitting rails to fence a corn field; my soul was deeply engaged with God: when Heaven opened on my soul! I fell on my mall and shouted aloud. Since that, and now while I am writing, I feel as if glory was streaming around! Hallelujah! Glory, honour, and praise to Him, "Who despiseth not the day of small things." I do believe as God is with us, we shall prosper. As it respects the school, our prospect I think is good. We have living with us four Indian girls, which are as many as we can admit, until we get more suitable buildings and more clothes and bedding. I most heartily bless my good Master and Lord that he is in you about to raise up some friends for these poor naked children, who are as wild almost as the beasts. This work is worthy of your youthful compassion, and certainly bespeaks the fervour of your love to God and man. Such is the deep rooted enmity in many of the aged inhabitants in the west, whose friends have been massacred by these savage men, that they would rather exterminate than civilize or christianize them: and my dependence for help in this laborious work is on such as have not those prejudices, and whose minds are more susceptible of sympathy for these poor children of the forest. I have twelve more at school, under Brother Steward, the coloured man, who was the first instrument God honoured in sending light to this people. He still is a worker together with God and us. These children all belong to the Big-mosseyTurtle tribe, and who were so anxious to have their children educated, that they did not feel willing to wait until I could be prepared to take them: so I told them, if they would get a house, and send their children from home until spring, I would hire a teacher and pay for his board. I had not a cent of money to begin with, but trusted in a gracious providence. Oh Lord! raise me up many friends to help in this work. On next Saturday I intend visiting the school, if God permit. The children we have learn fast, and one has made extraordinary progress in learning. When she came to us I do not know that she could understand one word of English. In four weeks she learned to spell in two syllables, and knit herself a pair of mittens. I shall, when my circumstances will admit, enlarge my school. I am labouring to put up a building, which I calculate, will be sufficient to hold fifty or sixty children. I believe I shall have as many as I can take, or find means to provide for. Every thing here is wanting, nothing would come out of place, except ardent spirits, destructive every where.

You request me, my beloved brother Roszel, to make an estimate "What it will take to maintain and school a child for a year." This is a difficult question to solve; as we have nothing but conjecture for our guide. But after the buildings are erected, and our farm is brought into complete operation, which must