be done, I do not think the Establishment, supposing it to consist of fifty children, would cost more than one thousand dollars per annum.

Say superintendent and his family,

Interpreter and teacher for the male, and one female teacher, aided by the superintendent's wife, for the females, Three female servants for washing, weaving, dairy and other domestic purposes, $50 each.

Two young men to manage the farin, $100 each,

$400

200

150

200

$950

From this imperfect statement you may form some estimate what it will take.

Feb. 18th. Some time has elapsed since I commenced this epistle, for I can only write at intervals. The night meeting I mentioned was a good time, and fifteen joined society, four of whom, with their wives, are the principals of the nation. One very wild young woman, while I was trying to preach, on the certainty of the damnation of the finally impenitent, was struck with the power of God, fled out of the house, and fell her length on the ground, was taken up, and brought in. In this situation she remained for some time; but I believe she did not experience the pardon of her sins at that time. I have not heard from her since. On Saturday last I visited the school, twelve miles from this place; here I found eleven scholars, all of whom could spell in three letters, but could not pronounce distinctly. On the Sabbath I tried to preach, from "Watch and pray always." We had a good meeting. Brother Between-the-logs exhorted with much feeling; and I believe with good success. I then met the class. All appeared to be engaged, and one joined, named Big-River, a man I married a year ago.

I shall at all times feel myself under obligations to give you all the information in my power on the subject of this mission and school; and if you should think proper to communicate any part of this desultory epistle to our Book-Agent in New-York for his useful Magazine, you are at liberty. He has requested me to forward to him the state and progress of this work; but I have not had leisure yet, nor shall I for some time be able to do so. If your Benevolent Institution should see proper to collect any articles of clothing, or bedding, as blankets, &c. they can be forwarded to brother Martin Ruter, Book Agent at Cincinnatti.* I beg leave to recommend to your kind consideration, our

*

Any kind friends to the Missionary cause who are disposed to make donations of clothes, blankets, bedding, &c. are respectfully informed that they can be deposited at Mr. Wm. Browne's dwelling, Pace-street, at Mr. Samuel Howard's store, No. 17 North Howard-street; at Armstrong & Plaskitt's Book-Store, Market-street; and at Mr. Abraham Hyams' Paint and Paper Store, Bridge-street, Old-Town, Baltimore; and at the Methodist Book-Room, No. 5 Chatham-Square New-York.

beloved sister Harriet Stubbs, who has left all for Christ and this people; and is now sitting contented with her little Indian girls around her, spelling and knitting. Perhaps it would be a gratification, if she were to receive a letter from some of her young sisters, introductory to a mutual correspondence. My dear young friends, I must now bid you farewell-pray for us daily. Mrs. Finley and all the family join in love to you all. JAMES B. FINLEY.

Yours,

P. S. Perhaps you may wish to know how I fare amongst these poor Indians, with regard to food and lodging. Some are endeavouring to be cleanly, and to live more like the white people. On Saturday morning I breakfasted with my worthy friend, Between-the-logs, on meat and potatoes; I dined with another friend on a Deer's head and boiled corn; I supped with a third on boiled beans, hommony, and a piece of Raccoon. I eat as well and as much as I can. I slept on a blanket with an Indian man, and we had another blanket to cover us. On the morning of the 14th, one of our old sisters left us and her family, in the faith of the gospel; and we comfort ourselves that she rests in Abraham's bosom. She was a Chief's wife.

UPPER CANADA MISSION.

REV. AND DEAR BROTHER,

I embrace this opportunity of communicating to you, and through you, to the Methodist Missionary Society in New-York, an account of the Mission to which brother Smith and myself were appointed at the last session of the Genesee Conference. Some of the difficulties to which a Missionary would necessarily be subject in the newly settled parts of this country, I mentioned in a letter to brother Bangs. I have to say, that in this respect we have not been disappointed. But we had counted the cost, and resolved that nothing of this nature should impede our efforts in the undertaking. Though it was with many fears, but with many prayers to God, that we entered the field, we have great cause of rejoicing in the abundance of divine mercy, and the success of our labours. From the deep interest you take in the prosperity of Zion, I am confident you will rejoice to learn that the God of missions has been with us, and that the wilderness has, in some measure, become a fruitful field.

The last of August we passed into the new settlements about thirty miles from this place; and made it our first object to ascer tain the state of the country, the wants and dispositions of the people, and to what places we might, with the best prospect of success, direct our attention. We found the inhabitants in geneVOL. V.

25

ral composed of English, Scotch, and Irish, with a few American families; possessing different habits and inclinations, and consequently differently disposed as it respects religion. But they received us kindly, and generally expressed a desire to have the gospel preached among them. To extend our labours to all those places where this desire was manifested, it was necessary to travel over a large extent of country, frequently without any open roads, and sometimes without even the mark of the axe upon trees to guide us from one settlement to another. To travel with horses was found impracticable; both from the state of the roads, and want of accommodation for our beasts.

I found it necessary to return to my station in this place, before I could visit all those townships which were considered proper missionary ground; nor have I been able since to travel so extensively as I could wish, from the important duties connected with my charge in town. Brother Smith has generally remained in the bush, while, as often as possible, I have gone to his assistance. He has performed his tours altogether on foot, directing his course by a small pocket compass where there was no path, and sometimes travelling from four to ten miles without meeting with the footsteps of man, or a house to shelter him from the storm.

Although the people had generally expressed a wish to have preaching, yet at first but few attended; four or five on week days, and not many on the Sabbath. Contending with difficulties common to new settlers, and anxious to render themselves comfortable in worldly circumstances, so much did the cares of life engross their attention, that it was difficult to engage their minds in the duties of religion. In numerous instances the Sabbath was not regarded as holy to the Lord, but devoted to worldly purposes; and many who were once living witnesses of the power of godliness, had become lax in religious duties, and seemed to have lost, in a great measure, their spiritual enjoyments.

But glory and praise to God, the scene is changed. An astonishing alteration in the manners of the people soon became visible; not in one or a few places only, but generally where the gospel was preached. Where formerly our congregations were very small, houses are now crowded with listening multitudes, anxious to hear the word of salvation; and their inquiry is not so much, "What shall we eat, and what shall we drink?" but in many instances, "What shall I do to be saved?" The gathering. crowds upon the Sabbath, and the multitudes which frequently press to the house of worship in the evenings, witness the solicitude of their minds by their serious attention, and often by tears and cries of penitence. To see them in every direction coming from the woods with lighted torches, has often filled us with a pleasing solemnity, and led us to reflect upon the importance of those realities, which have excited this deep interest in their

minds. We have had the pleasure of witnessing not only the tears, but in some instances, the joyful conversion of penitents. In the townships of Esquesing and Chinquacousy, the Lord has favoured us with a revival; and a number have been brought from "darkness to light," and "made free from the law of sin and death." They are principally young people. The work still appears to be progressing, and our meetings are crowned with the gracious presence of our God.

In October we held our first quarterly meeting. It was, indeed, a season long to be remembered. Nearly one hundred collected upon the Sabbath, and about forty communicants came forward at the sacrament of the Lord's supper. Our seven months' labour, I trust, has not been in vain. We have formed six societies, and added nearly seventy members. The greater part of these were members before, in different parts of Europe and America; and others, we trust, are the fruits of recent labours. One circumstance of importance is, the members generally evidence a genuine work of grace in their hearts; and there is a gradual increase of holiness and zeal. Two Sabbath schools have been formed, in which are about fifty or sixty children.They promise to become useful and important auxiliaries to the cause of religion in this infant establishment. One house of worship has been erected, and two others will probably be completed in the course of the ensuing season. Surely the Lord is at work among the people; and I believe he will still perform gloriously in this country. The views and efforts of our Missionary Society have evidently been seconded by the people, as doubtless they were first sanctioned by the great Head of the church.

The country is new, having been settled but little more than two years. In each of the townships of Esquesing and Chinquacousy there are about one hundred and fifty families; and emigrants are constantly moving into these and other townships adjoining. I would wish to suggest to our Missionary committee the necessity of persevering efforts in regard to this Mission; as I think we have reason to be encouraged from the success of our first endeavours.

The townships which form our Missionary field this year, are Toronto, Trafalgar, Chinquacousy, Esquesing and Erin. But these do not embrace all the ground where our labour is needed. The call is on every hand, "Come and help us." In Albion, Caledon, Eramosa and Nelson, the people would probably welcome the messenger of salvation; and I am persuaded that our Missionary Society will, if possible, send an additional labourer the next year. The people will probably afford considerable assistance towards their support.

*It likewise extends partly into Trafalgar and Toronto, as these townships join the others to the south,

*

A want of good roads and bridges has rendered the travelling difficult, and sometimes dangerous. But these difficulties will disappear as the country becomes settled; and are far less now than when we first visited the bush.

The prospect in this town is by no means discouraging. There is an evident increase of holiness among Christians; and a number have been hopefully brought to a saving knowledge of the truth. About thirty have been received into the society since I came here, and something more than that number have removed. This will account for the decrease in the returns of the last MinAn unusual seriousness has lately appeared in our congregations, and some at this time are earnestly inquiring the "way to Zion," I am more and more convinced that my appointment to this place was of God; and I have reason to think that I shall ever remember with pleasure and gratitude, my labours in Upper Canada.

Your affectionate brother
And Fellow-labourer

In the Gospel of Christ, F. REED. Rev. T. Mason, Cor. Sec. of the M. M. Society.

York, U. C. 20th March, 1822.

ACCOUNT OF A REVIVAL OF RELIGION ON AMENIA CIRCUIT.

Ar the last Conference I was appointed to travel this cireuit, which, however, only included five societies, and which were before connected with Duchess circuit. The central one, consisting of eighty members, was accommodated with a convenient and elegant Meeting-house. Here preaching was established every Sabbath morning. The other societies were supplied Sabbath afternoon and on week days. Besides these there were some neighbourhoods in which we had no stated preaching, and one object of making this a separate station was to supply these va

cancies.

I endeavoured to avail myself of the earliest opportunity of en tering into these unoccupied fields of labour, and, by holding up to the people and pressing upon their consciences the unadulterated word of God, to induce them if possible to submit to the yoke of Christ. To give the more effect to my public labours, I adopted the singular method of private visits among those families to which I could have access, and supplied the schools with

*I cannot forbear mentioning one circumstance, which may give you some idea of brother Smith's mode of travelling. A want of bridges over the rivers and creeks, would absolutely prevent his passing into some settlements in seasons of high water, did not necessity lead to expedients. He carries with him a small axe or more properly an Indian hatchet; and when he comes to a stream which is not fordable, he falls a tree across it, and so passes over. At other times he passes by climbing up one tree and descending another, where they stand on op posite banks, and form a junction at their tops.