all the inclemencies of the weather. Their reception and accommodation, which were among the different ranks in society, were also very various. At some places they were kindly received and entertained with all the conveniences of life; at a few others, though as kindly received, their fare was extremely poor; a miserable cabin screened them from the weather, and a little meat, with the common yam of the country, constituted their food. And, indeed, during the first years, in some instances, the public house was their home, and their private funds their only friends. Though the suffering and voluntary privations of these men were great, yet their love for souls was greater. Impelled by this they kept on their course, preached the good word, and seemed cheerfully to sacrifice whatever they loved before. In the prosecution of this blessed work the gospel has been carried into most of the English settlements, and the people have been taught publicly and from house to house. When the Louisianaian Bible Society had the blessed word for distribution, they have loaded themselves with the sacred treasure, and carried them on horse back from sixty to eighty miles to the distant French and American families. They have used their influence to form schools, and in their rides have searched out and procured teachers; and wherever a number of children could be collected, they have religiously instructed and cate chised them. They also lifted up their voices against the iniquities of the land, and denounced publicly and in private the Divine threatenings against the violators of God's law. During such energetic measures to advance the Redeemer's kingdom, it is not to be expected that Satan would suffer his peaceable reign to be disturbed without opposition. Gross misrepresentations, relative to their views in travelling through the country, were industriously circulated, in order to excite suspicion, and to prevent attendance on their ministry. Others whose views were pointedly exposed, threatened personal abuse, and in some instances, belayed them on the road and attempted to execute their fell purposes. But in every instance they have been defeated; so wonderfully has God shielded these men, that they can say hitherto they "have done us no harm, the God of the armies of Israel has been our shield and buckler." Notwithstanding this ministry has been supplied by men from higher latitudes, yet they have generally enjoyed good health. Not one has fallen a victim to the diseases of the country. Brother Richmond Nolley is the only one who has died, and his was not a disease. In the prosecution of his extensive labours, he attempted to swim across a bayou or creek on his horse; but the current carrying them both down, he was parted from the horse and obliged to swim for the shore. Here it ap pears, he searched a considerable time for a house, but finding none, and being wet and benumbed with the cold, he seems at last to have resigned himself to this inscrutable, but to him, gracious dispensation of Providence. The next day he was found in a grove of woods lying on his back, his hands folded on his breast, and all his garments disposed in the most graceful manner. Near him the mud was indented by his knees, where it seems, after committing his soul to Him who gave it, he arose, adjusted himself in the manner described above, and ascended to that Heaven for which he had so fervently laboured. So died Richmond Nolley, and a more faithful disciple never crossed the Mississippi-he prayed-he preached-he laboured as in sight of Heaven. And when he fell, he fell a martyr— but "his ashes lie, No marble tells us where. With his name, But still he lives-he lives in the memory of thousands. The recollection of his fervent zeal, at this day quickens his brethren, and the purity of his life still reproves the vices of many who knew him-but to return. These servants of God have had the pleasure to see the work of the Lord prosper in their hands. Churches have arisen where none were seen before: and now, the sweet voice of pray. er and praise is heard, where once the savage yell, or the still more horrible imprecation sounded. A considerable number of whites are joined in society, among whom are some of the most distinguished families in the country; and also many of the people of colour. Of the latter great numbers have been awakened and converted to God, but from a variety of causes, could not join society. This class of men have shared largely in the labours of these Missionaries; when the toils of the day were over, they have collected them at night in some old cabin, and instructed, encouraged and raised their desponding hopes to thoughts of Heaven. It is now generally acknowledged that affairs are vastly changed for the better, and that the state of morals is much improved. Gaming and similar diversions are less common, and a desire for useful improvements and the cultivation of letters, seems daily to be gaining ground. The observance of the Sabbath, though no statute of the state requires it, is considerably more regarded; and Religion is now respected, and the means of grace attended by more and more serious hearers. And were there any tolerable supply of zealous holy ministers, we doubt not but that there would be a great ingathering among this people. The instruments under God of producing a change thus far, have not been confined to the Methodists alone; three Baptist ministers in their local sphere have borne a tes timony for the truth. But those who devoted themselves wholly to the work, and carried the glad tidings to the thinly-scattered inhabitants, were more abundantly owned in reforming society and in bringing souls to God. In the good that is done we rejoice, and give God the glory; but much, very much yet remains, particularly amongst the French population. Conscious of this I would submit the following statements to the consideration of the members of the general and several auxiliary Missionary societies in our church. From which it will be seen that the religious condition of Louisiana calls aloud to them, and that the time has fully come when we should have Missionaries here, declaring a pure, uncorrupted gospel to the natives in their vernacular tongue.-For here are many thousands of adult persons who have never heard a protestant sermon, nor read one page in the Holy Scriptures. But I need not urge, I trust it is enough that they only know. Froin my own observations, and those of twenty years residence in the country, whose official duties have brought them extensively through it; it is calculated that three fourths of the inhabitants are French, and that not more than perhaps one in fifteen of this proportion can understand an English sermon. More than this number can probably speak and understand a few English words; they may buy articles at a store, direct you on a road, but it by no means follows that they can understand an argument in English. They think and reason in French, and if ever they are taught any thing beyond the common affairs of life, it must be in that language. The Protestant ministers of the different denominations have preaching only in a few places in ten parishes, and in some of these only occasionally; leaving fourteen in which the gospel as taught by them, has never yet been heard. Indeed, many of these parishes have not had preaching of any kind, and it yet remains for the honour of some Missionary to proclaim the gospel here, and erect a standard for the Prince of Peace. The inhabitants of Louisiana are far from being a rude or a conceited people. If some of them are warmly attached to the former church establishment, others appear to be inquirers after truth; most of them would, I believe, attend to the teaching of a Missionary in their own language, and all would treat him with becoming respect. I have called at many of their houses and have uniformly been received and treated well. Some too, I have found very desirous to know the tenets of other professing Christians; these I have endeavoured to communicate and explain, and have always either discovered a tacit, or received a candid acknowledgement of their reasonableness. Many too attend upon our ministry, though they cannot understand perhaps a dozen sentences in a whole sermon. The truth is, this people must yet be taught the doctrines of the Bible, for hitherto they have had neither written nor oral instruction that would give them an idea of the plan of salvation. The Holy Book has already been widely distributed among them; many have read and are desirous to understand; and now it remains for the holy Evangelical Missionary to go among them in the spirit and dignity of his office to explain and apply these sacred truths. Who will avail themselves of this honour? No part of our great republic is so illy supplied with religious instruction as this, and none surely needs it more. It is easy, however, to censure and expose vice; but until this country has the blessings of an Evangelical ministry, let Christians, who know human nature, be less bitter in their charges. Men of every profession here put to the blush those of the ministry. In every part of the state may be found professional men of talent and ability to fill every requisite station, and those too in sufficient numbers: all who have emigrated hither, among those in the gospel ministry, though needed infinitely more than any of the rest, few, very few, have yet ventured beyond the precincts of what they themselves judge to be unhealthy. But to you-to you Brethren of the Missionary Society, are the eyes of many directed. Solicitude waits on your decisions; and prayer entreats Heaven to direct you— our necessity is our eloquence, and the confident assurance of your Missionary zeal, our hope. May the kingdom of the Redeemer come-May all the ends of the earth remember and turn to the Lord; and all the kindreds of the nations worship before Him. DOUGLASS EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM REV. THOMAS L. DOUGLASS TO THE EDITORS. "THE plan proposed in the Address of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, places things on very advantageous ground. The men to be aided and sanctioned as Missionaries, are to be approved by our annual Conferences, and to act under the direction of our Bishops. Men who, renouncing ease and worldly prospects, devoted to God and His church, and qualified for the divine work in which they have engaged, will spread the word of life; and by uniting precept with example, they will plant the standard of Immanuel, and diffuse light to thousands in regions where darkness now reigns. Oh! could our venerable Father, Bishop Asbury, the apostle of America, have witnessed such a plan matured, and carried into operation by his sons in the gospel, his great soul must have felt such rapture, that like Simeon, he would have exclaimed, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.Admirable system! The strength of Jehovah must be felt by the powers of darkness in the operation of such a plan. I think the publication of the Methodist Magazine, and the establishment of the Missionary Society, both engrafted on the old itinerant Missionary plan, is calculated to impart such energy and spirit to the whole connection, that we shall not only keep up the life and power of religion, where it is already planted, but renewed exertion, and unequalled success since the apostolic age in saving souls from death, will be the resulting consequences." "Nashville is certainly the most central, as well as the most populous town within the limits of this Conference; and therefore ought to be the place for the location of an auxiliary society, and which I shall use my endeavour to establish as soon as possible." Poetry. A SOLILOQUY Of a Heathen Priest, who visited Brit- IN Ceylon 1 wander'd thro' mazes of error, mind. This system, 'tis true, had been taught me by others, To which I adher'd, and resolv'd to pursue; But now I'm convinc'd, these my fathers and brothers, Were dark like myself, though all Priests of Whilst long we adher'd to our native opinions, Who brought us glad tidings, and bade us be free; Their zeal and their love had encounter'd all dangers, Arising from climates, or perils by sea. They publish'd their message in accents most cheering, Whilst angelic mildness appear'd in their face, Proclaiming the name of a friend most endearing, A friend who had died for the whole human, race. A spark then I caught, which excited ambition, Where the mind is unshackled, and slaves are Embarking in haste, with my views thus expanded, I braved the rough billows true wisdom to find; At length, full of rapture, in Britain I landed, The garden of knowledge, and food for the mind. O Britain, I greet thee, thou much favour'd nation, Yet still o'er my country my bowels are yearning, I wish to excite them to study true learning, |