on both sides of the river, for the distance of twenty or thirty miles. My heart is truly affected to see the people who are so desirous of Methodist preaching, so poorly supplied. May God in his good providence open the way for their being better supplied with the word and ordinances of his house. I have made two tours into this country, and contemplate making another in a few days. I have visited several places in the north part of Vermont, and am happy to state that there is a great attention among the people. My congregations have been large and serious, and every where the people say, come and visit us again; we wish your preachers to visit us: some say, have pity on us, we are destitute, we believe your doctrines: O that we could be favoured with the gospel as preached by you. I have visited a number of the towns on Connecticut river, in the southerly part of the state of New-Hampshire, and in many places the prospect is pleasing. In the town of Haverhill a gracious work of God has lately broken out; perhaps more than thirty have experienced religion, and nearly that number joined society within a very few weeks. Glory be to God!

At our camp-meeting, at Concord, Grafton county, NewHampshire, we were favoured with beautiful weather, and such a place for the Divine presence I never before saw. From its commencement the work seemed to increase, and some were thought to be converted in every prayer-meeting; the number, of whom we gained an evidence that they experienced a change, was thirty, and thirty-five joined society. It was thought that about three thousand were present on the Sabbath. Perhaps there was never more seriousness, or better attention on any such occasion. There is no doubt that hundreds were deeply awakened, and that the fruits of this meeting will be seen in eternity. I have made a short visit to Vermont since the campmeeting at Concord, and attended one at Barre. Great and marvellous were the displays of Divine power at this place.Between four and five thousands were present on the Sabbath.An awful sense of God rested upon the people :-such solemnity, it was acknowledged, had seldom been seen; the mournful cries of the wounded, and the songs of the ransomed, afforded a subject both affecting and delightful. Several circumstances took place worthy of notice. One in particular;-three young men came on the ground with a view to make disturbance; but no sooner were they arrived, than one of them was struck with an awful sense of his crimes; and, yielding to his convictions, was soon so overwhelmed with a sense of his guilt, that the nat ural functions of his body seemed suspended, and he sunk to the ground. When a little recovered, he entreated the prayers of God's people, fell to praying for himself, and, in answer to prayer, God had mercy on him, and he came out triumphant.

At this meeting about forty were the happy subjects of the work, among whom were several persons of respectability. The good Lord is truly favouring us in this part of his heritage. Truly I never knew a time when there was so great a cry for preachers of the word. Some of the advantages arising from a mission in this country are,-1. Those who have no preaching are visited. 2. When a work breaks out on the remote parts of a large circuit, the converts may have their spiritual guides at hand to instruct them. J. A. MERRILL."

Sept. 13, 1819.

"Since my last communication I have visited the north parts of New Hampshire and Vermont twice. Also, from the Upper Coos, through the north settlements in the Maine, down to the Kennebeck river; thence round by Fryburgh, up the Saco river, through the notch of the White Hills, back to Connecticut river. I have also spent some time at a place called Indian Stream; which lies between degrees forty-five and forty-six north. This is a new place, where there are about twenty families who have been very destitute of the means of instruction. They were very grateful for my visit, much affected under the word, and desirous that we should continue to care for them. I was informed that they had not been visited before by any missionary. I have persuaded the circuit preachers to give them week day preaching once in two weeks. In most of the places I have visited there is considerable attention among the people, and in some of them a good work. Considering the disadvantages under which the inhabitants are placed in this new country, they must, in general, be considered enterprising and industrious; and it is hoped that the time is at hand, when they will be better supplied with the word and ordinances of God's house. J. A. MERRILL."

Nov. 13, 1819.

To the Editors of the Methodist Magazine.

DEAR BRETHREN,

Otis, September 15, 1819.

I TAKE the liberty to transmit to you an account of the revival of religion in the town of Alford, in the state of Massachusetts, Pittsfield circuit; which, if you think proper, you can publish in your useful Miscellany. LEWIS PEASE.

For rising twenty years there has been a Methodist Society in this town: but for some years past it has been small, and religion has not appeared to flourish as in many places: yet there has been a few substantial friends of God and his

cause, who have statedly met for public worship; and by their fervent prayers, both in public and in their families, have manifested their anxious desires for the salvation of their children, and the souls of those around them. Some time in the fore part of the year 1818, they, after considerable difficulty and labour, so far agreed in uniting their strength, as to determine on building a house for the worship of God. In the fall of the same year the house was inclosed, and the last of November the first quarterly meeting was held in it. A few weeks previous to the quarterly meeting, there were several deaths in this town. The persons that died, and the circumstances which attended their death, seemed to impress the minds of many with a degree of serious concern for their souls. The first I would notice was Mary Fairchild, the daughter of M. and L. Fairchild. This young woman possessed good natural abilities, and had acquired more than an ordinary share of academical accomplishments. Soon after she ended her studies at Lenox in 1817, her health became very much impaired, and at times. she manifested a degree of insanity. In this unhappy state she remained for some time: but in the course of her illness, for about six weeks, she appeared quite rational, in which time she became very serious, and was often found in prayer. Her pious mother found it necessary to give her encouragement from the word of promise. At one time she entered the room, and found Mary in deep distress of soul: in her countenance was depicted the anguish of her mind. She requested the prayers of her mother; but this was more than a mother could bear. She left the room, and retired in secret, where she poured out her soul to God in prayer in behalf of her child. Soon after she returned, and saw a change in her. Mary then spoke as though God had manifested himself to her, in delivering her from the pit of corruption, and had put a new song in her mouth. Being at a distance from her Father's, she requested to go home, and seemed anxious to let her friends know what God had done for her soul. But before they reached home a certain wildness appeared, and soon her former affliction returned with a deep and settled melancholy. In this frame she continued till her death, which was on the 15th of October. I was called to attend her funeral on the 18th. A large and attentive assembly convened. Some of her young companions appeared tender. Her father (who at this time was not a professor, though his house had been for years an asylum for the ministers of Christ) felt the severity of the stroke, and began to realize the importance of being prepared for death.

At this time Cynthia C. Fenn was very low. parents were members of the Methodist society.

She and her Cynthia had

been a professor for some years; but previous to her illness she lost the enjoyment of religion in a great degree, and became backsliden in heart. Finding her complaint increasing, and the symptoms more alarming, she began to plead with God to restore her soul to his favour. After some weeks the Lord heard prayer, and sent the peaceful answer. Her soul was now happy in God. She admired the goodness of her Saviour, and was astonished at her past unfaithfulness and indifference. She said to her friends, "I had no idea that I had so far wandered from God, and from the path of duty." She manifested peace and resignation of mind until she departed this life, Nov. 20th. In just five weeks from the day I attended the funeral of Mary, I was called to attend the funeral of Cynthia. Feeling for the youth of this place, I addressed myself to them in particular. Many wept, and it appeared that God was about to revive his work. The next Sabbath the quarterly meeting, above mentioned, was held in this place. The presiding elder, though extremely afflicted in body, and scarce able to attend to the duties of his charge, spoke for a short space as one anointed anew from on high to publish a free salvation. It was a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord to many souls. God was pleased to honour this meeting with good: awakenings increased, and conversions soon followed. This revival was not so extraordinary on account of the number, (which was between twenty and thirty) as it was in respect to the subjects of the work, and the circumstances which attended it. In lovefeast the Lord spoke peace to the soul of a child, ten or eleven years of age, the daugh ter of J. Hill. Soon after her father experienced the pardon of sin, and was made to rejoice in the liberty of the children of God. About four or five weeks after the quarterly meeting, the Lord sent salvation to the souls of the father and sister of departed Mary; and a brother and sister of Cynthia, with several others, were made to share in the great salvation. Brother Fairchild's family was now a happy family; but their joy was not full three children yet remained; but were soon after brought to the knowledge of the forgiveness of sin. About this time the work became so general, that I was sent for. I visited the place on Saturday, and found many enquiring what they must do to be saved. Sunday the Lord was present with us in the exercise of public worship. Monday morning I visited the family of Mr. Pyncheon, whose companion was near death, and expired the next morning. This morning I visited the house of Philander Hulbert, Esq. whose daughter appeared to be near her end. She was much distressed in mind on account of sin. She now saw the vanity, and emptiness of all earthly things, and her incessant cry was, give me Christ or else I die. Wednesday morning, while her parents and friends were standing around VOL. III.

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her bed, listening to her fervent supplications for mercy, Jesus smiled upon her: the cloud broke-peace and joy flowed into her soul. The change was evident. The grace of God sup. ported her, in the midst of her afflictions. She continued triumphant in soul for the space of twenty-four hours from the time the Lord set her at liberty, and then died, Jan. 8th, in the full prospect of heaven and glory. After she found peace, she took an affectionate farewell of her parents, and also of her companion, Mr. Hollombeck, with whom she had been united in marriage but seven weeks: how quickly is the tenderest union dissolved! truly in the midst of life we are in death. This was the most solemn, and yet glorious week I scarce ever witnessed. But to return. The Saturday following, the only son of brother Fairchild, who had been living at a distance from home, hearing of the good work of God in this place, and having had a desire to flee the wrath to come since the death of his sister, came home. On Sunday evening he became incessant in prayer. The prayer-meeting closed about nine in the evening at his father's house. After the people had dispersed, (excepting six or eight, who were mourning on account of their sins,) he fell on his knees, and continued praying as in an agony for the space of two or three hours; when the Lord answered prayer, and spoke peace to his soul. He soon began to exhort the mourners around him, to look to Jesus by faith for pardon. He called for the coloured servant. I entered the kitchen and found him on his knees, crying to God to have mercy on him. This was truly an affecting scene-the midnight hour witnessed the parents and children rejoicing in God- the new-born son proclaimed a free salvation.-What a variety of scenes were passing before us a general solemnity rested on every countenance. Several other instances I might name; but I purposed brevity. I have only to remark to the youth, into whose hands these lines may fall, how frail is man! Remember your Creator in the days of youth! four, in a few weeks, in this neighbourhood, have made an exchange of worlds in the morning of their days. May the living lay it to heart, and prepare for a happy eternity!

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM REV. J. B. FINLEY, DATED DAYTON, OHIO, DECEMBER 3, 1819.

DEAR BRETHREN,

PERHAPS it will be pleasing to some of your readers to hear of the success of the gospel among the Indians of the Western forests.

God, through the instrumentality of Methodist preaching, has begun a most glorious work of religion among the Wyan