all this will fall through, and these children must revert to their pagan darkness. Again; some of our people from Alleghany have offered to send a number of their children to this school, but say it is too far to send them to Buffalo. If we send our children to Buffalo, all this will fall through. We love our brother, the teacher, and his family, very much; we understand his disposition; we consider him our best, our bosom friend; we consider him qualified, he and his wife, and his family, for his office amongst us. We will confess to you freely, brothers, they are dear to our hearts: we have become bound together in the exercises of love and friendship, by ties which we hope will never be separated but by death itself. We have heard him speak to us from the Word of God, and we have heard in this way the darkness and sin of our own state; we have seen it is all truth, and we have now an awful dread upon us when we think of school broken up, and perhaps altogether, by its removal to another place. The above reply having been made to the first proposition of the Commissioners, and they having signified that they had given up all thought of removing the school from Cataraugus, the aged warriour prosecuted his speech in reply to the other propositions of the Commissioners as follows: RROTHERS, We have heard your conversation thus far, and have understood that you have explained all your mind to us, and have given up all thought of removing away the school to another place. For this we give you our hearty thanks; our people, when they hear it, will join in their thanks, and do you return thanks to the Board for the agreement that the school be continued in this place. And we believe that the ministers are fully and so our darkness and our former wicked ways; lemnly determined, according as they have For and we dread that our children should return said, to do all in their power to show compassion, and bring us and our children out of this darkness. For this we not only thank you, but give thanks to the Great Spirit above. Again, brothers; we have understood your request about land and provision, and clearing land for the mission-house, &c. and we know full well, within ourselves, that as you must share your labours among a number of establishments, the expense must be very great. This we have considered; we have often considered within ourselves what we should do to help along the Board in the instruction of our children. We have finally pitched ourselves upon a certain spot, close to our boundaryline, which we think will be a suitable place, and are fully determined to clear a spot on our ground to raise some support for the children; but we know we are poor, and on this account we would not wish to make any rash promises ; but we have supposed that the number of those will from time to time be increased who will send their children, we shall be more strengthened to clear the ground, and we are willing to clear what we are able; and as we have a natural love for our children, we shall feel it to be our duty to do all in our power to assist in procuring provision for them, by sharing a part of our crops with them, and with the missionary family, whom we love. In regard to erecting a meeting-house for the Sabbath day, on our own land, we thank you, brothers, for the mention of this. We will tell you how we feel in regard to a place of worship. Several of our young men and warriours, during the last summer, have had it on their minds to erect a place of worship, but as some of them were in debt, and as much of their business lay in a very unsettled state, and as it was uncertain whether Mr. Thayer would remain, it was deferred; but we think in another summer the young warriours will be both able and willing to provide a meetinghouse for the Sabbath-day, We are also willing, brothers, not to take it upon ourselves to do it all, but to assist, to clear a place, where there shall be no stumps, for Mr. Thayer's house, so large that a tree shall not touch it when it falls. At the close of this speech, the Commissioners' hearts being warmed, one of them replied- This is good, and just what we want; we clearly perceive that God has been here be fore us. He has given you light to see your own ruin, and the importance of education to your children, For this we thank him: we thank him for this interview, that we have heard your words. Your words have glad dened our hearts. And now we would bear you, and your children, and your people, in our arms to Jesus Christ, and entreat him to. carry you to heaven. We look not for our reward from man, but from God. And now, when you return to your people, bear with you, for yourselves and for them, our warm hearts' blessing; and as we may never see your faces again in this world, we bid you all an affectionate farewell. On this, Jacob Johnson, a very active and influential chief, offered the following reply : BROTHERS,-You mentioned, a little while ago, one thing that strikes my mind. It was the supposition that God had stirred up our minds to consider for the welfare of our children. It is true, a few years ago we set our minds together to think within ourselves, and to wish that it might please our Father in heaven to pity us to take our children out of their bad habits, and bring them into better habits than we had fallen into ourselves. And as our minds were made up in this way, we do suppose that it must have been the Great Spirit above that printed this in our hearts, and suppose that you must be solemn and deepthinking men, because you seemed to have discovered this before any of us had told you of it. And further, we wished to let you know, that since God has given us our wish to have a school begun among us, it has been our daily prayer that Mr. Thayer may have suc cess in instructing the children in the right way; and more than this, he often and daily prays with them and us for the same thing. This is the cause, brothers, why our hearts are so strongly bound together in love. Further, brothers, you observed, that our words this day encouraged your hearts and made you glad; but, brothers, you may rest assured that our words have not rejoiced your hearts more than your talk has rejoiced ours. We do rejoice that we have seen your kindness And now may and your love which you bear towards us, please God to carry you in safety to your families, and may you see them in such a state as to show that God has watched over them in your absence. In the course of the conference held on this occasion, your Commissioners were addressed on the same subject of future possible claims of the Board against the Indians for benevolent services, that had been agitated at Seneca, and at Tusthemselves had no doubt but that our carora. These people observed that they Board were true men, but that to stop the mouths of our enemies, both red men and white men, for ever, it would be desirable that the Board should send them a document, written on parchment, signed with our names, and purporting, that so long as the sun shall shine and the waters flow, neither we, nor our children, nor our grandchildren down to the latest generations, shall ask to be remunerated for the benevolent services we now render them. The Commissioners observed to them on that point, that as the Board looked for their reward not from earth but from heaven, they would very promptly and cheerfully furnish them with the document they had desired. And your Commissioners recommend to the Board that such document, signed by all the members of the Board, be forthwith transmitted to the Indians at Cataraugus, and that similar instruments be prepared and transmitted at the same time to the Indians at Tuscarora and at Seneca. The chiefs having requested that Mr. Thayer might be invested with authority to marry such as should apply to him for marriage, the Commissioners promised to consult the Board on that subject, and advised them, in the mean time to apply in such cases either to the civil magistrate or to our minister at Seneca. In reply to their inquiry on the subject of more liberal education, your Commissioners observed, that the Board would send to the Cornwall school such of their children as should distinguish themselves in our own school, just as often as our funds shall permit. We have already observed of the house now occupied by the mission family, that it cannot accommodate the number of scholars desirous of being received into the school. In addition to that difficulty, your Commissioners were iuformed that the owner, who had already subjected himself to personal inconvenience on our account, had given notice to Mr. Thayer that he must remove before winter. Under these circumstances, and your Commissioners having failed in their interview with the owner to obtain the use of it till next spring, and as no other house in the neighbourhood would answer the purpose, they were under the necessity of authorizing the purchase of 30 acres of land adjoining the Indian reservation, and the immediate erection thereon of a house to receive the mission family before winter. The following is a copy of the results had at Cataraugus, viz:— 1. That Mr. Thayer be authorized to employ a female assistant on trial, with a view to her future appointment by the Board, as a member of the family, should she prove qualified. 2. That a young man be procured by the Board, as an assistant to Mr. Thayer, for that station. 3. That Miss Lucy Beardsley, at present a member of Mr. Thayer's family, be appointed a member of the Mission family. 4. That Mr. Thayer purchase, in fee simple, a lot of land not exceeding thirty acres, bounded on the reservation, for the use of the Mission family; and that he be authorized to erect thereon a frame building 46 feet long and 30 wide, the cost not to exceed $800. 5. That Mr. Thayer receive all children from whatever tribe they may be offered, who are not too young to learn, nor too old to obey, limiting the number of scholars only by the means of instruction and support. 6. That Mr. Thayer employ an interpreter, at his discretion, for a compensation not to exceed $50 per annum. Your Commissioners, both in going to and returning from the places of their destination, preached and lectured frequently. They have returned with their hearts encouraged, and more than ever confirmed in the belief that our work of faith, and labour of love in the missionary cause, cannot and will not be in vain. They desire to return these public thanks to Almighty God for the preservation of themselves and families during their journey, and especially for that entire unanimity which has marked all their deliberations and decisions in the important business which has come before them. For any good done through their instrumentality on this occasion, they ascribe to the desire of all nations, as is most just and right, all glory for ever. Respectfully submitted, Tuesday, August 19, 1823-We were this day .visited by a very dear friend and brother of the Theological Seminary at Princeton. Our brother appears to take a deep interest in every thing relating to the building up of the Redeemer's kingdom in the world, especially among the Heathen. We trust we shall long remember the many assurances of his affection to the cause of Christ; and to us, also, as the honoured, though unworthy, instruments of promoting it. Visited, with this brother, the Cataraugus Mission. Saturday, Aug. 23.-The Indians are fast collecting at Buffalo to receive their annuity from the hands of the agent. We understand that no business of importance will be transacted, aside from the distribution, and that the doors of the council house, at the Seneca village, will not be opened. Monthly Concert. Monday, Sept. 1.-A few of the chiefs and young people met this evening to join in the monthly concert of prayer. The most of the older chiefs are absent, in attending a land council on the Genessee river. After singing and prayer, a short exhortation was addressed to them from the words "Prepare to meet thy God." After the conclusion of our exercises, I addressed a few interrogatories to one our interesting young men, who appeared unusually feeble, on the present state of his health. "It is very poor," was his reply. How long have you been languishing? "About two years since," said he; "I was greatly oppressed with a pain here, (laying his hand on his breast,) but find that it has increased much since last of spring." And are you prepared to meet God if you should soon be called from time into eternity? Pausing for a few minutes, he observed, "I have fears on that subject. How far I am actually prepared I cannot say. I can only say that I am daily asking and pleading for mercy at the hand of God and our Saviour. And, as you are our minister, appointed to explain to us the Word of God, which has been so long covered from our sight, I shall, therefore, faithfully listen to your instructions; and hope I shall yet be able to find salvation." He was then exhorted to go immediately to Christ for the pardon of all his sins, and for preparation for death. Arrival and Visit of the Commissioners. Monday, Sept. 8.-Our hearts were this evening rejoiced by the arrival of brother and sister Crane, of Tuscarora, in com pany with the Rev. Dr. Spring, one of the Board's Commissioners to these stations. The Rev. Dr. Milledoler is expect ed to-morrow. At the Commissioner's request a council was appointed for Wednesday. Tuesday, Sept. 9.-Went to the village of Buffalo to convey the Rev. Dr. Mille doler to the station. Oh that this event may be blessed of God to the spiritual welfare of the poor Senecas! In the evening a lecture was delivered by Dr. Milledoler at the mission-house; at the close of which, the ordinance of baptism was administered to Mary Ann Davenport, daughter of the Rev. J. C. Crane, of Tuscarora; to Alexander Semple, son of James Stephenson, a chief of the tribe; and to Louisa La Tourrette, daughter of the resident Missionary at this station. It was truly a solemn and refreshing season to us all. May it please God to enable us ligations which are resting upon us. constantly to keep in view the solemn ob sioners were this day permitted to have Wednesday, Sept. 10.-The Commisan interview with the chiefs and warriors, in council assembled. Although some forward by the chiefs, which called for subjects of a delicate nature were brought the exercise of patience as well as of decision on the part of the Commissioners, yet the result of this interview will, we hope, through God's blessing, be both beneficial and lasting. Thursday, Sept. 11.-To-day the Commissioners proceeded to the Cataraugus station, up the lake, thirty miles south. Their business there, important in its nature, has been accomplished with much celerity, and, we believe, greatly to the satisfaction of all the parties Previous to the interview with the chiefs, the Commissioners had an opportunity of witnessing the improvement of the Cataraugus Mission School, with which they expressed themselves highly gratified. The council was but thinly attended; but their talk with the Commissioners was extremely tender and affecting. Friday, Sept. 12.-The Commissioners returned from Cataraugus this morning, and after dinner left us for Buffalo, with a view to take the morning stage for Albany. May the God of all peace and consolation reward them abundantly for “all their work and labour of love" at these several stations. Recommendation of the Synod of Wednesday, Sept. 17.-In compliance with a request which was urged in a communication to some members of the Sy nod of Genessee, from Rev. Drs. Mille doler and Spring, on the part of the United Foreign Missionary Society, to take some efficient measure which might tend to increase the funds of that Society, the synod, now in session at Buffalo, have unanimously passed the following resoJution: "Resolved, That the synod earnestly recommend it to all the congregations under their care to make collections in money, clothing, and provisions, in aid of the United Foreign Missionary Society, in behalf of the natives on the Indian reservations within our bounds, and forward the same to Mr. Abner Bryant, of Buffalo; Rev. Joseph Penny, of Rochester; or Mr. William H. Wells, Batavia; agents hereby appointed to receive collections, and transmit them to the superintendents at the several Missionary stations within the bounds of the synod. New and Interesting Convert. Wednesday, Oct. 8.-Having been informed, lately, that the wife of Pollard, one of our principal chiefs, had been much distressed, under pungent convictions of her lost and ruined state by nature, I embraced the first opportunity for a serious conversation with the whole family. From what I had heard, I expected to see her bowed down with grief, and, in her own view, ready to perish; but the Lord appears to have greatly verified his promise, "that whosoever humbleth himself shall be exalted; and that it is the Lord who raiseth up all those that are bowed down." She certainly appears to Foreign Entelligence. BAPTIST BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS. MISSION TO BURMAH. It will be recollected that, in the fourth number of our current volume, we gave a letter from Dr. Price, who is attached to this mission, dated the 1st of October, 1822, and announcing that the Rev. Mr. Judson and himself had arrived at Ava, in obedience to a special invitation from the king. The Latter-Day Luminary, just received, contains Mr. Judson's |