In consequence of the lamented death of my late dear friend and associate, Mr. Lawson, the Agent of your Board in this country, it devolves on me, as his executor and appointed successor, to address you on the business of the Mission.

Mr. Lawson died on the 22d October last, after some few weeks' illness. He had been long evidently growing in grace, and ripening for glory; and his death-bed was a scene of blessed peace and hope in his own mind, and of beneficial impression on the minds of others, very seldom exceeded. I should think it necessary to add more on these subjects, but all particulars will be appended to a funeral Sermon on brother Lawson's death which we are printing, and a copy of which I will take care is forwarded to || you.

A day or two before brother Lawson's death, your note, dated July 1, 1825, arrived, and with it the 60 dollars you kindly forwarded for the Salem School. It devolves on me, as President of the Female Department of the Bengal Christian School Society, thankfully to acknowledge it, and to beg you to present to the liberal donors the grateful thanks of our Committee. We are now preparing for an Annual Meeting, and I doubt not it will prove, as all before it have done, highly satisfactory to the spectators. We feel very thankful for the handsome contributions which American benevolence has made to female Education in this country, on the application of our dear friend, Mr. Carey; and we are fully aware of the high obligations under which fresh generosity lays us, to labour in this work with increased diligence. Mrs. Pearce, who has acquired some knowledge of the Bengalee language, is now about to relinquish her engagements in the young Ladies Seminary she has for the last 7 years conducted in connection with Mrs. Lawson, and to devote herself to the promotion of Native Female Education. I trust, as her heart is

||

| deeply interested in the object, she will be able to render very useful assistance to our valued friend and your country-woman, Mrs. Colman.

I am happy to report, that brother Boardman and wife arrived in safety about 14 days ago. By the assistance of brother Wade and his Burman Teacher and Servant, our newly arrived friends may study, read, write, and speak Burman as much as if in the country; so that I trust his residence here will not be lost in the eventual prosecution of his missionary labours. Brother Hough returned to Rangoon about 10 days ago, with the idea, I believe, that he may be employed as Interpreter to the Commander of the Forces, and may likewise ascertain and report unto his brethren here the practicability of Missionary operations in Burmah. I am happy to say that all our American brethren had an opportunity of conversing together on missionary subjects ere. he left this city.

Brother Wade has laboured hard at the Burman Dictionary, and deserves great praise for his unexampled care and perseverance in carrying it on. I feel fully persuaded, that the work will be no discredit to our dear friend Dr. Judson, or to the Board. It is nearly completed, and will be, I trust, published the first week in January.

Believe me, in much haste,

yours, with affection, and great respect, W. H. PEARCE.

LETTER FROM MRS. BOARDMAN.

My dear ***,

Chitpore, Jan. 5, 1826.

We are still residing at Chitpore, a most pleasant village near Calcutta. Our dwelling is a little bamboo cottage, situated in a grove of mango and cocoa nut trees. We would not exchange this peaceful little hut for the most splendid mansions of the proud and ambitious. Mr. and Mrs. Wade with Mr. B. and myself compose a most happy family. Burman Teacher has been procured for us; and we have just commenced the study of the language. It is indeed a

A

great blessing that we can enjoy facili-thies and fervent prayers of our dear ties for studying Burman while remaining || American friends, which those trials ocin Bengal. It is still very uncertain when casioned on our behalf; we are also enan opening will appear for us to go to couraged thereby to look forward with Rangoon. The war still continues. "Achristian fortitude to other trials and sufdecisive victory has been gained by the British over the Burmese at Prome, after an engagement of three days, with comparatively little loss on the side of the British."

We are happy to assure our American friends that the officers and crew, the Rev. Mr. Sessions, and Rev. Mr. Holton the misionary, and Mr. Force, printer, together with all the Colonists, are in perfect health, and have been unusually protected of Heaven from the dangers of the deep, and from the attacks of disease.

They were welcomed by our citizens by the discharge of artillery, by acclamations of joy, and by crowds at the wharf, ready to conduct them to their dwellings. The landing of the people and the unloading of the brig was effected without an accident. The Colonists have all been admitted as free citizens of Liberia, drawn their town lots and plant

never enjoyed more perfect health than at present. She has made good proficiency in her studies, and is now with myself engaged in reading the Burman Palm-leaf Books. My teacher is quite a sensible Burman, and from having spent most of his time in copying the Sacred Books, has an extensive knowledge of their system of religion. I often hold long conversations with him, and other Burmans who visit us. He will acknowledge that there are some very unaccountable evidences in favour of our religion, and that there is something pure and disinterested in the love of Christ, above any thing contained in their system, and always says that he should not dare to say that we are notations, and been located temporarily in right. Yet after all, idolatry with all its baneful influence is so deeply rooted in his mind, that surely nothing but the sistance of divine grace can ever render my frequent instructions and warnings a blessing to him. Oh! how I long to see some small blessing rest upon my labours that I may have an assurance that my feeble exertions are accepted of God. Pray much for me, my dear brother, that though young and inexperienced, I may have wisdom from on high to direct me in this important station, and particularly at this dark period. And permit me to beg the fervent and unremitting prayers of all my brethren for this afflicted Mission, that we may all come forth as gold seven times purified.

as

I received your very kind letter by brother Boardman, and probably all the letters and publications you have sent us. We feel under many obligations to our dear Boston friends, for contributing so much to cheer our dark and wandering way in this heathen land.

Yours, J. WADE.

convenient houses generously offered them by our citizens till they can erect their own.

We understand that they are highly pleased with the healthiness and prog. ress of the Colony, and, to use their own words, "feel that they have now got home." The Agency testified the feelings with which they received this expedition by inviting the Captain, Mr. Parker, Messrs. Sessions, Holton, and Mr. Force, and all the colonists who had come ashore, to a publick dinner. Many of the citizens also formed part of the company, and the whole was conducted with great order and cheerfulness, and left a happy impression on minds.

all our

We intended to have given a detailed account of the various articles so liberally contributed to the use of the Colony by our friends in New England, but we have room only for a few. The ten hhds. of first rate Kentucky leaf tobacco, purchased by the Society, is a most seasonable supply, and brought without freight, and thus saved to the Society $150. The Printing press, sent out gratis also, is of the greatest value; whether we regard the enthusiastick joy with which it was received, the spirit of improvement it is likely to awaken in the Colony, or the influence it will have in On the 7th inst. the brig Vine, Capt. commending our cause to publick patronGrozer, arrived at this port, in 34 days age. When we call to mind these from Boston, with colonists for Liberia. || things, and learn that it was procured,

WEST AFRICA.

ARRIVAL OF THE NEW ENGLAND EXPE

DITION.

Monrovia, (Cape Mestrado,)
Feb. 16, 1826.

improving their premises. Every fam- || year, and still continue in operation.

ily has the means of employing from four to six native labourers, at an expense of from four to six dollars per month. On urgent occasions, individual settlers have advanced, repeatedly, for the publick service, produce to the amount of from 300 to 600 dollars. Mechanics receive for wages $2 per day, and common labourers from 75 cents to $1 75

cents. mand.

Their services are in great deA surplus quantity of rice is at present raised by the natives, and may be cheaply purchased. Several hundred tons of Camwood annually pass through the hands of settlers. The amount of ivory bought and sold during a year is estimated at from five to eight thousand dollars. Domestic animals, though not

numerous, are on the increase. Fish are excellent and abundant. By a few drafts in the morning, a thousand pounds may be obtained weekly. On a given quantity of ground, the crop of rice is found to be double that of an ordinary wheat crop, and obtained with half the labour.

The buildings and other works of con

struction.

Fort Stockton has been entirely rebuilt, and in a very improved style. The new Agency house is nearly completed, || and only waits to be finished with American materials The Government House at the St. Paul's will soon be finished. A telegraphic communication is to be established between the two settlements, by means of signals from the cupola of this house and the flag staff of Fort Stockton.

A schooner of ten tons has been constructed by nine blacks, under the direction of the Colonial Agent, which visits once a fortnight, Rio Sisters and Grand Bassa; and freighted both ways, generally carries and brings merchandise and produce to the amount of from four to eight hundred dollars per trip. Two small churches have been erected, under circumstances of the most gratifying na

ture.

Schools, &c.

Five schools, exclusive of Sunday schools, have been supported during the

The children give evidence that they possess good mental powers. Should emigration cease, for a few months, to throw little ignorants into the colony, the phenomenon of a child of five years unable to read, would not, it is believed, exist in the colony.

The Defensive Force of the Colony. The militia are organized into two corps: the artillery, of fifty, and the infantry, of forty men, on several trying occasions, have shown their soldier-like conduct. There belongs to the establishment 15 large carriage and 3 small pivot guns, all fit for service. The agent proposes to open a double battery on the height of Thomsontown, for the protec

tion of vessels in the roadstead.

The Religious Character of the Colonists.

This is too flattering, says Mr. Ashmun, to the hopes of the pious friends of the Colony, not to be admitted without hesitation. The Sabbath is observed with strictness. The Sunday schools both for the settlers and natives, are well sustained and attended, and productive of the happiest fruits; and several charitable societies, particularly for the tuition and bringing up of the native children, appear to have been undertaken in a truly Christian spirit. "During the latter half of the year, two commodious and beautiful chapels have been erected, each sufficient to contain several hundred worshippers. They stand on the confines of a once gloomy forest consecrated to the demon worship of the natives; and while they are beheld by Christians as new and joyful landmarks of the widening empire of the Son of God, are regarded by the neighbouring tribes as monuments of the incipient overthrow of their superstitions, and as prophetic beacons of its hastening dissolution." More than 50 persons have in the 15 months past, embracing nearly the whole young adult population, become the serious and devout professors of christianity. "The Colony," says Mr. Ashmun," is, in deed and reality, a christian community. The Faith of the