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yesterday we received the joyful intel-
ligence, that peace was again restored
to Burmah, and all was soon after con-
firmed, by the unexpected arrival of
Dr Price, who has been sent here on a
commission from His Burman Majesty.
He informs us that the prisoners are all
released, and that Dr. and Mrs. Judson
with their little daughter, are now in
Rangoon, and in good health. I have
had so little opportunity of conversing
with Dr. Price, that I am not able to
give you any particulars. But their
sufferings have been dreadful, and a
merciful Father has restored them in
safety. Oh, who ever before had more
reason to trust implicitly in God, since
we have received such signal mercies?
And while with grateful joy we raise
again
our Ebenezer," Oh, continue to
pray for us that these very peculiar
providences, may be sanctified, and
that we may all come forth as gold
from the furnace, seven times purifi-

ed."

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LETTER FROM MRS. JONES, (LATE MRS.
WHEELOCK) TO DR. BALDWIN.

Calcutta, April 12th, 1826.

My much respected Pastor,

Some time ago, I wrote you a long letter which I hope you will receive, together with a Report of our Society, for Native Female Education. There was then no prospect of a termination of the Burman war; but now I have the pleasure of saying, that the sound, and alarm of war is no more heard among us. The joyful intelligence of "peace, peace, with the Burmans" has saluted our ears, and the treaty of peace with 25 lacks of Rupees has arrived here from the golden footed majesty, to the satisfaction, I believe, of all parties concerned, for all were sufficiently tired of the long continued war. Seventy-five lacks of Rupees, yet remain to be sent to the English powers, from the king of Burmah. Rangoon is given up to the Burmans again, but the English retain several other places, to them of greater consequence. Dr. Price is now in Calcutta, and has given us a very affecting account of their sufferings while prisoners. left Mr. and Mrs. Judson, at Rangoon, quite well, also Mr. and Mrs. Hough. I have not yet heard whether it is their intention to come round to Bengal, or go immediately to another missionary station; but Dr. Price seems to think that for the present Mr. and Mrs. Hough will remain at Rangoon, and that Mr. and Mrs. Judson will remove to some place where they will be surrounded by Burmans, but under the British government. Dr. Price himself will soon return to Ava, as soon as he can procure a passage back in the steam vessel which it is supposed will be the latter end of this week, or the commencement of the following. You will, no doubt, receive all the interesting particulars from their pens, as also from Messrs. Wade and Boardman, who will, I expect, soon leave us, to join Mr. and Mrs Judson

He

Dr. Price has left his family, consisting of his wife and two little sons, in Ava, and intends to return and remain at that place. I understand that Mr. Hough has the prospect of remain. ing at Rangoon as interpreter to the English Consul, and Mr. Judson intends to return to some station under the English government. Mr. Wade and Boardman have just received letters from him, and are expecting others. I think they feel no hesitation with regard to the propriety of joining him without delay. As to myself, I feel a partiality to Rangoon, but the advantages of the English Government to the mission, more than overbalances that prepossession, and I feel more joy than can express, in the prospect of being so soon again among the Burmans. If God will now permit us to spend our few remaining days in Burmah, and bless us there, I have nothing more to ask. Mr. and Mrs. Boardman are in good health, and send their christian love. From your acquaintance, you will readily anticipate the pleasure we deOur most ferrive from their society, and we feel tru- vent prayers, and good wishes for success ly thankful for such a valuable addition in their undertaking, as also for their to our little band. The ship being happiness in a temporal and spiritual about to sail, I must close this hasty epis-sense will follow them wherever they go. tle with much love to all our friends in Boston.

Ever affectionately yours,

With our united kind love to yourself and Mrs. Baldwin, I am, my dear Pastor, yours respectfully and affectionately,

D. B. L. WADE.

E. H. JONES.

The accounts, for the past month, of the Treasurer of the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions have been received, but we are obliged to postpone their insertion.

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MEMOIR OF REV. DAVID BRAINERD,
Missionary among the Indians.

THE name of Brainerd has ty in Scotland for propagating been so frequently mentioned, in Christian Knowledge, at a place connexion with Missionary opera- called Kanaumeek, about twenty tions, that it has become familiar miles from Albany, in the provto most of our readers. It is be-ince of New-York. The situation lieved, however, that only a few of was extremely lonely: it was in them are acquainted with his pi- the midst of a wilderness, surous and self-denying labours.rounded by woods and mountains, There is so much in his history about twenty miles from the nearcalculated to excite a missionary est English inhabitant. Here spirit and to encourage the minis- he lodged with a family who had ters of Christ to unwearied exer- lately come from the Highlands of tions in their vocation, that we Scotland, sleeping on a bundle of think we shall promote the cause straw, and living on the coarsest of religion, by giving a brief nar- fare; while almost the only lanrative of this holy man. guage he heard was Gælick or Indian, neither of which he understood.

DAVID BRAINERD was born at Haddam, Con. in 1718. It is said that he became hopefully pious when he was about twenty-one years of age. Soon after this event he entered Yale College, and was graduated in 1742. Af ter studying theology a short time, he was licensed to preach the gospel.

In the month of April, 1743, he commenced his labours as a Missionary among the Indians, under the patronage of the Socie

Nov. 1826.

The place where Mr. Brainerd lodged being at some distance from the Indians, he found this extremely inconvenient, as it obliged him to travel backwards and forward, almost daily, on foot; and notwithstanding his utmost endeavours, he could not be with them in the morning and evening, the seasons when they were most generally at home, and when they were most at liberty to attend to

42

instruction. He, therefore, took || miles distant. In labouring among up his residence among them, and them, he studied to instruct them lodged at first in one of their wig- chiefly in those principles of rewams, until he succeeded in erect-ligion which he deemed most iming a small cottage for himself. portant, and most calculated to Here he lived quite alone; and promote their conversion to the Rethough his situation was far from deemer, endeavouring, at the same agreeable, yet it was much more time, to make them level to the comfortable than before. Scarce- comprehension of the weakest and ly, however, had he removed into most ignorant of them. Having his little hut, when he was attack-written some forms of prayers ed with such extreme weakness, suited to their circumstances and and such severe pains, that he capacity, he made an Indian thought his mortal frame would translation of them by the help of soon sink into the grave, and his interpreter, aud learned from mingle with its kindred dust. him to pronounce the words, so as But though he was SO very to pray with them in their own ill, he was obliged to labour language. He translated, in the hard from day to day, in or- same manner, several of the der to procure fodder for his Psalms of David, and taught his horse, while at the same time he people to sing them in the praise was in a great measure destitute of God. There was also an Engof provisions suitable for himself:lish school taught by his interpre"I had no bread," says he, ter, which he used often to visit, "neither could I obtain any. I in order to give the children some .am forced either to go or send ten serious instructions and exhortaor fifteen miles for all the bread Itions, adapted to their capacity, and need; and if I get any consider-suited to their tender years. able quantity, it is sometimes sour and mouldy before I have used the whole, and then, perhaps, I have none for some days together. Such is my situation at present; but, through the goodness of God, I had some Indian meal, of which I made little cakes and fried them. Still, however, I felt satisfied with my situation, and sweetly resigned to the will of Heaven. prayer I enjoyed great freedom; and blessed God as cordially for my present circumstances, as if I had been a king. I thought, indeed, I found a disposition to be contented in any situation."

In

Though these labours of Mr. Brainerd were not productive of any remarkable effects, yet neither were they altogether in vain. The knowledge of Christianity, which some of the Indians acquired, was far from contemptible; the proficiency which the children at school made in the English language was considerable; and there were even several, on whose consciences the word appeared to make a serious impression. Some of them came to Mr. Brainerd of their own accord, to converse with him about the things which belonged to their eternal peace; When Mr. Brainerd came to several inquired, with tears in Kanaumeek, he found the Indians their eyes, What they should do much more favourably disposed to- to be saved?" He could not, inward Christianity than might nat-deed, say that he had satisfactory urally have been expected, a circumstance which he attributed to the beneficial influence of Mr. Sergeant's exertions among a num ber of the same tribe at Stockbridge, which was only about 20

evidence of the conversion of any of them, but there was a considerable reformation of manners among them. Their idolatrous sacrifices were entirely abolished; their heathenish dances were, in a

and after some

great degree, abandoned; their || hundred and forty miles from habits of drunkenness were, in Kanaumeek; some measure, corrected; and the observation of the Sabbath was established among them and their children.

The

friendly conversation with one of the principal men, he told him, that he wished to instruct them in the principles of Christianity, and After spending about a year that this would materially promote among the Indians in this quarter, their happiness, both in this world Mr. Brainerd informed them, that and in the world to come. he expected soon to leave them, chief, however, on hearing this, and to go among a tribe of laughed, turned his back, and their brethren at a great distance. went away. After some time Mr. On receiving this information, they Brainerd followed him into his appeared extremely sorrowful; hut, and renewed the conversasome of them tried to persuade tion with him; but he still declinhim to remain with them, urginged talking on that subject, and rethis as a reason, that as they had ferred him to one who appeared a now heard so much about religion, rational kind of man. This perthey could no longer live as before son, after speaking with great without a minister, to instruct warmth for near a quarter of an them in the way to heaven. In hour, asked Mr. Brainerd, why he reply to this, Mr. Brainerd told desired the Indians to become them, that they ought to be wil- Christians, seeing the Christians ling that their brethren also should were so much worse than the Inhear the gospel, as they stood in dians. The White people," no less need of it than themselves. said he, lie, and drink, and Still, however, they endeavoured steal more than their Red brethto dissuade him from his purpose, ren. It was they who first taught saying, the Indians to whom he his countrymen to drink; and proposed to go, they had heard, they stole from one another to were not willing to become Christ- such a degree, that their rulers ians. He then told them, they were obliged to hang them; yet could enjoy religious instruction even this did not deter others from merely by removing to Stock-committing the same crime. bridge, where Mr. Sergeant was But," added he, "the Indians labouring as a missionary; but were never hanged for stealing; the Indians to whom he expected yet, should they become Christto go could not obtain such a priv-ians, it was probable they would ilege, there being no minister in soon be as bad as the white people. the neighbourhood to teach them. They were resolved, therefore, to To this proposal they agreed, and live as their fathers had lived, and most of them having soon after re- to go to the same place as their moved to that place, Mr. Brainerd fathers when they died." In rewas at full liberty to prosecute ply to these charges, Mr. Brainerd his journey to the Forks of Dela- readily acknowledged the ill conware, in the province of Pennsyl-duct of many of his countrymen ; vania, where he was now appoint- but these, he told him, were ed to labour.

In May, 1744, Mr. Brainerd || set off for that part of the country, though he was then extremely ill of a bloody ́flux. In the course of his journey, he visited a number of Indians at a place called Minissinks, about a

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Christians only in name, not in heart; that as for himself, he abhorred such practices, and should never desire the Indians to learn them. The man now appeared more calm; but yet when Mr. Brainerd asked him, if they were willing that he should come and visit.

Having taken farewell of these Indians, Mr. Brainerd prosecuted his journey to the Forks of Delaware; but, on his arrival in that quarter, he was greatly disordered in body, and still more dis,tressed in his mind. It was the Sabbath morning; but here there was no Sabbath : the children were all at play; the Indians were few in number and greatly scattered; he was a stranger in the midst of them, and was disappointed of an interpreter. Every thing, in short, seemed to unite in aggravating his distress, and in rendering the prospect before him dark and cloudy.

I

To

them again, he replied, they would || of his elevated piety, we have an be willing to see him as a friend, interesting example in the exerif he would not desire them to be-cises of his mind one day soon afcome Christians. ter his arrival in this part of the country. "This morning," says he, "I was greatly oppressed with a sense of guilt and shame, from a view of my inward vileness and depravity. About nine o'clock, I withdrew to the woods for prayer, but had not much comfort. I appeared to myself the meanest, vilest creature upon earth: thought I could scarcely live with myself, and that I should never be able to hold up my face in heaven, if God, of his infinite mercy, should bring me thither. wards night, the burden of my mind respecting my work among the Indians began to increase, and was much aggravated by hearing several circumstances of a discouraging nature, particularly, that they designed to meet together next day, for an idolatrous feast and dance. My mind was agonized at the prospect. I thought it would be my duty to endeavour to break up the assembly; but how to do it, I knew not. In this dilemma, I withdrew for prayer, hoping for strength from on high. While engaged in this exercise, I was exceedingly enlarged: my soul was as much drawn out as I almost ever remember it to have been in my life. I was in such anguish, and pleaded with so much importunity, that when I rose, I felt so extremely weak that I could scarcely walk; my joints were loosed; the sweat ran down my body; nature seemed as if ready to dissolve. What I experienced, indeed, was inexpressible. All earthly things vanished from my sight. Nothing appeared of much importance to me, except progress in holiness, and the conversion of the heathen to God. All my cares, desires, and fears, which might be considered as of a worldly nature, disappeared, and seemed of little more importance

After saluting the chief, and some others of the Indians, in a friendly manner, he mentioned his desire of instructing them in the principles of Christianity, and having received from them a favourable answer, he preached to the few who were present, most of whom were very attentive, particularly the chief, who seemed both pleased and surprised at what he heard; and afterwards he was very friendly to Mr. Brainerd, and gave him full liberty to preach in his house whenever he thought fit. The number of his hearers, however, was at first very small, often not exceeding twenty-five; but afterwards they increased to forty and upwards.

But though Mr. Brainerd pursued his labours among these Indians with unwearied diligence and zeal, he did not rest short in any exertions of his own. Deeply impressed with the necessity of the influence of the Holy Spirit for the conversion of sinners, he combined with his assiduous endeavours the most earnest and affectionate supplications for the Divine blessing upon them. Of his importunity in prayer, as well as

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