habitants. Ils present population may annum, for preaching a part of the time, be about 15,000. . The hostilities of the and instructing a small school. By neighboring savages have prevented any giving another portion of his services to very considerable increase. Until the the people of St. Genevieve he might last summer, titles of land could not be obtain an addition of 2 or 300 dpllars. obtained in this Territory. But now Six miles from Kaskaskias there is an Land offices are opened, and some Associate Reformed congregation of 40 portions of the country are extremeiy families. Besides this we did not hear fertile. It is probable, therefore, that of a single organized society of any desettlers will now begin to flock in, espe-nomination in the county, nor of an in. cially if the war sliguld soon terminate.dividual Baptist or Methodist preacher. The principal settlements in the Terri.The situation of the two upper counties tory, at present, are situated on the Ohio, is in this respect somewhat different.and the Wabash, and on the Mississippi Baptist and Methodist preachers are and the Kaskaskias. The eastern set-considerably numerous; and a majoritlements are considerably extensive, ty of the heads of families, as we were spreading 30 miles up the Wabash, and informed by Gov. Edwards and othe's, forty down the Ohio. They include are professors of religion. A Methodist the U. S. Saline, where a considerable minister told us that these professors number of people are einployed in man were almost all of them educated Presufacturing salt, to the amount of 3,600 byterians. And they would have been bushels a week. Of this county, Shaw. so still, said he, had they not been neg. aneetown is the seat of justice. It con-| lected by their eastern brethren. Now tains about 100 houses, situated on the they are Baptists and Methodists. How Ohio, 12 miles below the entrance of the many of them could be restored to the Wabash, and subject to be overflowed | Presbyterian connexion by a prudent at high water. But it is continually de- and pious missionary, it is impossible luged like most other towns in the Ter- to say. In all this Territory there is not ritories, by a far worse flood of impiety a single Presbyterian preacher.--Aod and iniquity. Yet even here a faithful that is not all: when we arrived there missionary might hope to be extensively we learnt that very considerable districts useful. The people heard us with fixed had never before seen one. Already and solemy attention, when we address- have the interests of orthodoxy and of ed them. The western settlements in vital godliness suffered an irretrievable this Territory are separated from the loss. And they must suffer more and eastern by a wilderness of 100 miles.- more, until missionaries are employer! They lie in a country highly interesting, and sent to erect the standard of the considered as missionary ground. The truth, and establish the institutions of American Bottom is an extensive tract the Gospel. of alluvial soil on the bank of the Mis. « The Missouri Territory is fast rising sissippi, 80 miles in length, and about 5 into importance, and is well worthy in breadth. This land is endowed with the attention of missionary societies.a surprising and an exhaustless fertility. In 1810 it contained little more 20,000 It is capable of supporting, and is doubt-souls. At present we have reason to less destined to receive an immense believe from information obtained from population. The high lands back areGov. Clark, that this Territory has a also extremely fertile. Kaskaskias is population little short of 30,000. It the key to all this country : and must has never been explored, as we could therefore become a place of much im-learn, by any person having its religious portance, although at present it does not state and interests in vieir. Our regreatly flourish. It contains between 80 mark3, therefore, except with respect to and 100 families, two thirds French those parts visited by us, cannot be re. Catholics. The people of this place|ry particular. In St. Louis and its neighare very anxious to obtain a Presbyteri-borhood the call is extremely urgent an clergyman. Gov. Edwards assured || for a clergy man. It contains about 2, us, that a preacher of popular talents, i| 000 inhabitants, one third perhaps are would receive a sulary of $1000 per Berlin Americans, the remainder French Cath-y to have congregations organized, where olics. The American families are many they are capable of it. Among which pin of them genteel and well informed ;- are the following: The settlements in *** but very few of them religious. Yet the neighborhood of the lead mines are ... they appear to be thoroughly convinced very considerable. At Mine a Burton wherä с. hy their own experience, of the indis- (forty miles west from St. Geneviere) ska. pensable necessity of religion to the there is a village of 20 families. When med welfare of society. When we told them the people of that place heard that we that a missionary had been appointed to were in the Territory, so anxious were that station by the Connecticut Mission- they to obtain a Presbyterian preacher, ary Society, they received the informa- that they circulated a paper, and immetion with joy. And they are anxiously | diately procured subscriptions to the expecting his arrival. The inost res- amount of $200 for a missionary who pectable people in town assured us, that would visit that place occasionally.. a young man of talents, piety, and liber- Mr. Austin, originally from New-Engalily of mind, would receive an abund-land, sent us a pressing invitation to ant support ; 12 or 1400 dollars a year come and preach there. But that was might be relied on by such a man; if impracticable, and their hopes were for he would teach a school and preach the present disappointed. These setbut & part of his time. The remain- tlements are certainly interesting in a der might be devoted to the neighbor-| missionary point of view. The annual ing settlements, When we consider produce of the mines, two years since, the present situation of St. Louis, and, was 1,525,000lbs. of lead. The num. the high probability that it will become ber of persons employed in digging, a flourishing commercial town; we can-smelting &c. is at present very great, not but earnestly desire, that the person and will doubtless increase with rapidialready appointed, or soine other suita-ty. On the Saline, five miles from St. ble one, may speedily be sent to occu-Genevieve is an American settlement of ny this important post. Situated just about 50 families; some are Presbytebelow the confluence of the Illinois, rians. At the Bois Brule bottom on the the Mississippi and the Missouri; no Mississippi 15 miles below St. Gene, place in the Western country, New-Or- vieve, are about 30 American families. leans excepted, has greater natural ad. There is also a settlement on the Plavantages. No place, therefore, has high-ten, and a large one of 150 or 200 fam, er importance, considered as a mission-ilies on the St. Francis. Towards the ary station. Next to St. Louis in point North West from St. Louis very consiof importance, is St. Genevieve. ļi liesiderable settlements are scattered up the one mile from the Mississippi, includ-Mississippi, the Missouri, and their tribing New Bourbon about two iniles dis-utary streams for near 200 miles. When tant; it has a population of 1500. There we were in the Territary we couid vot are about 25 American families; the learn that any Presbyterian minister had remainder French. A missionary visit-ever before preached there; yet inost ing this place occasionally would be of its settlements are frequently visited well received and would obtain a con-|| by Baptist and Methodist preachers.. siderable part of his support. While a There was even a man of the New-Engperson acting in the double capacity of land sect of Christ-ians* preaching and preacher and instructor of the Acade-distributing books in this and the adjamy in that place, would receive a sala- cent Territory, ry of $1000 per annum. Respecting the In addition to the above detailed religious state of the other towns and account of these Territories, we have a villages in the Territory, we have no few general remarks to offer, applicable definite information. It should speedi- to them all. The character of the setly be inquired into lvy a missionary ontlers is such as to render it peculiarly the ground. There are also many Ame-important that missionaries should earrican settlements throughout the coun-ly be sent among them. Indeed, they lry, that require to be sought out, and • The sect of Elias Smith. can hardly be said to have a character ;||tians at the East would lift up their eyes assembled as they are froin every state || and, behold. Could they but see what in the union, and originally from almost we have seen-thousands ready to perevery nation in Europe. The majority, ish, their eye-lids fast closed in spiritual although by no means regardless of re- slumber, and no one to awake themligion, bave not yet embraced any fixed Could they but see the sons and daugh. principles or sentiments respecting it.-ters of Jerusalem weeping for theinThey are ready to receive any impres-selves and for their children; surely sions which a public speaker may at- missionaries would no longer be wanttempt to make. Hence every species|ing, nor funds for their support. of heretics in the country flock to the “ If missionaries could by any means new settlements. Hence also the Bap-be sent into these Territories there are tist and Methodist denominations are various other ways in which they could exerting themselves to gain a footing in be extensively useful, besides their orthe Territories. If we do not come for- dinary labors, in preaching and admin. ward and occupy this promising field of istering the ordinances of the gospel.-usefulness, they will. Indeed they have This country is almost wholly new already taken the precedence. Some ground. Many institutions that conduce portions of this country are pretty tho-|| to the benefit of society, and to the ad. roughly supplied with their preachers. vancement of religion,are not yet estah. Why, then, it may be asked, should we lished. Much good might be done by exnot leave it wholly to them? We an-erting an influence in favor of schools, swer, the field is large enough for us all. and of the education of children. AniyMany of their preachers are exceeding-habilant of the Eastern States can have Jy illiterate. And this circumstance, if no adequate conception of the want of some of the most respectable inhabi- schools in this country. It is perfectly tants may be credited, has been a very coinmon to find men of considerable great injury to the cause of Christ in property, whose children cannot read a many places. Besides, there are many word. Much good might also be done Presbyterian brethren scattered through- by a missionary in promoting the estabout almost every settlement. And to lishment and success of Bible Societies, supply them with the stated means of and of other moral and religious insti. grace, so far as we are able, is a sacred tutions. In our former communications, duty incumbent upon us. We have al- i we have inade you, in some measure, ready mentioned a number of places, in acquainted with the dreadful famine of which an earnest desire was manifested the wrilten, as well as preached word to have missionaries sent among them. of God, which prevails in this country.. This was not the desire of a few indivi. We have also laid before you an acdual Presbyterians merely; but of many count of our exertions and success in of the officers in the civil government of promoting the establishment of associthe Territories, and of some of the mostations for the distribution of the Scriprespectable citizens of various denomi- tures. Should these associations be ornations. The 3 Governors and a num-ganized, still they will need some fos. ber of the Judges in the respective Tertering hand to support and render them ritories, expressed to us their feelings efficient: otherwise many years will roll upon this subject. Gov. Edwards of Il-away before the sacred oracles will be linois has been for some time endeav. found in every dwelling. The success oring to obtain a Presbyterian preacher with which we were favored, altogether there ; and Gov. Posey of Indiana pro- surpassing our most sanguine expectaprosed himself to write to some mis- tions, proves that the happiest conse. sionary Society to obtain one for his quences might be expected from vigoneighborhood. To be supported by the rous and persevering exertions in procountenance and patronage of such men moting this grand object. Such miswould be a vast advantage to a preach sionaries should be well supplied with or. Are not the fields then white alrea. Bibles and religious Tracts for gratuiody to the barvest? Would that all Chris-tous distribution. Undoubtedly they = would be so by Societies in the Atlan| ing the importance of St Louis, it seems FRA would be extended far beyond the is should be posted there, to labor in tilat are confident, that our present mission another might be advantageously em- pe 1 would otherwise be, by the Bibles and other settleinents in the Territory. It aha Tracts with which we are furnished.-seems desirable that missionaries in this A: Our Bibles are of course beneficial. Our country should pay particular atttention zoritiza 'Tracts (chietly of the collection pub- to the towns and villages. They are mtu lished by the New-England Tract Soci | mach inore destitute of religious privi- Testet me from house to house; and have been ers of this country find but little encour- denominations. Such publications are ants of the towns having been long “ Perhaps, dear, Sir, we have already who would hold up the hands of a re- And now, Their prayers swer of their prayers is long deferred ; || « On our arrival at Natchez, we were and their heart often sickens within a little perplexed. on finding that the them. By sending us among them, | boxes of French l'estaments, directed you have shown that they are not indeed to that place, had not arrived. This inforgotten, and have inspired thein with duced Mr. Mills to go directly down a cheering hope. Shall that hope be to New Orleans to ascertain whether grievously disappointed ? any had reached there. I tarried a Yours with affection and respect. month in the Mississippi Territory, enSAMUEL J. MILLS, deavoring to strengthen the hands of DANIEL SMITH. the Bible Society there; and collecting information respecting the religious “ P. S. Natchez, Feb. 11. My dear state of that country. This Territory Sir, we arrived here on the oth inst. in affords a very interesting field of misgood health and spirits. The Lord is sionary labor. With a population of apleased to deal very graciously with us. bout 45,000, it has only four PresbyteWe were for some time apprehensive, rian clergymen. The city of Natchez that the disturbed state of this country is perhaps as important a station for a might embarrass us, in attending to the missionary as any in the western pr duties of our mission. But General | southern country. The inhabitants have Jackson has defeated and repulsed the lately erected a very respectable PresBritish. They are still, however, hov- byterian church. (At the request of ering about the coast, and seem to med- the Trustees, I performed the dedicatoitate another attack—at what point is ry service.) But in erecting the buildaltogether uncertain. But we hope we ing the Trustees have exhausted their shall be permitted to attend to the busi- resouroes. There is reason to fear it ness of our Master's kingdom without will stand unoccupied; or perhaps, that molestation. On our arrival,we found the it will be diverted from its original de. French Testaments consigned to this sign, and fall into the trands of men unplace had not been received. Brother friendly to the truth. The Trustees Mills therefore proceeded immediately | proposed to address your society on the to New Orleans, to learn if any had ar- || subject, and to request you to send them rived there, that we might commence a missionary. They said they would the distribution of them. May the become responsible for his salary; and Lord prepare the hearts of the French if he was a man of popular talents and to receive them." of piety, they presumed he would be The last intelligence received from immediately settled. A suitable person these missionaries is contained in a let- sent to this place, would supply this fer from Mr. Smith, dated at sea, off church, would promote the interests of Charleston, (S. C.) May 2, 1815, and the Bible Society, which now languishes addressed to Mr. Evarts. for want of such a patron, would be. “ Our last cominunication, addressed come a bond of union to the scattered to Dr. Worcester, was forwarded from Presbyterian churches and ministers in Natchez, in February last. Since that the Territory, and would probably be time, Mr. Mills and myself have been the means of bringing in many more but very little together; and have been missionaries and ministers. 80 occupied, that we have found it im " When brother Mills reached Ner. possible to continue to give you a de-Orleans, he found 3000 of the French tailed account of the state of the coun Testaments there. The distribution was try through which we have passed, and immediately commenced. The Lord of our exertions in promoting the vari-bas wonderfully sıniled on this business. ous objects of our mission. That ac- No soover was it known that the Testacount will be resumed as soon as wements were on hand for distribution, meet again, and find a little leisure for than the French began to flock in to the purpose. At present I must beg | receive them. The information circuyou to accept a hasty sketch of some lated with rapidity. In a few days of the most interesting occurrences, crowds of several hundreds presented |