ten been so powerful in the hearts of the Esquimaux, that all were moved to tears; and we were filled with a believing hope, that He will gather together, even at Okkak, a congregation, which shall blossom and bear fruit to His Name's glory.

The declarations of many of our baptized, showing an experience of divine grace in their hearts, have often afforded us the greatest encouragement.

During last winter, four adults, and, including Brother and Sister Meisner's new-born infant, five children were baptized. Eight persons formerly excluded, having returned as true penitents, were readmitted to the congregation; six were added to the class of candidates for baptism. The schools for the children have been held in the usual order, and the seed sown in their tender hearts, seems to spring up and promise good fruit. The Lord has given us agreeable proofs of His love to these little ones, of which we might quote many, but will now only notice the following:

One day, while we were closing the schools as usual, by singing a verse, there arose such an emotion of heart among them, that all melted into tears, and at last, without any direction, they, of themseves fell on their knees. The Missionary, therefore, who was keeping the school, knelt down also, and was powerfully excited to fervent prayer for these dear little ones, commending them to the grace of our Saviour. Frequently the children met together and sung hymns, after the example of their parents, during which they were so much affected, that they burst into loud weeping. You may easily conceive how we feel, when we are witnesses to these things, and we offer up daily many prayers to our Saviour, that as they grow up, He would preserve them from the snares of Satan, and give them more and more to know and experience the power of his blood-shedding and death, to sanctify and preserve them in the faith, and grant grace,

that

that we may faithfully in all things approve ourselves as his servants and handmaids, in training them up for Him.

Six or eight families, some of whom had formerly lived here, have again applied for leave to live on our land, and to most of them we have granted it. As to the rest, we shall wait a little longer.

For the external support of our Esquimaux, our gracious heavenly Father has granted a sufficient supply. They have been tolerably successful in procuring provisions, and caught a considerable number of seals in nets, which supplied them with food till Easter. In spring they were not so successful as formerly, but yet suffered no want. No particular sickness prevailed, and deaths were not frequent, for which we are the more thankful, as upon such occasions we always fear, lest Satan should succeed in seducing some unsteady people to resume their heathenish practices.

We have, as much as possible, endeavoured to impress upon the Esquimaux from the North, who frequently visited us, the necessity of conversion, but we fear that their pleasant speeches upon such occasions were more out of civility, than from a real desire to be saved. However, we will not despair, but maintain a firm hope, that the hour of their visitation will soon strike, and we are thereby encouraged to seize every opportunity of proclaiming to them the counsel of God for man's salvation, beseeching them to be reconciled to God. For particulars we refer you to our diary.

In our family, we have all enjoyed, through the mercy of our Lord, health and strength, so that we could perform the work committed to us. We have not advanced as far as you supposed with our new saw-mill; but hope by next year, to be able to use it.

We regard, as the most essential favour bestowed upon us, that the Lord gave us always a free access unto Himself. From Him all our comfort and happiness is derived. Our

communions

communions have been times of great refreshment to our souls, by which we were strengthened in our daily walk and service. His sufferings and death were both the subject of our discourses, and the only hope and blessed meditation of our own hearts, and in all difficulties we experienced His gracious help.

We cannot help noticing the danger in which our dear Sister Meisner seemed to be; at the time of her delivery. We cried to the Lord in her behalf, that He would spare her longer to us, and he heard our prayers. Both mother and child recovered, and on the 27th of December it was baptized into the death of Jesus, and called Samuel Benjamin.

Brother and Sister Woiff having received a call to Hopedale, set out from hence in a boat, on the 10th of September, commended by us in fervent prayer to the protection of our Lord, whom our dear Brother has faithfully served many years at Okkak. Brother and Sister Martin have come hither to supply their place, and we bid them welcome with much love, as our future fellow-labourers.

Your salutation to the Esquimaux congregation here shall be delivered to them at the first suitable opportunity. They always rejoice to hear, that prayers are offered up in their behalf on the other side of the great ocean. Continue, therefore, dear Brethren, to remember both them and the poor northern heathen before the throne of grace.

May the Lord bring the vessel safe home to you, and also, as hitherto, preserve England under the shadow of His wing, and defend it against all its enemies.

With cordial love we commend ourselves once more to your kind remembrance and prayers, as your most affectionate and faithful Brethren and Sisters at Okkak.

T. MARTIN.

H. SHAW.

GEORGE SCHMIDTMAN.

SAMUEL STURMAN.

SAMUEL MEISNER.

FROM SAREPTA, near ASTRACAN.

Extract of Brother VALEN. WENDLING's Report of a School begun with the Children of the German Colonists employed in the Settlement; and of his Endeavours to instruct some KALMUC Children at Sarepta.

HAVING

AVING in 1800, been appointed by the Elders of the Brethrens' congregation at Sarepta, to undertake the instruction of the children belonging to the German colonists, who were employed as servants in our settlement, and my situation affording me an opportunity of doing it without expence to the Settlement, I began to keep school with abou ten children, of from five to eleven years old, and gave them two hours instruction every day.

It pleased the Lord to lay a special blessing upon my labours, and I had the great satisfaction to perceive, that they not only gained improvement by learning to read, &c. but grew in the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ, as their Saviour. Two of them departed out of this world, rejoicing in Him, and expressing their sense of his love and mercy, in the most fervent thanksgivings.

They all delight to hear of His sufferings and death, and all He has done to redeem them. Their number has been kept up by a succession of children committed to our care, as others return home to their parents, and we have the greatest encouragement to believe, that the good seed sown will spring up in due season, and bring forth much fruit, to the glory of God.

By means of this school, an opportunity was afforded me of doing something in behalf of the poor Kalmuc children, whose parents are generally hovering about our neighbourhood. A Kalmuc boy, called Makush, step-son to a Kal

Ff

muc

muc Prince, had been sent hither by his father to learn the German language. He was first committed to the care of Brother Loos, who taught him to spell; and January 15, 1801, sent to my school for farther instruction.

Although at first he appeared very ignorant, yet by degrees, I perceived some traces of the labour of the Holy Spirit in his heart. He had learnt several verses, and told me, "that, when he lay down to sleep at night, he was accustomed to repeat them in prayer. But once he began to doubt, whether what was contained in them were true, upon which he left off praying. However, it occurred to his mind, that he had not faith, and yet he knew, that he that believeth not, shall be damned. He therefore prayed the Lord to forgive him that sin of unbelief."

Towards the end of 1802, several other Kalmuc children arrived here, who expressed a desire to learn German. They were from ten to fourteen years of age; their parents live in the vicinity of Sarepta, and obtain a livelihood in the place, where likewise the bigger boys get work, and earn something. As I can converse with them by means of Makush, who serves as interpreter, I was willing to admit them into the school. At Christmas, I asked them, if they knew what festival we now celebrated? They rereplied, that it was the same as their New Year's festival. I informed them, that the great God, who had created all things, had become man, and that the festival we now cclebrated, was that of His holy incarnation. One of the boys answered, that there were many gods who had created all things, and that every man had his own creator. I informed them, that there was but one God, who had created all things, and all men, and that mankind had sinned against Him; in consequence of which, they deserved to be eternally punished, and were even now under the power of the devil. But that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, out of compassion for

them,