Religious Intelligence.

UNITED STATES.

an Account of the origin and progress of the mission to the Cherokee Indians, in

a series of Letters from the Rev. Gideon Blackburn to the Rev. Dr. Morse.

LETTER V. Maryville, Jan. 15, 1808. use of the limb, but also, by the keenREV. SIR,

ness of the pain, and the quantity of HAVING established a second the discharge, wasted my body, de. school on my own credit, and being pressed my spirits, and broke my consolely accountable for its support, stitution. wrote to the Committee of Missions Under these distresses, my family, on the subject, and received their parochial, or Indian duties, were peranswer, declaring that the scantiness formed with the utmost difficulty, and of their funds would not allow them in pain too excruciating to be describto extend their benevolence to that ed by mortals. school, or in any shape be accountable My schools were increasing, my for it; or even for any more of the funds exhausted, my credit sinking, cost of the first school than 200 dol. and my health to all appearance gone lars, as first stipulated; however, forever. The prospect was indeed afterwards the appropriation was ex- gloomy!

Just at this period a prov. tended to five hundred dollars. idential incident occurred, which in

About this time my circumstances vigorated my ebbing hope, and again were truly embarrassing : I had the saved the whole design from miscar. care of a congregation amongst the riage. I had been obliged a little white people where I still live, which while before to purchase some sup. though pretty numerous were general. plies for the schools, which I procur. ly poor people, and being settied in a ed in the nation from an Indian counnew country for several years had been tryman on a short credit. But a little much harassed by depredations and before the period, supposing I was al. wars by the Indians; and still later ways ready, he forwarded my due by a circumstance relative to our bill for payment by an Indian, with boundary line ; the people had settled whom I knew the establishment of south to an experimental line supposed my credit was indispensable. Money to be the proper one : but when run I had none, nor was there ten dollars by commissioners appointed by gov- to be gathered in the village where I einment, was considerably altered. live, as it was just at the time of the Those southwest of the line were re. merchants making their annual removed off and placed amongst those on mittances, and every cent which could the other side, where they continued a be collected was sent off, and I was whole season. This so affected the unabie to ride in search of any in the whole neighbourhood composing my neighbourhood. I detained the mes. charge, that neither then or since have senger for breakfasting, &c. much they been able to pay any thing con- longer than usual, in order to lay the siderable for the support of the gospel. case before God in solemn prayer, as I had also a rising and helpless fami- I knew the existence of the whole ly for which provision must be made : was in jeopardy, if my credit failed and hy fatigues, and being exposed to with the nation. After returning by cold, hunger, and wet, together with the help of my crutches from the si. all the wretchedness of savage ac- lent grove, I felt a confidence that commodations in my visits to the na. something would be done, though I tion, and the severity of toil and hard knew not how it could be effected. labour at home, I was attacked with I took my pen, and was about to write a complaint, which, settling in one of to a friend for the loan of 40 dollars, my legs, not only deprived me of the the sum required. At that instant

a gentleman called at my gate. As of my resources, and thus, by saving I walked out my heart felt some unu- my credit, preserved the institution sual emotions ; le presented me a from ruin. letter, and immediately retired. I Through many such mysterious steps knew by the hand writing it was from has divine Providence led in the man. a friend in Philadelphia. Hastily agement of this undertaking, especially opening it, I found enclosed a bank until the spring of 1806, when in a tour note of 50 dollars, accompanied with to the south I collected upwards of the following note: “After reading 1500 dolls, and at the same time was your letter of date to some relieved almost miraculously from my friends last evening, a gentleman call. bodily afflictions. Mercies never to ed at my door early this morning be forgotten, to the praise of sove. and handed the enclosed, to be used reign grace. May they be indelibly at your pleasure, but wishes his name imprinted on my recollection, bringconcealed.”

ing me nearer to the throne of grace, Thus the Lord enabled me to re. until mortality is swallowed up of deem my note, dismiss the Indian life. I am, &c. with pleasure and in full confidence

GIDEON BLACKBURN.

Literary Jntelligence.

UNITED STATES.

MIDDLERURY COLLEGE.

:

To the Patrons of Literature and Religion. The President and Fellows of cess upon the liberality of private Middlebury College, in the State of gentlemen, but has not yet received Vermont, respectfully represent the any adequate endowment. The State situation of the Institution under their of Vermont is new. The inhabitants, immediate trust and guardianship, generally, are indigent, and none are and solicit the opulent and liberal to wealthy. The population, (which is aid them in promoting the interests rapidly increasing) amounts, at presof Literature and Religion. The Le. ent, to two hundred thousand. The gislature of Vermont, having consid. State is furnished with but few ered that the State was almost wholly Academies, or good Schools for the destitute of the means of education, education of vouth. The number of granted, A. D. 1800, to a number of Christian Preachers, of every denomindividuals, the Charter of a College ination, is very small; and by far the at Middlebury ; but were unable to greater part of the inhabitants of the extend to it the hand of public State have not the gospel dispensed bounty.

to them. Middlebury College is the A commodious building for the ac. chief resort of those youthis who commodation of students was imme. seek an education superior to what diately prepared. A well selected can be obtained at the common Library of near seven hundred vol. schools. A large proportion, as well umes, and a small Philosophical Ap. of those who have received the hon. paratus, have been procured for the ors of the College, as of the present use of the students. Competent In- under graduates, are serious young structors are obtained and permanent. men, who are endeavouring to qualify ly established. Forty-six alumni of themselves to become teachers of the College have been admitted to the religion. To this Institution the Degree of Bachelor of Arts. The hopes of the friends of religion within number of under graduates is about the State are directed, for the supply sixty. The progress of the Institu. of the destitutc churches and people tion has more than equalled the ex. .with well qualified preachers of the pectations of the most sanguine of its gospel. The friends of the Institu. friends. It has depended for its suc. tion are animated with the success

which has hitherto attended their ef. both waggon, team, and people from forts. Their exertions will be con destruction. tinued-will be increased. But the After travelling about 300 hours situation of the State, and the in- from the Cape, or as we suppose about crease of students, require that their 800 English miles in the direction of plans should be extended, and their N. E. or thereabouts, which would means enlarged. And should the bring them within two degrees of the wealthy and benevolent think proper Tropic, they came to the capital of to contribute their assistance in en- the Boetzuanas, containing about larging the sphere of instruction in 1,500 houses, and 7,000 inhabitants. this infant Seminary, and thus aid the The name of the city is Likitow. cause of learning and piety, they. So vast an assemblage of dwellings, shall receive the warmest gratitude of exceeding the number of those in all the present patrons of the Insti. Cape Town, with a population equal, tution.

if not superior, excluding the slaves, By order of the Board.

makes it more than probable, that SETH STORRS, Secretary. the inhabitants have not only attained March 31, 1807.

a very considerable pitch of civilization, but it implies also a more than ordinary degree of industry in the

cultivation of the arts, and the purFOREIGN

suits of agriculture. Surrounded by

a barren country, and bordering to CAPE TOWN,

the northward on other tribes of peo

Feb. 27, 1802. ple, remaining in a fixed and sedenThe dispatch that arrived last tary life, and deriving little or no week from the gentlemen of the com- support from commerce, we are entiremission sent by government into the ly at a loss to conceive in what man. interior of this country contains the ner they contrive to subsist so great a most pleasing and satisfactory ac- multitude. The details of their po. counts of the good understanding that litical and domestic economy must invariably prevailed between them furnish new and highly interesting and the natives of every part of the matter to add to the history of savage country through which they passed in nations. It would be equally unacthe progress of their journey to the countable, that in the course of 160 Briequas, improperly it seems, so years, no correct information of the called, the real name of this nation Boetzuanas should have been obtain. being Boetzuanas. The commis. ed, if it did not occur to us, that no sioners speak in the highest terms of single discovery has been effected, applause of the conduct of the mis. nor any account of the southern angle sionaries settled among the natives of Africa been made public, except inbabiting the country near the by occasional and foreign visitors. Orange River ; and also of the poor It may be further added, that the Hottentots, Bastards, and Bosjesmen, country within the limits of the col. whom they are endeavouring to in- ony has been better known and more struct in the precepts of Christianity, travelled by Europeans or settiers and at the same time to accustom to within the last five years, than in the the habits of useful labour. From whole period of its colonization prior these, and indeed from the natives in to the time we mention. At the capgeneral, the expedition received the ture of the colony, no part of the very most friendly and ready assistance. extensive district of Graaff Reynet In crossing the Gariefs, or Orange appeared in any of their charts, exriver, the rapidity of the stream cept Zwart Kop's Bay; nor swept away one of the waggons, there then three men in the wbole which, with the whole team of oxen, Cape, who could point out, with any must inevitably have been lost, had degree of accuracy, where it was sit. not the savages, as they are called, uated. This dreadful journey of a on the opposite bank, perceiving the long month is now become familiar, distressed situation of those belong. and accomplished by a British officer, ing to it, plunged into the stream, with two or three horses, in six and by their active exertions saved days.

:

were

a

With regard to the Boetzuanas, ations of such lawless miscreants as their name, their numbers, their situ- these. To such are owing the nuation, and resourses, were all falsified merous hordes of Bosjesnien, who, in the accounts given by those who driven by imperious want 10 assail the pretended to a huowledge of this na- habitations or the flocks of the colontion.

ists, are hunted down by ibe latter with The literary world will derive no more eagerness, and desuvyed with small degree of gratification from the less remorse, (for their destruction is labours of the present expedition. the cause of triumph) than the vilest Besides a variety, or perhaps a new or most obnoxious beast of prey. species of Rhinoceros, no less than The natural disposition of the dif. four animals of the Antelope and Bo- ferent tribes of Hottentots is mild, vine genus, hitherto undescribed, peaceable, and cheerful; and, by genhave been discovered, among which, tle usage, might be moulded into any one is stated to be allied to that sin- shape. The habits of life in which gular animal the Gnoc), and another they have been brought up, nalur:ally in some degree to the Hartebeest. incline them to a fondness of liberty, And the fine arts will be enriched by and render them impatient of continethe pencil of the very able artist who ment and restraint ; but they are, peraccompanied the expedition.

haps, of all the people in the world who Notwithstanding the great distance have been accustomed to a roving that the Boetzuanas are removed life, the easiest broken in to constant from the Cape, they complained labour, and reconciled to

a fixed grievously of certain persons on the abode. As a proof of this, we need frontiers of the colony committing de. only refer to the exertions of the predations on their cattle, and ill missionaries, whose endeavours in treating their people. They particu- this country have been crok ned with larly mentioned a man of the name of better success, than perhaps in any Jan Blom, who with his gang had of other. Degraded as this people have late vears very much infested them ; stood in the page of history, and repand they concluded, naturally enough, resented as they have generally been that all the colonists were like Jan at the foot of the scale of rational an. Blom; and of course they were at imals, we are doubtful whether any first guarded and distrustful of the nation or tribe of men, falling under present commission; which, howey- the visual denomination of savage, are er, by a residence nearly of a month, possessed with more natural endowsufficiently convinced them that all ments, or more apt to acquire those Christians were not of the same de. of art, than the Hottentots. We could scription as Jan Blom and bis gang. enumerate various instances in sup

Humanity shudders in contemplat. port of this opinion, were it necessary; ing the deplorable situation to which but they are now so well and so genthe bulk of the native inhabitants, and erally known, that such details were rightful owners, of this country, have unnecessary. been reduced by the arts and machin

List of New Publications. INTEGRITY explained and recom. short account of the prevailing remended. In a sermon preached at the ligions. Ornamented with a frontisnorth meeting house in Salem, at an piece, representing history conductAssociation Lecture, Sept. 8, 1807. ing patriotisun, fortitude and wisdom, By Joseph Dana, D. D. one of the to the temple of fame ; personified by ministers of Ipswich. Salem. Pool Generals Washington, Green and & Pearly. 1808.

Hamilton ; with three other plates, A Compendium of the History of by D. Fraser. New York. Alsor, all Nations, exhibiting a concise view Brannon & Alsop. of the origin, progress, decline and A Dictionary of the English Lanfall of the most considerable em- guage, compiled for the use of compires, kingdoms and states in the mon schools in the United States. By world, from the earliest times to the N. Webster, Esq. G. F. Hopkins. prese", period. Interspersed with a New York,

NEW EDITIONS.

Secret History; or the Horrors of A Letter from the Hon. Timothy St. Domingo. In a Series of Letters, Pickering, a senator of the United by a Lady at Cape Francois, to Col. States from the State of Massachu. Burr, late vice president of the United setts, exhibiting to his constituents a States. Philadelphia, Bradford & In- view of the imminent danger of an skeep. 1808.

unnecessary and ruinous war. Ad A Narrative of the Rise and Pro- dressed to His Excellency James gress, with a brief explanation of sev- Sullivan, Governor of the said State. eral subjects, viz. Observations on Boston. Greenough & Stebbins. 1808. the practice of the laying on of hands, the scriptural mode of celebrating the An Essay on the Spirit and Influence Lord's supper, &c, with remarks on of the Reformation, by Luther: The Mr. Wm. Parkinson's past and pres. work which obtained the prize on this ent conduct, and observations on a question-Proposed by the National pamphlet, entitled the new theologi. Institute of France in the public setcal scheme detected. By Ebenezer ting of the 15th Germinal, in the year Baptist Church. Also a letter to Mr. X.--" What has been the influence of William Parkinson, with a dialogue the Reformation by Luther on the affixed thereto, by John Inglesby. political situation of the different New York, Smith & Forman. states of Europe, and on the progress

A Discourse before the Society for of knowledge ? By C. Villars. Faithpropagating the gospel among the in- fully translated from the last Paris dians and others in North America, edition, by B. Lambert. Sold at No. delivered Nov. 5, 1807. By Eliphalet 47, Cornhill, Boston. Porter, D. D. pastor of the first The Works of Thomas a Kempis, church in Roxbury. 8vo. Boston. in two vols. 12mo. $1,50. New Munroe, Francis, & Parker.

Bedford. Abraham Shearman, jun. A Discourse on the nature and de. The Wanderer of Switzerland; and sign, the benefits and proper subjects other Poems, by James Montgomery. of baptism. By the Rev. Robert Third American edition. To which Finley, A. M. minister of the gospel is prefixed a Biographical Sketch of at Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Phil. the Author's Life. 12mo. Boston. adelphia. B. B. Hopkins & Co. 1808. Belcher & Armstrong.

Dbituary.

CHARACTER OF MRS. BIDWELL.

Died at Stockbridge, February tongue that spoke only to delight last, Mrs. MARY BIDWELL, consort and to console, and the hand that was of the Hon. Barnabas Bidwell, At- wont to scatter peace and blessings, torney General of this state.

and smooth the rugged paths of lite, While reviewing the melancholy are stiftened by death, we can find no catalogue of those, who though slum. consolation, but what flows from a bering in the tomb have left speaking recollection of virtues, and a convic. records of their worth, we rarely ob- tion that they now enjoy their reward. serve a name so peculiarly calculated Mrs. Bidwell inherited great powers to excite the tenderest sympathies of from nature, and her mind was en. the heart, and to awaken the reflec. riched by judicious cultivation. In tions of the living, as the subject of the various spheres in which she was these few remarks. When blooming destined to move, she exhibited youth perishes before our eyes, and strength of understanding, and suavi. decrepid age gently slides into the ty of heart. Elevated by feeling grave, the poignancy of grief yields in ahore those cold maxims, that chili a measure to the reflection, that the the warinth of friendship by the afecloss of the former can be estimated tation of dignity, the softness of her only by a few acts of usefulness, manners and easy conversation, unwhile that of the latter proclaims the bosomed the most reserve and face inevitable lot of nature. But when inated the most phlegmatic. With the vigour of life is torn from the full coinmanding and versatile powers, exercise of benevolence, when the she was qualified for every walk of