siege before the first stone shall fall from the wall. But it is not more certain, that the walls of Jericho fell before the ancient people of God, than it is, that the whole Mahommedan world will be subdued by the Gospel. But, my brother, you know something of the treachery and the weakness of the human heart: and though these prospects are certain, yet the time may come, when our faith, courage, and resolutions, will fail. Think of us sometimes in your devotional moments, and especially in reference to the danger of our fainting, and proving unfaithful in our work."

The letter, which will next be inserted, was written on the fourth anniversary of the death of his mother, and addressed to his father. It will exhibit, what was peculiarly strong in Mr. F., filial affection.

Smyrna, April 15, 1820.

"Dearly beloved Father.-It will probably be a long time before I shall have an opportunity to send you this letter; but I have a special reason for writing to you to-day. It is four years this day since the death of my dear Mother. Four years ago my father, brothers, and sisters, were watching with painful anxiety the symptoms which indicated [her approaching dissolution. In the evening the appointed moment arrived. Your hopes vanished. Her breath ceased. Her immortal spirit departed. How painful was that event to those who survived! Even at this distance, and after the lapse of four years, my heart is alive to the affecting scene. The letter which gave me the mournful news is now open before me, and a perusal of it has, in some measure, revived the sensations which at first it excited.

"Alas! how uncertain are all earthly connexions! How liable we are every moment to be deprived of the objects that are dearest to our hearts!

"Happy are they who have grace given them to make a wise improvement of the afflictions which

they are called to endure. To them these momentary trials will be productive of eternal joy. That this may be the happy effect, we need the influences of the Holy Spirit, to produce in us submission and love.

"After having for many years lived in the domestic state, and experienced the trials and comforts, the hopes and fears, connected with it; my father is now left in lonely widowhood. Four years of this solitude have already passed. It is indeed a great blessing, and one which, I trust, affords you much happiness, and is enjoyed with many thanksgivings, to live in the society of children, especially of children who have devoted themselves to the service of Christ. Does not this in some measure compensate for the loss of a still dearer friend?

"When I reflect on the changes which have taken place within four years in my father's family; it excites a train of melancholy reflections.

"But these changes have all been ordered by Infinite wisdom. Why then should we not cheerfully acquiesce? Why should we not adore our God for all his dispensations?

"After our afflictions have passed by, we may very properly inquire, what effect they have produced. Are we excited to more prayer? Are we weaned from the world? Are we fitted to die?

"My circumstances seem to render it peculiarly important, that I should be always ready to leave the world. And, my dear father, you undoubtedly reflect very often on your age, and that you must before long put off this tabernacle. O may the grace of God prepare us for the change whenever it may come. May my father enjoy the inestimable comforts of an unshaken hope, and wait with patient expectation the hour which shall call him to endless rest. I shall always remember the happy death of my good mother. What a blessing to enjoy such comfort, and such hope on a dying bed. May we

live the life, that so we may die the death of the righteous. Your absent, but dutiful son, PLINY.”

Scio, an Island about 70 miles from Smyrna, was considered an eligible summer residence. It also afforded superior advantages for the study of modern Greek, which might be pursued under the direction of Professor Bambas, the Principal of a flourishing Seminary then in the Island. Accordingly arrangements were made by Mr. F., and his fellow laborer, to go to that place, at which they arrived May 12th, after a passage of forty-eight hours. They were introduced to the Greek Bishop, as Americans; who immediately inquired, whether they were WASHINGTON'S Countrymen. On the 15th they were introduced to Professor Bambas by letters from Messrs. Jowett and Williamson. They found him reading Sophocles with a class of pupils. He proposed to devote his time to instructing them in Modern Greek, inviting them to come to his study daily for the purpose.

The obliging Professor assigned as a reason for devoting such special attention to his missionary pupils, his regard for the employment, in which they were to be engaged. He took, it was found, a lively interest in the benevolent operations of the day, and proved to be a man of correct religious sentiments, and a faithful teacher. Mr. Fisk, in a letter to his father, dated Scio, June 5, 1820, thus speaks of his situation and employments.

"About four weeks ago we left Smyrna and came to Scio, (the Chios mentioned in Acts.) It is inhabited almost wholly by Greeks. We came here to learn the Greek language. I am acquainted with but two persons on the Island who speak English, and we do not very often see them. Many speak Italian, in which we are now able to converse with considerable ease; and we begin to stammer a little in Greek. We have hired a small house, for

which we pay about eight dollars a month. When we left Smyrna we hired a Greek (Martino,) who has travelled much with Europeans in this country, to come with us. He is a poor man, and cannot read a word of any language; but he speaks Greek, French, Italian, and Turkish. When we travel, he knows the country, and acts as our guide. He is our interpreter, and steward. I am now learning him to read Italian.

"Our living here costs us generally about 60 or 70 cents a day. We find here no good meat nor milk nor butter. Bread is very good, and also rice; fruit, such as oranges, lemons, almonds, &c. are very cheap. Wine costs five or six cents only per quart; and except water, is the common drink of the country.

"The weather is very hot, so that we cannot study so much as we could last winter. Except a degree of debility produced by the heat, we enjoy good health.

"Our situation for learning Greek is peculiarly favorable. Our instructor is the first Teacher in the Greek college, and a man of learning. We shall remain here perhaps three months longer, and ' then return to Smyrna.

"Our time has been occupied thus far, and will be principally occupied for months, perhaps for years, in studying languages, and in collecting information about the country, and in distributing Bibles and Tracts. If our mission is the object of divine favor, we may live yet to preach the Gospel to Turks and Jews, as we used to preach in our own country. But we know not what a day may bring forth, and desire to commit ourselves and all our plans to the divine disposal.

"The people here are very friendly to us, and we live quietly. They all (except a few Turks and Jews) profess to be Christians, and consider themselves in the way to future happiness. But they know very little about Christianity, have very few Bibles,

and suppose that religion consists very much in making the sign of the cross, bowing before pictures of Christ, the Virgin Mary, the Apostles and Saints, and in performing other religious ceremonies. They receive Greek Tracts very readily, and they who can read are interested in perusing them. I hope we shall do something to promote their spiritual welfare while we reside on the Island."

* "On the 13th of June the conductor of the college press, was engaged to furnish 5,000 copies of a Tract on Reading the Scriptures, selected from the works of Chrysostom, and translated into Modern Greek. When the Tract was ready for distribution, trial was soon made of the manner in which it would be received. The result was such, as to suggest the immediate publication of another-"The end of Time," by Dr. Watts, translated also into Modern Greek. With these little heralds it was easy to gain access to the schools, the monasteries, and the nunneries; in short, to any class of the Greek population. Professor B. warmly seconded the circulation of Tracts among his pupils, by urging them to study, and retain in their memories, what had been so generously put into their hands. Within a few weeks numerous copies were on their way to Thessalonica, Crete, Corfu, Ipsera, and many other places. The success of these incipient efforts was incomparably more rapid and encouraging, than could have been expected."

TO HIS FATHER.

Scio, July 24, 1820.

We

"My very dear Father, It is now ten or twelve weeks since we came to this Island. It has one city in which we resided six or seven weeks. now five or six miles from it. We have two chambers in a good house, and live very comforta

are

* See 12th Annual Report of the American Board, p. 39.