were crimsoned with Grecian blood. 'It was estimated that 2000 had been massacred, and heavy exactions of money were demanded of others for the privilege of living. The bodies of the slain were seen frequently floating in the bay. In a word, exactions, imprisonment, or death, met the defenceless Greeks in every direction. And yet, strange to tell, multitudes, only because they were better protected from Turkish violence, went thoughtlessly to the assembly-room, and the dance, as though all were peace and security. While the countenance of many gathered blackness through fear, that of others exhibited only the expression of a thoughtless, ill-timed levity.

After relating a long tale of atrocities, of which he had some personal knowledge, and rumors of similar scenes at Constantinople, Salonica, Vassilica, Carabourno, Galacita, the Grecian Islands, &c. -rumors of deeds foul and monstrous beyond a parallel in modern times, Mr. Fisk remarks; (addressing the Secretary of the Board,) "You will readily perceive, that amidst such occurrences as I have described, my studies must be very much interrupted, and my opportunities for active labors few and limited. Here all the selfish, revengeful, cruel, and licentious passions of human nature are indulged without restraint. When and how these direful events are to be made subservient to the cause of Christ, is for Him to decide, whose prerogative it is to bring good out of evil. It is our part to submit to his will, while we weep over the depravity and miseries of men, and to improve what few opportunities we have to do good, while waiting for a wider field of action to open before us."

The state of Mr. Fisk's mind at this time will appear in the following letter addressed to Mrs. H. S. of B. dated Smyrna, Sept. 30.

"The events of the past summer have made me think often of an early death. There is something

which touches the mind in a most tender and affecting manner in the thought of leaving a mission, concerning which so much has been said and done, and in which so little has been effected. It must be hard to give up plans and hopes, to which we have devoted ourselves, and on which we have meditated, till they have engrossed our whole mind. There is something very solemn too, in the thought of dying, of leaving this world forever, and all who are in it, and all the privileges of probation; of having the soul depart for a new, untried residence; and of becoming at once acquainted with the full import of that awful word, Eternity. In anticipating such an event, we need firm faith, and the consciousness of having committed our soul most sincerely and unreservedly into the hands of our Redeemer.

"Sometimes I hope that, should I be called, I should be able to meet death as a Christian ought. At other times I tremble at the thought of dying. But I think we do not honor our Saviour as we ought, unless we receive his promises with such cordial confidence, that we can think of death at all times with composure, and triumph when it approaches. To feel, and speak, and act right, in respect to death, while in health, when sick, and at the hour of dissolution, is a great part of the Christian's duty, and one important method of exhibiting the excellence and value of true religion. Dear sister, may we be prepared, so that the approach of the last enemy may not alarm us, and so that we may honor God by our dying behavior.

"I perceive that I am filling up my sheet with reflections on a gloomy subject, and one, which to

the gay and merry, would seem very unsuitable for

a letter. But to you, I trust, it will seem neither unsuitable nor gloomy. With all its terrors death to a Christian is but deliverance from prison, and admittance to his Father's house. Let us then be diligent in our work, and wait with holy expecta

tion, for the moment which shall free us from sin, and admit us to the immediate presence of our God.".

The Messrs. Van Lennep's removed in October to their country seat in Sedicui, a few miles from Smyrna, where they were more retired from the scenes of confusion and horror witnessed in the city. Mr. Fisk was invited to accompany them, and accepted the invitation. An account of his residence at that place is contained in a communication to the corresponding Secretary under the following date:

"Smyrna, Nov. 22, 1821. "Dear Sir, I have already given you some account of the village of Sedicui, and a visit which I made to it last winter. I have just returned from a residence of a month there with the families of the Messrs. Van Lennep's. We went out October 20th. The five Sabbaths which I spent there, I preached in French to a congregation of about twenty persons, from the following texts:-'Search the Scriptures.' The law of the Lord is perfect." 'When thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.' 'There remaineth, therefore, a rest for the people of God.' These were sermons which I had previously written in English, and translated into French. I spent a little time daily in reading the Scriptures in English, Greek, and French, with six children of the Messrs. V. L., and devoted most of my remaining hours to study. I sold three Greek Testaments for about one third the first cost, gave away four others, and distributed, and left for distribution 100 Greek Tracts of different kinds. I also visited the Greek priests frequently, for the purpose of reading the Scriptures with them. After reading our Saviour's discourse to Nicodemus, I asked, 'What is regeneration?' The head priest replied, 'Baptism.' I asked,

Is it water baptism merely, or does it imply also the renovation of the heart by the Holy Spirit?' 'It certainly implies the latter,' he said. I replied, 'Suppose a man has been baptised, but his heart remains unholy, and he has no true faith; can he be saved?' 'Certainly not,' was the reply. I then entered into conversation to shew the nature and necessity of the renewing influences of the Holy Spirit. To all that I said, he readily assented.

"A little way from Sedicui, there is a spring called St. John's Fountain, to which the Greeks attribute a kind of miraculous power. The water is slightly impregnated with iron. The sick resort to this fountain, taste the water, make the sign of the cross, offer a short prayer, and then tie a small rag to the bushes which surround the spring, and, according to public opinion, depart materially benefitted. Hundreds of rags are hanging on the bushes, having been left there by invalids who came to be healed. Similar springs are found, it is said, in the neighborhood of many Greek villages.

"Smyrna, with its vicinity, continues to be a theatre of the most tragical and bloody scenes. Three or four days ago, a quarrel took place between some Turks, and some Slavonians and Ragusians, who are Austrian subjects. A few individuals were killed on both sides. This excited the anger of the Turks generally to the highest pitch of phrenzy, and they wreaked their vengeance on the poor Greeks, shooting and stabbing them in the streets, and even breaking open houses to glut their fury, and gratify their lusts. I have heard the number of assassinations, committed in the course of two or three days, variously estimated at from 100 to 300.

"My own situation is such, that I entertain very little apprehension as to my personal safety. Yet scarcely a week has passed for eight months, in which I have not witnessed, or heard of events of the most revolting and distressing kind. The occurrences of this year have made the most horrid

things recorded in ancient history seem familiar,seem like facts; and not like the imaginations of a tragic muse. These exhibitions of lust, of cold blooded cruelty, furnish dreadful testimony of the corruption of human nature. O that from these impressive and instructive lessons, I may learn practical wisdom.

"Be the result of the war, however, what it may, I entertain very little apprehension, that it will be seriously unfavorable to our cause; and possibly it may open a wide door, for the circulation of the Scriptures, the establishment of schools, and the diffusion of evangelical truth. Our general plans should be laid, not with a view to present occurrences merely, but principally with reference to the general state of the country.'

In a letter to the same, dated November 27, he thus notices the sickness of Mr. Parsons while at Syria in September. "It is now a month since I received a letter from Mr. Parsons, giving me the painful intelligence, that he had been dangerously sick:-but thanks to a kind Providence, the same letter informed me that he was recovering his health. Had I known of his sickness sooner, I should, if possible, have gone to him; for I fear he suffered much from the want of proper attentions. 'He was sick nigh unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not him only, but on me also.'"

About this time Mr. Fisk heard from Mr. P. then at Scio, and with much anxiety waited his arrival at Smyrna. He had the happiness of meeting his long absent and afflicted brother, on December 3, 1821. The time of their separation wanted a few days of a year, during which they had witnessed events and scenes, calculated to keep the mind under the constant influence of no ordinary degree of excitement. To these occurrences there is an allusion in the following extract of a joint letter to the corresponding Secretary, dated Smyrna, Dec. 13, 1821.