the plain we saw no village, and I think only three or four little miserable habitations, for a distance of near thirty miles.

"31. In the morning we sold a few Psalters. The Psalter is much more eagerly sought after, than any other part of the Scriptures, because among the Christians of Syria it is the universal, and almost the only school-book. The education acquired at school, generally amounts to no more than ability to read the Psalter.

"South and west of the peninsula, on which Tyre stands, you see ledges of rocks near the shore, and ancient columns scattered on the rocks. The harbor is north of the town. A small harbor, in which boats lie, is surrounded by a wall. At a distance from the landing there is a reef of rocks, which must make the entrance dangerous in bad weather, but which, by breaking the waves, forms the security of the harbor. We counted more than one hundred columns lying in one place on the rocks. In that small harbor we saw many at the bottom several feet under water."

On the 3d of November Mr. Fisk was at Acre, and visited the principal mosque, which he describes.

In

"The mosque is near the pasha's palace, and was built by the infamous Jezzar. It resembles, in its general form, a Christian church, but is without seats or pews. The floor is covered with carpets, on which the worshippers sit, or kneel. one corner is a reading desk, and in another part is a pulpit. Stairs at two corners lead up to a fine gallery, and thence to a second, which is very narrow. In front of each gallery are places for rows of lamps. The upper gallery seems to be designed merely for the purpose of illuminating. There is a large chandelier suspended from the lofty dome, and a multitude of lamps hang about the mosque. The windows are also numerous, so that when illu

minated, the appearance must be splendid. The mosque, according to Mussulman taste, is ornamented with paintings, in which different colors are fantastically intermixed. The execution is far from being elegant; yet the effect is on the whole agreeA few Turks were present reading from the

Koran.

"Before the mosque is a large court paved with marble of different colors, shaded with rows of palm trees, and containing two elegant domes with fountains under them. On three sides of this court, are rows of cloisters for the accommodation of students and travellers. In one of them is a library. The effects of a late siege were visible. In several places the walls of the mosque and of the cloister had been seriously injured by cannon balls. This court with its shades and fountains is quite in oriental taste, and certainly for a hot country it is a delightful spot. My imagination was filled with the idea of the learned Mussulmans, in the times of the caliphs of Bagdad and Cairo, passing their time in such places. I was dressed after the oriental manner, and fancied that in such a place, surrounded by Mussulman doctors, I could soon become familiar both with their manners and their language. Had I the faith, the wisdom, the learning, and the courage of Martyn, I might perhaps find access to such places, and tell these men, who are so wise in their own conceits, that truth which they are so unwilling to hear, namely, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

"My mind dwells with deep interest on the question, 'How is the Gospel to be preached to the Mussulmans?' According to the established law, and a law which to the extent of my information is rigidly executed, it is immediate death for any Mussulman, of whatever rank, and in whatever circumstances, to renounce his religion. Undoubtedly God can so pour out his Spirit upon men, that they shall embrace his Gospel by multitudes, even with the cer

tainty of immediate death. But has he ever done thus? Has the Gospel ever prevailed where this was the case? Under the pagan emperors, fiery persccutions were endured, and the Gospel still prevailed. But in these persecutions it usually was only some of the principal persons, or at least, only a part of the Christians, that were put to death. Perhaps, if a few conversions should take place, and be followed by immediate martyrdom, the blood of the martyrs would again prove the seed of the church, and the persecutors cease from their opposition. Possibly the bloody and fiery scenes of the first centuries are to be acted over again. Possibly some great political revolution is to open the door for the free preaching of the Gospel to the followers of the false prophet.

TO MRS. WILLIAM GOODELL, MALTA.

"Acre, Nov. 4, 1823.

"I was grieved to hear of your sickness. But I hope and trust you found it good to be afflicted. We all need afflictions. We too much love present ease and comfort. But our heavenly Father knows when it is best to deprive us of them. I hope you love him more for his paternal chastisements, and entertain a more lively sense of your dependence on him, and are more than ever ready to devote yourself entirely to his service. It is a good sign, when our afflictions make us pray more, and lead us nearer to God. I have rejoiced and given thanks for your partial restoration to health, and hope that long ere this you are quite well. I am now travelling with Mr. Jowett, and we have many pleasant hours together. Last Sabbath we had service in Italian. Ten were present. Prayer and sermon extempore. In the afternoon we sat down together and read Ephesians, conversed about what we read, and prayed. Last evening we observed the Monthly

Concert of Prayer. Every morning and evening we read the Scriptures, and pray with our servant in Italian.

"Mr. Jowett and I have talked much about you all, and he has told me many things concerning you, and your various efforts to promote the cause of Christ. I hope that before the year closes, your home will be at Jerusalem; or if not there, at Beyroot or Smyrna. Let us all pray much for divine direction, and God will lead us. I hope we may all live to see good things done in the Mediterranean. But life is very uncertain. We ought therefore to be continually ready for our summons to the presence of our Judge."

"Nov. 5. At half past nine we left Acre. Mount Carmel was distinctly in view on the south. See 1 Kings xix. It runs north-west and south-east, and stretches out between the sea and the bay of Acre. "That ancient river, the river Kishon,' empties at the head of the bay. See Judges v, 21; and still nearer to Acre is the Betus. I am told that the Kishon is a considerable stream even in summer. At half past twelve, having crossed the plain of Acre, we came among small hills. Our muleteer not being well acquainted with the way, we went out of the direct road, and ascended a hill on which stands the village of Abilene, containing, probably five hundred inhabitants. About four o'clock, we entered a fine plain, which we were about an hour in crossing. Soon after this we passed Sephoora, a village about the same size as Abilene. Josephus says, 'the greatest cities of Galilee were Sepphoris and Tiberias.' The habitations have a very mean and dirty appearance. We observed three arches together, which probably belonged to a church, or some other building, erected by the crusaders. The village stands on the side of a hill. On its summit are the walls of an old castle. In going from Sephoora we

met many women carrying pitchers of water on their heads. Others were riding, or driving asses, which carried some two and some four jars of water. We soon came to a plat of green-sward, and a fountain whence the women drew the water, and where large numbers of horses and cattle were collected to quench their thirst. We see green-sward in this country very seldom, and but little in a place.

"After a ride of nine hours arrived at Nazareth. Had our guide known the road well, we should have accomplished the journey probably in six or seven hours. Sought lodgings in the Catholic convent, and were very civilly received, though we carried a letter to the Superior from a priest at Nazareth, which informed him that we were missionaries, and were going about preaching and distributing the Scriptures.

"6. Looked at the church of the convent. It is large and splendid, hung with tapestry, and ornamented with paintings. One painting represents the marriage of Joseph and Mary. I asked the friar that explained it to us, who married them. He replied, "The bishop of Jerusalem;' as if there had been bishops before the birth of Christ. In a grotto they show you the place of the annunciation. They say that the house, in which Mary then lived, was carried by angels to Loretto, in Italy. Pilgrimages are now made to Nazareth to see the place where the house was, and to Loretto to see the house itself.

"On most of the doors in the convent is inscribed, 'Ave Maria Purissima,' 'Ave Maria Plenagratia;' sometimes with the addition in Spanish of, 'sin pecado concebida,' i. e. conceived without sin;-in conformity with the doctrine of the Franciscans, that the virgin Mary was never affected by original sin. In one place is a promise of 100 days indulgence to every one, who shall say, 'Holy, holy, holy, Lord of hosts, the earth is full of thy glory. Glory