opportunities as occurred in his way, to create an interest in the missionary cause.

While on his tour he was sometimes in company with the Rev. R. S. Storrs, of Braintree, Ms. to whom he addressed the following letter:

Camden, May 24, 1819.

"Dear Brother-Many a moment you have spent in sending up to heaven your fervent ejaculations for him who was for a short time your fellow-traveller. O may those prayers, and others that are offered in consequence of our mutual engagement, be accepted through the intercession of our glorious Redeemer. You have many friends in Charleston, who pray for your peace and usefulness. Dr. and Mrs. P. love you most affectionately. Do write to them often. It will do good. Dear Saints-kind and affectionate friends; I had a most comfortable home there for six weeks. Have they written you? Have you heard that they have been visited with affliction? Dear little Finley, their lovely babe, was cut down while I was there, and suddenly numbered with the dead-only two or three days sickness. But I trust they had comfort from above. You must sympathize with them, and point them to the balm which once healed your heart, when broken with parental grief. As to the King's tribute, that which has been, is now-excuses, objections, difficulties, &c. We revived the missionary Society, and made such arrangements, that an application has been forwarded for two missionaries.

"We shall travel on leisurely toward the land of our fathers. Will you give me the happiness of finding a letter from you at Goshen, N. Y. Dear Brother, what a dreary, gloomy world this is! Were it not for the hope of heaven, what could we do? O that we may be more and more excited by this hope,

and have frequent foretastes of heaven while on earth. Let us labor constantly to be spiritually minded. Do try to get Christians around you to be more spiritual, to live more in heaven while they are on earth. Do aim at this, especially as it respects Ministers. What can we hope for, till ministers of Jesus have more of the spirit of their Lord, more self-denial, zeal, compassion for souls, and love for the churches? What can we hope for, till we see these stubborn habits of sloth give way to activity; till we feel these icy, flinty hearts melt, with the love of God. Brainerd desired to be 'a flame of fire' in the service of God? How should such a wish from such a Saint shame us, who fall so far behind him! I do believe there is a time coming, when there will be better ministers,-better Christians, better churches, and a better world."

In Raleigh, N. C. he was kindly received, and his object approved; though little was contributed to increase the missionary funds. Thence he travelled on leisurely, visiting the more important places, which lay in his course, laboring with special reference to an increase of interest in the work of sending the Gospel to the heathen. He hoped in this way to do something towards preparing the people to act with more efficiency and promptness in future, and to second more readily the application of subsequent agents. At Washington city he was favored with an interview with President Adams, then Secretary of State, who obligingly proposed to furnish him with such letters of introduction and protection, as would be valuable to him in a foreign country.

In July he arrived in his native State, and resumed his residence at the Theological Seminary in Andover, where he designed to pursue his studies, till the time of his embarkation for Asia. Under date of July 27, he thus writes:-"I am now applying myself to study, anxiously waiting the arrival of Mr. Parsons, that we may assist each other in making

preparation for our arduous undertaking. But instead of a few weeks or months, I feel that I need years to prepare for the great work before me."

The communication, which follows, was addressed to the children of the Sabbath school in Savannah, through the superintendant, Mr. L. Mason, and furnishes an illustration of his interest in the religious instruction of children, and his facility in adapting remarks to their capacities. It is dated October 15, 1819.

"Dear youth and children.-Last year I had opportunity to speak to you once or twice about the great things of religion; and it gave me much pleasure to see you so attentive to what I said. Since that time I have often thought of you, hoping that you are all diligent in pursuing your studies; and that you make such improvement as pleases your teachers, and gives them reason to expect you will be wise and good. It would indeed be a melancholy thing, if any of you, after having received so much good instruction, should forget it, and join with the wicked in their sinful ways. It would be a most sad thing, if any one of you should ever be profane, or intemperate, or contentious, or disrespectful to your parents and teachers, or playful on the Sabbath. But how happy will it be, if every one of you should learn well, conduct well, exhibit a sweet temper, keep the Sabbath, and avoid the ways of the wicked. Especially how happy would it be, if you should become truly religious. For you must remember, dear children, that you are sinners, that all your hearts by nature are very wicked, that it is necessary for you to have new hearts, that is, to repent of sin, to be sorry that you have sinned, to pray to Christ, that he would forgive you, and make you good.

There is a young lad, who belonged to the Sabbath school in -, who became pious a short time since, and now some good people are assisting him

to get an education that he may be a preacher of the Gospel. I hope, my dear little friends, that you will become Christians. All holy children love to pray, to read the Bible, to learn good things; they love to think about God, and about Christ who died for them. If this should be the case with you, then you need not be afraid to die; for to die would only be to go where God is; to dwell with him in heaven, and with all good people forever and ever. You must all die.-Perhaps some among you have died, since I saw you last year: if not you will all, one after another die; your bodies will turn to dust, and your souls will be in heaven, or hell. When I think of this, I feel concerned for you, and earnestly pray for you, that the Saviour, who once took little children in his arms, and blessed them, may bless you, and turn all your hearts from sin, and prepare you for heaven. Dear children, farewell."

Sometime previously to the last mentioned date, Mr. Parsons had joined Mr. Fisk, and they now held themselves in readiness to depart on a short notice; though they then did not expect to sail so soon as they finally did. About this time it was ascertained, that an opportunity to sail to Smyrna was in prospect, and they were notified to be ready soon to embark.

Mr. Fisk, went immediately to Shelburne to make a final visit to his aged father and other friends. His time was short, but profitably spent, while at home. He wished to meet, once more, his acquaintance, and former companions in his native place, and a meeting was accordingly appointed on the last Tuesday of October. He delivered an affectionate and solemn farewell address, and took leave of the people, expecting to see their faces no more. The scene was one of overwhelming interest, and will long be remembered by those present. The following morning he left the paternal roof, the scenes of his youthful days, and a venerable widowed

father, bending under the infirmities of years, and, being accompanied by his brother, he proceeded to Boston.

Sabbath evening, October 31, he preached to a numerous and deeply interested congregation in the Old South Church, from Acts xx, 22. "And now, behold, I go up bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befal me there." In concluding this sermon, Mr. Fisk observes; "Whether we shall be buried in a watery tomb; whether disease shall bring us to an early grave; whether the suspicion of government or the bigotry of false religion, shall shut the door against us; or whether a great and effectual door shall be opened before us, and the word of the Lord have free course and be glorified, as it is with you; whether we shall spend a long life in labors, and die having only sown the seed from which others may reap the harvest, or whether we shall see the truths prevail and die surrounded by converts from error, who may soothe the bed of death and weep over our tomb; these are points to be decided not by human sagacity, but by Him, whose Providence calls us, whom we would cheerfully obey, and in whom we would trust the future. The time has arrived, when we are called by the Providence of God, if its language is not altogether misunderstood, to leave the scenes of our childhood, and the country that is blessed, beyond any other country under heaven, with civil and religious privileges; not to find other privileges and friends like them in another land; but to meet the uncertainties and difficulties, attendant on a Christian mission among Turks and Jews. If any circumstances can affect the mind in health, as it is affected by a near prospect of death, it is perhaps thus affected with the prospect of leaving for life all who have ever been known, and all that has ever been seen. This prospect brings eternity near. It excites solicitude respecting that meeting, which