of the church and went home without prayers, was left undisturbed in his situation. At length, after the necessary inquiries, he assembled all the fathers of families, and reading to them the names of all the children in the missionary school, solemnly prohibited them, under penalty of excommunication, from sending their children any more. At the same time, no doubt in order to put a stop to the troublesome demand so often made to him during these proceed Thus are the brethren deprived of the ecclesiastics, whose progress in religion and knowledge had given them so much satis-ings-If you will not let us send our chilfaction, and whom they had even hoped to place one day, in some missionary seminary out of their native country. The Mission assailed directly. that of quieting the populace. The missionaries felt it their duty to inform the governor of these proceedings against their school, he having previously declared that the wortabet could not interfere with it, as schools are not under the clergy, but under the department of public instruction, and also requested to be informed, should the attempt be made. If the affair be carried up to the minister of that department, however, the result is doubtful; as the clergy might accuse the missionaries, being protestants, of teaching religion to Armenian children, whereas there is a law in Russia, that where children of different denominations attend the same school, each shall have a religious teacher of his own sect. The missionary school, which, on account of the epidemic, had been closed from the arrival of the agent until after these events occurred, was now opened. But instead of sixty, the number of scholars before, only eight or nine now attended; and after it was ascertained that this number rather diminished than increased, it was closed again. dren to the missionaries, pray establish schools for us yourself -he promised that the wortabet Boghos would from that time give lessons gratis, and that another school should be established for gratuitous instruction. Very fair promises indeed; but you Let us now return to Shousha, and look must recollect that the said Boghos was at the proceedings of the promised agent of teaching in a little dark, dirty room, with the catholicos. He came after we had been about as many scholars as could be stowed there about a month. Being of a noble into it, sitting on the ground; and the other family, a member, we believe, of the synod school would not probably be thought of of Etchmiazin, of the highest rank of wor- again after the promise of it had accomtabets, and come, too, on such an errand,plished the object for which it was madehis arrival created no small stir among the Armenian population of the town. No more, however, most certainly, than was gratifying to him. For he proved to be a haughty, assuming man, and laid claim to much honor, and the best entertainment, requiring to be furnished with rich dinners, French wines, &c. The professed object of his visit was to put down the mission, but those who manage affairs at the convent were determined to reap more solid advantages from it. He came furnished with commissions to collect the nirrak, a contribution which the See of St. Gregory occasionally solicits from all Armenians, wherever they are scattered, and which we found to be here fixed at a certain sum per head; and to sell the meiron, or consecrated oil, used for confirmation, extreme unction, and other ceremonies, and which, as it is a monopoly of the convent, and absolutely necessary in these ceremonies, can be sold at as high a price as its makers choose. As correctly as we can estimate from the few data in our possession, every family was expected to contribute, for both, between forty and fifty cents, which would put into the treasury of Etchmiazin, from the province of Karabagh, not far from ten thousand dollars; besides the personal presents, sometimes very considerable, which are always expected by the wortabet who acts as collector. His first step against the mission was an attempt to withdraw one of the laborers from the printing-office, by accusing his brother-in-law, a priest, of being a German for putting him there, and threatening to send him bound to Etchmiazin, if he did not take him away. He afterwards degraded a priest for sending his son to the mission school. Yet another priest, who, one evening the week preceding, had gone into prayers so drunk that he fell to abusing and quarrelling with some of his congregation, who thereupon thrust him violently out Another branch of the brethren's labors was now attacked. Having found a total want of properly qualified school-teachers, they had given lessons to some half a dozen young men, two of whom were now resid ing in their families, intending ultimately to have a seminary for the education of instructors, which should supply the deficiency. These two pupils were forced, first by the agent's threatening their fathers with excommunication, and then by his menacing them personally, to leave the missionaries. We ascertained, from an interview which the young Armenian we have with us from Smyrna had with him, that the agent was well aware that the imperial charter in the possession of the missionaries, contemplated only labors among the Tartars, and that he had written to Tiflis and St. Petersburg most bitter complaints against them for exceeding it. Thus did he try every means to prevent the missionaries from giving any instructions to his nation. Shall we tell you now some of the instructions he was himself, in the mean time, giving them? The following is the substance of a sermon he preached, the sabbath after his arrival, in praise of the virgin, whom, being the chief of the saints, he seemed to consider as treated with special indignity by the new doctrines. 'As Adam could not live without the woman, neither could Christ be a mediator without Mary.' 'She is the queen mentioned in the 45th Psalm.' The most beautiful of women, whose charms are extolled in Solomon's Song.' 'As Christ did all that she required at the marriage in Cana, so will he now always regard her intercessions.' 'Who are these Germans, that have dared to speak against her?' (immediately bowing before her image as if to restore her lost honors.) 'Who are these, that have dared to translate the New Testament into the vulgar tongue, a work from which our greatest bishops have shrunk? Are they wiser than our most learned wortabets, who have all confessed that they did not understand it? Cursed be they, and all who have any thing to do with them. May the disease, (the cholera morbus,) which now rages, consume them. In a sermon on another occasion, he asserted again that Christ could not be mediator without Mary, and even said, 'I will take it upon myself to affirm, that she is equal to either of the Persons in the Holy Trinity!' It was not a little painful to hear of ignorant peasants calling St. Gregory (the founder of the Armenian church) God, as was the case in two instances that came to our immediate knowledge about this time; but such dreadful blasphemy from a learned wortabet, who holds one of the highest offices in the nation, and whose assertions will pass for incontrovertible truths with the mass of the people, is shocking beyond description. The pen fails to portray the feelings it excites. General Remarks. From this narration of facts, you will readily perceive the situation in which a mission for the Armenians in Russia would be placed, without any inferences or sugges tions of our own, which we the rather omit as our letter is already long. We would merely say, that we have no expectation that such a inission could be conducted more prudently, than the one which has made this important experiment, nor that better missionaries would be employed in it than these beloved brethren. We wait with great anxiety to know the final result of their present difficulties. Upon it rests the question, whether any thing shall be done directly for the spiritual benefit of the Armenian population of the THE following extracts are from the journal kept by Mr. Goodell while on his way to the metropolis of the Turkish empire. He stopped a few days at Smyrna, but went thence in the same vessel which took him and his family froin Malta. June 3, 1831. Weighed anchor, and set sail from Smyrna last evening. This morning, on going on deck, found ourselves opposite Long Island, a light wind carrying us along so gently that we seemed to be lying at anchor. Passed between Mytelene and the coast of Anatolia. The former is the Lesbos of the ancients, and said to be the birth place of the lyric poet Alcæus, and of Sappho. It abounds with olives; and the dark green of the extensive groves on the hill side formed a fine contrast with the fields of ripening grain which were waving in the breeze, with the lights and shadows of the sun and clouds passing over them in rapid succession. Again and again we said to each other, We have seen nothing before for a long time, which reminded us so powerfully of the charming and diversified scenery of New England. Happy New England! If we ever forget thee, let our right hand forget her cunning. Whenever we think of that good land, the land of our father's sepulchres, the land of hills, and vallies, and springs of water, the land of simplicity and purity of manners, the land of Sabbaths, and revivals, and benevolent institutions, the land of peace and plentywe are ready to exclaim, "Happy art thou, O Israel; who is like unto thee, O people, saved by the Lord?" On our right, about half way up the gulf of Adramyttium, we passed, in the after part of the day, the ancient Assos. I read with the children on deck the 20th chapter of Acts, which contains the account of Paul's going on foot from Troas to Assos, thence by water to Mitylene, and SO on "over against Chios," to Samos, Trogyllium, and Miletus, on his last voyage to Jerusalem, when "he hasted, if it were possible for him,' to be there the day of Pentecost." Do any of the children of Amer ica wish that they could read this chapter in the same place, where we read it? Perhaps they will be permitted in the Providence of God to do so. But under whatever circumstances they may at any time read it, may they be animated by the same spirit of devotedness to Christ, which was so conspicuous in Paul. 4. Contrary winds. Beat up between the island of Tenedos and the coast of Troy. The former place is still celebrated for its wines. And it was behind this island the Greeks, it is supposed, concealed themselves, when they made a pretence of returning to their country, and abandoning|| the siege of Troy. The stratagem of the wooden horse, and other parts of the story, together with the interesting associations, under which I first read the Eneid, were revived in my memory, and for a while I seemed to be living over again my academic life in the presence of a revered and beloved instructor, and surrounded by my old school fellows. What would some of them not give to read those classics here. months for a wind. In the afternoon, we had a season of devotion in the cabin, and I read a sermon I had written at Malta, on the nature of the Jewish sacrifices. Towards evening I took a bundle of Greek tracts, and in company with Mrs. Goodell and captain and Mrs. Smith, went ashore. We met with no human being, but we saw || grasshoppers of an uncommonly large size, and some other curious animals; and Mrs. Goodell and myself were delighted with the sight of swallows, the first we have seen for almost nine years. They seemed like an old acquaintance. The ground where we walked, was uncultivated, but appeared not to be sterile; it was clayey, and was hard and cracked; but there were many shrubs, thorns, and a sort of tall wild grass growing. From what is called the tomb of Ajax, large and high mound of earth, we had a very extensive and delightful prospect. The hills and valleys and plains of Troy, overspread with flocks and herds and fields of grain, and interspersed with towns and villages and habitations of men; the waters of the Hellespont, flowing like a majestic river; the "great and wide sea," with the islands of Lemnos, Imbro, Samothraki, and Tenedos, rising up like water nymphs out of it; vessels of different nations, lying motionless at our feet; and the lightnings of heaven playing on a distant cloud; all these, with other interesting objects, were in full view: but as the sun had already retired, and distant objects soon became indistinct, it was only for a few moments we could enjoy so lovely a scene. The Troas of the New Testament, built by order of Alexander the Great, is not on the site of the ancient city, but is several miles south, and is now called Eski Stamboul. Whatever was its former splendor, it has the appearance of being now only an insignificant village. Paul informs us, that, when he "came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, a door was opened unto him of the Lord." It was at Troas a vision appeared to Paul in the night, from which he assuredly gathered that the Lord had called him to preach the gospel in Macedonia.' It was at Troas, he "abode seven days;" on the last of which, "when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight." And it was at Troas, (probably when he was minded himself to go afoot to Assos,') that he left his cloak, which, in prospect of suffering from cold in prison at Rome, he desired Carpus to bring with him,' together with "the books, but especially the parch-yond, with an intervening range of hills ments." About sunset we came to anchor nearly opposite a town at a short distance from the entrance of the Dardanelles. Still nearer the entrance were other vessels at anchor, waiting for a favorable wind. A very stiff breeze was now blowing directly out of the channel, against which and the current it is impossible to make any head way. The evening was cold, and some of us were glad to make use of our cloaks. 5. Weighed anchor in the morning, and with much labor succeeded in getting nearer the entrance of the Dardanelles, but the wind was too light for us to stem the current, and we again cast anchor. Around us were many vessels, some of which had been lying there for three days. It is not uncommon for vessels to lie here three weeks, and there have been instances of their being detained here more than three 6. Between nine and ten o'clock this morning, a breeze sprung up, and we weighed anchor. About one o'clock P. M. we succeeded in passing the first castles of Europe and Asia, the guard of the straits, said to have been built by Mahomet IV, more than 200 years ago. A little farther on was the mouth of the celebrated Scamander, now called Mendere, and the fruitful valley on its banks could be seen a great distance into the interior. Mount Ida be sweeping round to the right and left, forms were Near sunset, as we were passing the second castles of Europe and Asia, the wind failed us to such a degree, that we had to return, and anchor below them. These castles, like the others we had passed, do not appear capable of sustaining a vigorous and determined assault, but some of the cannon are certainly very formidable. They look as if a man might easily crawl into them. And indeed if one of the largest is, as it is said, "two feet in the diameter of its bore," and has thrown "a granite ball of 200 pounds on board a line of battle ship," not only a man, but a small family might almost find shelter there for the night. Near us was anchored a country vessel, was loaded with slaves from Alexandria for the Constantinople market. The deck crowded with them, and their only clothing seemed to be a long coarse shirt. 7. The town, below which we, with various other vessels, are lying at anchor, is Dardanellos, famous for its extensive manufacture of earthen ware. Early this morning, an old Jew with his son came off from town to make the Banian a visit; and slovenly as the old man was, he called himself the American consul. He brought to the captain a present of fresh fish, for which he of course expected as great or a greater present in return, and of which he seemed to think more, than of the coming of the Messiah, judging from his answers to some questions I put to him on the subject. Between nine and ten o'clock, vessels were seen coming up with a south wind, and the command "heave up" being immediately given, we were prepared to use its first breezes. The channel is here narrow, and the current proportionably strong. At a short distance above the castles, is the place where Xerxes is supposed to have constructed his bridge of boats, and where he looked down upon his immense fleet and wept. No one has ever passed through this vale of tears without weeping; but alas! how few tears, comparatively, have been shed to any good purpose! How few persons have wept over their own follies and wickedness, the depravity of their hearts, and the awful ravages of sin in the world. The sorrow of Xerxes was but momentary, and was altogether a selfish feeling; and he did vastly more to increase the sum total of human misery, than to diminish it. Instead of being disposed to dry up the tears of the millions, whom his sword had made widows and orphans, he would rather that millions of other hearts should bleed, and millions of other graves be watered with tears, than that his own ambitious schemes of conquest should be defeated. "Godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of but the sorrow of the world worketh death." The south wind kept along with us, or rather we kept along with it, and, till the middle of the afternoon, we continued to find vessels waiting, as we had done in the morning, for its indispensable aid. Thus we finally became quite a fleet, consisting of twenty square rigged vessels, besides smaller craft of the country. About four o'clock P. M. we passed Gallipoli, the most considerable of the towns situated on the Hellespont. The Grand Signor himself was there with his fleet. We were told at Dardanellos this morning, that he was expected to make them a visit, and that preparations for his reception were making accordingly. A novel thing this with the Turks, for the Sultan to leave Constantinople; said not to have been done before for several generations. On the Asiatic side, nearly opposite to Gallipoli, is Lamsaki, famous in ancient story for its gardens and vineyards. It was once given to Themistocles to furnish him with wine; and it was once also the abode of Epicurus, who lived here for some time, enjoying the society of the wise and learned men of the city. After passing Gallipoli, the shores began to recede, and we soon found ourselves stretching away into the Sea of Marmora, the island itself, which gives the sea its name, rising before us. 8. A very light wind during all the forcircle, and read letters we had recently remer part of the day. We formed a little ceived from various dear friends in America. In this sea, of which with scarcely any interest we once used to read at school in little sea the days of childhood-in the midst of this we conversed about far distant relatives and acquaintances, and friends to the missionary cause, scattered over our beloved country from one end of the union to the other. tions were awakened in our bosoms by the How many precious recollecmention of a place, or of an individual! How many streams of public charity we followed up to the streamlets, thence to the rills, and finally to the little springs, whence they took their rise, so insignificant, perhaps, as scarcely to engage the attention of the passing traveller! Our friends at home remembrance, and with what delight we can hardly imagine how they live in our frequently turn our thoughts to a country, blessed with such a government, such institutions, and such civil and religious privileges, where "the little hills rejoice on every side." In the afternoon, when off the island of Marmora, so named from the immense quarries of marble it contains, the wind freshened, till at evening it became quite a gale, and bore us rapidly on. The night was stormy and tempestuous, and some of us again suffered from sea sickness. In the latter part of the night the captain, knowing that he must be in the vicinity of cape Stephanos, "lay to" till morning light. 9. We all rose at an early hour to see Constantinople. The storm had passed away, the stars were fading out of their places, the "winds breathed soft," and the morning had all the freshness and coolness of one at this season of the year in New England, after a refreshing shower, when the wind is from the northwest. The view of Constantinople was at first indistinct, and presented nothing striking; and we began to call in question the correctness of the opinion generally expressed by authors of the unrivalled beauty of its situation and of the scenery around. But as we approached the city, our first impressions were succeeded by others more in unison with those of the authors above alluded to, and the prospect at length became enchanting. Mr. Goodell's description of the splendid appearance of Constantinople, and the adjacent country, as one approaches the city by water, was inserted at page 319 of the past volume. Bombay. DEATH OF MR. GARRETT. and gratuitous services, gave him every attention in their power. But they, with us, had the unhappiness to see their unwearied endeavors to save his life, entirely unavailing. The medicine which, by long experience, has been found most efficacious in removing such disorders, could not be made to produce the wished-for effect, and he rapidly sunk towards the grave. Every succeeding day, and almost hour, found him worse than before, until the 14th, when our hopes of his recovery were nearly extinct. On the evening of that day he adjusted and took leave of all his worldly affairs, and tion. The angel of death continued with a with calmness and joy waited his dissolusteady and resistless hand to fulfil his commission to take down 'the earthly house' till about 11 o'clock on the evening of the 16th, when he ended his sad work, gave the spirit of our beloved brother a joyful entrance into the 'house not made with hands,' and left us to gaze in mute affliction upon the ruins before us, while he seemed to say to us all, 'See what I can and shall soon do for you!' We have now the painful duty of announcing the death of another of the laborers connected with Thus this mission, which has so often felt the mission at Bombay-Mr. JAMES GARRETT, the chastening hand of the Lord, is deprivfor ten years past the active and faithful superin-ed of one of its most efficient helpers; his tendent of the printing establishment. The cir- afflicted family of a tender husband and cumstances of this afflictive event are described father; all of us of a kind friend and symin a letter from Mr. Hervey, dated July 20, 1831.pathising brother; our little church of one The persons referred to in the first paragraph, are Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Hervey, who died, one on the 5th of February, the other on the 3d of May. You will have heard, dear Sir, before this reaches you, how our hearts were pained to learn, on arriving here, that one whom we had expected to see, and with whom we had hoped to be associated in prayer and effort for the salvation of the heathen, had finished her work and gone to her final rest. You will probably have heard also that in less than two months after we first saw this long desired field of our labors, we were called to follow to the grave another whose memory will ever be dear to the writer of the present communication. Now, at the request of an afflicted sister, I set down to inform you, that death has made a further diminution of our little number. of its most active and useful members; the poor heathen, of one who was willing to sacrifice health and life for their good; and the general cause of true religion in this place, of one of its most self-denying and zealous supporters. But while we feel this affliction deeply, and mourn our loss, and the loss of all, we are comforted in the assurance that it is infinite gain to him. His dying deportment exemplified in a pleasing manner the power of faith to support its possessors in the hour of severest trial, and was a complete victory over the king of terrors. In his sharpest sufferings no murmurs fell from his lips; no impatience disturbed the calmness of his spirit; no anxiety to live distracted his mind, or withdrew his attention from heavenly things; and not even a wish was known to escape him, that did not correspond with the divine will. Before his case was considered hopeless, he was asked whether his desire was to live or to die? He replied, 'that he did not know as he had any desire on the subject; his only wish was that the will of the Lord might be done.' Afterwards, when it ap peared that he could not live, he expressed a decided choice to depart and be with Christ. Our dear brother Garrett is no more. He died on the 16th inst.. the day which completed the 34th year of his age. The disease, which terminated his valuable life, was a bowel complaint, or dysentery, of a very obstinate kind. His health had been declining for two or three weeks before he One morning, as Mrs. G. went to him, he was attacked with this complaint; but he said 'Well, my dear, do you think I have continued his arduous labors in the printing got on my way any the last night? -meanoffice, and in other departments of the mis-ing, have I advanced any towards the sion, till the 8th inst., when he was obliged to desist and commit himself to the physicians' care. eminent physicians, to whom the grave? She replied, 'You appear to be weaker.' 'Well,' said he, 'come, help mehelp me to contemplate that glory-glory which is opening. O can it be? Is it so? Is my work done? Let there be singing.' |