brought up in Hindoosthan; while our Mussulmen Moonshis have professed, if not felt, equal ignorance relative to common words derived from the Sungskrit. In this Sungskrit-Hindee version, nearly the whole of the New Testament waits for revision, and the book of Job, the Psalms, the Proverbs, and some other parts of the Old. We have begun printing the New Testament in the Deva Nagree character, and in a quarto size: it will probably make a volume of about 600 pages. The book of Matthew is nearly finished. Conscious that a number of defects must unavoidably attend a first edition, we have in this also restricted the number of copies to a thousand.

13. The language of the Secks is a modification of the Hindee, and has nearly the same affinity with the Sungskrit. Although so nearly allied to the Hindee, however, its grammatical terminations are different, and it has a different character, to which the Secks are so much attached, that the mere circumstance of a book being written in it, recommends it strongly to their notice. These considerations have determined us to attempt alluring this nation to the perusal of the sacred word by presenting it to then in their vernacular language and character. A learned Seek, eminently skilled in Sungskirt, has been for some time retained for this purpose, and the translation has advanced to the Gospel by John.

14. We will now mention another version which it has appeared our duty to begin. Though the languages spoken by the great mass of people will necessarily have the first claim on the attention of those who feel the worth of immortal souls, and this, however uncouth some of them might appear, yet it has occurred to us that a Sungskrit version of the sacred oracles is an object worthy of attention. The language itself, from its copiousness and exquisite grammatical structure, seems fitted to receive the divine oracles beyond almost any other, while its being a language in which the meaning, not only of the terminations but of every individual word has been fixed for ages, enables it to retain and preserve the precious treasure with as much firmness per

haps as the Greek itself. The currency of it exceeds that of any other language in India. Every pundit converses in it: the Word of God therefore, in this language, will be rendered equally intelligible to the pundits of Nepaul and of Malabar, of Guzzerattee and Cashmire; while its being the language esteemed sacred by the Hindoo pundits, may incline them to read what their fastidiousness would lead them to despise in the vulgar dialects. Under these impressions, we began a translation of the Scriptures into the Sungskrit, which has proceeded so far that the Four Gospels are already printed off. The edition is in quarto, and will be in cluded in about 600 pages, in the Deva Nagree, the proper Sungskrit character. This version, while it is to us one of the most easy, will we trust come nearer to the idiom of the original than any of those in the common dialects. Its ample and exquisite grammatical apparatus permitting us to follow the Greek, not only in rendering tense for tense, and case for case, but generally in the collocation of the words.

15. Respecting the Persian, we were aware that little could be expected from affinity of languages; and that except the assistance to be derived from the currency of a number of Persian words in the Bengalee and Hindoosthanee languages, and a few already familiar through the medium of the Hebrew, we had entirely a new language to acquire. This inclined us to apply to it at an early period; and we had proceeded so far as to complete a great part of the New Testament, as well as the Psalms and some other parts of the Old. Providence however has been pleased in a singular manner to provide for this version, by preparing a person for the work peculiarly qualified; NATHANIEL SABAT, a native of Arabia, a descendant of Mahommed, and once his devoted follower; who, by residing some years in Persia, has acquired that language in a degree of perfection scarcely to be attained by a European. A number of circumstances concurring to bring him to Bengal, he has been retained for the Persian translation, and is at present at the Mission House, Serampore.

(To be continued.).

DOMESTIC.

I

Letter from Rev. Mr. Blackburn to Dr. Morse.

Rev. and Dear Sir,

Maryville, Jan 5, 1810.

THINK when I was with you in Charlestown, I stated the number of the Cherokee nation to be between 10 and 12,000 souls, though at that time the enumeration was not completed, and I could not therefore make the estimate with certainty. But now the persons employed having finished the business, I am able to give you the exact state of the nation in detail. Let it be remarked, that the enumeration is rather below than above the number in every particular; as the Indians, by some means, especially at the first of the business, thought there might be a design eventually to tax them according to that ratio.

In the nation there are 12,395 Indians. The number of females exceeds the males 200. The whites in the nation are 341. One third of those have Indian wives, 113. Of negro slaves there are 583. The number of their cattle, 19,500; do. of horses, 6,100. The number of hogs, 19,600; do. of sheep, 1,037.

They have now in actual operation, 13 grist mills; 3 saw-mills; 3 salt-petre works; and 1 powder mill. They have 30 waggons, between 480 and 500 ploughs, 1600 spinning wheels, 467 looms, and 49 silversmiths.

Circulating specie is supposed to be as plenty as is common amongst the white people. These advantages have been mostly obtained since the year 1796, and rapidly increased since the year 1803.

If we deduct from the year the number of Sabbaths it contains, and suppose that each spinning wheel turn off six cuts per day, the amount of 1600 will be 250,400 dozen of yarn in one year, this will make when wove into cloth, 292,133 yards.

If we should suppose each loom to put of 4 yards per day, the produce of 467 will be annually 584,684 yards.

Allow 2 hands to a wheel, 3,200 women will be employed in carding and spinning, 467 engaged in weaving, and as many to fill the quills.

If each plough be allowed only ten acres, then 500 ploughs would cultivate 5,000 acres, and would employ 1000 hands, as one must use the hoe after the plough. There is also nearly as much land in the nation wrought without a plough as with it. Each acre will produce 50 bushels, which will be equal to 250,000, or 20 bushels to each person. The actual amount will double that

sum.

It is often asked, are they increasing, or on the decline? All I can say to this is, that both from my own observation, and that of those most conversant with them, it is evident that there is less space between the younger children of families than those more advanced, and that in nearly the proportion as the hunting life has yielded to the cultivation of the soil.

The number of Bibles and Testaments, circulated in the nation, including the children of the schools, is upwards of 600, and a variety of other books, as opportunity offered.

On their roads they have many public houses, and on their rivers are convenient ferries; there are many of them learning different trades as their inclination may lead them. But yet there is no church erected, and few feel the impressions of grace.

I have filled the sheet with details, and can only pray that the Lord may make your harvest of souls abundant in Charlestown. I am, &c.

GIDEON BLACKBURN.

000

ANNUAL REPORT

Of the Board of Directors, to the New-York Missionary

Society;

Presented and Approved, April 3, 1810.

IN recounting to the brethren of the Society, at their an

nual meeting, the transactions of the past year, it would Vol. III.-No. V.

20

rejoice the hearts of the Directors, to be able with truth to announce the rapid progress of the Gospel in every quarter to which their labours have extended. But though they cannot boast of an event so grateful to the lovers of the precious Redeemer, they have cause to believe their efforts have not been altogether fruitless. The constant attendance, the serious and solemn attention visible among the Tuscaroras, and the earnest zeal and anxious solicitude for the conversion of the brethren, testified by the believing part of the nation, are favourable symptoms, and presages, we hope, of the eventual success of the Mission.

Notwithstanding the reluctance of the Missionary to trust in appearances, which frequently prove fallacious, he is constrained to acknowledge in a late communication, that the word of the living God has, in some instances, reached the hearts of both white people and Indians.

No additions, it is true, have been made to the church among the Tuscaroras, by baptism, during the ministration of Mr. Gray. Applications for admission to the ordinance, have not been wanting; but these were deservedly rejected, as arising from mistaken ideas of the ordinance, and of the subjects proper to receive it.

A willingness to accept of baptism at the hand of the Missionary, steady attendance at church, and a disposition to break off from gross sins, were deemed sufficient qualifications for the ordinance, by those ignorant or misguided persons. In a few individuals lately, a better spirit has dis.covered itself. As these appear to be actuated by better motives; by a deep sense of their undone condition, and a conviction of the necessity of a Saviour's righteousness, they have claims better authenticated; and after receiving the necessary instruction, and affording satisfactory evidence, by their life and conversation, of the reality of a saving work of grace on their hearts, will doubtless be admitted to a participation in the sacred ordinances of the Gospel, and contribute to the increase of the Church, among the Tuscaroras. The erroneous spirit formerly prevalent among that people, the Missionary humbly trusts, the Lord has rebuked, and is now spreading sentiments more just, and more congenial to the nature of the Gospel of Christ.

The Rev. Robert Forrest, who at the special request of the Directors, visited the Tuscarora nation, in July, 1809, attended their council, and preached for them, gives ample testimony to the exemplary conduct, and growing attention to divine things, both among these Indians, and among the white people in their neighbourhood; as well as to the fi