Addrefs, in Behalf of the Muhheconnuk Nation, to the Rev. Elkanah Holmes.

Father, attend!

WE

E feel ourselves happy, that, by the goodness of the Great Good Spirit, we are allowed to fee another good day, and to fee one another's faces, and that we are all well,

Father, while our heads were hanging down by the fide of our fire-place, and almoft difcouraged to think whether we should ever fee you again, we heard the found of your feet walking on the good path we lately made; and when we lifted up our eyes we faw you coming in with a fmiling countenance, as ufual, which gladdened our hearts; then we fhook hands with you for joy, that you did not forget your poor children, nor the covenant of friendship which has been made between our nation and our brothers, the affociation to which you belong.

Father, after we got together, you delivered the talk which our good brothers fent to us by you. We are very glad that they are still holding faft the chain of friendfhip with us, and that their compaffionate feelings ftill continue toward us, and towards our poor brothers in the wilderness; and alfo rejoice to hear that you have seen your way more clear, after you had gone through many dark and heavy clouds; that by the permiffion of the Great and Good Spirit, you have travelled on our path thus far, and that you go at the requeft of your good brothers, the Affociation, together with that of the Miffionary Society. As our brothers told us in their talk, that you wish to go beyond our fire-place amongst fome of the western tribes, they hope we will favour your good intentions, and help you by our counfel and affiftance.

Father, according to the defire of our brothers, we are willing to favour your good intentions, and to help you by our counsel and affiftance according to our capacity. Would our fituation conveniently permit, we might, fome of us perfonally go with you to introduce you

amongst our brethren of the different tribes; but fince it is otherwise, we think it would be as well to fend our talk, with wampum, by your interpreter, to the tribes to which you may come, making known our acquaintance with you, and the motive of your visiting them.

Also, we think it would be well, whenever you come to a town or village of any of these tribes, in the first place you must go with your interpreter, and fee the chief or chiefs, call for counfel, and give a complimentary speech, and explain your miffion as plain and fhort as you can, and then wait for their anfwer: and we must remind you of one thing more, though it seems but a fmall thing; but knowing the difpofitions of heathen nations, you must fix your mind upon it at all times while you shall be amongst them; take willingly any thing eatable laid before you; you must not manifeft any flightnefs or indisposedness for not being dreffed clean.

Father, you have already distributed to us the good word several times fince your arrival here, for which we heartily thank you; and as you are about to take up your pack for a long journey, we wish you the kind protection of the Great Good Spirit, and that he may profper your good and important undertaking. That you may be the inftrument of bringing many poor Indians, from darkness to marvellous light; and, in due time, return home fafe to your friends and employers, giving them a pleafing relation of your journey. Farewell.

Ο

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING.

May 14, 15, and 16, 1800.

On

N Wednesday morning, Mr. Ebenezer Brown, of Inverkeithing, preached in Surry chapel, from 2 Cor. v. 14. " For the love of Chrift conftraineth us," &c. Mr. Ray, of Sudbury, on the fame evening, preached in the tabernacle, from Gen. xxi. 18. "And in thy feed fhall all the nations of the earth be bleffed." Thursday evening, Mr. Grove preached in Tottenham-Court chapel, from Luke xxiv. 47. "And that repentance and remiffion of fins fhould be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerufalem." And on Friday morning, Mr. W. Williams, of -High Wycomb, Bucks, preached in the parish church of St. Leonard, on Pfal. ii. 8. " Ask of me," &c.

The meetings for the difpatch of public bufinefs were all held at the Rev. Mr. Brookfbank's meeting-house, Haberdasher's-Hall. The first meeting was on Wednesday afternoon, at half past three, Mr. Hardcastle in the chair. After prayer for the divine bleffing, the minutes of the laft annual meeting were read, as also the original plan of the Society. The report of the proceedings of the Directors during the last year was read by Mr. Shrubfole, and approved; and the thanks of the Society were voted to the Treasurer and Secretary.

The fecond meeting was held on Thurfday morning, at ten o'clock, for the purpose of choofing Directors, inftead of those who go out.

A very important object was now brought forward. It was propofed, and unanimoufly refolved, that a large edition of the New Teftament in French, be printed, and circulated, as circumftances may admit, throughout France, Belgium, and other countries where the French language is understood. A differtation on the infpiraration of the New Teftament, and the evidences of Christianity, is to be prefixed. This propofal, to dif

fuse the scripture in nations where the genuine word of God has long been withheld from the majority of the people, proved highly acceptable to the Society; and we doubt not will be accompanied by the prayers of our British Ifrael. .

The third and last meeting of the Society was on Friday afternoon. The plan of a Miffionary Seminary, which had been the frequent fubject of confideration among the Directors, was introduced, after a fuitable addrefs, upon the expediency of fuch a measure, by the Rev. Mr. Waugh. This measure was alfo highly approved and unanimoufly adopted by the whole body, and affords us a pleafing profpect, that the Society will hereby be furnished with a number of valuable Miffionaries, well qualified to preach the everlasting gospel among the more polished nations of the heathen world. A fum not exceeding 500l. per annum, was voted for this inflitution; and we are happy to add, that Mr. Haldane, of Edinburgh, and Mr. R. Spear, of Manchefter, have liberally offered 500l. to the Society for the fame useful purpose.

Several new miffions to the heathen were warmly recommended to the Society, and by them referred to the Directors, who are empowered to carry them into execution, if circumstances admit.

We conclude this account with obferving, that the various meetings for public worship on this occafion, were as numerously attended as ever, the number of minif ters equally great, and all the proceedings of the Society conducted with the most perfect harmony.

Monday, the fifth of laft month, twelve Miffionaries left London for Portsmouth, to proceed on board the Royal Admiral, Captain W. Wilfon. Two of them were ordained, and the whole defignated at Mr. Griffin's.

On the 10th of last month, Meffrs. Anderson and Read, and two Dutchmen, left London, to fail on board the Marquis of Wellefley, Captain Gordon (the

former owner of the fhip Duff), to the Cape, to join the South African Miffionaries, which, after proceeding down the Channel, was obliged, with the Royal Admiral, to return to St. Helen's through contrary winds.

Interesting Intelligence from Otaheite and Port-Jackson.

P

District of Matavai, Otaheite, Jan. 13, 1800. DEAR BROTHER,

LEASE to communicate to the Directors of the Miffionary Society, that on Wednesday, January 1, 1800, failed out of Matavai-Bay, for Port-Jackson, in New-South-Wales, the fhip Betfey, of London, O. Clark, commander, with a Spanish brig, her prize; and that, on January 4, the Eliza, of London, Captain M. Swain, came in fight, and anchored in the bay on the following day. By the Betley we tranfinitted you, for the Directors, a letter, informing you therein, fomewhat largely of our prefent circumftances, which letter Captain Clark will forward from Port-Jackfon, by the most expeditious conveyance. We will, in this, transcribe a few particulars of it, fo that you may know our prefent fituation.

Through the tender mercies of God, we at this time enjoy good health of body, peaceable habitations, and unmolefted means of grace.

2. "We have made what we think, confidering the difficulties we have had to cope with, a tolerable proficiency in the language of the country, fome more than others, but none of us enough to preach the gofpel of Jefus Chrift in a public manner; though, from what has been faid from time to time, few of the natives around us but perceive a great difference between Chriftianity and Heathenifm; but their union with their abominable practices is too close to be diffolved by any other arguments than thofe which the fpirit of God impreffes upon the mind, or the change which the mighty power