April 28.-Several principal Indians called, on their way to Buffalo. The Interpreter desired that I would explain to them, as I had done to him, respecting visiting the sick after having seen a corpse. They acknowledged their ignorance, and hoped I would have patience to teach them the much they had to learn. The Interpreter told them, in support of what I had said, that his son, instead of being made more sick, had been gaining ever since he saw him.

Indian Contributions.

May 3.-An Indian, by the name of John White, came to-day to see his son, and brought two bushels of wheat and two of corn. He says many of the Indians are entirely destitute of provisions, on account of having been obliged to feed out their grain to preserve their cattle during the winter. I fear they will not be able to furnish so much grain for the school as was expected.

May 12.-John Jemison, who has three children in school, visited us to-day. He is quite an industrious man, and is one of the most able among the Indians. He brought a quantity of pork, 4 bushels of wheat, and 7 bushels of potatoes. He also promises soon to bring six bushels of corn.

May 15.-The Interpreter came out to spend some days with me; one object is that I may have a more particular opportunity for acquiring the Indian language. I feel it important to obtain a knowledge of it as soon as possible, that I may communicate religious instruction to the Indians in their own tongue, as it is but im perfectly done through an interpreter. But I can make but small progress while so many other duties engross my attention.

Improvement in the Indian mode of living. May 21.-Visited the Indian village, in company with the interpreter, for the first time, excepting on the Sabbath, since the commencement of the school. As the Indians have frequently visited us, we have seen, from time to time, great improve ment in their appearance and cleanliness of dress; and I was much pleased to-day, to see so much improvement in their houses. I was invited to dine at John White's, who may be called a respectable

Indian farmer. The dinner was good, and served up in a style rarely surpassed by the generality of white' farmers. I saw some of the Chiefs, who expressed a wish that the Missionary buildings might be erected on a lot adjoining the Reservation, about three miles nearer than our present residence. In this case the house would be near the boundary line, and as much of the Indian land would be appropriated to the use of the Mission as might be required. I answered them, as I have been obliged to do some time past, that nothing could be done until I heard from the Board, which I had been daily expecting for several weeks.

Visit to the School by a company of Friends.

May 28.-Last evening a wagon load of Quakers, passing by, gave notice that they would visit the Mission School in the morning. They came about 8 o'clock, and spent two hours, apparently pleased It is not unfrequent that this class of people call to see the school. It is truly gratifying to see the different denominations take

an interest in the instruction of the Indians.

O! that it may please the Lord to enlist the hearts of all people in this glorious cause, and excite them to active exertions for the salvation of the heathen.

June 2.-The two girls who did not go home during the vacation, have been absent on a visit to the village for three days. They returned this morning.

General Council at Buffalo.

June 3.-Indians from Cataraugus and Allegany have for two or three days been passing almost continually, on their way to attend the council at Buffalo, to receive their annuities. Some of our Chiefs called this morning to inform me that most of them would be absent next Sabbath, and that there would therefore be no meeting. They had some days since conversed with me relative to the evils resulting from the fact that they were not legally married. They said that it too often happened that man and woman parted from each other for trifling causes, which was the source of much trouble and disquietude to their friends. They now desire my advice whether it would not be proper that some of the principal men

should come forward and be married in the Christian way; whether such a measure would not probably prevent many evils among them. They also inquired whether I would marry them, if they would appoint a day for this purpose. I told them that such a step was commend able; that it would no doubt lessen the evils they had mentioned, and probably have a happy influence on the minds of their people; and, as I was not authorized to officiate on such occasions, probably Mr. Harris, from Seneca, would come up for that purpose. They said it was their wish it should take place. One said his wife had urged him for some time to be married in the Christian form, and it was equally his wish; and as soon as they returned from Buffalo they would have a meeting respecting it.

June 7.—At the request of the Indians I attended the general council at Buffalo. The result of the council was somewhat encouraging to the christian party.

Late and Severe Frost.

June 10.-The weather for two days past has been remarkably cold, and the frost greater than I ever knew so late in the season. All our beans, cucumbers, melons, &c. of which we had planted a large supply, were killed last night. Corn and potatoes were also cut down, but will probably grow again. The hand of the Lord doeth all this. In all the dispensations of his Providence, in great or small events, it is a consolation to feel that God orders all things for the best. While I was gone to Buffalo an Indian woman was taken suddenly and dangerously ill. Her friends sent immediately for her children from the school. She is now, how ever, better, and the children have returned.

Visit from a Pagan Chief and his Family. June 15.-Captain Dennis, a chief of the Pagan party, and his wife and son-inlaw stopped and took breakfast with us this morning. They were present at family worship, and staid to witness part of the exercises of the school. Indians of that party visit us more frequently than formerly. We receive them with pleasure, and treat them with kindness; and

1

we think they do not feel that our objects are quite so selfish as they at first imagined.

Sabbath, June 15.-Our meeting among the Indians was more solemn to-day than usual, occasioned by a report reaching them yesterday of the murder of five Indians of the Christian party belonging to Allegany. They had gone on a hunting excursion into Canada, and venturing farther than they were aware among the more savage tribes, were suddenly killed.

June 24.-The interpreter and chief warriour visited the school to-day. One of their objects was to request me to attend a council at their village on Thursday next upon the subject of marriage, about which they feel much interested. They told me they would send me a horse if I would go. I agreed to go, Providence permitting. They also stated that they had heard that the report of the above mentioned murder was unfounded; but as the chiefs had not returned from Canada, and had been expected more than two weeks, they still feared it was too true.

Council of the Chiefs on the subject of

Christian Marriage.

June 27.-Yesterday attended the council as requested. The chiefs expressed much thankfulness that I should take so much trouble to meet them. They said they had come to a resolution to adopt the christian practices as far as in their power, especially that relative to marriage, as they saw the evil of living as they had done in that respect. But while they, in general, desired to be legally married, there were some among them who feared it was only a notion of some great man, and not authorized by the Bible. If the good book enjoined it, they would embrace it with all their heart. They wished to know my sentiments. I accordingly addressed them in a few words upon the nature of the marriage covenant. Among other things I observed that it was a divine institution, authorized by God himself in Paradise, immediately after the creation of our first parents, and sanctioned by his Son Jesus Christ, while on earth, by gracing with his own pre

The People. "And gather thou the children of Israel."

Rabbi. "Let singing and gladness be heard upon Zion."

The People. "And shouts of joy among

the children of Jerusalem."

I read to them several prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah, and expounded to them, without the least objection, for an hour, the contents of the Gospel. They often called on me, and called me their brother. They have not the least communion with the Talmudist Jews. There are Caraïtes at Ralaa, in the Crimea, in Poland, at Damascus, Constantinople, and Caïro. The whole number in the world may be about 5000.

The Polish Jews called on me, and addressed me thus:-"We have heard that you are arrived here to converse with us. Verily we can converse with you, for we are wise with great wisdom, and learned with great learning." I ascertained from them that no Jews lived at Jerusalem in the time of the crusades. Rabbi Moses Bar Nalsman, a famous author among the Jews in Germany, went there in the twelfth century, and met with only one Jew. I translated from a letter written by him the following sentences:-"I met with only one Jew, and he was oppressed, and he was afflicted. And in the city of God, in the house of God, where our fathers dwelt, the Gentiles worshipped that which their fingers had made: they worshipped that which IS NOT GOD, even in the house of God. For these things I weep, because our glorious and our beautiful house is laid waste." I conversed for several days with one of their high priests, and read the gospel with him. He said the Christians of Syria have not the spirit contained in the gospel; and he candidly confessed that the prophecies of the Old Testament, cited in the New Testament, must be applied to the Messiah.

The Spanish Jews being most numerous, affected a superiority over the Polish Jews, who told me, "We spake unto them, saying, 'Why are you so proud with your pride, and haughty with your

and glorious is our name, and our wisdom is spoken of in all the congregation of Israel. Cease, therefore, from pretending to protect us with your protection. We are sufficiently protected with the protection of the Emperor Alexander, to God give fulness of years, and exalt him with high exaltation'." The Polish Jews are divided into two sects.

whom may

One sect are Pharisees, who are strictly attached to the literal observance of the Ceremonial Law, and wear large phylacteries. They study day and night to explore the course of the stars. They discern the face of the sky, but do not discern the signs of the times; ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The other sect are the Hasidim, the spiritual Jews; who say that outward ceremonies are of no use at all, and we must attend rather to the spirit. To prove their doctrine, they quote Jeremiah, xxxi. 31-34. The author of this sect was Israel Baal Shem, who died seventy years ago in Poland. They have been excommunicated by many Rabbies. They are well inclined to the reading of the gospel. They were struck when I told them that Christians prove the abolishment of the Ceremonial Law by those very texts from which they themselves prove its insufficiency. I distributed among them several hundred New Testaments and Tracts. Among their archives 1 discovered the following curious circumstance, in regard to the Cross found by the Empress Helena. Rabbi Abarbanel tells us, that the Jews, fearing that the Empress Helena would persecute them, gave her an old piece of wood, and told her that was the very Cross of Jesus. One of these Jews, with whom I had many conversations, and who remained with me whole days, came to me, after he had read the New Testament through, and said, "Abraham went out with the souls he had gotten at Haran. Christ has gotten my soul. The Prophecies are hidden from us, as truly as we do not believe in Jesus Christ." Several others also made the same confession.

The Pharisees and the Hasidim believe: 1. The transmigration of souls, or metempsychosis.

2. Election and reprobation.

3. The infallibility of the Sanhedrim, or Councils. But only infallible in the following cases :—

(1) When in peaceable times.
(2) When all assembled together.
(3) When entirely free.

Every one may easily perceive the striking similarity between the rules of the infallibility of Councils, laid down by Cardinal Bellarmine and Alfonso Maria Lignori.

4. The existence of two principles in men, the good and the bad; and that these two principles are personified angels. 5. Purgatory, which they prove by Prov. xxvi. 20-Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out.

6. The restoration of all things.

7. The necessity of an inquisition against heretics. Thus we see that St. Dominick and Cardinal Ximenes are faithful disciples and worthy successors of the Pharisees of old, and are like the present Pharisees of Jerusalem.

8. The coming of two Messiahs. The first will die in battle: the second will conquer his enemy, and rebuild the temple of Jerusalem. Sacrifices will then be offered again, and perfect peace will take place on earth.

1 discussed the subject of the gospel with the Jews in their colleges; and I saw their children reading in the New Testament, as they walked about upon Sion, and in the valley of Jehoshaphat. One day I took my walk from Jerusalem toward Bethlehem, near the sepulchre of Rachel, our mother. Here I met a Jew from Hebron on horseback: he stopped as soon as he observed me, and said, "I believe in the Holy One. Blessed be He, and blessed be His name;" I replied, "And I believe in the Holy One. Blessed be He, and blessed be His name!" He then desired a New Testament, which I regretted not having carried with me.

What the result of these inquiries among the Jews will be, time must show; and I leave it to the reports of my future fellow-labourers to inform you.

Of the effect on his own mind of this visit to the city of his fathers, Mr. Wolff thus speaks:

I must confess that I am more confirmed in my views of the importance of proclaiming the holy name of Christ among his ancient people, since my feet stood within the gates of Jerusalem-since I have heard the following cries uttered by my brethren, the Rabbi in the synagogue exclaiming, "Our Father, our King, we have sinned-sinned before thy sight;" and the people responding, "Our Father, our King, we have sinned before thy sight;" the Rabbi again, "Our Father, our King, there is no King unto us but thou;" and the people repeating, “Our Father, our King, there is no King but thou." My desire of showing forth to Gentiles the importance of promoting the light of the gospel, was strengthened after my feet stood within the gates of Jerusalem-there, where the tribes did go up, the tribes of the Lord-formerly the centre of the worship and government of Israel-where justice was administered according to the Law of God-in Jerusalem, which that High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, did favour with His presence; where He showed strength with his arm; where He began to fill the hungry withgood things; where He gave, by His precious death, knowledge of salvation unto His people, through the remission of their sins; where He began to guide our feet into the way of peace. I had perceived, before my arrival in that city of God, of which glorious things were once spoken, the literal fulfilment of the prophets, and of our Saviour's words; but I confess I am now more than ever anxious to intreat true Christians to promote the knowledge of Christ Jesus among my brethren, since I have actually SEEN how that city doth sit solitary, that was full of people-how she is become as a widow, she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces !

The following further particulars, relative to the state of the Jews at Jerusalem, are collected by the committees, in their late Report, from Mr. Wolff's Journals:

A Talmudistic Rabbi called upon him