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"Tabréez, Jan. 1, 1839.

DEAR SIR, I had the pleasure of receiving, some time ago, your letter to me, requesting to be informed what course I considered it. most advisable for the American missionaries at Oróomiah to pursue, in case the British mission should withdraw from the Shah's dominions, and conveying to me your own thanks and those of your companions, for the protection you had hitherto received from the British mission.

I have delayed answering your letter, until it should be in my power to decide whether or not her Majesty's legation would withdraw from the Persian territories; and now, that this step has become necessary, I beg leave to inform you, that in my opinion, it will be advantageous to you, and to the gentlemen who are associated with you, to seek the protection of the only other European mission at the Persian court.

It affords me great pleasure to assure you, that the unobtrusive conduct of the American missionaries in Persia, and the practical good sense and good feeling which have been conspicuous in their proceedings, has made it a very agreeable duty to me, to assist in affording them, in the progress of their beneficial labors amongst the Christians of Azerbijân, the protection from personal annoyance or injury, which they have had occasion to request, and which the respect due to their own characters had already disposed the Persian authorities to extend to them.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

(Signed)

Your most obedient and humble servant,
JOHN MCNEILL."

Feb. 2. The English embassy left Persia, immediately after the above letter was written. In accordance with the advice of the ambassador, I have just been to Tabréez, in company with Dr. Grant, to obtain Russian passports. The winter journey was not particularly agreeable in itself and the native authorities had declared their intention to take good care of us, though we should have no European protection. Still, a proper regard for the security of our mission, seemed to require us to take this precaution without delay. The Russian consul-general, received us very kindly, and besides furnishing us with the desired passports, proposed of his own accord, to inform the Emeer-i-nizâm-the acting governor of Azerbijân, that we have Russian protection, and request him to write to the governor of Oróomiah, communicating the same fact and directing the latter to take care of us. Contrary to our previous apprehensions, since the English ambassador has left Persia, every thing continues quiet here as before. We had supposed that his departure might be the signal of general disorder. But there is not the least indication of commotion, which certainly shows progress among the Persians in civilization. And in my late visit to Ta

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bréez, my attention was arrested by other and strong indications of such progress. The briskness of trade and the amount of European articles in the bazars of that city almost surpass conception. There has been a great advance, in these respects, during the three or four years since I resided there. Nor are these the only marks of advancement. Among other things, I visited two lithographic presses the property of Persians and recently put in operation by Persians which are vigorously at work, printing Persian books. And never did I witness more promptness and agility in the management of the press, than was manifested by the athletic, intelligent natives who were at work at these presses; and seldom have I beheld a scene, which to my mind, partook more of the morally sublime, than that scene, patronized and sustained, as the printing establishment is, wholly by native Persians. Nor is advancement in civilization confined to this part of the country. Among the interesting signs of the times, is a recent order of the king, that all who approach his royal person, shall be dressed in European costume. The French Jesuits, who visited Oróomiah last autumn, went to Tabréez; and they were so surprised and impressed with the existing facilities there for gaining access to the Muhammedans, that they lost no time in applying to Prince Kahraman Meerza for a firmân to enable them to open a school for young Mussulmâns. The desired firmân was readily granted, and one of them has hastened off with all possible speed to Constantinople and Paris to obtain funds and men to carry their plan into execution.

Malek Kâsem Meerza continues as friendly as ever to us and our operations. We visited him at Tabréez, and he suggested to us, that it would be well to visit the Emeer-i-nizâm, and kindly proposed to make the necessary arrangements and accompany us on such a visit. In this proposal he evidently had in mind that, as the English ambassador had left the country, we might have occasion to ask favors of the Eméer, and should do well to show him the previous attention of a visit. His manifest concern for our safety and welfare demands our grateful acknowledgement.

While at Tabréez, I learned some encouraging facts, respecting a cluster of Armenian Christians, situated near Shoosha, the seat of the late German mission in Georgia. An Armenian priest, from that group, recently came to Tabréez, and stated that his whole village had seceded from the Armenian church, having imbibed evangelical views and feelings. They had in consequence drawn upon themselves the bitter persecution of the hierarchy, and the storm became so violent, that the priest had fled into Persia. The good seed which the German missionaries scattered in Georgia has been silently at work. It would be very premature to pronounce their labor thrown away, in consequence of the interruption of their mission. Not a holy desire which they have cherished, not a prayer they have offered, not an effort they have put forth, not a dollar they expended for the perishing in that country, will be lost. The

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seeds of truth which they sowed have taken root, are springing up and will bring forth a golden harvest. Under the ashes of that demolished mission are living embers, which the breath of Jehovah, without the voice of the living missionary, is fanning into a flame, that will blaze and extend, till the Armenian churches in that dark land, shall be enlightened and reformed.

Feb. 6. Several new orders have just reached our governor, from the king. Some of them are the following; viz. Every landholder must set out a thousand young trees; no beggars may be tolerated, except the lame, the sick and the blind; every man who shall appear in the garb of a Dervish must be compelled to become a soldier; no person may talk about the king-of his doing this or that-but each must occupy himself with his own business. The last named order was doubtless prompted by the king's failure, in his expedition against Herât, which he is ashamed to have made. the topic of general conversation among his subjects. The other edicts are highly commendable. There being no forests in Persia, except orchards, and the trees planted upon the water-courses, the increased cultivation of these will tend alike to improve the aspect of the country and augment the resources and comforts of the pecple. The propriety of the other orders is readily obvious to one who witnesses the hosts of beggars that swarm in the streets of these Eastern countries, and especially the dervishes, who are as numerous and profligate in Persia as the Friars and Capuchins and other vagrant monks in Spain and Italy. These disgusting vagabonds wear long, bushy hair, dangling down upon their shoulders,-carry a fantastic knotty club in the hand-sometimes a hatchet in the girdle-and half of a huge cocoa-nut shell, furnished with a cord as a handle, upon the arm in which to receive charity. On meeting them in the road, they will assail you with a torrent of compliments and blessings, mingled with importunity for a present, which, however, changes into a storm of maledictions, the moment you pass them, without gratifying their wishes; the same fountain most emphatically and plentifully sending forth "sweet water and bitter."

Feb. 8. We have just placed eleven more of the most promising boys of our seminary on a permanent foundation, by doubling their stipend, to enable them to prosecute their studies without interruption. We give them fifty cents per week, during their actual attendance at school, (not including vacations,) which is sufficient to board and clothe them. They have all commenced studying English, making the number of Nestorians about twenty, who are learning our language. We hope gradually to elevate the character of our seminary, by securing more permanent attendance on the part of the scholars, and greater system in their studies, at least, when by the aid of our press we shall be able to furnish them more amply with school-books.

Feb. 9. The subject of the lesson for our Sabbath school tomorrow, which Mr. Holladay and myself expounded to the teachers.