Jan.3,1836-Yesterday the weather was very fine, and we had a good attendance at school; but to-day, it has been so cold and snowy, that neither schools nor English Service could be held. This was the case, also, last Sunday; but never before on account of the weather.

Jan. 4-The unusual inclemency of the weather continues; and there remains very little hope of having an attendance of children in the school on Christmas Day.

Jan. 6: Greek Christmas - Weather still more inclement than yesterday. From the snow beginning to dissolve, the streets were nearly impassable; and therefore the children could not be expected at the schools. When, however, I arrived at the school, I found about fifty children, boys and girls, and two Teachers, present. They were assembled in the large room of the girls' department. After singing a hymn, the Master of the Boys' School read the prayer: I then read the history of the birth of Christ, and lectured and questioned the children upon it after this, every child received one or two little books, and the usual cake. The boys repeated, with solemnity, the Ten Commandments; and we closed with a hymn. I found, at the conclusion, that the number of children had increased to seventy-five: a few other persons were also present. We told the children to come again to-morrow, if the weather should be fine, together with the rest of the scholars; who had been prevented from coming to-day, by the weather.

Jan. 7-The weather, though very cold, was without rain; and the children assembled in the school to the number of 300. This was unexpected, and cheering. There was then to be made some festival for the children. A hymn, in which we all joined, opened it. The Master of the Boys' School read the prayer, and a portion of Scripture which I had pointed out to him. He made some remarks upon it, and questioned the children. The younger ones then sang the Song of the Angels Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men: after which, the cakes and books were distributed among the children. Though on such occasions I can scarcely invite any body besides the children, as their number is rather large for one room, and this being up-stairs, the building might easily be injured, yet

I am always glad if some come uninvited. There were about thirty persons present, mostly parents or relations of the children. The utmost order was preserved, and the whole was solemn and edifying. I distributed among the children, 40 copies of Chrysostom on Reading the Scriptures, and his Commentary on Galatians; 80 copies of the Explanation of the Parables; 200 of Koray's Catechism of Scriptural History; 70 of the History of Joseph; 80 of the History of Moses; and 60 small Alphabetarions. They are all, except the Histories of Joseph and Moses, from our Press in Malta. The whole number distributed amounted to 430; all, books of a Religious and Scriptural nature; which, we may be assured, will nearly all be read, at least some part of each copy, by several persons, during the holidays; particularly as the weather is such, that people like to stay at home. The whole was closed with a hymn, and an appropriate prayer. Thus we sow sometimes in tears, sometimes also with joy, the good seed of God among this people; and expect that it will yield fruit at some future period.

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Jan. 13: New-Year's Day of the Greeks -Paid several visits of ceremony. At the last of them, I found a friend of ours lying on his sick-bed; and I was cheered by hearing from him, that, now he is recovering, he finds his greatest comfort and joy in reading the books which his son received last Christmas in our school. He had read so much, that those who were near him reminded him that much reading might hurt him. He said to me, I have been reading, the whole day, Chrysostom's Explanation of Galatians, and am now about to read the rest: would to God that many of my countrymen would read them, and become benefitted by them!" Indeed, he not only reads them himself, but also tells the things he has read to those who visit him. This is one of the instances that our books are read with advantage. How many may derive benefit from them, without becoming known to us! man told me, moreover, as his opinion, that it was the Lord who upheld our School during the time of the disturbance; and that He still upholds it. Such expressions, as coming from the heart, are, of course, very cheering to me. They are very scarce in this barren land.

This

Jan. 17: Lord's Day-I went to the

the

school, which had a good attendance. Lessons and exercises in Scripture were given as usual. In the afternoon, our new-born son was baptized, by the Rev. H. D. Leeves. Many of our nearest Greek friends were present, and the Service was performed in the Greek Language. All apparently took greatest interest in this performance, and an interesting and solemn Service it was. A new Translation of it had been prepared; as the old one of the Common Prayer Book is, according to the opinion of those who know Greek well, defective in style; and it is very desirable that a new Translation of the whole Common Prayer Book be made ;-but I learn that efforts are already making by Mr. Leeves. Indeed, many Greeks wish to possess the Common Prayer Book; and it was only yesterday that I received a letter from Hydra, in which some Greek friend of ours desires me to send him, among other books, two Common Prayer Books. The Service of Baptism was closed by a Greek Hymn, sung solemnly to the English tune, "Come, Holy Ghost, Creator come;" in which great part of the Congregation joined.

Jan. 18, 1836-Observed a man in the street, before his house, diligently reading, with a low voice, one of our books, not minding the many people who passed. They apparently took no notice of it; and this may be a proof that such a thing is no novelty. Indeed we witness this very often.

Jan. 20-The Greek holidays are now over; and therefore the schools began to-day in full order. The attendance of children, though the weather has become again very cold, was uncommonly large.

Jan. 24: Lord's Day-The Teachers went on very satisfactorily, in reading and explaining some portions of Scripture to their scholars. Mrs. Hildner was able to go, for the first time, again to Church, after her sickness. God be praised for His mercy toward us!

Jan. 26-Our School Establishment is literally crowded, which is indeed very encouraging; yet I feel sometimes low spirited, as I cannot see, that, with the measure of strength and time I have, it is possible to carry the work on with efficiency.

Jan. 31: Lord's Day—I spoke, in the upper department of Girls, and that of the Boys on Matt. xii. 9-13, Christ

healing the man with the withered hand. In the other departments, the Teachers gave, in their respective spheres, religious instruction. The attendance of girls was not so large as usual, owing to the rainy weather. To the small German Congregation I preached from John x. 27, 28. In the evening, I had an edifying conversation with Mr. S-; who goes pleasingly on, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

Feb. 1-We had our Monthly Prayer Meeting at Mr. Robertson's. All the members of our families were present, and our conversation was interesting and edifying: it turned upon establishing a Poor Society.

Feb. 3-Received an interesting and encouraging Letter from the Mistress of the Girls' School in Canea in Crete. After expressing her scholars' gratitude and her own for some school books which I had sent for the poor children, she writes further:-"In my next returns of the school, I shall also, according to your desire, add a column of the Lessons of Scripture, and note the progress of every scholar in that lesson. I wish you also to send me a copy of Bickersteth's Scripture Help, for my own use: some more Alphabetaria and Reading Lessons would also be very acceptable." Went with Mrs. Hildner to see several of our friends. The grandmother of one of our female Teachers, who is sick, entered into a religious conversation. She was afraid lest she should be lost. To her I spoke a word of instruction and consolation, and pointed out to her the xxiiid Psalm. When I went away, she thanked me heartily for my having relieved her from great anxiety.

King Otho and his father are expected here, and people are making preparations for receiving them.

Feb. 11-This morning, the King of Greece and Count Armansperg arrived in our harbour. He did not come on shore, however; as his father, who was visiting several of the other Islands, had not yet arrived here. He entered the harbour of Syra toward evening.

The

Feb. 13-A rainy day. The two Kings, however, came on shore. weather prevented the inhabitants from receiving them as solemnly as they had intended to do. The Girls of our school joined those of the Public School, and, at the house where the Kings lodged, presented a crown to the King of Greece,

and sung a hymn; to which both the Kings attentively listened, and then thanked them. After the girls had left, and the Greek Clergy too, who had had an audience, we were called into the presence of the Kings. I had an interesting conversation with King Otho, as the other Brethren were mostly occupied with the old King. He asked a great many questions respecting Missionary operations in general, and those of our Society in particular. He asked, among others, to what parts of the world it extended its efforts, besides Greece, &c.; and also as to the branches taught in our School Establishment; as to the plan of the whole, and the method of teaching. He recollected very well that he had seen me in Smyrna, two years ago. Both the Kings intended to visit, in the afternoon, the Public Institutions and Schools; but the incessant rain prevented them from doing so.

Feb. 14, 1836: Lord's Day-School was opened as usual, and the children had religious instruction. When it was over, they were dismissed; as it seemed unlikely that we should have a royal visit. As the King of Bavaria had left early in the morning for Tinos, it was unlikely that King Otho would come alone and visit the Schools. Toward noon, however, I was informed that the King was coming to visit the Schools. I sent immediately to the Teachers, who in less than an hour assembled a good number of the scholars. The King, after having visited the Public Schools, came to our Pædagogion; where the Boys received him, in the lower yard, with branches in their hands, and their shout of "Long live the King!" and, in the upper story, the Girls received him with singing a suitable hymn, to the tune,

God save the King." As he seemed in great haste, only a portion of the hymn was sung, in order not to detain him long; but he expressed a wish to hear more, which was gladly complied with. After this, I presented to him all the Teachers; every one of whom he asked, in Greek, what lessons they were giving. He spoke with apparent pleasure of his first visit, two years ago; and recollected very well the rooms, and the things then shown to him. On going away, he expressed to me his gratification and thanks.

In the month of September last, Mr. Hildner held the Public Examination of the Pædagogion: the account which he has transmitted

exhibits a truly gratifying view of the success that continues to attend this important and leading branch of his labours: we give the principal part of his report.

Public Annual Examination of the
Pædagogion.

Our School Establishment continues to present a very encouraging and pleasing An Annual Public Examination aspect. was held on the 26th, 27th, and 28th of September, which was very well attended by the parents and other respectable people. The Governor also favoured us, all the three days, with his presence.

Sept. 26-This day was spent in the examination of the Boys' department. The scholars assembled about eight o'clock, in the middle room of the Boys' School. The room was filled with people; and scarcely any one, of those who were invited, was missing. A vast number of the parents and friends of the children had also assembled, to witness the Examination. After the Governor had entered, the proceedings were opened by a prayer, solemnly pronounced by all the scholars. I gave them a short account of the state of our whole Establishment, during the past year, and at the present time: after which, the Master of the Middle School examined his Boys in Sacred History. His questions extended from the History of the Creation to Moses carrying the Israelites out of Egypt; and the latter part of the Life of Jesus Christ. The boys gave satisfactory and prompt answers; and some gave correctly, in their own language, some larger portions of the history. Then the same scholars showed their proficiency in Writing, which they presented afterward; together with other specimens of Caligraphy, which As some of they had written at home. the friends expressed their wish to take some of the specimens home with them, I gladly permitted it. After this, the Boys of the Higher or Hellenic School were examined in Geography. The questions turned on the mathematical part of Geography, and some Countries of Europe especially. This was followed by questioning them on some parts of Natural History; some exercises in Orthography, and Ancient Greek Grammar; and finally, every scholar translated a short portion of the first part of Xenophon's Memorabilia. The whole went on in excellent order, and we had reason to be gratified with this first day's examination. It was