meeting on the 12th inst. when an address was delivered by the Hon. Elias Boudinot, LLD. president of the society, and the officers were chosen for the ensuing year. In the evening a sermon was preached in the North Church, by the Rev. Mr. Stansbury, of Albany, from Lam. i. 12. Is it nothing to you all ye that pass by? and a collection was taken up for the benefit of the society. Rev. Dr. A. M'Leod, Secretary for Foreign Correspondence; Rev. John Knox, Secretary for Domestic Cor. Hon. Peter A. Jay, Treasurer. NEW-YORK SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION SOCIETY. The Anniversary of the New-York Sunday School Union Society was held on Tuesday the 9th of May. Agreeably to previous arrangement, the children, to the number of 2500, were assembled before the City Hall at three o'clock P. M. Drawn up in order in the different walks in the Park, they presented to the eye of the philanthropist the most interesting spectacle. At half past three, preceded by the President and Managers, the children moved in procession up Broadway to the Circus. This large building, so admirably suited to the purpose, was crowded to excess. The scholars being arranged below, and the audience filling the galleries, presented to the Managers a sight sufficient to reward their past exertions, and to animate them to proceed with increased ardour in their labours. The meeting was opened by the Rev. Mr. Chase, in an address to the throne of grace for the divine blessing on the institution a hymn was then sung in the most exact harmony by the children, which drew tears from many eyes. They were addressed in a very able manner, by the Rev. Dr. Beecher, of Litchfield, Con. Another hymn was then sung, and a prayer offered up by the Rev. John Stanford, when the children were dismissed, each receiving an orange as they retired. The meeting was attended by several clergymen, and other strangers from different parts of the Union, who seemed highly gratified on this interesting occasion. The good order of the scholars; their strict attention to the slightest hints from the teachers; the neatness of their persons, and their good behaviour throughout, form the best eulogium we can give to the system and its pious superintendents and teachers. In the evening of the same day, the society met at the Methodist Church, in John-street. The chair was taken by Richard Varick, Esq. the President. The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Scranton. The Report of the Managers for the past year, was then read by Messrs. Perit and Eastburn. This interesting document was listened to with the deepest attention, by an unusually large audience. It exhibited the great benefits of Sunday School instruction in the decrease of crime, and the consequent increase of moral conduct in this large city. About 3500 are taught in this Union alone. The Female Union, with others, who act alone, make an aggregate of about 9000 under instruction on the Lord's day. The several motions to accept and to print the Report, and also to return the thanks of the society to the superintendents and teachers, for their steady and persevering attention to their arduous duties, were made and seconded by the Rev. Messrs. Knox, Malcolm, and Morris, and by H. Ketcham, Esq. R. Sedgwick, Esq. and Mr. James Eastburn. Each of these gentlemen addressed the meeting in very animated and appropriate language, and which seemed to meet with kindred emotions in alt who heard them. Upon the whole this has been the most interesting anniversary which we have witnessed of this society. We trust their hands will be strengthened and their hearts encouraged to proceed in this blessed work, until ignorance shall find no retreat, nor vice a lurking place, in our populous city. Receipts by the Treasurer of the American Bible Society for the month of April, 1820. To constitute the following ministers members for life.-Rev. Daniel H. Barnes, by his own subscription, $30. Rev. Wm. Calhoun, pastor of the united congregation of Stanton and Brown meeting house, Virginia, by the ladies of the said congregation, $30. Rev. Nehemiah B. Beardsley, pastor of the 4th Congregational Society, Saybrook, Con. by the Female Benevolent Society of that parish, $30. Rev. Peter Nours, Ellsworth, Maine, by the ladies of that society, $30. Rev. Alfred Wright, Elliot, Mis. by the female students of Raleigh Academy, N. C. $30. Rev. Ben. Wood, Upton, Mass. by the Female Cent Society of that place, $30. Rev. Jeremiah Day, LLD. President of Yale College, by the students of that seminary, to constitute him a Director for life, $150. To constitute individuals Directors and Members for life.-Mr. Andrew Bige low, Medford, Mass. in addition to a former payment of $100 to constitute him a Di rector for life, $50. David Hoge, Esq. Steubenville, Ohio, $30. Mr. Jonathan A. Gosman, Danby, Tioga co. N. Y. $30. Mr. Oliver N. Bostwick, New-York, $30. Richard Varick, Esq. New-York, to constitute the following gentlemen, his kinsmen, members for life, $150; 1. Richard Varick Kissam; 2. Richard Varick Dewitt; 3. Richard Varick Dey; 4. Richard Varick Gilbert; 5. Richard Varick Roosevelt. Donations from Societies and Individuals.-Peekskill, N. Y. Female Bible Society, $1 22, and $6 75 for Bibles, &c. Benson, Vermont, Female Bible Society, $20. Bedford, Va. Bible Society, $100. Female Bible Society, Boston and its vicinity, $50, and $150 for Bibles, &c. The Orford Female Beneficent Society, in East Hartford, Con. $10. Cumberland County, Penn. Bible Society, $150. Rahway, N. J. Bible Society, $19 89, and $5 11 for Bibles, &c. Elmira Female Bible Society, New-York, $20. Courtland Bible Society, N. Y. $42, and $48 for Bibles, &c. Female Bible Society, Newville, Penn. $50. Montgomery County, N. Y. Bible Society, $150. Bergen Town Bible Society, N. J. $35 Wm. Jay, Esq. $10. A Friend, $2. Collected from annual subscribers this month, $46. For Bibles, &c.—Baltimore Female Bible Society, not auxiliary, $236 70. St. Lawrence, N. Y. Bible Society, $100. Green River Bible Society, Ken. $72. Marine Bible Society, Albany, $75. Bristol County, Mass. Bible Society, $72 85. Camden, S. C. Bible Society, $50. Bible Society of Hancock and Penobscot counties, Maine, $230, Jefferson county, N. Y. Bible Society, $37 50. Granville county, N. C. Bible Society, $100. Poughkeepsie Female Bible Society, $89 55. New-York Bible Society, 8463 88. Franklin, Mass. Bible Society, $200. Massachusetts Bible Society, $790 35, Middlesex county Bible Society, Mass. $73 33. Yorktown Female Bible Society, N. Y. $5. Bibles and Testaments sold to individuals this month, $37 21. SUMMARY. J. NITCHIE, Agent, A. B. S. African Colony.-Captain Center, who arrived here this morning, in 46 days from the Isle of May, was informed by the captain of the British frigate Myrmidon, that the ship Elizabeth, which sailed from N. York with the people of colour, had arrived at Sierra Leone and sailed again before the U. S. ship Cyane arrived there. A Bible Society, auxiliary to the American Bible Society, has been formed at Blakely, Ala.; of the which JAMES L. Seabury, Esq. late of this city, is the President. A new Presbyterian Church has recently been erected in Murfreesborough, Tennessee. Jonathan Dwight, Esq. of Springfield, Mass. during the last year, erected, at his own expense, a very beautiful and commodious church, in that town, and gave it to the second congregational church, of which he is a member; and, from the sale of the pews, a fund has been established, more than sufficient for the liberal support of a minister. "The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen" of this city, have taken measures to establish a library for the use of apprentices, and published an address to the citizens of NewYork, calling on them for aid in this worthy object. They have given the names of several gentlemen who will receive donations of books, maps, &c. we have room for one only-Mr. Thomas R. Mercein, No. 20 Wall-street. It is the intention of the society to erect a building sufficiently spacious to accommodate from 70 to 100 scholars, and furnish instruction to the children of the deceased, and other members of the society, who may require the aid of such an institution in the furtherance of their education. On the 22d February, a "Gratuitous Apprentices Library" was opened in Boston, and one has recently been commenced in Philadelphia. Licensures. On the third of April, the Presbytery of Tennessee licensed Mr. Joseph Allen to preach the gospel. On the 27 April, the Presbytery of New-Brunswick, N. J. licensed five young men to preach the gospel, as probationers for the holy ministry. Mr. William Ashmead, and Mr. John W. Scott, were licensed to preach the gospel by the Philadelphia Presbytery, during their late sessions. Errata. The first page of this No. should have been 33 instead of 41; consequently the rest are wrong. The right folio will be resumed in the next number. THE CHRISTIAN HERALD. VOL. VII.] Saturday, June 3, 1820. [No. III. Miscellany. From the Evangelical Magazine. MEMOIR OF THE REV. HENRY MARTYN, B. D. Late Chaplain to the Hon. East India Company, and Missionary to India and Persia. (Concluded from p. 46.) We have taken a rapid glance at the progress of this most excellent man, as the laborious and successful scholar, the faithful preacher, the indefatigable translator of the scriptures, and the self-denying and devoted missionary to the heathen. We are now to contemplate his character in a new point of view, and to admire the courageous spirit of the Christian confessor, and the triumph of faith in the dying believer. "On the first day of the year 1811," writes Mr. Martyn in his diary, "I pass from India to Arabia, not knowing the things which shall befall me there; but assured that an ever-faithful God and Saviour will be with me in all places whithersoever I go. May he guide me and protect me, and bring me back again to my delightful work in India." But he adds-" I am, perhaps, leaving it to see it no more." And so indeed it proved-he departed for ever from those shores, where he had fondly and fully purposed to spend all his days. Five months were occupied in his passage from the Hoogly to Shiraz. On the 22d of May he landed at Bushire, in the Persian dominions, and on the 30th set out for Shiraz.* On the first day of the journey, the sufferings of Mr. Martyn, by the extreme heat, were almost insupportable. "At first the heat was not greater than we had felt in India, but it soon became so great as to be quite alarming.-When the thermometer was above 112 degrees, I began to lose my strength fast; at last it became quite intolerable. I wrapped myself up in a blanket and all the warm covering I could get, to defend myself from the external air, by which means the moisture was kept a little longer upon the body, and not so speedily evaporated as when the skin was exposed: one of my companions followed my example, and found the benefit of it. But the thermometer still rising, and the moisture of the body quite exhausted, I grew restless, and Shiraz is the second city of Persia, situated in a fertile valley, about twenty-six miles in length, and twelve in breadth, bounded on all sides with lofty mountains. The circuit of the city is about four miles, surrounded with a wall twenty-five feet high and ten thick, with numerous towers. VOL. VII. I thought I should have lost my senses. The thermometer at last stood at 126 degrees; in this state I composed myself, and concluded, that though I might hold out a day or two, death was inevitable. Capt. who sat it out, continued to tell the hour and height of the thermometer; with what pleasure did we hear of its sinking to 120 degrees, 118 degrees, &c. At last the fierce. sun retired, and I crept out, more dead than alive. It was then a difficulty how I could proceed on my journey; for besides the immediate effects of the heat, I had no opportunity of making up for the last night's want of sleep, and had eaten nothing." The cool air of the night greatly refreshed him, and he proceeded with caution: he procured a tatic, made of the branches of the date tree, and a Persian peasant to water it; thus the thermometer was kept down to 114, and wrapping a large wet towel about his head and body, he was enabled to endure the heat. On the 9th of June he arrived at the celebrated seat of Persian literature, and immediately commenced, with proper assistants, another version of the New Testament. During Mr. Martyn's residence here, he had frequent opportunities of conversing with learned natives, who were accustomed to try him with hard questions; Mr. Martyns' answers were dictated by sound wisdom, singular discretion, and deep piety. His frequent disputations with the leading teachers of the Mohammedan faith excited much attention, and even alarm, so that a defence of Islamism was speedily published, to which Mr. Martyn replied in the Persian language. Towards the end of November great progress had been made in the translation; Mr. Martyn, therefore, ordered two splendid copies of it to be prepared, designing to present one to the king of Persia and the other to the prince Abbas Mirza, his son. The early part of the year 1812, that year in which it was appointed that he should rest from his labours, was ushered in by him in the following strain of singular pathos and piety: "The last has been, in some respects, a memorable year. I have been led, by what I have reason to consider as the particular providence of God, to this place, and have undertaken an important work, which has gone on without material interruption, and is now nearly finished. I like to find myself employed usefully, in a way I did not expect or foresee, especially if my own will is in any degree crossed by the work unexpectedly assigned me; as there is then reason to believe that God is acting. The present year will probably be a perilous one; but my life is of little consequence, whether I live to finish the Persian New Testament, or do not. I look back with pity and shame upon my former self, when I attached importance to my life and labours. The more I see of my works the more I am ashamed of them. Coarseness and clumsiness mar all the works of man. I am sick, |