this and the neighbouring towns. He is a gent. of a good character. There is one reformed Dutch Chh,-vacant. The people are nearly ths English. There are in this town a few Episcopalians. Morals much as in New-England. A very considerable proportion of the Dutch people can neither read nor write, but are very fond of hearing preaching, and have a great respect for pious clergymen.

New broad Alban, North of Amsterdam, and nearly of the same extent. The greatest proportion of the people Scotch presbyterians,-vacant,-a few seceders. One meeting-house. The character of the people much like that of those in Amsterdam.

Johnstown, west of Amsterdam on the Mohawk-extent, 11 by 8 miles. It contains one Scotch Presbyterian congregation, who have an elegant meeting-house. Simon Hosack, Pastor of the Chh, a gent. of learning and piety, educated at Edinburgh. This is a very respectable congregation. The town contains an Episcopal congregation, who have an elegant stone church with organs. John Urquahart, curate. Congregation not numerous. There is also in this town one reformed Dutch Chh. Mг Vanhorn, an excellent character, pastor. A respectable congregation. Further, there is one large presbyterian congregation,vacant, the people principally from New-England.

Mayfield, north of Johnstown-extent 11 by 8,-vacant. Mr Teneyck preaches among them occasionally.

Amsterdam, Johnstown, New broad Alban, and Mayfield lie in a square, and were the ancient Caughnawaga (i. e. cook the kettle.) The ancient and eligant seat of Sir Wm Johnson, commonly called the Old Fort, is in the town of Amsterdam. Near the center of this town Ouctanunda Creek empties into the Mohawk-a very fertile and useful stream. On this stream and in this town their stands 4 grist mills, 2 oil mills, one iron forge, and 3 saw mills.

The soil in these 4 towns is, a little back from the river, a rich silicious earth-very productive in wheat and grass. Timber,-beach, maple, elm, and hemlock. Conversed with a number of Dutch people upon religious subjects-found them extremely ignorant, but thankful for instruction.

JULY 25th.-The people who live in a circle of about 3 miles convened at the house of Mr Jared Plumb, in number about 200. Preached in the forenoon from the Acts of the Apostles, 2 chapter-37th, 38th, & 39th verses. In the afternoon my text was the 10th verse of the 9th chapter of Ecclesiastes. The appearance of the people was agreable. They were very attentive, and the minds of a number appeared to be very much impressed. When the meeting was ended, I made such remarks upon the benevolent designs of the Missionary Society as I thought were proper. Before the people retired, I was urged by a number to visit the north part of the town, in which there is a large body of people; and as it is in the corner of three towns, concerning which I wish to obtain information, I concluded to visit them, and to preach a lecture to-morrow iu the afternoon, and from thence to go on to Utica. I find that I am treated with great respect and kindness.

July 26th.-Preached this afternoon to an audience of about 200 persons, at the house of Esq Lawrence E. Van Aulen, in the north part of the town of Amsterdam. The people gave good attention, and I hope received some good impressions. My text was in Gal. 4th ch. 19th verse.

On enquiry, I found that North of Broad Alban there is a town by the name of Northampton,-vacant. It contains 8 or 9 hundred people, who have no preaching except from Methodists.

Wells's Settlement lies N. of Northampton and Mayfield,Vacant. In this quarter there is a considerable number of scattered inhabitants. The utmost extent of inhabitants, North of the River in the county of Montgomery, is 30 or 35 miles. Wells Settlement lies round Lake Pleasant, and near the foot of ranges of low mountains, which extend towards the west.

Palatine, west of Johnstown and Mayfield; extent 15 by 12 miles. A place called Stone Arabia is in this town, and contains one Lutheran Chh, and one Dutch reformed Chh. Mr Lubauch is minister of the latter, and Mr Crotz of the former. 4 miles west of Stone Arabia, in the same town of Palatine, is a reformed Lutheran chh, to whom Mr Crotz preaches part of the time. 4 miles west of this is a Dutch reformed chh, or presbyterian congregation. The Revd Mr Dozly, a German, pastor.

Manheim, the last town in the County of Montgomery,extent, 6 by 6,-vacant; not a large congregation.*

Salsbury, north of Manheim-extent, about 6 by 8 miles; contains not far from 1700 souls. One Presbyterian chh,vacant. The people, it is said are tolerably well united, and wish to settle a minister.

Rode this day 36 miles. Weather extremely hot and dry. The people in the towns thro' which I have passed are something sickly with the dysentary and influenza.

Herkemer, Little Falls. The Albany stage arrived at the public house which I now am at, 1 o'clock last night; thro' the unac countable carelessness of the driver, I soon found that the small box of books was missing, and to complete my misfortunes and anxiety, I found that, contrary to my directions, the boxes had been placed behind the stage from Palatine, and that the bottom of the large box had fallen out, and that all the books were missing, 4 catechisms only excepted. I instantly informed the stage driver what the property was, and the condition of my agreement with the stage owner at Albany. The fellow appeared to be shocked, and went directly back 3 miles, but found nothing. He agreed with a man to go back at daybreak, and he himself this morning has returned down the river, to find them if possible, and has not yet returned-it is now ten o'clock. The shock has been almost too much for my weak nerves, and I am fearful the property will not all be recovered.

This parish contains six or 7 hundred inhabitants. They have a new meeting-house, but do not improve it. In this place may be found men of various religious sects. At 2 o'clock the stage driver returned, having, fortunately, recovered all the books which the large box contained.

I accidentally fell in company with the Revd Mr Sergeants of New-Stockbridge-could have, however, but little time with him. He thinks the best missionary ground is between Fort Stanwix and the Oneida. Before I go to Utica I have concluded to visit Fairfield and Norway. About 3 o'clock I left the River, travelled 8 miles, and called on some of the principal men in Fairfield, and found things respecting religion very discouraging. I offered

See General Remarks.

1

to tarry and preach the next day-but it was thought yt no people would attend. I find that people are universally in the midst of their harvest, and that it is extremely difficult for them to attend lectures. At night I arrived at Norway, 6 miles North of Fairfield.

Norway, bounded East on Salsbury, west on Canada creek, south on Fairfield. A young gent. by the name of Johnson, has preached in this town for several Sabbaths; and the people have hired him for 3 or 4 Sabbaths to come. There is a considerable congregation of Presbyterians. But it is in this town, as in all those parts. There is a mixture of Baptists-of Methodists-Universalists-and Deists. In the various parts of the town there is preaching by sectarians of almost all kinds, every Sabbath.

There is one methodist chh,-numerous; 2 Baptist chhs., and part of a 34,-no meeting houses. From the south line of the town to the utmost extent of the settlements is about 16 miles. The people almost universally inclined to hear preaching-of their various sects. I have concluded to visit this place, and several other towns in this quarter, near the close of my mission, should I be able to make it convenient.

29th. I this morning left Norway for Utica, and arrived at Utica about 5 o'clock, having travelled 23 miles. I passed thro' a corner of Schuyler, and found the people to be generally baptists-from there I passed into Deerfield upon the Mohawk. In Deerfield the people are baptists, and are vacant. Of the extent and situation of those towns I cannot at present obtain correct information.

Utica and Whites-Borrough, about 4 miles apart, form but one Presbyterian congregation, of which Mr Dodd is the ministera pious and valuable man-he preaches in the 2 parts of the town alternately. There is one baptist chh in Whitesboroughwho have a preacher by the name of Parsons. This congregation have a meeting-house; and the Presbyterians are building one in Whitesborough. There is none in Utica.

The boxes of Books have not come on; and as I cannot with consistency go upon missionary ground again until they arrive,

I have concluded to visit Mr Dodd of Whitesborough, and M Norton of Clinton, 8 miles from the river, to obtain information. I can as yet hear nothing of Mr Taggart.

30th This morning I rode to Whitesborough, and spent some time with the reverend Mr Dodd, who is a very intelligent gent. I agreed with Mr Dodd to ride out a few miles, and supply NewHartford on the Sabbath Afternoon, rode from Mr Dodd's to M' Norton's, and spent some time with him. The information I received from that gent. respecting the mission business, was that I might probably be of much more use by spending my time principally in 3 or 4 societies, when such might be found as needed help. They think that the objects of the missionary societies are not so well assisted by passing on rapidly-there should be time to form an acquaintance with the people, and to inspire their confidence. When societies shall have obtained accurate information of the state of new settlements, it is conceived by these gents to be the best and most prudent course to send a man into 2 or 3 towns to spend the whole season, or at least the missionary term.

31st-Returned back from Clinton to Whitesborough, and spent most of the afternoon with Mr Dodd, who I find to be a very sensible, judicious man, and a sound Calvinist. Most of the chhs. in this part of the world are on the presbyterian plan. The chh. at Clinton is, however, congregational. Mr Norton has a chh. containing 240 members; and this people is considered to be most harmonious, regular, and pious of any in the northern part of the State of New-York. In this town, or rather parish, is an academy, which is in a flourishing state. A Mr Porter, an excellent character, and a preacher, is preceptor. They have one usher, and about 60 scholars. This institution promises fair to be of great service to this part of the country. Piety is very much encouraged in it-and some young gent. have become preachers who have received educations in it. There is in y town a few Universalists, and one small baptist chh., but not a sufficient number to have any influence. In the society of Paris, of which Clinton is a part, Mr Steel is pastor; he is said to be a good, and reputable man-he has a respectable congregation. In Hanover, a society of Paris, Mr Bogue is Pastor.