ality, with which we have been received and entertained by our brethren in this city. OFFICERS OF THE BOARD. Rev. THOMAS BALDWIN, D.D. President, Boston, Massachusetts; Rev. BURGISS ALLISON, D.D. 2d Vice-President, Burlington, N. J. Letter from the Agent of the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions for the United States, to the Corresponding Secretary of said Board. DEAR SIR, INDULGE me the satisfaction of submitting a statement of proceedings in missionary agency, subsequent to a resolve of the Board, 11th April, 1815, together with such relative or incidental facts and considerations, as claim regard. The general outline of operations for the year having been submitted and approved 27th April, the pleasure was afforded me, pursuant to the resolve alluded to above, to be present at the annual meeting of the Baptist Foreign Missionary Society of New-Jersey, 3d May, at New Mills. The 10th and 11th of the same month, allowed me the gratifying opportunity of attending the New-York Association, in the Meeting-house of the First Baptist Church in NewYork city. The missionary business was, of course, introduced, and was disposed of in a very happy and satisfactory manner; and among the churches composing that body have since been formed-the Fmale Cent Society of the First Baptist Church and congregation in the city of New-York, to aid in foreign and domestic missions-the New York Baptist Foreign and Domestic Mission Society-and the East Jersey Baptist Society for foreign and domestic missions. Returning to Philadelphia, my attention was occupied till about the last of May, in assisting to prepare for the press, and in getting printed, the first "Annual Report" of the Board. The next object was the distribution of the Report, in parcels, to the numerous associations, that the information comprised in it might be diffused among all the churches of the baptist denomination, throughout the United States. This, as the arrangements for it were but partially made, was attended with a great deal of labour and difficulty, rendered still more laborious and difficult on account of the lateness of the publication. By the zealous co-operation of brother Daniel Chessman, who, being about to return from Philadelphia to Boston, consented to go by the way of Vermont and New-Hampshire, it became practicable to supply with parcels of the Report the associations in those states. But being under the necessity of remaining a few days longer in the city, seasonably to forward the parcels for the associations in SouthCarolina and Georgia, it was impossible for me to be present at the Shaftsbury Association, as had been originally intended. Nor, indeed, was it in my power, after effecting the distributions just referred to, and obtaining from the press a sufficient quantity of the Report for the associations in New-York, Connecticut, and part of those in Rhode-Island, and Massachusetts, to set out but just in season to arrive at the Warwick Association, Latingtown, Ulster county, N. Y. at the moment of its close, the 8th of June. A communication, however, had been forwarded by the hand of the Rev, William Parkinson, which was early placed before the association, and duly attended to. The moderator, Elder Labeus Lathrop, informed me that a meeting had been agreed on by a number of the brethren, for the purpose of taking into special consideration the subject of missions. This meeting has since been held, and resulted in the formation of the Orange County Society auxiliary to the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. At this place, opportunity was afforded me to become acquainted with the Rev. John M. Peck, who readily consented to attend several associations, and to be the bearer of communications and parcels of the Report to them. The zeal, ability, and success, with which he discharged the engagements thus undertaken, merit the acknowledgment of the Board. Besides promoting, in several instances, public collections for missionary purposes, and taking measures to encourage the formation of female mite societies, his exertions appear to have contributed to induce the adoption of an additional article to the constitution of the Franklin Association as a Missionary Society, rendering the same auxiliary to the general Board of foreign missions. Similar success awaited him at the Otsego Association, An article of the same import was annexed to the constitution of the Otsego Baptist Missionary Society. At the Madison Association also, with his assistance, was formed the Madison Society auxiliary to the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. Mr. Peck has recently attended the Delaware Association, and it is believed not without advantage to the missionary interest. From the Warwick Association it was deemed expedient to proceed to Boston, to prepare certain books and things to be sent out to brother Judson, the accomplishing of which would require my personal attention; and to proceed to Newburyport, on behalf of the committee of outfit, for brother Hough and family, to endeavour, if practicable, to obtain for them a passage in a vessel which was expected to sail in the course of the summer from that place for Ceylon and Calcutta; but an all-wise Providence disappointed that endeavour. It was now my duty, instantly, and with the utmost despatch, having supplied with parcels of the Report the associations in Copnecticut, and the Yearly Meeting in Rhode-Island, receiving meantime the liberality of the people in Middletown, Conn, to hasten westwardly again, supplying on my way the associations in the westerly parts of Massachusetts with parcels, as in other cases. 28th of June conveyed me to the Saratoga Association in Kingsbury, Washington county, N. Y. This body manifested a laudable readiness and zeal for the missionary cause; put into my hands the avails of a public collection; and agreed on a meeting, at which the The churches were requested to represent themselves by delegates, for the purpose of forming a missionary society. Hence originated the Society of Saratoga, Washington, Warren, and Montgomery counties, N. Y. auxiliary to the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. Brethren of the Shaftsbury Association, present at the Saratoga, agreed on a meeting for a similar purpose. Hence the formation of the Society of Shaftsbury and vicinity auxiliary to the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. While in this quarter, it afforded great pleasure to have an opportunity of paying my respects to his excellency governor Galusha, at his residence in Shaftsbury, Vermont, an honorary member of the General Missionary Convention. He put into my hands the liberal donation of fifty dollars for the general fund. The following Sabbath furnished an opportunity of delivering a missionary sermon in the Baptist meeting-house in Troy, and a liberal contribution was willingly offered. The plan to be pursued dictated my return without delay to Philadelphia, to complete the distribution of the Report, and to advance with all possible expedition to the west. Parcels were forwarded by ship for the remaining unsupplied associations in Rhode-Island and Massachusetts, and for those in Maine. At the same time, by brother George Patterson, whose talents, and whose zeal for promoting the gospel, are well known to the Board, parcels were forwarded for most of the associations in Virginia and North-Carolina. Although sickness prevented brother Patterson from attending those associations which it was his purpose to attend, he succeeded in getting a considerable proportion of the parcels sent on to the places for which they were designed. In Edenton, N. C. he received a public contribution for the mission, reputable to the liberality of the people there, and reputable to himself as an advocate in the sacred cause. With parcels of the Report for the associations through all the western country, the 20th of July permitted my departure from Philadelphia on a western tour. At Mount-Pleasant, at Pittsburgh, and at Washington, Pennsylvania, on my passing, contributions were made, the liberality of which, under the existing circumstances, was peculiarly animating; and seemed to predict, as it actually commenced, the happy success with which an indulgent Providence was about to crown my feeble exertions in the interesting region west of the Allegany mountains. At Washington, shortly afterwards, was formed the Washington Female Mite Society, to assist the funds of the Board. In the same section of Pennsylvania, the Redstone Association, a little later, resolved on becoming a Missionary Society auxiliary to the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. At Zanesville, Ohio, where the goodness of the Lord permitted me to remain a Sabbath, the hearts of the people were again opened to contribute for the promotion of the gospel among the heathen. The same divine goodness conveyed me the 12th of August to the Elkhorn Association, near Lexington, Fayette county, Kentucky. Here it was particularly gratifying to meet with a worthy member of the Board, the Rev. Jeremiah Vardeman; and with the Rev. Ja cob Creath, who nearly two years before had first acquainted me in some measure with the state of things in the western parts of our country; while the cordial welcome of the ministers and brethren in general, gladdened my heart, and impressed the consoling persuasion that my coming should not be in vain. The next day furnished an opportunity of addressing a very large assembly on the interesting subject of evangelizing the heathen. The bounteousness displayed on the occasion, supplied a fresh and very cheering presage of the extended liberality in favour of missions likely to be realized in this flourishing, wealthy, and liberal portion of the United States. Before the close of the Association the satisfaction was allowed me of being present at a meeting of the Directors of the Kentucky Baptist Society for propagating the Gospel. They voted to send on their funds, amounting to more than $500, to the Treasurer of the general Board. In the course of the season ten associations were visited by me in Kentucky. At each of them a public contribution was made, and put into my hands, the amount of which will be exhibited in detail on a separate paper. Public contributions were also made at some associations at which it was not in my power to be present, and put into my hands for the missionary object. Here, too, as elsewhere, the associations readily acceded to the plan of a regular intercourse, connexion, and correspondence with the Board. In several instances, besides at the associations, public contributions were offered for missionary purposes. An occurrence of this kind at Mount Sterling, Montgomery county, Kentucky, deserves notice. An appointment for preaching had been forwarded to that place; but when the time arrived it happened to be during the session of the court there. However, the court adjourned at the hour of religious service, in consequence of which, a large assembly attended, and a very handsome contribution was made. In Lexington the very pleasing opportunity was afforded, of preaching a missionary sermon in the Cross-street Presbyterian meeting-house; and it is peculiarly gratifying to state, that the contribution was considerably larger than has yet been made on any other one occasion in any part of the United States in aid of the missionary operations of the Board. One lady, Mrs. Eliza J. Parker, gave $50. Joseph C. Breckenridge, Esq. $10. Considerably more than $1400 were received by me in Kentucky; which, with more than $500 from the Kentucky Mission Society, will amount to a sum not much short of $2000; and more, it is believed, than has yet been furnished by any other State, except Massachusetts, to the general fund. The last of September conferred on me the happiness of meeting with the Kentucky Mission Society at the Great Crossings in Scott county. On the occasion, particularly after an address to the assembly by the Rev. Silas M. Noel, a large accession was made to the number of its members. A request of the Society induced me to attend another of its meetings, held in Frankfort during the session of the legislature of the state in that place. As the period of the associations approached, arrangements were made for meetings, the object of which was the formation of mission societies. At four successive meetings of this kind, the satisfaction was enjoyed of assisting in the origination of as many societies of this description. The 28th of October at Mount Gilead, Green county, was formed the Green River Country Society auxiliary to the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. At Bardstown, Nelson county, the 9th of November, the Bardstown Society auxiliary to the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. At Mount Sterling, Montgomery county, the 17th November, the Mount Sterling Society auxiliary to the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. On the 25th of the same month, at Shelbyville, Shelby county, the Shelbyville Society auxiliary to the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. Recently has been formed in Mason county, the Washington Kentucky Missionary Society aux iliary to the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions-all in Kentucky. Immediately after the formation of these societies, a journey through the Indiana Territory was undertaken for the purpose of completing the arrangements for the continued intercourse and correspondence between the Board and the associations there. Spending a Sabbath in Jeffersonville a public contribution was put into my hands for the missionary object. Returning from this hasty tour through the Territory, the attaining of a similar object conducted me again into the state of Ohio. Being in Cincinnati on the Sabbath, and having delivered in the Baptist meeting-house a missionary sermon, the contribution put into my hands was large, though the day was cold and the walking bad. The succeeding day conferred on me the happiness of attending, by request, the Female Society of Cincinnati for charitable purposes, and of receiving from that amiable society twenty dollars for the general mission fund. Passing through Lebanon the same week, a copy of the First Annual Report was left by me in that place to be presented to the Female Bible and Charitable Society of Lebanon. Recently has been received from that praiseworthy society the sum of $70 for the Board. The following Sabbath found me in Chillicothe. Monday, at 12 o'clock a charity sermon was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Rigdon in the Rev. Mr. Wilson's meeting-house, Presbyterian, before the Chillicothe Female Benevolent Society; and a contribution was made in favour of the funds of that society. In the evening of the same day, in the same house, a missionary sermon was delivered, and a public contribution for missionary objects put into my hands. Having succeeded in accomplishing the purposes of a tour through Ohio, and returned with as much speed as was practicable to Kentucky; having spent a Sabbath with that venerable father in the ministry, Elder Ambrose Dudley, whose praise has long been in the churches in that quarter; and having remained a few days in Lexington, my course was then directed to the south part of the state, through the bounds of those associations which it had not been in my power previously to visit, and so on into Tennessee. Opportunity had been seized before of visiting Nashville while the legislature of the state was in session there, and of delivering a missionary sermon, and receiving a contribution in that place, the amount of which should be regarded as a pledge of what may |