ART. V.-RESEARCHES IN ARMENIA.

Researches of the Rev. E. Smith and Rev. H. G. O. Dwight in Armenia: including a journey through Asia Minor and into Georgia and Persia, with a visit to the Nestorian and Chaldean Christians of Oormiak and Salmas. In two vols. By ELI SMITH, Missionary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Boston: 1833.

THE American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, has now been in operation more than twenty years. Success has so far crowned their efforts for evangelizing the heathen, that its practicability can no longer be questioned. What was once deemed a chimera of the imagination, cherished by a few deluded men, is now very extensively regarded as a truth based on the most irrefragable evidence. A brighter day has begun to dawn upon those parts of the earth, which have lain shrouded in the night of death. The voices of messengers commissioned to explore the dreary waste of moral ruin, come echoing back to us, urging us to yet mightier efforts for the renovation of the world. Discovery, too, is opening paths to regions before unknown, and bringing out facts which may find their way to our hearts, and enlist our sympathies for the long neglected and wretched remnants of oppressed nations. In these glorious efforts for the final emancipation of the world, we rejoice that the American churches have borne so large a share. The men whom they have sent forth, both the living and the dead, have well deserved the testimonials accorded to them. Those who have been accustomed to sneer at the weakness and enthusiasm of their countrymen, who have gone forth to the heathen in obedience to the call of God, would do well to read the high commendation bestowed on our missionaries at Ceylon, by the British Governor of that Island; and the testimony lately given to their profound erudition, by a British society for the cultivation of oriental literature. Already have our missionaries in almost every part of the world, wrung a reluctant tribute from those who would much rather have uttered the voice of censure; and what is higher merit still, have recorded their toils and their love to souls in the hearts of "redeemed captives brought home to Zion." After the ample evidence furnished by the labors of twenty years, this noble institution is entitled to the commanding station which she has taken; and to go forth enlisting and concentrating the charities, the sympathies, and the prayers of increasing thousands, as she moves onward to still greater triumphs. She may well pass unheeded and without reply, the petty calumnies with which embittered hostility to religion will always seek to assail her-feeling that the record of her achievments is unfolded to the world, and that the confidence of a christian public will ever sustain her while she gives such pledges of her faithfulness in the discharge of duty. May she

ever stand in undecaying strength and beauty, true to her high destinies, till the last redeemed soul is gathered into the kingdom. of Christ, and all human instrumentality shall end in the universal triumph of the Prince of peace.

To the researches of the American Board, we are indebted for much interesting and accurate information respecting countries heretofore but little known; for a development of the best means for the civilization and refinement of degraded nations; and for a thorough elucidation of the causes which have contributed to place and continue them in their present deplorable condition. It was our intention to have noticed an admirable work of this kind, which some time since issued from the missionary press at Boston, (we mean Anderson's Observations on Greece,) but we were prevented by the unavoidable pressure of other topics, till it was too late. The work whose title is placed at the head of this article, also owes its origin to the same Board, and well sustains their character. It bears striking marks of accuracy and diligence, together with a generous desire to relieve the wretchedness of those who are groaning in bondage, and are subject to a more dreadful slavery of soul and spirit. It has the rare merit of opening to us a view of a country, to which we have been hitherto comparatively strangers; and while it sheds light on the situation of a once powerful nation, it reveals too, we cannot but hope, the prospect of better days for the vassals of Turkish, Russian, and Persian despotism. To ourselves personally, these volumes have come home with a deeper interest, because their author, who bore so large a part of the perils therein recorded, was known to us in the days of his collegiate life. It was his privilege, in common with the writer of this article, to share in the blessings which then descended on the institution where he was educated. We have often met with him in the little circle for prayer, where already perhaps was then beginning to start forth, and was nurtured unperceived by others, the germ of that missionary spirit which led him to these labors. We well remember the modest and retiring youth; and we have often thought as we have traced him from one country to another, and from hardships to others yet more severe, Who could have believed that one so quiet, unobtrusive and comparatively unnoticed, would thus have girded on the armor of Christ, to stand forth the bold champion of the cross, in the midst of the votaries of superstition and error? It has appeared to us strange indeed, to meet him in the spirit-stirring scenes of missionary life, in the midnight journey, the perilous enterprise, and the unwonted privations of such an undertaking, as is recorded in these pages. We listened almost with incredulity, when he told of the stoning he received at Malta; and read with mingled admiration and wonder the record, of his energy and fortitude, in the dreary fastnesses and amid the rude barbarism of ArVOL. V.

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menia-while we have been ready to weep with him too in the sad circumstances of his worn down and diseased frame, broken rest, unpitied state, and disregarded requests, by those whose own wretchedness had led him among them.

In compliance with the instructions given by the Executive Committee of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, Mr. Smith and Mr. Dwight were selected by the Mission at Malta, to penetrate into Asia Minor, visit and learn the situation of the Armenian churches, in Armenia, Georgia, and Persia; and ascertain the best location for a missionary in those countries. Between the years 1820 and 1829 extensive researches had been made by Messrs. Fisk, Parsons, King, Bird, Goodell, Smith, Gridley, Brewer, and Anderson, into the condition of Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and a part of Asia Minor and Cappadocia, together with the Peloponnesus, the Ionian and Egyptian Isles,—and also Tripoli and Tunis, on the northern coast of Africa. By these means, we have been brought acquainted with the situation of the Coptic, Maronite, and Greek churches. There remained, however, the Armenian churches, and the Chaldean, and Nestorian christians, dwelling on the borders of Persia. The necessity and importance of these exploring tours are not, we fear, sufficiently understood, by some even of the firmest friends of missions in this country. It has seemed strange to many, that so much time should be spent in traveling; and that so many letters come to us from various countries, describing continued journeys for months together. They have not adverted to the fact, that very little can otherwise be learnt, respecting the condition of those nations-nothing indeed which would justify missionary efforts among them. The people themselves are universally addicted to falsehood. One in whom we can confide must be among them, and inspect their situation, before any thing can be done effectually for their relief. The travelers who have passed through these countries, have had other objects in view, and more exact information must of course be gained from other sources, before the Board, invested with the responsibility of appropriating the funds of the christian public, could feel justified in making their appeal to the friends of the Redeemer, in respect to more extended operations. In our judgment, they have evinced much practical wisdom, in the course they have adopted. They are laying the foundation broad and deep; and a mission commenced after so careful a survey of the ground to be occupied, with a full knowledge of the obstacles to be encountered, and the advantages to aid, has the best prospect of final success. The importance of the particular journey of inspection described in these pages, will be appreciated by those who recol lect, that the Armenians, in various parts of Asia, are the merchants of the east; that their country is the great thoroughfare between

Persia and Constantinople; and that a mission planted in the heart of Armenia, may not only be productive of good to that people, but may also exert an influence on myriads in still more distant countries. Mr. King, previous to his leaving Asia, caused no small excitement among the Armenian christians at Constantinople, by his circular letter; and the way seemed prepared to commence a mission in Greater Armenia itself, for the conversion of those nominal christians to the pure faith of the gospel. But before this could properly be done, before an appeal could be made to the churches to sustain the new undertaking, it was necessary to give to the public the facts, on which the conclusion of its necessity, and hope of its success, were based. This has now been done, in the volumes before us. Much good, we think, will result from their publication. Every thing which places in a clear, strong light the spirit of missions, is interesting and instructive. When we see the sincere and faithful developments of that spirit of love to Christ and to souls, which constrains our friends and brethren to quit their homes and kindred, and to labor, suffer, and die, if needful, among the heathen and nominal christians, in distant lands; when we are permitted to mark the scenes through which they pass, to listen to their conversation, to watch their operations, and thus draw nigh within the circle of their intimacy, we feel our hearts go forth to them, we see presented in bolder relief the all-important fact, that it is the doctrine of Christ and him crucified, which gives birth to and sustains the cause of missions, and we throw to the winds all our doubts and misgivings, as to their final success.

Volumes like these are a complete refutation of the oft repeated slander, that we are draining our country of its wealth to support drones. Perilous enterprises, privations by night and by day, journals like these, containing such a mass of facts respecting the history, geography, manners and customs of various nations collected by their own researches and personal assiduity, and recorded by the hands of our missionaries, are not the work of drones. Drones never so wore themselves out in labors to benefit the poor and wretched of other climes, as our lamented missionaries of India, Palestine, and those among our own aborigines have done. Men who consult their own ease and comfort, do not expose themselves to persecution, and bonds, and hardships, as our missionary brethren have been willing to do, where the cause of God seemed to demand it.

To give any thing like a complete notice of these volumes is not our design. We can present at most only an outline, referring our readers, for the filling up, to the volume itself; in which we can promise them they will find much that is useful and instructive. From the nature of the subject, and the learned disquisitions em

bodied in these volumes, they will not probably be as fascinating to the unthinking part of the public, as some other missionary publications. Notwithstanding this, however, there are many parts which will redeem them from neglect, even among those who read only for amusement, and we sincerely hope that on such readers, the wretched spectacle of a people, buried in ignorance and sin, will not be altogether ineffectual, in making them estimate more highly their religious and civil privileges. There are now and then graphic touches, paintings to the life, because scenes of actual occurrence, grotesque and characteristic of a people half civilized or almost savage. Darker shades, too, of depravity meet us, among those with whom "Truth is fallen in the streets, and equity cannot enter." The student and the true christian, we trust, will estimate these volumes highly; for they bring back our classic recollections and replace us in scenes of high interest recorded on the page of history. Ancient kingdoms of wide extent and mighty power were here known; and that memorable retreat of the ten thousand, so admirably described by the philosopher who held both the sword and the pen, lay over the mountains, and through the deep ravines of Armenia. It was here, that the ark rested, and Noah built an altar and worshiped God. In later days it was the scene of apostolic labors and success, and the seat of flourishing churches; and though their condition is now degraded indeed, yet it is destined, we believe, to wear anew the impress of the goodness of God, and most fervently do we pray that other Noahs may kindle altars of holier incense to Jehovah, and other Pauls here preach the unsearchable riches of Christ.

The instructions of the Prudential Committee, in compliance with which this exploring tour was undertaken, were brought to Malta, on the 27th of Februray, 1830; and on the 17th of March, Messrs. Smith and Dwight left that place for Smyrna, in the same vessel in which Mr. Dwight had just arrived from Boston. At Smyrna they passed sixteen days in the family of Mr. Brewer, occupied in investigating the condition of the Armenians there resident, amounting to about eight thousand. On the morning of the 12th of April, they took their departure for Constantinople by land, on account of the uncertain length of the passage through the Dardanelles. They remained at Constantinople a number of weeks, preparing for their intended enterprise, and gathering information respecting the Armenian patriarchates, academy, printing press, and such facts as might illustrate the condition of the Armenian church in general. On the morning of the 21st of May, they took leave of the capital of Turkey, and set their faces towards Armenia. Their journey from thence to Erzroom, by the way of Amasia and Tokat, was "through one of the most delightful countries in the world, and in the most charming season of the year." A regard to economy forced them to subject themselves to many privations, which, at the same time,