commodious place, provided by the English government, but will soon be exchanged for another and a better church, the first stone of which was not long ago laid. When a Bishop for Malta is consecrated, which I understood the Bishop of London, would be soon done, this church will probably come under his care.

"I have told you how agreeably I have been disappointed in respect to this place, and will farther explain myself. The fact is, that Alexandria is one of the most important missionary positions in christendom. It is the entrance from the western to the

eastern world. Here eleven languages are daily spoken, and an exchange of teaching can be effected at par between the English and any other that you desire. You at once see the advantage here possessed by the oriental scholar; he is able to obtain the treasures of the Eastern languages as cheaply as possible, and then to have the true sound of the words, and every delicate intonation, so impossible to gain from any other than the native instructer. The health, too, of this place, has been egregiously mistaken, and the terrors of the plague have been magnified, and proclaimed with such unsparing severity, that I suppose it would be difficult to persuade people that Alexandria is about as healthy a place as New York; of this fact, however, I shall not content myself with giving you the hearsay evidence that I collect from the most respectable English and French inhabitants, but I will append to this a few statistics from the office of the resident physician, who can give neither more nor less than the accurate returns.

"One of the best evidences of present danger appears to me to consist in the flight of the people. But

from

I am assured that the English do not move away it, and are only cautious not to touch the multitude or unnecessarily expose themselves to the sun or to the heavy evening dew. I am assured by the most intelligent persons who have been long residents here, that they consider it no more than our high billious fever in America, and many of the most distinguished English physicians have gone so far as to maintain that it was neither infectious nor contagious However all this may be, the people certainly, in their indifference, seemed to show the sincerity of such a persuasion, and all business goes on just as much in the midst of it as if nothing prevailed of the kind. It is five years since they were very severely visited, and then it was about as fatal as the cholera. But where is the place that is not subject, at times, to some epidemic? and my conclusion of the whole matter is, that Alexandria is as healthy as cities are in general. For this week past, I have not suffered one hour's heat that I have felt more oppressive than that of New York, and I have been out several times at mid-day and daily morning and evening. There is here constantly to be enjoyed a delicious breeze, except when, on a special annual visit, the Khamseen blows, and then indeed you must resign out-door exercise, and content yourself a few hours in the house. Living is cheap.

"I have just above asserted that 'Alexandria is one of the most important missionary positions in christendom.' Of this fact I should have certainly failed to possess myself, if either, like many, I had passed rapidly through it, or if I had mingled only with the rich, the fashionable, or the men of business. But fortunately I met with a simplehearted, devoted student, who has made it his

business, while resident here, to study not only books, but men, and through him I am assured of this fact; and lest you should demur to the opinion of a stranger, or to my too rapid arrival at a conclusion so important, I will give you a short extract which he showed me of a letter he received from one of the missionaries of the American Board of Foreign Missions, at Beyrout. From Beyrout Mr. Thompson writes thus: 'We in Beyrout are of opinion that you will find better masters in Arabia at Alexandria or Cairo than in Syria. It is absolutely impossible for us to obtain a master who is acquainted with the grammar of the language. For Italian and French, Alexandria must be incomparably better than Beyrout or any other place in Syria.' I promised, before I concluded my letter, to annex a document concerning the extent of sickness in this place. Mr. M. has just brought me the official return from the health office, which I will show you if it pleases God I should return to you again. It is too long to transcribe, and I can give you now only the more interesting items of it.

"Died of the plague, from the 1st of January last to 1st of July,

Of the English and Americans,

none!

11

973

66 of all diseases of all nations,

1,318

"This, it is to be remembered, is out of a population of 100,000 inhabitants, and if you think that 973 is a large number to die of one disease, you must bear in mind that it is a law of the Mahomedans not to leave the house should one member of the house be attacked, by which means the whole family are subjected to risk of dying, and seldom fail to be attacked."

SUPPLEMENT TO CHAPTER VII.*

Voyage from Marseilles to Alexandria-Arrival at Alexandria-Divine service there-Baptism—Objects of curiosity-Arrival at Beyrout-Fête of the Sultana-Political changes-Departure for Jaffa.

June 26.-Left Marseilles, a beautiful morning about six o'clock, in the ship Bizantin, Capt. Gassin. It was quite amusing to see our ship with some others working her way out of this secure harbor through the maze of vessels, and to hear jabbering of French, Italian and Provence seamen.

Two

American brigs were making their exit at the same time, the Mary Penell, by which I had written, succeeded first, and we were next but one. The Susan and Eliza of New York was just after us, and I hailed the captain, saying "I was fool enough to wish I was one of his passengers." The little steamboat "Batteau de Vapeur " took us out in very good order, and when she left us we went off in fine style with a wind fair and fresh as it well could blow, which bore us off two hundred miles the first twenty hours. A dove in the course of the

* The following portion of the journal of Dr. Bayard was not seen by the editor until the last chapter had gone to press. The reader will observe that it amply supplies the deficiency mentioned in the commencement of that chapter.

day lighted in our rigging, may it be an omen for good, as the spirit of God guiding me on my journey, a spirit of wisdom and understanding, and of the fear of the Lord.

Saturday, 27th.-The sea was as tranquil as one of our rivers.

Sunday, 28th.-We had a head wind: I went through all my devotions, read the whole morning service and a sermon of Bossuet on the "Unity of the Church." I dined, but alas, in the afternoon the wind increasing I could have no sermon, and had no sooner finished the evening service than I was glad enough to escape on deck.

Monday, 29th.-This morning the wind is favorable, and with a desperate decision I ordered a broiled chicken, but the smell of the cabin set me against it, and when it was brought I could not touch it; but requested the cabin boy to hold it in readiness. About ten I began to pick up a little and took some brandy and water, which gave me a little Dutch courage, and I attacked my chicken with considerable valor. Besides the captain, mate, cabin boy and crew who are twelve in number, we have a half starved kitten, and a dog named "Mi Lor," a pointer, who being advanced in years is on the pension list, and is moreover a great gourmand. It is related of him that on a certain occasion when like other gentlemen he was taking a tour, and was at Constantinople, he was insulted by a Greek, and ever since he will not permit one of that nation to come on board. I need hardly say that I who am so much of a Trojan am a great favorite of his. About two to day the cabin boy, whose name is "Moucho," (fly,) tells me Africa is in view, and so it is, with its mountainous shore inhabited as the captain says