The plague has come nigher to us this time than it ever came before. Several of our acquaintances — some with whom we had but a day or two before had money transactions; some who had been in the habit of visiting us, and with whom we had conversed on the great subjects of eternity — are gone to render up their account to God. Had I known that they would have been summoned away so soon, I should have besought them with more tenderness and earnestness to be reconciled to God.

Most distressing cases of suffering have come to our knowledge; but I have not time for particulars. Let it suffice to mention one poor German woman, who, on being seized with the plague, was cast out into the open street. She begged here, and begged there, but no one would receive her. She staggered out to the burying-ground, and lay down between two graves, where she continued two days and a night. At length a Mussulman passed by, " and when he saw her, he had compassion on her, and went " and took her to a hospital, and demanded admittance for her. And the woman lived; and she is now in one of our families, receiving Christian instruction.

I have introduced this subject, my dear sir, in order to bespeak your prayers, and the prayers of your church, that God would be pleased to restrain the vials of His wrath, and instead thereof to open the windows of heaven and pour out upon us blessings like a flood. You see how our labors are interrupted by these direful judgments. And as to the people, " why should they be stricken any more? They will revolt more and more."

Their hearts appear to be hardened, and not softened; and their insensibility has become like that of the brutes which perish. It is not common for the Turks generally to ask, or speak, or even think, of plague and death. I have seen them pass by or step over the dead body of a man, as they would pass by or step over the dead body of any brute animal. It is like the unconcern of the blind, or rather the insensibility of the dead. But let the still, small voice of Christian instruction and the whispers of the Holy Spirit be only heard, and men's hearts are softened, melted, changed; and " there is joy in the presence of the angels of God."

Mrs. Goodell unites in Christian salutations to all your dear family.

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