Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 23.djvu/359

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METHODIST REPORTS WILLAMETTE MISSION 309

benefit of the mission. Of their arrival we have not yet heard, either at the Sandwich Islands or at the Oregon territory.

Not being able to send out a missionary with his family, as was generally desired, measures were adopted to send one or more as soon thereafter as practicable; on the 24th of January last, the Rev. David Leslie, wife and three children, accompanied by a pious young lady as a school teacher, 7 and Rev. H. K. W. Perkins, left Boston in the brig Peru, for the Sandwich Islands, with a view to find passage from thence to their place of des- tination. We cannot but hope and pray for the safe arrival of these missionary families, to their field of labor in due season.

Respecting the actual state of things in this mission, we have not much to add to the information that was given in our last report. It seems, however, that in con- sequence of the failure of the health of Rev. D. Lee and his departure to the Sandwich Islands, with the hope of its restoration, Rev. Jason Lee was left alone, assisted only by Brother Shepard as a school teacher. But from all the information received the prospects of the mission were flattering, and more laborers were greatly needed to answer all the calls which were made for religious in- struction. Should the families recently sent arrive in safety, it is hoped they will be able to go forward and prosper.

Nineteenth Anniversary,

Forsyth Street Church, New York.

May 21, 1838.

From the Oregon Mission we have recently received encouraging information from a member of the mission family, which sailed from Boston in August, 1836. This letter was dated July 5, 1837, and gave an account of the safe arrival of the family after a voyage of ten months

7 Margaret Smith. These arrived September 7, 1837.