white world. Who would have expected this circumstance in Asia Minor, on the 22d of April!

Courtship, it appears, is, in Turkey, a transaction of no great length or difficulty. Mehmet, our Janissary, during the few hours' stay which we had made in Bullada, has been betrothed to a Turkish Female. He cannot see her, till the day on which they are married.

This is the weather for great coats, umbrellas, flannels, and whatever can defend or invigorate the human constitution. Such were our feelings on leaving Bullada. After crossing Mount Messogis, we found a more genial climate. The mountain itself is uninteresting. On the side of Philadelphia, we traced a small river for a considerable distance, and forded it full twenty times: the scenery on the bank is enchanting. One day's march was of six hours' continuance. We passed Derbent, and spent the night at Innighioul.

PHILADELPHIA.

April 23, 1826-In no part of my journey have I risen with more lively anticipations. To-day I expect to see Philadelphia. May the blessing of Him that is holy and true accompany me thither! May I learn, by this visit, to imitate the members of that Ancient Church, which so faithfully kept the word of our Lord's patience; and finally become,

with them, a pillar in the temple of God, and go no more out!

After a ride of four hours we arrived at Philadelphia. As we drew near, I read with much interest the Epistle (Rev. iii. 7-13) to that Church. The town is situated on a rising ground, beneath the snowy Mount Tmolus. The houses are embosomed in trees, which have just assumed their fresh green foliage, and give a beautiful effect to the scene. I counted six minarets. We entered through a ruined wall; massy, but by no means of great antiquity. The streets are excessively ill paved and dirty. The tear of Christian pity must fall over Modern Philadelphia. Were Christ Himself to visit it, would He not weep over it, as once over Jerusalem? Alas; the generation of those who kept the word of our Lord's patience is gone by; and here, as in too many other parts of the Christian Vineyard, it is difficult to discover better fruits than those which are afforded by briars and brambles! It is, indeed, an interesting circumstance, to find Christianity more flourishing here than in many other parts of the Turkish Empire. There is still a numerous Christian Population, occupying 300 houses. Divine Service is performed every Sunday, in five Churches; and there are twenty of a smaller description, in which, once a year, the Liturgy is read. But though the candlestick remains, its light is obscured: the lamp still exists, but where is its

oil?

Where is now the word of our Lord's patience?—it is conveyed in sounds unintelligible to those who hear. When the very Epistle to their own Church is read, they understand it not! The word of legendary superstition and of multifarious will-worship is now more familiar to their ears. And where is the bright exhibition of Christian Virtues?-unhappily, the character of Christians in these countries will scarcely bear comparison with that of Mahomedans themselves! In a word, Philadelphia has had her share in that utter apostacy from true and practical Christianity which has been the bane of the East. Grievous wolves have entered in, not sparing the flock: (Acts xx. 29.) There have been false teachers among them, who privily have brought in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them: and many have followed their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of Truth is evil spoken of: (2 Peter ii. 1, 2.)

P. M. We have just ascended the ancient Acropolis, a hill above the city, which commands a most extensive prospect. Below is the town, surrounded by its wall, and embosomed in trees.

We see this interesting place to peculiar advantage. For several days, we have been contending with rain, cold, and adverse weather: but to-day, on arriving at Philadelphia, lo! the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on

the earth, the time of the singing of the birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in their land: (Cant. ii. 11, 12.) The voice of the turtle charmed me greatly, during our stay here. This favourite bird is so tame, that it flies about the streets, and comes up close to our door in the khan.

The remains of antiquity at Philadelphia are not numerous. I have noticed a few beautiful sarcophagi, now devoted to the purpose of troughs: but the ruined wall was probably erected by those who so manfully defended the city, previously to its final fall.

Our visit to Philadelphia was rendered the more interesting, by the circumstance of our being the Bishop's visitors. He pressed us so strongly to make his house our home, that we thought it right to comply with his wishes. This circumstance gave me an opportunity of having much conversation with Panaretos. Many of his remarks afforded us satisfaction. The Bible he declared to be the only foundation of all religious belief: and I was astonished to hear him say, that he knew of no other Confession of Christian Faith than the Creeds of the Apostles, of Nice, and of St. Athanasius. With the design of referring to Christ, as the only name given among men by which we can be saved, I introduced a remark on the atoning efficacy which too many appear to attach to Fasting. "It is," he

replied, "the universal idea." After other observations, distinguished for candour, and expressive of the miserable follies into which our nature has plunged us, he used these decisive words:" Abuses have entered into the Church, which former ages might endure; but the present must put them down." Other topics of conversation were, Justification by Faith, Indulgences, the Prophecies concerning Popery, and the Seventh General Council. Conversing on the last-mentioned subject, I was surprised to find that he did not know that Protestants worshipped God without the use of pictures. The Christian Population he considerrd to be on the increase at Philadelphia: in the last year there had been ten deaths and twenty marriages. The Turks, he said, were decreasing: a large number had marched for Greece, and none had ever returned. In the evening, we attended the Metropolitan Church; but to give a true account of the sad degradation of Christian Worship exhibited on this occasion would be equally difficult and painful. We were highly pleased with the engaging manner of Panaretos. His house, also, which is termed, as usual by the Greeks, the Metropolis, exhibited a decorum suited to a Christian Bishop; nor did I witness that fawning, and perpetual kissing of the hand, which I have deplored in some other Episcopal Residences. From the verandah, we had a view over the whole town by day; and at night, we