"Halki, Sept. 3d, 1846.

"MY DEAR MOTHER: You will wonder where we are, for I am sure you never heard of such a place as Halki. It is a small island in the Sea of Marmora, about an hour and a half from Constantinople. We are here a little while for the health of the family, but especially for the improvement of Henrietta's health. The physicians have recommended a change of air for her, and we have taken a house here for one month.

"On the morning of every other day, Mr. Hamlin goes to Bebek, and spends the day with his school, returning in the evening. Thus he enjoys a pleasant sail by steamer, and has already derived much benefit from it. His health had failed very much during the last year, in consequence of his too abundant labors. He had in the winter a troublesome cough, which did not entirely leave him until since we came here. He is now feeling stronger and better than for a long time.

"I have had no cough through the summer, but have felt less vigor and energy than usual. I am now quite well, and am enjoying our residence here very much, and Henrietta's cheeks begin to look round and plump again.

"Our house, though small, stands directly upon the sea, and has a piazza built over the water, where we spend much of our time, and get the full benefit of the sea air. The children have just brought in each an apron-full of shells, which the servants have collected for them among the rocks below. They have poured them upon the floor, and some of them begin to walk about, greatly to their surprise, and they are calling me to look at the wonderful phenomenon. Many of them are precisely the same kind of shells which you used to bring me from Hampton Beach, and remind me of those visits to Brentwood, and that collection of shells which I used to keep in a certain green box, and which, for aught I know, may be there still. To-day everything reminds me of home, and I am glad I have a little time to write to you. I purpose writing many letters while I am here, as I have more leisure than when at Bebek. "We are all going out to explore the island, and look upon the beautiful scenery around us, and in this manner finish the

eighth celebration of our wedding-day. We feel quite sure that you are thinking of us to-day. You have been very kind. to send us so many letters, while you have received so few.

"Henrietta and Susan are very fond of looking at your picture, but they are sorry to discover that grandma is an old lady, because they are afraid she may not live till they go to America. They think much of your letters to them, and they are carefully preserved for their benefit in future years. There is no person in America of whom they think and talk so much as of grandma. Susan has just brought me a piece of paper, cut out to the best of her ability, which she says is for grandma.

"Among the Armenians things are in a very critical and interesting state.

"Our brethren are exposed literally to the loss of all things. Those who have a little property are arraigned on false charges of debt, and by means of false witnesses compelled to pay."

REMINISCENCES OF DEACON KENT.

DEATH OF MRS. H.'S

MOTHER.

PROSPERITY OF SEMINARY

CHARTER OF TOLERANCE LAST LETTERS OF MRS. JACKSON LAST LETTERS OF MRS. H.- CHEERING TOKENS AMONG GREEKS.

"They do not die,

Nor lose their mortal sympathy,

Nor change to us, although they change."

In Memoriam.

INTIMATELY associated with the family of Dr. Jackson was good Deacon Kent, whom we first met at Henrietta's bridal, where he poured out his full heart of thanksgiving and love. This holy man of God, now almost a hundred years old, in accordance with the pledge at that time given, had daily borne Mr. and Mrs. Hamlin on his heart before the God of missions. We have seen how he sat by the dying bed of his faithful minister, and, as it were, on the wings of his prayer, bore him up to the gates of the New Jerusalem above.

A few scattered notices of this venerable saint, gleaned from Mrs. Jackson's letters, cannot fail to interest.

"Deacon Kent came to see me not long since, and said I must tell you that he thought much of you, and prayed for you every day. He is quite deaf, and almost blind, says he is waiting, expecting every day to go home to his heavenly

Father, and take possession of the inheritance He has willed to his children."

"Deacon Kent's inner man is daily strengthening, but the outer man is decaying. Not long since, he felt a fainting-fit coming on, when he said, with a smile, I think I shan't deceive you now; I believe I am going.'

"He says he wants only an invitation, he don't need a summons.' He calls these sick turns 'receiving billets.' God has made him a witness for himself, that they that trust in Him 'shall not be afraid.'"

"Deacon Kent seems about to leave us. It will be a great loss to our family, to the church and the world. He has lived almost ninety-seven years, and has been a praying soul eighty. May a double portion of his spirit rest on thousands!"

"Deacon Kent still lives. He has nearly lost the use of his limbs, but his piety is as bright as noon. Your sister M. visited him, and he told her some of the exercises he had had. He said that once, when he was praying, the heavens were opened, and he had such views that his breath ceased, and he had to seek air from the window, and it seemed to him that he never should breathe again. He called it a weight of glory.'

no, never,

"He was very sick some time since, and it was thought he was rapidly going. One night when he supposed he was alone, he began talking to himself. I can trust Him; O, yes! I can trust Him. He never deceived me yet, never! Why, He is my Brother,—yes, my Brother! He says So, that is all I know about it.' And much more, showing his faith and confidence. Satan can no longer distress him with doubts."

"Deacon Kent still lives. He says he is expecting soon to be young, and never grow old any more. He was inquired of the other day how he did. 'O,' said he, 'I am not ripe yet; when I am ripe, I shall drop off."

"Deacon Kent yet lives. They say he prays for mercies, and gives thanks for favors received all the time."

From Mrs. Jackson's closing letter is taken this last mention of the beloved patriarch. Long had he lain close by the jasper walls of Paradise, and the bright angels soon bore him within its opened gates. There the prayers so long ascending before the throne descend, and will continue to descend in rich blessings upon the earth.

After the purchase of the seminary, and the act of religious tolerance secured by Sir Stratford, the boarding-school continued to make progress, enjoying in a high degree the blessing of Heaven.

In January, 1847, Mr. Hamlin writes:

"Our seminary is quite full, having thirty-eight scholars, with two assistant teachers, making forty boarders. Then, with three servants, and the man who works on our land and garden, and with our five selves, we are forty-nine, — a large household, requiring no little care to give them their meat in due season, and provide for all the wants, bodily, intellectual and spiritual, of such an establishment.

-

'Perhaps I mentioned in my last letter that we have licensed one of the senior class to preach. He has just returned from a visit to Nicomedia and Ada Bazar, where his labors seem to have been greatly blessed.

"We have organized a separate theological department, and now those who are fit for the pastoral office, after completing four years in the seminary, will study theology three years. God has blessed us, and that right early. We did not expect to see so much progress in so short a time."

In a postscript, Mrs. Hamlin adds:

“I hope mother will not relinquish her good habit of writing us frequently. We get few letters from any other quarter, but it would ill become me to complain, who receive so much beyond my deserts.

"I was happy to hear so particularly of things in and about