This darkness, adds Martha Yeardley, is increased by the dissipation of the greater part of the English.  The military have great influence here, and their practices tend greatly to demoralize the unhappy people.  We have just heard that they have obtained leave of the Senate to hold a ball in the new school-rooms, and to break down the partition-wall between them for this purpose, which will prevent the school from being opened for another month.

On the 23rd John Yeardley continues:—­

To-day my drooping spirit has been refreshed by six precious letters from England, expressing the interest of our dear friends in our mission; but oh, how my heart is humbled in the sense of how little we do.  During our stay here I have been closely engaged in translating Judson’s Questions on Scripture.  The correction is nearly finished, and we propose having a number printed for the school.

Ignorance of the language was a perpetual hindrance in their way.  Although they devoted a very large portion of time to acquiring it, the difficulty was almost insurmountable.  They learned to read and translate; but to converse in Greek was for a long time almost entirely beyond their power.

Although to preach and teach the gospel was the primary object of John and Martha Yeardley’s errand, the temporal improvement of their fellow-men was by no means foreign to their mission; and we have often seen that plans for the promotion of industry and self-support were to the former objects of peculiar interest.  During their residence at Corfu no small portion of his time was occupied with the establishment of a model farm, which seems to have been a joint scheme on his part and that of the administration.  A grant of land was obtained from the Senate, and the prisoners, with some of the poor, were set to work to cultivate it.  Some of the landowners watched the progress of the experiment, with the intention, if it should be successful, of introducing the plan upon their estates.

We may conclude this account of their residence in Corfu with some general remarks on the religious character and condition of the inhabitants.

We trust, say they, our sojourn in Corfu may not have been in vain:  if we may only be permitted to prepare the way for the further enlargement of the Saviour’s kingdom on the earth, we may well be content.  Preparing the way it may truly be called, for there is a great deal to be done among a people just emerging from barbarism, and bringing with them all the fixed habits of ignorance and superstition, before a door can be opened for the direct preaching of the gospel.  Their mode of reasoning is strong and wily, and they ask questions which can only be answered in private conversation and by Scripture proof.  A great means of affording help must be by educating the rising generation and by the diffusion of Scriptural knowledge.  Many of the priest are extremely ignorant, and some of them have only learned