On descending the lower deck adjoining:  the large saloon, I found my faithful companion in calm but very earnest conversation with the commissary of the ship and a passenger of respectability, the Spanish consul of Smyrna.  They had sifted from Jules the object of our journey, and when they found it connected with a religious mission, they both attacked him earnestly and showed themselves really opposed to the truth.  But my young friend stood his ground well, and maintained the Christian religion.  The opponents were both Romanists.  They quieted down before the close, and treated us respectfully the remainder of the journey; we parted with them at Smyrna.  I am thankful to have in my companion such a defender of the faith.

27_th_.—­We arrived at Smyrna this morning, and in order to meet some of our Christian friends to whom we had letters of recommendation, we met them after their worship.  Edward Van Lennep, the Dutch consul, and his brother Charles, the Swedish consul, received us with great kindness and cordiality through the letters from one of our Members of Parliament.  It was very sweet to find these two brothers so imbued with religious feeling; they gave their hearts to help us in our prospect.

On the 30th John Yeardley and his companion landed at Constantinople; they found the heat and noise of the city very oppressive.

The people in the streets, says John Yeardley, are numerous beyond all description; thousands, and tens of thousands, standing, sitting, running, following, or pushing one against the other, talking and shouting in the ceaseless noise of the Armenian, Turkish, Greek, Syriac, Italian, French and English languages.  The services of my dear Jules are most valuable:  he makes his way with every one through his earnest kindness to serve the good cause.

When passing through the islands, he adds, the prospect was extremely beautiful; but my mind was always anxious in the prospect of the long journey before us; but the mercy of my God is great, and deeply humbles me in thankfulness for his goodness.—­(Letter of 7 mo. 4.)

Very soon after their arrival, walking several hours in the heat of the day, John Yeardley had a slight attack of sun-stroke.  The effect appeared quickly to pass off, and he was able to perform such religious duty as opened before him in the city and its immediate neighborhood.

Diary. 7 mo. 4.—­We made a call at Bebek:  Dr. Hamlin had gone to the city, but Dr. Dwight received us kindly.  These two dear Christian, friends called on us yesterday.  This morning we attended the meeting in the Armenian chapel, and at half-past 1 we had a full company in the same meeting-house.  They received in a free and brotherly disposition what I was favored to express in gospel freedom; I concluded in supplication.  A kind and Christian man interpreted with simplicity into the Turkish language.  The morning service was in the Armenian.  We have already had many calls from these loving Christian friends in our hotel.  What a mercy, and how encouraging, to be thus received in gospel by strangers!