13 



Letter from Dudley A. Tyng. 



NKWBURYPORT, Sept. 1, 1801. 



MY DEAR SIR: You are not ignorant of the interest I have taken 

 in the reformation and civilizing of the people inhabiting the Isles 

 of Shoals. It is impossible by words to convey any idea of the ex- 

 treme poverty, ignorance and vice these people had sunk into. The 

 islands had been deserted by all who had means to leave them. No 

 one cared for the instruction or comfort of those that remained. The 

 children were growing up without one virtuous or religious senti- 

 ment. Drunkenness, profanity and idleness overwhelmed the whole 

 community. The liberality of well disposed persons furnished means 

 for erecting a commodious stone house, to serve them as a school 

 house and as a place of worship. It also serves, by means of a tower 

 on its top, as a very useful beacon for vessels arriving on the coast. 



The Society for propagating the Gospel have employed the Rev. 

 Josiah Stevens since April last, as a missionary, to teach the children 

 and to lead in the exercises of the Sabbath. His piety, patience, mild- 

 ness and industry, have already wrought wonders. Children who did 

 not know their letters, now read intelligibly in their Bibles, and those 

 who never held a pen before, now write a legible joining-hand. Clean- 

 liness and' decorum have kept .pace with their improvement in their 

 school exercises. They are delighted with their new state, and their 

 ambition is kindled. Their language has, in a good measure, lost its 

 profaneness, and there is a consoling prospect of their recovery to 

 decent and virtuous habits, should attention be still continued to 

 them. 



. You need not to be told how great satisfaction I derive from this 

 state of things, nor how much anxiety I feel for its continuance and 

 improvement. 



Mr. Stevens is precisely the man to be desired for this situation. 

 He perceives it himself, and this has reconciled him to the idea of 

 continuing in it, notwithstanding his extreme disgust from the dirt 

 and vice of the people amongst whom he is placed, on condition only 

 that a small house can be provided for his accommodation. He has 

 hitherto resided on another island than that on which the meeting 

 house is, and where almost all the people live. The passage across is 

 always inconvenient, and at some seasons hazardous. There is a pub- 

 lic lot near the meeting house, on which such a house could be built. 

 Less than $1000 would complete it. Charity never found a more in- 

 viting or a more promising object. Say, then, if such a sum cannot 

 be raised from the wealth, the piety and the benevolence of those 

 with whom you associate. You may assure them that in a very short 

 time, they shall receive accounts of the improved conditipn of these 

 wretched people, which shall make their hearts thrill with pleasure. 

 Your affectionate servant, DUDLEY A. TYNG. 



John O'Donnell and Charles A* Shepherd, both of Salem, were 

 elected resident members. 



