LITERARY AND RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS FOR THE WEST.

In giving a sketch of literary and religious institutions in the West, the very limited space remaining to be occupied in this work, compels me to throw together a few general facts only. The author has made some progress in collecting materials, and he designs to prepare another work soon, in which a variety of particulars and sketches will be given of the early history, progress of literary and religious institutions, colleges, seminaries, churches, Bible, Sunday school, education and other kindred societies in the Western Valley, with the present aspect of each denomination of Christians. The interest taken in the affairs of the West, and the anxiety evinced by the community for facts and particulars on those subjects, demand that they should be treated more in detail than the limits of this Guide will allow.

I. COLLEGES.

OHIO. Ohio University, at Athens, was founded in 1802; has an endowment of 46,030 acres of land, which yields $2,300 annually. A large and elegant edifice of brick was erected in 1817. The number of students about 90. Miami University, was founded in 1824, and is a flourishing institution at Oxford, Butler county, 37 miles from Cincinnati. It possesses the township of land in which it is situated, and from which it receives an income of about $5000. Number of students about 200. Patronized by Presbyterians. The Cincinnati College was incorporated in 1819, continued to be sustained as a classical institution for some years, and then suspended operations. It has been revived and re-organized lately, and will probably be sustained. Kenyon College, at Gambier, Knox county, in a central part of the State, was established in 1828, through the efforts of Rev. Philander Chase, then bishop of the Ohio Diocess, who obtained about $30,000 in England to endow it. Its chief patrons were those excellent British noblemen, Lords Kenyon and Gambier. It is under Episcopal jurisdiction, and has a theological department, for the education of candidates for the ministry in the Episcopal church. It has about 150 students. Western Reserve College is at Hudson. It was founded by Presbyterians and Congregationalists in 1826, and has 82 students in all its departments. Franklin College is in New Athens, Harrison county, on the eastern side of the State, and has about 50 students. The Granville Literary and Theological Institution originated under patronage of the Baptist denomination in 1831. It is designed to embrace four departments, preparatory, English, collegiate, and theological. It is rapidly rising, and contains more than 100 students. Oberlin Institute has been recently established in Lorain county, under the influence of “new measure” Presbyterians, with four departments, and has 276 students, as follows: In the theological department, 35; collegiate, 37; preparatory, 31; female, 73. The citizens of Cleveland have recently contributed to it $15,000, of which six persons gave $1000 each. The Willibough Collegiate Institute is in the lake country of Ohio, and has been gotten up within a few years past. The Marietta Collegiate Institute is said to be a flourishing and respectable institution, having a large number of students in various departments.

INDIANA. Indiana college is a State institution, established at Bloomington, and commenced operations in 1828. Present number of students not known. In 1832 the number exceeded 50.

Hanover College is at South Hanover, six miles below the town of Madison, and near the Ohio river. It is a flourishing institution, with arrangements for manual labor, and is styled “South Hanover College and Indiana Theological Seminary.” The number of students exceed 100. Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, has just commenced operations under auspicious circumstances. Under patronage of the Presbyterians.

ILLINOIS. Illinois College, near Jacksonville, commenced as a preparatory school in 1830, and has made rapid progress. Large funds for its endowment have been recently provided in the Eastern States. The number of students about 80.

Shurtleff College of Alton, Illinois, was commenced under the efforts of Baptists at Alton in 1832, as a preparatory institution; chartered as a college in February, 1835, and has been recently named in honor of a liberal patron, Dr. Benjamin Shurtleff, of Boston, Mass., who has presented the institution with $10,000. It has 60 students, and its prospects are encouraging. McKendreean College has been chartered, a building erected, and a school commenced at Lebanon. It is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Charters have been recently granted for other colleges in this State, and measures adopted to bring some of them into existence. The Rev. Philander Chase, whose persevering labors brought into existence and successful operation, Kenyon college in Ohio, and who is now bishop of Illinois, is at present in England, where, by recent advices, he has obtained $50,000 to invest in Illinois lands, and to establish a college for the interests of the Episcopal church.

MISSOURI. The Roman Catholics have two institutions of a collegiate character, established in this State, St. Mary’s College, in Perry county, was established by Bishop Du Bourg, in 1822. It has 6,000 volumes in the library. Including the nunnery, and school for females, a seminary for the education of priests, a preparatory, and a primary school, the number of teachers and students are about 300.

St. Louis University was founded in 1829, and is conducted by the Fathers of the society of Jesuits. The edifice is 130 feet, by 40, of 4 stories, including the basement, and is situated on elevated and pleasant ground, on the confines of the city.

For the Protestants, the following institutions have been established. Columbia College, adjacent to Columbia, Boon county. The institution opened in 1835, under encouraging circumstances. Marion College is in a delightful tract of country, a prairie region, in the western part of Michigan county, and has between 80 and 100 students. It is connected with the Presbyterian interests. The project as developed by some of its founders, is an immense one, including English, scientific, classical, theological, medical, agricultural, and law departments, all to be sustained by manual labor, and the proceeds of extensive farms. Doubtless, by prudent and persevering efforts, a respectable college may be brought into successful operation. A college at St. Charles, has been founded, principally by the liberality of George Collier, a merchant of St. Louis, and two or three other gentlemen, and a classical and scientific school has been commenced.

ARKANSAS. Efforts are making to establish a college by Presbyterian agency, at Cane Hill, in this newly formed State. Two or three collegiate institutions will soon be needed in this region.

KENTUCKY. Transylvania University, at Lexington, is the oldest collegiate institution in the West. It was commenced, by a grant of 8,000 acres of land by the legislature of Virginia, in 1783, and was then called “Transylvania Seminary.” The “Kentucky Academy” was founded in 1794, and both institutions were united and incorporated in 1798, under the present name. It has classical, medical, law, and preparatory departments, and including each, from 300 to 400 students.

Center College, at Danville, was founded by the Presbyterian church, in 1818, for which the synod of Kentucky pledged $20,000. Number of students about 100. Augusta College was founded in 1822, by the Ohio and Kentucky conferences of the Methodist Episcopal church. It adopted collegiate regulations in 1828. Number of students in the collegiate, academical and primary departments, about 200.

Cumberland College was incorporated in 1824, and is established at Princeton, in the western part of the State. It is under the patronage and jurisdiction of the Cumberland Presbyterians. A farm, including a tract of 5,000 acres of land, with workshops, furnish facilities for manual labor. It has about 80 students.

St. Joseph’s College is a Roman Catholic institution, at Bardstown, with college buildings sufficient to accommodate 200 students, and valued at $60,000. It commenced with 4 students in 1820. In 1833 there were in the collegiate and preparatory departments, 120 students. The St. Thomas and St. Mary Seminaries are also under the charge of Roman Catholic priests, the one in Nelson county, four miles from Bardstown, and the other in Washington county.

A college was founded by the Baptists at Georgetown in 1830, but from untoward circumstances, is probably relinquished by the denomination.

TENNESSEE. The University of Nashville is a prominent institution. The laboratory is one of the finest in the United States, and the mineralogical cabinet, not exceeded, and this department, as well as every other in the college, is superintended with much talent. The number of students is about 100. Greenville, Knoxville and Washington colleges are in East Tennessee. Jackson College is about to be removed from its present site, and located at Columbia. $25,000 have been subscribed for the purpose. A Presbyterian Theological Seminary is at Maryville.

MISSISSIPPI. Jefferson College is at Washington, six miles from Natchez. It has not flourished as a college, and is now said to be conducted somewhat on the principle of a military academy. Oakland College has been recently founded by Presbyterians, and bids fair to exert a beneficial influence upon religion and morals, much needed in that State. The Baptist denomination are taking measures to establish a collegiate institution in that State.

LOUISIANA. Has a college at Jackson, in the eastern part of the State, The Roman Catholics have a college at New Orleans.

There is a respectable collegiate institution, under the fostering care of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Lagrange, in the north-western part of ALABAMA.

Academies have been established in various parts of the West, for both sexes, and there are female seminaries of character and standing at Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Granville, Louisville, Lexington, Nashville, and many other places. Several more colleges, and a large number of minor institutions, will be needed very shortly to supply the demands for education in the West. The public mind is awake to the subject of education, and much has already been done, though a greater work has yet to be accomplished to supply the wants of the West in literary institutions.

An annual convention is held in Cincinnati, on the first Monday in October, denominated the “Western Institute and College of Professional Teachers.” Its object, according to the constitution, is, “to promote by every laudable means, the diffusion of knowledge in regard to education, and especially by aiming at the elevation of the character of teachers, who shall have adopted instruction as their regular profession.” The first meeting was held in 1831, under the auspices of the “Academic Institute,” a previously existing institution, but of more limited operations. The second convention, in 1832, framed a constitution and chose officers, since which time regular meetings have been held by delegates or individuals from various parts of the West, and a volume of Transactions of 300 or 400 pages published annually.

II. THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS.

The Western Theological Seminary at Alleghany town, opposite Pittsburg, is under the jurisdiction of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. It commenced operations in 1829. At Canonsburg is a seminary belonging to the Associate church, of which Dr. Ramsey is Professor. The Associate Reformed church have a theological school in Pittsburg, under charge of the Rev. John T. Pressly D. D. The Baptist denomination are now engaged in establishing a manual labor academy in the vicinity of Pittsburg, for both ministerial and general education.

The theological departments of Oberlin, Granville, and other collegiate institutions, have been noticed already. Lane Seminary, near Cincinnati, was founded in 1830, by Messrs. E. & W. A. Lane, merchants, of New Orleans, who made a very liberal offer of aid. Its location is excellent, two and a half miles from Cincinnati, at Walnut Hills, and is under the charge of the Rev. Dr. Beecher, and a body of professors. Number of students about 40. The Hanover Institution in Indiana, has been noticed already. In the theological department are three professors and 12 students. The Baptists in this State are about establishing a manual labor seminary for ministerial and general education.

A valuable property has been purchased, adjoining Covington, Ky., opposite Cincinnati, and measures have been put in train to found a theological seminary by the Baptist denomination. The executive committee of the “Western Baptist Education Society,” have this object in charge. The “Alton Theological Seminary,” located at Upper Alton, Illinois, is under an organization distinct from that of Shurtleff College, already noticed. This institution has 50 acres of valuable land, and a stone edifice of respectable size, occupied at present in joint concern with the college, and a valuable library of several hundred volumes. Its organization has been but recently effected. Rev. L. Colby, is professor, with 8 students. Other institutions, having theological education, either in whole or in part, their object, are in contemplation.

Two remarks, by way of explanation are here necessar. Most of the colleges and theological schools of the Western Valley have facilities for manual labor, or are making that provision. In several, some of the students pay half, and even the whole of their expenses, by their own efforts. Public sentiment is awake to this subject, and is gaining groun. In enumerating the students, the members of the preparatory departments are included, many of whom do not expect to pass through a regular collegiate course. The circumstances and wants of the country, from its rapid growth, seem to require the appendage of a large preparatory department to every college.

It may be well to observe here, that a great and increasing demand exists in all the Western States, and especially those bordering on the Mississippi, for teachers of primary schools. Hundreds and thousands of moral, intelligent, and pious persons, male and female, would meet with encouragement and success in this department of labor. It is altogether unnecessary for such persons to write to their friends, to make inquiries whether there are openings, &c. If they come from the older States with the proper recommendations as to character and qualifications, they will not fail to meet with employment in almost any quarter to which they may direct their course. There is not a county in Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, or Indiana, where persons would not meet with constant employment in teaching, and especially where teachers in Sabbath schools are needed. Persons desirous of such a field, of humble, yet useful labor, should come here with the fixed purpose to mix with, and conform to the usages of the Western population, to avoid fastidiousness, and to submit to the plain, frank, social, and hospitable manners of the people.

III. DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUMS.

There are two institutions of this description in the West, one at Columbus, Ohio; the other at Danville, Ky. The one in Ohio contains about 50 pupils.

IV. MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.

The medical department in Transylvania University, Kentucky, has six professors, and usually about 200 students to attend the lectures. Fees for an entire course, with matriculation and library, $110. Two medical institutions of respectable standing exist in Cincinnati, one connected with the Miami university, the other with Cincinnati college.

The Ohio Reformed Medical School, was established at Worthington, 9 miles north of Columbus, in 1830. No specified time is required for study, but when a student will pass examination, he is licensed to practice.

V. LAW SCHOOLS.

The law department of Transylvania University, is under the charge of two able professors, who hear recitations and deliver lectures. The average number of students is about 40.

A law school was established at Cincinnati, in 1833, with four professors, Messrs. John C. Wright, John M. Goodenow, Edward King, and Timothy Walker. The bar, the institution, and the city have recently sustained a severe loss in the decease of Mr. King.

VI. BENEVOLENT AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

To enumerate and give particulars of all these, would make a volume. We can but barely call the attention of the reader to some of the more prominent organizations, amongst the different Christian denominations in this great Valley, for doing good.

The Foreign Missionary Society of the Valley of the Mississippi, is a prominent auxiliary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Its seat is Cincinnati, but by agencies and branches, it operates throughout the Valley. The Report of November, 1835, states that eighteen thousand six hundred and fifty eight dollars had been received into the treasury the preceding year. An edition of 3000 copies of the Missionary Herald is republished in Cincinnati, for circulation in the West.

The Western Education Society, connected with the American Education Society, has also its seat of operations at Cincinnati. Auxiliaries also exist in most of the Western State beneficiaries were under its charge at the last anniversary.

The American Tract Society has auxiliaries and agencies in most of the Western States. The operations of the American Bible Society, through its numerous auxiliaries, is felt to the remotest parts of the West.

The American Sunday School Union has recently established a central agency in Cincinnati, and is preparing to renew, and greatly enlarge its very important efforts for the benefit of the rising generation in the West.

A series of very interesting anniversaries are held in Cincinnati, the first week in November, when all the great objects of Christian effort receive a renewed impulse.

The American Home Missionary Society has more than 200 missionaries, laboring in the States, west of the mountains. In 1835, they assisted 217 Presbyterian ministers in this field.

The Temperance Effort has not been neglected, and an interesting change is going forward, in a quiet and noiseless way, in the habits of the people, in reference to the use of intoxicating liquors. It is to be hoped that more prompt and vigorous efforts will be made to promote this cause, but even now, there are many thousands, who abstain from the use of spiritous liquors, without any formal pledge.

The Methodist Episcopal Church, in addition to their regular system of circuits, are extending the influence of their denomination on the frontiers, by missionary operations, and their labors are prospered.

The Baptist denomination have made some important movements in the Western Valley within the last three years. Their Home Mission Society has nearly 100 missionaries in the West. In November, 1833, the “General Convention of Western Baptists,” was organized by more than 100 ministers and brethren, assembled from various parts of the West. It is not an ecclesiastical body, claiming jurisdiction either over churches or ministers, nor is it strictly a missionary body. Its business, according to the constitution, is “to promote by all lawful means, the following objects, to wit: Missions both foreign and domestic; ministerial education, for such as may have first been licensed by the churches; Sunday schools, including Bible classes; religious periodicals; tract and temperance societies, as well as all others warranted by Christ in the gospel.”

At its second session, in 1834, the “Western Baptist Education Society” was formed. Its object is “the education of those who give evidence to the churches of which they are members, that God designs them for the ministry.” The executive committee are charged temporarily, with establishing the Central Theological Seminary, already mentioned, at Covington, Ky.

Many other interesting associations for humane, philanthropic, and religious purposes exist in the Valley, which are necessarily omitted.

VII. THE PERIODICAL PRESS.

The number of different periodicals published in the Valley of the Mississippi, must exceed 400, of which 12 or 15 are daily papers. There are 25 weekly periodicals in Mississippi, 116 in Ohio, 38 in Indiana, 19 in Illinois, 17 in Missouri, 3 and probably more, in Arkansas, 2 at least in Wisconsin Territory. The Western Monthly Magazine, edited by James Hall, Esq., and published at Cincinnati is well known. The Western Journal of the Medical and Physical Sciences, edited by Daniel Drake, M. D., Professor of Theory and Practice of Medicine in the Cincinnati College, is published quarterly, in Cincinnati. There are a number of religious weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly periodicals, devoted to the interests of the principal denominations through the Valley. There are known to be at least one in Western Virginia, 2 in Western Pennsylvania, 7 in Ohio, 4 in Kentucky, 4 in Tennessee, 2 in Illinois, 2 in Missouri, and one in New Orleans. Supposing the average number of copies of Western periodicals equalled 750, this, estimating the different periodicals at 400, would give 300,000. We see no marked and essential difference in the talent, with which the editorial press is conducted, betwixt the Eastern and Western States. The limits of this work will not allow me to add further evidence that our Western population is not all “illiterate,” and that “not more than one person in ten can read,” than the following epitome of the issues, of one of the publishing houses in Cincinnati, as exhibited in the Cincinnati Journal:

“Western Enterprise. The enterprise of the West is not generally appreciated. As a specimen, we have procured from Messrs. Corey & Webster the following LIST OF BOOKS published by them within the last three years. These books, with the exception of the Life of Black-Hawk, are of sterling value.

The Western Primer, 60,000; Webster’s Spelling Book, 600,000; the Primary Reader, 7,500; the Elementary Reader, 37,000; Western Reader, 16,000; Webster’s History of the United States, 4000; Miss Beecher’s Geography, 15,000; Pocket Testament, 6,500; Watts’ and Select Hymns, 8000; Dr. Beecher’s Lectures on Scepticism, three editions, 1000 each; Prof. Stowe’s Introduction to the Study of the Bible, 1500; the Christian Lyre, 2000; Mitchell’s Chemistry, 1000; Eberle on the Diseases of Children, 2000; Ditto Notes of Practice, 1500; Young Lady’s Assistant in Drawing, 1000;, Munsell’s Map, 3,500; Chase’s Statutes of Ohio, three volumes, 1000; Hammond’s Reports, 6th vol. 500; total, seven hundred and seventy eight thousand two hundred and fifty!!! Probably some of the many other publishers in the city have got out nearly or quite as many books. Truly, we are a book-making and book-reading nation.”

VIII. RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

In exhibiting the following statistics, entire correctness is not attempted. In some of the States, the latest reports have been had, in others, the author has taken data of two or three years date. Of the numbers of some of the numerous sects existing, the opinions of individuals have been the chief data he could obtain.

1. Baptists.

Total, 2447 churches, 1353 ministers, and 123,317 communicants.

Periodicals. The Cross and Journal, weekly, and Baptist Advocate, monthly, at Cincinnati; the Baptist Banner, weekly, at Shelbyville, Ky.; the Baptist, a large monthly quarto, at Nashville, Ten.; the Pioneer, semi-monthly, at Rock Spring, but shortly to be enlarged, removed to Upper Alton, and published weekly; and the Witness, a small quarto, published weekly at Pittsburg.

2. Methodists, (Episcopal.) This denomination is divided into Conferences, which are not arranged exactly with the boundaries of the States. A large book and printing-office is established at Cincinnati, where all the society’s publications are kept for sale. Another depository is kept at Nashville.

Allowing two local to one circuit preacher, which is rather under than over the proportion, would make 1802, which, added to the number of those whose names are on the Minutes of the Conferences, would make 2703 Methodist Episcopal ministers of the gospel in the Valley of the Mississippi. The Pittsburg Conference Journal, Western Christian Advocate, and Western Methodist, are their periodicals.

3. Methodist Protestants. There are two conferences of this denomination in the West, the Pittsburg, and Ohio conferences, and their circuits, preaching stations and members extend through the States north of the Ohio river, with a few stations and churches south.

Pittsburg Conference has 28 circuits, and 85 local preachers and licentiates, 25 circuits, 4 stations, and 2 mission circuits, with 6,902 members in society.

Ohio Conference, has 28 circuit, 90 local preachers, 22 circuits, 3 stations, 3 missionary circuits, and 3667 members. The Methodist Correspondent, a neat semi-monthly quarto periodical, published at Zanesville, Ohio, is devoted to their interests.

4. Presbyterians.

Total, 56 Presbyteries, 1,148 churches, 753 ministers, and 79,973 communicants.

Periodicals. The Cincinnati Journal and Western Luminary, published at Cincinnati; Christian Herald, at Pittsburg; Ohio Observer, at Hudson, Ohio; Western Presbyterian Herald, at Louisville, Ky.; New Orleans Observer, at New Orleans; and St. Louis Observer, at St. Louis, Mo., all weekly; and the Missionary Herald, republished at Cincinnati, monthly.

5. Cumberland Presbyterians. This sect originated from the Presbyterian church in 1804, in Kentucky, but did not increase much till 1810, or 12. They are spread through most of the Western States, and have 34 Presbyteries, 7 Synods, and one General Assembly. The Minutes of their General Assembly, now before me, are not sufficiently definite to give the number of congregations. These probably exceed 300. An intelligent member of that denomination states the number of ordained preachers to be 300, licentiates, 100, candidates for the ministry, 150, and communicants, 50,000.

Periodicals. The Cumberland Presbyterian is a weekly paper, published at Nashville, Tenn. Another has been recently started at Pittsburg.

6. Congregationalists. In Ohio, especially in the northern part, are a number of Congregational churches and some ministers, as there are in Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois. There are 2 or 3 ministers, 12 or 15 congregations, and about 500 communicants in Illinois, who are organized into an association in Illinois.

7. Protestant Episcopal Church. This denomination has 7 Diocesses in the Western or south-western States, exclusive of Western Pennsylvania, and Western Virginia, which belong to the Diocesses of those States. They are, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Indiana, and Missouri. There are about 75 or 80 ministers, and twice as many churches in the West. Provision has been made in part, for the endowment of the theological seminary at Gambier, O., in England, and Bishop McIlvaine has obtained about $12,600, to be appropriated in the erection of a gothic edifice to be called “Bexley Hall,” with three stories, and accommodations for fifty students. A weekly periodical is issued at the same place to support the interests of the denomination.

8. German Lutherans. We have no data to give the statistics of this denomination. There is a Synod in Ohio, another in Western Pennsylvania, and perhaps others. There are probably 50 or 60 ministers in the West, and 150 congregations.

9. German Reformed Church. There are 80 congregations in Ohio, 20 in Indiana, and probably 50 others in the West, with 40 or 50 ministers.

10. The Tunkers, or Dunkards, have 40 or 50 churches, and about half as many ministers in the Western States.

11. The Shakers have villages in several places in Ohio, and Kentucky, but are losing ground.

12. The Mormons have a large community at Kirkland, Ohio, where, under the direction of their prophet, Joseph Smith, they are building a vast temple. They have probably 200 preachers, and as many congregations in the West, and still make prosélytes.

13. Christian Sect, or Newlights, have become to a considerable extent amalgamated with the “Reformers,” or “Campbellites.” I have not data on which to construct a tabular view of this sect, but from general information, estimate the number of their “bishops,” and “proclaimers,” at 300, and their communicants at 10,000 or 12,000. They have three or four monthly periodicals.

Alexander Campbell, who may be justly considered the leader of this sect, (though they disclaim the term sect,) is a learned, talented, and voluminous writer. He conducts their leading periodical, the Millennial Harbinger.

14. The “United Brethren in Christ,” are a pious, moral and exemplary sect, chiefly in Ohio, but scattered somewhat in other Western States. They are mostly of German descent, and in their doctrinal principles and usages, very much resemble the Methodists. They have about 300 ministers in the West, and publish the Religious Telescope, a large weekly paper, of evangelical principles, and well conducted. It is printed at Circleville, Ohio.

15. Reformed Presbyterians, or Covenanters, have 20 or 30 churches, and as many ministers, but are much dispersed through the Northern Valley.

16. The Associate Church, or Seceders, are more numerous than the Covenanters.

17. The Associate Reformed Church. The Western Synod of this body still exists as a separate denomination. Their theological school, at Pittsburg, has already been noticed. I know not their numbers, but suppose they exceed considerably the Associate Church.

18. The Friends or Quakers, have a number of societies in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, &c.

19. The Unitarians have societies and ministers at Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, and probably in other places.

There are many other sects and fragments in the West. The Valley of the Mississippi, like all new countries, is a wide and fertile field for the propagation of error, as it is for the display of truth.

IX. ROMAN CATHOLICS.

The number of Papal Diocesses in the Valley, including the one at Mobile, is seven, of each of which a very brief sketch will be given, commencing with,

1. Detroit, including Michigan and the North-Western Territory, 1 bishop, with sub-officers, 18 priests, and as many chapels. At Detroit and vicinity, for 2 or 3 miles, including the French, Irish and Germans, Roman Catholic families make up one third of the population; probably 3,500, of all ages. At Ann Arbor, and in the towns of Webster, Scio, Northfield, Lima and Dexter are many. At and near Bert rand on the St. Joseph’s river, adjoining Indiana, they have a school established and an Indian mission. Including the fur traders, and Indians, they may be estimated at 10,000 in this Diocess.

2. Cincinnati. A large cathedral has been built in this place, and 15 or 520 chapels in the Diocess. Ten years ago, the late bishop Fenwick could not count up 500. The emigration of foreigners, and the laborers on the Ohio canals, and not a little success in proselyting, account for the increase. There are 25 congregations, and 18 priests. A literary institution, called the Athenaeum, is established at Cincinnati, where the students are required to attend the forms of worship, and the Superior inspects all their letters. St. Peter’s Orphan Asylum is under charge of 4 “Sisters of Charity.” The number of Catholics in Cincinnati is variously estimated, the medium of which is 6000, and as many more dispersed through the State.

3. Bardstown. This includes the State of Kentucky, and has a bishop, with the usual subordinates, 27 congregations, and 33 priests, 11 of whom reside at Bardstown. A convent of 6 Jesuit priests at Lebanon; another of 5 Dominicans, called St. Rose, in Washington county; the college at Bardstown, already noticed, and St. Mary’s Seminary in Washington county, for the education of priests. Of female institutions, there are the Female Academy of Nazareth at Bardstown, conducted by the “Sisters of Charity,” and superintended by the bishop and professors of St. Joseph’s college, 150 pupils; the female academy of Loretto, Washington county, with accommodation for 100 boarders, and directed by the “Sisters of Mary at the foot of the cross.” This order have six other places for country schools, and are said to be 135 in number. The Convent of Holy Mary, and the Monastery of St. Magdalene, at St. Rose, Washington county, by Dominican nuns, 15 in number, and in 1831, 30 pupils. The Catholics have a female academy at Lexington with 100 pupils.

I have no data to show the Roman Catholic population of this State, but it is by no means proportionate to the formidable machinery here exhibited. All this array of colleges, seminaries, monasteries, convents and nunneries is for the work of proselyting, and if they are not successful, it only shows that the current of popular sentiment sets strongly in another direction.

4. Vincennes. This is a new Diocess, recently carved out of Indiana and Illinois by the authority of an old gentleman, who lives in the city of Rome! It includes a dozen chapels, 4 or 5 priests, the St. Claire convent at Vincennes, with several other appendages. The Roman Catholic population of this State is not numerous, probably not exceeding 3000. Illinois has about 5000, a part of which is under the jurisdiction of St. Louis Diocess. In Illinois there are 10 churches, and 6 priests, a part of which are included in the Diocess of Indiana. A convent of nuns of the “Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” at Kaskaskia, who conduct a female school, with a few boarders and about 30 or 40 day scholars.

5. St. Louis. This Diocess includes 18 congregations and 19 priests, with the following appendages:

1. St. Louis University, already noticed, with 6 priests for instructors, and 150 students, of which, about 80 are boarders. The rules require their attendance on morning and evening prayers, the catechism, and divine service on Sundays and holiday. St. Mary’s College, also noticed in our description of college. Noviciate for Jesuits under St. Stanislaus, in St. Louis county. Of female institutions there are, 1. Convent of the “Ladies of the Sacred Heart,” at St. Louis; 2. another of the same description, and their noviciate, at Florrissant; 3. another of the same order at St. Charles; 4. a female academy at Carondalet, six miles below St. Louis, by the “Sisters of Charity;” 5. a convent and academy of the “Sisters of Loretto,” at New Madrid; 6. a convent and female academy at Frederickstown, under supervision of a priest; 7. a convent and female academy of the “Sisters of Loretto,” in Perry county. The Roman Catholic population in Missouri does not exceed 15,000. Their pupils, of both sexes, may be estimated at 700. To the above may be added the hospital, and the asylum for boys, in St. Louis, under the management of the Sisters of Charity.

Roman Catholic teachers, usually foreigners, disperse themselves through the country, and engage in teaching primary schools; availing themselves of intercourse with the families of their employers to instruct them in the dogmas of their religion. The greatest success that has attended the efforts of the priests in converting others, has been during the prevalence of the cholera, and especially after collapse and insensibility had seized the person! We know of more than 60 Roman Catholics who have been converted to the faith of Christ and joined Christian churches within 3 or 4 years past, in this State.

6. New Orleans. The Roman Catholics in Louisiana are numerous, probably including one third of the population. Relatively, Protestants are increasing, as a large proportion of the emigration from the other States, who care any thing about religion, are Protestants. There are 26 congregations, and 27 priests with several convents, female seminaries, asylums, &c.

7. Mobile. A splendid cathedral has been commenced here. This Diocess extends into Florida.