not keep the fast-days, nor cross yourself
before eating, nor kiss the pictures. No, replied the child, I am
convinced that making the outward sign of the cross cannot purify the
heart from sin; and as to meat and drink, I read in the Scriptures, that
it is not that which goeth into the mouth that defiles the man.

15_th_.--Visited the schools under the direction of Jonas King, of
the Boston mission. He has an academy for young men, and a school for
mutual instruction, containing together 150. I think the mode of Scripture
lessons particularly efficient. The instruction given in the schools at
Athens seems more complete than in any we have visited during the journey.
J.K. has service in modern Greek three times on First-days, at which some
of the young men attend, along with other Greeks, but not many.

During our stay in this city we visited many Greek families, and
distributed among them religious tracts and portions of the Holy
Scriptures, and exhorted them to the observance of their religious duties,
often calling their attention to those points in which their own practices
are at variance with the doctrine of Holy Scripture.

The ancient ruins are exceedingly grand, and raise mingled feelings in the
heart not easily described, but tending to humble the pride of human
greatness. We saw the Temple of Theseus, the prison of Socrates, the
famous Temple of Minerva; but the spot that most nearly interested us was
Mars Hill, whose rocky mount was in view from lodgings, where we sat and
conversed together of the Apostle Paul preaching the true God; and in the
sweet stillness which covered our spirits, earnestly desired that the pure
Gospel might again be freely preached and received throughout this
interesting but desolated country.

There are not more than sixty really good houses built in the town; but,
including great and small, there may be 1500 dwellings. It is settled that
Athens shall be the seat of the Greek government; and the young king,
Otho, laid the foundation-stone of the new palace in his last visit to
this place.

18_th_.--Being anxious to get to Patras in time to sail by an English
packet to Corfu, we set off for the port. J. Hill met us, to see us embark
in a boat for Kalimichi. The Greek sailors have a superstition against
sailing at any time but in the night; but after being deceived by one
captain, we prevailed, on another to set sail [in the daytime], in the
full hope of reaching Kalimichi the sa