CORRESPONDENCE 245 peculiarities, especially in his preaching full of figures, imag- ination lively and never fails to interest his hearers. Seems not over prudent in the control of his tongue ; yet if he could live in the midst of an affectionate church which could appre- ciate the importance of a living ministry, I think he would be a rich acquisition to the cause of Christ. I have my diffi- culties in recommending him for an appointment, yet my pre- vailing opinion is that he should be appointed to preach to the church at the mouth of Deer Creek, with liberty to fix his out- stations in Ujnpqua Valley according to his own judgment, with salary of $300 or $400, if he apply. I have named him this sum because he has a good claim, with a few cows and a team of oxen, within one mile of the place where the village will be built ; this his family and a brother can manage without materially engrossing his care or time, so that that sum will be as much for him as $600 will be for Br. Read at Jacksonville. . . Yours respectfully, EZRA FISHER. N. B. The Methodists have two ministers in Umpqua. Besides these there is no minister of any order except Br. Stevens. I trust one of the six or eight Baptist ministers now on their way overland for Oregon 330 will find a home in Umpqua Valley and help in sowing the seed and reaping the harvest in promising fields. The climate in this valley is mild and remarkably salubrious. Received Oct. 6, 1853. Oregon City, Ore. Ter., Aug. 23d, 1853. Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc., N. Y. Dear Brother: In this I design to write you a general letter touching our affairs in Oregon. I will begin with the state of things in Oregon City. Our city or rather town has undergone a great 330 Among these Baptist ministers were Revs. C. C. Riley, T. Bond, W. M. Davis, G. W. Bond, D. Hubbard, R. D. Gray, J. D. South and W. P Roger. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1: 100-07, 10, 14.
