LETTERS OF REV. WILLIAM M. ROBERTS 239
very few and far between are all the people have received at our hand. In 8 months I have only paid them one visit since the anual meeting the place is included in the Yamhill circuit, and we hope to furnish the people with stated pastoral labour.
The Salem circuit receives its name from the town of Salem which just rising into notice at the Oregon Institute. It is 50 miles above this city on the east bank or the Walamet river the situation is beautiful and many suppose it will be- come quite a city in a very few years. Directly on a line between Salem and this city and about thirty miles from here lies what is called the French Settlement peopled chiefly by Canadian speaking French and all holding to the Catholic church. They occupy a fine district of country beautiful indeed to behold but so far as the prospects for successful labour is concerned excepting here and there a solitary emigrant as baren as an Arabian desart. In the extreme lower part of this settlement we have had two appointments the past winter the congregations have been small. Above the Institute and laying on and between the Santiam and the Calapooya river their is a tract of country exceeded by nothing I ever saw in the Eden spots of California either for beauty or fertility in this district has several appointments.
The Yamhill circuit lays between Walamit and the coast range of mountains and includes the Twalatine Plains, Che- halani. Yam Hill, and Rickeral, an extent of country some 75 miles in length and varying in breadth with the meanderings of the river and the encroachment of spurs jutting out from the coast range of mountains. The Calapooya circuit formed at our last annual meeting occupies both sides of the Walamet from the Santi Am and Rickreal to the upper settlement in the valley. The preaching done in this country up to this time has been chiefly on the Sabboth day and it may be proper to indicate farther the labours of your Missionaries by allud- ing briefly to some of The Embaresments under which they labour.
I am not about to speak of Romanism alltho that Exists and has some influence here with all its machinery of Bishops & Bells archbishops & nuns Priests & ceremonies and is ready to compass sea and land if not to make prosalytes to edify the faithful and convert the Indians. What connexion it has had with the fearful tragedy at Waiilatpu will be seen at the Judgment if never known before. Nor yet of Campbellism
