But an influential Armenian made such an appeal to the national pride of his countrymen, that the community assumed the charge of the school, and refunded what the mission had expended on it.
At Constantinople, Der Kevork, the most learned of the fifteen priests ordained in 1833, was at the head of a school of four hundred boys, supported by his countrymen and having no connection with the mission.

Kevork boldly introduced the custom of daily reading and explaining the Scriptures.

He also selected twenty of his most promising scholars for the critical study of the New Testament.
The learned and amiable Peshtimaljian died in the year 1837.

In the same year, Mrs.Dwight and one of her children became victims of the plague.

Her husband escaped the contagion, though of course greatly exposed.