The illness of Mr.Lanneau became at length so distressing, as to require his absence from the field for nearly two years.

Before his return to the East, which was early in 1843, the Committee had expressed an opinion, that it was expedient to suspend further efforts at Jerusalem.

Mr.Lanneau, however, resumed his abode there until the visit of the writer, with Dr.
Hawes, in the spring of 1844, This was after there had been a protracted conference with the mission at Beirut, at which nothing appeared to affect the decision of the Prudential Committee, and Mr.
Lanneau removed with his family to Beirut.

Writing of Jerusalem to the Committee, Dr.Hawes says: "In regard to this city, viewed as a field for missionary labor, I saw nothing which should give it a special claim on our attention.

It has indeed a considerable population, amounting perhaps to seventeen or eighteen thousand.