Dr.Cormick, who had healed Henry Martyn of a similar disease, then took the medical charge of Mr.Smith.After their long experience of filthy stables, the comfortable, well-furnished apartments provided for them at Tabriz, through the generous hospitality of Major Willock, former commander of the English forces in Persia, and Captain Campbell, the acting Envoy, were more grateful to the weary travellers than can well be conceived.

Mr.Nisbit, an officer in the commissariat department, together with his wife, entered fully into their feelings as missionaries, and sympathized with them in their views of the spiritual wants of the country.
Messrs.

Smith and Dwight were required by their instructions, to investigate and report on the condition of the Nestorians inhabiting the northwestern province of Persia.

In former ages, this people had been distinguished beyond any other Christian people--except perhaps, their contemporaries in Ireland--for missionary zeal and enterprise.

From the seventh to the thirteenth centuries, they had missions both in central and eastern Asia.