-a continuance of exertion which no European could endure in this climate. He conducts entirely the day and evening schools. Besides this, he issues rations for about 1200 people-keeps the provision list and return, and school listsmeasures out all the lots, and sees that all the fences and houses are regularly built-prays with the sick -receives the stores, every Thursday, in Freetown-enters marriages, baptisms, &c. and does the duty of a parish clerk: in short, he is every thing at Regent's Town. He, occasionally, when I cannot go, has a run to Bathurst, and also to Gloucester. I cannot sufficiently praise God for having given me such an assistant. He does all with great pleasure, and never thinks that he can do too much. If he has five minutes to spare, they are generally spent in my study among the books. He works a slate full of problems during school hours, which he copies in a book between ten and eleven o'clock at night; and, after that time, he writes his journal: he then retires, and rests till half-past five in the morning."

In Sierra Leone, more than twenty pious African youths are prepared for instructors of this description in Calcutta and in Madras, this branch of the Christian institutions of the Society, formed at those presidencies, loudly calls for such aid and at Cotym, among the Syrians, and in other places, the seminaries of this description, already established, require more instructors; while, not only in these places, but in other parts of India, in Ceylon, and in the Mediterranean, devoted missionaries, nurtured in the admirable system of our universities, might put their acquisitions to the most noble use in the service of their heavenly Master, by training up in sound discipline and learning the future pastors and evangelists of the unchristianised world. The Committee fervently beseech the Great Head of the Church to call forth such men!

In the choice and preparation of missionaries, the Committee have hitherto availed themselves of the best means in their power; but these means are becoming so inadequate to the increasing wants of the missions, that they have found it requisite to adopt some more efficient plan; and with this view have taken measures for the formation of a missionary family and seminary at Islington, as already detailed in our pages. The Committee have no doubt, that the requisite sum for this object will be cheerfully contributed; and they report, that liberal contributions have been made to the special fund which has been opened for the purpose. Contributions will be thankfully received.

In surveying the nine missions of the Society, it appears that there is a steady progress in almost every quarter; though this progress, while it may be called great in reference to the exertions and expectations of former years, is little compared with the actual condition and urgent wants of mankind.

West-Africa Mission.-For abundant encouragement to persevere through the most pressing difficulties in pursuit of its great object, this Society has but to read the records of its own proceedings. In the earlier years of itsWest-Africa Mission, the loss of some of its labourers, the unfaithfulness of others, and the defeat and ruin of its missions among the natives by the slave trade, after years of toil and the expenditure of large sums, seemed, at times, to extinguish all reasonable hope concerning the mission. But, all this while, the providence of God was preparing a field of labour quite unexpected by the Society.

The colony of Sierra Leone was not originally contemplated as itself the seat of any considerable and important missionary labours; but chiefly as a point of support to the missions, which it was intended should be fixed among the neighbouring natives. But the very traffic which drove the Society from

that field led to the opening of the colony as an asylum for the recovered captives-an asylum such as the world never before beheld; and which now holds out a reasonable prospect of an ultimate influence on the social and religious condition of Africa, beyond the most sanguine expectations.

By a late return of the population of Sierra Leone, there were 16,671 inhabitants of these more than 15,000 are natives of Africa, the rest being chiefly Europeans and Maroon and Nova Scotia settlers. Of those born in Africa, upward of eleven thousand appear to have been liberated from the holds of the vessels which were carrying them into interminable bondage. That character, indeed, of West-India slavery, the Committee begin to conceive hopes that they shall have ere long to blot from the records of the Society's proceedings: and they anticipate with joy that day, when, the persons most nearly interested being convinced that, in this as in all other cases, the path of justice and humanity is also that of true policy, they shall witness a public and solemn provision, under such regulations as the case may suggest, for securing the personal freedom of every African throughout the British dominions! The Committee invoke most earnestly the aid of the whole body of the members of the society in this cause*. They cannot pursue a more direct course toward the utter extinction of that sanguinary traffic, which still desolates the shores of Africa, and which, above all other obstacles, narrows and hinders the diffusion of Christian light throughout those extensive regions.

It is with great pain, that the Committee witness the continuance, and under aggravated circumstances, of the traffic in human beings, which is the curse of the devoted shores of Africa. There is, however, they add, no relaxation on the part of

• The Committee refer to the formation of the "Anti-Slavery Society.”

the conscientious and humane, not only in the United Kingdom and the American States, but in other countries, to put an end for ever to this opprobrium of the civilized world. The rising Commonwealths of the New World are not only exterminating the odious traffic, but they are preventing the possibility of its revival, by making provision for annihilating the state of slavery within their respective territories. In France even, at present the nation most eminently guilty, the voice of justice and truth is beginning to make itself heard; while the friends of humanity in our own country are pursuing with determined perseverance, in co-operation with the legislature, the great object of a final and total abolition. The continuance, indeed, of the trade is not, through the merciful overruling of the Almighty Hand, without one countervailing alleviation; as some at least of the victims of this traffic are rescued, and in considerable numbers, and placed under Christian instruction. Large additions have been made to the liberated Africans of the colony. Mr. Johnson feelingly depicts some of the horrors consequent on this trade of blood:

"The day before yesterday, a slave schooner, with 400 unhappy fellow-creatures on board, was upset off Cape Sierra Leone. Only seven men were saved: they had got into a boat, and were picked up by the Myrmidon. Nineteen sailors and two officers of this vessel were on board to bring her into Sierra Leone, who have all perished with the rest. A tornado came on suddenly, and turned the vessel over. Oh, my dear brother, how many poor creatures fall a sacrifice to the inhuman traffic in human blood! I have been filled with horror ever since. Numbers were landed from another vessel yesterday, in the most deplorable condition. The hospital at Leicester is overflowing. Some are but just alive; and others are walking about with a death-like look, and

will to all appearance fall also a sacrifice. One poor creature in the girls' school died just now; and five or six more will soon follow. My, heart is full! What do the good people of England know about the real state of Africa? They can have no idea of its misery, unless they are eye-witnesses, as we are. Oh, when shall an end be put to this trade! O Lord, have mercy, have mercy upon afflicted Africa!"

The testimony of Mr. Düring will be read with great pleasure :"Six years' experience has taught me that the African can learn any thing; and that he is not what designing men have represented hima sort of middle being, between man and brute.'

"Most of those with whom I live, I have seen brought from the holds of slave-ships. I have seen them rise, from the chains of the slave-dealer, to become industrious men and women, faithful subjects, pious Christians, affectionate husbands and wives, tender fathers and mothers, and peaceable neighbours. Considering these things, I have always thought myself among the happiest of men, in serving in this way our Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood cleanses even the soul of an Ethiopian from all sin; and in being connected with our society, which is evidently instrumental in the Lord's hand, of much good to distant nations, especially to the afflicted sons of Africa."

Mr.Johnson adduces a very strong proof of the moral improvement of the colony. He writes, in September,

"At the Quarter Sessions, the Chief Justice observed, when addressing the Inquest, that, ten years ago, when the population of the colony was only 4000, there were forty cases on the calendar for trial; and, now that the population was upward of 16,000, there were only six cases on the calendar: he congratulated the Magistrates and Grand Jury on the moral improvement of the colony. There was not a single

case from any of the villages under the superintendence of a missionary or schoolmaster."

The Chief Justice also writes"At the Colonial Sessions holden in December 1821, I inquired of Mr.Johnson whether any of the inhabitants of Regent's Town were qualified to serve on Juries; and I intimated, that, if there were any so qualified, it would be proper to call upon them to perform that duty, in conjunction with the inhabitants of Freetown. Mr. Johnson named two or three of his people as being fully qualified; and one of them, named Josiah Yamsey, took his turn as a juror on several trials. A similar intimation was given to Mr. Düring and Mr. Nyländer; and subsequently, persons from Gloucester and Kissey, recommended by those gentlemen severally, have served with perfect satisfaction to their fellowjurors.

"It was my intention, originally, to limit their service to trials for offences not capital; but, as they were called over in turn with the others, and no objection was made to them, I did not like to interpose personally for their exclusion, after having, in the first instance, invited them, upon a general assurance of their fitness, which after their first service might be considered as approved."

"The result of the first experiments having proved satisfactory, the practice of calling the qualified inhabitants of the villages will be continued, until they shall be trained and accustomed to take their share of the duty, in regular proportion with the persons on the jury list of Freetown.'

The Committee add the testimony of Captain Sabine, of his Majesty's Engineers, who states, that, after spending six weeks in the colony, and closely and repeatedly inspecting the state of the liberated Africans under the care of Christian instructors, the representations of their improved condition are perfectly true; and that in re

ference to the largest assemblage of them, at Regent's Town, their spirit and conduct are such, that he is persuaded that there is not to be seen upon earth a community of equal size so truly exemplary.

An increasing interest in the objects of the Society was manifested at the third anniversary of the Church Missionary Association, held at Kissey, on the 8th of January; when it appeared that the sum of 2817. had been contributed, in the preceding year, of which more than half was given by the liberated Africans; making a total raised by the association of 636/. About 800 liberated Africans were present besides the most respectable ladies and gentlemen from Freetown.

We cannot go through the details from the various towns of recaptured Negroes; but shall present, as a specimen, a few particulars respecting one of them, Regent's Town, the cure of the late lamented Mr. Johnson.

At the beginning of the year, the inhabitants amounted to 1551; who were all, with the exception of twenty-eight, liberated Africans. In June they were increased, by newly liberated slaves, to 1750.

The boys' and girls' day schools, and men and women's evening schools, contained 909 scholars. The progress of these schools has been very satisfactory. The church had been enlarged for the fifth time.

The attendance on public worship, both on Sundays and week-days, has continued most exemplary— old and young crowding to the house of God. The communicants were nearly 400.

That exemplary character of the inhabitants of this place, to which Captain Sabine has borne so strong a testimony, is formed upon the word of God. The authority of that word, in connexion with Christian discipline, supersedes, among them, almost all necessity for human laws; and, such is the influence of the communicants, by their honourable walk as Christians, on

the rest of the community, that not only are all relies of former superstitions swept from the town, but flagrant vice and profaneness are almost entirely unknown.

The whole body of the people form one industrious community. More ground was cleared, in the year ending at Lady-day of last year, than in any preceding year. At that time, 400 acres of land, forming five years before one entire forest, were brought into cultivation; and about 600 persons were supported by the produce, which is sold in the markets of Regent and Freetown.

communications

Mr. Johnson's through the year contained, as usual, many powerful illustrations of the influence of religion on the Christian natives. The manner in which the word of God is applied for conviction and consolation, their watchfulness, their tenderness of conscience, the benefits of Christian discipline and admonition, their sympathy with their minister in his afflictions, their affectionate confidence in him, the growth of religion among the young, and the increase and efficiency of native teachers,— on all these topics Mr. Johnson's dispatches have furnished very impressive details. That their religion is the "life of God in the soul of man," and that their exemplary conduct springs from a divine principle implanted in the heart, appear from their simple statements of their feelings. One man, for example, says

"Massa, them things God done for me pass every thing. Who live there who will die for another? Oh, the Lord Jesus die for sinner-yes, for them people who been sin against Him! I sit down, and consider this; and I don't know what to say: I never hear such thing before. Sometimes people say, 'Such men do me good very much;' but what the Lord Jesus Christ do, pass every thing: He love so much, till He die to save me. Oh, I love Him, so little! That time I want to love Him my heart no willing. That trouble