I was aware that the Synod at one time contemplated sending a deputation to visit the stations there, and in Canada; and I once thought of applying, before I left the country, to the Committee, for instructions as to the points on which I should collect information, supposing my health should be so far restored as to enable me to act as their agent. This idea, however, I speedily relinquished. I felt that it implied presumption on my part, and involved responsibility which I would not have willingly undertaken, unless it had been shared with me by others. Besides, it seemed very improbable at the time, that I should soon regain strength sufficient to enable me to undergo the fatigue necessary to the efficient performance of such a duty. Through the kindness of Him who "bringeth down to the gates of death, and bringeth back again," my health was so soon and so completely restored, that, during the six months I resided in the island, I was able to visit all the Presbyterian stations, as well as the out-stations; to meet with the people and to address them; to examine the schools; and in other ways to become acquainted with the machinery, and with the progress of the mission. I shall ever, I trust, look back to this eventful period of my life with devout gratitude to God for what I was then privileged to witness; for the fellowship with christian brethren of another colour which I was then privileged to hold; and for the intercourse with the self-denied and devoted heralds of the cross which I was then privileged to enjoy. I can truly say that my spirit was refreshed, and that my expectations were more than realized. Sir, it would obviously be out of place to occupy any portion of the time of this Court with the incidents of a long and stormy voyage, or with attempting to describe the impressions produced when the lofty mountains of Jamaica were first descried from on board rising in majesty amid the blue waters, and bathed in the refulgent glories of a setting tropical sun. Equally improper would it be to occupy your time with descriptions of the rich, the varied, the beautiful, the magnificent scenery with which the island abounds; of its geological structure, its natural productions, and its climate; or with discussions respecting its political state and prospects. I feel that this evening I have one subject only to bring before you, and that is the state of our own mission. At first, I contemplated giving a short history of each of the stations connected with the Synod, and of entering into statistical details. I found, however, that to do justice to the subject, it would have been necessary to extend my address to far too great a length; and, therefore, I shall content myself with some general statements applicable to them all. I may simply premise, that there are thirteen stations where ordained ministers are placed; of which, seven belong to the Scottish Missionary Society, and six to our Synod. The former are-Hampden, Mr Blyth's station; Lucea, Mr Watson's; Mount Zion, Mr Waddell's; Carron Hall, Mr Cowan's; Port Maria, Mr Simpson's; Brownsville, Mr Carlisle's; and Green Island, Mr Elmslie's. The latter are-Stirling, Mr William Niven's station; Friendship, Mr James Niven's; Goshen, Mr Jameson's; Bellevue, Mr Anderson's; Mile Gully, Mr Aird's; and New Broughton, where my brother-in-law, Mr Paterson, laboured, till he was suddenly removed, soon after I reached the island, in most affecting circumstances, which I have detailed in a letter published some time ago in our Mission Record. I should also, perhaps, mention in the same connexion, Hill-side, where Mr Scott, an ordained missionary, laboured, till he was cut off in August 1841. Besides these, there are eighteen or twenty out-stations. The ordained ministers, with from twenty to thirty catechists and teachers, compose the staff of the mission. The services of the Lord's day at the different stations are substantially the same. They commence about nine o'clock in the morning, when the classes assemble. These classes consist of the congregation generally, and are well attended. They are arranged, as far as possible, according to their different stages of advancement. Some are reading easy religious books, some the New Testament, and some the Old. Members, catechumens, and children, are all embraced in them. I was greatly struck, and much delighted, with the interest which they displayed in the exercises of the class, and the eagerness with which they listened to any explanations which were given of the passage they were reading. The docility with which aged men and women submitted to be instructed by those who were greatly their juniors, and even by the more advanced boys in the school, when there was a lack of teachers, was very pleasing. It seemed as if they felt the influence of the Saviour's declaration, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven." In all the congregations, I believe, there are some who cannot read. They consist of those who have not had opportunities of receiving instruction, or who are too far advanced in life to make any progress, or who may have only recently been brought to attend on the classes. These are taken by themselves-the men ranged on the one side of the church, the women on the other. The teacher takes some easy catechism which contains a summary of gospel truth, reads a question, and then the answer, causing them to repeat the answer after him again and again, till they have it committed to memory; or he takes some psalm or hymn, and proceeds in the same way, till they are able to repeat it without his aid. Thus a very considerable amount of religious knowledge is in many cases communicated; and that knowledge has, in instances not a few, been greatly blessed. After two hours spent in this way, public worship commences; and in the forenoon is conducted in much the same manner as at home. In the afternoon the service is generally somewhat different. The missionary reads, it may be, a chapter of the Word of God-makes expository remarks on it as he goes along, and catechises the people, calling on this one and that one by name to answer his questions. Sometimes the subject of exposition is a portion of the catechism. The exercises thus somewhat resemble those of a large Sabbath school; and as none are sure but they may be called on to answer next, all are attentive. I believe that this is a most profitable way of imparting instruction to them. The deportment of the people in the house of God is devout; and the attention which they seem to give to the words that are spoken is at least equal to what is given in our own congregations. When the forenoon and afternoon services are concluded, the missionary generally meets, either with the catechumens, or with the parents who wish baptism for their children, with a view to special instruction in reference to that ordinance, and in reference to the duties involved in the parental relationship; or with some other department of the congregation. During the week, regular classes for religious instruction are held by the missionary, on one day at the station; on other days, in the different quarters of the congregation. At the station where I principally resided, the classes met on Friday, and I have seen four or five hundred present, some of whom had walked four or five or six miles a pretty plain indication surely of their anxiety to receive instruction. Regular family visitation is maintained by the missionaries in their several congregations. At several of the stations, there is a prayer-meeting every morning between five and six o'clock, before the people go to their work. Besides, district prayer-meetings throughout the congregations are quite common, and are far better kept up than such meetings generally are among us. I shall never forget the feelings of interest which were awakened when, on the Tuesday after my arrival at Cocoa Walk, as I was walking at sunset before the house, looking on ocean, earth, and sky, all bathed in beauty, the sound of sacred music fell on my ear. I turned to the quarter whence it came, and found it issued from a wood at a little distance to the right. I went into the house to inquire what it was, and learned that a negro village lay embosomed amid the foliage, and that it was the evening of the weekly meeting for prayer. At the same hour, on the same evening, about fourteen or fifteen such meetings assembled connected with that congregation alone. I have thus given a very brief and imperfect view of what goes on at the different stations. Of course, the same precise mode is not followed in all. The arrangements are varied; but such substantially is the manner in which the work is carried on. With the Elders in many of the congregations I have had a good deal of intercourse, and regard them generally as men of very decided piety-of exemplary conduct-of great faithfulness, and of considerable intelligence. Like our elders at home, they are chosen by the members of the congregation, and are usually kept on trial for a considerable time as elders elect, before being ordained. I do not wish to convey the impression that their intelligence is equal to the same class of office-bearers with us. It would be unreasonable to expect this. Think, Sir, of what they lately were-slaves, groaning under all the evils of a system, happily now no more-entirely ignorant of the gospel of the grace of God-and sunk in all the debasement consequent on their bodily and mental thraldom. Their opportunities of improvement have been comparatively few, and of short continuance. With some of them reading is still a kind of task, and is in a great measure confined to their Bibles and simple religious books. Taking these things into account, their progress has been very considerable. With the doctrines of the cross they are all well acquainted; and of that conversation which becomes the gospel, they are the living examples. "They know, and know no more, their Bible true- I was greatly pleased with their faithfulness in the discharge of their official duties. I had many opportunities of witnessing it. In superintending their respective districts they are active and vigilant, and suffer no irregularity or sin, which comes to their knowledge, to pass without remonstrance and reproof. In managing those cases which come before the session they show much christian anxiety for the purity of the church, combined with great humility. They seem to be conscious of their own comparative ignorance of forms, and pay great deference to the opinion of the missionary, as their spiritual father. In dealing with an erring brother I have heard them display the most simple and persuasive eloquence, pleading with him in the bowels of mercy, till the high spirit of the man who had come to brave them was subdued and melted, and he himself dissolved in tears. The negroes generally have a very strong feeling against informing on each other. However guilty their conduct be, you will seldom succeed in getting one to criminate another. None but those who have lived among them can be aware of the length to which this feeling is carried. The disgrace attached to an informant is deep and durable. But conviction of duty overcomes this, which seems to be with them a second nature inwrought by the vile system of slavery; and if an individual is not reclaimed by the private remonstrance of the elder, he uniformly tells it to the church," thus showing that, great as is the strength of prejudice, the strength of christian principle is greater. They "watch for souls as those who must give account." I should also mention that, generally speaking, they possess great fluency in conducting devotional exercises. Few things struck me more than the propriety, the richness, the beauty, the appropriateness, and the fervour of their prayers. After accompanying them to the throne of grace in meetings of the Session, and in the congregation, I have often felt deeply impressed with the persuasion that none but those who were " taught of the Spirit," and with whom a devotional frame of mind was habitual, could have conducted this part of religious service as they did. While there was nothing approaching to forwardness, nothing like a desire for display, they were always ready when called on, either in the public or in the more private meetings, to lead the devotions of those who were present. With regard to the Members of the church, I may state, that great care is exercised in reference to their admission. They are sometimes kept for years in the catechumen class before being received-a deficiency of christian knowledge, or some unsteadiness in conduct, operating as a bar to their admission. Yet, although anxious to have the standing of full members, they continue to attend regularly for the purpose of receiving instruction, and wait patiently till they be judged fit for joining with their brethren in the holy sacrament of the Supper. Now and then one gets impatient, and gives up attendance, and relinquishes the idea of becoming a member, saying, perhaps, " Massa make me carry foot too much," that is, "the minister makes us come too often to the class before he receive us he tires us out." Cases of this kind are comparatively rare. The catechumen class is generally large, and at intervals the missionary selects, say twenty or thirty, who have made the greatest progress, and whose general conduct is most approved, and forms them into a sacrament or candidate class, with which he frequently meets, and, after a time, such of them as he thinks best prepared are proposed to the Session for admission. If the Session know of no objections, their names are read out from the pulpit, and if any member know of anything objectionable in the character or conduct of those proposed, he has the right of coming to the Session afterwards and mentioning it, the Session retaining the power of deciding as to its relevancy. After they are admitted, they are expected still to attend the classes for general religious instruction. If any of the members seem to be going back instead of making progress; if they seem to become careless about instruction, and indifferent to the means of improvement, they are dealt with, and should no change take place, they are put back to the catechumen class. This arrangement has an excellent effect. It acts on them as a stimulus, not to rest satisfied with present attainments, but to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." As of the elders so of the members I would say, that their intelligence is not equal to that of the members in our own congregations. Still they know the leading doctrines of the gospel, and there is altogether a greater degree of simplicity about their christian character than we usually find at home. I have conversed individually with many of them at different times, and at considerable length, and have often experienced great satisfaction and delight. Among the members daily family-worship is universal. I think I may say that there is not a case known to the missionaries in which it is neglected. It was so at the station where I spent most of my time while I was in the island, and I have reason to conclude that what is true of it, is true of the rest. In some instances where the parents have not learned to read, one or other of the children read the psalm and chapter for them, and then the father officiates in offering prayer to God. 66 With regard to the Catechumen class, I think it only necessary to state, that it meets weekly, and that if any who are enrolled are guilty of improper conduct, or of continued irregularity in attendance, they are dismissed from it for a time. This is considered a great disgrace, and is a species of discipline that is found highly useful. The contributions of the churches for the cause of Christ, although not perhaps what we would wish to see them, are still highly creditable to them, and are such as should put some of our churches at home to the blush. Several of the older congregations in the island are now supporting their own ministers, contributing to the maintenance of teachers, and doing something for the spread of the gospel. The younger congregations also contribute liberally. For example, Mr Aird states that his congregation at Mile Gully, which is of recent formation, and in whose ordination over which I took part, will, by subscriptions and collections, raise this year L.200, which amounts on an average to nearly L.1 each for the elders, members, and catechumens. Mr Dawson, catechist at Hillside, states that the people there will raise this year between L.160 and L.170, and adds, "If we could only get our church finished, our congregation would soon increase, and relieve the society of my salary." New Broughton will this year raise about L.320, notwithstanding the unfavourable circumstances in which they are placed by the death of Mr Paterson. I suppose Mr Anderson's congregation at Bellevue will raise nearly the same amount. Mr Cowan's congregation, of 200 members, raised last year L.274. I might enter more into details, and refer to the other stations in connexion with the mission. But these are sufficient to show that the people are not neglectful of the duty to contribute as the Lord prospers them for the support of ordinances. It may be asked, Why, then, are not our funds relieved,-why should we continue to support the missionaries to the full extent, when the congregations are able to do so much? I shall afterwards make a few remarks on this subject, which, I trust, will prove satisfactory. Let me now say a word of the Missionaries, with all of whom then in the island I met at their several stations, from whom I received a cordial welcome, in whose society I experienced great delight, and whose hospitality and kindness I shall never forget. Sir, I cannot employ terms too strong in speaking of their devotedness to the important duties of their high calling. They are indeed "in labours abundant," and their whole souls seem to be thrown into these labours. I felt myself reproved and humbled when I saw the amount of mental and bodily exertion which they were expending on the cause of Christ. I used the liberty of asking them to give me a statement of their ordinary engagements during a week. Such a statement I have from them in reply, and shall read one or two of them, simply premising, that I have not the slightest hesitation in expressing my conviction, that they have not in a single iota overstated their labours. Mr Watson, Lucea, thus writes :-"As to the routine of my labours, I shall just take last week as a specimen. Monday.-Reading in the morning; visiting the sick in the forenoon; held a missionary prayermeeting in the afternoon. Tuesday.-Class of young men before breakfast -two of them studying for teachers, and two of them actually engaged in teaching, one in the public and another in the private school. Their studies are English reading, geography, grammar, and arithmetic. One of them, a student under the presbytery, is studying Latin and Greek. In the forenoon rode to Cusin's Cove, visited from house to house, and prayed and exhorted in every one; rode on to Houghton Tower estate and Blenheim estate, and visited the families of the congregation residing on both. Returned in the evening, having rode fourteen miles. In the |