the man on his dying bed, but to each person present. [Rev. J. G. Wilhelm, At the Sunday School in Gibraltar Chapel, I have hitherto been hardly able to do more than take down the names, dismiss for irregular attendance, and order the regular attendants into classes. When I first took charge of the School, which had always been held there by a few Voluntary Teachers, I found 64 Children present: on its becoming known that I attended, the number in creased to more than 130; but that being more than the Chapel can hold in classes, I have been obliged to reduce the number, by rigorous adherence to rules; and must refuse admission to new applicants, until the proposed enlargement of the Chapel shall have been effected. I found the School divided according to the sexes; which arrangement I have hitherto allowed to continue: the male division is taught entirely by my Students: the female department I mean, for the present, to leave to those Teachers who used to keep the School previously to my taking charge of it. [Rev. C. L. Haensel. CHRISTIAN INSTITUTION, FOURAH BAY. There are, at present, 9 Students: one, during the quarter, had gone to Gloucester, as Assistant Teacher; and three had been admitted. The regularity of proceedings in the Institution has been a good deal interrupted, during the quarter, by those duties of an official nature which have so frequently called me from home; and have at home, also, confined me to the Secretary's table more than the School-room I could well spare me. Formerly I had some time to enter into my children's little concerns; I could help them to bind a little book, to paint a lion, and to sew on a button of late, I have been generally in too great a hurry to attend to them as I desire. To my great regret, I now miss that affection which I think I formerly possessed; and, as my mind becomes distressed on that account, I feel more keenly the absence of spiritual fruit. Perhaps this is sent by the Lord, in judgment; perhaps I was too easily contented when I had the affection of the youths, and not jealous enough that their hearts should be given to Him. I do not say that they make no progress in learning: even in Scriptural Knowledge, I believe they advance to a certain degree; but in spiritual attainment there does not seem to be any July, 1830. growth; and how insecure is the foundation of all my work, so long as this blessing is withheld! [Rev. C. L. Haensel. Kiber District. KISSEY. Average attendance on Sunday Morning, 450; Evening, 200: at Week-day Service, 170; and at Daily Morning Prayers, 30. Communi cants at the last administration of the Lord's Supper, 44. Day Scholars, 109; Evening, 18; Sunday Scholars, generally attending, 80. WELLINGTON. Communicants, 180; Candidates for the Lord's Supper, 2; for Baptism, 36. I am often ready to tremble at the weighty charge of preparing people to become Members of Christ's Body: but what am I to do, when they apply for salvation, in about this manner-"I get too much trouble in my heart "—"I want to pray God"-"I am afraid to die "—"I fear to go to hell"-"I am a sinner," &c.? Shall I be disposed to think them hypocrites, or rather that they are sincere? I answer-O Lord God! Thou knowest! I cannot reject them because they perhaps cannot speak sufficiently English, or because they are very imperfect in their knowledge of divine things, bearing in mind the short time since they were emancipated from barbarism and the most degraded state of slavery: A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench. I therefore take the applicants on trial; and, according to their proficiency in Christian experience and in understanding the chief truths of Religion, as far as can be expected from them, I receive them into Christ's Church by Baptism. [Rev. G. Metzger. The number of backsliders must not discourage us from going on in our work: taking all things into consideration-all the disadvantages-the ignorant state of our people when they first arrive-the habits to which they were for many years addicted the frequent removals of those to whom they were accustomed as their Spiritual Pastors, either by death or by other providential occurrences-we must say, MUCH, VERY MUC, has already been done in this Colony by the instrumentality of those frail men that have been em[The Same: ployed by the Society. On the 31st of January, a Sunday 2 S School was commenced-a novelty which HASTINGS. There is no alteration in the number of Communicants last reported, with the exception of two who died; but, in their stead, two backsliders have been re-admitted-Present Total, 73. Candidates for Baptism, 60. One pleasing feature of the population of this Village is, that they willingly come forward to subscribe towards building a Church, to which they have already contributed a sum of 337.: and when I told them, on Sunday before last, that an additional subscription would be wanted, they sent afterwards the Constables to inform me that I should receive sixpence more from every house, which will raise the above sum to about 50%. The building of a New Church is to commence here immediately: also at Waterloo, of which place the Governor spoke very highly on account of the people having contributed a very considerable sum towards building a Place of Worship. [Rev. J. Gerber. The number of Children at present on the books, is154; the average attendance, 137. Of these, 36 read the Scriptures; several of whom appear, in some measure, to understand what they read, and to be desirous of further instruction. Of the Girls, 25 receive instruction in needlework. The attendance of Adults and Apprentices at the Sunday School is greatly on the increase: the number present last Sunday was 73. The Evening School for Adults and Apprentices had been discontinued, previously to our coming here; but finding that there were several desirous of instruction, I was induced to recommence it, which I did on March 17, when 33 were present. I expect a great increase, when it becomes more generally known. On the whole, I think the Schools at this Station give us reason GLOUCESTER. [Rev. W. Betts. The Sunday-Morning Service is Children; the Evening by 150: about attended by about 350, including 50 are generally present on the Thursday Evening; and there are, on an average, 47 Communicants. The Rev. John Raban, since his return to the Colony, has assisted Mr. Betts, as his strength admitted, in his Pastoral Duties; and devoting, in conjunction with his Ministerial Labours, a portion of his time to the fixing the Native Dialects. Of his labours he writes The grand thing at which I aim is simplicity; and those who have sincerely aimed at this, even in England, will testify that it is not of easy attainment; yet in Sierra Leone, where its attainment is far more difficult, its importance is increased in a tenfold degree. I believe that I speak the decided sentiments of my Brethren, as well as of myself, when I say, that it is not possible to be too plain, if only vulgar and incorrect expressions be avoided. It is on this principle that I endeavour to act, in all my Addresses, whether to a smaller or a larger assembly. The point on which I have thus incidentally touched is of sufficient importance to fill a volume. We want simple Prayers for Children; Hymns both for them and for the Adults, of the same description; simple Catechisms, similar to Watts's First Set, but a little more comprehensive; a Dictionary of Necessary Words, drawn up in as easy language as possible; a simple and concise Grammar; &c. &c. Our great outcry is, in short, for simplicity. The idea has been suggested, of simplifying even our admirable Liturgy itself. Let not the wish be considered as presumptuous or unreasonable: it arises from no want of regard for those excellent Formularies; but from a painful conviction, that their style, sober and chastened as it is, rises far above the level of a Liberated African's comprehension, after all that has been done to raise him from his long-continued degradation. While, however, I rejoice to be occupied in these Pastoral Duties, I do not forget those with which I have been more particularly charged. The subject of the Native Languages has received, I think I may say, all the attention which my other engagements, and a due regard to my health, would allow. From all the inquiries which I have been able to make, I have come to the conclusion, that it will be better to confine myself to one or two languages, and to obtain as full an acquaintance with these as possible, than to enter on a wider field of labour; as the knowledge I could obtain of each must necessarily, in that case, be very slight. The two which have been pointed out to me as peculiarly important, on account both of the number now in the Colony who speak them and of the extent of country through which it is presumed they are vernacular, are the A-ku and the I-bo; the former of which has been cultivated in some degree, as you will see from Mrs. Kilham's Specimens;" the latter only just entered on. Another reason for cultivating the A-ku (or E-yoh) is, that the people who speak it are thought to be superior in intellect to most of the other Tribes located in Sierra Leone; from which it may, with much probability, be inferred, that the language is more copious and finished than others. From what I have yet seen, I am inclined to think there is some ground for such an opinion. But though my chief attention is directed to these two tongues, I do not overlook others, when an opportunity offers, either of making inquiries as to the words already set down, or of learning new ones. This is the general outline of the plan, by which I intend to be governed; though I hope to be always ready to adopt any improvement which may be suggested by others, or discovered in the course of my proceedings. As to the Orthography which I adopt, it may be sufficient to say, that it is substantially the same with Mrs. Kilham's; a few additions and alterations only being admitted where they seemed necessary. Those who have been occupied in similar pursuits can conceive the dryness of such studies, the slow progress which is made in them, and their tendency to lead the mind away from the great realities of the Gospel. I know of no better way to counteract these unfavourable effects, than by a frequent recurrence to the great end in view; which, however distant it may yet be, is nothing less than the transfusion of all the treasures of Revelation into the languages of the Tribes of Africa. Were I to live a hundred years, I know of no grander object, to the attainment of which I could devote myself: and had I only ONE year before me, I should desire above all things, next to the work of DIRECTLY proclaiming the Gospel, to be employed in this, should it please God to favour me with the needful means, as well as with suitable strength. Whether, however, I live or die, I can scarcely doubt that the Blessed Saviour will raise up Instruments for carrying on a work so connected with the honour of His Name and the advancement of His Kingdom, in this part of the Earth. 3 REGENT. Divine Service is performed twice on the Sunday: the average attendance in the Morning amounts to about 500, including Children; in the Evening, to 250. On the Thursday Evening, an Expository Lecture is given: about 59 Adults attend. The people manifest a pleasing degree of attention in the House of God. The Communicants, on an average 135 in number, meet regularly on the Saturday Evening, when some part of Scripture is familiarly explained. I am sorry, however, to say, that I have too often, on these occasions, to select portions of the Word of God which reprove and warn the lukewarm and the careless; for this is the general character of the Communicants at Regent. Indeed, my opinion of them is far from favourable; but, as I have been resident among them only nine weeks, I forbear entering on the subject; intending, however, should I be spared to labour at this Station till next quarter, to give a fuller account of their state. There are at present 35 Candidates, who meet on Monday Evenings. I find this by far too great a number to allow of my obtaining any thing like a correct knowledge of the actual state of each individual: much ignorance prevails amongst them, but their regularity and attention is pleasing. The Lord's Prayer and the Apostles' Creed have been explained to them at their Weekly Meeting. Of the backsliders, one has been dismissed, one has left the town, and eight have been received on trial; leaving a total of 35. About a month ago, a more general invitation was given to the Adults and Apprentices to attend the Sunday School; which has increased the number of that class of Scholars to an average attendance of 125. As, however, it still remains uncertain whether they will regularly attend, or whether many may not withdraw when the desire of seeing or hearing some new thing has evaporated, it may not be prudent to calculate on the permanency of the number. About 70 of these are quite beginners, being in the Alphabet Class. By means of this School, many poor Apprenticed Children have been brought under our notice, who appear never to have had the slightest degree of instruction; and who, from their awkwardness and uncouth behaviour at Church, excite the suspicion that they had never before been conducted to a Place of Worship. [Rev. W. Betts. There are 24 Girls sewing, and 23 learning to sew. The Girls and Boys born in the Colony are gradually improving in speaking the English Language more correctly; which affords us encouragement to hope that eventually it will supersede the present deep-rooted and much-to-be-lamented system of Broken English. I conceive that the present plan of communicating Spiritual Instruction by way of Questions and Answers, in our social meetings with the Adults, will tend to facilitate this important end; yet I desire to be moderate in my expectations, lest I should be too sanguine, and thereby raise hopes that may never be realized. Our Adult School on Monday and Wednesday Evenings has increased from 9 to 60; 25 of whom are in the Bible Class: among these, I have observed a few who are regular in their attendance, making satisfactory improvement in Scripture Knowledge. [J. Weeks, Catechist. BATHURST. It affords matter for unfeigned thankfulness, that, at Bathurst, the Sunday and Week-day Services have met with no interruption during the quarter. The large measure of health vouchsafed to all the Labourers residing here has been such as is but rarely enjoyed for any length of time together in this Colony; and we feel that it demands our gratitude. By the late arrangement, I have, for the first time since my return to the Colony, been able to afford the people of this and the adjoining Village something like stated Services; and I am gratified in stating, that the advantages which appear to have arisen from this have been an increased and a more regular attendance on Divine Service. The Congregation on Sunday Mornings consists of more than 500, including Children. The number on Sunday and Thursday Evenings, and at early Morning Prayers, is, on an average, 100 Adults, 140 Liberated-African Children, and 50 Infant Scholars. The number of Communicants is 14: 9 have been taken on trial as Candidates; which, added to 17 last reported, make a total of 26: these, with the Communicants, are constant in their attendance on the Means of Grace, and at their Weekly Social Meetings. The Liberated-African Girls' School has 179 Scholars: they appear gradually to improve: about 42 of them are reading the Scriptures. The Infants' School has received an increase from among the Colony-born Children. The Evening School is somewhat larger than it was last quarter; but the increase has not been occasioned so much from persons residing in the town, as it has from among the Children of the Day School, some of whom had a wish to attend for improvement: the number of Scholars taught, who do not attend the Day School, is 24: the whole number attending is 69. The Sunday School has also been increased so much, that the number on the Books is now double that reported last quarter: there are 72 Adults, and 113 Apprentices: total, 185. The average attendance, 92 to 100. [Rev. T. Davey. The Routine of Instruction in the Infants' School is scarcely varied from what has been reported to you. They are taught, in a way of familiar conversation, as far as practicable, on the Gallery, from 9 to half-past 10; at which time they are allowed to assemble in Classes; though the very small ones can hardly be said to bear the name of CLASS, inasmuch as they are too young to receive much benefit from their Juvenile Teacher: it is hoped, however, that they will at least, through their regular attendance at School, acquire, by imperceptible degrees, a habit of order. No doubt they would, even now, derive more benefit, if the time of a more com 1830.] WESTERN AFRICA. petent Teacher could be devoted to them. It is thought that a distribution, as equitable as possible, has been made of the assistance available in the way of Teachers in doing this, it has been found necessary to employ six of the Elder Children in that capacity. For the time which they thus devote to their Classes, an equivalent is offered, in the extra instructions which they receive after the close of the School. The Higher Classes are reading the Scriptures and Elementary Books, and learning Spelling and Catechisms. [8. Heighway, Schoolmistress. CHARLOTTE. At Charlotte, one Service has generally been performed on Sunday Afternoons, by John Attarra; and it affords me pleasure to know, that the number of attendants is on the increase. The hope is therefore indulged, that the Word of God will not, finally, be without saving effect on some of the hearers. There are 16 Candidates on trial: several of them appear to be walking consistently; but their attainments in Scriptural Knowledge are at present very humble. By the reception into the Church of two Candidates, the number of Communicants has been increased to six. A portion of the people residing at this Village continue to attend Divine Service at Bathurst; many of the Children attend the Day School; and not a few Adults and Apprentices are enrolled in our Sunday-School List, and receive instruction [Rev. T. Davey. on that day at Bathurst. WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. MR. Keightley (see p. 119) having arrived on the 27th of January, transmits, at the end of February, the following view of the State and Prospects of the Missions. All the Places of Worship have been kept open, and Divine Service regularly performed in all of them, since the death of your Missionaries. There are three good Stone Chapels, and three Grass Houses-nine Local Preachers and Native Teachers-seventeen Leaders-and, when the number in Society was taken last June, there were 304 Members: but we have had occasion to put a few away since my arrival. This Mission Station is highly interesting; and, though some of the statements which have been sent to England have been too highly coloured, it is impossible for any rational man to The people, generally, are immersed in wickedness and idolatry. Many of them have a dozen gregrees about them; in which they trust, and from which they expect help. The gregree-makers greatly impose on the deluded people. A Mandingo told me, the other day, that he gave ten Spanish Dollars for one which he had upon his breast, and which was not worth two-pence. Liberia. AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY. FROM a Letter, written in November, by Mr. J. B. Rusowurm, a well-educated Coloured Man, who joined the Colonists in Autumn, and is now the Editor of the "Liberia Herald," we extract some notices of the State and Prospects of the Colony. The town contains double the number of houses one would expect; and I am informed of Caldwell and Millsbury, that each contains nearly as many. The Colonists, here at Monrovia, appear to be getting a-head fast: their principal dependence is trade with the Natives, either in Stores, or at Factories established in the interior. The health of the Colony has been quite good-deaths but two, the last six months. Both We have two Religious Societies which own Meeting Houses-Methodists and Baptists: the German Missionaries sometimes preach in the Methodist Church, as they have none of their own. [Methodists and Baptists] keep school-one here, the other at Caldwell; and are much esteemed by the Settlers. The Cause of Education has not yet received |