pends of these Clergymen and the requisite provision for their families, if any should survive them, the Colonial School at Freetown and the Christian Institution at Regent will continue in the charge of the Society: but it is proposed that Government should provide, in each of the Country Parishes, for the education of its inhabitants, and for their civil superintendence, under the authority and direction of the Clergyman; and also, as opportunity may offer, the requisite buildings for Public Worship and Schools, and Dwelling Houses for the Clergymen and other Teachers, with land for gardens and sufficient glebe. A Deputation of the Society, consisting of the Lord Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, Lord Calthorpe, Lord Bexley, Mr. Parry, and the Secretary, laid this Proposal before Earl Bathurst. His Lordship's official answer has not yet been received; but some slight modifications suggested by him having met the full concurrence of the Committee, it may be anticipated that this important measure will be adopted.* The Committee are aware, that, in making this Proposal, they subjected the Society to considerable increase of expenditure on behalf of the WesternAfrica Mission: but they are well convinced, that any increased expenditure on account of a plan which promises the most practicable supply of an efficient body of devoted Clerymen, as Labourers in that field which has been so greatly blessed, will be cheerfully supported by the whole body of the Society. While thus contemplating an augmentation of Labourers in a quarter generally so ungenial to the health and lives of Europeans, it is right to observe, that the Military and Civil Officers of Government, and the Europeans resident in the Colony for purposes of Commerce, have suffered, under the late severe visitation, equally with the Labourers of the * The arrangement above referred to has been since settled, and will regulate the future measures of the Society. Society: yet men are not found wanting, who are ready, for the attainment of their purposes, to encounter all dangers to which they may be exposed; setting herein an example, which not only abundantly justifies the Servants of Christ in meeting these dangers, in pursuit of the high objects of their calling, but would fix on them an indelible stain if they abandoned, through fear, this sphere of prosperous toil. In considering the past circumstances of the Colony, with reference to the Liberated Africans, the Committee are struck with the importance of every Missionary's cherishing toward them a spirit of tender and patient affection. They cannot but attribute to this, as a predisposing cause, under the blessing of God, the distinguished success of Mr. Johnson and Mr. Düring. The Committee refer to this point on the present occasion, because they deem it of great importance, when exertions are about to be made to increase the Labourers in this field, that all who engage in this work should specially feel the duty of cultivating that temper, which the state and character of those among whom they will be called to labour will require. And they do this the rather, because, in some instances, those who have been placed over Liberated Africans, not availing themselves, as they should have done, of the experience of others, have at first seriously failed, both in the spirit which they manifested toward the people committed to their care, and in the endeavours made for their religious instruction. The PARENTAL spirit is that, which is alone likely to influence people circumstanced as the Liberated Africans are. The MAGISTERIAL spirit, which, in its mildest actings, must still tend to coercion and restraint, will repel and shut up the minds of men who have known little of Europeans but as tyrants and oppressors: while a wise exercise of authority, tempered by warm affection and unwearied patience, will win the heart; and fix its attachment so firmly, that the people, as has been seen in repeated instances, will scarcely know how sufficiently to express their grateful feelings. The sentiments of the late Mr. Johnson on this subject come with the authority of successful experience. In reference to some refractory Boys, who had given him much trouble, he says When the African once gets a bad opinion of an European, there is no help. Oh, that Missionaries and Schoolmasters would make it their principal object, at the beginning, to gain the hearts of their people! I know, by experience, that the Missionary who has the affection of the people can do more with two words spoken in season, yea with a sorrowful look, than another with never so severe means. I have seen some who have used the most entreating language, but to no purpose: why? because the individuals entreated did not believe that it came from the heart. Considerable difficulty has arisen in conducting the Adult Schools among the Liberated Africans. At Kissey, Mr. Nyländer complains of the indifference of the Adults to instruction: he has always thought it wrong to compel their attendance at school, and very few will voluntarily attend. At Waterloo, Mr. Wilhelm fined for absence; which led to complaints of hardship, that, after working all the day, they should be obliged to frequent the schools. At Charlotte, the evil has strongly manifested itself; and at Leopold, in a considerable degree. The case is confessedly difficult. It appears, however, as might indeed be expected, that, in proportion as religion influences the people, a desire of knowledge and diligence in attaining it discover themselves. The Fourth Anniversary of the Auxiliary Church Missionary Society was held at Regent, on Tuesday the 9th of March; His Honour the Chief Justice in the Chair. A Sermon had been previously preached by the Rev. G. R. Nyländer, from Rom. x. 12 &c. The Resolutions were proposed and seconded by the principal Gentlemen of the Colony, including the Members of Council and the Senior Officers of the Civil Service. The Contributions of the Liberated Africans to the objects of the Society in the year 1823 were as follows, so far as the returns have been received This sum is about 331. short of the contributions of 1822: but there are no returns, as there were in that year, from Bathurst, Hastings, and Wellington, which places contributed about 20l. in 1822. Gloucester has fallen somewhat short of its contributions in 1822, and Regent has contributed less than half what it did in that year: but this might be expected; and furnishes a proof, in addition to various others, that the Liberated Africans, in their present state, are peculiarly dependent on the presence and assiduous care of their Instructors. The contributions from the places which have continued to enjoy the benefit of their former Guides illustrate the same point; Charlotte and Leopold having nearly doubled the contributions of 1822, and Kissey tripled them, which was also done at Waterloo besides a Collection and Benefaction. TO NATIVE TEACHERS the Committee look, under the peculiar circumstances of Africa, with earnest hope, that, while special attention is paid to their due instruction and preparation, the blessing of God will be granted. They have, on former occasions, adduced satisfactory proof of the competence of the Natives to acquire all needful knowledge: and they will quote, in further evidence of this point, the Letter of one of them, addressed to the Secretaries, in answer to a communication from the Committee not acceding to the late Mr. Johnson's wish that this Native should accompany him to this country; as it will shew what progress this Native Teacher has already made in preparing himself to become an instructor of his countrymen : I have received the Letter which you sent concerning my accompanying Mr. Johnson to England. At the first, I felt disappointed: but, when I take it into consideration, I firmly believe that the hand of the Lord is in it; for my constant prayer is, that the Lord may do with me just as it seems good in His sight: therefore I am quite satisfied with His good and wise providence, for I do not know what is best for myself: the Lord only knows what is good for His people; therefore I wish to be resigned to His holy will and pleasure. I thank you for the kind manner in which you have made it known to me; although I should feel very happy indeed to see you, as you would to see me. But if we should never be permitted to see each other upon earth, I trust the Lord will prepare us to meet in His heavenly kingdom, where we shall part no more for ever. I cannot fully express my gratitude to the Rev. W.B.Johnson for the trouble he has taken in educating me. He has done all that lies in his power to get me forward. Every day at four o'clock, except on Sundays, I and others of my friends attend at his house for instruction, which he imparts to us with great pleasure; for which I am indeed thankful. In all circumstances, Mr. Johnson has used me just as he would his own child, and I believe more too: and I look to him just as my natural father; and I believe and trust he is my spiritual father also. The Committee trust that the arrangement with Government before referred to, in connexion with the supply of Labourers by means of the Institution at Islington, will enable the Society to pursue its objects in Sierra Leone on that scale, which is required both for the good of the Colony itself, and for its efficient influence on the surrounding tribes: for both these objects, as has frequently been stated, are comprehended in the Society's design. To instruct the many thousands of Natives who were liberated from Slave Vessels was a task of peculiar difficulty, under the circumstances of a climate so unfavourable to Europeans. Before any considerable progress could be made herein, these Natives, speaking many different languages and dialects, were to be made sufficiently acquainted with the English Language: as it was most important to melt them |