On the 22nd. of March, the agents entered Sierra Leone river: and soon after were introduced by letters from Lord Bathurst, the British secretary of state, to the civil and military authorities of the colony. In the course of the week, they paid attention to the most interesting things in the settlement, and prepared to make an exploring tour down the coast. In the schools of the colony are about 2,000 children, which is a sixth part of the population. The school for boys at Freetown contained 200; that for girls contained 100, many of whom could read and sew. These schools would do no dishonor to an English or an American village. There was not a white child in either of them." The Christian Institution, on Leicester mountain, is a large school, established by the Church Missionary Society, for children liberated from slave-ships by the Admiralty courts. We give the following description of it from the work before us.

"This Institution accommodates about 200 children of both sexes, who are mostly named and supported by individual benefactors in England. These are children once destined to foreign slavery, now fed, clothed, governed, and carefully taught in the Christian religion. Assembled in the church to worship God, they are a spectacle of grateful admiration; and their state happily exemplifies the divine origin and holy principles of the religion in which they are taught. Regent's Town lies in a valley, with a fine brook running through it. Some hundreds of acres are cleared by the people. It has the appearance of a new and flourishing settlement. The wilderness buds and blossoms like the rose. Here we saw two hundred children in the schools. On the Sabbath more than 1000 of the children and people were present in the church, neatly dressed, sober, attentive to the reading of the word of God, and united their voices to sing his praise." p. 25.

On the 30th. of March, the agents commenced their coast-wise voyage, and passed the cape at the mouth of the river. They had engaged a sloop of 10 or 15 tons, with a captain, five men, and a boy, all Africans, at six dollars a day; the crew finding their own provisions. The passengers were Messrs. M. and B. two black men, who went as interpreters and advisers, and a pilot. Their voyage lasted five weeks and a half, in which time they visited the Banana, Plantain, York, and Sherbro islands; examined the mouths and shores of the Boom, the Deong, the Bagroo, and the Banga rivers; obtained authentic information concerning the Camaranca river; held consultations, called in Africa palavers, with the kings and head-men of the shores and islands; and obtained formal and express permission from the native rulers to purchase lands for a colony, on the banks of any one of the above-named rivers. The kings were shy and suspicious at first; but after full explanations, they evidently reposed great confidence in the agents, and several of them expressed a great desire that colonists might arrive possessed of the characters, and engaged in the pursuits, which had been described to them. These uninstructed children of the forest have been greatly corrupted in morals, as well as injured in property and condition, by the mischievous influence of the slave-trade.

The saccess of the overtures,made in behalf of the Colonization Sociey, must be imputed, in a great measure, to the zeal, intelligence, and known character of Mr. Kizell, (one of the black men, who accompanied the agents as friends and advisers,) without derogating at all from the assiduity, ability, and perseverance of the agents themselves. We

could wish, that Mr. Burgess had given us more of the early history of this distinguished African. It appears, however, that he was sold as a slave to America, where he obtained considerable knowledge; that for many years he has been a benefactor to his black brethren all along the coast; that he possesses property in different places; that he has influence with the native kings; and that he is a warm-hearted Christian. We extract the following paragraph, as containing a summary account of his character.

"Mr. K. is a second Paul Cuffee. He has a good mind and considerable knowledge. His writings discover him to be a man of sense and worth. He has a good heart, and no one can be more anxious for the temporal and spiritual welfare of Africans, and their descendants. He has enlarged views, and believes with the fullest confidence, that the time has arrived, when the descendants of Africans abroad shall begin to return to their own country. His mind relies on the promise of God, "Ethiopia shall s on stretch forth her hands unto God." He says, if we can fix on a proper place for a colony, our people may come out by hundreds and thousands, and we need not fear the consequences, only sending some men of education and piety to be their conductors and guides. Africa is the land of black men, and to Africa they must and will come. It is at present a wide and fertile wilderness; but it may be made to bud and blossom like the rose. As for land, he says, it belongs to Africans abroad, as well as those now in this country; and if they are disposed to return, land they must and shall have. They have not forfeited a right to the inheritance of their fathers, by being carried by force from their country. The good people in America have only to help them to get back, and assist them a year or two, until they can help themselves. Then if they will not work, the fault is their own. They certainly will not freeze nor starve. Let any class of the people of color come, only give us a few who will be good leaders of the rest. He urges the plan of colonization, among other reasons on the ground, that it will prevent insurrection among the slaves-remove some bad men who will not have the same opportunity to do mischief here as there-brig into this country some good men, who will shine as lights in this dark world-give an opportunity to masters who are disposed to release their slaves, and thus promote a gradual emancipation-provide a home for many oppressed free men, and confer infinite blessings on this country. Mr. K. thinks the greater part of the people of color, who are now in America, will yet return to Atrica" p. 35.

In their conversation with the natives, the agents represented the advantages of civilization, the plenty, competence and peace, which industry would afford, and the blessings of religious knowledge. They declined saying much about the slave trade, because they wished to learn what the head- men thought of it, and because they did not wish to enter upon unnecessary discussions. It is well known, that avarice,

in the hearts of the natives themselves, is, and ever has been, an indispensable support of this horrid traffic. If, therefore, a lawful commerce could be substituted, the slave trade would die of course.

Before reading this journal, we had no conception, that the west coast of Africa had so many eligible places for settlement, as were actually visited by our benevolent countrymen. The following is a description of the Boom river, as it appeared to them.

"As we went up the south channel, we came down the north. This bank has a very different soil and aspect from the other. The south side is sandy, the north is alluvial mud and clay: the former comparatively light and sterile, the latter rich and productive. The alluvial land is between a quarter and a half mile wide. Some places are cleared for rice. The clearing consists in cutting down a few vines and shrubs, and burning the grass. We called at one place,

where the people were scratching in the rice, with a species of hoe and sticks. Poor creatures! the women and children began to hide themselves in the grass and to retreat to the woods, until the voice of Kizell, whom they recognized, called them back. They rejoiced to see us, but could not banish all signs of timidity for some time. We gave them a little tobacco, and our company drank a calabash of their palm wine. The taste of it is not par icularly agreeable, but use renders it more so. The high land, beyond this alluvial soil, has a level surface, and is covered with large trees of the original growth. All this tract, on the right bank, as we descend, has the appearance of great fertility, and is nearly without inhabitants. This region will answer well for a colony, should no other more eligible place present itself. The banks exhibit a rich and verdant appearance, which continues the year round, and are not exceeded in natural beauty, by any river which I have seen in the United States. p. 47.

When it is considered, that Mr. Mills had seen the Ohio, Mississippi, Missouri, James, Potowmac, Susquehannah, Delaware, Hudson, and Connecticut rivers; some of them among the most beautiful rivers upon the face of the earth; it may readily be admitted, that the appearance of the Boom and its banks must have been delightful.

While on the Mano, a branch of the Bagroo, they wrote as follows:

"On our return, we stopped at Mano. The head woman had boiled for us a dish of rice, and dressed some fowls. We gave her a small present, as we had before done to the head man. Superwill, the head man, gave us a lamb. All the people in this river appeared most friendly and kind. They expressed great satisfaction at our words, and eager to see our people come, if they would be kind, and bring God's book. We said that persons must be sent with our people to establish schools for the children, and to instruct the people. They said they should be glad One man, whose hair and beard were white with age, said, he wished it could be now;-it was much wanted in the country-he wished to hear more about God's book before he died. It is certainly surprising that there should be such a desire among the people to hear the book of God, and to have their children instructed to read. There is just reason to hope that the principles of our holy religion would be embraced by many in this country, if they were instructed in them." p. 57.

The country about the Bagroo, and the natives in that region are thus described.

"We have become so far acquainted with the country, as to satisfy ourselves that there is much good land unoccupied by any people, and that it has good water. The climate, we believe will be deemed as temperate as that of any part of the coast between the Senegal and the equator. We do not see why it may not be a healthy country, as it has mountains and high ridges of land. The Mano has high banks a few miles above its mouth, though the Bagroo banks below this, are wholly covered with mangroves. The ridges of land are open to the sea-breeze. Brooks and springs may be found in almost any direction. Mills may be erected on the Mano.

"The natives believe in the existence of a supreme God, who is great and good; but indifferent to the concerns of men. It is their concern to secure the favor and avert the displeasure of certain inferior malignant spirits, whom they imagine to be continually attendant on their persons, and to be the authors of all their evils. They place great confidence in their gregrees or amulets. They have sacred groves, trees, and huts. They occasionally strew fruits about their towns, or spread mats by the public paths, as offerings to the invisible spirits. They sometimes make prayers on the graves of their fathers, or under their. sacred trees. Though they may sometimes pay a kind of homage to the supreme God, yet their ideas of him are very indistinct. The true light has never shone upon them. One who was present the other day, at our social worship, afterwards said to a friend, "that he never knew before that white men prayed."" p. 61.

We give, in conclusion, the last page of the journal. The opinions of Governor Macarthy are worthy of very particular consideration. They are the dictates of good sense, and the result of experience.

"Sierra Leone, Monday 18th May, 1818.. "I have now visited most of the villages in the colony. The population of the colony is nearly twelve thousand. The schools are in a flourishing state, accommodating nearly two thousand children. Each village has a superintendant, who is a clergyman or schoolmaster. Each village has a place of worship, where prayers are made, morning and evening, in the presence of the people. The Sabbath is observed through the colony.

"The Governor is justly esteemed as a father and patron of the colony. He makes great exertions for its improvement.

"Respecting an American colony, he has at different times expressed the following opinions, which I am the more disposed to write down, as some of them deserve particular consideration: That a private society can hardly be expected to have adequate funds to found and support a colony without the aid of the government: that, in the first instance, white men of intelligence and good character should occupy some of the principal offices: that the government should be mild and energetic: that forts would be necessary: that one hundred men, with arms, and some knowledge of discipline, could defend themselves from the natives: that the occasional visits of an armed vessel, engaged in detecting slave traders, would give entire security: that the neutrality of a colony could easily be ensured by an application to the European governments: that the first colonists should be men of sober and industrious habits, who will devote themselves to agriculture or to some of the useful mechanic arts: that one year's provisions, or the means of purchasing them, would be necessary to the colonists: that if expedient, the limits of this colony might be enlarged to accommodate five or ten thousand emigrants from America: that it was particularly proper for the American government to commission an armed ship to this coast, to capture slave-trading vessels, as two thirds of them are, or have been American; that the free people of color would be better situated in Africa, than they are; or can soon expect to be, in America.

"I am every day more convinced of the practicability and expediency of establishing American colonies on this coast.

"Brig Success, Friday, 22d May, 1818. "We have taken an affectionate leave of the clergymen, the civil officers, and the colonists of Sierra Leone. We have embarked for the United States, by way of England, and the continent of Africa recedes from our view." pp. 66, 67.

The journal, from which the foregoing extracts are taken, is a very valuable document. All the information it contains is perfectly authentic. Yet it might have been more precise, as to the courses, and distances of the rivers mentioned; the bearings of different capes and islands; and various other particulars, which would enable the reader to make a map in his mind, as he passes on. We fear that Mr. Burgess was unnecessarily apprehensive of becoming tedious. In regard to one of the agents, whose early death we are called to deplore, the journal is a worthy closing labor of an eminently useful life; in regard to the other, we hope it will be followed by long continued and successful efforts in the great cause of benevolence and piety.

The remainder of the appendix contains several important papers. Among the most interesting is a sketch of Sierra Leone, comprising extracts from the Gazette published there.

Resolutions of the Legislatures of Virginia, Maryland, and Tennessee are inserted, by which these bodies expressly approve of the design of colonizing free people of color, and urge the employment of the na tional resources to carry this design into effect,

The most melancholy topic, which the various documents here collected present to the mind, is the slave-trade: and the most melancholy part of the business is, that, this trade is now principally carried on by American owners, American captains, and American crews, by the aid of false colors. This fact is altogether undeniable. It has been confirmed by a multitude of trials, in open court, at Sierra Leone; it was asserted by the natives themselves, (and by those of them who undoubtedly knew) to Messrs. Mills and Burgess, while they were exploring the coast without the limits of the British colony. The vessels now employed were built for privateers during the late war. Commencing their career of wickedness by robbing and stealing property from the innocent on the ocean, and by taking life if necessary to accomplish their object, they have since the peace become the messengers of death and slavery to the coast of Africa. Some of them, however, have set up the business of indiscriminate plunder on the ocean, under South American flags. The very mention of, these facts ought to excite the shame and indignation of our countrymen. The people should resolutely demand such energetic measures, as will effectually put down this monstrous iniquity, this outrage upon all decency, morality, and religion. They should raise such an outcry against slave-traders, however rich and powerful, as shall make them feel that they are among the most hardened of villains, the basest of thieves, and the most atrocious of murderers; and that, although the vengeance of God may slumber for a while, it will one day pierce their guilty souls with unutterable horror.

Many of these American vessels go so strongly armed, that the small British vessels of war sent to that coast to enforce the abolition-laws bardly dare attack them. Others escape by their superior sailing. There have been many battles however; in some of which the British vessels have been beat off, and in others the Americans have been taken, after considerable slaughter on both sides. So desperately set are the captains and crews of these slave-traders on maintaining the privilege of stealing and killing Africans, that they willingly hazard their lives and souls in defence of it; and actually perish in furious battle to secure the gain of a traffic in blood, a traffic now denounced by the laws of their own country and by the laws of nations, and always denounced by the laws of God.

We lay before our readers the most important parts of a letter, which is published in the appendix, and which was addressed by a part-owner, residing at Charleston, SC. to the captain and part-owner, containing his instructions as to the management of the brig Amelia, during a voyage for slaves.

"Capt. ALEX. CAMPBELL,

"Charleston, Wth May, 1810.

"Dear Sir,-The voyage on which we have jointly embarked and which is now left to your discretion, is of a very delicate nature, and requires the greatest prudence and discretion. In order to qualify the Agent to bring a cargo from the coast, it will be necessary to put her under Portuguese colors: this with the assistance of Messrs. Sealy, Roach, and Toole, of Bahia, for whom I enclose you a letter of introduction, you will easily be able to effect. They will procure for you some honest Portuguese merchant, who, for a small sum, shall undertake all that is necessary for owners to do. A captain of color, one officer, and part of the crew, in com