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"On first day evening we went to see several of the people in their own dwellings at Regent, and were pleased to see the good accommodations they had been able to provide for themselves. Much of this district is barren, and not well adapted for the formation of gardens about their dwellings.

"Went to Bathurst, and were much pleased with the humble, sincere, missionary spirit with which both G and his wife were endowed. It was pleasant to meet in G- that genuine feeling of piety, and of solicitude for the fulfilment of the duties of the day, which are valuable beyond any other attainment, whatever it may be; and in the company of such, whether the feeling be uttered or unexpressed, there is a consolation to be enjoyed which far surpasses what can be partaken of in the society of persons who lack this feeling, whatever may be their talents or other advantages.

"We went forward to Leopold and Charlotte. At all these three places the houses exhibited much of English comfort, neat, clean, and well provided, and these situations appeared to me the most favourable to health of any I had seen in A frica.

“I feel decided in believing that Free Town is exceedingly unhealthy for Europeans, and I do not see how health can be expected there, unless the foreigners are much out of the town, and in the open air. I went from Gloucester to Free Town perfectly well a few days since, and passed three days there, each day greatly relaxed, and unequal to much exertion in any way. Returning to Gloucester last evening, the 6th, I feel quite renovated

again, and disposed to think and act and be employed in whatever seems for the best, and to look forward without any fatigue of mind to future occupation, which I could not well do when in Free Town.

“In the rains there are difficulties which we have not yet seen: some of these appear such as might be removed. The houses are so made, that the doors and windows are quite open, or enclosed without light. In the rainy season Europeans often burn. lights throughout the day, and have their doors and windows closed to shut out the wet: this, they have said, has increased the tendency to sickness, by its cheerless appearance. Merchants, debarred of domestic enjoyments, have sought for some exhilaration to their spirits by meetings, which they consider as social and convivial; but which, by the excess they promote, tend to destroy the bonds of friendship, and undermine health both of body and mind.

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Although the buildings here appear extraordinary, considering the previously uninstructed agents that have been employed, I should much prefer something more within the reach of the natives to imitate for themselves. Some of these houses appear too high from the ground, and convey not the idea of being so among the people as, for missionaries and teachers, it seems desirable they should be.

"This colony is really an interesting field. Should I live to return, I think it would be with feelings of more ardent desire than ever to give myself up unreservedly to the work of the day, while it is yet day, if only I may be favoured to

serve as an humble instrument in the cause of the little ones.

"Dr. F. says there is no doubt whatever of civilization in Africa being much more prevalent in the interior than on the coast, and that much through the influence of Mahomedanism, because school-instruction is always an accompaniment.

"I met the other day with a very fine-looking man at Gloucester, a Foulah, named Ebraima. He read to us in Arabic so easily, and in so melodious a manner, that I could not but wish to see that language well cultivated by those who may be future teachers in Africa. The cultivation of this language might be of great use in Mahomedan districts.

"P. Davies takes charge of both boys and girls, and has a lively, well-looking school of about eighty or ninety, and is well satisfied in her allotment. She has for house-maid one of the two poor girls who were inhumanly confined in a cask on board, to conceal them. The other girl is married. This one is the chief monitor in the school; reads agreeably, finishes her work in the bed-rooms before school-time, and then attends the whole of the school-hours.

"With all the disadvantages under which the children in Sierra-Leone are taught, there are instances of great quickness. A little boy in six months learned to read the Testament, and a very little girl in Charlotte, brought to the colony as a slave eighteen months ago, who appears now about six years old, after about fifteen months' instruction read to me the account of the

man sick of the palsy, and did not misname three words.

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Might it not be of use to explain, in an easy lesson-book, a few of the phrases of broken English by correct, plain, intelligent phrases? There might, in some instances, be less amusement for Europeans, who like to hear anecdotes of the Africans in this style of expression; but on the other hand their intelligence would be cultivated, more real good might be done to them, and their advancement in useful knowledge would give more solid satisfaction, and much more variety of information might be conveyed than ever can be by this childish and fettering habit of adapting for them only a poor, barren, slang language.

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I am informed that there are among the Mandingos, characters who may be considered as gentlemen with regard to carriage and behaviour, and that the Foulahs and Mandingos may be called the aristocracy of Western Africa.

"Those who have seen most of the people up the rivers say, it is a great mistake to suppose that any school-boy, who has just a little knowledge of reading, &c. may, as he grows up, be made a teacher among the Africans on religious subjects. On the contrary, many very acute reasoners are found amongst them, especially among the Mahomedans, whom I hear generally spoken of as the most civilized and orderly of the African population. In England, people see only a few of those who have been slaves, or mostly beggars, and too often judge from such specimens of the Africans in general. But, lacking as Africa is in regard to civilization and instruction, these are not what ought to be considered as a fair and just specimen of the people.

We have had little opportunity of seeing those parts of the country where civilization is not hindered by the prevalence of the slave-trade; but could the incredulous as to African capacity have seen the Foulah who was here the other day, or many others who come to trade here and in the Gambia—could they see the bright, intelligent countenances of many of the children, even under all the disadvantages of an inadequate system of instruction; or many others among the people both here and in the Gambia, they would certainly doubt no longer as to the capability of instruction among the Africans. But what judgment would even be formed of the English nation were only the most unfavourable specimens presented to view?

"I have inquired of several of the people in this colony respecting the manner of their capture, and find it mostly thus; that when their towns were burned, by an agreement between the slave-dealer and their king, they were seized as they escaped from the flames. Sometimes, in time of war, the higher ranks are sold, but chiefly those who are already slaves are sold from one to another, and often pass through many hands ere they reach the coast. When a town is burning, and the people are seized in their flight, it must of course be a promiscuous seizure, although those who have friends able to ransom them may sometimes escape. How would the Anti-Slavery Committee be stimulated could they but see the state in which some of the poor children even yet remain, after having been cared for several months since their rescue from the slaveship! I am told that the Portuguese try to induce the slaves whom they are carrying away to resist the English, telling them that the English are coming

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