"5th mo. 4th. We have just heard of the death of Governor Macarthy, under circumstances deeply distressing. Alas! poor Sierra-Leone, this seems to complete thy present and recent causes of depression! But still the Lord, who is omnipotent reigneth, and He will appoint what is best, though men understand it not!

"I cannot, in present circumstances, feel myself authorized or called upon to act much alone in anything like a public capacity with respect to the European residents, and possibly not anything in a ministerial engagement may be required. Ah! that the standard of truth could be so raised before them as that they might see and feel that Christianity is not a mere nominal profession, but a redemption of the soul from evil, and an introduction to all that is pure and lovely and of good report. Is it right to supplicate that the feet of some rightly exercised messenger might be turned this way? I cannot but desire that it might be so, and the feeling of how much need there is for such messengers, causes an indescribable sadness of heart. How utterly inadequate to the happiness of man is all this world can give, where the arm of Omnipotence is not found to support in the day of trouble, and the refuge which can effectually shelter is unsought for and unknown!

'I feel it necessary to keep in view the salutary injunction, Redeem the time:' much may be lost for want of proper dispatch in our manner of going about things, and for want of the right apportioning of time to different purposes.

"6th. Being with the Alcaide of Jillifree and several other persons, I opened to them a little of the feeling that had dwelt on my mind as to the

injury the people of this land are doing to their brethren in selling one another for slaves, and showed them a representation of the manner in which the poor victims of this traffic were carried away in the ships. One of these representations I gave to the Alcaide. We had no interpreter with us, but some of the company understanding a little English we did very well. I heard afterwards that the Alcaide spoke of the sufferings of the poor slaves as very dreadful. I wished to convey, too, that it is the will of our Heavenly Father we should live in peace and love, and in a desire to help and serve one another, and not give way to bitterness of feeling, or hard, unkind conduct towards any. It was a quiet, satisfactory season, and I could not doubt but that an evidence in the minds of others, led them to the acknowledgment of this truth.

“I have felt, and feel now, the want of greater dedication of heart to be prepared for such an instrument of good to the people here as would be desirable. One may pass an hour in what is called civilized society,-among persons whose characters are yet superior to many—and, not feeling strength to give a useful turn to the conversation, we may come away with a spent, vapid feeling, and not be free from a spirit of mourning both for ourselves and others. How much is it to be desired that the standard of truth and righteousness should be always visibly held up wherever the professors of Christianity meet; yet without any forced expressions, or anything in conversation opposed to the real simplicity of Christianity, which appears always what it is.

"How much have we witnessed, in our short residence here, to induce a thoughtful feeling. The

captain of the vessel in which we sailed,-Bowditch, from whom so much was expected,-Ritche, the medical officer of this place,-Adelle, one of the nurses at the hospital, have all departed since our arrival, five months ago. It is not circumstances alone, however impressive, that will give the true sense and feeling of mortality, and of the dangers to which, in a climate like this, Europeans are subject, of early and speedy removal from the present scene of existence. It would be well that this sense should be so present from day to day as to induce the frequent inquiry, how far we are prepared to meet the awful summons to appear before our Judge, to give account of the deeds done in the body.

"13th. In walking about, a few evenings ago, among the huts, I felt much interested with the intelligent countenances of some of the black women, who were of a superior class, and their little babies, too, looked pleasant and attractive; but the poorer sort live in huts so close, and dirty, and comfortless -so unlike what we could desire to see as human habitations, that I much long to see some means adopted for inciting them to improvement in this respect. It is well the climate admits of their being at the door most of the day, yet with such dwellings as they have it is no wonder they suffer much in their health from the want of proper attention to cleanliness.

"How I long to see the languages I have already mentioned cultivated! Let all attempts to instruct the people in letters be accompanied with Christian instruction from the Scriptures of truth, that the power which knowledge gives may be well directed.

"I have felt encouraged this day or two in seeing the progress the girls here have made, both those who learn only Jaloof, and those also who attend to English. What a favour it is that the Scriptures are written in a language so comprehensible and easy. I have been much gratified in hearing a girl, who less than four months ago could scarcely spell words of three letters, now reading, though slowly, and with help in difficult words, from Scripture Lessons, and from the Scripture Selections; so that I quite hope she will be able, with diligent application, to read the Scriptures by herself when we leave her. We find the spelling lessons gain the attention of the pupils from the rhyme, which seems peculiarly agreeable to an African ear. Now that the children have got over the first difficulties in their introduction to letters, they enjoy their lessons, and are reluctant to lay them aside. The school has given me a good opportunity for observation, both with respect to the talents and dispositions of mulattoes and black girls. Of the unfavourable traits in the dispositions of the mulattoes I have taken notice, and I may add, with regard to intelligence, we do not find the black girls in any degree behind the mulatto, or white children, so far as we have had opportunities to judge.

"Near the close of our little meeting to-day, I felt my mind affected with the consciousness that although the Divine Being can only be known to His rational creatures by the revelation of Himself, so far as He is pleased to reveal Himself to them, and there is cause for the humbling inquiry of Canst thou by searching find out God?' yet He leaves not Himself without witness of His

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power and wisdom in His works, even amongst those of His intelligent creatures, wherever dwelling, who are regarded as the last and the least among the children of men.

"Oh! that some one or two may be found that can feel it their charge to prosecute the writing of the native languages, and turn their attention to preparing translations in them, and early lessons for the children, and intelligible, easy lessons, also, for others! There is much to be done; and in the prospect of what is to be done here I feel sometimes as though the time of returning, if life be spared, is yet undefined. May I be enabled to see clearly when to go, and when to forbear, be it

earlier or later!

"5th mo. 14th.

Notwithstanding what I have so often expressed with regard to the failure of health in this climate being often attributable to circumstances connected with a new settlement, and the lack of those domestic accommodations we have in England, rather than to the climate itself, I cannot forbear to acknowledge that there is much in the climate that is trying to European constitutions, and am ready to think that Africa must and will be improved and civilized without many Europeans settling here, and that all we can do in England to promote their advancement in what is for their present and future good should be done. May it not, with this view, be desirable to encourage Africans to trade for themselves, as well as to cultivate the soil, still pressing on them the importance of promoting school instruction.

"In looking, last evening, over some lists of words I had taken down in Sierra-Leone of the Fantee and Timanee, and feeling interested in