tracing their sounds, a thought presented itself that if I had ability and memory to prosecute this object as I could wish, my interest in the cause might lead me off from other duties. I never expected to do much more than prepare a simple and solid foundation, and, after a few months' trial at this place, and such further opportunities as may be permitted me, I trust that others may be found to make its prosecution more like a sole object than in present circumstances would be possible for me.

In sweeping out my little room, the care of which depends on myself, I felt quiet and settled: yet last evening I retired under feelings of depression, from a sense of the precariousness of life and health in this climate, and from having experienced, much of the time since returning from SierraLeone, a relaxation of strength, which makes me unequal to much fatigue: and it is impossible, I think, to avoid being tired with what must be done, when unable, as we are, to obtain the help wanted from domestics. My dear friend A. T. takes the greater part of the exercise, both in the school and house, and her health is extraordinary, which is a great favour, and her spirits are good, which is a comfort to me as well as cheering. My mind is painfully sensible that there is much in this land that is out of the Divine harmony; yet there seems but little opening at present to convey what is felt. Sometimes we feel a little openness for free conversation on the difficulties of those who would wish to do good here, when conversing with a very few of the European residents; but there are among Europeans those who appear unconcerned to enter the Redeemer's

kingdom themselves, and present, by their example, a stone of stumbling in the way of others.

"Oh! that Christian labourers from our part of the vineyard might be turned toward this land! With respect to the climate and the counteraction of its unfavourable effects, I thought yesterday that it might be of advantage to change the dress for something a little warmer, mostly about four o'clock in the afternoon, at least during the prevalence of the high winds. Often when we have had great heat in the day, the state of the atmosphere in the evening is so changed, and the winds so cold, as to cause considerable pain to many persons in the head and teeth, and yet they cannot well bear to have the air excluded by shutting all the windows and doors. The range of the thermometer is said to be wider here than at Sierra-Leone; sometimes a variation of thirty degrees in the course of a few hours.

"With respect to both this island and SierraLeone, I could not, I think, on mature consideration, recommend that any establishment should be formed, either here or there, unless Friends felt it their duty to offer themselves as agents for such establishments.

"Although I do feel there is much cause to be thankful for the past, and gratefully to hope and trust for the future, yet sometimes the desire to see my near relations again is so strong, and the attraction homeward so great, that the thought of continuing in Africa without some definite time to look to for returning seems almost more than my nature can bear. One day, when my mind was under conflict, I opened that part of one of the Epistles of Paul wherein he had the promise of

Let

grace sufficient, and it felt comforting to me. me not desire to choose for myself; but to remain quietly, and pursue the object for which I came with diligence until, if life be spared, the way may appear quite open for going home.

"18th. Was called away when about to have expressed the sense of gratitude I feel to owe to those dear friends in England, and about London particularly, who have, from the time of my wish for native schools in Africa being first known to them, kindly united with the view, and promoted its accomplishment. This gratitude may I ever feel while life remains, and may I be ever willing, so far as it can be done consistently with other duties, to answer their kind confidence in me with regard to this cause by every attention to its furtherance, whether here or in England.

"And now, to come to a subject which has unexpectedly arisen on my mind since I last wrote,— the thought of returning home soon, to report our progress, and the results of our observations thus far, with the view of returning to Africa, should life and health be given, and the way appear open for it. In my present relaxed state of health, I feel afraid of calculating too decidedly upon any thing, yet am not aware that my health has been of much weight with me, in regard to the view of returning to England. If I go I believe it will be from the apprehension that the way is opened homeward, and that the cause for which I came out may be better served by my returning now than by continuing another season. There is much to converse about relative to African concerns, which can be more efficiently done when together than by writing, should we be favoured to arrive

safely in England. Here we are too often led to use the qualifying expressions, if we live,' and there is cause for it, although I have heard it boastingly remarked, that it is best to take little notice of the number of deaths; and that one year, though half the Europeans in the Gambia died yet nobody noticed it. This is assuredly an extreme in the report of indifference, yet it is certainly true, that the frequency of removals by death, has not generally the effect of leading the survivors to a salutary feeling of the precariousness of life.

How I long that the people of Sierra-Leone should have some efficient instruction in agriculture. This is an art despised by some; and plans of civilization, in which this is much dwelt upon, are rejected as ineffectual; but experience has proved in Sierra-Leone, and will still prove, that the want of attention to this department cannot easily be supplied by instruction of other kinds, since industry is the foundation of good order, and agriculture the chief source of industry.

In an account which I have read of one of the Church of England schools, it is remarked, that a pause takes place at a certain time, I think before leaving, and the children are recommended to reflect on the mercies of God, and on their own faults; and the testimony borne to the efficacy of this practice is striking. It was remarked that nothing had been so effectual as a means towards leading them to acknowledge what they had done wrong, and to receive any favourable impression on their minds, (or language to this effect.)

"Whoever may come out in any society as Mis

sionaries or teachers, whether here or at SierraLeone, had need to guard against assimilating too much in habit or sentiment with other European residents, who having come out with different objects in view, cannot be expected always to have at heart the good of the people, as a missionary or teacher ought to have. It has been remarked to me by an observer here, that instead of the Missionaries bringing over the merchants to their views, the merchants rather bring the missionaries over to theirs, and induce them to conclude that little or nothing can be done for Africa. It was yet his own belief that much might be done by the use of right means of improvement. I do not think the missionaries have come to a conclusion quite so discouraging as that he has supposed; although I have been afraid they have sometimes been too much inclined to look on the discouraging side as to what good may be done.

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How much do I wish that the people in SierraLeone, and here also, may be led into a gentle, patient method of instructing the Africans, in what they have to learn of domestic and mechanical labour. This would be much more effectual to good than the high tones and repelling manner which are too often used: and they might thus be led off from those habits of indolence and carelessness that are so much complained of. Yet we ought not to desire people to work as many hours at laborious occupation in Africa, as they can easily do in a cooler climate.

"I am, from repeated observation, confirmed in the principle of orthography we have chosen for the reduction of some of the African languages. Several of those from whose dictation I have writ