larged system of Education, in reference to the Islands where these opportunities may occur.

The beneficial influence of Christian Instruction on the Slave Population is felt wherever it is fairly tried. To those testimonies on this subject which have been adduced on former occasions, the Committee will add a few others.

The Rev. Charles Peter, Rector of Pontesbury, in Shropshire, and late Rector of Roseau in the Island of Dominica, now a Member of the Committee of the Shropshire Association, adverting, in a late publication, to the degraded state of the Negro Slaves and to the gross vices prevalent among them, recommends the institution of "Schools of moral and religious discipline, where they might be taught to read the inestimable charter given by God to the whole human race, and sealed with the blood of Christ, and to consider themselves as candidates for eternal blessedness in common with their Masters;" and adds the following fact, in confirmation of his sentiments

A friend who embarked for England, in the Spring of 1800, from the Island of Dominica, where he had resided on his own Estate for little more than twelve months, effected, during that short period, so great a change in the dispositions and manners of his Negroes, that they had become, for several months previous to his departure, remarkable for their honesty, their cheerfulness, and their general good conduct; whereas, antecedently to his abode with them, they were notorious for propensities and habits directly contrary.

If it be asked by what means the Gentleman alluded to was enabled to accomplish so striking a reformation in so short a space of time, I answer-by instilling, sedulously and regularly, into the minds of his formerly abused and uninstructed Slaves, the principles of Christianity, and uniformly practising toward them the beneficent duties which Christianity enjoins. By the natural operation of this paternal system, the necessity of corporal correction was happily precluded: so much so, that, among a gang of 100 Negroes, one instance only of formal punishment occurred during the whole period of their Master's abode with them.

It would be easy, I am persuaded, to effect the same wishedfor change in the manners and dispositions of Negroes on every

other plantation, throughout the West Indies, could we but in duce their resident superiors to adopt the principles and conduct of Mr. Burnett.

Mr. Thwaites, the active Superintendant of the Society's Schools in Antigua, confirms this testimony. He writes, in August last

We devote one evening in the week to intercourse with a few Christian friends, who are Planters. It is occupied in reading the Scriptures, prayer, and Christian conversation.

It affords us no small degree of pleasure, to hear these good men declare, that the best effects are produced by the conscientious mode of government, which they now pursue with the Slaves under their management. They deal with them as with rational creatures, and have no cause to repent the adoption of such a plan.

Of the beneficial influence of Sunday Schools, in particular, Mr. Thwaites writes, in reference to English Harbour, in the Island where he labours

When I view the present state of morals in English Harbour, chiefly among the black and coloured inhabitants, and compare it with past days, the contrast is so striking, that I am constrained to say, What hath God wrought! He has made the Sunday Schools the principal means of this happy change. Numbers of young females, who (humanly judging) MUST have been carried away by the torrent of vice, are rescued from ruin, and have found an asylum from danger, and friends to cover their defenceless heads, Some of them, of low and depraved connections, have become not only useful Teachers in the Schools, but consistent professors of Christianity, and eligible for the honourable estate of matrimony, into which several have lately entered, and others are likely soon to follow their example.

The following statement on this subject, by Mr. Thwaites, cannot be read without emotion, by every sincere Christian :

The benefits of the Institution are more perceptible, almost every day; especially in restraining the prevailing sin of the country. It not only makes some persevere in the paths of virtue amidst all their discouragements-for honour, ease, plenty, and, perhaps, liberty, are on the side of vice among this degraded people but some, who have gone astray, deeply penitent, have entreated, with tears, to be taken back into the School,

The Father of a young woman of this description came to us one Sunday, entreating re-admission for his daughter. The man and his wife are pious members of the Methodist Society, and have been much grieved on account of their daughter's fall. Their eldest daughter, once a member of the English-Harbour Sunday-School, has turned out to their satisfaction; and has been married, with the approbation of her Teachers, to a young man belonging to the Church of the United Brethren. It was very affecting to see this old man, of venerable appearance, pleading his daughter's cause. He said that many arts, and, at length, COMPULSION had been used, to make her depart from virtue; and he thought that a difference SHOULD be made, between such and those who deliberately, or with little temptation, pursued a vicious course. When he found that he could not prevail, he sat down, pensively leaning his forehead on his stick. We would fain have granted his request, especially as the Girl severely felt her exclusion from the School; but we are afraid of appearing to give any countenance to so common and dreadful an evil.

There is now, in this neighbourhood, a young woman formerly belonging to the School, who appeared very promising: unhappily she was tempted, by one in authority over her, with great offers, which both she and her mother courageously refused; but, alas! it was to no purpose: she was taken away-afterward freed-put in possession of slaves-had a house furnished, and every thing that could make her situation enviable in the opinion of her companions, or gratify her own vanity-but, in the midst of all, she is unhappy, and has been heard to wish for her dismissal. She is constant in her attendance on the Means of Grace, and in reading her Testament.

I am grieved at the necessity of introducing such subjects; but I look forward with hope and expectation to the day, when this strong-hold of Satan shall be destroyed by the omnipotence of Divine Grace.

Antigua.

In the Nineteenth Report, the number of Scholars was stated at 841: by the last returns received from the same Schools, it was increased to 937; but New Sunday-Schools have been since added, which carry the whole number of Scholars, under the care of the Society, in conjunction with the English-Harbour Sunday-School Society, to 1429, being an increase, during the year, of 588.

The Returns of the Old Schools are as follows:

The Schools since formed are three: one at Pope's Head, in the north-western division of the Island, containing 76 Scholars-a second, at Old Road, in the southern part, with 313 Scholars—and a third, at a place called the Valley, in the western, in which were 103 Scholars; making the total before stated*. The School at Old Road was opened on Sunday the 4th of July, by permission of the United Brethren, in their Church at Grace Bay: that at the Valley was established on the suggestion of the Brethren; and, on Sunday the 29th of August, was opened by Mr. Dawes and Mr. Thwaites, with the assistance of Mr. Richter, the Senior Missionary of the Brethren.

Mrs. Anderson, wife of the Resident Teacher at Bethesda, died in the beginning of December. She was an exemplary Christian; and highly useful in her station, having greatly conciliated the affections of the Young Persons under her charge.

Barbadoes.

The School established at Barbadoes, for Coloured and Black Children, had 132 Scholars, at the date of the last advices. The Committee had determined on the erection of a larger School Room; and contributions to the amount of 300 l. had been raised.

Difficulties had arisen for want of a proper Master; the former Master being obliged, from ill health, to re

The circumstances under which these additional Schools were formed, with various particulars respecting the Old Schools, are stated in Extracts from Mr. Thwaites's Journal, printed in Appendix XI.

sign. After some time, Mr. Benjamin Nurse was appointed to succeed him.

The Clergy have been very attentive to the School; and much assistance has been rendered by Mr. Cooper, the Master of a National Central School for the White Population, which was opened in March of last year. This School is very liberally supported.

The Colonial School connected with the Society was in a very promising state; but must, for the present at least, look for support from this country.

Honduras.

Mr. Robert Moore and Mrs. Moore, as also Mr. Henry Moore, all mentioned in the last Report as destined for service in the Settlement at Honduras, arrived there in safety, and received appointments in the Schools.

Mr. Henry Moore had been detained at Jamaica, by an attack of the Yellow Fever; from which, after some time, he recovered, though Mr. Kitching, a Missionary from the Baptist Society, who with the greatest kindness attended Mr. Moore, fell himself a victim to the disease.

It was feared at Honduras, that ill health would oblige Mr. Ditcher to return to England, to the great regret of Colonel Arthur and all his friends, to whom his services were highly acceptable.

NORTH-AMERICAN INDIANS.

The attention of the Committee has been called, in the course of the year, to the state of the Aborigines in the middle and western parts of British America.

While, however, the present Missions of the Society open opportunities of labour which it is beyond the power of the Committee adequately to embrace, they think it right not to enter on new fields of service unless under circumstances of peculiar promise and advantage. They wish, nevertheless, to put on record such