pos nexions, that it is a mercy when they night and by day, as much as she can be brought out. sibly could, the whole time of her May 14.-The Girl mentioned on confinement, which was three or four the 12th. called Mrs. Thwaites aside years, and when the state of her leg again, and told her, "I been go to my became so offensive as to make it disGodmother myself, and she tell me she tressing to approach her. really forgive me from her heart. I hope May 17. Sunday.--Having reason I shall always shew um a good face, and to believe that a work of grace had do every thing to please um." Mrs. begun in the hearts of some of the Thwaites said, "You told me the other elder Boys and Girls at the Hope night, that God had forgiven you: School, we spoke to several of them what reason had you to think so?" individually; and were pleased to find "Me been beg he to forgive me-me that all of them observed the duty of carry my heavy heart to he, and beg private prayer, and some of them menhe to clear um"--which is a favourite tioned in much simplicity the substance expression of the Negroes. "How of their prayers. There is reason to often do you pray?" "Me pray every hope that most of the females are demorning and night"--" What do you cidedly for the paths of religion and say, when you pray?" "Me say, 'Lord! virtue; and also a few of the boys. you put me in this School, when me We afterward went to Bethesda. was a little child: make me never turn This School having had greater admy back upon um: make me a good vantages than the Hope, we expect child, and obedient to my parents"- more fruit; and are not disappointed. and much more of the same kind. She Before the School broke up, Mrs added, "Missis! me no good 'nuff, to Thwaites told the Girls and Young be obedient to my parents, self." This Women, that they knew their own was an humble expression of her in- feelings best, and could tell whether ability to do any thing good of herself. they really wished to love and serve May 16.---We have found it neces- God; and that such as did, and such sary to be very particular with the only, should follow her into another children and young people, with re- room. On her quitting the Schoolspect to filial duty; and are happy to Room, twenty-three of them followed, say that our labour has not been lost. when she thus addressed them—“Girls, William Matthew, a Young Man who or rather, my Children, for I do not was married a few weeks ago, and his think myself too good to call you so, Sister, both of whom belonged to the if you are such as we wish you to beSchool from the beginning, have lately many of you have long been under relost an aged Grandmother. She was ligious instruction; and it is high time a long time bedridden, with a dreadful that you should know something of elephantiasis. It was William's prac- your duty to that God who has been tice, every night, to read the Word of so gracious to you." She then parGod to her. On the night that she ticularized their mercies-asked a few died, before he took his leave, he sang questions, individually—and had reason a Hymn, commended her soul to God to be pleased and thankful, on account of in prayer, gave her suitable advice, and the greater part of them. She was much then took an affectionate leave. The struck with the contrast, between one old woman, heing perfectly in her of our Girls who had been with us senses, was much affected: and broke from the beginning, and another who out in blessings upon him, his wife, entered that day for the first time. and sister; hoped they would not ne- They were about the same age. The glect or trifle with the instructions first, when asked if she wished to love which they had received, but walk in and serve God, wept, and sobbed out, the light of the Lord, that they might "Me dont know what to say of the all meet in heaven. The old woman Lord's goodness to me, a poor sinner! belonged to the Church of the United Me beg him to pardon all dat me do Brethren. The Young Woman, who against him, and give me grace to love is a Field Negro, waited on her Grand- and serve him. Me pray to him night mother with unwearied attention, by and day to keep me from sin." The Ꮓ other, on being asked if she prayed, re- May 29-Two Young Women, plied "Yes"-"What do you pray for?" married while in the Hope School, "Me pray to God, me pray to learn my came lately, with their books and book""Are you a sinner?" "No, my children. They have not reached the heart quite clear"-"Are you never Testament; and are unwilling to leave angry?" "No, me heart good." the School, till they accomplish this May 24, 1818.-We went to Lynch's point. Their two little boys, who Estate, and visited the sick. One of cannot speak plain, would needs have them, an old woman, who was not books, and were inclined for singing expected to leave her bed again, came lustily. Joanna, one of the young hobbling in search of us; and, when women, brought her second child with asked how she came to venture out, replied, "Me hungry, me hungry"meaning spiritual hunger-" me heary say you come: dat make me creep out." May 25-Having heard a good account of Oxford Duer, a Negro who died on Tuesday night, I inquired the particulars from the pious Blacks who visited him in his illness. To one, who asked how he did, he said, "I be called"-meaning that his death was near-"All my confidence be in the Lord. If me to live, me say, Amen!if me to die, Amen I-for my way quite clear." To an old woman, near 100 years of age, who had been a follower of Christ many years, he said, "The Lord gives-the Lord takes-Blessed be His name! I die in the Lord." He then asked for his Hymn Book; and gave out, and sung the Hymn beginning, "Thee we adore, Eternal Name! And humbly own to Thee, How feeble is our mortal frame, What dying worms we be !" To a pious woman of the Moravian Church, he gave nearly the same testimony, adding, with joy in his countenance, "Me very happy-my way clear!" The children on the Estate belonging to the Sunday School, sat up with him the night he died, singing most of the time. A little before his departure, he began a Hymn with them: his voice failed toward the middle; and, before the conclusion, his happy spirit took its flight. His death is lamented by both Blacks and Whites, for he had walked worthy his high vocation. He was buried by Mr Maddock, Methodist Missionary; to which Communion he belonged. He had derived real benefit from having learned to read the Word of God, and expressed himself chiefly in Scripture language. her, six weeks old. She put him to sleep; and, laying him across her lap, took her Spelling-book out, and read two lessons. May 29.-We had a mournful visit from two Girls, who had their righthands ground off in the mill. The eldest had belonged to Bethesda School: but was dismissed for unchastity; and had pleaded for re-admission, which she had not obtained. I thought her welldisposed before her fall: she seemed always much affected by religious advice, but as she did not appear to be under the constraining influence of religion, there was too much reason to fear for her, in her circumstances. Fatherless, motherless, friendless, and poor-we have often observed, with pain, her naked shoulders through the broken wrapper, while she has been surrounded by girls decently clad. She lived with a father-in-law, who gave her nothing; but often reproached her on account of her poverty, and called her a fool for not getting help as others did. The other poor Girl is about thirteen years of age. They were not acquainted, till they met at the house of the Medical Gentleman who has the care of them; and they have since been drawn together, by sympathy in suffering, and wait in the yard to go and come together. June 1.-We went to Falmouth. The young Teachers who live in this place, are very zealous. Three sisters teach sixteen poor children gratis, and two others have eight each: in all, thirtytwo are instructed freely, notwithstanding the young women themselves are very poor. One of them being conpelled for want of room, to give up some of her schoolars, the concern of the poor children was very great; and the cries of one little boy, in particular, excited her compassion so much, that she desired him to come to her every day for a lesson. Meeting was held out of doors: but a heavy rain falling, just as we were about June 7,Sunday.-An old simple-hearted to commence, the order of the Meeting Coloured Woman, entirely without edu- was, in a great measure, destroyed; and cation, but fearing God and working it was too late for the young Slaves to righteousness, has a little Black Girl repeat their tasks. Many of them had under her care, about seven years of learnt select passages of Scripture by age, who attends the English-Harbour heart. This day would have been the Sunday-School. The Old Woman has most interesting of all our Anniversary often told the Teacher, that the child is a great comfort to her. "The little Angel," as she calls her, "sings hymns for me; but me-poor dunce-whether it be right or wrong, me can't tell-but it sweets me true.' June 16.-A woman, named Grace, who has six children in the School, told us, that she had been sent for by a fellowservant, an old African Woman, who said she had sent for her because she was "hungry for prayers," to use her own words; and begged her to pray with her. She accordingly prayed; as did her sister, who accompanied her. The Old woman had an orphan Girl attending on her, who belonged to the School and whom she had taken from infancy. The Girl was asked whether she could sing a hymn. Taking her book, she gave out and sang a hymn, very suitable to the occasion; and in a manner, which much surprised and pleased them. Grace told the Old Woman that she ought to be thankful, that Judy had not been taught in vain; on which she exclaimed "God bless Judy! She is my mammy, pickney, and all. She wash my skin, she wash my rags" -meaning her clothes-"she keep me clean-she boil my pot: me no hab nobody"-meaning relations "when me dead: me hab very little-dis house, dis two tree rag-Judy must hab dem all." Judy's conduct, and that of some others, belonging to the School, led the parties present to converse on the benefits arising from the Institution, and to rejoice that we are come to live so near them. Oct. 26.-The Annual Meeting of the Country Schools was held. Mr. Dawes, several Members of the Committee, and the Teachers attended. A great number of children and grown persons were present. As the SchoolRoom could not contain them, the Meetings in the country, if it had not been for the rain. We had pleasure, however, in observing that the desire for books was greater than ever. After the Meeting was over, two of onr young people, Edward Isaac and Mary Samuel, were united in marriage. These young persons belong to an Estaste, which we lately visited. We trust that a meeting of the young females then held, was attended by the divine blessing; for there is a prospect that many more of them will Le united, in the same decent manner. The Oct. 28.-We went to the Falmouth School, to hold a meeting for rewards. It is always with peculiar pleasure that we visit this School, and especially on such an occasion. School-room was crowded with children: the older people sat in a room adjoining. It is nearly ten months since this School was established; and, for the time, the general improveinent has been great. Though the last half-year has not been without trials, yet we are thankfui that they have been overbalanced to us, by the consideration that we are in the path of duty, and that the blessing of God has accompanied our endeavours. It became highly desirable, that we should be more among the Country Children, than we could while residing at English Harbour as we have it, by that means, more in our power to look into their affairs, and to prevent evils which might otherwise take place without our knowledge. We have the pleasure to observe, that the advantages arising from the establishment of the Night School, are greater than we expected; and circumstances frequently occur, which afford satisfactory evidence of a great improvement in the morals of this hitherto degraded class of people. APPENDIX XXV. (See Page 219) Letter of the Right Reverend Bishop White, to the Secretary; with Minutes of the Board of the Episcopal Missionary Society of Philadelphia, REVEREND SIR Philadelphia, June 29, 1818. success of the very respectable Body to whom they are presented. I am Rev. Sir, very respectfully, Your affectionate humble Servant, I received your two favours of September 2, 1817, and February 6, 1818; and, with the latter, the parcel of publications to which, as I suppose, they At a Special Meeting of the Board of both refer. For these interesting docu- Managers of the Episcopal Missionary ments, I present my grateful acknow- Society of Philadelphia, held at the ledgments to the Church Missionary Vestry of St. James's Church, May 18, Society. It appears from their Report of the last year, that there were rcceived from me the Reports of two Societies instituted in this City. With this, you will receive a further Report of each of them, agreeably to request, certified from their Minutes. I have not been inattentive to the suggestion of the former of your Letters, now acknowledged. A Committee of our Missionary Society have digested a plan for the organization of an Institution, under the authority of our Church, throughout the Union, to the effect stated. This is a subject of considerable difficulty; owing to there not being, with us, a place of habitual resort of the same persons from different parts of our combined Republic, as with you from the different Counties of your United Kingdom. At any rate, the work must be slow. Still, I cherish the hope of its being accomplished; and have had some correspondence concerning it with Bishop Griswold. I do not know the Gentleman mentioned by him; but have full reliance on his testimony, and on the correctness of his opinion of the character of the person. It has also occurred to me, that, as Members of your Society may occasionally entertain the curiosity to be informed of the organization and the early measures of a Church descended from their own, the Journals of our General Conventions may be acceptable, and thought worthy of being deposited among your books. I therefore send these Journals, accompanied by my best wishes and prayers for the 1818, The Bishop stated, that, about two years ago, he received from the Church Missionary Society in England, through their Secretary, the Rev. Josiah Pratt, documents containing information of their successful endeavours for the propagating of Christianity in various Pagan Countries. The communication received a respectful answer, accompanied by some of the printed proceedings in this Diocese; including information of this Society, then recently instituted. The Bishop stated further, that he had lately received from the same Society, through their Reverend Secretary, further accounts of their proceedings; which, with those before sent, are open to the perusal of the Members of this Board. As the Bishop will feel himself under an obligation to give a respectful answer to the second communication, and to send further information of the proceedings of this Society, he submits to the Managers the propriety of doing it in their name. The Board concur with the Bishop, in his grateful sense of the attention manifested in the premises, by the Church Missionary Society; requesting him to transmit the documents as by him proposed, and to add to them the two last Reports of the Society for the advancement of Christianity in Pensylvania, issued since the Reports stated by the Bishop to have been communicated by him; and further to assure the same respectable Body, of the interest taken by this Board in all endeavours to extend the kingdom of the Redeemer. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FUNDS. 1.-BENEFACTIONS, COLLECTIONS, AND ANNUAL SUB. SCRIPTIONS, IN AND NEAR LONDON, II.-BENEFACTIONS, COLLECTIONS, AND ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS, out of LONDON AND ITS VICINITY. III. CONGREGATIONAL COLLECTIONS. IV.—ASSOCIATIONS, IN AND NEAR LONDON. V.-ASSOCIATIONS, OUT OF london anD ITS VICINITY. B |