that he was no common Negro: and I found that I was not wrong. In a moment, I was myself addressed in a similar manner, with the query, "And how Massa like the place?" I told him that I liked the people better than the place. "How so, Massa?" I said that the place was rough, and the roads winding; but I liked the people, because I saw them well disposed to come to be instructed themselves, and to send their children, for the same purpose, in such numbers. "Hey! Massa say so? Massa say that him like the people better than the place, because him see the place how bad it is; but Massa like the people, because him no see their hearts, how bad."

Dec. 18, 1836: Lord's Day-I accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Betts to church, at an early hour; and was quite refreshed, on my arrival, to witness the activity displayed, on the part of all assembled, in attending to religious instruction. At 9 o'clock, the church was nearly filled with persons of all ages, instructing and being instructed. After the Service, a numerous class of Candidates for the Lord's Supper came to me; and appeared very eager to obtain information, and to receive advice on the right reception of the Holy Sacrament.

A shower of rain confined us rather late in the church, which time was occupied in teaching the children psalmody, in addressing, and catechizing them. On the Monday morning, after witnessing the operation of the School at Argyle Pen, I returned.

Mr. Dixon proceeds to relate various circumstances occurring at his own Station, indicating an evident

Increase of Religious Inquiry, and Value

for Sacred Ordinances.

Dec. 25: Christmas Day - Held Service at Harmony Hall. The weather had been so unfavourable for two days before, that I was quite fearful that we should have a very small company. I found, however, on arriving, the proprietor's house quite filled, and persons standing all around the house. Many of the people had come from a considerable distance. The heat, during the Service, was so increased by the breath of the people, that several fainted. I find it no trifling thing to go through the whole of a Service like this, when, after the Service is over, so many wish to take the opportunity of asking your advice and counsel on many points difficult to their own minds.

The

following are specimens of these questions: "Is it wholesome [proper] for people to eat supper after prayers ?"-"Is it harm to obey the overseer's order, if he tell us to kill the Apprentices' poultry which annoy him ?"-"If God is so good to us, does God make sick too ?"

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I asked her

"Massa, me On inquiring

In the evening, I returned to Mount Unity, to address the people assembled there. Before the people arrived, one woman, desirous of being admitted to the Lord's Table, came to me. as to the state of her heart. feel me every thing bad." if she were in charity with all men, she said, "Massa, me love every body, but "— naming the person-" me no love him at all: he thieve provisions from my son's garden, and quarrel with him: him very wicked man; me hate him." On inquiring of her what good she expected from Christ's dying on the cross, she replied, " Massa, if Jesus no die on the cross, me die myself."

Dec. 26 I went to visit Accompong. Before I had been in the house many minutes, several people who had followed me, came, dressed in their best, expecting that I had come to preach there. I assented, if there should be any of the Maroons willing to attend, and make a little company; and was afterward much pleased to witness eighty or ninety people assembled, at an hour's notice, in the school-room. After the Service, they came to me in a crowd, desiring me to baptize their children, and to marry several of the adults. I was extremely pleased, as the result of this visit was, that fourteen couples of the Maroons gave in their names, desiring their banns to be published on the following Lord's Day. Here I would notice, that during my first three-quarters of a year's residence here, I married seventeen couples; during the present quarter I have married seven couples, which is an increase; and I have the names of sixteen couples which have been once published. I cannot omit to mention one circumstance, which occurred on my way from Accompong. It should be known, that the Maroons are greatly addicted to drumming, fiddling, and dancing, particularly when they are at all in liquor-a practice too common among all classes here. On my return from Accompong, we met a musical party, who were going thither. At first, I could not at all understand why this party should suddenly stop, upon our meeting them: when my

Clerk, knowing them a little better than myself, observed to me that the fiddler had hid his fiddle in the bush, the drummer had concealed his drum, &c. Mr. Paul has informed me, that, since this visit, the people appear to be quite roused; and that a more numerous Congregation, both of children and adults, assembled last Lord's Day than has been in the habit of attending.

Something, however, I must say more immediately respecting my own Nassau District. I hope that things are in a flourishing state: and when I make this remark, it is but requisite that I should state the grounds of my hopes-they are these: 1. An increase of numbers both at Mexico and Windsor; and the establishment, I may now call it, of altogether a new Congregation at Harmony Hall; average attendance, 150. 2. The devout behaviour of my people:-so attentive are many of my regular hearers, many of whom also come to my house every evening, that I observe them repeating the whole of what I tell them in my sermon. 3. The fact that many of them are "coming out," and are not ashamed to acknowledge that they wish to be Christians. 4. The desire manifested by the people for the accommodation of their children to be instructed.

Dec. 31, 1836-According to my custom, I met my Communicants, and those who wished to communicate with us; and was much pleased with the simple tale told by one or two of those who wished to join with us at the Lord's Table.

The number of Scholars which my Clerk has, has been doubled since the summer he had then 15; at Christmas, 31; and expects next week to number more than 40. These, of course, I superintend; as the Clerk receives a stipend for his labour, and will attach the children to Appleton. I have no doubt of a further increase, to the number of 60 or 70, if he shall be able to accommodate them.

Jan. 1, 1837: Lord's Day-I had many more people at Windsor than ever have attended me there before; scarcely less than 500. The whole of the house was thrown open; and it was discouraging to me to see companies going away, unable to hear. The increase of hearers is remarkably steady; a few are added each Lord's Day, from the neighbouring Estates; and the circumstance which pleases me most is, that I am now understood in nearly

every thing I say to them, and that the people go away talking about the subject which has engaged their attention.

Jan. 8-I cannot refrain from mentioning the pleasing circumstances of this day. In the little place which we call our church here - Mexico Hospital - there were crowded, I am told, 273 persons; the greatest number, with the exception of Good Friday last, that have ever met in this place. How shall I account for the overflowing with which I have lately been blessed? I can only say, that my people are ever in my heart and thoughts and warmest prayers. Last Sunday I began my half-yearly Collection at Windsor for the Church Missionary Society, and received 31. 6s. 8d. currency. To-day, I have had my other Collection at Mexico, and received 47. 12s. 1d. ;-making, altogether, 77. 18s. 9d. currency. This money has been gathered from the Apprentices, and free persons of colour, almost exclusively. The most of it consists of sixpences and threepences. Two black little girls, under eight years of age, begged their mother to bring their threepence each, which they have been for some time past busied in earning.

We add a few passages from the communications of the Missionaries, illustrative of points of some moment in the West-Indies' Mission. Mr. Dixon, writing December 15, 1836, having observed the influence of thus represents the Sacred Music among his charge,

Importance of Attention to Singing.

How I wish that I had just one opportunity of whispering to my Brethren at the Institution, to represent to them the great importance of a Missionary's cultivating the science of Singing;-I mean, so far as to be able to lead a company of ignorant people through the whole, not only of two or three, but of several tunes;-to say nothing of being possessed of a stock of tunes, to be ready to produce one, on all occasions, suited to the nature of the hymn to be sung. I would tell my Brethren, that the people who cared little about what the Missionary said, would be charmed to emulation on hearing him sing; and that when he has taught a few persons to sing a few tunes well, many will come from the neighbourhood, on the Lord's Day, to regale their ears with the psalmody which he has

been the means of introducing. I would also tell them of the reciprocal effect which the Missionary's labours will have upon his own feelings; for I speak from experience, when I assure them, that they would soon find the coarse, unmeaning" La, la, la," changed into "Oh, that will be joyful, when we meet to part no more!" or, Oh for a heart to praise my God!"

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This meeting is cheering to the feelings of a Missionary; because the people, unable to come every night from their houses, after their return from labour, leave their tools outside the door, attend worship, and then quietly retire, taking their tools with them.

Mr. Holt describes a scene, which exhibits an interesting state of feeling in the people among whom he labours-a feeling, which may, by wise cultivation, be rendered subservient, hereafter, to important practical ends, should it please God to raise up, in the West Indies, Native Missionaries to Africa.

Delight of the Negroes in Recollections of Africa.

The Negroes are very fond of hearing any thing about Africa: and I have read them some accounts of Sierra Leone, which made so deep an impression upon them, that, I believe, if I had had strength to have read all night, they would have been glad to have heard it. When I had done reading, I told them, that if any of them wished to give any thing toward sending

Missionaries and Teachers to others of their

countrymen, to teach them "good word" -i.e. God's Word-I would take it, and send it to the Church Missionary Society. Consequently, twenty-four came forward, and said, "Me beg Massa put down me money;" some of them giving 1s. 8d., others 10d., and others 5d. per month, currency; so that they gave 11. 3s. 4d.; and I have no doubt that at our next Missionary Meeting that sum will be doubled. We hold the Missionary Meetings on the first Monday in the month. I trust this may be called a kind of first-fruits to the Lord. After the Meeting, gave them the papers designed for the weekly and monthly contributors. One poor man, Jack Dawes, came to me at our house, to ask me to tell him the meaning of the picture on one side of his book: it was a Hindoo picture. He said, “Massa, no can please, give me some me country." I

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said, "What is the name of your country?" He said, " Portuguese." This I did not understand; but one who stood by me said, "Massa, give me one dat him tink": so, after having seen it, I said, "Do 66 Oh me you mean the Bulloms?" Massa, dat is de very same country dat me at! Oh me good Massa, please give me dat!" I then gave it him: it was No. 18, Midsummer, 1820. I asked him if he knew what the picture meant: he said, Yes, Massa, me know all, all about it.” I said, "Do you not think, that, although you were taken away from your own country in a ship, and made a slave, that God has been very good and kind to you, in sending you good word,' which tells you the way to be happy now, and after you are dead?" "Yes, Massa, Him quite good; me poor wicked sinner. Will Massa please to take 10d. from me every month, to send to me poor countrymen good Teachers?" I accordingly put down his name as a subscriber. He was so overpowered with joy at hearing about his own country, that he could not refrain from laughing aloud. The poor Negroes in this neighbourhood scarcely ever heard of the Saviour, or of the way of salvation, the parish Church being fourteen or fifteen miles from them; but we hope and pray that our poor weak labours, through Divine Grace, may lead many of them to repentance and newness of life.

The following is extracted from while it was under the charge of the the account of the Normal School, Rev. C.L.F. Haensel: its subsequent change of place, and its being taken charge of by the Rev. W. K. Betts, have been already adverted to in our last Number, p. 161.

Mr. Haensel thus describes the character and progress of some of his scholars, during the Quarter closing June 30, 1836: their names are not printed.

I removed to this house on the 30th of March, with my first scholar, who had been under my care the three previous months; for I took charge of him about Christmas, at Airy Mount. To his instruction, of course, I have attended with less interruption since my removal to this house than I could before. His progress is slow. He reads imperfectly yet, writes very incorrectly from dictation, and not in a good

hand; in ciphering, which he had to commence with me, he learns, now, Long Division; his voice is unsteady, and powerless; his memory is not tenacious, but it has improved. In the reading of Scripture he manifests attention.

is

On the 8th of April, B., a free black youth, and C., both from Port Antonio, arrived at the Seminary. The former appears to be steady, though not talented; he reads pretty well, and gets on in penmanship, and writing from dictation; beginning Long Division; and is apt at singing, though he has not a good voice. He is attentive on Scriptural subjects, and conducts himself very satisfactorily. C. speaks English a great deal better than the other boys; writes a good hand; and follows in dictation with greater ease than they. He is learning Compound Addition; and does pretty well in Psalmody.

On the 21st of this month, D., a Maroon from Moore Town, and lately Assistant in the school there, arrived, to join the number of my scholars. He is the only one among them recommended for piety; and has manifested a very gratifying desire to improve himself for the office of a Teacher, by means of this Seminary. He reads well, writes pretty correctly from dictation, and seems to have a good memory. The Bible he reads with attention.

Mr. Haensel then states the influence which he was exerting on the Apprentices in his neighbourhood; in whose instruction he was aided by the Youths belonging to the Normal School under his charge.

The Apprentices of this property, 106 in number, having their houses close to this, I could not but think it highly desirable to acquire so much influence over them, as to prevent disturbance from any noisy habits which they might have. I have been told that a change has taken place in their conduct, even without any further doing of mine than coming: whether it will be lasting or not, remains to be seen. They have given me no annoyance whatever; except one Sunday, when a drunkard caused an uproar between the Services; for this, ample apology has since been made. I have opened my door for any one who may like to come to Evening Prayers daily; which has produced an attendance of from thirty to forty, to whom I expound a portion of Scripture. For a

few weeks, at the commencement, I gave an hour to keep up their practice in singing every evening before prayers: this I have now reduced to three times a week; and do not make it quite an hour, as they are sufficiently practised now to keep up psalmody at the Lord's-Day Services. Twice a week, an hour and a half each time, I keep Evening School for nineteen adults; three times a week, two hours each, Infant School for ten young children; and two hours between the Services, Sunday School for thirty-nine scholars. Few of the scholars knew a letter, when they commenced. There is a class now reading words of three letters, in each of these departments. A high value is put by them, I believe, upon the residence of a Minister on the Property.

My normal scholars being the Teachers in all these schools, their time is pretty fully occupied. I have been very little able to employ them in gardening, or any other manual labour, beyond what arises of the nature of domestic engagements. Grammar, Geography, and Composition, are among the branches of Instruction: our progress in them has been too insignificant, hitherto, to allow of my adverting to it, more especially in the above account of my scholars. Tasks of memory have been, chiefly, Catechisms; reading, has been the Bible; singing, all devotional; dictation, frequently Scriptural; Morning Prayers always include interroThe Youths are about gatory exercises. ing instruction, in school or at worship. nine hours per day either receiving or givGiving nine hours to sleep and dressing, one to meals, one to manual employment, and one to learning a task, three hours will remain, during which the Youths are left to choose their own employment, in the school-room, and about the house and garden. My plan is, to ring the school-bell at any of the open portions of time, if I perceive they do not employ themselves nicely; so that they often get an extra lesson; but, on the other hand, it also happens not unfrequently that the regularly-appointed lessons are broken in upon, which brings the actual amount of instruction to its level again.

At the close of the year 1836, when about to relinquish his interesting charge, Mr. Haensel the gave following

From the Journals and Letters of the Society's Catechist, Mr. Charles Carter, the following Extracts are given; which exhibit, in some measure, both the state of the people, and the benefits gradually resulting from Christian Education. Mr. Carter labours in the parish of the Rev. Leonard Strong, St. Matthew's.

April 4th, 1836 - Yesterday, being Easter Day, the Rev. L. Strong preached, and administered the Sacrament to about 110 Communicants. The Bishop of Barbados had proposed to hold a Confirmation at Mr. Strong's church to-day, for all in his parish who wished to avail themselves of that holy Ordinance. A very large number were confirmed, from different parts of Mr. Strong's parish.

April 10-This morning we had Service, as usual. Mr. Strong preached ; after which I held school: about 140 attended. In the evening I had the usual short Service seventy people were present. It being the Sunday next after Easter, I spoke to them on our Saviour's appearance to His Disciples after His resurrection, while they were assembled in an upper

chamber.

April 11-This day I have had about twenty children; but the rains are so very heavy, that it is impossible for them to come from any distance. In the evening, there were about 100 present, including Communicants and Catechumens.

May 6-On Sunday last I had an attack of fever; which appears now to have left me, though it has very much debilitated me.

July 9-Yesterday, hearing that a young woman belonging to Friendship Estate was ill, I went to see her; and several other members of our Church being in the sick house, I spoke to them also of Jesus. I afterward went to see a young man in another part of the Hospital, who

had just been received to the Lord's Table, and had communicated only once. He had been absent from the House of God about three weeks; but had evidently been taught much in the school in which he had been during that time. It was manifest that he had not long to live, as he was labouring under a complication of disorders; but, in the midst of all, he was in a blessed state of mind; for though he appeared to have a great perception of his own sinfulness and depravity, yet he had such confidence in his

Saviour's meritorious intercession on his behalf, and spoke of such peace within, that his situation appeared to be almost

an enviable one.

Sept. 3-I have been to Friendship to

day, to learn when the School-room there

will be finished, so that I may commence school; but find nothing done toward fitting it up. Being there, I visited the Hospital and Negro-yard, and spent about two hours in both places;-I trust, not without profit. In the Negro-yard, I had nine old people in one of their houses. Most of them were unable to travel any distance. Two of them were blind; a third had only one eye; a fourth, one leg; and the others were either lame, or decrepid from age. These formed my congregation; with whom I spent a very interesting time: several, I have every reason to believe, have been washed from sin by the blood of the Lamb. I was afterward informed of a woman in another part of the Negro-yard, who was very ill. I went to see her; and found her apparently near her end, in a lamentable state of soul, as well as weakness of body. I exhorted her, and prayed with her, commending her to the Lord; and recommended her to believe on and look to the blood of Jesus, that she might be cleansed from her numerous sins.

The number of Communicants attending the Chapel of Ease is, at present, 180. The number of scholars attending my Sunday School, including adults and children, is, 119 males, and 124 females. The average attendance, including both, is about 130. It is difficult to say what the attendance is on week-days. When I go to the Garden of Eden, which I do twice a week, I have twelve free children, and, on an average, about forty adults, after they have performed their seven-anda-half-hours' task. I purpose visiting the Friendship Estate immediately, in the