to whom I last adverted, never prosecuted a measure, or harboured a wish, for the subjugation of India. They studied to give a form and fashion to the structure of our power-such as, by discouraging assault, and not by imposing an odious thraldom, might produce a Quiet, as distinctly beneficial to the Native States, as it was desirable for the advantage of our own concerns.

His Lordship adds some remarks on the influence of the British Character in India (for which we refer the Reader to the observations, in the following Survey, under the head of India within the Ganges), which may powerfully tend to convince us, that, by the beneficent exercise of that authority which our country has acquired in India, Divine Providence is preparing the minds of the Natives ultimately to receive the best of all Gifts at our hands -the knowledge of that only Name under heaven given among men whereby they can be saved.

To what else can this state of things be ascribed, if not to the secret direction and over-ruling of the Divine Hand!

And this Providential Preparation will still further appear, from considering the use which Christians have already made of the power possessed by Britain in India. Let any reflecting Reader contemplate the Institutions now in action or in preparation at or near the British Presidencies-and let him follow, on the Map of India, the course of the Missionary Stations which are already occupied, both in the British and the Native Territories, as it is traced in the following Survey, from the south-east corner of Bengal all round and through the heart of Hindoostan-and he will find (particularly if he connect with these the Stations of the Company's Chaplains, many of whom are rendering most important aid to the enlightening of the Natives) that there is no spot of this vast territory which may not soon be fertilized, when once the abundant showers of heaven begin to descend. In these Sacred Oases, scattered throughout the moral desert of India, the Christian Labourers are, at present, diligently cultivating, in the midst of many discouragements and fears, their own little demesnes for the sustenance of themselves and of the few people yet committed to their care: but they are there preparing that seed, which shall one day cover the whole land with fertile harvests; and they are already, wherever they find opportunity, scattering this seed abroad. Let but the Spirit be poured from on high, and in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes-the valleys shall stand so thick with corn, that they shall laugh and sing-the handful of corn in the earth on the top of the mountains, shall shake its fruit like Lebanon, and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. These Sacred Spots will put forth on all sides their quick and abundant verdure, and the whole land shall yield her increase.

May the Great Head of the Church pour forth the Spirit of grace and of supplication, on the whole Christian World! And may every one of our Readers, in particular, have his heart deeply engaged, at all times, in seeking this blessing; so that whether in his closet or in his family, in the social or in the public assembly, on ordinary or on particular occasions, he may fervently

pray that the Spirit may be poured out on all flesh, that at the Name of Jesus every knee may bow, and every tongue may confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!

Western Africa.

THE attention of enterprising men is now drawn so strongly, on various grounds, to the Continent of Africa, that there is every reasonable hope of a rapid advance in the discovery of its unknown interior. The progress of Colonization, both on its western and southern coasts, offers points of support to those who push forward their researches, for purposes either of commerce or of beneficence: while Expeditions, abcut to be undertaken under the sanction of Government, in the northern parts of the Continent, will contribute to enlarge our knowledge of it in that quarter; and the intercourse opening with Abyssinia will ultimately give access to it on its eastern side.

It may be noticed with great satisfaction, that a spirit of discovery and of commercial enterprise is awakened among the Colonists of Sierra Leone. For the last twelve months, a series of intelligent papers has appeared in the Gazette of that Colony, in which much light is thrown on the geography of the western part of the Continent; and valid reasons are alleged, for attempt. ing an intercourse with the Interior, from that Colony, by way of Teembo and Tombuctoo.

The growing strength and character of the Colony have now an influence far inland. This is sufficiently attested by two Official Documents, in Arabic, translations of which have appeared in the Sierra-Leone Gazette. One of these Documents was addressed to the Governor, by Almamy, of Teembo, a Mahomedan, and King of the large country of Foutah Jallon, inhabited by the Foulahs; entreating, in his own name and in that of the subordinate Foulah Chiefs, the interference of the Governor for the restoration of peace between two Chiefs of the Mandingo Country, whose quarrels interrupted the route from Teembo to Sierra Leone. The other Document alluded to, was a Circular Letter from a Heathen Prince, still further distant,-Dhaa, King of Bambarra, residing at Sego, a town of 30,000 inhabitants, on the Niger, and said to be the most powerful monarch of the Interior: this Letter was addressed to the Kings and Chiefs of the West, on occasion of King Dhaa's sending a Messenger to the Governor of Sierra Leone, requesting a safeconduct for him to the British Settlement, and urging them to grant protection to all travellers.

The Letter of Almamy, of Teembo, led to a mission from the Colony to that Chief. Mr. O'Beirne, Assistant Staff Surgeon, offered his services, for this purpose, to the Acting Governor, Captain Grant. He reached his destination on the 11th of March, and was received with the utmost cordiality. A Grand Palaver was held; in which it was determined, without a dissentient voice, to embrace the opportunity then presented of forming a regular commercial intercourse with the Colony, by way of Port Logo, at the head of the Sierra-Leone River, and about 200 miles from Teembo. Mr. O'Beirne reached the Colony, on his return, on the 18th of April, accompanied by a number of Chiefs and Traders: among these was Omarroo Kroo, nephew of Almamy, charged by his uncle with the completion of the arrangements for a regular intercourse with Teembo. On the 28th of April, a grand Palaver took place at Government House, at which about one hundred Natives from the Interior, including Twenty Chiefs, were present, and which ended to the satisfaction of all parties. The Chiefs and Traders set out on their return, on the 6th of May, highly gratified by their reception: and it was afterward ascertained that they had diffused such general satisfaction, that it was only necessary for travellers to say that they were going to or returning from Sierra Leone, to ensure a free path and hospitable entertainment.

By a providential concurrence of circumstances, Mr. O'Beirne met, at Teembo, with Setafa, the King of Bambarra's Messenger, on his journey to the Colony. He had with him three men of the late Royal-African

Corps, who accompanied from the Colony Assistant Staff-Surgeon Dockard, when he proceeded with the Expedition under Major Grey, and were inadvertently left behind when that Gentleman quitted Bammakoo on the Niger. The Circular Letter of King Dhaa, before mentioned, speaks highly of the conduct of Mr. Dockard, while in the kingdom of Bambarra; where he was long detained by a war, which the neighbouring Mahomedan Tribes were carrying on against Dhaa, because he refused to submit to their Prophet. Setafa was the bearer of presents and a Letter to the Governor. After a short stay in the Colony, he left it on the 12th of July, for Foutah Jallon, to reside there during the rains; promising to return after their termination, with a view to accompany Lieutenant Laing, Adjutant of the Second West India Regiment, who had volunteered his services to proceed with Setafa to the kingdom of Bambarra, and thence to Tombuctoo if circumstances should favour the enterprise.

On the important view of the Colony to which we have adverted, we quote the following observations from the Sierra-Leone Gazette:

"The friendly intercourse which the establishment of this Colony has brought about with the surrounding nations, and with those also of the Interior, will ensure the safety of a traveller for many hundred miles from the coast; so that an individual, starting with such great advantages, may be supposed merely to commence his travels, when he departs from Sego to explore more distant countries in the Interior.

"The honourable and prudent line of conduct observed by Assistant StaffSurgeon Dockard, in the countries through which he passed to and from Sego, and during his long residence on the banks of the Niger, has materially contributed to facilitate the future attempts and exertions of enterprising adventurers in the cause of African Discovery; and has, likewise, inspired the Natives of these distant countries with that confidence and good-will toward us, which now lead them, day after day, to visit our Settlements, and to cement more firmly the growing attachment to ourselves, to our lawful commerce, and to our noble institutions.

"The mission which was so successfully performed by Assistant Staff Surgeon O'Beirne, to Almamy, King of the Foulah Nation, has promoted, in a very eminent degree, the leading objects which the Local Government has so long struggled to obtain.

"Independently of the commercial advantages, which daily flow from the friendly intercourse established by the wise and correct proceedings of these Gentlemen, we have reason to expect, from their talents and attainments, communications of the highest interest.

"It was a just reproach to this Colony, for a long period, that no one ventured forward in the cause of African Discovery, nor attempted, by personal exertion, to extend and enlarge our commercial intercourse with the Interior. That reproach is now happily removed."

From the same Paper, we extract some remarks on the conclusions which may be drawn from the Letter of the King of Bambarra:

"The reasonings by which we supported our preference of the route of Sierra Leone and Teembo above all others for penetrating into the interior of Africa, however convincing they might have been to ourselves, and however apparently unanswerable by others, would probably be, in great measure, attributed to partiality for this Colony; but when a Prince in the interior of Africa, altogether unaware of Mr. O'Beirne's mission, despatches a similar mission at the same moment for the same object, so that both meet at a midway station, each anticipating the other, it is surely impossible not to be struck with the coincidence.

"His calculations must be equally free from partiality and from speculative refinement-suggested by obvious interest, and guided by plain facts: consequently, no further question can be made of the superior advantages of a communication from Sierra Leone to the Niger through Teembo, in comparison with any other route; whether we regard the interests of the Natives, or the objects of Europeans in establishing and cultivating a connection with

them. In future, therefore, the sole care will be, to make the best use of the line of intercourse thus providentially opened."

With this favourable prospect of increasing intercourse between Britain and Africa, we rejoice to see that the present and future possessions of His Majesty, on the whole line of the Western Coast of this Continent, for forty degrees of latitude, from the twentieth degree North to the twentieth degree South, are brought under one general superintendence and direction. An Act, to this effect, received the Royal Assent on the 7th of May. By this Act, the African Company is abolished, and all the possessions of the Crown within the limits above mentioned; approaching, on the South, the Colony of the Cape; and, on the North, the Empire of Morocco-are annexed to the Colony of Sierra Leone, and made subject to the administration established there. Not only will our knowledge of Africa and our intercourse with its Interior be greatly assisted, by the uniformity of administration and the increase of power, which will result from this measure; but the progress of that continued pest of Africa, the trade in Human Beings, will be thereby more effectually checked, and the virus itself more quickly destroyed.

For we regret to state, that this shameful traffic has of late been carried on, on this coast, with augmented efforts and still aggravated ferocity. Our extracts from the Fifteenth Report of the African Institution (see pp. 275-279 and 282-285 of the last Volume) will have put our Readers in possession of most afflicting details.

To these we shall here add an extract of a Report to the Lords of the Admiralty, by Sir George Collier, dated Sept. 16th, 1820, and printed by order of the House of Commons:

"My Public Letters, reciting a variety of atrocious facts, will, I trust, have satisfied their Lordships, that this more than ever cruelly-conducted Slave Trade is, contrary to their anxious expectations, far from being on the decline."

After exempting our own country from all share in this Trade, and stating the circumstances in which it stands, in reference to America, Spain, Holland, and Portugal, Sir George adds the following dreadful statement respecting a Power, which we had hoped would have been taught by her own singular calamities and mercies to dread the renewal of that retribution, which the cry of the blood of murdered brethren had already contributed to call down upon her:

"But FRANCE-it is with the deepest regret that I mention it-has countenanced and encouraged the Slave Trade, almost beyond estimation or belief. Under pretence of supplying her own Colonies and furnishing the means only required for their cultivation, she has her Flag protected and British cruisers can only retire, when they shall see her ensign; for, search being forbidden, power and force become unavailing.

"Under this security, France is engrossing nearly the whole of the Slave Trade; and she has extended this Traffic beyond what can be supposed, but by one only who has witnessed it. In truth, France now supplies the Foreign Colonies, north of the Line, with Africans. I exaggerate nothing in saying that Thirty Vessels, bearing the colours of France, have, nearly at the same time and within two or three degrees of distance, been employed Slaving, without my daring to offer interruption, but at considerable risk: yet I was induced, under some circumstances, to detain vessels bearing the French Flag, in the hope of checking the bold and frequent outrages committed by the French on our own coast. I will add, that, IN THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS,

NOT LESS THAN SIXTY THOUSAND AFRICANS HAVE BEEN FORCED FROM THEIR COUNTRY, PRINCIPALLY UNDER THE COLOURS OF FRANCE.'

Who can calculate the aggregate of human suffering, undergone by these

Sixty Thousand Victims; first in being driven like beasts from the Interior, and then in encountering the horrors of the middle passage!

Notwithstanding the evils which we have deplored, opportunities for exertion are multiplying within this first portion of the Heathen World which we visit in our Survey. Wherever British power and influence are sufficiently felt to repress the schemes of the wicked, these opportunities present themselvesin the Gambia throughout the Colony of Sierra Leone, in the Sherbro under the respectable family of the Caulkers, and in some places farther southward. The American Colonization Society has secured land in the Bassa Country; but sickness and death have still retarded its exertions. The Island of Fernando Po, in the north-east part of the Gulph of Guinea, may hereafter become a very important Station, both for the suppression of the Slave Trade, and for the propagation of the Gospel on the opposite shores: some account is given of this Island, in reference to the extension of Christianity, in the Second Appendix to the Twenty-first Report of the Church Missionary Society; and the great advantages which Britain might derive from the posses. sion of it in the destruction of the Slave Trade, are fully stated in the Papers printed on this subject, last year, by order of the House of Commons.

'BATHURST.

tain Grant took the command of Sierra Leone, during the absence of Sir Charles A Settlement on the Island of St. Mary, at the MacCarthy, and was succeeded at St.

Mouth of the Gambia,

Sir G. R. Collier, in his Second Annual Report on the Settlements on this Coast, gives the following account of St. Mary's:

The Island of St. Mary, upon which Bathurst, the capital, is rising with the same rapidity that the most healthful climate and most fruitful and productive country could ever desire, is a barren sandy spot, in many places scarcely above the level of the sea: indeed, a large proportion of it is evidently thrown up by the force of the surf on the sea-shore, and appears composed of large beds of shell, principally the African cockle. The island of St. Mary is divided from the main, by one or two swampy creeks, which overflow during the season of heavy rains: a dyke, however, thrown up to north-west of the town (and which I understand is proposed) may effectually protect the residents from the unpleasant, if not dangerous, predicament, they must, in the present rains, be subjected to. Of the healthfulness of St. Mary's I am not disposed to say any thing; nor would I wish to crush the enterprise of those, whom circumstances have led to establish themselves on so singular a spot. When an attempt shall be made to clear away the mangrove which bounds one side of the island, and the dyke proposed shall be completed, it is probable sickliness of climate may be considerably

reduced.

In the mean time, buildings combining neatness and beauty are appearing; and though every necessary is obtained from the opposite shore, yet population is rapidly increasing; and St. Mary's bids fair to rival every spot on the lengthened line of coast of Western Africa, in commerce and industry.

Of Captain Grant, the Commandant at that time, Sir George speaks highly. Cap

Mary's by Captain Stepney.

The Kings of Barra and Combo, and the other Mandingoes on the River, manifest the best disposition towards the English.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

We are sorry to report the death of the Chaplain at St. Mary's, the Rev. Robert Hughes, and that also of Mrs. Hughes. They arrived at Bathurst, by way of Sierra Leone, in March of last year, but survived little more than five months-Mr. Hughes dying on the 24th of August, and Mrs. Hughes on the 28th. One Son, about fourteen years of age, was left in England; but two others, very young, were with their parents at Bathurst.

Mr. Hughes had undertaken to act as the Correspondent of the Society, and to promote its objects in the Gambia. He apprised the Committee, that the Natives up the River were willing to send their Children to any Schoolmaster who would settle among them; and suggested that a knowledge of agriculture would greatly conciliate the people to a Teacher, the loss of the Slave Trade having left them poor. Cotton, in particular, might be introduced with advantage. Should St. Mary's be made a Liberated Negro Station to any