difficulties, however great, can, with the Divine blessing, hinder its success.

Nationally and religiously, the duty is plain. We have been put in trust with Christianity,—we have been the depositaries of a pure and holy faith, which inculcates the most expanded benevolence, and yet have not only neglected, as a nation, to confer upon Africa any real benefit, but have inflicted upon it a positive evil. Covetousness has dimmed our moral perceptions of duty, and paralyzed our efforts, during many generations; and now that the nation has awakened from its lethargy, it is high time to act up to the principles of our religion.

Africa still lies in her blood.

She wants our mis

sionaries, our schoolmasters, our Bibles, all the machinery we possess, for ameliorating her wretched condition. Shall we, with a remedy that may safely be applied, neglect to heal her wounds? Shall we, on whom the lamp of life shines, refuse to disperse her darkness?

"If there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels of mercies,' we must awake to the duty, amidst every difficulty, of freely and liberally distributing to others those rich and abundant blessings which have been entrusted to us.

I dwell no longer on the point of duty, but proceed to prove that we can apply the remedy.

I have dwelt the longer on the facilities which exist for the instruction of the natives, in order to show that the attempt to raise negro intellect, and to impart moral culture and religious instruction, is not of

that forlorn character which many suppose. The facts I have stated are, I apprehend, sufficient to show that there is, amongst the Africans, a capability of receiving instruction; that there are agents within our reach, well calculated to assist in conferring it; that there is, in many parts at least, a thirst for education, and a readiness to accept the services of missionaries; and that, although the steps already taken have been very few, there has been some little advance. Other circumstances render the project of sending instructors more feasible at the present than at any former time. They will be carried to their destination by water. British steamers will be upon the Niger to protect them (at the only time that missionaries want protection) on their first settlement among the natives. Missionaries find less difficulty than any other class of persons, perhaps, in winning the confidence of native tribes. The secret of their success, is, the spirit of fair dealing, and the manifestation of upright and benevolent intentions, which they carry with them. These speak to all men, but especially to the uncivilized, in a language which they accurately comprehend, and to which they freely respond. It would seem, then, that the difficulties, considered a few years ago insurmountable, in the way of an attempt to diffuse intellectual, moral, and religious knowledge amongst millions of the human race, plunged in the very depths of ignorant superstition, have been in a great measure removed. Hence it is evi dent, that the question is not so much as to our power, but as to our willingness, to provide the means of conferring the inestimable benefits of intellectual advancement and true religion.

Having arrived at this point, it will naturally be asked, what scheme of instruction do I propose? I answer, I hardly dare to propose any scheme. Would that there were that charity among the Christians of the happier quarters of the world, which would induce them to lay aside their minor differences, in order to make a combined effort, of the most determined and strenuous character, to pour instruction upon Africa! But if this unity be too much and too good to be expected, we may at least hope that every department of the Christian church will separately press forward into that vast field which will, I trust, speedily be opened, and where there is room enough and need enough, physically and morally, for all.*

I may, however, recommend

Firstly. That in every settlement formed on the views here laid down, the religious, moral, and industrial education of the natives should be considered an essential and fundamental object, claiming

* I have no fear that missionaries to Africa will be wanting from our own country; but it gives me satisfaction to find the following passage in the South African Commercial Advertiser:— It will be agreeable to all who can comprehend the grandeur of this opening prospect, to learn that the people of the United States of America have determined to unite with the discoverers and regenerators of Africa. In a private letter, addressed to a gentleman of this colony, which we have just seen, the writer, one of the heads of a college in New Jersey, announces the deep interest which this subject has already excited in that country; and he inquires, with an anxiety approaching to impatience, as to the course their first missionaries should take, and the regions in which they are likely to be most useful. Thirty students in that college, he says, will be ready to start in a few months. At present their views are chiefly directed to Central Africa. It is not improbable, therefore, that they may follow the course of the newly-opened Niger."

the early and careful attention of the founders of such settlement.

Secondly. That missionary societies should, by mutual agreement, subdivide and apportion the parts of this common field, so that each section of the Christian church may have undisturbed possession of its own sphere of labor.

Thirdly. That immediate arrangements should be made by each for normal schools,* intended to rear not only native teachers of religion, but native artizans, mechanics, and agriculturists, well instructed for the purpose, and themselves converts to Christianity.

Fourthly. That the African Civilization Society now being instituted shall befriend and protect all who are engaged in disseminating the truths of Christianity.

My object will be attained if two things are effected, if a spirit of harmony shall reign amongst all who devote themselves to the benefit of Africa,-—and if,

one.

* I am happy to say that this suggestion is by no means a novel In 1835, the Moravians contemplated a plan for establishing an institution in Jamaica, "for training native missionaries and teachers for needy Africa." The Rev. Hugh Stowell has recently proposed "an institution akin to Bishop's College, in the East Indies, where those of the liberated Africans and of their teeming offspring who should give promise of distinguished piety and talent might be educated as future missionaries to the land of their forefathers." He goes on to say that, "without the services of converted natives, humanly speaking, very extended success cannot be anticipated. If, in other countries, this principle holds good, how much more in the case of Africa. There the fatality of the climate to European constitutions, the untamed savageness of the interior tribes, and the multiplicity of their motley dialects, present next to insuperable barriers to other than aboriginal agency."

wherever channels of commerce are opened, or agricultural locations made, there shall be put in operation at the same moment a system of instruction which shall raise up and send forth teachers of all that Africa requires to learn.

CHAPTER VII.

SPECIFIC STEPS TO BE TAKEN.

I HAVE sufficiently explained what my object is. It is the deliverance of Africa, by calling forth her own resources. We contemplate that her population, instead of being sold into Foreign Slavery, and of perishing by tens of thousands in the process of transportation, shall be employed in the tillage, and in the commerce, which may be found at home. In order to do this, we must

1st. Impede and discourage the Slave Traffic. 2dly. Establish and encourage legitimate com

merce.

3dly. Promote and teach agriculture.

4thly. Impart moral and religious instruction. To accomplish the first, we must

Increase and concentrate our squadron, and make treaties with the chiefs of the coast, the rivers, and the interior.

To accomplish the second, we must

Obtain commanding positions; settle factories; and send out trading-ships.