stances, it is hoped, impressed upon their hearts. Such are some of the characteristics of the system of Sunday School instruction; and in stating, that within the past year there has been an increase of 205 schools, and that the reports from those formerly established are generally most favourable, your Committee cannot refrain, in the first instance, from ascribing the praise, as is infinitely due, to Him who is the Author and Finisher of every good counsel and every just work, persuaded that in his wrath he remembereth mercy, and from looking forward with the humble and cheering hope, that, warned by his judgments which have recently visited this land, its inhabitants will at length learn that righteousness which truly exalteth a nation, and whose fruit is invariably quietness and peace.

In reporting the state of the schools in connexion with your Society, it is impossible not to advert to the circumstances of the country, and the causes which appear to have led to the late disturbances in Ireland, as far as they are connected with the subject of education. Whatever may have been the immediate causes of irritation, which have excited the spirit of insurrection, that has unhappily so much prevailed in parts of this country, it is evident, that some disorder must have previously existed in the moral constitution of the people, some predisposition to the contagion of sedition, whence has originated the rapid and easy spread of its poisonous and noxious principles -the ready furtherance of, or submission to the tyrannical dictates of a lawless combination, and the willing perpetration of the prescribed deeds of outrage and blood. It is impossible not to trace in the progress of this daring insurrection, among other features, those of wayward and misguided ignorance of the laws of God, and contempt for those of man; which working on passions never subjected to early restraint or discipline, have led the unhappy peasantry of those districts to cast off the influence of their superiors, and seduced by the sophistry of obscure legends, or artful interpretations of prophecy, to attempt, by the efforts of a banditti, the desperate project of arresting the steady course of British law, and of subverting the massy fabric of the British empire. Whatever then may have been the immediate cause or concurrent causes of disaffection, the absence of early religious instruction and moral culture has been, incontrovertibly, one principal source whence these waters of bitterness have flowed; and this is corroborated by the records of your society, by contrasting the state of Sunday School instruction in the North of Ireland, with that in the South, which has been the scene of disturbance.

Your Committee lament the more this deficiency of Sunday Schools in the South, as those which exist there have generally answered the expectations of their benevolent and zealous conductors: nor do your Committee know that there are any institutions more faithfully governed, nor any children more affectionately and carefully taught. For their conductors, who thus standing alone, have set this laudable example to their neighbours, your Committee would express the warmest esteem, while they cannot but indulge the hope, that when the storm and the whirlwind of human passion shall have subsided, the voice of Christian instruction will go forth, and cause the wilder

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ness to rejoice, and to blossom as the rose. Yet while the mind dwells with the warmest interest on these isolated exertions of genuine benevolence, with what cordial delight must it contemplate the state of those districts where Sunday School education prosperswhere the resident gentry, or landed proprietor, are not tempted to abandon their benevolent plans, overwhelmed in observing the predominance of evil, and the scanty co-operation which they can procure; but where they find in every subordinate rank, active and qualified agents to convey to the willing minds of the population the living oracles of God-where the parochial and other ministers, not limited in their valuable designs to their own exertions and those of their families, see among their parishioners and congregations many anxious to carry their labours into effect, by teaching the young under their superintendence, all that a Christian should believe and do to. his soul's health. And even in places where Sunday Schools possess not the advantage of such superintendence and patronage, it is grateful to perceive the farmers and their families, the country schoolmaster and the village tradesman, with exemplary benevolence undertaking this labour of love, and zealously and efficiently endeavouring to train up the children of their neighbourhood in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It is also truly astonishing with what perseverance and success they have continued their exertions-without patronage without money-frequently without a suitable house in which to hold their school, they have removed it from place to place -assembling one class in one private house, and another class in another-adopting any expedient rather than discontinue their useful labours; and nevertheless, in this irregular manner they have frequently produced the happiest effect on the characters and conduct of their pupils, and sometimes have, after much difficulty, succeeded in establishing a permanent school, and in building a convenient house by the gratuitous labour of their poor neighbours. In some districts, Sunday Schools have multiplied so much, that there are individual parishes in the North of Ireland, where more children are under Sunday School instruction than in some of the populous Southern counties. It may indeed be too sanguine to say, that where this valuable system does predominate, sedition cannot enter, nor outrage occur; your Committee are well aware that other causes do conduce to preserve the tranquillity of the North, and to exasperate the disturbances in the South, nor would they attribute more than its due influence to Sunday School instruction; but it is surely safe to affirm, that this mode of education places strong and numerous obstacles to the contagion of lawlessness and disaffection. The life and spirit of sedition consist in secret associations, cemented by unlawful and secret oaths; the most common effect of Sunday School instruction is an unreserved confidence and mutual affection between the higher and lower classes of society: the object of insurrection is to seize or to destroy the property of the gentry, the clergy, and the farmers; the Sunday School system presents their superiors to the eyes of the poor in the endearing aspect of the instructers and friends of their

children. Nor are the hearts of parents insensible to this appeal: the correspondents of your Society bear frequent testimony to the gratitude of fathers and mothers, for the attention paid to their little ones; they have been frequently induced to attend at the school, to listen to the instruction which their children receive; they have often been led to an attendance on public worship, which they had hitherto neglected, and have, in many instances, assisted their children in preparing their lessons during the week for the ensuing Sunday they therefore sympathize in the benevolent designs of the higher classes for their improvement, and will not probably listen to the suggestions of the turbulent and disaffected. Thus the influence of the Sunday School system is not to be limited to the number of children reported in attendance, it will more or less extend to their domestic circle; and if it be computed that there are, on an average, but three other members of the family, it will be evident to how large a number of persons this salutary influence may be expected to reach, and how imperative the duty, and awakening the interest to institute Sunday Schools as widely as possible through all parts of this land, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established in the hearts and lives of its inhabitants. Nor should those despair who can only reclaim a small portion of the population around them, while a wide waste remains uncultivated. A few years since many of those districts which now contain numerous and flourishing Sunday Schools, were entirely destitute of these institutions : : perseverance and zeal have succeeded in placing them in their present situation. Moreover, the example of one well educated and pious person may produce much effect on his connexions and friends-the influence of one reformed and well instructed family, may be of vast advantage to those who come in contact with it; and thus the few now under instruction may tend to leaven the whole, and the next generation may perhaps see the difficulties which impede education removed, and those children who now as learners attend the schools, will be qualified to act as teachers, first of their own families, and then of their poorer and ignorant neighbours-a prospect which it is truly delightful for any benevolent mind to contemplate.

Your Committee have considered it to be their duty, in the present state of Ireland, to dwell thus long on the political and civil advantages of Sunday School instruction, although they well know that the objects at which your Society principally aim, as far exceed in value any earthly good, as eternity is more enduring than time. They have the pleasure of stating, that the higher objects of Sunday School instruction have been in several instances attained; for the communications of your correspondents testify that marks of religious improvement are frequently manifest, both in the children and their parents. The holy Sabbath more strictly and piously observed-the holy Scriptures carefully read, committed to memory, and studied in many families in which that sacred book had hitherto been a stranger -public worship more numerously and reverently attended, and a thirst for religious knowledge increased through the neighbourhood, so as to render the religious circulating libraries, which have latterly

Western Africa.-Cape Montserado.

337

been in some instances attached to the Schools, objects of eager pursuit among the families of the poor. These have been reported as some of the results of Sunday School instruction, and these means of religious improvement have not been used in vain. It is generally reported that a great moral change has been effected on the children who have been educated in Sunday Schools; they frequently bear evidence to the value of the instruction which they have received, by their blameless and exemplary lives; they often become useful teachers in the Schools where they had been themselves educated, and in some instances have become heads of families, discharging their important duties so as to exhibit a marked difference between their children and those of their uneducated neighbours. In the hours of affliction, of sickness, and of death, instances have occurred, in which the pupils of these Schools have afforded comfort and consolation to the sufferers, or have been themselves supported by the principles of true religion, which they had imbibed in these Insti

tutions.

The experience of more than twelve years has given full trial to the Sunday School system in Ireland. During that period its beneficial nature has been fully proved; it has procured the approbation of the statesman, from its tendency to produce subordination and social order; it has received the cordial assistance of the benevolent, as calculated to promote domestic and individual happiness; and it has called forth the active co-operation and friendship of many Christians, as being a means likely to turn many from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.

WESTERN AFRICA.-CAPE MONTSERADO.

THERE are various opinions existing amongst good and wise men respecting the project of forming a colony of our free blacks on the western coast of Africa. For our own parts we are decidedly in favour of the plan; we believe the object is quite attainable, and that great and lasting benefit is to be derived, by both the colonists and the natives, when such an institution shall have become well regulated and permanently established.

But however various the opinions of men may be on this point, all will agree that the United States' government have adopted a wise, humane, and just policy in attempting to put a stop to the horrors of the slave trade on that coast, so far as it is carried on by those miserable wretches in human shape, over whom our government have a legal control; who disgrace their country and the American name, as well as violate the laws of God and man, by plundering the blood of their fellow-creatures. There seemed to be no other method of rendering the liberated slaves a lasting service, but by establishing a colony for their reception, where they could be christianized, and civilized, and rendered capable of selfgovernment. The experiment had been successfully tried at Sierra Leone, and no greater effort would probably be required to form a colony that should afford an asylum for the slaves taken by the American ships of war. In the prosecution of this object, the government have derived much aid and useful information from the Colonization Society; and the Society, in turn, have derived a support and VOL. IX,

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co-operation from the government, which has greatly facilitated its advances. Though the labours of neither have been as successful as the most sanguine friends of freedom might have expected, still enough has been done to show that whatever some may have thought, the project was by no means Eutopian. It is true the sacrifices have been immensely great, but we should not forget our obligations to bleeding Africa! We should not forget how utterly impossible it is to make entire restitution for the wrongs our citizens have done her; we should not forget that this object is immensely important, being no less than ultimately to give to Africa a free and independent government, founded on the principles of the Gos pel, and of equal rights.

The researches of Messrs. Mills and Burgess, during their mission in 1818, made a valuable accession to the information of the Society respecting the west ern coast of Africa. The sad history of the first colony, consisting of eightynine individuals, which sailed from this city on the 6th of February, 1820, is but too familiar to us all. Since that time other companies have been sent out, which we cannot further notice at present, but will proceed to communicate some more recent intelligence, reported to the Society on the 23d of August last, by their agent, Dr. E. AYRES.

On the 7th of January last he arrived at the settlement on Cape Montserado, with his labourers, from Sierra Leone, and found the native kings were disposed to recede from their bargain respecting the land purchased for the colony. Without paying any regard to these difficulties, Dr. Ayres unloaded the vessel, and after she had sailed, he, with Mr. Nicholson and five of the colonists, repaired to a place appointed for a palaver. After some delay, an interview was obtained, and the interpreter demanded their object in coming to Africa. This inquiry being answered by Dr. A., one of the kings said the land did not belong to them alone, but to all the kings, and it was necessary to consult the whole before they gave a final answer.

The kings being all called, their answer was, that they were not willing to let Dr. Ayres have the land, and that he must take back the money and goods which captain Stockton had paid them. After a long palaver, they had the goods placed before Dr. A., and requested him to point out what was lacking, which he did. They then insisted that the colonists should take the goods to the beach themselves, and as they refused to do this, the kings became clamorous, and some were intoxicated. Dr. Ayres and his companions determined to leave them, and settle the matter next day; but they said the palaver must be settled then, and began to arm themselves with guns, spears, knives, &c., and show some intentions to detain them by force.

But I had (says Dr. A.) received a very contemptuous opinion of their courage, and conceiving this a critical time to impress them with an idea of our superiority, I determined not to be compelled by them. I requested Mr. Nicholson to walk round and count their muskets. He counted sixty, and we conjectured that there were twenty more dispersed through the woods, and, in all, two hundred men, who were opposed to our going. We had but two muskets and two swords. To those unacquainted with the African character, it would appear like rashness in us to attempt to oppose them; but they had shown such great dread at the name of captain Stockton and of our shipping, that I was well convinced they would not be the first to attack. I gave our peo