This question conveys its own answer. While the Missionaries shall continue to have no voice, as has been recently the case, in placing or displacing the Schoolmasters, or in appointing those who are to have authority over them or to labour under them, the Society can never allow Youths trained up with assiduous care to be thus exposed to evil.

While the Committee have adopted such means in Sierra Leone as appeared best calculated, under the Divine Blessing, for obtaining suitable Native Teachers, they have also opened a correspondence with the Episcopal Church in the United States, in the hope of procuring Persons of Colour competent to act as Missionaries; and the Society is not without some prospect of success, though the low state of improvement which generally prevails at present among that class precludes the hope of derable and immediate aid in that quarter.

any consiIt was stated in the last Report, that two African Youths had been placed under a Clergyman in the West of England: a third has joined them; and Mr. Raban, whose health is not sufficiently restored to admit of his return to Africa at present, has undertaken the superintendence of their education.

Under more favourable circumstances, and when suitable means can be obtained, it will be an important object with the Society to establish a NATIVEFEMALE SEMINARY, with views, in reference to Young Females, analogous to those to which the Christian Institution is directed in respect of Young Men. The want of competent Schoolmistresses is severely felt; and this want can only be adequately supplied by giving to the most promising Girls from the different Schools such instruction as may fit them to become Teachers of others.

RIVER DISTRICT.

The Rev. G. W. E. Metzger, with Mrs. Metzger, removed, early in the year, from Kissey, and returned to Wellington, where he had lived before: he is assisted by William Neville, a Native Teacher. In December, the Rev. John Gerber was associated with Mr. Metzger in the spiritual charge of the Dis

trict, on account of its extent; Mr. and Mrs. Gerber residing at Waterloo. Mr. Metzger had been in the habit of visiting the respective Stations in his District once in each alternate month, for the purpose of inspecting the Schools, and administering the Lord's Supper. In the autumn, he had been for some time suspended from his duties, by illness; but at Christmas reported more favourably of the state of his health.

Kissey.

At the Spring Quarter, Mr. Metzger noticed some promising appearances among the people at this Station, by which he felt much encouraged in his labours: he writes

Many years has the Gospel been preached at Kissey, with but little success. I myself have attended to that parish for nearly two years, without beholding pleasing evidences of success; and it was only about three weeks before I left Kissey, when many, all at once, began to be impressed with an awful apprehension of dying unprepared, and with a sense of their own sinfulness and helplessness. Thus, on the 1st of January, I received on trial 13 Candidates for Baptism: on the 8th, a woman; and, subsequently, twelve more. number of those on trial is now 26, and I hope that they are sincere.

The

From the Spring Quarter to Michaelmas, there has been a gradual increase in the attendance on Public Worship and in the number of Communicants: at this last date, the Congregation generally consisted of 190 persons, and 63 communicated at the Lord's Table of these, William Neville writes at Michaelmas

It has pleased God to call two of the Communicants out of this world. I was indeed happy to hear them testify of the love of the Saviour toward them, on their dying beds. The number of Communicants is 30 males and 33 females: their conduct, so far as I know, is such as becometh Christians. The number of those on trial is, at present, 14; 13 males, and 1 female.

During the Quarter ending at Christmas, Mr. Metzger had baptized 6 Adults and 10 Children; and there were then on trial 11 Candidates for Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Allen Town.

This Settlement was formed in the latter part of 1826, on a plan suggested by Mr. W. Allen, after whom it is named. It is situated near Hastings, on the stream which flows from the hills through Regent, and which was formerly called Hog Brook, but now Friends' River: the scenery is highly beautiful The inhabitants are about 100; chiefly newly-liberated, and therefore little acquainted with English: there are 25 Scholars. Divine Service is established: about 25 attend.

Wellington.

At this Station there are many indications of the progress of a work of Grace. The Grass-house, in which Public Worship is held, has been several times enlarged: about 400 attend on Sunday Mornings, and half as many in the afternoon. Besides the Service on Tuesday and Thursday Evenings, Daily Prayers are kept early in the Morning, either by the Schoolmaster or one of the Communicants, which are attended by about 75 Adults and the School Children. Frequent Meetings are also held for prayer and religious edification. At Michaelmas there were 20 Candidates for Baptism, and 144 Communicants : these manifest much mutual cordiality, and are, in general, consistent in their conduct.

1

At Christmas, Mr. Metzger reported that he had baptized 14 Children, and that there were then on trial 28 Candidates for Baptism and the Lord's Supper: he had also married 8 Couples during the Quarter.

Hastings.

Mr. Pierce was stationed at Hastings in the early part of last year: the Settlement had not, for some time before, been occupied by the Society: from 150 to 200 attended Public Worship. At Michaelmas, William Tamba stated that about 300 attended the Sunday Morning Service, and that there were 25 Communicants. Service was held every Morning, and there were frequent Meetings for Prayer. Seven Children had been baptized, and one Couple married, in the Quarter ending at Christmas.

Waterloo.

Little improvement seems to have taken place in the spiritual condition of the people at Waterloo since the last Report; and Mr. Metzger, who, with W. Tamba, occasionally visited them, remarked, that the regular Ministry of God's Word was greatly needed. Mr. Metzger writes at the end of September

I met the Communicants on the evening of the 15th: only seven were present. I understood that four had turned back to the world, whom I therefore excluded: those with whom I conversed seemed to be sincere. I was much pleased with the prayer of one of them: he, of his own accord, endeavours to edify the other Communicants, and holds Prayer Meetings with the people. I am sorry that we have no Native Teacher to station here, who might from this place attend to Calmont. The number of Communicants is 11.

The want of a regular Ministry will be supplied by Mr. Gerber's appointment to this Station, as before noticed.

Thirty-seven Couples were married during the Quarter ending at Christmas.

Calmont.

At the end of 1826, this Settlement, which is 19 miles from Wellington, consisted of only a few Natives; but, at Michaelmas, there were 266 Liberated Africans, men, women, and children, who had been sent thither chiefly in the early part of the year. Mr. Metzger reports at Midsummer

The Headman placed here by Government, under Mr. Pierce the Manager, is John Plague, formerly a Sergeant in the late 4th W. I. Regt., and one of my most-experienced Communicants at Wellington: he calls the people together twice on Sunday, with much success. William Tamba, who attended Service there on June 17th, found the Place of Worship, which is a temporary house, full of attendants. The thing we most regret is, that they can hardly understand any English; and it can only be ascribed to the pious exertions of John Plague, that they are at least in the way of being informed, both in the language of the Word of God and of its saving Doctrines.

William Tamba states at Michaelmas

At Calmont I speak to the people in the afternoon. Whenever I go, I always find the house quite full, and the people waiting for me: they are glad to hear the Word of God: about 200 persons attend, including children.

Mr. Metzger's health did not allow him to visit this Station during the Autumn; but he remarks concerning it at Christmas

The pious Headman continues to keep the people attending Divine Service on Sundays; and although he cannot read, he tells them of that Saviour whose Grace he experienced in his ówn soul, and to whom he desires to live whilst in the world."

MOUNTAIN DISTRICT.

The Committee have the painful duty of recording the loss which the Society has sustained in this District by the death of Mr. Frederick Gatesman: he arrived in the Colony in November 1826, and soon after entered on the duties of his station; but in April was attacked by fever. He was brought from Leopold to Freetown, for the benefit of medical aid: and received the most assiduous attention from Mr. Fergusson; "who has ever been prompt," to use the words of Mr. Betts," to attend the Members of the Society when ill." The fever, however, continued to increase; and terminated in his death, after an illness of about a week, near midnight of the 23d of April. He departed in the Faith. When Mr. Betts said to him, "That God, whom you have served in the time of health, will not leave you in the hour of trial," he replied with calmness, "I know it! I thank Him that I have not now, for the first time, to seek an interest in Christ. I know whom I have believed!"

On the arrival of the Rev. Thomas Davey and Mrs. Davey, he was placed, about the middle of October, in the spiritual charge of the whole District: he resides at Bathurst; and is assisted by Mr. Edmund Boston, David Noah, and William Tamba; and by Mrs. Heighway in the Infants' School.

The following arrangement for supplying, as far as the scanty means allow, the wants of the several Stations in this District, has been made by Mr. Davey he writes

I have endeavoured to supply the various places on a Sunday in the following manner: Regent and Gloucester, alternately, at 10 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon; Leieester Mountain at 1 in the afternoon; and Bathurst and Charlotte, alternately, at 10 in the morning and 3 in the after