But the fatal obstacle to all usefulness was the Slave Trade. On the revival of that Traffic, dealers from the Rio Nunez came to purchase Slaves. Red-water Trials became frequent, in consequence, in order to procure victims for sale; and few of the accused escaped. While the Bulloms could sell Slaves and get rum, preaching of the Gospel had no sort of influence upon them. Complaint was brought against him, at a Public Palaver. that he spoiled the country by not bringing rum. They said, "He only sit down to teach Children and talk God-palaver: that good; but suppose he bring good trade, that better."

Though this Mission has been suspended, the translations already executed will be of lasting benefit. The Four Gospels and other parts of the New Testament have been finished, and the Gospel of St. Matthew revised and greatly improved. The Morning and Evening Services of the Liturgy, with some other parts, have been translated and revised, and Tracts and Hymns prepared.

The Mission may be hereafter resumed, on the plan of frequent excursions for preaching; and the establishment of Day Schools throughout the country, as it may please God to bless the endeavour to prepare proper Teachers, and to incline the Natives to receive them. Mr. Nyländer calculates that the state of the population is such, that about 1000 persons may be visited in the course of three or four days. Such visits it will be an important object to enter on and maintain from the Colony.

ST. MARY'S, IN THE GAMBIA.

Governor Mac Carthy has called the attention of the Committee to the Settlement formed on the Island of St. Mary, at the mouth of the Gambia. On the restoration of Senegal and Goree to the French, a considerable number of British settled at this place.

In April of last year Governor Mac Carthy spent some time at the Settlement; on which occasion his Excellency framed salutary regulations for its govern

ment, and visited the neighbouring Chiefs in order to bind them more strongly to its interests and to those of humanity. His great object in this Settlement is the introduction of the Gum Trade into the Gambia, considering, to use his own words, addressed to the Merchants of St. Mary's, "the extension of an honourable trade in Africa, as benefiting a considerable portion of the human race. I anticipate with delight," he added, "the period when, in lieu of the horrid traffic in human life, British trade and industry will spread, and, the Christian Religion prevailing over Africa, the inhabitants of this vast continent will, by their emancipation from mental and physical slavery, rank among civilized nations."

In the beginning of the present year the inhabitants had increased to about 800, and more were expected. Various public buildings were erecting. The Island is low, and used to be unhealthy; but the wood is clearing away, and it is expected to be as healthy as any part of the Western Coast. There is, at present, no Christian Teacher. The Governor of the Settlement reads the Liturgy every Sunday, in the Mess Room, to the Soldiers and Europeans. The Natives are all Mahomedaus. The main land, which is half a mile distant, is occupied by Mandingoes.

The Committee will take the earliest measures in their power to send Christian Instructors to this settlement; which will probably hereafter prove an important station, for beneficial influence on this part of the coast, and the enlargement of the African Mission.

Mr. and Mrs. Jesty were very kindly received by the Governor, on their way to Sierra Leone. Mr.Jesty speaks of the Settlement as rapidly improving, but laments the gross darkness which envelopes the inhabitants of the Main. There is an earnest desire for improvement, however, in some of the Natives. One man said to him, in his broken English-"Ah, Massa, you white man much sabby [know much]. You read-you write. Me tree children-de poy shall learn read: me got a ship and house-me give a tousand dollars

if me could read and write."-" Oh that a little leaven," Mr. Jesty writes, "were deposited among these poor people. Soon, I think, the whole lump would then be leavened."

GOREE.

Mr. Hughes, having been authorized to return to this country, arrived at Portsmouth, with his wife and two children, on the 5th of June of the last year, having left the Gambia on the 30th of March. The Committee have received the most satisfactory testimonies of the diligence and success of Mr. and Mrs. Hughes in the instruction of the Native Children at Goree; and, from a Narrative of his proceedings while in that Island, which Mr. Hughes has communicated, they cannot but deeply regret the stop which unavoidable circumstances put to their exertions.

Before the Committee quit the African Mission, they would call on the Society to unite with them in grateful acknowledgment of the many mercies which have been therein mingled with its severe trials. The blessing of God on the labours of His Servants, of which manifest tokens were given in the last Report,† continues still, as has been seen, and enlarges the hopes of wider success.

Mr. Collier, therefore, in the midst of the trials around him, writes, under date of the 25th of January last, with much encouragement.

I cannot but hope (he says) that it will please God to grant His blessing on our labours here. You have great cause of thankfulness for what he has already done by His servants;

See Appendix VII.

↑ See further Indications of Success, in the Missionary Register for 1818, pp. 343-345; and in the close of the Memoir of the late Rev. Wm. Garnon, in the Number for July, published since the Anniversary.

and, I can assure you, every thing around us gives us and you full encouragement to persevere in our great work."

MEDITERRANEAN MISSION.

It was stated in the last Report, that the health of Mr. Jowett required relaxation from his labours, and that of Mr. Connor a temporary removal to Naples. The Committee are happy to give a favourable report on this subject.

Mr. Connor left Malta on the 3d of March, accompanied by a friend, Mr. Eardley Childers; and, after spending nearly eight months in the Bay of Naples, returned on the 30th of October, having been greatly benefited by that genial climate. It was with much reluctance that he withdrew, for a seasou, from active co-operation with Mr. Jowett; but it was not without advantage, not only to his health, but to his mind. The Members will sympathize with him in the expression of his feelings while at Naples, from which city he writes, under date of Sept. 29, 1818—

"What a highly favoured country is England!"-is an exclamation that has often escaped my lips since my arrival in Italy. The almost universal licentiousness of manners, and the disregard of the Sabbath, form a striking contrast with the prevailing morality of the English, and their reverence for the Sunday. Never did the Tabernacles of the Lord of Hosts appear so amiable to me as now, when I am sundered from them. I feel like a lonely sojourner, in a strange land; afar from the tents of Jacob and the congregation of the saints. If I had but one Christian Friend as my associate here, what a comfort and refreshment would it have proved to me! Nevertheless, it is with gratitude that I can declare, that the presence of my God and Saviour has sanctified my solitude, and that I have spent many a happy hour in sacred and profitable meditation.

At Naples, Mr. Connor procured a translation to be made from English into Italian of a series of Morning and Evening Prayers for the Week, of which 1000 copies were printed for circulation.

Mr. Connor did not arrive at Naples till the middle

1

of April, having been delayed in Messina for a month. After staying in Naples for a fortnight, he removed, by the advice of his Physician, to Puzzuoli, in the vicinity. There he resided till the heats commenced, in the beginning of July; and then moved to Sorrento, on the south side of the Bay, about thirty miles distant, for the advantage of its cooler and more salubrious air. From that place he returned to Malta. His time, while in Italy, had been divided between the necessary exercise and his Hebrew and Arabic studies. He has sent home many observations on the state and morals of religion in the parts which he visited, that forcibly indicate the necessity of a free circulation of the Scriptures.

During Mr. Connor's absence in Italy, Mr. Jowett visited Smyrna and other places, with a view chiefly to promote the objects of the Malta Bible Society. His own health having been restored, he left Malta, at the end of April. In the course of the voyage, he visited Smyrna, Haivali, Scio, Athens, Hydra, Milo, and Zante; and returned to Malta on the 4th of July. The Report which he made of this voyage to the Malta Bible Society will be read with much pleasure. Many further particulars are sent by Mr. Jowett to the Committee, in his entire Journal of the Voyage, which, with other extensive communications from him, will probably furnish materials for a future separate publication respecting the Mediterranean Mission.

Mr. Jowett found his Journey greatly facilitated by his being able to converse with the Greeks in their own tongue.

I was almost always (he says) in their company, and like one of themselves. I sat hours with Greek Bishops, telling them about Great Britain. At Smyrna, at Haivali, at Scio-such important places! they never saw an Englishman do so. I believe I may say that a friendship was fairly formed between

me and them.

*It is printed in the Missionary Register for 1818, pp. 383-389. + Extracts from this Journal are given in the Missionary Register for the present year, pp. 183-186.