"Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones; and for all our substance. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way; because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. So we fasted and besought our God for this; and he was entreated of us." Ezra viii. 21–23.

"Who is he that saith and it cometh to pass when the Lord commandeth it not?" Lam. iii. 37. "And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing, and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say unto him, What doest thou?" Dan. iv. 35. In every thing we do, therefore, in the Saviour's service, it becomes us to act under the influence of these solemn truths, and in all our proposed measures, follow the example of the prophets and apostles, saying, If the Lord will.

In contemplating your field of labor, whilst we would not disguise from you, nor from ourselves, that it is of more than ordinary peril to life and health, still, as the beloved brother now there remarks, it is not required that you go there with the spirit of a martyr; but with the spirit of a missionary of the cross, whose wish and desire is to labor in the Saviour's cause, as long as the Saviour sees good to prolong your life and health. If there be danger in this field, there is also great need of laborers. Generation after generation of immortal beings are there living and dying under the cruel dominion of Satan. There is a people for whom every thing remains to be done, a people who have had a double portion of the wormwood and the gall.

Let us pause a moment to consider and weep over the complications of evil and opppession which trample this people in the dust. First, the blasting influence of the slave trade, extending over a great part of the Western coast, breaking up every bond of society, arraying the different communities against each other, and making it the interest of every man to quarrel with his neighbor, that he may betray and sell him to the manstealer and the pirate. Next, the despotism and oppression of their rulers, by which almost the whole community are reduced to slavery, and subjected to the caprice, avarice and cruelty of those who ought to protect and cherish them. Then comes their miserable and unprincipled priesthood, their fetish men, their witchfinders, their devil men, their rain-makers, with all their train of debasing and cruel forms of worship, and low unmeaning idolatry. We turn to the dark shades of the picture, and there we find poor degraded woman. No plague spot so deep as this. Here is half the community, the mothers of the rising generation, brutalized, and doomed to the most abject depression where all are depressed and wretched. But the darkest shade still remains to be considered, and that is the closing scene. To them no ray of light breaks across the thick darkness that rests upon the grave. Death is to them a most dreaded and most dreadful enemy, and from his approach they shrink with terror and despair to the last. Nor is this to be wondered at, for he comes to them in unknown terrors. The love of a dying Saviour has never reached their ears; the message of mercy, of pardon for sin, of peace with God, has never been sent to them. They have lived in the region and shadow of death, and they die surrounded with terror and remorse, with every prospect shrouded in the darkness of the tomb. O, how much this people need the knowledge of that remedy which has the promise of this life and that which is to come. How emphatically to them would the message of the gospel be good-tidings of great joy. *

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Should it be the will of God that your constitution can bear the climate to which you go, there never was a brighter prospect of usefulness than is now before you. Dark and waste and dreary as are the moral desolations of the people to whom you are sent, there is not, perhaps, any where a more interesting field of missionary labor; and as far as the inhabitants are concerned, one that is more encouraging. They are found to be of a teachable disposition, and many of them affectionate and confiding; and when brought to the knowledge of the truth, consistent and orderly pro fessors of the name of CHRIST. Among the tribes on the coast, and those immediately inland, there is a great field of labor and much work to be done; but our Master's vineyard lies also beyond all these, stretching far into the interior, and indeed embracing every tribe and people, whether wandering in the deserts, dwelling in cities, or solitary places, in the bosom of the forests, or on the banks of the lakes and rivers. All these are included in the command of the Saviour to the church, and all these are included in his purposes of love and mercy. The way is fully open to commence the missionary work among them; and the progress of the truth from tribe to tribe, will still further and further prepare the way of the Lord, till the good news shall reach the most remote and obscure corner of the land.

Go forward, then, dear friends, without despondency, Present duty is our concern, and results belong to God. Live near the blessed Saviour. "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye your selves like unto men that wait for their Lord." In the prayers of God's people we trust you will not be forgotten; and whilst in the name of the church we bid you God speed,-whilst we say farewell, we would with adoring reverence commend you to the care and keeping of the living God; and may his grace, mercy, and peace be with you! Amen.

AT LOWER CALDWELL.-On Saturday the 26th of June the M. E. Church lately erected in that place, was dedicated to God, and his worship, by the Rev. B. R. WILSON, a pertinent discourse from Haggai, the second chapter, and the latter part of the seventh verse: " And I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts." Here too, a quarterly meeting was commenced, at the time of dedicating the Church. We visited Caldwell on Sunday the 27th, and joined with the congregation in divine service in the new Sanctuary, We were much pleased with the neat appearance of the assembly, and found it pleasant and profitable, to be in the house of the Lord on that occasion.

This building has been put up at the expense of the M. E. Missionary Society. It is a plain, comfortable and permanent wooden structure; about thirty by twenty-five feet, neatly seated, and having a good pulpit and altar.-Africa's Luminary.

FROM AFRICA. The following curious and interesting announcement is from the Southern Literary Messenger for October. Authentic accounts from Timbuctoo will put the literary world on the alert. Dr. "CHARLES MATHEWS, who left the United States about fifteen years since, with a view to make discoveries in the interior of Africa, writes to a friend in Vermont from Abyssinia, that he shall return in the summer of 1842, and that he has been gennerally successful in his researches. He had travelled from

Morocco across the Great Desert, to Timbuctoo, and from that capital nearly to the Cape of Good Hope, back to Timbuctoo, and to Abyssinia, besides making several less important journeys, which had added much to his knowledge of the geography of the country and the social condition of its people."

IT has occurred to us that the present season of the year is a very proper time for our friends throughout the country to make donations to aid in carrying on Colonization. The farmer has gathered in his crops, and sent much of his surplus to market, and received his returns. How easy would it be for him to appropriate a small part of his gains to help to lay the foundations of a great and free Republic on a far distant shore? The mechanic has completed most of his summer and fall work, and is a bout receiving the rich reward of his labors. Would he ever regret it, were he to set apart a portion of it for the sake of introducing the arts of civilization into a land long shrouded in darkness, and lost to all the improvements of life? The merchant has enjoyed, or is now enjoying, the brisk fall trade; he has realized his profits, and is now laying his plans for future operations. Could he act more wisely for his own interest than to give a large sum for the purpose of opening to himself the commerce of one of the richest countries on the globe? The man of science and letters has passed through the recreations of the summer, and is now well prepared to prosecute his researches in the mines of richest literary lore. Has he no desire to scatter the rays of light over that dark land? The minister of religion has prosecuted his arduous duties for many months, and now he longs for more success, for an enlargement of the sphere of his usefulness, and he is praying for the universal spread of the Gospel, and the conversion of the world. Do we ask too much, when, looking over the millions of Africa, we entreat him to preach one sermon for them, and devote one week in raising funds to aid us to send them religion with all its attendant blessings. Indeed here is an object, now is a time for "whosoever will" to do good on the easiest terms, and on the largest scale! During the summer months there are many obstacles supposed to be in the way of making collections for benevolent objects. As these are now removed, we hope our friends will make new efforts to sustain this cause. We assure them that without such efforts we cannot imagine how we can possibly meet the heavy demands upon us, and carry on the indispensable operations of Colonization. To them, therefore, we commit the important question, whether this noble cause shall advance or decline, and we pray that the decision they render may be according to righteousness.

LORD BROUGHAM has furnished us (see his remarks in another column,) with some facts and statements in proof of declarations which we have often made in regard to the participation of British subjects in the slave trade. Many persons have refused their assent to our statements on this point. They have thought, and even said, that ours was the only civilized and christian country whose citizens were engaged in this unlawful traffic; that here alone were vessels clandestinely fitted out for sale or charter to the persons openly carrying on the trade in slaves. We trust that when

they have read the remarks made by Lord B., they will admit their mistake, and give us credit at least for aiming to tell the truth, and making only a fair representation of the facts in the case. We are willing, aye, anxious, that every American who gives any countenance whatever to the slave trade should be ferreted out-exposed-held up to public contempt-disfranchised and punished condignly. But we also wish that even justice should be done to every offender. CESAR ought to have his due, and we shall not spare, we shall not attempt to screen, any body. We are willing that our Government should be censured if in any thing they have done wrong in this matter; or if they have been less vigilant than they ought to have been, or if they have not in every instance been able to protect their honored and glorious flag from shielding some miscreant who was determined to make a fortune, though at the expense of the life and blood of others. And we see no just reason why the neglects and failings of the British Government should meanwhile be apologised for, and concealed from public scrutiny.

There are depths of iniquity about the slave trade which few persons have ever even dreamed of. There are persons engaged in it, who would never be suspected, and whose characters stand fair to the public eye. There are also ways of "aiding and abetting" this trade which have, until lately, been entirely overlooked, but which demand the immediate and powerful application of the strong arm of legislation.

We hope there will soon be a perfect understanding on this subject, and that all the well wishers of the human race will unite in the most vigorous efforts to put down this accursed trade.

THE Mendi people are expected to sail for Sierra Leone on or about the 16th instant. They are to be accompanied by some white persons in the capacity of teachers and missionaries. The individuals who have had the charge of them, make a strong appeal for some colored man to go out with them. Indeed it is manifest that they feel themselves placed in an embarrassing condition. The difficulty of sending white men to contend with the African climate; the natural prejudices of the people so long abused and trampled upon by white men, and the scarcity of suitable white menwho are willing to go, all combine to render the return of these unfortunate Mendians a rather difficult matter to their inexperienced guides and protectors. To let them return alone, with only their present stock of knowledge, would be fatal to their future prospects. To send out no persons with them but whites, is imminently to endanger their future hopes: for how soon may the whites be cut off, and leave them only half heathen, in the midst of the most degraded and degrading heathenism.

If we are not entirely mistaken, those who are sending home these exiles, will soon learn a lesson of the value and indispensableness of Colonization, which they have never known as yet, and which will do them good all their lives long. Experience is often a very severe teacher; but her lessons are important.

THE Maryland Colonization Society expect to sail a vessel from Baltimore for Cape Palmas on the 1st of December, carrying out emigrants and supplies to their Colony. The vessel will touch at the other settlements on the coast. Letters for the Colony should be directed to JAMES HALL, M. D., Colonization office, Baltimore.

WESTERN AFRICA.

JOURNAL OF THE REV. DR. SAVAGE.-JULY TO DECEMBER, 1840. Departure for the Leeward Coast-Druin-Cape St. Andrew-Cape Lahoo-Cape St. Appolonia-Ancient Forts-Dix Cove-Cape Coust -Annamaboe-Winnebah-Accra, &c.

In accordance with a resolution of the mission, authorizing me to examine the Leeward Coast with a view to future stations, I sailed from Cape Palmas on the evening of July 27th. Intercourse, more or less free, was had in going and returning, with the most important points, as far as Accra, including a range of sea coast not less than 550 miles. Passing the Bahbo and Plah-bo tribes, and what is known as the "Tahoo country," my report will begin with the region familiarly known to traders by the name. of Druin.

Druin-Character of the Tribe-Cruelty of Traders.-Druin is divided into three or more districts, called Pigquaniny, Druin Saucy, Druin, and High Druin, extending coastwise about twenty miles. The inhabitants, with those of St. Andrew adjacent, belonged originally to the same tribe. Though still speaking the same language, they are divided into distinct branches, each having its separate interests, a state of things observable among other tribes. Their numerals contain two words only (sunk" and "tank" two and three,) precisely like those of the Grebo; the others show no affinity whatever. The reputed barbarous practices of the Druins, are well known. I was, however, agreeably disappointed in their appearance as they came on board, not discovering that ferocity described by others. It is the practice of some traders to keep a rigid guard while at anchor, but others having established among them a character for fair dealing, find it no more necessary here than at many other points. It is now the generally received opinion among the oldest and most experienced traders, that their acts of plunder and barbarity have arisen more by way of retaliation and revenge, than from any natural disposition to ferocity. Many and cruel are the impositions practiced by the white man. Within the last five years natives have been decoyed on board of vessels, chained and concealed, and carried into hopeless slavery. The last act known to have been committed, was that of cold blooded murder by an American.

Cape St. Andrew-Soil-Productions.-This is a more important native settlement, on the east bank of a large river of the same name. Vessels anchor oftener here than at Druin, the natives being of a more pacific character. The land is high and broken, affording, it is said, a fertile soil and excellent water. The productions are rice, maize, &c. Poultry, pigs, goats, sheep and beeves, are so abundant as to induce vessels to run in and stock for the homeward voyage." Ivory, palm oil, and camwood constitute the chief articles of commerce. The distance from Cape Palmas is about one hundred miles. Annual visits are paid by many of the inhab itants to the "Grand Devil," whose location is about twenty-five miles up the Cavally river, where their annual Fetish is renewed. We had a visit from the chief, who, upon being asked, expressed a desire to have a missionary reside among his people, giving the usual, but dubious evidence of his sincerity, a profusion of promises of protection and assistance.