port. On the adjournment of Congress the Board adopted suitable measures to promote the views of the Society, without waiting the lapse of another session. No efficient and decisive measures could be adopted until it was ascertained where the Inost suitable situation could be procured on the west coast of Africa, for planting the proposed colony; and although the Managers collected much interesting and useful information, and such as gave them great encouragement to proceed, it could not supply the place of that which must be obtained from their own agents upon the spot. It was, therefore resolved, shortly after the rising of Congress, to appoint an agent to visit and explore a part of the west coast of Africa. Upon further deliberation, and considering the importance of the mission, the variety of objects to which the attention of a single agent would be directed-the danger of having the main object defeated by the casualties to which he might be exposed, as well as the importance of concert and co-operation in many difficulties which might occur, it was thought advisable to increase the number to two. The managers, accordingly, after having received the most satisfactory testimony of their zeal, ability, and other qualifications, appointed Mr. S. J. Mills and Mr. Eben. Burges, Agents of the Society for this pupose. It was supposed that much useful information might be procured in England, and the enquiries of agents much facilitated by calling there on their way to Africa. The members of the African institution in England have been for many years engaged in the laudable work of meliorating the condition of the long neglected and much abused Africans, and possess great influence in that country, and particularly in the colony of Sierra Leone. A letter was, therefore, addressed by the President to that body, in hopes that the high character of benevolence which characterizes the conductorsof that institution, and the similarity of the objects of its pursuits, would lead them cordially to co-operate in the great designs of this Society, and to give our agents all the aid in their power. This letter, and the instructions and commissions of the agents, are annexed to this report, for the information of the Society. The agents sailed from this country the middle of November last. The raising of funds to meet the expenditure necessary for effecting this object, has occupied much of the attention and labours of the Board of Managers; and a still further increase of our resources will be essential to its completion. Nor do we fear that the American community will suffer an object of so much inportance, and of so high a character of benevolence, to fail for the want of necessary pecuniary aid. We are happy to state that auxiliary Societies have been formed in Baltimore, Phi!adelphia, New-York, Virginia, and Ohio, and the Board have received information of the intention of forming other societies in different parts of the country. The extension of these auxiliarics is of the first importance, as it is by their means the public mind must be enlightened on the great and important objects of the Society, and it is through them, in some measure, the necessary funds must be drawn for its support. The objectors to the Society are generally those who acknowledge the importance and utility of establishing the proposed colony; but suppose it impracticable; and they refer principally, 1st. To the difficulty of procuring a proper situation for the colony. 2d. The supposed repugnance of the colonists. 3d. The expense of emigration. The first objection is assuming a difficulty without proof, and will be best answered by the report of the agents, who have been sent to explore the country. managers are enabled at present to state, that, from information derived from various sources, they are persuaded that a situation can be procured in Africa with the approbation, and secured from the hostility of the neighboring nations, which will possess, such fertility of soil, and salubrity of climate. as to make it an inviting situation to the people of colour in this country. The 2. The objection on the part of the coloured people, it is readily seen, springs from first impressions, and is, the result entirely of ignorance and misapprehension. The Managers have ascertained that there are numbers of the highest standing for intelligence and respectability among that class of people, who are warmly in favour of the plan, from a conviction that it will, if ac complished, powerfully co-operate in placing the situation of their brethren here and in Africa, in that scale of happiness and respectability among the nations of the earth, from which they have long been degraded. Of fers of service have been received from many worthy and influential individuals of their own colour, and from a number of families from different parts of the United States, to become the first settlers in the colony, whenever a suitable situation shall be procured. Without detailing the variety of information receive ed by the Board on this subject, the Managers cannot omit the testimony of Capt. Paul Cuffee, so well known in Africa, Europe, and America, for his active and enlarged benevolence, for his zeal and devotedness to the cause of the people of colour. The opportunities of Capt. Cuffee, of forming a correct opinion were superior perhaps to those of any man in America, His judgement was clear and strong, and the warm interest he took in whatever related to the happiness of of that class of people is well known. The testimony of such a man is sufficient to outweigh all the unfounded predictions and idle surmises of those opposed to the plan of the Society. He had visited twice the coast of Africa, and became well acquainted with the country and its inhabitants. He states that upon his opinion alone, be could have taken to Africa at least two thousand people of colour from Boston and its neighbourhood. In the death of Paul Cuffee the Society has lost a most useful advocate, the people of colour, a warm and disinterested friend, and Society a valuable member. His character alone ought to be sufficient to rescue the people to which he belonged from the unmerited aspersions which have been cast on them. The plan of the Society met with his entire approba tion, its success was the subject of his ardent wishes, and the prospect of its usefulness to the native Africans and their descendants, in this country, was the solace of his declining years, and cheered the last moments of his existence. 3d. The objection urged on the score of expenditure in transporting so many persons to Africa, has been arrayed in all the imposing forms of There is figures and calculations. a material error in estimating the expence of removing each individual, by the same ratio, which may be incurred in the removal of the first colo nists; without making any allowance for the thousands that will be enabled to defray their own expences. The Managers cannot pass the occasion, without noticing the death of the Rev. Doct. Finley, one of the Vice Presidents, during the past year, The deep interest which he took in the success of the Society, and the zeal he displayed in its formation, are well known to many present. In his last sickness, he was much gratified upon receiving information of the progress of the Society, and of its prospects of success. It gave consolation and comfort to his last moments. When we view the Society in this early stage of its proceedings, as animating the hopes and cheering the prospects of the dying christian who had been engaged in its service; when we view it as consecrated by the prayers of the pious, may we not be led with humble confidence to look to the good hand of an overruling Providence to guide its deliberations? May we not expect that the benedictions of millions yet unborn shall bless its anniversary?" Hibernian Society. An obliging friend has furnished us with the "Eleventh Annual Report of the Hibernian Society for establishing schools and circulating the scriptures," together with an Appendix containing some interesting Extracts of Correspondence. Those who have been informed of the general defect of education in Ireland, and who take an interest in those occurrences which are adapted to improve the condition of their fellow beings, will rejoice in the establishment and in the success of the Hibernian Society. At the date of the Report, this Society had established 347 schools; the number of scholars was 27,776. This institution' was established by the protestants, but they were disposed to extend the benefits of education to the children of the catholics. In opposition to this, strong prejudices were manifested on the part of the catholic clergy. It is, however, pleasing to observe, that a considerable number of them are of a different opinion, and encourage parents to send their children to the schools established by the Society. The following extracts from the Report will be interesting to our readers. "The Committee are happy to 'state, that the regulations for the conduct of the schools are in full operation, and that the inspectors are active and circumspect. The progress of the children in learning to read, and in committing the scriptures to memory, and the interest which the catholic parents feel in having their little ones appear with credit at the inspections, are truly gratifying. The attention of the Masters, in general, to the import of the sacred word is pleasingly on the increase; and among such as have had their own understandings enlightened and informed, there exists a spirit of emulation to have their pupils excel in giving suitable answers to questions relating to the meaning of passages which they repeat." "One of the scholars in B-'s school was learning his scripture task at home by the fireside. While reading aloud, his father, a catholic, was sitting by, and hearing that verse read, The Lord is rich unto all them that call upon him,' he repeated the passage two or three times, and falling on his knees, said, he blessed God that he saw in that text what he never saw before-that God is no respecter of persons, and that people of other persuasions may be saved, as well as Roman Catholics. "A poor man told his priest that he had one child in the Society's school, and if he had twenty he would send them all. He added, that he had a Bible and Testament in his house; that he read them and compared them with the Doway Translation, and could find no great difference between them. On this the priest threatened to put him out of the church; to which he replied, ' another church will take me in."" "A poor man who lived in the neighbourhood of one of the schools told Mr. J. that when the priest commanded his parishioners to take their children from the schools, he waited upon him and asked him with much respect, why he wished the children to be taken from the school? The priest replied, 'it is my pleasure, sir! The poor man said, 'I know, please your reverence, that it is your pleasure, but I have taken the liberty of calling on you to know why it is your pleasure! The priest told him that he was impertinently inquisitive, and that he would give him no other answer. The poor man then presumed to expostulate with him, and exclaimed-O! dear sir, learning is a great blessing. I feel the want of it: let me have my poor children instructed in a school now happily in this neighbourhood. O, dear sir,learning is a good thing!? The priest, unmoved, made no other reply thanit was his pleasure to disperse the schools; that it should be so, and that he would punish all who dared to disobey. The poor man then very gravely asked the priest, what punishment he intended to inflict on the parent who continued his children at the school? The priest, with a degree of surprise, asked why he made that inquiry? to which he received this answer' BECAUSE, PLEASE YOUR REVERENCE, I THINK IT BET-TER THAT I SHOULD UNDERGO THE PUNISHMENT THAN THAT MY CHIL DREN SHOULD WANT EDUCATION." The poor man was driven from the presence of the priest, but remained firm in his resolution, and has ever since sent his children to school." "The Committee have remarked in former Reports the existence and prevalence of this hostility to the schools of the society; and they are concerned to observe that in some places, it still continues its baneful operation By the power of Divine Providence, however, this hostility is to be con-templated by the supporters of the Hibernian Society, not through the gloomy medium of discomfiture and defeat but in connexion with increasing exertions and decided success. And what is yet more encouraging, the philanthropy of the Society's designs, the importance of its objects and the purity of its means, have in many instances, not only neutralized opposition but even conquered systematic resentment, and converted persecutors into friends. "In exemplification of these observations, the committee are happy to present the following information. One of the Society's first teachers presented a Bible to a Catholic priest, which was very gratefully accepted. In conversation with him the teacher observed, that besides the common ends professed in education, the Hibernian Society wished that all the pupils should be intimately acquainted with the word of God, which alone is able to make wise unto salvation; and that there was no diminution of the Society's zeal and exertions, notwithstanding the great opposition which it had met with. On this the priest lifted up his eyes, and fervently implored a blessing on all with whom the society originated, and by whom it was supported." At Abington, Mr. J. Ford, aged 80. --same week his wife, aged 70. At Nahant, Abner Hood, aged 84. At Groton, Con. Nathan Daboll, Esq. aged 68. At Westhampton, Hophni Judd, Esq. aged 25. At Washington, Col. Robert Gardner, aged 55. At Salem, Mr. J. Eldridge aged 70. At Londonderry, N. H. Rev. Wm. Morrison, D. D. aged 70. At Middlebury, Vt. Rev. Daniel Avery, aged 71. At Louisville (Ken.) Gen. G. R. Clark, aged 66. In Montreal, Messire Chicoineau, Priest, aged 81. In Pittsfield, Capt. Wm. Frances, aged 88. In Piscataway, N. J. Mr. Van Gelder, aged 116. In Richmond, Va. a Negro man, aged 136. March 4th, Rev. Wm. Boardman, Pastor of a church in Newton, LongIsland. In Gloucester, suddenly, Capt. David Pearce, aged 82. At Cambridgeport, the Rev. Samuel Mead, of Amesbury. In Salem, Dea. Joseph Ross, 76. In Barrington, R. I. Solomon Townsend, Esq. aged 70, a revolutionary officer. At Watertown, Col. Christopher Grant, aged 74. At Moulines, France, Jan. 2d, in the 32d year of his age, the Rev. Samuel C. Thacher, Pastor of the NewSouth Church in Boston, and one of the orginal Projectors and Proprietors of the Christian Disciple.-By this admonitory and distressing event, we are taught, that the strongest attachments of a Religious Society, the most ardent desires of relatives, and the most liberal exertions of friends, are all insufficient to insure to a minister of the Gospel, either good health, or long life. If things like these could have been availing, our "Brother had not died." We shall doubtless be furnished with some particulars of the life and character of Mr. Thacher for a future Number of this work. THE CHRISTIAN DISCIPLE. No. 5. MAY, 1818. Vol. VI. THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-KNOWLEDGE. BENHADAD King of Syria was dangerously sick. Alarmed by his situation he sent to Elisha the prophet to inquire whether he should recover of his disease. The person employed on this errand was Hazael. He appeared before the prophet with presents in his hand, and proceeded to inform him of the object of his visit. During the interview, the prophet fixed his eyes steadily on the countenance of Hazael. Discovering by a prophetic glance those traits in his character which would afterwards develop themselves, and percieving the cruelties he would one day practise on the inhab'itants of Israel, he was unable to repress his feelings or to restrain his tears. Ignorant of the causes which thus agitated the bosom of Elisha, unable to conjecture the reason of his distress, Hazael with surprize demanded the occasion of his sorrows. He was then explicitly informed of the malignant cruelty and violence with which he would end the career of his life, Unconscious of those seeds of dark deformity which lurked in the hidden recesses of his Vol. VI, No. 5. 17 heart, his cheek glowed with indignation at the charge, and he exclaimed, "Is thy servant a dog that he should do this great thing!" But mark the weakness and wickedness of man! This same Hazael who was struck with so much horror at the bare charge of violence and cruelty, soon waded to the throne of Syria through the blood of his murdered master. No sooner was he endued with the coveted robe of royalty, than, giddy with power and mad with pride, he became familiar with all those enormities, which, in the fervour of his indignation, he supposed nothing but a brute could commit. This interesting narrative furnishes many useful subjects of reflection; but we shall only enforce the necessity of a thorough acquaintance with our own hearts. First. This is necessary to prevent us from gradually familiarizing ourselves with disgraceful sins. Such is man's ignorance of his own heart-so uncertain his hold on integrity, that he may be led to commit crimes which at a former period of his 1 |