his superiors-which universally attaches itself to those reared in slavery. toward white people-especially aid of their six pounder they again beat the natives off with very considerable loss. In these affairs Mr. Cary necessarily bore a considerable part, mounting guard daily in his turn with the rest. In one of his letters he remarks, that like the Jews in rebuilding their city, they had to toil with their arms beside them, and lie The interest of the Colony and the cause of his countrymen, both in Africa and this country, lie near his heart. For them he is willing to toil, and to make almost any sacrifice; and he has frequently declared, that no posses-upon their arms every night; but sions or honours in this country he declares shortly after this in could induce him to return. the most emphatic terms, that "there never had been an hour or a minute, no not even when the balls were flying round his head, when he could wish himself back to America again.". refused to accept any other civil office. During the sickly season of the year, he has usually been wholly taken up in attending on the sick, and for more than a One circumstance deserves particular notice. After Capt. Stockton and Dr. Ayres had purchased the Cape, and the Colonists had taken possession, so much hostility appeared on the part of He has been Health officer and the natives the rains were ap-general Inspector, since their proaching and their provisions settlement at Monrovia ; but has becoming short-it was concluded they must all return again to Sierra Leone. Another day and the place would have been abandoned, but on the Agent's going on shore to prepare for a depar-year past they have had no other ture, he was informed by Mr. Cary that he was determined not to go; and nearly all the colonists were induced to follow his example. In the event they suffered se-years experience, have enabled verely 800 or 1000 natives in him successfully to contend with November 1822, attacked them, the peculiar fevers of the climate. but were repulsed-and a few Under date of March 12th, 1824, weeks after, a body of 1500 at- shortly after the arrival of the tacked them again at day-break; Cyrus with 105 emigrants, he several of the colonists were kill-writes-" The fever began about ed and wounded-but with only the 24th ult. and the 28th we had 37 effective men and boys and the 37 cases-and by the 2d inst. we physician among them. The little medical information he obtained from Dr. Ayres and others on the coast, together with several * had 66 under the operation of medicine-and at present I have about 100 cases of fever to contend with-but we have been very much favoured, for they appear all to be on the recovery and we have lost none saving three children. I have very little time to write to you, myself being the only man that will venture to act in the capacity of a physician." A little church was formed in this city, composed of Lott Cary, Colin Teage, Joseph Langford and 4 or 5 more, before they sailed for Africa. This church is now settled in Monrovia, and Lott Cary is Pastor. They have had considerable addition by emigrants from Petersburg and this place, as well as from a revival among them during the last year, and the church now probably numbers 60 or 80 members. They have a meeting-house partly built and are much in want of aid to finish it. Colston M. Waring from Petersburg and John Lewis from this city, both preachers, belong to this church. There is also a Methodist church on the Cape. They have a Sunday School comprising 18 native children and before this time we hope a regular school for children of the natives has commenced. The natives have always shown the utmost *Colin Teage left the American colo. anxiety to learn to read themselves, and particularly to have their children instructed, or in their own way of expressing it-"To learn white man's fashions." It ought to be observed however, and ought to excite the sympathy and regret of Christians in this country, that this little colony we hope destined to be remembered by future generations in Africa, as Jamestown and Plymouth are with us-does not contain an individual, except Mr. Ashmun, the Agent who ever received even a plain English education. Is there no one in this country qualified for the task, and possessed of the zeal of a Vanderkieff, a Kicherner, or a Johnson-ready to go and spend their lives in bringing about the fulfilment of the promise that "Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands unto God ?"-It is earnestly hoped that an affirmative answer may be given to this question before another year has past-that the efforts of the American and other Colonization Societies may be more abundantly successful-and that the great objects of completely destroying the Slave Trade of ameliorating the condition of our coloured population-and of sending the gospel to the darkened millions of Africa-may universally receive the sanction of the enlightened and the good, and nists at the time they removed to Cape that all may readily lend their aid for their accomplishment. Montserado, and by the last accounts was living at Freetown. SKETCHES OF CHARACTER. BY J. ASHMUN. The following interesting sketches His age it was impossible ex were received with the last communica-actly to ascertain; but he has told tions from Liberia. They evince feelings most honourable, to their excellent author, and will, we hope, prove impres sive lessons to those who have so long enjoyed the benefit of his disinterested, and almost unequalled exertions. We need only refer to these articles, for evidence that humble life, affords abundant materials for instructive, and pathetic story. STEPHEN KIAH. me, that at the time of Braddock's defeat, which he perfectly recollects, he must have been well grown. As, that event occurred in the year, 1759 Stephen Kiah could not have been under 76 years of age, at the time of his embarkation for Africa, in 1822: and, as rarely as such a circumstance occurs, he at this time retained, under so great a weight of years, and even to the last hour of his life, much of that soundness of judgment, prompt The traits of his It is due to the memory of this worthy man, to transmit, at least, a simple notice of his excellentness of recollection, and strength character, to his descendants in of memory, which had distinguishthis colony, and to all who may ed him in an unusual degree inherit after him the blessing of a through life. civil and religious community, which his example, his influence, and above all, his prayers have largely contributed towards establishing in this country. character were happily blended, and formed together an assemblage of very striking excellences, to which none who knew him could long remain insensible. He was a native, and for upCheerfulness without-levitywards of the first 70 years of his kindness tempered with discrimilife, an inhabitant of the eastern nating severity, firmness joined shore of Maryland. It was his with the most amiable docility, were lot to be born a slave; but long anong the most conspicuous.before the middle of life, by his The manly firmness of inflexible industry and good conduct, he principle, united with the lambobtained his freedom, and became like meekness of a dependent and the father of a numerous, and submissive child,-were qualities, highly respectable family-the which, however opposite in appear condition of whose birth spared ance! were most harmoniously them all from the reproach (how-interwoven in the texture of his ever unjust) of having ever been moral habits. in a state of servitude. His constitution had been ro was bust, his habits laborious, and as a consequence, his circumstances, at the period of his emigration, were easy. His motive for this step at so advanced an age, he explained by observing to me, that the remnant of his own life, was of too little importance, to oppose any obstacle to the promotion of an enterprize, which he anxious to aid by his example, for the sake of his descendants, and the coloured people in America. He could not but make a sacrifice, of some few of the comforts of old age, by the removal; but he saw in the colony an asylum prepared by the Providence of God, for the people of colour, on which he was firmly pursuaded, that the dew of his heavenly blessing would copiously descend, to the latest period. In this confidence, he cheerfully accompanied his numerous family to this distant coast, which, like Moses, he most earnestly desired, at least, to be permitted to behold; and like Jacob, to have his bones deposited there. And his desires were fulfilled. But he was not exempted from those severe afflictions, which his faith so eminently fitted him to meet with composure, and sustain with the most exemplary patience, His aged partner, who had made three-fourths of the journey of life with him, was among the first of the expedition, who fell victims to the change of climate. But the separation was rendered easy by the mutual confidence of a speedy re-union in the kingdom of Heaven, which animated the bosoms of this aged couple. A pious widowed sister, who was even his senior in age, soon followed, in the same assured hope of passing to the immediate fruition of a holier and immortal life. To witness this scene of what shall I call it? it certainly was any thing but mortality-it was any thing but affliction-it was the accomplishment of long cherished hopes! it was putting off of mortality, and the putting on of immortality-it was the triumph of faith and hope, and of the peace of God which passeth all understanding--to witness but one such scene in one's life, must leave a lasting conviction of the power and excellence of the Holy Religion which brightened it, in the most sceptical mind. But a few days after parting with his friend, he was called to furnish, in a new furnace of trials, another proof of his Christian fortitude and confidence. In the attack of the natives upon the settlement, on the morning of the 11th of November, two of his grand children fell almost before his eyes one of them having been killed by a musket shot and the other, a female, assassinated under circumstances of the most appalling barbarity. In the same hour, a very worthy son-i 1law, his boast and principal earth Melen Maria Pest t and humble worshipper of God, JOHN S. MILL ly dependance, under the infirmi ties of age, was disabled for life, by a most severe wound in the shoulder, 'and five small grand children, carried into captivity! To discover no marks of affliction under such wounding dispensa tions of heaven, would be to manifest an insensibility of heart, which, to say the least, is no part of christianity. Mr. Kiah felt the chastisement in all its severity His heart bled, and his eyes overflowed, but in all this, he sinned Expired last midnight of a not, by repining against the or- pulmonary decay, through the last dinance of heaven, by despairing stages of which he has been hurried of the divine mercy, or charging with great rapidity. This is one God foolishly. It was the severest of those deaths which not only extrial of his life, and the more cite the tenderest compassion, but so from being sudden and unex-edge it with an anguish incapable pected: but he soon evinced the of being assuaged by reflection. power of a faith, still superior, He lived to no useful purpose; and and discovered, that tho' wounded has died unregretted-a prey to and pierced, his spirit was not distressing remorse for the past, broken; and a faithful Saviour, and of fearful apprehensions for ! not only sustained him under his the future. Constitutionally besorrows, but delivered him from nevolent and inoffensive, his virthem by repairing, as far as was tues, and other vices disappeared possible, his multiplied bereave-alike under the broad blot of a repulsive sensuality. By education formed to move in the circle of respectable society, and in his sober moments a man of good sense and just views, he voluntarily relinquished not only the rights conferred by those advantages, but the exercise of his better faculties, by seeking the degradation of savage life. With a christian education, he lived a heathen. He has gone out of the world, |