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MANDEVILLE STATION, JAMAICA.

THE station at which the Rev. W. Slatyer first commenced his labours in Jamaica was Porus, which lies in the Clarendon district between Mandeville and Four Paths, at nearly an equal distance from each.* Four Paths, in the same district, is the station occupied by the Rev. W. G. Barrett. The Mandeville station, of which it is now intended to give a brief notice, is situated in the district of Manchester, on the borders of Clarendon.

In April, 1835, Mr. Slatyer arrived at Porus, and had scarcely entered upon his work when, from information that reached him and which he forwarded to the Directors, he was deeply impressed with the importance of Mandeville as a field for Missionary exertion. He ascertained that within a compass of three miles in that quarter, the coloured population amounted to nearly 4,000 persons, young and old, who were then almost wholly destitute of the means of moral and religious instruction. Mr. Slatyer was also informed that land and other accommodation necessary to the establishment of a Mission could be obtained there without difficulty.

In the merciful arrangements of Divine Providence, the field thus opened to the view of the Society was not long left without the culture it so deeply needed. Mr. and Mrs. Brown having been appointed by the Directors to labour as educational agents in the South of Jamaica, arrived at Kingston, in January, 1836, and the brethren to whom the choice of their station was committed, directed them to proceed to Mandeville, and pursue their important duties under the superintendence of Mr. Slatyer. Ground suitable for Mission premises was subsequently purchased, and measures were taken for the erection of a chapel and school-house. At the close of March, 1836, Mr. Slatyer and Mr. Brown, having pitched a tent at the place, commenced preaching alternately to a large congregation of negroes, and every subsequent Sabbath, until more permanent accommodation was provided, they were exceedingly gratified and encouraged to witness the earnest attention manifested by the people to the words of eternal life.

Early in the same year, Mr. and Mrs. Brown began their labours in the work of education by opening a school at Mandeville on the British System, and such was the progress made, that within a twelvemonth from its commencement, the number of children under instruction increased from a very few to nearly 100; many of whom, though at first ignorant even of the alphabet, learned in that short time to read the New Testament with considerable ease and propriety. The catechetical instruction of the adults was also attended with a pleasing of encouragement.

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On the second Sabbath in January, 1887, Mr. Slatyer enjoyed the holy privi lege and satisfaction of forming a church at Mandeville of 11 members, and was enabled to cherish the hope, that many additions would speedily be made to this little company of believers. Speaking of the members of his church, Mr. Slatyer, in a communication forwarded about that time, thus adverted to one of them:"Another of the members is an old negress between 80 and 90 years of age, brought under the sound of the Gospel by my preaching at Bellefield.† Sabbath passes that she is not at the house of God, though she has seven miles of mountain-road to travel to it, and had passed almost a century without scarcely once entering it; but now she truly loves it, for there she hears of Jesus so precious to her soul. Thus hath the Lord shown me tokens for good, made his work appear, and sent prosperity. It was a sweet refreshment, a hallowed enjoyment, to approach the table of the Lord and partake of the memorials of his + A station in the neighbourhood where Mr. Slatyer occasionally labours.

• About 11 miles.

death in the new and solemn relation in which for the first time I dispensed the elements; to me it was an event of indescribable interest."

In August, 1837, the station sustained a deep and serious loss in the removal, by death, of Mr. Brown, whose natural disposition, personal piety, and educational acquirements, eminently fitted him for the work in which he had engaged. During his brief course of useful exertion, he manifested superior devotedness in fulfilling the duties of his office, to which he invariably manifested an ardent and growing attachment. He was much beloved by our brother, Mr. Slatyer, and the children of the negroes confided to his care; and the progress of the latter, while favoured by his instructions, afforded the highest satisfaction and encouragement.

From the increasing importance of the station, and the extent of its claims compared with those of Porus, Mr. Slatyer, at an early period, was led to consider it as highly desirable that he should himself remove to Mandeville, and make it the place of his abode and the scene of his permanent labours, still regarding it as his duty to bestow every practicable measure of attention on the station at Porus, to which he also recommended the appointment of a schoolmaster. This arrangement was subsequently carried into effect. In April, 1838, Mr. Slatyer removed with his family to Mandeville; the schools at Porus have been under the charge of Mr. and Mrs. Hillyer since July, 1838, and Messrs. Slatyer and Barrett have for some time past pursued the plan of preaching there alternately. Early in the present year, Mr. John Gibson, who arrived at Kingston in June, 1838, proceeded thence to Mandeville, and continued his work as schoolmaster and catechist in the schools at this station, under the superintendence of Mr. Slatyer. In the interval between the death of Mr. Brown, and the period at which Mr. Slatyer entered on the station as his place of residence, the schools underwent a considerable decline; but subsequent to the latter event the number of children progressively increased until it reached an average attendance of 150, and since Mr. Gibson has joined the station, it is reported that the number has increased to nearly 200.

On the fourth Sabbath in July last, the new chapel and school-house were opened, and the special services held on the occasion were marked by general manifestations of grateful and pious feeling. An overflowing congregation attended, and the people contributed with even more than their usual liberality in aid of the Missionary cause, to which they have uniformly exemplified the most ardent attachment. On the same day, six members were added to the church, and united for the first time in showing forth the Lord's death. Thus,” observés Mr. Slatyer," the Lord is adding to our number, and forming a people for his praise."

The sketch on the first page contains a view of Ridgmount Chapel® and Mission-house, at Mandeville. The latter building is the residence of Mr. Slatyer, who, in adverting to it states, "it stands on the brow of a hill, exposed to the cooling and delicious breezes which sweep unobstructed over several miles of subjacent country."

Reference has been made to the spirit of Christian liberality habitually evinced by the people. Of this a very gratifying proof has been recently afforded. When Mr. Slatyer informed the church members and candidates for church-fellowship of the existing deficiency in the Society's funds, they immediately subscribed among themselves the sum of 507.,† a large amount, undoubtedly, compared with

• The chapel and school-house are under the same roof, and form but one building, the only separation between them consisting of a moveable wooden partition. This plan has been adopted at other stations as well as Mandeville, in order to secure the use of the school-house for the purpose of public worship in addition to the chapel itself.

+ Mr. Slatyer intended to suggest a similar collection at Porus.

the limited extent of their means. The names of the subscribers, and of those. who contributed towards the erection of the chapel, will appear in the forthcoming Annual Report of the Society.

The good which has been effected in the brief period that has elapsed since the commencement of this station, and the pleasing prospects now connected with the work, afford decisive evidence that the Lord has graciously regarded the labours of his servants, and inspire the cheering persuasion that the period is fast approaching when He will manifest yet more fully his purposes of grace and compassion on behalf of the negro race in the West Indies. It will be the unceasing prayer of those who have been mainly instrumental to the extirpation of slavery from this quarter of the globe, that the day of freedom which has lately opened there in calm and peaceful glory, may be sanctified and blest to the emancipated, by their receiving along with it the still purer light and liberty of the Gospel of Christ, so that all that has been hitherto accomplished may finally admit of being reviewed with no sentiment of regret or self-reproach, but with feelings of unmingled satisfaction and joy.

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SOUTH AFRICA.-EXTINCTION OF COLONIAL SLAVERY. Ir is now generally known that the emancipation of the apprenticed labourers in the colony of the Cape of Good Hope was completed on the first of December, 1838. This great measure-the long desired object of the Christian philanthropist by which nearly thirty-six thousand persons, chiefly of the Hottentot race, were delivered from a state of comparative slavery, and fully invested with the rights and privileges justly belonging to them as subjects of the British Empire, appears to have been accomplished in an equally auspicious and satisfac tory manner with the similar change effected in the British West Indies on the preceding first of August. A degree of apprehension had been entertained by a few, as to the conduct of the apprentices at the trying crisis of the day of univer sal liberty; and even some, who held a very favourable opinion of their general character and disposition, scarcely allowed themselves to think that the spirit of peace and good order could, on such an occasion, remain wholly undisturbed. But the event, it seems, has demonstrated in the happiest manner that such fears were unfounded, while it has amply justified the more cheering confidence of those who, from their better knowledge of the apprentices and of the extent to which the influences of religion had obtained power over their minds, were enabled to dismiss every feeling of anxiety on the subject.

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The population at most of the Society's stations within the colony is partly composed of those who belong to the class of liberated apprentices. We give below extracts of the communications which have been received from Cape Town, Pacaltsdorp, Uitenhage, Hankey, and the Paarl, confirmatory of the preceding statements, and showing in detail that the celebration of the first of December, by the enfranchised population, has been such as the Christian public and friends of the Aborigines may contemplate with the most entire satisfaction.

CAPE TOWN.

The Rev. Dr. Philip had not returned from the interior, whither he proceeded in October last to visit the stations; but a letter from the Rev. H. Calderwood, who had undertaken to officiate during his absence from Cape Town, supplies the following gratifying information in relation to the present subject:--

The first of December passed over in this town in the most peaceable manner. Many of the former slaveholders are as

tonished that there has been no disturb. ance. They are quite unable to account for such a phenomenon. Between five and six

thousand apprentices were made free in Cape Town on that day, and for the first time permitted to call their persons and their earnings their own. But there was not a single committal to the Cape Town prison on the first of December, although on the previous Saturdays, for two months previously, there had been from one to eight committals for some crime or other. There seemed to be very little excitement, and I understand the canteens or public-houses were not so full that night as on other Saturday nights. Had an event so much calculated to produce excitement occurred in any town in England, the public-houses would have been crowded with the votaries of intemperance. The apprentices have certainly, to the surprise of many a dolorous prophet, proved themselves quite as much prepared to make a proper use of freedom as their former masters; and this is especially true in the country, so far as we have yet heard. 1717916S

It appears by a letter which I have lately received, that many of the apprentices had been induced, by false representations, to pay a considerable sum for their freedom immediately before the first of December. This shows, however, that their anxiety to obtain freedom was intense. Many of the emancipated labourers are remaining for a little while with their former

masters, just to show their good feeling. And indeed generally where they have been well treated, they show no disposition to change. It is ridiculous to talk of their refusing to work, when they know very well that they must either work or starve. I feel persuaded that the moral effects of the recent change will yet be very great over the whole colony. May the Spirit of the Lord be poured out abundantly on this land! We require and entreat an especial interest in the prayers of the churches.

In the afternoon of the day of freedom, we had a number of children assembled to tea; they were very happy, and provision for the soul also was not neglected. In the evening we had a meeting in the chapel for coloured people; the service was in Dutch, conducted by Mr. Vogelgezang, an agent of the Christian Instruction Society of Cape Town. There were nearly 200 persons present, almost entirely coloured. The meeting, I think, was a profitable one. Had it not been on Saturday I should have had a meeting of the church. On the previous Sabbath I addressed the church members in reference to their present circumstances. The sermon containing this address has been published by request. I pray the Lord may bless the appeal to the Christians of Cape Town.

PACALTSDORP.

The venerable Missionary at this station, Mr. Anderson, adverting to the ser vices held on the first of December, thus writes :—

At five o'clock in the morning we met for prayer and thanksgiving on the happy occasion. At ten a large assembly, including those freed from slavery, attended Divine worship. The children of the Infant School sung, "O'er the gloomy hills of darkness." I then addressed the congregation from Ps. xlviii. 9—11; endeavoured to draw the attention of each of the classes before me to the great things God had done for them; recommended them to think seriously, and seek to become partakers of a still greater redemption through Jesus Christ, and in their lives to manifest a real sense of thank

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fulness for what God had done for them. At the close, the children sang the hymn, "From Greenland's icy mountains." The occasion was truly interesting.

On Sunday we had a large congregation, between three and four hundred. In the morning I addressed them from Rev.xxii. 17, and administered the ordinance. In the afternoon I preached again from Heb. xi. 24-26, inviting them to imitate the example of Moses, and entreating those who had entered upon a life of freedom to look well to the first step taken by them, as on that their future happiness greatly depended.

UITENHAGE.

Mr. Messer, the Missionary labouring On the never-to-be-forgotten first of December, not only those who live in town, bat also a great many belonging to adjacent places, joined in the early prayer meeting held in my chapel, which was quite filled. Some of the inhabitants had been thinking that great disorder might take place, but they had no need to be afraid, for since I have been acquainted with this village I never experienced more quietness than on

at this station, writes:

that day. Few people were seen in the canteens: at least none belonging to this place, except one poor creature was, drunk, and he was put in prison immediately for his bad conduct. 9816 An stĺkai mek ...On the 3rd of December they had what they called a feast of thanksgiving in token of what God had done for them; invited their friends and acquaintances; and their tables were spread with good things. The

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