ony is too small to expect any good from it. How many laughed at Christopher Columbus, when he went from court to court asking patronage, that he might prosecute his voyage of discovery for America. How many then thought that the object was so small and insignificant, that it deserved not countenance or support. No! this is like a candle scattering light abroad in a dark place!-it is a spiritual and moral light,-let it be elevated, and its beams will be diffused. If Mohammed has spread his banner over that desolated land-if under its withering influence votaries have multiplied, pray tell us if Christian patriots may not expect equal success.

These people are in a degraded state it is true;-but when I see the immense range contemplated in the sphere of the American Colonization Society, I think I behold in it a moral grandeur which indicates the Hand that made the heavens in its formation.

Thirdly and lastly, The spirit of religion should inspire us in this matter. Religion now forms a prominent feature in the operations of the Society. The present colonial Agent fears God, and is ardently engaged in the best interests of the Society, and is seconded in his efforts by many kindred spirits. But suppose it was not religious in its objects; what then? Why the duty is greater, the obligation increases for your perpetual prayers. As a larger field opens before our labourers, then surely we ought to extend to it our favour and patronage, to make it such as it ought to be. Lift up then your prayers for God's blessing upon it.

With these brief considerations I leave you to your own Christian feelings. I said in the commencement, that this is a proud day for our country; an era full of interest, a day which gave birth to our freedom, a day in which the noble spirits of our forefathers resolved to achieve their liberty by their honour, their blood, and their treasure. We ask no such sacrifice; none

such is needful. God does not require it. The only sacrifice we ask, is that you contribute a little out of

your abundance, to And perhaps fifty years hence thriving in the soil of Africa,

a people deprived of every good. the tree of liberty shall be seen churches will be erected, and pulpits employed to celebrate their emancipation from the yoke of slavery and of sin. If this be

the case, and we in heaven, how would you delight to run and look over the battlements, and see this glorious sight.—Ethiopia, -the land of Africa shall then have reached forth its hand to God, while He from his lofty throne shall reach down his hand, and lead them to peace, to prosperity, and to eternal life. May God fire our hearts with holy zeal in this cause, for the honourand glory of his name. Amen.

German Mission to Liberia.

In the June number of the Repository for 1825, will be found copious extracts from an interesting paper by Mr. Ashmun, on the subject of a missionary establishment in Africa, and in the January number for 1826, two letters from the Rev. Theophilus Blumhardt, Superintendant of the Missionary College at Basle, Switzerland, making sundry inquiries in behalf of the Basle Evangelical Missionary Society, concerning the best measures to be adopted for the introduction of Christianity among the African tribes. Dr. Blumhardt states in his letter to Mr. Ashmun, that he was encouraged to address him, in consequence of the perusal of his remarks on African Missions, transmitted to him in one of the periodical publications of our country. To these inquiries, Mr. Ashmun made a very able, full, and (as it now appears) satisfactory reply, which has induced the Society to determine upon establishing a Mission in Liberia. Christians in the United States must feel the influence of this example. Our African Colony opens the way into a missionary field of vast extent and unusual promise, where numerous facilities will be afforded to exertion, and few formidable obstacles stand opposed to the influence of truth. No where will the march of Christianity, probably, be more rapid, or her triumphs more signal, than in Africa. It gives us great pleasure to know, that the American Board propose to send Missionaries to Liberia, and we hope their intentions may be fulfilled without delay.— To employ coloured men in this enterprise is certainly desirable; and some, we doubt not, will be found with the requisite qualifications, disposed to devote themselves to the work.

Is it necessary to press this subject upon the attention of the Christian community? Are the claims which Africa presents to us, of so dubious a character, as to require arguments to enforce them? Could the record of her degradation and her injuries and her sufferings be unfolded before our eyes, who could peruse it without feeling all his faculties excited for her relief? The following is extracted from the London Missionary Register.

A letter from Basle, (Switzerland,) dated March 3d, says, Our Society will begin this Spring, a Mission to Western Africa, with six Brethren, at two different places. One of these will be on the Gold Coast, in the Colony of the King of Denmark: His Majesty readily gave permission for that purpose, and that even without any limitation, except the sole condition, that the Missionaries sent thither should understand the System of Mutual instruction. The other Station will be in the American Colony of Liberia, at Cape Monsterado, below Sierra Leone: our Committee received Letters from thence, so very inviting and encouraging, to undertake a Mission there, that they resolved to send thither three Brethren-Messrs. Handt, Jessing, and Hegete; who will spend some months, if possible, in England, with Mr. Cunningham, in order to perfect their knowledge of the English Language; and will depart next Autumn for Liberia, to preach the Salvation of Christ to those Negroes who earnestly pray for Teachers.

The comparative severity of Egyptian and modern slavery is forcibly exhibited in the following paragraph, which we extract from an article in the Christian Observer.

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"Even the children of Israel multiplied in Egypt. They grew from a single family-from about seventy persons, to six hundred thousand men, besides women and children. To the British West Indies alone, there have been carried from Africa, not fewer, on the most moderate calculation, than two millions of human beings. These have not only not increased, but they have diminished to little more than a third of that number.”

[Christian Spectator.

William H. Fitzhugh, Esq.

The following account of the plan adopted by this gentleman, (one of the Vice-Presidents of our Society) will be read with interest, and we hope, at no very remote period, may be extensively adopted. The plan resembles, in some degree, that which was many years ago pursued by the Hon. Joshua Seel, Vice-President of the London Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce; who being proprietor of a large estate in Barbadoes, became so entirely convinced that the management of his agent was both unprofitable and destructive to his people, as to embark, at the advanced age of eighty, for the purpose of effecting a reform. A particular account of his very successful experiment (which we hope at a future time to present to our readers) is detailed in a pamphlet by Mr. Clarkson, entitled "Thoughts on the necessity of improving the condition of the Slaves in the British Colonies," &c. The extract which we now publish from the Alexandria Gazette, shows that the benevolent intentions of Mr. Fitzhugh will probably be realized.

It is truly gratifying for us to be able to state that Wm. H. Fitzhugh, of Ravensworth, who owns a great number of slaves, is now endeavouring to improve their condition, and has adopted a plan somewhat similar to that above related, but even more liberal in its details. He has settled two families of his slaves on small farms attached to the Ravensworth estate, which they are to cultivate as tenants. They are to pay him a rent for the land and for the stock furnished them, but nothing for the hire of themselves. He keeps a regular account with them, giving them credit for all the products of their farms, and charging them with the rent, and with such necessaries and comforts as they require, which are always to be furnished by him, to prevent them from making any injudicious use of their money.The balance of their earnings is to go towards the purchase of their freedom, or to be appropriated for setting out in the world the more deserving among them whom he intends to liberate. He furnishes them with a team for ploughing whenever they require it, for which he charges them a moderate hire, and he gives them credit for all the days' work they do for him. He informs us that the experiment has thus far been very satisfactory.The first family has been settled in this way about six months, during which time they have been unusually industrious; and have shown a laudable pride in keeping the farm in order. The second family has just been settled, and he intends to pursue the same course with others if he shall be successful. We feel great hopes that this benevolent and patriotic enterprise will be crowned with success, and that it will encourage others to "go and do likewise."

Approbatory Resolution.

The General Association of Connecticut, at its late meeting, adopted the following Resolution:

Resolved, That the Association do highly approve of the object and exertions of the Colonization Society, and do recommend to the Ministers in our connection in this State, to use their influence in that way that they shall judge proper, to aid the Society.

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Intelligence.

The Managers of the Ohio State Colonization Society propose to publish a periodical work, to be entitled the AFRICAN REPERTORY AND COLONIAL REGISTER. It will be issued monthly; each number containing 24 duodecimo pages, printed on good medium paper, with new types, at seventyfive cents per year, if payment shall be made in advance-at one dollar, if made within the year-and at one dollar twenty-five, if delayed until the year has expired. The Board state in their prospectus, "that they will labour to conduct the work in that temperate and liberal manner, that may tend to soften down, rather than encourage those unhappy asperities which have very improperly been kept alive between the North and South on this subject." Subscriptions for the work should be transmitted to Nathaniel M'Lean, Columbus, Ohio.

Colonization Society.-The Memorial to Congress, which is circulating through the country in favour of this Society, is to be offered in the several towns in Vermont, at the Freeman's meeting in September for the election of state officers. A good plan.-Boston Recorder.

Colonization of Blacks -A petition to Congress to provide a situation on the coast of Africa, as an asylum for the reception of such free people of colour as may choose to resort there from the United States, and to afford a facility for the removal of slavery; and also to set apart from the revenue of the government a fund for furnishing the means of transporting to Africa such free people of colour as may be desirous of emigrating, is in circulation in Boston, and is offered for the signatures of such persons as are desirous of promoting such a measure.

ST. LOUIS, JULY 12.-Fourth of July.-No regular celebration of the birth-day of American Independence took place in this city. At the instance of the St, Louis Auxiliary to the American Colonization Society, a