and discordant sound; some were employed in beating old drums; others again were blowing on bullocks' horns; and in the short intervals between the rapid succession of all these fiend-like noises, was heard one more dismal than the rest, proceeding from an iron tube, accompanied by the clinking of chains. Indeed, every thing that could increase the uproar was put in requisition on this memorable occasion; nor did it cease till midnight, when the eclipse had passed away. Never have we witnessed so extraordinary a scene as this. The diminished light, when the eclipse was complete, was just sufficient to enable us to distinguish the various groups of people, and contributed in no small degree, to render the scene still more imposing. If a European, a stranger to Africa, were to be placed on a sudden in the midst of the terror-struck people, he would imagine himself to be among a legion of demons, holding a revel over a fallen spirit; so peculiarly unearthly, wild, and horrifying was the appearance of the dancing group, and the clamour which they made. It was perhaps fortunate for us that we had an almanac with us, which foretold the eclipse; for although we neglected to inform the king of this circumstance, we were yet enabled to tell him and his people the exact time of its disappearance. This succeeded in some measure in suppressing their fears, for they would believe any thing we might tell them; and perhaps, also, it has procured for us a lasting reputation "and a name.' “Oh," said the king, "there will be sorrow and crying this night from Wowow to Yaoorie. The people will have no one to comfort or condole with them; they will fancy this eclipse to be the harbinger of something very dreadful; and they will be in distress and trouble till the moon shall have regained her brightness." It was nearly one o'clock when we left the king and queen, to return to our hut; every thing was then calm and silent, and we lay down to rest in peace."

The following remarks in regard to the state of slavery in this part of Africa, are interesting.

"Perhaps it would be speaking within compass to say that four-fifths of the whole population, not only in this country, but likewise every other hereabouts, are slaves. Many of them are permitted to roam at large, provided they attend upon their masters when called upon; these procure their own subsistence, and devote part of their time to the service of their owners: others reside in the houses of their masters as domestic servants, and are likewise expected to contribute towards their own support. The Queen of Boossa has a great number of Falatah slaves; the men are constantly employed in taking care of her herds, and milking the cows, and the females dispose of the milk; half of the money obtained by this means the Falatahs keep to maintain themselves. Thus are the slaves treated in their native country:-they enjoy much freedom: are never overworked; have plenty of leisure time, and are

rarely punished, and even then but slightly. If a slave run away from his maater, and is afterward taken and brought back, he is simply confined in irons a day or two for his offence; but he is sold to another the first opportunity. The natives have a strong antipathy to flogging, or severe chastisement of any kind, and very seldom have recourse to the means of punishment which they have in their power to inflict."

Nothing could have been more kind than the conduct of the king of Boossa to our travellers. "We have," say they, "observed nothing in his manners or character to condemn, but much, very much, to approve of and admire. His disposition is open and ingenuous, and his sentiments candid and sincere: no child is more simple, innocent, and simple than he." The last interview of the Landers with the king and queen was truly affecting. This venerable couple came to the hut of our travellers, bringing with them two pots of honey, and a large quantity of Goora nuts, strongly recommending that the latter. should be presented to the Rabba chieftain, as the best means of securing his favour.

"We then shook hands heartily, and concluded by wishing them a continuation of the simple blessings and the felicity they enjoyed; that they might ever be loved by their subjects, and feared and honoured by the neighbouring nations; that they might live to a good old age, and die in peace with all mankind. They were both touched with sorrow at our words, for they were the last which they would hear us utter; tears were glistening in the eyes of each as they were making an affecting and suitable answer: and the good couple walked out of our hut with heavy and mournful countenances, and immediately repaired to their own abode in order to make a powerful spell for our preservation and success,

"When we ourselves quitted the hut, which was shortly after their de parture, we found our yard filled with neighbours, friends, and acquaintances, who all fell down on their knees to bid us good-by. They blessed us earnestly with uplifted hands, and those among them that were of the Mohammedan religion fervently implored for us the favour and prosection of Allah and their prophet. The eyes of many of them were treaming with tears, and all were more or less affected. As we passed by these poor creatures, we spoke to them all, and thanked them again and again for their good wishes. Our hearts must have been of marble if we could have beheld such a scene without some slight emotion. On our way towards the river, also, the path was lined with people, some of whom saluted us on one knee, and some on both, and we received their benedictions as we walked along."

(To be concluded.)

CHARACTER OF THE COLONIZATION SOCIETY.

We have received, from a most able and influential friend to the Society, at the North, the following thoughts, which are worthy of general attention. We are persuaded that information and reflection are alone required, to secure for this Institution the support of all candid and liberal minds.

I was anxious to learn from your own pen what progress our good cause is making, and thence was your letter of 31st ult. very welcome. Is our Society still gaining friends at the South? I believe it is at the North. But here opponents to it are also multiplying. This you are, no doubt, aware of, and that, among these opponents, are some very good men. Would you not do well to prepare an article for the Repository, shewing the unreasonableness of their objections to us? I will take the liberty of giving you an outline of my views in this matter; and any of my thoughts, that are worth being used by you, are at your

service.

The leading objection at the North to the American Col. Society is, that it is doing nothing for the slave; nothing towards breaking up the system of slavery in our land. Let it be admitted to the credit of this objection, that it springs from a good spirit-from an impatience of one of our great national evils. But how unreasonable is it to direct such an objection against our Society! Why not as well direct it against the American Bible or American Tract Society? The avowed object of these Societies, is to multiply and distribute Bibles and Tracts. The avowed object of our Society is clearly expressed in the 2d article of its constitution. "The object to which its attention is to be exclusively directed, is to promote and execute a plan for the colonizing (with their consent) the Free People of Color residing in our country, in Africa or such other place as Congress shall deem most expedient." The constitution of our Society is as clear of all words about slaves and slavery, as is the constitution of the American Bible or American Tract Society. There is not a word in our constitution, that shows any design on our part to benefit the slave. It confines its scope to another class of our fellow-men-and to require from our Society any direct efforts in behalf of slaves, would be to require us to violate our constitution; and to denounce us for not having organised our Society with an express reference to the necessities of both of

these classes of persons, is as unreasonable as it would be to denounce the American Temperance Society for not having coupled with its enterprise the suppression of Lotteries.

Let us be arraigned before the public in our true characterthe character we originally assumed, and have ever since scrupulously maintained-and we do not fear the result. Is it charged, that in confining its regards to the free people of color in our country, our constitution has too narrow an object in view? We reply, that there are already several hundred thousands of this people, and that from the disabilities and discouragements to which they are subject here, their condition is, with a few meritorious exceptions, fruitful of misery to themselves and burdensome and corrupting to others. Is it charged, that we have done but little for our free people of color? We admit the justness of the charge. But whilst our ardent wishes would have accomplished a hundred fold more, we still claim for ourselves the Savior's commendation of Mary: "we have done what we could; and the acceptance is, "according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not." Our little Colony speaks for itself and for what God has enabled us to do. Its 2500 happy inhabitants; its schools and churches; its civil government; its commerce, already amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars a year,-all testify, that our Society has not existed in vain, and that the most severe, whilst they reproach us for not having done more, cannot fail of according to us some praise for what we have done.

But notwithstanding the colonization of our free people of color is the only object and business of the Society, it is nevertheless true, that, in calculating the value of the Society and its claims to public favor, we are to take into the account whatever of benefit or injury to other people and interests, is consequent upon or connected with the operations of the Society. If our Society is so faultily constituted, that it cannot proceed in its work of doing good to our free people of color, without occasioning a greater amount of evil to others, then it deserves to be abandoned. But is it so constituted? I believe it is not pretended, that the operations of our Society are injurious to the interests of our white population. All agree, that the removal

of colored persons from our land is a relief to these interests.In the next place, has Africa reason to complain. of the bearing of our Society upon herself? So far from that, the settlements, which our Society is making on her coast, promise to be more efficient in delivering her from the afflictions of the slave trade, and in spreading the principles of christianity and civil liberty amongst her benighted people than any other means, that have been devised for her relief. These settlements are already giving very cheering earnests of their tendency both to abolish the slave trade and to lift up the African character out of its degradation and wretchedness. It remains then to consider, whether the operations of our Society are disadvantageous to our slaves; and whether they do, as it is alledged they do, rivet their chains and diminish the probability of their ultimate freedom. In accordance with what we have said before, it is absurd to argue against our Society on the ground, that it confers no benefit on the slave. It was not instituted to exert directly a beneficial influence upon him. It has not that merit. It was instituted for another purpose. The Society is glad, if its operations are indirectly beneficial to our slaves, or to any other class of persons. It admits at the same time, that it is responsible for all the ill that it works, however indirectly or unexpectedly, to the slave. Though the Society should be doing immense good to twenty millions of the inhabitantts of Africa, yet we would not have that good continued at the expense of the rights and interests of our two millions of slaves.Useful indeed as the Society would appear, even upon this supposition of its opposite effects; yet, its character would not entitle it to the patronage of a citizen of the U. States. Upon him peculiarly our slaves have strong claims for protection and kindness; and he must be the last person to harm them, and to make their condition more deplorable than it is. But to return to the inquiry, whether our Society works ill to our slaves. In what respects does it? Do masters, will masters make the bondage of their slaves severer, and subject them to a more rigid discipline, in proportion as our country is drained of its free colored population? The very reverse of this is true. The master, whether justly or not, dreads the free people of color as the prolific and the only considerable source of depravation, discontent