Wright is dead! She left us on the morning of the 4th ultimo, at about two o'clock. She had not the exercise of her reason when she died, so we could not know the state of her mind; but we have no doubt she is in heaven, while we are left to suffer yet longer on earth.

The ways of God are mysterious and past finding out; but may we ever be found in the path of duty, ready for our change whenever it shall come. Then death will be gain. I do not know that we could have expected less than the death of one of our number.But we did expect more. May we be disappointed in regard to this? Probably the work of death is not yet completed among us; however, we have no fears upon the subject. We are in the hands of a just and merciful God, who will do what is best with us.

We have some money, but we must have more men. We must have teachers, or we cannot establish schools to any desirable extent. I am so circumstanced that I cannot take charge of a school. Brother Wright will be able to, when he goes down to Bassa.Mrs. Spaulding will be able to devote but a part of her time to that work. Miss Farrington, I fear, will render the mission but little if any service, as her health is very precarious. We want to establish a manual labour school immediately, and we only want for teachers. I think it far better to secure something on the coast in the settlements, and then make our way into the interior as fast as possible, rather than extend our labours and secure nothing. R. SPAULDING.

To the Rev. Fitch Reed.

MONROVIA, MARCH 5, 1834. Dear Sister and Rev. Brother:-The Lord has brought us safely across the living waters, and has showed us kindness in a land of strangers. But he has seen fit to take one of our number to himself, whose loss we greatly lament. Our much-loved sister Wright is no more, while those less worthy to live are spared. We have all had the fever, and some of us have been dangerously sick, but we are now recovering. I have had three attacks, the two last of which were very severe. During the second, hope nearly failed; and before the fever turned, during the third, pain became so exquisite, and medicine had so little effect, most all despaired of my life. The doctor thought mortification was about taking place in my stomach, and left me without medicine. A few hours after, all the symptoms turned favourably, and the fever left me; since which I have been recovering rapidly. Probably the second attack was occasioned by being moved into a damp room, and the third by being removed from one part of the town into another. The doctor has said it was not possible for my constitution to endure the climate, and advised the missionaries to send me home, which they resolved to do, saying they did not know that the Board would keep me here longer. But I have absolutely refused to go. Though to be cut off by the Board would be somewhat trying, as it would seem like being turned from my father's house; yet should they do it, I resolve to trust. I laid my life on the altar on leaving America, and I am willing that it should remain there. The hand which led me to New England, and from there here, will sever the silver cord at the most proper time; and till then death can have no power.

Should burning beams of noon conspire
To deal a pestilential fire,

God is our lite-His wings are spread
To shield us with a healthful shade.

Should vapours with malignant breath,
Rise thick and scatter midnight death,
Israel is safe: the poison'd air

Grows pure, if Israel's God be there.

When the children of Israel found themselves enclosed on every side, and the Egyptians pursuing them, it was not wisdom to wish themselves back into Egypt, as they knew the Lord had brought them there. Then was the time to prove the power of faith. Surely the Christian need not be disheartened at seeming impossibilities, when those that were really such (with man) have been encountered by Omnipotence. I see no reason why he should act cowardly, or basely retreat from the field of action, because he has looked at danger. I suppose our grand foe would be glad to drive all from the missionary field, especially in a place like this, where he is worshipped by a whole nation.*

* Doubtless you are aware that the natives have stated times to assemble in what they call the Devil's Bush, to carry their offerings, and pay homage to the Devil, or, as they assert, to appease his anger, and make him their friend. They have a select man, whose

office it is to feed the Devil. He carries a bowl of palaver sauce (a great dish among them, prepared with rice and palm oil, and a certain leaf with which it is seasoned) every evening. In the morning the bowl is found empty, and the people made to believe the Devil has eaten it.

I see work here for thousands, and wonder that from the vast number of Christians in America no more are found here. Of a truth the harvest is great, but the labourers are few. Millions are waiting for the word of life, many of whom ask for instruction in the "white man's book." The natives in the different towns on the coast are, most of them, anxious to be instructed in our language, and hesitate not to say, "We countrymen be fools, but America man know every thing."

My heart has melted sometimes, during the fever, to see the little native boys come round the bed to be taught the alphabet. About one hundred miles in the interior, is a town of four or five thousand inhabitants, in the dominion of King Boson, who has put himself under the protection of the colony, and requested that his people might be educated, saying, he will do all he can to encourage a school in the town, if white men will go there and establish one. The climate is very healthy there, and the country far more pleasant than here, interspersed with mountains and valleys, with running brooks and larger streams, and numerous springs of cool fresh water, all of which are seldom seen here. When people come from there here, they take the fever, the same as we do from America. The man with whom I board has a son here who spent twelve months there. The natives were perfectly kind to him. This king wrote, a few weeks since, that if the Colony would pay hin a trifling sum, he would open the trade for them with a tribe far beyond him, which they design to do. I hope the time is not far distant, when these people will be favoured with missionary exertions among them. I suppose there are difficulties in the way at present; but I should think that power which assisted the Jews when they fought with one hand and laboured with the other, and enabled David to meet the Philistine, or Joshua to stay the sun, would be exerted in behalf of those who would venture to labour there. I am praying for the Lord to send help, but it may be for the want of a better understanding. I have missed some of the privileges of America since I have been here, but have never had one thought of regret that I came, and have never felt more contented and happy in any place. I love my friends that I have left behind, but I love the cause of Christ better. My soul seems fastened as closely to the mission as my spirit does to this clayey tenement. I have suffered but a little inconvenience, save for the want of a faithful nurse and a comfortable bed. I made preparations to bring a bed, but the board of missions at Boston prevented me, saying one would be provided; but the people in the colony can provide board, but not beds. I have had but a blanket for a pillow some of the time, and no outside covering for the bed, and a very uncomfortable bed during the fever; yet such inconveniences are but trifling. I find nothing in the least discouraging.

I will send you a view of Cape Mount drawn with a pencil-have not time to paint it. I wrote below before I concluded to send it.

The

Our passage from Norfolk here was somewhat lengthy, but pleasant. I was sea sick all the way, but I did not give up to it at all. I stood on deck most of the time, and felt that angels' wings brooded over me, and the shadow of Omnipotence protected me. captain was surpassingly kind and polite; he spared no pains to make our passage comfortable and pleasant. May the Lord reward him with the salvation of his soul. I drew a view of Cape Mount, as we saw it, for brother Wright, and one of Cape Mesurado, where we lay at anchor, which I designed to send you, but have not been well enough to paint them. I will send you a sheet written in Arabic by a Mohammedan priest, and presented me. He could not interpret it. O how much these people want instruction by one who can speak the Arabic. I find it far more pleasant in the Colony than I expected, and the people more improved.

I have just heard from a campmeeting which commenced here the last Thursday in February, and continued seven days. I am informed there was perfect order, and no more disturbance during the whole than if they had been in church. Forty-five were down upon their knees, and upon the ground crying for mercy at the same time, and about sixty during the day. Every day some were down. Brother Johnson judged there were about one hundred tents, of good size, and well filled. A number found peace; he did not ascertain how many; and the conviction of the others seemed permanent; but they failed for want of labourers. The people turned out so generally to the meeting, which was a few miles from this, that the man with whom I board, having made ready to go, went through the town here, and seeing how many were absent returned, saying it would not do to leave the town so vacant.

I want to see Almira, and learn that she is in the way to heaven. I hope you will write soon, and let me know if you have heard from Cazenovia, or any of my acquaintances, &c. Yours, &c. SOPHRONIA FARRINGTON.

AFRICAN CUSTOMS.

Extracts from the Liberia Herald.

"Nothing disgusted us more among those children of nature, than their immoderate · love of ardent spirits, and we never witnessed any thing like it before. African customs

made it imperious upon the superintendent of the settlement, to fill the decanter when honored with the royal presence, or that of any man of note; and we never knew any motion made to leave the house, until the last drop had been drained from it; after which, the stirrup or parting cup had to be taken and his majesty's jug to be filled, to treat his wives and friends with, upon his return home that evening. This hard drinking, however, is almost exclusively confined to the great and noble of the land, as it would ill become a poor man to get drunk, as he would, if at home, be sure to commit some breach of the peace, and "catch a palaver," which perhaps might cost him half his substance. I believe further, that it is unlawful for a poor man to get drunk, by himself, according to their law. But the kings and headmen, care not a fig for law or custom, and should a barrel of rum be placed in their hands, they would never see a sober moment till the whole was consumed. King Jo Harris said to me, one day after having performed his usual feast, concerning the decanter, laying his hand on an empty puncheon, “I savey; you man for governor, tell, governor, him send one punch rum for dash we, (meaning kings) top, tell him send two punch, one for me King Jo Harris, me one, and tother for dash all country gentlemen." They are literally crazy after rum, and no business or trade of importance can be discussed until the preliminaries are settled by a jug of rum being placed before the parties. When foreign rum cannot be obtained, they are in the habit of drinking large quantities of palm wine, which is produced from the palm tree, and is of a very intoxicating nature.

We find the following account of the interment of "King Tom Bassa, of little Bassa, a prince remarkable for his good sense, moderation and love of justice.

"Two bullocks were slain, one placed at the head and the other at the foot of the grave, into which were also put two large chests of dry goods, in the same position, also one high post bedstead and mattress, a present from a slave; then the corpse dressed after civilized mode with a hat, two umbrellas and shoes, then a kettle of rice; two large pots of rice, one at the head and the other at the foot; two large looking glasses in the same position: coral beads, pipes, tobacco, mugs, decanters, wash hand-basins, swords, cutlasses and one hundred native mats, when a general fill up took place. Outside of the grave was placed a large slave pot to receive donations from the pious."

"As soon as his death was known, a general lamentation took place throughout the country; and, it is said, every absentee is obliged to perform this cry, no matter how many years elapsed before he returns to his country-it being viewed in the light of a religious duty. It must have been an affecting sight indeed, to see a whole nation bewailing the loss of their father king: but outward lamentations are mere forms, which all nations adopt on such occasions; and the Bassa people were shortly after seen indulging themselves in the firing of guns and drinking to excess, with the greatest nonchalance in the world, all too in honor of the deceased."

The Herald has the following paragraph in relation to the religious ten

ents of the natives:

"We know but little of the religious belief of the Bassa nations. They seem to have a confused idea, of a good spirit, who made all things, but they appear to reverence far more an evil spirit or devil. They believe that in another world men will follow the same pursuits that they do in this. They believe in witchcraft and charms, and so highly are those manufactured by the Mandingoes prized, that no money will tempt them to sell their principal gregrees. The Mandingoes, in order to increase the sale of their gregrees, do not hesitate to assure them that no charm can reach them while they wear them about their necks. One had the assurance to say to us, that his was powerful enough to shield him from the effects of a cannon ball, and it was under this belief, that in our first native war, the bravest of them would rush up to the cannon's mouth, though loaded, and foolishly embrace it. Before you enter any town, you can generally see some gregree hanging over the main path, and before their houses, but whether dedicated to good or evil spirits, we know not.'

FOURTH OF JULY.

We again invite the attention of the friends of Colonization to the essential importance of their using every effort to obtain liberal aid to the Society on the ensuing Fourth of July. The Reverend Clergy, especially, who have heretofore been so efficient on similar occasions, will, it is hoped, find additional incentives to their philanthropic zeal in the appeal published in the last number of the Repository.

The following article is subjoined from the Vermont Chronicle of May 30th:

COLONIZATION SOCIETY.-The Fourth of July is at hand; and lest the noise that has been made and the diverse questions that have been raised of late about the Colonization Society and its doings, should cause any to forget its claims upon them as patriots, philan thropists, and Christians, for active co-operation at this time, it is our purpose to bring those claims before our readers a little more distinctly and fully than we should otherwise have thought desirable. We accordingly publish Mr. Hubbard's letter. And we shall endeavor before the day for the annual contribution arrives, to show, with as little reference as may be to existing controversies, in what light the enterprise ought to be, viewed by the good people of Vermont.

For this week we will only submit, for consideration, certain acknowledgements in favor of the Society, lately made by one of its prominent opposers. Mr. Charles Stuart, who has been its most diligent and determined opposer in England, and who has just arrived in this country, to join hands with Anti-Colonizationists here, not long since wrote a letter to the Editor of the London Herald of Peace, from which the following is copied:

But is there nothing good, then, in the American Colonization Society: Yes, there is, -1st. For Africa it is good. It interrupts the African slave trade within its own limits; and the least interruption to that nefarious traffic is an unspeakable good. 2d. For the few coloured people who prefer leaving their native country and emigrating to Africa, it is unquestionably a great blessing. 3d. To the slaves, whose slavery it has been, or may be, the means of commuting to transportation, it is a blessing, just in as far as transportation is a lesser evil than slavery; and this is by no means a trifling good. 4th. But its highest praise, and a praise which the writer cordially yields to it, is the fact, that it forms a new centre; whence, as from our Sierra Leone, and the Cape of Good Hope, Civilization and Christianity are radiating through the adjoining darkness. In this respect, no praise can equal the worth of these settlements."

Can any impeachment of the motives and feelings of the friends of Colonization, have the weight of a feather against these admissions, with any sane and honest mind? Let any one who has heretofore contributed to this cause, ask himself whether he has not done it for the accomplishment of such objects as Mr. Stuart admits to be good, and whether in all honesty and fairness, he must not suppose his fellow-labourers to have been, all along, actuated by motives as pure and worthy as his own.

INTELLIGENCE.

[From the Washington (Penn.) Examiner,

May 24, 1834.]

COLONIZATION AND ABOLITION.

of Belles Lettres in Washington College, on behalf of the American CoOn Thursday the 15th day of May, the evening was far spent, it was lonization Society; but inasmuch as inst. in pursuance of a request or in the evening was far spent it was vitation from Mr. M. Sutliff of Phil- concluded to defer the discussion to adelphia, Agent for the Anti-Slavery a future period. a future period. Whereupon, on Society, with a view to the establish-motion of John L. Gow, Esq. Profr. ment of an Anti-Slavery Society in of English Literature in Washington this place, a very large and respec- College, the meeting was organized table meeting of the citizens was by calling the Rev. D. Elliott to the convened at the Court House, and an Chair, and appointing Wm. Baird, address was delivered by Mr. S. ex-Esq. Secretary; and by agreement of planatory of the designs and in fur- the parties an adjournment was made therance of the views of the Anti- to meet at the Court House on TuesSlavery Society.At the close of this day evening the 20th of May, inst.

At the time and place appointed,

address, Mr. Sutliff, who had in the at 5 o'clock, P. M. course of his remarks expressed his opposition to the American Coloni- the meeting again assembled, and bezation Society and contrasted it with the Anti-Slavery Society, took occa. sion to invite discussions as to the relative merits of the two Societies. This invitation was accepted by William K. M'Donald, Esq. Professor

ing called to order by the Chairman, the following question and order of debate was agreed upon by the parties, viz.

Anti-Slavery, or the American Colonization "Which is the preferable plan, that of the Society, for the abolition of slavery; and

other evils attendant upon the present condition of the coloured population of the U.

States?"

“Each speaker to be limited to thirty minutes and to speak alternately."

A very animated discussion then took place which was sustained with ability by both sides for the space of from seventeen to twenty hours at intervals through three successive days.-The views of the Anti-Slavery Society were sustained principally by Mr. Loughead of Pittsburg, an Agent of the Society, by Mr. Sutliff of Philadelphia, also an Agent of the Society; by Dr. Francis J. Le Moyne, of the borough of Washington, and by Mr. Hamilton. The Colonization Society was advocated by W. K. M'Donald, A. M. John L. Gow, Esq. Richard Henry Lee, A. M. and the Rev. W. P. Alrich, A. M. all Professors of Washington College. In the course of the discussion some incidental remarks were offered by Dr. M'Conaughy, President of Washington College, by Isaac Leet, Esq. and some other gentlemen, in favor of the Colonization system.

So great was the interest, excited by the discussion, that, notwithstanding its extreme length, the attention of the audience did not seem to flag, but on the contrary to become more intense; and at the close the house was more crowded than it had been at any former period.

The friends of Anti-Slavery made an effort previous to the passage of these resolutions to exclude from voting any persons who had been for merly members of a Colonization or Anti-Slavery Society. A resolution was offered to this effect and rejected by the meeting.

The following gentlemen were then appointed a committee to make arrangements for reviving the Colonization Society in this county, as provided for in the second resolution, viz:-Isaac Leet, Esq. Alexr. Reed, Esq. Profr. Lee, Dr. M'Conaughy and Profr. Gow.

It was then on motion

Resolved, That a statement of the pro ceedings of the meeting should be published in the newspapers of this county. The meeting then adjourned.

D. ELLIOTT, Chairman. WM. BAIRD, Secretary.

[From the Christian Intelligencer.] NEW YORK YOUNG MEN'S COLONIZA

TION SOCIETY,

This Society held an interesting meeting on Friday evening, the 23d, in Rev. Dr. Brodhead's Church in Broome street.

The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Brodhead, after which an interesting letter was read by the President, G. P. Disosway, Esq., from Elliott Cresson; Esq., of Philadelphia, announcing the formation of a similar Society in At the termination of the debate, Philadelphia, and that they had althe following resolutions were mov-ready sent out directions for the pured by Isaac Leet, Esq. for the pur- chase of territory at Bassa Cove, and pose of ascertaining the sense of the were preparing to receive 110 pious meeting on this important and en- Baptist and Methodist slaves, late grossing subject:the property of Dr. Hawes, of Va. Another letter was read from a lady in Alabama, expressing great feeling and interest in the cause.

Resolved, That this meeting do approve of the plan and operations of the American Colonization Society for colonizing the free people of colour of the United States.

gen

Resolved, That a committee of five tlemen be appointed to make immediate arrangements for reviving the Society in this county, auxiliary to the American Colonization Society.

After some discussion as to the manner of taking the vote and other incidental matters, the question was loudly called for, and upon being put, both resolutions were carried by over whelming majorities.

The following resolution was then offered by Thomas G. Fletcher, Esq. and unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the recent examinations and discussions in this city, of the relative merits of the immediate emancipation and colonization schemes, have but the more strongly shown the paramount humanity of our coloured population, of the plans and and wisdom in regard to the best interests principles of our Colonization Societies.

Mr. F. accompanied the resolution