2^ 
 
 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. I 
 
 |CNITED STATES OP AMERICA.^ 
 
 ■a 
 
^' 
 
 Ij?-^*-^- 
 
 Jt i/ . Llo^coc^ 
 
THE 
 
 MARTYR OF THE PONGAS: 
 
 % S^nicir 
 
 OF THE 
 
 REV. HAMBLE JAMES LEACOCK, 
 
 LEADEE OF THE WEST INDIAN MISSION 
 TO WESTEEN AFEIOA. 
 
 BY T5K 
 
 REV. HENHY CASWALL, D.D., 
 
 TICAK OF FIGHELDEAN, WILTS, 
 
 AUTHOR OF " AMERICA AND THE AMERICAN OHtTKCH," ETC., ETC., 
 
 AND ENGLISH SECRETARY TO THE WEST INDIAN CHURCH 
 
 ASSOCIATION FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF THE 
 
 GOSPEL IN WESTERN AFRICA. 
 
 NEW YOEK : 
 THOMAS N. STANFORD, 637 BROADWAY. 
 
 1857 
 
 9r 
 

PREFACE 
 
 Few Missionary heroes have been more remarkable 
 than the man of God whom the West Indian Church 
 is now lamenting. Seldom has more encouraging 
 success attended so brief a career ; seldom has a 
 nobler example of self-devotion adorned the records 
 of the extension of Christianity. 
 
 The history of such a man, if faithfully told, is 
 well adapted to show the elements which form the 
 able missionary, and to exhibit the modes of action 
 by which, with Divine help, the Gospel may, in our 
 own age, be eifectually propagated. 
 
 The Author is fully aware of the difficulty o^ 
 giving due effect to such a history. Yet he has done 
 all that a long and hearty friendship could dictate, to 
 perpetuate the blessed memory of one whom he loved 
 and revered. With the hope of representing him as 
 he really was, he has allowed him to speak for him- 
 self whenever opportunity permitted. He has at- 
 
4 PREFACE. 
 
 tempted to show the varied connexions and associa- 
 tions of his life, and the origin, as far as it can be 
 traced, of his principles and habits. It is not pre- 
 tended that Hamble Leacock was in all respects per- 
 fect. It is not denied, for example, that he may have 
 been sometimes restless and self-willed, sometimes 
 hasty and over-sensitive, and sometimes mistaken. 
 Yet his failings were generally the result of those 
 very qualities which constituted the peculiar emi- 
 nence of his character. His stern and unflinching 
 mind (so tender and holy withal) was doubtless given 
 him that he might dare in a wonderful way amidst 
 the prejudices of the West Indies, the doctrinal 
 laxity of America, aiid the heathenism of Africa. 
 
 The reader will not see in Mr. Leacock an un- 
 amiable abstraction destitute of human feelings and 
 sympathies, but a r^ian thoroughly real and unaffected. 
 He will see in him a religion which, though supremely 
 devoted to God, still cherished the impulses of affec- 
 tionate attachment to friends, relatives, and country ; 
 a religion which though profoundly adoring the mys- 
 teries of Redemption, was by no means blind to the 
 glories of Providence and Creation. There will be 
 found in it no undue estimate of spiritual condition, 
 no idea of exclusive sanctity or wisdom, no fondness 
 for loud professions, no habit of displaying frames 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 and feelings. On the other hand, there will be seen 
 a superiority to the world, practically manifesting it- 
 self in the surrender of property and prospects, in the 
 readiness to take a secondary place, and in the cheer- 
 ful willingness to endure any sacrifice required by 
 justice, truth, and duty. 
 
 In the ministry of Christ's Church, it is well that 
 there should be decided varieties of type, and that all 
 should not be formed precisely according to the same 
 model. It is not desirable, for instance, that a clergy 
 designed for service m various nations and climates 
 should be always trained by English Universities and 
 amid the conventionalisms of English society. It 
 will be seen, that the man of God whose life is re- 
 corded in the following pages, grew up remote from 
 our fashions of thought, and from the traditionary in- 
 fluences of our Colleges and Cathedrals. Yet it can- 
 not be denied that he was not only a worthy repre- 
 sentative of our Reformed Church, but a true speci- 
 men of the class of men produced in our distant fields 
 of Christian enterprise. Though his early theological 
 training was, in some respects, defective, he was yet 
 sound in the faith, and inflexible in his adherence to 
 the great bulwarks of orthodoxy. Though firmly at- 
 tached to the distinctive principles of Episcopacy, he 
 lived in charity with those whose lot had fallen among 
 
6 PREFACE. 
 
 separatist communities. Believing in the divine ori- 
 gin of the' Christian ministry, and upholding a high 
 standard of clerical responsibility, he yet had none 
 of that asceticism which prescribes terms of salvation 
 more severe than are to be found in the Word of God. 
 Faithful in his friendships, firm in his convictions, 
 and sincere in his conversation, he possessed an honest 
 dignity which neither honours nor preferment could 
 have bestowed, and which he maintained throughout 
 all the changes of his eventful life. 
 
 Those who have done great things in the world 
 have usually been peculiar persons, different from 
 other men. They have shown uncommon fire, energy, 
 and decision, and, at the same time, have tempered 
 these qualities with knowledge and wisdom. Men of 
 this stamp are not only able to accomplish much, but, 
 amidst the difiiculties which surround them, they are 
 susceptible of the choicest encouragements and conso- 
 lations. ]^ow a mission, properly understood, is no 
 common thing. Persons of an ordinary cast of mind 
 are unfit for such a work. The true missionary can- 
 not be expected to think and feel like those who walk 
 in the beaten track, and, consequently, he will often be 
 reproached as an eccentric person or an enthusiast. 
 Yet his enthusiasm, if such it be, is of the same kind 
 which glowed in the bosoms of the Prophets and 
 
PEEFACE. 
 
 Apostles. It must be carefully distinguished from 
 that enthusiasm which pnifs men up with yain con- 
 ceit, and makes them arrogant, dictatorial, and as- 
 suming. Keenly alive to his own personal imperfec- 
 tions, the man who is blessed with this holy fervour 
 looks beyond himself for support, and believing in 
 the power of prayer, habitually and confidently, in 
 all his undertakings, expects strength and succour 
 from above. 
 
 In this sense alone Mr. Leacock possessed enthu- 
 siasm. But in addition to this, he had qualifications 
 not always combined with a fervid temperament. 
 His habits were regular, economical, active, diligent, 
 and persevering. He was brave and intrepid with- 
 out being insensible to the real value of life. His 
 piety was of a vigorous and manly character, and 
 at the same time entirely free from that melancholy 
 which has hindered the usefulness of many faithful 
 missionaries. ^ While maintaining habitual communion 
 with his Saviour, he exhibited a genial disposition, 
 which in every place gained him hearty friends. His 
 practical earnestness led him, not to teach people to 
 say certain things or use a certain formula, but to aim 
 at turning them in reality " from darkness unto light, 
 and from the power of Satan unto God." 
 
 From early life he had shown the spirit of a mar- 
 
8 PREFACE. 
 
 tjr, and his death was in all respects worthy of his 
 life. He might probably have escaped dying in 
 Africa, but he deliberately chose to face " the last 
 enemy," in the conviction that his decease wonld be 
 less injurious to his mission than his abandonment of 
 his post. Christians like Hamble Leacock are truly 
 " the chariots of our Israel and the horsemen thereof." 
 By their deaths they bear the strongest possible testi- 
 mony against the unbelief of a self-indulgent genera- 
 tion, and having themselves " fought the good fight," 
 and encouraged others to follow their example, they 
 receive a " crown of glory which fadeth not away." 
 
 Besides exhibiting Mr. Leacock as a missionary, 
 this little work incidentally affords some insight into 
 the widelj^-extended operations of our Reformed 
 Church. The Episcopate is seen actively engaged in 
 furthering the salvation of men, not only in England 
 and the "West Indies, but in Eastern and Western 
 America, and on the pestilential shores of Africa. 
 Facilities of intercourse and co-operation are disclosed, 
 which, when more fully employed, will result, with 
 the Divine blessing, in great and permanent additions 
 to the Bedeemer's kingdom. We may behold an 
 augury of happier times in the loving sympathy with 
 which Churchmen of different schools, climates, and 
 nationalities, have cheered the heart of the veteran 
 soldier of Christ on the banks of the Pongas. 
 
PKEFACE. y 
 
 The brief services of Mr. Leacock in Africa have 
 been far from fruitless, even independently of the 
 good which he saw accomplished in his lifetime. 
 Thej have paved the way for new labom-ers in the 
 same field, who, confidently relying on Providence, 
 may now carry on the work so favourably com- 
 menced. We may hope that our Church will continue 
 to exercise an important influence in the conversion 
 of the people of that great continent, in which part 
 of our Lord's infancy was spent, and out of which 
 God was pleased to call his Son. To the West Indian 
 Church in particular this African mission, so mani- 
 festly favoured by heaven, will probably become a 
 source of many blessings. In " watering" others she 
 will be herself " refreshed." She has in truth offered 
 unto God, for the sake of the Gospel, one of her own 
 beloved children. Believing that the offering is to 
 Him " a sacrifice acceptable and well-pleasing," we 
 have reason to hope that He will " supply all her 
 need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." 
 
 With these prefatory remarks the Author commits 
 this little volume to the blessing of God, and to the 
 favourable consideration of Christian people. 
 
 Vicarage, Figheldean, 
 Epiphany, 1857. 
 
OOJSTTEl^TS 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Birth and Parentage of Mr. Leacock. Development of his Character. He 
 becomes decidedly religious. Entrance on a Course of Study at Codring- 
 ton College. His Ordination. His firmness in respect to the Slaves. 
 His Character as a Clergyman. Marriage. Settlement in Nevis. Death 
 of Mrs. Leacock. Effect of an Earthquake. Second MaiTiage. Removal 
 to the United States, 17 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Arrival of Mr. Leacock at Lexington, Kentucky. Society in Lexington. 
 Dr. Coit. Dr. Cooke. Amos Cleaver. The Bishop of Kentucky. The 
 Professors. The Southern Planters. Efforts for the Promotion of Re- 
 ligion. Christ-Church. Instruction of the Slaves. Confirmation of 
 Mr. Leacock. He undertakes the charge of Pupils. He is elected 
 Rector of St. Paul's, 31 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 A General Scattering of Mr. Leacock's Friends. He removes to Tennessee. 
 Journey with the Bishop of Tennessee. He accepts a Church at Franklin. 
 Anecdote of him by Mrs. Wheat. He purchases an Estate in New Jer- 
 sey. Brief connection with a Church at Louisville. His Character as a 
 Preacher and a Pastor. Removal to New Jersey. Settlement during 
 four years at Perth Amboy. Return to the West Indies, . . 42 
 
12 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Reasons tor his Return. State of Nevis. African practices. Obeah. Mr. 
 Leacock delivers Lectures against Obeah. Death of the Obeah-man. 
 Effect of Charms on the African. Return to Barbados. Temporary- 
 Charge of St. Peter's. Death of Amos Cleaver and Dr. Cooke. Mr. Lea- 
 cock is appointed to the Chapel at Bridgetown. Testimonial of the Pa- 
 rishioners of St. Peter's. Commencement of efforts in behalf of Africa. 
 Formation of the Society for the furtherance of the Gospel. Outbreak 
 of Cholera. Death of Mrs. Leacock, 62 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Mr. Leacock volunteers to go as a Missionary to Africa. He is accepted, 
 and is joined by Duport. His Negro Servant desires to accompany him. 
 Letter to Archdeacon Trew. Arrival in London. He attends a Meeting 
 of the Church Emigrants' Aid Society. He visits the Crystal Palace. 
 Visit to Wiltshire — Stonehenge — Salisbury. Meeting of the S. P. G. 
 His Cheerfulness. Conversation with Young Persons. His views of 
 Prophecy, of the Church of Rome, and of the Church of England. His 
 opinion of the Voluntary System. Thankfulness for Mercies. Note on 
 the Effects of Emancipation in the West Indies, .... 77 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Providential Preparation in Africa for the West Indian Mission. The 
 Chief Wilkinson introduced. Remarkable Dream in Africa. Mr. Lea- 
 cock attends various Meetings in the Diocese of Salisbury. He meets 
 with a Portrait of Mrs. Trimmer. Verses by Mr. Marriott. Mr. Lea- 
 cock's opinion of the S.P.G. He visits Malvern and the Bishop of Bar- 
 bados. His Admiration of England. His Feelings in Wells Cathedral. 
 He embarks at Plymouth for Africa, 96 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Voyage of the " Ethiope." Dangerous Storm. Arrival at Madeira. Warm 
 Reception by a Governor on the African Coast. Arrival at Sierra Leone. 
 Description of Freetown. Various Opinions as to the Site of the Mission. 
 Similarity of Sierra Leone to the West Indies. Joy at the Discovery of 
 Devil-grass. Dr. Bradshaw's advice as to a House. The Niger Consid- 
 ered. Plaintain Island and John Newton. Further Delay. Inter- 
 view with the Spanish Consul. Meeting of the Church Missionary 
 Society, Ill 
 
CONTENTS. 13 
 
 CHAPTER YIII. 
 
 When the Episcopate is a Blessing, and when the Reverse. Value ot the 
 Episcopate to Sierra Leone. Its Benefits in the West Indies. Rise of 
 the West Indian Church in consequence of the Episcopate. Establish- 
 ment of the West Indian Mission. Episcopacy acknowledged by Chris- 
 tendom. Grreeting to the Bishop of Sierra Leone. Prophetic declara- 
 tion, 126 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Melville Home on the Qualifications of an African Missionary. The Rio 
 Pongas is mentioned to Mr. Leacock. The Governor promises to send 
 Mr. Leacock to the Pongas in a Steamer. Character of Governor Hill. 
 Meeting with a Mohammedan King. Landing at Tintima. Palaver 
 with Kennyback Ali and King Katty. Description of the Pongas River. 
 Hut at Tintima. Wretched character of the people. Deceitfulness 
 of Kennyback Ali. Mr. Leacock visits him. Encounter with a Mo- 
 hammedan, 136 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Events of St. Thomas's Day. Arrival of Lewis Wilkinson. Interview 
 with the chief of Fallangia. Mr. Leacock opens his Ministry among 
 the Heathens. Mr. Wilkinson gives him a Site for a Church, &c. The 
 Missionaries are attacked with Fever. Anxiety of Governor Hill on 
 their Account. He sends a Steamer and removes them to Sierra Leone. 
 They return to Fallangia. John Duport begins to teach. Supplies or- 
 dered in England, 156 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 American Sympathy towards Mr. Leacock. Dr. Coit and the Editor of the 
 " New York Church Journal." The parish at Perth Amboy and the 
 Slaves in Tennessee. Joint Offerings from America and England to 
 Africa. Appointment of an English Secretary. Account of the martyred 
 French Missionaries, 171 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 The School at Fallangia. Return of Fever. Conversation with Wilkinson. 
 Extent of the Soosoo Language. Need of additional Teachers. Welcome 
 from King Jelloram Fernandez. The Missionaries again taken ill. Con- 
 
14 CONTENTS* 
 
 tinuance of Journal. Duport sent for his health to Sierra Leone, Re- 
 semblance of the Negroes of Fallangia to those of Barbados. Conver- 
 sation with " old Martha." Witchcraft. Second Conversation with " old 
 Martha." Retvirn of Dupoi't. Death of Kennyback Ali. Description of 
 neighboring Chiefs. Agriculture and Animals, . . . .181 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Assurance of King Katty. Miseries of the People. Visit from Mr. Co 
 lumbini de Wasky. Application from Cassini. Excursion to the Banga- 
 long River. Domingia. Sangha. Farrangeah. Increase of the Con- 
 gregation under Duport. Journal continued. Relapse of Mr. Leacock. 
 He visits Sierra Leone, and is ordered to return to England. He deter- 
 mines to remain at his Post, 206 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Mr, Leacock's Friends desire him to escape from Africa. Letters to that 
 EflFect from Mr, Wilkinson, from the Author, and from the Bishop of Bar- 
 bados. He appears to recover. His Plans for building. Letter to a 
 Young Person, 220 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Satisfactory Progress of the Mission under Duport, Report sent by Du- 
 port to Mr. Leacock. Mr. Leacock's Remarks upon it. Favourable 
 Opinion of the Bishop of Sierra Leone respecting it. The Lord's Prayer 
 in Soosoo, 230 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Continued improvement in Mr. Leacock's Health. Letter to his Son. Let- 
 ters to the Bishop of Barbados. Letter to the Author. Mohammedan 
 Opposition. Assistance from Governor Hill. Contest between Christ 
 and Mohammed. Last Letters of Mr. Leacock, .... 248 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Articles despatched from England for the Mission. Shipwreck of the 
 " Ida." Death of Mi-. Leacock. Letter from the Rev. F, Pocock. Letter 
 
CONTENTS. 15 
 
 from Mr. Duport. Lamentations at Fallangia and Sierra Leone. Letter 
 from the Bishop of Sierra Leone. The mournful news reaches America 
 and the West Indies. Eulogy in the " Barbadian." Concluding Letter 
 from Mr. Duport. Funeral Anthem, 260 
 
MEMOIE, ETC 
 
 CHAPTEK I. 
 
 Birth and Parentage of Mr. Leacock. Development of his Character. He 
 becomes decidedly religious. Entrance on a Course of Study at Codring- 
 ton College. His Ordination. His firmness in respect, to the Slaves. 
 His Character as a Clergyman. Marriage. Settlement in Nevis. Death 
 of Mrs. Leacock. Effect of an Earthquake. Second Marriage. Eemoval 
 to the United States. 
 
 Hamble James Leacock was born at duff's Bay, on 
 his father's estate, in the parish of St. Lucy, Barba- 
 dos, on the 4th of February, 1795. He was the second 
 son of John Wrong Leacock and his wife Rebecca, a 
 sister of Dr. Hudson, of the same parish. He was 
 baptized at home shortly after his birth, but his name 
 did not appear in the parish register at the time, in 
 consequence of the sudden death of the clergyman a 
 few hours after the ceremony was performed. His 
 family had resided in Barbados about a century and 
 a half, having emigrated from Great Britain in the 
 reign of Charles L Their respectability and loyalty 
 
18 SLAVERY. 
 
 were always above question, and their ancient plate 
 and coat of arms were retained as badges of tbeir de- 
 scent from worthy ancestors in the mother country. 
 Mr. Leacock's father was possessed of a sugaP planta- 
 tion and other similar property, in consequence of 
 which the subject of our memoir was familiar from 
 his childhood with many practical details respecting 
 the growth and manufacture of West India produce. 
 
 At this time slavery existed in the islands, and 
 produced effects in many respects similar to those de- 
 scribed in the romances of Mrs. Beecher Stowe. To 
 slavery, in the abstract, as well as to its abuses, it is 
 needless to say that the spirit of Christianity is deci- 
 dedly opposed. Yet it must not be forgotten that in 
 the West Indies many temperate and well-considered 
 measures had been adopted, long before emancipation, 
 tending to relieve the system of many of its horrors. 
 The African was becoming an object of much sympa- 
 thy, and the negro race in general escaped that ex- 
 treme contempt which in other countries is too often 
 their bitter portion. The slaves in return often showed 
 themselves faithful and attached dependants, and in 
 times of trouble manifested a readiness to suffer or die 
 with their white protectors. Young Leacock grew 
 up in immediate contact with the subject race, and 
 learned by experience the surest methods of influ- 
 encing their conduct. 
 
 His own character, like that of others, was proba- 
 bly developed, as to its main features, at an early age. 
 It may readily be believed that he was always truth- 
 ful, courageous, and energetic. His temper was no 
 
DEVELOPMENT OF CHAKACTEK. 19 
 
 doubt severely tried by the harsh schoolmaster under 
 whose care he was placed, yet perhaps the discipline 
 which he underwent was a blessing to him in after 
 life. He acquired all that was essential to the basis 
 of a good education, and became fond of reading use- 
 ful and instructive books. One of the first of these 
 which made any serious impression on his mind was 
 a volume of Mrs. Trimmer's " Instructive Tales." 
 
 In the early formation of his character, we must 
 not omit to notice the peculiar circumstances of his 
 West Indian descent and early associations. He had 
 watched the effect of hurricanes as they swept across 
 his native island, prostrating every resisting substance, 
 uprooting trees, and scattering the materials of the 
 strongest edifices. He had known cannon to be blown 
 from the ramparts, and human beings whirled into 
 the sea. The dwelling inhabited by his family he 
 had seen totally demolished, the last inmate barely 
 escaping before the whole fabric was scattered before 
 the winds. He had gone through the terrors of the 
 earthquake, and had seen the ground undulating like 
 the sea, while men, women, and children were crushed 
 beneath the ruins of their homes. He had seen Bar- 
 bados covered with the ashes conveyed by the winds 
 from a volcano which burst forth in one of the neigh- 
 bouring islands. Such events as these had served to 
 predispose his mind to ideas of the grand and terrible, 
 and to fill it with awful thoughts of the dread majesty 
 and irresistible power of the Almighty. 
 
 Through divine grace he was preserved in his 
 youth from the contagion of vice, and always main- 
 
20 A DECIDED CHANGE. 
 
 tained a high character among his equals. Still he 
 had not become decidedly religious, nor made that 
 complete surrender of himself to the love of Christ 
 which constitutes the essence of a devout life. At 
 length, after the days of boyhood, while on a visit to 
 a neighbouring island, his convictions found at the 
 same time their expression and confirmation in a re- 
 markable dream. The future state of the just was 
 represented to him in all its blessedness, and he 
 seemed to hear the harps of gold and the general cho- 
 rus of the redeemed. Again he beheld in his dream 
 the miseries of the condemned, and his ear seemed to 
 thrill with their groans of anguish as they endured 
 the never-ending penalty of their transgressions. He 
 awoke with the firm conviction that thenceforth he 
 must strive with all his might to enter in at the strait 
 gate, and labour to the utmost of his capacity in pro- 
 moting upon earth the knowledge of divine truth. 
 From this period he became a very decided Christian, 
 constantly subordinating time to eternity, and living 
 under the influence of the things which are not seen. 
 The same miserable policy which formerly kept 
 the American colonies without bishops had prevailed 
 up to this period in the West Indies. In consequence 
 of the destitution of episcopal superintendence, Mr. 
 Leacock had not hitherto received Confirmation. The 
 means of a good and Christian education, however, 
 were not wanting, even in Barbados. Codrington 
 College had been founded in 1710 by the worthy 
 General whose name it bears, and who had given it 
 by will his two plantations in Barbados and part of 
 
CODKINGTON COLLEGE. 21 
 
 the island of Barbuda. This property had been held 
 in trust by the Society for Propagating the Gospel 
 " to erect a college in Barbados, and to maintain a 
 convenient number of professors and scholars who 
 are to be obliged to study and practise physic and 
 chirurgery, as well as divinity, that by the apparent 
 usefulness of the former to all mankind, they may 
 both endear themselves to the people, and have the 
 better opportunity of doing good to men's souls whilst 
 they are taking care of their bodies." At this insti- 
 tution, then nothing more'than a grammar school, and 
 under the care of the Kev. Mark Nicholson, formerly 
 of Queen's College, Oxford, Mr. Leacock entered as 
 a student. He did not aim at eminence as a classical 
 scholar, but became l^miliar with English literature 
 and other useful branches of knowledge. 
 
 On quitting Codrington College he kept a private 
 school in Speightstown for several years, and after- 
 wards the public school of his native parish. Many 
 of his pupils are still living, and continue to love and 
 revere his memory. In the midst of his engagements 
 he constantly allotted certain portions of his time to 
 the study of the Scriptures, in which he became a 
 proficient. 
 
 In the year 1824 a happier era dawned on the 
 Barbadian Church. In that year Dr. Coleridge was 
 consecrated bishop of Barbados and the Leeward 
 Islands, and on the 30th of January, 1825, landed in 
 Lis new diocese. Bishop Coleridge soon afterwards 
 licensed Mr. Leacock as a reader or catechist for his 
 native parish of St. Lucy, of which the Kev. W. M. 
 
22 ORDINATION. 
 
 Plarte was at that time rector. On the 6th of Janu- 
 ary, 1826, after studying divinity under Mr. Harte, 
 he was ordained a deacon, and on the 18th of October 
 in the same year he was admitted to the priesthood 
 at St. John's Church, in one of the country parishes, 
 his confirmation being still unaccountably neglected. 
 While continuing his connexion with Mr. Harte 
 and the parish of St. Lucy, he fully established his 
 character as a zealous and uncompromising Christian. 
 At that time the teaching of the slave population in 
 the West Indies was a most' unpopular measure. Mr. 
 Harte was publicly prosecuted because he boldly af- 
 firmed his right to instruct all persons, bond as well 
 as free, living within the limits of his parish. He was 
 charged with preaching an offensive sermon on Easter- 
 day, 1827, and " with disgraceful conduct while ad- 
 ministering the Lord's Supper." The truth was that 
 Mr. Harte permitted a vacant space at the Lord's 
 Table to be occupied by blacks, who knelt down at 
 the same time with some white members of the con- 
 gregation. In allowing this, Mr. Harte was supposed 
 to be teaching '' doctrines of equality, inconsistent 
 with the obedience due to masters and with the policy 
 of the island." The planters resolved to take the 
 matter into their own hands, and expressed their de- 
 termination to refuse Mr. Harte and Mr. Leacock ad- 
 mission into their estates, and to prevent as much as 
 possible all intercourse between them and their slaves. 
 They desired the bishop to remove Mr. Harte, who 
 they said ^' had deservedly lost the confidence, respect, 
 and regard of every white inhabitant of the parish." 
 
FIRMNESS IN EESPECT TO THE SLAVES. 23 
 
 Owing to the admirable wisdom of the bishop, the 
 people were ultimately brought to a better mind, and 
 the immediate expulsion of two devoted servants of 
 God was averted. Mr. Leacock never yielded for a 
 moment to the popular prejudice, but acted in full 
 accordance with the views and wishes of his rector, 
 in regarding the humblest negro as a part of his min- 
 isterial charge. Those who know not the violence of 
 feeling which then existed on the subject can form no 
 correct opinion of the strength of character required 
 to resist the will and combat the inveterate prejudices 
 of almost all the influential inhabitants of the colony. 
 A venerable divine, who was acquainted with Mr. 
 Leacock at this period, still bears admiring testimony 
 to the zeal and determination constantly manifested by 
 him in his ministerial duties of every kind. Courage 
 and decision were indeed striking points in his char- 
 acter, together with a certain impulsiveness which 
 often led him to act and speak vigorously on the spur 
 of the moment. Like other inhabitants of tropical 
 climates, the earthquake and hurricane seemed, in a 
 manner, to have entered into his constitution. Li 
 him, however, it was seen that West Indian fervour, 
 when sanctified by divine grace, is as efi'ectual an in- 
 strument of good as the coolness of the Englishman, 
 the shrewdness of the Scot, or the enterprise of the 
 American. His religion was of a thoroughly warm 
 and glowing character, far removed from the frigid 
 zones of mere formalism and precision. He cared not 
 for verbal subtleties or nice disputations ; but firmly 
 believing the grand central verities of the Christian 
 
24: CHAEACTEK AS A CLEEGT^IAN. 
 
 Faitli, he ardently loved the Redeemer on account 
 of what He had done and suffered, and was willing to 
 perish for his sake. When he rebuked vice, he did 
 it with an awful earnestness which made the sinner 
 tremble and turn pale. "With a few words he swept 
 awaj all his refuges of lies and set before him the 
 real horrors of his position. When he comforted the 
 sorrowful or penitent, on the other hand, nothing 
 could exceed the beautiful tenderness with which he 
 applied the promises and encouragements of the 
 Gospel. 
 
 His mode of reading and speaking was yividly 
 dramatic, and often accompanied by expressive ac- 
 tion. The Scriptures, when read by him, became, as 
 it were, a new book. The awful images of Ezekiel 
 and of the Apocalypse were made to appear plain and 
 distinct, so that the hearer perceived depths in the 
 word of God of which he had been previously igno- 
 rant. He impressed divine truth on the minds of 
 others because he had first been deeply impressed by 
 it himself. 
 
 His conduct was consistent with his faith and 
 teaching. With a heart fully alive to heavenly things, 
 he was comparatively careless as to worldly interests. 
 Money, luxmies, and even comforts were lightly es- 
 teemed by him, and he regarded all solicitude about 
 such matters unworthy of a candidate for eternal 
 life. Yet he always maintained a respectable ap- 
 pearance, and showed himself sensitively punctilious 
 in the discharge of pecuniary obligations. In his 
 
SETTLEMENT IN NEYIS. 25 
 
 worldly transactions lie was a model of simplicity and 
 godly sincerity. 
 
 Mr. Leacock had married a distant relation, tlie 
 only daughter of Dr. Leacock, of Barbados, by whom 
 he became the father of several children. Being the 
 owner of many slaves in right of his wife, he set them 
 all free at a great sacrifice and expense, since the 
 manumissions had to be obtained from England. His 
 uncompromising opposition to slavery was still disap- 
 proved of by his countrymen. He therefore left his 
 native isle, and in December, 1826, immediately after 
 his ordination to the Priesthood, was sent by Bishop 
 Coleridge to St. Yincent. Soon afterwards the bishop 
 removed him to Nevis, where he was appointed rural 
 dean, and succeeded the Rev. Mr. Parham at Charles- 
 town as rector of St. Paul's, one of the five parishes 
 of the island. Here he built a house and established 
 his wife and family comfortably. After a short time, 
 however, Mrs. Leacock and one of his children died, 
 and he was made to feel the vanity of all earthly 
 consolations. 
 
 JSTevis is a beautiful little spot, consisting of a 
 single mountain, rising like a cone in an easy ascent 
 from the sea, the whole circumference not exceeding 
 twenty-four miles. It evidently owes its origin to 
 some volcanic eruption, for near the summit there is 
 a crater which contains a hot spring strongly impreg- 
 nated with sulphur. The population of the island 
 amounted during Mr. Leacock's incumbency to about 
 ten thousand, of whom not more than six hundred 
 were whites. Here Mr. Leacock laboured with char- 
 2 
 
26 EARTHQUAKE AT NEVIS. 
 
 acteristic energy, establisliing schools and promoting 
 the catechetical instruction of the blacks. The evils 
 with which he contended were of a fearful character, 
 polygamy and other forms of licentiousness being too 
 generally prevalent. In due time, however, he found 
 his labours rewarded by a marked improvement in the 
 religion and morals of the people. Tlie following 
 event contributed to this happy result : — 
 
 [Revis, like Barbados, is within the sphere of de- 
 vastating earthquakes, and between the 8th of Feb- 
 ruary and the 27th of March, 1833, it was terribly 
 shaken, together with St. Kitt's and others of the 
 Leeward Islands. In J^evis the populace were so 
 alarmed that they flocked to the places of worship at 
 all hours of the day. In Charlestown they suppli- 
 cated Mr. Leacock to open his church that they might 
 there find the security which was elsewhere denied 
 them. Contrary to the prognostications of some 
 worldly-minded scoffers, the church did not fall. The 
 poor negroes crowded it at all hours of the day, be- 
 seeching Mr. Leacock to pray for them. It is a fact, 
 attested by eye-witnesses of the highest • credit, that 
 a great and abiding change was wrought upon the 
 inhabitants. They who never went to church before, 
 now attended devoutly, and continued to do so after- 
 wards ; and many whose lives had been anything but 
 Christian became decidedly religious, under the terror 
 arising from the earthquake, improved by the faith- 
 ful teaching of the man of Grod. Like the gaoler at 
 Philippi, they asked, " AYhat must we do to be 
 saved ? " like Paul and Silas, he answered, " Believe 
 
EFFECT OF AN EARTHQUAKE, 27 
 
 in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." 
 One of Mr. Leacock's parishioners, a lady of respecta- 
 bility, was reading the 24th chapter of St. Matthew 
 when the first shock was felt. She had just read the 
 7th verse, " and there shall be famines, and pesti- 
 lences, and earthquakes, in divers places," when the 
 house was shaken violently. She immediately fell 
 from her seat and Avas taken up insensible, in which 
 condition she remained some time. At St. Kitt's, 
 thei'e were similar instances of violent mental impres 
 sions, though a party who were dancing at a public 
 ball, and felt the room tremble from the sliock, still 
 continued their dance. So different is the effect of 
 these tremendous visitations according to the char- 
 acter of the persons concerned and of those who in- 
 fluence tliem. 
 
 A contemporary writer, after alluding to Mr. Lea- 
 cock's faithful labours at this time, remarked as 
 follows : — 
 
 ^'Whatever the infidel or free-thinker (or rather 
 no-thinker) may say to the contraiy about impressions 
 on weak minds and so forth, the believer cannot fail 
 to recognize in these narratives a proof of that princi- 
 ple, upon which every operative clergyman (to bor- 
 ow a cant expression of the day) will sooner or later 
 stumble, viz. : that the Almighty seems oftentimes to 
 send visitations of his power to a mass of people, as 
 well as to an individual, for the purpose of opening a 
 door to the preaching of tlie Gospel, where, perhaps, 
 sin had closed up every avenue to exhortation and 
 the common method of teaching." 
 
28 SECOND MAKEIAGE. 
 
 While residing in l^evis, Mr. Leacock married 
 Mrs. Beard, a most amiable widow ladj, who admi- 
 rably fulfilled the duties of a mother to his surviving 
 son and daughter. Having no children of her own, 
 she devoted herself to the good and charitable works 
 which lie within the appropriate province of a cler- 
 gyman's wife. She did even more, often visiting 
 distant parts of the island with the object of conveying 
 relief and good advice to sick persons and others who 
 requested her assistance. She was in all respects a 
 help meet for the earnest-minded man who had chosen 
 her as his companion, and by her gentle influence 
 and thoughtful consideration for the wants of others, 
 she greatly increased the sphere of his usefulness. 
 But their days of labour at Nevis were drawing to a 
 close. 
 
 Some uneasiness had arisen between Bishop Cole- 
 ridge and Mr. Leacock, in consequence of certain 
 public proceedings in which the latter associated him- 
 self with members of the Methodist connexion. The 
 bishop had also been annoyed by Mr. Leacock's refu- 
 sal to sign testimonials in behalf of an applicant whom 
 he conscientiously believed to be unfit for the holy 
 ministry. It is, however, worthy of note that this 
 person, who was afterwards ordained, wrote a letter 
 at a subsequent time to Mr. Leacock to thank him 
 for his conduct in this respect. 
 
 There were also troubles of a different kind. At 
 this period the negro population in the West Indies 
 was in an unsettled and sometimes in an insurrec- 
 tionary state. Discussions were going forward in the 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. 29 
 
 British Parliament which held out prospects of eman- 
 cipation at no distant date. In the meanwhile 
 property of all kinds was rapidly depreciating, and it 
 was generally supposed by respectable white persons 
 that the islands would soon cease to be tenable by 
 those of European origin, and must be wholly given 
 over, like St. Domingo, to the African race. Mr. 
 Leacock and his relations generally shared more or 
 less in these anticipations. 
 
 In 1832 his brother, a clergyman of Jamaica, vis- 
 ited the United States, and in the course of his ram- 
 bles happened to form some acquaintance with the 
 State of Kentucky. His early ideas of the Kentuck- 
 ians were dissipated by the intelligent and polished 
 society among which he was hospitably received. 
 He was pleased with the agreeable climate of this 
 region, its general salubrity, and its freedom from 
 hurricanes and earthquakes. In addition to all this, 
 he found the slave population quiet and far from dan- 
 gerous, and felt convinced that he could in Kentucky 
 educate a family in greater security than in the colo- 
 nies of which he was a native. 
 
 Emancipation, in the unsatisfactory form of an 
 apprenticeship, took place on the 1st of August, 1834. 
 In 1835, the two Leacocks, with their wives and chil- 
 dren, and other near relations, bade farewell to the 
 West Indies, and after a favourable voyage lande'd in 
 !N"ew York. Here their emancipated negro servants 
 were informed of their freedom, and were reminded 
 that in going to Kentucky they would be returning 
 to a land of slavery. They determined, however, to 
 
30 REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 i 
 
 proceed, and one old negro woman expressed the 
 feelings of the others, when she said with hearty good 
 feeling, " "Wherever massa goes, there I go too." 
 
 TravelHng in those days in America was a differ- 
 ent thing from what it is at present. The whole party 
 proceeded by Philadelphia, and by a tedions journey 
 across the Alleghany mountains to the West. Accus- 
 tomed to islands generally smaller than the Isle of 
 Wight, they now saw before them a vast and appa- 
 rently unlimited extent of fertile territory, rapidly 
 filling up with inhabitants. Tliey entered Kentucky, a 
 country as large as Ireland, and containing a population 
 at that time of about seven hundred thousand, of whom 
 two hundred and fifty thousand were negro slaves. 
 Finally their land journey of nearly a thousand miles 
 was completed, and they established themselves in 
 the pleasant city of Lexington, where the Church 
 people were prepared to give them a hearty wel- 
 come. 
 
AKRIVAL IN KENTUCKY. 
 
 CHAPTEE II. 
 
 Arrival of Mr. Leacock at Lexington, Kentucky. Society in Lexington. 
 Dr. Coit. Dr. Cooke. Amos Cleaver. The Bishop of Kentucky. The 
 Professors. The Southern Planters. Efforts for the Promotion of Re- 
 ligion. Christ-Church. Instruction of the Slaves. Confirmation of 
 Mr. Leacock. He undertakes the charge of Pupils. He is elected 
 Rector of St. Paul's. 
 
 On the 15th of July, 1835, the Leacocks arrived in 
 Lexington. Although in latitude 38°, nearly fifteen 
 degrees from the tropics, they found the heat of the 
 summer intense, and greatly missed the sea-breezes 
 of their native islands. I was, at that time, residing 
 in Lexington, as professor in the Episcopal Theologi- 
 cal Seminary, and as minister of Christ-Church during 
 the absence of the bishop. I lost no time in forming 
 an acquaintance with the new-comers, and on the 
 following Sunday, at my request, Mr. Hamble Lea- 
 cock occupied the pulpit. After hearing his dis- 
 course, I felt persuaded that among the impulsive 
 and warm-hearted people of Kentucky so fervid a 
 preacher would have great opportunities of doing 
 good. 
 
32' SOCIETY IN LEXINGTON. 
 
 At the period of whicli I speak there was mncli 
 of an interesting character in the society of Lexing- 
 ton. As the life of every man is more or less in- 
 fluenced by his associates, it seems proper in this 
 place to give some account of those with whom Mi-. 
 Leacock lived for several years on the most intimate 
 terms. 
 
 Tliere is in Lexington an institution founded and 
 amply endowed by the State, and denominated Tran- 
 sylvania University. The principal building occupies 
 an eminence, upon which its spacious Grecian portico 
 shows to considerable advantage. Like other State 
 institutions of the kind in America, this university is 
 not attached to any particular religious denomination, 
 and the president and professors are at liberty to ex- 
 ert whatever doctrinal influences they may individ- 
 ually prefer upon the minds of the students. Some- 
 times, in the Kentucky TJniversity,Lrnitarian influences 
 had predominated, and sometimes Presbyterian. Dur- 
 ing the whole period of Mr. Leacock's residence in 
 Lexington, Churchmanship was in the ascendant, the 
 president of the institution being the Rev. Dr. Coit. 
 Dr. Coit represented that large class of American 
 Episcopalians who have been led into the Church by 
 honest conviction. Of a family once partly Quaker 
 and partly Puritan, he was himself an able expounder 
 of the peculiar principles which separate us from 
 sectarian bodies. He had already shown himself 
 skilful in polemic theology, and the Puritans in par- 
 ticular had often felt his power in conti'oversial en- 
 gagements. As a native of I^ew England, he was 
 
DR. COOKE. 33 
 
 different in temperament from our West Indian friend, 
 but not less earnest, and probably not less successful, 
 in maintaining the cause wliicli was equally dear to 
 both. 
 
 Connected with the university there was also a 
 Medical College, which boasted an array of distin- 
 guished names, some of which have acquired an 
 European reputation, while all were possessed of at 
 least respectability in the West. Among the medical 
 professors there was one who deserved the peculiar 
 gratitude of all earnest Churchmen. This was Dr. 
 Cooke, Professor of the Theory and Practice of Me- 
 dicine. 
 
 Dr. Cooke, though a native of the United States, 
 was of West Indian origin, his parents having re- 
 moved from the island of Bermuda. He commenced 
 practice as a physician in Yirginia, and in 1827 re- 
 moved to Lexington, where his career as a professor 
 is described by his biographer'^ as one great and al- 
 most unexampled triumph. Although troubled with 
 a slight impediment of speech, the earnestness of his 
 manner, the depth of his convictions, the singleness 
 of his purpose, the simplicity and comprehensiveness 
 of his views, and his intense devotion to truth, made 
 him the most interesting of companions. 
 
 It was during this active period of his life that 
 Dr. Cooke was called upon to turn his great powers 
 to another and very different field of research. Por 
 many years previous to 1829 he had been a zealous 
 
 * Kev. Dr. Craik, of Louisville. 
 
 2* 
 
34 DR. COOKE. 
 
 member ol the Methodist body. Tlie causes that in- 
 duced him to abandon this connexion, and to attach 
 himself to the American Episcopal Church, are before 
 the public in the introduction to his work, rej)ublished 
 in England, on the " Invalidity of Presbyterian Ordi- 
 nation." In prosecuting his inquiry he had ran- 
 sacked the University Library, rich in many old 
 books, and all the private libraries within his reach. 
 The examination was begun and prosecuted with all 
 the ardour of a strong and enthusiastic nature. Only 
 four hours were allowed for sleep ; one hour was 
 given to the accustomed lecture before the medical 
 class ; the shortest time possible to meals, and the 
 rest of the twenty-four devoted to the absorbing 
 inquiry upon which he had entered. To relieve the 
 brain from the effects of this intense and unremitted 
 application, and to keep his mind in the highest 
 state of free and vigorous action, he several times 
 bled himself during the six weeks of this remarkable 
 investigation. At the end of that time his convic- 
 tion was complete, and the materials of that convic- 
 tion, soon afterwards embodied in the essay above 
 mentioned, were accumulated and ready for future 
 use. He immediately connected himself with the 
 Episcopal Church, and neither he nor his family ever 
 after attended any other place of worship. With all 
 the force and enthusiasm of his character. Dr. Cooke 
 then applied himself to the work of raising up the 
 Church in Kentucky. It was in a great measure 
 through his persevering efforts that the Rev. B. B. 
 Smith was consecrated bishop of the diocese in 1832, 
 
DE. COOKE. 35 
 
 and the Theological Seminary established two years 
 afterwards. 
 
 It may readily be imagined that Mr. Leacock 
 found much in Dr. Cooke congenial with his own 
 earnest character. A friendship was formed between 
 them, which was dissolved only by the death of Dr. 
 Cooke in 1853. The intercourse was beneficial to 
 both parties. On the one hand, the fervent piety of 
 the clergyman warmed the heart of the physician ; 
 on the other hand, the physician's researches into 
 ecclesiastical history enlightened the mind of the 
 clergyman on many points which hitherto he had 
 but slightly considered. Mr. Leacock had readily 
 acquiesced in episcopacy, as the established system in 
 that portion of the British dominions in which he 
 had been educated. But now in the United States 
 he was made to perceive that religious institutions, to 
 be permanent, require a foundation deeper than an 
 " establishment " can afford. Dr. Cooke's argument 
 assured him that no ministerial authority can be 
 justly esteemed valid which can be traced to any 
 origin short of Christ's commission to the Apostles. 
 He was thus led to the idea of a regular line of eccle- 
 siastical descent, which his new friend enabled him 
 to trace as a matter of fact through the history of the 
 Church, from the earliest institution of Christianity 
 to the present English and American episcopate. 
 
 In addition to Drs. Coit and Cooke, Mr. Leacock 
 and myself had another friend in the Rev. Amos 
 Cleaver, once a Baptist minister in England, but 
 then a devoted Churchman, acting as missionary in a 
 
36 AMOS CLEAVER AND THE BISHOP. 
 
 town witliin a moderate distance of Lexington. Mr. 
 Cleaver liad found in this place not more than one or 
 two families of Episcopalians ; yet upon this founda- 
 tion he had resolved to commence operations. He 
 purchased a piece of ground, and with his own hands, 
 assisted by his two sons and a hired negro, began 
 erecting the walls of a church, officiating on Sundays 
 for the benefit of a mere handful of people in the 
 Court House. His private means soon failing, he 
 performed several tours through the United States, 
 and by dint of hard begging succeeded in raising -B.ve 
 thousand dollars, with which he erected a handsome 
 place of worship, now occupied by a cpmparatively 
 large congregation. After seeing this work com- 
 pleted, Mr. Cleaver went as a missionary into Missis- 
 sippi, where in 1853 he died a martyr to duty, having 
 caught the yellow fever while faithfully attending to 
 his flock during the prevalence of that devastating 
 pestilence. 
 
 The bishop of the diocese was necessarily often 
 absent, but when at home he contributed greatly to 
 the intellectual society of Lexington. His j)hiloso- 
 phical views on various subjects, combined with con- 
 siderable originality in his style of thought, rendered 
 his conversation as interesting as it was instructive. 
 He had long been an earnest friend of the missionary 
 cause, even in times when the American Church was 
 too negligent of her duty in this respect. 
 
 Besides the above, we were more or less acquaint- 
 ed with the various professors in the university, the 
 medical and theological students, the intelligent citi- 
 
PROFESSORS AKD PLANTERS. 37 
 
 zens of Lexington, and a somewhat diversified selec- 
 tion of Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian ministers. 
 'Not unfreqiientlj we met the pastor of the Roman 
 Catholic Church, and his able assistant, the Rev. Mr. 
 McGill, a native Kentnckian, and now the Roman 
 Catholic Bishop of Richmond. 
 
 During the heat of summer the seven thousand 
 inhabitants of Lexington received an annual augmen- 
 tation in the numerous wealthy planters and their 
 families, who came up to escape the still greater heat 
 of the States further south. Among them was al- 
 ways a considerable portion of refined and cultivated 
 persons, whose minds had been enlarged and im- 
 proved by foreign travel. Many of these were sin- 
 cere members of the Church, who strove to do their 
 duty to their negro dependants, and to make them as 
 virtuous and happy as their circumstances would 
 admit. 
 
 But in Western America there are multitudes 
 who, from the want of a generally accepted system 
 of external as well as internal religion, grow up in 
 practical heathenism, unbaptized and unbelieving. 
 Sectarian divisions augment the tendency to negation 
 of truth ; and it generally happens that a large por- 
 tion of a clergyman's efforts are directed against open 
 infidelity. Our friend Dr. Coit was eminently useful 
 in this particular branch of service. He delivered 
 from time to time admirable lectures to the medical 
 students and others, in which he proved the divine 
 origin of the Christian religion, the genuineness of 
 the Scriptures, and the inspired character of the 
 
6b EFFORTS FOR THE PROMOTION OF RELIGION. 
 
 sacred writers. Dr. Cooke, iu his professional instruc- 
 tions, availed himself of frequent opportunities for 
 demonstrating the existence of a Deitj, his wisdom, 
 goodness, and power. Mr. Leacock, in his sermons 
 and exhortations took a different line, and addressing 
 himself directly to the heart and conscience, attacked 
 the strongest holds of unbelief. Taking it for granted 
 that Christianity was divine, and divinely adajDted to 
 the human soul, his great aim was to present it in all 
 the fulness of its claims and in all the greatness of its 
 sanctions. 
 
 Our church was a spacious building, accommo- 
 dating about six hundred persons. At the time of 
 Mr. Leacock's arrival we were much engaged in pro- 
 moting the Greek mission-school which Mr. and Mrs. 
 Hill had recently established at Athens, and which 
 has since become a powerful instrument of good. 
 For the advancement of missions in foreign parts as 
 well as in Kentucky itself, we had weekly collections, 
 which amounted to about 135Z. in the course of a 
 year. A " Ladies' Sewing Society," in which Mrs. 
 Leacock took an active and efficient part, was one of 
 the means of swelling this fund. The ladies assem- 
 bled usually at the house of some clergyman, who, as 
 their work advanced, read to them interesting details 
 of missionary progress. ♦ 
 
 Mr. Leacock found in Kentucky but few oppor- 
 tunities of doing special service to the negro race. 
 Unlike the West Indies, he found the slaves in this 
 region almost wholly disconnected with the Church, 
 and living under a system necessarily adverse to 
 
mSTEUCTIOIT OF SLAVES. 39 
 
 mental and moral culture. The greater part of them 
 were piedestinarian Baptists, and addicted to a noisy 
 and exciting form of religion. Besides this, the au- 
 thorities had been alarmed by the emancipation going 
 forward in the British possessions. Strict measures 
 were now adopted to prevent entirely the somewhat 
 rare practice of teaching slaves to read. With the 
 help of our theological students, we had succeeded 
 in assembling about seventy-five young negroes in a 
 Sunday school. But when it was understood that 
 something more than oral instruction was attempted, 
 the mayor of the city requested us to desist from so 
 dangerous a proceeding, as he felt himself unable to 
 protect us against a mob, which in a moment of ex- 
 citement might level our seminary with the dust. 
 
 Meantime Dr. Cooke- was augmenting his library 
 by the importation from Europe of the best editions 
 of the Fathers and other theological works of value. 
 He acted in our seminary as professor of the History 
 and Polity of the Church, occasionally delivering 
 lectures on these subjects to our students. On the 
 11th of June, 1835, he was elected by the Diocesan 
 Convention of Kentucky as one of its lay deputies to 
 tlie General Convention which assembled that year in 
 Philadelphia. Mr. Leacock was much interested in 
 this appointment, and offered up many prayers in 
 regard to the proceedings of the great triennial 
 assembly of the American Church. Dr. Cooke on 
 this occasion startled the quiet conservatism of the 
 members of that body, by introducing a resolution 
 providing for the immediate election and consecration 
 
40 CONFIRMATION OF ME. LEACX)CK. 
 
 of a bishop for each State and Territory in the United 
 States in which there was no bishop. This sweeping 
 and thorough proposition was partially acted upon at 
 the time, by the appointment of two missionary 
 bishops for the West, one of whom. Bishop Kemper, 
 still continues, in a vigorous old age, to perform his 
 apostolic duties throughout a vast extent of territory. 
 Ultimately the Church awoke to a sense of her high 
 calling ; and at present there is no part of the United 
 States without its bishop. 
 
 Soon after Dr. Cooke's return from the Convention, 
 the winter set in with its usual severity. Although 
 we w^ere so far to the southward the frost was often 
 as sharp as in Canada, the thermometer being forty 
 or fifty degrees below freezing. Our West Indian 
 friends suffered severely, and, for the first time in his 
 life, Mr. Hamble Leacock saw the phenomena of ice 
 and snow. During a part of the winter, sleighs were 
 travelling about as in the ^N^orthern States and colonies, 
 and Christmas appeared in a garb worthy of its an- 
 cient English character. About this time the bishop 
 held a confirmation in Christ-Church. Mr. Leacock 
 resolved to fulfil the duty which had been neglected 
 in his youth, and came forward together with a num- 
 ber of young persons to receive the imposition of the 
 bishop's hands. He felt that, in so doing, he was not 
 only setting a valuable example to others, but that 
 he was placing himself in the way of receiving a 
 blessing to his own soul. 
 
 He was at this time engaged in tuition* having re- 
 turned for a brief space to the occupation of his 
 
41 
 
 earlier life. His pupils were sincerely attached to 
 liim, and liis deportment towards them was in all 
 respects that of a father. In the' summer of 1836 a. 
 new congregation or "parish," denominated St. 
 Paul's, having been commenced in Lexington, Mr. 
 Leacock was elected rector, Avith a moderate com- 
 pensation. The University Chapel was lent to the 
 new congregation, in view of the possible erection of 
 a church. The instrumental music was led by Mrs. 
 Leacock, the body of the worshippers joining in the 
 chants, psalms, and hymns, usual in the American 
 Church. The subject of this memoir seemed again 
 to have found his proper place, and soon showed him- 
 self the fervent preacher and the efficient pastor of 
 former times. 
 
4:2 A SCATTERING OF FBIENDS. 
 
 CHAPTEE in. 
 
 A Greneral Scattering of Mr. Leacock's Friends. He removes to Tennessee. 
 Journey with the Bishop of Tennessee. He accepts a Church at Franklin. 
 Anecdote of him by Mrs. Wheat. He purchases an Estate in New Jer- 
 sey. Brief connection with a Church at Louisville. His Character as a 
 Preacher and a Pastor. Removal to New Jersey. Settlement during 
 four years at Perth Amboy. Return to the West Indies. 
 
 Our pleasant ecclesiastical society in Lexington was 
 not destined to a long duration. Dr. Cooke's biogra- 
 pher remarks with much justice, that " the effort then 
 making for the extension of the Church in Kentucky 
 involved too much centralization. The large eccle- 
 siastical force collected in Lexington was utterly dis- 
 proportionate to the condition and strength of the 
 diocese. It was an enormous head without a body. 
 If Dr. Cooke and his fellow-Churchmen could have 
 brought from the East a band of itinerant preachers, 
 and sent them with the bishop at their head through 
 the State, gathering up and organizing into congrega- 
 tions the Episcopalian families which were thickly 
 scattered over the whole country, the result would 
 have been different. Unhappily this policy was not 
 pursued in Kentucky, and the consequence is that we 
 
A SOATTEKING OF FEIENDS. * 43 
 
 still mourn over the deplorable weakness of the 
 Church in this diocese." 
 
 Historical veracity makes it necessary to add that 
 difficulties of a peculiar kind had now overshadowed 
 the bright early days of the Church of Kentucky. 
 A controversy involving many personal considerations 
 had arisen, wliich finally involved the clergy and 
 laity together with the Bishop and the Diocesan Con- 
 vention. The result of the whole was an episcopal 
 trial, at which Bishops Kemper, McBvaine, and Mc- 
 Coskry presided. Throughout the entire course of 
 these painful proceedings the conduct of Mr. Leacock 
 was in complete accordance with the truthfulness and 
 integrity of his character. 
 
 Dr. Coit, meeting with considerable discourage- 
 ment in the management of the State University, re- 
 signed his appointment in 1837, and returning to the 
 East became the pastor of a congregation in the pleas- 
 ant village of New Rochelle, on Long Island Sound, 
 not far from New York. About the same time the 
 admirable position and rapid growth of Louisville in 
 duced the majority of the medical professors to look 
 to that city as the most eligible place in the western 
 country for a great medical school. Accordingly Dr. 
 Cooke removed from Lexington to Louisville, and 
 united with four other scientific gentlemen in found- 
 ing the medical institute in that city, now, known as 
 the Medical Department of the University of Louis- 
 ville. He continued to teach in this school until its 
 prosperity was placed beyond the reach of competi- 
 tion. Mrs. Polk purchased his valuable ecclesiastical 
 
4:4: A SCATTERING OF FRIENDS. 
 
 library, at a price of several thousand dollars, and 
 presented it to lier Imsband, tlie Bishop of Louisiana. 
 
 Although highly respected by those who were in- 
 timately acquainted with him. Dr. Cooke never at- 
 tained to popularity. He constantly manifested 
 thorough indifference to public opinion, and stern in- 
 tolerance of error and flippancy. He threw his great 
 truths before the world, and used no further care to 
 commend or introduce them. He took it for granted 
 that every man would be as devout a worshipper of 
 truth as himself, and was at little pains to conceal his 
 contempt for those who seemed to make truth a 
 secondary consideration. As a necessary consequence 
 Dr. Cooke had many enemies. 
 
 Mr. Leacock's brother had quitted Lexington, 
 having purchased an estate at some distance in the 
 country. Several of his relations had returned from 
 Kentucky to the West Indies, where they found that, 
 notwithstanding the apprenticeship system, it was still 
 possible for white persons to exist. JSTearly at the 
 same time with Drs. Coit and Cooke, I quitted the 
 diocese of Bishop Smith, and accepted, at Bishop 
 Kemper's invitation, the charge of a rising congrega- 
 tion in the free State of Indiana. In consequence of 
 ill health, I retained this position little more than a 
 year, and in 1838 removed with my family to the 
 healthy E'qrth, and took up my residence on British 
 territory, in the loyal colony of Upper Canada. Be- 
 fore parting from Mr. Leacock, I gave him a copy of 
 Thomas a Kempis, with which he was greatly de- 
 
REMOVAL TO TENNESSEE. 45 
 
 lighted, and which, except his Bible, he valued above 
 all the books in his possession. 
 
 In consequence of these and other removals, Mr. 
 and Mrs. Leacock felt themselves solitary, and having 
 no local ties to bind them to Lexington, began to con- 
 template another change. Mrs. Leacock wrote as fol- 
 lows, in June, 1837 : — 
 
 "Another thing which has damped my spirits and 
 
 rendered me unfit for writing, is that our friend J 
 
 has left us. She went on Monday with Mrs. Coit and 
 her little ones. Dr. Cooke and his family have also 
 taken their departure. Mrs. Cooke and the girls went 
 yesterday, in their private carriage, and the good doc- 
 tor has this instant started in the car with all his ser- 
 vants. Lexington looks deserted. It makes me mel- 
 ancholy whenever I think of the many excellent 
 friends who have left it, and who in all probability we 
 shall never meet again on earth. I almost wish our 
 turn had come ; but it strikes me we shall be the last 
 to move." 
 
 Within half a year from the date of this letter 
 the expected change had taken place, and Mr. Lea- 
 cock, at Bishop Otey's invitation, removed southward, 
 into the adjoining State of Tennessee. He spent some 
 tinte in travelling with the good bishop throughout 
 his extensive diocese, and found in him a cordial friend, 
 a man thoroughly after his own heart, and an edifying 
 and instructive companion. As the two men of God 
 rode together on horseback, they engaged in conver- 
 sation on noble and elevated subjects, and sometimes 
 
46 AIJECDOTE BY MKS. WHEAT. 
 
 made the forests echo to the unwonted sound of their 
 chants and hymns. 
 
 Having taken charge, at the bishop's request, of 
 the parish of Franklin, he found himself again engaged 
 in that ministerial work which had always been his 
 delight. Yet his success did not altogether equal his 
 expectations, and certainly fell short of what he had 
 experienced in l^evis. Writing to me on the 5th of 
 February, 1838, he spoke of having innumerable calls 
 on his time, and added as follows : — 
 
 " I am getting on tolerably well. Franklin is a 
 charming little j)lace, and if the Lord will bless my 
 labours I shall be happy. The people are friendly and 
 kind ; but I want to see grace. I long once more to 
 hear the cry, ^ What must I do to be saved ? ' He- 
 member us affectionately to your dear wife, and may 
 the Lord abundantly bless you in your labours and in 
 your family." 
 
 Mrs. Selina Wheat, the wife of a clergyman then 
 residing in Tennessee, has kindly supplied me with the 
 following interesting sketch of Mr. Leacock : — 
 
 '' During his residence iu Tennessee, Mr. Leacock, 
 as was generally required of the clergy of that day, 
 had to do much missionary or itinerant work for the 
 Church. After a Sunday's service in Clarksville, he 
 was returning to his home in Franklin, when he was 
 obliged by illness to stop at our house in Nashville. 
 He had travelled all day, on horseback, under an op- 
 pressive sun, and having had a severe chill he was 
 now burning with fever. He was unable to dismount 
 without assistance. My husband and son carried him 
 
ANECDOTE BY MRS. WHEAT. _ 4:7 
 
 in their arms to his room, and we immediately sent 
 for a physician. As soon as it could be done, a foot- 
 bath, which we knew to be peculiarly refreshing to 
 him, was prepared ; and my husband, himself taking 
 oif his shoes and stockings, began to bathe his feet. 
 As I was, at the moment, making a cooling application 
 to his head, I observed Mr. Leacock weeping passion- 
 ately. Alarmed, I begged to know the cause. ^ Was 
 he more ill than we supposed ? Should we send for his 
 wife ? What was the matter ? Why did he weep ? ' 
 With some eftbrt he became more calm, and confessed 
 — would you believe it ? — that he wept because my 
 husband was performing so menial an office for him. 
 ' Why ! Mr. Leacock,' I said, ' would not you do as 
 much for him ? ' ' Oh yes, certainly,' he replied, and 
 then, no doubt recurring to the incident in the Gospels, 
 he added, 'not his feet only, but his hands and his head.' 
 "A few weeks after this, he was called to be our 
 comforter ; for we had been bereaved of a precious 
 child. He remained with us several days after the 
 funeral, taking my husband's duty on the following 
 Sunday, and oh, how well I remember his untiring 
 eiforts to console us? Once, in the anguish of my 
 grief, I said to him, ' Oh ! Mr. Leacock, we little 
 thought when you left us so lately that you would be 
 called to perform this sad office for us — that I should 
 lose my Heber ! ' He was pacing the floor, and sud- 
 denly turning upon me, he said very earnestly, 'Are 
 you a Christian mother, and say that Heber is lost f 
 Oh, say not lost i but only gone hefore. Do not let 
 me hear you use such language again. You shall go 
 
48 LETTER FROM BISHOP OTEY. 
 
 to him, if you meekly submit yourself to your heavenly 
 Father's will — but say not again that your child is 
 lost.' I confess his stern rebuke did more to calm my 
 grief than all his previous words of gentle remon- 
 strance. 
 
 " We once again saw him and his model wife, in a 
 great trial of a very different kind, after they had lost 
 the greater part of their property by the failure of a 
 friend. I never can forget their Christian fortitude 
 and magnanimous forbearance towards the wrong-doer, 
 who had so cruelly disappointed them. ' God will 
 provide,' they said ; ' yes, and He will bring good 
 out of this evil. We can but pray for him who has 
 done us this great wrong.' !Not a word of severity, 
 hardly of reproach, did I hear from those holy lips." 
 
 The following letter addressed to me by Bishop 
 Otey completes the record of Mr. Leacock's ministry 
 in Tennessee : — 
 
 " Ebenezer, near Memphis, Tennessee, 
 Dec. 8, 1856. 
 
 " Kev. and dear Sir, 
 
 " I feel a melancholy interest in complying with 
 your request to furnish any particulars I may possess 
 connected with the ministry of our late dearly -beloved 
 and lamented brother, the Rev. Hamble J. Leacock, 
 while resident in this diocese. These particulars are 
 not many, being collected chiefly, such as they are, 
 from notices scattered through my annual reports to 
 the Diocesan Convention. 
 
 " lie was canonically transferred from the diocese 
 of Kentucky to that of Tennessee on the fifth day of 
 
LETTER FKOM BISHOP OTEY. 49 
 
 Januaj'v, 1838. You are yourself aware of the un- 
 happy difficulties which disturbed the peace of the 
 Church in Kentucky for several years previous to this 
 time, in consequence of which Mr. Leacock and his 
 brother were induced to seek situations in this State. 
 Hamble took charge of St. Paul's, Franklin, to the 
 rectorship of which he w^as formally invited by the 
 Yestry. In his first parochial report, he says with 
 characteristic modesty, 'The rector sees no decided 
 testimony that his labours have been successful ; yet 
 he hopes that they have not been altogether in vain. 
 He trusts there are a few who maintain, in secret, a 
 faithful adherence to Christ, and like plants in the 
 wilderness blossom unseen, and diffuse their fragrance 
 unperceived, except by Him who seeth all things.' 
 
 "As evidence of the estimate in which he was held 
 by his brethren, it may be mentioned that, at the Con- 
 vention held six months after his removal into the dio- 
 cese, he was elected a member of the Standing Com- 
 mittee and a trustee of the General Theological Semi- 
 nary. 
 
 " The next notice of him is taken from my annual 
 report for the next year, in these words : ' The Rev. 
 H. J. Leacock preached an effective and impressive 
 sermon on the duties of the ministry, on the occasion 
 of ordaining two deacons to the priesthood and a can- 
 didate to the diaconate.' This took place at Clarks- 
 ville during the session of the Convention. His man- 
 ner was very impressive and earnest, and few who 
 heard him then, or at other times, are likely to have 
 forgotten the power with which he spake. 
 3 
 
50 LETTER FKOM BISHOP OTEY. 
 
 " It was during tlie years 1838 and 1839 that he 
 accompanied me on a visitation of the greater part of 
 mj diocese. Our journeyings together on horseback 
 gave me good opportunities to learn the character of 
 this truly great^ because he was a truly good^ man. It 
 was here that he opened his heart, and uncovered the 
 deep well-springs and fountains of the spiritually- 
 minded man, overflowing with love to Christ, and gush- 
 ing forth into streams of affection for his fellow-n^en. 
 The grace of Christ, the sanctifying influences of the 
 Holy Spirit, and the necessity of faith evidenced by 
 a holy life, were his constant themes in public and in 
 private. He would sometimes become so earnest, 
 that, forgetting his manuscript, he would lean over the 
 pulpit, and with his lion-like eye fixed upon some at- 
 tentive hearer in the congregation, he would seem as 
 if he was reading the very thoughts of the sinner's 
 heart, and arraigning him before God for the murder 
 of the soul. He was fond of preaching. He felt that 
 it was an honourable employment, and never declined 
 when asked, unless for some cogent reason, which 
 every one would appreciate when named. 
 
 " But it was not in his pulpit ministrations only 
 that he sought opportunity to preach Christ. When- 
 ever we stoj^ped at night, during a tour of several 
 hundred miles, and sought lodging in the log-cabin 
 of the pioneer settlers, he never failed, either in the 
 evening or morning, to call the members of the family, 
 as well as the sojourners present, around the domestic 
 altar, to read a portion of God's word, comment on it, 
 and then invite all to unite with him in prayer. In 
 
LETTER FKOM BISHOP OTEY. 51 
 
 this way he not only inspired respect for religion, but 
 also for its teachers. 
 
 " I remember very distinctly one of these occa- 
 sions. He was making a running commentary on 
 Eomans viii., and had begun to remark on the 3rd 
 verse, when a young woman present interposed a 
 question, which implied tliat the law of God was de- 
 fective, and needed to be annulled or set aside, because 
 of its imperfection. He seemed to be aroused as if 
 by an electric shock, and turning round towards the 
 questioner, he said in his own peculiar manner, ' Don't 
 you hear the Apostle say that the law was weah through 
 the flesh f ' And then he proceeded to descant in a 
 most lucid manner, and with thrilling effect on his 
 hearers, upon the holiness, justice, and goodness of the 
 law, — showing that it was honourable to God and just 
 to man, and for that very reason rendered the exer- 
 cise of mercy through Christ glorious to God. 
 
 " Naturally of a quick and excitable temperament, 
 he felt very keenly an unprovoked injury or wrong. 
 At the same time, I have met with few men who, I 
 think, were possessed of a more ready disposition to 
 forgive an offender than he was, upon a proper mani- 
 festation of repentance. For two years successively 
 ie accompanied me in my visitation of the diocese, 
 relieving me of much of the duty of reading prayers 
 and preaching. In every place the people manifested 
 an eager desire to hear him. To this day they retain 
 a very pleasing remembrance of his labours, and the 
 announcement of his death will draw forth many a 
 deep sigh from hundreds who cherish a grateful recol- 
 
52 CONNEXION WITH LOUISVILLE. 
 
 lection of his labours for their spiritual and eternal 
 good. 
 
 ^' I am sorry, my dear Sir, that the time to which 
 I am limited does not allow me to seek for many more 
 gratifying reminiscences which I am sure exist, of one 
 who by his Christian spirit and burning zeal in the 
 cause of our blessed Redeemer, endeared himself to 
 every Churchman in America who enjoyed the plea- 
 sure of his acquaintance. Would that the mantle of his 
 faith, charity, and zeal, might rest upon us all ! 
 
 " I remain 
 " Your affectionate and faithful brother, 
 " James H. Otet, 
 Bishop of Tennessee. 
 
 " To the Rev. H. Caswell, D. D., &c." 
 
 The event last mentioned by Mrs. Wheat obliged 
 Mr. and Mrs. Leacock to leave Tennessee, and they 
 soon afterwards went to the warm welcome of their 
 friends in Louisville, Kentucky, under the following 
 circumstances. At Louisville, Dr. Cook was now 
 settled, together with the Harts, the Andersons, and 
 other families once connected with St. Paul's at Lex- 
 ington. These old acquaintances earnestly desired Mr. 
 Leacock to become again their pastor, and to under- 
 take the laborious task of " building up " a small con- 
 gregation, worshipping in an old and unseemly church. 
 This church had been almost deserted in consequence 
 of the erection of a new and handsome edifice by the 
 people under the charge of the Kev. W. Jackson. Mr. 
 Anderson, aware of the power of Mr. Leacock, and be- 
 
LOUISVILLE. 53 
 
 lieviiig that he could persuade him to throw himself 
 into the breach, went two hundred miles by the stage- 
 coach to Franklin, and determined to take no refusal. 
 He seized Mr. Leacock with friendly violence, and 
 actually brought him back with him to Louisville. 
 Mr. Leacock commenced in that City with a kind of 
 forlorn hope, and after some weeks returned to Frank- 
 lin for his family. 
 
 Louisville then contained nearly forty thousand 
 inhabitants, and has probably more than doubled that 
 population at the present time. Its situation on the 
 Ohio river renders it a most important commercial 
 emporium, while railroads connecting it with the in- 
 terior of Kentucky bring the produce of that fertile 
 country on board the numerous steamers which per- 
 petually crowd the landing-place. The people, though 
 excitable, are hospitable, warm-hearted, and intelli- 
 gent. Mr. Leacock already possessed many influen- 
 tial friends among them, and it is probable that if he 
 had decided on a permanent engagement with them, 
 he would have found a wide sphere of usefulness. A 
 handsome stipend was promised to him, but he had 
 determined that his stay should be but brief, and that 
 he w^ould never again live under the jurisdiction of 
 the ecclesiastical authority of Kentucky. 
 
 For six months, however, he laboured most success- 
 fully in augmenting the congregation and in giving 
 the people time, confidence, and opportunity to ob- 
 tain a permanent minister. The Rev. Dr. Craik, of 
 Louisville, thus writes respecting his ministrations at 
 this period: "As a preacher, he was fervent, ani- 
 
54: LOUISVILLE. 
 
 mated, and always interesting. Sometimes he pro- 
 duced a most startling sensation. Once, referring to 
 the many good and able men who have been the prop- 
 agators of false doctrine, he said, 'Do you suppose 
 that the devil does not know how to choose his agents ? ' 
 Another time, ' Do you know who was the first Uni- 
 tarian ? It was the devil. ' ' If thou be the Son of 
 God, &c.* ' " 
 
 Mrs. Jackson, widow of the clergyman mentioned 
 on the last page, states that Mr. Leacock's intercourse 
 with her husband was of the most fraternal and agree- 
 able character. She adds, '' I remember that he was 
 particularly forcible in his sermons on the doctrine of 
 the Trinity, and though he was in the habit of intro- 
 ducing the most pointed remarks on that subject, the 
 Unitarians wxnt much to hear him, and had a great 
 respect for his character. " 
 
 Another lady, Mrs. Field, says, " During his short 
 residence in Louisville he endeared himself to his peo- 
 ple by the warmth of his own affections. His visits 
 were like a gleam of sunshine to the sorrowful and 
 the suffering. He seemed to live a life of childlike 
 faith, never doubting his Father's love, ever looking to 
 Him for strength. Once he preached a very solemn 
 sermon on the certain punishment of the wicked. It 
 was evident that the listeners were almost spell-bound. 
 I said, 'Your sermon produced a great impression.' 
 He looked quite sad, and answered, ' Yes, fear stirs 
 up men's souls, but how few hearts would have been 
 
 * Matt. iv. 6. 
 
CHAEACTEK AS A PREACHEli, ETC. 55 
 
 melted by the story of the Saviour's dying love ! ' In 
 his visits from house to house he often made stirring 
 appeals to those who stood aloof from the body of 
 Christ. When he found that a heart was touched, he 
 would say, ' ]S"ow, my brother, let us kneel down and 
 pray together.' A person very dear to him once said 
 in his presence, ' I wish I had never been born.' He 
 seemed much affected, and replied, ' What, when yoii 
 know that Christ died for you ? ' His constant theme 
 was the Divine love manifested in Christ Jesus. He 
 became so dear to us, that to part from him was a 
 great sorrow." 
 
 In April, 1840, 1 revisited Kentucky from Canada, 
 and after a journey of about nine hundred miles, 
 found myself among my former associates at Louis- 
 ville. I shall never forget the hearty welcome which 
 I received from Mr. and Mrs. Leacock, and from the 
 principal persons of their congregation. Dr. Cooke 
 stated that Mr. Leacock was producing a powerful 
 effect in the place, being distinguished by the bold- 
 ness and decision with which he gave utterance to 
 unpopular and unpalatable truths. Instead of being 
 offended with his plainness, the people had the good 
 sense to perceive the practical worth of such a 
 preacher. They respected him for his sincerity, and 
 would have made great sacrifices to retain him 
 among them as a regular pastor. 
 
 Since the general dispersion of his friends at 
 Lexington, he had never felt at home in the West, 
 and had preferred to act only as a missionary. There 
 were no local ties as yet to bind him to any part of 
 
66 CHAEACTER AS A PEEACHEE, ETC. 
 
 the United States, in which he always felt himself in 
 some sense a foreigner. There can be no doubt also 
 that cliange of place was not wholly nnsuited to his 
 character and habits. Wherever he dwelt he was 
 strongly impressed with the conviction that in this 
 life he had no abiding place, and that his only true 
 home was in that Jerusalem which hath foundations, 
 whose builder and maker is G-od. 
 
 A Committee of the House of Bishops in the 
 American General Convention of 1856, made some 
 valuable observations on the best mode of employing 
 the various gifts bestowed on men for the edifying of 
 the Church. " There are men," they state, " whose 
 temperaments incline them to be constantly moving 
 from place to place. Connected with this constitu- 
 tional peculiarity, there is generally a frankness and 
 cordiality of manner which renders such persons fa- 
 vourites wherever they go. They may not possess 
 any great breadth or variety of learning, nor any 
 great powers of thought ; but they have a faculty of 
 correct and close observation, a knowledge of men as 
 individuals and in masses, and perhaps extraordinary 
 skill and tact in controlling them. In this class will 
 be found those best calculated of all, perhaps, in the 
 Church, to fill the office of evangelists. Such a corps 
 of active labourers seems almost indispensable to the 
 complete organization of the Church according to the 
 primitive model." 
 
 Mr. Leacock's circumstances had been, as before 
 mentioned, considerably straitened while in Franklin, 
 and the idea had occurred to him that he might, by 
 
REMOVAL TO NEW JERSEY. 57 
 
 the purchase of ti fariu, secure a competence for his 
 family in the event of his decease. His health was 
 now much impaired, and he wished to obtain a situa- 
 tion in which he might rest himself and recruit his 
 energies. He desired also to enjoj facilities for 
 ready communication with his aged father in Bar- 
 bados. 
 
 Accordingly, with the remnant of his means, he 
 had already purchased a small estate near the sea- 
 shore, and not far from the town of 'New Brunswick, 
 in Kew Jersey. His friends in Kentucky greatly 
 disapproved of this step, and assured him that he 
 could never succeed as an agriculturist; but their 
 solicitations and representations were alike fruitless, 
 and he remained in Louisville only to complete his 
 six months as a wayfaring man and a sojourner. 
 The work of God, however, prospered in his hand, 
 and under his successors. The congregation, of 
 which he undertook the charge in its day of weak- 
 ness, has been steadily improving and enlarging itself 
 to the present day. The capacity of the church has 
 been several times increased for the accommodation 
 of the worshippers. Two new parish churches have 
 also been erected since Mr. Leacock's brief incum- 
 bency, and a third is now in progress. 
 
 A letter from Mrs. Leacock, written soon after my 
 visit to Louisville in 1840, showed that the persever- 
 ing efforts of the congregation to retain her husband 
 had proved fruitless. " We live," she wrote, " with 
 our kind friends, the Llarts, where it is likely we 
 shall remain so long as we stay in Louisville. This is 
 
58 NEW JEESEY. 
 
 a sore subject to the ears of our congregation (I mean 
 onr leaving Lonisville for IS^ew Jersey), but Mr. Lea- 
 cock says lie sees no alternative, and that go we must 
 in July." Accordingly in July they proceeded to 
 their destination, and shortly afterwards Mr. Leacock 
 appeared in his new character of a New Jersey 
 farmer. 
 
 He did not, however, permit agricultural labours 
 to divert his attention from the great work of his 
 ministry. In the autumn of this year he visited 
 Connecticut, where he preached a striking sermon at 
 an ordination held by the bishop of the diocese in 
 the town of Bridgeport. For a few Sundays he con- 
 tinued to officiate in that neighbourhood, but his 
 anchorage in 'New Jersey compelled him to return, 
 and to confine his ministrations to places in the 
 vicinity of his ncAV home. During the winter he 
 supplied the pulpit of Christ-Church, I^ew Bruns- 
 wick, the rector being temporarily absent. 
 
 In 1841 he spent some time in the West Indies, 
 endeavouring to recover the property of which he 
 had been deprived, and to which his son would be 
 entitled in right of his mother. In this endeavour he 
 was partially successful. Soon after his return to 
 America, I accidentally met him in Broadway during 
 the session of the General Convention in 'New York. 
 He was rejoiced to see an old Kentucky friend, and 
 gave me much interesting information respecting his 
 plans and prospects. 
 
 About this time he was visited at his farm by the 
 Hev. Mr. Pitkin, who had succeeded him at Louis- 
 
SETTLEl^IENT AT PERTH AMBOY. 69 
 
 ville. Mr. Pitkin had heard so many things reported 
 in his praise, that he longed to form his acquaintance, 
 and went on a kind of pilgrimage to visit him in his 
 rural retreat, eight hundred miles eastward of Ken- 
 tucky. He found him at work in his barn, and met 
 with a most cordial reception. The two clergymen 
 sat down on the hay, and long remained together in 
 ao:reeable and Christian conversation. " I sat there 
 as long as possible," says Mr. Pitkin, " drinking in 
 his sweet speech, and learning how he had held hearts 
 so knit to him. I left him at last, but shall never 
 forget him. He being dead, yet speaketh to us by 
 the noble example of his self-sacrifice." 
 
 Shortly after his return from the "West Indies, he 
 was desired by Bishop Doane to undertake the 
 charge of two little stations, one five and the other 
 twelve miles distant from his residence. At these 
 places he laboured faithfully and zealously until 
 1843, when he was prevailed upon to part w^ith his 
 farm, and to become rector of St. Peter's, in Perth 
 Amboy. The situation of Perth Amboy is pleasant 
 and healthy. It stands on a neck of land at the 
 head of Paritan river, on the great thoroughfare be- 
 tween New York and Philadelphia. At a very early 
 period in American history it carried on a trade with 
 the "West Indies, having one of the best harbours on 
 the continent. The church in this place is of a com- 
 paratively ancient date, having been founded in the 
 times anterior to the Revolution. 
 
 Mr. Leacock, as usual, soon made friends in his 
 new parish, and being pleased with the situation 
 
60 KETUEN TO THE WEST INDIES. 
 
 became apparently settled for life. During four 
 years he continued in Perth Amboy, and fully main- 
 tained his already high reputation as a faithful min- 
 ister of the word of God. 
 
 In the summer of 1843, he had the great pleasure 
 of receiving another of his old Kentucky friends. 
 Dr. Coit visited him from 'New Kochelle, and wrote 
 to me as follows on the 29th of July. " I had a 
 spare Sunday a short time since, and ran down to 
 Perth Amboy to spend it with Hamble Leacock. 
 He is well, and very comfortably situated, and took 
 great delight in talking over old Kentucky times." 
 
 In 1847, the decaying health of his father, and 
 the necessity of looking after the property of his son 
 (now of age), obliged him to revisit his native island 
 of Barbados. He left his parish at Perth Amboy in 
 the charge of a clerical friend, and received the fol- 
 lowing letter from Bishop Doane to Bishop Parry, 
 the successor of Bishop Coleridge : 
 
 " To the Eight Reverend the Lord Bishop of 
 Barbados. 
 " This is to commend the Reverend Hamble James 
 Leacock, a Presbyter of this diocese, who is about to 
 visit some of the islands of youi* Lordship's diocese, as 
 a brother, faithful and beloved, and worthy of all con- 
 fidence and kindness. 
 
 "Affectionately in the bonds of Jesus Christ, 
 
 " G. W. Doane. 
 
 "Eiverside, Easter Monday, 1847." 
 
 Mr. Leacock expected to return to his duties at 
 
RETURN TO THE WEST INDIES. 61 
 
 Perth Amboy in the spring of 1848. Being, however, 
 detained longer than he had anticipated, he was in- 
 formed that his parishioners were somewhat impa- 
 tiently awaiting his return. He immediately sent over 
 his resignation of the rectorship, and terminated his 
 connexion with the diocese of J^ew Jersey. All at- 
 tempts to induce him to reconsider this decision were 
 fruitless, and in 1849, having settled all his affairs in 
 the United States, he appeared once more as a West 
 Indian clergyman. 
 
62 REASONS FOR KETUKNING. 
 
 CHAPTER lY. 
 
 Reasons for his Return. State of Nevis. African'practices. Obeah. Mr. 
 Leacock delivers Lectures against Obeah. Death of the Obeah-maa. 
 Effect of Charms on the African. Return to Barbados. Temporary 
 Charge of St. Peter's. Death of Amos Cleaver and Dr. Cooke. Mr. Lea- 
 cock is appointed to the Chapel at Bridgetown. Testimonial of the Par- 
 ishioners of St. Peter's. Commencement of efforts in behalf of Africa. 
 Formation of the Society for the furtherance of the Gospel. Outbreak 
 of Cholera. Death of Mrs. Leacock. 
 
 It was not a mere fondness for change, and still less 
 was it the communication from Perth Amboy, which 
 induced Mr. Leacock to attach himself again to the 
 "West Indies. His father was now very aged, and in- 
 deed died in the following year, after a long and grad- 
 ual decline. His only daughter, Elizabeth, was about 
 this time married, and happily settled in Barbados. 
 The apprenticeship system from which he had justly 
 apprehended evil consequences, had been found inex- 
 pedient on trial, and had given way to the complete 
 abolition of negro slavery on the 1st of August, 1888. 
 The relative position of blacks and whites was now 
 fully understood, and, although West Indian property 
 had in many instances become nearly valueless, it was 
 clear to Mr. Leacock that the two races might now 
 exist together in harmony. He found that old preju- 
 
STATE OF THINGS IN NEYIS. 63 
 
 dices originating in slavery had in a great measure 
 died away, and the people of Barbados, who had all 
 but ejected him in 1827, gave. him a cordial and re- 
 spectful greeting twenty years afterwards. While en- 
 gaged on his son's business in that island he performed 
 for several months the duties of minister of his native 
 parish, during the illness of the rector, to the edifica- 
 tion and delight of the congregation. 
 
 Having concluded this brief engagement he re- 
 visited E"evis, where he found a strong affection still 
 subsisting towards him among his old parishioners. 
 When he spoke of the possibility of his returning 
 to the United States, many of them implored him 
 with tears to become once more their pastor. He 
 yielded to their entreaties, and after definitely resign- 
 ing the charge of the parish of Perth Amboy, again 
 occupied his former position in the church at Charles- 
 town. 
 
 But twelve or thirteen years had made great 
 changes among the people. Many old friends of the 
 pastor were dead, and others had departed. The ne- 
 groes had too generally become idle since the acqui- 
 sition of liberty, and with idleness had betaken them- 
 selves to the bad habits of former times. African 
 superstitions had been re-introduced by a number of 
 re-captured slaves, and the horrid practice of Obeah, 
 as it is called, was spreading terror throughout the 
 island. 
 
 Mr. Leacock, being a man of known energy and 
 courage, was armed by the governor with the au- 
 thority of a magistrate, and exerted himself in appre- 
 hending and punishing some of the worst criminals. 
 
64 AFRICAN PEACTICES OBEAH. 
 
 But there was an Obeah man whose influence had 
 become so extraordinary that he had managed to 
 paralyze even the strong hand of justice. He was 
 believed to possess a certain charm, by which he 
 could at any time cause the death of those who fell 
 under his curse. He was in reality a most accom- 
 plished poisoner. He could insinuate the means of 
 destruction into vegetables, melons, and other fruits 
 as they grew in the field or in the garden. Through 
 the agency of his creatures presents were conveyed to 
 his enemies which occasioned their speedy death. 
 At length no one dared to receive a gift of any article 
 of food. So deep was the cunning of the " doctor," 
 as he was called, that hitherto it had been impossible 
 to bring legal evidence to bear upon him. Besides 
 this, few could be found who possessed the courage 
 to come forward as witnesses against him, or to find 
 him guilty if brought before a jury. 
 
 Under these circumstances, Mr. Leacock an- 
 nounced his intention of delivering a course of 
 public lectures exposing the infamous practice of 
 Obeah. The Obeah-man, on the contrary, declared 
 that if Mr. Leacock should persist in this intention, a 
 curse should rest upon him and that he would cer- 
 tainly die. Nothing daunted, the intrepid pastor 
 proceeded with his lectures, though many of his con- 
 gregation already regarded him as a dead man. 
 Meantime the " doctor " was engaged in the prepara- 
 tion of the most deadly poisons to secure the fulfil- 
 ment of his curse. It is supposed that he incautiously 
 tasted some of these in order to assure himself of their 
 potency. Certain it is that his corpse was found 
 
RETURN TO BARBADOS. 65 
 
 among some sugar-canes, frightfully disfigured, yet 
 without any visible cause of death. 
 
 To show the terrible effect of a curse upon the 
 mind and body of the African, Mr. Leacock related 
 to me the following circumstance as having happened 
 within his own knowledge. Three negro men having 
 stolen a pig from a woman of their own race, were 
 solemnly cursed by her. In their terror they restored 
 the pig, but the woman refused to revoke the curse. 
 She buried a piece of the animal in the ground, and 
 assured the thieves that before it should decay they 
 would all undoubtedly perish. In a short time the 
 three men began to grow weak and became unable 
 to perform their accustomed work. Their employer 
 went to the woman and entreated her to remove the 
 imprecation. She apparently consented, and seemed 
 to make light of the whole transaction. But nothing 
 could re-assure the three victims, who gradually pined 
 away, and not long afterwards died. 
 
 In 1852 Mr. Leacock returned to Barbados, where 
 in July he took charge of the parish of St. Peter's, 
 Speightstown, in the absence of the Rev. W. Payne, 
 the rector, and retained it to the end of 1853. In the 
 autumn of that year, being resident in England, I was 
 sent with others on a deputation to the Episcopal 
 Board of Missions, which assembled in October, at 
 New- York, during the session of the General Conven- 
 tion. On this occasion I had the pleasure of meeting 
 Mr. Leacock's brother, the Rev. Dr. Leacock, of JSTew 
 Orleans, who attended the Convention as a clerical 
 deputy from the diocese of Louisiana. I met also 
 Mr. Hamble Leacock's only son, Benjamin, a prom- 
 
66 DKATH OF DR. COOKE. 
 
 ising young clergyman of the American Church, who 
 had recently received Holy Orders after completing 
 his studies at the Episcopal Theological Seminary Df 
 Virginia. At the same time I heard of the death of 
 Mr. Cleaver, who had fallen a victim to his fidelity 
 to his parishioners in Mississippi during the preva- 
 lence of yellow fever. It was during this session of 
 the Convention that Dr. Cooke was removed to an- 
 other life, having attained to the age of seventy-one. 
 A last notice of this remarkable man, as a friend to 
 Mr. Leacock, will hardly be inappropriate in this 
 place. 
 
 In 1844 Dr. Cooke resigned his medical professor- 
 ship and retired to Woodlawn, a beautiful farm in 
 the neighbourhood of Louisville. A few years later, 
 in 1848, he purchased a large unimproved estate on 
 the southern bank of the Ohio, about thirty miles 
 above Louisville, where his energies were employed 
 in the labours of the farmer and the pioneer. The 
 wild beauties of nature, which he intensely enjoyed, 
 the love of his family and the consolations of religion, 
 were here his solace and delight. His biographer 
 says that it was deeply affecting to see that strong old 
 man weeping at bidding adieu to the Christian minis- 
 ter who from time to time celebrated, at his secluded 
 home on the Ohio, the solemn ofiices of the Church. 
 
 For many years he had been subject upon expo- 
 sure, to violent attacks of inflammation of the lungs. 
 These he had often removed by the prompt applica- 
 tion of his own vigorous treatment. The attacks be- 
 came so frequent under the exposure incident to his 
 new mode of life on the Ohio, that his strong consti- 
 
DEATH OF DR. COOKE. 67 
 
 tution gave way, and, on the 19th of October, 1853, 
 he breathed his last, with a firm trust in the mercy of 
 the Saviour, whom he had loved and served for the 
 greater part of a long life. While on his death-bed, 
 for many weeks, and until within a few hours of his 
 death, the Greek Testament was his constant com- 
 panion. All day long, and every day, he pored over 
 its sacred pages with critical attention and devout 
 affection. His mind retained its power and freshness 
 to the last. Truth and love he found embodied in 
 the Word of the Almighty, and on that his soul 
 rested, in life and death, with satisfied delight. 
 
 While his old friends in America were thus going 
 the way of all the earth, Mr. Leacock was putting 
 forth all his energies in Barbados, and becoming an 
 influential clergyman of the diocese under Bishop 
 Parry. In December, 1853, Mr. Paine returning 
 from England, Mr. Leacock resigned into his hands 
 the charge of the parish of St. Peter's. The follow- 
 ing account of the proceedings on this occasion is 
 taken from the "Barbadian" newspaper of December 
 Uth:— 
 
 *' TESTIMONIAL TO MR. LEACOCK. 
 
 "We have great satisfaction in placing on our 
 page the following handsome address of the parish- 
 ioners of St. Peter to the Rev. Hamble J. Leacock, 
 with the reverend gentleman's grateful reply. This 
 is the second instance which we have had the pleas- 
 ure of recording in our journal, within the last six 
 years, of the good feeling of the parishioners of St. 
 Peter on the subject of pastoral superintendence, and 
 
68 TESTIMONIAL TO MR. LEACOCK. 
 
 their just appreciation of tlie labours of faithful and 
 zealous ministers, who have happened temporarily to 
 perform the responsible duties of parish priest in the 
 absence of the rector — viz. : the Rev. H. R. Redwar 
 in 1847, and the Rev. H. J. Leacock, for the last 
 seventeen months. The separation which is now 
 about to take place, we can well imagine will be 
 painful to both parties. 
 
 " The reverend gentleman, who is the subject of 
 the following correspondence, has evinced a generous 
 and disinterested feeling in intimating his intention 
 to appropriate the greater part of the munificent gift 
 of the parishioners to the endowment of a ^ Coleridge 
 Scholarship ' at Codrington College. We are author- 
 ized, however, to state, that it was the unanimous 
 wish of the donors that the whole sum should be laid 
 out in the purchase of a piece of plate, and that Mr. 
 Leacock has yielded to their wish. 
 
 " The deputation of the parishioners waited upon 
 the reverend gentleman at the rectory, 
 
 " ' Reverend and dear Sir, 
 
 " ' As parishioners of Saint Peter, and especially 
 as members of the congregation of the parish church, 
 we are unwilling that you should relinquish the trust 
 which has devolved upon you during the temporary 
 absence of our rector in England, without conveying 
 to you the strong sense we entertain of the faithful 
 and efficient manner in which you have discharged 
 your ministerial responsibilities. 
 
 " ' Tour earnest and impressive teaching of the 
 
TESTIMONIAL. 69 
 
 truths of the Gospel, the zeal manifested in your un- 
 wearied efforts to promote the spiritual welfare of the 
 people, and your diligent attention to other pastoral 
 relations which exist between the minister and his 
 flock, have endeared you to us, and call for an ex- 
 pression of our gratitude and affectionate regard. In 
 offering, on the eve of our separation, this our testi- 
 mony to your worth, we desire also to present you 
 with a somewhat more substantial, but inadequate 
 mark of our esteem, and beg your acceptance of this 
 purse, containing the sum of three hundred and fifty 
 dollars, which we request you w^ill appropriate to the 
 purchase of a piece of plate, to perpetuate the remem- 
 brance of the connexion which has so happily sub- 
 sisted between us for the last seventeen months. 
 
 " ' With our sincere wishes that your ministry may 
 be continued to the Church of this island, and that 
 God may in all things bless your labours and devotion 
 to his service, 
 
 a i y^Q remain, reverend and dear Sir, 
 " ' In behalf of the parishioners of St. Peter, 
 and your late congregation, 
 " ' Yours sincerely, 
 " * Sir E. A. Alleyne, Bart., Francis Goding, N. Fo- 
 deringham, Jones Pile (Members of H. M. 
 Council), Wm. H. Farnum, James D. Bend, 
 Isaac Skinner, Benjamin JSTorville, J. C. B. Scan- 
 tlebury, John D. Emptage, G. R. Challenor, 
 William Jordan, Robert Challenor. 
 
 " < The Rev. Hamble J. Leacock.' " 
 
70 TESTIMONIAL. 
 
 " ' Gentlemen of the Deputation, 
 "'I cannot decline this honourable testimony which 
 you, and certain parishioners, and especially the con- 
 gregation of your parish church, have offered me ; 
 and at once I beg to thank you, and to appoint you as 
 the organ through which my grateful acknowledg- 
 ments may be conveyed to every individual. 
 
 " ' As an expression of thankfulness for my labours 
 during my short residence amongst you, nothing can 
 be more satisfactory to me than your address, since it 
 induces a hope that my labours have not heen in vain. 
 But the very circumstance of a general approval, 
 which so augments my sense of obligation, creates in 
 me an anxious fear, lest, in the discharge of my 
 ministerial duties, I may be found to have been un- 
 faithful. You have indeed strongly testified to my 
 earnestness and diligence in endeavouring to promote 
 the spiritual welfare of my charge ; but, gentlemen, 
 I know somewhat of the magnitude of ministerial 
 responsibility ; and the consciousness of my own in- 
 efficiency, humbles me under the conviction that I am 
 utterly unworthy of the favourable opinion so honestly 
 entertained by you. 
 
 '' ' You have honoured me with another evidence 
 of your favourable regard, — an evidence more weighty 
 indeed, but not more acceptable than the one to which 
 I have already alluded. This purse of gold, — this 
 free-will offering of a generous, magnanimous people, 
 shall, with their concurrence^ be consecrated to the 
 service of our common Lord and Master, — at least 
 the greater portion of it. It is my desire to offer it 
 
71 
 
 as a contribution towards 'The Coleridge Scholar- 
 ship,' to be established in Codrington College, — there 
 to perpetuate the memory of onr connexion and recip- 
 rocal attachment ; and to afford me the additional 
 satisfaction of anticipating the day in which it will 
 be returned to you all, in abundant showers of the 
 Divine blessing. One of your own sons, educated 
 through that very Scholarship, and moulded and 
 fashioned by the grace of God, may be sent to the 
 inhabitants of this parish, as Paul was to the Gen- 
 tiles, — ' a minister and a witness, to open 
 
 their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and 
 from the power of Satan unto God, that they may 
 receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among 
 them which are sanctified by faith in Christ's name.' 
 " ' With the balance of your liberal present, I will 
 purchase a piece of plate, merely to tell my children's 
 children that their grandsire received from his coun- 
 trymen, after fifty-nine suns had rolled o'er his head, 
 the honourable testimony which renders this day one 
 of the brightest and most distinguished of his humble 
 life. 
 
 " ' That the Divine blessing may be ever with you 
 all, to keep you in the ways of holiness, and peace, 
 and usefulness, is the prayer of 
 • " ' Gentlemen, 
 
 " ' Your faithful friend and servant, 
 
 " ' H. J. Le ACOCK. 
 " ' Monday, Dec. 12th, 1853.' " 
 
 In January, 1854, Mr. Leacock w^as appointed to 
 the cliarge of the chapel of ease of St. Leonard's in 
 
72 EFFOETS IN BEHALF OF AFEICA. 
 
 Bridgetown. But at this time a cause was gaining 
 ground in the West Indies, which, in process of time, 
 enlisted his entire bodily and mental powers, and led 
 him on to the attainment of the high honour of dying 
 for Christ, the Master whom he had so long and so 
 faithfully served. 
 
 The debased condition of Western Africa had long 
 furnished matter of melancholy reflection to Christian 
 philanthropists. The idea had been suggested that 
 the work of the missions to that country called loudly 
 for the co-operation of the inhabitants of the West 
 Indies, partly on the ground of natural relationship, 
 and partly as a debt of common justice. It was also 
 supposed that from these colonies might be obtained 
 missionaries who were not only accustomed to a trop- 
 ical sun, but who, by reason of African descent, 
 might encounter, with less danger than Europeans, 
 the risks of an African climate. Codrington College 
 had been originally founded, as we have seen, for the 
 education of missionaries, and was made dependent 
 for its support on labour derived originally from Africa. 
 
 Early in 1847, a change in Codrington College 
 placed at its head the Rev. R. Rawle, late Fellow of 
 Trinity College, Cambridge, who, from the first, 
 evinced a peculiar interest in Africa, with a strong 
 sense of its claims upon the College. In the foltew- 
 ing year Barbados received for its Governor, in the 
 person of Sir William Colebrooke, an individual to 
 whom Africa had long been an object of especial 
 conpern. Throughout the whole community, too. 
 
FOBMATION OF A SOCIETY. 73 
 
 from various causes, a lively feeling had been excited 
 respecting that iinhapj)y continent. 
 
 At this juncture, the publication by Mr. Rawle of 
 extracts from a parliamentary report, placed in his 
 hands by Sir William Colebrooke, served to show the 
 existence of an encouraging opening for Christian 
 instruction among the natives of Africa, and it was 
 consequently agreed to bring the matter before the 
 public through the medium of the Barbados Church 
 Society. Accordingly, a meeting of that society was 
 convened by Bishop Parry on the 15th of November, 
 1850, at which resolutions were passed to the effect 
 " that a mission to Western Africa would be a work 
 peculiarly suitable to the Church in the West Indies, 
 where the population consists so largely of persons 
 deriving their origin from that country, — that the 
 time for such an enterprise had arrived, — and that it 
 would especially become Barbados to be forward in 
 this great and good work," inviting at the same time 
 the co-operation of the whole West Indian Church. 
 On the 16th of June, 1851, the Jubilee day of the 
 Society for Propagating the Gospel, it was determined 
 to make the African Mission the object of a distinct 
 society, to be called " The West Indian Church Asso- 
 ciation for the Furtherance of the Gospel in Western 
 Africa." It was proposed to direct the efforts of this 
 society to parts of Africa unoccupied by the older 
 missions either of the English or of the American 
 Church. 
 
 The society, thus founded, received the cordial ap- 
 proval of the West Indian and English Bishops, the 
 
74: FORMATION OF A SOCIETY. 
 
 Society for Propagating tlie Gospel, and many of the 
 governors of the West Indian Islands. The British 
 Government was also pleased to regard the undertak- 
 ing with favour, and the Secretary of State, on the 
 24th of February, 1851, promised to give it what- 
 ever countenance and protection could be legitimately 
 alforded. 
 
 Contributions now began to flow into the treasury 
 of the Society. The Society for Propagating the 
 Gospel gave lOOOZ. from its Jubilee Fund. Collec- 
 tions were made in Barbados and other islands, and 
 missionary meetings were attempted with satisfactory 
 results. The widow and sons of the late well-known 
 philanthropist. Sir T. F. Buxton, remitted the sum of 
 135^., and a Committee organized for the purpose in 
 the University of Cambridge obtained in a few days 
 contributions to the amount of 158?. 
 
 Encouraged by the amount of sympathy and aid 
 already received, the Society determined to commence 
 work in Africa as soon as practicable. Bishop Parry 
 therefore, as President of the Board, opened a direct 
 communication with Dr. Yidal, the first Bishop of 
 Sierra Leone, and received from him two letters con- 
 veying assurances of his interest in the projected 
 mission, as well as valuable advice in regard to the 
 part of Western Africa in which it should be com- 
 menced. As yet, however, no man could be found 
 willing or ready to undertake the certain difiiculties 
 and risks which such a mission involved. • 
 
 Mr. Leacock was one of those who from the first 
 had taken a lively interest in the design. Sometimes 
 
OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA. 75 
 
 indeed he expressed to Mrs Tieacock liis earnest wish 
 to be sent on such a mission himself. She trembled 
 at the thought of so perilous an enterprise, and as- 
 sured him that if sent to Africa he could not, at his 
 time of life, withstand the malaria of that pestilential 
 climate. He did his best, however, to promote the 
 objects of the mission within his sphere, and in the 
 district of St. Peter's the collections at his missionary 
 meetings, in nine months, amounted to more than 
 twenty-six pounds. The Bishop, in recommending 
 this example to his clergy generally, remarked that 
 " such meetings might add to the labours of the clergy, 
 but the benefits arising from them would be largely 
 shared by the people themselves, and the piety of the 
 country would gain strength and maturity." In fact, 
 the advantages, direct and indirect, of such meetings 
 are too well known in England to admit of any rea- 
 sonable doubt. 
 
 In January, 1854 (as I have stated), Mr. Leacock 
 was appointed by the Bishop to the charge of the 
 chapel of ease of St. Leonard's in Bridgetown. In 
 the spring of the same year the cholera broke out in 
 the island with fearful destructiveness, and at one 
 time more than twenty dead bodies lay unburied in 
 Mr. Leacock's churchyard. Owing to the general 
 terror it was impossible to hire labourers to dig the 
 graves, and Mr. Leacock found himself compelled to 
 apply to the authorities for bands of soldiers and pris- 
 oners to aid him in that necessary work. Although 
 Mrs, Leacock had a strong presentiment that her end 
 was at hand, she shared her husband's unremitting 
 
76 DEATH OF MKS. LEACOCK. 
 
 exertions in attending upon the sick and dying, with- 
 out distinction of party, sect, character, or colour. 
 At length, in the month of August, when the disease 
 seemed to have nearly spent its strength, this admira- 
 ble woman was struck down, and after a period of 
 nnspeakable agony, endured with Christian fortitude, 
 breathed her last. Her grave is still tended with 
 watchful affection by the hands of those who loved 
 her while living, and who reverence her memory 
 when dead. 
 
MR. LEACOCK OFFERS TO GO TO AFRICA 77 
 
 CHAPTER Y. 
 
 Mr. Leacock volunteers to go as a Missionary to Africa. He is accepted, 
 and is joined by Duport. His Negro Servant desires to accompany him. 
 Letter to Archdeacon Trew. Arrival in London. He attends a Meeting 
 of the Church Emigrants' Aid Society. He visits the Crystal Palace. 
 Visit to Wiltshire — Stonehenge — Salisbury, Meeting of the S. P. Gr. 
 His Cheerfulness. Conversation with Young Persons. His views of 
 Prophecy, of the Church of Eome, and of the Church of England. His 
 opinion of the Voluntary System. Thankfulness for Mercies. Note on 
 the EjBects of Emancipation in the West Indies. 
 
 For some time Mr. Leacock continued crushed and 
 almost stupefied by the terrible blow which had fallen 
 upon him, and even the thought of Africa seemed to 
 have lost its interest. At length, after the lapse of 
 half a year, the idea of volunteering to lead the pro- 
 jected mission flashed suddenly upon his mind. On 
 the 19th of March, 1855, being then over sixty years 
 of age, he offered himself to his bishop in a letter con- 
 taining the following characteristic sentences : 
 
 "The Church calls, and some one must answer. 
 But few years' service are now before me. I rise 
 therefore to save my brethren in the ministry, the 
 young who are the hope of the Church, the old who 
 are the stay of large families. Believe me, I do not 
 
78 HIS OFFER IS ACCEPTED. 
 
 suppose that my services, unaided by Divine grace, 
 can accomplish any thing. To God alone must we 
 look for any strength, or for any success, whatever 
 may be the character of the instrument employed, 
 whether young or old, learned or unlearned.. If the 
 Board concur with your lordship I will go ; but ' I 
 will go in the strength of the Lord God ; and make 
 mention of his righteousness, and of his only.' My 
 lord, in placing my services at your disposal, I have 
 done only my dicty^ and I shall be satisfied with the 
 issue, be it what it may." 
 
 It was with deep regret that Mr. Leacock's family 
 learned of his determination to venture on this mis- 
 sion. He seemed, however, so earnest in the cause, 
 and so zealous for the glory of God and the good of 
 souls, that they did not attempt to resist his purpose. 
 The bishop, of com-se, did not feel himself at liberty 
 to discourage the offer, nor the Mission Board to re- 
 fuse it. It was accordingly brought before a special 
 meeting of the association held at Bridgetown, Sir 
 William Colebrooke presiding, on the 16th of May. 
 The offer was unanimously accepted, though not with- 
 out many painful feelings at the loss of an individual 
 so generally esteemed and beloved, and as a clergy- 
 man so valuable to the diocese. On this occasion 
 Mr. Leacock acknowledged his election in a very feel- 
 ing speech, from the report of which, printed in the 
 " Barbadian," the following is an extract : — ■ 
 
 " It is through the grace of the Son of God that I 
 have not shrunk from engaging in the work ; and I 
 humbly trust, through the same grace, to hold on^ and 
 
HE IS JOINED BY DUPORT. 79 
 
 to hold oiot, till a more youthful, enterprismg, and ef- 
 ficient champion of the Cross be found to take my 
 place. And, if the example of an old soldier of the 
 Cross can fire with true missionary spirit and Chris- 
 tian zeal the bosoms of some noble, brave, disinter- 
 ested, accomplished youth, of our little island, and 
 cause them to rise up, and- quit the soft, smooth, 
 downy, attractive elegances of polished life, and pre- 
 pare and arm them for that rugged, perilous warfare, 
 and to follow me in it, I shall then know that I have 
 not lived in vain, that I have not spent my strength 
 for nought. With hand and heart will I receive them, 
 cheerfully give place to them, or remain and labour 
 with thein, as ye shall see best. And when my work 
 is done, I will thankfully go to bed in Afric's dust, 
 and sweetly and quietly rest from the toil and burden 
 and heat of the day, till the bright morning dawn, in 
 which the trumpet shall announce the approach of our 
 great King, and we shall rise up, and mount up to 
 meet Him in the air, and be with Him for ever." 
 
 A young black man, of good character, Mr. John 
 H. A. Duport, readily accepted an invitation to ac- 
 company Mr. Leacock as an industrial help in the 
 work of civilization, as well as a subordinate teacher 
 for missionary objects. Mr. Duport had been edu- 
 cated at the Mission House attached to Codrington 
 College. He had been well instructed in the Holy 
 Scriptures, history, geography, mathematics, and arith- 
 metic, besides which he had formed some acquaint- 
 ance with Latin, and was a good practical mechanic. 
 
 Mr. Leacock now disposed of his worldly goods, 
 
80 HIS SERVANT WISHES TO GO WITH HIM. 
 
 in the full expectation of never seeing his native land 
 again. To the very last his old negro female servant 
 continued earnestly imploring him to allow her to 
 bear him company. " Oh, massa," she said, " who 
 will take care of yon in Africa, who will nurse you 
 when you are sick, who will attend on you? Oh, 
 take me with you, dear massa, take me with you to 
 Africa." But Mr. Leacock would not permit this 
 faithful creature to share his perils, and, to her bitter 
 grief, she was left with her friends in Barbados. 
 
 Archdeacon Trew of the Bahamas had been deeply 
 interested in the projected mission, and had furnished 
 Mr. Leacock with an introductory letter to his friend. 
 Governor Hill of Sierra Leone. Mr. Leacock wrote 
 to the archdeacon the following letter on the eve of 
 his departure : — 
 
 "Bridgetown, Barbados, July 13, 1855. 
 
 " Dear Mr. Ai'chdeacon, 
 
 ' I cannot leave the West.Indies without acknow- 
 ledging the receipt of your letter, forwarded by the 
 Hev. T. Clarke. It was very considerate and very 
 kind in you to think of your African missionary at the 
 moment of his departure for the scene of his future 
 labours, and the more so because he is a stranger to 
 you. The letter to Governor Hill is a valuable ap- 
 pendage to my little parcel, and I hope I shall have 
 the pleasure of seeing his Excellency and presenting 
 it myself. 
 
 " I thank you, Eev. and dear Sir, for your warm- 
 hearted wishes for my success, and also for your 
 promise of assistance. A man who can feel and act 
 
LETTER TO ARCHDEACON TREW. 81 
 
 as jou do will never fail to pray for a blessing on the 
 labours of God's servants. I need not, therefore, beg 
 you to remember me in your prayers. It will be a 
 comfort and an encouragement in my journeyings, 
 labours, and solicitude, to Icnow that, in the Bahamas, 
 as well as in this little island, I have Christian friends 
 who sympathize with me, who feel as deeply inter- 
 ested in my work as I do myself, and who will often 
 be found with me at the throne of grace, begging for 
 that help which alone can keep me from the evil of 
 the world, strengthen me for my work, and crown my 
 labours with that success which shall make our hearts 
 ' rejoice in the God of our salvation.' I have nothing 
 to declare but ' Jesus Christ and Him crucified^ par- 
 don through his blood, justification through his right- 
 eousness, sanctification by his Spirit ; I know nothing 
 else, and I am determined to know nothing else. This 
 will I teach, and trust in God to give it his blessing. 
 
 " I am very busy getting ready for the steamer 
 which is expected this evening, so I must lay by this. 
 As soon as I can get fairly into my work, and have 
 somewhat to write about, you shall hear from me. 
 May the Lord bless you aiid 3^our labours, and pre- 
 serve many years your valuable life for the good of 
 his Church. 
 
 '' Yours very sincerely and faithfully," &c. 
 
 The chapelry in Bridgetown having been provided 
 for, Mr. Leacock and his companion embarked on the 
 15th of July on board the steamer for England, there 
 being no direct communication between the West 
 
82 DEPAETUEE FKOM BARBADOS. 
 
 Indies and tlie African coast. Many tears were shed 
 on this occasion, recalling to mind the departure of 
 St. Panl from Miletus, when the Ephesian elders 
 " wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, 
 sorrowing most for the words which he spake, that 
 they should see his face no more." Like St. Paul, 
 the veteran missionary might have said to his mourn- 
 ing friends, " Remember that by the space of three years 
 I ceased not to warn every one night and day with 
 tears ; and how I kept back nothing that was profita- 
 ble to you, but have showed you, and have taught 
 you publicly, and from house to house, ^ndnow, be- 
 hold, I go bound in the spirit, not knowing the things 
 that shall befall me. But none of these things move 
 me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that 
 I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, 
 which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify 
 the gospel of the grace of God." 
 
 His native land soon sunk below the western 
 horizon. He lost sight of the island in which he had 
 gone through so many vicissitudes, and in which, 
 " through evil report and good report," he had con- 
 stantly maintained the testimony of a good con- 
 science in the sight of God. He beheld Barbados no 
 more. 
 
 While Mr. Leacock was on his voyage, the '* Bar- 
 badian " newspaper reached his old parishioners in 
 Perth Amboy, informing them of the mission to which 
 he had devoted himself. The intelligence spread 
 itself among his American friends, and, on the 
 
DE. COIT AGAIN. 83 
 
 28tli of Jul J, Dr. Coit wrote me the following letter 
 from his new parish at Troy (I^ew York), enclosing 
 the Barbados paper : — 
 
 "My dear Caswall, 
 " I received the enclosed paper a short time since 
 from Perth Amboy, from some one of Hamble's old 
 parishioners. It appears that he is going as a mis- 
 sionary to Africa, and perhaps you can find out his 
 residence and communicate with him. If so, bid him 
 God speed from me, and tell him that if we never 
 meet again in this world I shall never forget him, or 
 cease to esteem and love him. I wrote to him two 
 or three times, but perhaps my letters never reached 
 him. How comes on Convocation, and how do you 
 like your new Bishop ? 
 
 " Yours affectionately, 
 
 "T. W. Coit." 
 
 This was the first intimation I had received of the 
 connexion of my old friend with the West African 
 Mission. Immediately on receiving Dr. Coit's letter, 
 I concluded that Mr. Leacock would proceed by way 
 of England, and accordingly requested a friend in 
 London to ascertain whether he had made his appear- 
 ance in this country. The reply informed me that 
 he had already been some time in London, at a lodg- 
 ing in Cecil-street, in the Strand. I wrote to him on 
 the 18th of August, and received the following an- 
 swer : — 
 
84 LETTER FROM LONDON. 
 
 London, August 28, 1855. 
 
 "My clear Caswall, 
 
 " Your warm-hearted salutation, ' dear old friend^ 
 sounded in my ears like good news of a dear friend 
 from a far country. I am in London, solitary in the 
 midst of its millions, having found but two acquaint- 
 ances, who reside so far from me that I seldom see 
 them. The Bishop of Barbados is now in England, 
 and the object of his V\%\ijpaTtly and of mine entirely^ 
 is to make known as extensively as possible my mis- 
 sion and its design ; and to enlist in its favour, and 
 receive the help of as many friends as it shall please 
 God to make for me. 
 
 " In a few days I shall proceed to Bristol and 
 Bath, where I expect some assistance ; but I must 
 endeavour to find out your whereabouts, that so, if 
 possible, I may once more look at you. I have no 
 map of England at hand, and your letter is not sujffi.- 
 ciently explanatory. But there is a diJB&culty. I am 
 travelling at our Society's expense, and as your letter 
 dated the 18th has only now reached me, I fear the 
 expense of travelling. You will, I know, pardon this 
 explanation, and not think me capable of a meanness. 
 I am but tlie servant of a society. If the Society for 
 the Propagation of the Gospel have a meeting near 
 you, and I be required to attend it, it will be a good 
 opportunity to see you. I shall leave England in 
 October with the Bishop of Sierra Leone. 
 
 " Ben is not with me. He is in the ministry, and 
 rector of a church in Mobile, Alabama, with a salary 
 of three thousand dollars. He is a true man and a 
 
AID SOCEETT. 85 
 
 good son. Elizabeth is married and in comfortable 
 circumstances. Tliey are both dear children ; not- 
 withstanding I am alone and a wanderer, God only 
 being with me. 
 
 " With affectionate remembrances to your dear 
 wife and daughter, believe me," &c. 
 
 On the 2Tth of August I went to London, and on 
 the next morning visited Mr. Leacock in Cecil-street. 
 I found him in his lodging, sitting at a table, making 
 out an account of his expenses, while Duport, an in- 
 telligent-looking black man, was working a problem 
 in algebra. His hair had grown gray, but otherwise 
 he was little changed since I had last seen him in 
 1841. Our meeting w^as extremely gratifying, and 
 brought back a flood of old reminiscences. He men- 
 tioned, among other things, that he was at this time 
 living, on about eighteen pence a day, in order to 
 avoid putting his society to any unnecessary expense. 
 Instead of ordering a regular dinner, he was in the 
 habit of purchasing a few simple eatables at a shop 
 in the Strand. 
 
 On the following day he attended with me one of 
 the preliminary meetings of the Anglo-American 
 Church Emigrants' Aid Society. He was delighted 
 to be informed that efforts were being made to retain 
 in the fold of the Church the natives of Old England, 
 who, to the number of about Jifty thousand annually, 
 take up their residence within the United States. 
 He rejoiced in the formation of the society, not only 
 on account of the spiritual advantages which it offered 
 to the stranger in a strange land, but because he saw 
 
86 VISIT TO THE CRYSTAL PALACE. 
 
 in it a method of fraternal intercourse and Christian 
 co-operation between the Churches of England and 
 America. 
 
 Mr. Leacock being a total stranger in England, I 
 was anxious to show him some of the most interesting 
 things connected with the metropolis. On the 31st I 
 took him to the Crystal Palace, where we spent the 
 greater part of the. daj. After wandering through 
 the memorials of ancient nations, Assyria, Egypt, 
 Greece, and Rome, after hearing some effective mu- 
 sic, and examining choice and beautiful specimens of 
 the vegetable world, we walked through the gardens, 
 saw the geological models, and jS.nally beheld a grand 
 display of the fountains. As we returned, Mr. Lea- 
 cock said that he had spent a day well worthy of 
 remembrance. He assured me that the whole scene 
 far exceeded any thing which he had expected to behold 
 in this world. It served, he said, in a measure, to 
 carry on his thoughts to the heavenly city, the 'New 
 Jerusalem, having the glory of God, even like a jas- 
 per stone, clear as crystal. " And the building of the 
 wall of it was of jasper : and the city was pure gold, 
 like unto clear glass." 
 
 On the following day I took him home with me 
 to Wiltshire, and, for the first time in his life, he rode 
 on the top of a stage-coach. As we passed through 
 the country, he expressed in the strongest terms his 
 admiration of its beauty, and of the healthy appear- 
 ance of the people. lie assured me that he had 
 always been a loyal British subject, like his ances- 
 
VISIT TO WILTSHIRE STONEHENGE. 8Y 
 
 tors before him, and that his allegiance had never 
 wavered. 
 
 On the 1st of September he preached in my 
 church at Figheldean, taking for his text the words, 
 " My son, give me thine heart." He showed that 
 God required mainly and principally the service of 
 the heart, and that we were bound to give Him not a 
 portion of our hearts, but the whole. The people 
 were deeply impressed by his earnest manner, as well 
 as by the thoughts to which he gave utterance. They 
 saw in him a man going forth with his life in his hand 
 for the sake of that religion which he preached. 
 Every word therefore took effect, and the discourse 
 will not soon be forgotten. In the evening he deliv- 
 ered a missionary address to a concourse of persons, 
 w^ho completely filled the church, and who listened 
 to the speaker with admiration and delight. 
 
 On the following day I reminded him that Eng- 
 land was formerly a heathen country like Africa, and 
 proposed to show him a vast idolatrous temple which 
 God's providence had preserved to the present time, 
 as if to remind us, in the midst of our boasted civili- 
 zation, of the " rock whence we were hewn," and the 
 '' hole of the pit from whence we were digged." Ac- 
 cordingly we walked about four miles across the open 
 plain, until we arrived at Stonehenge. The good mis- 
 sionary passed with me under the enormous overhang- 
 ing stones, and when we arrived at the broken altar, 
 near the centre, on which human victims are supposed 
 to have shed their blood, he viewed it with profound 
 emotion and awe. Through the surrounding colon- 
 
88 MEETING AT SALISBURY. 
 
 nade he descried in the distance a small point like 
 that of a needle rising above the horizon. On being 
 told that this was the summit of Salisbury Cathedral, 
 he spoke of Gospel times succeeding the dreary ages 
 of idolatry, and expressed his firm belief that Africa, 
 like England, would yet look heavenward, and stretch 
 forth her hands unto God. 
 
 The next day was devoted to Salisbury, where we 
 attended the Cathedral service, and partook of the 
 Holy Communion, Archdeacon Grant preaching on 
 the subject of Missions. The intoning of the service, 
 being altogether new to Mr. Leacock, struck him 
 rather painfully, and he could not at once bring him- 
 self to regard it as a natural mode of addressing sup- 
 plications to the Almighty. In the evening we at- 
 tended a large meeting held at the Council Chamber, 
 in behalf of the Society for the Propagation of the 
 Gospel. The bishop was in the chair, and among the 
 speakers were Lord I^elson, Canon Bickersteth, Arch- 
 deacon Grant, and Canon White, of the diocese of 
 Capetown. I was permitted to introduce Mr. Lea- 
 cock to the assembly, and to make a brief statement 
 respecting the mission in which he was engaged. Hav- 
 ing been received in a warm-hearted manner, Mr. Lea- 
 cock then rose and delivered an address full of pathos, 
 in which he asked the sympathies of his English breth- 
 ren, and described the wretched condition of the re- 
 gion to which he was proceeding. Every eye was 
 fixed upon him, and when he ceased to speak it was 
 evident that a decided impression had been created. 
 Independently of the usual collection for the Society 
 
RETURN TO LONDON. 89 
 
 for the Propagation of the Gospel, the kmd-hearted 
 bisliop set on foot a subscription for the West Indian 
 Mission, which immediatelj realized a considerable 
 sum. From Salisbury Mr. Leacock returned to Lon- 
 don, where he officiated for a few Sundays at the church 
 of St. Clement, in the Strand. 
 
 After his departure I wrote to the Bishop of Bar- 
 bados, then in Malvern, and gave his Lordship a full 
 report of the meeting at Salisbury, and of the excel- 
 lent effect produced by his good missionary. The 
 bishop was much gratified, and replied that he felt it 
 as a matter for great thankfulness that his valued friend 
 and brother had met with so w^arm and cordial a re- 
 ception. He wrote to Mr. Leacock on the subject, 
 who addressed to me on the 11th, in reply to a letter 
 of my own, the following note, expressing his lively 
 thanks for an act of common friendship : — 
 
 *' London, Sept. 11, 1855. 
 
 *' My dear Caswall, m 
 
 " Your letter is a great lift by the way. The in- 
 terest which you have manifested in me and my poor 
 labours, while it greatly encourages me, endears you 
 more than ever to my poor heart, and fills it with grat- 
 itude imperishable. I see, by the tenor of the bishop's 
 note, what you have written, and I do hope you will 
 consent to its being forwarded to Barbados and pub- 
 lished. It will disarm the opponents of our mission, 
 warm and rejoice the hearts of its friends, awake the 
 sleepers, and stir up a lively interest in its favour, and 
 in the cause of missions generally. 
 
 " I am now in great trouble, having much bag- 
 
90 HIS CHEERFULNESS. 
 
 gage to take along with me, and freight-charges which 
 almost cover its real value. In this country it would 
 be hardly worth the cost, in Africa it will be indis- 
 pensable. I have to submit. 
 
 " I have just returned from the Bishop (of Sierra 
 Leone's) residence, — a long, long walk, and back 
 again, — all to save our association a few pence. The 
 bishop was with the Archbishop of Canterbury, and I 
 had to leave my papers and a message at his house. 
 
 " Yours sincerely," &c. 
 
 On the 20th Mr. Leacock returned to us from Lon- 
 don. Great was our joy when his noble and manly 
 form entered our house, when we heard his cheerful 
 laugh, and received the cordial shake of his hand. 
 
 " It is pleasing to see in experience," remarks a 
 recent writer,* " that oftentimes the men of most depth 
 and seriousness of character, — the men who in their 
 closets take the most earnest view of life, and have 
 cultivated heavenly wisdom most largely, have also 
 been men of lively fancy, sprightly and agreeable re- 
 partee, seem to have had within them a spring of joy 
 and merriment bubbling up when the obstruction of 
 serious affairs was removed, and covering with fertil- 
 ity even the leisure hours of their lives. The world's 
 wisest men have mingled mirth with earnestness, — 
 they have not gone about with starched visage, prim 
 manner, or puritanical grimace." This character ap- 
 plies in every particular to the friend whom it was 
 now our happiness to welcome. 
 
 * Goulburn : " i he Idle Word,'* p. 86. 
 
BOOKS. , 91 
 
 Speaking, about this time, of books, Mr. Leacock 
 expressed liis admiration of Thomas a Kempis, and 
 . Bunjan's Pilgrim's Progress. He mentioned having 
 parted with the copy of a Kempis, which I had given 
 him in Kentucky, at the earnest solicitation of one of 
 his parishioners in Perth Amboy, who had formed an 
 attachment to the book. I now presented him with 
 another copy, which he received with great delight, 
 and took with him to Africa. 
 
 He was a man of few books. His well-worn Bible 
 was the companion of all his wanderings, and an un- 
 failing source of consolation. During this visit it was 
 delightful to observe the intense enjoyment which he 
 derived from his religion. He seemed to have risen 
 above the murky region of anxieties, apprehensions, 
 doubts, and fears, and to be cheerfully reposing in the 
 calm sunshine of divine love. He had severed most 
 of the ties which bound him to the world, and was 
 already looking forward with happy anticipations to 
 his entrance into rest. 
 
 He would often, at this time, collect around him , 
 a party of young persons, and rivet their attention by 
 his conversation and by his dramatic action. Some- 
 times he would talk of hurricanes until his youth- 
 ful hearers seemed to hear the fury of the wind, and 
 to feel themselves involved in its terrific whirls. He 
 would vividly describe the shaking of an earthquake, 
 representing the concussion of the trees and houses, 
 and the frantic rushing forth of the inhabitants. He 
 would speak of the terrors of the cholera, and show 
 how the people quailed at the approach of the invisi- 
 
92 CONVEESATION WITH YOUNG PERSONS. 
 
 ble enemy ; how they attempted to flee, and were ar- 
 rested in their flight, and miserably perished. In one 
 moment he would weep bitterly when he spoke of his 
 wife's decease, and in another moment he would flx his 
 mind on some glorious prophecy, and speak with rap- 
 tm-e of the future triumphs of the Grospel. Then he 
 would talk solemnly of wonderful providences which 
 had fallen within the range of his experience ; of the 
 death-beds of pirates, slave-hunters, atheists, and mur- 
 derers ; and how even such wretches as these had con- 
 fessed to him their crimes, and thrown themselves on 
 the mercy of God in Christ. Again, changing the 
 subject, he would speak of the beauties of the West 
 Indies ; of the lovely islands reposing on the bosom of 
 the sea, or of the noble forests and rivers of America. 
 From these subjects he would suddenly digress to the 
 many mansions prepared for Christians in the house 
 of their Father, the blessedness of Paradise, the trees 
 of life, and the river that makes glad the city of God. 
 Like many other earnest Christians, he had paid a 
 large share of attention to the subject of prophecy, 
 and was generally inclined to adopt a literal inter- 
 pretation. As might be expected from his habits and 
 education, he took but little interest in many of our 
 existing controversies. "Without manifesting bigotry 
 or prejudice on the subject, he cared little for ques- 
 tions pertaining to ecclesiastical vestments, liturgical 
 minutiae, crosses, candlesticks, or church architecture. 
 As for the Koman Catholic religion, while he greatly 
 admired the writings of saints like Thomas a Kempis, 
 
OPESriON OF THE VOLUNTARY SYSTEM. 93 
 
 he considered the system of Popery to be clearly 
 condemned by the word of God. 
 
 He viewed with slight apprehensions the assaults 
 of the enemies of the Church of England, believing 
 her, in her essential parts, to be founded on a rock. 
 He even thought it probable that the downfall of the 
 present establishment in this island would, if per- 
 mitted, be made to result in the lasting good of the 
 English Episcopal Church. He viewed State con- 
 nexion and royal supremacy only as the accidents of 
 a certain portion of our reformed communion. He 
 thought well of the " voluntary system " (so called) 
 as practised by the American Church, believing that 
 under it, as a general rule, clergymen who do their 
 duty faithfully, do not want any thing really neces- 
 sary. He considered self-denial and faith the best 
 endowments of the ministry, and a readiness to en- 
 dure hardship as better than all tithes or rent-charges. 
 He firmly maintained that if men would honestly 
 seek in the first place the kingdom of God and his 
 righteousness, other things would be added unto 
 them. He agreed, in short, with the speaker who 
 said in the American General Convention, " In re- 
 gard to a clergyman and his support, it is like a man 
 and his shadow in the sun. If he runs towards his 
 shadow, it flies before him ; if he goes towards the 
 sun, the shadow will follow close upon his heels." 
 
 It must be recollected that Mr. Leacock had hith- 
 erto been a stranger to England, and that many points 
 in our established Church system were entirely new 
 to him. Had he remained here longer, it is probable 
 
94 THAl^KFULNESS FOR MERCIES. 
 
 that, in a few respects, he would have found reason 
 to„change his mind. He would have seen, for exam- 
 ple, that the endowments of the Church of England 
 are but the effects of a voluntary system operating 
 through a long course of ages, and protected by a 
 Christian legislature. 
 
 He thought our clergy were too much subject to 
 routine, and to conventional habits. It grieved him 
 to read in the " Ecclesiastical Gazette '* of so many 
 ministers of Christ seekiog comfortable benefices at 
 home instead of going forth manfully into the wide 
 Pagan and Mohammed-an world with the message of 
 salvation. He viewed self-renunciation as an essen- 
 tial feature of a truly Christian ministry. In giving 
 up his own home in Barbados, and in going to labour 
 in Africa, he felt that he was doing nothing more 
 than what ought to be reasonably expected of a priest 
 of the true Church. 
 
 He expressed himself unspeakably thankful to 
 God for the goodness and mercy which had followed 
 him all the days of his life. In the present instance 
 he viewed it as a great mercy that Providence had 
 sent into England one of his old Kentucky friends to 
 receive him, and to forward the objects of his mission. 
 And I recollect with pleasure that he quoted as a 
 favourite that well-known hymn which forms a part 
 of the American collection: — 
 
 " When all thy mercies, my God, 
 
 My rising soul surveys, ^ 
 
 Transported with the view I'm lost 
 In wonder, love, and praise. 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
NOTE ON THE EFFECTS OF EMANCIPATION. 95 
 
 " When in the slipp'ry paths of youth 
 With heedless steps I ran, 
 Thine arm, unseen, convey'd me safe, 
 And led me up to man. 
 
 " Through hidden dangers, toils, and deaths, 
 It gently clear'd the way. 
 And through the pleasing snares of vice, 
 More to be fear'd than they. 
 
 " Ten thousand thousand precious gifts 
 My daily thanks employ ; 
 Nor is the least a cheerful heart 
 That tastes those gifts with joy. 
 
 " Through all enternity, to Thee 
 
 A joyful song I'll raise ; 
 
 But, oh ! eternity's too short 
 
 To utter all thy praise." 
 
 NOTE TO CHAPTER V. 
 
 Mr. Leacock having expressed himself, while in England, somewhat 
 doubtfully as to the results of slave-emancipation in the West Indies, 
 I wrote to the Bishop of Barbados on the subject, and obtained the 
 following answer, dated at St. Vincent, Dec. 11, 1856. 
 
 " I do not consider Mr. Leacock to have been correct in thinking 
 that emancipation has not advanced the negroes in industry and 
 morals. The effect was to give freer play to both the good and the 
 evil tendencies of the negro. Some became worse, others better. On 
 the whole, the social improvement has been great, especially in Bar- 
 bados. The island never produced so much as it does now : nor were 
 the people, throughout all classes, ever so comfortable, so orderly and 
 civilized, nor, I think, so industrious. There is more crime ; all 
 offences against the law coming now under public cognizance, not, as 
 heretofore, under that of the proprietor or his representative ; and 
 though there is much immorality, still it must be remembered that 
 there was scarcely any thing else formerly among the slaves, to say 
 nothing of their masters. Other colonies have had greater difficulties 
 to contend with than Barbados ; but, in all, the general result in the 
 character of the people has been for good." 
 
96 PREPARATION IN AFRICA. 
 
 CHAPTEK YI. 
 
 Providential Preparation in Africa for the West Indian Mission. The 
 Chief Wilkinson introduced. Remarkable Dream in Africa. Mr. Lea- 
 cock attends various Meetings in the Diocese of Salisbury. He meets 
 with a Portrait of Mrs. Trimmer. Verses by Mr. Marriott. Mr. Lea- 
 cock's opinion of the S.P.Gr. He visits Malvern and the Bishop of Bar- 
 bados. His Admiration of England. His Feelings in Wells Cathedral. 
 He embarks at Plymouth for Africa. 
 
 Leaving Mr. Leacock for a short time in Wiltshire, it 
 may be well in this place to notice the events which 
 had prepared the way for him in Africa. 
 
 About a hundred and forty miles to the north- 
 ward of Sierra Leone, in the tenth degree of latitude, 
 and the fourteenth of longitude, west of Greenwich, 
 the Fattalah river enters the Atlantic ocean. This 
 beautiful river was long the favourite resort of slave- 
 traders, whose vessels lay concealed among its nume- 
 rous creeks while the cargoes of wretched Africans 
 were being secretly embarked. The soil of the neigh- 
 bouring country is exceedingly fertile, and maintains 
 a large population, though the climate is generally 
 fatal to Europeans. The people are, for the most 
 part, idolatrous heathens, but Mohammedan teachers 
 
THE CHIEF WILKINSON. 97 
 
 have miicli influence over tliem. As miglit be ex- 
 pected, the grossest superstitions are prevalent, as 
 well as the most deplorable laxity of morals. The 
 villages contain about four or five hundred inhabi- 
 tants each, the dwelling-houses being constructed in 
 a style of architecture which gives them the appear- 
 ance of bee-hives. There is usually a chief over 
 every village, who acts very independently of exter- 
 nal control. 
 
 At about four miles from the bar at its mouth, th*e 
 Fattalah river divides into two streams The north- 
 eastern of these is denominated the Big Pongas, or 
 simply the Fattalah, and divides again into the Fat- 
 talah proper and the Bangalong. The south-eastern 
 branch of the main stream is called the Rio Pongas, 
 and sometimes the Little Pongas. At the distance of 
 nine miles from the bar, on the northern bank of the 
 Little Pongas, is the village of Tintima. About 
 twelve miles higher up the same stream, and on the 
 northern bank of a small tributary creek called the 
 Fallaniah, is Fallangia, a village of five hundred and 
 thirty inhabitants, the present chief of which, al- 
 though a perfect African, bears the English name of 
 Richard Wilkinson. 
 
 Wilkinson was born about the year 1795, nearly 
 at the same time with Mr. Leacock. Early in life he 
 was brought to England, where he acquired the rudi- 
 ments of a Christian education, and learned to speak 
 and write the English language. Returning to his 
 native land, he fell back into a state of practical 
 heathenism, and adopted again the customs of his 
 6 
 
98 EEMAKKABLE DREAM. 
 
 countrymen. It pleased God, however, in the year 
 1835, to afflict him with a dangerous illness. His re- 
 collections of England and of the Christian religion 
 now revived, and his awakened conscience accused 
 him of many offences in the sight of his Maker. He 
 determined, in the event of his recovery, to pray 
 daily to God that a missionary might be sent to teach 
 him and his people the way of salvation. Being 
 raised up from his sick bed he put this resolution in 
 practice, and, in the autumn of 1855, his prayers had 
 continued to ascend during twenty years without any 
 prospect of the long-desired missionary's approach. 
 
 About the beginning of October, however, while 
 Mr. Leacock was in England, a remarkable event oc- 
 curred which the reader will regard as either a strange 
 coincidence or as a special interposition of Him who 
 wills that all men should come to a knowledge of the 
 truth. A son of the chief Wilkinson and of a woman 
 called " Old Martha " had a dream, which he men- 
 tioned to his parents in the presence of several other 
 persons. He said, " Father, a missionary is coming. 
 I saw him in a dream walking from the landing-place 
 to this house." Like the ancient races of mankind, 
 the people of the Pongas country place great confi- 
 dence in dreams, and this dream was received as an 
 indication from heaven that the prayers of the old 
 chief were about to be answered. 
 
 Meanwhile the missionary, wdio was destined to 
 fulfil the premonitory dream in every particular, was 
 making known the object of his mission in several 
 places within the diocese of Salisbury. On the 24th 
 
*3MEETINGS IN WILTSHIEE. 99 
 
 of September we were invited by the Eev. F. JBennett 
 to attend a missionary meeting at Maddington, where 
 Mr. Leacock spoke with great power and effect. On 
 the following day we proceeded to Devizes, where he 
 was engaged to address a meeting of the neighbouring 
 gentry convened at the Assembly-room. Several un- 
 pleasant circumstances combined to damp his spirits, 
 and his faculty of utterance seemed almost to have 
 forsaken him. He merely spoke a few words and sat 
 down, much distressed, under the apprehension that 
 his failure would injuriously affect his mission. For 
 some days his spirits continued greatly depressed ; 
 but on the 28th, after much solicitation, he consented 
 to take a part in the annual meeting at Figheldean in 
 behalf of the Society for Propagating the Gospel. 
 The parishioners and the neighbouring clergj^ evincing 
 a warm interest in Africa, Mr. Leacock felt the genial 
 effect of sympathy, and delivered an address which 
 moved eyerj heart by its solemnity and pathetic elo- 
 quence. This was followed by a most impressive 
 sermon delivered in Figheldean Church on the 30th, 
 the day appointed for the thanksgiving on account of 
 tlie capture of Sebastopol. On this occasion one of 
 the hearers remarked, " Surely the Apostle Paul has 
 revisited the world in the person of Mr. Leacock." 
 
 On the 3rd of October we called at the residence 
 of a lady, Miss Crane, who had erected a monument 
 to the memory of Mrs. Trimmer, by means of a penny 
 subscription. Llere Mr. Leacock was shown a picture 
 of the good old authoress, which he kissed with en- 
 thusiasm in memory of the little book which had first 
 
100 VERSES BY MR. MARRIOTT. 
 
 impressed his mind with ideas of religious duty. The 
 following verses by Mr. Marriott about this time met 
 his eye, and he requested one of my children to copy' 
 them, in order that he might take them to Africa. 
 
 " Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you."— 1 Pet. v. 7. 
 
 " For me ? was it rightly I heard ? 
 
 Oh ! hope too presumptuous, I fear ; 
 Let the sweet, the encouraging word 
 Still dwell on my gratified ear. 
 
 " On my eai% did I say? little gain, 
 
 Little comfort such gift would impart. 
 Oh ! let its deep impi'ess remain 
 Indelibly stamp'd on my heart. 
 
 " Does God then his creatures invite 
 Upon Him to cast every care ? 
 His word does Omnipotence plight 
 Thus freely their bfirden to bear ? 
 
 " Oh ! let me not baflfle such love 
 
 By a thoughtless and cold unbelief; 
 But my love and my gratitude prove 
 By resigning my every grief. 
 
 " Does He then his fostering hand 
 In mercy from heaven extend ; 
 And shall / such compassion withstand, 
 And refuse such a bountiful Friend ? 
 
 " Let me rather with rapture embrace 
 An oifer so gracious aud kind. 
 And unlimited confidence place 
 
 In such power and such goodness combined. 
 
 " To the heart truly humbled by woe^ 
 The anointing of joy shall be given ; 
 To the tears that from penitence flow. 
 The peace that's a foretaste of heaven." 
 
101 
 
 On the last occasion of his attending family wor- 
 ship with us, the following hymn, from the selection 
 of the late Bishop of Salisbmy, was sung at his re- 
 quest, his own voice joining with peculiar fervour : — ■ 
 
 " Blest be thy love, good Lord, 
 That taught us this sweet way ; 
 Only to love Thee for Thyself, 
 And for that love obey. 
 
 " Thou, our soul's chief hope, 
 We to thy mercy fly ; 
 Where'er we are Thou canst protect, 
 Whate'er we need, supply. 
 
 " Whether we sleep or wake. 
 To Thee we both resign ; 
 By night we see, as well as day. 
 If thy light on us shine. 
 
 " Whether we live or die. 
 Both we submit to Thee ; 
 In death we live, as well as life, 
 If thine in death we be." 
 
 On the fifth of October Mr. Leacock left us and 
 went to the Rev. Mr. Bennett's at Maddington. On 
 the 8th I met him at Amesbury, at the hospitable 
 abode of the Rev. Prebendary Fowle. On that even- 
 ing a very interesting missionary meeting took place 
 in which he bore a most effective part. After the 
 conclusion of the meeting he returned to Maddington, 
 and I saw his face no more. 
 
 Mr. Bennett thus expresses his opinion of Mr. 
 Leacock's character : — 
 
 "That he was chosen of God, and almost inspired 
 for the work, I fully felt while I had the privilege of 
 
102 VISIT TO MALVEEN. 
 
 receiving him as my guest. I felt persuaded that he 
 was especiallv fitted for the work of founding a mis- 
 sion, because he was animated by a martyr's spirit, 
 and believed himself moved by the Holy Ghost to go 
 to Africa. 
 
 " Until he came to England he had misunderstood 
 the Church movement of the present day, and his 
 thankfulness was great for being undeceived on this 
 and various other points by what he had seen for him- 
 self in this country. It was quite pleasing to hear the 
 cordial gratitude which he expressed to the Society 
 for Propagating the Gospel and its officers for the heart- 
 iness with which they received him, and the testimony 
 he gave to the entire freedom from any thing approach- 
 ing to party spirit in their proceedings. Having re- 
 ceived his education at the hands of that Society in 
 Codrington College, it was, he said, a great pleasure 
 to find her members animated, one and all, so far as 
 he had an opportunity of judging from personal obser- 
 vation, by the best and purest spirit of Christian char- 
 ity, and anxious to know no party but the Church of 
 England." 
 
 The following letter from Mr. Leacock, dated at 
 Bristol, October 17th, is too striking to be omitted :-- 
 
 " My dear Caswall, 
 " You are perhaps wondering what has become of 
 your old friend ; and well you may, for I have been 
 moving ever since we parted on Monday evening at 
 Amesbury. That may be the last time we shall meet 
 this side of eternity ; and if it should so prove, I am 
 
THE BISHOP OF BARBADOS. 103 
 
 thankful that we parted in the bonds of true Christian 
 love, such as shall be matured in heaven. The next 
 day found me at ITorton Bavant, with my honoured 
 and esteemed old archdeacon. I could not long enjoy 
 this happy rest ; but, accompanied by the dear old 
 man and his daughter the next day to Warminster, I 
 took the railway for Bristol, where I arrived in the 
 afternoon too late for a good opportunity to Worces- 
 ter. I reached that place next day at twelve o'clock, 
 and Malvern Wells at three p.m., where I passed two 
 days with my good bishop."^ I trust he will return to 
 his diocese in May greatly strengthened by his visit 
 to England. 
 
 " I received letters on Friday which rendered it 
 necessary that I should tarry in Malvern -no longer ; 
 and so, instead of two weeks at Malvern Wells, I 
 passed only two days, engaged partly in business with 
 the bishop, and, when the rain would admit, rambling 
 with him on the neighbouring mountains, and enjoy- 
 ing the most beautiful views of nature — not a formal- 
 looking artificial thing on canvas, but the most beau- 
 tiful views of nature that eye ever beheld. Old Eng- 
 land is indeed a personification of all that is now 
 lovely in nature or art to be found on earth. Other 
 places seem to me but copies. I have no doubt, how- 
 ever, that the giant infant in the West Avill one day 
 or other take off her shine, and perhaps undutifuUy 
 kick her into the shade. 
 
 " But, as usual, here I am rambling, I must go 
 
 * The Bishop of Barbados. 
 
104: FEELINGS IN WELLS CATHEDRAL. 
 
 back to Malvern. On Saturday morning, right early ^ 
 I was ready to start, when, having taken alone an 
 early breakfast, the bell rang for prayers, and down 
 came the bishop and all his family. We sang a hymn, 
 read a very suitable psalm, and knelt down. The 
 bishop's prayer was most devout and affecting. We 
 all felt it. The postilion's horn sounded just before 
 we had said the last ' Amen ; ' and, my hands grasped 
 by each individual, I bid farewell — a hurried farewell 
 — to jMalvern, with no expectation of ever beholding 
 it again. 
 
 " We reached Worcester in less than two hours, — 
 and, settled on the railway, we puffed, and steamed, 
 and screamed, and raged, and roared, as hard as ever 
 John Bull could go, and reached dirty Bristol in three 
 hours ; and, having got some refreshment, we started 
 again for Somersetshire, and reached Wells at seven 
 o'clock in the evening. 
 
 " The next day I attended service at the Cathe- 
 dral ; and at six o'clock dined, according to invitation, 
 with Mr. Canon Binder. He seemed rejoiced to see 
 me, and said that he knew me the moment he put his 
 eye on me in the Catliedral. A more cordial wel- 
 come I could not have received from you. He talked 
 till a late hour, deeply interested about every thing 
 Barbadian or West Indian. I would not have missed 
 the interview with him on any account. 
 
 ''But one of the most important circumstances 
 connected with this visit was the services of the Ca- 
 thedral. They have left an impression on my heart 
 which, I believcj. can never be entirely obliterated. 
 
FEELINGS IN WELLS CATHEDSAL. 105 
 
 To my mind there was a sometliing j)eculiar in them, 
 which was probably nnfelt and unnoticed by any of 
 the congregation present. As in the case of Saul going 
 to Damascus on his bloody purpose, none of his com- 
 panions saw the vision, or heard the heavenly voice 
 that spoke to him — none so impressed as he, or had 
 such cause to remember the events of that day as he 
 — so it \^ jpossible it may be with me. None could see 
 as I saw, nor hear as I heard, in the Cathedral on that 
 day. The services, I say, were remarkable ; just 
 suited to one going on my mission, and seeming as if 
 prepared for the occasion of my visit, and intended as 
 a farewell. You will say, 'It is all visionary and 
 nonsense,' and probably many would say so too ; but 
 if God was pleased to affect my mind in that peculiar 
 manner, I can't help it ; and if He was pleased to 
 comfort and encourage me in my undertaking by 
 such means, 7, at least, cannot regard it as nonsense 
 or visionary. The text in the morning was the 6 th of 
 1 Cor. 20, in which the preacher, one of the Canons, 
 set before us a great duty, viz. to glorify God — ^how 
 it was to be performed, viz. in your hody and in your 
 spirit — and lastly,* the reasons which rendered the 
 performance of the duty absolutely necessary, ' Ye 
 are not your own, ye are bought with a price ; your 
 body and spirit are God's.' He treated the subject in 
 a plain and forcible manner, aud concluded with ex- 
 horting all to make a surrender of themselves to God, 
 and devote themselves to his service. And he more- 
 over exhorted them not only to give up their bodies 
 and souls to God's service, but also to devote their in- 
 
106 FEELINGS IN WELLS CATHEDEAL. 
 
 fluence and wealth to Him by sending the Gospel to 
 nations that have it not, and encouraging by their 
 sympathy, and helping by their wealth and prayers, 
 those men who had already gone, or were preparing 
 to go forth, to the dark and cruel places of the earth. 
 I was amazed ; but how much more so when, in the 
 afternoon service, from another Canon, I heard a very 
 plain, aifecting, and most profitable sermon from Dan. 
 vi. 10. The chapter was the first lesson. Tlie preacher 
 not only warned all men of the dangers of the Chris- 
 tian warfare in a civilized country ; but, in a special 
 manner, of the dangers which attend the propagation 
 of the Gospel in heathen lands, where persecution 
 rages openly ; and, pointing to the example of the 
 noble and upright Daniel, exhorted all Christians to 
 pray continually, for our strength lay only in God, 
 and He could easily shut the lions' mouths. He spoke 
 also of missions, and of the necessity of all Christians, 
 and especially missionaries, to set their face as a flint, 
 and fear nothing ; to be strong in the Lord and in the 
 power of his might ; to desire life only to serve God 
 and benefit man, and not to fear death ; for while 
 thus engaged, death would be a friend to remove us 
 from the scenes and troubles of this evil world. It 
 was sweet encouragement to me — it was good for me 
 to be there — better a thousand times than if it had 
 been known that I was to be there, or if the services 
 had been appointed as a farewell. I felt that God, 
 not man, had ordered the services, and brought me to 
 hear them. I may be wrong, but I only tell you what 
 
FEELINGS IN WELLS CATHEDRAL. 107 
 
 I felt. K wrong, I pray tliat my folly and presump- 
 tion may be forgiven. 
 
 " But what shall I say of the Psalms for the morn- 
 ing (14th day of the month), every verse teeming with 
 something that worked powerfully and variously in 
 me? J The 71st setting forth David's confidence and 
 prayer for perseverance, and the 72nd showing the 
 greatness, goodness, and glory of Christ's kingdom ; 
 all affording great encouragement in the work of mis- 
 sions, as did the sermon in the morning; and the 
 Psalms of the evening service, showing the dangers 
 of the Christian warfare, and the necessity of prayer, 
 as did the sermon at the same service. The Psalms 
 exactly suited to the sermons, or rather the sermons 
 to the Psalms, struck me with power. 
 
 " But the singing. Oh ! the singing was heavenly. 
 The choir was below, not in the gallery, eight men 
 and eight boys. All the parts were well sustained. 
 But there was a voice which penetrated my ear, and 
 sank into my heart. I could distinguish it easily in 
 the chorus ; but when it was heard in a solo the book 
 and my hands dropped on the pew. I thought I 
 should have fallen down. But I nerved myself as 
 well as I could. I looked at the sweet cherubic little 
 chorister, and his meek, gentle eyes were fixed ujpon 
 me, while his soft music flowed sweetly from him 
 without an apparent effort, and was heard penetrating 
 the wide extent of the great building. The child 
 kept his eyes upon me, and drew tears abundantly 
 from mine. It was my own Mary's voice, her own 
 sweet, impressive mode of singing, as she was wont to 
 
108 LETTER FEOM BRISTOL. 
 
 sing in her early days when I first knew her. I sat 
 down, hid my tearful eyes in my handkerchief during 
 the rest of the service, and cannot refrain from tears 
 even now, and whenever that voice rings in my ears. 
 " God bless you, my dear friend, and your wife 
 and your children. May yom* heart never bleed as 
 does mine. 
 
 " Afi'ectionately yom-s." 
 
 In the mean time, Mrs. Caswall and my family, 
 with the help of onr neighbours and parishioners, 
 were preparing a box of articles likely to be useful to 
 Mr. Leacock in Africa. On the 18th of October he 
 addressed Mrs. Caswall as follows, from Bristol : — 
 
 " My dear Mrs. Caswall, 
 
 " By this time you are so heartily tired of my 
 scribbling that I question whether you will tolerate 
 this letter. You mnst have received one this morning 
 from me to Caswall, by which you had some account 
 of my journeyings. I cannot say that they have been 
 attended, like Paul's, with ' weariness and painful- 
 ness,' for I have had nothing to do but sit down qnietly, 
 and be whisked along as fast as steam could do it ; 
 nor can I say, ' with hungering and thirsting,' for I 
 have had plenty of good care. 
 
 " I do hope that Providence may yet give me a 
 few months in England after my business is done in 
 Africa. It would afford me much gratification to 
 walk about your village, and talk to the people about 
 the good things which are prepared for them that 
 
LETTER FROM BRISTOL. 109 
 
 love God. But sucli an event is far, far ahead — far 
 below our present horizon, and may never, never 
 rise to our view. But whatever God does will be 
 right, and that is enough for me. He knows, at a 
 glance, all that is before us, and I am quite satisfied 
 to wait the issue of events. 
 
 " It is quite a gratification to me to hear that those 
 good people at JN'etheravon, Mr. and Mrs. Blandy, 
 have in remembrance me and my mission to Africa. 
 I hope my mission will always be entertained by them 
 and all God's people with favourable regard, and that, 
 through the Divine hlessing on my lahours, I may be 
 enabled to send from Africa such tidings to them as 
 will rejoice their hearts, and reward them for the 
 sacrifice they have already offered, and for the further 
 sacrifices which God may incline them to oiier. 
 Thanking you, my dear Mrs. Caswall, for your hospi- 
 tality and kindness to me, and praying God, as I do 
 daily, to bless you and your dear husband, and all 
 your children, and all who show me kindness, 
 
 " I remain, &c." 
 
 From Bristol Mr. Leacock proceeded to Plymouth, 
 where he met his companion Duport, and on the 24:tli 
 of October em barked with him on board the " Ethiope " 
 steamer for Sierra Leone. They were fellow-passen- 
 gers with Dr. Weeks, the new bishop of Sierra Leone, 
 under whose direction and superintendence their work 
 was to be commenced and prosecuted. The Rev. 
 Mr. Pocock, the assistant colonial chaplain of Sierra 
 Leone, was also on board, together with his lady. 
 
110 EMB AERATION AT PLYMOUTH. 
 
 There were likewise other clergymen connected with 
 the Church Missionary Society, besides some candi- 
 dates for Hol)^ Orders. Just before sailing, Mr. Lea- 
 cock wrote to me the following note : — 
 
 " I have onlj time to say, I thank you and your 
 dear wife for your lettere, for the box, for the pre- 
 cious things which it contains, and for all your good 
 wishes, which I know are sincere. Farewell, my 
 dear brother; may the Lord bless you, your dear 
 wife and your children, and bring us all to meet 
 together before his throne of glory, there to praise 
 and adore Him for ever, through Jesus Christ our 
 Saviour." 
 
VOYAGE OF THE " ETHIOPE." Ill 
 
 CHAPTEE YII. 
 
 Voyage of the " Ethiope." Dangerous Storm. Arrival at Madeira. Warm 
 Keception by a Governor on the African Coast. Arrival at Sierra Leone. 
 Description of Freetown. Various Opinions as to the Site of the Mission. 
 Similarity of Sierra Leone to the West Indies. Joy at the Discovery of 
 Devil-grass. Dr. Bradshaw's advice as to a House. The Niger Consi- 
 dered. Plaintain Island and John Newton. Further Delay. Interview 
 with the Spanish Consul, fleeting of the Church Missionary Society. 
 
 Upox embarking in the " Ethiope " at Plymouth, Mr. 
 Leacock was far from satisfied with the appearance 
 of the vessel. He remarked to a clergyman who had 
 come on board with him, " This ship is too narrow in 
 the beam for her length, and she is also too deep in 
 the water ; if we encounter a heavy sea she will be 
 in great danger." The gentleman smiled at this re- 
 mark, not being aware of Mr. Leacock's long expe- 
 rience in matters of this description. The sequel 
 showed tliat the veteran missionary was in the right. 
 At night, on Wednesday 24th, the anchor was 
 weighed, and the vessel, a screw-propeller, adv^anced 
 for some time rapidly through the smooth water. On 
 Thursday the wind became contrary, and the ship 
 
112 DANGEEOrS STOEM. 
 
 rolling awfully, almost every person on board suffered 
 from sea-sickness. On Friday, the wind being still 
 adverse and blowing pretty hard, they got abreast of 
 the Bay of Biscay. About four o'clock in the after- 
 noon, while Mr. Leacock was in his berth, a sea 
 struck the ship and broke heavily over her. The 
 water was up to the top of the bulwarks, about five 
 feet deep on the lee-side, and washed away whatever 
 was not well secured. A young sailor was carried 
 overboard and two of the passengers narrowly escaped. 
 The vessel was stopped in the hope of saving the un- 
 happy seaman, but the waves soon covered and en- 
 gulphed him. At this moment another sea struck 
 the vessel on the quarter, and floated away every 
 thing that could float in the saloon and in all the 
 berths. Boots, shoes, slippers, clothes, bags, portman- 
 teaus, &c., were floating all night, and all perfectly 
 saturated. 
 
 The ship was full of passengers. In Mr. Leacock's 
 state-room there were three. One of these was a 
 German in Holy Orders, a gentle, kind, young man, 
 ready to assist Mr. Leacock to the uttermost of his 
 power. He was going to the African coast in the 
 service of the Church Missionary Society. "While 
 Mr. Leacock w^as confined to his berth by illness, this 
 good brother sat b}^ his side, morning and evening, 
 sometimes reading to him and sometimes offering up 
 prayers. 
 
 Meanwhile the vessel rolled along, but could not 
 make much way. She was unable to carry her usual 
 quantity of steam, which would soon have buried hei* 
 
ARRIVAL AT MADEIRA. 113 
 
 beneatli the waves. The captain was content to lay 
 her to occasionally ; and when proceeding during the 
 gale he did not allow the vessel to make more than a 
 mile or a mile and a half _an hour. 
 
 On All Saints' Day, the 1st of JN'ovember, they 
 arrived at Funchal in Madeira, from whence Mr. Lea- 
 cock immediately wrote me a letter containing the 
 above particulars. '' You can rfow thank God," he 
 added, " for having heard your prayers and delivered 
 me from the horrid yawning gulf of Biscay. We 
 have passed through many dangers, but I was kept 
 in perfect peace, knowing Who was at the helm. 
 ]^ow, thank God, we are all safe. The passengers 
 are gone on shore, and I am alone. Whether I shall 
 go or not, I have not yet decided. It is most likely 
 that I shall remain. The same clothes I wore w^hen 
 I came on board I have on still. All were wet, and 
 when dried they looked worse than if they had been 
 worn. In the top of my portmanteau I hoped to find 
 a dry shirt, but when I opened it this morning every 
 thing was wet through, and stained by the leather, 
 which looks very filthy. This then is my present po- 
 sition. I have nothing to state about the prospects ot 
 my mission. The bishop says it is likely we shall be 
 able to decide on some place when we are in Sierra 
 Leone. Till then, farewell." 
 
 Leaving Madeira, the '' Ethiope " proceeded by 
 Goree to the African coast, and touched in the first 
 place at a settlement considerably northward of Sierra 
 Leone. The English governor of this settlement had 
 married a lady formerly connected with one of Mr. 
 
114 WAKM RECEPTIOX BY A GOYEKXOE. 
 
 Leacock's congregations in the West Indies. She 
 had recently died ; but her mention of Mr. Leacock 
 as her good and faithful pastor in former days had 
 made a deep impression on the mind of her husband. 
 While the " Ethiope " was coaling and landing a por- 
 tion of her cargo, Mr. Leacock was hospitably en- 
 tertained at the governor's residence, where he was 
 treated with the utmost respect and consideration. 
 After passing a night on shore and leading the family 
 devotions of the worthy governor and his household, 
 he returned on board the vessel and proceeded on his 
 voyage down the coast. 
 
 On the 10th of ]^ovember Mr. Leacock came in 
 sight of Sierra Leone. The peninsula to which this 
 name is attached appeared like a number of hills 
 irregularly heaped together. On a nearer approach 
 his eye was delighted with the grandeur and beauty 
 of the scenery formed by these hills, and the valleys 
 and prairies discovered in the intervals. Lofty 
 forests clothed the mountains and lent an air of rich- 
 ness and luxuriance to the landscape." 
 
 Freetown, the capital of the colony, stands about 
 five miles from the northern extremity of the penin- 
 sula, on the south side of a noble estuary called the 
 Eiver Sierra Leone. Here the " Ethiope " entered a 
 fine bay, afibrding excellent anchorage not only for 
 steamers, but for vessels of every class. Mr. Leacock 
 perceived that the town was handsomely situated, occu- 
 pying a piece of ground gradually ascending for three 
 
 * See the Rev. S. A. Walker's " Church of England Missions in 
 Sierra Leone." 
 
AERIVAL AT SIERRA LEONE. 115 
 
 quarters of a mile from the sea till it reached the foot 
 of the mountains. To the left the shore is broken 
 into a series of little bays with moderate hills, gently 
 rising above and waving with palm-trees. In front 
 the wide Sierra Leone River, bordered by low woods, 
 glitters in the constant sunshine. Half-way up the 
 side of a hill may be seen the fort, the barracks, the 
 hospital, the government house, and a martello tower, 
 the whole forming a pi'ospect of surpassing beauty. 
 
 The town is regularly laid out with line streets 
 eighty feet wide, intersecting each other at right 
 angles. Each house has a piazza, with pillars at 
 regular intervals, supporting verandahs which afford 
 a shady walk even when the noon-day sun is shining. 
 The dwellings are surrounded with gardens, and 
 shaded with trees which receive the cool breezes 
 blowing from the wide Atlantic. 
 
 At the foot of the rocky heights which suddenly 
 break upon the regularity of the streets, are long 
 suburbs occupied by emancipated slaves, and consti- 
 tuting the most extensive and populous part of Free- 
 town. These suburbs present an appearance of great 
 meanness and poverty, the huts being formed of a 
 few stakes fixed in the ground, wattled together, and 
 plastered with brown mud. Attached to these huts 
 are small patches of ground in which the papaw, 
 plain tain, and banana are cultivated. 
 
 The principal chtirch has been denominated the 
 Cathedral since the consecration of a bishop. It is a 
 spacious building, and was constructed entirely by 
 
116 DESCEIPTION OF FREETOWN. 
 
 emancipated negroes and boys under Cliristian in- 
 struction, superintended by a single European. 
 
 The bishop had faithfully laboured as a missionary 
 in this colony during the early part of his life, and 
 therefore found himself at home among many old 
 associations. Mr. Leacock made his way to the post- 
 office, in order to despatch to England and the West 
 Indies the news of his safe arrival. The post-mis- 
 tress, on seeing him, at once addressed him by name, 
 and manifested strong emotions of delight. She in- 
 formed him that while a little child, she had lived in 
 a family at l!^evis, which Mr. Leacock had been in 
 the habit of visiting. He had kindly noticed this 
 child a quarter of a century before, and now the 
 same person rejoiced to welcome him to the shores of 
 Africa, and desired to show him every attention in 
 her power. His satisfaction at the unexpected meet 
 ing was reciprocal, and even in this apparently trivial 
 coincidence he saw the sign of a good providence 
 going before him and preparing his way. 
 
 The reader is aware that Archdeacon Trew of the 
 Bahamas, had given Mr. Leacock a letter to Lieuten- 
 ant-Colonel Hill, the governor of the colony. Sir 
 William Colebrooke had shown him a similar atten- 
 tion, and in addition to this Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment had faithfully fulfilled the promise given in 
 1851. One of the latest official acts of the late Secre- 
 tary of State, Sir William Molesworth, was to recom- 
 mend Mr. Leacock and his work to the countenance 
 and protection of the several English governors on 
 the coast of Western Africa. 
 
VARIOUS opmiON^s. 117 
 
 Col. Hill received the good missionary with the 
 utmost courtesy and respect, and invited him to dine 
 at Government House soon after his arrival. This 
 kindness penetrated his heart, and from that time 
 he recognized in the governor a steady friend and 
 benefactor. Conversing with his Excellency in re- 
 gard to the best point for the establishment of the 
 West Indian Mission, Mr. Leacock, in the first in- 
 stance, was recommended to visit Cape Coast Castle, 
 and to examine the district called El-Mina, in which 
 there is a Dutch settlement, about seven miles north 
 of the fortification just mentioned. In a subsequent 
 conversation, the governor stated that further con- 
 sideration had induced him to think less favourably 
 of El-Mina, and proceeded to advise Mr. Leacock to 
 remain within British territory. " There is plenty of 
 room," he said, " in our government for another mis- 
 sion, and we want labourers. Why then leave us for 
 a foreign government ? Under British influence you 
 may be sure of protection ; and while you are labour- 
 ing for the salvation of a benighted people you may 
 render us an essential service. Plantain Island and 
 all the Sherbro' country down to the Gallinas lie 
 open before you, nearly seventy miles in breadth, and 
 extending far up into the interior. There is no 
 Church mission here. Certain portions of the country 
 are almost depopulated by the slave-himters, and 
 slave-trade. The chiefs are ever at war with each 
 other, and no moral or religious influence has been 
 brought to bear upon them. That, in my mind, 
 seems to be the place for the West Indian Mission, 
 
lis ILLNESS OF THE BISHOP. 
 
 and it will in time fill up the gap between the British 
 and the American settlements." 
 
 This was the substance of his Excellency's re- 
 marks, which he offered in the kindest manner, as the 
 result of his mature deliberation. Mr. Leacock im- 
 mediately communicated them to the Bishop of Sierra 
 Leone, who expressed his entire approbation of the 
 governor's views. 
 
 While awaiting in Freetown an opportunity of 
 visiting the Sherbro' country, Mr. Leacock was far 
 from idle. On the 25th of E'ovember he preached 
 to a large congregation of natives who understood a 
 little English. They joined readily in the service, 
 but, in certain parts of it, in such a manner as in- 
 duced him to think it would be lost labour to read a 
 sermon, and accordingly he preached extempore. He 
 easily perceived by the earnest attention of all, anjj 
 the sighs and groans of many, the deep interest which 
 they took in what was said, and he had the satisfac- 
 tion afterw^ards of learning that he was distinctly un- 
 derstood. 
 
 The bishop attended the cathedral in the morning, 
 and during the Litany fell down in a state of insensi- 
 bility, and was carried home immediately. Although 
 Mr. Pocock, his chaplain, w^as ready to officiate, the 
 bishop had preferred to take the entire duty himself, 
 and suffered accordingly. 
 
 Mr. Leacock was at this time disposed to think 
 favourably of Sierra Leone, and his own health and 
 Duport's continued excellent. "I am persuaded," 
 he wrote to the Bishop of Barbados, " that one is not 
 
SIERRA LEONE LIKE THE WEST INDIES. 119 
 
 more exposed to disease in Sierra Leone than in the 
 West Indies. The scenery, the trees, the shrubbery, 
 the fruit, the flowers, the climate, the people ; every 
 thing and person reminds me of home. Even devil- 
 grass (called here Bahama-grass), the pest and plague 
 of our Barbados planters, is here. It was among the 
 iirst things that attracted my notice, and for the first 
 time in my life I was delighted to behold it. While 
 I am writing the sun is shining in his strength ; but 
 in the house it is cool and pleasant. I have seen 
 nothing yet of Africa which I contemplated at home. 
 But Sierra Leone is said to be the garden — I will tell 
 you about the wilderness when I get into it. 
 
 " We have here a Dr. Bradshaw, a worthy son of 
 the ' Green Isle.' He tells me that I must have the 
 floor of my house raised from the ground at least six 
 feet to keep me from the damp, and the roof covered 
 with shingles, and then the only caution necessary for 
 the preservation of my health is, what every prudent 
 man observes in all tropical countries — temperance 
 and exercise. I hope the committee will be able to 
 assist me in erecting such a building. It will have 
 only four rooms in it, a gallery, an entrance-room, a 
 parlour, and two bed-rooms. A cottage for the school- 
 master must be separate, two comfortable rooms and 
 a piazza. I beg your lordship to inform the committee 
 that their missionaries cannot exist in a low, hot, 
 smoky cottage, such as the natives inhabit, having a 
 damp earthen floor, wattled and mud-plastered walls 
 and partitions, and straw-covered roofs, for the pre- 
 servation of wliich Are must be made in the centre of 
 
120 THE NIGER CONSIDEEED. 
 
 tlie building to destroy or expel scorj3ioiis, and centi- 
 pedes, and small insects, which generate in the straw 
 and destroy it, making in a few weeks a thousand 
 channels for the rain. Self-preservation will prompt 
 me, in building a house, to consult our missionaries' 
 health, while I have a due regard to the most rigid 
 economy. I trust the management of the means com- 
 mitted by the society to my care has not shaken their 
 confidence in my economy. As soon as I can ascer- 
 tain where I am to be fixed, and what sum is neces- 
 sary for the erection of our cottage, I shall write to 
 my old friend Dr. Caswall and other friends in Eng- 
 land for help ; and shall leave your lordship to lay 
 the matter before the Propagation Society and the 
 committee of our association. I shall do what I can 
 to get assistance from the natives on the spot ; and 
 you may rely on it, I shall spend no more in building 
 than is absolutely necessary for the protection of our 
 health. And this I shall do promptly, for, if I re- 
 solve to await the arrival of your sanction, I may not 
 live to receive it." 
 
 On the 28th of the same month (November), after 
 a long conversation with a clergyman respecting the 
 Sherbro' country, Mr. Leacock was asked whether he 
 was willing to go up the Niger, as far as the junction 
 of the Chadda, and open his mission there. He re- 
 plied, that he was at the disposal of the Bishop of 
 Sierra Leone, and that he would most willingly go if 
 the bishop would send him. The bishop, however, 
 strongly dissuaded him from such an undertaking, 
 and said, " Do not entertain such a thought for a mo- 
 
PLANTAESr ISLAND AND JOHN NEWTON. 121 
 
 inent. All that coast is iiifested. with pirates and 
 murderers, and, without a guard, a man's life is in 
 danger. The river is not open. There is no commu- 
 nication but through Fernando Po, and the expense 
 of ascending so high up as the Chadda in canoes 
 would be enormous." 
 
 In the mean time the governor's favourable opinion 
 respecting Sherbro' and Plantain Islands had been 
 shaken by a Mr. McCormack, who had recently trav- 
 elled through that district, and accordingly he in- 
 vited Mr. Leacock to meet this gentleman at dinner. 
 In the course of conversation Mr. McCormack said 
 that nothing could be done in Plantain Island. It 
 was a desolation. The fire and sword of the neigh- 
 bouring chiefs, spurred on by the Portuguese slave- 
 hunters, had driven away the inhabitants who had 
 escaped the chains of slavery, and spread ruin 
 throughout the country. 
 
 Plantain Island was a scene in the celebrated John 
 Newton's early life, and is still one of the greatest 
 slave markets on the coast. More than a hundred 
 years haA^e passed since ISTewton was a wretched wan- 
 derer in this island. Old people were, however, living 
 there in 1837 who remembered him, and some aged 
 lime-trees were still growing which had been planted 
 by the hand of this celebrated convert. 
 
 ISTewton records a curious circumstance respecting 
 his life on Plantain Island. " One thing, though 
 strange, is most true. Though destitute of food and 
 clothing, depressed to a degree beyond common 
 wretchedness, I could sometimes collect my mind to 
 6 
 
122 FUETHER DELAY. 
 
 matliematical studies. I had bought Barrow's Euclid 
 at Portsmouth ; it was the only volume I brought on 
 shore ; it was always with me, and I used to take it 
 to remote corners of the island by the sea-side, and 
 draw my diagrams with a long stick upon the 
 sand." 
 
 Mr. Leacock, though discouraged by his kind 
 friend the governor, still entertained the idea of visit- 
 ing this beautiful island, in order to ascertain whether 
 any inhabitants remained. He was now becoming 
 anxious about his prospects, and wrote to the Bishop 
 of Barbados as follows : " The whole accessible ground 
 on the coast is already occupied by missionaries, 
 l^othing, therefore, seems to remain for me but a 
 struggle with the proud conceited Mohammedan, 
 who is also cunning, crafty, malicious, a bitter enemy 
 to Christianity, and indefatigable in his efforts to 
 propagate the dogmas of his creed among the pagans. 
 He gets his living by making greegrees, amulets, &c., 
 and selling them to the poor deluded creatures, who 
 are greatly influenced by him through witchcraft and 
 other devilments. All that I can do, is to lookup for 
 help, whence help alone can come, and wait for the 
 moving of the cloud. Bear with me, then, my lord. 
 Delay is not always inaction, and my delay is the re- 
 sult of prudence, not indolence. The bishop desires 
 me to remain in Freetown till after the annual meet- 
 ing of the Church Missionary Society, on Wednesday, 
 December 5th." 
 
 The following are extracts from Mr. Leacock's 
 diary, kept by hini under these harassing circum- 
 
rNTEKVIEW WITH THE SPANISH CONSUL. 123 
 
 stances, for the information of the Bishop of Bar- 
 bados : — 
 
 " Nov. 30th. I was called on to-daj by two very 
 respectable-looking men of the Eboe tribe, to whom 
 Mr. B. has mentioned my readiness to go up with 
 them to their country on the Niger. You cannot im- 
 aghie the delight which overspread their connte- 
 nances when they first addressed me, nor the disap- 
 pointment they snfiered when told that there were no 
 means of transportation. It is a great disappointment 
 to me as well as to them. People in the West Indies 
 have no idea of travelling in Africa ; and you must 
 bear this in mind, / am siibjeot to the control of the 
 hishop. 
 
 "• Dec. 1st. Another station is suggested, and what 
 sort of one is it? An abandoned ontpost of the 
 Church Missionary Society, at which her missionaries 
 laboured for eight years without the least success, 
 and gave it up more than fifteen years since in des- 
 pair. 
 
 " Dec. 3d. I had a singular visit this afternoon 
 from the Spanish Consul, a handsome, dashing fellow, 
 covered with civic or military honours. He naa^.^ 
 some inquiry about the place of my destination, said 
 he had heard of me through some newspapers, and 
 hoped that the mission which had taken me from m^ 
 native country would prosper. I thanked him, and 
 said I had been detained here by the desire of th( 
 bishop, but that I should be at liberty after Wednes 
 day to leave Sierra Leone in the first vessel whic' . 
 sailed hence for the Gallinas, He then said there 
 
124 INTEEYIEW WITH THE SPANISH CONSUL. 
 
 was a good opening in Fernando Po^ and lie thought 
 if I had not decided on any particular place, it would 
 be as well to take it into consideration. I told him I 
 dared not think of it, becanse his government would not 
 countenance any mission not Roman Catholic, seeing 
 that it had already expelled a mission which had 
 been some years there. He said, ' They were Baptist 
 missionaries, and I ordered them from the island for 
 speaking in a public manner disrespectfully of my 
 sovereign, and also for having the audacity to say 
 that in a short time they would drive every Spaniard 
 into the sea. I then considered it high time to drive 
 them out, and so gave them twelve months to leave. 
 But a mission from your Church would be as acceptable 
 to me as one from my own Church, seeing there are 
 over nine hundred Protestants in the town who speak 
 as good English as any one in this place.' He then 
 recommended me to obtain through the English gov 
 ernment a promise of protection from the Spanish 
 government ; and ' it is more than probable,' said he, 
 ' if you decide on going to Fernando Po, that I will go 
 with you.'" 
 
 This interview with the Spaniard encouraged Mr. 
 Leacock to hope that a door of useful aess was about 
 to be opened to him. But Providence had his own 
 purposes of mercy towards the Pongas country, and 
 the old chief Wilkinson, who had now been praying 
 for a missionary through more than twenty years. Ob- 
 stacles soon appeared in the way of a mission to Fer- 
 nando Po, reminding us that when " the man of Mace- 
 donia" was aboat to appear to St. Paul, the Spirit suf- 
 
MEETING OF THE CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 125 
 
 fered him not to go into Bithynia. The bishop discour- 
 aged the scheme, and still advised Mr. Leacock to 
 examine the Sherbro' Island and the neighbonring 
 part of the continent called Gallinas. This he pur- 
 posed to do at the first opportunity. 
 
 On the 4:th of December Mr. Leacock attended a 
 meeting of the assembled Church missionaries. The 
 heat was very oppressive and enervating. In the even- 
 ing the bishop preached, and alluded to the future 
 conversion through the Church Missionary Society, 
 of the country through which the I^iger and the 
 Chadda roll their waters. On the following evening 
 the public missionary meeting took place, at seven 
 o'clock, in Christ-Church, Freetown, the governor pre- 
 siding. The secretary stated that a wide field was 
 open to missionaries below and above the junction of 
 the Mger and Chadda, and that the Church Mission- 
 ary Society was prepared to occupy it as soon as the 
 river should be open. 
 
 Mr. Leacock having been invited to move the third 
 resolution, was introduced to the meeting by his good 
 friend the governor, who said, '' This reverend gentle- 
 man has come to us with authority from the Church 
 in the West Indies to open a mission on some part of 
 the western coast of Africa. He is highly recom- 
 mended by my old friend, Sir W. Colebrooke, gover- 
 nor of the island of Barbados." The common people 
 received Mr. Leacock with a shout which he vainly 
 endeavoured to check. He then proceeded with the 
 address given in the following chapter as recorded in 
 a Sierra Leone newspaper, " The African," of Decem- 
 ber 13th, 1855. 
 
126 WHEN THE EPISCOPATE IS A BLESSING, 
 
 CHAPTEE YIII. 
 
 When the Episcopate is a Blessing, and when the Reverse. Value of the 
 Episcopate to Sierra Leone. Its Benefits in the West Indies. Rise of 
 the West Indian Church in consequence of the Episcopate. Establish- 
 ment of the West Indian Mission. Episcopacy acknowledged by Chris- 
 tendom. Greeting to the Bishop of Sierra Leone. Prophetic declara- 
 tion. 
 
 "YouE Excellencj, Eight Eev. Sir, and my 
 Christian friends, 
 
 "The resolution which I have in hand involves 
 very properly one of the most pleasing and delightful 
 of all Christian duties, and consequently meets the 
 full concurrence of my mind and my heart. It is thus 
 expressed : — 
 
 " ' That this meeting cannot but view the improved 
 financial position of the Church Missionary Society 
 during a year of unexampled pressure and difficulty, 
 occasioned by the war with Eussia, together with the 
 happy appointment' at this juncture of the right Eev- 
 erend Dr. Weeks to this diocese, as manifest tokens 
 of the Divine favour towards the great work of evan- 
 gelizing the heathen, and for these mercies would 
 unite in ascriptions of praise and thanksgiving to the 
 great Head of the Church.' 
 
AND WHEN THE KEVERSE. 127 
 
 " Mj friends, to thank God for all his dispensa- 
 tions towards ns, even for such as are most contrary 
 to flesh and blood, is a duty which the Christian who 
 has ' tasted and seen that the Lord is good,' feels in- 
 cumbent on him, and which, trusting that God is too 
 wise to err, and too good to afflict unnecessarily, he 
 is ready and willing at all times to fulfil. Now, if it 
 be so with respect to dispensations of an afflictive char- 
 acter, how much more ready should he be to praise 
 God for blessings which are congenial with his sancti- 
 fied feelings and desires, and which seem to be clear 
 and unmistakable evidences of the Divine favour. 
 And will it not be admitted that the mercies referred 
 to in the resolution come under this category ? Ob- 
 serve, there are two : the improved condition of your 
 Society's revenue ; and the appointment of a bishop 
 for the diocese. 
 
 " With repect to the former, we know indeed that 
 the gift of riches is not always an evidence of the Di- 
 vine favour ; and as to the latter, experience and ob- 
 servation prove, that the Episcopate, as well as the 
 other orders of the Christian ministry, is a blessing 
 only in proportion as it approaches the high and holy 
 standard of the Gospel. Where it is exercised in a 
 capricious and arbitrary manner to serve selfish or 
 party purposes — to gratify the lust of power, and the 
 promptings and goadings of pride and ambition — where 
 it seeks not to extend the benign and humbling influ- 
 ence of our holy religion, to strengthen the bond of 
 peace, and to promote throughout the whole body 
 
128 VALUE OF THE EPISCOPATE 
 
 nnity of spirit, and righteousness of life, it is not a bless- 
 ing : it is a curse. 
 
 " But, Christian friends, we trust and ho^^e that in 
 neither of the cases before us have we any reason to 
 anticipate evil. Although I have no personal inter- 
 est in the prosperity of jour Society, not having any 
 connexion with it, yet it is gratifying to me to con- 
 template its flourishing condition, and the truly Chris- 
 tian spirit, which, under the Divine influence, has made 
 it so. 
 
 " And why shall not the same power, which has 
 blessed it with an increase of worldly wealth, direct 
 and overrule the application of that wealth, and render 
 it subservient to the furtherance of the Gospel, and 
 the advancement of God's glory? Why shall not the 
 same grace which has provided the means, regulate, 
 and order, and bless, the appropriation of them ? 
 
 '' Evidently the prosperous condition of your So- 
 ciety's funds, must, at this juncture, in a special man- 
 ner, be ascribed to the influence of God's grace. At a 
 time when the nation is sufi'ering the bitter eff'ects of 
 one of the most grievous wars that ever scourged a 
 people — at a time when the expenses of this war are 
 felt in every part of the empire, narrowing the com- 
 forts of the rich, and augmenting the miseries of the 
 poor — at a time when thousands are weeping over the 
 unconsecrated graves of their slain, with nothing, in 
 numerous instances, to alleviate their sorrows but the 
 shadowy glory which military virtue sheds around the 
 sepulchre of the brave : — at such a time, in the midst 
 of such privation and afiiiction, we might reasonably 
 
TO SIEEKA LEON^E. 129 
 
 enough apprehend a great defalcation in missionary 
 funds. But it is not so. Behold the people humbling 
 themselves before the God of the armies of heaven 
 and earth, — ^liear them declare that He is v^^orthy to 
 receive all riches, as well as honour and glory — see 
 them actually give their riches — give what they ac- 
 knowledge He is so worthy to receive — give what 
 they can spare, to advance in the heathen world the 
 glory and honour of his holy I^ame. Surely, this is 
 God's doing ; and might it not reasonably lead us to 
 hope that a work so begun — begun in humiliation and 
 prayer, and having such an end in view, God's glory, 
 will be carried on in the same spirit till finally its 
 desired consummation be attained ? This, Christian 
 friends, is one of the mercies for which we are called 
 upon in the resolution to render unto God devout 
 thanksgiving and praise. 
 
 " With respect to the other mercy referred to in 
 the resolution, viz., the consecration of a bishop for 
 this diocese, I cannot say much, for a reason which 
 must appear to every delicate and sensible mind. But, 
 though a sense of decency, and respect for an honoured 
 individual, check the language of praise, we must not 
 pass by his office in absolute silence. 
 
 '' For the appointment of a bishop to this Church, 
 you ought indeed to rejoice and be glad ; and, in this 
 instance, I have great satisfaction in obeying the apos- 
 tolic injunction, 'Rejoice with them that do rejoice.' 
 Episcopalians have, from time to time, been subjected 
 to the contradiction and ridicule of their opponents, 
 because of this distinctive feature in their Church 
 6* 
 
130 ITS BENEFITS IN THE WEST INDIES. 
 
 government ; but, waiving every remark respecting 
 its origin, I feel pleasure in saying that whatever may 
 be my opinion of certain bishops, I have never seen 
 any just reason to be ashamed of Episcopacy ; on the 
 contrary, I have seen much cause for thankfulness 
 for it. 
 
 " It was my lot to reside in one of the West Indian 
 islands, some thirty years, previous to their connexion 
 by the Episcopal form of Christian government : and I 
 well remember the looseness and irregularity which 
 prevailed under so dislocated a state of the Church. 
 There was no visible head to unite and direct the move- 
 ments of the Clergy — none to whom they were re- 
 sponsible ; and the consequence was that each and 
 every rector acted independently of his brother rectors, 
 and was de facto ^ if not de jure^ a little bishop in his 
 little diocese. He acted just as he pleased, and gave 
 account to no man for his actions. You may easily 
 imagine the working or operation of so defective a 
 system upon the world. The watchmen were many 
 of them ' dumb dogs that could not bark ; ' and ^ the 
 people loved to have it so.' Duties, in many instances, 
 were neglected, or most irreverently performed ; and 
 the West Indian Church exhibited a counterpart of 
 Israel of old, 'where,' says the sacred historian, * there 
 was no king, and every man did that which was right 
 in his own eyes.' 
 
 " But no sooner did a bishop appear amongst us 
 than his authority was recognized. Tlie Church sud- 
 denly arose as from a state of death, and assumed the 
 appearance of a well-ordered, compact body. Its dis- 
 
EISE OF THE WEST INDIAN CHURCH. 131 
 
 cipline was instantly established. Its ministers began 
 to remember themselves. Its services were regularly 
 and more reverently performed. The stillness of death 
 suddenly diappeared, and was succeeded by a busy, 
 bustling religion, which, if it had not life, had at least 
 the appearance of it. After a while, under the wise 
 and judicious administration of our bishop, every ob- 
 stacle to order and unity was removed; and the 
 Church began to take her proper stand, and to gather 
 and to bless her children, and, by her reflex influence, 
 to bless and enrich even those who refused to ovm her 
 authority. Yes, Christian friends, our dissenting 
 brethren felt the salutary change, and thankfully ac- 
 knowledged it. ' Our work,' said one of them to me, 
 ' our work flourishes most when there is a stirring, faith- 
 ful, devoted ministry in the parish church ; for then 
 our unruly members, who leave us to go into the Es- 
 tablishment, cannot be easy when they hear the same 
 awakening truths, the same awful sanctions both of 
 Law and Gospel, which ofl'ended them in our chapel; 
 and they are compelled to cast away their empty pro- 
 fession of religion, and return to our chapel, or be- 
 come consistent members of the Establishment.' 
 
 " Such was the efl'ect, by God's blessing, of Epis- 
 copacy in the West Indies. The Church has contin- 
 ued to grow and increase under its influences, till, 
 strengthened at home, she is now making efi'orts to 
 send abroad, to distant heathen nations, the savour of 
 that name, which, as sweet ointment, is poured forth 
 within her own borders. 
 
 " At a meeting of our Barbados Church Society 
 
132 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE l^nSSION. 
 
 in 1850, a proposition was made to open a mission for 
 the furtherance of the Gospel on the western coast of 
 Africa. The proposition was hailed with joy, and 
 carried by acclamation, not one ajpjpearing in opposi- 
 tion to it. That part of our population which is of 
 African descent rejoiced at the thought of sending to 
 some benighted portion of their fatherland the glad 
 tidings of salvation, and presently a considerable sum 
 of money was raised for the purpose. 
 
 " But this excitement was not of long duration. 
 The people of every class and description soon became 
 discouraged, on account of what they deemed culpa- 
 ble delay; for year after year passed away, and no 
 one could be found in a position to undertake the work, 
 till it pleased the great Head of the Church to put into 
 the mind of an humble individual, then an acting 
 member of the association, a desire to visit this coun- 
 try, and report what prospect of success there appeared 
 for the establishment of such a mission. That individ- 
 ual's proposal was accepted immediately by the bishop 
 and the committee of the association, and he received 
 forthwith his appointment as missionary to the west- 
 ern coast of Africa. He left the West Indies on the 
 .15th day of July ; and here he is, having the honour 
 now to stand before you, and to address you. 
 
 '' Christian friends, the West Indian Church has 
 learned by experience to appreciate duly the blessing 
 of Episcopacy ; and when about to open her mission, 
 though she would not intrude in the labours of other 
 men, or build upon their foundation — though she de- 
 sire to send the Gospel afar off to a people sitting in 
 
EPISCOPACY ACKNOWLEDGED BY CHRISTENDOM. 133 
 
 darkness, not having the lamp of life amongst them, 
 jet she will not neglect or exclude from her mission 
 the advantages of EiDiscopacy when they can be ob- 
 tained. 
 
 " She sends that mission to your land, not invested 
 with any independent or exclusive power. She com- 
 mits it, under the Great Bishop of souls, to the over- 
 sight of the Bishop of Sierra Leone, confiding in his 
 generous, impartial, affectionate, fostering care. She 
 commits it to the supervision of your bishop, not (let 
 me be distinctly understood) because she has no confi- 
 dence in the prudence, faithfulness, or integrity of her 
 deputation ; for if she had intimated such a thought, 
 you would never have seen me here. She commends 
 her mission to the care of your bishop), because she re- 
 cognizes in his office a something superior to the ordi- 
 nance of man, and would honour it as a form of eccle- 
 siastical government ' most agreeable with the insti- 
 tution of Christ.' 
 
 " It is remarkable that this form of Church govern- 
 ment. Episcopacy, seems to have the consent of Christ- 
 endom. The English Church ; the Eastern and West- 
 ern, or the Greek and Roman Churches ; the Coptic, 
 Abyssinian, and Armenian Churches, all have bish- 
 ops. Even our dissenting brethren, the Wesley ans, 
 have in the United States what they actually call ' The 
 Methodist Episcopal Church ;' and the other branches 
 of that society have forms of government very analo- 
 gous to ours. Though they recognize as stewards of 
 the mysteries of the Gospel only such as can distinctly 
 and unequivocally declare that they are called and 
 
13 J: GREETING TO THE BISHOP OF SIERRA LEO! . 
 
 sent bj the Holy Ghost, yet they see the wisdom and 
 necessity of setting apart in every district under their 
 influence one as superintendent of the district. They 
 do not call tliis Ejpiscopacy, as do their American 
 brethren, and they are certainly correct, but it is some- 
 thing very like it ; and they are fully convinced that 
 without such a form of government, anarchy would 
 soon pervade and disorganize the whole fabric of their 
 well-consolidated system. 
 
 "And now, your Excellency, and Christian friends, 
 shall we not admit that the privilege of Episcopacy, 
 as well as the improvement of your Society's finances, 
 calls for our acknowledgment and thanksgiving? I 
 trust you are all sensible of its im.portance as a privi- 
 lege ; and I hope the time is not far distant, when 
 the Church in Sierra Leone will come forth, resplen- 
 dent in Christian graces, strong in the strength of 
 Omnipotence, and not only sustain itself independent- 
 ly of the fostering care of the Chmxh Missionary So- 
 ciety, but follow its example, in training the youth of 
 Africa for the work of the ministry ; and that she 
 will send them forth, at her own charge^ to proclaim 
 the glad tidings of salvation in the far east, and south, 
 and north,— far beyond the Kong mountains, into the 
 kingdoms of darkness and cruelty which crowd the 
 interior of this widely extended and mighty conti- 
 nent. 
 
 " I beg, therefore, most heartily to congratulate 
 you, my brethren of this diocese, and to be permitted 
 to unite with you in ascriptions of praise and thanks- 
 giving to the great Head of the Church, for the im- 
 
PROPHETIC DECLAKATION. 135 
 
 provenient of the financial concerns of your Society ; 
 and for the appointment of a gentleman to preside 
 over this portion of the Lord's yineyard as bishop, 
 who is so acceptable to you, whose views of Christian 
 doctrine so entirely accord with your own, and whose 
 experience, wisdom, and Christian character, encour- 
 age us to hope that peace shall dwell within our 
 border, and that the Lord has yet in store good things 
 for poor, degraded, benighted, bleeding Africa. 
 
 ^' Right Rev. Sir, in the name of the West Indian 
 Church, which I have the honour to represent here 
 this evening, I tid you Godh speed. It is a frequent 
 subject of my prayers; and I shall cease to pray for 
 it when I cease to stand in need of prayer for myself. 
 The world, Sir, is witnessing great events, and the 
 future is pregnant with greater still. 
 
 " That general promise which the Father hath 
 made to the Son, ' Ask of me, and I shall give thee 
 the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost 
 parts of the earth for thy possession,' must in due 
 time be fully realized ; but, Sir, there is a particular 
 promise on record for our encouragement, which I 
 pray it may be our happy lot, before we go hence, to 
 behold in a course of rapid fulfilment. 
 
 "It is that great event to which the English Church 
 in general, and your Society in particular, are look- 
 ing forward with ' earnest expectation ' — that pro- 
 phetic declaration of the inspired volume, which 
 stands firmer than the mountains, and as firm as the 
 foundations of high heaven : ' Ethiopia shall soon 
 stretch out her hands unto God.' " 
 
136 HOENE ON MISSIONARY QUALIFICATIONS. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Melville Home on the Qualifications of an African Missionary. The Rio 
 Pongas is mentioned to Mr. Leacock. The Governor promises to send 
 Mr. Leacock to the Pongas in a Steamer. Character of Governor Hill. 
 Meeting with a Mohammedan King. Landing at Tintima. Palaver 
 with Kennyback Ali and King Katty. Description of the Pongas River. 
 Hut at Tintima. Wretched character of the people. Deceitfulness 
 of Kennyback Ali. Mr. Leacock visits him. Encounter with a Mo- 
 hammedan. 
 
 The time had now come when the long-contimied 
 prayers of the Chief Wilkinson were to receive a 
 gracious answer. A missionary indeed was to be sent 
 to him, — not a missionary of the Church of Rome, 
 nor of any separated community, but a missionary 
 of the reformed Church of England, — full of earnest 
 zeal for the salvation of men, devoted to the cause 
 of Africa, abundant in prayer, in faith, in hope, and 
 in charity. 
 
 The Rev. Melville Home, chaplain at Sierra Leone 
 in the early part of this century, published a valuable 
 little book on African missions, from which the fol- 
 lowing extracts are here inserted, with the view of 
 showing Mr. Leacock's fitness for the work which he 
 had undertaken ; — 
 

 
 HORI^ ON" MISSIONARF QUALIFICATIONS. 137 
 
 ''Piety is tlie only basis of the missionary charac- 
 ter ; but a tolerable strength and maturity of religion 
 will be as needful as the sincerity of it. Zeal is a 
 qualification of a nature inferior only to piety, and 
 that man will hardly be defective in it who enters 
 upon missions in compliance with the bent of his own 
 inclinations. It is to be wished that the missionary's 
 zeal should not have been lately kindled, but such as 
 having burned for years, promises to continue in its 
 heat. His fire should be moderated by some expe- 
 lience in the ministry. He should have been taught 
 to exercise a good degree of gentleness, patience, and 
 long-suflferance, by being accustomed to wrestle with 
 the unruly will of men, by seeing many of his well- 
 meant eflforts frustrated through invincible depravity, 
 and by observing the failure of some of his most san- 
 guine and reasonable expectations. There is an art 
 in managing men's minds which nothing but expe- 
 rience can teach. That man will have little skill in 
 ruling the tempest of the human passions, who has 
 not learned to moderate the ardour of his own feel- 
 ings, and who does not know when to press his point 
 and when to decline it, — when to command and when 
 to entreat. 
 
 " There are some pious men who are capable of 
 every thing, and yet do very little in life. , They are 
 disorderly in all their habits and versatile in all their 
 pursuits. Superior to fear, they are, unhappily, duc- 
 tile, and receive the impression of minds inferior to 
 their own. Capable of vast exertions, they are natu- 
 rally indolent. With a vivacity which often sparkles 
 
\ 
 
 138 HOEXE OX MISSION AEY QUALIFICATIONS. 
 
 and charms, tliey "aiiite a morbid melancholy which 
 preys upon the heart. They are amiable, but not 
 venerable. Such men may engage in missions, but 
 will hardly succeed in them. 
 
 " The missionary should possess much self-denial, 
 and be regular in all his habits. He need not have 
 the razor's edge ; but he must be as the blade of a 
 well-tempered knife. He must be a man of discipline 
 and self-command. 
 
 " His character should be divested of sloth, effemi- 
 nacy, and indulgence. Perhaps he should rather be 
 capable of becoming a man of letters than actually 
 be so. All his habits should be active rather than 
 sedentary. A disposition favourable to the feelings 
 of ardent and sublime devotion, and a delight in the 
 exercises of the pulpit and the pastoral care, should 
 preponderate in his character. In a word, he should 
 be more the active man than the contemplative one. 
 A sound constitution, hardened to the vicissitudes of 
 the seasons, and capable of supporting the extremes 
 of suffering, is greatly to be desired ; but a mind su- 
 perior to suffering is a consideration of far more im- 
 portance than that corporeal vigour and hardness 
 which is invulnerable to fatigue and want. 
 
 ''We require in our missionary a disinterested, 
 generous way of thinking and acting, above low cun- 
 ning, servile compliance, and a presumptuous inva- 
 sion of powers to which his character does not entitle 
 him. We would have him sincere, open, and affec- 
 tionate. Instead of authoritative commands, we 
 would arm him with praj^ers, entreaties, and tears. 
 
FIKST MENTION OF THE PONGAS. > 139 
 
 We expect tliat he should have learned to bear and 
 forbear. We think that ignorance should excite his 
 pitj, and not rouse his contempt. He must be an 
 extempore preacher, and possess a facility of convey- 
 ing to the mind his ideas clear and strong, indepen- 
 dently of those modes of speech which originate in 
 the laws and manners of Europe. 
 
 "• Single men are the proper persons for this work ; 
 they have no ties. Private charities will not coun- 
 teract public ones. They can live cheap, fare hard, 
 and are ready for every service. If they have the 
 souls of missionaries in them, they will often, between 
 their charity and their zeal, be placed in circum- 
 stances similar to those of St. Paul, — in nakedness, in 
 want, in perils by land, in perils by sea, and in all 
 the varieties of suffering." 
 
 Soon after the missionary meeting in Freetown, 
 Mr. Galb ridden, a merchant trading with the Pongas, 
 in conversation with Mr. Leacock, spoke of the in- 
 habitants of that country as presenting an open field 
 to Christian exertions. Mr. Leacock went imme- 
 diately to the governor, who, as well as the bishop, 
 thought it worthy of further notice. Dining with the 
 governor on the Tth, he mentioned to Mrs. Hill his 
 intention of going to the Pongas, in an open canoe, 
 along a hundred and forty miles of coast. The gov- 
 ernor's lady referred him for information to Captain 
 Buck, of Her Majesty's steamer " Myrmidon," who 
 was at that moment seated at the table. The captain, 
 who had just arrived from the Pongas, informed Mr. 
 Leacock that there would be danger in travelling in 
 
140 * A STEAIMER PEOMISED. 
 
 an open canoe, whicli would expose liim to alternate 
 damp and heat during four nights and as many days, 
 in addition to the usual risks of the sea. "But," said 
 he, " if you like it, I will take you there in one day, 
 and wait two days for you, that you may have an in- 
 terview with some of the chiefs ; but you must have 
 the consent of the governor." "Thank you, my dear 
 captain," replied Mr. Leacock, " if it depend on the 
 governor's consent I shall have it, I know." Accord- 
 ingly he spoke across the table to the governor : — 
 " Colonel, here is an open way before me, if you do 
 not bar it up." On being informed of his wish, the 
 governor replied, "The captain has my consent with 
 all my heart and soul." 
 
 Mr. Leacock described to the Bishop of Barbados 
 what followed. " Of course," he writes, " I thank- 
 fully accepted this gracious offer ; and so, if no ob- 
 stacle arise, I shall embark the day after to-morrow, 
 Monday. This will save our association about fifteen 
 pounds at least. If I am well received, I shall select 
 a location at once, and return for my baggage." 
 
 " Dec. 8th. I have just seen Mr. Galbridden, who 
 seems to rejoice in the good prospects for the Pongas 
 people, and volunteers to go with me, that he may 
 introduce me to the people, and provide a lodgement 
 for me in this wild wilderness. It is emphatically 
 missionary ground, — it has never been broken ; the 
 Gospel has never been sounded there. I have been 
 baffled hitherto in every attempt, and so I am afraid 
 to say how or in what way this new scheme will issue ; 
 but I do not despair. This letter I shall leave with 
 
CHAEACTER OF THE GOVEENOE. l41 
 
 mj friend Mr. Pocock, as I fear I shall not return in 
 time for the packet. If it should leave before my 
 return, you may be assured that I have gone to the 
 Pongas in the steamer ' Myrmidon ;' and it would be 
 well, perhaps, if your lordship would write to the 
 Secretary for the Colonies, and express to him our 
 hearty thanks for the great assistance I have re- 
 ceived from Governor Hill and Captain Buck. Go- 
 vernor Hill is a prompt, active, diligent official, very 
 much loved here, and deservedly so ; for his great 
 object seems to be to promote the happiness, spiritual 
 and temporal, of the people over whom he is placed. 
 May the Lord bless him abundantly for his kindness 
 to me. I think an acknowledgment to the Secretary 
 of his kindness is our duty, as no doubt it will be 
 satisfactory to him to know how greatly his influence 
 has helped us. 
 
 " I am invited to luncheon to-day at Government 
 House, to meet a magnificent Mohammedan king, and 
 to dine this evening with the Honourable the Chief 
 Justice. I am whirled in a round of dissipation, and 
 shall be more than glad of a little quiet duty in the 
 Pongas." 
 
 On Monday, Dec. 10th, the " Myrmidon" left Free- 
 town with Mr. Leacock and Duport on board. The 
 reader will no doubt agree with the writer in think- 
 ing that a British ship of war was never better 
 employed than in thus forwarding the Gospel of the 
 Prince of Peace. In conversation on the way. Captain 
 Buck plainly set before Mr. Leacock the peril which 
 he was incurring in venturing on a residence in the 
 
142 A MOHAMMED Ai^- KUsG. 
 
 PoBgas. The missionary, liowever, was moved by 
 no such consideration. After a rapid voyage along 
 the coast towards the n.n.w., they arrived at the 
 mouth of the river on Tuesday, the 11th. The fol- 
 lowing letter to Governor Hill, written by Mr. Lea- 
 cock on board the "Myrmidon," on the 15th, describes 
 the first interview of the missionary with the people 
 of the country : — 
 
 " We came to an anchorage off the mouth of the 
 Eio Pongas on Tuesday, the 11th instant, ten miles 
 outside of the bar ; and it being too late for the tide, 
 we had to wait till next morning, when, in two boats, 
 well manned and armed, we commenced our journey 
 at eight o'clock up the river, and arrived at Tintima, 
 the residence of the renowned Kennyback Ali, at 
 about three p.m. I say about, for, as it happened, no 
 one had his watch with him ; each supposing that his 
 would be far safer in the ' Myrmidon' than in Tintima, 
 exposed to the gaze of our distinguisheG host and his 
 myrmidons. 
 
 " Wq were soon ushered into the presence of the 
 chief, although we anticipated nought but delay, on 
 account of his health, which is delicate, and which 
 renders an occasional visit in the countiy necessary. 
 The captain requested me to appear in my gown ; 
 and supported by him on one hand, and Captain 
 Fletcher, of the 1st West India Eegiment, on the 
 other, both in uniform, I was introduced to the noble 
 chief. In long, loose, flowing robes, gracefully de- 
 scending to his naked and unadorned feet, and head 
 crowned with a Kilmarnock cap, he met us, and re- 
 
PALAVER WITH THE KINGS. 143 
 
 ceived us with every mark of respect. He invited us 
 into the piazza of one of his amplest buildings, and 
 desired us to be seated. Then, after very friendly 
 inquiries respecting your Excellency's health, he 
 wished to know our business — wished to ' sabby 
 whether our visit was for war~palaver.' Our chief 
 replied, with extraordinary gravity, ' ITo, your 
 Majesty : our visit is altogether friendly, and has 
 for its object the consolidation and advancement of 
 peace.' (Of course we had an interpreter.) He then 
 introduced me as an instrument intended to carry 
 this design into effect. He told him of my profes- 
 sion, explained whence I had come, and. the object 
 of my coming, and stated that Her Britannic Ma- 
 jesty's Government highly approved of my mission, 
 and requested him to afford me protection and encou- 
 ragement in the work on which I was sent. The man 
 eyed me in my length and breadth, and, as we after- 
 wards heard, had some suspicion of the character of 
 my mission, supposing that it bore upon the slave 
 trade ; but soon he replied, ' Yease, me like him, me 
 like him ; but nutting to-day, nutting to-day ; to-mor- 
 row palaver, when de king come.' 
 
 " Instantly an order was issued to man a canoe, 
 and take advantage of the tide. The captain, in full 
 uniform, seemed to command the greatest respect ; 
 but the mention of the governor of Sierra Leone, and 
 especially of our beloved Victoria, acted like a charm. 
 The next day, at 11 o'clock a.m., a herald from the 
 river-side announced the arrival of Matthias Katty, 
 king of the Pongas, accompanied by his suite ; and 
 
144: PALAVER WITH THE KINGS. 
 
 to Ms sable majesty, in the course of an hour, I had 
 the honour of a formal introduction. He was evi- 
 dently prepared for the -subject of the palaver; and 
 when the letter of Her Majesty's representative was 
 put into his hand, he seemed greatly elevated by it, 
 and said, ' Yease, me gib my children to de ould man 
 to teach dem ; but a — a — ' 
 
 " The great difficulty which operated against us, 
 was the idea that I required him and all his subjects 
 to submit to my instruction, which the crafty monarch 
 too well knew would reduce the number of inmates in 
 his harem to a solitary unit. This no earthly power 
 could induce him to do ; and, therefore, he urged 
 that he and his ' big people' wanted no teaching, but 
 the children wanted it, and he would send Ms directly 
 if the Queen would clothe them. The captain ex- 
 plained that no one would be compelled to attend the 
 ministry of Mr. Leacock ; but he hoped he, the king, 
 would not prevent such as were disposed. This satis- 
 fied him. 
 
 " Soon after, eight chiefs, great landholders, ap- 
 peared, and demanded a private palaver with the two 
 kings. They caused us some difficulty, and for a time 
 shook the dicision of the kings. Things now seemed 
 desperate, and nothing was expected by us but an 
 immediate return to Sierra Leone. The eight chiefs 
 were Mandingoes, professed Mohammedans, and, of 
 course, bitterly opposed to Christianity. The kings 
 not yielding to them, they desired ^ve days to consider 
 the matter. This, however, was a mere manoeuvre, 
 as I learned from my assistant, John Duport, to whom 
 
PALAVER WITH THE KINGS. 145 
 
 it was hinted that no presents were given to the Man- 
 dingoes. The cunning fellows desired to take advan- 
 tage of an Englishman's promptness in doing business, 
 and his impatience of delay, and therefore demanded 
 such a time for consideration as they knew we should 
 be unwilling to give, and hoped to compromise the 
 matter by receiving a handsome present from us. I 
 knew that yielding to such a desire would only in- 
 crease their wretched appetite, and entail upon me in- 
 terminable demands. It was Captain Buck's opinion 
 also, and he united with me in the objection. I said, 
 in the presence of them all, ' It has been hinted to me 
 that the eight chiefs desire presents to induce them to 
 come at once to a favourable decision. JSTow, I will 
 begin as I intend to end. It is not my intention to 
 offer any present, neither at this time nor at any other. 
 I have not come to trade with them, nor to ask of 
 them any favour, but to do theni good, if possible ; 
 therefore, the obligation is on their part, not on mine ; 
 and if presents are to be given, / am the person to re 
 ceive. But I give them all I have, 7nyself^ and I ask 
 nothing in .return but themselves^ that is, a desire on 
 their part to benefit by my presence and teaching. All 
 I have I give, I trust, in the spirit and feeling of an 
 Apostle, who, upon being asked for alms, replied, 
 ' Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have 
 give I unto thee.' If I can be instrumental in bringing 
 them to the great Physician of souls, to heal their 
 spiritual diseases, it is all I can do for them. If they 
 choose to receive me with such intentions, here I am, 
 willing to remain with them ; if not, brethren, say at 
 7 
 
146 PALAVER WITH THE EINGS. 
 
 once, and we will be off next tide to Sierra Leone.' 
 This had the desired effect. The Mandingoes sneaked 
 away, and King Katty said to Captain Buck, ' We 
 take um — we glad to hab um.' 
 
 After the palaver was at an end, I said to Katty 
 in a private conversation, Captain Buck only being 
 present, ' King Katty, I am come to you in God's 
 name, to do you and your people good. I shall soon 
 be alone with you. My friends, who have come to 
 protect me, will soon leave me, and I shall be then 
 entirely at your mercy, l^evertheless, I am not afraid 
 of you nor of your Mandingoes. You can do with mq 
 what you please. I am not afraid to die, whether it 
 be by fever or by sword. I am come with a message 
 of mercy to you and your people ; if you reject me 
 and cut me off, I do not refuse to die — it will be 
 better for me, for then I shall go home,' lifting up my 
 right hand, and looking upwards. 
 
 " How astonished was I, as well as Captain Buck, 
 to hear this untutored savage's prompt reply, — ' Aye, 
 yease ; but if we reject you and send you off, de gret 
 God will reject we and cut we off.' I replied, ' Cer- 
 tainly, most certainly.' 
 
 " Your Excellency is aware that both Kennybeck 
 Ali and Matthias Katty speak a little English, and 
 can understand an Englishman condescending to speak 
 in their 'fashin.'^ Soon every thing was arranged. 
 King Katty signed a declaration (drawn up hastily and 
 in the last moment, intended for your Excellency), 
 and then we separated. King Katty returned to his 
 friends, and right early next morning, as soon as the 
 
DESCKEPTION OF THE PONGAS EIVEK. 147 
 
 tide permitted, we took our boats, and in seven hours 
 reached the 'Myrmidon.' 
 
 " I cannot thank your Excellency too much for 
 committing the management of this affair to Captain 
 Bnck. His gentlemanly and kind attention to me is 
 sucli as might be expected of one in his responsible 
 position. His influence over the savage people of the 
 Pongas seems to be very great, and his diplomatic 
 tact very efficacious. It has secured for me not only 
 a respectful, but a friendly reception amongst them. 
 Kennyback Ali received and entertained us all very 
 hospitably, and offered me the use of one of his houses 
 until I could be better provided for. King Katty said 
 he would build a house for me, and give me a piece 
 of ground for a garden, &c., but I know not how much 
 dependence is to be placed on his word. Even if he 
 duly conform to his promise, it will afford me very 
 little accommodation ; for the houses, built of mud 
 walls, or wattled and dabbed, consist of only one room, 
 and that a circular one, without windows, but with 
 two doors opposite to each other, and afford no pri- 
 vacy, no security, no comfort, but shelter only. This, 
 however, I shall be thankful for, when I get it ; and 
 shall continue to trust that same good Providence 
 which has hitherto been with me, and which will con- 
 tinue to follow me." 
 
 On Monday, the lYth, Mr. Leacock and Duport 
 left their friends in the " Myrmidon," and again pro- 
 ceeded up the Little Pongas to Tintima, relying on 
 the promises of Kennyback Ali and King Katty. 
 Their means of conveyance was a narrow canoe, 
 
148 HTT AT TINTIMA. 
 
 which appeared far from safe. An upset would be 
 followed bj almost certain destruction. If a person 
 thus situated were to escape the sharks, a rapid tide 
 would be likely to drown him ; if by any chance he 
 were to reach the river's bank, he would sink in the 
 soft mud ; and if he escaped the mud, he would pro- 
 bably be devoured in the jungle by wild beasts. Alli- 
 gators conceal themselves in the rank vegetation 
 which borders this beautiful river, and which is so in- 
 terlaced that, once in it, there is no egress without 
 brawny shoulders and a faithful broad axe. 
 
 Geographers have taken little notice of this river, 
 and it merits greater attention than it has yet received. 
 It rises probably in the Kong mountains. It is navi- 
 gable for small craft about twenty miles, and in some 
 places is full three quarters of a mile in breadth. 
 The mouth, where, with the Big Pongas, it enters the 
 sea, is more than two miles broad, but is dangerous 
 to vessels by reason of a sand-bar, over which the 
 sea breaks at all times with great violence, except in 
 a narrow channel on the north side, whicli is not quite 
 safe to pass even at high tide. As I have already 
 mentioned in the sixth chapter, Tintima is situated on 
 the Little Pongas, about nine miles above the bar. 
 
 On arriving at Tintima, Mr. Leacock and Duport 
 took possession of a wretched cone-shaped hut, which 
 had been awarded to them by Kennyback Ali, ac- 
 cording to agreement. They now had an opportunity 
 of examining the village rather more closely than 
 during their visit of the preceding week. 
 
 They found Tintima very similar to the large ne- 
 
MAP OF THE PONGAS 
 
 FATTALAII COUNTEY. 
 
 From Two Maps designed by 
 the B&o. n. J. Leacock, 
 
 EstimaUd Population of the 
 Towns and yUlagea of the 
 Pongas or Fattalah Country. 
 
 Teah 220 
 
 Domingia 850 
 
 Sangba 6"0 
 
 Bangalong Z'JS 
 
 Farrangia 1500 
 
 Mirana 60 
 
 Tintima 300 
 
 Doinjah 150 
 
 Giappa 50 
 
 Babria 
 
 Fallangia 630 
 
 Confongia 150 
 
 Caningia 150 
 
 Bramiali 3000 
 
 7580 
 
 ^-^^ 
 
 ectiONBERa AC? dCROflP? «A 
 
WKETCHED CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE. 151 
 
 gro villages wliich existed in the West Indies during 
 the days of slavery. There was no street, but the 
 houses appeared as if scattered. They were placed 
 in this irregular manner purposely to avoid the obsei*- 
 vation of an enemy attacking them suddenly in the 
 night. The cottages were all miserable affairs, hav- 
 ing only one room, generally circular, but sometimes 
 square. The inside of the roof always had a very 
 filthy appearance, having long cobwebs descending, 
 and black from the smoke of a fire made in the centre 
 of the room to destroy insects harboured in the roof. 
 In such a house the missionaries were for the present 
 established. It was quite open, without a lock to 
 either of the doors, and the men and women of the 
 village were constantly coming in (m puris naturali- 
 hus) and carrying off with their nimble fingers what- 
 ever was left outside of the trunks and boxes. Mr. 
 Leacock and Duport were compelled to keep watch 
 alternately, to save themselves from being thoroughly 
 plundered. 
 
 The reception which they had met with from 
 Kennyback Ali in the presence of Captains Buck and 
 Fletcher had been kind enough ; but now that the 
 " Myrmidon " had departed they were left entirely at 
 the mercy of his slaves. Cheated and peeled as these 
 people had been by traders, they did not forget to be 
 avenged on the strangers. Provisions were withheld, 
 with the object of extortion, and Mr. Leacock and 
 his companion would have gone without food on the 
 day of their arrival, had they not found in one of 
 their boxes a jar of preserved ginger. They ate the 
 
152 WRETCHED CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE. 
 
 ginger with some biscuits whicli thej had fortunately 
 brought from the " Myrmidon," and drank the syrup 
 mixed with water, after which they finished their re- 
 past with water, cup after cup, till they were satisfied. 
 They asked for fowls, usually sold at four or five shil- 
 lings a dozen, but now one fowl was ofi'ered for two 
 shillings. They asked for eggs, which are sold at a 
 half-penny each ; a dollar was now asked for twenty. 
 After finding that the missionaries had a supply of 
 biscuit, the natives began to lower their demands. iN'o 
 servant was, however, to be procured, so that they 
 were obliged to wait on tliemselves. Fortunately 
 they found a woman from Sierra Leone who could 
 wash clothes, but as there was no smoothing iron in 
 the place, they were compelled to wear their clothes 
 rough dried. Duport was at first much discouraged, 
 but he soon recovered himself, and bore his privations 
 without a murmur, believing that this would be a 
 good discipline, and a preparation for future scenes. 
 Kennyback Ali had twenty wives, and religious prin- 
 ciples which could be readily accommodated to Mo- 
 hammedanism, heathenism, or any other doctrine. 
 His pretended support to Christianity, therefore, pro- 
 bably originated in the pension awarded him by the 
 British Government for abandoning the slave trade 
 himself, and for engaging to check it in others. All 
 the country was laid waste by wars instigated by 
 slavers. Slaves were still brought from the interior, 
 and stealthily shipped in the river. But for the fear 
 of British ships there would be no check upon the 
 trade. There were barracoons still concealed in va- 
 
153 
 
 A COTTAGE IN TINTIMA, PONGAS COUNTRY, 
 
 Occupied by the Rey. H. J. Leacock and Mr. Duport, Dec. 18, 1855, from 
 a sketch by Mr. Leacock. The roof is of grass. 
 
 Interior Structure of the Cottage. 
 
 a. pole supporting the top of the 
 
 roof 
 h 5. wall. 
 c c. pieces of wood thrown across 
 
 the wall, supporting the pole. 
 
 Plan of the Interior of the Cottage. 
 
 1. Mr. Leacock's lodging. 
 
 2. Mr. Duport's. 
 3 3 3. baggage, 
 4. table. 
 
 c c. chairs. No window. 
 
154 VISIT TO KENNYBACK ALL 
 
 rions places, for slavers have many stratagems to es- 
 cape the vigilance of our steamers. Kennyback Ali 
 told Mr. Leacock that he owned many slaves himself, 
 and had no objection to sell them if they were to go 
 into the interior. 
 
 Kennyback Ali being at this time confined to his 
 bed by illness at Doinjah, a village three miles from 
 Tintima, Mr. Leacock walked ont to see him on the 
 19th of December, leaving Duport to guard the house. 
 The track lay partly through high grass, and partly 
 through wood, the vegetation on every side being 
 thick and rank. The guide informed Mr. Leacock 
 that the hoa constrictor was found every where 
 throughout the neighbourhood, and that the place 
 through which they were passing was infested with 
 venomous snakes. Deer also and wild cattle, tiger- 
 cats and leopards, were often seen there. It was Mr. 
 Leacock's first walk through an African forest, which 
 he found very different from the forests in Tennessee, 
 thi'ough which he had travelled with good Bishop 
 Otey. 
 
 On arriving at the sick man's house, he found him 
 lying on a hammock, surrounded by eight of his 
 friends, apparently men of some note. He took the 
 opportunity of addressing them on the subject of his 
 mission, and mentioned salvation through Christ. It 
 happened that one of them spoke English sufficiently 
 to act as interpreter. Most of them seemed little 
 moved by what was said. The sick man appeared to 
 be a little interested, and rose and sat across his ham- 
 mock when Mr. Leacock began to speak. Ko one, 
 
VISIT TO KENNYBACK ALL 155 
 
 however, said any thing in reply, beyond expressing 
 surprise on hearing that some of their negro brethren 
 in the West Indies had assisted in sending the mis- 
 sionaries. 
 
 Mr. Leacock returned through the wood with per ■ 
 feet serenity, notwithstanding the information which 
 he had received respecting its dangerous inhabitants. 
 But every succeeding day showed him that his pros- 
 pects in Tintima were almost hopeless. The conduct 
 of the people became more and more discouraging, 
 for they said that the missionaries had been sent by 
 the British Government to interfere with their slaves. 
 It was evident that the poor wretch, Kennyback Ali, 
 would not say, " You must leave us," from the fear 
 of losing his pension ; but his actions and the actions 
 of his people spoke out too plainly to be misunder- 
 stood. Children were promised Mr. Leacock as 
 pupils ; but not a single child was actually sent. Two 
 boys were constantly lounging about the hou^, and 
 John Duport accordingly began to teach them their 
 letters. But they were immediately ordered to " quit 
 book, and not return to de white man." 
 
 About this time Mr. Leacock had a very unsatis- 
 factory encounter with a Mohammedan. He affirmed 
 that Mohammed was a true prophet ; but when asked 
 for his credentials, he was silent. Mr. Leacock told 
 him that Jesus Christ had his credentials, and pro- 
 duced them ; and that if they were necessary to 
 prove Him true, Mohammed, who had none, must be 
 false. " Come to-morrow, come to-morrow," said he, 
 laughing, and went away. 
 
166 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Events of St. Thomas's Day. Arrival of Lewis "Wilkinson. Interview 
 with the chief of Fallangia. Mr. Leacock opens his Ministry among 
 the Heathens. Mr. Wilkinson gives him a Site for a Church, &c. The 
 Missionaries are attacked with Fever. Anxiety of Governor Hill on 
 their Account. He sends a Steamer and removes them to Sierra Leone. 
 They return to Fallangia. John Duport begins to teach. Supplies or- 
 dered in England. 
 
 In the midst of these discouragements, Mr. Leacock 
 continued cheerful and confident that Providence 
 would at last open a door for the Oospel. While he 
 was awaiting the issue of events, St. Thomas's Day, 
 Dec. 21st, arrived, and a boat was seen descending 
 the Little Pongas, and approaching Tintima. On 
 arriving at the landing place a young black man 
 stepped ashore and proceeded to the miserable hovel 
 occupied by the two missionaries. On meeting Mr. 
 Leacock, he introduced himself in a most respectful 
 manner, and speaking excellent English, disclosed the 
 object of his errand. 
 
 " Sir," he said, " my name is Lewis "Wilkinson, 
 and I am a son of Mr. Wilkinson, the chief of Fal- 
 
AEEIYAL OF LEWIS WILKINSON. 157 
 
 langia, to whom you forwarded a letter from Mr. 
 Galbridden, of Sierra Leone. I bring an invitation 
 from my father and an apology for his not having 
 called to see you before. He is now very sick, but 
 wishes to know when it will suit you to come to him, 
 that he may send for you." Mr. Leacock was then 
 in a state of great suflfering, his hands and face being 
 swollen, and his feet sore from the bites of mosqui- 
 toes. His visitor, seeing this, proceeded : — "Sir, my 
 father desires a day or two to make some preparation 
 to receive you, but I cannot leave you in this state. 
 You must go to Fallangia with me this evening, and 
 see whether some better accommodation can be made 
 for you than what you have here, for it is very doubt- 
 ful whether a stranger can live in this place during 
 the wet season." 
 
 Mr. Leacock thankfully accepted the invitation, 
 believing that he saw in it the hand of Providence. 
 Accordingly, leaving Duport to guard the baggage, 
 he accompanied Lewis Wilkinson on board the boat, 
 and the negro rowers conveyed them up the Little 
 Pongas. The following remarkable extract from one 
 of Mr. Leacock's letters describes his first interview 
 with the venerable chief of Fallangia : — 
 
 " The old man met me, and taking my hand in 
 both of his hands, pressed it cordially, and, before re- 
 leasing it, said, ' "Welcome, dear Sir, thou servant of 
 the Most High, you are welcome to this humble roof.' 
 I attempted to apologize for having come that even- 
 ing : he said, ' ISTo apology, Sir : if you will be satis- 
 fied with my humble board, you are welcome ; ' and 
 
158 INTERVIEW WITH THE CHIEF. 
 
 he ordered supper immediatelj. He seemed greatly 
 agitated, and, a few moments after, rising from his 
 chair, broke forth with that incomparable song of 
 praise, the ' Te Deiim Laudamus ; ' repeating it with 
 great solemnity and accuracy. At the conclusion, 
 after a short silence, he said : ' Sir, this requires ex- 
 planation. In my youth I was sent to your country, 
 and placed under the tuition of a respectable clergy- 
 man, and through him I imbibed the first principles 
 of Christianity. I returned to my native country in 
 1813, and fell into many of its ungodly practices. In 
 this state I continued till 1835, when it pleased God 
 to visit me with severe illness, from which I with dif- 
 ficulty recovered. From that time I resolved that "I 
 and my house would serve the Lord ; " and I earnestly 
 prayed that God would send a missionary to this Pon- 
 gas country, whom I might see before I died. I have 
 wu'itten to Sierra Leone for a missionary, but could 
 get no answer ; and now the Lord has sent me an an- 
 swer. You are. Sir, an answer to my prayers for 
 twenty years. You are the first minister of the Gos- 
 pel I have beheld since 1835. And now I know that 
 God hears prayer, and that a blessing is come to my 
 house. Here you are welcome. I know the misery 
 you must have endured at Tintima, left to the mercy 
 of those creatures. It is the most unfit place for a 
 stranger in the Pongas ; and if you resolve on remain- 
 ing there during the wet season, you are a dead man. 
 As you have come to our country, I will find plenty 
 of work for you. The king of this country is Jelloram 
 Fernandez : I am his cousin ; and my son is married 
 
MR. LEACOCK OPENS HIS MINISTEY. 159 
 
 to one of his daughters. I know all the chiefs ; and I 
 will go with jou to visit them as soon as I am able. 
 There are in Fallangia over thirty children, which 
 will be the beginning of a school for you. You can 
 use my house ; and next fall I will assist you in put- 
 ting up a house for you to reside in, and a place of 
 worship. In the mean time I will divide my house 
 with you, and not charge you house-rent. You can 
 have a private table, if you prefer it ; and if you 
 should be sick, I will help nurse you.' 
 
 " Well, well, w^ell, thought I, if this be a true man 
 (and there was too much earnestness in his manner to 
 suppose him false), surely the Lord must have sent 
 me to him, and I have nothing to do but remain." 
 
 It is to be observed that when the son of Mr. Wil- 
 kinson and old Martha saw Mr. Leacock, he told his 
 parents that he was exactly like the missionary whom 
 he had seen in his dream. Mr. Leacock landed at 
 the same place which the young man had previously 
 indicated. 
 
 " On Sunday, the 23rd," proceeds Mr. Leacock, 
 " we had Morning Service in Mr. Wilkinson's piazza, 
 a room 132 feet in length, by 12 feet in breadth, and 
 a room into which it leads 24 feet in breadth. I had 
 it measured. A part of this piazza was pretty w^ell 
 filled by different persons ; some understanding a little 
 English. We sang the 100th Psalm, and I preached 
 from the words, ' My son, give me thy heart.' After 
 the service, the old man explained to those who could 
 not understand me the substance of my sermon. All 
 seemed greatly pleased. 
 
160 A SITE GFTEX FOE A CHUECH. 
 
 '• I felt nnwell. and retired to rest a little. As 
 soon as I was lieard stirring, one who was waiting 
 ontside at the door came to me, and said that the con- 
 gregation was waiting to know whether I wonld have 
 another sermon before thev left. Instantly I obeved 
 the summons ; and. after a selection of the prayers, 
 and singing a psalm, I preached from the 1st and 2nd 
 verses of the 32nd Psalm, to a serions and attentive 
 little audience. The old man was greatly delighted. 
 Xotes are of no use here. Plain, simple exposition of 
 Scripture, and practical application, are all that is ne- 
 cessaiy. Here then my ministiy is fully announced,'' 
 
 'Mr. TTilkinson now gave ^h\ Leacock a beautiful 
 site for his residence. It was his own garden, com- 
 prising about two acres and a half, enclosed with a 
 ^liysic-nut fence. It contained a number of orange- 
 trees, mangoes and other friiit-ti-ees. He declared 
 that he should write and specify distinctly that this 
 land was given to the TVest Indian Church Associa- 
 tion, for the use and accommodation of its missionaries, 
 as long as the mission should exist amongst his po 
 pie ; and that, if the mission should be removed, it 
 should revert to him and his heirs. 
 
 The next morning, the 21th, ^ITr. Leacock em- 
 barked with the ebb tide, and returned to Tintima for 
 his baggage. He had wiitten to Kennyback Ah on 
 the Saturday, infomiing him of his intention to leave 
 Tintima, thanking him for the small attentions which 
 he had received, and promising to come to him and 
 open a school when requested to do so. He now 
 called again to see him, walking three miles in the 
 
AN ATTACK OF FEVER. 161 
 
 middle of the day, under a broiling sun, tlirongli the 
 dangerous forest. He was told, on his arrival, that 
 Kennyback Ali was asleep and would not be dis- 
 turbed. 'No one offered him a seat or a cup of cold 
 water. After walking back again, he commenced re- 
 moving his baggage with the help of Duport and the 
 rowers of the boat, no one coming to their assistance. 
 At a quarter after six on Christmas Eve they left Tim 
 tima, and landed at Fallangia at eight. Mr. Leacock 
 felt the dampness of the river severely, and had dis- 
 tressing pains in his back before morning. On Christ- 
 mas day he was too unwell to officiate, and it soon ap- 
 peared that he had been attacked by the dreadful Af- 
 rican fever. On the following day Duport was seized 
 in the same way. Mr. Wilkinson attended them with 
 the utmost assiduity, and proved himself an excellent 
 nurse as well as a kind friend. 
 
 While attending upon them, the swarthy chief 
 found time to write the following letter to the Bishop 
 of Barbados, who was still in England : — 
 
 " Kio Pongas, Fallangia, 
 Dec. 29th, 1855. 
 
 " My Lord Bishop, 
 " I beg to return you many thanks for having sent 
 the Eev. Mr. Leacock out here amongst us, for the 
 purpose of civilizing my country, in carrying on a 
 religious work, and educating our children, and such 
 as are willing to come to the true light of Christian 
 knowledge ; and I am always willing to render the 
 said Mr. Leacock all the assistance that lies in my 
 
162 AlfXIETY OF THE GOVERNOR. 
 
 power, and to grant him, or the Society, a land to build 
 a church, &c. 
 
 " And in the interim, my lord, I have to inforaa 
 you that I am a native of this country, and now one 
 of the chiefs ; but have been educated in England, for 
 which I am greatly indebted to the British nation, and 
 am always happy to render that nation all the assist- 
 ance I can for the civilization of Africa, my countr^^. 
 
 " I have the honour to remain, my lord, and may 
 God bless the efforts you have undertaken. 
 
 " I am yours faithfully, 
 
 "KiCHARD Wilkinson." 
 
 Meantime the Governor of Sierra Leone became 
 anxious about the two missionaries. A few days after 
 Mr. Leacock had decided on remaining at Tintima, 
 Colonel Hill was informed by a gentleman acquainted 
 with that place that its inhabitants were the most 
 bigoted of Mohammedans, and extensive slave-dealers, 
 and that, no doubt, they would regard the missiona- 
 ries as spies of the British Government, and would 
 certainly poison them, if fever did not previously cut 
 them off. He was, moreover, assured that there was 
 not a spot on the banks of the Rio Pongas more 
 marshy and unhealthy, and more infested with gnats 
 and mosquitoes, than the village of Tintima and the 
 country immediately surrounding it. Alarmed by 
 this intelligence, the governor requested Lieutenant 
 Grubbe, of H.M.S. " Teazer," to proceed forthwith to 
 the Rio Pongas, and ascertain the state of Mr. Lea- 
 cock's health, in order that, if not satisfied with the 
 
AEKIYAL OF A STEAMER. 163 
 
 place, lie might be brought back immediately to 
 Freetown. 
 
 On the 29th of December, an officer arrived at 
 Fallangia with a kind letter from the commander of 
 the " Teazer," which was then lying at anchor oiF the 
 mouth of the river. Mr. Leacock and Duport at 
 once embraced the opportunity of returning to Free- 
 town, where Dr. Bradshaw's medical advice w^ould 
 be of the highest importance to them. Mr. Leacock 
 could scarcely walk, and Duport was hardly able to 
 rise, but his companion assisted him to stir himself, 
 and they were both placed on mattresses the next 
 day, and taken on board the boat. In less than eight 
 hours, the tide favouring them, they reached the 
 " Teazer," much refreshed by the sea-breeze, and im- 
 mediately sailed for Sierra Leone, where they arrived 
 at a late hour on the 31st, thus terminating an event- 
 ful year of Mr. Leacock's life. 
 
 On the 2nd of January, 1866, Mr. Leacock wrote 
 to me from Freetown as follows : — 
 
 " My dear Caswall, 
 
 " Although I am hardly able to write much, from 
 the exhaustion which I feel, yet I must tell you I am 
 greatly obliged by your kind letter of 'Nov. 19. I 
 returned yesterday from the Rio Pongas ; and I be- 
 lieve God saved my life by putting it into the gov- 
 ernor's mind to instruct the officer on the station to 
 send up the river and inquire how I was. I was in 
 bed sick ; and immediately, on being advised, I made 
 an effort to go on board, and quit for a time the dead- 
 
164 LETTER FROM SIERRA LEOXE. 
 
 \j iiiliuence of the malaria. I was soon reviTed by 
 tlie ocean's sweet air, and in forty-eight hours found 
 myself in Sierra Leone. Here I found a package of 
 letters and papers, which had been awaiting an oppor- 
 tunity to be sent to me since the 14th of December. 
 And I shall be obliged to leave this for you, as I shall 
 embark to-morrow morning for Rio Pongas. I am 
 twenty miles up that river, 140 miles from Sierra 
 Leone, north of it, and out of the reach of any means 
 of rapid communication. Only one man trades reg- 
 ularly with that place in which I live, and his boat 
 comes to Sierra Leone for merchandise once in eight 
 weeks. Other boats are trading with other places, 
 but they will not take letters for me, fearing that they 
 may develop the secrets of slave-trading. The va- 
 rious officers on the coast tell me that this is the great- 
 est slave country on the whole coast of Africa, and if 
 the curse be ever driven from it, it will linger about 
 Rio Pongas as long as it can. -^ * ^ 
 
 ^' I am recovering from my attack of fever. I am 
 very weak and nervous ; my head swims, and is full 
 of noise to-day, but not so greatly confused as yester- 
 day. I feel as if I had received a tremendous blow 
 on my poor head, from which I am gradually recov- 
 ering. * "^ * At the commencement of my sickness, 
 John was very attentive ; but two days afterwards he 
 was taken ill, and there we were, neither could assist 
 the other. But God would not leave us to ourselves. 
 He provided a kind old man to nurse us both, and 
 when he had done all that he could. He sent Her 
 
RETURN TO FALLANGIA. 165 
 
 Majesty's ship, the 'Teazer,' to bring us to Sierra 
 Leone. So He takes care of liis children. 
 
 " I thank you, dear Caswall, and your friend Mr 
 Dickinson for the kind resolution you have made to 
 watch my proceedings, and to help me if you can. 
 You shall have a faithful statement of them ; and I 
 know, while God gives me grace to seek His honour, 
 and His alone, that He will not turn the hearts of His 
 people from me. * ^^^ * 
 
 " I want about 601. more than my Society can give 
 me towards my house and church-building. If the 
 West Indian Church Association send me teachers, it 
 will require of them 500Z., but I can provide my own 
 after a while at a cost of about 210?. I can find oc- 
 cupation for at least six teachers." 
 
 Mr. Leacock allowed himself very little time to 
 recruit his health, and when the "Teazer" sailed from 
 Freetown on the 4th of January, for her station near 
 the rivers Pongas and l^unez, he and his assistant re- 
 turned in her. He was able to read the full service 
 and to preach on board the vessel on Sunday, the 6th, 
 and at five o'clock on Tuesday morning the ship was 
 lying at anchor about six miles off the mouth of the 
 Pongas or Fattalah. At that early hour Mr. Leacock 
 and Duport embarked in a small boat in order to as- 
 cend the stream to Fallangia. The tide was against 
 them the greater part of the way, and the day ex- 
 tremely hot. They did not arrive at Mr. Wilkinson's 
 residence until about six o'clock in the evening, after 
 a fatiguing row of thirteen hours. After this, Duport 
 
166 JOHN DUPOKT BEGINS TO TEACH. 
 
 was for some time very Tinwell, witli symptoms of 
 fever; but Mr. Leacock reported himself "quite 
 well," only feeling weak in the knees and ankles. 
 Though he had a good appetite, he could not obtain 
 the diet suitable to a convalescent. Ground-nut soup 
 and boiled cassava were his ordinary articles of food, 
 but he felt perfectly satisfied, hoping in the course of 
 the year to have his garden, poultry-yard, and easy 
 access to Sierra Leone, where many things necessary 
 for his accommodation could be obtained. 
 
 On Sunday the 13th of January, he preached in 
 the morning from Philippians ii. 9. 11 (some Moham- 
 medans being present), but was unable to take the 
 duty in the afternoon. Accordingly, at his request, 
 Duport (being now much better) delivered an address 
 to the people, very much to the satisfaction of his su- 
 perior. On the following day, just two months after 
 their first arrival in Sierra Leone, they opened their 
 school with twenty children. In the evening Mr. 
 Leacock sat down, and wrote me the following let- 
 ter : — 
 
 " Say to Mrs. Caswall I want clothing for my boys 
 and girls very much. Cast-off garments and the 
 coarsest material, so they be light and cool, will be 
 most acceptable. Except in the houses of the chiefs, 
 children of both sexes are naked, with nothing to 
 cover them but the woolly hair on their head, and a 
 narrow strip of blue baft, two inches broad and two 
 yards long, wi'apped about their body, very low down, 
 in a curious manner, and fastened behind, the end 
 hanging down almost to the ground, and giving them 
 
SUPPLIES OKDEEED IN ENGLAND. 167 
 
 very miicli the appearance of a monkey. This beast- 
 ly sight, so thoroughly disgusting at first, has now 
 become so familiar that I can look and not be of- 
 fended. 
 
 '' I asked Mr. Wilkinson, ' Is this their own choice ? ' 
 ' 'No, no,' he replied, ' they can do no better. Where 
 can they get cloth? ' A single garment would be suf- 
 ficient for each. Any sort of cloth, no matter how 
 coarse, whether it be new cloth or old cast-ofi" cloth- 
 ing, with a bit of tape attached to each to tie before, 
 will be very acceptable. Garments will be given 
 only to the children of the school. It will be better 
 to send what materials you can muster, that the gar- 
 ments may be made here in the school. There is a 
 person here whom I can employ to teach the children 
 to work. This will be a great advantage for them, as 
 they may hereafter be profitably employed in making 
 clothes for the older people. They who are able to 
 purchase cloth, cut a hole in the centre of it, large 
 enough to admit their head, and the ends of the cloth 
 hang in equal lengths about their body, to which it is 
 sometimes fastened by a string or band. Some merely 
 wrap it a,bout their body, tucking in the end for se- 
 curity. The boys seem willing to learn the use of 
 carpenters' tools, and the chiefs the right mode of cul- 
 tivating the soil. Cotton is the indigenous growth 
 of the country, and I know how to cultivate it ; but 
 I want a machine (a gin) to separate the seed. A 
 hand corn-mill, sucli as is used in the island of Bar- 
 bados, costing about thirty shillings, would soon turn 
 their attention to the cultivation of Indian corn 
 
168 SUPPLIES OEDEKED IN ENGLAND. 
 
 " 15th. We opened our school yesterday in Fallan- 
 gia with twenty children. The principal men in the 
 town are sending for their children, who are at a dis- 
 tance with their mothers ; and Mr. Wilkinson assures 
 me that in less than six wrecks I shall have more than 
 fifty children in the school. He is encouraging his slaves 
 to send their children, but he is the only chief that 
 will as yet do this. He is a strong anti-slavery man. 
 His people are called slaves, but they are in reality 
 free. Several men who can speak a little English have 
 asked to be admitted in the school to take their place 
 with the children. Yesterday evening I had several 
 men come to see me. We sat together a long time, 
 and had much conversation, Mr. W. being our in- 
 terpreter. One said, ' Sir, you are more successful 
 than most missionaries (he has been much in Sierra 
 Leone) ; for they have children only in their schools, 
 but men are coming to be taught by you with their 
 children.' May our heavenly Father bless and pros- 
 per His own work. I know by this that many pray- 
 ers are offered for us. 
 
 " I have no difficulty here about the instruction of 
 slave children, except it may proceed from their 
 parents, but I fear I shall have to contend with it 
 every where else from the chiefs. I look to God alone 
 for wisdom, discretion, and direction. There are 
 many places on the river in which schools might be 
 established ; but at present slave children will not be 
 admitted. I am now waiting for a boat which I ex- 
 pect this week, to proceed to the other branch of the 
 Pongas, called Bangalong, or Big Pongas, and I 
 
SUPPLIES OKDEEED IN ENGLAND. 169 
 
 shall then be able to ascertain fully how far I shall 
 be permitted to go with the slaves. Mr. Wilkinson 
 accompanies me. I have two young men, natives, 
 whom I wish to pnt in the school, and train for teach- 
 ing. Knowing the Soosoo language and some Eng- 
 lish, they will, I trust, in time make useful auxiliaries. 
 These will work for ten dollars a month, and be glad 
 to get it. 
 
 " I have never mentioned the box which Mrs. Cas- 
 wall sent me, nor the kind, affectionate letter with 
 which Elizabeth favoured me. In truth, till I went 
 to^ Sierra Leone early this month, I had much doubt 
 about the safety of the box. It could not be found 
 when I left the ' Ethiope ' in E'ovember ; but on her 
 return to Sierra Leone it was landed in a very shat- 
 tered condition. The accordion would give out eight 
 or ten sounds without touching a key. The potatoes 
 were all rotten, and converted into a most offensive 
 liquid ; but every thing else went safe from being well 
 packed. The box was too slight. I beg to offer my 
 best respects to Mr. and Mrs. Blandy, and the other 
 ladies, with my best thanks for their valuable contri- 
 butions, hoping that they will not be weary in well- 
 doing, as they know that in due time they shall reap 
 if they faint not. 
 
 " Now I want maps of Europe, Asia, Africa, and 
 America, and also a map of the world ; some paint- 
 ings illustrative of sacred history ; twenty-four copies 
 of Kobert Sullivan's, English Grammar (sold by Long- 
 man, Brown, Green, and Co., London) ; four pairs of 
 scissors ; six pieces of unbleached cotton, full yard 
 8 
 
170 SUPPLIES ORDERED IN ENGLAND. 
 
 wide, or more (pattern sent) ; six pieces of Indian baft, 
 or, as it is called here, blue baft, which is found in 
 any India warehouse (pattern enclosed) ; some thread 
 assorted ; five hundi*ed needles to suit the cloth ; some 
 dozen pieces of broad and narrow tape ; some dozen 
 black and white buttons. 
 
 " The husband of the woman whom I shall employ 
 to teach the girls to work, has requested me to get for 
 him a flute with four keys. He plays a little, is one 
 that I am desirous to train for a school, and might be 
 useful in getting up a choir. It would have done your 
 heart good to hear the children, after a little teaching, 
 sing one of our chants yesterday. 
 
 " Whatever report is issued by the Society for the 
 Propagation of the Gospel respecting our mission, 
 send a copy of it to Ben, and another to Miss A. E. 
 Parker, Perth Amboy, 'New Jersey, who will be sure 
 to make it known to my friends there, and save me 
 the trouble of writing. 
 
 "If the servants and friends of our gracious 
 Saviour follow this example, I know I shall have all 
 I want. 
 
 " Believe me yours ever, 
 
 " H. J. Leacock." 
 
AMERICAN SYMPATHY. 171 
 
 CHAPTEE XI. 
 
 American Sympathy towards Mr. Leacock. Dr. Coit and the Editor of the 
 "New York Church Journal." The parish at Perth Amboy and the 
 Slaves in Tennessee. Joint Offerings from America and England to 
 Africa. Appointment of an English Secretary. Account of the martyred 
 French Missionaries. 
 
 Ojs- receiving the letters quoted in the last chapter, I 
 proceeded to obtain the assistance which Mr. Leacock 
 had requested. He had asked for but little, fifty 
 pounds in money towards erecting his buildings, and 
 various articles absolutely necessary to his mission. 
 I thought it would gratify him if the fifty pounds 
 were to be derived in equal proportions from his 
 friends in America and in England, and accordingly 
 I wrote to our mutual friend Dr. Coit to this effect, 
 on the 14:th of February, enclosing extracts from Mr. 
 Leacock's communications. I also wrote, "You per- 
 ceive that Hamble asks for the trifling sum of 50Z., 
 in addition to what the West Indian Missionary So- 
 ciety is able to grant. It has occurred to me that 
 perhaps you and I might raise this between us, as a 
 joint offering to Africa from England and America. 
 
172 DR. COIT AXD THE 
 
 A hundred and t^vent j-five dollai^ (25/.) from Hamble's 
 old friends in America, including his former congre- 
 gation at Perth Ambov, would not be m.uch ; and I 
 dare say that Air. Dickinson and myself, with a few 
 others, could readily obtain the remainder, without 
 calling on the Society for the Propagation of the Gos- 
 pel." 
 
 Dr. Coit, on receiving my letter, sent it and its 
 enclosures to the editor of the " Xew York Church 
 Journal," together with a subscription on his own be- 
 half. The zealous and energetic editor inserted the 
 extracts in his paper, and wrote several spirited lead- 
 ing articles, calling the attention of A m erican Cmu*ch- 
 men to the subject, and asking them to assist the 
 " Leacock Fund." The following are specimens of 
 the interest evinced in the undertaking: — 
 
 " The Rev. Me. Leacock in Afkica. — TTe take 
 the opportunity given by another most interesting 
 and instructive letter from Mr. Leacock, to appeal 
 once more for the small balance yet needed to make 
 up the American quota of the 250 dollars, lately 
 asked for by this devoted servant of the Cross. Pead 
 this letter, and see how, at his advanced age, he 
 braves the deadly fevers of the marshy river-bottoms, 
 and bitter and sordid opposition of bigoted Moham- 
 medans and devil-worshipping savages. Consider the 
 information conveyed by him concerning the lan- 
 guages and missionary opportunities of Africa. And 
 above all, consider the door which Providence has so 
 wonderfully opened, in the reception given him by 
 that old native who has been praying God for tv)enty 
 
173 
 
 years to send a preaclier of the blessed Gospel to him- 
 self and his countrymen .'" 
 
 " The Pongas Mission. — ^Those of our readers 
 who perused the letter given by us some little time 
 ago, from the Rev. Hamble J. Leacock, missionary 
 on the Pongas (sent and maintained there by the 
 Church in the "West Indies), will be pleased to see 
 the continuation given in another column. It is a 
 letter addressed by Mr. Leacock to the Bishop of 
 Barbados, and reaches us, as did the other, by the 
 kindness of the Pev. Mr. Caswall, of Figheldean, 
 England, and through the hands of the Pev. Dr. 
 Coit, of Troy. The ladies will be specially interested 
 in Mr. Peacock's house-keeping troubles — the living 
 on ginger preserves and water, the high price of fowls, 
 the badness of eggs, and the absence of smoothing- 
 irons. But after all these annoyances, we suppose 
 that no Christian can read the latter part of this 
 graphic epistle without emotion. To find that Mr. 
 Wilkinson, an African negro who had . been in Eng- 
 land in his youth, and there learned something of 
 Christianity, had now been living alone among his 
 heathen countrymen for twenty years^ longing and 
 praying for a preacher of the blessed Gospel to be 
 sent of God to the Pongas country, is of itself enough 
 to move one almost to melting. But when the old 
 man, greeting the missionary with a cordiality agi- 
 tated by deep feeling, soon after finds his joy irre- 
 pressible, and starting up from his chair pours forth 
 his soul in the glorious ' Te Deum Laudamus,' the 
 glow of heart is contagious, and we are almost ready 
 
1Y4 PEKTH AMBOY AND SLAVES IN TENNESSEE. 
 
 to sing and weep together with him for joy. Surely, 
 to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of 
 death, light is sprung up ! 
 
 " Any contributions made towards the 125 dollars 
 from this country, if sent to us, we shall forward to 
 Mr. Caswall with pleasure." 
 
 Mr. Leacock's old congregation at Perth Amboy 
 responded to the call, and came forward to help their 
 much respected friend. From Kentucky and other 
 parts of the West donations were sent, and even the 
 poor slaves in Tennessee sympathized with their 
 brethren on the river Pongas. Mr. Leacock's letters 
 having been read to a congregation of negroes in the 
 State just mentioned, produced an effect which is thus 
 described by their clergyman in a letter to the worthy 
 'New York editor : — 
 
 " Trinity Church, Sharon, Tipton Co., Tennessee. 
 "Messrs. Editors, 
 " At a missionary meeting of my coloured con- 
 gregation, last Sunday evening, I took the occasion to 
 lay before them the substance of Mr. Leacock's let- 
 ters, which have lately appeared in the ^ Journal.' 
 They were so deeply affected at hearing the condition 
 of their people in Africa, and particularly of those 
 destitute children, that they immediately opened a 
 subscription, which promises to clothe from twenty- 
 five to fifty of them. Please inform me what will be 
 the cost in I^ew York of such garments as Mr. Lea- 
 cock suggested, made of striped Lowell, and also of 
 transportation to Africa. You will confer a favour 
 
SLAVES IN TENNESSEE. 175 
 
 also by directing and forwarding the enclosed letter 
 to Mr. Leacock by the earliest opportunity, and let 
 me know the amount of postage. 
 
 " Yery respectfully, 
 
 "J. A. Wheelock." 
 
 Mr. Wheelock's letter to Mr. Leacock was as 
 follows : — 
 
 " Kev. and dear Brother, 
 
 " At a missionary meeting of the coloured con- 
 gregation (slaves) of my parish on Sunday evening 
 last, I took occasion to lay before them" the substance 
 of your letters which have appeared in the ' Church 
 Journal ' of New York city. 
 
 " At the close of my remarks, the people were so 
 deeply aifected by the condition of their brethren in 
 Africa, and particularly of those destitute children, 
 that they immediately opened a subscription to clothe 
 some of them. The proceeds shall be forthcoming as 
 soon as it is closed. 
 
 " I wish you to write me any incidents or particu- 
 lars which would serve to illustrate either the degra- 
 dation of those people, or the prospect of your being 
 ' able to do them good. My dear brother, we appre- 
 ciate your undertaking ; you have our liveliest sym- 
 pathies and most earnest prayers. 
 
 " Very respectfully, 
 
 " J. A. Wheelock." 
 
 Kot long afterwards I received from New York 
 the sums collected by the editor of the " Church 
 
176 JOINT OFFERINGS. 
 
 Journal," which considerably exceeded the amount 
 for which I had asked. In England also, the tiontri- 
 butions were equally satisfactory, and I was enabled 
 to write the following letter to the ISTew York editor : 
 
 " I am happy to say that I have been enabled to 
 deposit with Mr. Leacock's banker fifty pounds, con- 
 tributed by English and American Churchmen to- 
 wards the mission buildings at Fallangia. I have ex- 
 pended the seven dollars from Tennessee in the pur- 
 chase of three pieces of Indian baft, which were ob- 
 tained almost at cost price from the manufactory in 
 Manchester. Ten additional pieces were given by 
 friends in this country, together with ninety-eight ar- 
 ticles of clothing, made up in Figheldean and other 
 parishes. Erom the proceeds of the subscriptions in 
 Perth Amboy, and in different parts of England, I 
 was enabled to obtain all the articles for which Mr. 
 Leacock has expressed a wish, such as a corn-mill, a 
 quantity of thread, tape, buttons, needles, scissors, 
 trinkets, maps, pictures of Scripture history, books, 
 and school apparatus. Our good friend, Mr. F. H. 
 Dickinson, requested me to purchase for Mr. Wilkin- 
 son, the native chief, a handsomely bound octavo 
 Prayer Book at the depository of the Christian Knowl- 
 edge Society. Upon this we caused to be stamped 
 in gold letters the name of the worthy old African, 
 and we inserted within, an inscription to the effect 
 that the book was presented to him as the friend of 
 missions in the Pongas country. All the above arti- 
 cles were despatched for Sierre Leone in the ship 
 
APPOINTMENT OF AN ENGLISH SECRETARY. 177 
 
 ' Ida,' which sailed from London yesterday. Thus 
 the ' Leacock Fund,' in my hands, has taken wings 
 and flown entirely away, soon, I hope, to be replen- 
 ished." 
 
 While his friends in America and England were 
 thus giving evidence of the unity of the Church in 
 sympathy and in design, Mr. Leacock's countrymen 
 in the West Indies were becoming increasingly alive 
 to their duty in regard to their mission. His letters 
 were read in Barbados with deep interest, and pro- 
 duced a feeling of thankfulness that he had been 
 enabled to commence direct efforts so soon, in a place 
 so eligible for the purpose, in the midst of sheer hea- 
 thenism, and yet within sight, in a manner, of the 
 British flag. The writer of these memoirs, as an old 
 friend of the missionary, was elected an Associate of 
 the West Indian Church Society, and, with the sanc- 
 tion of Bishop Parry, was appointed its Secretary in 
 England. The bishop being about to return to Bar- 
 bados, the writer was likewise requested to keep up a 
 periodical communication with Mr. Leacock, and to 
 prepare portions of his letters for the press. " Our 
 object," wrote the bishop, "is to have some one more 
 especially to answer for us, and attend to our in- 
 terests in this country. The interest you have 
 awakened in behalf of our mission in New York, is 
 in every way most acceptable as well as valuable. 
 The embarrassments and trials of West India property, 
 and the many claims on the religious charity of 
 Churchmen in the West Indies, and especially those 
 8* 
 
178 FEENCH MISSIONAEIES. 
 
 of the immigrants (Hindoos, Africans, Chinese, &c.), 
 forbid US to expect much pecuniary assistance out of 
 Barbados, or very much there ; so that we are un- 
 avoidably thrown in no small measure upon extraneous 
 help, and shall feel much obliged for any from 
 America." 
 
 About the same time I wrote to Mr. Leacock to 
 the following effect : — 
 
 "The accounts we receive of your proceedings 
 fill us with joy and thankfulness to God. We are 
 deeply sensible of the wonderful providence which 
 prepared Mr. Wilkinson to receive you, and to assist 
 you in your mission. Tell him that the eyes of many 
 Christians are upon him ; and that if he continue to 
 persevere, through evil and good report, in sustaining 
 the cause of the Faith, he will hereafter receive a 
 crown of glory. Express also to John Duport the 
 deep interest which is felt in him, both in America 
 and in England, and tell him that many pray that he 
 may become an eminent missionary among the people 
 of his own race. 
 
 " The editor of the ' 'New York Church Journal ' 
 has done every thing in his power to make yom- 
 efforts known. If you will, keep me definitely in- 
 formed of all your wants, I will publish the facts in 
 such a way as shall, with God's blessing, keep alive 
 the growing interest in your cause, both in the Old 
 World and in th« E'ew. 
 
 "1 h#ve been spending a few weeks in Paris, 
 looking into the charitable and ecclesiastical institu- 
 tions of the great capital of France. I saw much to 
 
FRENCH MISSIONARIES. 179 
 
 admire and much whicli seemed strange and objec- 
 tionable. The Sisters of Charity are wonderful, and 
 there is a highly interesting establishment of Protes- 
 tant Deaconesses. At the seminary for foreign Ro- 
 man Catholic missions, young men are prepared to 
 labour in China, where several of them have died as 
 martjTS within the last few years. Pictures of their 
 sufferings, painted by their Chinese converts, are sus- 
 pended in the same hall which contains their relics 
 and the instruments of their cruel tortures. Their 
 skulls and other bones are kept in little red boxes 
 with glass windows in front, and are objects of great 
 devotion. Over the picture of a missionary suffering 
 decapitation, I noticed a representation of our Lord 
 holding forth a crown and a palm-branch for the de- 
 parting spirit. I was shown over the establishment 
 by the student who is next to go to China, — a fine, 
 noble-looking fellow, whom you would have admired, 
 Papist as he is. He fully expects to die the same 
 horrible death as his predecessors, and says that he 
 shall willingly encounter it 'for the love of God.' 
 They talk of sending forth a similar mission to Western 
 Africa, where I trust and believe that there are self 
 denying and devoted missionaries of the Church of 
 England who will not suffer by the comparison. 
 
 " I am asked whether the Church of England pro 
 duces missionary martyrs. I reply, that she has pro- 
 duced many, who, for the love of Christ, have faced 
 death in its most awful forms. It is not indeed oui 
 custom, I say, to Cv^Uect the bones of our deceased 
 missionaries, and to parade them before the eyes of 
 
180 FRENCH MISSIONARIES. 
 
 the faithful. We rather prefer to bury them where 
 they die, and, like the body of St. Stephen, to com- 
 mit * earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust,' know- 
 ing that the souls of the faithful are in the hand of 
 God. 
 
 " Go oir, dear friend Leacock, with your glorious 
 undertaking ; and may He, who so providentially has 
 prepared the way for you, continue to carry forward 
 your great work until it reaches a blessed consum- 
 mation." 
 
SCHOOL AT FALLANGIA. 181 
 
 CHAPTER XII. ' 
 
 The School at Fallangia. Return of Fever. Conversation with "Wilkinson. 
 Extent of the Soosoo Language. Need of additional Teachers. Welcome 
 from King Jelloram Fernandez. The Missionaries again taken ill. Con- 
 tinuance of Journal. Duport sent for his health to Sierra Leone. Re- 
 semblance of the Negroes of Fallangia to those of Barbados. Conver- 
 sation with " old Martha." Witchcraft. Second Conversation with " old 
 Martha." Return of Duport. Death of Kennyback ^li. Description of 
 neighboring Chiefs. Agriculture and Animals. 
 
 Mr. Leacock proceeded with great energy with his 
 work at Fallangia, knowing that his life was preca- 
 rious, and that '' whatsoever his hand found to do," 
 he must " do it with all his might." On the 14th of 
 January, two months after his first landing in Africa, 
 he commenced his school, as already mentioned. 
 Twenty children out of the thirty in Fallangia at- 
 tended his instructions, and, with the aid of Duport, 
 he proceeded to lay a good foundation for Christianity 
 in a substantial education. On the ITth fever returned, 
 and he had to undergo a course of medicine till the 
 2l8t, when he found himself relieved. On Smiday, 
 the 20th, he was unable to officiate, and Duport ac- 
 cordingly acted as his substitute. On the 22nd he 
 was able to leave his bed for an hour and a half. 
 
182 EETTEN OF FEVER. 
 
 On the 23rd poor Duport was suddenly seized with 
 a chill, which compelled him to take to his bed. Mr. 
 Leacock remained in the school all day, but finding 
 himself unequal to much exertion, desired one of the 
 elder boys to keep the children together and teach 
 them the alphabet, and whatever else he could till 
 Monday, the 2Sth. 
 
 The following is from his journal, addi'essed to the 
 Bishop of Barbados : — 
 
 "24th. John is better to-day, though he had 
 fever last night. 
 
 " Do not be anxious about us, my lord. I state 
 every little circumstance at your desire, and to pre- 
 pare those who come to us for what they may expect. 
 I think we are passing from the Barbados climate into 
 that of Africa very nicely. As exotics we are doing 
 pretty well. Though we quail and fade a little under 
 this bui-ning sun, we are nevertheless gradually tak- 
 ing root in the soil, and hope presently to be as ver- 
 dant and flom'ishing as any of the indigenous plants 
 around us. 
 
 " 25th [Conversion of St. Paul]. I entered Mr. 
 "Wilkinson's piazza this morning, and found the old 
 man reading his Bible very intently. As soon as he 
 observed me, he called to me with some appearance 
 of concern, and said, ' Sir, I have been thinking of 
 you.' Some days previously I had been showing him 
 the likenesses of my childi-en, which seemed to de- 
 light him, but he could not understand why I should 
 leave ih^rn to come and live among 7iaJced savages^ but 
 now he thought he had discovered the reason. The 
 
CONYEKSATION WITH WILKINSON. 183 
 
 place of the Scripture which he read was this : ' He 
 that loveth son or daughter more than nie, is not 
 worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and 
 foUoweth after me, is not worthy of me.'* ' Why, Sir,' 
 said he, ' you must have loved the Saviour more than 
 your children, to come to this wretched place of ours, 
 to look for us poor sinners.' I replied, 'Certainly, 
 father ; and I can leave my children in the Saviour's 
 hands, for He loves them more than I do. But read 
 on : there is a promise for you here, if you will accept 
 it.' He read the forty-first verse. ' Well,' said I, ' you 
 have received me in the name of a righteous man ; 
 your reward shall be that of a righteous man. But 
 read on.' He read the last verse of the chapter. ' E'ow,' 
 said I, ' if a cup of cold water given to a disciple shall 
 in no wise lose its reward, what will be the reward of 
 him who, besides the cup of water, gives the disciple, 
 in the Saviour's name, a house to dwell in % Certainly 
 to him will be given a house not made with hands, 
 eternal in the heavens.' His expression of countenance 
 manifested a deeper interest as he replied, ' I will do 
 any thing in my power for His sake, and you may 
 rely upon it, Mr. Leacock, I will help you in the fall 
 as far as I can.' Such is his promise. You may live 
 to see whether he will perform it. I have frequent, 
 daily conversations with the old man, and through 
 him .with others. We have a little congregation every 
 evening, and very attentive. If the services were per- 
 formed in a consecrated place of worship, they would 
 
 * Matt. X. S^, 38. 
 
184 EXTENT OF THE SOOSOO LANGUAGE. 
 
 be called regular public services, with a lecture. At 
 present, they must be regarded as merely acts of 
 family worship. 
 
 " 26th and 30th. Confined to my room by the 
 sickening intermittent ; but when feeling better, com- 
 ing for an hour into the piazza to get a little fresh air. 
 I know this is injurious, but it is dreadful to be con- 
 fined to a room, which, for the purpose of reading or 
 writing, is as unavailable at midday as it is at mid- 
 night. TVhile seated in a corner of the piazza, examin- 
 ing Arrowsmith's Map of the "Western Coast of Africa, 
 the old man came in, and looking at the map, said, ' I 
 wonder that so little is known of our country, for the 
 slave trade has made it notorious enough ; and I see 
 countries laid down in which the Soosoo language is 
 spoken as well as in this country.' I may here observe 
 that Mr. Wilkinson has, for many years, been trading 
 with the peoj)le of these countries, and that he is still 
 trading with them. Many of them come from a great 
 distance, probably as great as that travelled by the 
 Magi in search of the birth-place of the King of the 
 Jews. Mr. Wilkinson can speak the Soosoo and Man- 
 dingo languages as fiuently as the English, in which 
 he is not at all deficient in common conversation, or 
 in any subject with which he is acquainted ; and he 
 speaks the Fullah language sufficiently to enable him 
 to trade with the people of Futa Jallon (the FuUah 
 being their vernacular tongue). 
 
 " I immediately replied, * What countries ? ' And 
 to my surprise and delight, he answered, without 
 looking at the map, ^ From Cape Yerga to the River 
 
NEED OF ADDITIONAL TEACHERS. 185 
 
 Scarcies, and beyond it nortli-east all the country of 
 Talonkadii, Balega, Siilimana, Timasse, and Tom- 
 brichi, the Soosoo is the native language. Go further 
 south, and in the Timing, l^orth and South Bullom, 
 and in the Sherbro' countries, the Soosoo language is 
 spoken. In Sierra Leone too it is spoken, though in 
 none of these south countries is it the native lan- 
 guage.' 
 
 " ^ow this gives us an extent of country, which, 
 if not as large as the famed Ashantee, is larger than 
 Dahomey, with this advantage, that missionaries need 
 learn but one language, the Soosoo, to have access to 
 them all. Yet strange to say, these great districts of 
 country to which I have alluded, have hitherto been 
 entirely overlooked by Christian Societies, the mis- 
 sionary current setting in strong toward the Cape of 
 Good Hope, and now toward A shantee and Dahomey. 
 Why is this ? Is it that the daring chivalrous spirit 
 of the age overlooks these poor devil-worshippers, and 
 longs to beard the proud kings, the bloody monsters 
 of Ashantee and Dahomey ? If danger be sought 
 for, enough may be found in the climate of the Pon- 
 gas and back countries, and in the secret machinations 
 of the poisoner and the incendiary. 'No open opposi- 
 tion may be expected to a teacher as a teacher of 
 religion. Even some Mohammedans here begin to 
 say, ' The white man's religion is true ; ' and if asked, 
 ' Why not embrace it ? ' the answer is ready, ' We 
 have been taught from our youth to believe the Ko- 
 ran, and we cannot change.' The secret is, they dare 
 not change without incurring the deadly animosity 
 
186 NEED OF ADDITIONAL TEACHERS. 
 
 of their sect. Tliey want that moral courage to meet 
 the persecution that awaits them, which God alone 
 can give. As to those who worship neither Moham- 
 med nor the devil, already three have displayed a 
 great willingness to learn, asking for books, and com- 
 ing at night to have conversation with us about the 
 common Salvation, desiring to learn to read, that 
 they might read the Bible. All this is encouraging 
 enough, as it shows that a spirit of inquiry is awak- 
 ing in the minds of some of the people. As soon as 
 I can persuade certain influential proprietors, such as 
 King Jelloram Fernandez, of Bramia ; Mrs. Light- 
 burn, of Farrangia, and her son, of a neighbouring 
 town ; Mr. Charles Wilkinson, of Domingia ; and Mr. 
 Faber, of Sangha, to have their slaves taught to read, 
 numerous small proprietors residing amongst them, 
 and at some distance from the river, will instantly 
 follow the example. Fallangia sets a noble example. 
 Mr. Wilkinson tells his people, ' I will not compel 
 any of you to send your children to school, but you 
 are quite at liberty to do so. I send my own, and 
 shall be glad to see yours come.' Yery few, howev- 
 er, have as yet come, for the want of clothes, I believe. 
 They are not ashamed to walk everywhere else quite 
 naked ; but when they come to the piazza, and see all 
 the children in the school with some sort of garment 
 on, they cannot be persuaded to enter. 
 
 " Here there will be at least Rve stations, each re- 
 quiring a teacher. Let him be sent to our Principal 
 at Codrington College. It is not necessary that he 
 should be a person of rare scholastic attainments. 
 
NEED OF ADDITIONAL TEACHERS. 18Y 
 
 Such, valuable as they are in England and the "West 
 Indies, and in every improved state of society, would 
 be lost among these people. But he must be ' not a 
 novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the 
 condemnation of the devil.' ' The word of God should 
 dw6ll in him richly in all wisdom ; enabling him to 
 ,teach and admonish in psalms, and hymns, and spir- 
 itual songs, singing with grace in his heart to the 
 Lord.^ He should know the truth, and know what it 
 is to be made free by if^. The love of God should 
 dwell in his heart, and the ruling principle of his life 
 should enable him to ' endure hardness as a good sol- 
 dier of Christ,' and to present himself ' a living sac- 
 rifice, holy and acceptable unto God.' His life here 
 in an African forest, will have nothing of the ease or 
 comfort of an English drawing-room or parlour ; it 
 will be a soldier's tent. Look for such men (no mat- 
 ter whether they be born Episcopalians, Moravians, 
 or Wesleyans), and after sufiicient training, they, with 
 our beloved John, himself once a Moravian, will 
 make the number which may soon be required by 
 your missionary. Such is the qualification with 
 which, I respectfully suggest, the teachers should 
 come to us ; and when they have proved themselves 
 faithful men, and have acquired the language of the 
 people whom they are to teach, let them be admitted 
 into the ministry. 
 
 "With respect to the sum necessary for their 
 maintenance, 1 cannot yet decide. If they be greedy 
 
 » John viii. 31, 32, 36. 
 
188 KING JELLOKAM FERNANDEZ. 
 
 of ' filthy lucre,' they will not answer here, nor any- 
 where else. In this place it will not take mnch to 
 ^support a man, if he will attend to his garden. Land 
 ^osts nothing. It is readily given to any extent that 
 nay be required ; and a labourer may be obtained at 
 ibout two dollars fifty cents per month. I have just 
 commenced the cultivation of a garden, and before 
 the end of the year shall be able to ascertain what 
 amount of aid a missionary may derive from it. 
 
 " Feb. 1st. To-day I received from Jelloram Fer- 
 nandez, of Bramia, King of the Pongas, a cordial 
 welcome to his country, with an assurance that it af- 
 fords him pleasure to hear that at last a missionary 
 has been sent to his people ; and, moreover, that he 
 will do what lies in his power to advance the good 
 cause in which we are engaged. He thinks my posi- 
 tion in Fallangia a healthy one, and favourable for 
 the establishment of a large school. He intends to 
 send many pupils, and he will assist in getting up 
 such buildings as will be necessary for the accommo- 
 dation of pupils and teachers. He concludes with a 
 pressing invitation to come and see him. I hope to 
 see him in a fortnight. I have not the control of a 
 boat, but depend entirely on a neighbouring chief, who, 
 with Mr. Wilkinson, promises to accompany me. / 
 
 '' My lord, the opportunity by which this letter 
 goes to Sierra Leone has ofi'ered unexpectedly. I 
 would not let it pass, though with difficulty I sit up 
 to write this note. I have had a severe attack of 
 fever, which has confined me to my bed for several 
 days. To-day I am better, and hope to be out in a few 
 
EETUKN OF ILLNESS. 189 
 
 days. I don't know how you will hear from me, or I 
 from you, during the rainy months, for no boats can 
 get to Sierra Leone from April to October, nor to Rio 
 Pongas from Sierra Leone." 
 
 Mr. Leacock rallied a little after writing the above, 
 and proceeded with the labours of his mission. His 
 convalescence, however, was but brief, as the follow- 
 ing extract will show : — 
 
 " John Duport was taken sick on Monday, the 4th ; 
 I, on Wednesday, the 6th. Lie was up and out in a 
 few days ; and I am now only, with tottering limbs 
 and ghastly countenance, endeavouring to move about. 
 Just as I begin to gather strength, John is attacked. 
 He has been in about an hour. Here he is, poor fel- 
 low, by my side, with a galloping pulse, which, how- 
 ever, is checked by aconite. His skin is becoming moist, 
 and I expect perspiration will soon follow. Such are 
 our present trials ; but (blessed be God) He gives us 
 power to endure them. They may, I am told, con- 
 tinue three or four months, or longer ; and it is of no 
 use to attempt to flee from them. One who comes to 
 the country to remain any time cannot escape : and 
 caution, temperance, moderate exercise, and a strict 
 eye on the enemy, are absolutely necessary, under 
 Grod's blessing, to save from his deadly grasp." * * * 
 
 Mr. Leacock was confined to his little room during 
 seventeen days. On the 27th of February, for the 
 first time since the 6th, he was able to leave his apart- 
 ment, and return to his school. His account of himself 
 proceeds in the following words : — 
 
 " Now for our school. It numbers twenty-four, 
 
190 JOUKNAL CONTINUED. 
 
 and improves very mucli. The little creatures are 
 most of them dwelling in the village. They are up 
 right early every morning, and in school by eight 
 o'clock, frequently befoi-e, though it does not open till 
 ten. There they rattle away, not in play, but in right 
 good earnest with their lessons, under the direction of 
 a self-constituted teacher — a youth, himself a pupil, 
 who seems to take great pleasure in teaching the junior 
 classes. Every thing at present promises well. Even 
 our o-^TL weak, sickly condition is not unfavouraole, 
 painful and disagreeable as it may be. The old man, 
 Mr. Wilkinson, who is an experienced nurse, says it 
 is better to meet and undergo the evil effects of cli- 
 mate at once, than be attacked by them months hence. 
 ' The sooner the better,' is his saying.* 
 
 " Sierra Leone is the nearest point of stopping to 
 the Rio Pongas for the African steamer, and an op- 
 portunity from one place to the other occurs very 
 rarely, even in the best season of the year. Small 
 open boats are the only means I have of sending let- 
 ters to Sierra Leone to meet the steamer, and to take 
 up whatever letters my agent has received for me. 
 From May to October the communication by boat is 
 cut off altogether. The south winds then set strongly 
 in on all this coast, and make a tremendous sea ; and 
 the tornadoes, particularly in May and October, are 
 very dangerous. I^o small craft can live ; and as to 
 our little boats, it would be madness to attempt cross- 
 ing the bar, and putting out to sea in one of them. I 
 
 * This is not the most tempestuous, but the most unhealthy seasoc 
 of the year. The healthy is the rainy season. 
 
DTTPOET SENT TO SIEEEA LEONE. 191 
 
 mention this, to set your mind at ease, should you not 
 hear from me at the appointed time ; and bear this in 
 mind, I have no knowledge of the matter — I hear it 
 from traders and boatmen. 
 
 " March 2nd. John much better to-day. Had a 
 full congregation. Though weak, I ventured out, and 
 read a selection of the prayers, and preached. The 
 people very attentive. You would be greatly pleased 
 to see the old man, Mr. Wilkinson, after the service 
 is over, sit down, while the people are yet in the room, 
 and explain to them, in their own language, the sub- 
 ject of the sermon. 
 
 "March 11th. Your letter of December 21st I 
 had the pleasure of receiving on Sunday, the 9th in- 
 stant, after first service. It found me in bed, where I 
 had been confined since Monday, the 3rd, for my im- 
 prudence in preaching on the preceding day. I am 
 now very feeble ; hardly able to get out of my room. 
 Yesterday I tried, and failed ; to-day I have succeeded, 
 by which you will perceive how much I have im- 
 proved in twenty-four hours. Your letter has greatly 
 strengthened me ; it is quite a lift by the way. I 
 hope I shall be spared the rest of the sickness, and be 
 enalfled to do as well as to suffer the Divine will." 
 
 Supposing that Duport's health would be bene- 
 fited by a little change, Mr. Leacock sent him to 
 Sierra Leone at the beginning of his Easter vacation, 
 viz. on the 18th of March. He commissioned him to 
 select some good materials for the doors and windows 
 of their future residence. He was anxious that the 
 carpenter's work should be done during the rainy sea- 
 
192 DrPOET SEXT TO SIEERA LEONE. 
 
 son, and so be in readiness when wanted in the next 
 diy season. He knew that it wonld be lost labour to 
 attempt building mud walls in the rainy season ; for 
 what was put up one day would be levelled the next. 
 Duport was the only cai-penter he could obtain with- 
 out sending to Sierra Leone at a considerable charge 
 for passage, board, lodging, and wages. While left 
 alone at Fallangia his account of himself proceeded in 
 the following words : — 
 
 " March 31st. I went out a little after sunrise this 
 morning (the first time for many weeks) to see the lot 
 which is ap^^ropriated for my garden, and I instructed 
 the ]Deople how to lay it out and prepare it for corn, 
 potatoes, yams, beans, (fcc. : valuable ' flowers ' here 
 to me, because not found in any part of the country. 
 Thej quickly understood me, though I cannot speak 
 a dozen words of their language ; and I left them at 
 work, and returned not a bit the worse for my walk 
 and exertions. The fever let^ me some days ago, and 
 according to my old friend, not to return again. I 
 am, of coui'se, weak, and a little exercise shakes my 
 knees. 
 
 " As soon as I had an opportunity I called Mi*. 
 Wilkinson, and read your letter tt) him. He heard 
 me very quietly through, and then said, in substance, 
 ' The Bishop desii*es to know whether I and the other 
 chiefs will render any assistance towards the erection 
 of the buildings. I cannot answer for all the other 
 chiefs, but I can answer for myself and my son 
 Charles. I, a poor old sinner, prayed God to send us 
 a missionary to show us the way of salvation. 5^ 
 
193 
 
 has heard my prayer, and sent a man ; and now shall 
 I turn him out of doors ? The work is intended for 
 God's glory, and He will help us ; I am very confident 
 we shall be able to do all I have promised, which is 
 to build the walls, and roof them.' 
 
 " ' Mr. Wilkinson,' said I, ' the Bishop may think 
 that I have fabricated all this, to cause an impression 
 at home favourable to myself. He does not know the 
 state of things here. He supposes, and all my friends 
 suppose, that there are no educated persons in the 
 country. It is true the number is very, very small ; 
 but they do not understand this. They think you are 
 all savages. In order, then, to certify them that 1 
 have stated nothing but truth, will you endorse what 
 you have now spoken ? ' He laughed, and said, ' Cer- 
 tainly ; you write it down, and I will put my name on 
 it.' So, my lord, here is the promise ; you have it as 
 I received it : and you have as much security for the 
 performance of it as I. It is the word of an African, 
 and we shall see whether the hope which it inspires 
 ' maketh ashamed ' or not. I have mentioned all, from 
 my first conversation with the Governor on the sub- 
 ject of our mission, in order to encourage you to per- 
 severe in the good work. Many discouragements we 
 have to encounter. The zeal of the chief of Fallangia 
 may help to counteract them ; but if it fail, and our 
 hope perish, your mortification will never exceed mine. 
 Moreover, by stating these circumstances, it will con- 
 vince you that I have been led, almost dragged, into 
 paths I knew not ; certainly against my will did I 
 come to this place. I had instructions, and in obeying 
 9 
 
194: • APPLICATIONS FOE BAPTISM. 
 
 the instructions, I have been turned out of the path 
 which had been marked out for me, and brought to 
 a place of which I had never heard any thing. My 
 lord, continue your prayers and exertions for the pros- 
 perity of the w^ork, and it will not fail, though the ex- 
 ecution of it be committed to the hands of your weak 
 and unworthy servant." 
 
 In a letter to me, dated March 14:th, Mr. Leacock 
 writes : — 
 
 " I had almost forgotten one of the most important 
 points, not being willing to speak confidently of a 
 matter in which one may be easily deceived ; I mean 
 the spiritual effect of our labours. We have several 
 applications for baptism, and several serious inquirers. 
 A venerable-looking old man came to me to-day, while 
 writing this letter, and said, he had come to ask me 
 some questions about God and a future state, but he 
 could not be persuaded to commence the conversation, 
 as he saw me engaged. He said he would come 
 again. "We have services in our piazza every sabbath, 
 and generally they are well attended. ]^o opposition 
 to be seen any where in this place, — so much for old 
 Wilkinson's example. 
 
 " I know not why the stream of popular favour 
 should run down so rapidly towards the Equator and 
 the Cape of Good Hope. There is good hope, how- 
 ever, in the Pongas country. The place is very little 
 known, except to slavers, to whom it has hitherto af- 
 forded a rich harvest. It seems to me that it is the 
 very place to which a mission from Barbados should 
 be sent. There is a striking lesemblance between the 
 
RESEMBLANCE TO BARBADOS. 195 
 
 natives here and the Africans in Barbados, or what I 
 remember of them at the time of their im23ortation, 
 and subsequently to the termination of slavery ; and 
 even now their amusements, mnsical instruments, &c., 
 are not without analogl. I have no doubt that a 
 great number of the people imported into our island 
 came from this place. There is a ruined, once a flour- 
 ishing village, on the Bangalong river, called Liver- 
 pool, and there is an impression on my mind that 
 Liverpool took the lead in supplying Barbados with 
 slaves. The musical instrument used to this day by 
 the negroes in Barbados, called the ' pump,' is also 
 used here. The singing of the people here is like the 
 singing of the poor Africans, as I remember it in my 
 youth ; the baskets are made here just as they are now 
 made in Barbados. These circumstances, and others, 
 make it appear to me singular that Providence should 
 close every door on the coast against me, except this. 
 This has been opened to me ; and I am cordially wel- 
 comed by every chief I have met. Mohammedans 
 are kind, and say, ' De white man's religion is true.' 
 Many are inquiring for the way, and some are begging 
 for baptism ; I am holding them in abeyance, till we 
 get up our church. It may be that their desires are 
 of an ephemeral character, perhaps without any solid 
 foundation, and that might be injurious to us just in 
 the commencement of our labours." 
 
 Under the date of April 9, he writes : — 
 " Many parents at a distance from Fallangia are 
 now ready to send their children to us, and nothing 
 but the want of lodging prevents our receiving them. 
 
196 CONYEESATION WITH MAETHA. 
 
 We intend soon to fit np our schoolroom so as to afford 
 ample accommodation, where thej will be immediately 
 under the eye of the teacher night and day. Mr. "Wil- 
 kinson will board them. 
 
 '' We had last Sunday and the preceding one but 
 a slender congregation. Polygamists, without any 
 direct allusion to their mode of life, see and feel that 
 it is contrary to the spirit of the Gospel, and Moham- 
 medans (such as have attended our ministry) are 
 equally convinced of the truth of the Bible and false- 
 hood of the Koran. The heathen, too, are not without 
 conviction of their danger." 
 
 An interesting conversation is mentioned between 
 old Martha, while sick, and Mr. Wilkinson, resj^ect- 
 ing the missionary. The former said to the chief, 
 " ]S^ow you have got the hooTc man. God has sent him 
 to you. You must hear what he says : if you don't it 
 will go hard with you to-morrow.'^'' On being asked 
 what she meant by to-morrow., the answer was, " The 
 next world." 
 
 The people treated Mr. Leacock with much respect 
 and said, " This white man does not come to trade 
 with us : he brings the good book to teach us." 
 " But," he remarks, " notwithstanding this persuasion, 
 very few come for instruction. I have had frequent 
 conversations with those who speak a little English, 
 and they have listened, at times, with intense interest. 
 Others, who do not understand our language, after two 
 or three attempts to keep up a conversation have been 
 discouraged. This points out to us that native teach- 
 ers are to be preferred. ]N"otwithstanding, I trust the 
 
WITCHCRAFT. 197 
 
 leaven is at work. If some understand, others will learn 
 from them. My hope, nnder God's blessing, is chiefly 
 in the children. The parents may learn something from 
 them, and talk of it to others ; and so a few may, after 
 a long time, come to the knowledge of the truth." 
 
 " I will now state a circumstance which sometimes 
 occurs in this country, and which proves to my mind 
 that, ignorant and heathenish as the people generally 
 are, there are some who are not wholly destitute of 
 human feeling. 
 
 " In most of the villages witchcraft exists, more or 
 less ; but it is far from being encouraged generally 
 by the chiefs, as it is reported of chiefs in other Afri- 
 can countries. Here it is held by many in the great- 
 est abhorrence. In some villages it is enough that 
 suspicion only rests on an individual, to cause him 
 severe punishment; but when the circumstance is 
 proved, the poor wretch, having a weight tied to him, 
 is thrown into the river, to be devoured by alligators, 
 or he is tied to a stake and burnt. This, however, is 
 a rather rare occurrence. The masters of those slaves 
 who are convicted of the wicked craft, prefer sending 
 them away into the interior, or selling them to slavers, 
 hoping that by better management they may be cured 
 of their wickedness, or by better government re- 
 strained from the practice of it. 
 
 " Does not this look humane ? " 
 
 " April 18th. — Several Mohammedans (strangers) 
 came into our school to-day, and seemed pleased with 
 the order and diligence of the children. Having 
 heard the classes recite their lessons to me, one of 
 
198 CONVERSATION WITH MAETHA. 
 
 them remarked, ' The white man has now comg^ our 
 country, and my master taught me in my youui that 
 when he comes, fourteen years afterwards the leopard 
 shall lie down with the hid^ " 
 
 " Mr. Wilkinson said, ' I believe that happy period 
 of the Church is not far distant : but no one can tell 
 the day or the hour in which it shall come. It is a 
 secret, and it will remain a secret, till the sign of the 
 Son of Man is seen in the heavens.' Conversations on 
 the Scriptures almost daily occur between him and 
 strangers, or his own people, in their own language, 
 and I am sometimes called to help him out of a diffi- 
 culty. 
 
 ",A few evenings ago, Mr. Wilkinson and I were 
 sitting together in my lodging, when old Martha came 
 in. I invited her to be seated, and soon after the fol- 
 lowing conversation took place, Mr. Wilkinson being 
 our interpreter. 
 
 " ' Martha, you and I are advanced in years, and 
 must expect soon to leave this world, what is your 
 hope for the next ? Do you know to what place you 
 are going ? ' ' No, I know not the place to which I 
 am going ; but my trust is in God. I never trusted 
 in any thing else, never in any greegree, nor in any 
 god, but the great God^ from my youth. My father 
 and mother died when I was a child, and from that 
 time I have trusted in God.' 
 
 a ' What makes you trust in the great God ? ' ' He 
 has been good to me in feeding and in taking care of 
 me when I knew it not, and could not take care of 
 myself. He raised up friends for me.' 
 
CONVERSATION WITH MARTHA. 199 
 
 " ' But, Martha, this He does for the wicked and 
 ungodly. In Him they all live and move and have 
 their being temporally. He feeds and clothes them, 
 though they know it not. I admit that God is un- 
 speakably good ; but is He not also just? He pun- 
 ished angels, once bright and glorious, who sinned 
 against Him; and if He act unjustly by saving us 
 who have sinned as well as they, how can He be called 
 good? Have you always done what He commands ? 
 Have you never left undone what he requires you to 
 do ? ' 'I don't know what He commands. I never 
 heard that He had given any commands ; but I have 
 always endeavoured to do what I thought was right.' 
 
 " ' Well now,' I said, ' here is one of his commands 
 (1st Commandment), and here is another (4th Com- 
 mandment), and here another (10th Commandment), 
 each explained. Have you never broken these com- 
 mandments ? (No answer.) All these command- 
 ments proceed from His goodness, and if you have 
 broken them, how can you trust in Him ? Have you 
 not abused His goodness, and been ungrateful for all 
 He has done for you ? The transgression of the law 
 is sin ; and God hath declared (His truth and justice 
 are involved in the declaration) that death is the wages 
 of sin. How can He deny Himself ? Will He vio- 
 late His truth and justice ? ' Here poor Martha was 
 at a stand, knew not what to answer and looked sad. 
 I immediately opened the Gospel, and showed her how 
 God could be just, and good, and true, and yet the jus- 
 tifier of poor sinners. When she heard that 'God so 
 loved the world that He gave his only-begotten Son, 
 
200 EETUEN OF DUPOiiT. 
 
 that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, 
 but have everlasting life,' that this Son did actually 
 die to bear the punishment of her sins, and wrought 
 out a perfect righteousness for all that believe and 
 trust in Him, I know not what she felt, but she looked 
 inexpressible things. ' Martha, will you accept Jesus 
 Christ as your Wisdom, Eighteousness, Sanctification, 
 and Eedemption, and trust in Him to bring you to 
 God? ' ' O yes ; willingly.' ' Then, Martha, if you 
 accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you must follow 
 and obey Him in all things as your Teacher. You 
 must think how often you have offended God, and 
 pray Him to change your heart. You must be sorry 
 that you have sinned against so good a God : and put 
 away all your idols, and resolve never to return to 
 them, God helping you. You must receive as truth 
 what He has caused to be written for our instruction. 
 Thus walking with Him as your only ' Way ' to God, 
 and as the only Teacher of ' Truth,' He will give you 
 ' life,' spiritual and eternal life. This, Martha, is the 
 only true ground of hope and trust in God. Are you 
 willing to take Jesus Christ as your only Saviom- ? ' 
 ' O yes, very willing.' ' Then remember His command 
 to the disciples, ' Go, preach the Gospel to every crea- 
 ture : He that believeth and is baptized shall be 
 saved.' You say you beheve, are you willing to be 
 baptized V ' O yes, I am willing.' " 
 
 " 22nd. Duport has at length arrived, strong and 
 healthy. I am truly glad to see him, as I do not feel 
 myself equal to the labours of the school in my pres- 
 ent weak state, and but for his timely presence, T 
 
MK. LEACOCK OFENS HIS MINISTRY. 201 
 
 sliould be compelled to leave the school to work itself.. 
 He is looking well, though he had a week's severe at- 
 tack of fever in Sierra Leone. He left the day after 
 the steamer's arrival, and, to mj great joy, brought 
 your two right welcome letters, accompanied by four- 
 teen others, partly from England, partly from the 
 West Indies, and partly from the United States. I re- 
 ceived also the 'Mission Field ' for March, and a large 
 basket full of newspapers, which I shall never read. 
 
 "I cannot, my lord, express the pleasure I re- 
 ceived in knowing that my poor labours had given 
 you such satisfaction ; for although I seek not honour 
 from man, but from Him only ' whose I am, and whom 
 I serve,' yet it is truly gratifying to find that my la- 
 bours are acceptable to His dear servants. Such ac- 
 ceptance may be a pledge of His own, for it is He 
 only who giveth us favour with such. Be that, how- 
 ever, as it may, I thank you for your encouraging and 
 friendly epistles ; and I thank you further for making 
 the extracts from my letters, which appear in the 
 * Mission Field.' I thank you, moreover, for the gen- 
 erous spirit you evince in providing suitable lodging- 
 accommodation for your missionaries. Depend upon 
 it, njy lord, I will not abuse it ; I seek not luxuries ; I 
 will do no more than what will contribute to our health 
 and necessities ; and I trust, if I live to meet you in 
 committee, to be able to render a fair statement of the 
 ex]->enditure of the means .committed to me by your- 
 self and other members of our association. 
 
 " Such a house as Dr. Bradshaw of Sierra Leone 
 
202 DEATH OF KENNYBAIK ALL 
 
 recommends*, cannot be built in tlie Pongas country 
 but at a very great expense. "We have a fine slightly 
 elevated site for a house, cool and dry ; and mud for 
 walls will serve any of God^s missionaries, and grass 
 is a cool covering for them. If a missionary want 
 marble and cedar, we donH want him. Let him be 
 where he is. I trust, if Satan does not get in and in- 
 terrupt our work, to erect what buildings we require 
 at less cost than you imagine. Yet I would not have 
 you to be too sanguine, for I am not. I have been 
 too long engaged with the enemy of souls to be ' ig- 
 norant of his devices.' I trust in God alone through 
 Christ for help. He has helped me so far ; it would 
 be ungrateful not to trust in Him to the end. 
 
 " Kennyback Ali is dead / Katty going fast, — is 
 already a dead letter. They both deceived me, but I 
 have nothing to say. They are in other hands. 
 
 " I expect to leave this week for the Bangalong 
 river. On my return, if I return in time, I shall be 
 able to inform you what use we have for a second 
 teacher. I wish, if possible, to place Duport at Far- 
 rangeah. The new teacher I would keep with me till 
 I know him, and till he is acclimated." 
 
 Mr. Leacock gives the following interesting sketch 
 of some of his neighbours : — 
 
 "Mrs. Lightburn is a native of this country, a 
 black woman, widow of a respectable American white 
 man, who came to this country many years ago, and 
 died here, leaving many sons and daughters, and 
 
 * See page 119. 
 
AGRICULTUEE. 203 
 
 very considerable property. She has a respectable 
 family. Her eldest son, Styles Lightbnrn, an edu- 
 cated gentleman, resides on the Fattalah river, a 
 branch of the Bangalong. He is a chief. 
 
 ^' Mr. Faber is a coloured gentleman, son of an 
 American by a native woman. He is wealthy, and 
 one of the most influential chiefs in the country. 
 
 " I have a new and very interesting chief to intro- 
 duce, — Stephen, chief of the Bagoes. He is not edu- 
 cated, but he speaks English fluently. In his youth 
 he was put on board of a British ship of war, where 
 he learned true and wholesome discipline ; and this 
 training now keeps his people in peace and order. 
 He is a wise and inflexible disciplinarian. 
 
 " In all the villages on the river ^ the English lan- 
 guage is known by a few persons. It was introduced 
 by slavers and factors or storekeepers, who were 
 Englishmen, or Americans, or natives educated in 
 England or America. 
 
 " Agriculture is not much attended to. Tlie sloth 
 and indolence of the natives are unfavourable to the 
 furtherance of any valuable vocation. The chief 
 employment is hunting. Every man has his gun and 
 sword, and is never seen without them. The slaves 
 work a little in their farm-patch, in which they raise 
 rice, coffee, ground-nuts, beneseed, timais or coco, 
 and cassava. This is, as well as I remember, almost 
 the extent of their agricultural pursuits. The culti- 
 vation of cotton and sugar is almost out of the ques- 
 tion. It requires too much labour for a people who 
 love to lounge in an old hammock all day. They are 
 
204 AOTMALS. 
 
 satisfied with the productions of their farm-patch for 
 food, and a few yards of cotton with which the 
 higher orders cover themselves. The lower class is 
 almost naked. The factors are very successful 
 traders ; they spend very little, almost nothing, living 
 chiefly on rice and vegetables ; they buy cotton cloth 
 and blue baft, as it is called, and exchange it with 
 strangers from the far interior for hides, gold, ivory, 
 rice, &c. 
 
 ''I state, on the information of JMr. Wilkinson, 
 that there never was a Christian mission in this part 
 of the Pongas country ; but in the Bangalong division, 
 on the Fattalah river, which I have not yet seen, a 
 missionary from the Church Missionary Society was 
 stationed. He remained there a few years, and was 
 finally burnt out. It is now forty-two years since 
 that event, and the mission has not been renewed. 
 
 "Tell your dear little daughter I pray God to 
 bless her and her efforts for the West Indian Church 
 Association. And I hope the little story of old Mar- 
 tha's willingness to be a Christian will repay her for 
 all her exertions. Say, in answer to her inquiries, 
 there is not a horse in all the Pongas country, not a 
 pig, not a donkey, but here and there a little cow, 
 not half the size of your fine English cows. In 
 Fallangia we have many little cows, and I am fed, 
 like a little baby, on their milk, which is very nice. 
 We have cats for rats, and are compelled to keep dogs 
 to sound an alarm w^hen the tiger-cat or the leopard 
 approaches, the attacks of which are yerj stealthy, 
 and generally in the dark and rainy nights. The 
 
ANIMALS. 205 
 
 tiger-cat robs ns of our poultry, and the leopard of 
 our sheep ; but he has a formidable enemy in the cows. 
 Providence has armed these gentle grateful creatures 
 with very long and sharp-pointed horns ; and the mo- 
 ment the leopard approaches they must smell him ; 
 at any rate, they all unite and marshal themselves in 
 one solid phalanx, and search for and pursue him till 
 he is quite out of the camp. Woe be to him if they 
 catch him, for they will gore him to death in a few 
 minutes." 
 
206 
 
 CHAPTEE XIII. 
 
 Assurance of King Kattv. Miseries of the People. Visit from Mr. Co- 
 lumbini de Waskr. Application from Cassini. Excursion to the Banga- 
 long River. Domingia, Sangha. Farrangeah. Increase of the Con- 
 gregation under Duport. Journal continued. Relapse of Mr. Leacock. 
 He visits Sierra Leone, and is ordered to return to England. He deter- 
 mines to remain at his Post. . 
 
 The last chapter contained Mr. Leacock's journal 
 down to Tuesday, tlie 22nd of April, addressed to 
 the Bishop of Barbados. On the following day he 
 commenced a letter to me, which I give almost en- 
 tire. 
 
 "Mv dear Caswall, 
 
 " I received yesterday your lettei's for January, 
 February, and March. My assistant I had sent to 
 Sierra Leone on the ISth of March to get some lum- 
 ber, and he returned yesterday, bringing with him 
 lettei*s from IS'ovember to March, sixteen in number, 
 and a large package of newspapers, all for the last 
 three months, 
 
 " Tour inquiries respecting Kenny back Ali and 
 Katty, have been answered in some of my letters. 
 The former died a few weeks ago, and the latter 
 
207 
 
 having come to the funeral and missed me, had the 
 assurance to write and ask me why I had left Tin- 
 tima — that I had been consigned to his care, and he 
 was surprised not to find me in Tintima. I replied 
 that I was surprised that he should presume to write 
 to me in that style, when he knew that he had de- 
 serted me, and left me in the hand of creatures, who 
 would have soon destroyed me. I then threatened 
 him with a visit as soon as I was able to go up the 
 Bangalong river, when I would tell him how he and 
 his deceased friend had treated me. 
 
 " In my present weak state, I do not feel able to 
 write to my old friend Dr. Coit. I have too much 
 writing on hand that I cannot neglect. I am afraid 
 the application you speak of will be troublesome to 
 him. 
 
 " I don't know whether I ever mentioned to you 
 any thing about Mr. Wilkinson's baptism. Both he 
 and his son Lewis have been baptized. It is im- 
 possible to say whether the bright prospects before 
 us are an illusion or not. I am not sanguine in my 
 expectations. I have only told you of the favoura- 
 ble reception I have met with from certain chiefs, 
 and of the prospect they have held out to us. You 
 have it just as I received it, and you have as much 
 security for the performance of their promises as 1 
 have. 
 
 "Your last inquiry respects Jelloram Fernandez 
 (King of the Pongas). I have not seen him. I am 
 now hardly able to encounter the sun and rain in 
 going up the river. We have here neither stage-coach 
 
208 MISERIES OF THE PEOPLE. 
 
 nor railway, and a little open boat amidst sandbars 
 and tornadoes, is a shadowy sort of thing. 
 
 " 28th. How greatly am I moved with compassion 
 for the miseries of the people aronnd me. I had 
 heard from Duport of a Mr. Columbini de Wasky, 
 who fell in with him on his return from Sierra Leone, 
 and made many inquiries of him respecting our school 
 and mission. He had heard in his own settlement, 
 Cassini, of our mission ; and his father-in-law, and all 
 the neighbouring chiefs deputed him to come to me, 
 and to say that they were greatly in want of reli- 
 gious instruction for themselves and their children. 
 Cassini is near the river Componee, which is between 
 the Rio N^unez and the Rio Grande. The people are 
 very poor. They have no money, but they can sup- 
 ply a missionary with fish, rice, and plantains. Tliey 
 will also help to get up a dwelling-house and school- 
 house for him, and do all in their power to make him 
 comfortable. The man seemed to be in good earnest. 
 He bewailed the wretched condition of the young 
 people in this country, all growing up in ignorance 
 and sin, and asked if I could do any thing to help 
 them. He would send over twenty to us immedi- 
 ately ; but we have no accommodation for them. "We 
 shall not be ready before January, 1857. He asked 
 then if we could send them a teacher. He would 
 prefer a married man, as the people wished their 
 daughters to be educated as well as their sons. 
 Here, again, I was unable to give him a satisfactory 
 answer. It was Sunday morning. He came with a 
 Roman Catholic as a guide. I invited them at the 
 
COLUMBINI DE WASKY. 209 
 
 hour of prayer (tliey spoke English a little) to go with 
 us to the Piazza, where we raeet for worship. The 
 Eoman Catholic declined the invitation, but the other 
 was all attention. After service, he came up to me, 
 offered me his hand, and thanked me heartily. I 
 preached from Matt. xx. 6, T. The room was crowded, 
 and solemn attention pervaded it. The man told me, 
 ' Sir, I have come from Cassini in an open boat, and 
 had to encounter many tornadoes to seek the word 
 of God for my people.' Cassini is said to be 160 
 miles from Fallangia. But what renders his case 
 doubly interesting is that he is a Greek. I conld not 
 help thinking that he was sincere in regard to the 
 great object who alone is worthy of our search ; that 
 Friend, who, above all others, is worthy of being 
 known. If our Lord declared that He was glorified 
 by the first-fruits among the Gentiles, may we not 
 hope that the application of one Greek for the word 
 of God, and the ordinances of His house, in behalf of 
 a great district of country, will bring additional glory 
 to Him ? Oh, then, my dear Caswall, apply to your 
 Society for the Propagation of the Gosjpel for help ; 
 apply to the friends of Christ for help. Let them 
 send us a good, holy, pious man and his wife, who 
 knows, and is competent to teach tlie truth as it is in 
 Jesus ; who is able to teach sacred music (nothing but 
 psalms and hymns), and who by their example may 
 so adorn the doctrine of God in all things, that others 
 seeing their good works may glorify our heavenly 
 Father. 
 
 " The boat is waiting for me, and I am summoned 
 to prepare for travelling." 
 
210 EXCURSION TO THE BANG ALONG. 
 
 Mr. Leacock was now on the point of setting out 
 on his long-promised excursion to the Bangalong 
 River or Big Pongas. Mr. Wilkinson had dissuaded 
 him hitherto from the attempt, under the impression 
 that he was not strong enough, nor sufficiently pre- 
 pared to encounter the sun and damp dews. Kow, 
 however, he thought there was no danger, and 
 Duport having returned to take charge of the school 
 and the Sunday services, he himself volunteered to 
 accompany the good missionary, and to visit with 
 him the various chiefs on the river. His son Charles, 
 the chief of Domingia, offered the use of his six- 
 oared boat, a very comfortable little vessel, with an 
 awning and a place for Mr. Leacock' s mackintosh 
 bed. All this was very encouraging, and as yet 
 there was no shrinking from promises or engage- 
 ments. Mr. "Wilkinson, indeed, appeared to long for 
 the time when he might commence his work, and not 
 only his son, but Gomez, the chief of Backia, was 
 pledged to assist and support him. 
 
 On Monday the 28th of April, Mr. Leacock and 
 his friendly chief left Fallangia in the boat, and were 
 rowed down the beautiful Little Pongas to Mangrove 
 Island, where the streams unite. Hence they as- 
 cended the Fattalah to Domingia, where they arrived 
 at ten o'clock at night. l!^ot being able to land, they 
 slept on board of an American schooner whicli lay 
 off the town, and next day (Charles Wilkinson not 
 being at home) they again took boat when the tide 
 served, and in a few hours landed at Sangha, which 
 stands on a creek running into the Bangalong. Here 
 
DOMINGIA. 211 
 
 tliej were received verj cordially by Mr. Faber, the 
 semi- American already mentioned, who entertained 
 them with great hospitality. Mr. Leacock was com- 
 pelled to remain quiet the rest of the day and the 
 whole of the following, in consequence of weakness 
 and a slight attack of fever, but on the following day, 
 which was Holy Thursday, May 1st, being greatly re- 
 freshed, he was enabled to proceed with Mr. Wil- 
 kinson on his journey. They ascended to the source 
 of the Bangalong, where they landed at Farrangeah, 
 the residence of Mrs. Lightburn, the African widow 
 described in a former chapter. They found the old 
 lady a plain, humble-looking person, notwithstanding 
 her great wealth. She and her children owned more 
 than a thousand slaves, and a great tract of country, 
 partly cultivated by her people. They cultivated rice, 
 ground-nuts, Indian corn, fundangia (a very small 
 sort of rice), and Guinea corn, which they exchanged 
 for European merchandise. 
 
 After being welcomed and feasted by Mrs. Light- 
 burn, they left her on Saturday, May 3, and returned 
 to Mr. Faber's at Sangha about nine in the evening. 
 On the following day they rested and engaged in the 
 Church services, at which six persons assisted. On 
 the 6th they reached home safe and sound, Mr. Lea- 
 cock feeling himself much stronger and better for his 
 excursion. He then wrote the following report of the 
 results of his investigations : — 
 
 " Wherever I have been, our mission is readily 
 received. Mrs. Lightburn consented to my visiting 
 her place for the purpose of preaching, and Mr. Fabei 
 
212 INSTKrCTIOX OF SLATES. 
 
 told me that he should be glad to see me whenever I 
 could make it convenient to come. They both made 
 me small presents on leaving their residence, and 
 begged that I would accept them as an evidence of 
 their respect, both for me and for the Institution with 
 which I am connected. 
 
 " The chiefs are not yet prepared for the religious 
 instruction of their slaves. They think that such a 
 measure would inevitably lead to emancipation, or to 
 rebellion, and, therefore, I have decided to wait till 
 Providence shall open the door by enlightening their 
 minds with respect to the nature and obligations of 
 Christianity and the object of our mission, which is 
 to make masters kind and gentle to their servants, 
 'giving unto them that which is just and equal,' and 
 ' servants obedient to their masters, in singleness of 
 heart, fearinsc God.' When thev understand our 
 views, I think we shall meet with no more opposition 
 m the country generally than we do in Fallangia. 
 
 '' I have learned more of the country by my visit 
 to the Bano^alono^ river, than I had anv idea of before 
 from the vague information of traders and natives. If 
 it take its name from the river it ought to be called 
 the Fattalah country, for it is properly the Fattalah 
 river, not the Pongas. The Pongas, properly so 
 called, is not navigable more than fifteen miles from 
 its jimction with the Pattalah, and beyond this is 
 nothing but a shallow and rocky brook. The Banga- 
 long is not na\dgable more than six miles ; but the 
 Fattalah has its source in the Fullah countiy, and 
 flows for a distance of more than a hundred and 
 
mCEEASE OF THE CONQKEGATION. 213 
 
 fifty miles. It is navigable for thirty miles from the 
 sea, and would be for sixty or seventy, but for the 
 falls or rapids, of which there are tour, and beyond 
 which is considerable depth of water (as I am in- 
 formed) for some distance. The Bangalong and Pon- 
 ga« rivers then are only branches of the Fattalah- -the 
 former commencing at Hurl Gate, and flowing up 
 eight miles (uninfluenced by the tides), at the head of 
 which is Farrangeah — the latter at Mangrove Island, 
 and stretching out some twenty miles, fifteen of 
 which are navigable. I hope I shall not make any 
 serious mistakes, for I am confused by the noise of 
 the school which is held in the next room. 
 
 " On my return to Fallangia I was much gratified 
 to hear from Duport that, while I had in Sangha 
 only six hearers, lie had in Fallangia a large congre- 
 gation on the Sabbath. It seems that during the 
 week he had asked a young man belonging to the 
 school, why the people began to neglect attending 
 public worship ; who replied : ' The people cannot un- 
 derstand what is said, and after service are constantly 
 asking me w^hat is said.' Duport then had a conver- 
 sation with our laundress, who is a daughter-in-law 
 of old Martha, mentioned in my last letter, and a 
 constant attendant at the public service. He asked 
 her if she understood what was preached on the Sab- 
 bath. She said, 'I^o, I do not understand much.' 
 He inquired of her (as I had of the mother) if she was 
 a sinner, or if she knew any thing of sin. She an- 
 swered, ' ISTo : I have never douQ any thing wrong.' 
 He theii went through the commandments, explaining 
 
214 JOTJENAL CONTINUED. 
 
 them, and she said she ]iad never broken any but the 
 fourth. The conversation being ended, she thanked 
 him, and said, 'I understand better now.' On the 
 Sabbath, Duport addressed the people, assisted by an 
 interpreter, and he says ' great solemnity prevailed 
 amongst them.' After the service, one of the congre- 
 gation, an old man, said, ' I like this, I can understand 
 this, and would come to hear it every day. As to 
 Mohammed, I never had anything to do with hiin^ 
 and I never will believe him.' The people inquired 
 whether I also would teach them in this way ; and 
 upon being assured I would if they desired it, all 
 seemed much pleased. I am greatly encouraged by 
 this, and am glad that Providence has at length 
 pointed out a plan in which we may get a hold of their 
 understanding. I shall adopt it, and use it whenever 
 I can get an interpreter. 
 
 " May 9th. Mr. Faber from Sangha visited our 
 school yesterday. He is here to day, and will prob- 
 ably remain till Monday. He is much pleased with 
 the order and improvement of the children, and 
 promises to send two children as soon as he returns 
 home, one a slave / and as soon as we have accommo- 
 dation he will send the four who are now in Sierra 
 Leone at a private school. He now promises to assist 
 in the erection of our buildings. This is an impor- 
 tant point, as his word is to be trusted, and he has 
 more wealth and influence than any other chief in 
 the country. I write this from Mr. Wilkinson's in- 
 formation, not from any personal knowledge of my 
 own. 
 
EEL APSE OF MK. LEA COCK. 215 
 
 " I have fitated circumstances just as they occur- 
 red ; but if 1 be disappointed, many will think and 
 say that what I had written had no truth in it, and 
 was only intended to produce an effect at home. But 
 there is One who knows the simplicity of my inten- 
 tions, and the caution which I have used to avoid 
 every thing like exaggeration or embellishment. I 
 have read my letters both to Duport and Mr. Wilkin- 
 son, and they can see nothing to condemn ; on the 
 contrary, they declare if I cannot say more, I cannot 
 say less. The letter published (in the ' Mission Field ' 
 for March) I have sent to the ' African ' press, that it 
 might be inserted there, and have publicity in the 
 very place where the circumstances therein stated 
 have occurred. Surely if 1 am believed here I shall 
 not be doubted at home." 
 
 At the time of writing the above letter, Mr. Lea- 
 cock thought himself nearly acclimated, and expected 
 his strength to be fully re-established. But the ex- 
 pectation was disappointed. Sooji after his return 
 from the Bangalong, distressing symptoms appeared, 
 and he again became unlit for active duty. Fever 
 had left him for some months, but his strength did 
 not return ; on the contrary, he felt himself gradu- 
 ally sinking. He proceeded, therefore, to Sieri'a 
 Leone, in search of medical aid, and arrived at the 
 house of Mr. Pocock, on the 23d of May, in a state 
 of great debility. On the following day, he received 
 a letter from the Bishop of Barbados which cheered 
 his spirits greatly. Dr. Bradshaw came to see him, 
 and ordered him to proceed to England in the steamer, 
 
216 HE Yisrrs siekea leone. 
 
 wliicli was to sail in a few hours ; bat he felt himself 
 unable to endure the voyage in her. She was the 
 " Ethiope," in which he had suffered so much on his 
 outward passage, and which was already crowded 
 with passengers. He begged to be allowed to remain 
 in Sierra Leone and take his chance. Dr. Bradshaw 
 said that his disease was a general relaxation of the 
 system, from which a person so far advanced in years 
 would with difficulty recover. The worthy doctor 
 also signed the following certificate, dated at Sierra 
 Leone, June Yth : — 
 
 " I certify that I have been attending the Kev. 
 Mr. Leacock since he returned from the Pongas. He 
 is suffering from extreme debility, consequent on a 
 severe attack of African fever. His constitution 
 seems to be completely broken from his long and se- 
 vere illness ; and I am of opinion that he should not 
 return to the Pongas. And if his recovery is not 
 more permanent and rapid than it has been heretofore, 
 that he should return to England by the first Packet 
 for the preservation of his life. 
 
 "POBEET BeADSHAW, 
 
 Colonial Surgeon." 
 
 " I. am now," wi'ote Mr. Leacock on the 6th to the 
 Bishop of Barbados, " with kind friends, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Pocock, and I feel stronger already. But here 
 I am, and here I must be for the next four months. 
 It makes me feel sad ; but if I were in my sphere of 
 duty, I could do nothing out of Fallangia, in conse- 
 quence of the winds and rains which prevail at this 
 
A RETURN TO ENGLAND ORDERED. 217 
 
 season. I have requested tlie doctor to give me a 
 certificate, stating my condition, and his advice based 
 on it. It may be necessary to satisfy the members 
 of the committee. I assure yon, my lord, I would 
 not hesitate about returning to Fallangia immediate- 
 ly; but at this early stage of our mission, were my 
 health to suffer materially, climate would be charged 
 with it, not my age or my imprudence. I see no 
 more difference in the change of climate from Barba- 
 dos to the coast of Africa, than from Barbados to any 
 other of the West Indian islands. In fact, if strangers 
 will take care of themselves, and avoid the night- 
 damps and the noon-day heats, there is much less 
 danger here than in many of our islands. " Mr. and 
 Mrs. Pocock, who were fellow-passengers with me 
 from England, have never been seriously unwell one 
 day since they have been here. But their residence 
 and mine are different. They can get the comforts 
 as well as the necessaries of life, which are not quite 
 so easy of access to me. Missionaries in the Pongas 
 cannot exist comfortably without th^ command of a 
 boat. Since I have been here I have been told that 
 all missionaries, even from the Gallinas (which get 
 their supplies from Freetown), keep their own boat, 
 and that we shall not be able to get on comfortably 
 without one. I speak now only for those who are to 
 come after me, not for myself ; for I must not conceal 
 the fact, I am not equal to the duty of the mission, 
 nor indeed to any regular duty any where. The la- 
 bours of a West Indian curacy I am now entirely un- 
 fit for, and I would not take or keep a cure which I 
 10 
 
218 A EETUKN TO ENGLAND OKDEKED. 
 
 am unable to serve faithfully. I mention this to show 
 YOU the necessity of sending a suitable person early 
 next year to take charge of the missions. By that time, 
 I trust, we shall have got up a house to receive him. 
 I have come hither with the hope of gathering strength 
 sufficient to attend to the erection of buildings in De- 
 cember and January ; and it would injure our mission 
 to keep me at the head of it, when a younger man can 
 supply my place so much better." 
 
 The following letter, addressed to me, came by the 
 same post : — 
 
 " Sierra Leone, June 10th, 1856. 
 
 " My dear Caswall, 
 
 " I have not received any letter from the Bishop 
 (of Barbados) by this packet ; therefore I conclude he 
 must have left England for Barbados. I therefore 
 send you the letter which I had prepared for him. * * 
 
 " I thank you heartily for your letter of May 19th. 
 It makes me feel stronger. The money (collected by 
 the editor of the ' Church Journal') which you will 
 probably receive from our dear friend Dr. Coit, you 
 will forward to me. I will send a receipt for the 
 amount, whatever it may be, and give credit to the 
 Society for it. 
 
 " I am in Sierra Leone, under the medical aid of 
 Dr. Bradshaw. He says I am suffering from nothing 
 but debility ; but O ! this weakness, this shortness of 
 breath, trembling of knees, and cough, are almost as 
 distressing as fever. He positively forbids my return- 
 ing to my duties till the rainy season has passed by, 
 and wishes me to proceed at once to England. This, 
 
DETERMINATION TO REMAIN IN AFRICA. 219 
 
 however, I cannot do, for my absence may cause the 
 zeal of my friends in the Pongas country to cool down, 
 and to postpone the erection of the building in the 
 fall of the year, which would be a greater evil than 
 my death ; so I have gained his consent to remain 
 here, and take my chance. 
 
 " I knew of your appointment as associate member 
 of the West Indian Church Association. The Bishop 
 informed me of it some months ago, and I rejoiced, 
 and do rejoice at it greatly." 
 
220 FRIENDS DESIRE HIS ESCAPE. 
 
 CHAFTEK XIY. 
 
 Mr, Leacock's Friends desire him to escape from Africa. Letters to that 
 Efiect from Mr. Wilkinson, from the Author, and from the Bishop of Bar- 
 bados. He appears to recover. His Plans for building. Letter to a 
 Young Person. 
 
 The sad intelligence of Mr. Leacock's continued ill- 
 ness found its way, in due time, to his friends in Fal- 
 langia, England, America, and the West Indies. All 
 of them, as if by common consent, desired that his 
 escape might be hastened from the malaria which was 
 brmging him down to the grave, and that, if it were 
 possible, his life might be preserved for some years of 
 usefulness in a healthier climate. 
 
 The old chief Wilkinson received the information 
 in the latter end of June, and immediately sat d^wn 
 and wrote to Mr. Leacock the following sensible and 
 encouraging epistle : — 
 
 " Fallangia, Eio Pongas, 
 June 26th, 1856. 
 
 " My dear Friend, Brother in the Lord, 
 " I have received your letter respecting the state 
 of your health. I would advise you to go entirely by 
 the doctor's directions : if he advises you to go ofi* for 
 
LETTER FEOM WILKINSON. 221 
 
 the benefit of your health, do so ; but I should like to 
 see you before leaving. I have been up to the first 
 falls of the Fattalah river in company with Mr. Wil- 
 liam Faber. I almost shed tears when I beheld the 
 old ruins of the Missionaries' settlement on that river ; 
 but, thank God, I was kindly received, and treated 
 with all the civilities by the chiefs, more particularly 
 by Foulah Guyay and Bangua, the two principal 
 chiefs of that part of the country. 
 
 " I am very happy to inform you that our congre- 
 gation is increasing rapidly. Last Sunday we had 
 nearly a hundred. Duport is another man since you 
 left. I believe the finger of God is in this mission. It 
 is astonishing how the children improve, and how 
 eager the people are for learning ; those who cannot 
 attend on week-days attend Sunday school. I should 
 wish you to have a sight of this school before you 
 leave. I believe, and I am confirmed, that it is the 
 Lord in his wise Providence who has been pleased to 
 direct you to open a mission at or in Fallangia. May 
 God Almighty bless your Society. Wishing you a 
 speedy recovery, with due respects, 
 " I remain. Sir, 
 " Your well-wisher, and respectfully, 
 (Signed) " Richakd Wilkinson." 
 
 The intelligence reached England early in July, 
 and I wrote to my friend in the following words by 
 the return of the packet : — 
 
222 LETTER FEOM THE AUTHOE. 
 
 " My dear friend Leacock, 
 
 *' Toiu' letter of June 10 from Sierra Leone reached 
 me early in the month, and I for^rarded your letter to 
 the Bishop of Barbados by the West India packet of 
 this week, together with Dr. Bradshaw's official cer 
 tificate of the state of your health. 
 
 " Earnestly do I hope that you are restored to 
 your usual strength, and that your valuable life may 
 be spared, so that you may place your mission on a 
 satisfactory foundation. Bat if you coutinue weak, I 
 must implore you to return at once to England. Here 
 you may recruit, and may possibly be able to retm*n 
 to the Pongas in January to complete your buildings. 
 Besides this, you may awaken a great interest in your 
 mission, and even obtain reinforcements of fellow-la- 
 bourers. Could you have an opportunity of telling 
 your tale here, you would see the advantage of being 
 in England after having gone over your ground in 
 Africa. 
 
 " Should you feel yourself unfit for further work 
 in Africa, you will of coui*se remember what you said 
 about spending the evening of your days with me. 
 Here you would have a bracing climate, and might in 
 various ways, though feeble, promote the great pur- 
 poses of your life. Even in this neighbourhood there 
 are people whose spiritual condition is not greatly 
 superior to that of the inhabitants of the Pongas 
 country. 
 
 " Since you state that there will be no communi- 
 cation with the Pongas before October, and as it is 
 not expedient that the articles should lie longer in a 
 
LETTER FEOM THE BISHOP OF BARBADOS. 223 
 
 Btorehouse, I am not in a hurry to send off the things 
 which you desired me to get for you. As the pack- 
 ages will not probably be dispatched before the 20th 
 of September, there will be plenty of time for you to 
 add to the order, or make such variations as you may 
 think expedient. 
 
 '' I confess, however, that I have great expectations 
 of seeing you here before many days. I think you 
 will, on reflection, feel it to be your duty to comply 
 with Dr. Bradshaw's advice, and I cannot think you 
 will make much real progress towards recovery while 
 you remain in Africa." 
 
 The letter to the Bishop of Barbados reached its 
 destination early in August, and elicited the following 
 prompt reply : — 
 
 "Barbados, Aug. 9, 1856. 
 
 " My dear Mr. Leacock, 
 '' I am not surprised, but very much grieved, at 
 the effect wdiich your trials in the Pongas country 
 have had upon your health. The conclusion to which 
 we must come, you as well as the Board here, seems 
 plainly this, that you have done your part of the work 
 in opening the way, and laying the foundation, which 
 is more than we contemplated when we talked of a 
 mission of inquiry. Even should you think of going 
 back from England (where I hope you now are) in 
 December, which, however, I would rather dissuade 
 you from, I trust it will not be to reside in the Pon- 
 gas, but merely to visit it, when necessary, from Sierra 
 Leone. 
 
224: LETTEE FEOM THE BISHOP OF BAEBAE^OS. 
 
 '' There ^vill be nnmbers (mTself for one) Tvho will 
 be glad enough, to see you back again in Barbados, 
 '^here I hope you mar find Youi'self again strong and 
 fit for TTork, and where voui' infomiation and advice 
 would be of the first importance in conducting the 
 affairs of the mission. 
 
 '* I humbly trust, and hope, and pray that it may 
 please God to raise up some one to succeed you, and 
 cai'ry on what you have so nobly begun — a younger 
 man, and perhaps of African descent. 
 
 '' I propose to call a meeting of the ALission Board 
 at an early day, with the view of taking some defi- 
 nite steps in order to make our work and our wants 
 more generally known ; and this may lead, by God's 
 blessing, to some ofter of service. 
 
 '• Tom- interesting letter of the 7th of May, giving 
 the account of the Bangalong river, has been pub- 
 lished in. the ' Barbadian.' 
 
 ••Tlie last I have not venttu'ed to publish 7jet, 
 Something of the kind may be done after the ineet- 
 ing of the Board. 
 
 •'• How far is the Bishop of Sierra Leone disposed 
 to ordain Mi*. Duport ? and how near is the latter to 
 a state of preparedness for ordination ? 
 
 " I am going now to wiite to Archdeacon Trew 
 respecting two persons whom he recommends for the 
 mission ; but neither of whom would be able to re- 
 place you, neither being in orders, even if otherwise 
 competent. 
 
 '• May God of His mercy in Chiist preserve you, 
 and restore you to health, and may He guide and 
 
APPARENT KECOVEKY. 225 
 
 bless US all in our efforts for the furtherance of His 
 Gospel in Western Africa. 
 
 " Believe me always 
 
 " Yery sincerely yours, 
 
 "T. Barbados.'' 
 
 In the mean time Mr. Leacock was regaining a 
 certain degree of health and strength in Sierra Leone. 
 On the 28th of June he wrote to me stating that he 
 was recovering rapidly, and hoped in another month 
 to be quite well. Speaking of his mission, he added, 
 " If we had a school-house, there is no doubt that our 
 report, both as to the number of children and their 
 progress, would be satisfactory ; but the advantages 
 of a suitable building we cannot expect before Feb- 
 ruary or March, 1857. There is very little intermis- 
 sion to the rain during this season. When it com- 
 mences after three or four days' cessation, it comes 
 down at times like a torrent. A few nights ago, such 
 was its force that it seemed as if a water-spout had 
 broken over our house. I^ow our mud walls and 
 floors, if exposed, could not resist such a torrent. 
 The mud used here in building possesses not, in so 
 great a degree, that property of adhesiveness which 
 is the peculiar character of the clay employed for 
 similar purposes in Wiltshire ; therefore we are 
 obliged to build only in the dry season, and to cover 
 the walls immediately with a roof projecting some 
 eight or ten feet beyond them.* Even when the 
 
 * See the engraving at page 153. 
 
 10* 
 
226 PLAINS FOR BUILDING. 
 
 walls are cured, were they to be exposed to one or 
 two heavy rains, they wonld melt to the very fonnda- 
 tion. This answers a question in one of the bishop's 
 last letters, ' Why do you not commence building at 
 once ? ' In September I hope we shall begin to cut 
 timber, and in January to raise the walls. It would 
 be lost labour to begin earlier. 
 
 " Our American friends are certainly brave fellows, 
 and our dear Coit among the bravest. Your report 
 of the sum raised by them is cheering. Bless that 
 dear good woman, Mrs. Blandy, for the spectacles 
 for my friend Mr. Wilkinson. 
 
 " May our gracious God continue to bless your 
 labours, and abundantly multiply his grace on your 
 dear family, and on all who show mercy to the poor 
 heathens." 
 
 Abou.t the same time he wrote the following letter 
 to my son, a youth of seventeen : — 
 
 " My dear Eobert, 
 " I received your truly interesting and well- written 
 letter on the 24th of May. The preceding day I 
 had reached Freetown in a state of great debility, 
 which when the doctor perceived, he directed me to 
 leave immediately for England ; but I did not feel 
 equal to the fatigue of the voyage, and begged him 
 to let me remain here and take my chance till the 
 following steamer. I knew that the timbers in my 
 frame were sound, though they are now old and 
 somewhat shaky ^ and I thought I could trust them. 
 Tlie doctor says that the fever had quite left me be- 
 
LETTER TO A YOUNG PEKSON. 227 
 
 fore I left tlie Pongas, and that my present illness 
 arises from debility only, wliicli lie should not much 
 regard in a person twenty, or even ten, years younger ; 
 but when one has passed the meridian of life, such 
 debility is hard to overcome. I trust, however, under 
 God's blessing, I shall be able to overcome it, and to 
 weather this storm. But I am told it will require 
 great care. I could get no suitable nourishment in 
 the Pongas for a convalescent, and he says, had I re- 
 mained but a few weeks longer, I could never have 
 left it : my bones would have been laid there. I trust 
 a gracious Providence will spare my life till I am 
 enabled to see to what extent my expectations respect- 
 ing the buildings for our missionaries may be realized. 
 
 " When I shall have accomplished this work, I 
 hope to be succeeded immediately by some person 
 who will be able to do the duties of the mission more 
 effectually than I can. Then I must look for home. 
 My children are unhappy about me, and long to have 
 me with them ; and I must say the desires of my 
 soul are after them. I know not, therefore, if my 
 life is spared, whether I shall be able to be in Eng- 
 land longer than a few weeks. Most of this time 
 will, of course, be spent with your dear parents, to 
 whom I cannot express my obligations of gratitude 
 for past hospitality ; but my increasing infirmities 
 remind me that a quiet and retired home befits me 
 more than any place under heaven. 
 
 " Your account of yourself is very interesting, and 
 1 trust, under God's blessing, you will continue to 
 improve in wisdom and knowledge — above all, in that 
 
228 LETTEK TO A YOUNG PEKSON. 
 
 wisdom and knowledge wMcli come down from above, 
 and be made a rich blessing to your dear parents and 
 sisters, and to many living and many yet unborn. Do 
 not rely on your own strength. Be diligent in your 
 studies, and at the same time live near to God in 
 prayer, and in the diligent study of His word. You 
 know not how greatly He can and will help you. All 
 his children are taught by Him : it is written, ' They 
 shall all be taught of God ; ' and unless He teach you, 
 you will never he able to come to the knowledge of 
 ' the truth as it is in Jesus.' ' Hath not God made 
 foolish the wisdom of this world ? ' He hath destroyed 
 it : He hath brought it to nought.* 
 
 " You know, if a man have not the Spirit of 
 Christ, he will speak ' the words which man's wisdom 
 teacheth,' not those which ' the Holy Ghost teacheth.' 
 And if he make a profession of religion, where can 
 you expect his wisdom will lead him but directly on 
 the quicksands and sunken rocks of apostasy? If 
 the things of God can be discerned sjpiritually^ and 
 in no other way, how can any man discern them who 
 has not the Spirit of God? Be not deceived, my 
 dear young friend. Cast all youi- cares, temporal 
 and spiritual, upon your heavenly Father. He has 
 commanded you to do so, for ' He careth for you.' 
 He alone can bring you to the experimental knowl- 
 edge that Jesus Christ is your wisdom, righteousness, 
 sanctification, and redemption. Depend upon it, this 
 ' Cometh not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, no. 
 of the will of man,' but from God only. Sjpeculative 
 
 * 1 Cor. i. 19-31. 
 
LETTER TO A YOUNG PERSON. 229 
 
 kaowledge is one thing, whicli devils have, and so 
 may wicked men if they will read the Bible ; but 
 that knowledge which is experimental^ changing the 
 heart and principles, and directing the affections and 
 desires in the way which leads to God through Jesns 
 Christ alone, God's Holy Spirit alone can give. 
 Therefore seek it, and never rest till you find it. Then 
 you will know ' what manner of love the Father hath 
 bestowed upon us, that w^e should be called the 
 children of God.' Then you will know experimentally 
 what you know speculatively, why ' the world know- 
 eth us not.' * 
 
 " With affectionate remembrances to your father, 
 mother, and sisters, believe me, my dear Robert, 
 
 " Yours sincerely, 
 
 "H. J. Leacock." 
 
 * 1 John iii. 12. 
 
230 PKOGEESS OF THE MISSION. 
 
 CHAPTEE XY. 
 
 Satisfactory Progress of the Mission under Duport. Report sent by Du- 
 port to Mr. Leacock. Mr. Leacock's Remarks upon it. Favourable 
 Opinion of the Bishop of Sierra Leone respecting it. The Lord's Prayer 
 in Soosoo. 
 
 In the mean time the mission in Fallangia continued 
 to make satisfactory progress under Duport, whose 
 youth and African descent were in his favour. He 
 rapidly gained strength, and exerted himself in a 
 manner w^hich appears surprising. He sent to Mr. 
 Leacock the following account of his proceedings, 
 which is too interesting to admit of much abridgment, 
 and which affords a curious insight into the habits 
 and opinions prevalent in an African village. It ap- 
 pears that from the urgency of the case, Mr. Duport, 
 although not yet in orders, felt himself called upon 
 (with Mr. Leacock's approbation, and doubtless with 
 the sanction of the Bishop) to discharge some of the 
 functions of an ordained missionary. It may be well 
 to add in this place that Mr. Duport was ultimately 
 admitted to Holy Orders on the 12th of October. 
 
231 
 
 E"o. 1. 
 
 "Fallangia, June 9th, 1856. 
 
 " Rev, and dear Sir, 
 
 " I hope and trust that these few lines may meet 
 jonr health much improved. I am very happy to 
 inform you that I have been tolerably well since you 
 left. Mr. Wilkinson is not here : he left on Saturday, 
 May 31st, for Sangha, and he has not yet returned. 
 Mr. Yalentine came to pay you a visit the day after 
 you left. 
 
 " I am happy to state for your information that 
 since Sunday, May 25th (Lectures a. m. and p. m., 1 
 Thess. iv. 13 — 18), the people have wonderfully in- 
 creased. At night our parlour was crowded, and we 
 had no room within for those who were standing 
 without. I am now obliged to move the dining-table 
 and my writing-table every night, and yet we cannot 
 make room enough. My bed is occupied, and the 
 mat at the foot of my bedstead is filled with the domes- 
 tics, who are afraid to show themselves."^ Every 
 night we have an increased number. I have made a 
 bench with the board which came from Domingia cut ; 
 it is nearly nine feet long. Old Bentra has brought 
 his wives, his sons, and a brother, with three others, 
 to hear for themselves ; and they are now regular at- 
 tendants. This is like Andrew bringing his brother 
 Peter to come and see the promised Messiah. Surely 
 the word is making its way by the blessing of God. 
 
 " On Sunday, the 25th, old Bentra told me in 
 
 * Probably from the want of clothing. 
 
232 
 
 broken English (for lie knows a few English words), 
 ' Me love what me now hear, and me praj God open 
 me heart, to believe what me hear, and me conntry- 
 men.' I told him that if he prayed from his heart, 
 through Christ, God will snrelj hear his prayers, for 
 He has promised in his word to do so, and he cannot 
 lie ; and that though He may delay long, yet He will 
 grant his request in his own due time. After the 
 people left, we had a very strong tornado, which un- 
 roofed the grass on our residence, and the rains poured 
 into the parlour in torrents. I had to awake the boys, 
 and move my bed and table to the only place which 
 was dry and unoccupied ; but Mr. Wilkinson had the 
 grass replaced the next morning. 
 
 " On Wednesday, the 28th, I had an attack of 
 fever, which lasted two days, during which I was 
 unable to perform the full duties of the school ; but 
 the people flocked at night at the usual time for 
 prayer. I ventured to instruct them as well as I 
 was able, but I could not sing. 
 
 " On Friday, the 29th, I was invited by Mr. 
 Wilkinson at about eight o'clock a. m. to accompany 
 him^and see the Mohammedans make a sacrifice for 
 the free passage of the soul of a woman (who died 
 twelve months ago) into heaven, and its admittance 
 there. I accepted the offer in order to gain informa- 
 tion. When we reached the place, the Mohamme- 
 dans, w^ho, as it appears, were all ready waiting for 
 the chief, arose from their seats, and approaching the 
 cow ready for slaughter, each one laid his hands on 
 the animal, and one of them offered up a short prayer, 
 
233 
 
 after whicli the animal was slain and qnarteved to be 
 distributed among all tlie people ; but all wlio attended 
 our meetings refused to touch or have any thing to 
 do with it. On their sending a portion to John De- 
 lone he refused it, adding that he is taught by his 
 ministers not to have any thing to do with such 
 things. They in reply said, ' God bless the missiona- 
 ries, they tell you true ; it was a blessed day when 
 the missionaries came among you.' This they said 
 because each one, on our people refusing, received a 
 larger portion. It was a day of great festivity with 
 them. 
 
 "Sunday, June 1st. To-day the room was well 
 filled ; but since you spoke so strongly against the 
 devil-house and its worshippers and greegrees, * * * 
 has not returned. T have been following up the same 
 discourse, exhibiting the power of Christ by his mira- 
 cles ; and our labour on this point (thank God) has 
 not been in vain. On Sunday night the parlour was 
 over-crowded. 
 
 " Tuesday, the 3rd. After evening service some 
 of the men remained behind, and while one of them 
 was telling me how he loves to hear God's word, and 
 no one knows his feelings but God, who alone can see 
 the heart, for man cannot open the heart to see what 
 is going on there, he was interrupted by Thomas 
 coming to me with an open letter in his hand, which 
 was sent by King Jelloram to Mr. Wilkinson, to in- 
 form him and his daughter Mammy Sue (our washer) 
 of the death of his son and her brother. The letter 
 came (as I was told) three days ago, and the bearer, 
 
234 duport's report. 
 
 being anxious to return, was desirous to disclose 
 the melancliolj event to Mammy Sue, but was pre- 
 vented doing so bj Thomas and John Delone, who 
 knew what would be the consequence, and therefore 
 they desired him to wait until they took my advice 
 on the subject. I inquired of them what the conse- 
 quence would be, and I was told the following. Ac- 
 cording to the country fashion, as soon as she heard 
 the news, she would give an alarm, and all the women 
 in the town would be gathered together in a moment 
 of time, and would keep a loud and very doleful noise 
 all night and the next day"^. They said that the 
 women knew of it already, and were only waiting for 
 the signal. I then sent to call Mammy Sue, and the 
 other women who were on the watch congregated 
 themselves at the door. Mother Martha alone came 
 and took a seat. After asking her about her relations, 
 I asked her how she would like to hear that one of 
 her brothers were called away to go into another 
 country. She said she would like it well, if it be a 
 better country. I was here at a stand, for I could 
 not assure her that he was gone to a better country. 
 After speaking to her in many parables, all which 
 time she was very serious, and had her eyes fixed on 
 me, I disclosed the event to her, and tried to comfort 
 her by referring to many of God's people. Job par- 
 ticularly. I then urged upon all present the necessity 
 of being the children of God, and from that event I 
 
 * "And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and 
 aU the Egyptians ; and there was a great cry in Egypt ; for there was 
 not a house where there was not one dead." Exodus xii. 30. 
 
235 
 
 preached nnto them Christ. They listened with pro- 
 found silence, and, when I had finished, they thanked 
 me, and each returned to his own home. I did not 
 forbid her weeping, but I exhorted her to weep in 
 silence, and pray unto God to give her spiritual 
 strength to bear this and other afflictions which God 
 may be pleased to inflict on her, with Christian forti- 
 tude. 
 
 " On Wednesday, the 4th, we had a very gloomy 
 morning, and during the day lightnings and thunder- 
 ings followed each other in rapid" succession, and the 
 rain-waters became congealed before they reached the 
 earth. It was a beautiful sight to see the people, old 
 and young, running to and fro to catch the congealed 
 globules, and sip them, some falling down on their 
 faces in trying to catch them. Thomas brought some 
 in a glass to inquire of me what they were. 
 
 " Thursday, the 5th. Wherever you turn you 
 hear the report of guns. It is the Mohammedans' 
 Christmas. Last month was the month of their fast- 
 ing, in which they turned the night into day. In the 
 evening they had a great dance at Lagaba, and our 
 meeting was deprived of some of its attendants. 
 
 " Saturday, the 7th. About five o'clock p. m. I 
 was sitting in the piazza, reading, and I heard the 
 reports of muskets, at which I saw most of the people 
 in the yard running to the gateway. One of Charles 
 Wilkinson's wives, who went on a visit to her father, 
 was come. They very soon entered the gate, with 
 music, singing, and dancing*. Those of our people 
 
 * " Now his elder son was in the field ; and as he came and drew 
 
236 
 
 who were present, drew back when they saw me. 
 The procession remained at the gate a long time, 
 those at the head continnally watching me, as if to 
 saj, ' Why do yon not go into the house ? ' I then 
 turned my back to them, and they very soon passed 
 to Eliza's house. About seven o'clock Thomas came 
 to me, and said, ' Sir, you had better keep the meet- 
 ing soon to-night, because there is to be a great ball 
 outside in honour of Mr. Charles's newly arrived 
 wife ; and most of those who come here intend to go 
 to the dance, for they are making preparations, and 
 they would disturb us.' I told him to send and call 
 them, as he desired. Never before was there such a 
 crowd, both within the house and before the door. 
 Some present had come from the neighbouring vil- 
 lages to attend the dance, and their friends invited 
 them to come with them to pray first, and then all of 
 them should attend the dance afterwards. I took for 
 the subject of the lecture, ' Arise ye, and depart ; for 
 this is not your rest, because it is polluted * ; ' and in 
 conclusion, referring to the dance, I told them that 
 those who go and spend the night in frantic mirth, 
 could not serve God as they ought the next day. 
 Moreover, that I did not wish to know who went to 
 the dance, for God knew ; I may not see them, but 
 God saw them. God blessed the latter clause to their 
 hearts ; their plan and scheme were overturned ; they 
 
 nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of 
 the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto 
 him, Thy brother is come.'''' Luke xv. 25 — 27. 
 * Micah ii. 10. 
 
237 
 
 left, and eacli returned to his own home, wondering 
 how I came to know their secret intentions. This 
 was told me on the Sunday morning ; and the chief 
 supporters of the dance told Thomas, that they could 
 not make the dance, as I told them that ' although I 
 did not see them, God saw them.' Surely the Lord 
 is in this place, and He hath blessed our feeble efforts 
 with a sign of success. Before they left I invited 
 them to church on Sunday, urging on them the obli- 
 gation we are under to serve God on the Sabbath. 
 
 "Sunday, the 8th. There were present both at 
 morning and evening service sixty-three persons, and 
 at night many more. I again compared the power 
 of Jesus to the power of greegrees (if they have any 
 power at all), taking for my subject the resurrection 
 of Lazanis at the command of Jesus. After evening 
 service old Bentra told me that every thing I said 
 concerning greegrees was very true, for he had proved 
 it himself, and that those that made them were only 
 robbing the people, and deceiving them. Thomas's 
 mother told me that she once had plenty of them, 
 but since we had began to speak about them, she has 
 cast them all away, and besides, she herself has 
 proved them to be all lies ; for she had a severe pain 
 in her head, and a greegree was sent her to place on 
 it ; she did so, but it appeared to her that the pain 
 increased ; she took it from her head and cast it away. 
 Yery similar confessions were made by Eliza, Maria, 
 and Mammy Sue. The latter said that there are a 
 great many in the house v/here she resides, but they 
 are not hers, they belong to Joanna, who is not here. 
 
238 
 
 At night I continued the subject. On Monday morn- 
 ing a woman brought a bottle of greegrees and asked 
 me to destroy it, as she was afraid to do so. I took it 
 from her and have it in my possession. ' Xot unto us, 
 
 Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, 
 for Thy mercy and for Thy truth's sake.' 
 
 " But while our prospects are brightening in one 
 way, a cloud is gathering in another. Satan is at 
 work. The Mohammedans begin to be very jealous 
 of us. Some have withdrawn their speech from me. 
 It is truly encouraging to see the young men, who 
 now come to our meeting when they are in the town. 
 Upon these the Mohammedans begin their attack. 
 Yesterday after service they called two of the yoimg 
 men and tried to poison their minds against coming 
 to hear God's word. This they told me through 
 Thomas. They next told the women who have do- 
 mestic slaves, that we only want to make them free 
 their slaves, and make them as their countrymen in 
 the West Indies. On this subject, by the Divine 
 blessing and guidance, I shall speak this evening, for 
 it is easier to quench the fire when it is first kindled 
 than after it has burnt for some time. John Delone, 
 
 1 believe, is a faithful interpreter ; he does not wander 
 away from the subject, but speaks nothing more than 
 what is told him. 
 
 " I only wish you were here to witness the change 
 and to build up the little flock, for all want building 
 up and pastoral advice. "What can I, a young and 
 inexperienced lad, the most unworthy of God's crea- 
 tures, unable to build up myself because of my mani- 
 
239 
 
 fold shortcomings, whose only resource is to believe 
 in the precious promises of the Gospel, which all who 
 pray sincerely are sure to receive through Christ Jesus, 
 do among persons just beginning to embrace the Chris- 
 tian religion ? But knowing that I am not acting by 
 my own power nor by my own might, I take courage 
 and go on my way rejoicing, because I have a High 
 Priest who can be touched with the feelings of our in- 
 firmities at the right hand of the Father, pleading for 
 me and all who come unto God through Him. I beg 
 that you will remember me in your prayers. I pray 
 that God may bless the change to the benefit of your 
 health. 
 
 " I must also inform you of the peacefulness of the 
 Sabbath here. The people do not beat the rice nor 
 spread it in the sun. You hear no noise whatever. 
 John Delone has told me that if I had known the 
 town before we came here, I should wonder at the 
 change. This is indeed encouraging. Thomas told me 
 of some of the women who are very desirous to learn the 
 Lord's Prayer, and I am teaching them every night. 
 " I here remain your humble servant, 
 
 " J. H. A. DupoKT." 
 
 'No. 2. 
 
 "Fallangia, June 1*7, 1856. 
 
 " Pev. and dear Sir, 
 
 " I have written to you up to Tuesday, the 10th ; 
 
 I shall now give you a few extracts of what occurred 
 
 since the above date. On Wednesday, the 11th, John 
 
 Delone brought me twelve greegrees, which he said 
 
240 
 
 belonged to a friend and himself ; lie further said that 
 he had paid a great deal to the Mohammedans for his, 
 and therefore he believed that his conld protect him. 
 I pointed out his error to him as far as I was able, and 
 he then destroyed his also. To-day Charles Wilkin- 
 son and Gomez visited the school, and the present 
 chief of Tintima with his attendants. They remained 
 for about two hom^s, and then the Tintima folks de- 
 parted, expressing their regret (as I was told by Charles) 
 for not keeping us at Tintima when we were there. 
 The rains have commenced in good earnest ; the thun- 
 derings and lightnings are indeed fearful. I have seen 
 the people at the report of a loud crash of thunder run 
 to and fro, so terrified are they. On Sunday we had 
 very heavy rains during the day. We had forty-two 
 persons present, and one of the Mohammedans' mis- 
 sionaries remained during the whole service. He 
 comes from the next town, which belongs to that Mo- 
 liammedan chief with whom you had some conversa- 
 tion not long ago. He asked to be informed what time 
 the evening service would commence, for he would be 
 very glad to attend ; but we had such heavy showers 
 in the evening that I did not see him. I opened 
 Sunday school, and we had twenty-two grown persons, 
 each expressing his desire to learn. After prayer at 
 night I was surprised to see old Bentra stop the peo- 
 ple as they were retiring, and commence to speak to 
 them very loudly. After he had concluded, I inquired 
 of John Delone what he was saying. He told me that 
 he said ' the people must return me thanks for what 
 they had heard, and that they must pray to God for 
 
duport's KEPOET. 24:1 
 
 us ; that they must not be enticed by the Mohamme- 
 dans to stay away from coming to hear what God had 
 sent to them, and that the Mohammedans are only de- 
 ceiving them ; for the Mohammedans had been among 
 them now many years, and they never heard any thing 
 like what they are now taught. He also told them to 
 pray to God to open their hearts to hear and under- 
 stand what the missionaries are telling them.' Another 
 person told me that a neighbouring chief was very angry 
 the day after you preached about greegrees and the 
 devil-houses. He said that you meant him, that he knew 
 who told you that he had greegrees and devil-houses in 
 his town, and that he did not intend to pull down the 
 devil-house in his place. Poor man, he deserves to 
 be pitied ; he has never come to service since. 
 
 " Old Bentra and John Delone came to school a 
 part of the day (Monday), and the former told the 
 children not to speak any more Soosoo ; that they 
 must open their ears and learn English, and many 
 young people laughed at him, but he does not 
 mind them ; that he is old is true, but he is not a fool, 
 and they shall not make him one. Pie then told me 
 that ere long we shall not find a greegree among the 
 people. He is a firm supporter of our mission, and a 
 man of great influence over the people. 
 
 " Mr. Wilkinson has not yet returned. King Jello- 
 ram has sent for Gomez, I am told, to bring some of his 
 children to school. I should be very glad if you could 
 manage to get a bell in Sierra Leone, for the people 
 told me that when the boys call one half, the other 
 half know not for a long time, and the first half has 
 
242 
 
 to wait for a long time before the other half comes ; 
 and they asked me to get a bell : also we want plenty 
 of books for beginners to learn. They have all applied 
 to me for books, and many have been sent empty 
 away. If you cannot get any books, I think some 
 paper printed would do as well ; I have tried to print 
 some, but my time will not permit me to do much of 
 them. Wherever you turn you hear the people learn- 
 ing the A, B, C ; Mammy Sue has surpassed all as yet. 
 She is in words of three letters. I teach her myself 
 every night after prayers. All the bo^^s are teachers ; 
 each of them having a certain number of persons to 
 teach. After school, and at night, I cannot find one 
 to do any thing for me ; they are all scattered among 
 their relatives and friends. Johnson, Thomas, Rich- 
 ard, and Charles, one of the lower boys, assist me in 
 the Sunday school. I shall form six classes. The 
 -Sunday school is between the two services. Charles 
 Wilkinson has told me that he has a plenty of nails, 
 which he can let you have at 4:d. a pound. I told him 
 I would let you know of it, and he says that his father 
 ought to commence at once to cut the sticks for the 
 building during the rains. I asked him to speak to 
 his father about it, and he has promised to do so. Be 
 pleased to remember me to Mr. Pocock and family 
 when you see him. I am quite well at present (thank 
 God). May the Almighty Disposer of all events en- 
 able you soon to return to your momentous charge, 
 and strengthen you both in body and soul to perform 
 your arduous duties, is the sincere prayer of your 
 humble and obedient servant, 
 
 " J. H. A. DuPORT." 
 
243 
 
 IS^o. 3. 
 
 "Fallangia, June 23, 1856. 
 
 '^ Rev. and dear Sir, 
 
 '' Mr. Wilkinson returned on the 19th, and brought 
 two boYS from Mr. Faber for the school. On Friday 
 night last, Mr. Wilkinson called his people to him, 
 and enforced a law against Sabbath profanation. They 
 assembled in the piazza, seventy persons in number, 
 and after his asking who made them, the world, and 
 all tilings which they see, and their answering, he ad- 
 dressed them at large ; after which we had evening 
 services as usual, and the people went away much 
 gratified with what they had heard. On Saturday 
 we had very heavy rains. Yesterday we had eighty- 
 four persons present in the services, and thirty-five 
 grown persons in the Sunday school. At night we 
 had a large congregation, and in the services profound 
 silence prevailed, and a great earnestness seemed to 
 beam in the countenances of the audience. In the 
 morning I lectured from Isa. i. 16, ' Cease to do evil, 
 learn to do well ; ' in the evening, from ' All have 
 sinned and come short of the glory of God.' I shall 
 now give you the plan of teaching I have adopted. 
 
 " 1st. As I enter the school, the children repeat 
 the morning hymn, then prayer ; after prayer they re- 
 peat the psalms in the Prayer Book, which they have 
 learned or are learning, then the Ten Commandments 
 and the Creed, with its questions and answers given 
 in the Church Catechism. Then I examine each 
 child from my vocabulary of words, in Soosoo and 
 English. 2nd. Reading and spelling, counting. 
 
2M 
 
 weights and measures, numeration and the mnltipli- 
 cation table up to five times ; then arithmetic : — I use 
 mangoes and the fingers to give them some idea of 
 addition. Thomas is in multiplication bj four. In 
 reading, every child must give the Soosoo words for 
 the English, and I forbid any child speaking Soosoo 
 in school or in my hearing, on pain of being punished, 
 and it is indeed wonderful to see the change, as Mr. 
 "Wilkinson himself expressed to me. Then 3rd. Play 
 hour. 4th. Eeading and spelling, writing and dicta- 
 tion ; the map of the Holy Land and the many places 
 in it which occur in the Xew Testament ; the distinc- 
 tion between the globe and the map ; the distribution 
 of land and water, and the effects produced by the 
 rotation of the earth on its own axis. 5th. Evening 
 hymn and other psalms ; then evening prayer. 
 
 '' I have translated the Lord's prayer into the Soo- 
 soo, corrected by ]Mr. Wilkinson ; and I begin to teach 
 it to the children to-day. I open the Sunday school by 
 prayer, and I teach by rote to ' Gloria Patri,' ' Praise 
 God from whom.' &c. ; then I teach them the letters, 
 after which I explain and teach them many of the 
 words which occui' in the Prayer Book ; with the lat- 
 ter they are much delighted. Some of the young 
 men come to school at night, and when they have 
 time, through the day. So anxious are the people to 
 learn, that wherever you turn you hear nothing but A, 
 B, C. Greegrees, I am told, are all nearly abolished. 
 God grant that his word may prosper to the honour 
 and praise of His name. 
 
 " The morning and the evening are very dreary 
 
24:5 
 
 indeed ; the Sunday school and evening school I find 
 very laborious work, but my heart and soul are in the 
 work, and it will soon become easy, I hope. On Sun- 
 day, for the first time, I saw some of the women and 
 young men begin to aid our voices in joining us. I 
 have removed the table from the church, and have 
 planted ^ block of wood in the earth, and nailed a 
 piece of board in the form of an inclined plane in the 
 place where you stood to lecture the last Sunday you 
 were here. I was obliged to make some more benches 
 in order to afford accommodation to the people. Old 
 Bentra is very anxious to be baptized. I have sent 
 you the Lord's Prayer in Soosoo, which I trust you 
 may be pleased with. I have begun the creed." 
 
 [The following was added ly Mr. Leacoch.'] 
 " My catechist's report terminates here. Why it 
 should end so abruptly I know not. It may be that 
 he was in school when the boatmen called for the let- 
 ter, and had not time to proceed with the report. It 
 will now be perceived that my sickness has not been 
 detrimental to the work in Fallangia. For several 
 weeks before I left I had not been able to preach more 
 than once on the Sabbath, and during the week had 
 evening services and conversations occasionally with 
 some of the people. The heathen continued to treat 
 me with uniform respect, but the Mohammedans began 
 to receive my salutations coldly. My absence, it 
 seems, was their opportunity to give vent to angry 
 feeling ; but I trust Duport will be strengthened to 
 
246 
 
 suffer that, or anj thing else, which maj come upon 
 him." 
 
 Speaking of the chief who was angry with the ser- 
 mon against devil-houses^ Mr. Leacock says : — 
 
 *' He was one that promised much, but I told Mr. 
 Wilkinson he would not fulfil his engagements. He 
 loves his idols, and after them he has gone. I am 
 not, however, without hope that the lost sheep may 
 yet be found and brought to the fold. 'Tis true, ' with 
 man this is impossible, but with God all things are 
 possible.' The bearer of this letter to me gives a fear- 
 ful account of his perils by sea, and says that he would 
 not for any consideration venture to return to Fallan- 
 gia dm-ing the rest of the wet season." 
 
 The Bishop of Sierra Leone was much pleased on 
 seeing Duport's report, and wrote to Mr. Leacock the 
 following note : — 
 
 "Fourah Bay, July 28, 1856. 
 
 " My dear Sir, 
 " Many, many thanks to you for sending the en- 
 closed. A more interesting and encouraging account 
 I have never seen. May the Lord bless and prosper 
 the work, and make Duport an insti-ument of extensive 
 usefulness to that interesting people. 
 " I remain, 
 
 "Yours faithfully, 
 
 " J. W. SlEKKA LeONE." 
 
247 
 
 THE LOKD S PRATER IN SOOSOO, TRANSLATED BY 
 MR. DUPORT. 
 
 A=AH. 
 
 Woung Fafa, Makangua arr6yann&., Ekele Seneyankee 
 
 Our Father, that is there in heaven, Thy name hallowed be. 
 
 Ekha ydman^ fa. Esagw^naningama donu, anakhen^ arreyann^. 
 
 Thy Icingdom come. Thy will he done on earth, as it is in heaven. 
 
 Mookookeeto mokokee loco loco tarmera Annoo emookoo younoobee 
 Give us to-day our daily bread, and our trespasses 
 
 caffdree mookoofang caflFaree mookoolor^b^. Noo enamo mookoora- 
 
 forgive, as we forgive our neighbours, and lead us not 
 
 SCO fakobee Emookooramene lakobee : Etanangb^ yamank-a 
 
 into temptation, deliver us from evil ; For thine the kingdom, 
 
 saimb^ra annoo daraja Abada annoo abada. Amena. 
 
 the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
248 EVIFKOVEMENT IN HEALTH. 
 
 CHAPTER XYI. 
 
 Continued improvement in Mr. Leacock's Health. Letter to his Son. Let- 
 ters to the Bishop of Barbados. Letter to the Author. Mohammedan 
 Opposition. Assistance from Govei'nor Hill. Contest between Christ 
 and Mohammed. Last Letters of Mr. Leacock. 
 
 The report of tlie proceedings of his assistants in Fal- 
 langia relieved Mr. Leacock of a load of care, and en- 
 couraged him to hope that even in the event of his 
 own removal, the mission would continue to prosper. 
 But his health was improving, and he loooked forward 
 with delight to his return to the Pongas country, and 
 to a renewal of his truly apostolic labours. 
 
 The following was written to his son, already 
 known to the reader as a clergyman at Mobile, in 
 Alabama : — 
 
 " Freetown, Sierra Leone, July 12th. 
 
 "My dear Ben, 
 "Although I have written to your sister, and re- 
 quested her to let you know that I am still alive — 
 that I am not devoured by sharks or savages, nor con- 
 sumed by burning fever — yet I cannot forbear drop- 
 ping a line to you to comfort you with the assurance 
 
LETTER TO HIS SON. 249 
 
 that God has hitherto heard jour prayers for the pre- 
 servation of mj life in the midst of many dangers, and 
 to beg that you will persevere in the discharge of that 
 acceptable duty. 
 
 " I cannot describe to you what the loneliness of 
 my situation would be, if my heart were not inter- 
 ested in my work. Except my friend Mr, Wilkinson, 
 I have no neighbour to associate with when at home. 
 My residence is a mud house covered with grass. The 
 floor and walls are all mud, which gives me a sensa- 
 tion of dampness during wet weather, and coolness 
 during the hot season. As to my bed-room, it is al- 
 ways so dark that in midday it is as useless to me for 
 purposes of reading or study as in midnight. Even 
 when I shave in the morning, or at any other time, I 
 am obliged to resort to the candle or lamp for light ; 
 and then I take my solitary walk, or ponder over the 
 blessed word. But the sacrifice, as many call it, is 
 no sacrifice to me, for I am fully satisfied that God 
 has called me to it. I trust, whatever may happen to 
 me, I am in the right way, and that is enough. 
 
 '' I am to remain quietly in Sierra Leone till 'No- 
 vember. I came hither for the advantage of medical 
 aid and good nourishing food. Erom the 24th of 
 December to the 23d of May intermittent fever had 
 been trying my constitution, and would finally have 
 laid me under the sod, if a gracious Providence had 
 not sent me to this place. I am gathering strength, 
 but cannot return to the Pongas, the ocean being one 
 barrier, and the governor, bishop, and doctor's inter- 
 dict another. So here I am to be till November. 
 
250 LETTER TO HIS SON. 
 
 " I received letters from you both bj tbe Jnne 
 and July packets. Thank you, my dear son, for 
 them. They are quite a cordial to my soul. I pray 
 God to shed a benign and sacred influence over your 
 heart and over all your laboui's, and make you a rich 
 blessing wherever you go. 
 
 " Remember me affectionately to your uncle and 
 his family. Congratulate him on the marriage of his 
 daughter, and I earnestly pray that she may enjoy all 
 the happiness which, in this transitory and wretched 
 life, may be good for her. 
 
 " I am, my dear Ben, 
 " Your faithfal and affectionate father." 
 
 He enclosed Duport's document to the Bishop of 
 Barbados, together with the following letter : — 
 
 "Freetown, Sierra Leone, July 21, 1856. 
 
 " My Lord, 
 " I received on the 12th inst. your letter, dated 
 * Southampton, June ITth,' the day on which you left 
 England for the West Indies. I had written by the 
 May steamer, and enclosed that letter to Dr. Caswell, 
 supposing that, as I had no letter in May from you, 
 you and all your family had embarked for the West 
 Indies. I have nothing now to communicate respect- 
 ing the mission from ray own jpersonal 'knowledge^ 
 being far away from it; nor any thing concerning 
 myself, save and except that my health is greatly im- 
 proved, and that, if wind and sea permitted, I would 
 return immediately to my duties. The accompany- 
 
LETTER TO THE BISHOP OF B ABB ADOS. 251 
 
 ing report, however [see the previous chapter], will 
 give you a coj-rect view of the general state of the 
 mission. I received it from Duport two days ago. It 
 is not what I wrote to him for. I wished him to give 
 me a statement of the condition and prospects of the 
 school ; for I considered it high time that our com- 
 mittee in Barbados, and friends in England, should 
 know what was actually done. Having heard that 
 our way was so providentially opened and cleared to 
 commence operations, they would natually expect^ as 
 well as desire^ to know what we were about. I w^ished 
 therefore for a sort of schedule, showing the progress 
 of each class in the school, which would not occupy 
 more than a page of this sheet ; instead of which he 
 has sent me a volume of notes from his journal, con- 
 taining much of what I have long expected, and 
 much that I never expected to see, but cherished the 
 hope that it would be the privilege of my successor. 
 The opposition of the Mohammedans I did expect ; it 
 has long been working in secret against us, and the 
 opportunity only was wanted to spring the mine. The 
 general outburst of zeal among the heathen for the 
 truth, and the destruction of their greegrees, are ef- 
 fects of our ministry which I never expected to see, 
 so stupid and besotted have the people in general ap- 
 peared. I believe that, under God, all maj^ be at- 
 tributed to the convictions of two men, Bentra and 
 John Delone, who have great influence in the village, 
 and who have been long under our instruction. The 
 cause of the Mohammedans' opposition is obvious : 
 * their craft is in danger of being set at nought.' 
 
252 LETTEK TO THE BISHOP OF BARBADOS. 
 
 Their chief means of support is making and selling 
 to the heathens charms or amnlets, which the j call 
 ' gi'eegrees.' Each greegree consists of a few words 
 of the Koran, written in Arabic, and enclosed in a 
 leathern case. The warrior rushes into battle covered 
 with these charms, for each of which he has perhaps 
 given four or five dollars ; and when, notwithstand- 
 ing, he receives the deadly wound from the adver- 
 sary's sabre or unerring bullet, the Mohammedan's 
 cry is, ' His time is come.' The preservation of health 
 and life, down to the hour of death, they ascribe to 
 the power of greegrees ; but death, let it come when 
 or how it may, comes at the a])]pointed time. When 
 the heathen see no greegrees in our mission-house or 
 attached to our person, and hear us denounce them 
 in most faithful and unequivocal terms, I dare say 
 that some of them come over to us in order to save 
 their money. This may not be a correct judgment, 
 but the people are certainly very penurious, and the 
 excitement appears to me too great to be durable. 
 
 ^' I send you the Report, as I believe it all to be 
 true. There is much in it which I Itnow to be true, 
 and which will confirm my former statements. He 
 calls for elementary school-books : I sent for a supply 
 in March, and I expect it in September. He asks for 
 a bell ; I have been inquiring months ago for one, 
 and have only now succeeded. I got a tolerably 
 good one from a condemned slave-ship, which has 
 been recently captured ; it cost only 2Z. 2^. 
 
 "The clamour of the Mohammedans does not 
 trouble me. I am glad of it ; for if their infiuence 
 on the poor superstitious heathen were not j-ielding, 
 
LETTER TO THE BISHOP OF BARBADOS. 253 
 
 we should not hear from them. This is indeed ' a 
 day of small things,' but it is not to be despised. 
 
 " I have not been idle since I have been here. I 
 petitioned the governor and council for help, and I 
 have a promise, but I don't know to what amount. 
 My petition was received most graciously. Mr. Wil- 
 kinson is still firm, as you may suppose from a letter 
 which I shall enclose with this. As he seems grateful 
 to the West Indian Church Association, it may not 
 be a compliment thrown away if he be nominated 
 and received as an honorary inemher of the association. 
 
 " 26th. — I have engaged a young man who has 
 been in the employ of the Church Missionary Society 
 to assist Duport in the school. I hope that the grant 
 of the Sierra Leone council will be sufficient for his 
 maintenance. I have agreed to give him 305. a 
 month for the first quarter ; and if I approve of him, 
 2^. per month for subsequent services. When he has 
 experience enough to take charge of a school, I shall 
 have to add 106-. per month; and if the colonial 
 grant be not sufficient to meet the expense, I shall be 
 compelled to draw on the treasurers of the Society 
 for the Propagation of the Gospel. Duport wants 
 help now, and I shall require all his time when en- 
 gaged in building. I trust it will meet your lord- 
 ship's consent, and the consent of the committee. 
 Commending the mission to the favourable considera- 
 tion of all who love the truth, and to their continued 
 supplication and prayer, 
 
 " I remain, my Lord, 
 " Your Lordship's faithful servant, 
 
 " II. J. Leacock.' 
 
254: LETTER TO THE BISHOP OF BARBADOS. 
 
 " August 5tli. — I have just been informed by a 
 member of council, that the governor has appropriated 
 4:01. per annu7n out of money placed by the council 
 at his disposal, for the use of our mission, subject of 
 course to the approval or otherwise of the Secretary 
 of State. Perhaps a line from your lordship to the 
 Secretary will secure, not only a confirmation, but an 
 extension of the grant, which might easily be effected 
 by withdrawing from false, treacherous, horrid chiefs, 
 the many hundred pounds (I beheve over 700^.) which 
 are given to suppress the slave-trade, but which only 
 furnish them with capital to go more deeply into 
 it. Educate and civilize the people, and away goes 
 the whole fabric of Mohammedanism, heathenism, 
 and slavery. 
 
 " 7th. — ^The governor informed me this morning 
 that he could give me no more than 30Z. this year, 
 but he hopes to increase it next year. He himself is 
 ready with all his heart to help us, and he says there 
 was not one dissenting voice in the council. The re- 
 spectable people in Freetown are favourable to our 
 mission, and one gentleman said to me, ' If you have 
 any great difiiculty in getting up your buildings we 
 will help you.' " 
 
 To myself, Mr. Leacock wrote on the 25th of July. 
 In reference to Duport's statements he said : — 
 
 " I do not in the least doubt his statements ; for 
 the condition of things was such when I left the coun- 
 try as led me to believe that an outbreak would some- 
 how and somewhere soon take place. The oppor- 
 
CONTEST BETWEEN CHRIST AND MOHAMMED. 255 
 
 timity only was wanted to enable the Mohammedans 
 to throw off the mask. The work is begun, and I 
 know not where it is to end. A diversion in our fa- 
 vour is, however, wrought in or among the heathen, 
 and I trust, if trouble comes, God will give us grace 
 to ' glorify Him in the fires.' For myself I have no 
 fear, and I should be quite satisfied were I alone. But 
 Mr. Wilkinson is a host in himself, and God who has 
 raised the storm will, I know, be at the helm. The 
 only thing which troubles me is, I am not at my post, 
 nor can I get there till I^ovember. 
 
 "This is entirely a contest between Christ and 
 Mohammed, and we know, whatever the consequences 
 may be, who will finally prevail. With consequences 
 I have nothing to do ; but my constant prayer is : 
 * Thy kingdom come ; thy will be done in earth as it 
 is in heaven.' " 
 
 The last letter to his dear son in Mobile, bears the 
 date of August 12th. 
 
 " My dear Ben, 
 
 " An American vessel leaves this port in a few 
 days for Philadelphia, and I cannot let it depart 
 without a few lines to let you know, first, the state of 
 my health, and, secondly, the state of my mission. 
 
 " My health is almost restored ; I have had no 
 return of fever since I came to this place. My appe- 
 tite is good, and my strength is greatly increased. 
 The only thing which retards my entire recovery is 
 the constant heavy rains, which prevent my using 
 
256 LETTER TO HIS SON. 
 
 such exercise as is necessary either for the restoration 
 or preservation of one's health. I have seen rain 
 fall in the West Indies, and during midsurdmer in 
 the United States, but I never saw any like what falls 
 sometimes in Africa, either as regards duration or 
 heaviness. "When it is accompanied by a tornado, it 
 at first comes rushing down as if it would sweep the 
 house into the ocean, just as when accompanied in 
 the West Indies by a hurricane. Then it rains some- 
 times for a week with scarce any intermission. Tor- 
 nadoes occur chiefly in May, September and October, 
 but they have not the power of a West Indian hur- 
 ricane. They up-root trees, and strip off the covering 
 of thatched houses. Seldom do they leave greater 
 traces of their visits. 
 
 " IS'ow with regard to my mission. It is well for 
 me that the Lord sent me to this place, for I know not 
 what consequences the present excitement in Fallan- 
 gia would have had on my emaciated state of health, 
 had I remained in the Pongas country. During all 
 my sickness, except indeed when prostrated by fever, 
 and unable to sit up, I preached every Sabbath, and 
 had an evening service in my room which was gene- 
 rally crowded. The eyes of the heathen soon became 
 opened to the danger of their state, and to the decep- 
 tions practised upon them by the Mohammedans. 
 These deluded creatures had been making great gain 
 of them by inducing them to purchase what they call 
 * greegrees ' or amulets, which they made them believe 
 would preserve them from all injuries and sickness, 
 and from every possible evil, even death. The poor 
 
LETTER TO HIS SO^-. 257 
 
 heathen are so stupid, so besotted, as to believe the 
 followers of the false prophet, who are regarded by 
 them as the Scribes and Pharisees of old were by the 
 Jews ; and would give for their vanities, four, five, 
 or even six dollars — a heavy sum for these poor crea- 
 tures. 
 
 " These Mohammedan teachers are the principal 
 opponents of the Gospel. At first they admitted 
 that the white man's religion was true ; and when 
 asked, 'Why then do you not embrace the truth,' 
 they would reply, 'The Koran suffers us not to 
 change.' Then they endeavoured to reconcile the 
 Bible to the Koran ; but finding it impossible, their 
 malice was excited against us. They tried to draw 
 away the young as well as the old from us ; but this 
 failing, and perceiving that ' their craft was in danger 
 to be set at nought,' they were full of wrath, and de- 
 clared open war against the Bible. The heathen in 
 Fallangia have burned their greegrees, are resolved 
 to be carried away no longer by these foolish idols, 
 and are calling for the knowledge of our own God. 
 The Sabbath worship is well attended, also the week- 
 night service, and the Sunday school chiefly by adults. 
 Thus our mission may be said to prosper. The still- 
 ness of spiritual death is broken, and although the 
 sword is not yet actually unsheathed, the false peace 
 which prevailed in Fallangia is banished. ' I came 
 not to send peace on earth,' says our Lord, ' but a 
 sword.' I know not how soon this may be drawn : 
 but I would that I were there. It is, however, impos- 
 sible that I can leave this place before November. 
 
258 LETTER TO THE BISHOP OF BAEBADOS. 
 
 ^'I atn delighted to hear that our American breth- 
 ren in the wesrern country are coming up to the 
 help of the Lord.' We want their prayers as well as 
 their liberality. Both will greatly assist us, and call 
 forth the gratitude of our Association. 'New York is 
 also coming to our help, as Caswall informs me. The 
 Lord our God bless and help all who help us and 
 pray for us." 
 
 The following letter to tbe Bishop of Barbados, 
 written just before the sailing of the steamer, was 
 probably the last which proceeded from his pen. 
 
 "Freetown, August 13, 1856. 
 
 " My Lord, 
 "The steamer leaves at 'B.ve p.m., and whether it 
 be from the habit of writing to you by every packet 
 during the last nine months or not, I cannot let her 
 now go without a line to your lordship. I have en- 
 closed a letter to you in my heavy despatch to Dr. 
 Caswall, which, in consequence of his having to make 
 extracts for the ' Mission Field,' may not leave South- 
 ampton till next month. Duport writes encouragingly, 
 and leaves me to hope that the mission is established ; 
 and that too, before a foundation stone is laid for a 
 building. I am not boasting. I have nothing to 
 boast of; for the work has been carried on from the 
 beginning by an agency secret but powerful. ' It is 
 the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in my eyes.' 
 I trust that many will rise up in that benighted coun- 
 try to call Him blessed. All this is, I believe, in an- 
 swer to prayer. The Father hath said to the Son, 
 
ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNOR. 259 
 
 * Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for 
 thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the 
 earth for thy possession.' If the Saviour be reminded 
 of this promise, will he not hear the supplication of 
 His people who ask the salvation of the po©r heathen ? 
 If faith and prayer were in greater exercise, soon 
 would the wilderness and the solitary place be glad 
 for them, and the desert rejoice and blossom as the 
 rose.' 
 
 " In my letter to you which you will receive pro- 
 bably by the packet after the one which brings you 
 this, I have stated that the governor and council have 
 given me a small lift for this year, and encouragement 
 to hope for something better next year. The governor 
 will endorse mj* draught on the colonial treasury im- 
 mediately for 301. ; and he hopes to help me to a 
 greater extent next year, but he is very cautious ; and 
 so precarious and unsettled are things in this colony, 
 that he does not like to bind himself to any sum. I 
 enclose his letters which I received on the occasion. 
 My health is very good. 
 
 " Believe me, my Lord, 
 " Your faithful and obedient servant, 
 
 " H. J. Leaoock." 
 
260 ARTICLES SENT FROM ENGLAIOD. 
 
 CHAPTEK XYII. 
 
 Articles despatched from England for the Mission. Shipwreck of the 
 " Ida." Death of Mr. Leacock. Letter from the Rev. F. Pocock. Letter 
 from Mr. Duport. Lamentations at Fallangia and Sierra Leone. Letter 
 from the Bishop of Sierra Leone. The mournful news reaches America 
 and the West Indies. Eulogy in the "Barbadian." Concluding Letter 
 from Mr. Duport. Funeral Anthem. 
 
 The time of year Lad arrived at whicli Mr. Leacock 
 had desired tlie articles necessary for his mission to 
 be forwarded to Sierra Leone. Accordingly, early in 
 September, I proceeded to London in order to make 
 the purchases ordered by him, little thinking that the 
 intrej)id servant of God was already beyond all 
 earthly wants. The following goods were shipped on 
 board the " Ida," a fine screw steamer, on the loth 
 of September. 
 
 A corn-mill, with fly-wheel. 
 
 Three pieces of grey Lidian baft, purchased with 
 the contributions of the Tennessee slaves. 
 
 I^ine other pieces of baft. 
 
 Parcel containing tape, cotton, buttons, needles, 
 thread, scissors, &c. ^ 
 
SHIPWRECK OF THE " IDA." 261 
 
 Parcel of Scripture prints. 
 
 Parcel of light clothing for negroes. 
 
 !Ninety-eight articles of similar clothing, made up 
 by ladies in Figheldean and the neighbonring parishes. 
 
 Box of trinkets for presents. 
 
 Box containing maps, school books, prints, cards, 
 and other necessaries for the school, purchased of the 
 Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. 
 
 Box containing school apparatus, purchased at the 
 Depository of the National School Society. 
 
 A clock for the school. 
 
 A handsome Prayer Book, presented to Mr. Wil- 
 kinson by Mr. Dickinson. 
 
 The above articles, by Mr. Leacock's directions, 
 were packed in strong wooden cases, not too large or 
 heavy to prevent their being carried to Fallangia 
 in canoes. The insurance and freight having been 
 paid, and the money raised in England and America 
 for the mission buildings having been deposited with 
 a London banker subject to Mr. Leacock's order, I 
 felt satisfied that all had been done which present cir- 
 cumstances seemed to demand. 
 
 Soon after returning from London, I was distressed 
 by the intelligence that the " Ida " had been lost at 
 sea in a dreadful gale, which commenced before the 
 ship had cleared the Channel. I went again to Lon- 
 don on the Yth of October, with the view of recover- 
 ing the insurance and re-purchasing the articles, with- 
 out loss of time. While engaged upon this business, 
 1 received the following letter from the Rev. Mr. Po- 
 cock of Sierra Leone. 
 
,262 DEATH OF MR. LEACOCK. 
 
 "Freetown, Sierra Leone, Sept. 18, 1856. 
 
 " My dear Mr. Caswall, 
 
 ^' It is mj painful task to inform you of the death 
 of your dear friend, Mr. Leacock. When the last 
 mail left for England he appeared in good health, and 
 was hoping, after the rains, to resume his work in the 
 Pongas country. How mysterious are the ways of 
 God ! Mr. Leacock came to our house very, very ill, 
 on the 20th of May, but was so far recovered that we 
 all were glad to see him daily gaining his usual health 
 and strength. 
 
 '' On the i5th of August he was taken ill and com- 
 plained of his cough, and in a day or two diarrhoea 
 came on, and the poor invalid had not strength to 
 bear such a pull down, and gradually sunk lower and 
 lower. From Sunday to Wednesday he was perfectly 
 insensible, and on the 20th of August, at twenty 
 minutes to six p.m., he truly fell asleep in Jesus. 
 Every thing was done for him that could be done. 
 Doctor Morphew and Dr. Bradshaw came to him 
 often six times a day, and Mrs. Pocock tended him. 
 He often thanked us, and said God had sent dear 
 children to tend and care for him in his last days ; 
 and I do assure you, my dear sir, it was indeed a pri- 
 vilege to have had the dear one with us. Had he 
 been in the Pongas country, we should have feared 
 the aged servant of God had not been cared for. 
 
 " On Wednesday, August. 13, the dear departed 
 for the last time took evening prayer for me, and 
 spoke to us from Pev ii. 12 to 17. On Thursday he 
 was poorly, but walked out with me, and on Thurs- 
 
MR. POCOCKS LETTEK. 263 
 
 day evening went to bed in good spirits, but never 
 again was able to leave his room. Although from 
 Thursday he feared the worst, yet we all fancied and 
 hoped, when the cold was better he would be among 
 us again, and I am sure he would have told me many 
 things had he thought he would so soon be taken. The 
 funeral took place on the 21st. The body was 
 taken to the Cathedral, and the bishop read the ser- 
 vice. A procession of all the missionaries in their 
 gowns, attended by the governor and all the officers 
 of the garrison, followed our dear friend's remains to 
 their last long resting place. 
 
 " Poor Duport, I do so pity him ; but we must do 
 all we can to comfort him. I have sent to inform him, 
 but during such bad weather it is not easy to get com- 
 munications with the Pongas. I hope he willsoon 
 come down, and then our bishop will think about or- 
 daining him. His mission is in a very prosperous 
 condition, and may the Lord of the harvest for Christ's 
 sake raise up faithful men to labour in His harvest. 
 
 " Accept, my dear sir, of my kind Christian re- 
 gards, and believe me to remain, yours very truly, 
 
 " Feancis Pocock. 
 
 " To the Rev. H. Caswall." 
 
 Mr. Pocock's letter to Duport reached him at Fal- 
 langia in the course of a few weeks. Although dread- 
 fully afflicted by the intelligence, he was supported by 
 the hand of God, and wrote me the following letter : — 
 
264 LAMENTATIONS AT FALLANGIA. 
 
 "Fallangia, Sept. 10. 
 
 " Reverend and dear Sii', 
 
 " This will bear to you the painful intelligence of 
 the great loss which this mission has sustained by the 
 removal of your much beloved friend and my pastor, 
 the Rev. H. J. Leacock, from this world of misery 
 and woe, to join the blessed company of the saints in 
 glory — a time which he earnestly desired, and often 
 would he say to me, ' John, I long to go home.' Yes, 
 he has fought the good fight, he has finished his 
 course, no more to be tossed on life's tempestuous sea. 
 He had weathered out the storm ; but now life's voy- 
 age is over. He laboured for his Lord and Master, 
 and now he is entered into his rest. His threescore 
 years are at an end ; he was ^ not ashamed of the 
 Gospel of Jesus Christ ; ' he was a faithful servant of 
 his Master whom he served, and in whose cause he 
 died. 
 
 " This man of God braved the acclimating fever, 
 and during that period of sufi'erings, great as they 
 were, he still cast a glance at those of his unworthy as- 
 sistant, and would strive to encourage him in the good 
 errand on which they were sent. 
 
 " I am very sorry that I cannot do full justice to 
 the labours of the departed ; but I trust that some 
 abler pen may undertake the task. I trust his friends 
 in England and America will not grow cold. They 
 could not give him a better memorial than to support 
 the Mission which he has founded. I beg, for the 
 sake of the deceased, your labour of love may not 
 grow cold. Still exercise your efforts, and strive to 
 
SOEROW IN SIEEEA LEONE. 265 
 
 stir up friends for iis. I have not such influence as 
 my reverend father in God had, but I know his de- 
 sires, and I will strive to carry them out. 
 
 " On Sunday I lectured on the sad event, of which I 
 heard a few days before. "We had a large audience, and 
 they listened with deep interest and profound silence, 
 and at the close they burst forth in bitter grief, which 
 would have melted an adamantine heart. Every eye 
 was bathed with the tears of sorrow. In the after- 
 noon I lectured on ' In my Father's house are many 
 mansions,' &c., a portion of Scripture which was a fa- 
 vourite of the departed." 
 
 It was not Fallangia alone which bewailed the 
 loss of the intrepid man of God. A newspaper (the 
 " 'New Era,") published at Freetown, August 23, con- 
 tained the following just tribute to his memory: — 
 
 " In affliction we naturally turn to those who have 
 been similarly visited, and feel that in their hearts we 
 touch a chord that vibrates in unison with our own. 
 We trust, therefore, that it may prove a source of con- 
 solation to distant friends to be informed, that such 
 has been the sensation in this city, created by the 
 death of that most worthy and faithful servant of God, 
 the Rev. H. J. Leacock, that we have not met with 
 one individual capable of comprehending the sore be- 
 reavement the infant mission, of which he was the 
 father, has been called to sustain, who does not deep- 
 ly sympathize with them in the unexpected and de- 
 plorable removal of 'a burning and shining light' 
 from this dark and benighted land. 
 12 
 
266 SORROW IN SIERRA LEONE. > 
 
 " The late Eev. Mr. Leacock, accompanied by his 
 very valuable assistant, Mr. Duport, arrived in this col- 
 ony in the month of November, 1855, and lost no time 
 ere he decided on the theatre of his labours. The large 
 population of the numerous towns and villages on the 
 banks of the Rio Pongas appeared to present the most 
 distressing features of spiritual destitution, and to 
 offer an extensive and important field for missionary 
 exertion. Although the difficulties in encountering a 
 gross superstition in one of its strongholds, amidst the 
 swamps and morasses of a very pestilential river, try- 
 ing to most constitutions, and particularly so to that 
 of an old man, amongst a people strongly tinctured 
 with an undying relish for the debasing slave trade, 
 sunk deej) in the foulest degradation and the most 
 soul-destroying paganism, were facts well known and 
 duly weighed by Mr. Leacock; yet that venerable 
 servant had his Master's duty to execute, there was no 
 shrinking on his part, but facing the dangers with the 
 true courage of a faithful soldier of the Cross, he went 
 to his post ; and his own hand has left us a record of 
 his successful efforts towards the fulfilment of the 
 work he had undertaken. 
 
 " The rev. gentleman suffered very severely from 
 fever, and was forced to return to this colony, where he 
 had been residing for some weeks, and to all human 
 foresight was rapidly regaining his health — indeed, we 
 believe he had so far progressed towards complete re- 
 covery as to have contemplated an early return to the 
 Pongas. ' Man proposes, but God disposes.' Mr. 
 Leacock was again prostrated, and after a few days 
 
SORROW IN SIERRA LEONE. 267 
 
 of suffering from fever and diarrhoea, on the 20th in- 
 stant he was summoned to receive that crown made 
 up of glory, honour, and immortality, leaving behind 
 him a son in the ministry of the Church, and ^ troops 
 of friends,' with whom we have the sincerest sympa- 
 thy in their sore bereavement. 
 
 " Few of those whose satisfaction it was to listen 
 to the rev. gentleman's first address to a public assem- 
 bly in this colony, on the subject of his visit to Africa, 
 will have forgotten the fervid spirit of devotion and 
 nervous energy of purpose which betrayed themselves 
 in every sentence that fell from his lips, and made our 
 hearts thrill with the liveliest emotions of hope for the 
 old man's success. 
 
 " Whether we contemplate the labours of the late 
 Mr. Leacock in the pulpit, on the platform, or in the 
 mud hut on the banks of the Pongas, they all bear 
 the impress of a truly missionary spirit. Mr. L. was 
 very highly respected in this colony ; and if other 
 proof were wanting, we would point to the numerous 
 and respectable attendance, including the governor, 
 the clergy, officers of the garrison, and many of the 
 principal inhabitants, that attended his remains from 
 the cathedral to the grave, where the last rites were 
 suitably performed by the Bishop of Sierra Leone. 
 
 " Mr. Leacock has left us a glorious example, which 
 tells us that to end our earthly pilgrimage as he has 
 done, is to meet him 
 
 " ' Where we may bathe the weary soul 
 Ip seas of heavenly rest, 
 And not a wave of trouble roll 
 Across the peaceful breast.' " 
 
268 LETTER FEOM THE BISHOP OF SIEEEA LEONE. 
 
 The intelligence soon reached Kew York, and the 
 " Church Journal" announced to the American Church 
 that another martyr for Africa had entered into Para- 
 dise. Dr. Coit, writing to me from Troy, said of the 
 deceased, " A purer mind and a truer heart than his, 
 has seldom entered into the rest of the people of God. 
 For him I rejoice, that his labours are all over, and 
 that a boundless career of sinlessness and glory is all 
 before him. I should have rejoiced to see his face 
 once more ; but my intimates are fast dropping away, 
 and I must look to the natural end, and hope for joys 
 far, far beyond it." 
 
 The Bishop of Sierra Leone wrote to the Bishop of 
 Barbados the following letter : — 
 
 "Fourah Bay, September 11, 1856. 
 
 "My dear Lord Bishop, 
 
 "Yery many circumstances have occurred in pre- 
 venting my writing to you earlier, but I now feel that 
 I am called upon by special circumstances to com- 
 municate with you. We have often, on the west coast 
 of Africa, had cause to exercise faith in the Divine 
 procedure — ^inscrutable and mysterious indeed are the 
 ways of God to us. ' Be still, and know that I am 
 God,' ^ is a lesson hard to be fully acquired. 
 
 " Your zealous and truly devoted servant, the 
 Bev. H. J. Leacock, his health having failed at the 
 Rio Pongas, came to this colony in May last for 
 medical aid. At the time of his arrival here, I was 
 
 * Ps. xlri. 10. 
 
LETTER FBOM THE BISHOP OF SIEKEA LEONE. 269 
 
 laid aside hy a severe fever, and therefore could not 
 administer to his necessities. Our excellent and truly- 
 worthy friend, the Rev. F. Pocock (the assistant colo- 
 nial chaplain) and his wife most kindly received him 
 into their family, and nursed him as a brother. On 
 my first visit to him on my recovery from the above 
 illness, I was struck with the change which a few 
 months had wrought in his general appearance. Dr. 
 Bradshaw, our colonial surgeon, who was unremitting 
 in his kind attention to Mr. Leacock, strongly advised 
 his removal to Europe. To this step he was most re- 
 luctant, and we can well appreciate his motives for 
 remaining on the coast. In the beginning of August 
 we all had good hopes of his recovery, and for several 
 weeks he gradually regained strength. So cheered 
 was he in the prospect of once more returning to his 
 dear little charge, that he told me, ' I have been 
 making inquiry for a bell for my church and school, 
 also a good boat, that I may visit the many towns on 
 the banks of the rivers near Fallangia. I feel a de- 
 gree of impatience, anxiously awaiting the termination 
 of the rainy season, that I may return to my work.' 
 In the mean time his heart was cheered by the receipt 
 of letters from the old chief, Wilkinson, and letters 
 and reports from Mr. Duport, which were of the most 
 encouraging kind. 
 
 " I had promised Mr. Leacock that I would (God 
 willing) pay a visit to his important charge during 
 the next dry season, immediately after my return from 
 the Yoruba country. I purpose going there by the 
 E"ovember mail ; probably I shall be absent from the 
 
270 LETTER FEOM THE BISHOP OF SIEKEA LEONE. 
 
 colony three months. I hope to gain important in- 
 formation respecting the different tribes between Cape 
 Coast Castle and Lagos, and I shall have sincere 
 pleasure in acquainting your lordship with the result 
 of my inquiries. 
 
 " On the 14th of August the Rev. H. J. Leacock 
 was attacked with ague and fever, and on Sunday 
 morning, the 17th, he was seized with severe diar- 
 rhoea, and from this time he was scarcely sensible. 
 Every attention and kindness were shown him, but he 
 gradually grew weaker until Wednesday, the 20th, 
 when he fell asleep in Jesus. 
 
 " It would appear that this dear devoted servant 
 of God had been for some time past ripening for 
 glory. He expressed, some weeks since, an earnest 
 desire to depart that he might be wdth Jesus, which 
 he said was far better than remaining in this world 
 of sin and sorrow. There is one circumstance in his 
 case which does, I think, deserve particular attention, 
 inasmuch as it marks the kind condescension of God 
 to his faithful servants. Mr. Leacock had a dread of 
 the last struggle with death, and how mercifully was 
 he dealt with by his being insensible both to suffering 
 and death for several days before his removal from 
 time into eternity ! 
 
 "Thus ends the short career of your first mis- 
 sionary to Africa. I feel that this most trying provi- 
 dence will be a severe blow to yourself and the hon- 
 oured Committee of the West Lidian Church Associa- 
 tion for the Furtherance of the Gospel in Western 
 Africa. But be not discouraged, the work is the 
 
LETTER FKOM THE BISHOP OF SIEEEA LEONE. 271 
 
 Lord's ; it is for us to be faithful, it is with the Lord 
 to bless. It will now devolve on your Committee to 
 appoint a successor to him, whom God has thus early 
 called to his reward. It is a great, arduous, and diffi- 
 cult task to carry on missionary work in the Kio 
 Pangas and its neighbourhood. I earnestly pray that 
 the Committee will be directed to the choice of a 
 wise and faithful minister of the Gospel, to direct and 
 superintend the operations of this new and important 
 mission to the poor heathen. 
 
 Great respect was shown to the memory of our 
 late brother. The governor and staff, the clergy in 
 and near Freetown, many Europeans and natives, 
 followed his remains from the cathedral to the new 
 burial ground, and I performed the last solemn ser- 
 vice. The change to him is a blessed one. 
 
 " I had arranged to see Mr. Duport the end of 
 October or the beginning of November with a view 
 to his ordination. But by Mr. Leacock's unexpected 
 removal from us, I have made new arrangements, 
 and sent to request Mr. Duport to come to the colony 
 at his earliest convenience. I will gladly supply him 
 both with cash for himself and necessaries for his 
 schools, &c., until I hear from you, or your commit- 
 tee are able to make their own arrangements. It is 
 now my intention, should Mr. Duport pass my exami- 
 nation satisfactorily (and I have every hope that he 
 will), to ordain him both deacon and priest before he 
 returns to the Eio Pongas. I quite hope that this plan 
 will meet with the full approbation of your lordship, 
 and of the committee. 
 
272 LETTER FROM MR. WILKINSON. 
 
 " It will be perceived that tlie great necessity of 
 the case has led me to adopt this resolution, to enable 
 Mr. Duport to exercise the full office of the ministry 
 of our Church among the people now to be placed 
 under his charge, at least for some time to come. 
 
 " Two months since the governor and council 
 voted unanimously £30 towards a second school in 
 the Eio PoDgas ; and I have cheerfully added £10 for 
 the same object from my diocesan fund. The late 
 Eev. H. J. Leacock told me that he had engaged a 
 schoolmaster to teach in this second school ; I shall 
 make further inquiry respecting him. "While I am 
 writing, the mail for England has arrived, and as I 
 have many letters to send, you will excuse the abrupt 
 conclusion of this communication. 
 
 " Sincerely praying for the Lord's guidance and 
 blessing, 
 
 " I remain, 
 " Yours faithfully in the bonds of the Gospel, 
 
 " John W. Sierra Leone. 
 
 " The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Barbados." 
 
 Four days after the Bishop Sierra Leone wrote 
 this letter, the venerable chief of Fallangia, " the man 
 of Macedonia," of our narrative, thus addressed the 
 Bishop of Barbados : — 
 
 "Fallangia, September 15th, 1856. 
 
 " My Lord Bishop, 
 " After an elapse of time I have now taken up 
 my pen with a trembling hand and sorrowful heart 
 
THE SAD INTELLIGENCE REACHES BARBADOS. 273 
 
 to inform your lordship of the great loss we have sus- 
 tained in our beloved champion of the Cross, the Rev. 
 H. J. Leacock ; and may the Great Disposer of all 
 events raise many Leacocks in the West Indies to 
 come over and help us poor miserable benighted Af- 
 ricans. John Duport has been doing his duty as a 
 faithful steward of his Lord. I am now preparing ma- 
 terial for the church and a mission-house ; a school also 
 shall be built. Our present congregation exceeds 100 
 souls, and scholars are offered every where, only a 
 want of accommodation has prevented us from receiv- 
 ing them at the present. The harvest truly is plente- 
 ous, but the labourers are few ; many are truly con- 
 verted, and wish to be baptized, but there is no one 
 here to do so at present. The whole of Fallangia 
 have thrown away their greegrees and other supersti- 
 tious rites, and many in our neighbourhood have done 
 the same. They have foregone their follies, and Du- 
 port is still persevering in his labours ; but his late 
 imprudence has impaired his health through hard 
 labour, but I have advised him not to overwork him- 
 self on any account in futu]*e. With due respects to 
 your family, and accept of the same ^^ourself, 
 ^' I remain, Sir, 
 " Your Lordship's humble servant, 
 
 " Richard Wilkinson." 
 
 When the sad tidings reached Mr. Leacock's na- 
 tive island, the sensation was most profound. The 
 '' Barbadian " newspaper appeared in mourning, its 
 columns being lined with black as on the occasion of 
 
274 EULOGY IN THE 
 
 a public calamity. The following passages appeared 
 under its editorial heading for November 5th and 8th : 
 
 " Words are wanting to describe the grief with 
 which we lay before our readers the letters which the 
 packet has this morning brought, and which will carry 
 mourning and lamentation into many a household 
 throughout this land, as well as in various other parts 
 of the world. In the bitterness of our sorrow, how- 
 ever, we can still rejoice (God be praised for it) that our 
 dear departed brother has joined the ' noble army of 
 martyrs,' that he has died in the noblest of all causes, 
 that we have given Africa, as a first instalment of 
 the debt we owe her, our best, our bravest, our most 
 well-beloved son. 
 
 " ' The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the 
 Church.' The man of God who has just ' gone to 
 sleep in Afric's dust ' — to quote his own words on the 
 eve of his departure — has been privileged, before 
 being called to his long home, to plant the standard 
 of the Cross firmly, and, as we trust, immoveably in 
 a corner of the land to whose spiritual welfare he 
 had ardently devoted himself, body, soul, and spirit. 
 The Rev. Hamble J. Leacock, the proto-martyr of the 
 "West Indian Church Association for the Furtherance 
 of the Gospel in Western Africa, has gone to glory 
 with a diadem of imperishable lustre on his brow. A 
 more noble instance of self-sacrifice has never graced 
 the annals of missionary enterprise. A more rapid 
 success has hardly ever attended so short a career. 
 If He who came to seek and to save that which was 
 lost, in three short years achieved such incalculable 
 
EULOGY IN THE " BARBADIAN." 275 
 
 good, that ' the world itself could not contain the books 
 that should be written,' concerning his mighty deeds, 
 his devoted servant, our Apostle to Africa, has at an 
 humble distance followed his great Master's steps, 
 and has been privileged in some degree to resemble 
 Him in the astonishing results which attended the 
 first preaching of the Cross to the heathens of Fallan- 
 gia. Who can doubt that our dear departed brother 
 was led by the Spirit into the moral wilderness to be 
 welcomed in his declining years, and in a heathen 
 land, with that noble ' Te Deum,' which burst on his 
 astonished ears from the old chief Wilkinson, who de- 
 clared that the Lord had sent Mr. Leacock in answer 
 to the prayers he had offered for twenty years. 
 
 " Who can doubt that Providence directed our 
 missionary to the very spot where he was to meet 
 with this unexpected encouragement — an African 
 chief, himself a Christian in heart, warmly welcoming 
 him and seconding his efforts ? Here is an old man, 
 of great influence in the country, lodging and feeding 
 our missionary, at once giving up the spacious piazza 
 of his own abode as a temporary church, acting as 
 interpreter, using his influence and authority to get 
 together congregations, introducing neighbouring 
 chiefs, encouraging the catechist's school, procuring 
 pupils for it, and in fact furthering in every way 
 the objects of the mission. Why it was enough to 
 make good old Mr. Leacock respond to the 'Te Deum,' 
 by exclaiming, *Lord, now lettest thou thy servant 
 depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salva- 
 tion ! ' Perhaps he did sing this song of triumph. 
 
276 EULOGY m THE " BAEBADIAN." 
 
 Like Moses on the top of Pisgah, he saw the land 
 which God had promised him ; with the eye of faith 
 he realized the progress of the Gospel in the country 
 of his adoption — the joy was too great for him, he felt 
 his own nothingness in view of so great a work, of 
 so great a privilege, and he could not help desiring 
 to depart and be with Christ, which was far better ! 
 We learn indeed from the painfully-interesting and 
 affecting letter of the Bishop of Sierra Leone, that a 
 few days before his death he had expressed a desire 
 of this sort, although he had not long before showed 
 a great eagerness to return to his work. 
 
 " Dreadful as is the blow to us, disappointed as we 
 all are at being denied the privilege of welcoming 
 him back amongst us, and hearing from his own lips 
 the tidings of his mission, the providence of God 
 may, and we trust will overrule the sad event for the 
 ultimate good of the mission ; the very eagerness and 
 liking for the good news, which w^as manifested so 
 unmistakeably by many, may be stimulated by his 
 removal. We shall be much mistaken if the Joshua 
 who succeeds him, and who promises so worthily to 
 follow his steps, does not soon rally around him a de- 
 voted band of followers, whose reception of and ad- 
 herence to the Gospel shall gladden his heart, bring 
 peace and happiness to themselves, and encourage 
 those who, in various parts of the world, are joining 
 together to promote this ho]y work. 
 
 " We do not grudge Africa our Leacock ; we en- 
 tertain a holy envy of her for the privilege she enjoys 
 of cherishing his ashes ; and if we had a hundred 
 
CONCLUDING LETTER FROM MR. DUPOET. 277 
 
 more siicli sons, we would gladly give them to her ! 
 But she does not need them ; she has sons of her own ; 
 she has her Duports, who can do all that our Leacocks 
 could do for her, and more — because they can stand the 
 climate better. We will train and teach them, and 
 send them to her, and then bid her and them God 
 speed ! " 
 
 This memoir cannot, perhaps, be better concluded 
 than by a letter to the writer from Mr. Duport (now 
 the Rev. John Henry A. Duport), written within 
 three weeks after the decease of his friend and pas- 
 tor : — 
 
 " The fields are white already for harvest. There 
 are four places ready now to receive missionary sta- 
 tions. Our congregation has increased to upwards 
 of one hundred attentive hearers. We have no room 
 for the people, and this is during the rains. I am 
 very happy also to inform you that they have cast 
 away all their idolatry and the gods in which they 
 once placed implicit confidence. Many brought theirs 
 to me. They are very anxious to be baptized. They 
 are fully convinced of their errors, and many are 
 striving to become faithful servants of Christ. Some 
 come the distance of four miles through the heavy 
 rains to hear the word of God. I went to see a wo- 
 man who was very sick indeed, and I sent her some 
 medicine. To my great surprise she attended evening 
 service, and when asked why she ventured out in the 
 damp, she replied, ' I feel little better, and I wanted 
 to come to hear w^hat God say.' Mr. Wilkinson has 
 
278 CONCLUDING LETTER FR(^M ME. DUPOKT. 
 
 already begun to gather materials for the building. 
 He says nothing shall deter him from the work, that 
 he is only waiting until the rains cease. Many of our 
 little congregation attend the Sunday school, who 
 most earnestly wish to read the Bible, ' from which 
 they hear such good things.' 
 
 " The school children number thirty-two at pres- 
 ent; every one is doing well. Two of the boys I 
 took in their pure wild state are now able to read 
 the Prayer Book ; their writing is good, their memory 
 retentive. They know the Lord's Prayer, the Ten 
 Commandments, and the Creed, in English and in 
 their own tongue. I have, with the assistance of Mr. 
 Wilkinson, translated some of the reading sentences 
 at the commencement of the service, the Lord's 
 Prayer, and the prayers after it, the Te Deum, Creed 
 and prayers after, the Ten Commandments and the 
 responses, and a part of the Sunday School Primer. 
 
 " I am very happy to inform you that our labours 
 have not been in vain in this place. Our mission is 
 making rapid progress, and making lasting impres- 
 sions (I hope) on the minds of the people. Many ex- 
 press how they have been deceived by the Moham- 
 medans. They very willingly pay for their books 
 and those of their children, in produce : Mr. Wilkin- 
 son is a very great help to me. 
 
 " One man who was a zealous attendant, and the 
 first to cast away his greegrees, is now no more. The 
 last night he was permitted to join us, after service 
 he took his handkerchief and blindfolded his eyes, 
 and said, ' If I had died before the missionaries came 
 
CONCLUDING LETTER FROM MR. DUPORT. 279 
 
 here, I would have died in darkness, but now I see.' 
 lie went home and was never permitted to return. 
 
 " I was called to go and see him very soon, and I 
 met him suffering very much. His appearance was 
 already changed, and I had very poor hopes of his 
 recovery. He was about seventy years of age. I 
 conversed with him and asked him many questions, 
 to each of which he gave very satisfactory answers. 
 He said his whole trust was in God and in his Son 
 Jesus Christ, and that he had committed himself to 
 his care and protection (I had an interpreter). 
 
 '' On the Sunday after, I went to see him, and 
 pointed him to the only way of salvation, Jesus Christ. 
 He replied, ' Da he me a look to, me pray to Him 
 night and day.' I prayed with him, and repeated the 
 Lord's Prayer in his own tongue. When I was ready 
 to leave, he grasped my hands firmly and most 
 heartily replied, ' Allah etantoo ' (God bless you), and 
 ere I reached home he sent presents to me. I never 
 saw his face again. 
 
 '' It was a custom of the country, that when the 
 husband dies, the wives and all who are connected 
 with the place are accused of having by witchcraft 
 taken his life. This act the old man prohibited on 
 his death-bed. He said (I was told), ' I am about to 
 die, let no one accuse my people of witchcraft, no 
 one has done me any thing, I die by the hand of 
 God.' Many have been the convictions which have 
 taken place, although our mission is in its infant state. 
 A few weeks ago, one evening after service, a man 
 said to Mr. "Wilkinson, * Master, this is the greegree 
 
2S0 COXCLrDIXG letter FEOM JklE. DUPORT. 
 
 we want, God's book is the best greegree, greegree for 
 all, old and young, this is the best of greegrees.' 
 
 " The people are very kind, although very poor. 
 They love to hear of Jesns Christ, thej love to hear 
 of heaven and learn the way to it. Old and young 
 are desirous of learning to read. They will have no- 
 thing to do with the Mohammedans, they look upon 
 them as their enemies. One man who was a greegree 
 worshipper, one day took up the book of another man 
 who belongs to us ; the latter snatched the book from 
 him and said, ' Do not put your hands on my book, 
 because you are a greegree worshipper, and have gree- 
 gree in your cap.' The former joined us about three 
 weeks since. 
 
 " We keep service every night, and three times on 
 Sundays, with Sunday school. Twenty-two adults at- 
 tend the Sunday school. The whole Sabbath is dedi- 
 cated to the Lord. Surely the Lord has visited his 
 people here, and has blessed our labours with abun- 
 dant success. Surely the deceased has not left his 
 home and comforts for nought. His name will be 
 handed down to posterity for ages yet to come. 
 
 " May God bless you, and grant you long life. 
 That you may do a great deal of good for the cause 
 of missions is the sincere wish of your humble and 
 devoted servant, 
 
 " John Henry A. Duport." 
 
FUNERAL ANTHEM. 281 
 
 FUNEKAL A:N^THEM. 
 
 Brother, thou art gone before us, and thy saintly soul is flown 
 Where tears are wiped from every eye, and sorrow is unknown ; 
 From the burthen of the flesh, and from care and fear released, 
 "Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. 
 
 The toilsome way thou'st travelled o'er, and borne the heavy load, 
 But Christ hath taught thy languid feet to reach his blest abode ; 
 Thou'rt sleeping now, like Lazarus, upon his father's breast, 
 Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. 
 
 Sin can never taint thee now, nor doubt thy faith assail, 
 
 Nor thy meek faith in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit fail ; 
 
 And there thou'rt sure to meet the good, whom on earth thou lovedst 
 
 best. 
 Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. 
 
 * Earth to earth,' and ' dust to dust,' the solemn priest hath said, 
 So we lay the turf above thee now, and we seal thy narrow bed : 
 But thy spirit, brother, soars away among the faithful blest, 
 Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. 
 
 And when the Lord shall summon us, whom thou hast left behind, 
 May we, untainted by the world, as sure a welcome find ; 
 May each, like thee, depart in peace, to be a glorious guest, 
 Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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