formed a religious society, consisting of converted Fantis connected with the Mission, and a few strangers, Mr. Freeman thus left the nucleus of a Christian church in Kumási; and, shortly after his return to the Coast, he had the satisfaction to learn, that the King had consented to the establishment of a school, and that, in consequence, one had been actually commenced. The following extracts show the state and prospects of the Mission down to the latest date : ASHANTI-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. T. B. Freeman, to the Secretaries of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, dated Mission-house, Cape-Coast, February 25th, 1842. I REJOICE to say, that the Lord has been mercifully pleased to crown Our efforts in Ashanti with success. Our important negotiations with the King have been brought to so comfortable a close, that he has taken Mr. Brooking under his protection, as a resident Christian Missionary in Kumási; given us land in a very healthy and airy part of the town, on which to build a Missionhouse; allows the people to attend divine service without restraint; and treats us with uniform kindness and attention. This great and important advantage having been gained, we humbly hope that all other arrangements will, under the blessing of God, follow in due order; and that a character of permanency will soon be given to the Ashanti Mission. Many of the Chiefs and Captains occasionally attend divine service; and we may reasonably calculate on their hailing with pleasure the establishment of schools, &c., as they become better acquainted with us, and are able to form some correct ideas of the claims of scriptural Christianity. The King seems very anxious to introduce improvements into the country, as far as the prejudices of the people will admit of his doing so. His carpenters are A sent to the Mission-house to work at the ASHANTI. From the Same, dated April 17th, 1842. ALL things are going on admirably well in Kumasi. Mr. Brooking writes full of spirits, and big with hopes of abundant success. He is now busy in building the new Mission-house; and I am as busy here endeavouring to meet all his wants, and they are not trifling ones in a place so far distant from the Coast. Prejudice, on the part of the Ashantis, seems to pass away as the morning cloud and the early dew; we are all astonished at the pleasing prospect of things in Ashanti. The King is now about to form a new street, in honour of the Mission; which will be a great convenience to the brethren there, as it will open a healthy communication with the market-place and the principal part of the town. I Mr. Brooking entreats me to send up a Missionary to Kumasi without delay, stating it to be his opinion, that Kumási is far more healthy than the Coast; in which I entirely agree with him. have long felt very anxious to get another Missionary up to Kumasi, but as Mr. Watson's health is still delicate, I knew not what steps to take in the matter: I dared not send Mr. Watson, and Mr. Allen certainly ought to go to Domonisi. The only efficient person, therefore, is Mr. Rowland, whom I thought of sending to Badagry. After serious reflection for many days, I mentioned the matter to him, and he immediately expressed his willingness to go to Kumasi, Badagry, or any where else. Judging our way to be clear, I have decided on Mr. Rowland's departure for Kumasi on the 10th or 11th of May, and have written to Mr. Brooking to send down one of his young men to the Prah, with travelling conveniences, to conduct him. As Mr. Rowland does not understand the nature of travelling in this climate, I intend, by God's permission, to take him to the Prah myself. I am aware that you may perhaps blame me for risking my health by so much incessant labour; but what can I do in such a case? Go he must; and he must not go alone. He has had a thorough seasoning, and the medical men say that he may now go any where with safety: they recommend Kumasi in preference to the Coast. It is a very cheering fact, that the climate improves as we advance into the interior. Mr. Allen is now preparing for Domonási. He is to go up with us to the Prah, by way of seasoning him for the interior, and on our return he will immediately occupy his proper post. ASHANTI. Extract of a Letter from Prince William Quantamissah, to the Rev. John Beecham, dated Kumási, May 1st, 1842. I AM very glad to address you a few lines, which I hope will find you, Mrs. Beecham, and all your family and friends, in the enjoyment of good health. I write to return you my sincere and best thanks for the very great kindness and attention we experienced from you, when in your favoured country. Our I am happy to inform you, that, through the mercy of Heaven, we safely arrived here on Monday, the 13th of December, in the year of our blessed Lord 1841; and were honourably received by our uncle the King. much-respected friends, the Rev. Messrs. Freeman and Brooking, your Society's two able and worthy Missionaries, were with us; so our journey from CapeCoast up to Kumasi was very comfortable. His Majesty is much pleased with the handsome carriage your honourable Society was kind enough to send him; and I do assure you, that your Society has done much for Ashanti, in sending him this carriage. For this I have two reasons; and I will explain them to you. First, the carriage will civilize and improve the town of Kumási. Instead of the old streets, which are narrow and dirty, now, on account of the carriage, the King has ordered new streets to be made, passable for the carriage; therefore the carriage indeed will improve and civilize our country; thank I would have written to you seven or eight epistles before this, but I had to wait for opportunity to send what I was preparing. When we arrived at CapeCoast Castle, we received, through the hands of the Rev. Thomas B. Freeman, volumes of books, which we have now with us, and for which we return you our thanks. I do assure you, that, though we are now parted, and perhaps we shall never see each other again, yet neither time nor place can obliterate from my memory the kindness of my wellwisher. Pray never cease to help Ashanti, and poor Africa at large. ASHANTI.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Thomas B. Freeman, to the Gene To see a footing secured in Kumasi, has been to me, so much as I have been identified with it, a source of joyous satisfaction, mercifully weighed in the balance against my severe sufferings, from various causes, during the past year; and should God, in his providence, be pleased to remove me from this scene of trial, this state of "pleasing, anxious being;" should he call me to follow my sainted friends into an invisible world before I begin my descent from the summit of life's meridian prime; I trust I shall be enabled to depart with something like the sentiments of old Simeon in holy writ: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace; for mine eyes have seen one of the most powerful Monarchs of interior, degraded Africa, become a nursing-father to the heralds of salvation. To God most high, the loving Father, the redeeming Son, the convincing and sanctifying Spirit, be all the praise and all the glory! Amen and amen ! If time would permit, I have many things to say; but I am so hardly pressed, that I cannot do what I would. Yesterday I was sick in bed, I believe chiefly from the effects of incessant toil, and close application to business; and to-day I have to write several letters, and to close my papers for this vessel, inde pendent of my being obliged to prepare for a fortnight's or three weeks' absence from home, to take Mr. Rowland to the Prah, (a distance of nearly ninety miles,) chiefly on foot, with an intention of visiting the interior parts of the station, before my return to Cape-Coast. This labour is not of short duration, but it is nearly the same all the year round. I need great strength, both of body and spirit, to bear this. I bless God that I am enabled to do it. From a short extract of a Letter, published in the September Number of the "Notices," our friends would learn that Mr. Freeman, in company with Messrs. Rowland and Allen, met Mr. Brooking at the Prah on May 14th; that Mr. Rowland returned with Mr. Brook. ing to Kumási; and that Mr. Freeman called at Domonási on his way back, and there introduced Mr. Allen to his interesting charge. After a short visit to Cape-Coast, to complete the necessary arrangements, Mr. Allen was to take up his permanent abode at Domonási. III. GOLD-COAST. THE following extracts describe various Missionary operations at the Gold-Coast, and especially show the necessity which exists for greatlyincreased exertions to meet the spiritual wants of the native population. DIX-COVE.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. John Watson, dated Dix-Cove, July 13th, 1841. My inability to write to you on the return of Mr. Mycock-inability arising from the seasoning fever-will, I have no doubt, be deemed a sufficient excuse why you have not heard from me earlier: however, the revolution of another quarter brings with it the duty of "giving you "an account of" the exercise of my ministerial" stewardship." 99 Our General Superintendent, deeming it necessary that a European Missionary should be stationed at this place, selected me for that purpose; and, as soon as my strength was sufficiently recruited, I accordingly repaired hither, at which place I arrived April 7th, 1841. The estimated distance from Cape-Coast to DixCove is between sixty and seventy miles by land. The population of this town is estimated at five thousand; though onefifth or more of these are generally absent from home, either attending to their farms in the bush, or on trading excursions. Your Missionary has never been preceded in this part of the Mission-field by a messenger of peace, except by an American Episcopalian Missionary, who resided here but eight weeks. There is only one European merchant resident VOL. XXI. Third Series. here. A boys' school was only com menced twelve months previous to my arrival; so that, the facilities hitherto afforded to the inhabitants for acquiring a knowledge of divine truth having been limited, the darkness of Heathenism is consequently nearly unbroken, and "the god of this world" has hitherto reigned in this part of his dominions with almost undisputed sway. The limits of this communication, and my comparative inexperience, prohibit me from saying any thing respecting the religious opinions, superstitious practices, &c., of the natives, except that their principal tutelar deity is the alligator; which, being devoutly revered and suitably protected, has multiplied rather too rapidly, and having recently become injurious to men, and destructive to sheep, goats, fowls, &c., the authorities have deemed it necessary to demonstrate the mortality of their divinities by shooting two of them. During the first fortnight of my residence here, I was hospitably entertained in the fort by John G. Sandeman, Esq., Commandant, (pro tempore,) at the expiration of which period, no suitable house being obtainable, I was under the NOVEMBER, 1842. 3 U necessity of renting the one which I now occupy, for six ackies of gold (£1. 10s. currency) per month. It consists of three rooms on a ground-floor, the respective sizes of which are seventeen feet by nine, eleven by nine, and nine by nine. It is situated on the beach, and the high tides wash the foundations of the side and end walls of my bed-room, and approach within four yards of the entire front of the house: so that your Missionary unavoidably lives in steam by day, and in dew by night. I trust, dear Sirs, you will perceive the indispensable necessity of immediately erecting a Missionhouse, if you resolve to continue a European Missionary at Dix-Cove. At present a residence here is eminently perilous; and, indeed, that I am alive to write these lines is matter of grateful surprise to myself. My Our religious services were held in the open air until the commencement of the rainy season in the latter end of May, when we were compelled to retreat to the school-room, in which our services have subsequently been held. My congregations have varied from forty to two hundred; and many attend regularly now who only attended casually at first. reception among the people has been exceedingly kind and flattering. The principal head-men and merchants manifest an ardent desire for instruction; and, previous to my arrival among them, they envied the privileges of the inhabitants of Cape-Coast. They saw the full light of truth shining at a distance; and the few streaks of it which occasionally reached them were only sufficient to show them their destitute condition, and to excite the desire that the "Sun of righteous ness" might arise on them "with healing in his wings." Twelve persons have been united in church-fellowship, some of whom, we trust, have entered into "the kingdom of God, which is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost;" and of others we have hope that they are not far from the same kingdom. The boys' school is now committed to our superintendence and direction: at present there are thirty-five boys in it, who display great aptitude in learning; and their progress is exceedingly creditable, considering the short time that the school has been established. A girls' school was commenced on Monday, May 17th. Previous to this the whole town was canvassed by me; and the discouraging result was, only the promise of two girls. The female sex are so degraded here, and considered so much inferior, that the idea of educat ing them was ridiculed and laughed at as the greatest absurdity which the human mind could entertain. However, difficulties and discouragements are common and every-day occurrences with Missionaries; and notwithstanding the indifference of some, and the idiotic laughs of others, the school was opened at the time appointed; and when the people were satisfied as to the benevolent character of my intentions, by my furnishing the girls with frocks, work-bags, &c., their prejudices began to yield, and we succeeded in obtaining seven on the first day. The number has gradually increased since the commencement, and at present we have sixteen in the girls' school. For such a beginning we "thank God, and take courage." APOLLONIA.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. William Allen, dated Cape-Coast Castle, February 2d, 1842. I AM happy to announce to you my safe arrival at Cape-Coast. We were six weeks and two days before we made land. When we came to anchor at Apollonia, the Captain went on shore to trade with the King, and met with a very kind reception. He told the King that he had a Missionary on board; when he expressed a strong desire to see me. The Captain wrote me a letter to that effect; and the King sent his large canoe, with twelve men, to conduct me safe to shore. I suppose I was the first Missionary that ever set a foot on the shores of Apollonia. I stopped at the *Near the western extremity of the GoldCoast. At this place the British formerly had a fort.-EDIT. King's house, and met with the kindest reception. The Captain and I were to gether. We had not our meals with the King, but we had a most splendid provision of every description set before us; and when we wanted to go, the King was not willing that we should leave. He threw himself into a passion about our departure; he had placed round the court-yard not less than fifty men, armed with guns and swords, to prevent us from going; and in addition to those fifty men in the court-yard, he ordered all the workmen from a new house which he was building, not less than twenty, to come and stand at a door-way where we must pass, if we got out of the courtyard, some armed with axes, others with adzes, each of them having a weapon of some kind. We stayed here two days, and it was not without trouble that we got away. At length the King, in a fit of passion, ordered the canoe-mcn to take us to the vessel immediately: this was what we wanted. In reference to the character of this King, I may remark, that he is supposed to be more barbarous than the King of Ashanti. A short time since, the King's mother died, and, to honour her, he caused twenty men, twenty women, and twenty young girls, to be sacrificed. They killed first a man, then a woman, and then a young girl, and continued to repeat it, till they had killed the whole number. The females they killed by striking them at the back of the head with clubs: they partly cut the throats of the men, and then tied ropes to their legs, and drew AKRAH.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Thomas B. Freeman, dated Cape- OUR Schools at Dix-Cove are doing well they contain forty-five boys, and nineteen girls. Our school at Cape-Coast is rapidly advancing it is now kept in the Mission-house, and contains sixty girls. I hope our friends at home will not forget us respecting clothes, needles, thread, &c. we are sadly at a loss at present for these things. : Mr. and Mrs. Shipman have returned to their post at Akráh, and are busy in I preparing to receive as many young men as we can obtain, to undergo a course of theological training and other preparation for the more efficient discharge of their duty as Teachers, &c. We have fixed upon Akráh as a proper place for this, because the Mission-house is large, and the society so small as to admit of Mr. Shipman's devoting much of his time to teaching, and preparing the young men for usefulness. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Thomas B. Freeman, dated Cape-Coast Castle, June 25th, 1842. SINCE I last wrote to you, I have accompanied Mr. Watson to Dix-Cove, to make arrangements for his permanent residence there. Alive to the importance of avoiding expenses as much as possible, I have tried by every means to hire a permanent residence for him, but cannot succeed; and hence we are under the necessity of building a small house immediately. We have consequently selected a piece of ground, of which we expect to obtain a 66 grant" from the Local Government; and we are now purchasing materials, and preparing workmen to commence the house immediately. we have plenty of workmen at hand, I trust we shall succeed in getting it finished before the next rainy season. I am glad to say that Mr. Watson's health seems now to be fully restored; as a proof of which I only need tell you that he has performed a journey of a hundred and forty miles along the Coast, during the rainy season; a great part of which As we have had to walk, often climbing over rugged rocks, and sometimes wading through muddy paths, during the heat of the day, and the damps of the night; and he has proceeded to Anamabu, to pack up his things, and prepare for his removal to Dix-Cove, in perfect health. This is very encouraging amidst our heavy duties. I hope this new house at Dix-Cove will be built with greater rapidity, and with less expense, than we have ever done such work before, on any part of the Coast. We are thinking of slating the roof, as it will be the safest, as well as the quickest, method. We can get slate from America cheaper than we can from England; and I think I can obtain some from America by the time that we shall be ready for it. Many of the merchants here are now using slate for the roofs of their houses, and find it no more expensive than the ordinary method of terracing. I hope these steps will meet with the |