indulgences, or debased by trifling ones. And when from these you rise to the still more rational and manly delights of virtue; to that self-congratulation which springs up in the soul from the consciousness of having used your best endeavours to act up to the precepts of the gospel; of having done your utmost, with the help of divine grace, to correct your infirmities, to subdue your passions, to improve your understandings, to exalt and purify your affections, to promote the welfare of all within your reach, to love and obey your Maker and Redeemer: then is human happiness wound up to its utmost pitch, and this world has no higher gratifications to give. Try then, you who are in search of pleasures, try these among the rest; try above all others, the pleasures of devotion. Think not that they are nothing more than the visions of a heated imagination. They are real, they are exquisite. They are what thousands have experienced, what thousands still experience, what you yourselves may experience if you please. Acquire only a taste for devotion (as you often do for other things of far less value) in the beginning of life, and it will be your support and comfort through the whole extent of it. It will raise you above all low cares and little gratifications; it will give dignity and sublimity to your sentiments, inspire you with fortitude in danger, with patience in adversity, with moderation in prosperity, with alacrity in. all your undertakings, with watchfulness over your own conduct, with benevolence to all mankind. It will be so far from throwing a damp on your other pleasures, that it will give new life and spirit to them, and make all nature look gay around you. It will be a fresh fund of cheerfulness in store for you when the vivacity of youth begins to droop; and is the only thing that can fill up that void in the soul which is left in it by every earthly enjoyment. It will not, like worldly pleasures, desert you when you have most need of consolation, in the hours of solitude, of sickness, of old age; but when once its holy flame is thoroughly lighted up in your breasts, instead of becoming more faint and languid as you advance in years, it will grow brighter and stronger every day; it will glow with peculiar warmth and lustre when your dissolution draws near; will disperse the gloom and horrors of a death bed; will give you a foretaste, and render you worthy to partake of that fulness of joy, those pure celestial pleasures which are at God's right hand for evermore.-Psalm xvi. 11. From the National Intelligencer. MESSRS. GALES AND SEATON, I send you, for publication, an extract of a letter from the Rev. Ebenezer Burgess, the surviving agent of the American Colonization Society for exploring the west coast of Africa. It communicates the afflictive intelligence of the death of his colleague, the Rev. Samuel J. Mills. Mr. Mills was a native of New-England, and had devoted a number of years in promoting the objects of the benevolent and Christian Societies in our country. He had spent his life in their service, and had nearly exhausted a small patrimony which he possessed. A biographical sketch of Mr. Mills, by a competent hand, would not only be gratifying to his numerous friends, but seems peculiarly called for, from his distinguished zeal, his active benevolence, and the extensive usefulness of his short life. I hope it will be furnished by some of his friends. The foundation of the disease which terminated his life was laid some time before he left this country. The suspension of his complaint, whilst in Africa, so as to enable him to perform the arduous duties of his situation, gives a favourable view of the climate of that country; more especially as Mr. Mills, being a northern man, would be more liable to be affected by a tropical climate. The information derived from the Commissioners of the Society fully justifies the expectation of its friends, that a situation can be procured for the proposed colony, safe, healthful, and fertile. There wants only the fostering aid of the government to carry the plans of the Society into full operation. It is hoped that the attention of a liberal and enlightened people will now be awakened; and that Congress will. take a decided part and warm interest in support of the plans of the Society. The people are ready to support the government in any measure which may be adopted for that purpose. The people of colour are daily becoming more favourable, as they begin to understand the subject, and offers of co-operation and support on their part are frequently received from various parts of the country. A sufficient number have already offered their services to ensure the commencement of a respectable colony, whenever the necessary. preparations are made for the first establishment. Mr. Burgess arrived in London on the 25th of July, and may be daily expected in this country. I am yours, &c. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. EBENEZER BURGESS, one of the agents of the American Colonization Society, dated "Brig Success, from Sierra Leone to London, English channel, 16th July, 1818." We were received with all civility in Sierra Leone. Gov. Macarthy was unfortunately absent on a visit to the Gambia; but the commandant, captain Appleton, the honourable chief justice Fitzgerald, and other gentlemen, by their kind attentions, supplied the loss. Our embassy gave great joy to many of the African colonists. We examined the schools and the public edifices, and some of the colonial town's. As might be expected, I was very happily disappointed in some things, and painfully in others. There surely has been rapid improvements in some respects, within a few years, and the present prospects of the colony are good. The number of places, eligible for the location of colonies, is less than one might suppose from the extent of coast. Nearly every river has a bar or shoal at its mouth, which renders its navigation hazardous, or impracticable to ships of any considerable size For instance, between Cape Mount and the Bight of Berrin, the principal rivers are the Mesurado, Saint Andrews, and Volta, neither of which opens its mouth to a large ship, or forms a harbour for its safe and convenint anchorage. The rivers Calebar and Cameroon, in the Bight of Berrin, the Gaboon and the Congo, are considered to be navigable some distance by the largest ships. There are few Bays on the Gold Coast. At the Europian forts and trading stations, ships usually anchor off in the roads, a few leagues from the shore. All goods are landed in boats and African canoes, which are often overset in the surf. Ships, however, seldom sustain injury, because there are no strong winds except the tornadoes, which continue only a few hours, and always give seasonable warning of their approach. Even for a settlement purely agricultural, it seems indispensable to have a river, harbour, or bay, in the vicinity, where necessary supplies may be brought, and surplus produce exported. In eight days after we reached Sierra Leone, having made the best arrangements which circumstances would allow, we were in readiness for an excursion down the coast to the country of Sherbro. We took with us Messrs. John Kitzell and William Martin, as interpreters, besides the pilot, captain, and men of the little schooner in which we sailed. We called on Mr. Thomas Calker, head man of the Berrarra Islands, who embraced our objects with such cordiality that he commissioned two of his chief men to go with us and speak his mind in the councils of Sherbro.- We next called on his nephew, George Calker, head man of the Plantain Islands. We then proceeded to Sherbro and held consultations with the kings and head men of the country. We were always treated with civility and kindness. We made general surveys of the bay, islands, rivers, and adjacent country, taking specimens of the rice, cotton, sugar-cane, &c. with the entire approbation of Kings and head men, notwithstanding temporary apprehensions. These children of nature have had intercourse only with the worst class of white men, and have learned to distrust any profession of humanity or benevolence. I have only to say, at present, that, if the free people of colour of the United States are disposed to remove to Sherbro, there are great tracts of uncultivated land which may be purchased at a moderate price; and that if they behave well, they may live there with the most perfect safety. We were engaged on this excursion about six weeks. After our return to Sierra Leone, we finished our inquiries at that colony, and became satisfied that there was no sufficient reason for our wasting the rainy months on the coast, and that we could do no more with advantage to promote the objects of the American Society. We should have been happy to have sailed directly to the United States; but, as there was no American ship in the vicinity, we improved the only opportunity which offered, and took passage for England in the brig Success. We did not regret this circumstance greatly, as there appeared to be some definite reasons for visiting England. When taking our last views of the African continent, which, for the sake of others, we had so earnestly desired to see, we rendered thanks to God, and expressed our congratulations to each other, that the principal labours and dangers of our embassy were now past. The nature of the climate, and the unknown circumstances in which we might be placed, were subjects of mature reflection before we left our country. Our minds were prepared to meet dangers, and endure trials, which, through divine goodness, had never occurred. Our prospect appeared fair to return to our country, and see the face of our friends in peace. But the period of that event now approaches "respecting which neither my duties to you, nor the sensibilities of my heart, will allow me to say with coldness it has happened so." Our embassy, however humane in its design, however successful in its execution, and however extensive or beneficial in its future consequences, is now obscured with the veil of mourning; it will occasion sorrow where there might have been joy, and, I fear, discouragement and despondence, where there should be activity and perseverance-all is right. The health of my colleague, before he left the United States, was slender having a stricture on the lungs and a dangerous cough. In England, it being winter, he complained much of the humidity of the atmosphere. On the Atlantic, and during the whole time of our residence on the African coast, he enjoyed perfect health, and was active in business every day. On the evening of June the 5th, just two weeks after we sailed from Sierra Leone, he expressed some apprehensions of a fever, and on June 14th, 2 hours and 39 minutes, P. M. in lat. 23, 46, N. he calmly resigned his breath. I doubt not that he enjoys the reward of his pious labours, and does not desire his earthly friends to mourn for him. But the honourable society in whose service he closed his life, the Bible Societies who have enjoyed his labours in years past, and thousands in the American church, will sensibly feel his loss. Had food or medicine, or the kindest attion of fraternal love availed any thing, my dear associate would have survived; but the event has declared the will of heaven, and it is not my duty to murmur. With great respect, dear sir, your obedient servant, Elias B. Caldwell, Secretary of the } THE BLIND SAILOR. F. BURGESS. At a meeting convened in Liverpool, (Eng.) in March last, for the purpose of establishing a Marine Bible Society, for supplying the numerous sailors resorting to that sea-port with the Holy Scriptures, after the gentleman, who opened the business, had taken a luminous view of the subject, and pointed out the duty of adopting measures for the attainment of this great object, he said he should not call on any particular individual to second the resolution, satisfied as he was, that some sailor in the room would feel it to be his duty to support it. He had scarcely resumed his seat, when a blind Sailor, in the middle of the meeting, rose, and in a manner peculiarly impressive addressed the chair, as nearly as I can recollect, in the following words:-" Mr Chairman, there is not in the present assembly, nor in the world, a more proper person to second this motion than myself. I was a sailor, and, like too many of my messmates, I led a wicked and profligate life. Totally careless of the future, I thought only of present time; I plunged into every species of sin; I lived without God in the world. This I continued for several years, until it pleased God to strike me blind. Being no longer qualified to perform the duties of a seaman, I was discharged and returned home. But though I could no longer indulge in some of my daring vices, I pursued with increased avidity those which I could practice. One of my pleasures was to hear novels and romances read by my friends and relatives. One of them, whose heart God had touched, called on me one day, and told me he had brought a book to read to me. I asked him if it was a new book; he said that itwas the oldest in the world, but always new, and began to read the BIBLE to me. It was then I found, that though God had seen meet to draw the veil of darkness over my natural sight, he could pour a flood of light upon my heart. My friend often came to read to me; he took me to hear the Bible explained, and the God of the Bible was graciously pleased to open this heart. I saw my lost condition, and was mercifully enabled to see my only hope of restoration and salvation was in Jesus Christ. And now, Mr. Chairman, let me ask whether there be in this room, or in the world, a more proper person to second a motion for establishing a Society for giving Bibles to Seamen." REVIVAL OF RELIGION AT SEA. [The following is from the Newburyport Herald. The Editor of that paper says the information may be relied upon as strictly true.] Extract of a letter from a young man on board the ship Independence, to his friend in Newburyport, dated Calcutta, April 30, 1818. The Missionaries* who came out with us appear to be amiable persons: they converse more upon experimental religion than the sentiments of different sects. Our crew, the first part of the passage, were apparently steady and fond of reading. Nothing particular occurred until about the 10th of February, when one of our sailors, (a native of Scotland,) who has been, according to his own confession, addicted to every vice that is common among sailors, in his 8 o'clock watch below, about five minutes in bed, thought he saw the person of our Saviour by him, with out-stretched arms to receive him, and then disappeared. It affected him much; it seemed to be instrumental in the hand of God of bringing him to serious reflections upon his past life, and we trust it proved a deliverance of his soul from the power of sin and Satan into the liberty of the sons of God. This change put a new song into his mouth, even praise to * Messrs. Colman and Wheelock of the Baptist connexion, who sailed from Boston last December on a mission to India. |