Chapter IV: Part 4

"Dr. B. threw off his coat to enable him to run with the
greater speed; an aged female who is highly respected by all
around, fell: and Dr. B. immediately fixed the dog upon her,
which tore her leg severely in many places. Her husband ran to
lift her up, and to drive off the dog, when Dr. B., seized him
and attempted to throw him over a fearful precipice into a
deep chasm, where he must have been dashed to pieces; but God
enabled his servant to escape from the grasp of the persecutor,
and all the party came back to the house where we had so
recently joined together in the worship of God. I had travelled
a considerable distance during the day, had got wet, preached
twice, and performed various other duties; being fatigued, and
having to journey home on the morrow, I had retired to rest. As
soon as I heard what had taken place I arose, had the wounds of
the poor female attended to, and bound up. I then conversed
with the people, read to them the first twelve verses of the
fifth of Matthew, and again from the forty-third verse to the
end; spoke to them on the duty of forgiveness, love to enemies,
and patient suffering for Christ's sake; prayed with them,
first for the persecutors, next for themselves and for the
church of God. They left me between nine and ten o'clock,
rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for
righteousness' sake; before they left, they besought me not to
carry the matter to a magistrate, but to leave it with God;
promising that they would always afterward go and return by a
road that did not lead them near the house of this man. I
really admired their forgiving spirit, and their patient
endurance of evil, especially that of the chief sufferer, and
of her husband, who had suffered with her, and had narrowly
escaped death in rescuing her. Two of the nine have long been
free, the others were apprentices. Had the native feelings of
the human heart been indulged, how easily could these people
have resisted the assaults of their persecutors, and, as they
were pursued about half a mile on the road that has been a
common by-path for years, they might have turned upon their
adversaries, and afterwards have argued that they had a right
to pass without molestation, and when molested to act on the
defensive, in forcing their way to their homes; but, except a
few words at first, of calm entreaty, these quiet people did
nothing, and gave no impertinent language, but turned to go
back in peace, and were in the act of returning when they were
thus assaulted."

We mentioned, in our last number, that Mr. Coultart had encountered much annoyance in the neighbouring parish of St. Ann's, the birth-place of the Colonial Church Union, and disgracefully conspicuous for the blind and furious determination shown by several of its leading men, to prevent the spread of religious instruction among the negroes. Humanly speaking, nothing but the wise, humane, and dignified conduct of the Custos, the Hon. S. M. Barrett, saved this parish from the horrors of martial law. He applied to Mr. Coultart, requesting him to use all his influence with the negroes to quell the spirit of insubordination which had begun to show itself among them; and in addition to this, met them in person at Ocho Rios, gave them an excellent and animated address, explaining to them the nature of the new law, and expostulating with them, in the warmest and kindest manner. All present were much pleased with his kindness, and promised to do all they could to allay the existing evil.

Mrs. Coultart, in a subsequent letter, adverting to the same subject, remarks, "The poor things were puzzled. They were told they were free on the first of August, had a general holiday, and rejoiced at the event; and then they were called to work again as before. 'Free, no free at all; work like before-time.' Many said, they would not work without a proper understanding, or some pay. I was present when a poor woman in the Methodist Society made a speech to the following effect: 'From the creation down to now we work, work, work. Now, Lord Mulgrave and the King give we free, we take free, we happy; then master come, tell we work like before-time. No, me say, better take shot at one than make we fool so.' The minister's wife talked to her, and explained that this work for six years was to help pay the owner what the King could not afford to do, of the money that purchased her; and she seemed quite content, and said she would go to her work. If it were possible to speak to each thus, in the tone of a friend, they would believe; but their confidence in their owners is shaken--and who can wonder?"

Adverting to the necessity of additional aid to give instruction to the negroes and their children, Mrs. C. remarks to her female correspondent, "I wish you could just come some Saturday evening before the preaching Sabbath at this bay, and see the numbers who come to our house, two miles farther, after having walked twenty and twenty-five miles already, just to read their letters, or to hear a few verses out of the Bible, or Watts's First Catechism, or something that will shed a ray of light over their benighted minds. I have about thirty-five little ragged black children who meet me in the place hired for worship on the bay at four o'clock every evening. These I try to teach for two hours, and the only member of the church who can read sometimes meets me to assist. We are going soon, I believe, to remove from this house; it is considered unhealthy, there being marshes near, and then I shall be too far off to attend to the children daily. On the sabbath, only every third, is too unfrequent for progress to be made. Could I see the means of support, I would, without loss of time, place a person at the bay to teach regularly, and then I trust some good would be done. The eagerness manifested for First Spelling Books with large alphabets is amusing and pleasing. I have purchased all I could get in Kingston, and sold them again at the same price, which is three times as dear as if I had them from England. Mr. C. has written to several English friends, to beg them to send us some, either to give away or sell. I hope they will, without loss of time, for it is distressing to be obliged to refuse such earnest requests. 'Me want to learn, me good massa, that me may read out of the Bible for meself.' This is just what we want for them, that they may not be led astray by every designing person, who may set himself up to instruct them."

At _Port Maria_ Mr. Baylis had the pleasure of receiving _fifty-nine_ persons by baptism on the 20th of July last. He labours with great diligence, and is cheered, at each of his stations, by proofs of a divine blessing resting on his exertions.

Mr. Whitehorne reports, from _Mount Charles_, that the same increase of congregation, and earnest desire to learn to read, exists in the several places where he maintains public worship, as at other stations; while from _Montego Bay_, and _Falmouth_, our brethren Abbott, Dexter, and Dendy, renew their earnest solicitations for further aid. We rejoice to learn that Mr. Burchell arrived in safety at Kingston from New York, on the 27th of October; and we trust not only to be permitted to make the same announcement, in a few days, respecting Mr. Knibb, but to witness further accession, shortly, to the number of faithful and devoted labourers in this interesting portion of the missionary field.

Mr. Harjette and his family have embarked for Calcutta in the David Clarke, Capt. Rayne, and sailed from Portsmouth.

A letter has been received from Mr. George Pearce, dated at sea, Sept. 6th, in N. lat. 4 deg., W. long. 23 deg. Mr. and Mrs. P. were quite well, and had received much kind attention from the Captain and their fellow-passengers.

LIST OF FOREIGN LETTERS LATELY RECEIVED.

EAST INDIES Rev. Henry Beddy Patna April 7.
-- W. H. Pearce Calcutta 14.
-- John Lawrence Digah June 13.
Jonathan Carey, Esq. Calcutta 14.
Rev. Wm. Yates ditto July 26.
-- George Pearce Madeira Aug. 19.

WEST INDIES -- T. F. Abbott Montego Bay Aug. 12.
Ditto ditto Sept. 19.
-- J. Coultart St. Ann's Bay Aug. 12.
Ditto ditto Sept. 3, & 17.
-- W. Dendy Falmouth Aug. 12.
Ditto ditto Sept. 15.
-- J. M. Phillippo Spanish Town Aug. 18.
Ditto ditto Sept. 23.
-- Joshua Tinson Kingston Aug. 18.
Ditto ditto Sept. 22.
-- H. C. Taylor Spanish Town Aug. 18.
Ditto ditto Sept. 3.
-- F. Gardner Kingston Aug. 18.
Ditto ditto Sept. 23.
-- J. Clarke Kenmuir Aug. 19.
Ditto ditto Sept. 17.
-- Kilner Pearson Nassau 14.
-- Edward Baylis Port Maria 16.
Messrs. A. & J. Deleon, Savanna-la-Mar 19.
Rev. W. Whitehorne Mount Charles 22.
-- J. Kingdon Manchioneal Oct. 13.
-- Josiah Barlow Anotta Bay 16.
-- Walter Dendy Falmouth 21.
-- Joshua Taylor Kingston 28.

SOUTH AMERICA. -- Joseph Bourn Belize July 12.

SOUTH AFRICA. -- W. Davies Graham's Town 21.

_Contributions received on account of the Baptist Missionary Society, from Nov. 20, to Dec. 20, 1834, not including individual subscriptions._

Naunton, by Rev. J. Acock 10 3 4

Newbury, Collections and Subscriptions,
by Rev. T. Welsh 42 2 9

Norwich and Norfolk Auxiliary, by Mr.
J. Culley, Treasurer 96 3 6

South Devon Auxiliary, on account, by
Mr. Nicholson 45 0 0

Lincolnshire and Suffolk, by Rev.
Eustace Carey:--
Louth, Rev. Mr. Cameron's 12 5 0
Horncastle 1 13 6
Eye 7 16 1
Bury 11 8 2
Diss 6 9 0
Stowmarket 11 12 1
Ipswich 73 1 0
-------- 124 4 10

Chelsea, Collections and Sunday School,
by Mr. Skerritt 13 1 0

Sutton on Trent, by Mr. Mozley 7 2 6

Newark, by Mr. Lomax 5 4 0

Broseley, Auxiliary Society, by Mr.
Weare, Jun. 24 0 0

Huntingdonshire, Society in aid of Missions,
on account, by Mr. Paul 50 0 0

Derbyshire, by Rev. W. Hawkins:--
Derby 38 9 3
Burton on Trent 13 1 11
Loscoe 1 8 0
-------- 52 19 2

Reading, Negro's Friend Society, by Mrs.
Letchworth, (_For Spanish Town_) 5 0 0

Northamptonshire, Independent Association,
by Rev. Mr. Robertson:--
Kettering, Rev. T. Toller 2 0 0
Harborough, Rev. W. Wild 5 0 0
-------- 7 0 0

Downton, Collection, &c. by Rev. John
Clare 12 2 6

Haddenham (Cambridgeshire), by Mr.
Rose 13 7 0

Bath, Collected by Miss Oliver 0 6 6

LEGACY.

Mr. William Baker, late of George Street, Hampstead Road, (Executors, Messrs. Henry Welton and Joseph Ivimey) 200 0 0

_The following Contributions have been received, on account of the Jamaica Chapels and School Rooms, since the List was printed off._

Sidney Gurney, Esq. 2 2 0 Banff, Mrs. Nichols and Friends 1 0 0

_Members of the Society of Friends._

William Allen (S) 3 0 0 John Sanderson 3 0 0 John Kitching 2 2 0 James Foster 2 2 0 Cornelius Hanbury 2 2 0 Thomas Norton 1 0 0 Jacob Hagen, Jun. 1 0 0 Margaret Wilson. 1 0 0

Scarborough, (_additional_):--
Collection, Aug. 1 4 10 0
Surplus of Tea Party 6 1 9
Christopher Hill, Esq. 5 0 0
W. D. Thornton, Esq. 1 0 0
W. Dyson, Esq. 1 0 0
Friend 1 0 0
W. Smith, Esq. 0 10 0
Mrs. Fox 0 10 0

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The thanks of the Committee are returned to the Rev. John Cox, of Woolwich, for a parcel of books and tracts for Jamaica; and also to Mrs. Letchworth, and the Committee of the Reading Ladies' Negroes' Friend Society, for a box containing books and other useful articles for Jamaica.

Our valuable Correspondent at Newbury is informed, that the friend about whom he inquires had made previous arrangements for his journey westward, which prevented his complying with the request sent him from N.

In the List of Contributions for rebuilding the Jamaica Chapels, there occurs a line, under the head of "Prescot-street, Rev. Charles Stovel,"

Friends 10 2 6
_For which, read_,
Cards, by Miss Amelia Bradshaw:--
T. Teape, Esq. 1 1 0
W. Cooke, Esq. 1 0 0
A. Jackson, Esq. 1 0 0
Small sums 2 6 6
------- 5 7 6
By Miss Martha Bradshaw 4 15 0

Under the head of "Lyme, Dorset," there should have been entered, a donation of Five Pounds, from James Edwards, Esq.;--and at "Caine, Wilts," the account should stand thus:--

Collection, by Rev. W. Lush 2 7 0 Mr. W. Gundry, for Schools 1 0 0 J. F. Gundry, Do 1 0 0 ------- 4 7 0

J. HADDON, PRINTER, CASTLE STREET, FINSBURY.