breathed a syllable of his intentions, and yet more than twice or thrice he had taken him on his knee, to tell him of the approaching change. But something always occurred to defer the execution of his purpose-the boy stopt his mouth with kisses-or he prattled so there was no getting in a word edgeways-or it would do as well in the evening, when he came home from his fields. But then, the young one came running to meet him, and had always so much to ask and tell, that the important communication was still delayed. In the morning, before he rose from his pillow, he would tell it as the boy lay still by his side; but while the secret was actually on his lips, his little bedfellow crept into his bosom, and nestled there so lovingly, that his voice died away, as it were, into the very depths of his heart, and the words were yet unspoken. At length he hit upon the opportunity, which was sure to present itself ere long. The next time Josiah was idle and refractory at his lessonsthat very moment, in the strength of indignation, he would tell him he was to leave his father's roof, and be consigned to the rule of strangers. Alas! that fitting occasion was in vain laid wait for Josiah truly did his best to forward it, but the father could not be angry-and he could not speak.

At last, seriously angry with himself-humiliated at the triumph of human weakness, to which he had hitherto boasted himself superiorAndrew departed one morning to his labours earlier than usual, having deputed to Jenny the task, to which he felt himself unequal. All that morning the father's thoughts were with his child. He pictured to himself the first burst of distress-the first grievous surprise the inconsolable sorrow at the thought of parting-and he longed to return, and clasp the boy to his heart, and to kiss off the tears from his dear face, and comfort him with soothing words and indulgent promises.

But still as the fond impulse rose within him, he wrestled with it manfully, and lashed on his team, and laid his hand upon the plough, as if to support himself in resolute forbearance. No wonder the furrows Andrew traced that day were the most uneven he had ever drawn, since the hour he first guided his own plough on his

own acres. He kept firm to his post, however, till the usual dinner hour, and even left the field with his labourers, without deviating from his accustomed firm, deliberate step; but when they had turned out of sight to their own homes, then Andrew speeded on rapidly towards his cottage, till just within sight of it he spied the little Josiah running forward to meet him. Then again he slackened his pace, for his heart shrunk from the first burst of the boy's impetuous sorrow.

But those apprehensions were soon exchanged for feelings of a more irritable nature, when he perceived that the merry urchin bounded towards him with more than his usual exuberant glee; and the first words he distinguished were," Father, father, I'm going to school!—I'm going to school!--I'm going to town, father!— I'm going to school! When shall I go ?-Shall I go to-morrow? Shall I take my new clothes, father? And my hoop, and my lamb, and old Dobbin ?"

A bitter pang it was that shot through Andrew's heart at that moment-a bitter revulsion of feeling was that he experienced. He made no allowance for the volatile nature of childhood-its restless desire of change and love of novelty, its inconsideration -its blissful recklessness of the future. He read only in the boy's exulting rapture, that this his only, only child

the only creature he had ever loved -who had slept in his bosom, and prattled on his knee, and won from him such fond indulgences as he could scarce excuse to his own consciencethis darling of his age, now on the eve of a first separation, broke out into extravagant joy at the prospect, and testified no anxiety, but to take with him his playthings, and his dumb favourites. The sudden revulsion of feeling came upon Andrew like an ice-bolt, and there he stood motionless, looking sternly and fixedly on the poor child, who was soon awed and silenced by his father's unwonted aspect, and stood trembling before him, fearing he knew not what. At last he softly whispered, sidling closely up, and looking earnestly and fearfully in his father's face," Shall I not go to school then? Old Jenny said I should."

That second, quiet interrogatory restored to Andrew the use of speech, and the mastery over all his softer

feelings. "Yes," he replied, taking the boy's hand, and grasping it firmly within his own, as he led him homeward " Yes, Josiah, you shall go to school-you have been kept too long at home-to-morrow is the Sabbath-but on Monday you shall go. On Monday, my child, you shall leave your father."

That last sentence, and a something he perceived, but comprehended not, in his father's voice and manner, painfully affected the boy, and he burst into tears, and, clinging to his father's arm, sobbed out,-"But you will go with me, father; and you will come and see me every day, will you not? And I shall soon come home again."

That artless burst of natural affection fell like balm on Andrew's irritated feelings, and he caught up his

child to his bosom, and blessed and kissed him, and then they "reasoned together" and the father told his boy how he should fetch him home every Saturday with Dobbin; and how they should still go hand-in-hand to church on the Sabbath; and how his lamb, and the grey colt, should be taken care of in his absence; and his hoop and other toys might be carried with him to school.

Then the child began again his joyous prattle, with now and then a sob between; and the father kissed his wet glowing cheek, carrying him all the way home in his arms; and thus lovingly they entered the little_garden, and the pretty cottage, and sat down side by side, to the neat homely meal old Jenny had provided.

SIR,

THE appearance of the official report by the Commissioners sent out by Government, in obedience to the will of Parliament, in order to investigate into the situation of Sierra Leone, in some measure compels me to resume my pen, to follow out a painful and disgusting subject—a subject, the details of which are most humiliating to my country, and most injurious and degrading to Africa.

It is, moreover, due to the cause of truth, and to the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of the more intelligent ranks of my fellow-subjects, who, throughout the wide extent of the British dominions, read the columns of the influential Journal in which I have the honour to address you-it is due to these ranks, to lay before them, from official authority, a full confirmation of every particular which has at any time been advanced by me regarding a detestable place, and against a pernicious system. This labour is also rendered necessary, in consequence of the unprincipled personal attacks which have been made, and circulated by their authors widely throughout the country, at the expense, I believe, of those funds bestowed by

humanity to enlighten Africa; and which have been farther reiterated and sharpened by venal pens, which make (to use their own words) "gain of godliness;"-by men "who glory in their shame," who "have no characters to lose," and who court a disgraceful notoriety," but, in some instances, in columns too polluted, degraded, and insignificant, to bring to your knowledge.

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The object I had in view, was the exposure and the overthrow of a system of falsehood, deception, and error, long continued, firmly fixed, and strongly guarded, alike injurious to the character of this country and to the improvement of Africa. Goaded on, however, by the demon of the place, and in an evil hour for himself, Mr Kenneth Macaulay, in defence of what is indefensible, has adopted an opposite course, and which, for a moment, and but for a moment, compels me to deviate from the path which I had resolved to pursue. The opponents of truth must be met on the ground which they have chosen, and with the weapons selected by themselves, especially when, in a public question, these can be turned against them with justice and with effect.

When Mr Kenneth Macaulay's pamphlet made its appearance, I stated unto you, that it bore on its face indelible marks that the production was not his; and from positive information, since received, I now repeat, that it was NOT WRITTEN BY HIM; and when I state this, it requires little penetration to find out the real author:

"Aut aut Diabolus,"

the lowest servant in the Colonial Of fice will at once pitch upon the author, or compiler, or composer, without the aid of African enchantment, or further information.

Before proceeding to bring before you farther information concerning the morals and condition of the population of Sierra Leone; and before proceeding to call your attention to the details given by the Commissioners, it may not be unnecessary to state, as I now most distinctly do, that I never asked, and never received, from any one in any manner connected with his Majesty's Government, a single syllable of information concerning Sierra Leone and its affairs. You will pardon me when I state, that to such a source I should never have thought of applying, even were such open to me; because, till lately, his Majesty's Government was kept wholly ignorant of what was going on in that place, and systematically deceived by the real rulers of it.

In exposing this den of death, and in dragging to light this system of iniquity, things have been stated which, to sober minds and honest hearts, will appear incredible. But the proofs are at hand and ready, and my opponents are challenged to appear before any tribunal, but a tribunal appointed by themselves, or under their immediate influence, and they shall be met. Even by their own witnesses they shall be convicted in every point.

You cannot fail to know that Sierra Leone has been represented by those interested in the spot, and believed by the credulous people of Great Britain, to be a place and a country equal to the Garden of Eden before the fall of our first parents, in extent, in fertility, in salubrity of climate, and in purity of character. Under this impression, worthy and intelligent men have stood forward, and, in this country, been led to advocate the cause of a place,

-THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH!"

The Quarterly Review, which gives, when it inclines, a severe hit, and which possesses very accurate information concerning this celebrated spot, lays before us (No. 71, p. 118 and 119) a correct picture of its religion and morals, comprehended in observations made upon an account of its twin sister, Bakhara. "In that country," says the able critic, "nothing appears to flourish but PRAYING AND CONCUBINAGE, which are sometimes found to go together IN OTHER COUNTRIES besides Mawenelnahar :" The KHAN sets the example of the former, by maintaining, for his own use, no less than TWO HUNDRED WOMEN; and the Mullahs of the latter, by compelling, with the whip, all citizens to attend the usual hours of worship at some one or other of the numerous mosques, which, with the colleges and schools, occupy a large share of the capital. This whipping-in of the lazy Mussulmans to prayers was the daily practice of Beggee Ján, the predecessor of the present Khan, whose singular character and habits are so well described by an English Elchee-the same holy usurper, of whom the King of Persia used to say, "that he sold true Believers like cattle in the market place of Bakhara."

Bakhara is Bakhara, and Sierra Leone is Sierra Leone; and as there are lazy Mussulmans in the former, so are there in the latter, and rulers, too, with the authority and the passions of Khans. If a Sierra Leone Khan is not seen descending from his Harem to whip in the "lazy" unbelievers to prayers, he may be seen whipping them for skulking from prayers, which is much the same thing. Concu binage," however, flourishes more in Sierra Leone than "PRAYING" (such as that is); the former is the general rule, the latter, together with marriage, the exceptions; and no one knows better than Mr Kenneth Macaulay, that Khans in Sierra Leone may keep, and do keep, Harems, peopled both with true believers and with unbe lievers. A predecessor of the present

Khan had one, I am told, probably equal to his brother's in Bakhara. What might the number be? said I to an informant. That I cannot exactly state, because, though scattered, they were so numerous, was the reply; but, judging from the progeny, they must have exceeded in number both Solomon's queens (60), and concubines (80); and, added he slyly, they keep no virgins in the Harems at Sierra Leone!!-The progeny of this Khan, what might the number be? said I. Why, judging from what I saw, three or four here, and three or four there, at school, and at other places, and from what I was informed, by good authority, were daily coming into the world, and growing up in it, the number might approach to FIFTY!!-What would the Emigration Committee say, were Great Britain and Ireland peopled with men of this stamp?

The proceedings just noticed may be the speediest and most effectual way of improving the population of Africa; yet not being one of the enlightened, I cannot take it upon myself to determine how far it is proper to do as they do, namely, "evil that good may come;" and although the Missionary Register and Parliamentary Reports may omit the fact, yet it is true, that wherever anything like a ready progress in education is evinced, or seen in the schools in Sierra Leone, supported wholly by the British Treasury, it is amongst the coloured children of the Whites and the Mulattoes that this is seen; a decided proof of the superiority of European intellect over African. One of these schools, said an informant, is nearly filled with children of this description; and several of them readily answered to the name of Macaulay, so called, no doubt, in honour of some venerable patron of that place, or patriarch of that name.

I should not again have troubled you on this disgusting topic of Sierra Leone vices, had not Mr Kenneth Macaulay and his friends, as unnecessarily as unguardedly adopted the African mode of defence which they have done.

Here it will be proper to state the - number and the classification of the population of Sierra Leone, April 1826, as given by the Commissioners at pages

VOL. XXIII.

Total,

113

578

141

636

949

10,716

*3113

16,246

exclusive of the military. Of this heterogeneous mass, Mr Macaulay says, pp. 16, 17, and other places; First, of the military, that they are "commuted men," whose pass-word is "a merry life and a short one," while their white wives are such characters as "do not require the immoral habits of Sierra Leone to degrade" them. Secondly, "the lower class of European adventurers are seldom men of good character. Intemperance is their besetting vice." Thirdly, Mr Raban says of the higher ranks of Europeans in the place, that THE UNCHRISTIAN LIVES" led by "too many" of them tend to demoralize by their example the untutored Africans. Fourthly, Mr Macaulay tells us of the natives, that they are "Mahommedans and Pagans, quite INDIFFERENT TO CHRISTIANITY ;" and Kroomen, with whom "no inducement can prevail to relinquish their native superstitions;" and lastly, Liberated Africans, who are generally "in the lowest state of ignorance and DEGRADATION, the bad subjects of barbarous states, ENSLAVED FOR CRIMES ! !"

These classes composed the population of Sierra Leone, and such another collection was never gathered into one place by any rational people!!

Sierra Leone is, without exception, the most immoral and vicious place on the face of the earth, unmatched by any other place, even in Africa. "Disgusting assaults upon female infants,' say the Commissioners, p. 98, "have of LATE been frequent." Amongst the various colours, white. yellow, and black, which make up the population, "concubinage" is ge

I

neral and pre-eminent, and immorality conspicuous. The superior classes who can afford it, BUY these concubines from the natives in the interior parts. Their price reaches as high as thirty dollars, not, however, always paid in cash, but in rum, beads, baft, gunpowder, &c. The Mandingo girls, being the most handsome, are generally preferred. When at Sierra Leone upon a trading expedition, such fathers who may have numerous families of daughters, generally take the order to bring back a daughter or daughters, on their return. These females, once purchased, dare not return to their paternal homes, unless put away by their purchasers and protectors for alleged misconduct. The higher ranks have generally coloured females as concubines. With one colour or other, or with both colours, all the males are provided. The pick of the Liberated African girls are taken and cast off as passion, whim, or a love of variety, dictates.

Amongst all ranks of the black and coloured female population, but more especially in Freetown, prostitution is undisguised and regardless. The mother readily sells the daughter to the highest bidder, or, as may be, to any bidder. Such is the pitch to which depravity has reached in the place, that, as I have been informed, the black husband quietly retires at the command of his rib, while in his own house she earns the cut money, or the dollar, by the prostitution of her person! This climax of degradation is reserved for this new earthly paradise. In no other quarter of the British dominions are such scenes or such conduct to be met with or heard of.

Idleness, drunkenness, and debauchery prevail to an extent scarcely credible, and this without one redeeming point in the human character. Religion in Sierra Leone is a name "a tinkling cymbal, and the sounding brass." The scenes which take place in assemblies where the blacks are addressed by native preachers, are truly frightful to contemplate or to dwell on. Even in the chief church, Europeans are disgusted with the scenes which they witness, when they behold, as I am informed they have beheld, during the solemn service, the liberated and other blacks stalking about without decency, and sitting making faces at each other, like so many mischievous

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monkeys. The Parliamentary Commissioners, in their Report, justly observe, that in this settlement, teachers of religion are employed who are more likely to excite enthusiasm than to instil morality." At one of these conventicles superintended by native preachers, amidst a pathetic harangue by one of the orators, as I have been informed, a black female threw herself on the floor, and rolling along, with her garments, upper and nether, enveloping her head, she bawled out, "that she had found the Lord!" Several of the congregation rose and offered to bear her out of the chapel, but the preacher commanded them to desist, declaring that IT WAS A GLORIOUS SIGHT!"

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Mr Kenneth Macaulay flies at me in a towering passion, because, as an instance of the unblushing immorality which is practised in the settlement, I stated, that "General Turner was scarcely laid in the dust, till the house which he had inhabited swarmed with inmates" of a certain description. "This," says my angry opponent, "is a personal attack upon myself. To this accusation I GIVE a most unqualified denial. It is AN INFAMOUS FALSEHOOD, and in proof of this I appeal to the whole colony !"

Big words are easily penned, and "unqualified denials are readily given; and from a Sierra Leone champion, I am prepared to expect everything that wears a face of brass, or a countenance of hypocrisy. While I do not state, as I am not called upon to state, the name of any individual, or that it was Mr Kenneth Macaulay who collected an assemblage such as that which was alluded to, I must nevertheless still reiterate and affirm the fact-a fact known to "the whole colony." Mr Macaulay ought to have been aware, that the coarse and the false epithet which he has chosen to apply to the statement which I had made, would not be tamely submitted unto. How judiciously he has acted, in compelling me to recur to this subject, will appear, as I proceed in refreshing his memory with names and circumstances, which may serve to convince him, and others of that ilk, that the less that is said by any of them on such subjects the better; and that more is known of Sierra Leone secrets, than Sierra Leone advocates are aware of,