LL*
, WH.M.U froa
k>uL _ Jt.J.
THE
REV. HAMBLE JAMES LEACOCK,
LEADER OF THE WEST INDIAN MISSION
TO WESTERN AFRICA.
BY THE
EEV. HENET CASWALL, D.D.
VICAR OF FIGHELDEAN, WILTS,
AUTHOR OF " AMERICA AND THE AMERICAN CHURCH," &C. &C.
AND ENGLISH SECRETARY TO THE WEST INDIAN CHURCH
ASSOCIATION FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF THE
GOSPEL IN WESTERN AFRICA.
LONDON:
RIVINGTONS, WATERLOO PLACE.
1857.
LONDON :
GILBKKT AND RIVINGTON, PRINTKH.*,
ST. JOHN'S sm'AKE.
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 effectually propagated.
The Author is fully aware of the difficulty of
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
A 2
IV PREFACE.
he really was, lie lias allowed him to speak for him-
self whenever opportunity permitted. He has at-
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, and the heathenism of Africa.
The reader will not see in Mr. Leacock an un-
amiable abstraction destitute of human feelings and
sympathies, but a man thoroughly real and un-
affected. He will see in him a religion which,
though supremely devoted to (rod, still cherished
the impulses of affectionate attachment to friends,
relatives, and country ; a religion which though pro-
foundly adoring the mysteries of Redemption, was
PREFACE. V
by no means blind to the glories of Providence and
Creation. There will be found in it no undue esti-
mate of spiritual condition, no idea of exclusive
sanctity or wisdom, no fondness for loud professions,
no habit of displaying frames and feelings. On the
other hand, there will be seen a superiority to the
world, practically manifesting itself in the surrender
of property and prospects, in the readiness to take a
secondary place, and in the cheerful 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 in 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
recorded in the following pages, grew up remote from
our fashions of thought, and from the traditionary
influences of our Colleges and Cathedrals. Yet it
cannot be denied that he was not only a worthy re-
presentative of our Reformed Church, but a true spe-
VI PREFACE.
cimen of the class of men produced in our distant fields
of Christian enterprise. Though his early theologi-
cal 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
attached to the distinctive principles of Episcopacy,
he lived in charity with those whose lot had fallen
among separatist communities. Believing in the
divine origin of the Christian ministry, and uphold-
ing 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 event-
ful 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
PREFACE. Vll
much, but, amidst the difficulties which surround
them, they are susceptible of the choicest encourage-
ments and consolations. Now a mission, properly
understood, is no common thing. Persons of an ordi-
nary cast of mind are unfit for such a work. The
true missionary cannot be expected to think and feel
like those who walk in the beaten track, and, conse-
quently, 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 Apostles. It must be carefully
distinguished from that enthusiasm which puffs men
up with vain conceit, and makes them arrogant, dic-
tatorial, and assuming. Keenly alive to his own
personal imperfections, 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-
Vlll PREFACE.
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 melan-
choly 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
martyr, 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 would 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 testimony against the unbelief of a self-
indulgent generation, and having themselves " fought
the good fight," and encouraged others to follow their
PREFACE, IX
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 widely-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 sV>res of
Africa. Facilities of intercourse and co-operation
are disclosed, which, when more fully employed, will
result, with the Divine blessing, in great and per-
manent additions to the Redeemer'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
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.
They have paved the way for new labourers in the
same field, who, confidently relying on Providence,
may now carry on the work so favourably commenced.
X PREFACE.
We may hope that our Church will continue to ex-
ercise 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 offer-
ing 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 Christia'n people.
Vicarage, Figheldean,
Epiphany, 1857.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
Birth and Parentage of Mr. Leacock. Development of his Cha-
racter. He becomes decidedly religious. Entrance on a
Course of Study at Codrington College. His Ordination. His
Firmness in respect to the Slaves. His Character as a Clergy,
man. Marriage. Settlement in Nevis. Death of Mrs. Lea-
cock. Effect of an Earthquake. Second Marriage. Removal
to the United States 1
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 Plan-
ters. Efforts for the Promotion of Religion. Christ Church.
Instruction of the Slaves. Confirmation of Mr. Leacock. He
undertakes the Charge of Pupils. He is elected Rector of St.
Paul's . 16
CHAPTEE III.
A General Scattering of Mr. Leacock's Friends. He removes to
Tennessee. Journey with the Bishop of Tennessee. He
Xll CONTENTS.
PAGE
accepts a Church at Franklin. Anecdote of him by Mrs. Wheat.
Letter from Bishop Otey. He purchases an Estate in New
Jersey. Brief Connexion 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 . 28
CHAPTEK IV.
Reasons for 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 of Dr. Cooke. Mr. Leacock is appointed to
the Chapel at Bridgetown. Testimonial of the Parishioners 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 . . .50
CHAPTER V.
Mr. Leacock volunteers to go as a Missionary to Africa. He is
accepted. He is joined by Duport. -His Negro Servant de-
sires to accompany him. Letter to Archdeacon Trew. Ar-
rival 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 Emancipa-
tion in the West Indies . . 66
CONTENTS. Xlll
CHAPTEE VI.
PAGE
Providential Preparation in Africa for the West Indian Mission.
The Chief Wilkinson introduced. Remarkable Dream in
Africa. Mr. Leacock attends various Meetings in the Diocese
of Salisbury. He meets with a Portrait of Mrs. Trimmer.
Verses by Mr. Marriott. Mr. Leacock 's opinion of the S. P.O.
He visits Malvern and the Bishop of Barbados. His Admira-
tion of England. His Feelings in Wells Cathedral. He em-
barks at Plymouth for Africa ...... 87
CHAPTEE VII.
Voyage of the "Ethiope." Dangerous Storm. Arrival at Ma-
deira. 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 consi-
dered. Plantain Island and John Newton. Further Delay.
Interview with the Spanish Consul. Meeting of the Church
Missionary Society . . . . . . . .103
CHAPTEE VIII.
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 Conse-
quence of the Episcopate. Establishment of the West Indian
Mission. Episcopacy acknowledged by Christendom. Greet-
ing to the Bishop of Sierra Leone. Prophetic Declaration . 1 20
XIV CONTENTS.
CHAPTEE IX.
PAGE
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. Land-
ing 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 Mohammedan . .132
CHAPTEE 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 ordered
in England . 154
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 Eng-
lish Secretary. Account of the martyred French Missionaries . 170
CHAPTEE XII.
The School at Fallangia. Return of Fever. Conversation with
Wilkinson. Extent of the Soosoo Language. Need of addi-
tional Teachers. Welcome from King Jelloram Fernandez.
CONTENTS. XV
PAGE
The Missionaries again taken ill. Continuance of Journal.
Duport sent for his Health to Sierra Leone. Resemblance of
the Negroes of Fallangia to those of Barbados. Conversation
with " old Martha." Witchcraft. Second Conversation with
" old Martha." Return of Duport. Death of Kennyback All.
Description of neighbouring Chiefs. Agriculture and Animals 181
CHAPTER XIII.
Assurance of King Katty. Miseries of the People. Visit from
Mr. Columbini de Wasky. Application from Cassini. Excur-
sion to the Bangalong River. Domingia. Sangha. Farrangeah.
Increase of the Congregation under Duport. Journal con-
tinued. Relapse of Mr. Leacock. He visits Sierra Leone, and
is ordered to return to England. He determines to remain at
his Post . 208
CHAPTER XIV.
Mr. Leacock's Friends desire him to escape from Africa. Letters
to that Effect to him from Mr. Wilkinson, from the Author,
and from the Bishop of Barbados. He appears to recover.
His Plans for building. Letter to a Young Person . . 223
CHAPTER XV.
Satisfactory Progress of the Mission under Duport. Report sent
by Duport 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 23 1
XVI CONTENTS.
CHAPTEE XVI.
PAGE
Continued Improvement of Mr. Leacock's Health. Letter to his
Son. Letter to the Bishop of Barbados. Mohammedan Oppo-
sition. Assistance from Governor Hill. Contest between
Christ and Mohammed. Last Letters of Mr. Leacock . . 254
CHAPTEE XVII.
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 ....... 268
ERRATA.
Page 5, line 10, for Berbuda read Barbuda.
Pages 6 and 10. Mr. Leacock's Ordination as Deacon and his
engagement at St. Vincent should be placed in the year
1 826 instead of 1827.
MEMOIR,
fyc.
CHAPTER I.
Birth and Parentage of Mr. Leacock. Development of his Character.
He becomes decidedly religious. Entrance on a Course of Study at
Codrington College. His Ordination. His Firmness in respect to
the Slaves. His Character as a Clergyman. Marriage. Settle-
ment in Nevis. Death of Mrs. Leacock. Effect of an Earthquake .
Second Marriage. Removal to the United States.
HAMBLE JAMES LEACOCK was born at duff's Bay, on
his father's estate, in the parish of St. Lucy, Bar-
bados, 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 cler-
gyman 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 I. Their respectability and
B
A SLAVERY.
loyalty were always above question, and their ancient
plate and coat of arms were retained as badges of
tbeir descent from wortby ancestors in the mother
country. Mr. Leacock's father was possessed of a
sugar plantation and other similar property, in con-
sequence 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
described 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
decidedly 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 sympathy, and the negro race in general
escaped that extreme contempt which in other coun-
tries 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 influencing their conduct.
His own character, like that of others, was pro-
DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTER. 6
bably developed, as to its main features, at an early
age. It may readily be believed that he was always
truthful, courageous, and energetic. His temper was
no doubt severely tried by the harsh schoolmaster
under whose care he was placed, yet perhaps the dis-
cipline 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 read-
ing useful 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 sub-
stance, 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 chil-
dren were crushed beneath the ruins of their homes.
He had seen Barbados covered with the ashes con-
veyed by the winds from a volcano which burst forth
in one of the neighbouring islands. Such events as
B 2
4 A DECIDED CHANGE.
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-
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
remarkable 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
chorus 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 trans-
gressions. 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 promoting upon earth the know-
ledge 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
CODRIXGTOX COLLEGE.
the American colonies without bishops had prevailed
up to this period in the West Indies. In conse-
quence of the destitution of episcopal superintend-
ence, Mr. Leacock had not hitherto received Confir-
mation. The means of a good and Christian edu-
cation, however, were not wanting, even in Bar-
bados. 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 the island of Berbuda.
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 oppor-
tunity of doing good to men's souls whilst they are
taking care of their bodies." At this institution,
then nothing more than a grammar school, and
under the care of the Rev. 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 familiar 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
6 ORDINATION.
of his pupils are still living, and continue to love
and revere his memory. In the midst of his engage-
ments 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 his new diocese. Bishop Coleridge soon after-
wards licensed Mr. Leacock as a reader or catechist
for his native parish of St. Lucy, of which the Rev.
"W. M. Harte was at that time rector. On the 6th
of January, 1827, 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 unac-
countably 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
affirmed 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
FIRMNESS IN EESPECT TO THE SLAVES. 7
while administering 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 congregation. 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 determination to refuse
Mr. Harte and Mr. Leacock admission into their
estates, and to prevent as much as possible all inter-
course 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." Owing to
the admirable wisdom of the bishop, the people were
ultimately brought to a better mind, and the imme-
diate 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 ministerial 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
8 CHARACTER AS A CLERGYMAN.
Mr. Leacock at this period, still bears admiring testi-
mony to the zeal and determination constantly mani-
fested by him in his ministerial duties of every kind.
Courage and decision were indeed striking points in
his character, 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 consti-
tution. In him, however, it was seen that West
Indian fervour, when sanctified by divine grace, is as
effectual an instrument 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 re-
moved 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 Faith, 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 away all his re-
fuges 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.
CHARACTER AS A CLERGYMAN. 9
His mode of reading and speaking was vividly
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
ignorant. 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, luxuries, and even comforts, were lightly
esteemed by him, and he regarded all solicitude
about such matters unworthy of a candidate for
eternal life. Yet he always maintained a respectable
appearance, and showed himself sensitively punc-
tilious in the discharge of pecuniary obligations. In
his worldly transactions he was a model of simplicity
and godly sincerity.
Mr. Leacock had married a distant relation, the
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
10 SETTLEMENT IN NEVIS.
disapproved of by his countrymen. He therefore left
his native isle, and in December, 1827, immediately
after his ordination to the Priesthood, was sent by
Bishop Coleridge to St. Vincent. Soon afterwards
the bishop removed him to Nevis, where he was
appointed rural dean, and succeeded the Rev. Mr.
Parham at Charlestown 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 comfort-
ably. 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.
Nevis 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 sum-
mit there is a crater which contains a hot spring
strongly impregnated with sulphur. The population
of the island amounted during Mr. Leacock' s incum-
bency to about ten thousand, of whom not more than
six hundred were whites. Here Mr. Leacock
laboured with characteristic energy, establishing
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
EFFECT OF AN EARTHQUAKE. 11
by a marked improvement in the religion and morals
of the people. The following event contributed to
this happy result :
Nevis, like Barbados, is within the sphere of de-
vastating earthquakes, and between the 8th of Febru-
ary and the 27th of March, 1833, it was terribly
shaken, together with St. Kitt's and others of the
Leeward Islands. In Nevis 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,
beseeching 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 afterwards ; and many whose lives had been any
thing but Christian became decidedly religious,
under the terror arising from the earthquake, im-
proved by the faithful teaching of the man of God.
Like the gaoler at Philippi, they asked, "What
must we do to be saved?" like Paul and Silas, he
answered, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and
thou shalt be saved." One of Mr. Leacock's parish-
ioners, a lady of respectability, was reading the 24th
12 EFFECT OF AN EARTHQUAKE.
chapter of St. Matthew when the first shock was
felt. She had just read the 7th verse, " and there
shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in
divers places," when the house was shaken violently.
She immediately fell from her seat, and was taken
up insensible, in which condition she remained some
time. At St. Kitt's, there were similar instances
of violent mental impressions, though a party who
were dancing at a public ball, and felt the room
tremble from the shock, still continued their dance.
So different is the effect of these tremendous visita-
tions according to the character of the persons con-
cerned and of those who influence them.
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 contrary about impres-
sions on weak minds and so forth, the believer can-
not fail to recognize in these narratives a proof of
that principle, upon which every operative clergyman
(to borrow a cant expression of the day) will sooner
or later stumble, viz. that the Almighty seems often-
times 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 the Gospel, where,
perhaps, sin had closed up every avenue to exhorta-
tion and the. common method of teaching."
While residing in Nevis, Mr. Leacock married
SECOND MARRIAGE. 13
Mrs. Beard, a most amiable widow lady, wlio 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 clergy-
man's wife. She did even more, often visiting
distant parts of the island with the object of convey-
ing relief and good advice to sick persons and others
who requested her assistance. She was in all re-
spects 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 use-
fulness. 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
himself with members of the Methodist connexion.
The bishop had also been annoyed by Mr. Leacock's
refusal 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-
14 REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES.
tionary state. Discussions were going forward in
the British Parliament which held out prospects of
emancipation at no distant date. In the meanwhile
property of all kinds was rapidly depreciating, and
it was generally supposed by respectable white per-
sons 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,
visited the United States, and in the course of his
rambles happened to form some acquaintance with
the State of Kentucky. His early ideas of the Ken-
tuckians were dissipated by the intelligent and
polished society among which he was hospitably re-
ceived. 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 dangerous, and felt convinced that he could in
Kentucky educate a family in greater security than
in the colonies 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 children, and other near relations, bade farewell
to the West Indies, and after . a favourable voy-
age landed in New York. Here their emancipated
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. 15
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 proceed, and one old negro woman ex-
pressed the feelings of the others, when she said with
hearty good feeling, " Wherever massa goes, there I
go too."
Travelling in those days in America was a dif-
ferent thing from what it is at present. The whole
party proceeded by Philadelphia, and by a tedious
journey across the Alleghany mountains to the West.
Accustomed to islands generally smaller than the
Isle of Wight, they now saw before them a vast and
apparently unlimited extent of fertile territory,
rapidly filling up with inhabitants. They entered
Kentucky, a country as large as Ireland, and con-
taining 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 pre-
pared to give them a hearty welcome.
16 ARRIVAL IN KENTUCKY.
CHAPTER II.
Arrival of Mr. Leacock at Lexington, Kentucky. Society in Lexing-
ton. Dr. Coit. Dr. Cooke. Amos Cleaver. The Bishop of Ken-
tucky. The Professors. The Southern Planters. Efforts for the
Promotion of Religion, 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 Theological
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.
SOCIETY IN LEXINGTON. 17
At the period of which. I speak there was much of
an interesting character in the society of Lexington.
As the life of every man is more or less influenced
by his associates, it seems proper in this place to give
some account of those with whom Mr. Leacock lived
for several years on the most intimate terms.
There is in Lexington an institution founded and
amply endowed by the State, and denominated
Transylvania 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 Ame-
rica, this university is not attached to any par-
ticular religious denomination, and the president
and professors are at liberty to exert whatever doc-
trinal influences they may individually prefer upon
the minds of the students. Sometimes, in the Ken-
tucky University, Unitarian influences had predo-
minated, and sometimes Presbyterian. During 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 con-
viction. 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 particular had
18 DR. COIT.
often felt his power in controversial engagements.
As a native of New England, he was different in
temperament from our West Indian friend, but
not less earnest, and probably not less successful,
in maintaining the cause which 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 Virginia, and in 1827
removed to Lexington, where his career as a professor
is described by his biographer 1 as one great and
almost 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.
1 Rev. Dr. Craik, of Louisville.
DR. COOKE. 19
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. For
many years previous to 1829 he had been a zealous
member of the Methodist body. The 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, republished
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 con-
viction, 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
c 2
20 DR. COOKE.
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, and the Theological Seminary esta-
blished 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
AMOS CLEAVER AND THE BISHOP. 21
ecclesiastical descent, which his new friend enabled
him to trace as a matter of fact through the his-
tory of the Church, from, the earliest institution of
Christianity to the present English and American
episcopate.
In addition to Drs. Coit and Cooke, Mr. Lea-
cock and myself had another friend in the Rev.
Amos Cleaver, once a Baptist minister in England,
but then a devoted Churchman, acting as mis-
sionary in a town within a moderate distance of
Lexington. Mr. Cleaver had found in this place not
more than one or two families of Episcopalians ; yet
upon this foundation 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 beg-
ging succeeded in raising five thousand dollars, with
which he erected a handsome place of worship, now
occupied by a comparatively large congregation.
After seeing this work completed, Mr. Cleaver went
as a missionary into Mississippi, 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
22 PROFESSORS AND PLANTERS.
absent, but when at home he contributed greatly to
the intellectual society of Lexington. His philoso-
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 acquainted
with the various professors in the university, the
medical and theological students, the intelligent
citizens of Lexington, and a somewhat diversified
selection of Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian
ministers. Not unfrequently we met the pastor of
the Roman Catholic Church, and his able assistant,
the Rev. Mr. McGill, a native Kentuckian, and now
the Roman Catholic Bishop of Richmond.
During the heat of summer the seven thousand
inhabitants of Lexington received an annual aug-
mentation 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 always a considerable proportion of refined
and cultivated persons, whose minds had been en-
larged and improved by foreign travel. Many of these
were sincere 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.
EFFORTS FOR THE PROMOTION OF RELIGION. 23
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 de-
livered from time to time admirable lectures to the
medical students and others, in which he proved the
divine origin of the Christian religion, the genuine-
ness of the Scriptures, and the inspired character of
the sacred writers. Dr. Cooke, in his professional
instructions, availed himself of frequent opportuni-
ties for demonstrating the existence of a Deity, his
wisdom, goodness, and power. Mr. Leacock, in his
sermons and exhortations, took a different line and
addressing himself directly to the heart and con-
science, attacked the strongest holds of unbelief.
Taking it for granted that Christianity was divine,
and divinely adapted 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
promoting the Greek mission-school which Mr. and
Mrs. Hill had recently established at Athens, and
which has since become a powerful instrument of
24 CHRIST-CHURCH:.
good. For the advancement of missions in foreign
parts as well as in Kentucky itself, we had weekly
collections, which amounted to about 135/. 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 assembled usually at the house of some clergy-
man, who, as their work advanced, read to them in-
teresting 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
mental and moral culture. The greater part of them
were predestinarian 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
excitement might level our seminary with the
dust.
INSTRUCTION OF SLAVES. 25
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
llth of June, 1835, he was elected by the Diocesan
Convention of Kentucky as one of its lay deputies to
the 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 conse-
cration of a bishop for each State and Territory
in the United States in which there was no bishop.
This sweeping and thorough proposition was par-
tially 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 retuni from the Convention,
the winter set in with its usual severity. Although
26 CONFIRMATION OF MR. LEACOCK.
we were 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. Hainble Leacock saw the phenomena of ice
and snow. During a part of the winter, sleighs
were travelling about as in the northern states and
colonies, and Christmas appeared in a garb worthy of
its ancient 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 number of young persons to receive the im-
position 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
earlier life. His pupils were sincerely attached to
him, and his 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, with 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
HIS ELECTION AS RECTOR OF ST. PATJI/S. 27
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 himself the fervent preacher and the
efficient pastor of former times.
28 A SCATTERING OF FRIENDS.
CHAPTER III.
A General Scattering of Mr. Leacock's Friends. He removes to Ten-
nessee. Journey with the Bishop of Tennessee. He accepts a
Church at Franklin. Anecdote of him by Mrs. Wheat. He pur-
chases an Estate in New Jersey. Brief connexion 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 bio-
grapher remarks with, much justice that " the effort
then making for the extension of the Church in
Kentucky involved too much centralization. The
large ecclesiastical force collected in Lexington was
utterly disproportionate 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 congregations the Episcopalian families which
were thickly scattered over the whole country, the
A SCATTERING OF FRIENDS. 29
result would have been different. Unhappily this
policy was not pursued in Kentucky, and the conse-
quence is that we 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 in Kentucky.
A controversy involving many personal considera-
tions had arisen, which finally involved the clergy
and laity together with the Bishop and the Diocesan
Convention. The result of the whole was an epis-
copal trial, at which Bishops Kemper, Mcllvaine,
and McCoskry 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,
resigned his appointment in 1837, and returning to
the East became the pastor of a congregation in the
pleasant 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 induced the majority of the medical pro-
fessors 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 founding the medical institute in that
30 A SCATTERING OF FRIENDS.
city, now known as the Medical Department of the
University of Louisville. He continued to teach in
this school until its prosperity was placed beyond the
reach of competition. Mrs. Polk purchased his valu-
able ecclesiastical library, at a price of several thou-
sand dollars, and presented it to her husband, the
Bishop of Louisiana.
Although highly respected by those who were in-
timately acquainted with him, Dr. Cooke never
attained to popularity. He constantly manifested
thorough indifference to public opinion, and stern
intolerance 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 wor-
shipper 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. Nearly
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
congregation in the free State of Indiana. In conse-
REMOVAL TO TENNESSEE. 31
quence of ill health, I retained this position little
more than a year, and in 1838 removed with my
family to the healthy North, and took up my resi-
dence on British territory, in the loyal colony of
Upper Canada. Before parting from Mr. Leacock,
I gave him a copy of Thomas a Kempis, with which
he was greatly delighted, 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 contemplate another change. Mrs. Lea-
cock wrote as follows, 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
haA r e also taken their departure. Mrs. Cooke and
the girls went yesterday, in their private carriage,
and the good doctor has this instant started in the
car with all his servants. Lexington looks deserted.
It makes me melancholy 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 south-
32 JOURNEY WITH THE BISHOP OF TENNESSEE.
ward, into the adjoining State of Tennessee. He
spent some time 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 conversation on noble and elevated sub-
jects, and sometimes made the forests echo to the un-
wonted sound of their chants and hymns.
Having taken charge, at the bishop's request, of
the parish of Franklin, he found himself again en-
gaged 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 Nevis. 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 place, 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 ?'
Remember 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 in Tennessee, Mr. Leacock,
ANECDOTE BY MRS. WHEAT. 33
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
oppressive 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 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 off 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 passionately. 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 effort he
became more calm, and confessed would you believe
it ? that he wept because my husband was perform-
ing so menial an office for him. ' Why ! Mr. Lea-
cock,' 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 bis 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
D
34 ANECDOTE BY MRS. WHEAT.
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
efforts 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 ?
Oh, say not lost ; but only gone before. Do not let
me hear you use such language again. You shall go
to him, if you meekly submit yourself to your hea-
venly 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
remonstrance.
" 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
LETTER FROM BISHOP OTEY. 35
Otey completes the record of Mr. Leacock' s ministry
in Tennessee :
" Ebenezer, near Memphis, Tennessee,
Dec. 8, 1856.
" Rev. 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 par-
ticulars are not many, being collected chiefly, such
as they are, from notices scattered through my
annual reports to the Diocesan Convention.
" He was canonically transferred from the diocese
of Kentucky to that of Tennessee on the 5th day of
January, 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 was formally invited
by the Yestry. In his first parochial report, he says
with characteristic modesty, ' The rector sees no de-
cided testimony that his labours have been success-
ful ; 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
D 2
36 LETTER FROM BISHOP OTEY.
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 Convention held six months after his removal
into the diocese, he was elected a member of the
Standing Committee and a trustee of the General
Theological Seminary.
" 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
candidate to the diaconate.' This took place at
Clarksville during the session of the Convention.
His manner 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.
" It was during the years 1838 and 1839 that he
accompanied me on a visitation of the greater part
of my diocese. Our journeyings together on horse-
back gave me good opportunities to learn the cha-
racter of this truly great, because he was a truly good,
man. It was here that he opened his heart, and un-
covered the deep well-springs and fountains of the
spiritually-minded man, overflowing with love to
Christ, and gushing forth into streams of affection
for his fellow-men. The grace of Christ, the sane-
LETTER FROM BISHOP OTEY. 37
tifying influences of the Holy Spirit, and the neces-
sity of faith evidenced by a holy life, were his con-
stant 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 attentive hearer in
the congregation, he would seem as if he was reading
the very thoughts of the sinner's heart, and arraign-
ing him before God for the murder of the soul. He
was fond of preaching. He felt that it was an hon-
ourable 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 stopped 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, com-
ment on it, and then invite all to unite with him in
prayer. In 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
Romans viii., and had begun to remark on the 3rd
verse, when a young woman present interposed a
question, which implied that the law of God was de-
38 LETTER FROM BISHOP OTEY.
fective, and needed to be annulled or set aside, be-
cause 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
weak through the flesh ?' 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 honour-
able to God and just to man, and for that very reason
rendered the exercise of mercy through Christ glori-
ous 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
he 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 mani-
fested 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 recollection 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
CONNEXION WITH LOUISVILLE. 39
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 him-
self to every Churchman in America who enjoyed
the pleasure 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. OTEY,
Bishop of Tennessee.
"To the Rev. H. Caswall, 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. Cooke 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 undertake
the laborious task of " building up" a small congre-
gation, 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 Rev. W. Jackson.
Mr. Anderson, aware of the power of Mr. Leacock,
and believing that he could persuade him to throw
40 LOUISVILLE.
himself into the breach, went two hundred miles by
the stage-coach to Franklin, and determined to take
DO 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 Franklin 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 com-
mercial emporium, while railroads connecting it with
the interior of Kentucky bring the produce of that
fertile country on board the numerous steamers
which perpetually crowd the landing-place. The
people, though excitable, are hospitable, warm-
hearted, and intelligent. Mr. Leacock already pos-
sessed many influential 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 pro-
mised to him, but he had determined that his stay
should be Ifui brief, and that he would never again
live under the jurisdiction of the ecclesiastical au-
thority of Kentucky.
For six months, however, he laboured most suc-
cessfully in augmenting the congregation and in
giving the people time, confidence, and opportunity
to obtain a permanent minister. The Rev. Dr.
LOUISVILLE. 41
Craik, of Louisville, thus -writes respecting his minis-
trations at this period. "As a preacher, he was
fervent, animated, and always interesting. Some-
times he ^produced a most startling sensation.
Once, referring to the many good and able men who
have been the propagators 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 Unitarian? It was the
devil.' ' IF thou be the Son of God, &C. 1 ' "
Mrs. Jackson, widow of the clergyman mentioned
on the last page, states that Mr. Leacock's inter-
course with her husband was of the most fraternal
and agreeable 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 introducing the most pointed remarks on
that subject, the Unitarians went 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
people 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
1 Matt iv. 6.
42 CHARACTER AS A PREACHER, &C.
wicked. It was evident that the listeners were
almost spell-bound. I said, ' Your sermon produced
a great impression.' He looked quite sad, and an-
swered, ' Yes, fear stirs up men's souls, but how few
hearts would have been 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, 'Now, 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 you know that
Christ died for you?' His constant theme was
the Divine love manifested in Christ Jesus. He be-
came so dear to us, that to part from him was a
great sorrow."
In April, 1840, I 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
CHARACTER AS A PREACHER, &C. 43
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
the United States, in which he always felt himself in
some sense a foreigner. There can be no doubt
also that change of place was not wholly unsuited 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 foun-
dations, whose builder and maker is God.
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 consti-
tutional peculiarity, there is generally a frankness
and cordiality of manner which renders such persons
favourites 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
44 REMOVAL TO NEW JERSEY.
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 Frank-
lin, and the idea had occurred to him that he might,
by the purchase of a farm, secure a competence for
his family in the event of his decease. His health
was now much impaired, and he wished to obtain a
situation in which he might rest himself and recruit
his energies. He desired also to enjoy 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 New 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
NEW JERSEY. 45
itself to the present day. The capacity of the
church has been several times increased for the ac-
commodation of the worshippers. Two new parish
churches have also been erected since Mr. Leacock's
brief incumbency, and a third is now in progress.
A letter from Mrs. Leacock, written soon after my
visit to Louisville in 1840, showed that the per-
severing efforts of the congregation to retain her
husband had proved fruitless. "We live," she
wrote, " with our kind friends, the Harts, where it
is likely we shall remain so long as we stay in Louis-
ville. This is a sore subject to the ears of our con-
gregation (I mean our leaving Louisville for New
Jersey), but Mr. Leacock says he 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 cha-
racter 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 new home. During the winter he
46 NEW JERSEY.
supplied the pulpit of Christ Church, New 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
Rev. Mr. Pitkin, who had succeeded him at Louis-
ville. Mr. Pitkin had heard so many things re-
ported 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 Kentucky. 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 agreeable and Christian con-
versation. "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."
SETTLEMENT AT PERTH AMBOY. 47
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 with 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 Raritan river, on the great thoroughfare
between 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 comparatively ancient date, having
been founded in the times anterior to the Revolu-
tion.
Mr. Leacock, as usual, soon made friends in his
new parish, and being pleased with the situation
became apparently settled for life. During four
years he continued in Perth Amboy, and fully main-
tained his already high reputation as a faithful
minister 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 Rochelle, 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.
48 RETURN TO THE WEST INDIES.
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 Right 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 your Lordship's diocese,
as a brother, faithful and beloved, and worthy of all
confidence and kindness.
" Affectionately in the bonds of Jesus Christ,
" a. W. DOANE.
" Riverside, Easter Monday, 1847."
Mr. Leacock expected to return to his duties at .
Perth Amboy in the spring of 1848. Being, how-
ever, detained longer than he had anticipated, he
was informed that his parishioners were somewhat
impatiently awaiting his return. He immediately
sent over his resignation of the rectorship, and ter-
RETURN TO THE WEST INDIES. 49
minated his connexion with the diocese of New
Jersey. All attempts to induce him to reconsider
this decision were fruitless, and in 1849, having
settled all his affairs in the United States, he ap-
peared once more as a West Indian clergyman.
50 REASONS FOR RETURNING.
CHAPTER IV.
Reasons for 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. Tem-
porary Charge of St. Peter's. Death of Amos Cleaver and Dr. Cooke.
Mr. Leacock is appointed to the Chapel at Bridgetown. Testimonial
of the Parishioners 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
indeed died in the following year, after a long and
gradual decline. His only daughter, Elizabeth, was
about this time married, and happily settled in Bar-
bados. The apprenticeship system from which he
had justly apprehended evil consequences, had been
found inexpedient on trial, and had given way to
the complete abolition of negro slavery on the 1st of
August, 1838. The relative position of blacks and
whites was now fully understood, and, although West
Indian property had in many instances become nearly
STATE OF THINGS IN NEVIS. 51
valueless, it was clear to Mr. Leacock that the two
races might now exist together in harmony. He
found that old prejudices 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 respectful greeting twenty
years afterwards. While engaged on his son's busi-
ness in that island he performed for several months
the duties of minister of his native parish, during
the illness of the rector, to the edification and delight
of the congregation.
Having concluded this brief engagement he re-
visited Nevis, 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 re-
signing the charge of the parish at Perth Amboy,
again occupied his former position in the church at
Charlestown.
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
negroes had too generally become idle since the ac-
quisition of liberty, and with idleness had betaken
themselves to the bad habits of former times. African
superstitions had been re-introduced by a number of
recaptured slaves, and the horrid practice of Obeah,
E 2
52 AFRICAN PRACTICES 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 autho-
rity of a magistrate, and exerted himself in appre-
hending and punishing some of the worst criminals.
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 accomplished poisoner.
He could insinuate the means of destruction into vege-
tables, 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 evi-
dence 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 announced
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
EFFECT OF CHARMS. 53
upon him and that he would certainly die. Nothing
daunted, the intrepid pastor proceeded with his lec-
tures, though many of his congregation already re-
garded him as a dead man. Meantime the " doctor"
was engaged in the preparation of the most deadly
poisons to secure the fulfilment of his curse. It is
supposed that he incautiously tasted some of these
in order to assure himself of their potency. Certaio
it is that his corpse was found 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 un-
able to perform their accustomed work. Their em-
ployer 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,
54 RETURN TO BARBADOS.
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 Epis-
copal Board of Missions, which assembled in October,
at New York, during the session of the General Con-
vention. On this occasion I had the pleasure of
meeting Mr. Leacock's brother, the Rev. Dr. Lea-
cock, of New 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 promising young clergyman of the American
Church, who had recently received Holy Orders after
completing his studies at the Episcopal Theological
Seminary of 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 prevalence of yellow fever. It was during this
session of the Convention that Dr. Cooke was re-
moved to another life, having attained to the age of
seventy-one. A last notice of this remarkable man,
as a friend of Mr. Leacock, will hardly be inappro-
priate 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
DEATH OF DR. COOKE. 55
wild beauties of nature, which he intensely enjoyed,
the love of his family, and the consolations of reli-
gion, were here his solace and delight. His biogra-
pher says that it was deeply affecting to see that
strong old man. weeping at bidding adieu to the
Christian minister who from time to time celebrated,*
at his secluded home on the Ohio, the solemn offices
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
became so frequent under the exposure incident to
his new mode of life on the Ohio, that his strong
constitution 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 con-
stant companion. 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 de-
light.
While his old friends in America were thus going
the way of all the earth, Mr. Leacock was putting
56 TESTIMONIAL TO MR. LEACOCK.
forth all his energies in Barbados, and becoming an
influential clergyman of the diocese tinder Bishop
Parry. In December, 1853, Mr. Payne 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
14th:
"TESTIMONIAL TO MR. LEACOCK.
" "We have great satisfaction in placing on our
page the following handsome address of the pa-
rishioners of St. Peter to the Rev. Hamble J. Lea-
cock, with the reverend gentleman's grateful reply.
This is the second instance which we have had the
pleasure 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 their just appreciation of the labours of faithful
and zealous ministers, who have happened tempo-
rarily 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
TESTIMONIAL. 57
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
rized, 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.
" ' Your earnest and impressive teaching of the
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
58 TESTIMONIAL.
mark of our esteem, and beg your acceptance of this
purse, containing the sum of three hundred and fifty
dollars, which we request you will appropriate to the
purchase of a piece of plate, to perpetuate the re-
membrance of the connexion which has so happily
subsisted 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,
" ' "We remain, reverend and dear Sir,
" ' In behalf of the parishioners of St. Peter,
and your late congregation,
" ' Yours sincerely,
" ' Sir R. A. Alleyne, Bart., Francis Goding, N. Fo-
deringham, Jones Pile (Members of H.M. Coun-
cil), Wm. H. Farnum, James D. Bend, Isaac
Skinner, Benjamin Norville, J. C. B. Scantle-
bury, John D. Emptage, G. R. Challenor, Wil-
liam Jordan, Robert Challenor.
" ' The Rev. Hamble J. Leacock.' "
" ' Gentlemen of the Deputation,
" ' I cannot decline this honourable testimony
which you, and certain parishioners, and especially
the congregation 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 ac-
TESTIMONIAL. 59
knowledgments may be conveyed to every indivi-
dual.
" ' 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 been 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
as a contribution towards 'The Coleridge Scholar-
ship,' to be established in Codrington College, there
to perpetuate the memory of our connexion and reci-
60 APPOINTMENT TO ST. LEONARD'S.
procal 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. LEACOCK.
" ' Monday, Dec. 12th, 1853.' "
In January, 1854, Mr. Leacock was appointed to
EFFORTS IN BEHALF OF AFRICA. 61
the charge of the chapel of ease of St. Leonard's in
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 tro-
pical 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 follow-
ing year Barbados received for its Governor, in the
62 FORMATION OF A SOCIETY.
person of Sir William Colebrooke, an individual to
whom Africa had long been an object of especial
concern. Throughout the whole community, too,
from various causes, a lively feeling had been excited
respecting that unhappy 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
FORMATION OF A SOCIETY. 63
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
Society for Propagating the Gospel, and many of the
governors of the West Indian islands. The British
Government was -also pleased to regard the under-
taking 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
ajfforded.
Contributions now began to flow into the treasury
of the Society. The Society for Propagating the
Gospel gave 1000/. from its Jubilee Fund. Collec-
tions were made in Barbados and other islands, and
missionary meetings were attempted with satis-
factory results. The widow and sons of the late
well-known philanthropist, Sir T. F. Buxton, re-
mitted 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 com-
mence work in Africa as soon as practicable. Bishop
Parry therefore, as President of the Board, opened a
direct communication with Dr. Vidal, the first bishop
of Sierra Leone, and received from him two letters
64 OUTBREAK OF CHOLEEA.
conveying 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 difficulties
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
indeed he expressed to Mrs. Leacock his earnest
wish to be sent on such a mission himself. She
trembled at the thought of so perilous an enterprise,
and assured 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 them-
selves, 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 reasonable
doubt.
In January, 1854 (as I have stated), Mr. Leacock
was appointed by the Bishop to the charge of the
DEATH OF MRS. LEACOCK. 65
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
prisoners 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
exertions in attending upon the sick and dying,
without 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 admirable woman was struck down, and after a
period of unspeakable 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.
66 MR. LEACOCK OFFERS TO GO TO AFRICA.
CHAPTER Y.
Mr. Leacock volunteers to go as a Missionary to Africa. He is ac-
cepted, 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 Salis-
bury. 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 Volun-
tary System. Thankfulness for Mercies. Note on the Effects of
Emancipation in the West Indies.
FOR some time Mr. Leacock continued crushed and
almost stupified 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 projected 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 containing the following charac-
teristic 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
HIS OFFER IS ACCEPTED. 67
young who are the hope of the Church, the old who
are the stay of large families. Believe me, I do not
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 (rod;
and make mention of his righteousness, and of his
only.' My lord, in placing my services at your dis-
posal, I have done only my duty, and I shall be satis-
fied 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 course, did not feel himself at liberty
to discourage the offer, nor the Mission Board to
refuse 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
without many painful feelings at the loss of an indi-
vidual so generally esteemed and beloved, and as a
clergyman so valuable to the diocese. On this occa-
sion Mr. Leacock acknowledged his election in a
very feeling speech, from the report of which,
F 2
68 HE IS JOINED BY DTJPORT.
printed in the "Barbadian," the following is an ex-
tract :
" 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 to hold out, till a more youthful, enterprising,
and efficient 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
Christian zeal the bosoms of some noble, brave, dis-
interested, 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 war-
fare, 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 them as ye shall
see best. And when my work is done, I will thank-
fully 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
HIS SERVANT WISHES TO GO WITH HTM. 69
\
work of civilization, as well as a subordinate teacher for
missionary objects. Mr. Duport had been educated
at the Mission House attached to Codrington College.
He had been well instructed in the Holy Scriptures,
history, geography, mathematics, and arithmetic,
besides which he had formed some acquaintance
with Latin, and was a good practical mechanic.
Mr. Leacock now disposed of his worldly goods, 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 you 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. Archdeacon,
"I cannot leave the "West Indies without ac-
knowledging the receipt of your letter, forwarded by
70 LETTER TO ARCHDEACON TREW.
the Rev. 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 appendage to my little parcel, and I hope
I shall have the pleasure of seeing his Excellency and
presenting it myself.
" I thank you, Rev. 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
as you 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 know that, in the Bahamas,
as well as in this little island, I have Christian
friends who sympathize with me, who feel as deeply
interested 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' pardon through his blood, justification
through his righteousness, sanctification by his Spirit,
I know nothing else, and I am determined to know
DEPARTURE FROM BARBADOS. 71
I
nothing else. / This will I teach, and trust in God to
give it his blessing.
" I ajar^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 and your labours, and
preserve 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 loth of July on board the steamer for England,
there being no direct communication between the West
Indies and the African coast. Many tears were shed on
this occasion, recallingto mind the departure of St.Paul
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 mis-
sionary might have said to his mourning 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 profitable to
you, but have showed you, and have taught you pub-
licly, and from house to house. And now, behold,
I go bound in the spirit, not knowing the things
that shall befall me. But none of these things move
72 DR. COIT AGAIN.
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
28th of July, Dr. Coit wrote me the following letter
from his new parish at Troy (New 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
LETTER FROM LONDON. 73
or three times, but perhaps my letters never reached
him, \0xrw comes on Convocation, and how do you
like yourllew Bishop ?
" Yours affectionately,
" T. W. Con."
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
answer :
" London, August 23, 1855.
" My dear 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 acquaintances, who
reside so far from me that I seldom see them. The
Bishop of Barbados is now in England, and the
object of his visit partly, and of mine entirely, is to
make known as extensively as possible my mission
and its design ; and to enlist in its favour, and
74 MEETING WITH MR. LEACOCK.
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 suffi-
ciently explanatory. But there is a difficulty. 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 the 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
good son. Elizabeth is married and in comfortable
circumstances. They 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 27th 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,
CHURCH EMIGRAOTS' AID SOCIETY. 75
making out an account of his expenses, while Duport,
an intelligent-looking black' man, was working a
problem in algebra. His hair had grown grey, but
otherwise, he was little changed since I had last seen
him in 1841. Our meeting was extremely gratify-
ing, and brought back a flood of old reminiscences.
He mentioned, 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 Eng-
land, who, to the number of about fifty 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 in it a method of fraternal inter-
course 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 interest-
ing things connected with the metropolis. On the
31st I took him to the Crystal Palace, where we
76 VISIT TO THE CRYSTAL PALACE.
spent the greater part of the day. After wandering
through the memorials' of ancient nations, Assyria,
Egypt, Greece, and Rome, after hearing some effec-
tive music, and examining choice and beautiful
specimens of the vegetable world, we walked through
the gardens, saw the geological models, and finally
beheld a grand display of the fountains. As we re-
turned, Mr. Leacock 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 hea-
venly city, the New Jerusalem, having the glory of
God, even like a jasper 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. He assured me that he had
always been a loyal British subject, like his ances-
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
VISIT TO WILTSHIRE STONEHENGE. 77
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 bv 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 delivered a missionary address to a concourse of
persons, who 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
civilization, of the " rock whence we were hewn,"
and the "hole of the pit from whence we were
digged." Accordingly we walked about four miles
across the open plain, until we arrived at Stone-
henge. The good missionary passed with me under
the enormous overhanging 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 anil
awe. Through the surrounding colonnade he de-
scried 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
78 MEETING AT SALISBURY.
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
supplications to the Almighty. In the evening we
attended a large meeting held at the Council
Chamber, in behalf of the Society for the Propaga-
tion of the Gospel. The bishop was in the chair,
and among the speakers were Lord Nelson, Canon
Bickersteth, Archdeacon Grant, and Canon White,
of the diocese of Capetown. I was permitted to
introduce Mr. Leacock to the assembly, and to make
a brief statement respecting the mission in which he
was engaged. Having been received in a warm-
hearted manner, Mr. Leacock then rose and delivered
an address full of pathos, in which he asked the
sympathies of his English brethren, and described
the wretched condition of the region 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. Indepen-
dently of the usual collection for the Society for the
RETURN TO LONDON. 79
Propagation of the Gospel, the kind-hearted bishop
set on foot a subscription for the West Indian Mis-
sion, which immediately realized a considerable sum.
From Salisbury Mr. Leacock returned to London,
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 warm and cordial
a reception. He wrote to Mr. Leacock on the sub-
ject, who addressed to me on the llth, 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,
" 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
gratitude 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 published. It will disarm the opponents of our
mission, warm and rejoice the hearts of its friends,
80 HIS CHEERFULNESS.
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-
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
indispensable. 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
London. 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 l , " 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 agree-
able repartee, seem to have had within them a spring
1 Goulburn : " The Idle Word," p. 86.
BOOKS. 81
of joy and merriment bubbling up when the obstruc-
tion of serious affairs was removed, and covering with
fertility even the leisure hours of their lives. The
world's wisest men have mingled mirth with earnest-
ness, they have not gone about with starched visage,
prim manner, or puritanical grimace." This character
applies in every particular to the friend whom it was
now our happiness to welcome.
Speaking, about this time, of books, Mr. Leacock
expressed his admiration of Thomas a Kempis, and
Bunyan'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 anticipa-
tions to his entrance into rest.
o
82 CONVERSATION WITH YOUNG PERSONS.
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 youthful
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 in-
visible enemy ; how they attempted to flee, and were
arrested 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 fix his mind on some glorious prophecy, and
speak with rapture of the future triumphs of the
Gospel. 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 murderers ; and how even such
wretches as these had confessed 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 man-
VIEWS OF PROPHECY AND THE CHURCH. 83
sions 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 Roman Catholic religion, while he greatly
admired the writings of saints like Thomas a Kempis,
he considered the system of Popery to be clearly con-
demned by the Word of (rod.
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 downfal 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
G 2
84 OPINION OF THE VOLUNTARY SYSTEM.
necessary. He considered self-denial and faith the
best endowments of the ministry, and a readiness to
endure 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
regard to a clergyman and his support, it is like a
man and his shadow in the sun. If he runs to-
wards 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
hitherto been a stranger to England, and that many
points in our established Church system were en-
tirely new to him. Had he remained here longer,
it is probable that, in a few respects, he would have
found reason to change his mind. He would have
seen, for example, 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 seeking comfortable benefices at
home instead of going forth manfully into the wide
Pagan and Mohammedan world with the message of
THANKFULNESS FOR MERCIES. 85
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 Grod
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 collec-
tion :
" When all thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view I'm lost
In wonder, love, and praise.
" 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.
86 NOTE ON THE EFFECTS OF EMANCIPATION.
" Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ ;
Nor is the least a cheerful heart
That tastes those gifts with joy.
" Through all eternity, 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 then- 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."
PREPARATION IN AFRICA. 87
CHAPTER VI.
Providential Preparation in Africa for the West Indian Mission. The
Chief Wilkinson introduced. Remarkable Dream in Africa. Mr.
Leacock attends various Meetings in the Diocese of Salisbury. He
meets with a Portrait of Mrs. Trimmer. Verses by Mr. Marriott.
Mr. Leacock's opinion of the S.P.G. He visits Malvern and the
Bishop of Barbados. 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 lati-
tude, and the fourteenth of longitude, west of
Greenwich, the Fattalah river enters the At-
lantic Ocean. This beautiful river was long the
favourite resort of slave-traders, whose vessels lay
concealed among its numerous creeks while the
cargoes of wretched Africans were being secretly
embarked. The soil of the neighbouring country is
exceedingly fertile, and maintains a large popula-
tion, though the climate is generally fatal to Euro-
peans. The people are, for the most part, idolatrous
88 THE CHIEF WILKINSON.
heathens, but Mohammedan teachers have much in-
fluence over them. As might be expected, the
grossest superstitions are prevalent, as well as the
most deplorable laxity of morals. The villages con-
tain about four or five hundred inhabitants each, the
dwelling-houses being constructed in a style of ar-
chitecture which gives them the appearance of
bee-hives. There is usually a chief over every
village, who acts very independently of external
control.
At about four miles from the bar at its mouth,
the 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 Fattalah 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 tri-
butary creek called the Fallaniah, is Fallangia, a
village of five hundred and thirty inhabitants, the
present chief of which, although 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
rudiments of a Christian education and learned to
REMARKABLE DREAM. 89
speak and -write the English language. Returning
to his native land, he fell back into a state of prac-
tical heathenism, and adopted again the customs of
his countrymen. It pleased God, however, in the
year 1835, to afflict him with a dangerous illness.
His recollections 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 resolu-
tion 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
occurred 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 mentioned 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 confidence in dreams, and this dream was re-
90 MEETINGS IN WILTSHIRE.
ceived as an indication from heaven that the
prayers of the old chief were about to be answered.
Meanwhile the missionary, who 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
of September we were invited by the Rev. F.
Bennett to attend a missionary meeting at Madding-
ton, where Mr. Leacock spoke with great power and
effect. On the following day we proceeded to De-
vizes, where he was engaged to address a meeting of
the neighbouring gentry convened at the Assembly-
room. Several unpleasant 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 inju-
riously 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 Gospei. The parishioners and
the neighbouring clergy evincing a warm interest in
Africa, Mr. Leacock felt the genial effect of sym-
pathy, and delivered an address which moved every
heart by its solemnity and pathetic eloquence. This
was followed by a most impressive sermon delivered
in Figheldean Church on the 30th, the day appointed
for the thanksgiving on account of the capture of
PORTRAIT OF MRS. TRIMMER. 91
Sebastopol. On this occasion one of the hearers
remarked, " Surely the Apostle Paid 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. Here Mr. Leacock was shown a
picture of the good old authoress, which he kissed
with enthusiasm in memory of the little book which
had first 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 ear, did I say ? little gain,
Little comfort such gift would impart.
Oh ! let its deep impress 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 burden to bear ?
" Oh ! let me not baffle such love
By a thoughtless and cold unbelief;
But my love and my gratitude prove
By resigning my every grief.
92 VERSES BY MR. MARRIOTT.
" 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 offer so gracious and 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."
On the last occasion of his attending family wor-
ship with us, the following hymn, from the selection
of the late Bishop of Salisbury, 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.
" O 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."
VISIT TO MALVERN. 93
On the 5th 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
receiving him as my guest. I felt persuaded that he
was especially fitted for the work of founding a
mission, 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
himself 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 heartiness with which they received him, and
the testimony he gave to the entire freedom from
any thing approaching to party spirit in their pro-
ceedings. Having received his education at the
hands of that Society in Codrington College, it was,
94 THE BISHOP OF BARBADOS.
he said, a great pleasure to find her members ani-
mated, one and all, so far as he had an opportunity
of judging from personal observation, by the best
and purest spirit of Christian charity, 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 thankful that we parted in the bonds of true
Christian love, such as shall be matured in heaven.
The next day found me at Norton 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 War-
minster, I took the railway for Bristol, where I
arrived in the afternoon, too late for a good oppor-
tunity to Worcester. 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.
1 The Bishop of Barbados.
ADMIRATION OF ENGLAND. 95
" 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 enjoying the most beautiful views of nature not
a formal-looking artificial thing on canvas, but the
most beautiful views of nature that eye ever beheld.
Old England 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, however, that the giant infant in the West
will one day or other take off her shine, and perhaps
undutifully kick her into the shade.
" But, as usual, here I am rambling. I must go
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 hur-
ried farewell to Malvern, 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,
96 FEELINGS IN WELLS CATHEDRAL.
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 Cathedral ;
and at six o'clock dined, according to invitation, with
Mr. Canon Pinder. He seemed rejoiced to see me,
and said that he knew me the moment he put his
eye on me in the Cathedral. 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
Cathedral. They have left an impression on my
heart which, I believe, can never be entirely ob-
literated. To my mind there was a something
peculiar in them, which was probably unfelt and
unnoticed by any of the congregation present. As
in the case of Saul going to Damascus on his bloody
purpose, none of his companions 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 is possible 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
FEELINGS IN WELLS CATHEDRAL. 97
my mission, and seeming as if prepared for the occa-
sion of my visit, and intended as a farewell. You
will say, ' It is all visionary and nonsense, 1 and pro-
bably 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 en-
courage me in my undertaking by such means, /, at
least, cannot regard it as nonsense or visionary. The
text in the morning was the 6th 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 body 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, and concluded with exhorting
all to make a surrender of themselves to God, and
devote themselves to his service. And he moreover
exhorted them not only to give up their bodies and
souls to God's service, but also to devote their in-
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, affecting, and most profitable sermon
H
98 FEELINGS IN WELLS CATHEDRAL.
from Dan. vi. 10. The chapter was the first lesson.
The preacher not only warned all men of the dangers
of the Christian 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 ex-
ample 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 ne-
cessity 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 encourage-
ment 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
I felt. If wrong, I pray that my folly and pre-
sumption may be forgiven.
"But what shall I say of the Psalms for the
morning (14th day of the month), every verse teem-
ing with something that worked powerfully and
variously in me? The 71st setting forth David's
PEELINGS IN WELLS CATHEDRAL. 99
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 missions, 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 upon
me, while his soft music flowed sweetly from him
without an apparent effort, and was heard pene-
trating the wide extent of the great building. The
child kept his eyes upon me, and drew tears abun-
dantly from mine. It was my own Mary's voice,
her own, sweet, impressive mode of singing, as she
was wont to 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 can-
H 2
100 LETTER FROM BRISTOL.
not 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 your heart never bleed as
does mine.
"Affectionately yours."
In the mean time, Mrs. Caswall and my family,
with the help of our neighbours and parishioners,
were preparing a box of articles likely to be use-
ful 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 must have received one this morn-
ing 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 painfulness/ for I have had nothing to do but
sit down quietly, 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
LETTER FROM BRISTOL. 101
the good things which are prepared for them that
love God. But such an event is far, far a-head 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 Netheravon, Mr. and Mrs.
Blandy, have in remembrance me and my mission to
Africa. I hope my mission will always be enter-
tained by them and all God's people with favourable
regard, and that, through the Divine blessing on my
labours, I may be enabled to send from Africa such
tidings to them as will rejoice their hearts, and re-
ward them for the sacrifice they have already offered,
and for the further sacrifices which God may incline
them to offer. Thanking you, my dear Mrs. Caswall,
for your hospitality 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
24th of October embarked with him on board the
"Ethiope" steamer for Sierra Leone. They were
fellow-passengers with Dr. Weeks, the new bishop of
102 EMBARKATION AT PLYMOUTH.
Sierra Leone, under whose direction and superin-
tendence their work was to be commenced and pro-
secuted. The Rev. Mr. Pocock, the assistant colonial
chaplain of Sierra Leone, was also on board, together
with his lady. There were likewise other clergymen
connected with the Church Missionary Society, be-
sides some candidates for Holy Orders. Just before
sailing, Mr. Leacock wrote to me the following
note:
" I have only time to say, I thank you and your
dear wife for your letters, 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 " ETKLOPE." 103
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 considered. Plantain Island and
John Newton. Further Delay. Interview with the Spanish Consul.
Meeting of the Church Missionary Society.
UPON 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 remark, not being aware of Mr. Leacock's
long experience in matters of this description. The
sequel showed that the veteran missionary was in the
right.
At night, on "Wednesday the 24th, the anchor was
weighed, and the vessel, a screw-propeller, advanced
for some time rapidly through the smooth water.
104 DANGEROUS STORM.
On Thursday the wind became contrary, and the
ship 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 afternoon, 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 unhappy seaman, but the waves soon
covered and engulphed him. At this moment an-
other 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,
portmanteaus, &c., were some 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 was confined to his berth by illness,
this good brother sat by his side, morning and even-
ing, sometimes reading to him and sometimes offer-
ing up prayers.
ARRIVAL AT MADEIRA. 105
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 her
beneath 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 November, they
arrived at Funchal in Madeira, from whence Mr.
Leacock immediately wrote me a letter containing
the above particulars. " You can now 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.
Now, 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 when 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 position. I have nothing to
state about the prospects of 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, fare-
well."
106 WARM RECEPTION BY A GOVERNOR.
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. 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 portion of her
cargo, Mr. Leacock was hospitably entertained 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 November 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
1 See the Rev. S. A. Walker's " Church of England Missions in
Sierra Leone."
ARRIVAL AT SIERRA LEONE. 107
five miles from the northern extremity of the penin-
sula, on the south side of a noble estuary called the
River Sierra Leone. Here the " Ethiope " entered a
fine hay, affording excellent anchorage not only for
steamers, but for vessels of every class. Mr. Lea-
cock perceived that the town was handsomely si-
tuated, occupying a piece of ground gradually as-
cending for three 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 sun-
shine. 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
prospect of surpassing beauty.
The town is regularly laid out with fine 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 blow-
ing 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-
108 DESCRIPTION OP FREETOWN.
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,
plantain, and banana are cultivated.
The principal church has been denominated the
Cathedral since the consecration of a bishop. It is a
spacious building, and was constructed entirely by
emancipated negroes and boys under Christian 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 dispatch 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
informed him that while a little child, she had lived
in a family at Nevis, 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 provi-
dence going before him and preparing his way.
VARIOUS OPINIONS. 109
The reader is aware that Archdeacon Trew, of the
Bahamas, had given Mr. Leacock a letter to Lieut. -
Col. Hill, the governor of the colony. Sir William
Colebrooke had shown him a similar attention, and
in addition to this Her Majesty's Government had
faithfully fulfilled the promise given in 1851. One
of the latest official acts of the late Secretary of State,
Sir William Molesworth, was to recommend Mr.
Leacock and his work to the countenance and pro-
tection of the several English governors on the coast
of Western Africa.
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 bene-
factor. Conversing with his Excellency in regard
to the best point for the establishment of the West
Indian Mission, Mr. Leacock, in the first instance,
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 con-
versation, the governor stated that further considera-
tion 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 mission,
and we want labourers. Why then leave us for a
110 VARIOUS OPINIONS.
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-hunters 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,
and it will in time fill up the gap between the British
and the American settlements."
This was the substance of his Excellency's remarks,
which he offered in the kindest manner, as the result
of his mature deliberation. Mr. Leacock imme-
diately 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 November 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
SIEKRA LEONE LIKE THE WEST INDIES. Ill
easily perceived by the earnest attention of all, and
the sighs and groans of many, the deep interest
which they took in what was said, and he had the
satisfaction afterwards of learning that he was dis-
tinctly understood.
The bishop attended the cathedral in the morning,
and during the Litany fell down in a state of insen-
sibility, and was carried home immediately. Al-
though Mr. Pocock, his chaplain, was ready to offi-
ciate, 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
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 first 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 plea-
sant. 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.
112 DR. BRADSHAW'S ADVICE.
"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
temperanoe 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 en-
trance-room, a parlour, and two bed-rooms. A
cottage for the schoolmaster must be separate, two
comfortable rooms and a piazza. I beg your lord-
ship 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 preservation of
which fire must be made in the centre of the build-
ing to destroy or expel scorpions, and centipedes,
and small insects, which generate in the straw and
destroy it, making in a few weeks a thousand chan-
nels 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
committed by the society to my care has not shaken
their confidence in my economy. As soon as I can
ascertain where I am to be fixed, and what sum is
THE NIGER CONSIDERED. 113
necessary for the erection of our cottage, I shall
write to my old friend Dr. Caswall and other friends
in England 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 protec-
tion of our health. And this I shall do promptly,
for, if I resolve 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 junc-
tion of the Chadda, and open his mission there. He
replied, 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
moment. All that coast is infested with pirates and
murderers, and, without a guard, a man's life is in
danger. The river is not open. There is no com-
munication but through Fernando Po, and the ex-
pense 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
114 PLANTAIN ISLAND AND JOHN NEWTON.
shaken by a Mr. McCormick, who had recently tra-
velled through that district, and accordingly he in-
vited Mr. Leacock to meet this gentleman at dinner.
In the course of conversation Mr. McCormick 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 have passed since Newton was a wretched
wanderer 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.
Newton 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
mathematical 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."
'.
FURTHER DELAY. 115
Mr. Leacock, though discouraged by his kind
friend the governor, still entertained the idea of
visiting 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. Nothing, therefore, seems to remain
for me but a struggle with the proud, conceited Mo-
hammedan, 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 gree-
grees, 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 look up 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 result of prudence, not
indolence. The bishop desires me to remain in Free-
town till after the annual meeting of the Church
Missionary Society, on Wednesday, Dec. 5th."
The following are extracts from Mr. Leacock's
diary, kept by him under these harassing circum-
stances, for the information of the Bishop of Bar-
bados :
"Nov. 30th. I was called on to-day by two
very respectable-looking men of the Eboe tribe, to
i 2
116 INTERVIEW WITH THE SPANISH CONSUL.
whom Mr. B. lias mentioned my readiness to go up
with them to their country on the Niger. You
cannot imagine the delight which overspread their
countenances when they first addressed me, nor the
disappointment they suffered when told that there
were no means of transportation. It is a great dis-
appointment 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 subject to the
control of the bishop.
"Dec. 1st. Another station is suggested, and what
sort of one is it? An abandoned outpost 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
despair.
"Dec. 3rd. I had a singular visit this afternoon
from the Spanish Consul, a handsome, dashing
fellow, covered with civic or military honours. He
made some inquiry about the place of my destina-
tion, said he had heard of me through some news-
papers, and hoped that the mission which had taken
me from my native country would prosper., I
thanked him and said I had been detained here by
the desire of the bishop, but that I should be at
liberty after Wednesday to leave Sierra Leone in
the first vessel which sailed hence for the Gallinas.
He then said there was a good opening in Fernando
Po, and he thought if I had not decided on any par-
INTERVIEW WITH THE SPANISH CONSUL. 117
ticular place, it would be as well to take it into con-
sideration. I told him I dared not think of it,
because 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 mis-
sionaries, 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 government a promise of protection from
the Spanish government ; and ' it is more than pro-
bable/ 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 usefulness 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.
Obstacles soon appeared in the way of a mission to
118 MEETING OF THE CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
Fernando Po, reminding us that when " the man of
Macedonia" was about to appear to St. Paul, the
Spirit suffered him not to go into Bithynia. The
bishop discouraged the scheme, and still advised Mr.
Leacock to examine the Sherbro' Island and the
neighbouring part of the continent called Gallinas.
This he purposed to do at the first opportunity.
On the 4th of December Mr. Leacock attended a
meeting of the assembled Church missionaries. The
heat was very oppressive and enervating. In the
evening the bishop preached, and alluded to the
future conversion, through the Church Missionary
Society, of the country through which the Niger 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 presiding. The secretary stated that a
wide field was open to missionaries below and above
the junction of the Niger and Chadda, and that the
Church Missionary 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 gentleman 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 recommended by my old friend, Sir W.
MEETING OF THE CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 119
Colebrooke, governor 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 follow-
ing chapter as recorded in a Sierra Leone newspaper,
" The African," of December 13th, 1855.
120 WHEN THE EPISCOPATE IS A BLESSING,
CHAPTER VIII.
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.
Establishment of the West Indian Mission. Episcopacy acknow-
ledged by Christendom. Greeting to the Bishop of Sierra Leone.
Prophetic Declaration.
"YouR Excellency, Right Rev. 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 Russia, together with the
happy appointment at this juncture of the Right
Reverend Dr. Weeks to this diocese, as manifest
tokens of the Divine favour towards the great work
of evangelizing the heathen, and for these mercies
AND WHEN THE REVERSE.
121
would unite in ascriptions of praise and thanksgiving
to the great Head of the Church.'
" My friends, to thank God for all his dispensa-
tions towards us, 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
character, how much more ready should he be to
praise God for blessings which are congenial with
his sanctified 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 cate-
gory ? Observe, there are two : the improved con-
dition of your Society's revenue ; and the appoint-
ment of a bishop for the diocese.
" With respect to the former, we know indeed
that the gift of riches is not always an evidence of the
Divine favour ; and as to the latter, experience and
observation 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
122 VALUE OF THE EPISCOPATE
where it seeks not to extend the benign and hum-
bling influence of our holy religion, to strengthen
the bond of peace, and to promote throughout the
whole body unity of spirit, and righteousness of life,
it is not a blessing : it is a curse.
"But, Christian friends, we trust and hope that
in neither of the cases before us have we any reason
to anticipate evil. Although I have no personal in-
terest in the prosperity of your Society, not having
any connexion with it, yet it is gratifying to me to
contemplate its flourishing condition, and the truly
Christian 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
manner, be ascribed to the influence of God's grace.
At a time when the nation is suffering the bitter
effects 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, nar-
rowing the comforts of the rich, and augmenting the
TO SIERRA LEOXE. 123
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 afflic-
tion, we might reasonably enough apprehend a great
defalcation in missionary funds. But it is not so. Be-
hold the people humbling themselves before the God
of the armies of heaven and earth, hear them declare
that He is worthy to receive all riches, as well as
honour and glory see them actually give their
riches give what they acknowledge He is so worthy
to receive give what they can spare, to advance in
the heathen world the glory and honour of his holy
Name. 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 resolu-
tion 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,
124 ITS BENEFITS IN THE WEST INDIES.
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
apostolic 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 government ; but, waiving every re-
mark 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 con-
nexion by the Episcopal form of Christian govern-
ment : and I well remember the looseness and irre-
gularity which prevailed under so dislocated a state
of the Church. There was no visible head to unite
and direct the movements of the Clergy none to
whom they were responsible ; and the consequence
was that each and every rector acted independently
of his brother rectors, and was de facto, if not dej-ure,
a little bishop in his little diocese. He acted just
as he pleased, and gave account to no man for his
ITS BENEFITS IN THE WEST INDIES. 125
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. The Church
suddenly arose as from a state of death, and assumed
the appearance of a well-ordered, compact body.
Its discipline was instantly established. Its minis-
ters began to remember themselves. Its services
were regularly and more reverently performed.
The stillness of death suddenly disappeared, 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 obstacle 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 own Tier authority. Yes, Christian
friends, our dissenting brethren felt the salutary
change, and thankfully acknowledged it. 'Our
work,' said one of them to me, ' our work flourishes
126 RISE OF THE WEST INDIAN CHURCH.
most when there is a stirring, faithful, devoted minis-
try in the parish church ; for then our unruly
members, who leave us to go into the Establishment,
cannot be easy when they hear the same awakening
truths, the same awful sanctions both of Law and
Gospel, which oifended them in our chapel ; and they
are compelled to cast away their empty profession of
religion, and return to our chapel, or become con-
sistent members of the Establishment.'
" Such was the effect, by God's blessing, of Episco-
pacy in the "West Indies. The Church has continued
to grow and increase under its influences, till,
strengthened at home, she is now making efforts 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 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 appearing in
opposition to it. That part of our population which
is of African descent rejoiced at the thought of
sending to some benighted portion of their father-
land the glad tidings of salvation, and presently a
considerable sum of money was raised for the pur-
pose.
"But this excitement was not of long duration.
The people of every class and description soon became
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MISSION. 127
discouraged, on account of what they deemed cul-
pable 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 country, and report what prospect of success
there appeared for the establishment of such a
mission. That individual's proposal was accepted
immediately by the bishop and the committee of the
association, and he received forthwith his appoint-
ment as missionary to the western coast of Africa.
He left the West Indies on the loth 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
desire to send the Gospel afar off to a people sitting
in darkness, not having the lamp of life amongst
them, yet she will not neglect or exclude from her
mission the advantages of Episcopacy when they can
be obtained.
"She sends that mission to your land, not in-
vested with any independent or exclusive power.
She commits it, under the Great Bishop of souls, to
the oversight of the Bishop of Sierra Leone, con-
128 EPISCOPACY ACKNOWLEDGED BY CHRISTENDOM.
fiding in his generous, impartial, affectionate, foster-
ing care. She commits it to the supervision of your
bishop, not (let me be distinctly understood) because
she has no confidence in the prudence, faithfulness,
or integrity of her deputation ; for if she had inti-
mated such a thought, you would never have seen
me here. She commends her mission to the care of
your bishop, because she recognizes in his office a
something superior to the ordinance of man, and
would honour it as a form of ecclesiastical govern-
ment ' most agreeable with the institution of
Christ.'
"It is remarkable that this form of Church go-
vernment, Episcopacy, seems to have the consent of
Christendom. The English Church; the Eastern
and "Western, or the Greek and Roman Churches;
the Coptic, Abyssinian, and Armenian Churches, all
have bishops. Even our dissenting brethren, the
"Wesleyans, 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 analogous 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 sent by the Holy Ghost, yet
they see the wisdom and necessity of setting apart in
every district under their influence one as superin-
tendent of the district. They do not call this Episco-
pacy, as do their American brethren, and they are
GREETING TO THE BISHOP OF SIERRA LEONE. 129
certainly correct, but it is something 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-conso-
lidated system.
" And now, your Excellency, and Christian
friends, shall we not admit that the privilege of Epis-
copacy, as well as the improvement of your Society's
finances, calls for our acknowledgment and thanks-
giving ? I trust you are all sensible of its import-
ance as a privilege ; and I hope the time is not far
distant, when the Church in Sierra Leone will come
forth, resplendent in Christian graces, strong in
the strength of Omnipotence, and not only sustain
itself independently of the fostering care of the
Church Missionary Society, 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 salva-
tion in the far east, and south, and north, far
beyond the Kong mountains, into the kingdoms
of darkness and cruelty which crowd the in-
terior of this widely extended and mighty con-
tinent.
" 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 un-
it
130 GREETING TO THE BISHOP OF SIERRA LEONE.
provement of the financial concerns of your Society ;
and for the appointment of a gentleman to preside
over this portion of the Lord's vineyard 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, encou-
rage 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 Kev. Sir, in the name of the West
Indian Church, which I have the honour to represent
here this evening, I bid you God's speed. It is a fre-
quent 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,
PROPHETIC DECLARATION. 131
are looking forward with 'earnest expectation'
that prophetic 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.' "
K 2
132 HORXE OJST 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 Go-
vernor Hill. Meeting with a Mohammedan King. Landing at Tin-
tima. 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 Mohammedan.
THE time had now come when the long-continued
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, hut a mis-
sionary 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
HOE.NE ON MISSIONARY QUALIFICATIONS. 133
showing Mr. Leacock's fitness for the work which he
had undertaken :
" Piety is the only basis of the missionary cha-
racter ; 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 itqfCit
who enters upon missions in compliance with he
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, pro-
mises to continue in its heat. His fire should be
moderated by some experience in the ministry. He
should have been taught to exercise a good degree
of gentleness, patience, and long- sufferance, by being
accustomed to wrestle with the unruly will of men,
by seeing many of his well-meant efforts frustrated
through invincible depravity, and by observing the
failure of some of his most sanguine and reasonable
expectations. There is an art in managing men's
minds which nothing but experience can teach.
That man will have little skill in ruling the tempest
of the human passions, who has not learned to mode-
rate the ardour of his own feelings, 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 disor-
derly in all their habits and versatile in all their
134 HORNE ON MISSIONARY QUALIFICATIONS.
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 na-
turally indolent. With a vivacity which often spar-
kles and charms, they unite 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
superior to suffering is a consideration of far more
importance than that corporeal vigour and hardness
which is invulnerable to fatigue and want.
" We require in our missionary a disinterested,
FIKST MENTION OF THE PONGAS. 135
generous way of thinking and acting, above low
cunning, servile compliance, and a presumptuous
invasion of powers to which his character does not
entitle him. We would have him sincere, open, and
affectionate. Instead of authoritative commands, we
would arm him with prayers, entreaties, and tears.
We expect that he should have learned to bear and
forbear. We think that ignorance should excite his
pity, 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, inde-
pendently 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, be-
tween their charity and their zeal, be placed in cir-
cumstances similar to those of St. Paul, in naked-
ness, 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. Galbridden, 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 immediately
to the governor, who, as well as the bishop, thought it
worthy of further notice. Dining with the governor
136 A STEAMER PROMISED.
on the 7th, 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 governor'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. Lea-
cock that there would be danger' in travelling in
an open canoe, which would expose him 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 interview 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."
Accordingly he spoke across the table to the go-
vernor : " 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."
CHARACTER OF THE GOVERNOR. 137
" 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 heen 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 this new scheme will issue ;
but I do not despair. This letter I shall leave with
my 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
138 A MOHAMMEDAN KING.
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
Pongas. The missionary, however, 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 llth. 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 llth 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
LANDING AT TIXTIMA. 139
would be safer in the ' Myrmidon ' than in Tintima,
exposed to the gaze of our distinguished host and his
myrmidons.
" We 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 country 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 Regiment, 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-
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, * No, 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 efiect. 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,
140 PALAVER WITH THE KINGS.
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-
morrow 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
to his 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 nay 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
PALAVER WITH. THE KINGS. 141
that he and his ' big people' wanted no teaching, but
the children wanted it, and he would send his 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 decision 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 five days to con-
sider the matter. This, however, was a mere ma-
noeuvre, as I learned from my assistant, John Duport,
to whom it was hinted that no presents were given
to the Mandingoes. The cunning fellows desired to
take advantage 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 increase their wretched appetite,
and entail upon me interminable demands. It was
Captain Buck's opinion also, and he united with me
142 PALAVER WITH THE KINGS.
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 favour-
able decision. Now, 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
them good, if possible ; therefore, the obligation is
on their part, not on mine ; and if presents are to be
given, / am the person to receive. But I give them
all I have, myself, 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 dis-
eases, 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 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 urn/
"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
PALAVER WITH THE KINGS. 143
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. Neverthe-
less, I am not afraid of you nor of your Mandingoes.
You can do with me 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 look-
ing 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 Kennyback
Ali and Matthias Katty speak a little English, and
can understand an Englishman condescending to
speak in their 'fashin.' Soon every thing was ar-
ranged. 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 morn-
ing, as soon as the 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
Buck. His gentlemanly and kind attention to me
144 DESCRIPTION OF THE PONGAS RIVER.
is such 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
privacy, 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 Provi-
dence which has hitherto been with me, and which
will continue to follow me."
On Monday, the 17th, Mr. Leacock and Duport
left their friends in the " Myrmidon," and again
proceeded up the Little Pongas to Tintima, relying
on the promises of Kennyback Ali and King Katty.
Their means of conveyance was a narrow canoe,
which appeared far from safe. An upset would be
followed by almost certain destruction. If a person
thus situated were to escape the sharks, a rapid tide
145
MAP OF THE PONGAS
FATTALAH COUNTRY.
From Two Maps designed by the
Rev. H. J. Leacock.
Estimated Population of the
Towns and Village* of the
Pongat or Fattalah Country.
Teah 220
Domingia 350
Sarraha 50
Sangha 600
Bangalong 300
Farrangia 1500
Mirana 50
Tintima 300
Doinjah 150
Giappa 50
Babria 180
Fallangia 530
Confongia 150
Caningia 150
Bramiah 3000
7580
HUT AT TINTIMA. 147
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.
Alligators conceal themselves in the rank vegetation
which borders this beautiful river, and which is so
interlaced 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 re-
ceived. It rises probably in the Kong mountains.
It is navigable 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, which
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 oppor-
tunity of examining the village rather more closely
than during their visit of the preceding week.
They found Tintima very similar to the large
L 2
148 WRETCHED CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE.
negro villages which 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 observation of an enemy attacking them sud-
denly in the night. The cottages were all miserable
affairs, having 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 har-
boured in the roof. In such a house the mis-
sionaries 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 (in purls naturalibus) and carrying off
with their nimble fingers whatever 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 with-
149
A COTTAGE IN TINTIMA, PONGAS COUNTRY,
Occupied by the Rev. 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.
b b. wall.
c c. pieces of wood thrown across
the wall, and supporting the
pole.
Plan of the Interior of the Cottage.
1. Mr, Leacock's lodging.
2. Mr. Duport's.
333. baggage.
4. table.
c c. chairs. No window,
150 DECEITFULNESS OF KENNYBACK ALL
out food on the day of their arrival had they not
found in one of their boxes a jar of preserved ginger.
They ate the ginger with some biscuits which they
had fortunately brought from the " Myrmidon," and
drank the syrup mixed with water, after which they
finished their repast with water, cup after cup, till
they were satisfied. They asked for fowls, usually
sold at four or five shillings a dozen ; but now one fowl
was offered for two shillings. They asked for eggs,
which are sold at a halfpenny each ; a dollar was
now asked for twenty. After finding that the mis-
sionaries had a supply of biscuit, the natives began
to lower their demands. No servant was, however, to
be procured, so that they were obliged to wait on
themselves. Fortunately they found a woman from.
Sierra Leone who could wash clothes, but as there
was no smoothing iron in the place, they were com-
pelled 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-one wives and religi-
ous principles which could be readily accommodated
to Mohammedanism, heathenism, or any other doc-
trine. His pretended support of Christianity, there-
fore, probably originated in the pension awarded
him by the British Government for abandoning
the slave trade himself, and for engaging to check
VISIT TO KENNYBACK ALL 151
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 various places, for
slavers have many stratagems to escape 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 out 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 boa 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, through 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
152 VISIT TO KENNYBACK ALL
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 suffi-
ciently to act as an 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 hammock when Mr. Leacock began to
speak. No one, 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 missionaries.
Mr. Leacock returned through the wood with per-
fect 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, Kenny-
back 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
misunderstood. Children were promised Mr. Lea-
cock as pupils ; but not a single child was actually
sent. Two boys were constantly lounging about the
house, and John Duport accordingly began to teach
them their letters. But they were immediately or-
ENCOUNTER WITH A MOHAMMEDAN. 153
dered 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.
154 EVENTS OF ST. THOMAS'S DAY.
CHAPTER X.
Events of St. Thomas's Day. Arrival of Lewis Wilkinson. Inter-
view 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 ordered in England.
IN the midst of these discouragements, Mr. Leacock
continued cheerful and confident that Providence
would at last open a door for the Gospel. 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-
ARRIVAL OF LEWIS WILKINSON. 155
langia, to vhom 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 suffering, his hands and face being
swollen, and his feet sore from the bites of mos-
quitoes. His visitor, seeing this, proceeded : " Sir,
my father desires a day or two to make some pre-
paration 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 doubtful 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
releasing 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
156 INTERVIEW WITH THE CHIEF.
that evening : lie said, ' No apology, Sir : if you will
be satisfied with my humble board, you are wel-
come;' and he ordered supper immediately. He
seemed greatly agitated, and, a few moments after,
rising from his chair, broke forth with that incom-
parable song of praise, the ' Te Deum Laudamus ;'
repeating it with great solemnity and accuracy. At
the conclusion, after a short silence, he said: 'Sir,
this requires explanation. In my youth I was sent
to your country, and placed under the tuition of a
respectable clergyman, 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 difficulty 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 Pongas country,
whom I might see before I died. I have written to
Sierra Leone for a missionary, but could get no
answer ; and now the Lord has sent me an answer.
You are, Sir, an answer to my prayers for twenty
years. You are the first minister of the Gospel 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
MR. LEACOCK OPENS HIS MINISTRY. 157
stranger in the Pongas; and if you resolve on re-
maining 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 to one of his daughters. I know all the
chiefs ; and I will go with you 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 putting 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, well, 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 SITE GIVEN FOR A CHURCH.
a room into which it leads 24 feet in breadth. I had
it measured. A part of this piazza was pretty well
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.
"I felt unwell, and retired to rest a little. As
soon as I was heard stirring, one who was waiting
outside at the door came to me, and said that the
congregation was waiting to know whether I would
have another sermon before they left. Instantly I
obeyed 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 serious
and attentive little audience. The old man was
greatly delighted. Notes are of no use here. Plain,
simple exposition of Scripture, and practical applica-
tion, are all that is necessary. Here then my minis-
try is fully announced."
Mr. Wilkinson now gave Mr. Leacock a beautiful
site for his residence. It was his own garden, com-
prising about two acres and a half, enclosed with a
physic-nut fence. It contained a number of orange-
trees, mangoes and other fruit-trees. He declared
that he should write and specify distinctly that this
land was given to the West Indian Church Associa-
tion, for the use and accommodation of its mission-
AN ATTACK OF FEVER. 159
aries, as long as the mission should exist amongst his
people ; and that, if the mission should be removed,
it should revert to him and his heirs.
The next morning, the 24th, Mr. Leacock em-
barked with the ebb tide, and returned to Tintima
for his baggage. He had written to Kennyback Ali
on the Saturday, informing 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 middle of the day, under a broiling sun, through
the dangerous forest. He was told, on his arrival,
that Kennyback Ali was asleep and would not be
disturbed. No one offered him a seat or a cup of
cold water. After walking back again, he com-
menced removing 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 Tintima, and landed at Fallangia at
eight. Mr. Leacock felt the dampness of the river
severely, and had distressing pains in his back before
morning. On Christmas Day he was too unwell to
officiate, and it soon appeared that he had been
attacked by the dreadful African fever. On the
following day Duport was seized in the same way.
Mr. Wilkinson attended them with the utmost assi-
duity, and proved himself an excellent nurse as well
as a kind friend.
While attending upon them, the swarthy chief
160 ANXIETY OF THE GOVERNOR.
found time to write the following letter to the Bishop
of Barbados, who was still in England :
" Rio Pongas, Fallangia,
Dec. 29th, 1855.
" My Lord Bishop,
" I beg to return you many thanks for having sent
the Rev. Mr. Leacock out here amongst us, for the
purpose of civilizing my country, in carrying on a
religious work, and educating our children, &nd 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
power, and to grant him, or the Society, a land to
build a church, &c.
" And in the interim, my lord, I have to inform
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 assistance I can for the civilization of Africa,
my country.
" I have the honour to remain, my lord, and may
God bless the efforts you have undertaken.
" I am yours faithfully,
" RICHARD WILKINSON."
Meantime the Governor of Sierra Leone became
anxious about the two missionaries. A few days
after Mr. Leacock had decided on remaining at Tin-
ARRIVAL OF A STEAMER. 161
tima, 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 missionaries 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 Bio
Pongas more marshy and unhealthy, and more in-
fested 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 Bio Pongas, and ascertain the state of
Mr. Leacock's health, in order that, if not satisfied
with the place, he might be brought back imme-
diately 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 off
the mouth of the river. Mr. Leacock and Duport
at once embraced the opportunity of returning to
Freetown, where Dr. Bradshaw's medical advice
would 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
M
162 LETTER FROM SIERRA LEONE.
reached the " Teazer," much refreshed by the sea-
breeze, and immediately sailed for Sierra Leone,
where they arrived at a late hour on the 31st,
thus terminating an eventful year of Mr. Leacock's
life.
On the 2nd of January, 1856, 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
believe God saved my life by putting it into the
governor'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 deadly influence of malaria. I was soon revived
by the 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 opportunity 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 regularly with that place in
LETTER FROM SIERRA LEONE. 163
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 various officers on the
coast tell me that this is the greatest 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 re-
covering. * * * At the commencement of my sick-
ness, John was very attentive ; but two days after-
wards 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 Majesty's ship, the ' Teazer,' to bring us to
Sierra Leone. So He takes care of his 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. * * *
M 2
164 RETURN TO FALLANGIA.
"I want about 50/. 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 500/., but I can pro-
vide my own after a while at a cost of about 21 01.
I can find occupation for at least six teachers."
Mr. Leacock allowed himself very little time to re-
cruit his health, and when the " Teazer" sailed from
Freetown on the 4th of January, for her station near
the rivers Pongas and Nunez, 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. Lea-
cock and Duport embarked in a small boat in order
to ascend the stream to Fallangia. The tide was
against them the greater part of the way, and the
day extremely 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 was for some time very unwell,
with 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 or-
dinary articles of food, but he felt perfectly satisfied,
JOHN DUPORT BEGIIS r S TO TEACH. 165
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 ad-
dress to the people, very much to the satisfaction of
his superior. 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
letter :
"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, wrapped about their body, very low
down, in a curious manner, and fastened behind, the
end hanging down almost to the ground, and giving
them very much the appearance of a monkey. This
beastly sight, so thoroughly disgusting at first, has
now become so familiar that I can look and not be
offended.
166 SUPPLIES ORDERED IN ENGLAND.
" 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
sufficient for each. Any sort of cloth, no matter how
coarse, whether it be new cloth or old cast-off 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 garments
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 about their body, tucking in the end
for security. The boys seem willing to learn the use
of carpenters' tools, and the chiefs the right mode of
cultivating 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, such as is used in the island of
Barbados, costing about thirty shillings, would
soon turn their attention to the cultivation of Indian
corn.
" 15th. We opened our school yesterday in Fal-
SUPPLIES ORDERED IX ENGLAND. 167
langia with twenty children. The principal men in
the town are sending for their children, who are at a
distance with their mothers ; and Mr. Wilkinson
assures me that in less than six weeks I shall have
more than fifty children in the school. He is encou-
raging 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. Yester-
day evening I had several men come to see me. We
sat together a long time, and had much conversation,
Mr. W. being our interpreter. 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 prosper His own work.
I know by this that many prayers 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
expect this week, to proceed to the other branch of the
168 SUPPLIES ORDERED IN ENGLAND.
Pongas, called Bangalong, or Big Pongas, and I
shall then be able to ascertain fully how far I shall
be permitted to go with the slaves. Mr. Wilkin-
son accompanies me. I have two young men, na-
tives, whom I wish to put in the school, and train
for teaching. Knowing the Soosoo language and
some English, 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.
Caswall 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 November ; 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 valu-
able contributions, 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
SUPPLIES ORDERED IN ENGLAND. 169
of Robert Sullivan's English Grammar (sold by
Longman, Brown, Green, and Co., London) ; four
pairs of scissors ; six pieces of unbleached cotton, full
yard 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 hundred 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 em-
ploy 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. Par-
ker, 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."
170
AMERICAN SYMPATHY.
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.
ON 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 14th of February, enclosing extracts from
Mr. Leacock's communications. I also wrote, " You
perceive that Hamble asks for the trifling sum of
50/., in addition to what the West Indian Mis-
sionary Society 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
DR. COIT AND THE " CHURCH JOURNAL." 171
America. A hundred and twenty-five dollars (25/.)
from Hamble's old friends in America, including his
former congregation at Perth Amboy, would not be
much ; and I dare say that Mr. Dickinson and my-
self, with a few others, could readily obtain the
remainder, without calling on the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel."
Dr. Coit, on receiving my letter, sent it and its
enclosures to the editor of the " New York Church
Journal," together with a subscription on his own
behalf. The zealous and energetic editor inserted
the extracts in his paper, and wrote several spirited
leading articles, calling the attention of Aonerican
Churchmen to the subject, and asking them to
assist the "Leacock Fund." The following are
specimens of Transatlantic interest in the under-
taking :
" THE REV. MR. LEACOCK IN AFRICA. We 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. Read
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
172
THE EDITOR OF THE " CHURCH JOURNAL.
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 twenty
years to send a preacher of the blessed Gospel to
himself 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 Rev. Mr. Caswall, of Figheldean,
England, and through the hands of the Rev. Dr.
Coit, of Troy. The ladies will be specially interested
in Mr. Leacock'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 England 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
PERTH AMBOY AXT) SLAVES. IN" TEXXESSEE. 173
melting. But when the old man, greeting the mis-
sionary with a cordiality agitated by deep feeling,
soon after finds his joy irrepressible, and starting up
from his chair pours forth his soul in the glorious
' Te Deum Laudamus,' the . glow of heart is con-
tagious, and we are almost ready 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 congre-
gation, last Sunday evening, I took the occasion to
lay before them the substance of Mr. Leacock's
letters, which have lately appeared in the ' Journal.'
174 SLAVES IN TENNESSEE.
They were so deeply affected at hearing the con-
dition 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 New York of such garments as
Mr. Leacock suggested, made of striped Lowell, and
also of transportation to Africa. You will confer a
favour 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 :
" Rev. 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 affected 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 forth-
coming as soon as it is closed.
JOINT OFFERINGS. 175
" I wish you to write me any incidents or par-
ticulars which, would serve to illustrate either the
degradation of those people, or the prospect of your
being able to do them good. My dear brother, we
appreciate your undertaking ; you have our liveliest
sympathies and most earnest prayers.
" Yery respectfully,
"J. A. WHEELOCK."
Not long afterwards I received from New York
the sums collected by the editor of the " Church
Journal," which considerably exceeded the amount
for which I had asked. In England also, the contri-
butions were equally satisfactory, and I was enabled to
write the following letter to the New York editor :
" I am happy to say that I have been enabled to
deposit with Mr. Leacock's banker fifty pounds,
contributed by English and American Churchmen
towards the mission buildings at Fallangia. I have
expended the seven dollars from Tennessee in the
purchase of three pieces of Indian baft, which were
obtained almost at cost price from the manufactory
in Manchester. Ten additional pieces were given
by friends in this country, together with ninety-
eight articles of clothing, made up in Figheldean
and other parishes. From the proceeds of the sub-
scriptions in Perth Amboy, and in different parts of
176 JOINT OFFERINGS.
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 pur-
chase for Mr. Wilkinson, the native chief, a hand-
somely bound octavo Prayer Book at the depo-
sitory of the Christian Knowledge Society. Upon
this we caused to be stamped" in gold letters the
name of the worthy old African, and we iiiserted
within, an inscription to the effect that^the 1 book* was
presented to him as the friend of missions in the
Pongas country. All the above articles were dis-
patched for Sierra Leone in the ship '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 replenished."
While his friends in America and England were
thus giving evidence of the unity of the CJiurch 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
APPOINTMENT OF AN ENGLISH SECRETARY. 177
sheer heathenism, 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 sanction of Bishop Parry, was appointed its
Secretary in England. The bishop being about to
return to Barbados, the writer was likewise re-
quested 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 interests 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 of the immigrants (Hindoos,
Africans, Chinese, &c.), forbid us to expect much
pecuniary assistance out of Barbados, or very much
there ; sp that we are unavoidably 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
N
178 FRENCH MISSIONARIES.
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 your
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 the New.
" I have 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
admire and much which seemed strange and objec-
tionable. The Sisters of Charity are wonderful,
and there is a highly interesting establishment
of Protestant Deaconesses. At the seminary for
foreign Roman Catholic missions, young men are
prepared to labour in China, where several of them
have died as martyrs within the last few years. Pic-
tures of their sufferings, painted by their Chinese
FRENCH MISSIONARIES. 179
converts, are suspended in the same hall which con-
tains 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 repre-
sentation of our Lord holding forth a crown and a
palm-branch for the departing 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 ex-
pects to die the same horrible death as his predeces-
sors, and says that he shall willingly encounter it
' for the love of Grod.' They talk of sending forth a
similar mission to "Western Africa, where I trust and
believe that there are self-denying and devoted mis-
sionaries 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
produced many, who, for the love of Christ, have
faced death in its most awful forms. It is not indeed
our custom, I say, to collect the bones of our deceased
missionaries, and to parade them before the eyes of
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,'
knowing that the souls of the faithful are in the
hand of God.
N 2
180 FRENCH MISSIONARIES.
" Go on, 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 consumma-
tion."
SCHOOL AT FALLANGIA. 181
CHAPTER XII.
The School at Fallangia. Return of Fever. Conversation with Wil-
kinson. Extent of the Soosoo Language. Need of additional Teachers.
Welcome from King Jelloram Fernandez. The Missionaries again
taken ill. Continuance of Journal. Duport sent for his Health to
Sierra Leone. Resemblance of the Negroes of Fallangia to those of
Barbados. Conversation with " old Martha." Witchcraft. Second
Conversation with "old Martha." Return of Duport. Death of
Kennyback Ali. Description of neighbouring 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 Chris-
tianity in a substantial education.
On the 17th fever returned, and he had to un-
dergo a course of medicine till the 21st, when he
found himself relieved. On Sunday, the 20th, he
182 RETURN OF FEVER.
was unable to officiate, and Duport accordingly acted
as his substitute. On the 22nd he was able to leave
his bed for an hour and a half.
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 find-
ing 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 28th.
The following is from his journal, addressed 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 burning sun, we are nevertheless gradually
taking root in the soil, and hope presently to be as
verdant and flourishing 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
CONVERSATION WITH WILKINSON. 183
you.' Some days previously I had been showing
him the likenesses of my children, which seemed to
delight him, but he could not understand why I
should leave them to come and live among naked
savages, but now he thought he had discovered the
reason. The place of the Scripture which he read
was this : ' He that loveth son or daughter more
than me, is not worthy of me. And he that taketh
not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy
of me V * 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. ' Now,' 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 counte-
nance manifested a deepened interest as he replied,
1 Matt. x. 37, 38.
184 CONVERSATION WITH WILKINSON.
' 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 performed in a consecrated place
of worship, they would be called regular public ser-
vices, with a lecture. At present, they must be re-
garded as merely acts of family worship.
"26th and 30th. Confined to my room by the
sickening intermittent; but when feeling better,
coming for an hour into the piazza to get a little
fresh air. I know this is injurious, but it is dreadful
to be confined to a room, which, for the purpose of
reading or writing, is as unavailable at midday as it
is at midnight. While seated in a corner of the
piazza, examining Arrowsmith's Map of the West-
ern 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. Wilkin-
son has, for many years, been trading with the
people of these countries, and that he is still trading
with them. Many of them come from a great dis-
tance, probably as great as that travelled by the
EXTENT OF THE SOOSOO LANGUAGE. 185
Magi in search of the "birth-place of the King of the
Jews. Mr. "Wilkinson can speak the Soosoo and
Mandingo languages as fluently as the English, in
which he is not at all deficient in common conversa-
tion, 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 Fullah being their vernacular tongue).
" I immediately replied, ' What countries ?' And
to my surprise and delight, he answered, without
looking at the map, ' From Cape Verga to the River
Scarcies, and beyond it north-east all the country of
Talonkadu, Balega, Sulimana, Timasse, and Tom-
brichi, the Soosoo is the native language. Go further
south, and in the Timing, North 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.'
" Now 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 So-
cieties, the missionary current setting in strong to-
ward the Cape of Good Hope, and now toward Ashantee
and Dahomey. Why is this ? Is it that the daring
186 NEED OF ADDITIONAL TEACHERS.
chivalrous spirit of the age overlooks these poor
devil-worshippers, and longs to beard the proud
kings, the bloody monsters of Ashantee and Da-
homey? If danger be sought for, enough may be
found in the climate of the Pongas and back coun-
tries, and in the secret machinations of the poisoner
and the incendiary. No open opposition 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 em-
brace it ? ' the answer is ready, ' We have been
taught from our youth to believe the Koran, and we
cannot change.' The secret is, they dare not
change without incurring the deadly animosity of
their sect. They 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
coming 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 encou-
raging enough, as it shows that a spirit of inquiry is
awaking 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.
Lightburn, of Farrangia, and her son, of a neigh-
bouring town ; Mr. Charles Wilkinson, of Domingia ;
and Mr. Faber, of Sangha, to have their slaves
NEED OF ADDITIONAL TEACHERS. 187
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, however, have as yet come, for the want of
clothes, I believe. They are not ashamed to walk
every where 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 per-
suaded to enter.
"Here there will be at least five stations, each
requiring a teacher. Let him be sent to our Prin-
cipal at Codrington College. It is not necessary
that he should be a person of rare scholastic attain-
ments. 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 dwell in him richly in all
wisdom ; enabling him to teach and admonish in
psalms, and hymns, and spiritual 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 it *.
1 John viii. 31, 32. 36.
188 NEED OF ADDITIONAL TEACHERS.
The love of God should dwell in his heart, and the
ruling principle of his life should enable him to ' en-
dure hardness as a good soldier of Christ/ and to present
himself ' a living sacrifice, 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 matter whether they be born
Episcopalians, Moravians, or Wesleyans), and after
sufficient 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, I cannot yet decide. If they be greedy
of * filthy lucre,' they will not answer here, nor any
where else. In this place it will not take much to
support a man, if he will attend to his garden.
Land costs nothing. It is readily given to any
extent that may be required ; and a labourer may be
obtained at about 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.
KING JELLORAM FERNANDEZ. 189
" 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
affords 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
position 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 accom-
modation 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 accom-
pany me.
" My lord, the opportunity by which this letter
goes to Sierra Leone has offered 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 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 mis-
190 RETURN OF ILLNESS.
sion. His convalescence, however, was but brief, as
the following extract will show :
" John Duport was taken sick on Monday, the
4th; I, on Wednesday, the 6th. He 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 fellow, by my side, with a galloping pulse,
which, however, 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, continue 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, tem-
perance, moderate exercise, and a strict eye on the
enemy, are absolutely necessary, under God's bless-
ing, 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
apartment, and return to his school. His account of
himself proceeds in the following words :
"Now for our school. It numbers twenty-four,
and improves very much. The little creatures are
most of them dwelling in the village. They are up
right early every morning, and in school by eight
JOURNAL CONTINUED. 191
o'clock, frequently before, 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, him-
self a pupil, who seems to take great pleasure in
teaching the junior classes. Every thing at present
promises well. Even our own weak, sickly condition
is not unfavourable, 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 climate at once, than be
attacked by them months hence. ' The sooner the
better,' is his saying 2 .
" Sierra Leone is the nearest point of stopping to
the Rio Pongas for the African steamer, and an
opportunity 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
letters 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. No small craft can
live ; and as to our little boats, it would be madness
to attempt crossing the bar, and putting out to sea
1 This is not the most tempestuous, but the most unhealthy season
of the year. The healthy is the rainy season.
192 DUPORT SENT TO SIERRA LEONE.
in one of them. I 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 boat-
men.
" 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 lan-
guage, the subject of the sermon.
"March llth. Your letter of December 21st I
had the pleasure of receiving on Sunday, the 9th
instant, after first Service. It found me in bed,
where I had been confined since Monday, the 3rd,
for my imprudence 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 improved 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 enabled to do as well as to suffer the
Divine will."
Supposing that Duport's health would be benefited
by a little change, Mr. Leacock sent him to Sierra
Leone at the beginning of his Easter vacation, viz.
DTTPORT SENT TO SIERRA LEONE. 193
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 carpenters' work should be done during the
rainy season, and so be in readiness when wanted in
the next dry season. He knew that it would 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 carpenter
whom he could obtain without 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 appropriated for my garden, and I
instructed the people how to lay it out and prepare
it for corn, potatoes, yams, beans, &c. : valuable
' flowers' here to me, because not found in any part
of the country. They 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 left me
some days ago, and according to my old friend,
not to return again. I am, of course, weak, and a
little exercise shakes my knees.
"As soon as I had an opportunity I called Mr.
Wilkinson, and read your letter to him. He heard
o
194 WILKINSON'S INTENTIONS.
me very quietly through, and then said, in sub-
stance, ' The Bishop desires 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 salva-
tion. He 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. 5
" ' 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 I have stated nothing but truth, will you en-
dorse what you have now spoken?' He laughed,
and said, ' Certainly ; you write it down, and I will
put my name on it.' So, my lord, here is the pro-
mise ; you have it as I received it : and you have as
much security for the performance of it as /. It is
the word of an African, and we shall see whether
the hope which it inspires 'maketh ashamed' or not.
APPLICATIONS FOR BAPTISM. 195
I have mentioned all, from my first conversation
with the Governor on the subject of our mission, in
order to encourage you to persevere 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. More-
over, by stating these circumstances, it will convince
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
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
prosperity of the work, and it will not fail, though
the execution of it be committed to the hands of
your weak and unworthy servant."
In a letter to me, dated March 14th, 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 in-
quirers. 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
o 2
196 RESEMBLANCES TO BARBADOS.
future state, but lie could not be persuaded to com-
mence 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. No 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
afforded 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 resemblance
between the natives here and the Africans in Bar-
bados, or what I remember of them at the time of
their importation, and subsequently to the termina-
tion of slavery; and even now their amusements,
musical instruments, &c., are not without analogy.
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 flourishing village, on the
Bangalong river, called Liverpool, and there is an
impression on my mind that Liverpool took the lead
in supplying Barbados with slaves. The musical in-
strument used to this day by the negroes in Bar-
bados, called the 'pump/ is also used here. The
singing of the people here is like the singing of the
RESEMBLANCES TO BARBADOS. 197
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 ; I have entered it, and
I am cordially welcomed 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 cha-
racter, perhaps without any solid foundation, and
that might be injurious to us just in the commence-
ment 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.
We intend soon to fit up our schoolroom so as to
afford ample accommodation, where they will be im-
mediately under the eye of the teacher night and
day. Mr. Wilkinson 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 the
198 CONVERSATION WITH MARTHA.
falsehood 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, respect-
ing the missionary. The former said to the chief,
"Now you have got the book 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 persua-
sion, 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 teachers are to be preferred. Not-
withstanding, I trust the leaven is at work. If some
understand, others will learn from them. My hope,
under 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
WITCHCRAFT. 199
that, ignorant and heathenish, as the people generally
are, there are some who are not wholly destitute of
hitman 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
African countries. Here it is held by many in the
greatest 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 alli-
gators, 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 restrained 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 them remarked, 'The white man has now
come to our country, and my master taught me in
my youth that when he comes, fourteen years after-
wards the leopard shall lie down with the kid'
" Mr. "Wilkinson said, ' I believe that happy
200 CONVERSATION WITH MARTHA.
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 difficulty.
" 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 following 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.'
"'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.'
" ' 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,
CONVERSATION WITH MARTHA. 201
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 com-
mands ? Have you never left undone what He re-
quires you to do?' 'I don't know what He com-
mands. I never heard that He had given any com-
mands ; but I have always endeavoured to do what I
thought was right.'
" ' Well now,' I said, * here is one of His com-
mands (1st Commandment) and here is another (4th
Commandment), and here another (10th Command-
ment), each explained. Have you never broken
these commandments ? (No answer.) All these
commandments proceed from His goodness, and if
you have broken them, how can you trust in Him ?
Have you not abused His goodness, and been un-
grateful for all He has done for you? The trans-
gression 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 violate 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 Justifier of poor sinners.
When she heard that ' God so loved the world that
202 CONVERSATION WITH MARTHA.
He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever be-
lieveth in Him should not perish, but have everlast-
ing 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 inex-
pressible things. 'Martha, will you accept Jesus
Christ as your Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctifica-
tion, and Redemption, 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,' spi-
ritual 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 Saviour ? '
' yes, very willing.' ' Then remember His com-
mand to the disciples, 'Go, preach the Gospel to
every creature : He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved.' You say you believe, are you will-
ing to be baptized ?' ' O yes, I am willing.' '
RETURN OF DUPORT. 203
" 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
present weak state, and but for his timely presence, I
should be compelled to leave the school to work itself.
He is looking well, though he had a week's severe
attack of fever in Sierra Leone. He left the day
after the steamer's arrival, and, to my great joy,
brought your two right welcome letters, accompanied
by fourteen others, partly from England, partly from
the West Indies, and partly from the United States.
I received 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 labours are acceptable to His dear servants. Such
acceptance 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 generous spirit you evince in providing suitable
lodging-accommodation for your missionaries. De-
pend upon it, my lord, I will not abuse it ; I seek
204 DEATH OF KENNYBACK ALT.
not luxuries ; I will do no more than what will con-
tribute 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 expenditure of the means
committed to me by yourself and other members of
our association.
" Such a house as Dr. Bradshaw of Sierra Leone
recommends ', cannot be built in the 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 mis-
sionary want marble and cedar, we don't want him.
Let him be where he is. I trust, if Satan does not
get in and interrupt our work, to erect what build-
ings 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 ' ignorant 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 All 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
1 Seepage 112.
NEIGHBOURING CHIEFS. 205
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
very considerable property. She has a respectable
family. Her eldest son, Styles Lightburn, 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.
206 AGRICULTURE.
" Agriculture is not much attended to. The 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
cultivation of cotton and sugar is almost out of the
question. It requires too much labour for a people
who love to lounge in an old hammock all day.
They are 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 Mr. 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.
ANIMALS. 207
" 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
j\Iartha's willingness to be a Christian will repay
her for all her exertions. Say, in answer to her in-
quiries, there is not a horse in all the Pongas coun-
try, 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 when the tiger-cat or
the leopard approaches, the attacks of which are very
stealthy, and generally in the dark and rainy nights.
The tiger-cat robs us 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 moment 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."
208 KING KATTY'S ASSURANCE.
CHAPTER XIII.
Assurance of King Katty. Miseries of the People. Visit from Mr.
Columbini de Wasky. Application from Cassini. Excursion to the
Bangalong River. Domingia. Sangha. Farrangeah. Increase of
the Congregation under Duport. Journal continued. Relapse of
Mr. Leacock. He visits Sierra Leone, and is ordered to return to
England. He determines to remain at his Post.
THE last chapter contained Mr. Leacock's journal
down to Tuesday, the 22nd of April, addressed to
the Bishop of Barbados. On the following day he
commenced a letter to me, which I give almost
entire.
" My dear Caswall,
"I received yesterday your letters for January,
February, and March. My assistant I had sent to
Sierra Leone on the 18th of March to get some
lumber, and he returned yesterday, bringing with
him letters from November to March, sixteen in
number, and a large package of newspapers, all for
the last three months.
"Your inquiries respecting Kennyback Ali and
KING KATTY'S ASSURANCE. 209
Katty, have been answered in some of my letters.
The former died a few weeks ago, and the latter
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 favour-
able 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 I
have.
p
210 MISERIES OF THE PEOPLE.
"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 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 around 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 religious instruction for themselves and their
children. Cassini is near the river Componee, which
is between the Rio Nunez and the Rio Grande. The
people are very poor. They have no money, but
they can supply a missionary with fish, rice, and
plantains. They 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 his 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 immediately; but we have no
accommodation for them. We shall not be ready
COLUMBIXI DE WASKY. 211
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 hour of prayer
(they spoke English a little) to go with us to the
Piazza, where we meet for worship. The Roman
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, 7. 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 lie is a Greek. I
could 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 addi-
tional glory to Him ? Oh, then, my dear Caswall,
p 2
212 EXCURSION TO THE BANGALOXG.
apply to your Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel 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 the
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."
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, or sufficiently pre-
pared to encounter the sun and damp dews. Now,
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
DOMINGIA. 213
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 ascended the Fattalah to Domingia, where they
arrived at ten o'clock at night. Not being able to
land, they slept on board of an American schooner
which lay off the town, and next day (Charles Wil-
kinson 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 they were received very cordially
by Mr. Faber, the semi- American already mentioned,
who entertained them with great hospitality. Mr.
Leacock was compelled to remain quiet the rest of
the day and the whole of the following, in conse-
quence of weakness and a slight attack of fever, but
on the following day, which was Holy Thursday,
May 1st, being greatly refreshed, he was enabled to
proceed with Mr. Wilkinson on his journey. They
ascended to the source of the Bangalong, where they
landed at Farrangeah, the residence of Mrs. Light-
burn, 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
214 SANGHA AND FARRANGEAH.
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 Euro-
pean 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. Faber
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
INSTRUCTION OF SLAVES. 215
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, fearing God.' When they understand our
views, I think we shall meet with no more opposi-
tion in the country generally than we do in Fal-
langia.
" I have learned more of the country by my visit
to the Bangalong river, than I had any 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, pro-
perly so called, is not navigable more than fifteen
miles from its junction with the Fattalah, and be-
yond this is nothing but a shallow and rocky brook.
The Bangalong is not navigable more than six miles ;
but the Fattalah has its source in the Fullah country,
and flows for a distance of more than a hundred and
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 four, and beyond
which is considerable depth of water (as I am in-
formed) for some distance. The Bangalong and
Pongas rivers then are only branches of the Fat-
talah, 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
216 INCREASE OF THE CONGREGATION.
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, he 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 what is said.' Duport then had a conver-
sation with our laundress, who is daughter-in-law of
old Martha, mentioned in my last letter, and a con-
stant attendant at the public service. He asked her
if she understood what was preached on the Sabbath.
She said, * No, I do not understand much.' He in-
quired of her (as I had of the mother) if she was a
sinner, or if she knew any thing of sin. She an-
swered, * No : I have never done any thing wrong.'
He then went through the commandments, explain-
ing them, and she said she had never broken any but
ihe 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 con-
JOURNAL CONTINUED. 217
gregation, an old man, said, ' I like this, I can under-
stand this, and would come to hear it every day. As
to Mohammed, I never had any thing to do with Mm,
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 hold of their
understanding. I shall adopt it, and use it when-
ever I can get an interpreter.
" May 9th. Mr. Faber from Sangha visited our
school yesterday. He is here to-day, and will pro-
bably remain till Monday. He is much pleased with
the order and improvement of the children, and pro-
mises 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.
" I have stated circumstances just as they oc-
curred ; but if I 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.
218 RELAPSE OF MR. LEACOCK.
But there is One who knows the simplicity of my
intentions, and the caution which I have used to
avoid every thing like exaggeration or embellish-
ment. I have read my letters both to Duport and
Mr. Wilkinson, and they can see nothing to con-
demn ; 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 circum-
stances therein stated have occurred. Surely if I 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. Soon after his return
from the Bangalong, distressing symptoms appeared,
and he again became unfit 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 Sierra
Leone, in search of medical aid, and arrived at the
house of Mr. Pocock, on the 23rd 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, which was to sail in a few hours ; but he
felt himself unable to endure the voyage in her. She
HE VISITS SIERRA LEONE. 219
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 relaxa-
tion of the system, from which a person so far ad-
vanced in years would with difficulty recover. The
worthy doctor also signed the following certificate,
dated at Sierra Leone, June 7th :
" I certify that I have been attending the Rev.
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
severe 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 here-
tofore, that he should return to England by the first
Packet for the preservation of his life.
" ROBERT BRADSHAW,
Colonial Surgeon."
" I am now," wrote 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-
A RETURN TO ENGLAND ORDERED.
quence of the winds and rains which prevail at this
season. I have requested the 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 you, my lord, I would
not hesitate about returning to Fallangia immedi-
ately ; 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
Barbados 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 resi-
dence 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 the
command of a boat. Since I have been here I have
been told that all missionaries, even from the Gal-
linas (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
A RETURN TO ENGLAND ORDERED. 221
duty of the mission, nor indeed to any regular duty
any where. The labours of a West Indian curacy I
am now entirely unfit for, and I would not take or
keep a cure which I 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 December 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 lOtb, 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 there-
fore 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.
222 DETERMINATION TO REMAIN IN AFRICA.
" I am in Sierra Leone, tinder the medical aid of
Dr. Bradshaw. He says, I am suffering from no-
thing but debility ; but, ! this weakness, this
shortness of breath, trembling of knees, and cough,
are almost as distressing as fever. He positively
forbids my returning to my duties till the rainy
season has passed by, and wishes me to proceed at
once to England. This, 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."
FRIENDS DESIRE HIS ESCAPE. 223
CHAPTER XIY.
Mr. Leacock's Friends desire him to escape from Africa. Letters to
that Effect from Mr. Wilkinson, from the Author, and from the
Bishop of Barbados. He appears to recover. His Plans for build-
ing. Letter to a Young Person.
THE sad intelligence of Mr. Leacock's continued
illness found its way, in due time, to his friends in
Fallangia, 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 bringing 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 down
and wrote to Mr. Leacock the following sensible and
encouraging epistle :
" Fallangia, Rio Pongas,
June 26th, 1856.
" My dear Friend, Brother in the Lord,
"I have received your letter respecting the state
224 LETTER FROM WILKINSON.
of your health. I would advise you to go entirely
by the doctor's directions : if he advises you to go
off for 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. William 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 Guy ay 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 can-
not 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) " RICHARD WILKINSON."
The intelligence reached England early in July,
LETTER FROM THE AUTHOR.
and I wrote to my friend in the following words by
the return of the packet :
" My dear friend Leacoek,
"Your letter of June 10 from Sierra Leone
reached me early in the month, and I forwarded
your letter to the Bishop of Barbados by the West
India packet of this week, together with Dr. Brad-
shaw's official certificate 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. But if you continue weak,
I must implore you to return at once to England.
Here you may recruit, and may possibly be able to
return to the Pongas in January to complete your
buildings. Besides this, you may awaken a great
interest in your mission, and even obtain reinforce-
ments of fellow-labourers. Could you have an op-
portunity 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 unfitted for farther work
in Africa, you will of course 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 purposes of your life. Even in this neighbour-
hood there are people whose spiritual condition is not
Q
226 FROM THE BISHOP OF BARBADOS.
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 long in a
storehouse, I am not in a hurry to send off the
things which you desired me to get for you. As the
packages 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 expecta-
tions 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 follow-
ing prompt reply :
" Barbados, Aug. 9, 1856.
" My dear Mr. Leacock,
" I am not surprised, but very much grieved, at
the effect which 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
FROM THE BISHOP OF BARBADOS. 227
the work in opening the way, and laying the foun-
dation, which is more than we contemplated when
we talked of a mission of inquiry. Even should yon
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 Pongas, but merely to visit it, when
necessary, from Sierra Leone.
" There will be numbers (myself for one) who will
be glad enough to see you back again in Barbados,
where I hope you may find yourself again strong
and fit for work, and where your information and
advice would be of the first importance in conduct-
ing 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
carry on what you have so nobly begun a younger
man, and perhaps of African descent.
" I propose to call a meeting of the Mission 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 offer of service.
"Your interesting letter of the 7th of May,
giving the account of the Bangalong river, has been
published in the ' Barbadian.'
"The last I have not ventured to publish yet.
Something of the kind may be done after the meet-
ing of the Board.
Q2
228 APPARENT RECOVERY.
" How far is the Bishop of Sierra Leone disposed
to ordain Mr. Duport ? and how near is the latter to
a state of preparedness for ordination ?
" I am going now to write 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 Christ preserve you,
and restore you to health, and may He guide and
bless us all in our efforts for the furtherance of His
Gospel in "Western Africa.
" Believe me always
" Very 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 an-
other month to be quite well. Speaking of his mis-
sion, 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 February or March, 1857. There is
very little intermission to the rain during this
season. "When it commences after three or four
days' cessation, it comes down at times like a tor-
PLANS FOR BUILDING.
rent. A few nights ago, such was its force that it
seemed as if a water-spout had broken over our
house. Now 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 cha-
racter 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 walls are cured, were they
to be exposed to one or two heavy rains, they would
melt to the very foundation. This answers a ques-
tion 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."
1 See the engraving at page 149.
230 LETTER TO A YOUNG PERSON.
About the same time he wrote the following letter
to my son, a youth of seventeen :
" My dear Robert,
" 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.
The doctor says that the fever had quite left me
before I left the Pongas, and that my present illness
arises from debility only, which he should not much
regard in a person twenty, or even ten, years
younger; but that when one has passed the meri-
dian 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 convales-
cent, and he says, had I remained 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
LETTER TO A YOUNG PERSON. , 231
extent my expectations respecting 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 effec-
tually 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
England 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 grati-
tude for past hospitality; but my increasing in-
firmities remind me that a quiet and retired home
befits me more than any place under heaven.
" Your account of yourself is very interesting, and
I trust, under God's blessing, you will continue to
improve in wisdom and knowledge above all, in
that wisdom and knowledge which 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 be
232 LETTER TO A YOUNG PERSON.
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 2 .
"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 spiritually, 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 your 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 know-
ledge that Jesus Christ is your wisdom, righteous-
ness, sanctification, and redemption. Depend upon
it, this ' cometh not of blood, nor of the will of the
flesh, nor of the will of man,' but from God only.
Speculative knowledge is one thing, which 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 Jesus Christ alone, God's Holy Spirit alone
1 Cor. i. 19-31.
LETTER TO A YOTJNG PERSON. 233
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 we should be
called the children of God.' Then you will know
experimentally what you now know speculatively,
why ' the world knoweth us not V
" With affectionate remembrances to your father,
mother, and sisters, believe me, my dear Robert,
" Yours sincerely,
H. J. LEAG<OCK."
8 1 Johniii. 12.
234 PROGRESS OF THE MISSION.
CHAPTER XY.
Satisfactory Progress of the Mission under Duport. Report sent by
Duport to Mr. Leacock. Mr. Leacock's Remarks upon it. Favour-
able 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 which appears surprising. He sent to Mr.
Leacock the following account of his proceedings,
which is too interesting to admit of much abridg-
ment, and which affords a curious insight into the
habits and opinions prevalent in an African village.
It appears 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 dis-
charge some of the functions of an ordained mis-
sionary. It may be well to add in this place that
Mr. Duport was ultimately admitted to Holy Orders
on the 12th of October.
DUPORT'S REPORT. 235
No. 1.
"Fallangia, June 9th, 1856.
" Rev. and dear Sir,
" I hope and trust that these few lines may meet
your 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 Satur-
day, 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
increased. 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
domestics, who are afraid to show themselves 1 . 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 attendants. This is like Andrew bring-
ing his brother Peter to come and see the promised
1 Probably from the want of clothing.
236 DUPORT'S REPORT.
Messiah. Surely the word is making its way by the
blessing of God.
" On Sunday, the 25th, old Bentra told me in broken
English (for he knows a few English words), ' Me
love what me now hear, and me pray God open me
heart to believe what me hear, and me country-
men.' I told him that if he prayed from his heart,
through Christ, God will surely 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 unroofed 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. Wil-
kinson 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.
DUPORT'S REPORT. 237
I accepted the offer in order to gain information.
When we reached the place, the Mohammedans,
who, 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, after which the animal was slain and quar-
tered to be distributed among all the people ; but all
who attend our meetings refused to touch or have
any thing to do with it. On their sending a portion
to John Delone, 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 missionaries, 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. I have been following up the
same discourse, exhibiting the power of Christ by his
miracles ; 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,
238 DTTPORT'S REPORT.
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 inform 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, being anxious to return, was desirous
to disclose the melancholy event to Mammy Sue,
but was prevented doing so by 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 consequence would be, and I was told the
following. According 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 toge-
ther in a moment of time, and would keep a loud and
very doleful noise all night and the next day 2 . 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
2 "And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and
all 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.
DTJPORT'S REPORT. 239
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 speak-
ing 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 parti-
cularly. I then urged upon all present the necessity
of being the children of God, and from that event I
preached unto 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 all other afilictions which
God may be pleased to inflict on her with Christian
fortitude.
" On Wednesday, the 4th, we had a very gloomy
morning, and during the day lightnings and thun-
derings 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.
240 DUPORT'S REPORT.
" Thursday, the 5th. Wherever you turn you hear
the report of guns. It is the Mohammedans' Christ-
mas. Last month was the month of their fasting, 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 re-
ports 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 3 . Those of our people
who were present, drew back when they saw me.
The procession remained at the gate a long time,
those at the head continually watching me, as if
to say, 'Why do you 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 meeting 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 pre-
parations, and they would disturb us.' I told him to
3 " Now his elder son was in the field : and as he came and drew
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.
DUPORT'S REPORT. 241
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 neigh-
bouring villages 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 after-
wards. 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 left, and each returned to his own
home, wondering how I came to know their secret in-
tentions. 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 obligation we are under to serve
God on the Sabbath,
" Sunday, the 8th. There were present both at morn-
* Micah ii. 10.
R
242 DUPORT'S REPORT.
ing 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 Lazarus 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 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. Very similar confessions were made by Eliza,
Maria, and Mammy Sue. The latter said that there
are a great many in the house where she resides, but
they are not hers, they belong to Joanna, who is not
here. At night I continued the subject. On Mon-
day morning 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 pos-
session. 'Not unto us, O 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
DUPORT'S REPORT. 243
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 young
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 domestic 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, I 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
creatures, unable to build up myself because of my
manifold 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 Christian religion ? But knowing that
I am not acting by my own power nor by my own
B 2
244 DTJPORT'S REPORT.
might, I take courage and go on my way rejoic-
ing, because I have a High Priest who can be
touched with the feelings of our infirmities 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. DUPORT."
No. 2.
" Fallangia, June 17, 1856.
" Rev. 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 llth, John
Delone brought me twelve greegrees, which he said
belonged to a friend and himself ; he further said that
he had paid a great deal to the Mohammedans for his,
and therefore he believed that his could protect him.
DUPORT'S REPORT. 245
I pointed out his error to him as far as I was ahle,
and he then destroyed his also. To-day Charles
Wilkinson and Gomez visited the school, and the
present chief of Tintima with his attendants. They
remained for about two hours, and then the Tintima
folks departed, 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 thunderings 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' missionaries remained during the
whole service. He comes from the next town, which
belongs to that Mohammedan chief with whom you
had some conversation not long ago. He asked to be
informed what time the evening service would com-
mence, 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 de-
sire to learn. After prayer at night I was surprised
to see old Bentra stop the people as they were re-
tiring, 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 us ; that
246 DTJPORT'S REPORT.
they must not be enticed by the Mohammedans to
stay away from coming to hear what God had sent
to them, and that the Mohammedans are only deceiv-
ing 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 understand
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 Eng-
lish; that he is an old man, yet he is trying to
learn to speak English, and many young people
laugh 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. He 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-
DUPORT'S REPORT. 247
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 ir* 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 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 learning the A, B, C ; Mammy Sue has sur-
passed all as yet. She is in words of three letters.
I teach her myself every night after prayers. All
the boys are teachers ; each of them having a cer-
tain 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, Richard, 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 Wil-
kinson has. told me that he has a plenty of nails,
which he can let you have at 4d. 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
248 DUPORT'S REPORT.
him to speak to his father about it, and he has pro-
mised 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 enable 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."
No. 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 things which they see, and their
answering, he addressed 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 ser-
vices profound silence prevailed, and a great earnest-
ness seemed to beam in the countenances of the audi-
DUPORT'S REPORT. 249
ence. 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 no\v 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
repeat the psalms in the Prayer Book, which they
have learned or are learning, then the Ten Com-
mandments and the Creed, with its questions and
answers given in the Church Catechism. Then I ex-
amine each child from my vocabulary of words, in
Soosoo and English. 2nd. Reading and spelling,
counting, weights and measures, numeration and the
multiplication table up to five times ; then arith-
metic : I use mangoes and the fingers to give them
some idea of addition. Thomas is in multiplication
by 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. Reading and spell-
ing, writing and dictation ; the map of the Holy
Land and the many places in it which occur in the
New Testament ; the distinction between the globe
and the map ; the distribution of land and water,
and the effects produced by the rotation of the earth
250 DTTPORT'S REPORT.
on its own axis. 5th. Evening hymn and other
psalms ; then evening prayer.
"I have translated the Lord's Prayer into the
Soosoo, corrected by Mr. Wilkinson ; and I begin to
teach it to the children to-day. I open the Sun-
day 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 occur in the Prayer
Book ; with the latter 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
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
Sunday, 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 a 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
MR. LEACOCK'S REMARKS. 251
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 by Mr. LeacockJ]
" 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 boatman called for the
letter, 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 suffer that, or any thing else, which
may come upon him."
Speaking of the chief who was angry with the
sermon 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
252 OPINION OF THE BISHOP.
things are possible/ The bearer of this letter to
me gives a fearful account of his perils by sea, and
says that he would not for any consideration venture
to return to Fallangia during 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 instrument of exten-
sive usefulness to that interesting people.
" I remain,
"Yours faithfully,
" J. W. SIERRA LEONE/'
THE LORD'S PRAYER IN SOOSOO, TRANSLATED BY
MR. DUPORT.
A = AH.
Woung Fafa, Makangua arreyanna, Ekele Seneyankee.
Our Father, that is there in heaven, Thy name hallowed be.
Kkha yamana fa. Esagwananingama donu, anakhena arreyanna.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Mookookeeto mokokee loco Ioc5 tarmera Annoo emookoo younoobee
Give us to-day our daily bread and our trespasses
THE LORD'S PRAYER IN soosoo. 253
raffaree, mookoofang caffaree mookooloraba. Noo enama mookoora-
forgive, as we forgive our neighbours, and lead us not
soo fakobee Emookooramene lakobee: Etanangba yamanara
into temptation, deliver us Jrom evil; For thine the kingdom,
saimbara annoo daraja Abada annoo abada. Amena.
the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
254 IMPROVEMENT IN HEALTH.
CHAPTER XYI.
Continued Improvement in Mr. Leacock's Health. Letter to his
Son. Letters to the Bishop of Barbados. Letter to the Author.
Mohammedan Opposition. Assistance from Governor Hill. Con-
test between Christ and Mohammed. Last Letters of Mr. Leacock.
THE report of the proceedings of his assistant in
Fallangia relieved Mr. Leacock of a load of care,
and encouraged 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
looked forward with delight to his return to the
Pongas country, and to a renewal of his truly apos-
tolic 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
LETTER TO HIS SON. 255
that I am not devoured by sharks or savages, nor
consumed by burning fever yet I cannot forbear
dropping a line to you to comfort you with the as-
surance that God has hitherto heard your prayers for
the preservation of my 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 in-
terested in my work. Except my friend Mr. Wilkin-
son, 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 sensation of dampness during wet
weather, and coolness during the hot season. As to
my bed-room, it is always 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 morn-
ing, 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
November. I came hither for the advantage of
medical aid and good nourishing food. From the
24th of December to the 23rd of May intermittent
256 LETTER TO HIS SON.
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 interdict another. So here I
am to be till November.
" I received letters from you both by the June 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 labours, 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 faithful 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 17th/ the day on which you
left England for the West Indies. I had written by
LETTER TO THE BISHOP OF BARBADOS. 257
the May steamer, and enclosed that letter to Dr.
Caswall, 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 communi-
cate respecting the mission from my own personal
knowledge, being far away from it; nor any thing
concerning myself, save and except that my health
is greatly improved, and that, if wind and sea per-
mitted, I would return immediately to my duties.
The accompanying report, however [see the previous
chapter], will give you a correct 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 committee 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 naturally expect, as well as desire, to know
what we were about. I wished 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, containing
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
258 LETTER TO THE BISHOP OF BARBADOS.
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
effects of our ministry which I never expected to
see, so stupid and besotted have the people in general
appeared. I believe that, under God, all may be
attributed to the convictions of two men, Bentra
and John Delone, who have great influence in the
village, and who have been long under our instruc-
tion. The cause of the Mohammedans' opposition is
obvious : ' their craft is in danger of being set at
nought.' Their chief means of support is making
and selling to the heathens charms or amulets, which
they call 'greegrees/ Each greegree consists of a
few words of the Koran, written in Arabic, and en-
closed 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,
notwithstanding, he receives the deadly wound from
the adversary's sabre or unerring bullet, the Moham-
medan's cry is, ' His time is come.' The preserva-
tion 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 ap-
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 un-
equivocal terms, I dare say that some of them come
LETTER TO THE BISHOP OF BARBADOS. 259
over to us in order to save their money. This may
not be a correct judgment, but the people are cer-
tainly 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 know 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 enquiring 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
21. 2s.
"The clamour of the Mohammedans does not
trouble me. I am glad of it; for if their in-
fluence on the poor superstitious heathen were not
yielding, 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.
Wilkinson 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
s 2
260 LETTER TO THE BISHOP OF BARBADOS.
nominated and received as an honorary member of the
association.
"26th. 1; 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 30s. a
month for the first quarter ; and if I approve of him,
21. per month for subsequent services. When he has
experience enough to take charge of a school, I shall
have to add 10s. 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,
" H. J. LEACOCK."
"Aug. 5th. I have just been informed by a
Member of council, that the governor has appro-
priated 401. per annum out of money placed by the
council at his disposal, for the use of our mission,
LETTER TO THE AUTHOR. 26 L
subject of course to the approval or otherwise of the
Secretary of State. Perhaps a line from your lord-
ship to the Secretary will secure, not only a confirma-
tion, but an extension of the grant, which might
easily be effected by withdrawing from false, treach-
erous, horrid chiefs, the many hundred pounds (I
believe* 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 30/. 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 difficulty 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
country as led me to believe that an outbreak would
somehow and somewhere soon take place. The oppor-
tunity only was wanted to enable the Mohamme-
dans to throw off the mask. The work is begun, and
262 CONTEST BETWEEN CHRIST AND MOHAMMED.
I know not where it is to end. A diversion in our
favour 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
November.
"This is entirely a contest between Christ and
Mohammed, and we know, whatever the consequences
may be, who will finally prevail. With conse-
quences 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
LETTER TO HIS SOX. 263
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 midsummer 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
sometimes for a week with scarce any intermission.
Tornadoes occur chiefly in May, September and
October, but they have not the power of a West
Indian hurricane. They up-root trees, and strip off
the covering of thatched houses. Seldom do they
leave greater traces of their visits.
" Now 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
Fallangia would have had on my emaciated state of
health, had I remained in the Pongas country.
During all my sickness, except indeed when pros-
trated by fever, and unable to sit up, I preached
every Sabbath, and had an evening service in my
room, which was generally crowded. The eyes of
the heathen soon became opened to the danger of
their state, and to the deceptions practised upon
them by the Mohammedans. These deluded crea-
tures had been making great gain of them by in-
ducing them to purchase what they call ' greegrees '
264 LETTER TO HIS SON.
or amulets, which they made them believe would
preserve them from all injuries and sickness, and
from every possible evil, even death. The poor hea-
then are so stupid, so besotted, as to believe the fol-
lowers 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 declared open war against the Bible.
The heathen in Fallangia have burned their gree-
grees, 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 Sun-
day school chiefly by adults. Thus our mission may
be said to prosper. The stillness of spiritual death
is broken, and although the sword is not yet actually
LETTER TO THE BISHOP OF BARBADOS. 265
unsheathed, the false peace which prevailed in Fal-
langia 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 / would that I were
there. It is, however, impossible that I can leave
this place before November.
" I am delighted to hear that our American bre-
thren in the western 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 the 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 five 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
266 ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNOR.
Southampton till next month. Duport writes en-
couragingly, 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 mar-
vellous in my eyes.' I trust that many will rise up
in that benighted country to call Him blessed. All
this is, I believe, in answer to prayer. The Father
hath said to the Son, ' Ask of me, and I shall give
thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the utter-
most 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 sal-
vation of the poor heathen ? If faith and prayer
were in greater exercise, soon would the wilder-
ness 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 encour-
agement to hope for something better next year.
The governor will endorse my draught on the colo-
nial treasury immediately for 30/. ; and he hopes to
help me to a greater extent next year, but he
is very cautious ; and so precarious and unsettled
ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNOR. 267
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. LEACOCK."
268 ARTICLES SENT FROM ENGLAND.
CHAPTER XVII.
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 " Bar-
badian." Concluding Letter from Mr. Duport. Funeral Anthem.
THE time of year had arrived at which Mr. Lea-
cock had desired the 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 intrepid servant of God was already beyond
all earthly wants. The following goods were shipped
on board the "Ida," a fine screw steamer, on the
15th of September.
A corn-mill, with fly-wheel.
Three pieces of grey Indian baft, purchased with
the contributions of the Tennessee slaves.
Nine other pieces of baft.
Parcel containing tape, cotton, buttons, needles,
thread, scissors, &c.
SHIPWRECK OF THE " IDA." 269
Parcel of Scripture prints.
Parcel of light clothing for negroes.
Ninety-eight articles of similar clothing, made up
by ladies in Figheldean and the neighbouring
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
circumstances 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
London on the 7th of October, with the view of re-
covering the insurance and re-purchasing the arti-
270 DEATH OF MR. LEACOCK.
cles, without loss of time. While engaged upon this
business, I received the following letter from the
Rev. Mr. Pocock of Sierra Leone.
"Freetown, Sierra Leone, Sept. 18, 1856.
" My dear Mr. Caswall,
" It is my 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,
ancl 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 15th of August he was taken ill and com-
plained of his cough, and in a day or two diarrho3a
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 per-
fectly 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. Dr. 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
MR. POCOCK'S LETTER. 271
privilege 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 Rev. ii. 12 to 17. On Thursday he
was poorly, but walked out with me, and on Thurs-
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 communications with the Pongas. I hope he
will soon come down, and then our bishop will think
about ordaining him. His mission is in a very pros-
perous condition, and may the Lord of the harvest
for Christ's sake raise up faithful men to labour in
His harvest.
272 LETTER FROM MR. DIIPORT.
"Accept, my dear sir, of my kind Christian re-
gards, and believe me to remain, yours very truly,
" FRANCIS 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
dreadfully afflicted by the intelligence, he was sup-
ported by the hand of God, and wrote to me the fol
lowing letter.
"Fallangia, Sept. 10.
" Reverend and dear Sir,
" 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 voyage 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.
LAMENTATIONS AT FALLANGIA. 273
"This man of God braved the acclimating fever,
and during that period of sufferings, great as they
were, he still cast a glance at those of his unworthy
assistant, 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 stir up friends for us. I have not such influence
as my reverend father in God had, but I know his
desires, 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 afternoon I lectured on, 'In my
Father's house are many mansions,' &c., a portion of
Scripture which was a favourite 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,
T
274 SORROW IN SIERRA LEONE.
contained the following just tribute to his me-
mory :
" 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 6onsolation to distant friends to be in-
formed, that such has been the sensation in this city,
created by the death of that most worthy and faith-
ful servant of God, the Rev. H. J. Leacock, that we
have not met with one individual capable of com-
prehending the sore bereavement the infant mission,
of which he was the father, has been called to sus-
tain, who does not deeply sympathize with them in
the unexpected and deplorable removal of ' a burn-
ing and a shining light' from this dark and be-
nighted land.
" The late Rev. Mr. Leacock, accompanied by his very
valuable assistant, Mr. Duport, arrived in this colony
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 Rio Pongas appeared to present the
most distressing features of spiritual destitution, and
to offer an extensive and important field for mis-
sionary exertion. Although the difficulties in en-
countering a gross superstition in one of its strong-
holds, amidst the swamps and morasses of a very
pestilential river, trying to most constitutions, and
SORROW IN SIERRA LEONE. 275
particularly so to that of an old man, amongst a
people strongly tinctured with an undying relish
for the debasing slave trade, sunk deep 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 success-
ful 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 recovery as to have contemplated an early
return to the Pongas. ' Man proposes, but God dis-
poses.' Mr. Leacock was again prostrated, and after
a few days of suffering from fever and diarrhoea, on
the 20th instant 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 sympathy in their sore bereavement.
" Few of those whose satisfaction it was to listen
to the rev. gentleman's first address to a public
assembly in this colony, on the subject of his visit to
T 2
276 THE SAD NEWS REACHES NEW YORK.
Africa, will have forgotten the fervid spirit of devo-
tion 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
In seas of heavenly rest,
And not a wave of trouble roll
Across the peaceful breast.' "
The intelligence soon reached New York, and the
" Church Journal " announced to the American
Church that another martyr for Africa had entered
into Paradise. Dr. Coit, writing to me from Troy,
LETTER FROM THE BISHOP OF SIERRA LEONE. 277
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 for hope and 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,
" Very 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
communicate 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 V is a lesson hard to be fully
acquired.
" Your zealous and truly devoted servant, the
Rev. 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
1 Ps, xlvi. 10.
278 LETTER FROM THE BISHOP OF SIERRA LEONE.
laid aside by a severe fever, and therefore could not
administer to his necessities. Our excellent and
truly worthy friend, the Rev. F. Pocock (the
assistant colonial 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 reluctant, 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 pros-
pect 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 degree 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
LETTER FROM THE BISHOP OF SIERRA LEOXE. 279
the next dry season, immediately after my return
from the Yoruba country. I purpose going there by
the November mail ; probably I shall be absent from
the colony three months. I hope to gain important
information respecting the different tribes between
Cape Coast Castle and Lagos, and I shall have sin-
cere 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
diarrhoea, and from this time he was scarcely sen-
sible. Every attention and kindness were shown
him, but he gradually grew weaker until Wednes-
day, 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 with 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 suffer-
ing and death for several days before his removal
from time into eternity !
" Thus ends the short career of your first mis-
280 LETTER FROM THE BISHOP OF SIERRA LEONE.
sionary to Africa. I feel that this most trying pro-
vidence will be a severe blow to yourself and the
honoured Committee of the West Indian Church
Association for the Furtherance of the Gospel in
Western Africa. But be not discouraged, the work
is the 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 difficult task to carry on missionary
work in the Rio Pongas 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 neces-
saries for his schools, &c., until I hear from you, or
LETTER FROM THE BISHOP OF SIERRA LEOXE. 281
your committee are able to make their own arrange-
ments. It is now my intention, should Mr. Duport
pass my examination satisfactorily (and I have every
hope that he will), to ordain him both deacon and
priest before he returns to the Rio Pongas. I quite
hope that this plan will meet with the full approba-
tion of your lordship, and of the committee.
" It will be perceived that the 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 Rio Pongas ; and I have cheerfully added 10/.
for the same object from my diocesan fund. The
late Rev. H. J. Leacock told me that he had en-
gaged 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."
282 LETTER FROM MR. WILKINSON.
Four days after the Bishop of 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 wp my
pen with a trembling hand and sorrowful heart 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
Africans. John Duport has been doing his duty as
a faithful steward of his Lord. I am now preparing
material 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 receiving them at the present. The harvest
truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few ; many
are truly converted, 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 superstitious rites, and many in our neighbour-
hood have done the same. They have foregone
their follies, and Duport is still persevering in his
labours ; but his late imprudence has impaired his
THE SAD INTELLIGENCE REACHES BARBADOS. 283
health through hard labour, but I have advised him
not to overwork himself on any account in future.
With due respects to your family, and accept of the
same yourself,
" I remain, Sir,
" Your Lordship's humble servant,
" RICHARD WILKINSON."
When the sad tidings reached Mr. Leacock's
native island, the sensation was most profound. The
"Barbadian" newspaper appeared in mourning, its
columns being lined with black as on the occasion of
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, however, 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
284 EULOGY IN THE "BARBADIAN."
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 Further-
ance 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 good, that ' the world itself could
not contain the books that should be written' con-
cerning his mighty deeds, his devoted servant, our
Apostle to Africa, has at an humble distance fol-
lowed his great Master's steps, and has been pri-
vileged in some degree to resemble Him in the
astonishing results which attended the first preach-
ing of the Cross to the heathens of Fallangia. 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 declared
EULOGY IN THE "BARBADIAN." 285
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 welcom-
ing 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 au-
thority 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 salvation ! ' Perhaps he did sing this song
of triumph. 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
286 EULOGY IN THE "BARBADIAN."
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 was 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
round him a devoted band of followers, whose recep-
tion of, and adherence 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 holy
work.
" "We do not grudge Africa our Leacock ; we
entertain a holy envy of her for the privilege she
enjoys of cherishing his ashes; and if we had a
hundred more such 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
CONCLUDING LETTER FROM MR. DUPORT. 287
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
pastor :
" 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 woman 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 hear what God say.' Mr.
Wilkinson has already begun to gather materials for
the building. He says nothing shall deter him from
288 CONCLUDING LETTER FROM MR. DUPORT.
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 present ;
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 Command-
ments, and the Creed, in English and in their own
tongue. I have, with the assistance of Mr. Wilkin-
son, 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
express 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 ser-
vice he took his handkerchief and blindfolded his
eyes, and said, ' If I had died before the missionaries
CONCLUDING LETTER FROM MR. DUPORT. 289
came here, I would have died in darkness, but now I
see.' He 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 re-
peated 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' (Gtod 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
290 CONCLUDING LETTER FROM MR. DUPORT.
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 gree-
gree we want, God's book is the best greegree, gree-
gree for all, old and young, this is the best of gree-
grees.'
"The people are very kind, although very poor.
They love to hear of Jesus Christ, they love to hear
of heaven and learn the way to it. Old and young
are desirous of learning to read. They will have
nothing 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 greegree 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
attend the Sunday school. The whole Sabbath is
dedicated to the Lord. Surely the Lord has visited
his people here, and has blessed our labours with
abundant 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.
FUNERAL ANTHEM. 291
That you may do a great deal of good for the cause of
missions is the sincere wish of your humble and de-
voted servant,
" JOHN HENRY A. DUPORT."
FUNERAL ANTHEM.
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.
u 2
APPENDIX.
Pos the purpose of assisting Bishop Parry and the " "West
Indian Association for the Furtherance of the Gospel in
"Western Africa," an Auxiliary Committee has been formed
in England, consisting of gentlemen connected more or
less with the "West Indies. The Eev. Henry Caswall,
Vicar of Pigheldean, Amesbury, "Wilts, appointed Secre-
tary in England by the Bishop of Barbados, will be
happy to communicate with all who may be disposed to
join in the undertaking. Donations and Subscriptions
will be received by the Treasurer and Secretary, the
Members of the Committee, and at 79, Pall Mall,
London, to the account of the "West African Mission.
Treasurer and Secretary.
Eev. Henry Caswall, D.D., Eigheldean, Amesbury, "Wilts.
Committee.
Burton, Eev. E. C., Taverham, Norfolk.
Caswall, Eev. H., Figheldean, Wilts.
Cave, Charles, Esq., Lowndes Place.
Colebrooke, Sir William, Bart., Datchet.
294 APPENDIX.
Dickinson, F. H., Esq., Kingweston, Somerset.
Eliot, Ven. Archdeacon, Norton Bavant, Wilts.
Grasett, Elliott, Esq., Chesham Street, London.
Howell, Eev. Hinds, Dray ton, Norfolk.
Finder, Eev. Canon, Wells.
Eigaud, Eev. S. J., D.D., Ipswich.
Taylor, Simon Watson, Esq., Erchfont, Wilts.
Trew, Ven. Archdeacon, Wivenhoe, Colchester.
Wall, Eev. Professor, Balliol College, Oxford.
Yard, Eev. G. B., East Torrington.
The Subscriptions and Donations towards the above
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