ring the last year to a greater extent, and under circumstances of greater humanity, than ever. The Spanish flag had, it is true, been the only one which could lawfully be engaged in the slave trade north of the Line; but its protection was easily procurable, and the French, Americans, and Portuguese, availed themselves largely of it, although, as has been already shewn, where the French had the protection of their own settlements, they preferred using their own flag-one proof, among many others, that the French abolition was regarded by those persons as a measure which they did not expect the government of their country to enforce.

The late treaty with Spain will now, it is hoped, to a certain degree, stop the desolation of Northern Africa. No flag can now lawfully be employed in the slave trade on the coast north of the Line; and the right of search, which has been obtained, may therefore be expected to produce on that coast, especially if France and America concur in it, the beneficial effect of greatly abridging, if not in time extirpating, this traffic. Many years, however, must elapse before the evils produced by the revival of the slave trade on the Windward coast, which has followed the peace of Paris, can be effectually repaired.

The native chiefs and traders, who had begun to be convinced that the abolition was likely to be permanently maintained, and that it was therefore absolutely necessary to engage heartily in schemes of cultivation, if they would preserve their influence, have learnt, from more recent events, to distrust all such appearances.

Notwithstanding all that had been said and done; notwithstanding the slave trade, for seven or eight years, had either been chased from their shores (from the river Senegal and Sierra Leone it had been completely ba

nished,) or forced to skulk in corners, they now see the slave traders again sweeping the whole range of coast without molestation-nay, with an air of triumph and defiance. It will be long, therefore, before they are likely again to yield to their former conviction respecting the purposes of the European powers. Even if effectual means should now be pursued for abolishing the slave trade, years must probably elapse before they will be induced to forego the expectation of its revival.

It would be difficult fully to appre ciate the deep and lasting injury inflicted on Northern Africa, by the transactions of the last three years. This injury, too, will be greater, as in the interior of that country they cannot be expected to discriminate, with any accuracy, between the different nations of Europe. They only know in general, that the white men, who had ceased to trade in slaves, and who they understood would trade no more in that commodity, except as smugglers, liable to be seized and punished, have resumed the open, avowed, and uncontrolled practice of that traffic.

This afflicting state of things, it need hardly be observed, has discouraged, and in many instances completely crushed, the efforts to extend agriculture and legitimate commerce, which had been produced in this quarter of the globe by the cessation of the slave trade.

Nor is it merely in the way of natural effect that this result has arisen. The slave trade of the present day has acquired a new character of ferocity. The slave ships come on the coast armed, not merely for the ordinary purpose of their murderous traffic, but in order to resist search; and many bloody scenes have, in consequence of this determination, been acted of late in Africa. They appear also to lose no opportunity of attacking and destroying the legitimate commerce of

the Windward coast, and particularly that of Sierra Leone, which enjoys the proud pre-eminence of being the object of their bitter hatred and implacable hostility.

The trade of this colony, therefore, with the surrounding districts, which had tended, more than any other circumstance, to give a steady impulse to the industry of the neighbouring natives, has been subjected to much outrage and spoliation, attended, in some instances, with great barbarity of treatment, and even with the loss of many lives.

A statement relative to the outra ges committed on the innocent traffic of Africa, by ships engaged in the slave trade, drawn up from authentic documents, is given in the Appendix. The Report proceeds to speak of

the

In the midst, however, of this general gloom and devastation, the Directors turn, with increasing satisfaction, to one spot on this line of coast.

The accounts received from time to time of the progress of improvement at Sierra Leone, continue to be highly favourable. Letters, dated on the 26th of January last, state, that every thing in the colony, and in the country around it, was at that time going on well; that the progress of the schools was rapid, and the improve ment in the manners and respectability of the settlers, conspicuous; that the captured negroes were also proceeding prosperously; that trade was brisk at the colony, and that there was no war in the country around it.

On the 31st of March, 1817, the

total number of scholars, male and female, educated in the different schools at Sierra Leone, amounted to 1422,* being an increase of 185 in the prece ding six months. The schools were remarkably well attended by the pu pils generally, who appeared eager to reap the benefits of the instruction afforded them; and their improvement is stated to have been considerable.

In the Appendix are given, extracts from the Sierra Leone Gazette of January 3d, 10th, and 17th, containing reports of the examinations of the schools at Free-town, Regent's-town, and the Christian Institution, with the general return of free schools.

Of the whole population of the colony, a very large proportion consists of liberated captives, distributed in various villages, pursuing the occupations of peaceful industry on farms of their own, gradually laying aside their native superstitions, and eager to avail themselves of all the means of instruction within their reach.

Retrospect.

In looking back to the arduous struggle which has been so long maintained on the behalf of our fellowcreatures in Africa and the West Indies, the Directors cannot but acknowledge that some things have occurred of a very painful description. They have, in many instances, been compelled to witness the disappointment of their hopes; and there have been times when, after all the steps which had hitherto been taken, the object seemed to be almost as remote as ever. But of the cause itself, they have never suffered themselves to despair; and they can now, with unfeigned satisfaction, speak of it as having made a visible

ring the last year to a greater extent, and under circumstances of greater humanity, than ever. The Spanish flag had, it is true, been the only one which could lawfully be engaged in the slave trade north of the Line; but its protection was easily procurable, and the French, Americans, and Portuguese, availed themselves largely of it, although, as has been already shewn, where the French had the protection of their own settlements, they preferred using their own flag-one proof, among many others, that the French abolition was regarded by those persons as a measure which they did not expect the government of their country to enforce.

The late treaty with Spain will now, it is hoped, to a certain degree, stop the desolation of Northern Africa. No flag can now lawfully be employed in the slave trade on the coast north of the Line; and the right of search, which has been obtained, may therefore be expected to produce on that coast, especially if France and America concur in it, the beneficial effect of greatly abridging, if not in time extirpating, this traffic. Many years, however, must elapse before the evils produced by the revival of the slave trade on the Windward coast, which has followed the peace of Paris, can be effectually repaired.

The native chiefs and traders, who had begun to be convinced that the abolition was likely to be permanently maintained, and that it was therefore absolutely necessary to engage heartily in schemes of cultivation, if they would preserve their influence, have learnt, from more recent events, to distrust all such appearances.

Notwithstanding all that had been said and done; notwithstanding the slave trade, for seven or eight years, had either been chased from their shores (from the river Senegal and Sierra Leone it had been completely ba

nished,) or forced to skulk in corners, they now see the slave traders again sweeping the whole range of coast without molestation-nay, with an air of triumph and defiance. It will be long, therefore, before they are likely again to yield to their former conviction respecting the purposes of the European powers. Even if effectual means should now be pursued for abolishing the slave trade, years must probably elapse before they will be induced to forego the expectation of its revival.

It would be difficult fully to appre ciate the deep and lasting injury inflicted on Northern Africa, by the transactions of the last three years. This injury, too, will be greater, as in the interior of that country they cannot be expected to discriminate, with any accuracy, between the different nations of Europe. They only know in general, that the white men, who had ceased to trade in slaves, and who they understood would trade no more in that commodity, except as smug glers, liable to be seized and punished, have resumed the open, avowed, and uncontrolled practice of that traffic.

This afflicting state of things, it need hardly be observed, has discouraged, and in many instances completely crushed, the efforts to extend agriculture and legitimate commerce, which had been produced in this quar ter of the globe by the cessation of the slave trade.

Nor is it merely in the way of natu ral effect that this result has arisen. The slave trade of the present day has acquired a new character of ferocity. The slave ships come on the coast armed, not merely for the ordinary purpose of their murderous traffic, but in order to resist search; and many bloody scenes have, in consequence of this determination, been acted of late in Africa. They appear also to lose no opportunity of attacking and de stroying the legitimate commerce of

the Windward coast, and particularly that of Sierra Leone, which enjoys the proud pre-eminence of being the object of their bitter hatred and implacable hostility.

The trade of this colony, therefore, with the surrounding districts, which had tended, more than any other circumstance, to give a steady impulse to the industry of the neighbouring natives, has been subjected to much outrage and spoliation, attended, in some instances, with great barbarity of treatment, and even with the loss of many lives.

A statement relative to the outrages committed on the innocent traffic of Africa, by ships engaged in the slave trade, drawn up from authentic documents, is given in the Appendix. The Report proceeds to speak of

the

Progress of Improvement at Sierra Leone.

In the midst, however, of this general gloom and devastation, the Directors turn, with increasing satisfaction, to one spot on this line of coast. The accounts received from time to time of the progress of improvement at Sierra Leone, continue to be highly favourable. Letters, dated on the 26th of January last, state, that every thing in the colony, and in the country around it, was at that time going on well; that the progress of the schools was rapid, and the improve ment in the manners and respectability of the settlers, conspicuous; that the captured negroes were also proceeding prosperously; that trade was brisk at the colony, and that there was no war in the country around it.

On the 31st of March, 1817, the

total number of scholars, male and female, educated in the different schools at Sierra Leone, amounted to 1422,* being an increase of 185 in the prece ding six months. The schools were remarkably well attended by the pu pils generally, who appeared eager to reap the benefits of the instruction afforded them; and their improvement is stated to have been considerable.

In the Appendix are given, extracts from the Sierra Leone Gazette of January 3d, 10th, and 17th, containing reports of the examinations of the schools at Free-town, Regent's-town, and the Christian Institution, with the general return of free schools.

Of the whole population of the colony, a very large proportion consists of liberated captives, distributed in various villages, pursuing the occupations of peaceful industry on farms of their own, gradually laying aside their native superstitions, and eager to avail themselves of all the means of instruction within their reach.

Retrospect.

In looking back to the arduous struggle which has been so long maintained on the behalf of our fellowcreatures in Africa and the West Indies, the Directors cannot but acknowledge that some things have occurred of a very painful description. They have, in many instances, been compelled to witness the disappointment of their hopes; and there have been times when, after all the steps which had hitherto been taken, the object seemed to be almost as remote as ever. But of the cause itself, they have never suffered themselves to despair; and they can now, with unfeigned satisfaction, speak of it as having made a visible

one thousand two hundred and fifty dark and ignorant adults; and in a part of the kingdom in which the most unwearied efforts are made to exclude the pure light of heavenly truth, and to perpetuate the darkness and errors of superstition, it may be reasonably and confidently expected, that, by the blessing of God, the most important, extensive, and permanent consequences, will result from this branch of the concerns and operations of the Hibernian Society.

This last observation naturally connects itself with the encouragement which the Society gives to the practice of reading the Scriptures, among those who perhaps never before knew that God hath spoken by prophets, by apostles, and by his dear Son; that this word is in their own language, and that it is able to make them wise unto salvation. A correspondent observes, "Parties for reading the Scriptures multiply in the vicinity of many of our schools there are meetings for adults; many of them cannot read, yet they attend on those who can with the most earnest attention."

With great pleasure and gratitude the Committee report the assistance which, in the course of the last year, has been rendered to the Society by the kind and zealous exertions of ministers, the liberality of individuals, and the co-operation of Auxiliary Institutions.

They feel themselves particularly indebted to the Rev. Dr Chalmers, by whose zealous and successful exertions on behalf of the Society in Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as in London, its debt has been considerably reduced, and its funds materially benefitted. They have also pleasure in acknow ledging the kindness of their friends in Scotland, (particularly in Glasgow and Edinburgh) by whose continued and increased contributions they have been so effectually aided.

In addition to the Auxiliary Socie

ties formed at Reading and Henley, immediately after the last annual meet. ing, the committee are happy to announce the establishment of one at Ipswich, for the county of Suffolk, and another at Liverpool, from which they expect to derive considerable accession to their funds.

It will appear by the statement of the accounts of the Society, that the debt to the treasurer is not so large as it was at the time of last annual meeting. The Committee are therefore somewhat relieved from the anxiety and embarrassment which they felt; and they beg to express their cordial thanks to those auxiliary institutions, and benevolent individuals, by whose liberality and zeal, an amelioration of the funds of the Society has been effected. To the stated subscribers, whose pious benevolence has consolidated the inte rests, and supported the continued exertions of the Society, the Committee earnestly recommend an attentive consideration of the successful and happy results of their well applied generosity. It is presumed, that such a review will be connected with great personal gratification, with fervent gratitude to God, and with renewed endeavours to increase the stated and collateral supports of an institution which has been so highly honoured and so eminently blessed.