As our sabbaths, as we sometimes termed them, came round, they were informed by the overseer that they were at liberty to spend the afternoon with me in the boiling-house, if they felt disposed to do so; but, if otherwise, they must return to the field and work their usual hours. Immediately, therefore, on seeing what the nature of our plan was, they agreed to throw down their hoes and prepare for me. Not, I believe, that they felt any particular anxiety respecting matters of religion; but because they knew, full well, that in paying a little attention to these things, they should be exposed to far less bodily labour than would fall to their share, were they to remain in the field under the scorching rays of a tropical sun. In this manner my sable audience was collected; and, I doubt not, that it might have been kept up, on similar principles, for any length of time, had such a measure been deemed desirable. It is true, that on most, if not on every occasion, a few individuals were found guilty of absenting themselves, who ought to have attended. Yet this evil never existed to any very great extent; and, most probably, it would never have been heard of at all, had we adhered with perfect strictness to the plan on which we professed to act; but we were fearful of pressing the matter too far, and particularly anxious to leave as much to the will of the Negroes as the nature of the case could be imagined to admit of. Yet I now acknowledge, on looking back upon the business, that I think we should have done better had we been more particular in putting the laws in force against those individuals by whom they were too frequently violated. At the same time, I must distinctly maintain, that our experience abundantly proved the possibility of raising and keeping up a congregation amongst the slaves without the aid of the lash. And this we always regarded as a point of some importance, because it seems clearly to remove a common and a very plausible objection to the moral reformamation of these degraded, unhappy people; viz. that nothing short of means which all object to, would ever be found sufficiently efficacious to induce them to attend, with proper punctuality, the lectures of a religious instructor. The experiment, it was affirmed, had been tried on the south side of the island by a clergyman of the Church of England, but without producing the desired effect; the Negroes withdrawing their attendance after the first few meetings, although the hours of instruction were taken from those of labour. But it does not appear that any efficient measures were employed to secure their attendance on the gratuitous labours of this benevolent individual, and, therefore, their conduct towards him was nothing more than might have been expected. I believe the Georgia Negroes would never have attended me in the manner they did, had it not been for the alternative which was placed before them. They are all excessively fond of novelty, but totally destitute of perseverance where they are not urged on by "fear and force," and consequently nothing regular can be expected from them, for any length of time, when compliance depends entirely on their own will. The fact is, they are mere babes in understanding, quite ignorant of the importance of knowledge to a rational being, and seem, without any exception, to take it for certain, that the whole of Christianity is comprised in the ceremony of baptism. After this it will, perhaps, be asked, what good could a mere preacher expect to result from his exertions amongst such a people as the negroeTo which I reply, not so slaves? much as he would naturally wish, and most probably promise himself; yet, under proper patronage, he would be able to accomplish something. as things now are, nothing is achieved.* But * I allude to the condition of the slaves on sugar estates in general. On the properties of several gentlemen, endeavours have long been, and are still, making for the religious improvement of the slaves, but, I am fearful, with but trifling success. The Moravian brethren, whom scarcely any difficulties can discourage, still continue to sow the seed in hope, on the sterile soil of Jamaica. And I was informed by one of their missionaries, who has spent many years in the West Indies, that one of their settlements in this island is now in a flourishing condition. The brethrer have long been tried in Jamaica, and they seem to have gained the respect of all parties. My plan was, when I met them in the boiling-house, to read a short portion of Scripture, and to make such remarks upon it, as appeared to me to be calculated to strike the minds and suit the circumstances of my hearers. And they generally listened with apparent attention, during the whole of the discourse. The service always commenced and concluded with prayer. We had no singing; that being a part of worship we could not engage in for want of singing abilities. A few white people would frequently take a seat with the rest, and I have sometimes flattered myself that our meeting together was not wholly in vain. The Negroes always dressed themselves for the occasion: not in finery, but in decent, clean apparel. This, however, I am aware, many of them would not have done had I not insisted upon it in the most particular manner. To say the least, their bodies were refreshed, and it was pleasing to see them drawn off from the toils of the day, and join in the worship of the common Parent of our race. But such is the difficulty of getting the crop off a sugar estate in Jamaica, that it is found to be impossible to allow them any opportunities of this kind during six months in the year, without putting the whole concern to very great inconvenience. The question is, whether the good which might be obtained would be equal to the expense and hazard of the undertaking. I think not, unless the people could have the afternoon in as well as out of crop in other words, unless the crop could be made to give way to religion, and not religion to the crop. Besides, it cannot, surely, be expected that any Christian minister would consent to consume his time amongst a people to whom he should have not more than twelve opportunities of preaching in a year. He would, no doubt, at times find a few other occasions of usefulness; such as burying the dead, visiting the sick, and holding conversations with the Negroes in private, and in endeavouring to instruct the young. To the latter class I devoted a considerable portion of my time during a part of the period I passed in Jamaica; and I should never have relaxed my exertions with the young, had I not clearly perceived that my plans of proceeding went directly to sap the foundations of the existing order of things. I taught the children to read, and treated them in all respects like rational beings; whereas the government under which they are doomed to live and move, contemplates them in the light of mere animals. I think I may assert, without fear of contradiction, that to hold a people in slavery, it is necessary to keep them in ignorance. The Negroes feel, but they do not see their chains, and therefore it is that they are contented to drag them. Let them once be enabled to read for themselves the sublime truth, that " God hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth," and is it conceivable that, with such views of human nature, they should be contented to regard themselves as the lawful property of the whites? But I am treading on tender ground, and will, therefore, drop the subject for the present. I T. COOPER. Springfield, Clarke County, Ohio, REV. AND DEAR SIR, MAKE no apology for addressing you from this remote part of the world, because I know that any letter, the subject of which is connected with the religious improvements of the human mind, will not be considered by you as unworthy of notice or perusal. any After a variety of changes and trials I may, perhaps, consider myself as permanently settled, if settlement may be called permanent in this uncertain and precarious tenure of existence. I have, therefore, considered it my duty to pay some attention to what was passing about me, in and among the various religious sects which prevail in this improving State of the Union; and whenever I take a view of the deplorable ignorance which pervades every class of professing Christians in this country, I take shame to myself for the little value I set upon my former great privileges in connexion with what I believe the most enlightened societies of professing Christians upon carth, these privileges, to be duly appreciated, must be lost, at least for a time; for I do believe that the great mass of the Unitarian public do not sufficiently estimate the real, the ines Sir, timable value of just notions of the benign attributes of the Deity, of religion without superstition, of devotion without enthusiasm. We may hear, Sir, and we may read of the gross darkness that covers some parts of the earth, and of the mental blindness and silly extravagancies of which many are accused who profess the Christian name; but I am much afraid these representations, in general, make but little permanent impression upon the public mind. To be fully felt, they must be witnessed. I know that Bible Societies and Missionary Societies have been the fashion for some years past in the religious world; but, alas! in the present almost universal depravity of Christian principles, there is so much to unlearn, that it should almost seem a certain portion of mental superiority was necessary to shake off the fetters of prejudice, and discover the plain, unobtrusive truths of the gospel amongst the rubbish and rust that envelope them. The principal religious sects in this State are the Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Methodists, Christian Brethren or New Lights, and the Baptists. There are also Shakers, Dunkers, Universalists, Seceders, Rational Brethren, Covenanters, Antiburgers, Swedenborgians, Moravians, Dutch Lutherans, and two sects of Seceders both from the Methodists and Baptists. The Presbyterians, as in the Eastern States, are highly orthodox and intolerant; happily in this State they are not numerous. The Episcopalians are still fewer in number, but much more liberal in their sentiments, which I believe is also the case throughout the Union. The Methodists are very numerous, and appear to be increasing very fast, notwithstanding the great secessions from them, chiefly on account of their arbitrary church government, which, like the tyranny of the Presbyterian Synods, ill accords with the spirit of republicanism. The Christian Brethren, or New Lights, who are very numerous in this part of the State and also in Kentucky and Indiana, are exhibiting to the world a curious exhibition of a liberal creed, which appears to have no influence upon its believers or defenders, united with gross enthusiasm and blind superstition. Their tenets are Arian: they have open communion, and reject most of the offensive dogmas of Calvinism; yet, for want of a regular, well-educated ministry, they are most deplorably ignorant, and guilty of all manner of extravagancies at their frequent meetings, particularly their campmeetings, when they vie with the Methodists in noise and rant and jerk and gesticulations. At their meetings there are many speakers in succession seldom any text taken. Women frequently take the lead, particularly in washing feet, which is frequent among them without any decency of demeanour. They arose, 20 years since, in Kentucky, among the Baptists. Benedict's History of the American Baptist Churches, gives a particular account of their origin. They pay no ministers, therefore have but few men of talent amongst them. A Mr. Stone is the only writer I have heard of amongst them; he has lately published a very smart defence of their tenets, in reply to the attacks of the Methodists. I intend, at some future time, to draw up a more detailed account of these people, either for your Reformer or your Repository. The Baptists are numerous in Ohio, but do not appear increasing; their ministers in general, except a few at the principal towns, are extremely illiterate. The Shakers have a very great establishment or commonwealth at Union Town in this State: I do not now recollect what Dr. Evans says of them, but they have many join them from political rather than religious motives, who want a good home. The economy of their whole establishment is admirably conducted, and they are of great service to this part of the country. They are only 40 miles from hence: I intend soon to pay them a visit to know the particulars of their management, &c. The Swedenborgians are extremely active and zealous in propagating their tenets here, and boast of very great success; Cincinnati may be considered their headquarters. The Rational Brethren are quite a new sect, at Middleton in this State. They neither sing nor pray at their meetings; in fact they are Deists, and are endeavouring to establish a commonwealth like the Shakers, only they reject not sexual intercourse. Amongst all sects there is such a lack of good practical preachers, that the ignorance and enthusiasm of the hearers is not much to be wondered at; I know of no place in the whole western country where there is any academy for the instruction of persons destined for the ministry, among any sect; and the supply of ministers from the Eastern States is very precarious, as few congregations think of supporting a minister; even the Baptist ministers all preach gratuitously, except in a very few principal towns. And now, Sir, I would wish to say a few words upon what will take your attention most, for I am afraid I have already tired you, viz., the probability of Unitarianism making any progress in these extended regions. The chief and almost only ground I have for hope in this respect, is the very general willingness there is amongst all sects to read whatever books you may put in their hands. This may be accounted for thus: 1. Almost or quite all Americans are taught to read, and almost all are without books of any kind to read. A book is a novelty: although I brought but one box of books with me, here it was wondered at as a thing incredible, and universally understood that I meant to sell books, as such a number was thought quite unnecessary for one person. Whenever an American enters your house, if he sees a book, he takes it up and begins to read aloud, and that without any shame, let him read ever so badly. I have several times been accosted, by strangers, when I have been seen with a book, with "holloa! what book is that?" I have endeavoured to take advantage of this trait in the character of a true West countryman, and circulated what books I had that were likely to be the means of doing good. I had but few theological books, and those have been circulated until they are quite worn out. I have received a most kind letter from Mr. Belsham, and since then I received also a small parcel of books and manuscripts he sent me. I am very much gratified to hear that the London Unitarian Book Society have voted me a supply. I hope so to distribute them as to answer the intention of the donors by promoting the cause of genuine, uncorrupted Christianity. I know not of one professed Unitarian in this State who is a native of it, though, undoubtedly, there are many such, although not known to each other. An English gentleman, lately settled at Cincinnati, a Mr. Rands, and Mr. W. D. Jones, formerly from South Wales, will zealously cooperate in any plan to make known Unitarian sentiments. The latter gentleman lives near Hamilton in this State, about 80 miles from hence. He has, at his own cost, erected a building for Unitarian worship, and been the means of converting a young man of considerable talent, à Mr. Kidwell, who was a preacher amongst the Universalists, to Unitarianism. He now preaches regularly at their new chapel; they have about 20 regular hearers. This, Sir, is the first attempt at Unitarian preaching in the State of Ohio. Mr. Jones has written to me for a supply of Unitarian books, as he is very sanguine of effecting much good in his neighbourhood. I have no personal knowledge of him; but hearing a most excellent character of him, I wrote to him and have had several letters from him, which bespeak him a man of sound mind, and a good Christian. He has printed and circulated (at his own expense) 500 copies of Dr. Priestley's "Candid Appeal." I hope ere long to be able to go and see him. He has procured me several subscribers to the "Unitarian Miscellany," published at Baltimore, as I had forwarded him several Numbers for perusal. No doubt, Sir, you have seen or heard of that respectable publication which commenced with the last year; it is the Monthly Repository of the United States, and has already a very wide circulation and is doing incalculable good. We had not the means before of knowing any thing that was going forward in the Eastern States amongst religious communities. I have lately had a letter from the respectable Secretary Mr. Coppleton, in consequence, he says, of seeing my name in the Monthly Repository, on what occasion I know not, wishing me to do what I can for the circulation of the work. I should consider it a great acquisition indeed if I could now and then get a Volume of my old friend the Repository. It would recall to my mind so many pleasing recollections, and invigorate my poor exertions in the cause of that excellent work. Mr. Bakewell of Pittsburgh has succeeded in establishing a Unitarian place of worship at that place. This gentleman's name is not unknown to English Unitarians.-I need not give you any information of the success of the good cause in the Eastern States; no doubt you are better acquainted with it than I am; from thence the communication is so direct with England, that you can get their news and their publications with greater facility and less expense than we can here. The Allegany Mountains are greater obstacles than the Atlantic Ocean to a free intercourse. The "Unitarian Miscellany" announces the intention of Mr. Wright to come over as a Unitarian Missionary to the United States, if he is encouraged thereto by the next general Fund Meeting in London. Upon this subject, Sir, I would say a few words, not as presuming to give advice upon the subject of his coming over, but concerning the best means of travelling, and the most likely route to ensure him candid hearers and opportunities of preaching. I take it for granted that he will not confine his labours to the Eastern States, where Unitarianism may be considered as established, but come out into the woods of the great Western wilderness, and preach the simple, yet grand truths of the Christian religion where they were never before heard of. To do this he must travel on horseback; his friends at Washington or Balti more will know how to equip him. His expenses will average about one dollar and a half per day. He will find the court-houses at all county-towns open to him, and the news of a strange preacher, in a very little time, bring him a numerous audience. If he comes into the West, I should like to be informed of it in time, and I would undertake to escort him through the greatest part of this State, say 200 or 300 miles (we do'nt think much of distance here). Mr. Jones says, he would undertake to travel with him across Indiana, either into Kentucky or the Illinois, as he should think fit. The present governor of the State of Kentucky is a Unitarian, and will, no doubt, be anxious to give any assistance; and he would meet with a cordial reception at the English settlement in the Illinois, as there are seve ral zealous Unitarians there. The latter end of August would be the best season to begin travelling on horseback; the great heats then begin to abate, the roads are good and there is more leisure amongst agriculturists; add to which, the weather is generally settled and fine for September and the two following months. If he should come by the way of Pittsburgh, I could meet him in the north-east part of this State, say at Steubenville, Zanesville, or any other given point. I am the more anxious on this account because I well know how wearisome it is to ride alone through the interminable woods, and, to a stranger, how difficult, very often, to hit the right tracts or know where and how to ford a river aright. A strange doctrine, by a strange preacher from a strange country, will no doubt excite much attention; but, above all things, Sir, I recommend the distribution of cheap tracts. They leave a memorial of a preacher and his sentiments. They form a resting-point and defence for those who seem inclined to farther inquiry; for timid characters, who are afraid to encounter the anathemas of the orthodox while they "halt between two opinions," often want such books to encourage their new-formed hopes and to refer their opponents to, in answer either to argument or obloquy. We are situated only 40 miles from Columbus, the capital of this State, a town improving very fast; I could very much wish Mr. W. was to be preaching there when the legislature was sitting; the sessions generally commence in November. We have many English families settled directly around us, chiefly from Yorkshire. We have established an inquiring or debating society, which has brought upon us the reproach of many of the preachers about here. It has excited much attention, and when the Unitarian books arrive, I mean to establish a gratuitous circulating library, which I think will be better than giving them away, as I can then see they are taken care of, and I know I shall have plenty of readers, as many are anxious for their arrival. I shall forward about one-half of them to Mr. Jones, for his books also are all worn out; and he is very anxious for a supply. I hope another winter to |