sole the minds of the people, but permanently to establish a Christian ministry at one of the most important points of the colony. This very mea

sure, which, when devised, was probably not expected, either by those who framed it, or by the immediate recipients of its benefits themselves, to extend its influence beyond a certain limited sphere, has proved a fruitful source of good to the whole settlement. Religion is manifestly rendering the whole scheme a distinguished blessing to Southern Africa; while, without it, there is abundant reason to believe that it would have constituted one of its heaviest curses. Occurrences in the remoter parts of the settlement sufficiently prove, that, had there been no public ministration of the word, the Sacred Volumes taken out by our countrymen would most likely have lain unread, if not buried, amongst the lumber of the settler's cottage; the Sabbath would have been in a great measure forgotten, and divine ordinances altogether forsaken. In the room of peace, there would have been strife; in the place of righteousness, ungodliness would have increased; and instead of becoming a light unto neighbouring nations, the overflowings of iniquity would in all probability have rendered their place of habitation a hissing amongst the Heathen.

The Wesleyan Methodists have been more especially interested in this settlement from its commencement, many of its enterprising inhabitants being members of that body. Their numbers were sufficiently large to entitle them to the promised stipend (£75 per annum) for a Minister. Consequently, application was made to the Wesleyan Missionary Committee in London for a suitable person; and the

Rev. Wiliam Shaw was appointed to accompany them, -with this understanding, that, in the event of his removal to any other station, his place should be duly supplied by some other Missionary. Hence Albany at once and properly became a Missionary station, and has ever since enjoyed the fostering care and attention of the above-mentioned Committee, to which it in a great measure owes its preservation from the sway of infidel principles, so banefully influential in most infant colonies.

The conflicting opinions of different classes of persons, thrown together as the settlers were, sometimes placed the pious in circumstances of the most embarrassing and trying nature; more especially in the commencement, when all their movements were of course attended with a thousand unforeseen and uncontrollable occurrences. Their crowded state on board the respective vessels; the numerous difficulties unavoidably consequent upon the landing of such a multitude of strangers on a foreign shore; and the various disappointments which less or more fell to the lot of each subsequently, naturally tended to arouse tempers and dispositions that were not always of the most happy kind. Hence it cannot be very surprising to find that disputes sometimes arose ; but, on the contrary, somewhat astonishing that there should have been so few serious ones. Upon subjects strictly religious, a difference of sentiment indeed occasionally gave rise to controversy, which in one instance was carried to a lamentable pitch. Messrs. C. and B., belonging to different denominations, began to manifest a wrangling disposition soon after their embarkation, and would sometimes stand up to contend for their respective creeds

before the whole of their fellow-passengers. This unchristian temper they continued to indulge, until death suddenly put them both to silence. They died in the course of a few days after their arrival at Algoa Bay, and were there buried side by side!

It may be necessary to observe, that the whole of the emigrants were, from the first, divided into parties of from ten to one hundred families each. Every division had its respective leader or representative, from whom it in many instances took its name; but that which was composed principally of Wesleyans was on this account generally denominated the “Methodist" or the "Salem Party,"* and finally settled in a range of valleys, sixteen or eighteen miles S. E. of Graham's Town. On their first arrival, the authorities deputed to point out their lot placed them upon a beautiful and picturesque plot of land, lying between the Kasooga and Kowie rivers, close to the sea, which formed their eastern boundary. There they remained six or seven weeks, during which short period many of them laboured most indefatigably. Besides the erection of temporary dwellings, numerous little patches of ground were dug up and sown with various kinds of seed; which, from the favourableness of the season, and the astonishing rapidity of vegetation, promised an early reward for their toil. But no sooner had they got their families somewhat sheltered, and begun with growing pleasure to look upon the fruits of their industry, than all were required immediately to quit the place, as it was wanting for a General C. and his party. This, as might be expected, occasioned considerable confusion, and no small degree of dissatisfaction. The * The name of their village.

case, indeed, to say the least, was certainly a hard one; but it is perhaps difficult to determine whether the party suffered most from the unjustifiable partiality of those in power, or from the manifest want of judgment in its head, and others who had the management of its affairs.

The tract of country now assigned them was far more extensive than that from which they had been removed, but by no means so beautiful, nor yet so well adapted to the purposes of agriculture. At certain seasons of the year, however, and after plentiful rains, its aspect is pleasant and the pasturage abundant. For sheep, the latter is generally superior to that nearer the sea; so that in this respect the change was decidedly advantageous. But on the other hand, the soil being exceedingly hard and dry, and the situation one in which irrigation was altogether impracticable, the work of cultivation necessarily required great labour and exertion, while the prospect of a crop was at all times exceedingly precarious. These, and other circumstances, to which we shall probably have occasion to advert, soon reduced the number of their company.

The site of their little village and its vicinage still presents demonstrative evidence of its having formerly constituted a Kaffer seat. Mynheer B., a Dutch boor, who occupied the spot at the time of their arrival, and whose miserable reed dwelling was long used as our only chapel, had repeatedly suffered from their predatory incursions. It was but little more than a year prior to the landing of the emigrants, that the tribes were compelled to vacate the Zuurveld, (Sour-field, now called Albany,) and to retire to the opposite side of the Keiskamma river;

so that it is by no means improbable but they might look upon the numerous groups of our countrymen as so many intruders; while the latter, knowing nothing of the real character and habits of their sable neighbours, excepting from report, which represented them as the most sanguinary beings in existence, would naturally indulge much needless fear and anxiety.

From the following amusing incident, related to me by one who was present on the occasion, this will appear to have been the case :-The people, it seems, were one evening aroused and thrown into the utmost confusion by an alarming hue and cry, that the Kaffers were coming; that their fires had been discovered on the adjacent hills," which they again put out to deceive us," cried the reporters. Some commenced one kind of defensive preparation, and some another, as if in the utmost danger; when, behold! the formidable and much-dreaded host turned out to be a swarm of fire-flies, which were flitting about amongst the bushes along the sides of the ridges, and which by their luminous appearance excited in the affrighted imagination the ideas of fire and flame! It was the custom of the natives in former wars to rush upon the Dutch colonists unexpectedly, and after securing as large a portion of their flocks and herds as they thought proper, to set fire to their houses likewise. The mud walls of two or three which shared this fate are still standing in the neighbourhood of Salem; and, as monuments of that dreadful practice, would doubtless tend to strengthen the fears of the people, whenever disturbed by rumours like the above. It is, however, a pleasing fact, that in no instance whatever, that I