Two more Missionaries left for Sierra Leone in July 1809. On their arrival, one of them suffered so severely from fever, that he had scarcely reached the settlement in which he was to labour, before he too was summoned to his rest. He died Feb. 2, 1810, and was buried in the garden of the settlement at Fantimania.

The Abolition of the Slave Trade seemed at first to be working a rapid improvement in the condition of West Africa; but this favourable state of things began to decline for a time by the partial revival of the iniquitous traffic, carried on, as it was, under the show of a foreign flag. The Missionaries were much hindered and discouraged by this unhappy reverse. Their school, however, at Bashia, which amounted to 40 children by the end of 1809, increased to 120 boys and girls by the close of 1811. These children were partly natives, and partly the offspring of the slave-dealers themselves, who maintained their children in the school. It appeared, from a variety of causes, that little success could be expected with the adults, particularly on a coast where the Slave Trade had ruined the morals and debased all the better feelings of men. The improvement in the schools was therefore a cheering token of success in the midst of discouragements. In October 1811 two more Missionaries from Berlin left England to join their brethren in their labours: these were the eighth and ninth sent out by the Society. On the 20th of January 1812 they reached Bashia, where they were heartily welcomed. They took out with them a printing-press and a quantity of paper. About the same time the Rev. Mr. Butscher came home, by

desire of the Committee, partly on account of his health, and partly that they might confer with him upon the affairs of the Mission. He brought home the melancholy tidings that death was still visiting the settlements. One of the Missionaries had lost his wife in December 1810; and now intelligence was brought of the death of the wife of another about a year later. These occurrences are thus noticed in a letter from Mr. Pratt to the brethren, dated April 27,

1812

"Your letters inform us of the trial to which God has called Brother Wenzel, in bereaving him of his affectionate wife. The Committee feel much for him in this his affliction; but trust God will enable him to submit quietly to all the strokes of his fatherly rod. What shall we say to these things? The brethren Prasse and Barneth, and their sisters in Christian labours, lay their dust on the shore of Africa; but shall we be discouraged? No; while we would enforce caution on you all in exposing yourselves to the dangers of the climate, we would say, 'Their sacred remains have taken possession of the land.'

"Surely God has a great work to accomplish by your means. The prospects opened before us, in regard to the children, by the communications of the brethren Renner, Butscher, and Wenzel, fill our hearts with joy. We are anxious to follow up these good openings. We have engaged two students, now at Berlin, who will soon come over to this country, and will join you in Africa, after staying a due time under Mr. Scott's* care."

* The Rev. Thomas Scott from 1808 to 1814 undertook the preparation of the Missionaries of the Society for their labours, after leaving Germany. The students here referred to went to India.

Towards the close of 1812 a third settlement was established at Yongroo, on the shore opposite Sierra Leone, among the Bulloms, by the Rev. Mr. Nylander, the Missionary who had acted for nearly five years as Chaplain to the Colony; and Mr. Butscher was authorized, on his return, in co-operation with his brethren in Africa, to erect a fourth on the Rio Dembia, a river about thirty miles south of Rio Pongas. He had been urgently invited to that part of the country by William Fernandez, a man of considerable influence, and chief of the district. This settlement was not commenced till 1814, when it received the name of Gambier, after the noble President of the Society.

Upon his return to Africa, Mr. Butscher was accompanied by Richard Wilkinson, a native youth whom he had brought over with him, and three pious laymen of the Lutheran communion, accustomed to farming and useful occupations. In preparation for assisting in the concerns of the Mission, and augmenting its influence upon the natives, they had learnt the arts of boat-building, twine-spinning and ropemaking, and smiths' work. They embarked on the 19th of Nov. 1812 at the Motherbank, whither Mr. Pratt accompanied them, after having laid himself out in every way he could to furnish them with whatever was likely to contribute to their comfort on the voyage, and to promote their usefulness in their respective callings. The vessel was wrecked off the Rio Pongas, but the Missionaries escaped safely to shore. Mr. Pratt and his friends had become so chastened in

their expectations, that they were not cast down by this calamity, but hoped for the future; "well knowing," as he writes, "that these trials of faith and patience are to be expected; and that they commonly attend the early stages of those designs to promote the Divine glory, which become in the end permanently successful." And here we must quit the West-Africa Mission for a time.

During these proceedings with reference to its first Mission, the Society was beginning to direct its attention to other parts of the heathen world, chiefly to New Zealand, as will be noticed in a future Chapter.

CHAPTER IV.

1804-1812.

CHANGE OF CLERICAL OCCUPATIONS APPOINTMENT ΤΟ SIR GEORGE WHELER'S CHAPEL-NOTICES OF SIR T. F. BUXTON AND MR. HOARE — INTERCOURSE WITH HENRY MARTYN PUBLICATION OF THE WORKS OF BISHOPS HALL AND HOPKINS-UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO PUBLISH A POLYGLOT BIBLE-LETTER OF HENRY MARTYN-MR. CECIL'S WORKS -THOUGHTS IN RETIREMENT.

BUT amidst his abundant labours in behalf of Religious Societies, Mr. Pratt was actively engaged in the work of the Ministry. He continued to be Assistant Minister to Mr. Cecil, at St. John's Chapel, Bedford Row, till the beginning of 1804, when he resigned that charge in consequence of being chosen Sunday-Afternoon Lecturer at St. Mary Woolnoth's, Lombard Street, of which the Rev. John Newton was Rector.

In September of the same year, he began to preach the Evening Lecture at Spitalfields Church, the election to which is triennial. And in the December following he was appointed Lady Campden's Lecturer at the Church of St. Lawrence Jewry, Guildhall, which was then on Thursday, but afterwards changed to Wednesday Evening.

About a year after this, the Rev. W. A. Gunn, Curate to Mr. Newton, died; and Mr. Pratt succeeded him. Mr. Newton was become, through age and infirmity, too feeble to perform any duty himself; and Mr. Pratt therefore took the Morning Service for him. For a considerable part of the year 1807, he preached regu