WESTERN AFRICA.

The Society has enlarged its exertions in this quarter. A considerable delay in the execution of its designs on that coast has been occasioned by the shipwreck of the Rev. Mr. Butscher and his compa nions in the early part of last year, off Goree, on their voyage to the Rio Pongas; and by the death of several persons attached to the Mission. Its prospects of usefulness are, however, greatly increasing. A new Settlement has been formed among the Bulloms, and multitudes of African Children of the various tribes on the coast, have been liberated from captured slave smugglers, and are waiting for christian care and instruction.

Your Committee, anxious to adopt, from time to time, such Regulations for the government of the Mission, as may seem best adapted, according to circumstances, to accomplish the objects of the Society, have referred the Missionaries to the Instructions sent out by Mr. Butscher, and printed in Appendix I. to the Thirteenth Report; and have, in addition thereto, forwarded fresh Instructions, wherein they have entered somewhat more into particulars than is done in those already sent: and they have addressed these Instructions.to the Missionaries in the Rio Pongas, in particular, because in the Settlements of Bashia and Canoffee they may be immediately acted on, though all the Society's Mis

sionaries are to consider them as Instructions to be followed in every new Settlement, according to cir

cumstances.

These Instructions are as follow:

1. Public Worship and Preaching of the Gospel are to be maintained every Sunday in each Settlement, in a building appropriated to that object; and the Natives, who understand the language sufficiently, are to be invited and urged to attend.

The Committee expect that this is already in progress, in compliance with their former instructions.

2. During every Dry Season, one of the Missionaries must make excursions among the Natives, with a view of conversing with them and preaching to them the Gospel.

The Committee consider that very much may be gradually effected, through the Divine blessing, by conversation. The females should be active in this respect; and all should speak and live with this principle ever in view: "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt."

(1.) Till the native language is competently learnt, preaching and conference must be carried on through the medium of the elder children.

(2.) When the language is competently learnt, then by yourselves.

3. Every Missionary is daily to make some acquisition in Susoo,

Mr. Renner, perhaps, under his particular circumstances, may be exempted from the strict operation of this rule:

but the Committee wish and expect every other Missionary to adhere to this regulation to the utmost that his circumstances will allow.

4. With all possible dispatch the Missionaries are to prepare in Susoo,

(1.) A Grammar.

(2.) A Vocabulary.

(3.) Elementary Spelling and Reading Books. (4.) The New Testament.

5. The printing press must be set up. Any thing printed at that press will be very interesting to us at home.

6. As many of the Children must be taught to read Susoo, as the Missionaries shall find it practicable to teach.

7. Some of the more promising elder boys-particularly, perhaps, of those who have been redeemed, are to be selected and trained as Teachers of Susoo-and when furnished with elementary books, &c. to be fixed as Schoolmasters and Catechists in suitable stations.

8. These boys are to be considered as Probationers for the Christian Ministry; and to be instructed so to consider themselves.

9. Regular accounts are to be sent to the Committee of the Baptisms, Communicants, Burials, &c. with the religious state of each Settlement, and a journal of every

excursion.

Let the Missionaries assemble to take these Instructions into consideration. They are to deliberate whether more help will be requisite than what they now have, in order to

carry into full effect these Instructions, and yet at the same time to conduct the Settlements on their present plan. If so, more help will be sent to the present Settlements rather than new ones be established: for it must be well remembered, that each Settlement is then answering the purpose of its establishment, only when it effects these three objects:

(1.) Exhibiting to all around the happy influence of Christianity on its governing members, and in the order maintained therein.

(2.) Affording Christian Instruction, either in English or Susoo, or both, to all Children within its sphere; and training up future Native Schoolmasters and Ministers.

(3.) Proclaiming the glad tidings of Salvation to all around.

The Committee again urge strict adherence to this plan. It must be immediately acted on, and with vigour and perseverance.

Nothing must prevent the acquisition of the Susoo language the preparation of Books therein-the patient education of children-and the preaching of the Gospel throughout the Susoo Territory.

The shipwreck of Mr. Butscher and his companions, on his return to Africa, was stated in a Note to the last Report. The losses incurred by that event have been recovered from the Underwriters. An investment of goods was forwarded by the Neptune, Captain Gibson, for the use of the Society's Settlements, which, with stores bought by Mr. Butscher at Goree and Sierra Leone, will have ena

bled the Missionaries to adopt that extension of the Society's Settlements which was suspended by the shipwreck of Mr. Butscher and his companions.

They arrived in the Rio Pongas about the middle of March, last year. Mrs. Meyer, wife of one of the layman, died, as was noticed in the last Report, of a fever, and was buried at Goree. About an hour before they anchored in the Rio Pongas, John Quast, the layman who had been instructed in the smith's trade, was also taken off by a fever, after an illness of a few days. In September, Herman Meyer, who was sent out as twine-spinner and rope-maker, also died. These are further calls on the Society and its friends for submission to the will of God; as the services of these men seemed peculiarly necessary to the furtherance of the Society's plans.

Every assistance was kindly afforded to the Missionaries under their trials, by his Excellency Lieutenant-Colonel M'Carthy, Governor of Senegal; by Major Chisholm, Commandant of Goree; and by his Excellency Governor Maxwell. The Committee have returned their grateful thanks to those gentlemen : and have the satisfaction to report that Governor Maxwell, in reply to the Letter forwarded to him by the President, assures his Lordship of " his zealous support to forward the Society's views to the utmost of his power."

Mr. Butscher having reported a want of elementary books at Goree, for the use of the black soldiers,