God to direct me. I preached last Sabbath at the Methodist meeting-house, and in the evening at the Baptist, and enjoyed myself quite well. I visited Careytown and Caldwell, and was much gratified. I think the prospects of this colony very favorable. I preached on Sabbath morning at the Baptist church, and at night broke bread to the church; six had been baptized this day. This was a joyful season to my soul. I also preached on Thursday evening. There are in this place many apparently active, intelligent and pious men; and I trust God will render them useful in the spread of the gospel.

"Dec. 20, 1830. I returned last evening from a bush meeting in Caldwell. I enjoyed myself very well. On Saturday I preached from 2 Cor. x. 15, and on Sunday morning from 2 Cor. x. 3, 5, and was followed by brother Waring, in a discourse from 1 Cor. xiii. 13. In the afternoon, brother H. Teuge, preached from Mark xvi. 15, 16. The whole service was rendered doubly interesting by the reflection, that the meeting ground was once devoted to the idolatrous worship of the natives. I trust the gospel standard, which has now been erected, will spread far and wide over this country. I have endeavored to enforce upon the church here the vast importance of activity in the cause of Christ, from the situation of surrounding idolaters. I think Caldwell a very suitable place for me to establish myself. Its central situation, numbers and destitute condition, are so many recommendations of the place to me, the proper place to commence my labors. But I look and pray to God for direction, and hope he will guide me in the path of duty."

On the 8th January, 1831, his little daughter Ann Eliza expired. On the 13th of the same month, a son was born, and the same day interred by the side of the daughter! On the same day Mrs. Skinner died, and on the 14th was also committed to the dust!!

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She bore her 'sickness with entire resignation to the will of God, and was willing to depart and be with Christ, which she considered "far better" than to dwell on earth. Her only desire to recover was, to be useful to Africa. Thus," to use the words of brother Skinner, "in the space of five days he ceased to be a father and a husband. Three coffins enclosed all from whom he had anticipated domestic comfort." He was, however, wonderfully sustained under these bereaving strokes of divine Providence, by the conviction that he was in the path of duty, and especially by the hope of immortality and eternal blessedness, which he cherished respecting his beloved companion and little ones. After the death of his wife and children, Mr. Skinner became convinced that such was the declining state of his health, he also must soon cease from his labors if he remained at his post, and resolved to return to his native land. He accordingly embarked in the ship Liberia, for Philadelphia. "For a season he seemed to be regaining his health, sat at the table, and ate with his fellow voyagers. Even on the day previous to his decease, he made no unusual complaints, but was walking and reclining about the cabin. But near mid

night Capt. Hassey, perceiving that he was restless in his birth, spoke to him, inquiring how he felt: he replied, "not very bad.” The Captain, however, arose and provided him a cup of tea. He seemed to converse as well as usual, and the Captain returned to his birth, and went to sleep. About four o'clock in the morning of the first of March, he waked again, and perceived that Mr. Skinner was breathing with difficulty, accompanied with a rattling in his throat. Being much alarmed, he sprung from his bed, and placing his finger upon his wrist, found that his pulse had ceased its motion; he was speechless, and soon breathed no more!

His body was committed to the deep. While his companion and children sleep on the shores of Africa-he sleeps in the ocean. But when the graves shall give up their dead, and the sea shall give up the dead which are in it, they shall come forth to the resurrection of life.*

The religious course of our dear brother was, from the commencement to the close, characterized by sobriety, humility, stedfastness in purpose, perseverance in effort, and uncommon devotion to the service of God. We believe he has heard the plaudit of his Master, "Well done, good and faithful servant : enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

Mysterious indeed is the providence, which conducted him to Africa, but prevented him from accomplishing the desires to promote her spiritual welfare, which he had so long and so ardently cherished.

God cannot, however, but regard with complacency, the spirit by which Mr. Skinner was actuated in undertaking this mission; for it was the spirit of him with whom he has declared himself "well pleased."

Who that has read the Life of Pearce, can question the acceptableness of what he calls his "passion for missions"-his unconquerable desire to preach to the Hindoos, though by the decision of his brethren he was prevented from enjoying the privilege? We may suppose that God said to each of our missionary friends whose early death prevented them from accomplishing what they desired and prepared themselves to do for Africa, as he said to David, who desired and prepared to build a house for the honor of his name, but was prevented by circumstances beyond his control-"It was well it was in thine heart." That pity for Africans, and that strong desire for the salvation of their souls, expressed in the extracts given

*The news of their death having reached home, a public meeting was called in Ashford, where their parents reside. It was held in the Baptist Meetinghouse. A large concourse of sympathising friends assembled from Ashford and the neighboring towns. Prayers were offered by Rev. Messrs. Grow and Wood, - and a sermon delivered on the occasion, by Rev. Gustavus F. Davis, of Hartford, from 1 Cor. xiii. 9: "We know in part."

The father of Mr. Skinner, also delivered an address expressive of his submission to God, his increased interest in the cause of missions, and his determination to devote the remainder of his life more unreservedly to the spread of the gospel at home and abroad. The season was peculiarly solemn and deeply affecting to the audience.

in this Memoir, must have been implanted in Mr. S's. breast by him who works in his people, " that which is well-pleasing in his sight."

Confidence in the established and well known wisdom, justice, and benevolence of the divine administration, should hush every murmur, in view of the dark and afflictive events of divine Providence. He "holds back the face of his throne, and spreads his cloud upon it;" but that throne rests on the eternal, immoveable basis of righteousness and truth."

The pious patriarch once said, "Me have ye bereaved of my children. Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take away All these things are against me." But the very Benjamin also. events which he so pathetically deplored, so far from being against him, combined to promote his welfare. The events which in rapid succession removed all the members of this missionary family from this world, are a fathomless deep of mystery, on whose brink it becomes us to stand, and with admiring wonder to exclaim, "O, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding

out!".

Nor let the friends of Missions be discouraged by the frequent and early removals of the heralds of salvation to distant climes. The missionary enterprise is sanctioned by the mandate of him who said to his disciples, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." The voice of prophecy gives us the cheering assurance of the ultimate success of this enterprise. "He shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. They of the wilderness shall bow before him. All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." &c.

What though in our own denomination, within a few years, a Wheelock, a Colman, a Rice, a Carey, a Skinner, and some of their companions have fallen early victims to death in the benevolent attempt to evangelize the world? Are these events more appalling than the martyrdom of three millions of Christians during the reign of the first ten emperors of Rome? The blood of the martyrs was then found to be the seed of the church, yielding her a rich harvest of other converts to Christianity; and who knows but these painful events may also result in the furtherance of the gospel among the heathen? "know not now, we shall know here

after."

What we

The colony at Liberia, and the Baptist African Mission, have been afflicted by frequent deaths. But what colony was ever established, or what mighty revolution was ever effected, without the loss of some lives? About one half of the emigrants who commenced the British colonies in America died within six months after they landed on these then inhospitable shores. The mortality of the American colony at Liberia has not equalled this.

Who questions the propriety of the early settlement of this country on account of the sad disasters which befel the first colonists? To establish American independence, the patriots of the Revolution pledged their "lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor." Many lives were sacrificed before the important object was obtain

ed; but who questions the propriety of that pledge, the redemption of which resulted in all the blessings of freedom?

Must it continue to be said, "The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light?"

More healthy locations for the Colony and the missionary establishment may be found; missionaries may, in future, be selected from a warmer climate; but the good work of missions must go on. Africa must be emancipated, though blood as well as treasures be poured forth still more plentifully to effect her emancipation. Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands to God." D.

CASE OF CONVICTION.

Mr. Editor,

I OFFER for the perusal of your readers, the simple narration of a trifling incident which has in a few days occurred in my own family. Although of but little importance to any one but those immediately concerned, I think it may be made to illustrate religious truths, and, if so, it will be valuable to all. It may be even specially useful from the part of its being of such a nature, as almost every parent is frequently called to witness.

My youngest child is an infant about 15 months old, with about the intelligence common to children of that age. It has for some months been evident, that he was more than usually self willed, but the several attempts to subdue him, had been thus far relinquished, from the fear that he did not fully understand what was said to him. It so happened, however, that I had never been brought into collision with him myself, until the incident occurred which I am about to relate. Still I had seen enough to convince me of the necessity of subduing his temper, and resolved to seize upon the first favorable opportunity which presented, for settling the question of authority between us.

On Friday last before breakfast, on my taking him from his nurse, he began to cry violently. I determined to hold him in my arms until he ceased. As he had a piece of bread in his hand, I took it away, intending to give it to him again after he became quiet. In a few minutes he ceased, but when I offered him the bread he threw it away, although he was very hungry. He had, in fact, taken no nourishment except a cup of milk since 5 o'clock on the preceding afternoon. I considered this a fit opportunity for attempting to subdue his temper, and resolved to embrace it. I thought it necessary to change his disposition, so that he would receive the bread from me, and also be so reconciled to me that he would voluntarily come to me. The task I found more difficult than I had expected.

I

put him into a room by himself, and desired that no one should speak to him, or give him any food or drink whatever. This was

about 8 o'clock in the morning. I visited him every hour or two

during the day, and spoke to him in the kindest tones, offering him the bread and putting out my arms to take him. But throughout the whole day he remained inflexibly obstinate. He did not yield a

hair's breadth. I put a cup of water to his mouth, and he drank it greedily, but would not touch it with his hands. If a crumb was dropped on the floor he would eat it, but if I offered him the piece of bread, he would push it away from him. When I told him to come to me, he would turn away and cry bitterly. He went to bed supperless. It was now twenty-four hours since he had eaten any thing.

He woke the next morning in the same state. He would take nothing that I offered him, and shunned all my offers of kindness. He was now truly an object of pity. He had fasted thirty-six hours. His eyes were wan and sunken. His breath hot and feverish, and his voice feeble and wailing. Yet he remained obstinate. He continued thus, till 10 o'clock, A. M. when hunger overcame him, ànd he took from me a piece of bread, to which I added a cup of milk, and hoped that the labor was at last accomplished.

In this however I had not rightly judged. He ate his bread greedily, but when I offered to take him, he still refused as pertinaciously as ever. I therefore ceased feeding him, and recommenced my course of discipline.

He was again left alone in his crib, and I visited him as before, at intervals. About one o'clock, Saturday, I found that he began to view his condition in its true light. The tones of his voice in weeping were graver and less passionate, and had more the appearance of one bemoaning himself. Yet when I went to him, he still remained obstinate. You could clearly see in him the abortive efforts of the will. Frequently he would raise his hands an inch or two, and then suddenly put them down again. He would look at me, and then hiding his face in the bedclothes weep most sorrowfully. During all this time I was addressing him, whenever I came into the room, with invariable kindness. But my kindness met with no suitable return. All I required of him was, that he should come to me. This he would not do, and he began now to see that it had become a serious business. Hence his distress increased. He would not submit, and he found that there was no help without it. It was truly surprising to behold how much agony so young a being could inflict upon himself.

About three o'clock I visited him again. He continued in the state I have described. I was going away, and had opened the door, when I thought that he looked somewhat softened, and returning, put out my hands, again requesting him to come to me. To my joy, and I hope gratitude, he rose up and put forth his hands im. mediately. The agony was over. He was completely subdued. He repeatedly kissed me, and would do so whenever I commanded. He would kiss any one when I directed him, so full of love was he to all the family. Indeed, so entirely and instantaneously were his feelings towards me changed, that he preferred me now Ост. 1831.

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