the Island.

From this place, on the 12th of May, he addressed the following letter to his parents:--

"My Dear Parents:-I am so far on my return towards 'the United States-and fifty days--a very long passage from 'Liberia. I left there March 25th, compelled, I am sorry to 'say, by bad health--having suffered from a severe fever in February such a loss of strength, and derangement of the 'system, as my Physician said could not be repaired without 'a change of climate. I am yet quite low-but in the hands ' of a good Physician, and at the house of a kind and affec 'tionate American lady-who more than most women, re'minds me of my own mother. I have, too, my own boy 'Cecil along, and assure you, I could no where be better at'tended or nursed. I am, besides, attended, I gratefully trust, 'by the great Comforter, whose presence is health and life to 'the soul, let the body sicken, suffer, and even die. Pray for me, but give yourselves no needless anxiety. I may recover and be in Champlain before the end of July. My Doctor 'says my case must yield to his medicines. True, it is more 'than he knows, but I cannot contradict, and partially be'lieve him. I cannot walk much. But I keep up most of 'my time, and since I came on shore, have suffered little pain. Remember me to the family and my former acquaintances, ' and the blessed Redeemer remember us all.

*

Your dutiful Son,

"J. ASHMUN."

He commenced a Journal of his observations, which comprises many facts in regard to the Government, commerce, productions and agriculture of this portion of the W. Indies.

He soon proceeded from St. Bartholemews to Basseterre in the Island of St. Christophers, but suffered from the fatigue and exposure of the passage, which though of less than twenty-four hours, was accomplished partly by land and in the night.

For a day or two he was extremely low; but on the 6th of

June, he was able to write to a lady (herself an invalid) in St. Bartholemews, in whose family he had received the kindest attention: "I have enjoyed,” he remarks, “a most pleasant season in this delightful Island, and am pleased to state that my health seems to be very constantly but very slowly im'proving. I have often thought that if Mrs. Doyle were with Ime, in some of my morning and evening rides, it might, 'with God's blessing, be the same with her.

"I am delighted to find the people of this Island, kind and ( attentive; but nothing can exceed the kindness and attention 'I have received in your family-to which I shall always 'attribute, in a great measure, the recovery of my health, 'should it please God to restore it."

He gives in a few notes, on St. Christophers, a general view of its population, commerce, agriculture and religion. The condition of the slaves was investigated, and he accounts for the decrease of their numbers by their being overworked, scantily fed and badly lodged. "Slaves," he observes, “are ' treated well here, comparatively. But scarcely any where ' on earth, do they fare as well as free labourers; and there 'is something so unnatural in compulsory labour, that even < a light daily task imposed by force, weighs down the strength ' and spirits more, and is truly a greater hardship, than four <times the same task voluntarily performed."

On the 9th of June, he informed the Society of his increased illness, and that but for the attention of kind friends, raised up by the goodness of Providence for his relief, he should probably before that time, have sunk under their weight. He adds:

"Resigning my individual self and interest to the disposal ' of the same Divine goodness, I earnestly beg that the Go'vernment of the Colony may immediately, and permanent'ly, be provided for. In the choice of a successor, it is im' possible for me to express my anxiety, that wisdom from on 'high, may inspire and direct the counsels of the Board.—

Accept, my Dear Sir, for yourself, and convey to all the 'members of the Board, this fresh, and sincerest assurance ' of the highest personal esteem and affection, and of the en'tire satisfaction, with which, I at this moment contemplate 'the best part of an active life spent in their service."

He found among strangers the kindness of friends, and by their attentions and good medical advice, he was so far strengthened as to take passage for New Haven on the 16th of July, at which port he arrived, after a long passage, on the 10th of August. The following prayer, found in his pocketbook, was probably composed about this time. It is marked number one, and was designed, doubtless, to be the first of a series of humble confessions and supplications to the great Father of life and mercies, to whom only, he now felt that he could look for help, and in whom alone, in the extremity of nature, find refuge for his soul:

6

Prayer against hardness of Heart and Unbelief. "O heart-searching and rein-trying God, who requirest 'truth in the inward parts, a broken heart, and spiritual wor'ship of all who seek to please and serve thee; mercifully 'behold me lying in this wretched condition of alienation 'from thee, and from all the tokens of thy love and favour, through spiritual death, and the prevalence of unbelief.— Known unto thee is the extent of my backsliding, and the darkness, insensibility and strong hostility of my heart, in regard to all thy spiritual and holy precepts. Vain is the attempt to soften so hard a nature, and to convert affections 'so estranged, and so nearly extinct, by any resolutions and ' endeavours of my own. Vain are all the preparatory means ' and helps, to which my indolence seeks recourse, either to 'abate the force of the mortal disease, or even heartily to dis'pose me to return, and seek help of thee. Thou knowest, my God, that notwithstanding my former public profes'sion of thy faith, and exercise of the Christian ministry,

6

'that my present hope is little or nothing better than a bold 'presumption; and that little else remains, except a fearful 'looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation at thy hands. 'I am in terrifying doubt, that my unbelief and hardness of 'heart, have even now the seal of thy judicial dereliction.'But, merciful God, I have heard much, and tasted often and sweetly of thy divine compassion and goodness. No sinner is delivered from the curse of thy law, for his own in'nocence, or good works, good endeavours, or good resolu'tions--but through thy sovereign grace and mercy abound'ing in Jesus Christ thy Son. I have in vain made trial of 6 my own powers, in every way which the wisdom of the car'nal mind suggests, and confess my utter impotency. My 'heart becomes daily harder-my affections daily more em'bittered against the holiness of thy nature, and the purity ' of thy law. Even my complaints are insincere-and the 'language of my confessions stronger than the feeling of my miserable and dangerous malady. And in this extremi' ty—thus lamely and indolently—thus insincerely and irresolutely, I essay to apply to Thee, the free, and abundant, ' and only source of spiritual influences, and Author, and 'finisher of faith. May thy word and spirit break and sub 'due effectually, my hard, unbelieving heart. And may the 'same power which breaks and melts, be evermore present 'to preserve my soul in a broken and contrite frame. 0 'keep my heart like fresh-tilled soil, forever, that it may 'drink freely the gentlest dews of heaven; receive kindly ' and deeply, every good seed of thy word, and bring forth a 'speedy and abundant return of mature and precious fruits. May the benefit be mine, and my fellow-creatures': but the 'glory all redound to thy free salvation, as established, com 'municated and perfectly wrought by the glorions and un 'divided God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit-to whom be 'praise, dominion and glory, now and forever. Amen."

The sweet prospect of his native land, the anticipated joy

of an interview with his friends, the anxious kindness of the citizens of New Haven, the efforts of skilful Physicians intent on saving a life dear to humanity and religion, and which had been willingly hazarded amid a thousand dangers in their cause, inspired him with transient energy, and lighted up, for a day or two, a trembling hope of his recovery.

In a letter to a friend at Washington, dated on the 12th of August, after stating "that without speedy relief, the little 'remaining strength he had, must give way, and death be 'the consequence," he adds: "You will naturally inquire, ' with what feelings, I contemplate the prospect before me? 'I can only reply in general, that my mind has so far been 'preserved under the nearest and most solemn views of 'death it has yet taken, from all distressing agitation and 'alarm; my confidence in the great Christian foundation is 'steadfast and unshaken-but am I building on this founda'tion? This inquiry forms the theme of my most anxious 'solicitude and fervent prayers; and I am thankful to the 'Author of all grace, that the evidence of my personal inter'est in the Redeemer, occasionally shines forth with consid'erable clearness; so that hope, more precious than the treasures of the world, commonly prevails against my fears, my doubts and my sins. If I had no more to repent of than 'most people, I should have more confidence in the sincerity ' of my repentance; but ranking, as I do, among the chief of sinners, I have only to trust the more to the Saviour's merits, and I can find occasionally, even hope and consolation in this act of faith and confidence."

But the time of his departure was at hand. To a friend who called on him soon after his arrival, he said, "I have come here to die."

He then expressed a deep sense of his guilt as a sinner, and a want of those spiritual consolations he desired. A day or two afterwards, to the same friend, he said, "I have been praying for light, and a little light has come, cheering and re