grief poignant, make it likewise profitable; and the tears which wise men shed for the departure of the wise, are among those that are preserved in Heaven."* Spirit of Ashmun! dost thou not look down upon me, while to that cause, to which thou gavest thy all, thy life, I dedicate this humble offering to thy worth. I cast it on thy grave-for there, a potent and unslumbering spirit dwells, which will not leave it voiceless. Thou hast not lived--thou hast not died in vain. I hear responded from ten thousand tongues, thou hast not lived-thou hast not died in vain.The light thou hast kindled in Africa shall never go out; the principles thou hast exemplified, are true and everlasting. Thy country shall yet-shall soon do justice; and when in all her borders no fetter shall be worn by the guiltlesswhen upon Africa now just awakening to a sense of her miseries, and stretching out her hands for help, she shall have conferred, in the free spirit of the Great Master of Christians, her language, her liberty, and her religion; rewarded with the gratitude of millions, and the honours of all nations clustering thick upon her-Africa-America-the World shall know, thou hast not lived-thou hast not died in vain. "Thou hast left behind, Powers that will work for thee! air, earth, and skies; There's not a breathing of the common wind That will forget thee! thou hast great allies! Thy friends are exultations, agonies, And love, and man's unconquerable mind." APPENDIX. No. 1. Extracts from the early Diary of Ashmun. THESE extracts comprise but a small portion of the Journal of Mr. Ashmun, while preparing for college, and during his college life. They will serve to show, however, much of his early character, the depth and sincerity of his piety, the burning ardor of his zeal, and his aspiring resolution in the cause of Religion. November 27, 1810.-Having at this time a term of leisure, and for want of suitable opportunity having heretofore neglected it, I shall attempt an imperfect detail of the dealings of God with me the summer past; as such an account, although somewhat circumscribed, may be of use in assisting my memory at some future period. June 24, 1810.-I attended Church as usual; but having been from home most of the past winter, residing chiefly with such as made no profession of religion, and being warmly engaged in pursuits after some earthly good, religion was seldom thought of seriously. The cares of a school, the prospect of realizing, at some future time, all my foolish, thoughtless imaginations, and my consequent exertions, but above all, my wicked heart, operating all to the same purpose, hardened me more, I believe, against A God, than two years' impenitence had done before! And as might be expect ed, the preaching of the Word had very little effect, but to harden. And I recollect with pain, that on hearing a discourse of the most alarming kind, on the horrors of damnation, instead of receiving the intended warning, I, calm, stupid, and composed, endeavored to criticise the language in which the solemn ideas were clothed. This sermon, by the gracious application of God's spirit, was made the means of awakening (and I trust, to the renewal of the heart) one of my companions, elder than myself. I secretly despised his meekness when I first understood his fears; and though I intended, at some time future, to make religion my business, yet the thoughts of devoting my best days to God, or the sight of such a purpose in others, excited in my depraved nature, emotions of disgust. And Oh! may I ever remember with humility, that this was my condition, when only in my seventeenth year. My associate, who about a week before had been gloriously relieved from his burdened conscience, afterwards made some remarks, which I very little regarded, until he observed, "I think, if I know my own heart, I have enjoyed more this day, than in all my former life." On this I reflected; happiness I had ever been in quest of; had tried various diversions and gratifications within my reach, but never could obtain the desired end. I reflected that at some future period I must begin to be religious; and now having seen one who had ventured before me, who above all, brought such joyful tidings from the land of Canaan, I determined, with headstrong resolution, to seek until I found Religion. I proceeded homeward; endeavored to notice as few surrounding objects as possible, and to increase conviction; and not suspecting the secret workings of the finger of God, I thought I had the good success of increasing my anxiety. Meeting with one of my youthful companions, I, without calling at home, persuaded him to accompany me into the house of Mr., and wait his return from church. I conversed, and endeavored to think of nothing but religious and eternal matters; and by the time Mr. P. arrived, which was about an hour after conference, God had, as I trust, increased my anxiety to such a degree, that my whole frame became sensibly affected. I cannot say that I felt any great degree of horror. I saw a wicked, hardened heart; total alienation of affections from God and all holiness; but I think my greatest concern was, lest I should be suffered to lose my seriousness, and relapse into sevenfold stupidity. I expected that when Mr. P. came, he would immediately explain the scriptural way for a sinner to take, and I intended to become immediately a Christian. But he stated the truth just as he had many times before, "Repent and be converted." He told me that repentance and a new heart were what was first of all required in the Word of God; and that whatever a sinner would perform, previous to a change of heart, was sinful, and consequently must be displeasing to God: that God had been at infinite expense to provide salvation for mankind, and should they only be heartily willing, never could a sinner miss salvation. This was not the advice I expected, but I felt it to be the truth; I think I felt myself completely in a lost |