christian religion as established in the church of England; and the bearer, Mr. Cornelius Winter, having been recommended to the trustees as a serious and judicious person, and every way fit to execute the pious intention of the deceased, they have for a year past employed him in this service, in which he hath given them intire satisfaction, having conducted himself in the difficult undertaking with great prudence, assiduity, and discretion, not only with respect to the people under his charge, but wherever he has had an opportunity of giving a word of advice to the poor blacks on other plantations; and I thank God he has found some persons of considerable property, who have gladly opened their houses to him, thankfully accepted and countenanced his services, by attending themselves on the very sensible and affectionate exhortations he has given their numerous slaves.

"It is to me unaccountable that any people calling themselves christians, should have any objection against having their servants instracted, unless it is their inattention to, and ignorance of the eternal importance of the christian revelation. But it is a melancholy truth that there are too many such, and for this reason as well as many others, that might be

mentioned; it is necessary that the person employed in this service should be ordained, because, however little regard some people pay to the pious instructions of a minister, there are I hope but few if any so abandoned as not to shew some respect to his sacred character, especially, if his life and conversation is conformable thereto.

"Mr. Winter I understand has long been desirous of being useful in the church, and has taken no small pains to qualify himself for that purpose, but finds he cannot be so useful in his present contracted situation, as he wishes to be. And as the executors and trustees of the late Mr. Zububuhler's will, think by the tenor of it, and I am of their opinion, that the person who should instruct his negroes, should be a minister of the church of England, and consequently qualified to baptize, and perform other holy offices; they have requested his excellency the govenor, to recommend him to the Lord Bishop of London for holy orders, and I am informed they have desired the same of our present rector, the Rev. Samuel Frink, and both of them I believe will readily do it. He is sufficiently provided for, and will want no farther assistance, being by the executors al

lowed one hundred and twenty-five pounds per annum, besides his board, a servant, &c.

"I have had opportunity of knowing him in his private conduct, and do think him to be a truly serious man, and believe he has engaged in instructing these much neglected and benighted people with an honest view to promote their eternal welfare, and the glory of God, by bringing them from a real state of heathenism to the light of the glorious gospel of the Son of God. I have long wished that some good man would undertake this truly charitable, though arduous work, and must say, that I think Mr. Winter peculiarly qualified for it. He appears to be very condescending and patient, is of a remarkable humble and quiet disposition, and from my own knowledge, will stoop to the barren, because too generally unimproved capacities of these poor creatures; I say unimproved capacities, as some ignorant people would foolishly insinuate that they are scarcely reasonable beings, and not capable of being instructed in the divine truths of christianity, 'an absurdity too obvious to deserve any refutation; and I am ashamed to have occasion to make this observation, as daily experience evinces that there are many ingenious mechanies among them: and as far as they have had

opportunity of being instructed, have discovered as good abilities as usually are found among people of our own color; but making them good tradesmen is immediately profitable, and the reward of making them good christians is at a distance. I have been in many of the northern provinces, and have with great pleasure seen many serious negroes, and in the neighbouring province of South Carolina, I have known several who have honored the gospel, perhaps not less than their owners; and we have had some, though but few, here who are baptized and admitted to other holy ordinances, whose behavior is the most irreproachable.-I have heard Mr. Winter speak to à considerable number of negroes in this town, as well as at my own plantation, where I have two hundred men, women, and children, with great judgment, and christian affection, and have seen such apparent marks of decency and attention among them, that had you, reverend sir, been present, I am sure you could not help bearing a part in their sensibility, and of thanking God for so useful aman; and if I am a judge, I think he has real abilities, and such as would not be despised in any congregation.

I hope therefore to have the satisfaction of seeing him return to us in holy orders, by

which his sphere of usefulness will be more enlarged, and as I before observed, he will by that means, be more acceptable among the white people; he will be much more so among the blacks, who are in this particular, influenced by example. For my part, I am not ashamed to say, I have done, and will do, all in my power to forward and promote this laudable design; and am happy in the prospect of one day seeing a congregated church of Africans rejoicing in their being brought from a land of darkness, and of being made partakers of our common salvation, to which both bond and free are equally intitled; and as I am persuaded, reverend sir, that you will rejoice in having an opportunity to promote the welfare of the meanest of our fellow beings, I take the liberty of recommending the deplorable state of these poor neglected negroes to your friendship, as well as the bearer, who is desirous of serving them, not doubting but he will be countenanced by the reverend fathers of our church, and duly qualified to proceed in his good undertaking, which has been so warmly and affectionately recommended by them in their annual sermons preached before the worthy society for the propagation of the gospel : and I am so well convinced of the uprightness

I