THE

YORKSHIREMAN,

A

RELIGIOUS AND LITERARY JOURNAL

BY A FRIEND.

No. XI.

PRO PATRIA.

SEVENTH DAY, 15th TWELFTH Mo. 1832. PRICE 4d.

ART. I.-Report of the "Committee on African Instruction," to the Subscribers: read at the Yearly Meeting of Friends, 1825.

In making a Report to the Subscribers, which is intended to be a final one on the part of the Friends at present managing the Fund raised for promoting the Instruction of the Africans, the Committee think they may properly introduce it by a retrospective view of their proceedings from the beginning. Such information, presented in a small space, may be found useful in deliberating on what is further to be done; both by those who have, and (more especially) by those who have not, perused the several former Reports, and the Notices or Circulars, issued from time to time by the Committee.

Our esteemed Friend, Hannah Kilham, first made known her views to Friends in London, about the end of the year 1819. The following Proposals were read at two different Conferences held on the subject, first at Gracechurch Street, and afterwards at Devonshire House, many friends being present.

Proposed that an Establishment be formed in England, for instructing some of the natives of Africa in reading and other useful knowledge, so as to enable them to become teachers to their own countrymen:

That a suitable house be prepared for the purpose, adapted for the safe residence of natives of a hot climate, even during the winter season. A regular warmth throughout the house, by the introduction of hot air, as in Russia, would probably be found a sufficient shelter for the natives of any country.

That suitable persons from Africa be invited to a temporary residence in the proposed establishment, who might, with the assistance of a Committee, form short vocabularies of their native languages, and thus assist the Committee in preparing for them elementary books.

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That these persons, as far as practicable, be taught to pursue the design, and to form by degrees larger vocabularies of their own words, and easy sentences; also to translate their own language into English, and the English into theirs.

That when persons thus instructed shall become capable of reading the Scriptures, and of translating into their own languages, and shall appear qualified in mind and conduct for the office of teachers, they shall be assisted in forming and supporting schools in their own country; and that a constant correspondence be maintained with them respecting their schools.

These plans for the instruction of Natives, and the reducing of their languages to a grammatical form, were connected in the mind of H.K. with a desire to proceed to the coast of Africa, there in person to obtain information on the subject: but she has not at any time contemplated, or proposed, making that country the place of her permanent residence. It is necessary that this should be kept in view, in forming a judgment of subsequent proceedings.

Our friend was now encouraged to take in charge some young Natives, if any suitable could be met with here; and during the time that they were under instruction for the purpose of becoming teachers in Africa, to obtain from them vocabularies of their own languages, from which to construct elementary books for the use of the Natives. As a commencement of this plan, the young men, Sandanee and Mahmadee were engaged in the Second Month, 1820.

After they had been about three months under tuition the following paper was circulated.

Address to Friends, on a proposal made by a member of our Society to instruct some African Negroes, with a view to the future translation and dispersion of the Scriptures, or some portions of them, in the languages of Africa.

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Thirteen years have elapsed since an Act of the British Legislature made illegal to our countrymen the ever detestable Slave Trade; thus wiping away from us, as a nation, the just reproach of torturing the bodies and debasing the minds of our fellow men, for the purposes of sordid gain. Perhaps no description persons laboured more earnestly in this good cause than the members of our religious society, and none more sincerely rejoiced in its success. We may yet indeed deplore the melancholy truth, that the monster, Avarice, remains in a condition to seize and secure its victims; and continues to perpetrate by fraud and stealth the wrongs which it is no longer suffered to commit by open violence. But while we rejoice at what was then done, or regret what is still left undone, has our zeal for the rights of the Africans, has our concern for the well-being of this injured race, continued true to its object? The protection of the natives of Africa from the rapacious hands of slave-merchants belongs now to the government; and here, so far as regards the persons of the Africans, the case at present rests; but viewing it in a far higher relation, considering that these are men, who have minds to be instructed, and souls, for whose sake, as for our own, the blessed Redeemer came into the world, and taught, and laid down his most precious life, have we, the Society of Friends, yet done for them all that it is in our power to do?

Surely, the deepest mental darkness, a state abandoned as it were to Heathen abominations or Mahommedan superstitions, is more to be commiserated than even the slavery and ill treatment of the person! We, Britons, were long since made acquainted, in different ways, with the historical facts and moral precepts of the Christian religion; we daily feel its blessings and enjoy its innumerable benefits. Are we grateful to the Author of every good and perfect gift? Let us acknowledge that, upon a reasonable prospect of service being opened, we owe to

our helpless and ignorant fellow-men a measure of that outward help, which many ages back was extended by strangers to our rude and uncivilized forefathers.

It is a principle (a sound and charitable one) of our society, that the Heathen to whom the outward knowledge of the Gospel has not reached, do not necessarily perish for want of it; but that those in whom its power is inwardly revealed, and who yield their hearts to its government [Rom. ii. 14, 15], may thus come to experience its purifying efficacy and be saved. But will any feeling mind therefore deny that the outward knowledge is profitable in addition to the inward, that it is of incalculable value and importance, both to individuals and to nations of men? Let us reflect, how great are the impediments to the reception and cultivation of the inward principle of Divine life; how powerful the barriers, how many the stumbling-blocks to faith, in those benighted regions. Let us revert to facts on record in history, respecting the way in which Christianity has made its entrance into different parts of the world; let us ask ourselves, what might have been our condition at this moment, had the history and doctrines of the Saviour of the world, as given in Holy Scripture, never reached this island! The first instrumental heralds of these glad tidings were, in all probability, men whom we should be disposed to regard but as imperfect Christians; yet we see that a blessing has followed the work; which, however men may have erred or fallen short, the Holy Spirit has not left unfinished, in the minds of thousands and thousands of British believers, to the present day!

That, then, which we may do for this people, and which, when and so far as Divine Providence gives opportunity we ought to do, is—to remove such impediments as at present oppose the introduction of the gospel among them-to prepare the way for its being proclaimed in life and power with clearness, and received by sincere converts with readiness. Go through, go through the gates, prepare ye the way of the people: cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones, lift up a standard for the people. Isa. lxii. 10.

A member of our society, whose mind has for many years been impressed with a feeling of concern for the religious state of the Africans, is now engaged in a work which, though at present proceeding on a very confined scale, may, if properly encouraged and extended, be productive of good to many, among this injured people. Our friend Hannah Kilham, of Sheffield, has under instruction two African youths, the elder of them from Goree, the younger from the banks of the Gambia, but both speaking the Jaloof, a language common to many tribes of Negroes, in those and the neighbouring parts of Africa. This proceeding is with the approbation of a number of friends, to whom she previously communicated her views, and who contributed to the expense necessarily incurred. The youths have not been more than three months under tuition, and her endeavours have hitherto been principally directed to the object of acquiring the Jaloof language from them, in order to reduce it to grammatical principles,* and prepare the way for its expression by writing and printing: at the same time bringing forward her pupils in the English language, and teaching them to read, write, and cypher.

Sandanee and Mahmadee (such are their African names) have hitherto discovered much docility, and their conduct and manners have been as agreeable as could have been expected. They evince a capacity fully adequate to such learning as is proposed for them: nor are they, it is believed, without some impressions of Divine good. When the course of their instruction is completed, which is intended to comprehend reading and writing, the grammar of each of

* A small vocabulary intended to promote this object is now in the press. It is a fact, not generally enough known or regarded, that of the numerous languages and dialects of Africa, spoken by a population of probably thirty millions, scarcely any have yet been reduced to writing. We may hence, in some degree, account for the degrading ignorance which prevails among the inhabitants of that extensive Continent.

the two languages, arithmetic, and some little knowledge of geography and the mechanic arts, together with the truths of the Christian religion, as far as they may be found capable of apprehending them in the terms of Scripture, it is hoped that some way may open for making them useful in Africa. On returning, they may communicate the knowledge thus imparted to them, to their countrymen who speak the Jaloof; and by having young persons to teach to read and write, (for which qualifications there now exists a great desire among the Africans,) by distributing portions of the Scripture, translated into their language, and by such other methods as may be deemed practicable and expedient, begin to labour for the attainment of the object here proposed, the instruction of Africans by Africans, in useful knowledge, and in at least the historical truths of the Christian religion. If such a plan be found successful with one or two, it is obvious that it may be extended to a greater number, provided the necessary funds and superintendance be at hand: it seems very desirable that it should at least be tried to the point of restoring some young men to their own country, as well qualified as a year's tuition can make them, and in a disposition to endeavour to do that for their uninstructed countrymen, which has been done for themselves here. Suitable pupils, (it is presumed on information received from a competent quarter,) may be obtained from different parts of the coast, with which our merchants and agents (engaged in pursuits not discreditable to the country or to humanity,) maintain a constant intercourse; the object being previously explained to any youth, whom it might be thought fit to invite, and the voyage undertaken at his free option, and at the expense of the subscribers, who should also engage to secure his passage home, whether kept a longer or a shorter time. Such a method would be attended with this obvious advantage, that the proposed teacher, immediately on landing on his native shores, would in general find a home, and friends to receive him: from whence, if he retained the spirit of the institution, he might proceed with proper recommendations, and after a suitable interval of service near home, among the less frequented tribes in the interior. A correspondence duly maintained with the more active and intelligent, at least, of the persons educated by the institution, might serve essentially to keep up its spirit among them, and further its great object.

London 22nd of Fifth Mo. 1820.

In this, the principles of the plan proposed by H. K. are in every essential particular adopted, and the names of seven friends are annexed, who solicit subscriptions and undertake to manage a fund out of which the necessary expence of the undertaking should be defrayed. One thing should be here noticed. The Circular proposes that the teachers should be sent back to Africa after one year's tuition: but the education of Sandanee and Mahmadee was an object of care and attention to the Committee during three entire years-and it is believed that a shorter period would not in general be found to answer the end proposed, in taking such persons for instruction.

Towards the end of this year the Committee, having now become interested in the plan above described, jointly with our friend H.K. was desirous of obtaining from the coast some further information than it then possessed on the subject-as likewise of procuring two more pupils, selected from the higher class of Natives, if such should be found, willing to come to this country for instruction. William Singleton of Sheffield, offering himself for the purpose, his services were accepted, and he made a voyage to the Gambia and Sierra Leone, at the expence of the fund: [his Certificate is annexed to this article] With the exception of a present of £20, and the contingent profit of

the sale of his Journal (or of the Report of the Committee founded upon it) the services of W. S. were gratuitous; and the engagement being only for this occasion,the connexion with him on the part of the Committee ceased on his return. He did not succeed in obtaining pupils; having been dissuaded by the Merchants at the Gambia from taking those of the Jaloof nation, and not deeming himself authorized to engage with Mandingoes: but he brought with him a very considerable fund of information, which was useful to the Committee.

The whole expenditure up to this period was not quite £350: and the Committee were now satisfied that there existed a considerable openness, among the Natives on the banks of the Gambia, to receive instruction by the agency of Friends.

In the Eleventh Month, 1821, it was proposed that this object should be brought more immediately under the care of our Religious Society, by being adopted by the Meeting for Sufferings, and placed under the care of the Committee for promoting the total Abolition of the Slave Trade. This proposal was not acceded to by that Meeting: but the Friends were fully encouraged to pursue their object in the way in which they had begun.

In the Sixth Month, 1822, the Committee by a Circular to Friends made known its unanimous conclusion that it was expedient to attempt a small settlement on the Gambia, to enable such friends as might be found disposed to co-operate in this work, to superintend the proceedings and conduct of the Native Teachers, and in other respects to maintain an intercourse with the Natives, which might prove beneficial to them, and the means of much information to the Committee. Our friend Hannah Kilham had before (in 1819) proposed going out herself for a few months, to commence her plan of reducing some of the languages to writing, and to make some observations on the state of the Natives at the Gambia, and of the schools opened for the benefit of the Africans at Sierra Leone: it was afterwards suggested by a Friend who felt an interest in the concern, that a settlement on the Gambia would be found the best medium of intercourse between Friends and the Natives.

The Committee now contemplated expending about £1000 in the necessary charges attending the outfit and passage of three Friends, and the two Native Teachers, and their settlement in a dwelling to be erected for them there; this being deemed, after various inquiries and consultations with persons who had resided on the coast, a needful step towards securing the health of the party.

It being evident that the Native Teachers could act with safety and effect only as free men, and the two now under training being the property of persons at Goree, a correspondence was opened for securing their freedom-which was ultimately obtained for a sum under £50 for both, (£50 African currency) and their emancipation was duly registered and attested at Goree.

In the Eighth Month of this year, the Committee having received no offer from any Friend to accompany the party, and not deeming it expedient to encourage Hannah Kilham to go out unaccompanied by