eccentricities of its founder, who, strangely misconstruing the apo stolic example of being "all things to all men," seemed to have regarded it as his duty, rather to descend in his manners and habits to the level of the Hottentots, than to raise them to an equality with him self. Zeal, piety, devotedness, are valuable, nay, indispensable re quisites in a Missionary; and these, we believe, Dr. Vanderkemp pos sessed in an eminent degree: but surely a sound judgment is no less indispensable, especially in one to whom the conduct of a great underfaking is entrusted. And the per sons to whom the delicate and important office is assigned of select ing Missionaries, ought always to be aware, that whatever defect of judgment may be discovered in candidates for that honourable service, while they remain subject to the various restraints arising from inferior station, the rules and customs of civilized life, and the counsel and influence of friends, will be likely to be fearfully and Mischievously developed in situations where none of these restraints exist, and where their indiscretions therefore will have free scope to shoot forth in all their native luxuriance. Bethelsdorp, it appears, has been much reviled. Mr. Campbell undertakes its vindication; and we think, on the whole, has produced a candid, discriminating, and not unsatisfactory defence. He admits with great fairness, the circumstances of discouragement, and even of misconduct, which have existed, tracing them to their real causes; and he contrasts these with the various benefits, both temporal and spiritual, which have accrued from its establishment, to the natives who have been collected within its pale.In discussions of this kind, it ought always to be recollected, that the very circumstance which constitutes the chief recommendation of such attempts in the estimation of Christian observers, is that which sharpens the ridicule, and ag gravates the enmity of too many of a different description. And no wonder: they see men sacrificing ease; country, friends, the comforts of social and civilized life, health, perhaps life, with the view of impart ing to their fellow men the knowledge of a crucified Saviour; and this under an affecting impression of the indispensable importance of such knowledge, to every child of fallen Adam. To those who them, selves have never sought such know ledge, nor regarded it as essential, the very attempt involves reproach; for if they reflect at all, they cannot fail to be sensible, that in the estimation of Missionaries, and of the promoters of missionary undertakings, they must rank, in respect to their spiritual state and future prospects, with the heathen that know not God. In the view of the Christian, on the contrary, it is no mean praise to have even conceived the purpose of rescuing perishing souls from ruin, and still more to have laboured to give that purpose effect, with whatever success it may have pleased God to bless the effort, or with whatever defect of judgment it may have been prosecuted: nor dare he visit, with too harsh a censure, mere errors of judgment in men who shew by their conduct that they "count not their lives dear" to them, if they can but ful fil their ministry of love to their fellow-men. If indeed, having aspired to the sacred office of Evangelists, they shew themselves actuated by selfish motives; if they become the slaves of sloth or sensuality; if they prefer the world to their Master's service, and prove by their conduct that their eye is not single; the severest censures which can be applied to insincerity and hypocrisy, aud to the desecration of the best of causes, seem fairly applicable to them. But if they maintain a cou science void of offence; if they labour assiduously in their arduous work; if, deterred by no difficul ties or dangers, they devote their strength to the service of their Re too grave import to be lightly dis missed from their niinds. And if a review of the past should convince any of them that there may have been a fault in this respect, let them only be the more excited to redeem that fault by increased care in their future arrangements. Our readers, we are persuaded, will excuse this digression, which seemed to us to arise very naturally from the subject in hand. We now return to pursue our journey with Mr. Campbell and his associates. . deemer, and to the rescue of those whom he died to save; then, al though they may prove ignorant of many other things which it were nevertheless important they should know, although they may not have studied the principles of political science, and would form but indifferent jurists or economists,-although they may be unacquainted with the sciences, and have no turn for the mechanical arts,-we should yet highly "esteem them for their work's sake," nor should we be induced “ lightly to speak evil of them." If we did, we should. After a stay of three weeks at Be fear the reproach of those fisher, thelsdorp, on the 9th of April, 1813, men of Galilee who, armed only Mr. Campbell proceeded northwith the sword of the Spirit, ward, accompanied by his former which is the word of God," and attendants, and by Mr. Read, one strong only in the strength of their of the Missionaries; and on the 1st Divine Leader," who is the same of May, which Mr. Campbell, by yesterday, to-day, and for ever," some mistake, calls the 31st of went forth to the renovation of a April, arrived at Graaf Reynet. world lying in wickedness, and Here he found Mr. Kicherer, for triumphed in their progress over merly one of the Society's Missionthe powers of earth and hell. aries now the Minister of Graaf Reynet, and the two-Hottentot women, Martha and Mary, who some years ago accompanied that gentleman to England, and there excited a very lively interest among the friends of Missions. After remaining ten days at this place, and witnessing with satisfaction the evangelical labours of Mr. Kicherer, and of several others whom he has associated with him, among the population both white and black, he proceeded on his journey through the Boshesmans country, meeting only with a single family of native Boshesmans in all that extensive region, until he arrived on the banks of the Great or Orange River. This river proved to be deep and rapid, and as broad as the Thames at London Bridge. On the 8th of June, he and his party effected the passage of it, though with considerable difficulty, and on the following day reached the missionary settlement at Klaar Water, or Gri qua Town, which had been formed by Mr. Anderson for the instruction of the Griquas and Corannas, who But while we thus express our selves, we would still beg leave to remind the Directors of Missionary Societies, and we do this with feel ings of the most friendly description towards them, that they are bound in the sight of God to take care that those they send on this holy warfare are men thoroughly furnished with every requisite for conducting it honourably and successfully. They are bound to take care that the Missionaries they seJect are of a character, and also that they possess the acquirements, which will be most likely to prevent their "good from being evil spoken of," and which will also be most likely to give effect to their spiritual labours in the particular sphere for which they are destined. If they neglect to do this, they are surely responsible for that neglect and its consequences. The good which might have been effected, had they more sedalously and scrupulously discharged their duty, but which has been lost through their inattention, is a considerations of inhabit this tract of country. Mr. Campbell and Mr. Read preached here to a congregation of about 300 persons. After spending six days in Christian intercourse with Mr. Anderson and his people, Mr. Campbell quitted Griqua Town on the 15th June, in order to visit Leetakoo, the capital of the country of the Booshuanas, or Matchappees, situated about 150 miles to the north of the Orange River; and he reached it on the 24th of that month. Seven years before, a party, consisting of Dr. Cowan, Lieut. Denovan, and about 20 attendants, had been sent by Lord Caledon to penetrate in this direction to Mosambique. After passing Leetakoo, the whole party had been murdered by the Wanketzens, the next nation to the northward. The inhabitants of Leetakoo seemed at first to be under some apprehensions that the present expedition had been undertaken for the purpose of revenging this murder, which they, perhaps, might be suspected of having per petrated. Mr. Campbell succeeded in removing their fears, and in convincing the great men of the town that his sole object was to establish a friendly intercourse with them, and to introduce among them teachers of good things, provided he could ensure them a willing reception. The King, Mateebe, was absent on a hunting party, and did not return until the 5th of July. During this interval, Mr. Campbell and his party enjoyed a free and friendly intercourse with the inhabitants, and had an opportunity of seeing something of their manners. The town contains upwards of 7000 inhabitants, and its police appears to be well regulated. Nothing was stolen from the travellers during their stay there, except two buttons; and even this petty theft is said to -have excited general indignation. The people of Leetakoo unquestionably possess a considerable !superiority over any of the tribes in South Africa, who have hitherto been visited by Europeans. Their towns are much better built, their houses and persons more cleanly; and they are also above them both in general intelligence and social habits, as well as in some of the arts of civilized life, such as the manufacture of leather, copper, iron, &c. Still, however, they stand at a lowpoint in the scale of civilization. They are of course destitute of any knowledge of letters; and their religion, like that of savages generally, scems to consist in little more than a superstitious dread of witchcraft, or demoniacal influence. The men appear to be extremely indolent, except when roused to action by the chace, or by a plundering expedition against the cattle of some neighbouring tribe. They leave to the women the culture of the soil, with most of the laborious offices; and even the Queen of the Matchappees disdains not to wield the mattock at the head of her maidens. The great amusement of the women consists in dancing to very vociferous vocal music: and to do the utmost honour to our travellers, this amusement was exhibited, with surprizing perseverance, at the door of their tent, during almost the whole of their stay at Leetakoo." No person having a head-ache," observes Mr. Campbell feelingly, "should come within a hundred yards" of a female assemblage at Leetakoo. He remained only three days at this place after the King's arrival. A great part of those three day's was spent in conferences with the King and his Headmen, respecting a Mission to Leetakoo. The King made some objections at first; but these having been obviated, he at last signified his unqualified assent: "Send instructors, and I will be a father to them." But he probably had no idea of the real object of the proposed instruction; for he added, "Whenever the Missionaries have got enough, they shall be at liberty to depart." Both King and People seemed to conceive, that the labours of the Mis be drawn together at missionary stations. It is obvious, however, to every one acquainted with savage life, that the very first step towards its improvement is to supersede the privilege which savages assume of individual vengeance, and to. place the right of punishing inju ries in the hands of uninterested and impartial judges. The laws proposed by Mr. Campbell were cheerfully adopted, by the whole assembled community, at all the different missionary stations throughout the region bordering on the Orange River. Griqua Town and the outposts connected with it contain 1266 Griqua or Bastard Hottentot in habitants, and 1341 Coranna inhabitants; in all, 2607, Of these, only 26 men and 16 women have yet been admitted into the communion of the Church. The school at the chief town is attended by upwards of 200 scholars. Schools are also kept by native teachers at some of the outposts: at one of them 40 persons are taught. Upwards of 100 persons can read, and a few can write. Cultivation increases around Griqua Town; the number of cattle, sheep, and goats is con siderable; and the comforts of the people have multiplied since they be came stationary. The Missionaries laboured among them for five years before they could induce them to quit their former vagrant life. On the 9th of August, Mr. Campbell pursued his journey westward, for the most part in the direction of the Orange River. The difficul ties which our travellers had to surmount were at times very appalling, particularly from the want of food and water for the cattle, and the tremendous obstacles to their progress which the rude and broken face of the country presented. But the only serious loss which they had to lament was that of a valuable Hottentot attendant, who was killed by the poisoned arrow of one of the Boshesmans, in an attempt made by a party of them to carry off the oxen. On the 12th of Sept. they reached the missionary settlement of Pella, which stands near the west coast of Africa, about sixty miles from the mouth of the Orange River. A more dismal and barren looking spot, Mr. Campbell observes, can hardly be conceived. Its only temptation is its water. It contains 646 inhabitants, but the Church consists of only 19 members. The school is attended by 150 scholars. On the 23d of September, Mr. Campbell took his departure from Pella, and pursuing a southern course, parallel to, and at no great distance from, the Atlantic Ocean, reached Cape Town, after an absence of nine months, on the 31st of October, 1813. The sufferings of the party during this last division of their journey were great, from the extent of the sandy deserts they had to cross, and the consequent want of grass for the cattle, and of water both for man and beast.-On the 13th of February, 1814, Mr. Campbell left the Cape, on his re turn to England. He touched at St. Helena, where he was much gratified to find the Gospel faithfully preached by the two chaplains, Mr. Boys and Mr. Jones; and arrived in safety at London, on the 7th of May, in time to lay before the Annual Meeting of the Missionary Society, which met on the 11th of that month, a report of his perilous, but, we trust, not unprofitable expedition, Our readers will be at no loss to understand, that in our brief sketch of Mr. Campbell's travels, we have omitted a vast variety of facts and incidents, which would have been interesting to them, had our limits permitted us to enlarge the present article... For his indefatigable labours, there fore, and those of his associates, in preaching the Gospel whenever an opportunity presented itself;-for a description of the countries through which they passed,ike |