companies where flander and detraction took place, and would endeavor, when there was opportunity, to divert the converfation from topics fo difagreeable to her. This part of her character, of which the above is an imperfect fketch, rendered her agreeable, and recommended her to the esteem and affection of all religious perfons who were acquainted with her, or heard a true report of her. And this procured to her the general approbation of all, of every denomination and character, as an emipently good woman.

IN the years 1766, 1767, there was an uncommon attention to religion, which turned the thoughts of many to Mrs. Ofborn. They repaired to her as a known pious, benevolent chriftian, to whom they could have easy access, that they might enjoy her counfel and prayers. This was the occafion of numbers reforting to her house. When fhe faw this, and that the number increased, fhe was at a great lofs what to do. She trembled with fear that if the encouraged their meeting at her houfe, it would be going beyond her fphere, offend fome of her chriftian friends, and give occafion to fome not friendly to religion, to speak evil of her and of religion, and fo do much more hurt than good. On the other hand, fhe was afraid to difcourage them, and refufe to let them come to her and meet at her house, when under apparent concern about their fouls, left, by this, their at

tention

tention and concern fhould abate and ceafe. She advised with her chriftian friends, and fome minifters; and upon their advising her to encourage them and attend to them, fhe granted them liberty to come, and appointed particular times for their coming. The poor Blacks appeared more generally concerned and engaged, than others. They agreed to meet at Mrs. Of born's on the evening of the Sabbath. She admitted them, on condition that they should be--have orderly in coming and retiring, and always break up feafonably, and that those who were not free fhould not come without the confent of their mafters, and that they should not make any acknowledgment to her by attempting any compenfation by prefents, or any other way; declaring that he would not receive any thing of this kind from them. On thefe conditions they convened in great numbers, commonly to the amount of fixty or eighty, and fome times more. Mrs. Olborn, finding their attention was fo much to her, was greatly cautious, fearing to go beyond her line, as a woman, in endeavoring to promote their inftruction and religious. impreffions for the good of their fouls. She used to select paffages of fcripture, which fhe thought would be moft ufeful to them, and from other religious books, and read them to them: And when fhe had opportunity, fhe would invite fome chriftian man to pray with them. She took opportunity to converfe with individuals, and fome times would give a word of advice to them all.

8

And

And where he could, fhe obtained fome minifter to preach to them, and converfe with them; the paftor of the church, to which she belonged, not being able to attend.

Thefe meetings continued a year or more, and were the means of the apparent reformation of many, and of the hopeful converfion of a number.*

This

Among whom were two in particular, who were flaves, but fome years after joined to buy a ticket in a lottery, and drew a prize, by which they both obtained their liberty. Their names were BRISTOL YAMMA, and JOHN QUAMINI. As they were men of good natural abilities, and appeared truly pious, and retained the knowledge of the language of the nation from whence they were taken on the gold coaft, it was thought proper to attempt to fit them to be miffionaries, to endeavor to fpread the gofpel among the heathen Africans, their brethren, for which they appeared greatly defirous. To promote this defign a confiderable collection of money was made in New England. And the Society in Scotland for propagating chriftian knowledge, fent money over, which was laid out on them to fit them for the propofed miffion. But when they were judged to be fit to enter on the miffion, the war between Great Britain and America came on, which put a stop to the defign. And before the war was over the latter died; and the former not long after fell into an ili ftate of health, and died alfo. John Quamine was brought from Africa when he was a boy. He faid his father was one of the chief men at Anamabo, and that he fent him by the captain of a Guincaman to America, to be put to school and inftructed in the learning of this country; which the captain engaged to do: But, contrary to his promifes, he fold him a flave for life. After his freedom was obtained, and he was preparing to go to Africa, a letter was written to a black miffionary at Cape Coaft Cafile, informing him of the propofal of ferding him with his companion miffionaries to Africa: And relating the fubftance of the story which John Quamine told of his father, and the reafon of his being fent to America; and de firing him to make inquiry refpecting the fact, and inform what he ihould learn concerning it. The following is an extract of his anfwer,

"CAPE COAST CASTLE, AUGUST 30, 1773.

"It is with great pleasure and fatisfaction 1 acquaint you, that my inquiries after the friends and relations of that gentleman have not been fruitless. The minute account which he has given you of his family and kindred is juft: For by inquiring, have found his father's name to be the fame as mentioned in your letter; who has been dead many years. His mother's name answers your defcription; who is ftill alive; and whom I have had the pleasure of feeing. But the bows of maternal aЯection, in truth do I declare, appear to yearn and greatly

This particular respecting the Blacks will be concluded by inferting here fome of her exercifes on this occafion, found in her diary.

"Lord's Day evening, Nov. 23, 1766.-About eighty fix below, and fourteen above; an hundred, in all, here this night: The Lord command a bleffing for Chrift's fake. O for divine influence! O thou dove of heaven, defcend. I am waiting for influence from heaven. Lord, except thou dost take the work into thine own hand, all will come to nothing; the poor impotents will either grow weary of the means, and turn away from them: Or, if they still lie by

the

greatly agitate her, with tears of joy, like that of Jacob's, when he heard that his beloved fon Joseph was yet alive. The joy it kindled on the occafion, the expectation of feeing once more the fruit of her loins, before the, with her grey hairs. go to the grave, fills her with ecftalies refembling Jacob's, who in raptures breaks forth, and fays, It is enough! My fon is yet alive! 1 hope, through God's bleffing to fee him before I die, His uncle's name is the fame which you mention, In fhort, every circumstance agrees with the defcription given me in your letter. His uncle, or fome great perfonage of his family, who now poffeffes his father's eftate, defires with importunity that I would earneftly y petition you, for his returning to his native country as foon as poffiole; and promifes that nothing hall be wanting conducive to make him, and all about him happy, and live fatisfactorily among his own kindred. The family unanimously defire me to exprefs to you all the thanks they are able to return for your paternal care and affection expreffed towards him.”

It may here be added, that the way to this propofed miffion yet lies open, and the importance of it, and the encouragement to it, are as great as ever. All that is wanted is money, exertion, and miffionaries to undertake it. There are religious blacks to be found who underftand the language of the nations in thofe parts, who might be improved, if properly encouraged. And if they were brought to embrace Chriftianity, and to be civilized, it would put a ftop to the flave trade and render them happy. And it would open a door for a trade which would be for the temporal interet of both Americans and Afri-, cans. As attention to fending the gospel to the heathen appears to be Row fpreading and increafing in America, it is hoped that the eyes of many will be opened, to fee the peculiar obligations they are under to attempt to fend the gospel to the Africans, whom we have injured and abused to greatly, even more than any other people under heaven; it being the beft and the only compenfation we can make.

the pool, they will grow worfe and worfe. None can help them in; nor can any one, of himself, obtain healing. O, dear Redeemer, come and make them whole, for thine own honor and glory's fake; not for mine. If they should all turn back and I fhould be reproached, What is my name, to thy glory, and their falvation? I would have no felf in pleading that thou wilt crown my poor labors with fuccefs; but a fingle eye to thy glory. O that thou wilt order every step I take, and guide me by thine eye, and employ me juft as thou wilt, only glorify thyfelf, and ftill ferve thyfelf of me. Here am I, Lord. Ufe me as thou wilt; only preferve thine own honor, and it is enough."

"Monday morning, January 26, 1767.—It: fnowed yesterday, and I was not well; yet in the evening I was more ftrong and lively; and I truft God did help me to converse to the edification of the poor, dear fouls. O Lord, feal inftruction. Own thy worthlefs nothing, and the glory fhall be, it will be, thine forever. The house was full, no weather ftops them. The Lord bless them! Lord, teach me what thou wilt have me to do. Let me be influenced by. divine teaching alone, and not by Satan, or indwelling corruption. I want none of their influence or teaching. Make me quick to dif cern what is from thee, and what is not.

And

O God, I pray thee, make the path of duty ftraight and plain in this matter: And either fpirit me to the work, and enable me to do it judiciously, in fuch a manner as will ftand the teft, or elfe to lay it afide, and do nothing at all. Lord,

1