THE CALABAR (AFRICA) POISON BEAN, (PHYSOSTIGMA VENENOSUM.)—The seed of this plant has lately been much noticed for the medicinal properties which reside in it. The most energetic results are obtained from the kernel. These are chiefly marked upon the spinal cord, producing masculine paralysis. When applied locally to the eyeballs or eyelids, destruction of the contractibility of muscular fibre and contraction of the pupil result. This property is advantageously employed by the occulist.

A NEW MISSION.-The English Colonial Church Chronicle states that an association will soon bring its plans before the public for commencing a mission to that part of Equatorial Africa explored by Captains Speke and Grant. The mean temperature of the regions to which it is proposed the expedition shall go is only 68 deg., that of the Singhalese highlands about Kandy, being 75 deg., and that of the Yoruba 81 deg. The elevation of the plateau makes it remarkably salubrious for the tropics.

This

MISSIONARY TRAINING INSTITUTION.-In the Episcopal Church the foundation of a foreign missionary seminary will be laid in September, at Gambier, Ohio. A Committee has been formed to procure the necessary means. Committee state that the subject has been urged upon them by the Rev. J. G. Auer, a missionary from the West coast of Africa, and formerly a pupil of the missionary seminary at Basle.

COLORED BAPTISTS IN NEW JERSEY.-It is a remarkable fact that in the entire state of New Jersey there are only two Baptist Churches composed of colored persons, and both these of recent origin. The Kaighnsville Church, located in a suburb of Camden City, was organized in 1857, and numbered at the last report twelve members. The Second Baptist Church of Burlington was organized in 1863, and also numbers twelve members.-Chronicle.

METHODIST MISSION.-Rev. B. R. Wilson writes under date of Monrovia, June 1st: I am happy to say that our work is prosperous in the congregations of the civilized population. The work is gloriously spreading among the natives. Since I wrote you last there has been two native stations established, seven converts on the Monrovia district in the vicinity of Mt. Olivet, which is altogether new. There have been six of the converts baptized, and others preparing to receive baptism. Brother I. D. Holley, on the Marshall circuit is penetrating the interior with great success. All the brethren are well and at their work.

ELEVEN BAPTISMS.-Rev. C. C. Hoffman, writing from Cape Palmas, under date of May 15, says: "We have had to-day eleven baptisms at St. Mark's Church, more than ever before at any one time. Among them was a native man from Manāuke, which is said to be a month's journey interior from Congo: he was a recaptured slave. Another was from Loango, bought and shipped by the Spanish, and taken by our cruisers some years ago, and brought to Liberia. A third was from a tribe one hundred miles down the another was from the interior, about forty miles."

cpast; while

UNCERTAINTIES OF CHARITABLE BEQUESTS.-An important will case was decided by Judge Barnard in the Supreme Court of New York lately, showing the great uncertainty attending the execution of charitable bequests, and the propriety of those who wish to do good with their money becoming their own executors, and dispensing their charities while they are alive. It was the case of Chauncey Rose, executor of the last will and testament of John Rose, deceased. The testator by his will bequeathed from one and a half to two millions of dollars to found a beneficent association for poor children in the city of New York. A condition was imposed however, that three hundred thousand dollars should be raised from other sources for the same pnrpose, limiting five years as the period within which this additional fund should be raised; and in case it was not done within the time, one half of the estate was to go to the American Colonization Society, and the other half to such objects of charity as his executor might select. The Court decided that the limitation of five years was a violation of the statute, and thus voided not only the original bequest, but the other bequests depending upon the failure of the condition connected therewith. The estate, therefore, goes to the brothers of the deceased.

M. DU CHAILLU.-At a meeting of the Royal Geographical Society, a letter was read from M. Du Chaillu, who had arrived on the Western coast of Africa, near to the former point from which he penetrated the interior. It was stated that M. Du Chaillu had expended all the money gained by the publication of his book in fitting out his new expedition; that he had taken a supply of instruments, to enable him to make accurate observations, and establish the points on which doubts had been thrown; but on conveying the instruments to shore, the canoe containing them was upset, and they were all lost. M. Du Chaillu was in consequence detained until fresh instruments, which the Geographical Society had provided for him, were received.

AFRICAN EXPLORERS.-We have news of the great African explorers. Dr. Livingstone has arrived at Bombay; Mr. Samuel Baker was at Kamrasi, 85 miles from Lake Nyanza; and Mons. Jules Gerard, known as "the Lion Killer," had failed in his attempt to reach the interior of the continent by the route of Timbuctoo. He had been attacked and plundered by the natives, and with difficulty escaped with his life. It is announced that Dr. Livingstone, after spending about four months in England, will return to Africa on a new expedition, to put in train operations by means of which the slave trade will be eventually put an end to.

THE CAVALLA MESSENGER for April, a number of more than usual interest, remarks that: "As it is proposed to enlarge the Cavalla Messenger, notice is hereby given, that the subscription to this paper will be hereafter one dollar a year. Those who value the paper, and would aid the Mission, are hereby requested to punctually forward subscriptions to the Rev. C. C. Hoffman, Cape Pulmas, or Bishop Payne, Cavalla."

RECEIPTS OF THE AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY From the 20th of July to the 20th of August, 1864.

By Rev. Dr. Orcutt, ($51.90.) 3 00 Westfield-Collection in Pres. Church in part to constitute their pastor, Rev. E. B. Edgar, a L. M....

73 50 Metuchen-Coll'n in Presb.
Church, $13.50. Dr. Deck-
er, $3, in part to constitute
their pastor, Rev. Gardiner
Spring Plumley, a L. M.
Mrs. John D. Littell, $5 in
full to constitute Rev. John
B. Thompson a L. M.........
Rahway-William Edgar......

THE

AFRICAN REPOSITORY.

Vol. XL.]

WASHINGTON, OCTOBER, 1864.

[No. 10.

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FIRST FATHERS OF A COUNTRY FOR ITS FUTURE LIFE AND CHARACTER.

THE ADDRESS DELIVERED TO THE YOUNG MEN OF MONROVIA, LIBERIA, WEST AFRICA, 1ST DECEMBER, 1863.

BY REV. ALEXANDER CRUMMELL, B. A.,

Professor of Mental and Moral Science, etc., in the College of Liberia.

[Concluded from our last number.]

III. I turn now, in the last place, to a brief consideration of some of the teachings which proceed from the train of remark I have brought before you. You will bear in mind, that when I commenced I referred to government, chiefly because the political condition of a country expresses, more fully than anything else, the spirit, temper, and character of that people. You will connect with this, the remembrance of the great objects which have brought us to this coast. For I take it, that when the Almighty takes up a people in any of the great centres of civilization, and transplants them into a region of ignorance and benightedness, he gives such a people a commission, and imposes an obligation upon them, to undertake the elevation of the degraded people who become subject to them in all the respects of their mental and moral nature. GOD sends them there on that mission. A mandate comes to them from heaven to take charge of the lowly and benighted, and to lift them up to manhood, to freedom, and moral superiority. I do not say they are not to consider collateral purposes, nor to devote themselves to personal advantage; but I beg to insist upon it that the providence of GoD points out to them a most certain mission of enlightenment and elevation, which such a people can only neglect at their peril. And this is the position in which we stand before God, in our place, in this new country. It is not the miserable

thing as to who can get this place, or secure the other; not the contemptible ambition, who we can crush down in order for oneself to get up; not the pitiful thing as to who can sport a pair of epaulettes, or who can boast a title; but the end for which we have been planted in this spot, on these shores, is the promotion of grand civilization and human blessedness! And hence comes the solemn consideration-Have we the right breed here? Have we such strong character, that we can send forth a stream of influence so deep, so strong, so unfailing, that it may flow on for ever, with blessed and vitalizing power?

Hence I am a deal more concerned about that temper, character, and spirit into which the people of this country may be educated, than about anything else. I am more anxious about the development of certain qualities in our population than about the rise or fall of parties. I am more eager for the planting of proper principles, and the bringing out of just sentiments, than I am about the movements of caucuses, or even the doings of a legislative session.

For you can easily see that if the people of this country are virtuous and brave; if they have a high spirit and sterling honor; then, the character of the people will react upon their institutions, modify their imperfections, and supply the correctives to all things unseemly, or wrong. The CHARACTER of

a people, then, is the main consideration with us; and we may dismiss from our minds all thought concerning mere governmental framework, and political policy, and bend our whole thought to the point namely "How are we to train ourselves, as a people, to the great, perpetual work of GOD and man on this continent?"

:- 8

Three distinct qualities seem to me most essential to this end :The first of these is SELF-RESTRAINT-an element of character which more distinctly than many others proves manhood, and evidences real internal strength.

No free system can live without this principle pervading the national mind and governing personal character. For a free system depends upon public sentiment; upon the people's interest and acquiescence in Government; in their prompt and punctual reverence of majestic law. Under a free system no man should test law to see how much it can bear; to put a constitution on trial to learn whether it could stand a rent. Indeed, if men are not to be governed as slaves; if a people are to live free from an imperious, prying police following them at every step, and peering into every window; if self-government is to be a very considerable item in a national system, then that people must need cultivate a spirit of generous forbearance, and learn the lesson of self-restraint. If they cannot do this, then they must be trammelled, chained, hand-cuffed. And they must perforce transmit such a system to their children; for the children will be like their sires; for "when the fathers eat sour grapes, their children's teeth are generally set on edge."* As well turn s

Ezekiel xviii, 2.