recaptured Africans-Visit of the Ontario-Captain Nicolson-Swiss Missionaries-Government of the Colony-Condition of the People- Accessions of Territory-Plan of Mr. Ashmun for extending Coloniza- tion among the Natives-Policy towards them-Religious state of the Colony-Address of Colonists-Ashmun's ardour in pursuit of intellectual and moral improvement-Melancholy thoughts-Religious feelings and Arriva! at Liberia of the Doris, Randolph, and Nautilus-Visit of Mr. No. 1. Extracts from the Early Diary of Mr. Ashmun. No. 2. Resolutions of the Maine Society School. No. 3. Papers touching the importance of Missionary Efforts in Africa. No. 5. Supposed Error. No. 6. Subjects reported on by the Special Agent-Extracts from the Colonial No. 8. Letter to Rev. Dr. Blumhardt. No. 9. Ashmun's Vindication of his conduct in destroying the Slave Factories. No. 11. Miscellaneous Papers of Ashmun, including-What rules are to be ob- LIFE OF ASHMUN. CHAPTER I. In an age, like this, when men are remarkably occupied with schemes of private enterprise, and large plans for human improvement, the Biography of an individual will be well nigh unnoticed, unless it exhibit in the subject of it, evidences of extraordinary intellect or illustrious virtue. Nor is it to be expected or desired that public attention should be directed to ordinary merit, while there are great and shining examples upon which it may be fixed. Life is too short to be wasted upon trifles; and while the active spirit of the times is unfavourable to the calm and steady contemplation of individual character, the more important it is, that such character, if held up for imitation, should possess rare worth and brightness. The following pages are submitted to the Public without an apology, because the individual to whom they relate, not in the writer's opinion only, but in the judgment of the Christian community, at least, both of this and other countries, deserves an extended memorial. The Author, however, cannot enter upon his work, without humbly invoking the aid of that Divine Being, who, while He sometimes kindles in human souls the pure flame of His own spirit, that they may bless and guide mankind, can alone preserve and extend the influence and light of their example to the remotest generations of the world. JEHUDI ASHMUN was born in the town of Champlain, New York, on the 21st of April, 1794. He was the second son, and third child in a family of ten children. His father, Samuel Ashmun, Esq. married early in life, and soon after, settled in Champlain, then a wilderness; and though exposed to numerous inconveniences and hardships, his industry and enterprise soon placed him in circumstances of independence, while his intelligence and moral worth secured for him the confidence of his fellow-citizens, among whom, for many years, he sustained the office of a Justice of the Peace. The childhood of young Ashmun was distinguished by a thoughtful and reserved manner, intense application to books, reliance upon his own powers, and ambition to excel in all his studies.* Every leisure hour was improved; he early accustomed himself to keep a Journal, and would sometimes omit to take his meals, that he might have opportunity to record in it, such thoughts or events as he deemed worthy of remembrance. The father of Ashmun, considering the number of his family and his moderate means, designed to grant to his children those literary advantages only, which were afforded by the common schools of the country, in expectation that their lives would be devoted *The following anecdote is related of him: While a schoolboy, a premium was offered by his instructer, for the best composition which should be furnished in the school. Many of the pupils were older than himself, and the time allowed to prepare the pieces was short. So confident was he, however, of success, that he promised his mother, to bring to her a certificate of his triumph. When his elder brother was announced as entitled to the reward, Jehudi exclaimed, "you mean me, master!" And instead of being disturbed by the smiles of his fellow-pupils, he still insisted that his opinion was correct, and wrote a certificate for himself, and carried it home to his mother. to agricultural pursuits; but the love of knowledge cherished by the subject of this Memoir, and his importunities that he might be allowed to gratify it, finally induced his parents to consent that he should seek a liberal education, provided reliance was placed mainly upon his own exertions to defray the expense. This condition was cheerfully accepted, and at the age of 14, he commenced his studies, in preparation for College, under the tuition of the Rev. Amos Pettingill, the worthy Minister of his native place, with whom he made rapid progress, and strengthened the confidence of his friends in his final success. At this time he appears to have had no fixed religious principles, and occasionally to have indulged doubts of the truth of Christianity. The example of pious parents, and particularly the tender admonitions of his mother, had deeply affected him at the early age of six years, and the impressions then made were never entirely effaced; yet it was not until his 17th year, that Divine Truth exerted, in his own judgment, a regenerating influence on his mind. The date of this event is recorded in his Journal, the 26th of June, 1810. Having been absent from home, during most of the preceding winter, and in the society of irreligious persons, his chief desire and purpose had been, as he expressed them, "to secure the es'teem of his fellow-beings and feed on earthly pleasures."The effect of cherished imaginations of future distinction and happiness in the world, during this brief period, contributed more in his opinion, to harden his heart against God, than two years of previous impenitence. The most solemn truths, the kindest parental exhortations had lost their power to move him. While he was thus insensible to the claims of the Almighty upon his affections and his services, the attention of the people of his native village was particularly turned to religion, and a youth of his acquaintance had been led to devote himself to the cause of the Redeemer. A remark of this youth, at a social prayer-meeting, expressive of his own happiness as a child of God, appears first to have arrested the attention, |