ssrs. Mortier and Cheesewright, our
missionaries in Demerara were safe, and that _only_ two of the members
of our society there had been apprehended on suspicion of being
implicated in the late revolt. We have received a second letter from Mr.
Mortier, dated Demerara, September seventeenth, which communicated the
gratifying intelligence that these two persons, who were servants of the
governor, had been liberated upon full conviction of their entire
innocence, and that _no one_ of the members of our large society of
twelve hundred and sixteen, chiefly slaves, had been in the least
concerned in the revolt: and that the slaves of another estate, under
the care of Mr. Cheesewright, had not only refused to join the rebels,
but had conducted their master to a vessel, by which he reached
Georgetown in safety.
_Case of Rev. John Smith._
The London Missionary Chronicle for March contains a statement
respecting Mr. Smith's case, occupying, with accompanying documents
nearly twelve pages, which confirms the impression that Mr. Smith was
innocent. The Directors of the London Missionary Society, after stating
some circumstances relative to his trial, says.
The Directors having stated these points of serious objection (and more
might easily be found,) to the proceedings on the trial, conclude that
the members of the society, and the candid beyond its circle, will
approve of their declaring that they retain the conviction formerly
expressed, of the moral and legal innocence of their missionary, Smith;
that they do not withdraw from him their confidence; and that they are
"not ashamed of his bonds." They regard him as an unmerited sufferer, in
the diligent and faithful, and it may be added, useful discharge of his
duties, as a missionary; and they earnestly wish the Divine forgiveness
may be extended to those who may have been instrumental in causing his
sufferings.
The Rev. Mr. Austin, a clergyman of the church of England, and Chaplain
of the Colony, thus expresses his opinion in a private letter.
"I feel no hesitation in declaring, from the intimate knowledge which my
most anxious inquiries have obtained, that in the late scourge which the
hand of an all-wise Creator has inflicted on this ill-fated country,
nothing but those religious impressions which, under Providence, Mr.
Smith has been instrumental in fixing--nothing but those principles of
the gospel of peace which he has been proclaiming--could have prevented
a dr
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