ion at Berbice, a neighboring colony, which is
highly favoured. They had 14 years ago an immense chapel at Georgetown,
attended by great numbers of people of different colours, among whom
were supposed to be more than a 1000 negroes. At this place the slaves
esteemed it a privilege to contribute to the funds of the Missionary
Society.

Did time permit, we might also give some account of the labours of the
"Society for the conversion and religious instruction of the Negroes in
the West India Islands." But there is nothing very peculiar or marked
in its history. We therefore pass on to notice missions among the slaves
in the United States.

Of those who have laboured in this field in our own country, the
earliest, that are known, were the United Brethren. The associates of
Dr. Bray, a gentleman in England, who had by his last will made some
provision for the conversion of the negroes in South Carolina, having
solicited Count Zinzendorf to send some missionaries to that colony, the
Brethren, Peter Boehler and George Schulcus, were sent thither in the
year 1738. In consequence however of the sinister views of those who
ought to have assisted them, they were hindered from prosecuting the
great object of their mission. Both of them, indeed, soon fell sick.
Schulcus died in 1739; and Boehler, who was at the same time minister of
the colony of the Brethren in Georgia, retired with these to
Pennsylvania, in consequence of being required to carry arms in the war
that was carried on against the Spanish.

The next labourers, so far as known, in this field were Rev. Samuel
Davies, afterwards President of Nassau Hall, and Rev. John Tod, of
Hanover Presbytery in Va. Mr. Davies began his ministry in Hanover in
1747, and in 1755 he gives the following account in a letter to a member
of "the Society in London for promoting Christian Knowledge among the
poor." "The inhabitants of Virginia are computed to be about 300,000
men, the one-half of which number are supposed to be negroes. The number
of those who attend my ministry at particular times is uncertain, but
generally about 300, who give a stated attendance; and never have I been
so struck with the appearance of an assembly, as when I have glanced my
eye to that part of the meeting-house where they usually sit, adorned,
for so it appeared to me, with so many black countenances eagerly
attentive to every word they hear, and frequently bathed in tears. A
considerable number of them (a