As already stated, the British settlers who emigrated to South Africa in the year 1820, were located by the Government in what was then designated the Zuurberg, now the fertile and beautiful district of Albany. In former times this territory was occupied by tribes of Hottentots; but at the period now referred to it was a comparatively uninhabited waste. The Amakosa Kaffirs had previously dispossessed the Hottentots of their country; and they, in their turn, whether justly or unjustly is a question difficult to decide, were driven beyond the Great Fish River; the original boundary of their own territory being the Keiskamma, thirty miles further to the east. No blame attaches itself to the British emigrants in connexion with the expulsion of the Kaffir tribes. The thing was done without their knowledge, and some years prior to their occupation of the country. Nor have they ever, as a community, acted with injustice towards the aborigines of the land, much as their character has been traduced by their enemies. They have, on the contrary, sought to extend amongst them the blessings of religion, and the arts of civilized life; and though they have met with but little encouragement, but rather the reverse, their efforts to promote the highest interests of their heathen neighbours have increased and multiplied year by year. It were well if every colonial settlement of the British Crown had been conducted with as much regard to the principles of justice as that of Albany in Southern Africa. And the Colony has prospered, despite its numerous difficulties. Many were the hardships and privations which the emigrants at first endured; and sad were the prospects which, for a considerable period after their arrival in the country, were presented to their view. But the patient and persevering spirit for which the British character is distinguished, sustained them in their trials, and bore them above the tempest and the storm; and some of them I have heard relate their adventures with feelings of the liveliest gratitude to the all-wise Disposer of events; observing, that they could now afford to smile at the recollection of their former troubles and disasters. The following observations, in the South-African Directory for the year 1833, are strictly applicable to the state of the settlement in 1848; and that notwithstanding the calamitous and distressing war, to which reference will be hereafter made, that has been recently brought to a close. "On a full consideration of the present state of this district, (Albany,) it may be safely asserted, that the inhabitants are making rapid strides in every point which is calculated, under Providence, to establish them as a respectable and thriving people. The intercourse existing between the colonist and the native tribes beyond the borders, presents an unlimited field for commercial enterprise and research, which will not be lost sight of; while, as it has been shown, the prospects of the farmer, if he act with common prudence, are far from discouraging. At the close then of another year, we have again to congratulate the British settlers of Albany on their present situation. Greatly to their credit as a people, they have never lost sight of those fundamental principles, without which no society can be happy and prosperous. Without education and religious instruction, the rising generation would have degenerated into a race but little removed above the tribes beyond us; but with minds stored with useful knowledge, it is not unreasonable to expect, that from this corner of the Colony the light of truth may shed its rays far into the interior of this benighted portion of the African continent." Graham's-Town, the capital of the eastern province, is rapidly rising into VOL. IV.-FOURTH SERIES. 30 a place of considerable importance. The population is about six thousand; and the number of houses, seven or eight hundred. The streets are wellformed, wide, and spacious; and the shops and stores of the merchants, large and respectable. It possesses a church, and several very elegant chapels belonging to the Wesleyans, Independents, Baptists, and Roman Catholics; three of which were erected during my residence in the town. A public library is in efficient operation; and from the press two journals, both conducted with energy and talent, are issued weekly. It commands the principal trade of the interior; and on the market may often be seen quantities of skins, furs, ostrich-feathers, ivory, and curiosities of various kinds, brought by traders from distant parts of the country, where they traffic with the native tribes. It is well supplied with good water, conveyed from springs and fountains by means of pipes, which have been laid down recently in almost every part of the town. This brief, and necessarily imperfect, sketch of the Colony may tend perhaps to recommend it as a field for emigration. But, in a future chapter, some further observations will be offered on this subject, together with a few statistics for the guidance of the inquirer. Meanwhile it may be observed, that the hope expressed by Montgomery Martin, several years ago, in the following paragraph, may now be considered as in some degree already realized; and that this dependency of the British Crown will unquestionably, if rightly governed, take its stand amongst the most valuable sections of our colonial empire :-" With a free press and education, I trust to see the foundation laid at the Cape of Good Hope of a great and powerful community; whose ancestors will have had the honour of converting an apparently sandy and inhospitable peninsula into a fertile and beautiful territory; from whence they will have the glory of extending among the natives and tribes of South Africa the comforts of civilization, the delights of freedom and literature, and the unspeakable blessings of Christianity."* (To be continued.) WESLEY PAPERS. No. XXXV. MR. J. WESLEY, AND MR. CLAYTON.-TWO LETTERS FROM MR. CLAYTON TO MR. JOHN WESLEY. (COMMUNICATED BY THOMAS MARRIOTT, ESQ.) INTIMATELY Connected with the paper entitled "Methodism in Former Days," No. XXXII., as it appears on page 874, of this Number of our work, is the acquaintance which Mr. John Wesley formed with Mr. Clayton, of Brazennose College. The following is the account which Mr. Wesley has recorded of the circumstance :-"It was a little before this time my brother and I were at London, when, going into a bookseller's shop, (Mr. Rivington's in St. Paul's Church-Yard,) after some other conversation, he asked us whether we lived in town; and upon our answering, 'No; at Oxford,' 'Then, gentlemen,' said he, let me earnestly recommend to your acquaintance a friend I have there,-Mr. Clayton, of Brazennose.' Of this, having small leisure for contracting new acquaintance, we took no * History of the British Colonies, vol. iv. notice for the present. But in the spring following, (April 20th,) Mr. Clayton meeting me in the street, and giving Mr. Rivington's service, I desired his company to my room, and then commenced our acquaintance. At the first opportunity, I acquainted him with our whole design, which he immediately and heartily closed with: and not long after, Mr. M. having then left Oxford, we fixed two evenings in a week to meet on, partly to talk upon that subject, and partly to read something in practical divinity."* Mr. Wesley also writes of the same gentleman, in his "Short History of the People called Methodists:"-"In April 1732, Mr. Clayton, of Brazennose College, began to meet with us. It was by his advice that we began to observe the fasts of the ancient church, every Wednesday and Friday. Two or three of his pupils, one of my brother's, two or three of mine, and Mr. Broughton, of Exeter College, desired likewise to spend six evenings in a week with us, from six to nine o'clock; partly in reading and considering a chapter of the Greek Testament, and partly in close conversation. To these were added, the next year, Mr. Ingham, with two or three other gentlemen of Queen's College; then Mr. Hervey; and, in the year 1735, Mr. George Whitefield. I think, at this time, we were fourteen or fifteen in number, all of one heart and of one mind." + I.-ORIGINAL LETTER FROM MR. CLAYTON OF BRAZENNOSE COLLEGE, OXFORD, TO MR. JOHN WESLEY. Oxon, August 1st, 1732. REV. AND DEAR SIR,-Excuse me for interrupting you from attending to the noble work ‡ you have taken in hand, whilst I give you an account of the present state of our affairs in Oxford. I cannot but think it an extraordinary Providence, that when we had lost our best advocate and patron, all opposition against us should immediately cease. Since you left us, nobody has thought it worth while to attack either Mr. Smith or me; or endeavour to remove us from those principles wherein you, by the grace of God, have fixed us. Mr. Smith goes out of town to-morrow morning, and so will be entirely out of danger from the Fellows of Lincoln. We had conversation this morning while we were at breakfast together, concerning the temptations which may possibly arise from strange company and travelling; and Mr. Smith seems to be fore-armed against them. He joins me in respects to your brother and you, and desires you will not forget to send the bands and the poems you promised him. My little flock at Brazennose are, God be praised, true to their principles, and I hope to themselves too. Bocardo,§ I fear, grows worse upon my hands: they have done nothing but * Wesley's Works, vol. i., pp. 12, 13. Fourth Edition. "At the end of Northgate-street, and near adjoining to the tower of St. Michael's church, stood the celebrated Bocardo, the principal north-gate of the city, which was more strongly fortified than any of the other gates, having no river before it, to assist in the defence, as was the case with all the others. When the fortifications fell into disuse, the room over the gateway, which had in early times served as a muniment-room, was applied to the purpose of a common prison, principally for debtors. There are persons yet living, (1834,) who remember it as such, and also an ancient custom of the debtors letting down a hat or purse by a cord from the window to receive the charity of the passers-by. But this place has derived its chief renown quarrel ever since you left us. The children all go on pretty well. I have obtained leave to go to St. Thomas's workhouse, twice a week. I am sure the people stand much in need of instruction; for there is hardly a soul can read in the whole house. If you can conveniently, pay Mr. Rivington thirty shillings for my use: I will repay you when you come to Oxford. Pray do not forget a few Common-Prayer Books for the Castle. You cannot imagine the pleasure it is to me to know that you are engaged every morning in prayer for me: I wish for nine o'clock more eagerly than ever I did before; and I think I begin to perceive what is meant by that union of souls which is so much talked of in Père Malebranche, and Madame Bourignon, which I never understood before. I do not envy you the happiness which I know you will have from the conversation of so many pious men as I know you will meet with at London, because I assure myself that I shall have the benefit of it when I have the pleasure of seeing you again at Oxford. Mr. Hall is not yet come home; so that I am pretty much taken up among the poor people, and the prisoners; and have not yet had time to consider of any improvements or additions to be made to the list of books for our pupils. I thank God I have fully conquered my affection for a morning nap, and rise constantly by five o'clock, and have the pleasure to see myself imitated by the greatest part of my pupils. I have made Mr. Clements a proselyte to early rising, though I cannot to constant communion. May God prosper all your designs of doing good in London! Reverend and dear Sir, Your affectionate friend, and obedient humble servant, J. CLAYTON. P.S.-My compliments to Sir John Philips, Mrs. Wogan, and all other friends. To Rev. John Wesley, to be left with Mr. Rivington, II. ORIGINAL LETTER FROM MR. CLAYTON TO MR. JOHN WESLEY. Manchester, September 10th, 1733. REV. AND DEAR SIR,—I would answer your letter, yet for my unworthiness I dare not, for my ignorance I cannot. How should I direct my instructer in the school of Christ, or teach you, who am but a babe in religion? However, I must be free to tell you my sentiments of what you inquire about. On Wednesdays and Fridays, I have for some time past used the office for Passion-week out of "Spinckes's Devotions," and bless God for it. I have found it very useful to excite in me that love of God, and sorrow for having offended him, which makes up the first main branch of repentance. You know it consists of meditations on our Saviour's life, and will ever be memorable, as the place of confinement of the glorious martyrs, Cranmer, Latimer, and Ridley, previous to their execution. This took place in the open space between Baliol College and the city-wall. Latimer and Ridley were first executed; and Cranmer is said to have ascended to the top of the tower in which he was confined, to witness their execution; where he openly kneeled down, and prayed for them. Shortly afterwards he was called upon to share their fate on the same spot, which is said by tradition to be precisely indicated by one of the bastions of the wall still remaining, immediately under which the stake is said to have been fixed.”— Memorials of Oxford. and such meditations as are all of them closed with proper devotions. I could only wish I was provided with two such offices, one for Wednesday, and the other for Friday. Refer your last question to Mr. Law: I dare not give directions for spending that time which I consume in bed, nor teach you that rise at four, when I indulge myself in sleep till five. Dear Sir, pray for me, that I may press forward in the paths of perfection, and at length attain the land of everlasting life. Adieu, J. CLAYTON. I believe you will see a young gentleman of my acquaintance, who is a very pious man, but who greatly stands in need of Christian prudence to direct him; in particular, with regard to his conduct towards his parents. His religion sometimes seems to savour of self-will. Instruct and save him. To the Rev. Mr. Wesley, Fellow of Lincoln-College, Oxon. HURRICANE IN ABYSSINIA. DURING the dry season, everything in nature appears desolate and dismal; the plants are burned up; the trees lose their leaves, and appear like brooms; no bird is heard to sing; no animal delights to disport in the gladness of its existence; every living being creeps towards the forest to secrete itself, seeking shelter from the fearful heat; save that, now and then, an ostrich will be seen traversing the desert fields in fidgetty pace, or a giraffe hastening from one oasis to another. In this season, however, frightful hurricanes occasionally arise, and fill the minds of those who have not been witness to such a phenomenon in nature before with the utmost consternation. A powerful current of air, of suffocating heat, blows fiercely from one point of the heavens to the other, devastating everything that lies in its course. The atmosphere bears at these times generally a leaden grey appearance, and is impregnated with fine sand; the sun loses its brilliancy, and total darkness envelopes the earth, rendering it even difficult to distinguish objects a few paces distant. The sky changes suddenly, becomes of a yellow colour, then assumes a reddish hue; and the sun appears as a blood-red disc. The wind howls, tears up everything within its reach, houses, fences, and trees by the roots, carrying them away with it; levels mounds of sand, and piles up fresh hills. In short, the devastation caused by a hurricane of this kind is beyond description. Unfortunate, indeed, is he who happens to be overtaken in the desert by one of these storms. There is no course left for him to save himself, but to throw himself with his face on the ground, in order to avoid suffocation by the pressure of the atmosphere. Respiration is totally impeded, all the fibres are tightly contracted, the chest threatens to burst for want of pure air; and a man of rather weak constitution, overtaken by one of those hurricanes in the open air, generally succumbs. But robust men, even those in full vigour of life, feel depressed in every limb for several hours after exposure to these storms, and recover but slowly and by degrees. Animals fly, and endeavour to conceal themselves; every creature, in fact, seeks a place of shelter. The camels, on journeys, indicate the storm before it breaks forth, by an unsteadiness of gait, and by drooping |