too frequently, selfish and unfeeling masters. They were employed either in the cultivation of the fields, or in domestic drudgery; and were talked of and treated as creatures who had no souls.

The attention, then, of the Society was, from the first, steadfastly directed to the amelioration of the condition of these unfortunate men. Directions were given to the several Missionaries to promote their instruction, and to persuade their masters to send them at stated times to be catechised and prepared for baptism. This, however, was no easy task. The masters could not spare them from their task-work, or the distance was inconveniently great. These were the plausible objections; but the real obstacle was to be found in the unwillingness of the master to have his slaves taught; partly from a vague apprehension of the effects of education, and partly from an ignorant notion that slaves became free by baptism. The actual condition of the negro population in New York was brought forcibly under the notice of the Society by Mr. Elias Neau, a trader in that city, whose evidence about the Indians has been already quoted. Mr. Neau was a Frenchman, who had embraced the reformed religion, and had suffered in consequence several years' confinement in prison and in the galleys. During this time, "I had learned," he says, "part of the Liturgy by heart in my dungeons, and ever since that time I have had both affection and esteem for the divine service as it is used in the Church of England. Nevertheless, I would not condemn all those who are not comformable thereunto; I leave that judgment to God."1

It was determined, therefore, to appoint a catechist, whose exclusive business should be the instruction of the

1 MS. Letters, vol. ii. p. 67.

negro slaves; and Mr. Neau, being strongly recommended for this office, was appointed in the year 1704. There were at that time about 1500 negro and Indian slaves in the city. Mr. Neau began by visiting them from house to house: but afterwards got leave for them to come to his own residence.

In 1708, the number of his catechumens had risen to more than 200, and was increasing every day. One of them remarked to him, "The gentlemen in England who pay you to instruct us must be excellent men, since their charity is extended to poor creatures like us, whom they have never seen." Some, it appears, were afraid to continue their attendance, because, when they asked permission of their masters to be baptized, they were threatened with being sold into Virginia, or sent away into the country, if they went any more to school.

Mr. Neau states, 27th February, 1708-9, in reply to inquiries from the Society, that the arrest and imprisonment of Mr. Moor were occasioned by that Missionary's faithful denunciation of the profligate habits of the Governor. Among other scandalous practices, it seems that Lord Cornbury was accustomed to dress himself in women's clothes, and so publicly exhibit himself on the ramparts of the town. For this Mr. Moor openly declared that he deserved to be excommunicated; and did, in point of fact, refuse to administer the holy communion, at Burlington, to the lieutenant-governor, in consequence of the debaucheries and profane swearing to which he was addicted.'

Mr. Moor contrived to make his escape after a short imprisonment; and Mr. Brooke, for whom the same fate was intended, for taking his friend's part, was fortunate

1 MS. Letters, vol. iv. p. 121.

enough to avoid an arrest by suddenly returning to England.

Mr. Neau gives the following account of his mode of catechising. He could never muster his scholars till candlelight in summer or winter, except on Sundays, when they came after the last service of the church. He He says, "Je commence par la prière, et à mon exemple tous se mettent à genoux: ce sont de prières publiques de l'église que j'ai choisi, afin de les leur apprendre par cœur." After their lesson, which commonly occupied about two hours, they concluded with singing a psalm, and the evening prayer, in which an invocation of blessing on the Society's labours was always introduced. "Vous jugez bien, Monsieur, que je n'oublie pas leurs bienfaiteurs, et que j'en ai fait un article dans les prières, et souvent dans mes discours je leur fais voir l'obligation qu'ils ont à Messieurs de l'illustre Société, pour les exciter à la reconnoissance."1

It was the practice of Mr. Neau to take his catechumens to the Rev. Mr. Vesey for baptism, from time to time, as he considered them sufficiently prepared to receive that holy sacrament. The useful course of his labours was interrupted, in 1712, by an insurrection of the negroes in the city of New York, which, though soon put down, created a strong prejudice against the school, which the masters well knew how to turn to account. On the trial, however, of the conspirators, it appeared that but one of all Mr. Neau's scholars, and that one unbaptized, was concerned in the plot. But more than this, it was found that the negroes who were most guilty were the slaves of those masters who were strongly opposed to their Christian education.

1 MS. Letters, vol. iv. p. 155.

Governor Hunter afterwards publicly declared his approbation of the school; and, in a proclamation, recommended the clergy to exhort their several congregations to promote the instruction of the negroes.1

The long and consistent service of the Rev. R. Charlton in the same humble but important office of Catechist to the Negroes, first at New Windsor, and afterwards at New York, demands a brief notice. He was in the habit of publicly every Sunday teaching and explaining the Church Catechism, and was reported by Mr. Vesey to have given great satisfaction to the people, and to have "crowned all with a good life." From his appointment at New York, in 1732, to 1740, he had baptized 219 negroes, of whom 24 were adults. The next year he had 70 negro and 90 white catechumens. In 1746, their number had considerably increased; and he "could plainly discover a truly pious spirit among them." In 1747, he was promoted by the Society to the church of St. Andrew, in Staten Island, and was succeeded by the Rev. Samuel Auchmuty, who had been educated at Harvard College, Cambridge, and recently ordained deacon.' A school was soon afterwards built by voluntary contributions, in which fifty children were educated by Mr. Hildreth; and successive reports of the Catechist mention the increasing number of his baptisms, amounting at last to about one hundred, including infants and adults, yearly. In 1764, he reports that "not a single black admitted by him to the holy communion had turned out badly, or in any way disgraced his profession." These few facts may serve to show that the Society was neither forgetful of its duty to the poor African race, nor an unsuccessful labourer in the cause of their amelioration.

'Humphreys' Hist. Account, p. 242.

3 Report for 1765.

2 Journal, vol. vii. p. 79.

T

CHAPTER XII.

NEW YORK.

First discovery by Hudson-And settlement by the Dutch-Captured by the English in 1664-Area-Present population and number of ClergyFirst Church and Clergyman-Rev. W. Vesey-Rev. John BartowM. Bondet-M. Stoupe-Rev. H. Barclay-Rev. G. Muirson-Rev. John Miln-Mr. Barclay, Jun.-Rev. John Ogilvie-The Mohawks-Mr. St. George Talbot-Convention at Ripton, Connecticut-Sir W. Johnson.

THE sea-board of this province was first explored about the year 1609, by Henry Hudson, a native of Holland, whose name has become memorable by having been given to the noble river of the Northern States, and to the wellknown bay, both of which he discovered. In the following year a few Dutch stations were formed, and in 1620 a settlement was made on a larger scale, when the district was called New Netherlands; and the principal cluster of houses, on the site of a town which now contains a quarter of a million inhabitants, was named New Amsterdam. A perfect toleration for all religious opinions was guaranteed, and the new colony became a refuge for the persecuted Protestants of many European countries, France, Belgium, Germany, Bohemia, and Piedmont.'

In the reign of Charles II., 1664, and during the war with Holland, this province was taken possession of by the

1 The United States of America, by Hugh Murray, vol. i. p. 285.