He was born at Montpellier, in France; but left that country for his religion, and came to settle in this island, where he was swallowed up in the great earthquake in the year 1692; and by the providence of God, was, by another shock, thrown into the sea, and miraculously saved by swimming, until a boat took him up. He lived many years after in great reputation; beloved by all who knew him, and was much lamented at his death.

Though Port-Royal was rebuilt after the great earthquake of 1692, it was burnt down in 1703; and again demolished by an earthquake (which shook the whole island) on the 28th of August, 1722.

Passage-Fort, which is situated on the north-west of the harbours of Port-Royal and Kingston, is a place which I never look upon but with peculiar feelings. It was here that Colonel Jackson, in the year 1636, defeated the Spaniards; and, after having plundered Spanish-Town, made off with his spoils. A few years afterwards, namely, in 1655, it was taken by Penn and Venables; from which period, to the present, Jamaica has been a British island, gradually rising in importance and influence. I mention this principally because, in 1655, when Jamaica was taken from the Spaniards, by the English, many of the slaves fled to the mountains, and gave rise to the people afterwards called Maroons. They lived principally upon wild fruits, roots, and hogs, which they found in the woods and mountains. But as this mode of subsistence was exceedingly precarious; as their numbers daily increased by the accession of run-away slaves; as they considered they had been irremediably injured by those who had torn them from their native shores, designing to subject them to perpetual slavery; as, in these circumstances, they considered retaliation to be perfectly justifiable, they frequently descended from the mountains in formidable parties, under the shades of midnight, falling upon the unwary colonists, murdering all who offered resistance, lighting up the country by the fires which they kindled, and carrying away all the property they could seize.

It is from the circumstance of their hunting hogs that, in all probability, they received the name of Maroon; for the word, in Spanish America, signifies a hog-hunter.

Such depredations were not, however, committed without attempts, on the part of the colonists, to be avenged for the past, and to obtain security for the future. British troops, and the island militia, were in arms against the foe; but without being able to subdue them. The soldiers were unable to bear the fatigues of climbing mountains, and living in caves; nor could they sustain the severe variations of the climate. On the other hand, the Maroon slaves could well endure all this; and, being perfectly acquainted with passes, and precipices, and advantageous places for ambuscades, the troops were frequently taken by surprise, and great numbers cut off. This ferocious enmity continued until the year 1738, when Lord Trelawney, being appointed Governor of the island, wisely adopted a different mode of proceeding. With the approbation of his Council, and of the House of Assembly, certain lands were made over to the Maroons, their independence was declared, and hostilities were to cease on both sides for ever. This happier state of things continued until 1795; when two of the Maroons were flogged like common slaves, by order of the authorities of Montego-Bay, for having committed a trespass. By this act, they considered themselves insulted and degraded, and proclaimed war against the island. Conscious of their inability to encounter the English troops in the open country, they set fire to their own towns in the lowlands, again took up their residence in the mountains, and from thence made frequent incursions on the settlers, plundering and destroying to the utmost of their power. suggested the horrible retaliation to which the inhabitants resolved to have recourse; namely, the employment of bloodhounds; fifty couples of which were imported from Cuba. The strength of the British arms, under General Walpole, and the terror excited by the ferocious character of these canine assistants, drove the Maroons to sue for peace; and on this occasion, the threatened barbarities were not resorted to. Their lives were spared; but, (many think very unwisely,) in 1796, six hundred of them were transported to Halifax, in North America.* There they had lands given to them; Moravian and Wesleyan Missionaries settled amongst them, and

* Subsequently they were removed to a warmer climate.

This

the Maroons became, generally speaking, a peaceful, industrious, and religious people. Those who had been long accustomed to wander in forests, to traverse the plains, or climb the mountain-heights, have become localized; they have exchanged the rude cave for the comfortable cottage; they no longer depend on the precarious supplies of nature, but cultivate their own lands. Each family has formed a domestic circle, and, beautifying it with the virtues of religion, have given to it all the charms and attractions of home.

Yours, &c.,

R. S.

MISSIONARY FACTS AND PRINCIPLES.

WE have just seen a circular addressed by the Treasurer and Secretaries of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, "to the Methodist Ministers in Great Britain, and to all the Local Treasurers and Secretaries of the Wesleyan Branch Missionary Societies," which, as it relates to the year 1841, had it been written before we had completed the preparation of our December Number, should have had our attention. Even in January, however, it may be useful, and (together with a short anecdote from a volume of Travels recently published) will furnish a good commencement to the series of papers on "Missionary Facts and Principles," which we hope to give to our readers in the Numbers for 1842.

The object of this circular, besides directing attention to the general state of the funds of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, is to describe a plan for preventing the occurrence of an unfavourable balance in the accounts for 1841, now about to be made up. The plan has received the sanction of the President of the Conference, and of many other friends of the Society, both in town and country. It is calculated that there must be at least twenty thousand persons, heads of families, in Great Britain, who are seat-holders in Wesleyan chapels; and that, taking one family with another, there will be not less than three children and young persons in each; sixty thousand in all, who are attendants on the Wesleyan ministry. Now, if each of these be requested to give (or collect from twelve of their friends) the sum of ONE SHILLING, and to pay it on

Christmas-day, (or the watch-night at the close of the year at farthest) this Juvenile Christmas Offering would amount to at least three thousand pounds. And thus, a cause truly noble and divine, may receive, in a great and pressing exigency, a seasonable and acceptable relief.

We hope that the plan will have been carried into effect, and the three thousand pounds raised, before our January Number comes into the hands of the esteemed young friends for whose pleasure and profit we pursue our monthly labours. Still we wish to put on permanent record a reference to the plan itself; and, keeping in view the often-quoted saying of Him who "went about doing good,"—" Gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost,"—to suggest a hint or two that may not be unprofitable. There are some families from whom, in the course of the past year, it has pleased the Great Shepherd to remove some very beloved one to his own heavenly fold. Perhaps that beloved one was, during even a brief life, affectionately zealous in the cause of religion; a Missionary, or Bible Society, collector. And shall that name—one that to some will be dear for the remainder of life-be omitted from the Christmas Offering card for 1841? Had they lived, would not their countenances have sparkled and beamed with pleasure at the thought of devoting a Christmas shilling to such a cause? And have they not brothers, sisters, parents, who will put down the shilling in their name, as a sorrowing, yet thankful, tribute to their memory? And may not, at the least, one basket full of fragments from this source be gathered, and transmitted through the Local Treasurers, as an offering of affection in memory of the early-removed lambs of the Saviour's fold? Might not enough be collected, from that one source, to pay the economical expenses of at least one pains-taking servant of Christ, labouring in a distant land?

With true British liberality to dependants and work-people, we would not even dream of interfering; but perhaps pious prudence will already have said, "There are some Christmasboxes, some New-Year's-gifts,—which I ought to withhold.' Now, what Christianity has withheld in one quarter, might it not bestow in another? And thus, may not another basketfull of fragments be collected?

Such reasons as these must be our excuse for adverting to this important circular. We shall conclude our reference by an anecdote, as we have already promised.

About five years ago, by direction of the Government, Lieutenant Wood conducted an exploring expedition up the celebrated oriental river, the Indus, and thence, to the sources of the Oxus. Lieut. Wood sailed from Bombay, and as he approached the mouths of the Indus, the sight of several places on the coast reminded him of the past history of the country, and of that of the Europeans, whose invasions, a few centuries ago, had produced such memorable results on the condition of the people. The remembrances led Lieut. Wood to some very serious reflections; some of which will suggest to our own readers the connexion between Missionary exertions and genuine patriotism. Referring to the conduct of Spain and Portugal towards their colonies, he says, "Let Britain beware, lest the fate of those once powerful, but now degraded, nations be her own. She, too, has been intrusted with many talents, and the day will come when she must answer for their use. History, sacred and profane, modern as well as ancient, shows that the crimes of a nation never escape punishment, and that its only safeguard is in the freedom and religion of its people." Yes; and let Britain be careful by Christian means to give Christianity to India, and the gift will make her empire both secure and flourishing.

On making the land of Kattiwar, among other places on the coast, "Jaggut" was passed. Lieut. Wood gives this

statement:

"Jaggut is a temple of great reputed sanctity, to which pilgrims resort from furthest India. As vouchers for having been here, it is customary for the impression of a rupee, or other coin, to be branded on both arms, a little below the shoulders, for imprinting which the Brahmin receives a fee. The principal temple is dedicated to Krishna, and the smaller ones are sacred to Runchoorjee and Goomtee, gods of the Hindoo pantheon. Our boat sailed past within a few hundred yards of the shore, and the edifice, from each spire of which a white triangular flag was waving, had a stately