circumstance unknown to the committee at Farmington, who had sent off the Mendians sooner than we had calculated,—­and it seemed almost impossible to procure a suitable place in which to hold meetings, or to arrest the attention of the people, as the whole—­democrats, whigs and abolitionists—­had every nerve strained for the political contest.  However, preparation had been made for a meeting at the Melodeon, late Lion Theatre, on Thursday evening.  A few hundreds assembled, and appeared to be highly gratified with the performances.  It seemed to them marvellous that these men and children, who, less than three years since, were almost naked savages in the interior of Africa, should, under the untoward circumstances in which they have been placed for the largest part of the time since they have been in a civilized and Christian country, appear so far advanced in civilization and knowledge.  Only forty-six dollars were received, the proceeds of tickets and a collection, but a strong desire was expressed that there should be another meeting.

“Saturday evening was the only evening we could have Marlboro’ Chapel, the largest church in the city.  Preliminary to this meeting, a private meeting of invited gentlemen was held during the afternoon, at the Marlboro’ Hotel, the Mendians being present.  The meeting was well attended and a good impression was made.  In the evening there was a large meeting in the Chapel; Rev. Dr. Anderson opened it with prayer, concluding with the Lord’s prayer, each sentence being repeated in our language by the Mendians.  A statement was then made of their past and present condition, of their good conduct, their proficiency, of their ardent desire to return to Mendi, and the favorable prospects of establishing a mission in their country.  Three or four of the best readers were then called upon to read a passage in the New Testament.  They then read and spelled a passage named by the audience.  One of the Africans next related, in ’Merica language,’ their condition in their own country, their being kidnapped, the sufferings of the middle passage, their stay at Havana, the transactions on board the Amistad, &c.  The story was intelligible to the audience, with occasional explanations.  They were next requested to sing two or three of their native songs.  The performance afforded great delight to the audience.  As a pleasing contrast, however, they sang immediately after, one of the songs of Zion: 

      “’When I can read my title clear
      To mansions in. the skies,
      I’ll bid farewell to every fear,
      And wipe my weeping eyes.’