Wednesday, 5th.—­Continued heavy rain in the morning, and showery throughout the day.  We hired 30 Africans, called Kroomen,[10] who are always ready to serve as seamen on board of a man of war, or any other vessel, so long as they continue on that coast.  They are usually entered as supernumeraries on the ship’s books for provisions and wages, in the same manner as British seamen.  They are employed on any service which would expose Europeans too much to the climate, such as wooding, watering, pulling in boats, &c.  I shall hereafter give further particulars of these people, and their country.

Saturday, 8th.—­I accompanied Mr. Macaulry, to wait on his honour, the Lieutenant Governor, Colonel Lumley, who continued in his Commandant’s quarters at the barracks, situated on a hill, which at first rises gradually from the town, but becomes much steeper as you ascend.  We then accompanied Captain Perry and Mr. Green to the regimental mess, where we lunched.  It is worthy of remark, perhaps, that three out of four of these gentlemen, namely, the Lieutenant Governor, Mr. Macauley, and Mr. Green, whom I was in company with at the barracks this morning, died long before my return to England.  Dined at Mr. Reffells, the acting Chief Justice, where there was a large party, consisting of the Lieutenant Governor, and all the principal official characters of the place, Captain Owen, &c.

Monday, 10th.—­Notwithstanding the heavy rain to-day, a large party of the friends of the late Mr. Lewis, (agent victualler, who died last night at 11 o’clock,) assembled at his residence near King Tom’s point, to witness his interment, under a large tree not far from the house.  It was distressing to observe a favourite dog of the deceased gentleman howling about the grave of his late master.  He offered so much resistance to those who attempted to remove him, that it was with great difficulty he could be prevented from throwing himself into the grave after it had received the coffin.

Mr. Miller, who was a volunteer serving for a commission in the Royal African Corps, died to-day from the effects of fever.

Tuesday 11th.—­Some slight showers in the forepart of this day, and fine in the afternoon, when the Rev. Mr. Davy took me to visit a school for free black children under the charge of Mrs. Taylor, widow of a late missionary in this colony.  Although this is but a day-school, there is a probability of its doing some good with all who attend it, and a great deal of service to a few.  But it is in vain to attempt to civilize savage nations through the medium of book instruction alone.  Previous habits exercise so powerful an influence over the mind, that the value of precept is hardly felt.  The good impressions which arc made by the teacher in the morning, are obliterated by the example of ignorant parents in the evening; so that the result of an education imparted in this way, is merely to sharpen the natural