Newspaper Page Text
No. 51.—— Vol. 11.
Obituary.
REV. BENJAMIN FIVEASH.
Letter from the Rev. Mr. Brantley to Mrs.
Fivcash, dated
Augusta, October 3d, 1820.
My Dear Madam—On me devolves the
office of apprizing you of the lamented
death of your excellent and interesting son
Benjamin. I wrote a few days since to his
■worthy friend, Mr. Fauqnier, informing
him of the distressing occurrence. Dis
tressing, not to himself, but to us who live
to lament his early exit. When l saw him
■dying so much like a saint, such rapture of
repose, euch boldness of triumphant faith, I
•felt that a wish to detain him from such
brilliant scenes of felicity would be the
height of injustice to him. He seemed to
love death, and to smile when he offered
me his hand, now cold in the final agonies
of nature, for a last adieu. 1 felt thankful
for the opportunity of beholding such a dis
play of piety and resignation. It was one
of those rare instances in which religion
builds her bright structure on the ruins of
and exults amidst the ravages of
mortality ; when the soaring spirit, startled
ffrom its dissolving abode, spreads its wings
for Sight, and shows the surprising beauties
of an undiscovered plumage. Looking
around on the confusion in its little domain,
it passes with eager haste to anew and
unwavering habitation. It was one of those
examples in which the raging storm and
prevailing darkness of disease, were suc
ceeded by the calmness and splendour of a
cheering light ; v.hen, after the scowling
tempest that spread a gloom over the day,
has subsided, “ The radiant sun, with fare
well sweet, extends his evening beam.” It
was one of those prominent cases, in which
the energy of faith was so conspicuous,
that, after the unabating violence of his
malady had drunk up the last drop of the
vital current, his soul appeared in a fresh
ness and vigour that could not be impaired
by the wastiogs of disease, and then his lips
were opened to utter words of confidence
which nothing could shake. It was a be
reavement in which the mercy of God was
visible, softening the sorrow of anxious and
mourning friends, by ihe clear and consol
ing testimony which his young servant
was allowed to furnish to the majesty of
divine triflh. The sweetness of his part
ing benediction made us forget awhile the
{greatness of the calamity occasioned by his
•ieath, to the church, to the society, and to
tiis friends in general. In death, the gen
tleness of the Lord made him great, and his
lips were touched with hallowed fire.
Whatever might have been our reluctance
lo meet the impending disaster whilst its
principles were in their earlier progress,
nnd before the cheering manifestations had
dispelled the gloom which hung over the
scene ; after we saw the firmness and unc-
Vion of his spirit in the immediate view of
death, we were constrained to dismiss eve
ry reluctant and rejoice in the
superlative evidences of efficient sustaining
grace.
It is not probable that he seriously ap
prehended his own dissolution until he was
within a short period of his end. The day
preceding his death had been passed in
much indifference, and occasional delirium.
He would say nothing unless roused by
some vehemence of sound. It was about
12 o’clock at night when he appeared first
-to resume the exercises of reason and faith.
To some friends who surrounded his bed
at the time, and whose countenances spoke
their fears of his speedy departure, he
paid—“ | shall not die just now : I have
much to think before I go.” After repos
ing a little, he suddenly exclaimed—“ lam
under a summons of a speedy appearance
before God, and the blood of his Son pre
pares me for the interview.” “ l have
escaped the wrath to come, and Oh ! the
Hell, the Heil that awaits the wicked.”
He again slept, and waking with much im
patience, he cried— u When shall 1 wake,
and find tne there.” Continuing in a ex
posed and tranquil state until sunrise, he
called roe to his bed, ami offered me his
hand, which was then quite ,cold. Said I
to him, are you going ? He replied, “ Yes.”
i'lfter this he uttered the following prayer,
with a firm unfaltering expression. “ O
< jod, my Father, in nature’s trial support
l ne. In thy pre*ence I long to dwell for
r ver. Draw my spirit to thyself, and hold
ir. iy fainting heart. Mv dear Redeemer,
tl oil bast washed me in thy blood; enable
ir. @ now to follow thee through the gloom
of death. Thou Holy and blessed Spirit,
vvl to makest intercession for the saint 9 with
g-r. isnings which cannot be uttered, help
me through this struggle.” After this he
jnv >ked the blessed Trinity, and having
pru fed for me, and others who were stand
ing by, he composed liiaiseif and said,
N o.v let me die.” In fifteen minutes
fron r this time he ceasoc to breathe.
M bilst you feel the painful bereavement
whic ‘.b the loss of an engaging son must in
flict, 1 have to deplore the sudden dejection
ofht tpes that had attained a considerable
heig ! it. Asa pupil, I have ever found
him i ‘espectful and attentive, circumspect
and ■ liiigent. In aiding his native petie
tratic a, and in conducting the early efforts
of hia i fine intellects, I have bad a satis-
THE MISSIONARY.
GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD, AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.— Jesps Ciuubt.
faction rarely enjoyed in other cases. The
facility with which he acquired whatever
was offered to his study, allowed us the
certain confidence of his distinction and
eminence in useful learning But it was in
the sentiments and affections of a devout
and pious mind, that he appeared in his
proper elevation. Religion had assumed
over his whole character an influence de
cided and prominent. He evidently knew
what it was to abhor sin upon Christian
principles, and to love duty for the delight
which it imparted. Such do 1 conceive
was your son Benjamin Fiveash.* _
Let me hope that such considerations
will mitigate the severity of your sufferings
under the sense of his loss. By taking to
himself your amiable son, God has given an
additional strength to the attractions by
which be would draw you to himself. This
is the method by which he endears to us
the anticipation cf Heaven, and pours a
just measure of contempt on the fleeting
vanities of time. 1 am aware that your
troubles of late have been trying and se
vere. Called within a short time to mourn
the loss of a daughter, and now to feel the
deep anguish of a son’s early departure,
must be bitter. But remember that the
Lord chasteneth those whom he loveth.
The highest secret in Christian experience
is the sense of sanctified affliction. God
has a way of his own by which he can more
that remunerate your present privations,
and you may confidently expect that he
will make good all his promises.
THE OBSERVATION OFTHE LORD'S
DAY REMARKABLY REWARDED.
AN ANECEOTE
Taken from a Tract printed at Bristol , by
the Bristol Society for promoting Religious
‘Knowledge.
The writer remembers hearing of a Bar
ber, who lived at Bath in the last century :
passing a Church or Meeting onp Sunday,
he peeped in, just as the minister was giv
ing out hi? text, “ Remember the Sabbath day
to keep it holy.” Exod. xx. 8 ; he listened
long enough to be convinced that he was
constantly breaking the laws of God and
man, by shaving and dressing his customers
on Sunday. He became uneasy, and went
with a heavy heart to his Sunday task. At
length he took courage, and opened his
mind to the minister, who advised him to
give up Sunday dressing, and worship God.
He replied, beggary would be the conse
quence ; he bad a flourishing trade, but it
would almost all be lost. He told him he
must not confer with flesh and blood ; but
trust God , who requires from us no more
than is for our good—never ask? us to make
any sacrifice, but he will abundantly com
pensate ; the command being absolute, ad
mits of no relaxation.
He could not bring his mind to it at once;
sounded his customers, and soon found they
would employ another. At length, after
many a sleepless night spent in weeping
and praying, he was determined to cast all
his care on God; as the more he ■ reflected
the more his duty became apparent.
He discontinued Sunday dressing ; went
constantly and early to church or meeting,
and soor. enjoyed that self-gratulation
which is one of the rewards of doing our
duty, and in due ftrne that “ peace of God
which the world can neither give enr take
away.” The consequences he foresaw ac
tually followed ; his genteel customers left
him. as he was nick-named a Puritan or
Methodist. He was obliged to give up his
fashionable shop, and from various grada
tions in life, in the course of years he be
came so reduced as to take a cellar under
the old market-house and shave the far
mers t
One Saturday evening, between light and
dark, a stransrer from one of the coaches
asking for a barber, was directed by the
hostler to the cellar opposite. Coming in
hastily, he requested to be shaved qoickly,
while they changed horses, as he did not
like to violate the Sabbath. This wa touch
ing the barber upon a tender chord ; he
burst into tears, asked thp stranger to lend
him a halfpenny to buy a candle, as it was
not light enough to shave him with safety.
He did so, revolving iu his mind the ex
treme poverty to which the poor man
must be reduced, before he could make
such a request.
When shaved, he said— ‘ There must he
something extraordinary in your historv,
which I have not now time to hear. Here
is half a crown for yon ; when I return I
will call and investigate your case. What
is your name ?”
“ William Reed, 1 * said the astonished
barber.
“ William Reed !” echoed the stranger ;
“ William Reed ! by your dialect you are
from the West.’
“ Yes, Sir ; from Kingston near Taun
ton.
‘William Reed, from Kingston, near
Taunton !—What is your father’s name ?’
‘ Thomas.’
‘Had he any brother?’
‘Yes Sir; one, after whom I was named:
hut he went to (he Indies ; and a? we nev
* Mr. Fivensh was born at Portsmouth, Virgin
ia, October 4th, 1799, ami was engaged in study
preparatory to the Christian ministry.
MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK CO. GA.) FRIDAYrMAY 18, 1321.
From the London Evangelical Magaaine.
The affecting narrative which we now present to
our readers may be depended upon as strictly
true. The minister who visited the unhappy
man was the Rev. Mr. Coombs, of Manchester.
THE LAST HOURS OF AN INFIDEL
WHO HAD BURNT HIS BIBLE.
On the Lord’s dny, October 24th, 1819,1
was called (says the person who has fur
nished the following account) to visit a poor
man in Manchester. He was described to
me as dying in the most distracting agonies
of mind. I found him in full possession
of his mental faculties but much agitated
and alarmed by a sense of his great sinful
ness and approaching misery. For this I
was at no loss to account, when I had learn
ed, partly from himself, and partly from his
neighbours, the following particulars of his
history.
He had been accustomed from childhood
to reverence the institutions of religion, to
read the Word of God, and to attend his
worship. Regular in his habits, and moral
in his deportment, he had generally main
tained a fair character. About six months
before the time at which I aw him, he had
been deprived of his wife by death. To
suppress the sorrow occasioned by this loss,
he went frequently to a publick house;
there he found companions whose mirth
caused him to forget for a moment his troub
le?. At first he was surprised and shocked
by their profaneness, but he soon proved
that “ Evil communications corrupt good
manners.” These men were infidels ;
and it was not long before they persuaded
their new associate to imitate their exam
ple, in abandoning the profession, and cas
ting off the Restraints of Religion On
Sunday mornings they met to encourage
each other in all manner of wickedness; and
on one of those occasions, according to pre
vious agreement, they together committed
their Bibles to the flames, arid vowed nev
er again to enter a place of religious wor
ship.— “ All this (said the wretched man)
did well enough while I was in health, and
could keep off the thoughts of death.” Now ,
however, he was stretched on a bed of sick
ness, and conscious of his near approach to
eternity; in this state, forced to reflection,
his guilt and danger, excited the utmosF
horrour and alarm: despair had taken full
possession of his mind. When I spoke/ to
him of mercy and forgiveness, which the
most heinous offenders are encouraged to
seek through the Mediation of a Redeemer,
he hastily exclaimed, “What’s the msp of
talking to me about mercy ?” When en
treated again and again to behold the Lamb
of God, which taketh away the sin of the
world, he said, “ l tell you it’s of no use
now; ’tis too late.” In reply to my exhor
tation to pray, he said, “ Oh, I could pray
once, hut now I can’t pray ;” and, after a
pause, “ 1 will not pray.” These express
ions were subsequently- several times re
peated, “ I cannot pray, 1 will not pray.”
Two men having entered the’ room, whom
1 understood to have been leaders in the
guilty company by whom this poor man had
been deluded, he hastily turned his face
from them with obvious disgust and terror;
and after they had addressed to him some
blustering expressions,by which they hoped
to rally his spirits, he raised himself on his
bed, lifted up his hands, and in the most de
liberate and solemn manner called on God
Almighty to blast those wretches to all eterni
ty! They almost immediately left the
apartment, uttering a profusion of oaths.
Some time afterwards three others of the
men entered, and occasioned a repetition of
er heard from him, we suppose him to fce
dead.’
* Come along, follow me!’ said the stran
ger. ‘I am going to see a person who says
his name is William Reed, of Kingston, near
Taunton. Come and confront him If you
prove to be indeed him whom you say you
are, I have glorious news for you: your un
cle is dead, and has left you an immense
fortune; which I will put you into poses
sion of when all legal doubts are removed.’
They went by the coach, saw the pre
tended William Reed, and proved him to
be an impo3tor. This stranger, who was a
pious attorney, was soon legally satisfied of
the Barber’s identity,told him be advertised
him in vain; Providence had thrown him
iu his way in a most extraordinary manner,
and he had great pleasure in transferring a
great many thousand pounds to a worthy
man, the rightful heir ofthe property.
Thus was man's extremity (rod's opportu
nity.—Had the poor Barber possessed one
halfpenny, or even had credit for a candle,
he might have remained unknown for years,
but he trusted God , who never said— ‘ Seek
ye my face in vain.’ He had read in the
Bible (that fountain of all good, which he
often consulted, though he seldom saw a
newspaper)— 1 Trust him at all times , ye peo
ple.—ln all your ways acknowledge him , and
he will direct your paths :’ not, perhaps, in
the way of man’s wisdom; no, he sees the
end from the beginning; he weighs out all
his dispensations in the balances of the
sanctuary: he led the Israelites forty years
through the wilderness, which they could
have travelled in six weeks, had infinite
Wisdom seen fit; but he delayed, 1 to shew
them what was in their hearts.’
the imprecations, which it was impossible for
any to hear without shuddering.
After I had been with him two hours,
(during which time lie frequently repeated
such expressions as have been stated) he
became quite indifferent to what was said
to him, rolling about on his bed, and now &
then ejaculating, “My Bible! O, the Bible.”
His eyes were for several minutes fixed on
me, but he seemed not to hear the ques
tions and entreaties which I continued to
address to him. He then concealed his face
by turning it to the pillow, and after hav
ing remained in this position perhaps a quar
ter of an hour, his whole frame was violent
ly convulsed; he groaned, and then again
was still; and whilst 1 was speaking to the
by-.nanders, he expired.
“ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands
of the living God.”
— ’**ozo:t\i:ozo** —
■SOUTH AFRICA.
The following is a communication from the
Rev. Dr Philip , the Society's Resident at
the Cape of Good Hope , giving an outline
of Mr. Campbell's Journey , about 250
miles North East of Laitakoo.
On Mr. Campbell’s arrival at Lattakoo,
he found circumstances uncommonly fa
vourable to the further extension of his
journey into the interiour. The Missiona
ries had been recently visited by Bootchua-.
nas from different tribes beyond them, who
had expressed a wish to have Missionaries
among them, and a powerful chief of one
of the tribes was at this time at Lattakoo,
and had offered his services to assist our
traveller in accomplishing the object of his
wishes. Accompanied by Munameets, the
king of Lattakoo’s uncle, and the king,
whose name is not mentioned, and a suita
ble escort, Mr. Campbell left Lattakoo on
ihe 11th of April 1020, in his bullock wag
on.
Visit to Old Lattakoo.
After travelling about forty miles, in a
northerly direction, they came to Old
Lattakoo. On the removal ofMateebe to
New Lattakoo, the place was taken pos
session of by people of different tribes, and
Mr. Campbell supposes it to contain 8,000
inhabitants. It is governed by a chief of
the name of Mahoomer Peloo. At a pub
lick meeting of the principal men of that
place, there was not only a willingness to
receive and protect the Missionaries, bat
even a desire to have them.
A town called Meribohwhey.
From thence Mr. Campbell proceeded
in a northeasterly direction, and after trav
elling a week (about 120 miles) came to
Meribohwhey, the principal town of the
Tammaha tribe, sometimes called “ Red
Caffres,” and who are represen'ed as a sav
age, warlike people. Mr. C. observed
that their appearance corresponded with
this report; but he experienced kind treat
ment from them ; and after the chiefs had
held a consultation, they consented to re
ceive Missionaries, and promised them
their protection.
A large town named Mashew.
He next visited Mashew, a town about
20 miles further, which was estimated to
contain from 12 to 15,000 inhabitants.
Much land was seen under cultivation.
Here Mr. C. had some conversation with
an intelligent old woman, who said she came
from a country to the eastward bordering
on this great water, where people live,
who she said had long hair. At Mashew
the people expressed an equal willingness
to receive Missionaries.
Dicovery of a very large town called Kurrec
chane.
From thL? town Mr. Campbell travelled
a week (about 120 miles) further to the
north eastward, and came to Kurreechane,
the principal town of the Marootzee tribe,
consisting of about 16,000 inhabitants.
Here Mr. C. found a people arrived to a de
gree of civilization, and possessing a knowl
edge of arts superiour to any of the tribes
he had seen. They smelt iron and copper
from (he ore. The metals are produced
from mountains in the neighbourhood.
When Col. Collins was in Caffre land, and
among the Tambnokees, iu 1809, the arti
cles of iron and copper which he found
among the savages, he supposed to have
been furnished by the Portuguese at De
La Goa Bay.
From the description Mr. C. has given
of the Kurreechane, the Colonel appears
to have been mistaken in this opinio.
The manufactures of Kurreechane re
found to have diffused themselves from the
borders ofthe colony of the Cape of Good
Hope to the shores of Mozambique, and
from De La Goa Bay to the wandering
tribes on the opposite coast. The needles;
bodkins, and other articles of a Similar na
ture manufactured at Kurreechane, and
found in great abundance in the neighbour
hood of Augra Pequenna Bay, strengthens
the supposition that the Portuguese have
for mauy years carried on an inland corres
pondence between their settlements and
the eastern and western shores of Africa.
The desire of keeping any thing ip trade
secret indicates considerable eltvation
above savage life. Mr. C. saw many found
ries in Kurreechane, hut he regrets that
they were guarded with so much jealousy
that he was not allowed to enter thpm.
Kurreechane appears to be the Stafford-
Price i $3,50 pr. ann. or, $
? ’ I $3,00 in advance. >
shire as well as Birmingham of that part
of South Africa. They manufacture pot
tery, and in the shape and painting of their
articles, shew a superiour degree of taste.
They appear to excel in the making of bas
kets; and Mr. C. found the walls of their
houses Ornamented with paintings of ele
phants, camel-leopards, shields, &c. On
the third day after their arrival, Mr. C.
found himself in a critical situation, and be
gan to suspect a snare. He was told that
the king was advised to take him and his
party on a commando against a nation with
whom he was at war. As we are not told
by what means our brother escaped from
this awkward predicament, we may suppose
that he was deceived in his estimate of the
conversation on which this alarm wascreat
ed. On Mr. C.’s proposing to send Mission
aries to reside in Kurreechane, they called
a Pietso, or a meeting of the principal
men. About 300 assembled in a publick
place, all armed with spears, battle axes,
shields. &c. and an exhibition of savage or
atory ensued, where noise, gesture and fla
ency of speech were not wanting to make
it strikingly expressive. Munameets set
beside Mr. C. to explain the proceedings.
In the course of the discussions, a lively old
chief rose up and spoke, pointing bis sppar
in a northerly direction, which immediately
produced a general whistling, meaning
“ Bravo 1 Bravo !” The interpreter inform
ed Mr. C. that this speech was intended to
stir up the people to go to war with a na
tion beyond them, some of whose people
had a short time before carried off some of
their cattle. In his own way Mr. C. re
marks, “ between you and me, I bare
heard noise more agreeable to my ear than
this whistling was.” After much had been
said tespecting war, some of the people
notv began to speak of white men now of
fering thpmselves; and the assembly at
last resolved that Missionaries should be
received and protected. The king then
presented Mr. C. with two oxen, and two
large elephant’s'teeth.
The chief towns of the Wanketzens avoided ,
by desire of the King of Lattakoo.
Mr. C. passed within 20 miles of the chief
town ofthe YVanketzens. It was here that
Dr. Cowan and Lieut. Donovan and their
party, who proceeded on a journey of dis
covery into the interiour, during Lord Cal
edon’s administration of the government of
the colony, were arrested in their progress.
Makkabba, the king of the Wanketzens,
and Maleebe, the king of Lattakoo, have
always been opposed to each other. Pre
vious to Mr. C.’s departure from Lattakoo,
he was strongly advised by Mateebe not to
visit this rival’ chief. Mateebe, says Mr.
C., makes a merit of having given up his
plundering system, by the advice of the
Missionaries, and he used this argument to
dissuade me from visiting Makkabba. “ I
have,” said the king, “given up by the
advice of the Missionaries, taking, cattle
from other tribes, although that was one
great source of my revenue, and you ought
to listen to me, and be advised by me in
this case.”—At parting, Mateebe said, “Mr.a
C. remember I advised Cowan and Dono 1
van, and their party not to visit Makkabba I
and had they taken my advice, they might
have be-in still alive.” I
General account of the country. }
About Kurreechane, and many otherplJ
ces visited by Mr. C. the height of the hilll
the smooth regularity of their outline, anl
the indentations upon their sides, afford sol
ficient indications of the presence of challl
lime, &c. and ofa secondary andconsequenf- 1
ly a fertile country. From the distance
travelled by Mr. C., Kurreechane must iay
near the latitude of 24 degrees south, and
not a very great distance from thp eastern
coast of Africa. In this neighbourhood
some of the rivers were seen running to the
westward, while others ran to the eastward,
and in aS.S. E. direction. It is probable
that seme of the rivers seen by Mr. C.
this occasion may be branches of the Mani
ca, the De la Goa, or Machavanna, nen.-
the source of those which empty them
selves into the De la Goa Bay. Sever 1
large towns were reported to lay to the
eastward of Kurreechane, the smoke of one
or two of them was seen in the distance.
From this place Mr. C. returned, nearly by /
the same route, to Tammaba, and froml
thence southward to M;‘h*peetzee, an./
Makoon’s Kraal; then westward in a disc '$ *
line to New Lattakoo, from which be *-
been absent two months. ’ !
Supposed Population of the Bootchuana co ,
try-
From the number ot inhabitants seen bi ,
Mr. C. at the several towns through übiv.
he passed, it would be a low calculating
estimate the population oi the Bootcb>/; ii
nation at supposing, what s4f|
probable, that they inhabit the country MS
the 24th degree of longitude to the eas*
coast, and from the 24tb degree of
comprehending 90,000 square miles. M
C.’s recent attempt to penetrate in
the interiour of South Africa, may f
adduced as an additional illustration of*
truth of Mr. Wilberforce’s remark, -
Africa is to be discovered, it must b-? fc J
Missionaries.” The report of the G. /
town and Lattakoo missions is known -'vi
all the Bootcbuana tribes, and perhap
many tribes further in the interiour.
is the respefj to the Missionaries, ttf ,