the Church; both were seized and murdered while striving to comfort and protect their mothers. Joseph Reed was a Sabbath-school boy, aged seven years. Augustus Stuart was a Christian man, and insane at the time he was killed, and, as if to show that it was not the timidity of the blacks that encouraged the rioters, James Costello was killed for having defended himself with a pistol. And all were slain either while in the peaceful pursuit of their honest, though humble vocations, providing for their families, or while endeavouring to escape from the hands of their destroyers. "Furniture and clothing has been provided for all of these families, and everything in our power done to make them comfortable. That an unprovoked persecution, when occurring in the midst of a justice loving and rightminded community, always results to the final advantage of the people abused, is remarkably illustrated in the fact that, since the riots, the demand for coloured servants has increased ten-fold. Families of the highest social position, both in the city and country, have applied for servants in vain. "In looking over the list of occupations on page 355, it will be seen that of the women there are 3,122 who obtain their living by going out to day's-work, and 787 servants hired by the month, a proportion of nearly 6 to 1; while of the men there are 1,823 day labourers to 609 workers by the month, a difference of 3 to 1. The largely increased demand for servants by the month may change this, but the habits of a people cannot be thrown off in a moment. It has been said by their enemies that the coloured people of the North are idle and dissolute; some few cases of the latter we did find, but with more than ninety-five out of every 100 a prompt response to the inquiry as to what was their occupation?' was always given as above stated. As a rule they were evidently hardworking, honest, humble people, though many, in both education and respectability, compare favourably with any of our citizens. "The great good which the coloured people feel has already been accomplished by the Committee in the opening of this office and the bringing together of so many different religious denominations, trades, occupations, stations in DEVELOPMENT OF FREE COLOURED VIRTUES. 359 life and nativities in friendly and harmonious action, has caused a number of their leading men to ask whether it might not be to the advantage and lasting benefit of the coloured people in New York city to have this mission continued permanently among them. They say that they have been made acquainted with the condition and wants of their people by observation of the doings here, and have seen what opportunities and means there are for improving their condition far beyond their previous conception. Understanding that the present committee, on the conclusion of its labours will be disbanded, the idea has suggested itself whether a committee could not be found who would place this friendly intercourse on a permanent foundation, and carry on the work as above suggested. Having had charge of nearly 10,000 refugee slaves in North Carolina within the past year, I cannot but remark the difference between them and the free coloured people, who have these last few weeks come under my notice. The free coloured people are very much the superiors of their Southern brethren in education, cultivated intelligence, refinement, and in a quick and independent way of maintaining and asserting their rights. While in kindness towards each other-patience under trial and affliction— cheerfulness, willingness to labour, and an entire absence of everything like revenge, or a cherishing of ill-will towards those who have injured them, both those of the North and the South are alike remarkable. "In physical strength and vigour of body I think the Southern refugees are their superiors. Several applications for relief and claims for damages were made by those who had previously resided in Canada and the British West Indies, and I have observed with some interest that all such persons have had a more clear, straightforward, unembarrassed, yet equally respectful way of presenting their claims. Whether this comes from habits formed by living in a country where the black man is more respected than with us, I am unable to say. "I cannot close without calling attention to the generous and kind way in which the New York press has aided in this noble work. Although we have had lengthy notices in the editorial columns of their widely-distributed newspapers, we have not had one unkind criticism and but few bills for all their valuable services rendered. Grateful to a kind heavenly Father for the privilege of having been permitted to assist in alleviating the sufferings of these. much-abused, persecuted, and greatly misunderstood people, and for the harmony, good order, and success which has attended this mission, now brought to a close, "I am, Gentlemen, ever faithfully yours, "VINCENT COLLYER, Secretary." I must find room for one extract from the coloured people's grateful acknowledgments :-"We cannot, in justice to our feelings, permit your benevolent labours to terminate, even partially, without offering some expression of our sincere gratitude to the universal Father for inspiring your hearts with that spirit of kindness of which we have been the recipients during the severe trials and persecutions through which we have passed. When in the pursuit of our peaceful and humble occupations we had fallen among thieves, who stripped us of our raiment and had wounded us, leaving many of us half dead, you had compassion on us. You bound up our wounds and poured in the oil and wine of Christian kindness, and took care of us. You hastened to express your sympathy for those whose fathers, husbands, sons, and brothers had been tortured and murdered. You also comforted the aching hearts of our widowed sisters, and soothed the sorrows of orphan children. We were hungry and you fed us. We were thirsty and you gave us drink. We were made as strangers in our own homes, and you kindly took us in. We were naked and you clothed us. We were sick and you visited us. We were in prison and you came unto us. Gentlemen, this generation of our people will not, cannot forget the dreadful scenes to which we allude, nor will they forget the noble and spontaneous exhibition of charity which they excited. The former will be referred to as one of the dark chapters of our history in the empire state, and the latter will be remembered as a bright and glorious page in the records of the past." CHAPTER VIII. THE SANITARY AND THE CHRISTIAN COMMISSIONS-SYMPATHY OF THE PEOPLE WITH THE ARMY. THE executive of the United States has had difficulties and drawbacks in the administration of military affairs from the fact that there had not been a standing army, or an extensive corps of medical and hospital officers; and as there is no national church, there was not a clerical supply of military chaplains. The army, too, constituted as so many state contingents, and coming from the several loyal states, could not be very promptly supplied with Federal officers in these branches of service. I am not sorry there was not a standing army, and I do not regret that an established church is not among the accessories of a military staff; and yet I can perceive the lack of such service as experienced and efficient medical and clerical officers could have rendered. The American people have seen what was needed, but they have not been satisfied with unavailing regrets. Men of medical experience have rendered willing service; ladies of all ranks, and women in humbler walks of life, have contributed hospital assistance in attendance, and in materials suited for the wounded and sick soldiers. Christian ministers and devout men of every sect have served in the field, and in the camp, with honour and acceptance. Perhaps in the history of this sanguinary conflict no more beautiful developments of character and patriotism will have been seen, than in the action of these two commissions. Mr. Everett has beautifully delineated woman's work : : H "One drop of balm alone, one drop of heavenly lifegiving balm, mingles in this bitter cup of misery. Scarcely has the cannon ceased to roar when the brethren and sisters of Christian benevolence, ministers of compassion, angels of pity, hasten to the field and the hospitals to moisten the parched tongue, to bind the ghastly wounds, to soothe the parting agonies alike of friend and foe, and to catch the last whispered messages of love from dying lips. Carry this miniature back to my dear wife, but do not take it from my bosom till I am gone.' Tell my little sister not to grieve for me, I am willing to die for my The Sanitary Commission of New York honours as its chairman one of the most patriotic clergymen in the city, the Rev. Dr. Bellows, who has been indefatigable in his services, and efficient in his duties. I speak thus from no |