mitting for their careful consideration this the condition of the slaves in the Southern new idea of statesmanship, enunciated by the States. We believe that after a recent report head of the Supreme Court at Washington; made by an American visitor of the misery we trust we shall be excused if we add the sug-existing in Morant Bay, that the friends of the gestion that the sooner action is taken the better. freed-men in the United States are of opinion that the worst thing for the entire cause would be to leave those districts to their chronic THE CLAIM OF OUR OWN PEOPLE. deterioration. They would rather subscribe In the work of aiding the freed-men we do themselves to help the freed-men in Jamaica, not wish to forget any part of the field, nor yet than receive our contributions at the expense to under-rate the claims of any who require of those who have a more direct claim on our help or co-operation. But we feel that the own attention. They expect us in this work case now clearly presented as one of the most to be consistent, and to exercise common hopeful interest, is that which should have sense. They point to Jamaica as a stumbling special, though by no means exclusive atten-block in the course of freedom, and the shame tion. We believe in this view we shall have of Great Britain, especially after the disthe concurrence of the t:uest friends to the object. For four years we have pleaded the cause of the freed-men of America earnestly, and as we have abundant proof not without cheering measure of success. The vastness of the field and the seriousness of the crisis for the time naturally threw other sections of freedom into the shade. This was unavoidable. Neglect of the millions suddenly liberated might have produced despair which would have led to social convulsion. It was our duty therefore to forget everything but the momentous pressure, and try to meet it. It was the privilege of our Society to open the way for Dr. Storrs and Levi Coffin in many quarters and especially to bring the case before the committee of the Congregational Union, and then before the Annual Assembly, so as to secure a simultaneous collection throughout the country. Mr. Curwen, one of our committee, prepared and circulated a special appeal to supply to the ministers the facts which they brought before their several congregations. We do not overlook the active service of our American brethren, but they know well that the apparently insuperable obstacles to their progress we were permitted closures made by the Royal Commission. America is sending teachers to the wretched parts of the Island, which should have our first care, whilst we hesitate. To ignore Canada at this juncture would be still more anomalous. See how the case stands. Thousands of destitute freed-men fled in helpless destitution to their kindred across the frontier, and families long sundered became united by arrivals of these fragmental parties. But because they trod British soil they passed beyond the pale of British sympathy. The help sent for their relief would have been available in the United States, but it was not to be given if they crossed the Niagara river. The freed-men of Canada say we will care for these long-lost outcasts, find them clothing, food, employment, and shelter; but a little pecuniary help just now in funds for education would be invaluable, and the return in a few years would be a hundredfold. There is no need to argue the case, or to offer words imploring sympathy; all that is necessary is to look at the matter in the light of christian equity, and of national honour. If we want a barrier stronger than ships and forts against the wild and desperate Fenians, let us act a fraternal, manly, and generous part toward We now feel that we are more at liberty to these loyal freed-men on the British Frontier. look to the freed-men in our own colonies. Now this is our aim, we shall pursue it steadily; The more thoughtful and considerate of our we can trust the justice and the benevolence American friends not only justify our course of our countrymen, to meet the claim. We in this respect, but they tell us plainly that have only to remind them that promptitude the state of the negroes in many parts of will enhance the value of their help in an inJamaica since emancipation, is worse than was calculable degree. We may say the same to remove. with respect to the British Protectorate on the Cape Coast. A present contribution in money for the Bazaar fund we can ask freely, yet respectfully, for we are sure that when rightly understood this is a case in which "England expects every man to do his duty." THE WORK IN AMERICA. Our American friends are really doing a great work, and they proceed with system, rigour and perseverance truly admirable. It is their aim evidently to plant schools firmly in every district in the South and to sustain them thoroughly. They are not content with a mere passing excitement, the hasty run of a philanthropic commission, temporary help, and finally abandonment, but they take hold of the work with "both hands earnestly." The results correspond with the course pursued. The first desire for education on the part of the freedmen has been met and fostered. Take a few items from the report of the Western Freed-mien's Aid Commission. KENTUCKY. Last year there were but six teachers under commission in the State of Kentucky. We now have in the State twenty-one teachers, located as follows; One at Covington; nine at Lexington; one at Richmond; two at Danville; one at Winchester and seven at Louisville. Two are to be sent this month to Columbus, and one to Greensburg. Chaplain F. K. Noble, Superintendent of Education for the State, of the staff of General Davis, earnestly appeals to us to commission and assist in supporting teachers for other important places, where suitable buildings can be secured, and large schools gathered. The number of teachers in Kentucky ought to be doubled at once. TENNESSEE. The Fisk School at Nashville, under the superintendence of Professor John Ogden, an educator of rare ability and large experience, has been thoroughly graded, and a regular course of study has been adopted for each department. A standard of deportment and recitation has been attained; which is surprising, when we consider that most of the eight hundred children enrolled have so recently been brought under school instruction. About Nashville as a centre, schools have been established at Gallatin, Shelbyville, Florence, Tullahoma, Franklin and Clarksville. At Memphis, in January, the Lincoln Chapel, a large new school house, built by the American Missionary Association, capable of accommodating four hundred pupils, was opened; so that with the Phoenix school, built by General Fisk immediately after the riot, our accommodations were ample for eight hundred pupils. Yet so great has been the rush of new scholars since the re-organization of the schools under the management of Joseph H. Barnum, the present Superintendent, that a hall has been rented for our use by the Freed men's Bureau. Still there are one thousand children in Memphis that are unprovided for. Sommerville is our only outpost from Memphis, but others ought to be established. The Howard school, at Chattanooga, is in excellent condition, under the management of Rev. E. O. Tade, assisted by four female teachers. A teacher has just been sent to Jonesboro, East Tennessee, and preparations are being made for a school at Greenville. The total number bearing our commissions in Tennessee is fifty-four. The Rev. D. Burt, Superintendent of Educa tion, of the staff of Gen. Wm. Carlin, is untiring in his efforts to advance the educational interests of the Freed-men; and could we fill all his orders for teachers, a school would soon be established in every village in Tennessee. Major-General Swain, Assistant Commissioner for Alabama, says, in regard to schools, "Too much cannot be said of the desire to learn among the people. Everywhere a reciprocity of interest dictates facilities for education, and private and plantation schools are supplementing, and perhaps exceed, the more conspicuous efforts. From time to time, and where they could be useful, coloured men have been employed, usually as assistants, with a view of raising up teachers from their own race to perpetuate the work among the freed-men." Printed by ARLISS ANDREWS, of No. 7, Duke Street, Bloomsbury, W.C. THE FREED-MAN. MEMORIAL TO HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT ON ENDOWED SCHOOLS IN JAMAICA. We congratulate our readers who are interested in the objects of the Society on the marked attention given to the statements contained in the FREED-MAN by the parties of all others we are concerned to influence in the right direction. It is a most hopeful and cheering sign that the planters in Jamaica, as well as their dependants, begin to weigh the facts we endeavour to bring before public attention. This opens to us a fine door of opportunity, which we shall endeavour to improve with diligence and care. Jamaica will be saved if the men of property and influence will only act on right principles and in the spirit of humanity. Our aim is to combine all classes in the work of improvement. The points we have to submit for fair investigation may give rise in the first instance to a little irritation. But if we keep cool, this will pass off without harm. Nothing will divert us from our one simple and grand object; we mean to promote the welfare of all classes of the community and therefore know nothing of partizanship or merely local contention. Every step we take shall be in broad daylight, Hence we submit to the candid consideration of planters and to our members of Parliament, the following document we have just forwarded to the Government. To the Right Hon. the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State for the Colonies. May it please your Grace, The President and Committee of the British and Foreign Freed-Men's Aid Society, in present ing to your Lordship a memorial relative to the funds existing for educational purposes in Jamaica, desire to express their firm conviction that this is a matter in which Her Majesty's government will take a special interest. The Committee are anxious that it should be distinctly understood that their object in submitting the statements contained in the Memorial for the consideration of your Grace is simply to afford facilities for careful investigation. The Society represented by the Committee is purely philanthropic in its character, and it has no ulterior political aims. The Committee sent a large amount, both in money and goods to aid the Freed-men of the Southern States of America. At the time of the unhappy outbreak in Jamaica, its attention, as indeed that of the whole country, was directed to the deteriorated condition of that beautiful and fertile island so long under the British govern、 ment. The report of the Royal Commissioners confirms the Committee in their previous con. viction that the chronic source of evil is to be found in the neglected condition of many districts of the country in which the people have received no useful instruction or religions culture. The remedy for this semi-state of barbarism can only be gradually employed. It will require the earnest and persevering co-operation of all who are really concerned for the amelioration of the general condition of Jamaica. The aim of the British and Foreign Freed-Men's Aid Society is to bring to light all available resources for the improvement of the people, to lend whatever help may be in their power to those who are already working in the field, to find suitable agencies, and to afford to all a common medium of information and encouragement. It is not therefore in the spirit of needless interference that the Committee invite your Lordship's attention to the matter of the existing endowments for education in Jamaica, but to communicate the statements received from natives of the island who are interested in its welfare. The Committee have no doubt whatever of the interest your Grace will take in the case, and they feel assured that all will be done in securing investigation that circumstances will permit. Signed-In the name and on behalf of the British and Foreign Freed-Men's Aid Society, ENDOWED SCHOOLS IN JAMAICA. The neglected state of many districts in Jamaica, arising from the absence of schools, or from inefficient teachers, has led us to enquire into the resources of the Island, to ascertain the available means for meeting existing necessities. We find that considerable property has been bequeathed by benevolent testators d former days to make provision for the relief of the necessitous, and the instruction of poor coloured children, and in particular of destitute orphans. It is interesting to learn that funds have been left for free schools in various districts. We may enumerate the following: 1 Beckford free school, (Spanish Town.) 2 Smith free school, (Spanish Town.) 3 Jamaica free school, Walton Pen, St. Ann's. 4 Manning's free school, Westmoreland. 5 Russea's free school, Hanover Lucia. 6 St. James's free school, St. James's, Morant Bay. 7 Titchfield school, Portland. 8 Vere District free schools, Vere. 9 Manchester District free schools, Manchester. 10 Woolmer's free school, Kingston. The revenues of several of these schools are large. Jamaica free school is said to have £996 per annum, and Woolmer's free school, Kingston, has a yearly income of £1,044. The Woolmer school of 700 or 800 children, of all classes under the care of a black clergyman from Canada, is said to be well conducted. Having no opportunity for direct personal observation, we do not presume to judge of the efficiency of these educational establishments, but from all we can learn we fear, as in the case of too many endowments, the intentions of the founders have only been partially respected. In some instances we are informed the benefit derived from them by the children of the poor is exceedingly small. Titchfield free school, Portland, exists only in name. There is, we understand, neither school house or teacher. In every case advantage would accrue from careful and impartial enquiry, and we venture to submit to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, (as well as to His Excellency the Governor of Jamaica,) that an early investigation ought to take place into the state of all these institutions. We feel the more warranted in respectfully urging such an enquiry from the circumstance that in most instances the members of the late Legislative Assembly were appointed trustees. It would be satisfactory to the friends of education to have a well-authenticated report as the result of a fair examination of the schools, giving the number of children under instruction, and the character of the education given. Our attention has been especially directed to a correspondence in several Jamaica journals respecting the Monro and Dickenson's schools. We are not called upon to decide in a controversy which requires in order to form a correct judgment more local information than we possess. But there are certain items broadly mentioned that seem to call for early and searching enquiry. It would appear that ROBERT HUGH MONRO, a coloured man of large wealth, who died in 1798, left a considerable portion of these endowment funds. He directed in his will, that "at the time of the decease" of his nephew Caleb Dickenson, certain property should be laid out "in the endowment of the school to be erected and maintained for the education of as many poor children of the parish of St. Elizabeth, as the said funds may be sufficient to provide for and maintain, and in defraying the annual expenses attending the same, in such manner as shall be from time to time directed by the majority of justices of the said parish, who shall meet for that purpose; and, if necessary, to apply to the legislature of this island for an act for the proper and due regulation of the said charity, and to carry the intent of this my will in respect thereof into full and complete execution." In 1821, Charles Dickenson, also a gentleman of colour, died and bequeathed £36,000 in money, and certain estates to the value of £100,000, for the endowment of a free school and for aid and support of the aged and infirm in indigent circumstances. For eighteen years, we are informed and believe, the Governor of Jamaica, with the Attorney-General and others, shared the revenue derived from the property bequeathed by Monro and Dickenson, and the schools, &c., were left more than thirty years in abeyance. The Governor is said to have given some kind of engagement that in the event of a school being established the money received by him should be returned. The Duke of Manchester shared largely in the benefits of the escheat. In and about the year 1853.4 Mr. Raynes W. Smith and the Hon. Mr. Shakespeare rescued the remnant of the funds, amounting only to £23,337, and obtained an act (18th Vic. cap. 53) for the manage |