Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-06-27
JOURNAL OF REV. J. c. AsPENwALL.


JOURNAL OF REV. ]. c. AsPENWALL.
DAWN, C. W., May 8, 1845
From London to this place is seventy miles.
Following down the rive Thames came to with
in ten miles of here, and then struck across in
northern direction to the river Sydenham. Here
| met brother Henson, lately returned from the
States, and brother David Merritt who accompani-
ed him from Salem Mass. The next day brother
Wilson arrived, who had been absent several
week, together with his family who have spent
the winter in New York, among their friends.
The Institution farm which is located here, con-
sists of three hundred acres of as good land as [
ever saw. 1t is at the head of navigation and lies
partly on each side of the river. The whole tract
was purchased for the trifiug sum twelve hun
dred dollars. Should the country above here be-
come settled with enterprising inhabitants, this
property would soon become worth ten times what
it cost Indeed it would not be strange, if in the
course of time it should increase in value IL hun
dred fold. Improvements have been made with
great energy and rapidly. Nearly seventy acres
of the land has been brought under Improvement
and several buildings erected. The buildings in
cIude the house in which the principal school is
kept, which is OF hewn logs, beautifully fitted to-
gether, but, by no means, as large and convenient
as is necessary for the full Accomplishment of the
object in view. The body of the house is used
for meetings on the Sabbath, and is divided by
folding doors and used for the male and female de-
partments of the school through the week; and the
chamber furnishes a lodging place for students
The boarding house consists of three different
parts, put up at different times, and though Of
rude construction, it exhibits, with the garden
which SURROUNDS it, all air of order and neat
ness seldom equaed. The present Steward and
Stewardess, Mr.. and Mrs, johnson, are admirably
qualified tor the place they now occupy, though they
were once regarded only az articles of property
There is also small framed school house in which
the younger children, male aud female, are taught
together The other buildings consist of three hous
es for teachers families, and barn. Three teach
ers have beenTenlployed during the past year
viz: Rev. e. E. Kirkland, Miss Mary G. Shep
herd and Mrs Eorana Parker. The number Of
scholars has some of the time, been over seventy
They are not much advanced in a knowledge o.
books, but manifest an unquenchable thirst for it
Their sobrety OF conduct, diligence in study ant
politeness of manners, might we'll put to shame
thousands who attend our high schools and meade
mies in the States Considering the amount o
means that have been employed, a very good be-
ginning has been made, and it seems very desira
Bile that an institution of this kind should be sus
tanned in the province. Sill, judging frOm the
success of manual labor schools in other places,
cannot expect that it will ever support itself with
out continual help from abroad, and it can by nc
means supercede the necessity of teachers in Other
settlements, or supply those places with compe-
tent ones for some time to come. My impression
is, that there is ability enough, and dispersion
among the aboilionists to meet the wants of both
the Institution and what teachers are required fol-
the other principal coored settlements, if the sub
jeet can he properly presented to them, and theiI
contributions systematically applied. But in or
der for this contributions must come in mucl
more literally than they have done, Some aboli
ton friends in the States have done literally fo
the support of laborers here, but the great proper
ton of them have done lille or NOTHING for then
any way. One reason of this undoubtedly is, tina
though the aboitionists are among the most lber
al supporters of missions in the world, they arr
generally connected with UNCONVENTIONAL mission
AIRY society, who make their regular calls upor
them, and apply their donations for the promotion
of their denominational interests; while this is al
independent mission, not under the control of any
particular sect. But might not, aud ought no
those societies who are composed in part of abo
litionists, to apply at least portion of their fund.-
to this mssion' And when this cannot be done
individuals may without any difficulty forward
their money directly and regularly for its support
That it is best for tho mission to maintain this in
dependent position, think no one will doubt, if il
can be supported so; and though a member of 4
different denomination from all OF the teacher;
here, can bear witness that they manifest a be-
nevoent and christian spirit worthy of all praise