Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-12-18

u
through their missionary the Rev. J. L. Wilson,
Tho mission from all accounts prospered, and the
highest homes were entertained by the missionaries
and others of the success of their undertaking.
The tribe among whom they have been laboring
and its dependencies, embraces population of be-
tween twenty-five and thirty thousand. With COM
paratively few exceptions, every thing OF friend
ship and confidence which heather people could
manifest, has been exhibited towards the missiona-
res up to the latest hour. In the short space OF
three years and little upwards, some two hundred
and fifty native children have been gathered into
schools-a number of whom can now read and
write the English language very WELL and some,
their native tongue, with correctness and Ia
city truly encouraging to those laborng for their
good.
The name of the king, at whose disposal the
whole country above named was placed, is Glass
From the history Of the matter, it appears that old
King Glass had become subject to the habit of oc
casionay drinking too much Sometime in lS43,
French man of war and French merchantmen
laying together in the Gaboon river plan was
concerted for transfer of the ownership of the
country belonging TO King Glass from him to the
lands of Louis Philippe. 1t is said an instrument
was drawn up by one of the Frenchmen, to COM
plete which transfer, it was only necessary to OBJ
tain the signature of Glass. His uice afforded
more convenient road TO than presented it.
self in any other quarter. He got on board Of
one of the vessels treated -intoricdted-the
instrument represented to him as only an agreement
to trade with and protect French vessels within the
bounds Of his jurisdiction in this way his sigma
tuIe was obtained.
But recovering from his inebraton, corecter ex-
plantations of the character of the document he had
signed, informed King Glass and his people that
they were without a country, and the lands and
homes of their fathers had been inveged from
Them BY the first opportunity they laid their griev-
ances at the foot of the French throne, protesting
lu.n
the agreement signed by King Glass under the in
0uence of ntoxication, ratified by the French Gov
eminent.
Recently, notwithstanding this protest, French
BRIG of war arrived at the Gaboon with intelligence
that the French Government had ratified the pur-
chase and that the brig sent out TO carry 1t in
to execution. The poor natives demonstrated, and
refused compliance. But they were informed by
the commander of the French brig, that acquies-
cence in the wishes of the French Government
would be insisted upon, and if not had by peacea-
BILE measures, would be enforced at the mouth OF
their guns. Still the natives could not consent to
the French flag being holsted on their territory
Matters fastened 10 such fearful issue, and the
forcible subiugaton of the natives being in con-
temptation, the commander of the brig informed
Mr. Wilson, the experimenting missionary that
the adjacent towns were likely to be destroyed
and that if in the execution of their purpose, the
mission premises and property received injury, he
gave him to understand he had no responsibility
Mr. w. remarked, that in case the missionaries
should feel themselves in danger, they would hois
the American flag the premises so as to signal
ize the place where Americans and American prop
erty were. The cannonading commenced and al
the balls whisted by, and danger threatened them
; the missionaries hoisted the American flag at the
corner of the Mission house.
This measure gave offence, and the flag evident
ly became target. Under these circumstances
hath tI,11tt
and property of Inconsistencies had evidently beer
imminent as out of 8 shots fired on one day, )oU
of them were found on the mission premises, anC
one shot went through the church, in which usually
a school kept but as on that day the schoo
was closed, no one received injury, The native
surrendered and the territory was given up wlthou
further resistance.
Mr.. Wilson and his estmable wife still a
, the Gaboon. MI hope of yet succeeding in thei
Christian enterprise is not fled from them; but tn
dark future under existing circumstances is hedge
up with obstacles which, if neither modified no
removed WILL in all human probability, render far
ther efforts at that station unavalling. For, thong
! there may be no measures of the French drect,
counteractve of the missionary abors at that place
yet indirectly, if the objects of the French author
tiles at the Gaboon comprised, the hopes of tn
A. B. c. F. M. mission there will be blasted.
AN UNwELcoME CALL.-Late in the evening
some three weeks since, leopard entered the hous
u Of Mr.. Ruffun, at Marshall, and carried off dog
" At the time, man was sitting in the room, whic
Il had but one outside door to it, and by the side
: it stood chair, on and about which one or NOR
. children were sitting. light also was burnin
: in the same apartment Our inmates not expect
& ing visiters, much less such one, indulgin
u carelessy in the musings or sports of the time
u day; when the leopard made sudden bound int
. the room, upsettng the chair and children in tn
= leap, and Selling the hapess dog, wheeled an
e made out again. The effect of the fright upo
those witnessing the scene was almost petrfyn,
y The lightning speed of the creature was truly a
y tonishing.-.4fica's L'mlinay.
l. Prompt UOrk-The Union of the 4th insta
re says:-
IN "We understand that the accounts of Mr.. Va
er Ness, the late Collector of the Port of New Yor
~ have been adjusted and finally closed in the boo