Note 20 — A LECTURE ON AFRICAN MISSIONS.

Officer of U. S. Navy, in Gurley’s Report. Vice President Benson also bears the following testimony to an improvement in the character of the natives.

“It is also gratifying to know that the natives are becoming increasingly assimilated to us in manners and habits; their requisitions for civilized productions increase annually; they are seldom satisfied with the same size and quality of the piece of cloth they wore last year—some of them habitually wear a pair of pantaloons, shirt or coat, and others all of these at once: and of the thousands that have intercourse with our settlements, and used to glory in their greegree, and were afraid to utter an expression against it, very many of them are now ashamed to be seen with a vestige of it about them, and if a particle of it should be about them, they try to secrete it, and if detected, it is with mortification depicted in their countenances; they disclaim it, or make some excuse. There is also manifestly, a spirit of commendable competition among them throughout the country; they try to rival each other in many of the civilized customs, a pride and ambition that I feel sure will never abate materially, till they are raised to the perfect level of civilized life, and flow in one common channel with us, civilly and religiously. It is certainly progressing, and though some untoward circumstances may retard its consummation, yet nothing shall ultimately prevent it.”