We resume the story of Old Town, which, with the beginning of this year, saw a favourable change in the state of its affairs. The people had not forsaken the place. They built huts in the adjacent bush to retain their hold on the ground, and made Mr. Sutherland welcome, when he went to restore the Mission-house, which had become greatly dilapidated. The presence of his wife soon altered the aspect of things, and the duties of the station were all resumed. The squatters were, indeed, still few, but the neighbouring Qua villages offered scope for missionary labour.

Our Board of missions had memorialized Her Majesty's Government on the subject of Old Town, complaining of the line of conduct pursued by the Acting-consul in reference to it, and claiming that the prohibition against its being rebuilt be withdrawn. This was at once conceded, and we only awaited the arrival of a new Consul to have things there put on a proper footing.

Before the new appointment had taken place, the Acting-consul paid another visit to our river, to obtain evidence which might justify his too vigorous proceedings on the former occasion; for they had rather dimmed his prospect of permanency in office. He wished to get the testimony of King Eyo and Duke Ephraim to the value of his measures in the interests of civilization and commerce. But the former would not sign the paper to that effect, and the latter would attend no meeting.