New Providence is one of some four or five hundred islands, studding the coral banks which close in the northern part of the Gulf of Mexico. A great number of them are mere rocky islets, or lagoon islands, without vegetation or use, except as the resort of turtle and sea birds. About thirty are inhabited. Some of these are from fifty to one hundred miles in length, and from one to six in breadth. Just before emancipation, the population was reckoned at 16,500 persons, of whom 9000 were slaves. In 1851 it had increased to 30,663. Eight or nine thousand persons reside in New Providence, concentrated chiefly in Nassau, the capital, and over three thousand live on the islands which constitute the Turks' Islands Government. They were separated a few years ago from the government of the northern islands.

Our missionary operations commenced in 1833, on the arrival of the Rev. J. Burton, from Jamaica. There was known to exist a considerable number of persons calling themselves Baptists, who traced their religious belief to the exertions of black men, brought from the United States at the close of the war, in 1813. Communications had been received in Jamaica from them, and a desire expressed to receive further instruction in the gospel. Mr. Burton found that little had been done for the religious benefit of the slaves.