Thoughts on the Religious Instruction of the Negroes of this Country

This mid‑nineteenth‑century essay surveys the first missionary ventures among enslaved and free Black peoples in the Caribbean, South America, and Africa. Drawing on biblical imagery, the author links a historic prophecy to a growing sense of divine purpose for these communities. The text chronicles the early work of the United Brethren, beginning in the 1730s, and maps their expansion across islands such as St. Thomas, Jamaica, and Barbados.

The narrative emphasizes the practical obstacles the missionaries faced—violent resistance, imprisonment, and even proposals by two men to sell themselves into bondage to reach the enslaved. Over time, local governors and plantation owners come to view the religious instruction as a benefit, granting certificates that protect worshippers after dark. The author argues that well‑led Christian instruction appears to curb unrest, laying the groundwork for a broader debate about faith, freedom, and social order.