We have about sixty or more scholars, and, I tell you, to instruct them in the way they teach schools in America is difficult; indeed, more so than you have any idea of. With every attempt you make to teach them in that way, you become more and more discouraged. Our Sabbath-school is too large for the number of teachers at present engaged, but we hope to remedy this soon. We gave them, Thursday night, a Christmas entertainment. Mrs. Snelson cooked the food, which was partly furnished by the members of the church, and the remainder by ourselves. I was appointed to decorate the chapel, and, I must say, to these people’s credit, that I never had so many hands under my control in my life; and, as evergreen after evergreen was placed in position, the laborers increased. We not only had fruits, but poultry, vegetables, cakes, pies, candies, raisins, and music. There were many strangers, such as the Commander of the Port (a white man, with more decorations of honor on his chest than in the ephod of a Jewish high-priest), the Collector of the Port (white), the Catechist of the Established Church (colored), seven merchants (two white and five colored), the Postmaster (colored), Custom House officers in abundance (all colored), military officials of all grades, from a captain to a corporal. The church people, boatmen, and servants, were all present. Several tables were set; but, I am sorry to say, that when the laborers’ (such as carpenters and field hands) time came to sit and to sup, the best had been consumed. I sat opposite a boat’s crew, and they began to laugh; as they would use the knife, then the spoon (large), after that the fork, such laughing after the use of each of these pieces of cutlery I have never witnessed before. I began to inquire of the waiter, an interpreter, what they were so much amused at, and he informed me that they were laughing at their use of the knives, forks and spoons. The spoons did not hold enough, they said; the food rolled off the knife in their unsteady hands, and the fork was like putting water in a fish-net instead of a calabash. Every day since that, when they eat dinner, they laugh about those pieces of cutlery. During Christmas-Day, services were had in the chapel; they were begun at 5 o’clock, and continued until daylight. At 10 o’clock, there was preaching to the prisoners through an interpreter. On Thursday, at the banquet, we had singing and addresses to the day and Sabbath-schools, for they both were invited. The girls were marched from the chapel two by two, as were also the boys. This was another new feature, and they were well pleased with it. I have had an extensive medical practice here and at Avery, and have so much to do in this way, that I am compelled to ask you to give me written instructions whom to attend, and how to proceed. * * * * * COMMUNICATIONS. * * * * * EDUCATION OF THE COLORED PEOPLE. REV. J. E. RANKIN. D. D.