In proof of the importance of Christianizing the negroes, even in a political point of view, it is not unworthy of notice, that soon after the commencement of the war between England and France during the last quarter of the last century, the governor of Tortola received information, that the French inhabitants of Guadaloupe meditated a descent on the island. He immediately sent for Mr. Turner, the superintendant of the Methodist Missions in Tortola and the other Virgin Islands, and having informed him of this report, added that there was no regular force in the colony to defend it against the enemy, and that they were afraid to arm the negroes unless he would put himself at the head of them. Mr. Turner was sensible that such a step was not properly within the line of the ministerial office; but considering that the Island was in imminent danger, that if it were conquered by the French, the religious privileges of the negroes would probably be lost, and that the war on their part was purely defensive, he consented to the governor's request, and was accordingly armed with the negroes. About a fortnight after, a French squadron made its appearance in the bay; but being informed, it is supposed by some emissaries, of the armed force on the Island, it abandoned its design and retired. Soon after this the Governor-general of the Leeward Islands sent an order to the Methodist Missionaries to make a return of all the negroes in their societies who were able to carry arms. The return was accordingly made; and a great part if not the whole of them were armed for the defence of the several Islands. Such was the confidence the Governor-general had in the loyalty of the missionaries and their flocks. Let these facts suffice, especially as there are none on the other side, respecting the safety of teaching the negroes to know and love God. Another great difficulty, which the Brethren met in their missions among the negroes was the unhealthiness of the climate. Thus many of them scarcely arrived on the islands, when they were attacked by diseases, which in a short time put a period to their labours and their lives. Thus from the commencement of the mission in the Danish Islands in 1732 to the year 1766 (or in thirty-four years) no fewer than sixty-six Brethren and Sisters died in St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. Jan. But though the mortality was so great, it is surprising with what cheerfulness others came forward to fill the ranks of those, who had so prematurely fallen. Bishop Spangenburg informs us, that on one occasion when it was made known to the congregation at Bethlehem in Pennsylvania, that five persons had died within a short time on the Island of St. Thomas, no fewer than eight Brethren voluntarily offered, that very day, to go thither and replace them. Disease and death as they did not dishearten them, so neither ought they to dishearten us in this work, even if they stared us in the face.