PEEFACE. 
mitted into the protectorsfcte. The south-western boundary 
of the Ashantee kingdom is opened, and not only this but 
the tribes there situate (Okwau and Dwaben) have ex- 
pressed a wish for missionaries to come to them. Does not 
all this reveal the hand of God opening the gates to the 
messengers of His kingdom ? Can we imagine a political 
situation more favourable to its extension ? 
These questions demand an answer from Christians on 
both sides of the channel. What better one can be given 
by those of England, than the practical conclusion : Noiu 
that the weapons of our country have pierced the heart of 
Ashantee, and laid Coomassie in ruins, should not the 
Christian compassion and the vigorous faith of English- 
men seek to raise this unhappy nation from the dust ; not 
to new death, hut to true life in the light and liberty of the 
gospel ? 
Wherefore not ? Germany and Switzerland, through 
the instrumentality of their Basel Missionary Society, are 
ready to help in a second campaign against Coomassie. 
For more than forty years this Society has been working 
on the west coast of Africa ; gradually pushing forward 
its stations to the boundaries of Ashantee. How consider- 
able have been the results already attained, how whole- 
some the influence already exercised upon the population, 
may be seen from the official recognition of these facts by 
Sir John Glover, during the late war. Hence we cannot 
doubt that side by side with the English Wesleyans, the 
Basel Society is primarily called of God to carry on this 
work. 
In concert with the liberated captives, the Basel com- 
mittee has already drawn up a plan for the advance- 
ment of the mission foreposts in a westerly direction, so 
