On the wall of a church in Algiers is a memorial tablet,
inscribed with the name of Devereaux Spratt. Born in England,
he, in 1641, with 119 other persons, the passengers and crew
on board an English ship, were captured by Algerine pirates
and sold into slavery. Having tasted of the salvation of Jesus
Christ, he soon began laboring for the salvation of others,
and many were brought to know and acknowledge the Lord. After
some time, his family, being influential, persuaded the English
Government to interfere on behalf of these poor captives, and
the dey of Algiers granted to Mr. Spratt his liberty. But those
among whom he had labored sorrowed so bitterly as they thought
of losing him from among them, and the bonds which held him to
them were so strong and tender, that he actually declined the
offer of freedom, gave up home and friends, and consented to
abide in lifelong bondage, that he, being a slave, might make
others free. Thus, for the sake of emancipating the souls of
others, he lived and died an Algerine slave. (Text.)
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