and to familiarize them with some of the I reflected upon them, or rather upon the considerably aided the parliamentary efforts of Mr. Wilberforce. He did not pursue this course without much opposition. The same parties who now oppose the abolition of Slavery were then equally strenuous in their opposition to the abolition of the Slave Trade. The most violent and infamous means were employed to counteract the labours and to blast the character of Mr. C. Even his life was sometimes threatened. This was particularly the case at Liverpool. "The temAfter this, Mr. Clarkson translated and per of many of the interested people of published his Dissertation, and, at length, Liverpool had now become still more irriUnder the influence of this literary determined on sacrificing the fair prospect table, and their hostility more apparent, ambition, he commenced his inquiries. of preferment in the church which he than before. I received anonymous letHe soon found himself at a loss for ma- had, in order to devote himself entirely ters, entreating me to leave it, or I should terials on which to form an enlightened to this work of mercy. In 1787 a com- otherwise never leave it alive. The only judgment respecting the African trade, mittee was formed in London, for the effect which this advice had upon me was and repaired to London to obtain them. purpose of procuring and putting into to make me more vigilant when I went Having procured the information which circulation authentic information respect-out at night. I never stirred out at this he needed, he began his work; but ing the Slave Trade. Mr. C. was the time without Mr. Falconbridge; and he he had not proceeded far before his most active member of this body. He never accompanied me without being well mind underwent a thorough revolu- called on the leading members of the two armed. Of this, however, I knew notion. It would be injustice to the Houses of Parliament, soliciting their at- thing until we had left the place. There subject to substitute any phraseology in tention to the subject, and furnishing was certainly a time when I had reason the place of his own unaffected and them with whatever information he had to believe that I had a narrow escape. touching narrative:-" But no person procured. Amongst other persons he was one day on the pier-head, with many can tell the severe trial which the writing called on Mr. Wilberforce; and it is in- others, looking at some little boats below of it proved to me. I had expected teresting to know the reception which at the time of a heavy gale. Several pleasure from the invention of the argu- was given to this subject by that distin- persons, probably out of curiosity, were ments, from the arrangement of them, guished and philanthropic statesman, hastening thither. I had seen all I infrom the putting of them together, and when it was first proposed to him. "On tended to see, and was departing, when I from the thought, in the interim, that I my first interview with him, he stated noticed eight or nine persons making towas engaged in an innocent contest for frankly, that the subject had often em- wards me. I was then only about eight literary honour. But all my pleasure was ployed his thoughts, and that it was near or nine yards from the precipice of the damped by the facts which were his heart. now He seemed earnest about it, pier, but going from it. I expected that continually before me. It was but one and also very desirous of taking the trou- they would have divided to let me through gloomy subject from morning to night. ble of inquiring further into it. Having them; instead of which they closed upon In the day-time I was uneasy-in the read my book, which I had delivered to me and bore me back. I was borne night I had little rest. I sometimes never him in person, he sent for me. within a yard of the precipice, when I closed my eyelids for grief. It became pressed a wish that I would make him discovered my danger; and, perceiving now, not so much a trial for academical acquainted with some of my authorities among them the murderer of Peter Green, reputation as for the production of a work for the assertions in it, which I did after- and two others who had insulted me at which might be useful to injured Africa. wards to his satisfaction. He asked me the King's Arms, it instantly struck me And, keeping this idea in my mind ever if I could support it by any other evi- that they had a design to throw me over after the perusal of Benezet, I always dence. I told him I could. I mentioned the pier-head; which they might have slept with a candle in my room, that I Mr. Newton, Mr. Nisbett, and several done at this time, and yet have pleaded might rise out of bed and put down such others to him. He took the trouble of that I had been killed by accident. There thoughts as might occur to me in the sending for all these. He made memowas not a moment to lose. Vigorous on night, if I judged them valuable, con-randums of their conversation, and, send- account of the danger, I darted forward. ceiving that no argument should be lost ing for me afterwards, showed them to One of them, against whom I pushed in so great a cause. Having, at length, | me. On learning my intention to devote myself, fell down. Their ranks were finished this painful task, I sent my Essay myself to the cause, he paid me many broken, and I escaped, not without blows, to the Vice-Chancellor, and soon after- handsome compliments. He then desired amidst their imprecations and abuse."* wards found myself honoured, as before, me to call upon him often, and to acwith the first prize. quaint him with my progress from time to "As it is usual to read these essays pub-time. He expressed also his willingness licly in the senate-house soon after the to afford me any assistance in his power prize is adjudged, I was called to Cam- in the prosecution of my pursuits."+ bridge for this purpose. I went and per- From this period Mr. C. was employed formed my office. On returning, how-in visiting the different sea-ports of the ever, to London, the subject of it almost kingdom, in order to obtain, from persons wholly engrossed my thoughts. I became, at times, very seriously affected while upon the road. I stopped my horse occasionally, and dismounted and walked. I frequently tried to persuade myself, in these intervals, that the contents of my Essay could not be true. The more, however, He ex engaged in the Slave Trade, authentic History of the Abolition, vol. i. p. 208. We should be glad to pursue our narrative of Mr. Clarkson's labours, but our limits forbid. Such of our readers as wish to know more of the details of the Abolition controversy, we refer to his History, from which we have quoted. This work, though little read at the present day, is one of the most deeply interesting publications which our language supplies. It is written with all the simplicity of truth, and will serve to disclose the falsehood and hypocrisy of many statements which the colonists now History of the Abolition, vol. i. p. 409. put forth. and Slave Merchants. 8vo. 1807."- 1823." ANCIENT ASTRONOMERS. NO. I. COPERNICUS. In the century which preceded the birth of Newton, the science of astronomy advanced with the most rapid steps. Emerging from the darkness of the middle ages, the human mind seemed to rejoice in its new-born strength, and to apply itself with elastic vigour to unfold the mechanism of the heavens. The labours of Hipparchus and Ptolemy had indeed furnished many important epochs and supplied many valuable data; but the cumbrous appendages of cycles and epicycles with which they explained the station and retrogradations of the planets, and the vulgar prejudices which a false interpretation of Scripture had excited against a belief in the motion of the earth, rendered it difficult even for great minds to escape from the trammels of authority, and appeal to the simplicity of nature. Copernicus is said to have commenced his inquiries by a historical examination of the opinions of ancient authors on the system of the universe; but it is more likely that he sought for the authority of their great names to countenance his peculiar views, and that he was more desirous to present his own theory as one that he had received, rather than as one which he had invented. His mind had been long imbued with the idea, that simplicity and harmony should characterize the arrangement of the planetary system; and, in the complication and disorder which reigned in the hypothesis of Ptolemy, he saw insuperable objections to its being regarded as a representation of nature. In the opinions of the Egyptian sages, in those of Pythagoras, Philolaus, Aristarchus, and Nicetas, he recognized his own earliest conviction that the earth was not the centre of the universe; but he appears to have considered it as still possible that our globe might perform some function in the system more important than that of the other planets; and his attention was much occupied with the speculation of Martianus Capella, who placed the sun between Mars and the moon, and made Mercury and Venus revolve round him as a centre; and with the system of Apollonius Pergaus, who made all the planets revolve round the sun, while the sun and moon were carried round the earth in the centre of the universe. The examination, however, of these hypotheses gradually dispelled the difficulties with which the subject was beset, and, after the labours of more than thirty years, he was permitted to see the true system of the heavens. The sun he considered as immovable in the centre of the system, while the earth revolved between the orbits of Venus and Mars, and produced by its rotation about its axis all the diurnal phenomena of the celestial sphere. The precession of the equinoxes was This great man, a native of Thorn, in Prus- thus referred to a slight motion of the earth's sia, following his father's profession, began his axis, and the stations and retrogradations of career as a doctor of medicine; but an acci- the planets were the necessary consequence of dental attendance on the mathematical lec- their own motions combined with that of the tures of Brudzevius excited a love for astro-earth about the sun. These remarkable views The sovereign of Castile, the generous and noble-minded Alphonso, had long before proscribed the rude expedients of his predecessors; and when he declared that, if the heavens were thus constituted, he could have given the Deity good advice, he must not only have felt the absurdity of the prevailing system, but must have obtained some foresight of a more simple arrangement. But neither he nor the astronomers whom he so liberally protected seem to have established a better system, and it was left to Copernicus to enjoy the dignity of being the restorer of astronomy. were supported by numerous astronomical observations; and, in 1530, Copernicus brought to a close his immortal work on the Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies. But, while we admire the genius which triumphed over so many difficulties, we cannot fail to commend the extraordinary prudence with which he ushered his new system into the world. Aware of the prejudices, and even of the hostility, with which such a system would be received, he resolved neither to startle the one nor provoke the other. He allowed his opinions to circulate in the slow current of personal communication. points of opposition which they presented to established doctrines were gradually worn down, and they insinuated themselves into reception among the ecclesiastical circles by the very reluctance of their author to bring them into notice. The Schonberg, Bishop of Capua, and Gyse, In the year 1534, Cardinal Bishop of Culm, exerted all their influence to induce Copernicus to lay his system before the world; but he resisted their solicitations; and it was not till 1539 that an accidental circumstance contributed to alter his resolution. George Rheticus, Professor of Mathematics at Wirtemberg, having heard of the labours of Copernicus, resigned his chair, and repaired to Frauenberg to make himself master of his discoveries. This zealous disciple prevailed upon his master to permit the publication of his system; and they seem to have arranged a plan for giving it to the world without alarming the vigilance of the church, or startling the prejudices of individuals. Under the disguise of a student of mathematics, Rheticus published, in 1540, an account of the manuscript volume of Copernicus. This pamphlet was received without any disapprobation, and its author was encouraged to reprint it at Basle, in 1541, with his own name. The success of these publications, and the flattering manner in which the new astronomy was received by several able writers, induced Copernicus to place his MSS. in the hands of Rheticus. It was accordingly printed at the expence of Cardinal Schenberg, and appeared at Nuremberg in 1543. Its illustrious author, however, did not live to peruse it. A complete copy was handed to him in his last moments, and he saw and touched it a few hours before his. death. This great work was dedicated to the Holy Pontiff, in order, as Copernicus himself says, that the authority of the head of the church might silence the calumnies of individuals who had attacked his views by arguments drawn from religion. Thus introduced, the Copernican system met with no ecclesiastical opposition, and gradually made its way in spite of the ignorance and prejudices of the age.-Brewster's Life of Sir Isaac Newton, THE ORIGIN OF THE BUILDING OF ing of corresponding magnificence; to prose ST. PETER'S, ROME. THE views of Julius II. were as distinguished for the encouragement of talents as his ambition was impetuous and unbounded in the exercise of sovereign power. It was a favourite observation of his, that LEARNING elevated the lowest orders of society-stamped the highest value on nobility-and, to princes, was the most splendid gem in the diadem of sovereignty. He was no sooner seated on the throne, than surrounded by men of genius. Michael Angelo was among the first invited to his court, and he accompanied his invitation with an order for a hundred ducats to pay his expences to Rome. After his arrival some time elapsed before any subject could be determined upon for the exercise of his abilities; at length the Pope gave him an unlimited commission to make a mausoleum, in which their mutual interest should be combined; but the sculptor may be said to make the monument for himself, when it only serves to record an illustrious name that will live in the page of history: he alone makes it for another, where a tablet is necessary to retard the hour of oblivion. Having received full powers, Michael Angelo commenced a design worthy of himself and his patron. The plan was a parallelogram, and the superstructure was to consist of forty statues, many of which to be colossal, and interspersed with ornamental figures and bronze basso-relievos, besides the necessary architecture, with appropriate decorations, to unite the composition into one stupendous whole. When this magnificent design was completed, it met with the Pope's entire approbation, and Michael Angelo was desired to go into St. Peter's to see where it could be conveniently placed. At the west end of the church, Nicholas V., half a century before, began to erect a new tribune, but the plan had not been continued by his successors: this situation Michael Angelo thought the most appropriate, and recommended it to the consideration of his Holiness. He inquired what expence would be necessary to complete it; to which Michael Angelo answered, "a hundred thousand crowns." "" "It may be twice that sum," replied the Pope; and immediately gave orders to Giuliano da Sangallo to consider of the best means to execute the work. any Sangallo, impressed with the importance and grandeur of Michael Angelo's design, suggested to the Pope that such a monument ought to have a chapel built on purpose for it, where local circumstances might be so attended to as to display every part of it to advantage; at the same time remarking, that St. Peter's was an old church, not at all adapted for so superb a mausoleum, and alteration would only serve to destroy the character of the building. The Pope listened to these observations, and, to avail himself of them to their fullest extent, ordered several architects to make drawings; but in considering and reconsidering the subject, he passed from one improvement to another, till at length he determined to rebuild St. Peter's itself; and this is the origin of that edifice which took a hundred and fifty years to complete, and is now the grandest display of architectural splendour that ornaments the Christian world. - By those who are curious in tracing the remote causes of great events, Michael Angelo, perhaps, may be found, though unexpectedly, thus to have laid the first stone of the Reformation. His monument demanded a build cute the undertaking money was wanted, and indulgencies were sold to supply the deopposing the authority of the church proficiency of the treasury; and a monk of Saxony duced this singular event, that whilst the most splendid edifice which the world has ever seen was building for the Catholic faith, the relito its foundation.-Duppa's Life of Michael gion to which it was consecrated was shaken Angelo. MORNING. AWAKE! awake! the flowers unfold, I've wandered o'er yon field of light, And I've watched the sudden darting beam Then awake, awake!-all seem to chide Time's Telescope. CHICHESTER CROSS, SUSSEX. THE Crosses, of which the above is a these few years, the population of the specimen, were erected by our forefathers city having greatly increased, a more in many ancient cities and towns, as mo- convenient Market-place was required, numents of Christianity; and, in the and, in supplying this want, it was progenuine spirit of popery, they constructed posed to demolish the cross. From this many of them with much care, and ex- fate, however, it was saved, by the interpended considerable sums in their embel-vention of certain members of the corpolishments. Their situations and specific ration, to whom the antiquary owes a objects were various: frequently at the considerable debt of gratitude. entrance of churches, to impress a feeling of devotional reverence for the edifice, and its sacred uses; frequently, on high roads, as at present in many countries of Europe, to remind the traveller of the respect due to religion. They are also found in Market-places, where they were designed, by the associations connected with them, to enforce integrity and fair dealing; sometimes, on the site of battles, to commemorate victory or peace, and sometimes they were erected to mark civil or ecclesiastical boundaries. The Cross at Chichester was designed as one of the Market Crosses, to which we have alluded, and of which one was formerly to be found in almost every town which had a religious foundation. To this use it was applied until, within From some deeds still extant, it appears that this cross was completed about the Year 1500; but the name of the architect, and the total expence at which it was built, are unknown. It is considered one of the finest structures in the florid Gothic style which England contains. Its form is octangular, with pier buttresses at each angle, surmounted with pinnacles: on the summit are vanes, bearing the arms of the see. In each of its eight sides is an entrance under an arch; on four of these sides are niches, formerly occupied by figures, and, on the other four, are dials, facing the principal streets. also ornamented with a bust of Charles the Second, in whose reign it was first repaired. We owe this stately building to the ambition and luxury of Cardinal Wolsey. He became the lessee of the manor of Hampton in the early part of the reign of Henry VIII., and expended large sums of money in converting the manor-house into a palace, so gorgeous that, to avoid the envy it occasioned, he gave it to the king in 1526. After this time, however, he occasionally inhabited it (probably as keeper), and made it the scene of boundless magnificence and pomp, more especially when, as the king's representative, he entertained the French ambassadors there in 1527. Subsequently to this, Henry added considerably to the extent of the palace, and, in the latter part of THE CAPTIVE OF CAMALU. O CAMALU-green Camalu! 'Twas there I fed my father's flock, Along the grassy margined rills, Green Camalu! methinks I view The lilies in thy meadows growing; I see thy waters bright and blue Beneath the pale-leaved willows flowing; I hear, along thy valleys lowing, The heifers wending to the fold, And jocund herd-boys loudly blowing The horn-to mimic hunters bold. HAMPTON COURT PALACE. his reign, it became one of his principal | Queen Elizabeth also freresidences. quently resided here. In January, 1604, Hampton Court palace was the scene of the celebrated conference on the subject of conformity, held before King James, as moderator, between the Presbyterians and the members of the established Church; the most important result of which was the order of the new translation of the Bible, which is now generally received. In 1625, Charles I. retired to this palace, to avoid the ravages of the plague; and in August, 1647, he was brought hither as a captive, and remained in a state of splendid imprisonment until he My brothers too!-Green Camalu, They fired the huts above the dying!- I envy you, by Camalu, Ye wild harts on the woody hills; But thraldom brutifies the mind. His blows, his bitter scorn to bide!- As flies the wild dove to the rock To hide its wounded breast-and die. made his escape on the 11th of November of that year. King William III. was particularly partial to this residence, and employed the skill and taste of Sir Christopher In its present state it consists of Wren in effecting considerable alterations in it. three principal quadrangles, the eastern, middle, and western; of which the first contains the state apartments, which are some valuable pictures by the old masexceedingly superb, and decorated with Among the works of art which ters. embellish this palace the Cartoons of Raphael hold by far the most distinguished place. Yet, ere my spirit wings its flight Who, high above the clouds of Time, Of every race the Father-God! I ask not judgments from thy hand- Thy kingdom come! Let light and grace Utika, a word of Hottentot origin, signifying The Beautiful, now used by most of the South African tribes as the name of the Supreme Being-the Christian God. The Caffer name for Dr. Vanderkemp. In the Amakosa tongue as follows:- Amanhia ukusa kuaku makulu; yenza gokuaku-Akandaunios, amanbla, asinkosiné napakete." |