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tory. Gradually he became more warm and replied Bradshaw, with the spirit of an ancient
animated; at last he assumed all the vehe- Roman, "we have heard what you did at the
mence of passion, and indulged in personal house this morning, and before many hours all
vituperation. He charged the members with England will know it. But, sir, you are mis-
self-seeking and profaneness, with the frequent taken to think that the parliament is dissolved.
denial of justice, and numerous acts of oppres- No power under heaven can dissolve them but
sion; with idolizing the lawyers, the constant themselves; therefore, take you notice of that."
advocates of tyranny; with neglecting the men After this protest, they withdrew. Thus, by
who had bled for them in the field, that they the parricidal hands of its own children, pe-
might gain the Presbyterians, who had aposta- rished the Long Parliament, which, under a
tized from the cause; and with doing all this variety of forms, had, for more than twelve
in order to perpetuate their own power, and to years, defended and invaded the liberties of
replenish their own purses. But their time the nation. It fell without a struggle or a
was come; the Lord had disowned them; he groan, unpitied and unregretted. The mem-
had chosen more worthy instruments to per-bers slunk away to their homes, where they
form his work. Here the orator was inter- sought by submission to purchase the forbear-
rupted by Sir Peter Wentworth, who declared ance of their new master; and their partisans,
that he had never heard language so unpar-if partisans they had, reserved themselves in
liamentary; language, too, the more offensive, silence for a day of retribution, which came
because it was addressed to them by their own not before Cromwell slept in his grave. The
servant, whom they had too fondly cherished, royalists congratulated each other on an event
and whom, by their unprecedented bounty, which they deemed a preparatory step to the
they had made what he was. At these words restoration of the king; the army and navy,
Cromwell put on his hat, and, springing from in numerous addresses, declared that they
his place, exclaimed, “Come, come, sir, I will would live and die, stand and fall, with the
put an end to your prating." For a few se-lord-general; and, in every part of the coun-
conds, apparently in the most violent agitation,
he paced forward and backward, and then,
stamping on the floor, added, “You are no
parliament; I say you are no parliament; bring
them in, bring them in." Instantly the door
It would, however, be unjust to the memory
opened, and Colonel Worsley entered, followed
by more than twenty musketeers. "This," of those who exercised the supreme power
cried Sir Henry Vane, "is not honest. It is after the death of the king, not to acknow-
against morality and common honesty." "Sir ledge that there existed among them men
Henry Vane," replied Cromwell, Oh, Sir capable of wielding with energy the destinies
Henry Vane! The Lord deliver me from Sir of a great empire. They governed only four
Henry Vane! He might have prevented this. years; yet, under their auspices, the conquests
But he is a juggler, and has not common of Ireland and Scotland were achieved, and a
honesty himself!" From Vane he directed navy was created, the rival of that of Holland,
his discourse to Whitelock, on whom he and the terror of the rest of Europe. But
poured a torrent of abuse; then, pointing to there existed an essential error in their form
Chaloner, "There," he cried, "sits a drunk- of government. Deliberative assemblies are
ard;" next, to Martin and Wentworth, "There always slow in their proceedings; yet the
are two whoremasters;" and afterwards, select-pleasure of parliament, as the supreme power,
ing different members in succession, described
them as dishonest and corrupt livers, a shame
and scandal to the profession of the gospel.
Suddenly, however, checking himself, he
turned to the guard, and ordered them to clear
the house. At these words, Colonel Harrison

me to do this.

from the chair; Algernon Sidney was next took the speaker by the hand, and led him compelled to quit his seat; and the other members, eighty in number, on the approach of the military, rose and moved towards the door. Cromwell now resumed his discourse. "It is you," he exclaimed, "that have forced I have sought the Lord both day and night, that he would rather slay me than put me on the doing of this work."" Alderman Allan took advantage of these words to observe that it was not yet too late to undo what had been done; but Cromwell instantly charged him with peculation, and gave him into custody. When all were gone, fixing his eye on the mace, "What," said he, "shall we do with this fool's bauble? Here, carry it away." Then, taking the act of dissolution from the clerk, he ordered the doors to be locked, and, accompanied by the military, re

turned to Whitehall.

That afternoon the members of the council assembled in their usual place of meeting.

Bradshaw had had just taken the chair, when
the lord-general entered, and told them that,
if they were there as private individuals, they
were welcome; but if as the council of state,
they must know that the parliament was dis-
solved, and with it also the council.
"Sir,"

try, the congregations of the saints magnified
the arm of the Lord, which had broken the
mighty, that, in lieu of the sway of mortal
men, the fifth monarchy, the reign of Christ,
might be established on earth.

was to be taken on every subject connected
with the foreign relations, or the internal ad-
ministration, of the country; and hence it
happened that, among the immense variety of
questions which came before it, those com-
manded immediate attention which were

others, though often of the highest importance
deemed of immediate necessity; while the
to the national welfare, were first postponed,
then neglected, and ultimately forgotten. To
this habit of procrastination was perhaps owing
the extinction of its authority. It disappointed
the hopes of the country, and supplied Crom-
well with the most plausible arguments in
defence of his conduct.

CHINA.

our warmest acknowledgments, we are enabled to lay before our readers some highly interesting particulars on this subject. They are from the pen of the learned and excellent Dr. Morrison. In our present number we shall only insert an address to Christian churches every where, detailing the progress of Christianity in China; our next will contain some intelligence of a more novel description.

Canton, China, Sept. 4th, 1832. To the churches of Christ in Europe, America, and elsewhere, the following statement is respectfully presented.

since the first Protestant missionary arrived in Twenty-five years have this day elapsed China, alone, and in the midst of perfect strangers,with but few friends, and with many foes. Divine Providence, however, prepared a quiet residence for him; and, by the help of God, he has continued to the present time, and can now rejoice in what God has wrought. The Chinese language was at first thought an

insurmountable difficulty. That difficulty has been overcome. The language has been ac quired, and various facilities provided for its further acquisition. Dictionaries, grammars, vocabularies, and translations, have been increased, both at home and abroad, both for penned and printed. Chinese scholars have secular and religious purposes. It is not likely that Chinese will ever again be abandoned. The Holy Scriptures in Chinese, by Morrison and Milne, together with religious tracts, Prayer-books, &c., have been published; and now, thanks be to God, missionaries from other nations have come to aid in their distribution and explanation. The London Missionary College, Malacca, and Mr. Medhurst's on Java, Society's Chinese press, at the Anglochinese

have sent forth millions of pages, containing the truths of the everlasting gospel; and that Institution has given a Christian education to Chinese, who preach Christ's Gospel, and scores of native youths. There are also native teach from house to house. Such is a general outline of the progress of the mission. We boast not of great doings, yet are devoutly still gathered strength from year to year. thankful to God that the work has not ceased, but, amidst many deaths and disasters, has

The establishment of English presses in China, both for the diffusion of general knowledge, and for religious purposes, arose out of the Protestant mission. The Hon. East India Company's press, to print Dr. Morrison's Dictionary, was the first; and now both English and Americans endeavour, by the press, to draw attention to China, and give information concerning it and the surrounding nations. Up to a very recent period, but very The Indo-chinese Gleaner, at Malacca, the little has been known of this curious and Canton Newspapers, and the Chinese Reposiinteresting people, owing to the very tory, have all risen up since our mission comjealous policy adopted by their Missionary voyages have been per ment; and even now we are only begin-formed, and the Chinese sought out, at various ning to become acquainted with those places, under European control, in the Archifeatures of their character and condition pelago; as well as in Siam, at the Loochoo which distinguish them so widely from the island, at Corea, and along the coast of China itself, up to the very walls of Peking. Some rest of the world. They are, therefore, tracts, written by Protestant missionaries, have the objects of particular curiosity, and any reached and been read by the emperor himinformation respecting them is received self. Still this is but the day of small things.

with avidity.

govern

Owing to the kindness of a gentleman who has long been a warm and valuable friend to the anti-slavery cause, and whose interest in this publication calls for

menced.

The harvest is indeed great, but the labourers are few. Preachers, and teachers, and writers, and printers, in much larger numbers, are wanted, to spread the knowledge of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, among the Chineselanguage nations.

BEN JONSON.

poetry itself.

His natural advantages

were judgment to order and govern fancy, rather than excess of fancy; his productions being slow and upon deliberation, yet then abounding with great wit and fancy, and will live accordingly; and surely as he did exceedingly exalt the English language in eloquence, propriety, and masculine expression, so he was the best judge of, and fittest to prescribe rules to. poetry and poets, of any man who had lived with or before him; or since, if Mr. Cowley had not made a flight beyond all men, with that modesty yet as to ascribe much of this to the example and learning of Ben Jonson. His conversation was very good, and with the men of most note; and he had, for many years, an extraordinary kindness for Mr. Hyde (Lord Clarendon), till he found he betook himself to business, which he believed ought never to be preferred before his company. He lived to be very old, and till the palsy made a deep impression on his body and mind."

We cannot close this brief sketch without presenting the reader with two short specimens of his epigrammatic talent. The first shall be his Epitaph upon the Countess of Pembroke, sister to Sir Philip Sidney :

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is

"Underneath this marble herse
Lies the subject of all verse-
Sidney's sister, Pembroke's mother.
Death! ere thou hast slain another
Learn'd, and fair, and good as she,
Time shall throw a dart at thee."

The other is much better known, and
equally happy.

"Underneath this stone doth lie

As much beauty as could die;
Which, in life, did harbour give
To more virtue than doth live."

Ivy Lane, Paternoster Row.

ceedingly limited, but were considerably
increased by a present of a hundred
pounds from King Charles, which he
acknowledged in a facetious epigram.
But his majesty's munificence did not
stop here. He gave him an annual salary
of a hundred pounds, with the addition
of a tierce of Canary wine from his own
cellars. After the year 1634 he entirely
discontinued writing; and, in August
1637, ended his days, in the sixty-third
year of his age. He was interred in the LONDON :--Published by J. CRISP, at No. 27,
north-west end of Westminster Abbey,
under a small stone which bears a laconic
inscription, the history of which shall be Where all Communications for the Editor are to be
given in the quaint words of one of his
ancient biographers:-"He lyes buried in
the north aisle, the path square of stones,
the rest lozenge, opposite to the scutcheon
of Robert de Ros, with this inscrip-
tion only on him, in a pavement square of
blue marble, fourteen inches square, 'O
RARE BEN JONSON! which was done at
the charge of Jack Young, afterwards
knighted, who, walking there when the
grave was covering, gave the fellow
eighteen pence to cut it."

BENJAMIN JONSON, or Johnson (as he | After this, he produced his celebrated himself appears to have preferred it), an comedy of "Every Man in his Humour," intimate friend of Shakspeare, and one and thenceforth continued, at short inof the greatest poets of his age, was born tervals, to write the dramatic pieces which at Westminster, June 11th, 1574. He have made his name renowned. From was sent, at a very early age, to a private 1625 to 1629 his health gradually deschool in the church of St. Martin-in-the-clined, and his resources had become exfields, whence he was removed to Westminster School, and placed under the tuition of the great Camden, whom he commemorates, in one of his epigrams, as the person to whom he owed all he knew. As his father was a clergyman, it is supposed that this step was taken with a view to his entering the church; but his mother having been left a widow in narrow circumstances, she accepted an offer of marriage made to her by a bricklayer, to which trade young Ben was forced to apply himself, after having made great proficiency in classical learning at Westminster, and was said to have been employed in building some additions to Lincoln's Inn. Being, however, unable to content his mind with this humble situation, he enlisted himself as a soldier, and fought against the Spaniards in the Netherlands. On his return, he is said to have resumed his studies, and to have entered at St. John's College, Cambridge; where, however, the scantiness of his resources prevented his keeping all his terms. On leaving Cambridge, he began his theatrical career, by engaging himself in various parties of strolling players, and at length became more permanently eugaged at an obscure theatre, called the Green Curtain, near Shoreditch. While thus engaged, he began to write his plays; and his first having the good fortune to fall into the hands of Shakspeare, was by him brought forward and acted.

Perhaps the most accurate and creditable character of Ben Jonson was written by Lord Clarendon. It is comprised in the following sentences :-" His name can never be forgotten, having, by his very good learning and the severity of his nature and manners, very much reformed the stage, and indeed the English

addressed.

Town Agents.

B. Steil, Paternoster-row G. Cowie, Strand
w. Strange, ditto Hewitt, ditto

G. Berger, Holywell-street, Clements, Pulteney street
Strand
Purkess, Compton-street
Arch, Cornhill
Lloyd, Hayes-court

Country Agents.

Birmingham, J. Drake
Boston, 3. Noble

Bristol, Westley and Co.
Cambridge, Mrs. Sandifer

Carlisle, C. Thurnam
Cheltenham, J. Gray
Edinburgh, J. Wardlaw

Chatham, P. Younginan

Derby, Wilkins and Son

Falmouth, J. Philp
Glasgow, G. Gallic

Hull, W. Stephenson
Ditto, J. Noble

Leeds, Baynes and Co.
Ditto, Kuight
Lincoln, W. Peck
Liverpool, Willmer aud
Smith
Manchester, R. Robinson
Ditto, W. Ellerby
Newcastle, Chambers
Norwich, Jarrold and Son.
Nottingham, C. Wright
Stroud, W. Harmer
Worcester, J. R. Hunt
Dit'o, H. Deighton

Printed by J. Haddon and Co., 27, Ivy Lane.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][subsumed]

THIS is one of the most extraordinary remains of antiquity of which our country can boast. It was brought to England, from Alexandria, by Dr. Edward Daniel Clarke, where it had been discovered by Denon and Dolomieux, at an early period after the invasion of Egypt by the French, while they were engaged in examining the antiquities of that city. It had been accurately described by various travellers for centuries past; and, together with their description, they relate the legend connected with it, as confidently entertained by the inhabitants, namely, that it was the tomb of Alexander, the founder of their city. For a considerable time, however, previous to its removal, it had

been screened, by the piety of its Mahommedan possessors, from the eyes of infidels, and made, by the former, the object of religious veneration. When Alexandria had been taken by the French, no part of the army rifled it in a more merciless manner than the corps of savans whom the republic had, with characteristic coolness, sent out in their train-as if, by this ostentation of learning and science, to mitigate the unprincipled barbarity of their enterprise. They immediately ransacked every place where there was any hope of discovering literary plunder, and were not long in seizing upon this PRECIOUS MONUMENT.

"Near these baths," says Denon, "is

one of the principal mosques, formerly a primitive church under the name of St. Athanasius. This edifice, ruinous as magnificent, may afford an idea of the negligence of the Turks respecting objects of which they are the most jealous. Before our arrival, they suffered no Christian to approach, and chose to keep a guard rather than to repair the gates. In the state in which we found them, they could neither shut nor move on their hinges. In the middle of the court of that mosque a small octagon temple incloses a cistern of Egyptian breccia, of incomparable beauty, both on account of its nature and of the innumerable hieroglyphic figures with which it is covered within and with

314

out.

This monument, which is without | gious temple would have been raised in doubt a sarcophagus of ancient Egypt, the midst of Paris; where, to complete will be perhaps illustrated by volumes of the mockery of Buonaparte's imitation of dissertations. It may be considered as the son of Philip, the same tomb that had one of the chief spoils of Egypt, and one once enclosed the body of that hero would of the most precious morsels of antiquity have been reserved for the bones of his with which it might be wished we could mimic." enrich one of our museums. My enthusiasm was participated by Dolomieux when we together discovered this precious monument."

The reader will here probably feel some surprise that Denon should not allude to the supposition that this "precious monument" was the tomb of Alexander the Great. He must have known that such was the opinion stated by all previous writers, and entertained by the natives themselves; and his silence is easily explained by the sequel of its history, which shall be given in the words of Dr. Clarke, in the work which he published, entitled, "Testimonies respecting the Tomb of Alexander."

The silence of Denon is now accounted

for. The tomb is no longer a theme of
triumph to his countrymen; and he so-
laces his disappointment by depreciating
the value of his loss.

On the retaking of Alexandria by the
English, Dr. Clarke entered the city, and
was quickly apprized by the inhabitants
where the tomb of Alexander had been
secreted by the French, of which he ob-
tained undisputed possession. He found
it half filled with filth, and covered with
the rags of the sick people on board. The
sight of it excited all the enthusiasm of
his nature, and the strict correspondence
of its appearance with the description
given by Diodorus, of the shrine con-
structed for the body of Alexander, left no
doubt on his mind of its identity.

"In spite of their vaunted toleration and affected regard for the religious opinions of a people whose sanctuaries they It is one huge and entire block of had pledged themselves to protect, the green Egyptian breccia, covered, as has mosque of St. Athanasius was invaded by been said, within and without with hieroFrench troops; and the sarcophagus, glyphics. Its dimensions are ten feet which they found the inhabitants of the three inches and a half in length, five feet city venerating as the tomb of the founder three inches and a half in breadth, three of their city, was borne away amidst the feet ten inches in height, and the thickhowling and lamentation of its worship-ness of its sides ten inches. pers, and even exciting insurrection among the people, and condemned to augment the collection of plunder in the museums of Paris. After its removal, the most cautious measures were used to conceal it from observation. With prodigious difficulty and labour they had placed it in the hold of a crazy vessel in the harbour, which, being converted into a hospital, might on that account escape observation, and in other respects was not likely to become an object of at

tention.

"Other vicissitudes awaited this remarkable monument. A British army came to give life and liberty to the oppressed inhabitants of Egypt, and the tomb of the greatest conqueror the world ever knew devolved, by right of conquest, to their victorious arms. Had it been conveyed to the metropolis of France, instead of the silence which is so cautiously observed respecting it, Europe would have been told that a hieroglyphic inscription having recorded the actions of a Ptolemy, the Alexandrian Sarcophagus, in the same language, might also relate the expeditions, the conquests, and the glories of Alexander. A prodi

Dr. Clarke here alludes to an objection brought against the genuineness of this antiquity, on the ground that the employment of the hieroglyphic character indicates an age prior to Alexander, whereas the inscription on the celebrated Rosetta stone, though in the same character, is known to have been written at a time subsequent

to the æra of Alexander.

BOOK-KEEPERS' SITUATIONS ON
JAMAICA SUGAR ESTATES.

Facts, not fictions.

(Continued from page 303.)

A LITTLE further on, he probably passes gang of negroes repairing the highway. They appear to him working very eagerly, as if under the influence of some strong inducement to exertion; he rides slowly past them, and he then observes a white overlooker, and two savage-looking black fellows; one walking about whip in hand, the other with his arms crossed leaning on another bamboo, as if closely scrutinizing some one in the gang. He begins now to ruminate in his mind whether the drivers actually flog the slaves with these tremendous whips, or if they are only carried as symbols of authority, as the mace is carried before the Lord Mayor simply with this view, and not with any intention of using it in the Irish fashion, when a piercing scream, followed by a loud report of the whip, terrifies him and startles his horse, who, already maddened with the heat of an almost vertical sun, springs and plunges amongst the negroes. They, always suspicious of whites, fly off alarmed, grinningly exclaiming, “ Massa, him new come from England." At this unpalatable remark the novice is confused, puts spurs to his horse, and, having met with no other adventures, arrives at the scene of his imaginary felicitous futurity, but which is, alas! destined to afford nothing else than a rich harvest of never-ceasing disappointments.

Arrived at the estate, he delivers his attorney's letter, is courteously received by the overIt would be impossible, and not very seer, and his brother book-keepers endeavour instructive, to subjoin the arguments also to be attentive to him. His name is enwhich Dr. Clarke adduces to prove that tered on the estate's books, and, after a day or this is really the tomb of Alexander. two spent in looking about him, he then reWe had, however, intended to have intro-ceives his written orders from the overseer; and, as the insertion of such here may assist duced some remarks on hieroglyphics, as in furthering the end I have in view in writing intimately connected with this subject; this paper, the order that was sent to a youngest but this we must reserve as the topic of a book-keeper well known to myself now folseparate article.

In a subsequent part of this number will be found another memorial of this mighty conqueror. This is an engraving of a medal which was formerly in the possession of Lysimachus, and which, after exciting much learned controversy, is now universally received as a representation of Alexander. The Greek characters which this medal bears are a further testimony to its genuineness, intimating (as does also the horn upon the head) the deification of the conqueror, as son of Jupiter Ammon.

A THOUSAND NAMES OF BUDHA.

SOME persons at Peking, and among them
a Tartar soldier, have been convicted of form-

ing a sect whose distinguishing feature was the
reciting a thousand names of Budha, and col-
lecting money. These proceedings are pro-
nounced worthy of the most intense detesta-
tion! Some of the leaders have been capitally
punished, and the general to whose division
the soldier belonged has requested a court-
martial on his conduct, for not discovering the
affair sooner.

lows:

"Mr. will please to call the list of the second gang every morning; afterwards will reckon the sheep and hogs, and see them dressed if required; after breakfast, he will return to the second gang, and attend them till half-past twelve o'clock; after dinner he will call the list of the gang, and then will return to see after the small stock.

"Mr. will please to show Mr. to-morrow, the way he is to go through his employment. Overseer."

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(Signed) Such are the orders given to the youngest book-keeper, which he, under the tuition of a brother in office, instantly sets about giving effect to. The simple reading of the above instructions must convey but a faint idea of the really disgusting duties they call upon the youngest book-keeper to perform or superintend. Reckoning the sheep and hogs might be Dorne; but next comes- -O, filthy operation!

the dressing of their maggotty sores, which, in so warm a climate, are disgusting even to view. These the book-keeper must see attended to, and, if he wishes to acquire a character for activity, he will be expected to assist himself. This done, he must hasten to the hen-house, when he receives from an old negress a notched stick, on which is marked, by cuts in different compartments, the birth, death, and

actual number of every turkey, goose, duck, hen, and chicken on the estate. He afterwards numbers them himself, sees them fed, and makes out a list of the whole for the inspection of the overseer. His afternoons are for some months occupied, like the prodigal's, in "herding swine," although, unlike him, he does not altogether live on husks, if good living can amend for other disagrémens. He now begins to think in good earnest that he has been deceived by the hypocritical attention and assiduities of some kind West Indian friend. He begins to despond. His brother book-keepers, observing this, will encourage him to bear up; that they, too, did not like their duties at first, and that he, like themselves, will soon be used to it.

He is advised by the overseer to carry a switch in his hand, to swear at the negroes if they don't work well, and to have always a sour look. He is also instructed that, if he wishes to be a planter, he must do as others do, and be sure, whenever he sees a black face, to set down its owner as a thief and a villain; and, if he does so, he will do no more than his duty. Such are a few of the additional instructions given to the young aspirant; he ruminates upon them and his honourable office while moving along from right to left of the gang, under the blaze of a scorching sun, his sensitive feelings wounded by overhearing the half-suppressed sneers and reproaches of the slaves, while his pride is hurt at their occasional laughs at his expence. Acting up to his instructions, he must endeavour to alter his physiognomy in the field, to appear inexorable when he would wish to be lenient, haughty when he would wish to be kind. A few words spoken by him to a negro may cost him his situation, at a moment's warning.

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66

in his absence; and, having served a thorough, my remonstrances; they both went, and I
apprenticeship to the business, is now perfectly lately saw a letter from one of them, who
qualified to fill, and eligible for, an overseer's deeply regrets not having taken my advice,
situation on another estate. He in the boiling wishes he were home again, and says that the
house superintends during the day, and in his duties he has to perform are enough to break
turn at night, the making of sugar, and also his heart. He further states, what may seem
keeps the keys" of the estate, that is, serves incredible (but any thing may be believed of
out the salt herrings, clothing, &c., to the ne- slavery), that, on the estate where he is situ-
groes; while the book-keeper in the still-house ated, it is the universal custom for the whites
has the charge of making the rum. He uni- to indulge in intoxication of a Sunday, and
formly strives to produce the full estimate, or that, because he refused to follow their vicious
to go beyond it when promised a reward for so example, he was debarred from the overseer's
doing. But it is impossible to descant upon table for a full week afterwards. He is a
the disagreeable duties of these two latter situ- young man of most respectable relations, and
ations. Those who fill them are generally so I can fully rely on his integrity.
well seasoned with slavery, that they feel quite
contented in their prospects of further pro-

motion.

I would never for one moment suppose that
any young man would remain to fill such situ-
ations did he entertain the smallest sympathy
for the victims of the lash, or a just regard for
his own reputation. Jamaica friends expended
all their eloquence on me by assuring me that
I would one day be an overseer, and were not
a little surprised when I told them that I
would never consent to fill such a situation.
No! my mind was made up after being a week
on the property, and I never rested day or
night in devising schemes to
when at length, through the mercy of Provi-
dence, I was enabled to bid it adieu, once and

for ever!

run away,"

I never yet conversed with a white in Jamaica, whether book-keeper or overseer, who did not express some regret that he had ever left home; and many have I seen who indulged in feelings of the most poignant regret that they ever had done so. But if young men will not be convinced, they must be allowed to have their own way; only I beseech them to come under no engagement for a term of years; let them go unfettered, and take sufficient money with them to pay their passage home, as (if they possess the true feelings of British freemen) they will of course return, and enlist themselves in the honourable ranks of those who are at this moment joined hand in hand in defending the outraged rights of their black fellow subjects.

CHARLES JOHNSTONE. London, March 26th, 1833.

I have now endeavoured to depict the actual nature of book-keepers' duties; but I have merely told half the truth. At another time, MORAL AND RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE more may be divulged. Sufficient, however, I trust, has been said at present to warn young men to look before they leap.

I strongly maintain, and maintain it I will When crop time comes, he will have to keep in the face of opposition, that no man can posspell the half of every other night. On small sibly be happy, or even tolerably comfortable, estates, the overseer and he sit up each night in Jamaica, in the shape of either book-keeper alternately. He will find such watching far or overseer, who has not had all his better from pleasant, after being on his feet for a feelings and sympathies seared and withered whole day. He requires to be continually up by the deadly blast of slavery. How comes moving about during the night, at one moment it otherwise that we hear of numbers not liking among the fumes of vapour ascending from the country at first, until, after some residence, the boiling sugar, at another in the yard, see- they felt themselves quite comfortable? It is ing what is doing there, exposed to the heavy just because, at first, they were shocked and dew. Thus has he to encounter two extremi-horrified at the daily scenes they witnessed; ties, as much on account of properly discharging his duty as of keeping himself in a state of waking consciousness. I am now nearly done with the youngest book-keeper, only assuring young aspirants for that office that these disagreeable and harassing duties, with many more concomitants, are in store for them, to which an unflinching obedience is exacted, or summary dismissal is the consequence. I would seriously advise such to pause and reflect before they make up their minds on going to Jamaica. But these are the duties they have to perform; and, if they approve of them, any thing that I could say would scarcely be of avail in altering their intentions.

On large sugar estates, there is also a bookkeeper to look after the working cattle-the least disagreeable office of the whole; and one each for the large gang, and for the boilinghouse and still-house, during crop. The attendant on the large gang, if he has not disgusting duties to perform himself, has at least to witness the greatest cruelties; but, in fact, by the time a book-keeper has this charge, his feelings are so blunted that those cruelties are only looked upon by him as necessary for the due performance of labour. Those in the boiling-house and still-house are the two oldest. The first is the head book-keeper, who uniformly discharges the duties of the overseer

but, after some seasoning and intercourse with
the planters, they completely lost sight of all
loathing and repugnance at the discharge of
those once disagreeable duties, succumbed to
the prevailing spirit, and became quite happy
in their situations.

This may perhaps be read by some intended
emigrants to the west, and they may affect to
disbelieve that such and such is the case, for
they have been told otherwise. Yes! I, too,
was told otherwise, but I soon, very soon, found
my mistake. It is frequently too late to think
of returning when one is there, as every effort
is made to entice the unwary youth into ex-
pences that chain him, whether he will or not,
to his fate.

I have all along left money out of the question; but, as this has a greater effect on some than other considerations of higher moment, I may mention that, from the expences a young book-keeper is put to in buying a horse, uniform for the militia, &c., he is generally in debt the very first year, and altogether he will only receive £40 sterling for his voluntary exile from his native land. But, perhaps, even all this won't have the desired effect in convincing wayward youngsters. Since my arrival in Scotland, I did all I could to persuade two young men, acquaintances of mine, from going out to Demerara, but they would not listen to

OF THE CLASSICS.
No. VIII.

BRITISH CLASSICS.-ADDISON. THE various interesting sets of short essays, with the Spectator and Rambler at their head, must have had a very considerable influence, during a season at least, and not yet entirely extiret, on the moral taste of the public. Perhaps, however, it is too late in the day for any interest to be taken in religious animadversions which might with propriety have been ventured upon the Spectator, when it was the general and familiar favourite with the reading portion of the community. A work of such wide compass, and avowedly assuming the office of guardian and teacher of all good principles, gave fair opportunities for a Christian writer to introduce, excepting what is strictly termed science, a little of every subject affecting the condition and happiness of men. Why then was it fated that the stupendous circumstance of the redemption by the Messiah, of which the importance is commensurate with the whole interests of man, with the value of his immortal spirit, with the government of his Creator in this world, and with the happiness of eternity, should not a few times, in the long course and extensive moral jurisdiction of that work, be set forth in the most explicit, uncompromising, and solemn manner, in the full aspect and importance which it bears in the Christian revelation, with the directness and emphasis of apostolic fidelity! Why should not a few of the most peculiar of the doctrines, comprehended in the primary one of salvation by the Mediator, have been clothed with the fascinating elegance of Addison, from whose pen many persons would have received an occasional evangelical lesson with incomparably more candour than from any professed divine? A pious and benevolent man, such as the avowed advocate of Christianity ought to be, should not have been contented that so

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