in their power to promote the speedy downfall of a system hateful in the sight of a holy God, and of every enlightened Christian. It is the desire of the writer that a meeting should be held at an early day, consisting of the friends of the slave from various parts of Great Britain to consider the propriety and practicability of carrying out to a far greater extent than has hitherto been done the views briefly advocated in this letter, on which I shall be glad to receive communications from any of the readers of the Reporter, directly, or through the medium of its columns. I remain, respectfully, thy Friend, Stoke Newington, 10 mo. 31st, 1846. GEO. WM. ALEXANDER. ILLUSTRATIONS OF SLAVERY. UNITED STATES. took his woman into the cellar, and, as is usual in such cases, stripped her from her waist up, and then applied the lash. The woman writhed and winced under each stroke, and cried, 'Oh Lord! OH LORD!! OH LORD!!!' The Doctor stopped, and his hands fell to his side as though struck with palsy, gazed on the woman with astonishment, and thus addressed her (the congregation must pardon me for repeating his words), Hush, you b-h, will you take the name of the Lord in vain on the Sabbath day?' When he had stopped the woman from the gross profanity of crying to God on the Sabbath day, he finished whipping her, and then went and essayed to preach that gospel to his congregation, which proclaims liberty to the captive, and the opening of the prison doors to them who are bound." Mr. Smith does not give the name, but from various circumstances which he states, there can be little doubt it was the Rev. GEORGE A Baxter, D.D., of Virginia! THE GREATEST IMPEDIMENT.--" We are about to make an announce MAINTAINING THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES.-The following is the conclusion of an advertisement in the Savannah Repub-ment," says the True American, "which must sound very strange to lican of March 23, 1845 : BUYING CHURCH Furniture.-A runaway slave, in 1841, assigned the following as his reason for not communing with the church to which he belonged at the South. "The church," said he, "had silver furniture for the administration of the Lord's Supper, to procure which, they sold my brother and I could not bear the feelings it produced, to go forward and receive the sacrament from the vessels which were the purchase of my brother's blood." SUPPORTING CHURCHES BY SLAVE-JOBBING.-The Rev. J. Cable, of Indiana, May 20th, 1846, in a letter to the Mercer Luminary, says :"I have lived eight years in a slave state (Va.)--received my Theological education at the Union Theological Seminary, near Hampden Sydney College. Those who know anything about slavery, know the worst kind is jobbing slavery—that is, the hiring out of slaves from year to year, while the master is not present to protect them. It is the interest of the one who hires them to get the worth of his money of them, and the loss is the master's if they die. What shocked me more than anything else, was the church engaged in this jobbing of slaves. The college church which I attended, and which was attended by all the students of Hampden Sydney College and Union Theological Seminary, held slaves enough to pay their pastor, Mr. Stanton, ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS a year, of which the church members did not pay a cent (so I understood it). The slaves, who had been left to the church by some pious mother in Israel, had increased so as to be a large and still increasing fund. These were hired out on Christmas-day of each year, the day in which they celebrate the birth of our blessed Saviour, to the highest bidder. These worked hard the whole year to pay the pastor his $1000 a year, and it was left to the caprice of their employers whether they ever heard one sermon for which they toiled hard the whole year to procure. This was the church in which the professors of the seminary and the college often officiated. Since the Abolitionists have made so much noise about the connection of the church with slavery, the Rev. Elisha Balenter informed me the church had sold this property and put the money in other stock. There were four churches near the college church, that were in the same situation with this, when I was in that country, that supported the pastor, in whole or in part, in the same way-viz.: Cumberland Church, John Kirkpatrick, pastor; Briny Church, William Plummer, pastor (since Dr. P., of Richmond); Buffalo Church, Mr. Cochran, pastor; Pisgah Church, near the peaks of Otter, J. Mitchell, pastor." He kept a Selling Ministers AS SLAVES.--At the great Convention in Cincin nati, in June, 1845, Mr. Needham, of Louisville, Ky., said—“ Sir, in 1844, a Methodist preacher, with regular licence and certificate, was placed in the Louisville jail, as a slave on sale. He preached the jail sermons, which would have done credit to any white preacher of the town. little memorandum in his pocket, in which he marked the number of persons hopefully converted under his preaching. I represented his case to the leading Methodists in Louisville, and showed them a copy of his papers which I had taken. Not one of them visited him in his prison. He said he forgave those who had imprisoned him and were about to sell him. He was sold down the river, which was the last time I saw him." A SLAVE-HOLDING D.D. WHIPPING HIS "B-H" ON SABBATH MORNING PREPARATORY TO PREACHING.-March 28th, 1843, in a public address at Cincinnati, the Rev. Edward Smith, True Wesleyan, of Pittsburg, stated that he had lived in slave-states thirty-two years; and, speaking of a certain D.D. of his acquaintance, he adds:-" He was a slave-holder, and a severe one too, and often, with his own hands, he applied the cowhide to the naked backs of his slaves. On one occasion, a woman that served in the house, committed, on Sabbath morning, an offence of too great magnitude to go unpunished until Monday morning. The Dr. those whose field of observation is unlike our own. The greatest impediment to the success of the anti-slavery movement in the slave-states is, the opposition to it of those men who profess to have been commissioned by high Heaven to go abroad and use their efforts for the mitigation of human misery and the extirpation of human wrong! This assertion, which appears so monstrous, will not surprise any one who lives among slave. holders. Our conviction of its truth has been confirmed by extensive observation." Home Entelligence. OVERTURE ON AMERICAN SLAVERY. The Free Presbytery of Glasgow had a meeting, at which Dr. Willis moved the transmission of the following overture:— "That the General Assembly take into serious consideration the relations of this church with those churches in America that avowedly provide, by their terms of communion, for the sufferance of slavery, as in. the circumstances in which it exists in the American states constituting no bar to full ecclesiastical membership. And this is overtured on these grounds-1. That the late decision was come to in the absence of an important document, since published, but which, if laid on the table of the House, might have affected and modified materially the sentiments of those who judged upon the question. 2. That, pending the use of those remonstrances which this church is pledged to use with those churches still it is worthy of consideration whether the intercommunion which is in the meantime held, amounting as it does to a recognising of the general orderly constitution of the American churches, be not so indefinite in its terms as respects its nature, the parties to whom it is to be extended, and the time during which it is to be prolonged, as to be likely to affect injuriously the tone of sentiment, both at home and abroad, as regards slavery itself, and great Bible principles interested and involved in the whole question." Dr. Willis, in a speech of great length and of great ability, sustained the overture. It would have given us sincere pleasure to have transferred to our pages this striking specimen of cogent reasoning and Christian eloquence had we the necessary space. We are truly thankful to find that the Free Church of Scotland has such enlightened men as Dr. W. in its presbyteries; as it will go far to neutralize the effect of the proceedings of Dr. Cunningham and others in the matter of American slavery. Mr. Arnot and Mr. Lorimer opposed the overture. Mr. Macbeth seconded Dr. Willis's motion, and ably supported the views of that gentleman. Dr. Buchanan followed him in a speech which evaded the real points at issue, and in which he put glosses on certain texts of Scripture, borrowed from the pro-slavery party, and, in conclusion, moved as a substitute for Dr. Willis's overture, the following resolution: "That while this Presbytery regard slavery with abhorrence, as an accursed system, equally contrary to the spirit of God's word, and to the natural rights of man,-and while they consider American slavery to be one of the most deplorable forms of the evil, unspeakably atrocious in itself, and highly aggravated by the fact, that it is maintained by a nation which boasts of its free institutions, and which has long enjoyed the blessed light of the gospel,-yet, in respect that this whole subject was fully and deliberately considered in last assembly, and the mind of this church regarding it expressed in a unanimous decision,—and in respect that, by virtue of that decision, this church is now in the attitude of remonstrating with the churches in America as to their duty in this matter, —the Presbytery does not deem it suitable to take any additional step at present, and therefore declines to transmit the overture." Messrs. Bremner, King, Brown, Miller, and Gibson took part in the discussion, and after an admirable reply of Dr. Willis, the House divided, when there appeared for the overture—Dr. Willis, Mr. Finlay, Mr. Macbeth, ministers. Messrs. Alex. Begg and Matthew Liddell, elders-5. For Dr. Buchanan's motion-Drs. Henderson, Forbes, Buchanan, Messrs. Lorimer, King, Noble, Gibson, Miller, Brown, Sommerville, Arnot, Alex. Wilson, Bremner, Cunningham, ministers. Messrs. R. Thompson, jun., David Campbell, John Gardener, John Geddes, Duncan M'Nab, James Martin, elders-20. So the overture was lost. Colonial Intelligence. JAMAICA.-Rate of Wages. We have advocated the principle of "a fair day's work for a fair rate of wages," and would the planter wish to secure continuous work, he must give continuous employment, and such a rate for labour, as will make it more to the interest of the labourer to cultivate sugar on the estate than it is to go to his provision ground. Mr. Smith says, "As regards wages, the most mischievous mistake exists. So far from being exorbitant, they are decidedly too low. The planter appears to forget two most important considerations. “First.—That wages do not depend upon the necessities of the negro, but upon the demand for his labour. In Jamaica, the competitors are the planter and the provision ground. The planter must, therefore, pay more than the negro can earn by working for himself, if he expects to receive his daily labour. Secondly.-That the head and hands of one free man must be made to do the work of the mere sinews of half a dozen slaves. In other words that the former must be raised in the social scale-must no longer be looked upon as a mere machine-must be made to double his natural strength, by knowing how to use it. The steam engine-the plough-the scarifier-the barrow-the ox-the horse-must do the work, the man must be elevated to direct them. "Contrast the circumstances of a peasantry thus instructed and thus employed, with those of the squatter and the immigrant; contrast, in short, the intelligence and activity of the manufacturing population of Lancashire, with the misery and beggary of the west of Ireland, and let wise men decide which is to be the safer alternative for the welfare of Jamaica." If Jamaica is to rise in intelligence and become a commercial and agricultural country, it will not be by lowering the price of labour, or by crushing the peasant to the ground; such plans would only tend to produce demoralization and the sufferings of poverty. Labourers should be elevated and taught to improve themselves, and thus it will be seen to accomplish it, that "a labourer cannot have too many wants. He should desire good food, good clothing, a cleanly and comfortable home, and education for his children. If the standard of wants could be universally raised, the natural price of labour would rise in proportion; for if each labourer were determined not to render himself unable to gratify these wants, all could command the wages that would supply them. In civilized countries, the wants and prudence of the middle classes extend lower in the scale of society, and the labourers want more, and enjoy more of the comforts and decencies of life. Happy indeed is that country in which the natural price of labour is the highest."—Ibid. Heavy Import Duties.-We offer our readers no apology for again referring them to Mr. Smith's letters on the condition of our West India Colonies. The sentiments expressed so fully coincide with our own; that we refer to them with pleasure. We have again and again advanced the same truths, but Mr. Smith being a practical man, as well as a person of keen penetration, his remarks must have great weight upon the minds of that part of the community who are willing to take a view of the practical bearing of the various imposts that are laid upon the Jamaica community. "The next evil," says Mr. Smith, "which besets Jamaica interests, is unwise legislation. The tariff adopted by the Jamaica legislature is peculiarly calculated to foster the system of small independent settlements on the part of the negro labourers, by the undue enhancement of the price of provisions. Quoting from the latest accounts (when, in consequence of the long drought, the market value of such articles was unusually high), I find that the present ad-valorem per centage on the import duties on the following articles of ordinary consumption were as under : duties must have in checking consumption in these, and increasing "A single glance at this list will show the effect which such exorbitant to the same extent the demand for the products of the negro ground, Estates' Management.--Baptist Herald, July 7.—A correspondent in the Morning Journal thus writes concerning a fact that came under his own knowledge: : "A certain property, in an eastern parish of this island, belonging to a gentleman connected with the military of England, was under the management of an attorney for several years. A succession of crops were had, and for several successive years the property brought the English proprietor in debt. Notwithstanding this loss in cultivation, the attorney thought it right to put the proprietor to considerable expense in repairing the works and buildings on the estate, and, strange to say, though no one could be better aware than himself that it had been cultivated at a considerable loss for some time past, after he had got the estate put in applepie order, he wrote and offered the proprietor to relieve him of this incubus, by renting it from him at £500 a year. The proprietor, a man of business, was startled at this proposition, and concluded that either his property was not so bad as it had been represented, or that the person who offered to rent it under such circumstances was a madman, and he forthwith sent out a power of attorney to another gentleman, with directions to rent out his estate, but not to let his quondam attorney have it, if he could possibly get another tenant. This ruined and unproductive estate was no sooner in the market than there were several persons eagerly applying for it at the proposed rent of 5007. per annum. One tenant, a merchant in Kingston, and a proprietor of some estates in another parish, was accepted. The terms being fixed the new tenant went to take possession of his tenancy, and, on riding round the estate, he noticed a large field of canes quite enough to make as much sugar as would pay, for at least, the first year's rent, which ought in the regular course of plantership and cultivation, to have been cut for the preceding year's crop. inquiring of the overseer how these canes happened to be remaining uncut, he received the following reply; Oh! sir, those canes were estimated in last year's crop; but as Mr. expected to rent the estate, he desired that they should be left over, that they might come into the next year's crop, which he expected would be his.' The honest attorney was, however, deprived of the excellent bargain he had cut out for himself, and in consequence of the course which the proprietor adopted, he now receives £500 a year from his property, instead of being £500 a year out of pocket, as was the case when it was under the management of a planting attorney. Оп "If this statement be doubted, let the House of Assembly appoint a committee to inquire into the fact, and I assure them that one of its As I said before, there are members can prove every word to be true. many such tales, equally founded in fact, but which are not made public, Jack, Archibald Leitch, William Mease, Solomon Owen, John .. Ogilvie and Son.. Laing, J., Jun. Forster, Robert Pow, Robert Procter, Joseph Procter, John R. Richardson, Mary Richardson, Mary J.. Spence, John F...... Spence, Joseph Watson, Michael ... Ufford.-Beaumont, John Broom Hill near Stourport.-Zackary, Thos. 1 0 0 050 0 5 5 0 26 0 2 6 2 6 Printed by JACOB UNWIN, of 33, Dowgate Hill, in the City of London, at his Printing Office, 31, Bucklersbury, in the parish of St. Stephen Walbrook, in the City of London, and published by PETER JONES BOLTON, of No. 8, Kennington Terrace, Kennington Lane, in the county of Surrey, at No. 27, New Broad Street, in the parish of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, in the City of London. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1846. Sold by W. Everett, 14, Finch Lane, and 17, Royal Exchange. THE ANTI-SLAVERY REPORTER. UNDER THE SANCTION OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY. VOL. I.-No. XII.-NEW SERIES. THOMAS CLARKSON. (Continued.) DECEMBER 1, 1846. In the year 1804, the committee was strengthened by the accession, amongst others, of Mr. James Stephen, Mr. Zachary Macaulay, Mr. Henry Brougham, Mr. William Allen, and Mr. Robert Grant; and this year was chosen by Mr. Wilberforce to renew his motion. The union between England and Ireland had taken place; the Irish members had taken their seats in the Imperial Parliament; and they were believed to be favourable to its object. Accordingly on the 30th of March, Mr. Wilberforce asked leave to renew his bill for the abolition of the slave-trade within a limited time. He was, as usual, opposed, but carried his motion; 124 voting for it, and 49 against it. On the 7th of June, when the second reading of the bill was moved, it was opposed, but again carried by a majority of 79 to 20. Another attempt was made to defeat it on the third reading, but again it triumphed by a majority of 69 to 36. It was then taken up to the House of Lords; but on the motion of Lord Hawkesbury, its discussion was postponed to the next year. In 1805, Mr. Wilberforce again brought on his motion, and leave was given to bring in a bill founded upon it; but upon its second reading, an amendment was moved postponing it till that day six months, which was carried; there appearing for it 77, and against it 70. This decision though greatly discouraging, was found to have arisen from accidental causes; it was, therefore, determined to bring it on again during the session, in a new form, but this was prevented by the impeachment of Lord Melville. PRICE 5d. carried by a majority of 114 against 15. Immediately after this division, Mr. Wilberforce moved an address to his Majesty, "praying that he would be graciously pleased to direct a negociation to be entered into, by which foreign powers should be invited to co-operate with his Majesty in measures to be adopted for the abolition of the African slave-trade." The address was carried without a division. The resolutions thus adopted by the Commons, were communicated to the Lords, and their concurrence in them requested. On the 24th June, the Lords met for their consideration. The Earl of Westmoreland proposed, that both counsel and evidence should be heard against them; but his proposition was overruled. Lord Grenville then read the resolution of the Commons, which, after an animated debate, in which the Bishop of London (Dr. Porteus), Lord Erskine (then Lord Chancellor), the Bishop of St. Asaph (Dr. Horsley), Lord Holland, the Earl of Stanhope, and Lord Ellenborough, particularly distinguished themselves as the friends of abolition, it was carried by a majority of 41 to 20. The address to the King was also carried, without a division. Mr. Fox died in October, 1806. On his death-bed he was not unmindful of the injured Africans: "Two It now became almost certain, to the inexpressible joy of the things," said he, the inexpressible joy of the things," said he, "I wish earnestly to see accomplished,-peace committee, that with proper vigilance on their part, it would be with Europe, and the abolition of the slave-trade; but of the two, carried in the next session. Fearing, however, that evidence would I wish the latter." be required by the Lords, Mr. Clarkson, who had now returned to the The eventful session of 1807 at length commenced. 'Contrary committee, was again requested to devote himself to that depart- to the practice hitherto adopted, Lord Grenville thought it advisable, ment of labour, which he did with his accustomed energy and that the question should be first agitated in the Lords. Accordability. He again visited the country, and met with extraordinary ingly, on the 2nd January, he presented a bill called, an Act for success. Before he returned to town, Mr. Pitt died, and Lord the Abolition of the Slave-trade; but he then only proposed that it Grenville and Mr. Fox were called to the head of affairs. In a should be printed, and lie on the table, that it might be duly former year a proclamation had been issued, by which British considered. On the 4th inst. no less than four counsel were heard merchants were forbidden (with certain defined exceptions) to against it. On the 5th instant the debate commenced. import slaves into the conquered colonies. On the 31st March, Grenville opened the discussion by a very luminous speech. He 1806, the Attorney-general, Sir A. Pigott, brought in a bill to was supported by the Duke of Gloucester, the Bishop of Durham, give effect to the proclamation now mentioned; to prohibit them (Dr. Barrington), the Earls of Moira, Selkirk, and Roslyn, and from being engaged in importing slaves into foreign colonies, or to Lords Holland, King, and Hood. The opponents of the measure, engage British capital in carrying on the slave-trade in foreign were the Duke of Clarence, the Earls of Westmoreland and St. ships, and to prevent the outfit of foreign ships from British ports. Vincent, and the Lords Sidmouth, Eldon, and Hawkesbury. The The third reading was carried by a majority of 35 to 13. On the bill was finally carried by 100 votes and proxies against 36. On 7th of May it was introduced to the Lords, and was supported, the 10th February, it was brought down to the House of Commons. amongst others, by the Duke of Gloucester, Lord Grenville, and On the 20th, counsel were heard against it, after which, by agreeLord Holland. Among its opponents were found the Dukes of ment, the second reading took place. On the 23rd, on the question Clarence and Sussex, and Lord Eldon; but when the division took of commitment, Viscount Howick (afterwards Earl Grey) delivered place, there appeared for it 33, and against it 18. During the an eloquent speech in its favour, and was ably supported, among discussions to which this bill gave rise, Lord Grenville and Mr. others, by Mr. Wilberforce, Mr. Stephen Lushington (now Judge Fox declared in substance, in their respective Houses of Parliament, of the Admiralty), Lord Milton (now Earl Fitzwilliam), and Sir that they felt the question of the slave-trade to be one, which in- S. Romilly. On the division, there appeared, for the motion 283, volved the dearest interests of humanity, and the most urgent against it, only 16. Many of the old opponents, unable to resist claims of policy, justice, and religion, and that should they the moral power of the question, either voted for it, or remained succeed in effecting its abolition, they would regard it as entailing away. Such was the ultimate triumph of humanity and truth over more true glory on their administration, and more honour on their self-interest and tyranny. On the 27th the bill went through country than any other measure in which they could be engaged. Committee, and to the disgrace of Mr. Windham, he was found On the 10th of June, Mr. Fox, in an able speech, moved the among its opponents. On the the 6th of March, the Committee of following resolution-viz., "That this House, considering the the House met again, when Sir C. Pole moved that the year 1812 African slave-trade to be contrary to the principles of justice, be substituted for the year 1807. This amendment produced a humanity, and policy, will, with all practicable expedition, take long debate, in which Sir Philip Francis, Mr. Whitbread, Mr. effectual measures for the abolition of the said trade, in such a Canning, and others took a leading part. The amendment was Lord punishable with transportation. A subsequent act declared it to be both felony and piracy, and punishable with death. The latter penalty, however, has been repealed, and transportation now remains as the punishment in force against the slave-trade. In 1824, the acts for the suppression of the slave-trade were conso whose labours in the cause deservedly place him in the first rank of its advocates. A subsequent act extends the provisions of the act of 1824 to British subjects residing in foreign countries as well as in any part of the British dominions. It may therefore be said, that the law against the slave-trade is now as perfect as it can be made. The foreign African slave-trade, notwithstanding all the efforts to suppress it, still continues to desolate Africa, and to feed the Spanish colonies and the empire of Brazil with innumerable victims. negatived by a majority of 125 against 17. The bill enacted, that no vessel should clear out for slaves from any port within the British dominions after the 1st May, 1807, and that no slave should be landed in the colonies after the 1st March, 1808. The bill was read a third time, and passed without a division, on the 16th day of March. On Wednesday the 18th, Lord Howick accom-lidated, and carried through the legislature by Dr. Lushington, panied by Mr. Wilberforce and others, carried the bill to the Lords. On receiving it Lord Grenville moved that it should be printed and taken into consideration on the following Monday. In the meantime, the greatest anxiety was felt throughout the country for the fate of the measure; the king (George the Third) having signified his intention of displacing the ministry on account of the introduction into the Commons of the Roman Catholic Officer's Bill. The bill for the Abolition of the Slave-trade, being an amended one, was to be again argued in the Lords' and to receive the royal assent. All these opera-The fact is, the slave-trade has its root in the system of slavery, and tions required time. On the 23rd the Lords met. The bill was immediately brought forward. It was opposed by the Earl of Westmoreland and the Marquis of Sligo, and supported by the Duke of Norfolk and the Bishop of Llandaff (Dr. Watson); but here an omission of four words was discovered, namely, "country, territory, or place," which if not rectified might defeat the purposes of the measure. An amendment was immediately proposed and carried. Thus the bill received the last sanction of the Peers; Lord Grenville designating it as "the most glorious measure that had ever been adopted by any legislative body in the world." The amendment just mentioned caused the bill to be sent back to the Commons. On the 24th, Lord Howick moved its adoption, which was agreed to. The bill was carried back to the Lords, as approved of, the same day. until that be abolished, it is in vain to expect the cessation of the traffic. The members of the African Institution became convinced of this long before it terminated its labours; and some of them, it may be said its most active men, formed the London Society for the gradual abolition of slavery in the British colonies. To this society Mr. Wilberforce, Mr. Clarkson, Mr. Buxton, Dr. Lushington, Mr. James Stephen, Mr. Zachary Macaulay, Mr. William Allen, and others gave their most zealous support. In 1831, the society was aided in its object by the Agency Anti-Slavery Society, instituted for the immediate and entire abolition of slavery in the British colonies. The active labours of the two societies, and their auxiliaries throughout Great Britain and Ireland, accelerated by the dogged opposition of the West India party to all measures of reform, and the events which took place in several colonies, brought the nation to the decision that slavery must cease. An Act was therefore passed by the Imperial Legislature in 1833, which decreed the abolition of slavery partial measure: it left the great bulk of the slaves in the power of their masters. as apprentices, until the 1st of August, 1840. The sufferings they endured in this condition, coupled with its manifest injustice and impolicy, again called the Anti-Slavery Associations into operation, and the zeal with which they prosecuted their labours led to the termination of the apprenticeship, amidst the unfeigned rejoicing of the friends of human freedom. Subsequently to this triumph, the Abolitionists of this country gave a wider range to their sympathies and efforts. They formed the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, for the universal extinc tion of slavery and the slave-trade. Of this society, Thomas Clarkson was the honoured president; and since its formation he was permitted to see the abolition of slavery in British India, in the British settlements in the East, and in Africa; so that, at the time of his decease, he could exultingly say there was no part of the earth's surface in which it was lawful for a British subject to buy or sell a slave, and no part of the British dominions in which it was lawful to hold or use a man as a slave. "But," to use Mr. Clarkson's language, "though the Bill had now passed both Houses, there was an awful fear throughout the kingdom lest it should not receive the royal assent before the ministry was dissolved. This event took place the next day; for on Wednesday, the 25th, at half-in the colonies on the 1st August, 1884. It was, however, but a past eleven in the morning, His Majesty's message was delivered to the different members of it, that they were then to wait upon him to deliver up the seals of their offices. It then appeared that a commission for the royal assent to this Bill, among others, had been obtained. The commission was immediately opened by the Lord Chancellor (Erskine), who was accompanied by Lords Holland and Auckland; and as the clock struck twelve, just when the sun was in its meridian splendour to witness this august act, it was completed. The ceremony being over, the seals of the respective offices were delivered up; so that the execution of this commission was the last act of the adminstration of Lord Grenville; an adminstration which, on account of its virtuous exertions in behalf of the oppressed African race, will pass to posterity, living through successive generations, in the love and gratitude of the most virtuous of mankind." We have glanced at these particulars for the purpose of recalling attention to the extraordinary labours of our venerable friend in the memorable struggle for African freedom. That he preceded Mr. Wilberforce in active exertion there can be no doubt. Though less public and brilliant than the exertions of that truly great man, those of Mr. Clarkson were not less efficient. The fact is, that neither could do without the other. In their separate departments of labour, they were unrivalled; nor could either have done without the committee; this all felt. To attempt, therefore, to exalt any one party at the expense of another, would be equally unjust and absurd. To bestow praise on all, is due to the memory of all engaged in that glorions service. In May, 1807, the African Institution was formed. Its objects may be briefly stated to have been to watch over the operation of the new law, to promote the abolition of the foreign African slavetrade, and to promote the civilization of Africa. As might be expected, Mr. Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson, and the other active and zealous friends of the African cause, were numbered among its office-bearers. In 1818, Mr. Clarkson visited Aix-la-Chapelle, where the great European powers were then holding a congress. On that occasion he had an interview with the Russian Emperor Alexander, who not only engaged to abolish the slave-trade so far as his own dominions were concerned, but to use his influence with other potentates for the same purpose. The African Institution terminated its labours in 1839, without having fully accomplished either of its objects. The act for the abolition of the slave-trade was found defective in its penalties. Mr. (now Lord) Brougham moved an address to the crown for more vigorous measures against the traffic, both British and Foreign, which he carried through Parliament in 1811, by which slave-trading was declared to be a felony Thomas Clarkson did not live in vain. He has left his impress on multitudes of living men, who sympathize with his principles, and are engaged iu following up his efforts to free the whole human race from the scourge of slavery, and Africa from the curse of the slave-trade. Up to nearly the last moments of consciousness, when feeble both in mind and body, he did not cease to occupy himself with the abolition cause. His last public appearances were at the opening of the great Anti-Slavery Convention in June, 1840, at which he was welcomed with the respect due to his years and to his labours, by the representatives of the friends of African freedom, from all parts of Great Britain, the United States, France, Holland, the West Indies, and Haïti. His address on the occasion was both dignified and encouraging. It gave an admirable tone to all its after sittings. At the close of its proceedings, a great public meeting was held at Exeter Hall, the Duke of Sussex in the chair, supported by M. Guizot, the French ambassador, and other distinguished personages. There he again presented himself for the last time, publicly. The whole assembly was hushed into silence during his stay, in consequence of his infirm state of health. The scene was grand, impressive, and affecting; such only as could be On that occasion he produced by the presence of such a man. wrote to an old coadjutor : "Much remains to be done ;-but take courage-be not dismayed-go on: my heart beats as warmly in this sacred cause now, in the eightyfirst year of my age, as it did at the age of twenty-four, and I can say, further, with truth, that if I had another life given to me to live, I would devote it to the same object." Thomas Clarkson was the last link which united the Abolitionists of the present times with those of the past. May his spirit, and courage, and perseverance characterise those who have entered into his labours, until the great work of human freedom shall be successfully and for ever consummated. At a Special Meeting of the Committee of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, held at No. 27, New Broad Street, on Friday, the 30th day of October, 1846, SAMUEL STURGE, Esq., in the chair. IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED:That this Committee cannot place on record the death of the late President of the Society, their venerable and beloved friend, THOMAS CLARKSON, without at the same time bearing their united and cordial testimony to the eminent services which, for a period of upwards of sixty years, he rendered to the anti-slavery cause. To the Committee it is a source of unfeigned satisfaction that, to the latest period of his existence, they enjoyed his full confidence, that the measures which they have pursued in promoting the great objects of the Society were in entire accordance with his matured judgment, and that his latest official act was to head the protest against the introduction of slave-grown sugars into the British markets, as a measure fraught with calamities to a large portion of the human race. By his lamented decease, Africa has lost the last of that illustrious band of philanthropists which it pleased Divine Providence, during the last century, to raise up to plead her cause, and to redress her wrongs; and the suffering and oppressed slaves, throughout the world, one of their most devoted friends. As the result of his great labours, and the noble efforts of those associated with him, he was permitted to live to see the complete suppression of the Anglo-African slave-trade, and the entire abolition of slavery throughout the British dominions, To those who succeed him in this field of Christian effort, he has bequeathed the duty of watching over the faithful execution of the laws intended to secure these great ends, and to promote the extinction of the same enormous crimes against human nature and against God, wherever they may be found to exist. His name will be recorded in history as one of the greatest benefactors of his race, and brightest ornaments of his country; a noble example and incentive to men of every rank and age to devote themselves to the advancement of the freedom, the civilization, and the happiness of their fellow-men. JOHN SCOBLE, Secretary. The foregoing minute was ordered to be forwarded to Mrs. Clarkson with a letter of condolence and sympathy with her and her bereaved family, on the great loss they, as well as the antislavery cause, have sustained in the death of the venerable patriarch of abolition. Of Mrs. Clarkson it is no compliment to say that, during the most active period of her husband's honourable career, she gave him the cheerful assistance of a clear intellect, a warm heart, and a willing hand. To her, not only as the widow of Thomas Clarkson, but as his steady and laborious helpmate in the anti-slavery cause, the affectionate respect of all Abolitionists is justly due, and, we have no doubt, will be unreservedly recorded. AMERICAN AND FOREIGN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY. New York, October 30th, 1846. [TO JOHN SCOBLE, Esq., Corresponding Secretary of the British and Foreign Anti-slavery Society.] Dear Sir-I have the honour to transmit to you the subjoined preamble and resolutions, unanimously adopted at a Special Meeting of the Executive Committee of the American and Foreign Anti-slavery Society, held October 23, 1846. With high respect, I remain, Rec. Secretary. Resolutions passed at a special meeting of the Executive Committee of the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, on receiving intelligence of the death of the venerable and lamented Thomas Clarkson. Resolved, That the Executive Committee of the American and Foreign Anti-slavery Society deeply sympathize with the aged and bereaved widow of the deceased, and with the youthful grandson who bears the name of his late revered relative, in the death of a most devoted husband and father. Resolved, That we mourn with the British and Foreign Antislavery Society the death of their venerable President, the last of the noble band, who, upwards of sixty years ago, associated to bring about the extinction of the slave-trade and the abolition of slavery-rejoicing, at the same time, that he was so long spared to the Society and to mankind, a bright example of intelligent zeal and untiring assiduity, in the cause of the oppressed and suffering throughout the world. Resolved, That we revere the memory of the distinguished Antislavery Patriarch, who, through evil report and good report, consecrated his youth, maturity, and old age, with disinterested zeal and indomitable perseverance, to the cause of human rights, and who continually exhorted his coadjutors to "persevere," amidst calumny, prejudice, misrepresentations, and violence, in labouring for the deliverance of their fellow men from bondage, and for the universal triumph of truth, humanity, and Christianity, over error, cruelty, and the popular religion of the age. Resolved, That the "last farewell letter" of Thomas Clarkson to professing Christians in the Northern States of America, as to their duty on the subject of slavery, sent to this country by the venerable writer, be widely published, in the hope that the dying exhortations of this apostle of liberty and friend of man may be heeded, and that the conclusion of the letter may be laid to heart by the members of the Church of Christ in this land.—“I entreat you to give it the most serious consideration; for it is a subject in the happiness of your fellow creatures yet unborn is concerned. which not only you yourselves are deeply interested, but in which May the Divine Spirit assist your deliberations, and may the Almighty give his blessing to your labours." Resolved, That the Hon. Wm. Jay be requested to deliver an eulogy in this city, at such time and place as may hereafter be determined, commemorative of the talents, virtues, and services of the late Thomas Clarkson. Resolved, That these resolutions, together with Clarkson's "Farewell Letter to Professing Christians in the Northern States of America," be published, and that copies of the resolutions be sent and Foreign Anti-slavery Society. to the widow and grandson of the deceased, and also to the British William Harned, Rec. Sec. ARTHUR TAPPAN, Chairman. BRITISH ORGANIZATION OF THE EVANGELICAL Gentlemen-Among the events which have recently occupied and interested the religious world, none, perhaps, have awakened a larger amount of feeling than the discussions which have grown out of the recent proceedings of the Evangelical Alliance on the subject of slavery. This fact is most important and encouraging; for it shows how intense an interest the Christian people of this country take in the liberty, the happiness, and the moral welfare of the most oppressed and degraded portion of the human race. Their view of the proceedings of the Alliance in relation to slavery, the Committee have already expressed in the columns of their official organ, the ANTI-SLAVERY REPORTER. It is unnecessary, therefore, that they should repeat it here, further than to say, that, whilst they deeply regret that the Alliance did not determine upon the exclusion of slave-holders of every class from its body, they are nevertheless gratified at the final decision to which it arrived, inasmuch as it leaves to the British district organization, now to be formed, the unrestricted power of shaping its own course on this momentous question. |