No. 2.]

NEGRO SLAVERY.

"Oh, most degrading of all ills that wait
On man, a mourner in his best estate!
All other sorrows virtue may endure,
And find submission more than half a cure;
But Slavery!-virtue dreads it as her grave:
Patience itself is ineauness iu a slave."-

COWPER.

THAT Slavery is the "most degrading of all ills," no one, we suppose, will deny, but he whose wealth is the produce of slave-labour, or whose sight is so familiarized to its horrors, as to prevent the perception of its debasing nature. We do not intend, therefore, to enter into a minute detail of the evils of Slavery; but only wish to call the attention of our readers to a few facts relative to the present state of Slavery, as it exists in the British Colonies in the West Indies. We are persuaded that the British public in general have no idea of the misery which is produced by the system of Slavery, even in our own Colonies, or they would be more united and vigorous in their efforts to produce its entire abolition. The exertions however, which are being made in different parts of the kingdom, to disseminate a knowledge of the heart-thrilling facts, will no doubt tend to awaken general sympathy, and to call forth prompt and effectual assistance. It is the hope of rendering some little service to this labor of humanity and benevolence, that alone induces us to offer any remarks on this subject at present; and we trust that our observations may in some measure, produce the desired effect. We shall be obliged, from the limits of our work, to state facts rather than proofs; but we shall be careful to advance nothing C

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which has not the sanction of unquestionable authority.

At a late public meeting, held for the purpose of Petitioning Parliament for the mitigation of Slavery throughout the British Colonies, and for its extinction at its earliest, safe, and prac ticable period, the following statement was made by the well-known indefatigable advocate of Negro Emancipation, Mr. Clarkson.

"It appears then, 1st, from the testimony of living witnesses, whose accounts have never been disproved, and from documents laid upon the table of the House of Commons from time to time, and up to this present year, that the slaves of the British Colonies, to the number of 800,000 souls, are, all of them, considered as property--as goods and chattels-as cattle. Like cattle they are branded at the discretion of their owners. Like cattle they are sold. And here it must be obvious, that a great deal of misery may occasionally arise; for it sometimes happens, that the father, the mother, and the children are bought by different persons, and thus they may be separated for ever. pears 2d, from the same authority, that they are made to work without wages; that they are made to work in their provision grounds, where they have any, on the Sunday, or they must starve, and that they are made to work, males and females alike, under the whip. A driver follows them with a whip of such tremendous power, that he can, if he pleases, cut out a flake of flesh at a single stroke. It appears, 3d, that it is not only while they are at work, that they are subject to the whip. They are subject to the

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whip, the stocks, the chain, and other modes of punishment at all times, whenever their masters or overseers may think fit. Their word is law, They can constitute any circumstance, however trivial, into a crime; and be it remembered, that if any of these poor people lift up their hands against these their oppressors, the punishment is death. It appears, 4th, that against these and other injuries they have little or no redress. Their testimony is seldom taken against the whites, and never against their owners. It appears, 5th, that their marriages are not protected by law. Any master or overseer can take from any slave his wife or daughter for the purposes of debauchery, and these practices are too common ou the plantations. It appears, 6th, that the slaves being obliged to cultivate their provision grounds on the Sunday, and to hold their markets on the same day, little or no opportunity can be had for religious instruction. Here and there a welldisposed owner or overseer endeavours to make way for it; but in forty cases out of fifty, both owners and overseers set their faces against it; so that these poor creatures are deprived of the only comfort, which in their situation they could experience, the comfort of religion. It appears, 7th, that a considerable tax is put upon manumission, so that taking this circumstance into consideration, and the very little time, that even the most favoured Negro can have to work for himself, it is not in the power of one field slave in one thousand to purchase his own freedom; not one field slave in one thousand has any other hope of a termination of his earthly sufferings but in death."

This is but the mere outline of the wretched situation of 800,000 human beings in the British Colonies; but it is sufficient to excite feelings of deep sorrow towards the unhappy sufferers, and high indignation towards those who wish to retain their fellowcreatures in such ignoble bondage, or who will not lend a helping hand to rescue them from their seivile and miserable condition. The papers lately laid upon the table of the House of Commons, would have supplied us

with specific instances of cruelty towards the West India slaves, both male and female, that are sufficient to produce the greatest horror. But we cannot enter into the subject so fully as we could wish, and must consequently refrain from giving any instances of this kind. We appeal to the good sense and humane feelings of our readers, and ask whether any human beings, whatever may be their complexion, ought to be subjected to such a system of government as that which we have above stated? Is it a state fitted to man's existence, to be impelled to labor by the lash of the whip,-to be deprived of all domestic comfort and social enjoyment,—to have his parental feelings constantly put to the torture,-to be subject to all the insults and injuries which the hand of cruelty can inflict,-to know nothing of the inestimable pleasures of pure religion,-in short, to live only on an equality with the most hardworked of the brute creation, without being deprived of those superior senses which pertain to rational creatures, and which, in his case, serve only to heighten his misery? If it be, then is the West India slave the man who is placed in the most suitable sphere of life. But if man should go forth to his labor under the influence of higher motives;—if he should enjoy all the pleasures that a home can give; all the advantages which a free intercourse with mankind can procure: all the liberty which is consistent with the order and happiness of society; and all the more solid and durable pleasures which the knowledge of divine truth can bestow ;-then, alas! how far, how very far removed is the poor slave from that state which he ought to enjoy. And can we do nothing to unbind his heavy burden, and free him from the galling chains he wears? Or must the whole slave population toil out a miserable existence, and have no other inheritance to bestow on their posterity than the chains they wore, and the sufferings they endured! For the honor of our country, and for our individual credit, let us not remain ignorant of the remedy for this great evil, nor protract the time of putting an

end to their just complaints and cries. It is the united voice of the people of England that can instantly meliorate their condition, and eventfully raise them to the true enjoyment of their long lost liberties. Let us with one voice proclaim their freedom,--and they must be free. Let us with all proper respect tell our representatives in Parliament that we wish the foul stain of Slavery to be wholly washed from our country, and they will, doubtless, lend an ear to our wishes, and give their powerful assistance to secure their consummation. Be it remembered, however, that it is desirable that every friend to the mitigation, and final abolition of Slavery, should let his sentiments and wishes be known in Parliament; for we have yet strong interests to contend with, and it requires our united efforts to ensure success. During the ensuing Session of Parliament, there is no doubt that a vast number of Petitions will be presented, and the more numerous they are the more probable it is that something more effectual will be done. Several Anti-slavery meetings have recently been held in different counties, and petitions have been prepared for early presentation, Amongst the meetings already held we have observed those of London, Norfolk, Norwich, Birmingham, Hull, Ipswich, &c. &c., in all which places the cause has been advocated with great talent and effect. We hope, and expect, that their example will be speedily followed, by many other towns in the kingdom. We will conclude our remarks for the present by a quotation from the concluding part of the report recently published by the committee of the London Anti-slavery Society. "Are we not (they say, after communicating many important facts,) entitled to call upon the people of England to come forward to strengthen the hands of the government, in the righteous work of carrying into effect the hitherto abortive resolutions of Parliament on the subject of Colonial Slavery? We call upon them therefore to assemble in every county, and city, and town, and even village of the United Kingdom, in order to testify their abhorrence of

of this impious system, and to implore the Legislature, respectfully indeed but most earnestly, to relieve them from its guilt and its burden. Let no man in this free and happy country, where the voice of the very meanest has its appropriate weight in Parliament, imagine that he can discharge himself from the performance of this solemn duty; or-should his application to Parliament fail of its effect-from adopting every other expedient in his power, such as abstinence from slavegrown sugar, the promotion of cultivation by free labor, &c. for wiping away this foul stain from the national character."

CONJUGAL AFFECTION.

Or all the pleasures that endear human life, there are none more worthy the attention of a rational creature than those that flow from the mutual return of conjugal love.

The following example from ancient history is so excellent, that we offer no apology for copying it into our Selector.

LEONIDAS, king of Sparta, suspecting a conspiracy was formed against him, fled to the temple of Minerva for shelter, whereupon Cleombrutus, his son-in-law, seized the government, When Leonidas was informed of this, he made his escape, taking his daughter along with him, who chose rather to fly with her father than reign with her husband. Sometime after Leonidas being restored to the throne, he advanced at the head of a band of soldiers to the temple where Cleombrutus, upon this change of affairs, had, himself, fled for refuge. He there reproached him with great warmth for assuming the regal power, in violation of the ties of affinity between them, and for expelling him from his own country in so ignominious a manner. Cleombrutus who had nothing to answer to these reproaches, continued seated in a profound silence, and with an aspect which sufficiently testified his confusion. His wife Chelonida stood near with her two children at her feet. She had been equally unfortunate as a wife and a daughter; but was equally faithful in each of those capacities, and had always adhered to the unfortunate side. All those who were then present melted into tears at so moving a sight, and were struck with admiration at the virtue and tenderness of Chelonida, and the amiable force of conjugal love.

The unfortunate princess, pointing to her mourning habit and dishevelled tresses, "Believe me, O, my father!" said she, "this habit of woe which I now wear, this dejection which now appears in my countenance, and these sorrows into which you see me sunk, are not the effects of that compassion

I entertain for Cleombrutus; but the sad remains of my affliction for the calamities you sustained in your flight from Sparta. On what, alas ! shall I now resolve? While you reign for the future in Sparta, and triumph over the enemies who opposed you, shall I continue to live in the desolate state to which you see me reduced? Or is it my duty to array myself in robes of royalty and magnificence, when I behold the husband I received from you in the flower of my youth on the point of perishing by your dagger? Should he be unable to disarm your resentment and move your soul to compassion by the tears of his wife and children, permit me to assure you that he will be punished with more severity for his imprudence, than was even intended by yourself, when he shall see a wife who is so dear to him, expiring at his feet; for you are not to think, that in my present condition, I will ever consent to out-live him, What appearance shall I make among the Spartan ladies after my inability to inspire my husband with compassion for my father; or to soften my father into pity for my husband? What indeed shall I appear to them, but a daughter and a wife, always afflicted and contemned by her nearest relations." Chelonida, at the conclusion of these words, reclined her cheek on that of Cleombrutus; while with her eyes, that spoke her sorrow in her tears, she cast a languid look on those who were present.

His

Leonidas, after a few moments discourse with his friends, ordered Cleombrutus to rise, and immediately to quit Sparta; but earnestly importuned his daughter to continue there, and not forsake a father who gave her such a peculiar proof of tenderness as to spare the life of her husband. solicitations were however, ineffectual; and the moment Cleombrutus rose from his seat, she placed one of her children in his arms, and clasped the other in her own; and when she had offered up her prayers to the goddess, and kissed the altar, she became a voluntary exile with her husband,