Already England has done much in this good work, and few things pleased me more in my travels than the oft-repeated expressions of gratitude to the "mother country" for her timely aid. I know that these thanks were sincere, and am equally satisfied that few things will tend more to bring the two great countries into that true concord which should ever exist between them, than such an evidence of brotherly sympathy as our English subscriptions would afford. Societies, I feel bound to state my conviction not aid them better in this matter than by that better organizations do not exist any furnishing them with those educational advan. where than those of New York, Boston, Phila- tages which have hitherto been so studiously delphia, Baltimore and Cincinnati. Of these denied them. I can speak from personal knowledge. Doubtless the same remark applies to others. During our "Cotton Distress" in Lancashire I acted on two working Committees for the distribution of funds amongst our mill "hands;" and I can safely say that neither in simplicity of organization, freedom from party bias, economy of working expenses, nor a conscientious desire to discharge a solemn duty in an honest straightforward way, do the American Associations come one whit behind any Committee of which I have any knowledge. It is a noble sight to see the way in which men of all shades of religious and political belief (opulent busi. ness men and others), cheerfully unite in this work, sparing neither time, money, nor fatigue, in promoting the welfare of the Freed-condition of society in the immense area over men which they deem a sacred trust. They feel that such a chance of doing good may never occur again; and now that they have got the small end of the wedge safely inserted, they mean to "drive it home" with all their might whilst opportunity offers. And now, at the risk of repetition, I may state as the result of my observations→→ First-That an almost incredible amount of destitution and misery prevails and will continue to prevail, owing to the disorganised which the Freed-men are distributed, and the hostility of Southerners to their former slaves. Second, That as a rule the Freed-men are not only capable of sustained labour, but most desirous to obtain employment at equitable wages; that they are not idle but anxious to work Third, That wherever Schools have been established, the Freed-men, both young and old, have shewn an extraordinary desire and capacity to learn. Without hard and continuous work nothing can be done in this field. Just before leaving America I attended a meeting of the Pennsylvania Freed-men's Relief Association, and found that even this single body have 23 Fourth, That the American Government schools in full operation, and above 3,500 is endeavouring, through the agency of the scholars, exclusive of those in the Sewing "Freed-men's Bureau," to protect and care Schools. To keep these establishments going for the millions of Freed-men so suddenly cast not less than £1,000 per month is required. upon it. These facts are enough to convince any one that there is plenty of work for us all; especially when taken in connexion with the announcement that not less than 20,000 teachers are wanted at the present time in the South, involving an annual cost of £1,200,000. The feeling towards the coloured people is much more satisfactory in the North than it was four months ago. They have more true friends there, though their enemies are still many and strong. What is now wanted is, that they shall be educated, so as to fit them for the duties of citizenship; and, though it may even be years before they obtain their full and equal rights, I feel sure that we can. Fifth, That the Christian population of the Northern States, through its various Freed men's Aid Societies, are working with a zeal and energy which cannot be surpassed, to mitigate the distress, and to teach and en. lighten the coloured population. Sixth, That the sympathy and aid of the English people in this geeat work are most gratefully appreciated, and have already done much to soften the hostile feeling which was engendered towards England duuring the war. And Lastly, That this sympathy and this aid are still imperatively required. I remain, thine, very truly, NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. All orders and enquiries concerning Advertisements, or other business connected with this Magazine, are to be addressed to ARLISS ANDREWS, 7, Duke Street, Bloomsbury. Amsterdam, October 1, 1865. Here I am among the Dutch. Thus far my mission is a glorious success. The poor blacks will from this date have a host of friends in Holland. I first called on the old and respectable banking house of Hope & Co, who examined with great care my credentials, and MARCHANT, Ipswich.-Messrs. Gripper & Co. who requested me to call again in two hours. The Freed Freed-Man. NOVEMBER, 1865. WORK AT HOME AND ABROAD. Whilst the Rev. Dr. Storrs, the Rev. Sella Martin, the Rev. Dr. Channing, and others, are at work pleading with earnestness and eloquence the cause of the Freed-man in various parts of Great Britain; the Hon. C. C. Leigh, with an energy and a success that is remarkable, is forming organizations in aid of the emancipated men, women and children in America, all over the continent of Europe. We have before us pamphlets and speeches in French, German and Dutch, and we know that it is the wish of Mr. Leigh to penetrate Italy, and to secure the aid, as we are sure the cause has already enlisted the sympathies of Gen. Garibaldi himself. We have had much intercourse with the gentlemen at present in this country from the United States, and for the simple earnestness and directness of their efforts they could not be surpassed. Mr. Leigh has visited Holland, Northern Germany, the Palatinate, Switzerland, Belgium and France-at present he is in Paris, and wherever he has been, to the honor of our Continental neighbours, he has at once enlisted the sympathies of all classes of the community. In a recent communication, Mr. Leigh says: When I returned they had read my speech delivered in London, and at once said they would do all in their power to make my mis. sion a success. On consultation, they con cluded to have my speech translated into Dutch and then distributed gratuitously, then to have a short appeal drawn up by a Divine whom they named, whom I waited upon and who at once consented. This appeal is to be published in all the papers, with influential names attached to it. I called upon the Clergy who at once entered most heartilyin the good work; thus the good ship is launched in this rich land; I trust that it will soon bo freighted with a cargo of clothes and other materials that will save many of the freed-men from death. The Committee that I formed in Hamburgh are at work most vigorously, they have put in print my Specch, both in English and in German, besides an appeal, short and to the point, in which a most earnest call for aid is put forth. Both of these documents are signed by the Committee, who, by the way, are the first men in the place. I leave to-morrow for the Hague, to work the same work, thence to Rotterdam and to Antwerp; from thence to Paris, and to Switzerland. In a still more recent communication Mr. Leigh says: Antwerp, October 8th, 1865. I have visited Holland, introduced the cause of the Freed-men, have received a hearty welcome, and have met with friends, and found success. In Amsterdam Mr. H. M. Laboushere the head of the great banking house of Hope & Co. has aided and put himself at the head of the movement. Committees have been formed in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and the Hague; each has issued an address to the people, in Dutch, affixed their names to it, published my speech in Dutch also, and both will be sent to those who are likely to be in. interested in the movement. I herein insert verbatim, a letter I received from one of their nobles, a most influential man, who is also connected with the government. I would submit whether it would not be well for me to print his letter entire in your next issue: it will show our friends in England and elsewhere how the cause is making headway on the continent. Hon. C. C. Leigh. My Dear Sir, We have just had the first meeting of our Committee: it is composed as follows: Lt. General de La Sarras, His Majesty's late Minister of Foreign Affairs. Rev. E. Moll, Minister of the Reformed Dutch Church. Dr. Capadose, Tonkheer Van der Velden, Vice-President of the Supreme Court of Justice. Mr. Groen Van Prinsterer, Counsellor of State. Baron Mackay Van Ophernent, Vice-President of the Council of State. Yonkheer Elout Van Socterwonde, Member of the Council of State. Baron K. T. Van Sunden, Chamberlain to the King. An appeal was composed and agreed upon; one thousand copies of the translation of your speech will be ordered and sent forthwith with the appeal; some gifts of 130 florins have been received, and with God's blessing things will go on very well. The journal of this day contains a warm article of commendation. May our Lord and Saviour have your interesting mission in His care, and may His name be glo rified by its success. I am, my dear sir, Yours, truly, ELOUT VAN SOCTERWONDE. AID TO NEGRO FREEDOM. PUBLIC MEETING IN DUNDEE. A public meeting was recently held in Ward Chapel, for the purpose of receiving a deputation from the Freed-men's Aid Society, which has for its object the relief of the libera ted negroes in America. The members of the deputation were the Rev. Dr. Storrs, of Cincinnati, and the Rev. S. Martin of New York. Frederick Tomkins, Esq., Secretary of the London Freed-men's Aid Society, was also expected to have been present, but a letter was received from him, stating that he was detained by the press of work in London, and besides, he was afraid that the Committee would think, as both Dr. Storrs and Mr. Martin were to be in Dundee, the expense of another delegation should be avoided. The meeting was a very large one, the church being almost filled; and W. E. Baxter, Esq, M.P. for the Montrose Burghs, occupied the chair. There were also on the platform, besides the members of the deputation, the Rev. Dr. M'Gavin, the Rev. Dr. Murray Mitchell, Rev. Mr. Grant, Rev. Mr. Wilson, Rev. Mr. Nairn, Rev. Mr. Ewing, Rev. Mr Laird, Rev. Mr. Macgregor, Rev. Mr. Spence, Rev. Mr. Lang, Rev. Mr. Bailey, Rev. Mr. Baxter, Rev. Mr. Piper, Rev. Mr. Barlow, Rev. Mr. Robertson, Mr. George Rough, Mr. H. B. Fergusson, Mr. P. Watson, &c., &c. After praise, the Rev. Mr. Macgregor engaged in prayer. Mr. W. E. Baxter, (who was received with applause) said-I do not intend to inflict a speech upon you or anticipate even by a single allusion, any of the statements likely to be made by the deputation in the course of the shall be briefly performed. It always gives me evening. My duty is a simple one, and it pleasure when American gentlemen come here to give us information regarding the affairs of that great country of theirs, with respect to which there exists so much ignorance and misconception on this side the Atlantic. The United States have passed through a fiery ordeal, a baptism of blood, and I have no doubt that Dr. Storrs and Mr. Martin agree with me that the effect will be to chasten and purify. (Applause.) They have accomplished a task perhaps the most herculean which his. tory records, and they have succeeded not what was going on a great deal better than the correspondent of the Times newspaper, and besides, ignorance directly conduces to outrage. The secret lay in their Christianity. They were better men than their masters. Knowing their Bibles, they believed in God, and felt assured that His own right hand had been stretched out to save them. (Cheers.) I hope that freedom from the yoke will not be the only reward of such trust and forbearance, and I shall be sorry if any rebel State is readmitted into the Union where the right of suffrage is to depend on the colour of a man's skin. (Loud applause.) The Chairman then introduced the members of the deputations to the meeting. We much regret our space does not admit of our giving the eloquent addresses of the Rev. Sella Martin, the Rev. Dr. Storrs, and the Rev. Dr. McGavin. only in wiping out from their escutcheon the "sweet revenge," and, when the opportunity foul blot of slavery, but in strengthening and was afforded them, break out in deeds of consolidating a power likely to exercise a plunder and violence? Because they loved mighty influence for the good of mankind. their masters? Not at all; for in every (Cheers.) The Southern people, in their instance they went over to the North, and blind fanaticism refused to entertain any pro-assisted the Northern armies. Because they jects for the gradual emancipation of the were ignorant? Not in the least. They knew negroes, they refused even to take into consideration the question of compensating them for their slaves, so God spoke in the whirlwind, and with awful suddeness the work was done. But, like all tempests, this revolutionary storm has left traces of destruction behind itscenes of suffering, poverty, and woe, which we can assist our American brethren in their noble attempts to alleviate—sources of dangers which every good man must desire should be averted from a nation allied to us so closely by language and by blood. (Applause.) When our Lancashire operatives were thrown out of employment, you know how generously the American people came forward to relieve their pressing necessities. During that crisis and the potatoe famine, they sent us no less than a quarter of a million sterling. Let us reciprocate their good feeling and acts of kindness. Having triumphed in a great war, they have now a great social problem to solve, and difficult indeed the work is. Hindered by the political manoeuvres of the North, and by the immorality of the social system of the South, the men who are carrying on this philanthropic movement should be able surely to rely on our pecuniary aid and moral sympathy. (Hear, hear.) Such co-operation in benevolent undertakings—such interchange of good offices, tend to soften national asperities, and to promote universal brotherhood. Then, ladies and gentlemen, these destitute negroes have a claim upon us, not only because they are our fellowmen-poor and suffering-but on account of their noble conduct during the war. (Cheers.) You remember that certain people-people, however, whose predictions were always wrong-kept on telling us of the horrors that would take place when emancipation was proclaimed; and you know that, so far from such anticipations being realised, the blacks have manifested a patience, kindliness, and forbearance beyond all praise. Why was it that they did not indulge in Doctor McGavin moved the resolution as follows:- "That this meeting express their cordial thanks to the deputies who have now addressed them, recognising the urgent need in the extraordinary condition of the coloured population in the Southern States of America, of affording them temporary help, and the claim which, especially the aged and the young of that population, have upon the sympathy and beneficence of Christians in this land, and appoint the following Committee to take such steps as may seem most desirable to obtain subscriptions:-George Rough, Esq.; Patrick Watson, Esq.; John Henderson, Esų. ; Thomas. Smith, Esq.; A. D. Grimond, Esq.; Alex. Henderson, Esq.: W. E. Baxter, Esq.; David Ogilvie, Esq.; H. B. Ferguson, Esq.; Alex. Berry, Esq.; Provost Parker; Patrick Anderson, Esq.; and Alexander Anderson, Esq." Mr. H. B. FERGUSSON seconded the motion. He said that, like his rev. friend who had just concluded, he should have prefered seconding the motion without making any remarks in a meeting where he was sure, no remarks were needed to carry the sense of the meeting along with it; but he felt, in common with the Rev. Doctor, that it was perhaps a little more respectful to the deputation not to be contented with merely formally seconding the motion, but to offer a few observations in support of it. (Hear, hear.) Could they but rejoice-they whose boast it had been for long generations that slavery could not breathe the free air of England-they whose boast it had been that the moment the slave touched English soil his fetters fell from his hands could they but rejoice that America was now yearning to share that glory with the country whence she sprang? His hon. friend in the chair justly said that the work which the American Government and people had undertaken was the most herculean task to which any nation ever addressed itself. He might have gone further, and said that all history, from its very first twilight down to the present hour, could not in the life of any nation show such a contrast as exists between the America of to-day and the America of but six or eight months ago. Then every day brought the sickening tidings of slaughter and bloodshed. The air rang with the wild and dissonant cry of battle-with the thunder of artillery-with the wail of defeat and disaster on the one hand, and on the other with the earthquake voice of victory. the sounds which the fanning evening brings to our shores. Far different are west wind this This very day we find in the newspapers an account of an interview betwixt President Johnson and a deputation of gentlemen from what were called the Cenfederate States. In the course of the conversation that occured, Mr. Johnson exclaimed "The institution of slavery is gone;" and so far from that statement haveng been contradicted by the former sworn advocates of that system, they accepted and re-echoed the statement. (Applause) When they heard of such things what could they say, but that statement and that response were like the trump of jubilee proclaiming a new sunrise of light and liberty in America-proclaiming that the slave is a slave no more-proclaiming that in the New World, no less than in the Old, wherever the English language is spoken, all men are free, so that even the down trod den negro will ere long be able to say with one of England's greatest sons"He must be free, or die, who speaks the tongue That Shakspeare spoke-the faith and morals hold That Milton held. (Loud applause.) His hon. friend in the chair had reminded them that oftener than once during periods of distress in their own country, America had been forward to send her aid. She did not even wait to be solicited, but generously, promptly, spontaneously, she came forward, and her sympathy, as he had told them did not evaporate in words, it enshrined itself in golden deeds. If anything farther were needed to strengthen the appeal now made, he thought it would be found in the very attitude which the American Government at the present moment held towards this country. As had been said in the course of the evening already, many public writers and public men in this country during the last four years had sorely and cruelly belied the Government of the United States-(hear, hear)—and in nothing, perhaps, did they more bely that Government than in proclaiming the wild prediction, that so soon as the American struggle should be over the armies of the United States would be let loose, like so many brigands, on the transatlantic dependencies of the British Empire. Well, the war is over, and where are these predictions now? (Hear, hear.) In the words of the great German dramatist, "The colours are unfurled, the cavalcade Marshals; and now the buzz is hushed; hark! and Now the soft peace march beats Home, brothers, home!"" (Applause.) The American soldier had doffed his armour, and had once more become a peaceful citizen. He had flung aside his bayonet and his cartridge box, and had resumed the loom, the anvil, and the plough. Having fought the battles of his country, and shared in her triumphs, he had returned to cultivate the arts of industry and peace. And now, instead of sending us wild cartels of defiance to mortal combat, America sent these gentlemen as ambassadors of peace, to tell us that their long-wished year of jubilee was come at last, that the chains are everywhere dropping |