groes, who, with his own family and many others, attend from the neighbourhood. The late robber himself, I am happy to state, manifests a real change of life and heart, to the truth of which his master bears a pleasing testimony. He has been received as a scholar into our Sunday-school. Our excellent governor, with his secretary and a member of the council, lately visited the Sunday-school, and expressed his high satisfaction with the improvement of the children." But your correspondent seems to think that all these instructions can do the Negroes but little real good, as long as they remain in slavery. He will pardon me for saying that I cannot conceive this. Such is the nature of Christian truth, that if it be but received with any degree of seriousness and affection, I think it must, to a moral certainty, operate most beneficially both on the heart and the understanding, and through them on the whole social behaviour. And this appears, from the statements of the Missionaries, to be realized in fact. Whether the reception of religion will tend to produce any insurrectionary movements among the Negroes, I feel unable to judge with absolute confidence; but it appears to me, that religion represses such movements by much stronger motives than it incites them, nor am I aware that there are any facts on record in evidence of such a danger. Moreover, among the Planters themselves, a contrary opinion seems to be gaining ground. part of education. Indeed, I must admit your Correspondent's correctness, in saying, that the Report alluded to furnishes no decisive evidence of any slave-children being taught to read, though it is made probable that in a few instances they are so. But we have seen that religious instruction, by catechizing and preaching, is carried on to a considerable extent among the Negro Slaves, and that with apparent benefit. From the opinion, therefore, that among these degraded people Missionary labours are almost useless, Mr. Cooper must pardon me when I say that I still feel some ground for dissent. EUELPIS. GLEANINGS; OR, SELECTIONS AND No. CCCCI. Botanical Heaven. It is amusing to see how men associate their favourite pursuits with their religious expectations. In this they sometimes fall into the ludicrous. The Botanic Garden, for instance, at Leyden, contains a bust of Clusius, one of its founders and benefactors, on which is the following inscription: Non potuit plures hic quærere Clusius Ergo novas campis quærit in Elysiis, herbas, which may be thus plainly Englished, With respect to the instruction of the Negroes in the art of reading, it is certainly a more questionable measure, and unless it goes hand in hand with a progressive emancipation, may have dangerous tendencies. Reading, however, is not absolutely necessary, either to life or godliness: it is but a modern blessing in the world, since before the art of printing, it was pro bably never enjoyed by the mass of mankind, whether bond or free. But even from this acquirement, when at tained in conjunction with religious instruction and discipline, I think there must be more to be hoped than to be feared. More jealousy, however, exists on this point among the Planters, and consequently, a comparatively limited ling in celestial fields !" number of slave-children receive this New plants to Clusius, Earth no longer yields, He goes to botanize in the Elysian fields. the Horticultural Tour by a Deputation This compliment (says the Editor of from the Edinburgh Horticultural Society, an interesting and valuable work, just published in one volume, 8vo.) has a parallel in one paid by the author of the "Gramina Britannica" to the herborizing zeal of the late Mr. their escape from this prison of clay, Sole, of Bath: "If our spirits, after continue any attachments to what engaged them on earth," surely, concludes the amiable Author, rapt in botanical fervour, Sole is now " simp POETRY. On the Death of Mrs. WELLBELOVED. And happier still, that journcy o'er "Tis finish'd. The divine decree, The awful word to thee is given, Which bears thee hence from fleeting joys, To pure and perfect bliss in Heaven. And he, whose soul was link'd with thee, And they, dear pledges of that love, Who own'd, in thee, so choice a blessing, Whose worth bespeaks thy guardian care, Their minds thy excellence possessing, Now mourn thy loss;-bereaved mourn! In sorrow pine;-in misery languish ;Now, half repress the bursting sigh, Now, vent it with redoubled anguish. While Memory, sadly-pleasing power, Each loved and honour'd feature traces; Gives" airy nothingness" thy form, And clothes it with thy Christian graces: Paints thee, as when, in happy time, The smile the fond caress bestowing; Thine cye with pleasure's tear suffused, Thy breast with fond affection glowing. Ah vain, ah bitter task! for see! The loved illusion disappearing, Grief holds anew her cheerless sway, A dark and saddening aspect wearing. Soon may their sorrows cease to flow; And, gentle Peace, their bosoms filling, Bid Hope her cheering influence shed, Like heavenly dew, its balm distilling. And if, blest Shade! the charge be thine, Unseen, unfelt, around them moving, To shield their heads from every harm, In danger's path, a safeguard proving: How happy, then, on life's rough way Thy hand from every ill defending? To meet ;-and part, oh never, never! To wing, with thee, the pathless way, And dwell in realms of bliss for ever. York, February 13, 1823. THE BIBLE. It is the one, clear light, E. W. That, if all other lamps grow dim, Shall never burn less purely bright Or lead astray from Him. It is the golden key To treasures of celestial wealthJoy, to the sons of misery, And, to the sick man, health. It is the blessed band That reaches from th' eternal throne, To him, whoe'er he be, whose hand Will seize it for his own. The gently proffer'd aid Of One who knows us ;-and can best Supply the beings he hath made With what will make them blest. And it was so-in dust Humbled the guilty people knelt, Leaving the gorgeous palaces, Where late in pomp they dwelt; King, princes, mourn'd the deep offence, And gave themselves to penitence. Now that his powerful voice, Heaven-taught, had reach'd the sinner's heart, Might not the prophet well rejoice, And blessing God, depart? Or fervent join the hope, the prayer, "Who knows if yet our God may spare ?" No-His was not the soul Of one who, humbled in the dust, Pleaded for guilty Israel, Yet own'd the sentence justHeaven's gracious thoughts his anger move, And Jonah weeps that "God is love." A shelter from the noon-tide heat, A shade so cooling, sweet; "Jonah was glad," the record says, We hear not of the Giver's praise. Short was his joy-the plant In one short night a worm devour'd, "Yes, I do well, even thus, Thus angry unto death, to pine:" "Then thou had'st pity on the gourd, Which was no work of thineWhich in a night has flourished, And in a night thou see'st is dead! "And shall no pity rise For thousand and ten thousand souls No sense of right controuls; Oh! if there be who wield Heaven's thunders o'er their brothers' head, Not, Jonah-like, commission'd high, O let them, warn'd by Him, beware, Be to themselves severely true, E. • Moses, Deut, is. 18. To LOUIS-Le Desiré.* Then thou wilt submit, O King! Deep charg'd with the blood of the Then thou, in thine age, must take The sword on the side of wrong, Impatient to think this idle world Should dally with Peace so long. Now shame on the souls that roused Had they left thee alone in thy rest! And thou hast believed the word, That God can delight to see His image fair in the mind of man Effac'd by a thing like thee? And thou canst indeed believe, Shines bright on thy favour'd head? Or ever the deed be done, Oh! ponder, for mercy's sake! Or ever the widow's sigh To the throne of God hath sped, By all thou hast hop'd or fear'd In Heaven or Hell, oh pause! For God will fight in defence of the right, And not in oppression's cause. E. T. Lines written in the Prison at Calais. (From Mr. BOWRING'S "Details of his Arrest, Imprisonment and Liberation," just published.) Calais Prison, Oct. 8, 1822. I have marched up and down this foul abode, And read its tales of misery: 'tis a book Since this poem was printed, we have seen it in the Examiner newspaper, but being sent to us as an original, we give it as such. ED. Crowded with vice and virtue-with the excess Of vice and virtue. Heroes have been here, Who sit on heavenly summits now, and walk In the free fields of bliss. I will not ask What crimes have crowded here; for men are wont To err most strangely when they talk of crime: The vilest go unscourged; but I have seen More valour and more truth in these black cells Than ever honoured many a mighty one Whom million slaves have worshiped. I'll look round And moralize, and for a moment chase The memory of wife and childrenthoughts Too bitter for a prisoner, and for one Whose prison is not in his father land. The cold walls on one side were mouldered o'er, And the damp sweat exuded. Stains of blood Were sprinkled on the other: filth of years Covered the floor. There was a sickening stench, Nauseous as the plague's breath. The bars, the bolts Seemed made for giants; and the heavy keys Were shaken, as with a malevolent joy, By the unhearted keeper. Vermin tribes Luxuriated: it was a palace to them. But some had been erased, as if rebuke Had cried "Shame" to the conscience; some were left Broken, or finished tremblingly. Re My heavy pile of misery. Oft I turned An ear of deafness to the voice of truth, And whelmed me in my own most obstinate will. Thy coward penitence is worthless now, O miserable mortal! bow thy head, Suffer and sink." The line was blended there With other exclamations: "What! is this A fit abode for virtue? linked to crime, Married to infamy. Great Heaven! I swear I swear the charge is false !" and so it was: "Twas but the agony of a youthful soul Dreading contamination. One had drawn Rude boughs of intertwining olive. One Had sketched a drooping ash, bent o'er a stream, And hung gold weights upon its branches: "Men Are bowed by circumstance." Twas eloquent : I felt it, and I looked again; I saw There was an altar hid behind the tree, On which a fire was burning. "Twas a dream Of the pure days of youth. "Man is trained To perfect wisdom but by perfect woe— Thou must be more unfortunate!” How oft Have I, with listening ear and busy SELECT NOTICES OF FOREIGN LITERATURE. M. GESENIUS has obtained astonishing success in teaching the Hebrew tongue. He has published the history of this language, a grammar and a dictionary, as well as other analogous books, much esteemed in Europe. The most learned Hebraists, and the most able theologians in Germany are inexhaustible in the praise of this new translation of Isaiah, the merit of the commentary, the erudition displayed by the author, and the justness of his reflections. He endeavours to point out, in his text, the prophetic annunciation of the Christian religion, the most remarkable traits of the life of Jesus Christ, and the establishment of his doctrine amongst the Gentiles. Hebraische Grammatik, &c.-Hebrew Grammar, by the same. Fifth Edition. Halle, 1822. One Vol. in 8vo. Pp. 232. At the end of this volume, the author announces a new edition of his Hebrew and German Dictionary, which is to assume the form of Hebrew and Latin, and in which will be found the etymologies, and a comparison of the Hebrew dialects. de Seine, No. 48. 2 francs. In 8vo. Price This work is more important than its title seems to denote: this remark we address to the translator. The title announces a polemical work, whilst the production of M. Bretschneider is entirely historical. It is a very interesting biography of the life and labours of the French Reformer. In it we find a precise and clear exposition of the theological doctrines of Calvin. M. de Felice, in translating the German work into French, has principally aimed at answering the calumnies of the Conservateur. In the book of M. Bretschneider is to be found a justness and originality of thought sometimes very remarkable, joined to a profound knowledge of the circumstances and spirit of the Reformation. There are also many details of the life of Calvin, hitherto but little known. I have remarked (pp. 34, 35) a brilliant parallel between Calvin and Luther. author points out the noble features of the character of Calvin, considered as a legislator. He discusses fully the conduct of Calvin in the judgment against Castellio, J. Gruet, Bolsec and particularly Servetus. In the times in which we live, Protestant theologians ought at once to acknowledge that Calvin countenanced the burning of Servetus; that no one thinks of maintaining that the Reformers were men entirely undeserving of reproach, any more than the enlightened priests of the Roman Church maintain that the Popes were all perfect; neither should it be considered that the defects of their characters can at all diminish the gratitude the Protestants owe them for having, according to them, delivered reason from bondage and strengthened the sacred rights of conscience. The Charles COQUEREL. Notice sur l'Etat actuel des Eglises Vaudoises Protestantes des Vallées du Piémont.-Account of the present condition of the Protestant Churches of the |