86 barous and unchristian system, to our colonial legislators, who are at once makers of laws for the regulation of slaves, and owners of slaves themselves. The experience of past ages shews the absurdity of trusting to such reformers, as not only in the West Indies, but in the United States, where the same union of conflicting interests and incompatible offices exists, slavery reigns in all its horrors; whilst in the Spanish colonies it exhibits itself perhaps in the very mildest form which such an excrescence on the constitution of humanity can assume. Wherefore then this difference in favour of a despotic state, (for Spain, at the time we refer to, was such) over the two freest governments in the universe? Wherefore, but because the parent legislature of Spain has enacted laws for controling the authority of the colonial slave masters over their slaves, whilst England and America have absurdly left those masters to control themselves. How little they are to be trusted, has frequently been proved. Thus, about twenty years ago, an act was passed in Dominica, for the encouragement, protection, and better government of slaves, but in an official despatch, Sir George Prevost, the governor of that island, expressly says, "it appears to have been considered, from the day it was passed until this hour, as a political measure, to avert the "interference of the mother country in the government of "slaves." This also has notoriously been the case with the curates' bill of Jamaica, and several other acts of the colonial legislature; and with every disposition to think favourably of the government, we cannot help suspecting, that the pledge given by Mr. Canning on a late occasion, was but a repetition of the old juggle between the planters and the executive, for preventing any measure passing the British legislature, which would really secure the gradual abolition of slavery. It behoves, therefore, the friends of a measure in which the character of the country is so deeply implicated, to be still upon the alert, as they are opposed by men whose interest prevents them from supineness, and never to be satisfied with any thing short of an act of the British Parliament, expressly providing, at some given period, however distant, for the utter extinction, however gradually effected, of the horrid system of slavery, which is a disgrace, not to our country only, but to human nature. We hope, hereafter, to enter into the details of the most prudent plan of effecting this object, our present purpose being but to excite the attention of our readers to its vast importance. 66 161 AMERICAN LITERATURE AND WE commence this department of our work with the following extracts from the Sixth Report of the American Bible Society, presented May 9, 1822, and which we should sooner have noticed, but that our anxiety to complete the account of the Penitentiary System, compelled us to lay it aside, when the re-opening of our communications with New-York brought it to hand. The details, however, are too interesting to be out of season, even now that we are shortly expecting more recent ones. "The Managers of the American Bible Society meet their constituents, at this sixth anniversary, with mingled emotions of regret and gladness, of resignation and delight. 6 "It has pleased Almighty God to call out of this world, we trust into the rest and bliss of heaven, the first president of the Society, the Honourable Elias Boudinot. He departed this life on the 24th day of October last, in the eighty-second year of his age, In his last hours, his faith was firm, his patience was constant, and his hope was strong. He avowed himself willing, and even desirous, to depart hence; and the last prayer which he was known to utter, was, in the words of the dying Stephen, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' A deputation from the Board attended his obsequies; and a testimonial of gratitude and affection was entered on the minutes. While this afflictive dispensation has been deeply felt, the Managers have had joy accompanying their sorrow. At the very time of exercising submission to the will of the Lord, manifested in his providence, they expressed their grateful acknowledgments to a merciful God for his goodness, in prolonging beyond the ordinary measure of human life, that of their illustrious patron, in permitting him to witness the rapid growth and prosperity of the cherished object of his affections; in conveying to his heart the consolations of that blessed book, which he had made the standard of his faith and the rule of his conduct; and in enabling him to close a well-spent life, with the full hope, through the merits of his Saviour, of a blissful immortality beyond the grave.' The Managers rejoice, that the piety of their departed friend and benefactor was ardent, and his walk exemplary; that his works of faith and of usefulness were so numerous and so noble; and in the confidence that the stroke, which has caused many to mourn their loss, has been to his unspeakable gain. The letters received by the Board on this occasion, and particularly those from the president and one of the secretaries of the British and Foreign Bible Society, have not only VOL. VII.-No. 13. M expressed sympathy and condolence, but also been so many evidences of the high sense entertained in this and in other countries of the character and the exertions of Dr. Boudinot. The monument to his honour, more durable than brass, is the American Bible Society; and instead of merely some friends and strangers reading his epitaph on his tombstone, and thus learning or retaining the remembrance of his name and his worth, there will be thousands on thousands, in successive ages, blessing his memory, and blessing God on his account, while they witness the usefulness, or experience the benefits, of the national institution. On his decease, the attention of the Board was directed to the election of a suitable person to be his successor. It is a most gratifyng circumstance, that while the Managers felt very high respect and warm attachment to the many distinguished characters in our country, who have patronized and supported the bible cause, there was one in whom all were immediately united: and at a meeting of the Board on the 6th of December, by an unanimous vote, the Hon. John Jay, of New-York, was elected the president of the American Bible Society. "The Managers proceed to give an account of the transactions during the sixth year of the Society; and they do so, with cordial praises to that God who has smiled on their labours, and even increased his blessing and the prosperity of the institution. The pressure of the times has not ceased, particularly in the Western States; perhaps in some districts of the country, pecuniary difficulties have become more numerous, and have obtained greater influence, than at the time of the last Report: yet the sales of bibles and testaments, from the depository, have been greater than ever during the past year; and the treasurer's statement will shew, that the receipts of the society, and the liberality of the community. in its favour, have augmented. Rejoicing in the support of their fellow-citizens, and in the blessing of God, the Board have prosecuted their work with unabated zeal. They have felt the influence of the truths of the bible upon their own hearts; they have found that the bonds of christian charity grow stronger, while the union of christian efforts. continues; they have heard, month after month, of new auxiliaries, to strengthen the parent Society, and to furnish the scriptures to the destitute; and they have been cheered with repeated accounts of the benefits resulting from the diffusion of the sacred volume. Thus influenced and encouraged, they have persevered in their labours of love, entertaining mutual confidence, and engaging in their deliberations, and adopting their measures, with uninterrupted harmony. "It was mentioned in the last Report, that it had been deemed expedient to diminish the work of the printer and binder in the depository. The business, without further reduction, has been continued, and within a few months materially extended. The demand for the cheapest edition of the bible, and for the new testament in 18mo., has been particularly great, and it has been very difficult to secure a constant supply. A regard to economy, and a desire to accomplish the largest measure of good, have induced the auxiliaries to limit their gifts of bibles almost entirely to the cheapest edition; hence the demand for it more than for others and the small new testament has been found so well calculated for the use of Sunday schools, and even as a book to be used in schools of all descriptions, from its size and cheapness, that it has been called for from every quarter. From these, and other causes, the business in the depository has been greatly increased within a short period. "There have been printed at the depository of the American Bible Society during the sixth year, Bibles New Testaments in English. in Spanish There have been purchased, German Bibles.. Which, added to the number mentioned in the last Report 15,625 17,500 3,250 250 36,625 ..231,552 Make a total of two hundred and sixty-eight thousand one hundred and seventy-seven bibles and testaments, or parts of the latter, printed from the stereotype plates of the Society in NewYork, and at Lexington, Kentucky; or otherwise obtained for circulation, during the six years of its existence. "There have been issued from the depository, from the 30th of April 1821, to the 1st of May 1822, Bibles 28,910 39 15 53,470 Epistles of John, in Delaware. "In the five preceding years, there were issued, Bibles and Testaments Epistles of John, in Delaware Gospel of John, in Mohawk ... 139,510 736 102-140,348 Making a total of one hundred and ninety-three thousand eight hundred and eighteen bibles and testaments, and parts of the new testament, issued by the American Bible Society, since its establishment. "Were the managers able to add the number of bibles and testaments distributed by several auxiliaries, who have obtained the whole or a part of the copies circulated by them, not from the depository, but elsewhere, the above total would be greatly enlarged. The Board have not the information which would enable them to make an exact statement: but they observe, with much pleasure, that the auxiliaries, with few exceptions, are now purchasing their supplies of the scriptures from the depository, under a conviction that it is for their interest to do so, on account of the superiority of the books of the Society over those to be obtained elsewhere at the same prices. Of the bibles issued from the depo, sitory during the sixth year, there were, German, 393; French, 551; Gaelic 21; Welch 5. Of the testaments, 1576 were Spanish, and 77 French. "The calls on the liberality of the Managers during the past year have been many, and loud, and urgent. The Board have been sensible that it became them to be vigilant and prudent, in relation to the applications made to them. But they have never forgotten, that they were stewards of a public charity; and that 'there is that scattereth and yet increaseth,' while to withhold 'more than is meet, tendeth to poverty.' Therefore, in faith, and in obedience to the Master's will, they have never refused the needy; they have given with delight; and they have been pained when they have found themselves able to grant only a part of what was asked. "The testaments in the Spanish language, which, as was stated in the last Report, were sent to Buenos Ayres, have been favourably received by the Cabildo of that city, and by their order have been delivered to the commissioner of schools. A large number of copies of the new testament in Spanish, have been sent to various parts of South America, and other places, where the Spanish language is spoken. The Managers find the facility of introducing these scriptures to be increasing, and the number of those who aid them in this work is considerable. They have been assured that in one place, these testaments were received as a most acceptable gift by a Roman Catholic ecclesiastic, that he proceeded immediately to a judicious distribution of them, and that he appeared to engage in this charity with lively pleasure. The Board feel grateful for the assistance with which they have been favoured; and they are determined to embrace and to improve, to the utmost, every opportunity of circulating the scriptures in Spanish. They rejoice in the prospect of being thus more and more instrumental for the divine glory, and for the good of multitudes who have hitherto remained ignorant of the oracles of God, and among whom, till lately, a copy of the scriptures was hardly to be found. As the truths of religion become more known, the desire of these persons to possess the sacred book will be more general; and the hope may be entertained with confidence, that in a few years, the new testament, and also the whole bible, will obtain a vastly greater circulation among those who use the Spanish language in America and in the West Indies. In this work, the British and Foreign Bible Society have already engaged with zeal and vigour, and they are preparing |