from the shackles of human slavery, your influence, like a reviving leaven, will be silently diffusing a corresponding feeling over the minds of others, and thus, to speak in the figurative language of the Indian, clearing away the briars that now obstruct the path of Emancipation. Let an association be formed among you, having for its object the support of the free system and the diffusion of your principles. Union will give you activity and strength-it will enable you to devise and carry into effect plans, which you would find it otherwise impossible to execute; and while it imparts authority to the sentiments you inculcate, will give a wider extent to the sphere of your usefulness. In other states of the Union, the voice of woman has been already heard pleading that the bruised reed, Ethiopia, may not be utterly broken; that the wounds that have been inflicted upon her heart may be bound up, and the tears of suffering may be wiped away from her eyes. And will not you, also, stretch forth the ready hand of assistance, and strive to lift up from the earth, the mourning brow of the trodden and oppressed one? Can you be insensible to the bliss of shedding light over the soul that was in darkness, or of pouring the oil of gladness over the heads of them that were despised and afflicted? No: it is impossible that you should be thus dull to the pleasures of benevolence-the warm gush of your feelings may have flowed in hidden places, but its well-spring is not the less deep for its hitherto silent course. Let that fountain now shed its refreshing streams over the parched ground of this wilderness, and the blessing of the Holy One may cause it to become a fruitful land.

One thing further we would forcibly impress upon your minds-do not delay the commencement of this good work until a more convenient season. Procrastination is highly prejudicial both to yourselves and the objects of your mercy; and you know not how long the power of usefulness may be granted you. Consult, therefore, immediately with each other, and with your own hearts, upon the duties that may be allotted you to perform, in removing from your land a system that is so crowded with shame and sinfulness as that of African Slavery.

EXCUSES.

Ir is difficult sometimes to restrain a smile, even when we cannot feel otherwise than grieved, at the readiness with which people will find arguments to persuade themselves that they have no manner of concern in slavery, or part to act in its extinction.

Is the necessity of opposing it impressed upon them, they will object, that their own daily participation in its fruits renders them unfit labourers in the soil of emancipation. This might be supposed to be favourable, as it leads immediately to a discussion of the advantage of encouraging free labour, and the wished-for point is already looked upon as half gained. But this is far from succeeding as a natural consequence. A long array of arguments respecting its inconvenience, uselessness, &c. are set forth in formidable order, concluding with alleging the utter impossibility of refraining in all instances from the produce of slavery, or of articles that proceed either directly or indirectly from that source. This is acknowledged, but not without still pleading for even a partial patronization of the free system, just so far as may not be very inconvenient; and this is answered with the opinion, that unless they could put away from them entirely, every thing of this nature, they do not consider it worth while in any instance to attempt doing so. Shall we hint to such reasoners, the parable of the "widow's mite," or shall we attempt to refute their arguments? To do this, we should scarcely suppose that any thing further was necessary, than to remind them of the dangerous tendency of such principles, were we to suffer ourselves to apply them to our general character and actions. They do not consider that they are absolved from all moral or religious duties, because it is difficult to mould themselves into absolute perfection. They do not think it useless to place any restraint upon their angry feelings in a moment of provocation, because they may sometimes be hurried into an impatient expression; nor to withhold the relief that it is in their power to afford to poverty, because it is impossible to supply the wants of all to whom it is a source of suffering. Neither should they refuse to contribute, with what strength they may, towards breaking the fetters of the slave, even though they cannot altogether avoid partaking of the fruit of his extorted labours.

E

There is another class, who are waiting apparently for a particular revelation upon the subject-till the voice of conscience shall reproach them for their passive tolerance of the system of slavery, in language too plain, and too painful, to be mistaken or resisted. But they wait not to be thus driven to the performance of other duties which are enjoined by reason and humanity; and why, then, should they wait to be thus instructed in this? The voice of conscience is at all times audible, unless we wilfully turn a dull ear to her monitions-but her thunders are sometimes reserved until it is too late for us to feel them, except as in punishment for the offences, we vainly looked for them to prevent.

FEMALE CHARACTER.

IT has often been remarked, that in sickness there is no hand like woman's hand, no heart like woman's heart; and there is not. A man's heart may swell with unutterable sorrow, and apprehension may rend his mind; yet place him by the sick couch, and in the shadow rather than the light of the sad lamp that watches it; let him have to count over the long dull hours of night, and wait, alone and sleepless, the struggle of the gray dawn in the chamber of suffering; let him be appointed to this ministry, even for the sake of the brother of his heart, or the father of his being, and his grosser nature, even where it is most perfect, will tire; his eye will close, and his spirit grow impatient of the dreary task; and though love and anxiety remain undiminished, his mind will own to itself a creeping in of irresistible selfishness, which, indeed, he may be ashamed of, and struggle to reject, but which, despite of his efforts, remains to characterize his nature, and prove in one instance, at least, his manly weakness. But see a mother, a sister, or a wife, in his place. The woman feels no weariness, and owns no recollection of self. In silence and depth of night she dwells, not only passively, but so far as the qualified term expresses our meaning, joyously. Her ear acquires a blind man's instinct, as from time to time it catches the slightest stir, or whisper, or breath of the now more than ever loved one, who lies under the hand of human affliction. Her step, as in obe

FEMALE CHARACTER.-EDUCATION OF SLAVES.

51

dience to an impulse or a signal, would not waken an insect; if she speaks, her accents are a soft echo of natural harmony, most delicious to the sick man's ear, conveying all that sound can convey of pity, comfort, and devotion; and thus, night after night, she tends him like a creature sent from a higher world: when all earthly watchfulness has failed, her eye never winked, her mind never palled, her nature, that at other times is weakness, now gaining a superhuman strength and magnanimity; herself forgotten, and her sex alone predominant.

EDUCATION OF SLAVES.

In this age of intellectual advancement, when the cultivation of the mind is considered an object of primary importance, and such strenuous efforts are making for a wider diffusion of knowledge through almost all classes of society, it is strange that the education of one portion, and that a very extensive one, should be almost totally forgotten or neglected.

Men will cheerfully tear themselves away from the delights of home and society, and even peril their lives in order to convey the words of the gospel into distant climes, and implant in the bosoms of those who know not Christ, a knowledge of the divine principles of Christianity. Woman will resign her ornaments, abridge her pleasures, and exert all her influence for the same purpose; and yet at the same time, almost at their doors -nay, in the very bosoms of their families, there are beings far more ignorant and degraded than those distant ones whom they are struggling to save.

It may be that the religious tenets of the Hindoo, or the American Indian, have been formed in error, that

"In the scattering of the leaves of life,

His page was written more imperfectly,"

yet who can doubt that, according to their knowledge, many of them worship the God of their fathers, with all the sincerity of deep devotedness, and that they possess many noble and surprising traits of character? But the slave-what knowledge, -what instruction, religious or moral, can he obtain, but that which we ourselves see fit to impart to him? And if those to whose charge he is particularly entrusted, suffer his mind, his

very soul, to consume away in the most debasing ignorance, how will they be prepared to answer the solemn question"Why put ye not my money to the exchangers, that at my coming I might have received mine own with usury?"

Let not his moral character be complained of, nor his intellectual powers be vilified, until the experiment of his instruction has been fairly tried. There are many who are perfectly convinced of the injustice of the system of slavery, and who would joyfully aid in its abolition, did they not consider its victims, by their long formed habits and character, totally unfitted for liberty, and that their enfranchisement would be alike an evil to themselves, and to their former masters. Here then is a field in which the influence of woman may effect much. Let it be her task-the task of those who wish to behold their country freed from a crime, in which they are perhaps compelled to participate,-to extend the hand of compassionate guidance to those unfortunate beings, who are rising up beneath their care to instil, with unwearying gentleness, into their young minds, the sublime truths of the Christian religion, and impress them firmly with unfaltering principles of moralityand there can be no doubt but the effects of her benevolence will be widely visible. Let it not be said that the slave population can only be kept in subjection while in a state of ignorance. Will the knowledge that his patient endurance of suffering, is complacently beheld in heaven, teach the slave to rebel against his earthly master? or will an undoubting faith in those promises which tell that his ready forgiveness of injuries will win for him the privilege to

"Wear his immortality as free,

Beside the crystal waters,"

as those who have been his oppressors, dispose him to forfeit that happiness by fostering a spirit of revenge? It is clear that it cannot! and it is sincerely hoped that societies among the ladies of the south, for the education of the youthful slave population, will, ere long, hold a conspicuous place among those which have been already formed for the benefit of that class of our citizens.